PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Manager Torey Lovullo (L) and general manager Mike Hazen of the Arizona Diamondbacks meet before Game Three of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 season is officially in the books, at least as far as the Diamondbacks go. For the third year in a row, it’s a case of, “Close but no cigar”, missing out on the playoffs by less than a handful of games. Of particular note this year, is the situation of manager Torey Lovullo, whose contract has now effectively expired. He signed a three-year contract after the run to the World Series in 2023, but the lack of any extension became an increasingly elephant-shaped object in the room, as we moved through this season. A decision on Lovullo’s future is likely to be made and announced in the next few days, so let’s chew over the possibilities.
The Mike Hazen and Torey Lovullo connection
Perhaps the most obvious factor is, what happens with regard to Diamondbacks’ GM, Mike Hazen. He brought in Torey Lovullo in early November 2016, just a few after taking over, and that has been the situation ever since. It is easily the most stable partnership in franchise history. Lovullo is the longest tenured Arizona manager, and it’s not close: he has managed 1,518 regular season games, which is more than twice as many as anyone else (Kirk Gibson’s 728 is next). Indeed, across all of MLB, Lovullo has outlasted 27 of the other managers present when he was appointed. Only Dave Roberts in Los Angeles and Kevin Cash in Tampa have been in their positions for longer.
Hazen has four General Managers with more tenure than him, but may be on thinner ice than Lovullo. Despite franchise-record payrolls in 2024 and 2025, and not far short this year, the team has not reached the playoffs. There are legitimate questions to be raised about Hazen’s ability at constructing a major-league roster. While he is officially under contract through the end of 2028, it may be that the team is not willing to wait our those two further seasons, and opts to go in a different direction. If a new General Manager is brought in, it’s highly likely he will want the opportunity to pick his own manager.
Mike Hazen’s successes and failures
The bottom line is that, since his rookie success in 2017, the Diamondbacks have reached the post-season only once in the last nine years. Now, it’s undeniably a factor that being in the same division as the Dodgers makes things exponentially harder. They have won over 90 games (or equivalent) fourteen years in a row. Since 2013, they have won over a hundred games more than any other team. At $334 million per year, their TV deal alone is more valuable than all the D-backs revenue. Now resources aren’t everything. But the Dodgers are scarily well-run too, currently having the #1 farm system. Beating that? Good luck. Competing for a wild-card spot is the best-case scenario.
On that basis, Hazen has done well enough, keeping the team in the race four consecutive Septembers. It does seem that a lot of fans forget the horrors of the before times. In the five years before Hazen took over, the Diamondbacks didn’t have a single winning season. 2020-22 were pretty ugly as well. But since then? The D-backs have a .523 winning percentage, sixth-best in the NL, despite only one playoff appearance. Is “there or thereabouts, and hope things break our way” good enough? Many fans on social media would reject that, but I’m more pragmatic. I lived through 2004 and 2021. I have no desire to do so again.
That said, the current GM has failed in a number of areas, most notably on the pitching side. The big ticket free-agent signings in the Hazen era have largely been disastrous: Madison Bumgarner, Jordan Montgomery and (so far) Corbin Burnes, with Eduardo Rodriguez also terrible up until 2026. Even this year, we signed Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, both of whom underperformed. The farm system has been little if any help. The most productive prospect drafted or signed by Hazen is Ryne Nelson, at a total of just 5.1 bWAR. Next is… Drey Jameson and Brandon Pfaadt (2.2). Then there’s the Arizona bullpen, which until the second half of this year, has been an annual disaster.
The position players have been a better group. Corbin Carroll has been great, and the extensions signed by him and Ketel Marte have already repaid their value. Christian Walker, Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno all definitely count on the plus side of the Hazen ledger. But there have been misses as well. While the Twitiots would tell you Pavin Smith is the worst player in baseball, resigning Lourdes Gurriel Jr was a far bigger mistake. Although I will agree, the debacle which was Arizona’s first-base this year might have been key in the team missing the playoffs. Watching Jake McCarthy bat .291 for Colorado was also annoying.
Torey Lovullo’s successes and failures
It’s a lot harder to assess a manager, because it’s very much an “iceberg” position. By which I mean, ninety percent of what managers do, is invisible to fans. We see the pitching changes and the line-up. But the vast bulk of the work that goes on in the clubhouse, forging 26 individuals into a cohesive unit, happens entirely out of sight. When it does come to the surface – as with KetelGate – it’s rarely a good thing. While we still don’t know everything that happened, I feel I can confidently say, that whole situation, from a managerial point of view, was an absolute no-win. There’s no way to navigate that minefield in a way where everyone was happy.
I do think there are times where Torey does seem to have a case of “foot in mouth” syndrome. Most recently, after Saturday’s key defeat in San Diego, Lovullo put rookie pitcher Jose Cabrera into a key game to protect a one-run lead. Cabrera imploded, allowing five runs while recording four outs. Asked afterwards why, Lovullo answered, “I just felt like I wanted to see what Cabrera could do.” This is either terrible bullpen management, or terrible public relations. I’m inclined towards the latter, and suspect he didn’t actually throw the pitcher in there on a whim. But that’s what it sounds like, and perception is often stronger than reality.
It is interesting that those closer to Lovullo typically think more highly of him. Jack, for example, often gets accused of being a Torey mouthpiece. But I think he genuinely does believe Lovullo does a good job, all things considered. This comes from seeing him much closer up than the Twitiots, so should certainly not be discounted. Team president Derrick Hall also publicly praised the manager, saying “This year is probably his best year… I mean, he’s won, six out of 10 years he’s had a winning record. So, I mean Torey’s done a great job for us and he continues to… There’s so many factors, but he’s done a terrific, terrific job this year.”
Of course, votes of confidence from higher up for subsequently fired managers are a dime a dozen. And Lovullo himself recently said he thinks he needed to make the post-season: “The realities of it, when I sit back and I think about it at night, we got to get to this big dance. If we do, things will take care of itself. If it doesn’t, I’m in a totally different evaluation space.” That hasn’t happened, and for now, we can only wait and see what the team decides needs to be done. But if you were in charge of the Diamondbacks, and looking to build for the future, what would you do with Mike Hazen and Torey Lovullo? And if the answer is to move on, who should replace them?
That’s what the poll below is for, and as always, please feel free to explain your reasoning in the comments.
Manager Don Mattingly told reporters that Arraez, the team's prized acquisition at the trade deadline, will not be on the roster when the Phils play their best-of-three series against their NL East rival.
Arraez suffered a sprained left ankle during Philadelphia's Sept. 24 game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He missed the rest of the final week and finished with a .310 batting average, the sixth time in his eight-year career that he has hit .300 or better in a season.
The injury may also have cost him his fourth career batting title. He finished second to Arizona's Gabriel Moreno, who won the NL crown with a .311 average.
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Bobby Witt Jr. #7, Carter Jensen #22 and Jack Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals look on during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Michaela Schumacher/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Major League Baseball has announced its finalists for the All-MLB Team, with Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone, and Carter Jensen among the nominees. Fans can vote on the nominees at www.mlb.com/all-mlb/ballot through October 9 with winners to be announced at the MLB Awards on November 11 on MLB Network.
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is second among all players in fWAR with 7.0, and leads all shortstops with 23 Outs Above Average. He is tied for fifth among shortstops in runs scored with 94, and leads them all with 45 steals. Other nominees at shortstop include CJ Abrams (Nationals), Mookie Betts (Dodgers), Ezequiel Duran (Rangers), Elly De La Cruz (Reds), Otto Lopez (Marlins), Kevin McGonigle (Tigers), Colson Montgomery (White Sox), Zach Neto (Angels), Geraldo Perdomo (Diamondbacks), and Dansby Swanson (Cubs).
Catcher Carter Jensen set the record for most extra-base hits by a rookie catcher since 1947 with 64. He tied for second among all catchers with 27 home runs and is third in slugging percentage at .467. Other nominees include Drake Baldwin (Braves), William Contreras (Brewers), Dillon Dingler (Tigers), Hunter Goodman (Rockies), Liam Hicks (Marlins), Ryan Jeffers (Twins), Shea Langeliers (Athletics), Gabriel Moreno (Diamondbacks), and Adley Rutschman (Orioles).
Outfielder Jac Caglianone had a torrid August and was named American League Player of the Month then. He hit .289, good for sixth among all outfielders, and he is third in slugging at .494. Other nominees include Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox), Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves), Randy Arozarena (Mariners), Cody Bellinger (Yankees), Byron Buxton (Twins), Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks), Jackson Chourio (Brewers), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Chase DeLauter (Guardians), Riley Greene (Tigers), Michael Harris II (Braves), Jake McCarthy (Diamondbacks), Jackson Merrill (Padres), Andy Pages (Dodgers), Tristan Peters (Brewers), Ceddanne Rafaela (Red Sox), Juan Soto (Mets), Chandler Simpson (Rays), Seiya Suzuki (Cubs), Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres), Mike Trout (Angels), Jordan Walker (Cardinals), and James Wood (Nationals). Three outfielders will be selected, regardless of which outfield position they played.
Fans voting on MLB.com and a decorated panel of media members, broadcasters, former players and other officials throughout the game will have equal say in determining the first-team and second-team choices who comprise the 2026 All-MLB Team. All choices will be based on the 2026 regular season, without regard for American League or National League affiliation.
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 13: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates a strike out during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We’ve known who would be starting in the Wild Card series for a while now, but we didn’t know in what order they’d pitch. And that matters in a short series — a lot. In Cam Schlittler, the Red Sox are going up against the best pitcher in the American League tomorrow night. They need someone who can match his ability to miss bats and quiet both the Yankees lineup and the Yankee Stadium crowd. That guy is going to be Payton Tolle:
Chad Tracy announces Payton Tolle as the Red Sox Game 1 starter 👀🎙️
It’s been an incredible season for Tolle who, lest we forget, wasn’t even on the Opening Day roster and didn’t make his first start until late April. But over the next five months he endeared himself to Red Sox Nation like few other Sox players in recent memory. He’s even won over Pedro Martinez. “I wish I could have taught myself at an early age how to be like Tolle,” Pedro said. “The guy laughs, the guy pitches, the guy’s a bully. The guy is big, intimidating. He’s got everything. He’s out there to beat you. He’s a bully. I love him.” (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
Tolle is a lefty, of course, as is Ranger Suárez… and Aroldis Chapman… and Jake Bennett… and Garrett Crochet… and Erik Miller… and Jovani Moran… and Alec Gamboa. In fact, the Sox had — by far — the most left-handed pitching staff in baseball this year, and the most left-handed pitching staff in almost four decades. This could end up being huge for them this month. (Mike Petriello, MLB.com)
We likely won’t get the final roster until tomorrow morning. But we do know this intriguing nugget: Braiden Ward, the speed demon who has yet to appear in a single Major League game, has traveled to New York with the team. If he does make the roster, his role would likely be limited to pinch-running. But he’s more than ready for that. “If they put me on the bases, especially first base, ninth inning,” he said, “even if a guy’s 1.1 to the plate and a 1.8 pop time (from the catcher), it’s ‘Hey Ward, go steal it. Go figure it out.’ That’s why they put you out there — to go try to steal the bag. If I get the opportunity, obviously I’m going to try to steal it. The other team knows that. It’s no surprise why I’m going to be out there.” (Sean McAdam, MassLive)
As Ward’s quote about catcher pop time demonstrates, information about the opposing team becomes paramount in the postseason. Could the Red Sox be at a disadvantage in that department given their widely publicized smaller scouting staff? “The Sox, who have done all of their regular-season advance scouting lately by video and through in-office data analysis, started their in-person preparations last week when they sent two of their top scouts to New York for the four-game Yankees-Rays series, to check out their expected Wild Card and ALDS foes.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
If you want to do some advance scouting of your own, here’s the series preview from FanGraphs. (Jay Jaffe, FanGraphs)
And here’s what the writers and analysts at one prominent outlet are predicting for the series. (The Athletic)
On Monday, the Winnipeg Jets claimed Washington Capitals depth goaltender Clay Stevenson on Monday, adding the 27-year-old Drayton Valley, Alberta native in what is likely a move to fill their backup role.
Speculation had suggested Winnipeg might look to bring back Eric Comrie, last season's backup, after he was placed on waivers. Instead, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff opted for new blood, landing the longtime Hershey Bears standout from the AHL.
Stevenson has established himself as a reliable goaltender at the minor-league level over the four seasons since turning pro. He opened his AHL career with a 3-0-0 record, a 1.96 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in his first three games. Across his AHL career, he is 63-31-11 with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in 109 starts.
During the 2024-25 season, Stevenson's play earned him his NHL debut, where he faced off against the Pittsburgh Penguins and was solid in a 5-2 loss, stopping 33 of 38 shots. He was recalled again this past season and impressed once more, going 3-1-0 through four starts with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
Stevenson now looks at his best chance yet to secure a regular NHL role. For Cheveldayoff, the claim is a low-cost, high-reward addition, and one that gives Winnipeg a fresh option behind its starter as the season approaches.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees throws to first base during the sixth inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 24, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Yankees were ultimately unable to overtake the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League East title and thus the AL’s number one seed, they put together a splendid month of September, finishing 15-8. They did so while navigating a roster that was often in flux, welcoming some players back from stays on the injured list while others took their place. That volatility meant that the team rarely looked the same defensively from night to night. The Yankees were up to the challenge. Here are five of the best plays we saw from the Bombers in the field this month.
September 2nd: Caballero and Goldschmidt get after it early
Here’s a nice way to start a list—and a ballgame. The first pitch Cam Schlittler threw in this start at Angel Stadium was hit hard by Zach Neto towards shortstop. With an eight-degree launch angle, it was sort of a tweener—not exactly a grounder, not exactly a line drive. José Caballero, though, read this tricky batted ball well. Somewhat off-balance, he was able to make a lunging stab on the first bounce, then aim a strong throw to first, where the veteran Paul Goldschmidt made a classic scoop to retire the hustling Neto and start the night off right. Schlittler would go on to complete eight superb innings.
September 11th: Lombard denies Bichette with slick pick at short
George Lombard Jr.’s defense has been an obvious talking point since the young man came up to the Majors last month. He made a spectacular first impression the first few weeks, then endured some odd struggles at shortstop not long afterward. In September, though, the polished defender who was essentially MLB-ready years ago was the version of Lombard we typically saw. I don’t think any play he made this month quite matches some of the stunners he made in his first week and change, but this robbery of Bo Bichette was still excellent. His advanced coordination, agility, and strong arm are all on display here.
When Anthony Volpe made his return from the minor leagues, he began playing games at second base instead of his traditional shortstop position, where Lombard, as we saw in the previous clip, had already begun establishing himself in his absence. But the Fox still showed plenty of agility at the keystone, like on this grounder from Brett Baty which hopped off the pitcher’s mound. With his momentum carrying him into center field, Volpe was able to read the bounce off the hill, leap, and throw an absolute seed to first to record the out.
September18th: Jones makes sliding snare in the gap
Spencer Jones made no trivial number of nice catches in the outfield this month, but for my money this was his best. Tim Tawa ripped what looked to be a sure double into the left center gap, but the rookie outfielder quickly came to the rescue. Jones covered 69 feet in short order, then perfectly timed his slide and secured the catch to take away extra bases. Defensive metrics have been a bit down on Spencer, particularly in center field, but his great instincts still allow him to make plenty of pretty plays.
September 22nd: Bellinger, García combine for 7-2 double play
I see no better way to round out the list but with your regularly-scheduled outfield assist from Cody Bellinger — who even after losing a full month to injury has made a great case for his first Gold Glove since 2019. With the Rays putting the hit-and-run on, Bellinger tracked down a looping liner from Richie Palacios, then came up firing to catch Victor Mesa Jr. on his frantic retreat back to first base. Granted, this wasn’t the most accurate peg we’ve ever seen from Cody out there, but that just set up the back end of the highlight. Luis García Jr. had to drift a bit off the bag to receive the throw, but was able to scoop the ball and apply the tag on Mesa in one fluid motion as he tumbled to the dirt. This twin killing gave Carlos Rodón an extra boost as he went on to twirl eight scoreless innings.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 03: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum on February 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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Myles Turner has spent the majority of his offseason building.
From making a $1 million commitment to help fight food insecurity and advocating for animals to traveling to Morocco with the NBA Players Association to broaden his worldview, the common denominator is the same: Turner doesn't want to just lead by example, he wants to build something that lasts.
While Turner has long been committed to making an impact beyond basketball, this particular season of growth follows a season of transition on the court.
While the first season didn't go as he hoped, it's no surprise that Turner's offseason pursuits mirror the mindset he's bringing into the season ahead.
"It's funny, I think people want to call it a rebuild, but I just call it building," Turner told NBC Sports' Mary Omatiga.
"We're building towards something, and I think we're all excited just to kind of roll the ball out and get going."
In the conversation below, the newly elected Vice President of the NBPA opens up about why community work is important to him and the example he wants to set both on and off the court. Turner also reflects on his first season in Milwaukee, his reaction to Giannis Antetokounmpo's departure, and more.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Mary Omatiga: Myles, congrats on your new role! Vice President of the NBPA Executive Committee. What does it mean to you to have been elected by your peers?
Myles Turner: First off, thank you so much. It means everything to me. Just to have the respect of my peers, and just being around as long as I have been, for them to put that trust and faith in me to be the voice for the 450 and PLYRS UNTD over the next three years is a huge honor for me and not something that I take lightly.
You’ve had quite a busy off-season. In June, I know you went to Morocco with PLYRS UNTD. What was that experience like?
Turner: It was formerly called One Court, and I had some experience with the NBA Players Association in the past. I joined them in Milan a couple of years ago, and that was my first time really just immersing myself in the Players Association.
I had been to a few of the meetings. I had listened in, but they offer so many things off the floor for us as players to really advance our careers. Obviously, what we do on the court is amazing. The money that we make in this league is unbelievable, but the opportunities that they present are real.
I wanted to join them in Africa this summer just to see what else I could take in, and I'm glad I did. We got to be a part of some investment summits. We did our own little version of like a Shark Tank out there, where we got to help people with their own startups, get their pitch off. With that, you kind of see what it takes to do it on your own.
The cultural experience was unreal. That was my first time really being in an Arab state, and it was actually really cool. They were super friendly. We had some of the best accommodation! Man, I can go on and on and on. But I definitely suggest it for our brothers in this league to take advantage of the PLYRS UNTD opportunities.
Courtesy of PLYRS UNTD
How did that experience change your perspective on life?
Turner: I think for me personally, it's funny how Africa gets depicted. I had been to Tanzania before in the past. I did some work with Malcolm Brogdon and his Clean Water Initiative, but there are so many different parts of the continent.
When I got there, I just think that culturally, even with the religion, it's so amazing just how dedicated they are. I feel like things move so fast here in the States, but they take time out of the day, every single day, to make sure that they pray, to make sure that they're with their families, and to make sure they're together.
What may seem so small and minuscule to some people, to me, left a big impression. Just the fact that the entire nation itself just kind of abides by a certain set of rules, it was really cool.
Courtesy of PLYRS UNTD
Courtesy of PLYRS UNTD
You’ve also been making an impact a little bit closer to home. Your foundation recently made a $1 million commitment to help fight food insecurity. Why now and why this cause?
Turner: The cause is called Empowering the Masses, and it was founded by Ms. Tammy Johnson. I have some ties to it back in the past. To make a long story short, a few years ago, I had a not-so-great game, and a fan had kind of trolled me on Twitter. He reached out to me and asked for, like $100 on Venmo.
I'm a little petty too, so you know I sent him a penny, and I said, "Here's a penny for your thoughts." He kind of took that and got salty about it. But then, after that, fans started Venmoing me pennies. The next person Venmoed me two cents, like, "Here's your two cents."
The two cents turned to $1, $1 turned to $10, and I basically said, "Any fan that Venmos me, I'm going to match it." At the time, Texas went through a very bad freeze back in 2021. It left a lot of people without resources. Because you know, down South, we're not really used to the cold weather.
I was able to raise close to $100,000, and I gave to Empowering the Masses back then. I just wanted to continue my relationship with them because I love the stuff they're doing. It is a million dollars, but it's also a long-term investment. It's a million dollars over the next 10 years. They create opportunities, and they're giving people tangible tools and resources within the South Dallas community.
Courtesy of Operation W.A.R.M
I feel like some people don't lack ambition; they just lack access and opportunity. So that's what this million dollars will be able to do — give to this food pantry.
They're more than just a food pantry. It'll also give opportunity to essential workers, and they have phlebotomy classes. They have volunteers come in and actually build up their resumes. I think it's about teaching people to fish, not just necessarily giving them a fish. So I just like that this is a long-term pledge as opposed to just a one-time donation.
You and your fiancée — congrats on the engagement, by the way — started the Casper Foundation to advocate for animals. What made you guys want to get involved in that?
Turner: My entire life, believe it or not, I've always been a cat guy. I'm essentially trying to give a voice to the voiceless when it comes to cats.
We are an animal foundation; I just shed a little more light on cats. You look at adoption numbers, and dogs are usually the ones that are taken first.
I have such a unique platform being in the NBA and having the social media reach that I have. I have an opportunity to get a lot of these shelters off the ground. They may be doing the work, but they may not always have the reach or the social media platform that they need to get these animals adopted. So that's essentially where we come in.
Courtesy of The Casper Foundation
Courtesy of The Casper Foundation
Last year we did a tunnel walk with our teams. We had dogs and cats that were up for adoption go down our tunnel like it was an NBA pre-game fit walk. We were also able to have our wives and girlfriends come out and have events at certain [local] shelters.
Today, we literally just got back, and I was able to get a partnership with Purina and Friskies. They donated a thousand pounds of food, so we're going to share that at about three different shelters in the Wisconsin area. Little things like that are important to me to give a platform to these animals that can't speak for themselves.
It seems like this off-season you really invested a lot of time into social impact and philanthropy. Why are these responsibilities important to you at this stage of your career?
Turner: One of the first things I did when I got in the league was create my 501(c)(3) nonprofit, called W.A.R.M. It stands for "Workers and Role Models, " and I essentially try to live out exactly what I'm trying to get communities to do.
I've been doing a lot of community work back when I was in Indiana. I was there for 10 years, and we did great impact work there because that's where I called home for so long. But I wanted to stretch that further than just my playing market. I wanted to give back to my hometown. I wanted to get back to my current market, and eventually take it nationwide.
The money I've been able to amass, it's amazing, but it's also about giving back to the people that helped you get that money in the first place. I never wanted to turn my back on the people that helped me [get here].
It's also about being a role model. These younger guys coming into the league, they're trying to get their things off the ground as well. I want to make sure I provide an example of what it's supposed to look like and how you're supposed to not just give dollar amounts, but you live by what you're doing.
That's what W.A.R.M. stands for — going out there being about the things you say you're about.
Courtesy of Operation W.A.R.M.
I was listening to a podcast where you talked about NBA players having face value. You guys aren’t under helmets or hats. People know you, and you can build off of that.
How do you want your face value to translate off the court?
Turner: When people actually see me in person, it's so different. You see us athletes play on TV as these "larger-than-life" people, but when you actually get to meet us, a lot of us are dope individuals, man. What I'm just trying to get out there is that the fact that, yeah, my job is cool, but at the same time, I'm a human being as well.I want people to realize that.
When I am out there, and people do see me in person, I think it's important just to have that human connection. We're not just always talking hoops. We're talking about life, our goals, our dreams, and how we build things. That's why I think the face value is important... it just speaks volumes to just watching us on the television screen.
NBA athletes, to your point, do have that advantage. We don't wear hats. We don't wear helmets. People get to see us for who we are at all times. That's amazing, not only for philanthropic things, but for branding or letting grandma see you back at home, you know, whatever it may be.
We’ve talked a lot about your growth in the offseason, but I know that this year was also a year of transition for you. What did your first season in Milwaukee teach you about yourself?
Turner: Resiliency. I think that no matter what happened last year, I was always a constant professional. I try to carry myself as such, win, lose, good day, bad day. I mean, there are no bad days in the league. It's all a matter of perspective. What we do is amazing, the money that we get to make, the child's game that we get to play every day.
I don't ever consider days as necessarily bad days, but [I'll say] down days. You work through everything, and I think that's what I was able to do. That's what I was most proud of, being able to kind of keep my head through what people would describe as dark times. But again, I think it's always just a matter of perspective.
There are people out here who are really suffering and if me suffering is losing a basketball game, then you know I'm living a pretty damn good life.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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You said others would describe it as "dark times". How would you sum up your first year?
Turner: You said it, just a year of transition. I wanted to embrace being uncomfortable. Imagine you're doing your job. You're in the same exact place for 10 years straight. You know what's going to happen every single year. I've had the same medical staff. I had the same strength coach. I've had the same front office. Everything was consistent.
Then, just to shake something up, out of nowhere, I mean, of course, there's going to be struggles that come with it. As tumultuous as it may have seemed, I enjoyed the mental growth that I was able to have going through it from a different side and perspective. It's always crazy making a decision to go to my division rival, but you get to see things from both perspectives.
I think there were a lot of things that I learned, but more than anything, I was just happy that I chose myself and I made a decision for myself.
A big reason for coming to the Bucks was because you wanted to remain competitive, and obviously, Giannis [Antetokuonmpo] was a big part of that.
Turner: It doesn't change my competitive mindset whatsoever. I think that, coming into the situation, obviously, the initial pairing was to be with Giannis, but this is a business. At the end of the day, that man has to take care of his family. That man has to do what's best for him. All I can worry about is the future, and that's exactly where we're at.
So you know, take things day by day, keep continuing to compete, and the best things happen after that.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on November 17, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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Where were you when you found out he got traded?
Turner: I was in Switzerland, actually. I was in Geneva, and it was funny. I guess it happened like late at night here, and it was only like 2 or 3 p.m. over there. Obviously, it set the internet on fire and whatnot. But yeah, I was [out of] the country.
You said it best: basketball is a business; people come and go, but the one thing that hasn’t changed for you is your desire to remain competitive.
You’ve talked about how getting to Game 7 and getting to that grand stage in the NBA Finals has really changed your perspective on basketball itself. Do you still think about the finals?
Turner: Oh yeah, there's not a day that goes by that I don't. To get that close to accomplishing your biggest goal and your biggest dreams and having it all crumble right before your very eyes, of course, it leaves a lasting impression on you. But at the same time, it also keeps that fire burning.
I feel like, you know, in that moment, when you do win a championship, at times people get complacent. They feel like they've done it all. They did everything they were supposed to do.
For me, getting that close and not being able to accomplish the ultimate goal just leaves the door open for me to get back.
I know I'll be back in the finals. It's one of those things that I manifest, and I speak out loud, and I just want to continue to work to get there. But it's not just going to be given to me; at the end of the day, there's going to be trials and tribulations to get there, and I'm ready for it all.
What moment specifically comes back to you from the Finals?
Turner: I don't know if it's a specific moment. Obviously, you know, when Tyrese [Haliburton] went down, that was the biggest moment for everybody. But for me personally, it was just going into halftime with the lead and having an actual chance to win the game. It's not like we were getting blown out. It's not like we were down and out. We had a real opportunity, and things just didn't go our way.
I think there's a combination of things that it takes to win the NBA Finals. Part of it, is that you have to get lucky. Unfortunately, we just got a little bit unlucky.
How is that experience still fueling you?
Turner: It's just that desire to get back. There's no greater stage in basketball than the NBA Finals. You're the only show on TV. Overseas hoops, for the most part, are done. Everybody's watching you, especially in a Game 7 [setting]. So, just to get back to that moment, to have that adrenaline rush, to be able to play in front of your friends and family, and a lot of people who may have been doubting you in the past — it's a beautiful moment. There's nothing more poetic about being in a moment like that.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JUNE 19: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball during the game against Jaylin Williams #6 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 19, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 22: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JUNE 19: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers dunks the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 19, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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After everything you’ve gone through over the last year, what does this upcoming season represent for you?
Turner: It's funny, I think people want to call it a rebuild, but I just call it building. I think that for me personally, you have a bunch of guys with a chip on their shoulder coming together, and everybody kind of feels like they have something to prove. You get a whole bunch of competitive guys under one roof, man, who knows what'll happen?
We're building towards something, and I think we're all excited just to kind of roll the ball out and get going. It's a beautiful thing when people are kind of counting you out. So when you actually go out there and start kicking ass, then you know, it's like, "Oh, where did this come from?"
Do you feel like you personally have anything to prove?
Turner: The only thing I have to prove is to just keep proving things to myself. I've made it this far in my career. I'm 30 years old, still in my prime, and I'm really just working on my leadership. I want to continue to keep proving that I can lead a group, lead a team, and hold myself high through any situation.
"I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round. I know that for sure."
LeBron James sat down at media day in his Philadelphia jersey (still getting used to that) and talked a lot about process and fitting in with his new teammates, but at the end of his remarks, he made sure the bar is set high for this team — they are potential contenders. This team has not only LeBron but also Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid (who reporters said looked noticeably thinner), and a quality bench. The bar is set high.
When asked what drew him to Philly this summer, LeBron talked a lot about his close relationship with Tyrese Maxey — and he said agent Rich Paul's whiteboard (from Paul's podcast) was right.
"I had a list of five teams that I was interested in," LeBron said. "I think if you saw my agent [Rich Paul] in his podcast, you saw his whiteboard and whatever — I love him to death — but he had his whiteboard up there, and he had all his LeBron teams up there...
"I have a really, really good, I would say great relationship with Tyrese, and we talked a lot. I kind of picked his brain a lot on not only where he see his career going, how he see the franchise here, how much he believes in the franchise, and if I was to come here, how does he see me fitting in? Do we think it'd be a plus, or do we think it'd be a negative? Because I understand what my personality and what comes with me, sometimes it could be a negative...
"But I think our relationship, kind of, when I broke a lot of the teams down, I broke a lot of the franchises down that I could possibly play for. He was one of the main deciding factors."
Joel Embiid has a brief answer and a big grin when asked about recruiting LeBron James pic.twitter.com/WDpuQznaDL
LeBron also confirmed in a conversation with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that he had "visions" of finishing his career with the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, but the team's title changed that.
Here are some other highlights from LeBron James' comments at media day.
What will be his role on the court on such a stacked roster? "Whatever the team needs for me to do. I think the luxury of my game is I can do everything. Literally, I can do everything."
On himself and everyone needing to sacrifice: "If we want to accomplish something that's really, really important, like if we say that we want to do something special, there will be a collective sacrificing — in a good way. Sometimes in sports, people hear sacrificing, you automatically people start thinking negative about it. It's not a negative thing. You can sacrifice one or two more shots, that gives you one or two more bursts of energy in the fourth quarter to slide over and take a charge... So it's not a negative when people say, "Okay, you have to make a sacrifice," or your role may change. If we're trying to do something special, which I believe we are, then that's a positive."
On what his experience brings: "I've seen everything that this league has to offer, on the floor and off the floor. So, I hope that every single day, with my approach to the game, approach to the work, that it can translate to every single guy, and even guys that's been able to win at the highest level. So, looking forward to that to that challenge."
Will LeBron play one year or two in Philly? Is this where he ends his career? "I don't want to speak into the future right now. I think that would be doing a disservice to myself on just living in the moment, especially knowing that I am where I am in my career. So, me trying to focus on what the future looks like would be like, I wouldn't be giving myself grace. I'm more in the present now, understanding that I'm in year 24."
On the 76ers fans: "I'm super excited to get in front of these fans. They know sports, they know ball, and if you're not doing what you're supposed to do, they're gonna let you hear it — and I'm excited about that. That's holding people accountable... I'm excited to just be a part of this, to be a part of the feeling, be a part of the vibe, and to go out and play for something that's more than myself, more than the players in the locker room, but for the whole city."
On those fans needing to be patient while this comes together: "It's going to take time. It's going to take time. I think people, sometimes they don't really want to work, and everyone wants like instant oatmeal. You just put the oatmeal in the bowl, you put some water in it, throw it in the microwave, in a minute and a half, you got something... If you want to do something special, it takes time, and it takes every single day doing things that you may not want to do because it's like the same thing over and over and over and over and over... In order for us to be great, we have to do things that are just not comfortable. We have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. That is the best way to expedite being great. You have to fall in love with doing things that's uncomfortable, and if we can do that, then we can be a great team."
CAMDEN, NJ — Joel Embiid's health has been a major question mark for the Philadelphia 76ers in recent seasons, and with LeBron James now in the fold, it could ultimately determine whether the franchise can fulfill its championship aspirations.
As the 7-foot center enters his 13th overall season in Philadelphia, Embiid gave a health update to reporters at the team's media day.
"I'm feeling pretty good," Embiid said at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on Monday.
Embiid noted that there's a plan in place for him to try to keep healthy to "play as much as possible" and be at his "best" for the postseason.
"Going into the year, I want to play as much as possible," he said. "We got a plan. We're going to execute it to make sure I stay healthy and then be at my best when we get to that time. So whatever way we get there, we're going to execute it."
Embiid enters training camp looking noticeably leaner than he has in recent seasons. The work Embiid put in during the offseason has not gone unnoticed, including by James, the 76ers' marquee offseason addition.
"Joel is one of the most talented guys that we have in the world, and obviously we all know that for him it's just been about health. How can he stay healthy to be the best version of himself? Be the best version of himself to be the best version of us as a team?" James said on Monday.
"I've seen him put in a lot of work on his body, putting a lot of work in his game, a lot of work on his mental season. That is a big upside, not only for us as his teammates, but I guarantee it is for him. I don't want to speak for him. You guys have talked to him, but I guarantee that's a good feeling for him."
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has dropped a considerable amount of weight. pic.twitter.com/Of1rI0aZS6
Embiid has struggled to stay in the Sixers' lineup in recent seasons due to his health. He's combined to play 96 regular-season games over the last three seasons and has not played more than 40 games since his MVP season in 2022-23.
Last season, Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy on April 9 that kept him out for the Sixers' final two regular-season games, their play-in game against the Orlando Magic and the first three games of their first-round series against the Boston Celtics.
The Sixers center appeared in just 19 games during the 2024-25 season after the team deemed him medically unable to play because of persistent knee issues. Those problems stemmed from a torn meniscus in his left knee suffered the previous season, an injury that required surgery and sidelined him until late in the regular season.
TARRYTOWN, NY – The saying “to the victor go the spoils" certainly applied to the NBA Championships over the past four months, as any member of the New York Knicks who came into proximity to anything worth spoiling certainly took advantage.
From appearances on the jumbotron at the US Open to hosting duties on "Saturday Night Live," NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson has helped the Knicks enjoy an offseason befitting a team breaking the championship curse of this basketball-crazed city, following their five-game throttling of the San Antonio Spurs.
It wasn’t just the five-game victory that broke a 53-year-old curse, but the way it was accomplished. New York trailed by double digits in each game and cemented themselves in NBA lore with a Game 4 comeback for the ages, trailing by 29 points before a furious rally that culminated in OG Anunoby’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds left.
During the team’s media session at their practice facility 30 minutes north of New York City, reality set in about what the Knicks need to do to become the first team since the Golden State Warriors in 2017-18 to repeat as champions. The team will still get bombarded with the chant “Knicks in 5” from their rabid fanbase until someone dethrones them.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown, who was an assistant on those Warriors title teams, made it clear that although few changes were made, he is excited to move forward with his new group of players.
The roster was largely intact, with nine of last season's top 10 contributors returning for a chance to run it back. Mitchell Robinson, the team’s defensive stalwart, signed with the division rivals Boston Celtics on a three-year, $47.39 million contract, and the team signed veteran Andre Drummond to fill the void.
“It’s a new season and a new team, and we’re going to face new challenges and adversity throughout the course of the year. And upholding our commitment to our standard. It's not going to change. Our standard of sacrifice, being connected, having a competitive spirit, having a belief in each other in the process. That’s our primary focus going into this year,” Brown said.
“We can’t afford to have any slippage in our process. We can’t afford to decline with our focus and energy in our daily habits. We have to understand that the media and public scrutiny is going to come.”
Defending champion Knicks are not satisfied
First up, their championship defense will begin against the retooled Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, featuring newly signed LeBron James (who would have joined the Knicks had they not won the title) and Jaylen Brown, who was traded from the Celtics, along with mainstays Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
The Knicks know that winning another championship begins and ends with Brunson, who averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in the NBA Finals with 45 points to close out Game 5, while playing with a painful wrist injury.
Brunson, who admitted it was the "longest, shortest summer ever," says he feels good after offseason wrist surgery in July and is honored and grateful for the off-court opportunities, as he will also appear on an episode of “Law and Order: SVU” in November.
But Brunson reiterates that the goal and focus is on the court and winning another championship, while leaving last year where it is, turning the page, and moving on.
“Not being satisfied, I think, is the biggest takeaway moving forward. You still want to figure out how you can grow as a person and as a player. So I will use that experience. As a group, we figured out that we need each other to win, obviously. We need each other to be all on the same page."
"I have all the confidence in the world in my teammates. Not so sure about Josh Hart; we'll see how he acts," Brunson said jokingly.
“The weight of the jersey was extremely light this summer. This morning, it was a bit heavier. I think we're all excited for the opportunity to do it again. We're not satisfied to just get one,” Hart added, while answering some of his questions in the dark as the lights went out at the Madison Square Garden Training Center.
Contract extension updates
While the championship glow is still shining, a few players with unsettled contract situations loom large for the team’s future. Brown said that the front office, including general manager Leon Rose, talks about everything concerning the roster, saying, “We don't want to leave elephants in the room. I have a lot of faith in them, the players and agents."
The 31-year-old Karl Anthony Towns has two more years on his contract, including a player option for the 2027-28 season worth $61 million, and said "there's no comfortability to be had” when discussing a possible extension. He is eligible for a four-year, $272 million contract.
"I've made it known I want to play here,” said Towns, who said he has dropped weight in his memorable offseason, which included getting married and honeymooning in Africa. “I've been a fan since I was young. I would like to get one done, of course. Get it done so I can step on the court and feel as comfortable as possible”
Hart has a team option in his deal for next season worth $22 million.
"You always want to get it done, kind of as soon as possible. You don't want that trickling into the season because whenever there's uncertainty, there's going to be a lot of questions,” he said. “There's going to be a lot of rumors, and at a human level, sometimes that can wear people down, and it can affect how you go out and handle business on a day-to-day basis, just some of that uncertainty.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Kris Bryant #23 of the Colorado Rockies sits in the dugout during a regular season game against the Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2025. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
Honorable Mention: Kris Bryant (N/A rWAR)
It seems like a lifetime ago that the Colorado Rockies held a press conference in early spring training in 2022 to announce that they had signed former MVP and World Series champion Kris Bryant to a seven-year, $182 million contract.
After Nolan Arenado’s public divorce from the club a year earlier, Rockies owner Dick Monfort wanted star power. So once the Collective Bargaining Agreement was ratified and baseball was able to resume after the lockout, he made a splash and helped orchestrate the signing of Bryant.
While plenty of skeptics and red flags surrounded the signing, there was at least some optimism that Bryant could help bring a winning culture to the Rockies and provide the clubhouse leadership this team desperately needed.
The sad reality is that the signing has been a disaster, as Bryant’s body betrayed him, and injuries rendered him a shell of his former self.
Over four seasons with the Rockies, when he was actually able to suit up, Bryant has played just 170 games, worth -1.6 rWAR. In 2025, he managed to play just 11 games before the lumbar degenerative disk disease he was diagnosed with in 2024 made it too difficult to play, and he landed on the 60-day injured list.
2026 was the first year in which Bryant did not play a single game of baseball in his professional career. It didn’t take long for him to land on the 60-day IL as the Rockies placed him on the IL the first chance they got when such roster moves could be made in spring training. Bryant reported to camp when full-squad workouts began, but it was simply to make an appearance, get his physical, and check in with the team before heading back home to work with doctors.
In the past, Bryant was at least on our minds throughout the season as he would occasionally pop up in the dugout and talk to the media once or twice during the regular season. This year, Bryant talked to the media while he was in camp, and made an appearance in the dugout when the Rockies played in Las Vegas in June, but we otherwise haven’t heard much from him. The message we did receive back in February was not a hopeful one.
His message was simply about the pain he has been dealing with as a result of the back issues. There was also a clear subtext of his frustration about his physical well-being and inability to play baseball.
“Any time my feet hit the ground, I feel like I could probably fall over,” Bryant said to the media. “It’s unfortunate and obviously not how I want this to go. I’m here to figure things out and find out if there is a way to get better.
“I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”
He then went on to share about his path forward heading into the start of spring training and the reality that little to no progress has been made to get back on the field any time soon.
“Usually in the progression you start with the exercises, then you move to running,” Bryant said. “Any time my feet hit the ground, I just feel like I could probably fall over.
“I don’t really have the best answer for [returning to the field], because I haven’t really determined a plan, but I just am following advice and [the trainer’s] guidance, and obviously meeting with doctors. I met with doctors in the offseason, just to get opinions. They pass them on to the training staff, and then we determine how we go.”
The reality of not having Bryant for the season was not a surprise for manager Warren Schaeffer and the new front office, and the best path forward was to plan that he wasn’t going to be part of the equation at all.
“There’s really not much to say about it other than the guy’s back really hurts, and he’s having a tough time progressing,” Schaeffer said. “We have to prepare like he’s not going to play. That’s just the way we have to go about it, hoping that he has a recovery and a breakthrough. But as of now, his back really, really hurts. It’s a real thing. He just can’t play baseball.”
If Bryant is physically unable to play baseball, what’s the next step? At the time of his interview, he skirted around the question of retirement, instead holding onto hope a solution could be found.
“I honestly try not to let myself get there, because when you’re going through it every single day, you just try to make it day to day,” he said. “A lot of people out there with chronic pain, you don’t want to think so far in the future because you’re just trying to get through the day. So I haven’t let myself get there.”
But that was six months ago, and change happens.
There are still two years and $54 million of guaranteed money left on Bryant’s contract. Any sort of solution to rectify the situation is a tough puzzle to solve, especially now with a ticking clock of roughly 30 days before the offseason begins and Bryant would have to be added back onto the 40-man roster.
The simplest answer is that the Rockies take the hit and pay him the full amount left on his contract, and he retires or is released, much like the Denver Broncos did with Russell Wilson. That parallel became more of a reality when the Penner Sports Group bought a 40% ownership stake in the club last April, bringing an influx of cash to help pay off debts for the club.
The more likely alternative that would make the most sense is that the Rockies work with Bryant and his agent, Scott Boras, on restructuring the deal to defer the remaining $56 million over several years. The Los Angeles Angels did that very thing with oft-injured Anthony Rendón in January, spreading out the $38 million he was owed this season over the next three-to-five years.
While there has been no news on the Kris Bryant front this season, there is no doubt in my mind that Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes have been looking into a solution to bring this disastrous union to a close.
After five years, it’s time to put this chapter of Rockies history in the rearview mirror.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves is introduced prior to the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With the regular season coming to a close, we’re already getting our first glimpse of what awaits on the horizon of awards season. The All-MLB Team is starting to gain some footing and now, the nominees for the 2026 All-MLB Team have been announced. As such, the Braves are going to have plenty of opportunities to have at least one represenative on this year’s First-and-Second-Team squads.
The Braves have nine nominees — Drake Baldwin at catcher, Matt Olson at first base, Ozzie Albies at second base, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II in the outfield, Chris Sale as a starter, and Didier Fuentes, Raisel Iglesias and Dylan Lee as relievers.
A lot of these players have experience with this particular honor. Chris Sale made the All-MLB First Team in 2024, Ronald Acuña Jr. made the Second Team in 2019 and 2020 and the First Team in 2023 and Raisel Iglesias made it onto the second team as a member of the Angels in 2021.
If I had to guess, Matt Olson and Michael Harris II and Chris Sale may have a shot to make it onto the squads and I’d imagine that Chris Sale could have a real good shot at making the First Team as part of the “rotation.” Outside of that, I wouldn’t harbor too many hopes but who knows, we shall see. It’s also pretty impressive that Didier Fuentes even got nominated, so well done to him for even being considered.
Voting will take place at MLB.com/AllMLB until October 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET and the teams will be announced on November 11 at the MLB Awards Show in Las Vegas.
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Jake Burger #21 of the Texas Rangers looks on as he receives the Roberto Clemente Award prior to a game against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field on September 15, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kai Kanzer/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers’ 2026 season has come to an end, which means it is a pretty good time for us to check in on the state of the Rangers’ 40 man roster.
The 40 man roster currently is full, and in addition, there are six players — Carter Baumler, Jalen Beeks, Jose Corniell, Jack Leiter, Cal Quantrill, and Cole Winn — on the 60 day injured list. Those six players will have to come off the 60 day injured list at the end of the regular season, which means we have 46 players to account for on the 40 man roster.
Now, two of those six players — Jalen Beeks and Cal Quantrill — will be free agents at season’s end, which means we don’t have to concern ourselves with finding a 40 man roster spot for them. In addition, the following players are also set to hit free agency at the end of the season:
Tyler Alexander
Elias Diaz
Kyle Higashioka
Jakob Junis
Nicky Lopez
Jordan Montgomery
Joc Pederson
Trevor Williams
Yes, Higashioka and Pederson technically have mutual options, but since either side can decline, we can treat the pair as being pending free agents.
That said, there are some players currently on the 40 man roster who are not pending free agents, but who are going to end up being waived or non-tendered to create 40 man roster spots. The Rangers are going to have to once again build their bullpen from almost scratch, as well as likely add one or more minor leaguers to the 40 man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. We will go over who is Rule 5 eligible and who is likely to be protected in a future post.
The Rangers’ arbitration-eligible players are:
MacKenzie Gore — Arb 3
Logan O’Hoppe — Arb 2
Jake Burger — Arb 2
Josh Jung — Arb 2
Ezequiel Duran — Arb 2
Wyatt Langford — Arb 1
Robert Garcia — Arb 1
Jacob Latz — Arb 1
Cody Bradford — Arb 1
Evan Carter — Arb 1
As far as potential non-tenders go, most of these guys would appear to be safe from a potential non-tender. The two guys who strike me as possibilities for a non-tender would be Jake Burger and Logan O’Hoppe.
Burger has two seasons of team control remaining, and made $3.2 million in 2026. I’m guessing he’s looking at around $5.5 million in 2027. That’s cheaper than what you can get a similar player for on the open market — Josh Bell, for example, is a DH-only whose OPS+ the past four years has been 104, and assuming the Twins buy out his $10 million team option, he’ll have been paid $7 million for his one season of work for them.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that Burger will be a Ranger for 2027, though. Josh Jung, who has never been great defensively and who has put up an aggregate -18 DRS the past three seasons (-12 in 2026) and an aggregate -6 FRV (-4 in 2026) could be moved to first base in anticipation that Sebastian Walcott will be, if not the third baseman to start the 2027 season, the third baseman for the Rangers at some point in 2027. In that case, the Rangers would have to decide whether to make Burger a DH or trade him. Its possible that, with the uncertainty surrounding the labor situation, neither the Rangers nor any other team want to take a risk on what Burger might get in arbitration under a new CBA, and thus Burger could get non-tendered. But I think its more likely the Rangers tender him and then decide what they want to do with him from there, if he’s not traded before then.
As for O’Hoppe, acquired from the Angels with Chase Silseth at the deadline for Angel Arredondo, he made $2.63 million in 2026, and still has three years of team control remaining due to the time he spent on optional assignment in the minors in 2026. O’Hoppe’s defense, both statistically and per reports, has regressed significantly, and other than one inning behind the plate, the Rangers only used him as at DH during his time in the majors with them. He split his time at Round Rock roughly between catcher and DH.
The Rangers have Danny Jansen — who was pretty solid overall when he was healthy in 2026 — under contract for 2027, but no other realistic option in the system to be Jansen’s backup for 2027. If the Rangers were, say, the Dodgers or Yankees or someone like that, they’d tender O’Hoppe, who has options remaining, and send him to AAA to be their third catcher if they don’t think the glove and/or bat warrants a backup role, and find some veteran free agent to be the primary backup for Jansen. Because this is the Rangers, I’m not so sure that they’ll do that. They may, instead, offer O’Hoppe something similar to what he made in 2026 — or a slight reduction from that amount — and threaten to non-tender him if he doesn’t agree to that before the deadline.
Speaking of Silseth, he has two years and 105 days of service time. That should have him short of being a Super Two, but we won’t know for sure until the official numbers from MLB come out.
So that gets us to 34 to 36 players on the 40 man roster. The Rangers will probably need to pare another 4-6 players at some point in the offseason. Here’s who I see as being potential 40 man casualties:
The Injured Rule 5 Pick — Carter Baumler
Carter Baumler was acquired by the Texas Rangers as a Rule 5 selection from the Baltimore Orioles this past winter. The Orioles left him exposed because of concerns about Baumler’s inability to stay off the injured list. The righthanded reliever impressed in spring training, made the Opening Day roster, and was on the active roster before he went on the injured list, where he spent the rest of the season (although he did make 11 rehab appearances for the Express — three in late April before he was shut down again, and eight at the end of the AAA season).
Baumler will have to spend, by my math, 80 days on an active major league roster before he can be optioned to the minors, so if Baumler does stay on the Rangers’ 40 man roster until Opening Day, he’ll have to be carried on the active roster for 80 days or be put on waivers (assuming he doesn’t land on the injured list in the interim, in which case the service time calculation for Rule 5 purposes would be paused until he returns from the injured list).
If the Rangers had a crowded 40 man roster situation, Baumler would seem to be a no-brainer to be dropped — and he could be dropped anyway. If the Rangers feel good about what he showed in the final month with Round Rock and think he’s not a lost cause from a health standpoint, though, it would seem likely that they’d hang onto him and see how things go this spring.
The Up-and-Down Relievers Added in 2026 — Robby Ahlstrom, Gavin Collyer, Adam Macko, Ben Peoples
Four pitchers who were not on the 40 man roster to start the 2026 season, but who got a decent amount of time in the major league pen during the 2026 season. All of them except Macko have at least two options remaining after the 2026 season.
Ahlstrom, acquired from the Yankees all the way back in April, 2022, in the Jose Trevino trade, was exposed and went undrafted in the Rule 5 Draft in both 2024 and 2025. This year, the Rangers brought him up in June, and he got off to a very good start, allowing one run in 9.1 innings in his first nine appearances. He allowed 25 runs over 27.2 innings over his final 33 appearances, and ended up bouncing up and down between Round Rock and the majors over the final couple of months.
Ahlstrom ended the year with an ugly 6.08 ERA in 37 innings over 42 appearances in the majors, though with a more respectable 5.18 FIP and 4.31 xERA. He is also a lefty, which probably works in his favor.
Macko, 25, was acquired at the deadline from the Toronto Blue Jays for Josh Stephen and Josh Smith in what was basically a salary dump of Smith. He made just eight appearances covering nine innings for the Rangers post-trade, with a 6.00 ERA, and six appearances covering nine innings for the Express post-trade, with a 6.00 ERA. Like Ahlstrom, he’s a lefty, which helps, but I don’t know that the Rangers would keep both Ahlstrom and Macko on the 40 man roster, and with him being out of options, he seems like someone who could end up on the DFA carousel this winter.
Collyer is a righthander who was the Rangers’ 12th round draft pick in 2019. A free agent after the 2025 season, the Rangers re-signed him to a minor league deal, and after a strong camp, he was called up to the majors in mid-April. Like Ahlstrom, he got off to a strong start, not allowing a run in his first 11 appearances, covering 9.2 innings. Also like Ahlstrom, he had issues after that, allowing 16 runs over 15.1 innings in his final 13 appearances, walking and striking out 15. And like Ahlstrom, he ended up shuttling between AAA and the majors over the final few months, though he spent most of the second half in the minors.
Collyer put up a 2.37 ERA in 30 innings for Round Rock, with 42 Ks against 18 walks. His improved command was what got the team’s attention in spring training and got him promoted in the majors early. The failure to throw strikes in his later appearances with the team got him returned to Round Rock. The arm is legit — he was in the 84th percentile in fastball velocity, per Statcast, and elite at avoiding hard contact — but he’s not going to be more than an emergency up-and-down guy if he doesn’t tighten up the command and throw more strikes.
Peoples, acquired from the White Sox at the end of June for organizational depth A ball catcher Ben Hartl, is similar to Collyer in that he’s a righthander with a big fastball (75th percentile) and elite at avoiding loud contact, but who struggles to throw strikes. But while Collyer is mediocre at striking out batters, Peoples is near the bottom of the league, with just a 14.7% K rate.
Peoples was up for a month and a half after being acquired, was sent down in mid-August, and made just two more appearances in the big leagues for Texas after that. He ended the year with a 2.76 ERA in 16.1 innings over 16 appearances, but with just 10 Ks against 8 walks. He had an ugly 5.92 FIP but a respectable 3.92 xERA.
The Reliever Without Options Who Can’t Stay Healthy — Cole Winn
Cole Winn ended the 2026 season on the injured list, which is the same way his 2024 and 2025 seasons ended. He had two stints on the injured list in 2026, the same number of stints on the i.l. he had in 2025. He was out of options in 2026, and if he hadn’t been out of options, he probably would have been sent down to AAA at some point for a reason other than a rehab assignment.
Winn had a 7.79 ERA in 2024, a 1.51 ERA in 2025, and a 5.63 ERA in 2026. His xERAs (5.35, 4.19, 4.88) and FIPs (4.26, 3.90, 4.02) have been much more consistent and largely pretty pedestrian. His splitter and slider generate whiffs, but his command of his fastball and cutter in the strike zone results in those two pitches being punished too often.
I can’t see the Rangers keeping all four of Winn, Baumler, Collyer and Peoples. There’s only so many iffy righthanded middle relievers you can carry on your 40 man roster, especially given that the Rangers are going to add some (hopefully less iffy) righthanded middle relievers as free agents this offseason. It may be that the Rangers are going to be willing to carry either Winn or Baumler — two guys who can’t be sent down without clearing waivers — to start the 2027 season, but not both, and I’m not sure both stick on the 40 man roster all offseason.
The Nolan Ryan Winner Who Can’t Stay Healthy — Jose Corniell
Jose Corniell was the Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year in the Rangers’ organization for 2023, a season which saw him put up a 2.92 ERA in 101 innings between low-A and high-A. He missed all of 2024 and most of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery, but pitched very well upon his return in 2025, with a 1.89 ERA in 13 appearances in the minors before making his major league debut in game 162 of 2025.
2026 was a disaster, as he put up a 6.37 ERA in 10 appearances in AAA, and allowed 10 runs in 4.1 innings in two appearances in the majors when he was pressed into emergency duty. He went on the 60 day i.l. after his final major league appearance in July, and his status for 2027 is unclear.
Corniell technically is out of options, though he is most likely eligible for a fourth option. Given his health issues, however, I think there’s a good chance he is non-tendered and re-signed to a minor league contract.
The Disappointing Upper-Level Minor League Righthanded Arms — David Davalillo, Leandro Lopez, Winston Santos, Emiliano Teodo
Davalillo and Lopez were added to the 40 man roster after the 2025 season. Santos and Teodo were added after the 2024 season. None of them have pitched well since they got added, and if they were not on the 40 man roster currently, they would almost certainly not be added this offseason.
Davalillo is a control artist who, for much of 2026, failed to throw strikes, and had a 4.59 ERA in 100 innings between four levels in 2026, mostly at Frisco and Round Rock. Lopez missed three months of 2026 and was awful when he did pitch for much of the season, though he put up a 1.15 ERA and 431 OPS allowed in his final eight appearances, working mostly in relief. Santos missed most of 2025 due to injury and put up a 6.80 ERA in 25 appearances covering 83.1 innings between Frisco and Round Rock in 2026, as well as getting a couple of emergency call-ups to the majors, with Santos allowing two runs in one inning in his one major league appearance. Teodo also missed most of 2025, and while his surface numbers for Round Rock in 2026 were better — 3.73 ERA, 4.71 xERA, 4.50 FIP — he was still walking batters at a 16.8% rate. To put that in context, none of the 389 major league pitchers who threw at least 40 innings in 2026 had a walk rate higher than 15.3%.
Santos, who turns 25 next season and is coming off two straight disappointing seasons, would seem to be the guy most in danger of losing his roster spot. Lopez and Teodo are would seem to be the safest, as they have the stuff to potentially be quality bullpen arms, and Lopez, as noted above, pitched well over the last six weeks or so working out of the pen.
Oh, Yeah, He’s Still Here— Michel Otanez, Michael Helman
The Rangers claimed Otanez on waivers last November. He was optioned to the minors early in spring training, was designated for assignment in June, went unclaimed, was outrighted, and then was added to the 40 man roster and brought back up for one day in mid-September. The Rangers initially sent him back to Round Rock the next day, but that move was negated when he had to go on the injured list with an undisclosed viral illness. Otanez was bad for much of the year, but improved over the final month or two. Still, with no options remaining and the fact he’s been outrighted once before, I can’t see him sticking on the 40 man roster all offseason.
Michael Helman turns 31 early next season, put up a .207/.296/.360 slash line in 42 games for Round Rock last year after putting up a .231/.294/.406 slash line in 71 AAA games in 2025. He had a nice run late last season for the Rangers, but had a .250 xwOBA that indicated it was fluky, and had a .167/.235/.300 slash line in 35 plate appearances in the big leagues this year (with a .200 xwOBA). If you have an open 40 man roster spot, he’s an acceptable depth piece who can be called up in an emergency to play some center field and pinch run off the bench, but he’s not someone who you are going to going through machinations to ensure you can keep him on the 40 man. He’s another guy I could see the Rangers non-tendering and then re-signing to a minor league deal.
Okay, got all that? You will be tested on this next week.
Head coach Mike Sullivan’s arrival did little to help the reeling club, as they found themselves on the outside looking in at the playoff picture once again. The Rangers underperformed and battled injuries to key pieces throughout the season, finishing in the basement of the Eastern Conference with a 34-39-9 record.
GM Chris Drury continued his retool ahead of the deadline and carried it into the offseason, making some intriguing additions along the way. None was more notable than new top scorer Pavel Dorofeyev, who was inked to a seven-year contract extension shortly after being acquired from the Golden Knights.
Drury bulked up the depth to try to survive any injuries and revamped the d-core with hopes of getting things trending back in the right direction -- whether it will be enough remains to be seen.
What the Rangers have going for them…
They return an offensive core that showed some positives down the stretch in what was an otherwise very disappointing season from top-to-bottom. The trio of Gabe Perreault, Mika Zibanejad, and Alexis Lafreniere showed a tremendous connection over the closing weeks and they will be back together to start the year.
You also have to hope that captain J.T. Miller will be able to put together a bounce back showing after he dealt with injuries throughout last season. Sliding in next to Dorofeyev should go a long way towards helping him, too.
On top of that, Drury made some low-risk forward additions to lengthen the lineup and bolster the wing depth.
Oliver Bjorkstrand was a consistent 20-goal scorer until his production dropped off last season with the Lightning, he’ll look to rebound alongside Miller and Dorofeyev on the second line. Eeli Tolvanen is an interesting add with Will Cuylle and Noah Laba as both look to take another step forward on the third line, as well.
Then you have the defense, which returns a steady top pair of a healthy Adam Fox and last year’s big free agent addition, Vladislav Gavrikov. They also brought in a new second unit with veteran Marcus Petterson and the puck-moving Sean Durzi, both of whom Drury hand picked in offseason trades.
Braden Schneider is bumped down to the third pairing, back on a one-year prove-it deal, and he’ll skate with this year’s first-round pick Alberts Smits, who proved that he is NHL-ready in camp.
Then you add in the rest of the up-and-coming young talent in the system up front and on the back end such as Scott Morrow, Drew Fortescue, Liam Greentree, and Cole Beaudoin among others. Depth, depth, depth is the big thing for this group -- they have the makings of a team ready to take some steps forward this season.
The Rangers will make the playoffs if…
Everything comes together as planned.
As both Drury and Sullivan mentioned during their pre-camp news conference, one of the biggest things that hurt them last season was losing Fox and Shesterkin for long periods to injury. The Blueshirts bulked up their depth so they could potentially withstand another absence, but they absolutely need a fully healthy season from both of their stars.
They also need to get off to a better start this season, especially on home ice.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) celebrates with left wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) and center Mika Zibanejad (93) after defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images
New York struggled mightily at MSG last season, losing 15 of their first 25 games at the arena, putting them in a deep hole they were unable to recover from. Playing better hockey in front of the NYC faithful is an absolute must, especially with 10 of their first 17 games this year being on home ice.
Dorofeyev carrying over his goal-scoring ways would go a long way towards that, with him having found the back of the net 35+ times each of the last two seasons with the Golden Knights.
On top of that, they need the complimentary pieces to step up around him, particularly Miller, who is coming off an injury-plagued and unproductive first year as Rangers captain. Getting him back to a 70-80 point player would be huge.
The new defensive core will also need to click on the back end, tightening things up and putting together much more consistent efforts right off the bat in front of Shesterkin.
While the Metropolitan Division is getting more and more competitive, Drury seemingly has raised the floor on this squad. If all of these things come together, the Blueshirts should be able to climb their way right back into the playoff picture.
The Rangers will miss the playoffs if…
They can’t make up the production left behind after moving top scorer Artemi Panarin (deadline) and do it all center Vincent Trocheck (offseason).
Panarin hurts in the goal-scoring department, an area New York struggled with even while he was still on Broadway, and Trocheck stings on both ends of the ice. If their new-look top-six can’t step up and put the puck in the net on a nightly basis, this team isn’t going to go very far for the third straight season.
Nov 18, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
One of the biggest keys is also for Shesterkin to stay on the ice and return to the Vezina-winning form that carried them deep into their past postseason runs. Everything can come together in front of Shesterkin, but if he isn’t leading the way between the pipes it’s hard to see them crawling out of the cellar any time soon.
Drury made aggressive moves to try to quickly work through this retool. Whether it will be enough remains to be seen.
Prediction
Fifth place in Metropolitan Division, miss playoffs
This team has the pieces to take a step forward this season. The floor has been raised, but it’s hard to tell exactly what their ceiling is. The Rangers should be able to work their way back into playoff contention, but a lot has to go right for them to go much further than that.
I do expect that they’ll be playing meaningful hockey and fighting for a spot down the stretch, but with the Wild Card race expected to be tight once again, I don’t think it’ll be enough to snap the two-year playoff drought.
Drury’s seat would figure to only get hotter after parting ways with legit assets in this quick retool if the team doesn't get over the hump.
The start of the 2026-27 NHL regular season has nearly arrived, with the Toronto Maple Leafs' season opener coming on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.
With that, the team's NHL roster is essentially set, with the latest move being defenseman Nick Blankenburg signing a one-year contract with the Leafs for $1.4 million. The 28-year-old earned that contract after joining Toronto's training camp on a PTO.
The Maple Leafs now have eight NHL defensemen in their system. It will be a challenge for the team to distribute ice time for that depth, especially for blueliners like Troy Stecher, Emil Andrae and Blankenburg, who all float around the mix for the sixth or seventh defenseman role.
However, Chayka sees that depth as a real plus for his squad.
"I've never had an NHL head coach say we have too many good quality defensemen," Chayka said after Monday's practice at Scotiabank Arena. "So, just any time we got a chance to get a defenseman that we thought could skate, move the puck, defend, join the rush, facilitate offense.
"We wanted to get as many of those guys as we could. So just more kind of circumstantial in what was available. But whether it's through injuries or performance or, you know, different variables, you know, these things seem to sort themselves out. So we're happy we're not in the other position, looking for guys," he added.
There is a little less of a cluster for Toronto's forward group in terms of extra forwards on the NHL roster. But that doesn't mean the Leafs don't have depth in that position either.
Steven Lorentz, who has played 80 and 71 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs in the past two seasons, respectively, was waived and sent down to the AHL's Toronto Marlies just before the team left for their team-bonding trip to Arizona.
So whatever happens - injuries or players being unavailable - there are options for head coach Jim Hiller.
Center Bo Groulx, who played 13 games for the Maple Leafs in the NHL last season, appears to be locked in as an extra forward. He's practiced with the team consistently leading up to the start of the coming season.
"Bo obviously had a good season last season, came up, but I played well," Chayka said. "Throughout the playoffs, I thought he was a key member of that team. I think we're blessed with a lot of good depth. Credit to Ryan Hardy and John Gruden, and really the leadership group down there.
Chayka and the Maple Leafs' management's trust in some of their depth players doesn't end with Groulx.
"There's a number of guys that are in the system who, you know, we feel completely comfortable with playing NHL games, and Bo at this time is going to get a sample size, hopefully, to show what he can do, but hard-earned, happy for him," he said.
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