It might not be the contract announcement most figured would be next, but the Chicago Bears got a deal done Thursday.

Nose tackle Andrew Billings signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract extension, meaning the run stuffer will be with the organization through the 2025 season.

“We’re extremely excited to be able to keep Andrew in Chicago,” general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement. “The professionalism, dependability and toughness he brings to our defense exhibit the type of player we want in our organization.”

Poles indicated confidence Wednesday in his ability to sign newly acquired defensive end Montez Sweat to an extension, and he also spoke at length about the negotiating process with cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Those remain front-burner issues, but re-upping with Billings ensures a big part of this season’s defensive improvement will remain in place.

Billings’ presence has been one key reason coach Matt Eberflus’ defense has improved dramatically against the run. The Bears ranked 31st in the league a year ago, when they surrendered a franchise-record 2,674 rushing yards (157.3 per game). They enter Week 9 ranked third versus the run, allowing only 78.8 yards per game.

The Bears signed Billings to a one-year, $2.75 million contract in free agency, and he said a few weeks ago that he was comfortable with the situation and could see himself staying with the Bears. The team approached him about starting talks on an extension a few weeks back, and the deal was finalized Wednesday and signed after meetings Thursday morning.

“I came here for a reason,” Billings, 28, said. “I was happy with the first deal. It was a surprise and just all good things.”

Billings will be able to suit up for the same team in consecutive seasons for the first time since his first four years in the league with the Cincinnati Bengals (2016-19).

He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2020 but opted out because of COVID-19. The Browns cut him loose in 2021, and he hopped around the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs practice squads before playing for the Las Vegas Raiders last season.

“It’s really special,” he said. “It’s Year 8 for me. Just being able to settle down, it’s something I’ve been working for my whole career.”

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The hitters who occupied the top three spots in the Orioles’ lineup more than anyone else are all Silver Slugger Award finalists.

On Thursday, catcher Adley Rutschman, infielder Gunnar Henderson and outfielder Anthony Santander were named American League finalists for an honor that recognizes the top offensive performer at each position. Henderson, who split his time at shortstop and third base, is a finalist for the utility award.

The Silver Slugger winners will be announced next Thursday during a 6 p.m. telecast on MLB Network.

In his first full major league season, Rutschman, 25, hit .277 with 20 home runs, an .809 OPS and 92 walks against 101 strikeouts. Rutschman led the other finalists, Kansas City’s Salvador Perez and Seattle’s Cal Raleigh, in hits, doubles, walks, average, on-base percentage and OPS.

The 2019 first overall draft pick is also a finalist for the AL’s Gold Glove Award for catchers. The only Orioles catcher to win a Silver Slugger was Mickey Tettleton in 1989.

Henderson got off to a slow start to his rookie year before taking off. The 22-year-old ended the year with 28 home runs, tied with Cal Ripken Jr. for the second most by an Orioles rookie, to go with a .255 average and an .814 OPS.

His fellow candidates are Los Angeles’ Brandon Drury, Tampa Bay’s Isaac Paredes and Toronto’s Whit Merrifield. Henderson ranked second among them in home runs and OPS, trailing Paredes in both metrics. The utility honor was introduced last year; an Orioles infielder was last a Silver Slugger recipient in 2013 when first baseman Chris Davis and shortstop J.J. Hardy both won.

Santander, 29, is a finalist in the outfield for the second straight season, joining Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena, Texas’ Adolis García, New York’s Aaron Judge, Chicago’s Luis Robert Jr., Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez and Houston’s Kyle Tucker. Three will be named winners, with no separation by specific outfield position.

Santander’s 95 RBIs led the Orioles, while his 28 home runs tied Henderson for the team lead, but he ranks outside the top three among the outfield finalists in those measures. Cedric Mullins was a Silver Slugger winner in 2021 after his 30 home runs and 30 steals season, while Mark Trumbo (2016) and Adam Jones (2013) have also won the honor as Orioles outfielders.

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For the first time in franchise history, the Chicago Cubs have three players named Gold Glove defensive award winners in a season.

Second baseman Nico Hoerner won his first National League Gold Glove award Sunday night while shortstop Dansby Swanson and left fielder Ian Happ both won the second of their career coming in back-to-back years.

He is the fourth Cubs shortstop to win the award after Javier Báez (2020), Don Kessinger (1969 and 1970) and Ernie Banks (1960).

Hoerner, a finalist in 2020, is the fourth Cubs second baseman to win the award, joining Darwin Barney (2012), Ryne Sandberg (nine times, last in 1991), Glenn Beckert (1968) and Ken Hubbs (1962). He teamed up with Swanson as one of the best middle infield duos in the majors, fittingly earning them both hardware.

“There’s no ball (Hoerner) feels like he can’t catch and make a play on,” Swanson told the Tribune. “And there will be times he dives and makes a play and can’t get the throw off and he’ll get (mad), but the fact (he) even got to the ball … that’s one thing that makes him a great defender.”

Swanson’s defensive wizardry was as advertised during Year 1 in Chicago, a big part of why the Cubs signed him to a seven-year, $177 million contract last offseason. His 20 Outs Above Average (OAA) led all players this year and his 18 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) were the most among MLB shortstops and also tied him for fifth among all positions.

More traditional stats favored Happ’s Gold Glove award candidacy. His 12 outfield assists topped all big-league outfielders and the 253 putouts he tallied were second-most for NL left fielders.

For the White Sox, center fielder Luis Robert Jr. was the team’s only Gold Glove finalist but it was the Toronto Blue Jays’ Kevin Kiermaier who won for the American League at that position.

Chicago native Alek Thomas was a National League finalist for center field for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but lost to Brenton Doyle of the Colorado Rockies.

Gold Glove finalists are determined by a combination of 75% voting among managers and coaches and 25% use of a proprietary metric known as the SABR Defensive Index (SDI).

Now that the winners have been announced, a combination of fan voting and SDI will determine the Platinum Glove winner from each league. Those winners will be revealed at the Gold Glove award ceremony on Nov. 10.

Also on Sunday, the Cubs announced they exercised the 2024 team options for starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks and catcher Yan Gomes. Hendricks remains the longest-tenured Cub on the roster.

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FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — Families across Minnesota came together Saturday to celebrate adoption while advocating the need for more people to get involved.

The Minnesota Department Of Human Services hosted its 26th annual “Circus Of The Heart” event at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Hundreds of blended families participated in games and art activities. DHS also held a presentation for adults interested in learning more about the adoption and kinship care process.

“I’m just so proud of Minnesota; it’s a state that always embraced adoption and now kinship care and I think the state population is very open to that and has been really welcoming,” Commissioner Jodi Harpstead said. “And we’re just so proud of folks that step up to be forever families to the kids that really need them.”

Harpstead said 1,006 children were adopted from foster care in 2022 and another 637 children were placed in the care of a relative.

Becky Puchtel fostered and adopted two children. She said being at this event lets her family know that they’re not alone.

“We love coming, we love seeing all the different families,” Puchtel said. “I think it’s really good for them to see that they are not the only ones, so they see other kids and you know non-matching families and they get to be around other people that are experiencing the same things.”

DHS reports that there are more than 500 children waiting to be adopted. To learn more, visit www.fosteradoptmn.org.

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