Good morning to everyone but especially to…
BRITTNEY GRINER
WNBA star Brittney Griner is coming home. Griner was released from a Russian penal colony on Thursday morning in a one-for-one prisoner swap for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Griner had been in Russian custody since being detained on Feb. 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport, when the Russian Federal Customs Service found vape cartridges containing the marijuana concentrate hashish oil in her luggage.
- The exchange took place in the United Arab Emirates after President Biden gave final approval of the swap following weeks of negotiations.
- According to CBS News, the United States and Russia agreed on the swap last Thursday.
- Griner was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison in August after being found guilty on drug charges in Russian court. You can read about the complicated matter of the entire ordeal here.
After CBS News reported the swap, the official Twitter account for President Biden confirmed the news in a few brief sentences: “She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home.”
Check back for more details on Griner’s release here as they come in.
AND ALSO A GOOD MORNING TO XANDER BOGAERTS AND THE SAN DIEGO PADRES
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The Padres‘ offseason had mostly been defined by big swings and misses. They had the biggest offer for Aaron Judge, who decided to stay with the Yankees. They also had the highest offer for Trea Turner, who chose the Phillies.
Early this morning, they finally got good news when they agreed to an 11-year, $280-million deal with star shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
- Bogaerts, 30, is a pretty awesome consolation prize, though. He was the fifth-best free agent in this class according to our R.J. Anderson. He’s a four-time All-Star who slashed .307/.377/.456 in 2022, and he’s finished in the top dozen in AL MVP voting three of the past four years. He’s also an outstanding defender.
- Of course, the Padres still have Fernando Tatis Jr. on their roster, and this acquisition may push him to the outfield.
The Padres’ already-terrific collection of top-end talent just got better: Bogaerts. Tatis Jr. Juan Soto. Manny Machado. Josh Hader. Yu Darvish.
Now the question is: Can that core lead them to their first World Series title? We’ll have to…
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