PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 25: Ryan Waldschmidt #15 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after hitting a pinch-hit, walk-off, two-run home run during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on August 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Cubs 5-4. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not a lot of traction in the nominations thread, with only a couple of comments, and one genuine suggestion! Consequently, I get to exercise my executive privilege and pick the five candidates out of the twenty-five originally included in the short-list. Except, I actually added another one from the infield, to make six in all. It’s good to be the King. 🙂
Though first chronologically, this was the last one I added to the ballot, because choosing between the outfield plays was really hard. There was no obviously outstanding candidates, but there were a lot of very good ones. I will admit, a certain amount of nostalgic bias may have crept in, with Thomas delivering in his last full month as a Diamondback, after having been drafted by the organization back in 2018. He certainly had his moments. While he’ll be best remembered for his NLCS home-run against the Phillies in 2023, his defense rarely failed to show up, every day. He was always in contention for this category, and this full-speed dive is no exception.
I wanted to include a play from each of our Gold Glovers, but doing so would have meant no room for Arenado, who certainly deserved a mention. His signing was likely Mike Hazen’s best move of last winter, and in addition to the thirty home-runs, Nolan showed he could still flash the leather at the hot corner. There were a number of credible candidates from Arenado, but I particularly liked this one, which showcased his quick thinking. Immediately realizing how much time was available to him, Nolan first moved to tag the runner out going from second to third, before firing a strike over to first base to get the second out.
Nominated by Sighborg. The only suggestion was for the rather less conventional double-play Sighborg appropriately named “The Germinator.” Arguably, there was as much bad as good to be found there, even if the outcome was a highly satisfactory, inning ending double-play! But Geraldo Perdomo was blameless, and our Gold Glover deserves much credit for his presence of mind. After narrowly avoiding getting run over by Tommy Troy, who either didn’t hear or chose to ignore Perdomo’s call, Gerry still made the catch and then threw home to get the runner, trying to advance from third in the chaos. That proved decisive in what ended as a one-run win for the D-backs
Five-star catches are those plays which Statcast assesses a typical fielder would make less than twenty-five percent of the time. According to this chart, in 2026 Carroll recorded seven such outs, behind only likely MVP winner Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela in this category, among all MLB outfielders. I don’t know which plays of Corbin’s specifically qualified (I wish you could search Statcast data by catch percentage!), but I feel sure if this play was not one of the seven, it is certainly the equal of them. That it took a home-run away from the Dodgers is the icing on this particular cake.
8/7: Gabriel Moreno throws out Shohei Ohtani at second
Two Play of the Year candidates from the same game? Oh, alright: if you insist. Once more with feeling, because making the Dodgers look dumb always gave a case of the extra warm fuzzies. This perfect throw down to second base, demonstrates why Moreno is the only Arizona catcher ever to win the Gold Glove, now having two on his mantelpiece. Ohtani was just one of the fourteen baserunners Moreno nailed this year, and it was particularly amusing how he thought otherwise. Get your butt back to the dugout, Shohei! Moreno also picked off four base-runners in 2026 – no catcher in the majors had more.
For the home-run, I definitely wanted to go with one of the walk-offs. Each of the three had something to say for them. For example, Waldy’s one just 18 days earlier was against the Dodgers, always a bonus. But in the end, I had to go with his later one. The +85.5% Win Probability it was worth, made it the highest single play by a Diamondback for over fourteen years, since Ryan Roberts against the A’s in June 2012. [Marte’s walkoff against the Giants was almost as good, at +82.7%] Nick Ahmed had 2,897 at-bats as a Diamondback without a walk-off home-run. Waldschmidt hit a pair over a span of a mere 43 at-bats in August. “The Cubs comeback is complete.” 🙂
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 22: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 22, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to get back into the win column as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second time this week.
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Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz could have stunk in the regular season and the playoffs.
So, maybe Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes had a point when he offered an extremely charitable evaluation of their seasons at a news conference last month.
Gomes hailed the money-suck tandem’s improved play in two postseason series as a major triumph for the Dodgers.
“That’s a pretty good outcome for us,” Gomes said.
They spent $69 million on Díaz, only for him to register an 8.68 ERA in an injury-ravaged season.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (23) reacts after a double during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
To be fair to Gomes, part of his argument was that the Dodgers were able to win their division and secure a first-round bye in the playoffs with Tucker and Díaz performing like bargain-bin free agent signings. He pointed to how their contributions helped the Dodgers advance to the National League Championship Series.
Regardless, shouldn’t the Dodgers have expected more in return from their $309 million investment?
They will certainly need more next year.
Tucker and Díaz weren’t signed to be complementary players or players who would be pleasant surprises if they performed well. They were signed to be part of the team’s foundation.
Especially next year.
Whenever the upcoming lockout ends, teams expect greater cost-control measures to be in place, whether it’s with a salary cap or some other mechanism. In theory, the new financial restrictions would prevent the Dodgers from spending their way out of their problems. Under the current rules, they could upgrade their roster by signing another high-priced hitter or reliever. But if the next collective-bargaining agreement doesn’t permit that, Tucker and Díaz will have to do what they are being paid to do.
Gomes pointed to October as why he thinks they can serve their intended purposes.
Tucker was the Dodgers’ leading hitter in the playoffs with a .333 average. His .938 OPS was also the highest on the team.
Tucker’s home run against the Braves in Game 1 of their National League Division Series broke a 1-1 tie and sent the Dodgers on their way to a 5-3 victory. Tucker’s seventh-inning walk in Game 4 loaded the bases to set up a two-run single by Andy Pages that accounted for the runs that decided the game, and, by extension, the series.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) reacts after ending the top of the ninth inning during NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
As for Díaz, he regained his role as the team’s closer, recording the final outs of the Dodgers’ wins over the Braves in Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS.
“While the regular season did not go the way anyone expected, their contributions in the postseason were massive,” Gomes said.
Both of their turnarounds started in the regular season. Tucker batted .333 with five home runs over his last 17 games. Díaz missed three months recovering from an elbow cleanup and was sidelined another month with a neck injury, but pitched in five games in September and recorded five scoreless innings.
Gomes was hopeful their late-season rebound could carry into next season.
The left-handed-hitting Tucker was expected to provide balance to the aging lineup. For most of the season, Tucker didn’t adequately support the team’s other left-handed-hitting threats. Shohei Ohtani was slowed down by his efforts to return to the mound full time. Freddie Freeman was handicapped by knee problems. Max Muncy played a reduced role in the playoffs because of his troubles hitting left-handed pitching.
Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning of game one of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves during the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The playoffs showcased how a dependable version of Tucker could change the offense. Over time, he proved himself to be the team’s most reliable left-handed hitter. In the Dodgers’ last two games, Tucker batted fourth and fifth, respectively.
With Freeman now 37 and Muncy 36, the Dodgers will count on Tucker to be that kind of presence again next season — but for a longer period.
Díaz will be expected to anchor a bullpen that will have to be rebuilt.
A number of the team’s most established relievers can depart this offseason as free agents, as Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol and Kris Bubic are out of contract.
Being able to lock in Díaz as the closer will simplify the process of breaking in new relievers. Manager Dave Roberts would be able to deploy the team’s other arms under the most favorable conditions without worrying about having to save one of them for the ninth inning.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) throws against the Milwaukee Brewers during game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Edwin being fully healthy and Kyle having a year to adjust and continue to build off what he did toward the end of the season, the same thing with Edwin, we’re really looking forward to next year with those guys,” Gomes said.
Even if Gomes continues to be a soft grader, they will have to be better next year. They will have to deliver more than “a pretty good outcome.”
Star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck says “very challenging circumstances” involving his family were among the reasons he requested a trade out of Winnipeg.
In a letter to Jets fans posted Wednesday on Instagram, Hellebuyck acknowledged his trade request disappointed those who had supported him throughout his career in Winnipeg.
“I understand those feelings, and I want everyone to know it was an extremely difficult decision,” he said. “After a lot of thought and discussion, we ultimately felt that making a change was the best thing for our family.
“We’ve chosen to keep those personal circumstances private, and I hope people can respect that.”
Hellebuyck was traded Oct. 23 to the New Jersey Devils for forwards Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
The trade came a month after Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goaltender and the 2024-25 MVP, publicly demanded a move. The Jets later suspended him for failing to report to training camp.
While the relationship between the Jets and the one-time face of their franchise ended on a sour note, Hellebuyck stuck a conciliatory tone in his letter.
“I’m sincerely grateful to (co-owner) Mark Chipman, (GM) Kevin Cheveldayoff and the entire Jets organization for the opportunity they gave me and the trust they showed in me over the years,” he said.
“To my teammates, coaches, trainers, equipment staff and everyone behind the scenes, thank you for your friendships, support and memories that I will always carry with me.”
He saved some of his kindest words for Winnipeg’s fans, noting how he felt a connection to the city through his love of the outdoors.
“To the great Jets fans who supported me and my family, thank you,” he said. “I’ll never forget the pride I felt representing Winnipeg, and I wish the Jets and the entire community nothing but the best.”
It remains to be seen if Jets fans will reciprocate his feelings when the Devils visit Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Hellebuyck is among several prominent American NHL players who have pushed for moves from Canadian teams to clubs south of the border.
Two of Hellebuyck’s U.S. Olympic gold-medal teammates have faced hostile receptions in their former NHL cities. Brady Tkachuk, the longtime Senators captain, was heavily jeered when his Florida Panthers recently visited Ottawa. Former Canucks captain and current Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes also heard boos upon his return to Vancouver.
Round 24 of voting was the last of 2023 (we did not do an actual wrap for the voting, but Jordan Sprinkle ended up being our final pick), and the full archive.
We are starting the Top 100 Prospect countdown on the same day as our first poll, with the goal of running a new poll every day. At that rate, we should get through 35 Votes before the Top 100 meets our polling, giving SSS readers 35 chances to weigh in on our Top 100. From there, we will stop the polling and run through the remaining players, finishing up as all players report to camp in mid-February.
As of now our countdown will start with Fidel Montero as our Mr. 100 this year. We’ve customarily turned over the Prospect Vote to the next round as soon as the top vote-getter seems to have an insurmountable lead, but if there’s a rout, we’ll call it in a day. In order to get as many votes as possible in, we’ll try to wait no longer than two days before the next round.
Four players from last year’s Top 10 Prospects have lost their prospect status due to MLB service (Braden Montgomery at No. 1, Noah Schultz at No. 3, Hagen Smith at No. 4 and Sam Antonacci at No. 7). As an indication that there is some continuity in the system, four players on last year’s initial ballot appear in this year’s as well. With Mason Adams having been traded, that means just one player, Christian Oppor, performed poorly enough to drop off of our initial ballot.
Six of the 10 players on this first 2027 ballot played in the White Sox system in 2026, including two who made their major league debuts during the season. As to be expected drafting so early, we have four 2026 draft choices rounding out on the first ballot.
This year, the grandfather of our Top 100 is Tanner McDougal, marking his sixth year on our list and having moved from No. 21 to 22, 26, 63 and 6 so far. If all goes well, it will be his last, as he’ll see significant MLB time.
All right, let’s have some fun. And get voting!
This was our first tight race, with David Sandlin springing to an early lead and holding off Billy Carlson. Sandlin earned 27 of 91 votes (30%):
Sandlin, acquired along with Jordan Hicks for Gage Ziehl in what was regarded as a mere salary dump deal, came to Chicago too late last offseason to make our Top 100 or Prospect Vote.
Past No. 3s in the SSS Top Prospect Vote 2026 Caleb Bonemer (40%) 2025 Edgar Quero (25%) 2024 Bryan Ramos (29%) 2023 Bryan Ramos (29%) 2022 José Rodríguez (38%) 2021 Michael Kopech (69%) 2020 Nick Madrigal (70%) 2019 Dylan Cease (75%) 2018 Luis Robert Jr. (63%)
Outfielder George Wolkow joins the ballot this round.
South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2027
William Bergolla Jr. Shortstop Age 22 2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 15 2026 high level Charlotte (AAA) Age relative to high level -5.1 years Overall 2026 stats (ACL/AAA) 11 games ▪️ 0 HR ▪️ 9 RBI ▪️ .444/.524/.556 ▪️ 2-of-4 (50.0%) SB ▪️ 5 BB ▪️ 4 K ▪️ 1.000 FLD%▪️ 0.6 WAR
The epitome of a “Chris Getz player,” Bergolla offsets his Punch-and-Judy bat with deft baserunning, a killer glove and incredible plate discipline. Well young for his level, this legacy player (dad, also William Bergolla) has cut through the White Sox system like butter since his acquisition at the 2024 trade deadline (from Philly, for Tanner Banks). After getting some heavy run in Spring Training 2026, Bergolla was on the fast track to Chicago before a collision with left fielder Sam Antonacci in an April game for the Knights gave him a serious bone bruise in his leg; after a lengthy stint on the IL, Bergolla broke his injured leg in his first rehab game in the ACL.
Billy Carlson Shortstop Age 20 2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 7 2026 high level Kannapolis (Low-A) Age relative to high level -1.3 years Overall 2026 stats (ACL/Low-A) 60 games ▪️ 0 HR ▪️ 21 RBI ▪️ .252/.380/.335 ▪️ 14-of-16 (87.5%) SB ▪️ 41 BB ▪️ 59 K ▪️ .976 FLD%▪️ 1.5 WAR
It was a star-crossed pro debut for the 2025 first-rounder, who broke his left thumb in May and was later shut down for the season with a skin infection on his left leg. Let’s hope Carlson can get right for 2027, as the crush of blue-chip shortstops in the system (led by, of course, 2026’s overall No. 1 pick, Roch Cholowsky) could end up drowning him. Positives? Honestly, in his cameos at the plate Carlson flashed more pop to the gaps and on-base ability than expected.
Jaden Fauske Center Fielder Age 20 2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 11 2026 high level Kannapolis (Low-A) Age relative to high level -1.3 years Overall 2026 stats 118 games ▪️ 4 HR ▪️ 48 RBI ▪️ .250/.388/.360 ▪️ 46-of-56 (82.1%) SB ▪️ 94 BB ▪️ 125 K ▪️ .948 FLD%▪️ 2.8 WAR
A year ago, we were not certain where Fauske would play, as a high school catcher announced at the draft as an outfielder-only. That proved to be the case in his first professional season, but what ho, Fauske saw more time in center than right field. And with quicks that saw Jaden snatch 46 bags in 118 games, the youngster might well stick in center.
Kyle Lodise Shortstop Age 22 2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 24 2026 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level 0.0 years Overall 2026 stats 111 games ▪️ 20 HR ▪️ 77 RBI ▪️ .230/.380/.440 ▪️ 42-of-51 (82.4%) SB ▪️ 92 BB ▪️ 141 K ▪️ .957 FLD%▪️ 3.6 WAR
Lodise made a return visit to Winston-Salem in 2026, and his first full professional season went extremely well. With a low average and slug to burn, the shortstop fits right in with the org profile of swinging hard, damn the contact. Thankfully, Lodise is selective enough at the plate to produce astronomical OBPs. And his power bat is showing better than advertised at this point.
Tanner McDougal Right-Handed Starting Pitcher Age 23 2024 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 33 2025 SSS Prospect Poll ranking N/R 2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 6 2026 high level Chicago (MLB) Age relative to high level -6.2 years Overall 2026 stats (High-A/AAA/MLB) 2-3 ▪️ 27 games (7 starts, 3 finishes) ▪️ 50 IP ▪️ 4.86 ERA ▪️ 53 K ▪️ 34 BB ▪️ 1.480 WHIP ▪️0.2 WAR
The good news is that McDougal was enough of a core piece to be promoted to Chicago in the second half of 2026. The bad news … well, where to start. McDougal’s presumptive march to the South Side rotation was stopped dead early in the season, when he was sidelined for weeks with forearm tightness. While the injury was thankfully not severe enough to necessitate a second TJS, Tanner was a relief arm for the rest of the season and not a stable one at that. His brief cameo in Chicago saw him rack up one out along with three walks.
Javier Mogollón Second Baseman Age 21 2026 high level Winston-Salem (AA) Age relative to high level -2.0 years Overall 2026 stats (Low-A/High-A) 91 games ▪️ 14 HR ▪️ 57 RBI ▪️ .262/.368/.448 ▪️ 36-of-44 (81.8%) SB ▪️ 53 BB ▪️ 123 K ▪️ .965 FLD%▪️ 2.5 WAR
The diminutive (5´8´´, 160) infielder wowed in rookie ball and though his climb has slowed, Mogollón has steadily risen up our ranks, from No.62 in our 2024 Top 100 to the cusp of the Top 10 today. That said, he’s seen two straight seasons shortened by hamstring issues. At least in 2026, Mogollón was able to return before season’s end, providing a clutch bat coming that provided a .313/.389/.813 slash and eight RBIs en route to sweeping to a SALLY title.
Cole Prosek Third Baseman Age 19 2026 High Level Magnolia Heights (H.S.) Overall 2026 stats (H.S) 41 games ▪️ 18 HR ▪️ 79 RBI ▪️ .545/.678/1.177 ▪️ 62 R ▪️ 7 SB ▪️ 31 BB ▪️ 12 K
Coming to Chicago as a second-rounder, Prosek seems more highly-regarded by evaluators than the guy picked ahead of him by the White Sox, low first round choice Landon Thome. That’s a curious thing, but Prosek dominated his prep competition even more thoroughly than Thome. Plus, while the White Sox regard Prosek as a second baseman, his prep time was spent significantly at the hot corner, and he has experience behind the plate as well.
Landon Thome Shortstop Age 19 2026 High Level Nazareth Academy (H.S.) Overall 2026 stats (H.S) 7 HR ▪️ 29 RBI ▪️ .545 AVG ▪️ 49-of-50 (98.0%) SB
How crazy is it to have two high school teammates (Thome and Jaden Fauske) on our first ballot of the voting year … or any ballot, ever? The White Sox were so hot to dip back into Nazareth’s roster that they dealt promising 2023 first-rounder Jacob Gonzalez to Pittsburgh to acquire the draft pick to snag him; clearly the club was not confident Thome would drop into the second round. Unlike his father, Hall-of-Famer and White Sox adviser Jim, Landon is better regarded for his speed and defense than his ability to put the ball over the fence. Slugging will come in time for junior, however.
Joey Volchko Right-handed starting pitcher Age 21 2026 high level University of Georgia (NCAA) Age relative to high level +0.1 years Overall 2026 stats 11-2 ▪️ 18 starts ▪️ 1 CG ▪️ 95 1/3 IP ▪️ 3.68 ERA ▪️ 119 K ▪️ 46 BB ▪️ 1.343 WHIP ▪️ 2.1 WAR
This big-armed righty can touch 100 mph with his fastball, but wildness concerns might have precipitated Volchko’s drop to the White Sox in the third round in spite of MLB ranking him as a second round (68th-best) talent. He’s a big-game pitcher who dragged the Bulldogs to their first College World Series win in 18 years with a complete-game effort over the University of Texas. There’s a chance Volchko ends up as a high-leverage bullpen arm, but he will get every chance to stick as a starter.
George Wolkow Right Fielder Age 21 2024 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 14 2025 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 13 2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 16 2026 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level -2.0 years Overall 2026 stats 123 games ▪️ 22 HR ▪️ 100 RBI ▪️ .239/.317/.446 ▪️ 15-of-22 (68.2%) SB ▪️ 50 BB ▪️ 179 K ▪️ .971 FLD%▪️ 1.6 WAR
Wolkow sacrificed speed and what batting eye he had for power in 2026, and while that made for some impressive counting stats (22-100 plays on the back of any baseball card) the hole in his swing hasn’t been sewn. If the White Sox brass is having Wolkow bet on his best tool, power, at all others’ expense, he’s slipping into the Colson Category.
The Atlanta Braves have concluded their season, but there is still quite a bit going on that could directly have an impact on them. We have awards rolling in, salary cap discussions, potential free agent signings and trades, etc.
Keep an eye out for the Rookie of the Year announcement on November 9th. Didier Fuentes likely will not win, but it will be interesting to see how many down votes he gets. It is arbitrary in nature, but it can be fun to discuss what the outcome will be.
Manager of the Year will be announced on November 10th. The term finalist is a bit deceiving because the voting has already decided, but all three NL “finalists” have a legitimate reason to have received the top three total votes. Mattingly took a team look destined to fail and turned the season around. Weiss took a team that missed the playoffs last season and brought them to a NLE division win, and Murphy once again led a dominant Brewers team that led MLB in wins (postseason was not factored into voting).
We also have Chris Sale in the mix for Cy Young. He likely did not win, but like Fuentes it will be fun to see how voters placed him.
The MLB General Manager Meetings start next week on November 9th in Las Vegas. We don’t typically see a ton happen at these meetings, but they do typically set the groundwork for trades and evaluation of free agent markets. There is a small chance we see some minor additions at this time.
Let’s talk about these subjects or whatever else is on your mind in the comments.
Valverde hits late winner as Madrid win 3-2 in Athens
Napoli thrashed by Porto, Club Brugge win at PSV
Anastasios Douvikas led the rout with a hat-trick as Como cruised to a 9-1 victory at Lens, equalling the record for the most goals scored in a single Champions League game.
Only two teams had previously won a game by a margin of eight goals since the launch of the modern Champions League in 1992. Liverpool thumped Besiktas 8-0 in the group stage in 2007 and Real Madrid won by the same scoreline against Malmo in 2015.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 30: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 Emirates NBA Cup game on October 30, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons are looking to keep the good times rolling against the Philadelphia 76ers. Detroit and Philly are the two best teams in the East, and the Pistons have already notched one win against the Sixers this season. In fact, the 106-93 win in October was Detroit’s sixth consecutive victory against Philly. Tonight, they go for lucky No. 7. That loss against the Pistons also happens to be Philadelphia’s lone blemish on the season. In that matchup, the Pistons were without the services of Jalen Duren. It worked out because they were able to rely on the all-around goodness of Paul Reed. It also didn’t hurt that Joel Embiid missed that first matchup to rest.
Tonight, the Pistons will have no such luck. They are still missing All-Star big man Duren, and tonight the Sixers will employ the services of their former MVP in Embiid. While Detroit has been playing amazing basketball, they have been vulnerable down low, and Embiid will be the best interior big man they’ve faced since they lost Duren to a hamstring injury.
One benefit in Detroit’s favor is that this is a nationally televised game on ESPN, and it seems like Cade Cunningham loves to come up big when the lights are brightest for national television. Cunningham is also coming off of perhaps his most dominant performance of the season, scoring 33 points in just 26 minutes of action. If the game against the Hornets was close instead of a 30-point blowout late, if seems like Cunningham could have gone for 45 points.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: ESPN Odds: Pistons -2.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (6-1)
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Paul Reed
Philadelphia 76ers (7-1)
Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
In the 2026 offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers sought to upgrade their defense, but the one transaction they completed just left things worse for wear. Fortunately, the NHL waiver wire has again presented management with an opportunity to fix things.
In the only real move the Flyers made this summer, goalie Sam Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a third-round pick were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit.
Benoit, 28, has struggled to establish himself for the Flyers as a rotational veteran, temporarily falling behind Hunter McDonald on the depth chart while also ceding reps to prospect David Jiricek early in the season.
A historically limited player offensively, Benoit has no points in 12 games for the Flyers this season, and has just six goals and 30 assists in 364 career regular season games.
The Flyers, who already produced little offense as it is, are going to need much more from their blue line in order to make something of this season.
Fortunately for them, the good news is that Andrae, still just 24 years old, is available for free on the NHL waiver wire.
The 5-foot-9 Swede has struggled to find his footing this season, having featured as a depth piece for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who picked him up as an auxiliary asset in the Kirill Marchenko trade that sent the star Russian winger to Toronto.
Despite that, though, Andrae has produced two points in five games, assisting on Matthew Knies's first Blue Jackets goal on Oct. 1, and picking up another helper against the Maple Leafs in his most recent appearance for Columbus on Oct. 20.
The unfortunate reality for Andrae is that he's not going to surpass Ivan Provorov, Zach Werenski, or Denton Mateychuk on the depth chart to earn playing time on the left side of the defense, leaving him to play a seventh or eighth defenseman role as a 24-year-old.
If the Flyers were to claim Andrae from waivers for a reunion, though, the undersized defenseman could presumably slide right back into his bottom-four role on defense, and it undoubtedly helps that Andrae already knows Rick Tocchet's system and the majority of the players on the team.
While things weren't perfect at times under Tocchet, Andrae still enjoyed a breakout campaign last year with the Flyers, playing in a career-high 61 games and scoring two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points with a +15 rating, which was the second-best mark on the team.
He doesn't contribute much on special teams, but Andrae is undeniably an upgrade over Benoit and Jiricek, and probably an aging Nick Seeler, too.
Emil Andrae was quietly a very strong two-way defenseman for the Flyers in his depth role. (HockeyStats.com)
His puck-moving skills would help ease the Flyers' overreliance on players like Travis Sanheim, Jamie Drysdale, and Oliver Bonk, who have been working overtime in offensive situations with the Flyers frequently in need of a goal or two... or three.
As things stand, the Flyers are the fourth-worst team in the NHL with their 4-9-4 record and 12 points, which makes them, by extension, the fourth team in the waiver order.
If they want to reunite with Andrae and upgrade the defense for free, only the Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vancouver Canucks have higher waiver priority.
Originally trading Andrae to the Maple Leafs in the Woll deal was the cost of doing business for the Flyers, who had been counting on having the defenseman in their plans until that deal came along.
In fact, they even had Hometown Remix gear made for Andrae that went unused!
But again, now that Andrae is on waivers, the Flyers have a golden opportunity to reunite with a player they never necessarily wanted to lose to begin with, and it couldn't come at a better time in the season than now.
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 26: Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 26, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards can match their best start in five seasons with a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at Capital One Arena.
Washington has won two straight games behind stout defense, especially in the second half, and impressive offensive showings from Anthony Davis, Trae Young and Kyshawn George.
A bulk of that scoring has come at the rim behind a revamped frontcourt and slashing wings. Look for Washington to attack the rim against Atlanta’s 27th-ranked interior defense that allows 53.8 paint points per game.
The Detroit Red Wings already caught a glimpse of what goaltender Michal Postava can do at the NHL level.
Now, he could soon get another crack at it.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Red Wings announced that Postava had been called back up from the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins following an injury to John Gibson during Tuesday's 4-2 setback against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Michal Postava from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions and placed Albert Johansson on IR retroactive to October 24. pic.twitter.com/eWWsi1hFDR
In a corresponding move, defenseman Albert Johansson was placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to Oct. 24.
Gibson, who made 11 saves on the 13 shots he faced in the first period, did not return for the final 40 minutes of play; he was replaced by Daniil Tarasov.
Postava is just over a week removed from having picked up his first career NHL victory, a 4-3 shootout triumph over the high-powered offensive attack of the Edmonton Oilers.
Not only did he stop 25 of 28 shots during regulation and overtime, but he denied two of the NHL's most dangerous players in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the subsequent shootout, before capping the night with a save on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to secure the victory.
Postava was called up late last month to the Red Wings under emergency conditions after Tarasov was injured during practice; he was then returned to the Griffins after Tarasov's return.
So far this season in Grand Rapids, Postava is a perfect 5-0 with a sparkling 1.20 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage.
The Red Wings signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2025 to a two-year pact with a salary cap hit of $975,000.
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He may be one of the last players ever who has to make that call.
Bauers is one of eight free agents who received a qualifying offer Monday, along with Yankees closer David Bednar, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and Marlins outfielder Randy Arozarena. Major League Baseball and the players union have both proposed scrapping the system in the next collective bargaining agreement. The current deal expires Dec. 1 and a lockout is expected.
This is not new territory. When the last CBA expired in 2021, 14 players received qualifying offers. Brandon Belt was the only one who said yes.
Eight of the others had deals in place by the time the owners locked out the players. Four more waited out the 99-day lockout.
What is a qualifying offer in baseball?
A qualifying offer is a one-year contract set at the average salary of baseball's 125 highest-paid players. This year it's a record $23.15 million, up from $22.025 million last year.
A team can only make the offer to a player who spent the whole season with the club and has never received one before.
The player has two choices.
Accept, and he's back with his team for one more season. He can't be traded without his consent until June 15.
Reject, and he becomes a free agent with a draft pick penalty attached. If he signs somewhere else, his old team gets a compensation pick, and his new team gives up at least one of its own.
How much that pick is worth depends on the old team's finances. A revenue-sharing club like the Brewers can get a pick right after the first round if the player signs for $50 million or more. Luxury-tax payers like the Yankees and Cubs only get one after the fourth round.
Most players say no. Since the system began after the 2012 season, only 18 of 157 players accepted before this year. A record four did it last winter.
Who got qualifying offer in 2026?
Randy Arozarena, Mariners: six straight 20-homers, 20-steal seasons
Jake Bauers, Brewers: 26 homers and an .874 OPS before his NLCS MVP run
David Bednar, Yankees: 35 saves and a 2.47 ERA
Ryan Jeffers, Twins: a 116 OPS+ since 2023, sixth among primary catchers
Brandon Lowe, Pirates: 35 homers and 96 RBIs
Adrian Morejon, Padres: the first setup man ever to get a qualifying offer
Trevor Rogers, Orioles: the only starting pitcher in the group
Seiya Suzuki, Cubs: a 128 OPS+ over five seasons in Chicago
Eight offers is the fewest since 2023. Teams handed out 14 before the last lockout.
Cubs outfielder Ian Happ and Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm did not get qualifying offers, which was a little surprising. The Yankees decided not to offer one to Jazz Chisholm a year after Trent Grisham accepted their offer and posted just 0.7 WAR in 2026.
Why the 2026 qualifying offer could be the last
Draft-pick compensation was at the center of the 1981 players strike, and the union has pushed to end or limit it in every negotiation since, according to MLB. Players see it as a drag on free agency, because teams think twice about signing someone who costs them a draft pick.
On May 27, the union proposed eliminating it. On June 25, the league agreed.
MLB repeated that offer Tuesday in a proposal that also pushed its salary cap plan back to 2028. The union quickly rejected the package. The biggest fight between the two sides is over the cap.
According to the league, ending the system would remove draft-pick compensation from free agency for the first time since 1976.
Still, nothing is done until there's a deal. Baseball learned that last time.
When the 2021-22 lockout ended, the owners offered to drop the qualifying offer in exchange for an international draft. The two sides gave themselves until July 25, 2022 to agree. The union rejected the draft, and the qualifying offer survived for the rest of the CBA.
None of this changes the rules for this winter. Teams had to make their offers, and players have to answer, before the current CBA expires.
What's less clear is what happens to a player who rejects his offer and is still unsigned when a new deal arrives. If the system is gone by then, it's unclear whether his old team would still get a pick.
How the qualifying offer worked before the 2021 lockout
The 2021 offer was worth $18.4 million. Thirteen players turned it down, and they split into three groups.
Some didn't wait at all. Eduardo Rodriguez signed a five-year, $77 million deal with the Tigers and Noah Syndergaard took one year and $21 million from the Angels before the decision deadline even arrived. Justin Verlander rejected the Astros' offer and agreed to return to Houston the same day on a one-year, $35 million deal with a player option. That contract was finalized during the lockout.
Others beat the clock. The Rangers gave Corey Seager 10 years and $325 million and Marcus Semien seven years and $175 million. The Mariners gave Robbie Ray five years and $115 million. Raisel Iglesias re-signed with the Angels on Dec. 1. Chris Taylor re-signed with the Dodgers.
Teams committed a single-day record $1.4 billion in contracts on Dec. 1, according to an Associated Press tally. Hours later the owners locked out the players.
Transactions froze from Dec. 2 until March 10, 2022 and the rest of the players with qualifying offers had to wait.
When the market reopened, Freddie Freeman signed with the Dodgers for six years and $162 million. Nick Castellanos got five years and $100 million from the Phillies. Carlos Correa took three years and $105.3 million from the Twins, with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. Trevor Story signed with the Red Sox for six years and $140 million.
Michael Conforto never signed in 2022. He underwent shoulder surgery and sat out the season.
Because the new CBA kept the qualifying offer, the draft picks still changed hands. The Red Sox used the 79th pick as their compensation for losing Rodriguez, on outfielder Roman Anthony. The Dodgers never got to use theirs for Seager, they lost it when they signed Freeman.
Will free agents sign before the Dec. 1 lockout?
If 2021 is any guide, expect a late rush. Players want contracts and security before the shutdown, and teams want to fill roster holes.
The qualifying offer adds pressure. A player who rejects his offer stays tied to draft compensation until the next amateur draft begins. In 2019, Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel waited so long that they signed after the draft, and their old teams got nothing.
This time, no one knows what rules will be in place in 2027.
The last time a lockout loomed, only one player said yes. Brandon Belt took his $18.4 million and stayed in San Francisco.
He will be interviewed by new Houston general manager Randy Flores, who spent the previous 11 seasons in the Cardinals’ front office and played with Pujols in St. Louis for five years.
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols salutes fans at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Sept. 30, 2022, after hitting his 701st career home run. USA TODAY Sports
He’s enjoyed some success from the dugout, though.
He guided Leones del Escogido to the Dominican winter league championship and Caribbean Series title in 2025 before managing the Dominican Republic in this year’s World Baseball Classic to a third-place finish.
The Astros are also considering Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, who previously managed the Tigers and Angels, and Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta, per The Athletic.
Pujols, who will be eligible to be voted into the Hall of Fame in 2028, hit 703 career home runs, which ranks fourth all time.
West Ham recover from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Cardiff
Leaders Middlesbrough beaten 2-0 at Wrexham
Scott Parker’s return to West Ham had had looked like beginning in painful fashion but instead featured a stunning comeback from 3-0 down. The east London club’s new head coach had watched Cardiff’s Jack Moylan help himself to a first-half hat-trick, before a rousing response after the break ended with Max Kilman levelling the scores at 3-3 eight minutes from time. Elsewhere in the Championship, leaders Middlesbrough went down 2-0 at Wrexham.
Parker had been confirmed as West Ham’s head coach earlier on Wednesday, taking over from Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked on Tuesday. The club’s former midfielder was appointed on a two-and-a-half year contract.
When the Florida Panthers take the ice tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks, Lars Eller will skate in his 1,200th regular-season game.
Eller was originally the 13th overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft, selected by the St. Louis Blues. Eller played just seven games for the Blues before moving on to the Montreal Canadiens.
He had some strong seasons with the Canadiens, but Eller shone brightest with the Washington Capitals. With the Capitals, Eller posted his career-high in goals and points and won the Stanley Cup in 2017-18. Eller was outstanding in that run, scoring seven goals and 18 points in 24 games.
Following his successful tenure with the Capitals, Eller had stops with the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators and now the Panthers.
Eller has been solid for the Panthers, even if the offense isn't great. In 15 games, he's notched one goal and eight points while averaging 15:39 of ice time. Surprisingly, Eller hasn't been very successful in the faceoff dot, winning just 40.8 percent of his draws.
Although Eller is approaching a major milestone that just 141 other players in the NHL have achieved, Eller is still focused on earning the two points and not underestimating a weaker opponent.
“You underestimate that team, and they can beat us if we're not on top of our game,” said Eller. “We barely got by them in Chicago. I think they're going to be competitive. If we think it's going to be easy, we'll probably lose.”
The 37-year-old is slated to skate on the right wing of the third line with Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell. In the eight games they've spent time together, the Panthers’ third line has posted an expected goals percentage of 72.2 percent, according to moneypuck.com.
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