Jaissle did, of course, have a choice; he might’ve picked Touré. But it makes sense that in so competitive a contest and such an intimidating environment, he’s decided that one new face is enough.
Elanga, though, is a big miss. When he was playing age-group football, I really liked him – he combined the agility of a winger with the instinct of a striker. But when he broke into the Manchester United first team, his touch didn’t look good enough for the level, and even at Forest, he was more of a runner than a footballer. His worth-ethic, though, is unreal, and it might just be that he’s improved his technique to the point he’s growing into an all-round threat.
Taj Gibson has decided it was time to retire as a player after 17 seasons — but he is not stepping away from the NBA.
Gibson has announced his retirement on social media and will join the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach under Tiago Splitter.
Today is a very emotional day for me.
After 17 seasons in the NBA, I can honestly say I gave this game everything I had.
Basketball gave me the opportunity to live a dream. As a kid from Brooklyn, NY, I was lucky to get a chance to display my talent on the biggest stage. From… pic.twitter.com/tQAgHoUYl6
Gibson was drafted in the first round in 2009 by the Chicago Bulls and played eight seasons for the franchise, finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting and being top-10 in Sixth Man of the Year voting three times (including second in 2014). With the Bulls he averaged 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds a game.
After leaving Chicago he played in New York, Minnesota, Washington, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Memphis and Detroit. This summer, the Grizzlies traded Gibson to the Pelicans, who then waived him.
Now he returns to Chicago, where he is beloved. Gibson made his mark in Bulls history and ranks fifth all-time in blocks (695), sixth in offensive rebounds (1,336), 10th in defensive rebounds (2,250), 10th in games played (562) and 12th in total rebounds (3,586).
Gibson has always had the basketball IQ and demeanor of a coach, and now he will learn under another former NBA big man turned coach in Tiago Splitter.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Riley Cornelio #74 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we finish off this season, players are looking to establish themselves and make statements entering 2027. That is especially true on the mound, where there are only a few guys who have locked down spots for next season. One pitcher who has impressed in his late season audition is Riley Cornelio and I wanted to talk about him a little bit.
Cornelio has had a few different opportunities at points this season. In total, he has thrown 27.2 innings across 14 outings. Cornelio initially got called up in late April, but his only extended runs have been in July and now down the stretch in September. Early in his big league career, Cornelio looked a bit overwhelmed, but that is starting to change as he gets more experienced.
Riley Cornelio’s go-to pitch is his slider. It is a true bullet slider that looks like a fastball before dropping off the table. Everything about Cornelio’s arsenal is built around getting to that slider. When Cornelio can execute his slider, it is game over for hitters. We saw that in his excellent opener appearance yesterday.
When you look at the data on Cornelio’s slider, the numbers are pretty ludicrous. The pitch generates an insane 53.2% whiff rate. Among pitches thrown at least 200 times, Cornelio’s slider has the 4th highest whiff rate of any offering in baseball. Mason Miller’s slider, Adrian Morejon’s changeup and Erik Miller’s slider are the only pitches that generate empty swings at a higher rate.
That pitch is Cornelio’s crown jewel. He has always had a nasty slider in his bag. The key is making everything else work too. For most of this season, control has been a big issue for him. Cornelio’s 17.7% walk rate is a big reason why he has a 4.88 ERA despite having a premier swing and miss offering. He also allows a fair share of hard contact.
It is worth noting that Cornelio’s command has looked noticeably better since he was last re-called in early September. We only have a 3 outing sample, but Cornelio has only walked 2 hitters in 7.2 innings this month. Honestly, I think his 17.7% walk rate is a bit of an outlier.
Throughout Cornelio’s career, his walk rate has consistently been between 10 to 11%. That is not amazing by any means, but if he can replicate that in the big leagues, he will be effective. I also think there is one recent tweak he made that will make throwing strikes a bit easier.
For most of his career, Cornelio has been a two-pitch guy. His fastball and slider are both good pitches, with the latter being fantastic. However, it is tough to survive in today’s game with just two pitches. That is especially true given that Cornelio’s slider is more of a chase pitch.
Midway through this season, he added a cutter. We saw glimpses of the pitch at times, but he has fully unleashed it in September. This year, Cornelio has thrown his cutter 8.5% of the time. However, in September that number spiked to 23.9%. The pitch is used to bridge the gap between his fastball and slider, which is working wonderfully.
That third shape makes the hitter’s decision much more difficult. The 90 MPH cutter sits right between his 85 MPH slider and 96-97 MPH fastball both in velocity and movement. It is a really good addition to his arsenal and I think it could take him to the next level.
I think Cornelio now has the arsenal to thrive as a 1 inning or multi-inning reliever. He looks really comfortable as a 2 to 3 inning opener, so that could be a home for him. However, with a whiff rate of 35.5% this season, I would like to see what he could do in late innings next year.
The ability to generate whiffs is the highlight of Cornelio’s game and he truly does it at an elite level. In his last 300 pitches, Cornelio has generated 56 whiffs, one of the best marks in all of baseball. For context, Cade Cavalli is right behind him at 55 whiffs.
SP Leaders – Last 300 Pitches Thrown
Most Whiffs: Cristian Javier: 61 Whiffs Jacob deGrom: 60 Whiffs Yoshinobu Yamamoto: 60 Whiffs Emmet Sheehan: 56 Whiffs Riley Cornelio: 56 Whiffs Ian Seymour: 55 Whiffs Cade Cavalli: 55 Whiffs Jared Jones: 54 Whiffs
As you can see, I am bullish on Cornelio, but he is far from a finished product. The command will need to be better for him in 2027. Issuing 22 walks in 27.2 innings is just not good enough. Given his history of mediocre but not awful command, there is some hope on that front though.
When Cornelio first came up, he felt overwhelmed by the moment at times. There were moments where his mound presence was shaky. If he wants to be a late inning arm, that cannot happen. To his credit, Cornelio has gotten a lot better at that and looks like a much more confident pitcher.
Riley Cornelio’s surface level numbers do not jump off the page, but I think he is a sneaky breakout candidate. What he has been doing in his last few outings is highly encouraging. In his last 7 outings, Cornelio has a 2.77 ERA. With his filthy slider, new cutter and hard fastball, Cornelio has what it takes to be a quality big league arm.
A lot of the guys who have been put in the Nats bullpen just do not have the necessary talent. I do not think talent is a problem for Cornelio. For him, it comes down to three C’s. The three C’s are command, confidence and cutter. All three of those things could lead him to a big year next season.
Despite the drama on the court, the poor condition of Arthur Ashe Stadium was just one problem among many
At the end of another comically late night and early morning in Flushing Meadows, when the remaining spectators were departing, a familiar scene was unfolding on the US Open tournament grounds. A handful of workers had congregated directly beneath a hole in the ceiling inside one of the tournament shops as they tried to stop water from flowing out of a broken pipe and ruining thousands of pounds worth of merchandise below.
This was not a surprising sight. Upon entering Arthur Ashe Stadium this year, fans were greeted by some ominous signs: “Pardon our appearance while we write the next chapter of Arthur Ashe Stadium.” The tournament’s appearance, it must be said, was hideous. Inside the corridors and rooms at one of the biggest sporting events in the world, it felt like its main building was falling apart.
After being on hold for months awaiting a resolution in the Clippers salary cap circumvention investigation, the trade of Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors — agreed to back on June 30 — is finally going through, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
This comes one day after Clippers owner Steve Ballmer released a statement saying he and the franchise would not fight the harsh penalties handed down by Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA.
While the sides agreed to this trade in June, the Raptors put finalizing the deal on hold, waiting to see the outcome and punishments from the NBA's investigation (they would have been on the hook if Leonard were suspended). Now that the report is done, the punishments have been handed down and accepted, and the Clippers have figured out who is heading basketball operations (though they haven't officially announced it), the trade can and will move forward, as expected.
As a reminder, the trade details are:
• Toronto receives: Kawhi Leonard • The LA Clippers receive: Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), a 2027 first-round pick swap, two second-round picks (2030 and 2033).
This is a win for Leonard, who gets out of the glare of the Los Angeles spotlight and lands in a city where he helped win a title and is beloved. Leonard is expected to reach terms for an extension with the Raptors, although the timing is unclear.
While some pundits wanted to stir up the idea that the Clippers might try to hold up or change the trade — as punishment to Leonard, who got off with a slap on the wrist in all this — league sources had told NBC Sports (and we consistently reported) the deal was going to go through. Beyond the damage to reputations there would be for backing out of an agreed-to deal, this trade also works for both sides.
The Raptors get Leonard, an All-NBA player last year, averaging 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds a night in 65 games. Putting Leonard at forward with Scottie Barnes (almost an All-NBA player last year, 18th in voting), RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in what is a potentially dynamic and dangerous roster (if Leonard can stay healthy).
While the Clippers get a quality player in Ingram, the real draw here is the picks — Los Angeles lost five first-round picks in the punishment from the NBA, this brings a couple in the door. Whatever internal frustrations they may have with Leonard, the Clippers needed those picks and with that needed this trade.
The Montreal Canadiens’ prospects didn’t exactly shine in the first game of the Prospect Challenge, and they weren’t about to do the same on Sunday. Against the Ottawa Senators, the mini Habs proved to be quite a tenacious group and came from behind to secure a 5-4 shootout win. Montreal went with the same leadership group as in Game 1, with Luke Mittelstadt wearing the C and Dillan Brentley and Tyler Thorpe wearing the As.
Much like the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, the Sens had their fair share of high draft picks in the lineup. 32nd pick overall in the last draft, Jaxon Cover made quite an impression, with three points in the first period alone. Kasper Halttunen, who was picked 36th overall in the last draft, was also on the ice and got the first goal of the game. The Sens also had the son of former Hab Thomas Vanek, Blake Vanek, and Christian Kyrou, Jordan’s brother, on their roster.
Cover nearly had a fourth point when he took off on a breakaway early in the second, but Habs’ netminder Mikus Vecvanags made a spectacular save to keep the score at 3-1. Just like on Saturday, the Habs lacked discipline; this time it was Parker Trottier who got a prime seat in the box as the Sens deployed their power play. The Canadiens came out unscathed, however, and they even scored a second power-play goal through Josh Nadeau, who had scored in similar circumstances in the first. Mittelstadt also got an assist on each of his first two lamplighters.
The second frame saw plenty of extracurricular activity, with Wesley Roston dropping the mitts against Kaleb Dietsch and many players from both sides heading to the penalty box. It was almost like a real Montreal-Ottawa duel.
Montreal came out strong in the third, tying up the score with a shot from the point thanks to Jean-Samuel Daigneault before Nadeau completed his hat trick, once again scoring on a Mittelstadt assist.
Unfortunately for the Habs, though, Thorpe missed a hit, and it turned into a knee-on-knee collision, which sent him to the box. The Sens immediately tied up the game, with Cover getting his 4th assist of the game on Eskild Bakke Olsen’s goal. All tied up at the end of 60 minutes, the teams headed to three-on-three overtime, but nobody could break the deadlock.
Alexander Legkov pulled off a great move to give the Canadiens the lead in the shootout, and Vecvanags stood tall to stop Cover, while Parker Trottier scored as well for Montreal, giving the Habs a 5-4 win. While Ottawa had the best side on paper, the Habs were the better team on the night.
Kawhi Leonard is being sent to Toronto, while the Clippers received forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), two second-round picks (2030, 2033), and a 2027 first-round swap in the trade.
The trade was initially agreed on and reported on June 30, 2026. The teams acknowledged the deal but held off on following through because of the ongoing investigation into the Clippers for salary cap circumvention that involved Leonard.
The NBA announced disciplinary action against the Clippers on Sept. 2, after an external law firm completed enough of its investigation and shared its findings with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
As a result, the Clippers were given a $30 million fine and have to forfeit five first-round draft picks (2029–2033). Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and two of the team’s top executives were given suspensions.
Clippers-Raptors trade winners
Kawhi Leonard
The two-time Finals MVP is among the biggest winners. He managed to get out of Los Angeles and return to a place he’s familiar with in Toronto. He also received very little in terms of punishment from the NBA, being fined $700,000. The Raptors are expected to offer Leonard a contract extension.
Clippers
The team needs to hit the restart button, considering the loss of picks as a result of the investigation findings. The trade helps ease the burden of not having to go without too many first-round picks in the future.
Clippers-Raptors trade losers
Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick
The pair are among the biggest losers in the deal. They were left in limbo, spending most of the summer wondering what their basketball future would look like for the upcoming season and potentially beyond.
Ingram is expected to have a player option for the 2027-28 season.
Ingram is coming off a season wherein he averaged 21.5 points on 47.7% shooting from the field across 77 games played. Dick played in 76 games in his third season, averaging six points and 1.9 rebounds.
Earlier this summer, the two teams agreed to terms on a trade that sent Leonard to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, two second-round picks (2030, 2033) and a 2027 first-round swap to Los Angeles. That deal was put on pause to await the conclusion of the NBA's almost year-long investigation into the Clippers and Leonard.
The league investigation reached its conclusion Sept. 2, ruling that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer violated the league's collective bargaining agreement by facilitating side deals between Leonard and four companies in an effort to circumvent the salary cap. Severe punishments were handed out, but Leonard emerged relatively unscathed with a $700,000 fine. That cleared the way for the Raptors and what remains of LA's front office to move forward with the trade, which has now gone through according to ESPN.
Done deal: The LA Clippers and Raptors have both agreed to complete the trade sending Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders, per ESPN sources. The sides will now schedule a… pic.twitter.com/c0lk5xUGJG
Here's exactly what the Clippers are getting in return for Leonard, and how the NBA's sanctions factor in:
Brandon Ingram
Ingram is no stranger to Los Angeles. The Lakers' No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft spent much of the early part of his career under the intense microscope that comes with playing for the purple and gold and showed enough flashes of potential that he was considered a centerpiece of the haul the New Orleans Pelicans received from the Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade in 2019. He was an All-Star in his first year with the Pels, but injuries kept him from being a consistent force, and New Orleans eventually shipped him off to Canada at the 2025 trade deadline.
The headliner of the return package, Ingram is coming off of his second career All-Star season after averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.8 minutes in 77 games played in his first (and now only) season in Toronto. Those 77 games are notable because it's the most Ingram has played in a season since his rookie year a decade ago (79).
A smooth 6-8 wing, he's shown he can be a walking bucket when healthy and when paired with a true facilitator in the backcourt. Darius Garland checks that second box. As for the first one, that can only be determined in time.
Gradey Dick
Whereas Ingram is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, Gradey Dick is coming off of his worst.
The 6-8 wing out of Kansas was lauded during the 2023 draft as someone who could space the floor on offense and be a lockdown defender. His shooting hasn't exactly translated to the NBA, however. Dick shot a pedestrian 36.5% from 3-point range during his rookie season; that number dropped to 35% in 2024-25 and 30.1% last season as his usage dipped to a career-low 14.0 minutes per game. His player efficiency rating has yet to surpass 10.7 (league average is 15) and he carries a career box plus/minus of minus-4.
Dick has struggled during his first three seasons, but maybe a change of scenery – specifically to a team that has no immediate future of contending – is exactly what he needs to turn his career around.
Draft picks
This is the most important part of the trade for the Clippers. They get back two unprotected first-round picks, one in 2031 and 2033, two second-rounders in 2030 and '33 and a pick-swap in 2027.
How do NBA sanctions affect the trade?
Aside from delaying the trade from being completed for over two months? Significantly.
Arguably the biggest punishment (out of many) announced by commissioner Adam Silver was the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks. Starting in 2029, the Clippers have been stripped of one pick in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033. But since the Leonard trade technically hadn't happened yet, they'll still be able to receive the Raptors' first-rounders in '31 and '33 with no penalty, while forfeiting only their own picks. They also have a top three-protected pick swap with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2029 after forfeiting the unprotected pick they received from the Indiana Pacers that year for Ivica Zubac at last season's trade deadline.
Ingram and Dick are also two tradeable assets that the team has suddenly been strapped with after an offseason of roster overturn. Ingram has two years left on the three-year, $120 million extension he signed with the Raptors and has a player option for 2027-28. Dick is set to be a restricted free agent after this season, but with president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank suspended for six months, any major move seem unlikely.
A major shareholder of Atlanta Braves Holdings is publicly pushing the team’s board to explore a sale, arguing the current sports market presents a rare opportunity ownership shouldn’t let pass by. Businesswire.com reported this news and published a letter to the Braves from Breach Inlet Capital Management.
Breach Inlet, which has held its stake in the company for nearly a decade, laid out its case in a letter addressed to the Braves’ board of directors. The firm argues a confluence of factors — a booming sports sales market, looming labor uncertainty in Major League Baseball, and unfavorable tax changes on the horizon — make now the ideal time for the Braves to explore a sale.
“We believe the timing is optimal to pursue a sale of BATRK,” the firm’s press release states, referring to the company’s stock ticker.
A red-hot market for sports franchises
Breach Inlet pointed to a string of record-breaking sports sales this year as evidence that investor appetite for teams has never been higher. The NFL’s Seattle Seahawks sold for a league-record price in July, only for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers to set an even bigger record the following month. Major League Baseball has seen similar momentum, with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels both setting new league sale records in recent months.
The firm also cited a Wall Street Journal report highlighting rising investor interest in sports franchises as a hedge against artificial intelligence’s disruption of other industries, framing sports teams as a rare “AI-proof” asset class.
Breach Inlet’s message to the board and controlling shareholder John Malone was straightforward: cash in now, rather than assume franchise valuations will keep climbing indefinitely.
A looming labor fight
The letter also raised concerns about Major League Baseball’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, which expires Dec. 1. With team owners reportedly favoring a salary cap and players firmly opposed, Breach Inlet expects a lockout, drawing comparisons to the 1994 players’ strike that canceled that year’s World Series and depressed league attendance for more than a decade afterward.
The firm argued the Braves should capitalize on the sport’s current momentum — attendance and national television viewership have both risen significantly in recent years — before a potential lockout threatens that progress.
Tax changes on the horizon
Breach Inlet also flagged upcoming changes to federal tax law that could put the Braves at a financial disadvantage compared to other MLB franchises. Because the Braves are publicly traded, the team faces limits on how much executive compensation it can deduct for tax purposes — a restriction that will expand in 2027 to cover additional highly paid employees, including star players. Nearly every other MLB franchise is privately held and wouldn’t face the same tax exposure, according to the letter.
A franchise with “scarcity value”
The firm made the case that the Braves represent a uniquely valuable asset, citing the team’s status as MLB’s longest continuously operating franchise, its large fan base across the Southeast, a strong on-field track record, and its ownership of BravesVision, the team’s in-house media platform.
Much of Breach Inlet’s argument centered on The Battery Atlanta, the mixed-use development surrounding Truist Park. The firm noted the complex draws roughly 9 million visitors annually, a figure it says exceeds comparable sports developments and even Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The letter cited praise from other league executives, including a Tampa Bay Rays official who called The Battery “the gold standard” for similar ballpark district projects.
Arguing the Braves are undervalued
Breach Inlet contends that, despite that combination of assets, BATRK stock is currently undervalued relative to recent MLB sale prices. Using various valuation comparisons to the recently sold Angels, the firm estimated the Braves could be worth anywhere from roughly $72 to $109 per share in a sale — implying substantial upside compared to the stock’s current trading price.
The letter also noted that Braves executives and directors hold meaningful equity stakes in the company, arguing that a sale would reward leadership for years of financial growth under their watch, including significant increases in company revenue and earnings since 2016.
What’s next
Breach Inlet acknowledged that MLB’s national television rights deals, most of which expire in December 2028, could become more valuable at renewal — a factor that might argue for waiting. But the firm pointed to recent record sale prices as evidence that buyers are already pricing in that future upside, and it urged the board to test that theory by running a formal sale process.
The letter closes with a direct call for the board to engage with Malone, who holds effective voting control of the company, to gauge his willingness to sell. If Malone prefers to keep the team, Breach Inlet suggested he consider taking the company private instead.
It remains to be seen how the Braves’ board, or Malone himself, will respond to the letter’s recommendations.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Wild training camp is almost here. With day one starting on Thursday, we have some questions.
The Wild announced a 48-player training camp roster that will report to TRIA Rink beginning Sept. 17, officially beginning preparations for the 2026-27 season.
Minnesota enters camp with Stanley Cup expectations, but that doesn't mean there aren't questions surrounding the roster.
From the middle of the ice to the crease, there will be plenty to watch over the next few weeks. Here are six of the biggest questions facing the Wild as training camp gets underway.
Who Will Emerge As The Wild's No. 1 Center?
This might be the biggest on-ice question facing Minnesota.
Joel Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman and Danila Yurov all provide coach John Hynes with options down the middle, but who will ultimately center the Wild's first line?
Eriksson Ek is probably the most natural answer. He has already shown chemistry with Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, and putting those three together would give Minnesota a legitimate loaded top line.
But doing so could also create questions farther down the lineup. We will get to the depth topic later.
Hartman has spent significant time alongside Kaprizov in recent seasons and could once again get an opportunity there. Yurov is perhaps the most intriguing option.
The 22-year-old recorded 27 points during his rookie season and spent stretches playing between Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. A significant step forward from Yurov could completely change the construction of Minnesota's lineup.
And then there is another possibility: What if the answer isn't currently on the roster?
General manager Bill Guerin has repeatedly shown a willingness to make significant trades when he believes they improve his team. The Wild don't necessarily have to solve their No. 1 center question during training camp, but camp should give us the first indication of how they plan to approach it.
When Quinn Hughes speaks to the Minnesota media during training camp, there is little doubt where the questions will begin.
Hughes is entering the final season of his contract and recently made it clear at the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour that he doesn't feel pressured into getting an extension done before camp.
"This is going to be done whenever I feel like it needs to be done," Hughes said in Las Vegas. "I don't feel backed up against a wall."
Hughes added that conversations with the Wild hadn't been extensive over the summer because he wanted an opportunity to reset, but said he expects things to "heat up" as the season gets closer.
Hughes may not reveal anything more than he did in Vegas, but every answer will be dissected. Does he sound like someone who sees Minnesota as his long-term home? Have negotiations progressed? Is there any timetable?
Until Hughes signs an extension, his contract situation will hover over everything the Wild do.
Training camp will give Minnesota reporters their first opportunity to ask him about it on home soil.
Is Jesper Wallstedt Ready To Take Over The Crease?
For Jesper Wallstedt, this isn't just another training camp.
Filip Gustavsson is expected to begin the season on injured reserve as he continues recovering from offseason hip surgery, leaving Wallstedt and offseason addition Calvin Pickard as Minnesota's NHL goaltenders entering camp.
That puts Wallstedt in position to carry a significant workload to begin the season.
The good news for Minnesota is that he has already shown he can handle NHL competition.
Wallstedt, 23, went 18-9-6 with a .915 save percentage during the 2025-26 regular season before eventually taking over the crease during the playoffs. He started 10 postseason games and helped Minnesota defeat the Dallas Stars in the opening round.
Now comes another step.
Instead of being the young goalie pushing Gustavsson for playing time, Wallstedt enters camp knowing Minnesota could need him to be its No. 1 goaltender for an extended stretch.
How he looks during camp and the preseason will be one of the biggest storylines to follow.
How Will The Wild Replace All Of The Offense They Lost?
Minnesota's forward group will look considerably different this season.
Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Johansson and Vladimir Tarasenko are all gone, leaving the Wild without three forwards who played significant offensive roles last season.
That is 53 goals and 150 points between the three of them.
Replacing that production won't fall on one player.
The Wild added Blake Coleman and Maxim Shabanov during the offseason, while Yurov and Bobby Brink could be asked to take on larger roles. Minnesota will also need continued high-end production from Kaprizov and Boldy.
Coleman brings four 20-goal seasons to Minnesota, while Shabanov is one of the most interesting wild cards on the roster after recording 18 points in 44 games with the New York Islanders last season.
The Wild may have replaced some of the departed players stylistically, but replacing their combined offensive production is another matter.
Camp will provide the first look at how Hynes plans to redistribute those minutes and opportunities.
Who Plays With Kirill Kaprizov?
For years, this question barely needed to be asked.
If Kaprizov was healthy, there was a pretty good chance Zuccarello would be next to him.
Not anymore.
Zuccarello's departure creates an opening alongside Minnesota's superstar, and there are several ways Hynes could approach it.
The easiest solution would be loading up Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek and Boldy. That trio has been dominant when used together, but separating Boldy from Kaprizov gives Minnesota another elite offensive threat capable of driving his own line.
Shabanov could also get a look alongside Kaprizov. So could Yurov. Hartman remains an option, and Hynes could spend much of camp experimenting with different combinations.
Whoever gets the opportunity will be stepping into one of the most important roles on the roster.
Finding Kaprizov's next running mate begins in camp.
Is Maxim Shabanov A Legitimate Top-Six Forward?
Perhaps no newcomer will be more interesting to watch than Shabanov.
Minnesota signed the 25-year-old forward to a one-year contract after his first NHL season with the Islanders, where he recorded five goals and 18 points in 44 games.
Those numbers don't scream top-six forward.
But the skill that made Shabanov an intriguing player coming out of the KHL hasn't disappeared, and Minnesota may provide him with a much different opportunity.
Bill Guerin told us that he identifies Shabanov as a player who could see time in the Wild's top six.
"We see him in that top-six role, but we have to see who he's going to have the best chemistry with."
Could that include playing alongside Kaprizov?
That's what makes camp so interesting.
Before making the jump to North America, the 5-foot-8 winger starred in the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk, posting 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points in 65 games during the 2024-25 season, establishing himself as one of the league's most dynamic offensive players.
If Shabanov proves capable of producing in a top-six role, the Wild's forward group suddenly looks considerably deeper. If he doesn't, Minnesota may still have a hole to address.
The preseason won't answer every question about Shabanov, but we should quickly learn how the Wild view him.
And if he's skating next to No. 97 when camp begins, we'll have our first clue.
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 12: Lucas Erceg #60 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 12, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It has been a long fall for Lucas Erceg, who went from being the most trusted Royals reliever a year ago, to being demoted to the minors. But the 31-year-old right-hander will get his shot at redemption.
The Royals recalled Erceg from Omaha today and optioned right-hander Easton McGee to the minors. Erceg gave up two runs in 10.1 innings for a 1.74 ERA in Triple-A, and struck out 13 while walking just 3. He was demoted on August 18 after posting a 6.23 ERA with 29 walks and 31 strikeouts in 43.1 innings.
Erceg had a big drop in strikeouts last year, and has caught up to him this year. While he still throws hard, opponents have teed off on his fastball, hitting .333 against the pitch. His command has been off and he has thrown his change up far less. Before his demotion, he had given up 14 runs and walked 9 in his last 13 outings covering 10.2 innings. Erceg will be eligible for salary arbitration for the first time after this season.
McGee has appeared in seven games for the Royals and gave up nine runs in 9.1 innings with 8 strikeouts. The Royals purchased him from the Brewers in mid-July.
RICHMOND, VA - AUGUST 30: Jacob Bresnahan #32 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels pitches during the game between the Portland Sea Dogs and the Richmond Flying Squirrels at CarMax Park on Sunday, August 30, 2026 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matthew Mitrani/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
This was the most sparse Minor League Baseball weekend roundup in quite a while, as the San Francisco Giants affiliates played just seven games across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That means the season is winding down … but there’s still lots to talk about!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
A handful of roster moves across the Minors to report. Low-A San Jose outfielder Peyton Bonds, AA Richmond RHP Manuel Mercedes, and Richmond catcher Onil Perez were all placed on the Development List. Richmond activated shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) and catcher Ty Hanchey off of the 7-Day IL, and sent infielder Zane Zielinski to AAA Sacramento to cover some roster holes. Sacramento also activated RHP Tristan Beck off the IL.
A pair of recent draftees, outfielder Charles Bussey III and LHP Beau Bryans, were assigned to Low-A San Jose.
But the big news is that Jackson Flora has been promoted from San Jose to Richmond. July’s No. 4 overall pick, who pitched twice for San Jose (once in the regular season and once in the playoffs) will head to AA for the playoffs. While it’s probably a move made mostly with logistics in mind, given the different schedules of the teams, it will also be a great opportunity for Flora to prove that he deserves an aggressive assignment to begin the 2027 season.
AAA Sacramento (77-64)
Friday: Sacramento River Cats lost to the Las Vegas Aviators 9-6 [box score] Saturday: Sacramento River Cats lost to the Las Vegas Aviators 3-2 [box score] Sunday: Sacramento River Cats lost to the Las Vegas Aviators 4-3 [box score]
The River Cats are limping to the finish line, as they lost the final 5 games of the season’s penultimate series. A winning record has been guaranteed for quite a while, but with so much talent having been siphoned off of the roster to head to the Majors, Sacramento is having a hard time competing down the stretch.
There were still some really good performances, though, particularly from a notable prospect on each side of the ball: LHP Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL) and third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL).
Whitman has been ending the best season of his young career in excellent fashion, and Sunday was yet another data point. The 2023 comp-round pick breezed through 6 innings with just 89 pitches thrown, while allowing only 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run, and striking out 4 batters.
After a little bit of a hiccup, Whitman has flourished down the stretch. He’s pitched at least 6 innings in 5 consecutive starts, accruing a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 22-to-4 in that span. In 3 September starts, Whitman — who turns 25 on Thursday — has given up 16 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs in 21 innings, albeit with just 12 strikeouts. There’s work to do on the strikeout front, but that type of baserunner suppression is very impressive, especially since 2 of those starts were in Las Vegas, where the baseball positively flies.
Whitman is down to a 3.65 ERA in AAA, though the lack of strikeouts (7.6 per 9 innings) has resulted in an FIP lagging at 4.65. Of the 85 Pacific Coast League pitchers with at least 50 innings this year, that ERA ranks 10th, while the FIP is 13th (it’s a hitter’s league!). And while it would be nice to see the Kent State alum add more strikeouts to his tally, his 2.5 walks per 9 innings is 7th best.
The Giants MLB promotions of LHP César Perdomo and RHP Yunior Marte (No. 25 CPL), the latter directly from AA, suggested to me that they were leaning towards not protecting Whitman from the Rule 5 Draft. It’s unclear if this hot stretch has changed that equation, but if there is a Rule 5 Draft this year (and that’s admittedly a big “if”), it’s hard for me to see a lefty with those numbers and his draft pedigree getting passed over.
Whitman, who is at a career-high 129.1 innings pitched, is scheduled to make one more start. We’ll see if he can finish the season with a bang.
As for Harber, he had really been struggling lately, but had a great weekend. The righty slugger went 3-8 in this trio of games, while drawing 4 walks, striking out once, and smashing his 1st home run in 29 games.
Harber came out of the gates firing when he got promoted to AAA, but things have caught up to him over the last month. Even with that nice weekend, in the last 16 games the UNC product is hitting just 9-62 with 2 extra-base hits, 10 walks, and 21 strikeouts. Harber, who turns 25 later this month, has a .757 OPS and a 102 wRC+ in 48 games with the River Cats, and while it’s a bummer to see him cool down after his blistering stretch, it’s still a quality line overall, given that it’s his 1st taste of AAA and that he dominated AA this season. Very much looking forward to seeing what he does next year.
Other than that pair, there weren’t a ton of performances to talk about. Right fielder/left fielder Will Brennan continued his power burst to end the season, as he smacked a 2-run home run on Friday, though he finished the weekend just 1-10 with a stolen base and a strikeout. The veteran has an .813 OPS and a 109 wRC+ with Sacramento this year.
Right fielder/left fielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) continued his rehab assignment, and went 1-6 with a double, a walk, and 2 strikeouts. Second baseman Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL) hit just 2-8 with a strikeout, but both of his hits were doubles. Outfielder Darren Baker, who will hopefully be back with the organization next year, went 3-11 with 2 walks, 2 stolen bases, and 3 strikeouts.
Whitman’s start was not only the best start, but the only real start, as Sacramento went with a bullpen game on both Friday and Saturday. RHP Duncan Davitt, a 26-year old rostered player who was claimed off of waivers, made his organizational debut and it went excellently, as he pitched 3 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts. What an introduction to the system! Now we’ll see if he can survive the mass exodus of the 40-man roster when the season ends.
Tough outings for a pair of arms who recently made it to AAA, RHPs Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) and Logan Martin. Both pitched on Friday, with Bednar allowing a hit, 2 walks, and 2 unearned runs in just 1 inning of work, with 2 strikeouts, and Martin ceding 4 hits, 2 walks, 2 homers, and 5 runs in just 2.1 innings. Bednar has a 7.23 ERA and a 4.72 FIP in 18.2 AAA innings this year, while Martin was making just his 2nd appearance at the level. RHP Ryan Walker again struggled, giving up 4 baserunners, a home run, and an earned run in 1.2 innings, as his time with the organization appears to be nearing an end.
AA Richmond (74-61)
Friday: Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Chesapeake Baysox 1-0 [box score] Sunday: Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Chesapeake Baysox 3-1 [box score]
Richmond had a great regular season but it sure didn’t end well. The Squirrels, who had Saturday’s game cancelled due to rain, won just 3 of their final 16 games. But they can still put that in the rearview mirror, as their division series against Erie kicks off on Tuesday. Things can be salvaged!
Just as with Sacramento, Richmond’s weekend was highlighted by a stellar start from a southpaw who is putting the cap on a brilliant season. For the Squirrels, it was LHP Jacob Bresnahan (No. 11 CPL), who had far and away his best start since a recent promotion to the Eastern League.
It was a great year for Bresnahan, who has a chance at winning Pitcher of the Year honors in the High-A Northwest League, which would mark the 3rd season in a row that he won the award in his league. But his introduction to AA was fairly rude: in his 1st 2 starts, he gave up 20 baserunners and 9 runs in just 9 innings of work.
But in his 3rd and final (regular season) start at the level? Well, it seems he adjusted and figured it out. Bresnahan was sensational on Friday, tossing 7 shutout innings while giving up just 4 hits (all singles) and 1 walk, and striking out 7 Baysox batters.
The way that the recently-turned 21-year old, who came over in the Alex Cobb trade, controlled the strike zone was outstanding: he needed just 88 pitches to get through those 7 innings, and a whopping 66 of them were strikes.
Jacob Bresnahan just fired off his best AA start so far
7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K
The most impressive part may have been command, but the stuff looked good too. That fastball shape is crazy…#SFGiantspic.twitter.com/AILuBXMvoD
Bresnahan will be back in AA to start the 2027 season and, if he pitches like this a few more times, it won’t be long before he’s in AAA. And given what we’ve seen from the Giants promotion strategy this year, you would not be blamed for hoping — or even expecting — that the youngster makes his MLB debut sometime next year.
That’s putting the cart ahead of the horse. For now, we have a much more pressing question: where does Bresnahan rank among Giants pitching prospects? He’s right there with RHP Ramon Marquez, LHP Carson Bolemon, and RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL) for the top pitching prospect behind RHP Jackson Flora. That will be a fun debate in the Community Prospect List this winter…
The finale was started by LHP Greg Farone, who only pitched 3 innings and they were a little odd. Farone only gave up 1 hit, a single, and kept runs off the board. But he also only had 1 strikeout, while walking 3 batters, and throwing just 27 of 51 pitches for strikes. Farone, a 24-year old who was a 7th-round pick in 2024, ends his 2nd pro season — which was spent entirely in AA — with a 5.48 ERA and a 5.79 FIP. He’ll almost certainly be back in Richmond to start the 2027 season.
Strong relief showings to end the year for RHPs Shane Rademacher, Mitch White, and Tyler Vogel. Flame-throwing RHP Marty Gair, acquired at the deadline, threw a scoreless inning with a hit, a walk, and a strikeout in his 4th appearance since getting promoted.
Very little to mention on offense, as the Squirrels scored just 2 runs across as many games. The excitement came from the return of shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL), who came back from an IL stint for the final weekend. Kilen understandably had some rust, as last year’s 1st-round pick hit just 1-8 with 3 strikeouts, but the hit he did knock cleared the fence! There’s a sight for sore eyes!
After a quality year in High-A, Kilen ends his 33-game AA stint with an .811 OPS and a 112 wRC+. I’m curious to see if the Giants have the 22-year old lefty start 2027 in AAA; given the small games total in AA, it would make sense if he were back in Richmond. But on the other hand, he did very well in those 33 games, and it would keep the star shortstop prospects spaced out, since Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) is certainly bound for AA, Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) is almost certainly headed to High-A, Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) will surely continue in Low-A, and Joniel Hernandez will be headed to the ACL.
Right fielder/left fielder Lisbel Diaz (No. 32 CPL) has really struggled to acclimate to AA, but ended on a high note. After going 0-3 with a strikeout on Friday, the just-turned 21-year old right-hander hit 2-4 with a double, a stolen base, and an outfield assist in the finale, though he was caught stealing.
Lisbel does it again! 🎯
It’s Diaz’s second outfield assist to cut down a run at the plate in as many games! pic.twitter.com/sqyiUjICyV
After an excellent year in High-A, Diaz finished his AA debut with just a .497 OPS and a 27 wRC+ in 22 games, though he stole 8 bases in 9 attempts. He ends the year 2nd in the system with 26 home runs … not bad for someone his age and with his defensive abilities!
High-A Eugene (eliminated)
Friday: Eugene Emeralds lost to the Vancouver Canadians 8-7 (12 innings) [box score]
An excellent season for the Emeralds came to a sad trombone ending. Eugene was swept in the best-of-5 championship series and, just to add a little salt to the wound, did so after blowing a 7-4 lead in the 9th inning (and a 7-3 lead in the 8th). The offending party was RHP Liam Simon, who gave up a single and a 3-run home run, which sandwiched an error, and tagged 3 runs to his name (in the box score all 3 runs are earned, which can’t be correct).
Simon, who struck out 2 batters, ended the year with a 5.51 ERA and a 5.29 FIP, with tons of strikeouts and tons of walks. The 2022 5th-rounder out of Notre Dame has about as much life in his arm as anyone in the system, but hasn’t yet figured out how to harness it.
RHP Nate Nabholz tried his best to keep the Emeralds in the game in extras, giving up just 1 baserunner in 3 innings with 2 strikeouts, but 2 of the 3 Manfred Men scored against him, and the Emeralds hitters just couldn’t keep pace.
As for the start, RHP Hunter Dryden ended his year with a not-so-great outing, as he gave up 3 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit batter, 1 home run, and 3 runs in 4 innings of work, while striking out 2. It will be interesting to see what the Giants do with the 17th-round pick from the 2024 draft. He showed some very interesting things this year, and put up some decent strikeout numbers, but he also finished his age-24 season with just a 4.47 ERA and a 5.47 FIP in High-A. Does he repeat the level as a starter? Does he head to AA as a starter? Does he get moved to the bullpen? We’ll find out in a few months.
Third baseman Isaiah Barkett ended a quality debut season with a bang, hitting 3-5 with a double and a walk. Barkett, who was taken in the 10th round out of Stetson a year ago, demolished Low-A pitchers this year, posting an .886 OPS, a 125 wRC+, and just an 8.2% strikeout rate. The 22-year old righty finished the year with a strong 10-game stint in High-A, where he had a .786 OPS, a 114 wRC+, and a 9.5% strikeout rate, before going 5-11 with 3 walks in the postseason. Barkett mostly played second base this year, but spent some time at third, first, and right field as well.
Shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) had one of the best years on the farm, and he ended it well, hitting 2-6 with a double and 3 runs batted in, though he was caught stealing and committed an error. After quickly proving that he was way too good for the California League, the switch-hitting 19-year old posted an .836 OPS and a 119 wRC+ in 69 High-A games. He looks ready for AA if you ask me!
Sunday: San Jose Giants lost to the Lake Elsinore Storm 12-1 [box score]
For the first time in a long time, the Baby Giants have their backs against the wall. San Jose ended the year having won 20 of their final 22 games, and then kicked off the playoffs with 2 straight wins to sweep their best-of-3 division series.
But the championship series will not go so smoothly, as San Jose got their butts kicked in the opener of the best-of-3 series. The Baby Giants will now have to win 2 straight games (Tuesday and Wednesday, both at home) in order for their dream season to end with a celebration.
It was a bad game through and through. When you give up 12 runs, you know you did something poor on the mound, and it began with the starter, RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL). Martinez has had a difficult season, and he had a very difficult outing in his final appearance of the year, giving up 5 hits, 2 walks, 5 runs, and 4 earned runs in just 2 innings of work, with only 1 strikeout.
After a breakout 2025, the just-turned 22-year old came back to earth this season, posting a 4.61 ERA and a 4.77 FIP on the year. What really did Martinez in was an abundance of walks and home runs (4.5 and 1.1 per 9 innings, respectively), as he did a great job being hard to hit: he struck out 12.9 batters per 9 innings, and allowed just 73 hits in 93.2 innings. There’s a lot to love there, even if it needs to get back on track in 2027.
LHP Leandro Rodriguez, and RHPs Fernando Vasquez and Cooper McGrath also struggled quite a bit, though RHP Melvin Pineda was decent.
Just as this was a very rough game for a team that otherwise had a nearly-perfect season, it was a very rough game for a prospect that otherwise had a nearly-perfect season: shortstop Josuar González (No. 2 CPL). Other than a better bill of health, it’s hard to draw up a better season for the 18-year old switch-hitter, who posted a .991 OPS and a 146 wRC+ between the ACL and Low-A, with 21 stolen bases. But this was a game he’ll want to forget … or better yet, bounce back from tomorrow. González reached base just once, on a walk, and finished the day 0-4 with 3 strikeouts and 2 errors.
In a more exciting hitless performance, right fielder Charles Bussey III made his professional debut in this game. Bussey is a 22-year old whom the Giants took in the 11th round in July out of a Junior College. The right-handed hitter went 0-4 with a strikeout, but hey … he’s a pro baseball player now!
Strong performances from a pair of 2025 draftees: second baseman Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL) hit 1-2 with 3 walks, while left fielder Broedy Poppell went 2-3 with a walk and an outfield assist. Meola, drafted in the 4th round, finished the year with an .821 OPS and a 103 wRC+; Poppell, a 13th-rounder, posted a .767 OPS and a 96 wRC+.
Home run tracker
18 — Parks Harber — [6 in AAA; 12 in AA] 11 — Will Brennan — [AAA] 11 — Gavin Kilen — [2 in AA; 9 in High-A]
Colorado Avalanche fans can stop wondering who will be running the front office.
Joe Sakic is staying.
After returning to the general manager position following Chris MacFarland's departure for the Nashville Predators, Sakic has decided to remain in the role, meaning the Avalanche will no longer need to begin the search for his eventual replacement.
Sakic stepped away from the GM position after Colorado's Stanley Cup championship in 2022, moving into the role of president of hockey operations. But MacFarland's departure forced the Avalanche to turn back to the man who helped build the team into a champion.
What initially appeared to be a temporary arrangement now looks much more permanent.
According to team sources who spoke exclusively to The Denver Gazette's Evan Rawal, Sakic felt “reinvigorated” by the opportunity to return to the GM chair. The Avalanche's four-game sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final also reportedly brought his competitive fire back.
For an organization that had expected to eventually begin looking for a new general manager, the decision removes one major question heading into the 2026-27 season.
Sakic, after all, knows this team better than almost anyone.
He was the architect of the roster that eventually lifted the Stanley Cup in 2022, and while his responsibilities changed after that championship, his influence throughout the organization never really disappeared.
Now, he gets another opportunity to shape the roster himself.
The timing is particularly interesting with training camp set to open Thursday at Family Sports Center.
The Avalanche enter the season with plenty to prove after their disappointing postseason exit, but there will also be plenty of attention on what Sakic does with the roster now that he has officially decided to stay in the GM role.
There could be some changes coming behind the scenes as well.
The Hockey News has heard that the Fix-It rink inside Family Sports Center, which underwent significant upgrades over the past several months, including new ice and boards, could eventually become the Avalanche's primary practice rink.
For now, though, the biggest development is much more straightforward.
Sakic isn't going anywhere.
And after a brutal playoff loss that apparently reignited his competitive fire, the Avalanche’s Hall of Fame executive has another opportunity to lead the team he helped build back to the top of the hockey world and capture another Stanley Cup championship.
KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 31: Kansas City Royals empty seats during the home opener game against the Chicago White Sox on July 31, 2020 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Royals announced today they have selected a construction team with Mortenson and McCownGordon heading the project, along with local builder JE Dunn for the proposed downtown ballpark. While the project could still be subject to a public vote, the plans call for a 34,000-seat ballpark located by Crown Center.
The seating capacity would represent a 10 percent reduction from the 37,903 capacity at Kauffman Stadium, which is a 6.7 percent reduction from the 40,625 seats the stadium held until renovations in the early 2000s. At 34,000 seats, it would have a smaller capacity than any other current MLB stadium (excluding Sutter Health Park in Sacramento).
But the smaller capacity is part of a larger trend in ballparks. The new Athletics ballpark in Las Vegas is projected to have just 33,000 seats, and a new proposed Rays ballpark in St. Petersburg will have just 31,000 permanent seats. Even recent ballparks for the Braves and Rangers, both of which have capacities over 40,000, reduced the number of seats by 15 percent over their previous homes.
This comes as average attendance at MLB games is above pre-pandemic levels and on pace to rise for the fifth consecutive year. While the number of fans at games is still down from the early 2000s, they are much higher than they were in the 80s and 90s when many teams played in cavernous multi-purpose stadiums.
So what gives?
While it may seem counterintuitive, baseball teams are no longer trying to get as many people into the ballpark as possible. Instead, they are trying to get more out of the people who do show up.
For much of baseball history, stadium economics were fairly straightforward – sell as many tickets as possible, then sell those fans hot dogs, beer, peanuts, and Cracker Jack after they’re in. Even if the stadium sits half-empty for mid-week September games, teams wanted to maximize the number of fans they could accommodate for big draws.
But today, the economics of the modern ballpark are different. Teams increasingly value premium seating, clubs, suites, restaurants, bars and social spaces over another few thousand inexpensive seats in the upper deck. Those amenities take up considerably more room per customer, but they can also generate considerably more revenue. A filing in a 2014 lawsuit showed that the Royals had just 19 private suites, by far the lowest number in baseball and far below the MLB-average of 76.
Fewer seats also constrain supply, which can drive prices up. According to a study by Seatgeek and Doc’s Sports, the Royals have the sixth-cheapest tickets in baseball. The Athletics, who went from playing in a huge football stadium in Oakland to a minor league ballpark with just over 14,000 seats, suddenly had the third-most expensive ticket in baseball to watch a team with a worse record than the Royals.
Forbes estimates the Royals made $76 million in gate receipts in 2025. That is not too bad considering they finished with the fifth-worst attendance. But there is considerably more money to be made from each customer, as teams with recently-built ballparks have found. The Braves, playing at Truist Park, generated an estimated $64 in gate receipts per attendee, while the Rangers generated about $55 per attendee at Globe Life Field.
Note: Data excludes the Rays and Athletics, who played at minor league ballparks in 2025.
Does a smaller capacity make sense for the Royals?
A new ballpark must fit into a tighter location at Crown Center than the sprawling Truman Sports Complex. The anticipated ballpark district would take up 85 acres, about a fifth of the acreage at their current location. With less land available for the stadium, parking and surrounding development, designers will have an incentive to use space more efficiently rather than devote it to thousands of seats that would sit empty for much of the season.
The team has never averaged 34,000 fans per game for an entire season. Not counting home openers, the team has only had 25 total games since 2016 with 34,000 fans or more – most of those were filled with Cardinals fans. For most games, the lost seats won’t be noticed.
On the other hand, during their 2015 championship season, they drew 34,000 or more in 41 of their 81 home games. And part of the argument for moving downtown is that the Royals could draw fans who aren’t coming to Kauffman Stadium now. More than 30,000 people live downtown, while thousands more commute there for work and could more easily catch a weeknight game. If a downtown stadium succeeds in expanding the Royals’ audience, a 34,000-seat capacity that looks perfectly adequate based on recent attendance could suddenly feel a lot more limiting.
Despite potentially higher prices, a smaller stadium does not necessarily mean a worse fan experience. Fewer seats may create a more intimate environment – it is not as much fun to attend a game with thousands of empty seats. Reducing the amount of space devoted to seating can also give designers more room for wider concourses, gathering areas, restaurants and bars, standing-room viewing areas and other amenities that allow fans to move around the ballpark without losing touch with the game.
A smaller stadium would be more than enough for the Royals on most nights, and a smaller footprint could create a more intimate and enjoyable experience. But the tradeoff will become apparent when the team is good, when fewer seats will mean higher prices and some fans getting shut out. The Royals are designing a ballpark to maximize revenues to compete with other teams. A smaller stadium may make sense for the economics of modern baseball, even if Royals fans someday find themselves wishing there were more seats.
San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Most Major League Baseball trade deadline deals swap top minor-league prospects for proven big-league talent.
Why? Playoff-contending teams are willing to gamble their future away to secure a postseason berth. Participating in October baseball is worth the risk.
Padres gambled and possibly won deadline deal
Last summer, the San Diego Padres acquired reliever Mason Miller from the Athletics for a package of minor-league talent, including the organization’s top prospect, Leo De Vries.
Since arriving in San Diego, Miller has elevated the Padres bullpen to elite status. The right-hander has posted a 1.04 ERA over 80 appearances and struck out 162 batters in 86.2 innings pitched. No question, he is a foundation piece of the franchise.
Friars President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller has a “win-now” mentality, and he saw an opportunity to trade for the game’s premier closer, who is not eligible to become a free agent until after the 2030 season. To complete the deal, Preller had to give up the organization’s top positional prospect.
Once it became official, the argument began over who won the trade.
Why positional prospect injuries only count when they happen
Most personnel departments would never trade a top everyday minor league prospect for a pitcher who perhaps is one of the best in baseball. The reason is that a positional prospect has his whole baseball career ahead of him. A pitcher is one throw away from an arm injury.
However, the narrative changes if the positional prospect sustains a major injury. That is why the news about De Vries was heartbreaking, as he is scheduled to have shoulder surgery this week. De Vries will be sidelined for approximately eight months.
The 19-year-old switch-hitter injured his right shoulder sliding head-first into a base. De Vries tried to play through the pain, but increasing shoulder instability ultimately led to an MRI. It revealed an anterior labrum tear.
The pending surgery will delay his major league debut until later in the 2027 season. The anticipation of De Vries’ arrival is high, and why not? He batted .290 with 13 HR and 55 RBI in 93 games. But the fear that De Vries may never return to his former self has crept into everyone’s minds.
The unfortunate shoulder injury has put the Padres ahead of the Athletics in the Miller-De Vries trade.
The Friars are counting on their closer to end the game that secures their postseason berth.
For top prospects, it is all about the hard work they put in to achieve their dream of playing in the majors. De Vries is young enough to rebound and have a very respectable major league career. But time will tell if he can become a difference-maker in the sport.
