For the Los Angeles Dodgers, the urgency to scout for a new catcher as the trade deadline looms is potentially waning.

In a positive update on Tuesday, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts shared that All-Star catcher Will Smith has resumed baseball activities, finally free from the neck injury that has taken him off the roster since early June.

Smith is now set to embark on a comprehensive regimen that includes throwing and hitting exercises, alongside intensified strength training.

This development brings relief to the Dodgers, who have been diligently tracking the 31-year-old’s recovery. It also eases the pressure to acquire a new catcher before the upcoming trade deadline on Monday.

“It’s great news to hear he’s starting on some baseball activities,” remarked Roberts, expressing optimism for Smith’s return.

Last week, sources told the California Post that the Dodgers hadn’t ramped up their efforts to add another catcher amid Smith’s ongoing absence. The team wasn’t believed to be looking for a bigger name at the position, either, instead weighing the possibility of bolstering their catching depth behind second-year backup Dalton Rushing.

Still, any further setbacks or delays in Smith’s recovery might have altered their approach.

As Roberts noted over the weekend, it was going to be “helpful” to have more clarity on Smith’s status before deadline decisions had to be made.

Now, finally, a tangible update has arrived –– reinforcing the Dodgers’ optimism in having Smith back at full health for the stretch run of the season and the start of the playoffs.

Smith has not played since June 5, when he first developed what was initially described as minor stiffness in his neck. However, the pain continued to linger, leading to a doctor’s visit in which Smith was diagnosed with an inflamed disc in his neck. His previous attempts to ramp up activity were scuttled by recurring pain, ultimately prompting the team to shut him down for a week during the All-Star break.

Since then, though, Smith has seemingly turned a corner.

And while his timeline to return is unclear, the team’s confidence in eventually getting him back should only lessen their urgency to make a notable acquisition behind the plate in the coming days.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

The Dodgers could still use more catching depth, with rookie Eliezer Alfonzo currently serving in a backup role behind Rushing –– who himself has had an up-and-down second season in the big leagues.

Last year, the club added Ben Rortvedt at the deadline, and wound up turning to him to start their first four playoff games while Smith recovered from a broken hand.

Someone like Rortvedt, who is now in triple-A with the Mets, could make sense as another deadline addition this year.

But ideally, the Dodgers won’t need any extra catching help come October, with Smith finally back on the road to recovery almost two months into his IL stint.

Snell, Glasnow progressing too

In other positive injury news on Tuesday, Roberts expressed confidence in the status of both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, as they continue to take steps toward returning to the active roster.

On Wednesday, Snell is scheduled to throw four innings in a minor-league rehab game with single-A Ontario, while Glasnow will face hitters in a live batting practice session at Dodger Stadium for the second time in the last couple weeks.

Snell could be ready to rejoin the Dodgers after his outing, while Glasnow could be ready to begin his own minor-league rehab assignment after his.

Both pitchers have been out since early May, when Glasnow went down with back spasms and Snell underwent a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow.

“I feel very confident [about the state of our rotation],” Roberts said, even though Shohei Ohtani’s next steps as a pitcher remain undecided as he continues to nurse a knee injury. “I feel very good for the rest of the season with all three of these guys.”

Tony Romo, the former star quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, found himself in legal trouble after being apprehended on suspicion of driving under the influence in Wisconsin. During the incident, captured on police bodycam footage, Romo asserted that he had not consumed any alcohol and fervently requested to contact his lawyer.

Exclusive footage obtained by The Daily Mail reveals the tense moments as law enforcement stopped Romo on a Milwaukee interstate. The former NFL player was reportedly unable to satisfactorily perform the field sobriety test administered by the officer at the scene.

Appearing visibly disoriented, the 46-year-old initially seemed bewildered when the officer explained the reasons for the traffic stop. He was cited for making an ‘unsafe passing on the right’ and ‘cutting across the gore’, actions that prompted the officer to intervene.

Trying to explain his whereabouts, Romo mentioned to the officer that he had just left a golf course and was en route to visit his grandparents. This detail, however, did not sway the ongoing investigation at the time.

Once the officer returned after verifying his driver’s license, the conversation turned toward Romo’s alcohol consumption. When questioned about how much he had drunk, Romo steadfastly responded, “Zero,” maintaining his stance despite the circumstances that unfolded.

The officer then tells Romo she wants to carry out a field sobriety test, causing Romo to scramble for his cell phone. He initially refuses to get out of his Jeep and says he’s going to call his lawyer and film their interaction.

When he eventually does step out of his car, Romo asks the officer: ‘Because I’m coming from a golf course you think I’m drunk?’ 

The officer then tells Romo he’s being detained for OWI and she will take him to a safer place for his testing before placing handcuffs on the ex-quarterback.

The 6ft 2ins ex-quarterback struggles to squeeze into the back of the police car and complains about back pain once he arrives at the police station.

The police officer tells Romo her partner found ‘shooters’ in his backpack but he fires back with: ‘I don’t think any of them were drank, right?’ 

Before starting his test, Romo stretches and cites his ‘two back surgeries’ before yawning. Three other officers are stood watching Romo.

A disinterested and confused Romo then continuously interrupts the officer as she tries to explain the exercises in the test. He also asks her to repeat things a number of times and give demonstrations for him.

Romo, who forms half of CBS’ top NFL broadcast team alongside Jim Nantz and is paid $18m-a-year, was later pictured smirking in a humiliating mugshot.

The arrest report states Romo was booked on one count of operating while intoxicated, first offense for allegedly performing ‘poorly’ on standardized field sobriety tests. 

Romo, who grew up in Burlington, Wisconsin, spent his entire 13-season NFL career with the Cowboys, leading Dallas to four postseason appearances as the team’s starting quarterback between 2006 and 2015. 

However, despite earning four Pro Bowl nods during his time on the field, Romo failed to make it to the Super Bowl, never advancing past the divisional round.

He lost his starting position to then-rookie Dak Prescott in 2016, retiring from football at the end of that season.

After hanging up his cleats, Romo went on to become the lead color analyst for NFL on CBS. He will be entering his tenth season as a sportscaster this fall.

In recent seasons, Romo has been criticized for his strange affectations and his errors in commentary.

Whether it was confusing Josh Allen for Patrick Mahomes, letting out a bizarre groan in Bills-Jaguars or calling a 4th & 1 carry like a first-down, Romo had his share of blunders in last season’s playoffs alone. 

Romo said he felt unwell during the Bills-Jaguars incident, explaining: ‘We had a bunch of guys sick, we were just grinding through it. You’re not going to miss a playoff game.’

In December 2023, at the height of ‘Tayvis’ Mania, Romo bizarrely addressed Taylor Swift as the wife of Travis Kelce while she watched him play for the Kansas City Chiefs.

It came long before the couple announced their engagement back in August of 2025 and got married last month.

But the rogue play-calling is something Romo is becoming known for and in the eyes of many NFL fans, it is increasingly at the expense of the CBS coverage. 

Romo, who famously dated Jessica Simpson from 2007 to 2009, is married to Candice Crawford Romo, a former broadcast journalist and past Miss Missouri. They have three children.

On Sunday, Romo quietly pulled out of the Texas State Open golf tournament in the wake of his shocking drunk driving arrest. 

He was previously listed among the participants in the historic competition at Cascades Country Club in Tyler, Texas this week, but organizers revealed he will no longer play.

In a statement to KLTV, the club confirmed: ‘Although we’re disappointed he won’t be joining us, we’re still looking forward to an exciting week of competitive golf.’

Romo is a yearly participant in the Texas State Open golf tournament, an historic event which is open to both professionals and amateurs.

Held in Tyler since 2018, the 56th running of the competition is due to tee off on Monday, but Romo appears keen to stay out of the spotlight as the fallout continues.

Romo was also due to participate in a Q&A ahead of the start of the tournament, which organizers confirmed he will also not be present for. 

In a tragic turn of events, a newly reopened shopping mall in southern Japan faced destruction on Tuesday due to a severe earthquake, accompanied by a massive explosion. The catastrophic incident has left many workers missing and has cast a shadow over the region’s recovery efforts following the 2016 disaster.

The Aeon Mall, located in Kumamoto Prefecture, had proudly celebrated its reopening on June 13. This event was symbolic of the area’s resilience and rebuilding journey post the 2016 earthquake.

Just weeks after its reopening, the area was rattled by a powerful earthquake near Kumamoto. Reports from FOX Weather, referencing the U.S. Geological Survey, marked the quake at magnitude 6.8. However, Japan’s Meteorological Agency utilized its seismic scale to record the tremor at magnitude 7.1.

In the immediate chaos following the quake, officials stated that around 200 shoppers were safely evacuated. However, approximately an hour later, the mall was rocked by a devastating explosion. The blast, which tore off its exterior walls and revealed the steel skeleton of the structure, has added to the tragedy. NHK reported that 20 to 30 employees remain missing, as rescue operations have been hindered by the looming threat of aftershocks, according to police authorities.

The mall had become one of the most visible symbols of Kumamoto’s recovery after the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that devastated the region in April 2016. Aeon said the redevelopment included seismic reinforcements and other safety improvements designed to make the complex more resilient.

Witnesses reported smelling gas before the explosion, according to Reuters. An Aeon spokesperson said employees immediately helped evacuate visitors after the quake, while prefectural officials confirmed about 200 people were guided safely outside before the blast.

According to FOX Weather, the earthquake struck just before 4:30 p.m. local time about 9 miles north of Kumamoto at a depth of roughly 6 miles. Japan’s Meteorological Agency briefly issued and later lifted a tsunami advisory for parts of Kyushu. NHK reported at least 50 people were injured, while Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said the quake sparked at least eight fires. Kumamoto Airport also temporarily closed.

Reuters reported the mall welcomed more than 8 million visitors annually after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. opened a factory nearby in 2024.

The complex housed about 200 stores, a movie theater and parking for roughly 5,000 vehicles. It also became known locally after a supermarket inside sold 10-yen onigiri to help survivors following the 2016 earthquake.

When the mall reopened in June, Aeon described the project as a “‘re-start’ initiative” marking both the shopping center’s 21st anniversary and the region’s recovery from the 2016 earthquake.

As night fell Tuesday, rescue operations remained on hold because of continuing aftershocks as families awaited word on the employees still believed to be inside.

Evan Rachel Wood, renowned for her role in “Practical Magic,” recently shared her disappointment at being excluded from the eagerly awaited sequel to the 1998 film.

In a conversation with “Entertainment Tonight,” Wood, who played Kylie Owens—the eldest daughter of Sandra Bullock’s character in the original movie—remarked, “I read the book, and they seem to be diverging from it.”

“The book suggests it would have been logical to bring me back,” she noted. “However, their current approach doesn’t seem to align with that narrative.”

Reflecting on her experiences, Wood, now 38, expressed, “It’s truly sad because we formed such strong bonds with the cast as kids.” She continued, “Missing out on the chance to revisit that cast and that iconic house as adults, with all its shared history, is a unique experience that just can’t be replicated.”

“It’s especially disappointing for the fans,” she added, “that this opportunity isn’t coming to life.”

The “Thirteen” star is being replaced by actress Joey King, who will take over the role as Kylie.

“But I wish them all the best, and obviously wish Joey the best,” Wood continued. “And I hope she had a great time. I still have really fond memories of being in the original.”

Actress Alexandra Artrip, who portrayed Bullock’s youngest daughter, Antonia Owens, will also not return for the movie. Instead, “Game of Thrones” alum Maisie Williams has taken her place.

Additionally, Aidan Quinn, who starred as Bullock’s on-screen detective love interest, Gary Hallet, was also not asked to return.

Alice Hoffman’s 1995 novel “Practical Magic” inspired the first movie based on two witchy sisters, starring Bullock as Sally Owens and Nicole Kidman as Gillian Owens.

Hoffman wrote a sequel to her novel, “The Book of Magic,” released in 2021, which inspired the forthcoming Susanne Bier-directed movie.

The second movie adaptation will hit theaters on Sept. 11.

Wood previously announced that she would not be returning to the big screen for “Practical Magic 2” via Instagram in June.

“I am getting asked about this a lot, so l’ll just clear it up now;I was not asked to come back and be in the #PracticalMagic sequel. l offered my services, even if it was one scene or one line,” she told fans via her Stories.

“I was told they are re-casting. I am sorry to disappoint the fans. It was not in my control or my choice. I would have happily rejoined my sisters.”