ELMONT, NY -- New York Islanders rookie Victor Eklund has turned heads this season, and not just his teammates or the club's upper management.
"He's done really, really well. Honestly, we've played some teams, and some of the GMs go, 'Oh, you know what? I noticed Eklund," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said. "He's not the biggest guy, but even in the third yesterday, he's one against three on the forecheck, he comes out from behind the net with the puck. He's relentless. He's got a dog-on-a-bone mentality.
"So he's been great. I was happy he got rewarded yesterday because he could have had a few more goals, and he's going to the net. He almost scored another one in the third."
Darche continued: "And if you go back to that play, it started with him bumping a guy on the wall, and then we kept the puck in. Schenn gave him a great pass, and he went on the breakaway. And every time he cycles the puck, instead of going wide on the outside, he comes right back inside. He plays on the inside. So even if he's not big, when you see him win a bunch of board battles, which is great to see."
Eklund, who after scoring in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, is about to play in his ninth NHL game of the season. If he reaches 10, the Islanders will burn this first year of his entry-level deal.
The Hockey News asked Darche how important Eklund has been to this team's success from the outset.
"He's earned a spot on the team, and we hope he's on the Island for a long time," Darche said. "There's still going to be a lot of improvement. He'll get stronger, he'll get faster."
Eklund now has two goals and one assist in nine games averaging 13:21 minutes per night.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone and team brass spoke at the end-of-year news conference Wednesday and hit on a number of topics...
Status of Giancarlo Stanton
Stanton is in the final guaranteed year of his contract. While the team has a club option following the 2027 season, at this point it seems unlikely they would pick it up.
GM Brian Cashman was asked what Stanton's status with the club is following what was essentially a lost season for the slugger, and the longtime exec was seemingly optimistic about what Stanton can bring. But he said there were discussions that need to be had this offseason.
"He finished the season healthy, so he enters the winter healthy," Cashman said. "We know what he’s capable of when he is healthy. We look forward to seeing if we can deploy a healthy version of him next year. But obviously, that DH spot is up for grabs for other people that could benefit from it at the same time. We’ll have those conversations."
Stanton played in just 24 games after suffering two separate calf strains during the regular season. In that short span, he hit .256 with an OPS of .724 to go along with three home runs and 14 RBI.
The Yankees owe Stanton $25 million for 2027 -- $15 million if you count what the Marlins are on the hook for -- but that hasn't stopped the organization from DFA'ing other notable veterans once their most productive years are over.
Cashman wouldn't reveal what the organization is thinking at this moment, but hopes Stanton can be a realistic option for the team in 2026.
"G is a very accountable, responsible, wired-correctly, professional athlete. It destroyed him that he wasn’t available to us to try to help us, impact us in a positive way," Cashman said. "He continues to fight through it, as someone who is wired right should. His leadership in there is not in question. His care factor is not in question, just obviously, keeping him on the field so he can help us in that win column. It was a huge problem for us, especially in 2026.
"I can’t tell you how this roster is going to shake out as we enter this winter and assess what is available for us. I hope he becomes a legitimate choice once again for Aaron Boone to play with when he puts lineups together on a daily basis. But we’ll see."
Stanton was healthy enough to make the Wild Card and ALDS rosters. He had two pinch-hit at-bats and struck out both times.
Luis Garcia Jr. at 2B?
As the Yankees assess their roster this winter, there is a noticeable hole in second base.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. will hit the free agent market and it seems the infielder will not be back in pinstripes. Is there a possibility that Garcia could slide in to play second base? Boone said there is, but gave the caveat that potential winter additions could affect the team's thinking on that front.
"He’s played second base a lot in his career prior to this season. Just watching him move and take ground balls and throw, he’s got a lot of infielder qualities to him. It’s possible," Boone said. " Never know how the winter is going to shape out. It’s at least possible that it could be a part of the equation."
Boone was asked about Garcia potentially playing third base, but didn't seem keen on the idea, despite not ruling it out.
Garcia has played 508 games (480 starts) at second base in his career but has had a negative OAA in four of his six seasons playing the position.
Aaron Boone is asked about managing the Yankees in 2027 on an expiring contract:
"Doesn't bother me at all...I feel blessed to be able to do this job alongside a lot of amazing people" https://t.co/vYbAdOEU4e
Boone will enter the 2027 season in the final year of his contract. Owner Hal Steinbrenner said he hasn't spoken with the skipper about a potential extension, and it seems the Yankees are okay letting Boone manage his way into a new contract.
And Boone said Wednesday that the fact he doesn't have a guaranteed job past next season won't affect his ability to manage.
"Doesn't bother me at all...I talk about perspective a lot. I feel blessed to be able to do this job alongside a lot of amazing people. And I'm going to go out there and do it to the best of my ability this year," Boone said. "That potential thing hanging over...it's fine. My focus is only on looking towards next year and trying to help us be the best possible team that we can be. That's where my focus lies."
Boone has one of the best all-time records as a Yankees manager. He's managed nine winning seasons, and has made the postseason in all but one. He's captured an AL pennant, but has yet to win the big one. The last two postseasons have seen the Yankees bow out quietly in the ALDS to AL East rivals, and questions about Boone's managerial style have swirled around the organization.
At the end of the day, Boone understands the questions and he can only go out and prove his worth.
"I believe [we can win a World Series] with me at the helm, but any answer I give in defense of that won't satisfy people. I think I'm good at my job. I think we have a lot of the right people in the building," he said. "At the end of the day, we haven't won a championship with me at the helm. That's what has to happen to satisfy myself and to answer those questions ultimately. Haven't been able to do it yet."
With the Mets out of contention at the end of July, the team began a sell-off that resulted in four key relievers getting traded.
Left-handers Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter were pending free agents, so their departures at the deadline will have no bearing on how this offseason goes. But in addition to moving them, the Mets also traded two key cogs who were under team control beyond 2026.
The biggest loss was Luke Weaver, who was in the midst of a terrific season (1.84 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 42 games for New York) and under contract through 2027. Had he remained, Weaver would've been a late-inning option next season, and perhaps someone to turn to at closer if needed.
While it put a dent in their bullpen for 2027, it was easy to see the rationale in trading Weaver given the year-to-year fluctuation of relief performance. Whether it showed the Mets selling high was prudent or was just randomness in a small sample size, Weaver's performance sagged on his new team as he posted a 4.96 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 18 games for the Pirates.
The Mets also traded Huascar Brazoban, who was under team control through 2029. But the impressive numbers Brazoban put up with the Mets in 2026 were viewed as a bit fluky, and he regressed after joining the White Sox, pitching to a 4.40 ERA (5.19 FIP) in 14 games over 14.1 innings while striking out just seven batters.
Looking ahead to 2027, the Mets' bullpen depth chart looks something like this:
Devin Williams Kodai Senga Dedniel Núñez Nate Lavender Daniel Duarte Austin Warren Tobias Myers
That group is solid, but filled with question marks.
With all of that as a backdrop, should the Mets sign free agent left-hander Adrian Morejon?
PROS
No matter how you analyze Morejon's numbers, the end result is that he's really good.
Looking at his standard stats, Morejon posted a 2.83 ERA (2.37 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 107 strikeouts in 86 innings across 76 appearances in 2026 for the Padres. Along the way, he allowed just four home runs as he pitched in 60 or more games for the third straight season.
Over the last three years, Morejon has a 2.58 ERA (2.46 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP in 223.1 innings while striking out 248 (a rate of 10.0 per nine).
In 2026, Morejon was in the 90th percentile or better in hard-hit percentage, xERA, average exit velocity against, xBA, fastball velocity, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, barrel percentage, and ground ball percentage.
Meanwhile, his stuff -- primarily a two-seam fastball and four-seamer that both average a tick under 100 mph, and a changeup -- graded out near the top of the league.
Morejon is also young (entering his age-28 season in 2027) and has been relatively injury-free since 2023.
With Devin Williams' 2026 season being mediocre and with him perhaps best suited for a setup role, the Mets adding Morejon to close would be huge.
May 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) and pitcher Devin Williams (38) celebrate the victory against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. / Gary A. Vasquez - Imagn Images
CONS
You can't poke holes in Morejon's performance, can't worry about his age, and shouldn't be concerned about his durability. There are possible drawbacks, though.
The first is that the Padres will almost certainly place the qualifying offer on Morejon, meaning a team that signs him will incur staff draft pick penalties.
Beyond that, it's possible the deal Morejon receives could be beyond David Stearns' comfort level.
Before Edwin Diaz left the Mets for the Dodgers last offseason, New York offered him a three-year deal worth $66 million that they eventually made small tweaks to. But the Mets reportedly didn't budge beyond that when asked by Diaz's camp for some additional sweeteners, and he wound up inking a three-year deal with Los Angeles for $69 million.
It felt like something might have gone haywire toward the end of the Diaz negotiations, though, so perhaps the Mets would be more flexible in a potential pursuit of Morejon.
Either way, given Morejon's age and dominance, he's likely in line for a pretty big deal in terms of both average annual value and years.
In a world where New York doesn't ink Tarik Skubal to lead the rotation and/or passes on an impact player at first base, there should be a bigger emphasis placed on trying to sign Morejon, who could anchor the relief corps for years to come.
If the Mets go big elsewhere, a more prudent move in the bullpen could be to target lower cost but high upside options, such as Jonathan Loaisiga.
Captain will resist lure of big-money move to France
‘Maro is everything we want at the club – a brilliant leader’
Maro Itoje has reaffirmed his long‑term commitment to England, rejecting interest from France by agreeing a new deal with Saracens.
Itoje’s existing deal, signed in 2024, was due to expire after the World Cup next year but he has agreed terms with his club despite interest from Top 14 sides. A move to either Perpignan or Bordeaux had been mooted but the 31-year-old is to commit his future to the club he first represented in 2013 with a new deal, believed to be until 2029.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 08: A detailed view of the Cleveland Cavaliers shorts logo at Target Center on January 08, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves beat the Cavaliers 131-122. 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 Tyler Clouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re in a weird and fractured time for TV. Streaming services have made traditional cable packages more obsolete. This has left live sports in a weird spot, specifically in regard to local TV broadcasts.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been caught in the midst of this change. Their previous cable partner, FanDuel Sports Network, shut down at the end of last season. As a result, the Cavs and four other NBA teams turned to DAZN, a sports streaming company, to carry their local broadcasts. The Cavs announced a multi-year deal with DAZN earlier in September.
It costs $119.99 to watch the Cavs’ DAZN broadcast this season. There’s also a $139.99 ultimate tier that allows for more streams and alternative angles and feeds. That dollar amount is in line with most other teams that offer a season subscription. However, the lack of over-the-air broadcasts or alternative ways to watch Cavs games locally through cable led Awful Announcingto rank the Cavs last in their local broadcast accessibility rankings.
Awful Announcing’s criteria for ranking all 30 teams were simple and are explained below:
“Methodology: Each team was compared based on the cost of its direct-to-consumer streaming service, the number of major cable providers on which it is available, the number of exclusive national games, the number of over-the-air games, and the number of streaming-exclusive games”
“The Cleveland Cavaliers are the least accessible NBA team to watch for the 2026-27 season. The main reason is that they are one of five teams not available on cable, as they signed an exclusive deal with DAZN. What makes them worse than the other four teams? They will have 59 games exclusive to streaming, including DAZN, which costs $120. Then, 10 other games will be on other platforms because they are national exclusives. If the Cavaliers’ local games were on cable, that wouldn’t be such a big problem, since the package would include the national games. But because they aren’t, fans will need to subscribe to another service to watch those 10 games, in addition to the $120 they already spent on DAZN. On the bright side, at least 15 local games will be simulcast over the air.”
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Browns throwback shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cleveland gear HERE.
The issue with the Cavs streaming partnership is the exclusivity of the deal. If you want to watch the 59 exclusive DAZN games, you need to buy the subscription package to do so. There’s no option to bundle with cable or anything else. Additionally, it’s cheaper and easier to watch the local broadcasts of the 29 other out-of-market teams through NBA League Pass ($109.99 a season) than it is to just watch just the Cavs games in the Cleveland area.
Not all teams have embraced the model that the Cavs have. The Atlanta Hawks will be broadcasting their games on Amazon Prime. While that does require a subscription (roughly $54 for the full season), that subscription comes with other perks as well, including access to other national NBA broadcasts.
Other teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns are prioritizing traditional over-the-air broadcasts that just require a TV antenna to access. Both also offer streaming options as well for those who would prefer that.
There’s also a conversation to be had about the increase of national NBA broadcasts. Instead of just ESPN, ABC, and TNT exclusively broadcasting national TV games, there’s now ESPN, ABC, NBC, Peacock, and Amazon Prime doing so. The latter two require subscriptions to access.
Figuring out how to navigate local broadcasts in this increasingly splintered TV world is an unenviable task. It’s not as simple as it used to be when cable was much more prevalent. That said, this is an area the Cavs organization should look to improve. Being the least accessible local TV market isn’t ideal for local fans or the organization.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves bats against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It may not be the be-all, end-all for production as far as batted balls go, but exit velocity goes a long way towards determining whether or not a ball ends up landing in the grass or the seats instead of the leather of a baseball glove.
Plus, it’s just plain cool to see a ball get hit really hard — especially if it’s for a base hit or even more. Fortunately, the Atlanta Braves had a lot of hard-hit balls in 2026 and now it’s time to take a look at 10 of the hardest that they hit during this past season. Let’s get into it, shall we?
No. 10 – Austin Riley, May 24 vs. Nationals, Single, 111.9 mph, .714 xBA
This was during that series where the Braves inexplicably couldn’t figure out a way to score more than one run across two games against the beleaguered pitching staff for the Washington Nationals — and at home, no less. There was a lot of hope that this rocket from Austin Riley would’ve been enough to spark the Braves. Instead, it just ended up being a footnote — a footnote that was interesting enough to make it onto this list, though!
No. 9 – Ronald Acuña Jr., May 31 at Reds, Home Run, 112.0 mph, 1.000 xBA
As you would imagine, Ronald Acuña Jr. is going to make plenty of appearances on this list. He still hits the ball extremely hard and as you can see based on the rest of his appearances on this list, he’ll hit it hard whether he gets all of it or not. This time, he got all of it and this batted ball also appeared on the Longest Homers list from earlier this week. As such, y’all get the Reds broadcast’s take on Acuña’s homer. Seems like they really enjoyed Acuña watching it go, huh?
T-No. 7 – Austin Riley, July 4 vs. Mets, Line Out, 112.2 mph, .820 xBA
There were plenty of fireworks (both during and after the game) for the Braves and their fans on July 4 against the New York Mets. Interestingly enough, despite the explosion of offense from Atlanta in this one, there was no harder-hit ball during this game for the Braves than this fly out from Austin Riley. Riley did end up with 3 RBI during this game but he could’ve had four if this one flew just a little bit further off of his bat. That’s the story of many fly balls, though.
T-No. 7 – Jorge Mateo, May 3 vs. Rockies, Home Run, 112.2 mph, .994 xBA
Coors.
No but for real, this was very likely the type of moment that doesn’t happen outside of this atmosphere — especially for a batter like Jorge Mateo. Mateo’s average exit velocity in 2026 was 87.5-mph and this was the second of a grand total of five homers for Mateo during the 2026 regular season. The stars and conditions aligned for Mateo to absolutely turn on this one and keep it fair for a laser beam of a dinger.
No. 6 – Ronald Acuña Jr., April 4 at Diamondbacks, Ground Out, 112.3 mph, .617 xBA
Here’s another appearance for Acuña on this list. Again, it won’t be his last but this time, he suffered some hard luck as this one got smacked directly to a Diamondbacks infielder for a routine out. As you’ll see from his other appearances on this list, Acuña’s hardest-hit balls really ran the gamut from making you go “Wow!” in a good way to making you go “Wow.” in a confused way.
T-No. 4 – Michael Harris II, July 31 vs. Nationals, Home Run, 112.8 mph, .923 xBA
Boy, that one got out of there Quick. We’ve seen some balls get hit to the Chop House in right field that seemingly took a long and majestic voyage either to the seats, the house itself, or even the roof. Money Mike sent this one on a laser beam and it got to its destination about as quick as it possibly could. It’s a miracle that it didn’t just knock someone’s beer right off of their table out there! Sheesh.
T-No. 4 – Drake Baldwin, June 16 vs. Giants, Home Run, 112.8 mph, 1.000 xBA
We covered this one in the Longest Homers article from earlier this week, so there’s not much more to say about it. Instead, let’s just enjoy the Giants TV crew and how they observed this one. Granted, they can’t be jumping up and down and throwing confetti everywhere for a home run against the team that they’re covering but there’s still a lot of awe and admiration on the call here.
No. 3 – Ronald Acuña Jr., May 29 at Reds, Home Run, 113.3 mph, .971 xBA
At this point in the season, Ronald Acuña Jr. was about as locked in as we’d ever seen him. This series in Cincinnati saw Acuña go on a rampage, as this is his second batted ball from that series alone to make this list. It would’ve been really nice to se Acuña tap into this vein of production for longer stretches during the 2026 season but when he did find it, it was a reminder of just what this guy is capable of when he’s firing on all cylinders. Wow.
No. 2 – Michael Harris II, April 20 at Nationals, Ground Out, 114.9 mph, .551 xBA
Baseball is a cruel sport. It’s the only sport where you can do everything right with regularity and still end up getting nowhere as a result. That was the case in this particular moment, as Michael Harris II absolutely put this one on the screws — only for it to be hit directly towards a Nationals infielder for a routine ground ball out. A just-about 115-mph bullet and it’s all for naught. That’s baseball for you!
No. 1 – Ronald Acuña Jr., August 23 vs. Brewers, Ground Out, 115.2 mph, .111 xBA
If you have a morbid sense of humor then you can also recognize that baseball is a hilarious sport. Not only was this the hardest-hit ball of the season for the Braves, it was enough to make the Top-70 of all batted balls throughout the entire 2026 Major League Baseball Regular Season. This. THIS! Money Mike’s bullet from second place was just barely hit hard enough to make the Top 100 for the entire season but this was just bizarre. Acuña hit it directly into the ground and it was all for nothing — well, it made the top of this list, so congratulations to him for this amazing achievement.
BONUS – Lowest Exit Velocity for a (Non-Bunt) Base Hit: Eli White, July 29 at Mets, Single, 29 mph, .359 xBA
Sometimes you get unlucky, sometimes you get very lucky. That was the case for Eli White, as he ended up benefiting from getting a perfectly soft bounce on a full swing that was essentially as good as a bunt. What made this possible is that Eli White’s Sprint Speed for 2026 was 30.3 feet per second, which meant that it was just slow enough for White to be quick enough to make it to first base. The tortoise and the hare worked together in true harmony in order to make this play work for White and the Braves.
Juuso Valimaki hadn't played in an NHL game in nearly two years.
The Finnish defenseman last suited up at the top level of professional hockey on Jan. 26, 2025, then a member of the Utah Mammoth, and over the next 632 days, he had to battle through an ACL tear, a trade and had to fight his way up a brand new depth chart to get back to the NHL.
But all the work paid off for him Tuesday night as Valimaki made his Carolina Hurricanes debut, suiting up on the third pair alongside Shayne Gostisbehere.
"Just happy to be out there playing the game again," Valimaki told Hurricanes Hockey Network during the first intermission. "My mindset was just to be grateful for the opportunity. Happy to be here, so I'm just trying to have a positive mindset. It's been a long road, but I'm just happy to be here."
Valimaki had a rather strong showing too, even picking up an assist in less than five minutes of ice time, moving the puck up for Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven to work some magic.
"Pretty simple play [by me]," Valimaki said. "Obviously Stanks and Blaker did all the work, so thanks to them. Nice play by those two."
Playing in front of over 400 (!!!) family and friends, Logan Stankoven lights the lamp! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/40x82Eu8m9
For the game, Valimaki also had a shot on goal, a hit, two blocks, a 13-9 edge in 5v5 chance share and a 73.22 expected goals for percentage.
"He played really well for not having played since training camp," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "That was a worry with throwing him into the lineup, but I thought he had his hands on the first goal, a quick-up pass. Then I thought he played well. Good on him to step in and contribute."
The 28-year-old blueliner really put his head down and worked hard to get to this point.
Despite being a first-round pick (2017) and veteran of 271 NHL games, Valimaki had to do his time in the AHL coming off of the ACL tear and especially so after getting traded to a team as deep as Carolina.
Valimaki never complained once though, and had a really strong showing with the Chicago Wolves last year after coming in midseason, producing 11 goals and 34 points in 45 games between both the regular season and playoffs.
"Can’t explain how happy I am and proud of Juice for making his Canes debut tonight!," wrote Chicago Wolves coach Spiros Anastas. "A Chicago Wolves favourite, ultimate pro, and terrific leader and person. The resilience and perseverance he’s shown to make his return to the NHL is inspiring!"
Valimaki may not be a lineup regular moving forward, but it's a testament to the work he's put in that he was able to make it back to this level regardless.
"There's been a lot of ups and downs in my career with injuries and kind of a lot of other things going on, but I think last year was finally where I felt like myself again and I was in a really good head space," Valimaki said back during training camp. "Just trying to play hockey, enjoy it. There's been times where you kind of forget the fun part and for me, at least, when you're having fun and enjoying what you're doing, I think that's when you play your best."
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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Interim Manager Chad Tracy #17 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with champagne in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff berth following a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 20, 2026 at at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
…………………………………………………………No. No, it was not a success. Of course it wasn’t.
Was the comeback we saw in late June and July incredible? For sure. It gave me something to believe in again heading into the dog days of summer, and I’m thankful for that. The guys in that clubhouse deserve the respect they got for not lying down and for clawing their way back into the picture. I think it’s a big win for the clubhouse culture of a franchise that had been starved of that sense of culture for a while.
Last time I checked, though, they don’t hang banners for improved culture and for fighting back in the face of adversity. They don’t give out rings for great summers in this league.
It’s real simple: This is Boston, and in a season like this where you were looking to build upon your first playoff appearance in a few seasons, another Wild Card exit cannot possibly be considered a success. I think the future can be bright for this franchise, but a season ending in a second straight elimination at the hands of the Yankees early in the playoffs (before the calendar year even flipped over to October, technically!) should never ever ever ever ever be considered a success for the Red Sox.
— Fitzy Mo Peña
HELL NO!!! If you string together the last four games played against the Yankees (the two in the Wild Card series and the two at the end of August with the head-to-head tiebreaker on the line), Boston got annihilated by a combined score of 43-5. This was a season bookended by unmitigated disasters, and nothing — not even the best 37 game stretch in franchise history sandwiched in-between — can change that.
But it actually gets even worse when you zoom out. Not only did this season end in calamity, but the year as a whole gave us pretty terrible news on the array of critical building blocks the team has moving forward. Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony have legit and potentially long-term injury concerns surrounding them. Marcelo Mayer flamed out and got flipped for a middle reliever. Kristian Campbell never found his was back from Worcester. Tristian Casas hasn’t played in over 300 games. Connelly Early was swapped for a largely unproven Curtis Mead. Brayan Bello continues to prove he’s completely untrustworthy in a pressure packed spot. Jarren Duran’s value shriveled so much you’re not going to get anything useful for him in a trade going forward. And Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon, Enddy Azocar, and Harold Rivas were all shipped to Baltimore in exchange for Adley Rutschman, who has just one year of control left.
Do you see what’s happening here? The wave of young talent that was supposed to set up a run of many October nights at Fenway over the next handful of years has taken a massive hit over the last seven months, and we really have nothing to show for it. It’s not just 2026 that failed, but also the fact that many of the season’s worst elements threaten to linger into 2027 and beyond.
—Matthew Gross
This is going to be unpopular but, yes, this was a successful season. While the goal to some extent every year is to win the World Series, only one team can do that. Thirty teams each play 162 games, minimum, every year. Half of the comments on this site called for a fire sale in May. The big media evaluators called for gutting the roster by June for draft position. But it’s a long season. And, yes, some seasons will be bad. 2014 and 2015 were a huge drop off from the miracle in 2013. The 2019 season was a crash from 2018. If the team had kept losing through the deadline, sure, make some moves. But that’s the time to evaluate. Not May. That’s “fire a coach” or “replace the manager” time (mainly because these positions are easier to move than players).
Pace is not prophecy. We got to enjoy one of the best runs any team has ever gone on in baseball history. Without Garrett Crochet. Without (pretty much) Roman Anthony. The same people cheering Tolle for giving a hug would be calling him unserious if they’d lost 120 games.
Three players are near locks for Gold Gloves. Caleb Durbin showed everyone you can play with only 4 fingers sometimes. Payton Tolle had fun that was contagious. Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras rallied around their homeland with homers. The Scots visited and brought a new energy to the oldest ballpark in the league. Don’t throw away a season because there wasn’t a trophy.
—Mike Carlucci
No. My answer might have been different if the Sox had put up any kind of a fight against the Yankees in the Wild Card.
—Maura McGurk
No. Thinking back to a few weeks ago, I asked for our Question of the Day: “What would make this Red Sox season a success?” I was stunned by the number of responses who felt that it was already a success by making the playoffs. As I stated then, “It’s been five years since the Red Sox won a playoff series, and expectations need to be higher around here.”
And that was before the team was swept and embarrassed over two nights in the Bronx, not even making it to the first day of October. When there should have been urgency in a four-game series in New York in late August, with the chance to host the Yankees in the playoffs, the team got run out of the building. In the playoffs, the same thing happened.
Watching the remainder of the playoffs these past couple of weeks, what has stuck with me is how far away the Red Sox appear to be from hanging with these teams in a playoff environment. From putting the ball in play against high velocity, to hitting for power, to first-year players stepping in and appearing to be ready for the moment.
As memorable as the one-quarter of the season was for all of us, if you turn the clocks back to March and were told “Two fewer wins than last year, another five seed, and a sweep from the Yankees by the combined score of 18-2,” I can’t think of how I could have spun that as a success.
—Bob Osgood
Yes. I believe the team is in a better position than it was when the season started, which you can only do for so long before things begin to break right at the right times. That’s to say nothing of the team’s utterly iconic summer, which turned the narrative about the entire franchise 180 degrees on its axis back to pointed straight forward, where the arrow remains today. Losing two games in October by 10 billion runs doesn’t change that.
The Sox should enter next year having taken no steps backward, which is a lot harder to do than it sounds. Be happy about what we have; don’t mourn what we don’t. The dynasty was never going to last forever. This is what the climb looks and feels like. We may be hungry, but as Taylor Swift said, you’re starved until you’re not. As long as we get closer to the feast, and I believe we did, I’m happy about it.
Batters left to conduct desperate rearguard on last day
There it was, another entry in Australia’s hall of infamy against South Africa. There was 47 all out, in the innocent days when the 2011 Test was the worst humiliation in Cape Town. There was 85 all out in Hobart, 2016, that led to half the side being sacked. Now there is 99 all out in Gqeberha, one day after the home team blew past 400, only for the visitors to follow on halfway through day four. At 156 for four, still 170 behind, Australia could yet save the second Test on its final day, but another batting failure has left the door wide open to defeat, and the table laden with defeat’s favourite snacks.
When Nic Maddinson’s first innings lasted four balls on the third evening, nobody would have predicted that his second innings would be done an hour after lunch the next day. Between times, nine other Australian wickets fell in 38.3 overs. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada bowled spells of ferocity, cranking up the speed gun while beating edges with the ball pitched up, and peppering batters when it wasn’t.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Bryan Baker was an inconsistent reliever in Baltimore. He became a dominant closer in his first full season in Tampa Bay.
Drew Rasmussen had a 5.01 ERA in 1 1/2 seasons in Milwaukee. He developed into an elite ace with the Rays.
Freddy Peralta struggled with the Mets before he was traded to Tampa Bay in August, turned his season around and was MVP of the AL Champions Series.
Nick Martinez signed with the Rays a couple days before spring training and made his first All-Star team in July.
Cam Booser had a 5.52 ERA last season, came to Tampa Bay and cut it to 1.98.
The common theme for those reclamation projects is pitching coach Kyle Snyder.
Under Snyder’s direction since 2018, the Rays have consistently had one of the best pitching staffs in the majors.
That stellar staff helped Tampa Bay become American League champions for the third time in the franchise’s 29 seasons. The World Series begins Friday night in Milwaukee.
The Rays led the league in WHIP (1.14), were fourth in batting average against (.229) and seventh in ERA (3.70) this season. Snyder has earned a reputation for consistently developing pitchers.
“I don’t know if I could put into words right now the impact and importance he’s had to the pitchers here at the major league level, the entire pitching department throughout the organization,” manager Kevin Cash said. “I’m certainly biased, but I think he’s the best in baseball at what he does, the care that he shows each individual pitcher, whether it’s in the offseason, spring training and obviously during the season — the way that he builds relationships and creates that trust within each individual pitcher.
“And I think the way he’s evolved. I mean, we’ve seen pitching — there’s a lot of information out there right now about pitching. There has been for quite some time. I think Kyle’s always at the forefront of being very curious to try to understand what that information is providing or saying. And he’s the best at implementing it with individual pitchers.”
The 49-year-old Snyder spent less than a decade pitching in the majors, posting a 5.57 ERA in 93 games with the Royals and Red Sox between 2003-08. He won a World Series with Boston in 2007 and began his coaching career with the Rays in 2012 as the pitching coach for Low-A Hudson Valley.
With Snyder leading the way, the Rays have embraced new technology. They began using markerless motion capture technology before other teams, helped introduce the opener concept and have emphasized the value of catcher pitch framing.
Snyder goes out of his way to build relationships with his pitchers and has prioritized face-to-face conversations instead of texting since he became a coach.
“You build the relationship strong enough so that it can bear the weight of trust, but if you show them enough that you care and you happen to be in their living room let’s say in January, it’s a lot easier to deliver a hard and direct message in May because they know the care factor is there,” Snyder told MLB Network recently.
Peralta said Snyder helped him learn to trust himself again after his midseason trade to Tampa Bay.
“The information and the way he communicated to me, it was the right way to do it,” Peralta said. “When I got here, everything changed.”
Baker had moments of success with the Orioles. The Rays saw his potential and figured Snyder could get the best out of him. He did. Baker had a 1.44 ERA in 65 appearances this season and has been nearly unhittable in the playoffs, allowing one hit in seven innings.
“It’s been awesome to get to work with such a good baseball mind and somebody who has got a lot of feel for the game, especially pitching side, that you don’t see too often,” Baker said of Snyder. “So I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”
The Rays throw more change-ups than other teams because of Snyder’s influence. Baker said learning to throw a change-up in the strike zone is the biggest factor that has led to his success.
Catcher Liam Hicks, who was traded to the Rays in August, said Snyder helped him transition smoothly to handling a new pitching staff.
“I think he does a really good job of just keeping things simple,” Hicks said. “He does a really good job of giving you enough information but not overwhelming you with it as well. I feel like back there, every game, I’m completely prepared for what to call. He helps me between innings, planning for the next few hitters. And then just seeing the way all the pitchers respect him as well, it’s really cool. And I feel like I’ve learned a ton this year with him.”
All that’s missing from Snyder’s coaching resume is a World Series ring. The Rays are four wins away from securing it.
The Yankees suffered another disappointing finish in the postseason, and while there's plenty of blame to go around, owner Hal Steinbrenner pinned it directly on the players -- specifically the offense.
Speaking alongside GM Brian Cashman in the team's end-of-year news conference Wednesday, Steinbrenner on numerous occasions talked about the position players' failure to perform as a reason the Yankees have not been able to get over the hump, while defending his GM and manager.
"I don't think you can pin the season and the unacceptable end to it on Aaron [Boone]. I don't think you can pin it on [Cashman]," he said. "I was disappointed, quite frankly, with the offense throughout the course of the year…as a whole, they were very inconsistent when it came to run scoring. And that made it difficult to catch the Rays and win the division. Winning the division is a big deal in this playoff format. This has been twice now that the offense has not lived up to their end of the bargain."
Steinbrenner added:
"When you look at the subpar season, that certainly ended in an unacceptable way, is [Boone] really responsible? In the end, the majority of the responsibility, I’ll say it for the fifth time, in my mind, in my opinion, lies with the position players and the inability to score on a consistent basis throughout the course of the entire season, for the most part, and not on the shoulders of Aaron Boone does the blame lie.”
The Yankees (93-68) finished with the second-best record in the American League, but failed to capture the division. Despite injuries to various players throughout the year, including long-term IL stints to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, which Steinbrenner cited, the Yanks finished 11th in MLB in OPS (.720) and second in home runs (223), but were 26th in average (.235), 24th in OBP (.311), and 29th in hits (1250).
That inconsistency permeated into the postseason.
New York scored a combined 18 runs on 26 hits in the two-game sweep of the Red Sox, but just five runs on 12 hits in the Rays' three-game sweep in the ALDS.
New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) celebrates with outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Cashman was asked about the inconsistencies and whether it's a clubhouse or personnel issue.
"Every day’s different. Every play can cascade into something. We were perfect for two days in the Wild Card Series against a formidable opponent. A few days later…it didn’t happen for us for a lot of different reasons," Cashman explained. "You have to be consistently playing your best baseball on all sides of the ball, or you’ll be sent home. And that’s what happened that day.
"Our players are prepared, they are wired the right way and they care. Every year is different. The environment in Tampa, we did not perform."
Boone saw the same inconsistencies this season, and likened it to past seasons. He liked the way the team was playing going into the ALDS, but the bats simply disappeared.
"There’s years where we were at times in the year one of the best teams in baseball and you get to the finish line and you’re not that same team," Boone said. " At different times this year, the run scoring was a problem for us and proved to be a problem in the Tampa series, too. The Red Sox series we played our best baseball at any time all year, but then got shut down, unfortunately, in three games by the Rays."
The 2027 season could be make-or-break for Boone and the Yankees. The longtime skipper will be managing on an expiring contract, and there will be potentially hard decisions to make regarding certain position players like Stanton.
But Boone remains confident the organization will continue to work towards the goal of winning the Yankees' 28th World Series.
"The ending always, obviously, hurts, but that’s being in the arena," Boone said. "There’s one happy team at the end of the year. That’s what we’re working hard to get back to that point."
Hal Steinbrenner is asked about the changes the Yankees need to make to get over the hump:
"We're going to look at everything...I was disappointed with the offense. They were inconsistent for long periods of time." https://t.co/inlaJ4DlNX
It's raised a few eyebrows around the league that LeBron James took a steep pay cut — playing for the veteran minimum — to come to Philadelphia, then commutes from New York to the team's New Jersey practice facility and games in Philly via helicopter. Specifically, a Fantatics-branded helicopter from the sports apparel company. Pablo Torre of the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast — which blew the Kawhi Leonard/Clippers/Aspiration story up — said NBA owners have sent him messages asking what is going on, and he is looking into it.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver downplayed the concern in an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, saying if it's part of LeBron's endorsement deal with Fanatics it's fine, as long as the 76ers aren't part of it (quote via ESPN).
"He has a deal with Fanatics. It's perfectly appropriate if part of his deal is they're going to supply a helicopter to him as long as it's just a deal between the Fanatics and LeBron and no team is involved; there's no rules issue there whatsoever."
Front Office Sports’ Daniel Roberts and TMZ Sports investigated LeBron's helicopter rides and endorsement deal with Fanatics, and both confirmed that LeBron isn't paying for the helicopter out of pocket. That said, LeBron has had a deal with Fanatics for several years — one that will extend beyond his playing days — and the use of the Fanatics helicopter is part of that long-term deal. Here is what a spokesperson for James told Front Office Sports:
"The deal we signed with Fanatics almost three years ago includes access to their corporate aviation. It's a feature in many of their deals with their largest athletes and we appreciate their partnership as LeBron splits his time between New York and Philadelphia."
Beyond that, the idea that LeBron needed a sweetener financially to take the minimum and play for Philadelphia was always a little ridiculous. Putting aside the fact that LeBron has earned more than half a billion in salary before this season ($583 million), Forbes also estimates he will make about $85 million in endorsements this year. LeBron always had the money to make the best basketball choice for himself and not stress about the payday.
If the 76ers had their hands directly in LeBron's helicopter deal, that would be one thing, but it appears they don't.
LeBron, for his part, recently blew all of this off, saying it was "just another way of transportation."
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 14: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammate Josue de Paula #95 after scoring during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 14, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers head into the offseason with their planned 2026 lineup all signed for 2027 as well. Then again they had those nine players all start in the same game only three times this season — September 23 vs. the Padres, NLDS Game 1 against the Braves, and NLCS Game 2 against the Brewers.
Timing of injuries were the culprit here, with Tommy Edman recovering from ankle surgery and not making his season debut until June 17. By then, catcher Will Smith was two weeks into a injured-list stint that would last three months. By the time he returned in September, Shohei Ohtani was resting before his own IL stint.
Eight of the nine regulars from the 2026 team will have an age that starts with a three during the 2027 season, everyone but center fielder Andy Pages.
Dodgers regulars
Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, age 32 next season
Catcher Will Smith, 32
First baseman Freddie Freeman, 37
Infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, 32
Shortstop Mookie Betts, 34
Third baseman Max Muncy, 36
Left fielder Teoscar Hernández, 34
Center fielder Andy Pages, 26
Right fielder Kyle Tucker, 30
Others on the 40-man roster
Catcher Dalton Rushing, 26
Outfielder Josue De Paula, 22
Infielder Alex Freeland, 25
Outfielder Alex Call, 32
Infielder/outfielder/pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim, 28
Catcher Hunter Feduccia, 30
Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, 27
De Paula has played outfield throughout his stellar minor league run, but the Dodgers only called him up when Ohtani went on the injured list, giving him a runway at designated hitter. He only played two games and six total innings in left field during his first 11-game stint in the majors.
“He handled himself and did as well as he could possibly do. Right now we view him as a DH, and Shohei’s back and going to take the DH at-bats,” Dodgers president of operations Andrew Friedman said on September 23, when De Paula was optioned back to the minors. “The improvement that Josue had in the outfield from ‘25 to ‘26 is real, and for us it’s about taking another big step going into ‘27. He’s got the tools and ability to do it. I think he worked really hard going into this year and had real improvement. The experience he being got up here and watching what our guys do on a daily basis connected some dots for him.”
Obviously the Dodgers would ideally love for De Paula to step right into left field. But whether he makes the defensive improvements necessary to do so, and whether the team makes the roster move(s) needed to clear playing time for him are the next two obstacles to hurdle.
Hernández with one year and $21 million remaining on his deal logically is the player most likely to be traded to open up a spot for De Paula.
But other than that, what avenues remain to augment and improve this position player group that otherwise isn’t getting any younger? Do they acquire a second baseman and move Edman to more of a semi-regular utility role? Free agents at the position include Jazz Chisholm and Brandon Lowe. A trade for the Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte and his five years, $87.5 million remaining on his contract would be hoping that a change of scenery could turn things around, but then again Marte will be 33 next year and wouldn’t help the team get any younger.
Assuming the Dodgers wouldn’t keep De Paula on the active roster unless he’s playing at least semi-regularly, the current roster configuration has a likely bench of Rushing as the backup catcher, Freeland and Kim as the utility infielders, plus Call as the fourth outfielder. Safe to figure that improvements will be made to improve this group as well.
I’m also skeptical they last too long into the offseason with four catchers on the 40-man roster. Having a third catcher with an option year remaining in Feduccia is a nice luxury to have, especially given his experience with the staff. But don’t be surprised if they try to sneak Alfonzo through waivers this fall like last offseason’s Ben Rortvedt travels.
Today’s question is what roster move(s) would you make this winter to improve the Dodgers’ position player group?
The Chicago Blackhawks are always looking for ways to improve the team outlook. They could make moves that help them now and years down the line. They are not close to making any “win-now” moves by mortgaging the future, but they can look into young players who fit the current mold.
One of those players is Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov. He is a young player who has had an up-and-down start to his career, and the Flyers may be looking to move him so both sides can get a fresh start. There are no guarantees that Michkov is traded, but there are whispers.
Philadelphia, one year removed from making the playoffs and winning a round over their arch rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins, has had a disaster of a start. They are currently 2-6-3 after winning two straight. When they were 0-6-3, it was clear that changes could be coming one way or another, despite it being so early in the year.
If they are looking to shake things up, moving on from Michkov may not be the wisest decision, but it's a rumor that keeps coming up. He is off to a good start this season, despite his team's performance.
In 11 games played, Michkov has 6 goals and 1 assist for 7 points. Two of those goals came in their most recent win. He is finding the back of the net, but it's hard to say that every other aspect of his game has been up to par. There have been questions about his motivation and love for the game, but he has come into this year in shape and ready to play.
Why would the Blackhawks want to trade for a risky player like this? Well, if they did, the answer is simple: he is incredibly talented. Michkov was the 7th overall pick by the Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft. The only reason he fell to 7 was his contract situation in the KHL. Eventually, he found his way to North America, making some teams worry that they made a mistake by passing on him.
The Blackhawks were actually one of the teams that technically passed on him when they selected Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. For a while, Michkov was expected to rival Bedard at the top of the draft, but his situation pushed him down the board. That, and the evolution of other prospects like Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, and Will Smith.
Chicago, with Bedard and a plethora of other young talent, could afford to give Michkov a great opportunity. He has a knack for scoring goals and making plays, but he needs a fresh start. He is at the proper age in terms of fitting in with the current group, and he has a skill set that would play well with what they have in place.
There is no shortage of playmakers in Chicago. Michkov knows how to find the back of the net, and the Blackhawks could use more of that skill to play with their setup men. Would it solve any of their defensive issues as a team? No, but it would help them be more lethal when they do have the puck.
The Blackhawks also have Roman Kantserov in the mix who, like Michkov, has experience coming over from the KHL. They would be able to help each other, as they are both supremely talented Russian players trying to make an impact at the highest level.
What would it take to get Michkov? Well, you'd think that multiple draft picks or prospects would be involved. Could a late first-round pick get it done? The Blackhawks have a lot of draft capital, and they are unlikely to just use it all on selections.
Sometimes, a risky trade like this could be what gets the rebuild to the next step. If Michkov came in and found instant chemistry with Connor Bedard or Anton Frondell, showed incredible commitment to getting better, and put up big numbers, it would make acquiring him look like genius. Other GMs are going to be involved if he's available, but only time will tell.
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Islanders General Manager Mathieu Darche Provides Update On Mathew BarzalThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> have started the 2026-27 season off well, posting a 5-3-1 record through their first 9 games of the season.
