This will be the second of two meetings between the teams after the Flames went into Pittsburgh on Jan. 10 and won 2-1. Matt Coronato scored the game-winning goal in the third period.
The Flames are coming off a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday, but have still won three of their last five games. They have started a bit of their sell-off after trading defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. He's been great for the Flames this year, compiling 10 goals and 30 points in 48 games.
Goaltender Dustin Wolf was first off the ice during the Flames' morning skate and is lined up to start in this game. Wolf has a 15-19-2 record with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. His numbers are lower this year than last, but don't let that fool you. He's still a really good young goaltender.
Nazem Kadri leads the team in points with 34 in 49 games, followed by Mikael Backlund with 12 goals and 31 points. Coronato has 13 goals and 26 points in 48 games and continues to play well after breaking out with 24 goals last season.
The Penguins are expected to run with the same forward lines that they had on Monday for Wednesday's game, but the defensive pairings could look different, as Erik Karlsson is still not ready to return and Kris Letang is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Head coach Dan Muse confirmed after the morning skate that Letang continues to be evaluated and hasn't been ruled out.
Stuart Skinner will start in goal for the Penguins, paving the way for Arturs Silovs to start against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
The Buffalo Sabres entered the second of back-to-back road games in Nashville, losers of two games in a row, but unlike recent games when Tage Thompson had carried the majority of the scoring burden, the Sabres 5-3 win over the Predators was thanks to the newly formed “Kid Line” of Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, and Zach Benson.
Ostlund scored twice, and Helenius scored his first NHL goal in his second NHL game. Buffalo held a 4-0 lead in the second period, but Nashville closed the gap to 4-3 in the third before Peyton Krebs scored into an empty net. Alex Lyon made 31 saves in his first start since late December.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff spoke after the game:
What happened in the latter half of the game that allowed Nashville to come back?
We got out of structure on a couple of plays. We got caught on a long shift. Intentions were good, but we didn't manage the puck well enough, which really hurt us. And I thought ultimately that's what gave them momentum.
What can you say about the play of the Benson, Ostlund, Helenius line?
Best line by far. Skated well, made every play, every time they were on the ice or in their offensive zone, six, seven shots on goal. That's the type of energy you need. I think when you look at the schedule and you look at back-to-back games, some guys have a little more than others. They had a lot of energy, and they made a lot of great plays.
Why were you comfortable putting that line together?
I think the world of Ostlund, for the way he plays down low, and how smart he's been. I just trust him to play. Give them the opportunity trust them to play. And I think if you keep getting thrown out there, you feel good about your game……It takes three to make a line go and I thought they were kind of connected. They were around the puck together
Add Bichette and Robert to the already-signed Jorge Polanco, and New York's offense has been transformed after the departures of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil.
While Stearns said he's happy with the position player group the Mets now have, they are still in search of a starting pitcher.
"My preference is to add a starting pitcher," Stearns told SNY's Steve Gelbs. "I've been open and honest about that through the entirety of the offseason. I can't say with certainty that we're going to be able to do that, but we remain engaged on a number of different fronts in that market.
"We've still got plenty of time to go in the offseason, certainly plenty of time to go before Opening Day. And so we'll see where it heads."
The Mets, who have yet to dip into their stable of top prospects in any trade this offseason, could be set up well to deal for a top-of-the-rotation pitcher.
The best free agent pitcher remaining is Framber Valdez, who has been heavily linked to the Mets and Orioles and could possibly be had on a three-or four-year deal worth around $30 million annually.
As things currently stand, the Mets' rotation includes Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, David Peterson, and Kodai Senga.
Then there are the young starters, led by Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Christian Scott -- who should be ready to go after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
While the Mets have rotation depth, they also have lots of question marks -- something that obviously isn't lost on Stearns as he continues the club's pursuit of more starting pitching.
His offense, while inconsistent, is something you can dream on.
Robert has had two consecutive down seasons, but he showed serious flashes last summer when he slashed .297/.350/.468 in 140 plate appearances over 35 games from July 11 to Aug. 26 -- when his season ended due to a hamstring injury.
"As we looked at Luis Robert, we saw so many of the same skills and tools that allowed him to an elite player just a couple of years ago," Stearns told Gelbs. "All of that is still there. When you see those underlying skills and tools at such a high level, it makes you want to get that guy in your organization. We'll do everything we can to bring the best out of him. We'll do everything we can to keep him on the field, make him comfortable.
"Sometimes just a change of place, a change of scenery gives someone a little bit of a new perspective. We don't know what that is. We don't really know why, but we've all seen it plenty of times in sports. And Luis certainly could be a guy like that."
Trash talk’s a foundational part of basketball, something of a love language in the sport between ruthless competitors trying to gain whatever edge they can on the court.
It wasn’t a joke, either, with Izzo saying in his post-game news conference that he was “serious as a jaybird.”
“I’m hoping that it ticks him off and maybe he’ll play better angry because some of it was unstomachable and I haven’t said that much this whole year,” Izzo said.
"We're all flying back to East Lansing and [Kur Teng] is flying to Appleton. Check USA Today tomorrow him and my mom will be going at it in a nursing home gym..."
Tom Izzo on telling Kur Teng he couldn't guard his mother during MSU's game at Oregon. pic.twitter.com/WAoMTjJxY8
Teng is fifth on the team in scoring this season, averaging 7.3 points per game, but he struggled against the Ducks, picking up no stats beyond two fouls and a turnover in eight minutes. It was his second-shortest appearance in a game this season and marked the first time this season he didn’t attempt a shot.
Thankfully for Teng, the rest of his team was more sound defensively, holding Oregon to 39% shooting from the field. The victory improved Michigan State to 17-2 overall and 7-1 in Big Ten play. The Spartans are No. 10 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
While the rest of his team heads back from the Pacific Northwest to prepare for a matchup on Saturday, Jan. 24 against Maryland, Teng will be taking a detour to pay a visit to a certain nonagenarian.
“We’re all flying back to East Lansing. He’s flying to Appleton,” Izzo said. “Check USA TODAY tomorrow. Him and my mom will be going at it in a nursing home in a gym and we’ll see how he does.”
As Bo Bichette donned his orange and blue Mets cap and No. 19 jersey for the first time on Wednesday afternoon, he made it clear that there was one factor in particular that led to him signing in New York.
Winning.
“It was very obvious that I wanted to be a Met,” Bichette explained. “Mr. [Steve] Cohen and David [Stearns] have put together an organization that is looking to win every single year, has an opportunity to win a World Series every single year, and a roster that backs that up. It’s very exciting to be part of this city, one of the best cities in the world, maybe the best city in the world, some of the best fans in the world, and all of that is something I always wanted to be a part of. So, I’m excited to be here and excited to be a Met.”
“My first priority is winning, and obviously this organization is doing everything that they can to do that,” Bichette added later. “The roster is great, like I said, and then just playing in front of fans like this is a pretty cool opportunity. I’m excited to get out there.”
While Bichette, who signed with the Mets on a three-year, $126 million contract, has primarily played shortstop over the course of his major league career with the Blue Jays, the Mets have said he will now make the move to be their everyday third baseman.
And Bichette is ready for the challenge.
“I was open to doing anything if it felt like the place I needed to be,” he said. “And like I said, it became very clear that I wanted to be a Met.”
Stearns stated early in the offseason that run prevention was the team’s top priority when it came to reshaping the roster. But with Bichette at third base and Jorge Polanco at first, the Mets have a pair of starting infielders who are starting at new positions.
Speaking to SNY’s Steve Gelbs on Wednesday, Stearns explained that while there will be growing pains along the way, he believes in the athleticism that the Mets have built in their new infield.
“We’re potentially going to have four shortstops on the dirt a lot of days this season,” Stearns said. “From a range perspective, that’s a real advantage. We should be able to cover a lot of ground.
“Now there are certainly going to be learning moments for Bo and Jorge Polanco as well as they understand the intricacies of their positions. But with Bo we’re talking about someone who knows the game so well, someone who understands the game so well, has been around the game for his entire life, has a great work ethic on the field, has the aptitude. We believe he’s going to get there and get there pretty fast.”
The Toronto Raptors offense exploded against the Golden State Warriors last night. The question is, can they keep it up on back-to-back nights when they visit the Sacramento Kings?
My Raptors vs. Kings predictions break down why the Raps will keep roaring in the third game of their West Coast road trip.
Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley fuel my NBA picks for this matchup set to go at 10 pm ET at Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento.
Raptors vs Kings prediction
Raptors vs Kings best bet: Raptors team total Over 115.5 (-115)
The Toronto Raptors took advantage of the Warriors playing without Jimmy Butler and went off for a season-high 145 points in last night's victory.
Sacramento ranks 27th in defensive rating and has surrendered 118.2 points per game over the last 15 games.
Toronto has a team total of 115.5, a number the Raps have topped in six of their last 10 games.
Raptors vs Kings same-game parlay
Quickely’s 40 burger is the culmination of some improved play from the Raptors guard. He’s averaging 19.2 points over his last 14 games and has eclipsed tonight's point total in 10 of those 14.
Meanwhile, Barnes is on a hot streak. He’s scored 22 or more points in five of his last six, averaging 24 over that stretch. Mix in the Kings' poor rebounding, and there should be plenty of second-chance opportunities for the Raps to go Over these point totals.
Raptors vs Kings SGP
Raptors team total Over 115.5
Immanuel Quickley Over 16.5 points
Scottie Barnes Over 20.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Timmy's Special
Let's back IQ and Scottie to take their games to the next level. Scottie should dominate the glass, and IQ will look to get his teammates involved.
Raptors vs Kings SGP
Raptors team total Over 115.5
Scottie Barnes double-double
Immanuel Quickley double-double
Raptors vs Kings odds
Spread: Raptors -220 | Kings +180
Moneyline: Raptors -5.5 | Kings +5.5
Over/Under: Over 226 | Under 226
Raptors vs Kings betting trend to know
The Raptors have covered the 1Q Spread in 28 of their last 40 away games for +14.30 Units and a 31% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Kings.
How to watch Raptors vs Kings
Location
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, NBC Sports California
Raptors vs Kings latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
When Kyle Dubas was hired as the President of Hockey Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jun. 1, 2023 - and later named as General Manager - he had a lot of work ahead of him.
The Penguins had just missed the playoffs for the first time in 17 years, and the organization - as well as ownership - still believed it had what it took to get back. Dubas went out and landed Erik Karlsson, who was coming off a career-best season and Norris Trophy campaign, but that wasn't enough to get them back into contention.
So, he went into sell mode at the deadline, trading away Pittsburgh's most valuable on-the-market asset in Jake Guentzel and beginning what was thought, by many, to be a rebuild that would take years to execute.
But flash forward just two years later, and the Penguins are back in playoff contention. And, no, they're not just back by a stroke of luck, they look to be a legitimately good hockey team when relatively healthy and pitted up against some of the better teams in the league. When looking back at everything Dubas has done since the beginning of the offseason for the Penguins, it's starting to make more and more sense why they're competitive and what the plan for the rebuild's "next steps" are.
And if the Penguins do, indeed, make the playoffs, Dubas should pretty much just be handed the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award.
Of course, there are other general managers around the league who deserve a ton of recognition this season, too. Chris MacFarland - GM of the Colorado Avalanche - has managed to build a powerhouse team that could break some NHL season record, and that's after trading superstar Mikko Rantanen at last season's trade deadline. Kelly McCrimmon - GM of the Vegas Golden Knights - brought in Mitch Marner during the offseason and recently traded for Rasmus Andersson, who should help their blue line in the push for another division title.
Then there's New York Islanders' new GM Mathieu Darche, who had a masterclass of a 2025 draft and who - like Dubas - has steered a team with lower expectations right into the playoff conversation. Even Detroit Red Wings' GM Steve Yzerman and his "Yzerplan" is starting to bear some fruit, with Detroit being one of the East's top teams this season.
But it's hard to ignore what Dubas has done for a team that many pegged as a lottery team. Not only has he managed to infuse some talent into a previously barren pipeline during his tenure as GM, but he's continued to add even more talent to both the pipeline and to the NHL roster without sacrificing the future.
In this year's draft, he selected center Ben Kindel 11th overall, which - at the time - was a move criticized by many. Well, Kindel has played full-time at the NHL level this season - primarily as the team's third-line center - and already looks like a veteran. Once the production catches up, he will be a star. And he's one of only three players drafted this season still remaining at the NHL level, with the others being Michael Misa of the San Jose Sharks and Matthew Schaefer of the Islanders.
He also used the first-round pick from the New York Rangers - courtesy of the Marcus Pettersson trade last spring - to trade down and select two more players in the first round in Bill Zonnon and Will Horcoff, both of whom are promising prospects.
And that's not even accounting for the other moves he made in the offseason. He added defenseman Parker Wotherspoon and wingers Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha in free agency, all of whom have been significant contributors to the Penguins' playoff push. He added goaltender Arturs Silovs via trade, and he has been a factor. He also brought back forward Connor Dewar after non-tendering him as an RFA, and he's been a significant piece on Pittsburgh's penalty kill and their fourth line.
Pittsburgh Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas speaks with the media following Day One of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News
And all of this isn't even accounting for three second-round picks and the third-round pick that they acquired through taking on salary dumps like Connor Clifton, Matt Dumba, and Skinner, two of which have actually been pretty solid contributors for the Penguins. Or the trades that never happened in Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust, all of whom have continued to be key parts of their lineup and locker room.
Dubas isn't done yet, either. And neither are the Penguins. If they remain in playoff contention, there's a good chance that Dubas will add to the roster for the playoff push. There are even whispers that they are in the mix for some bigger names - maybe even big fish like Jason Robertson.
There is still a lot of season left, and a lot can happen. Maybe the Penguins will fall out of contention, and they'll go back into sell mode. Or maybe they won't, and Dubas has the choice to either ride with the wind and keep the current roster intact or get creative in trying to both improve the NHL roster and keep their promising future intact.
If they don't - and they manage to make the playoffs and, perhaps, even go on some kind of Cinderella run - this could quite possibly one of the best-managed seasons in recent memory. But regardless of how things turn out, Dubas deserves a lot of praise for the work he's done with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
New York and Seattle are both low-scoring teams that play at slow paces and rely greatly on their goaltenders.
Neither team found the back of the net in regulation — or overtime — when they met earlier this season.
While that’s unlikely to be the case again, my Islanders vs. Kraken predictions are banking on another low-scoring affair.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Wednesday, January 21.
Islanders vs Kraken prediction
Islanders vs Kraken best bet: Under 5.5 (+100)
Both of these teams have been kind to Under backers this season. The New York Islanders own an O/U record of 22-26-1, while the Seattle Kraken come in at 19-27-2.
The Islanders rank 22nd in goals per game and don’t score a lot in the best of times. Finding the net is even more challenging without Bo Horvat, who comfortably leads the team in goals despite already missing 13 games, and veteran winger Kyle Palmieri.
They have relied on Ilya Sorokin to do the heavy lifting and he has answered the bell, sporting a .915 SV% through 29 appearances.
He is likely to improve those numbers against a Kraken team sitting 25th in goals per game. Sorokin has made seven appearances vs. Bottom-10 scoring offenses this season, allowing an average of 1.86 goals while posting two shutouts.
He should be able to greatly limit the damage. So, too, should Philipp Grubauer. He owns a .917 SV% on the season and recently held low-scoring teams like the Flames, Predators, and Flyers to one goal each.
With a pair of lower-end offenses set to square off against quality goaltenders, goals will likely be difficult to come by.
Islanders vs Kraken same-game parlay
One would think shooters like Jared McCann and Brandon Montour getting healthy would take volume away from Matty Beniers. Not the case. He has averaged 2.1 shots and 4.9 attempts with those two healthy compared to 1.7 shots and 3.1 attempts without both.
The Kraken have given up the fourth-most shots to defensemen this season, setting up nicely for the offensive-minded Tony DeAngelo to get a couple of pucks on net.
New York has hit the Under in 14 of its last 20 away games (+9.75 Units / 44% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Kraken.
How to watch Islanders vs Kraken
Location
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Islanders vs Kraken latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman grabbed a hat trick as Afghanistan warmed up for next month’s T20 World Cup with a series-clinching 39-run win over the West Indies on Wednesday.
West Indies, which lost the first game by 38 runs, got bowled out for 150 in 18.5 overs. Mujeeb claimed 4-21 and became only the third Afghan bowler after Rashid Khan and Karim Janat to accomplish a hat trick in T20s.
Earlier, Darwish Rasooli followed his half-century in the first game with 68 off 39 balls and Sediqullah Atal made 53 in Afghanistan’s total of 189-4 after the West Indies won the toss and elected to field.
Mujeeb had Evin Lewis trapped leg before wicket of a quicker ball before he clean bowled Johnson Charles with a perfect delivery that drifted into the right-handed batter and the West Indies slumped to 38-3 in eight overs.
Mujeeb waited for his hat trick until he returned for his final over in the death overs when top-scorer captain Brandon King (50) holed out at long-on and then finished with a four-wicket haul by clean bowling Quentin Sampson.
“The plan was to keep it simple and hit the stumps,” Mujeeb said. “Didn’t know I was on a hat trick and I was just looking to hit the right areas. Good preparation for us before the World Cup. This win will give us more energy.”
The three-match series concludes on Thursday.
Shimron Hetmyer briefly challenged the tall target with his 46 off 17 balls that featured six sixes before he holed out to sweeper cover while attempting a big shot against Fazalhaq Farooqi (2-28).
Fast bowler Azmatullah Omarzai claimed 2-20 before Farooqi dismissed No. 11 batter Ramon Simmonds to seal the series for Afghanistan with seven balls to spare.
Afghanistan opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) and Ibrahim Zadran (22) exited inside the power play, but Rasooli and Atal combined in a 115-run stand as they dominated both pace and spin.
Atal smacked three sixes and two fours before he holed out to deep square leg in Matthew Forde’s (2-25) return spell and Rasooli fell in the 18th over when he couldn’t clear Alick Athanaze at mid-off.
Omarzai smashed an unbeaten 26 off 13 balls with spinner Gudakesh Motie returning with expensive figures of 0-54 that included 19 runs of the final over.
“Hetty (Hetmyer) played a fantastic innings, but after he got out, I had to be the person finishing it,” King said. “The fielding has been a disappointment but that’s something we keep working on.”
We've reached the midpoint of an NBA season that has been filled with surprises — Detroit and Boston lead the East, San Antonio is second in the West — and also far too many injuries to stars. It's also given us jaw-dropping moments, and not just the ones Victor Wembanyama seems to deliver us on a nightly basis.
The midpoint also means it's time to take stock of the NBA postseason awards. All week long, I will make my picks for some of the NBA's top awards at this point in the season, plus get betting angles from NBC Sports experts. Today: Rookie of the Year.
NBA Rookie of the Year: Kon Knueppel
2. Cooper Flagg 3. VJ Edgecombe
Analysis of Rookie of the Year race
Any analysis has to start here: This is a deep, talented and very entertaining rookie class.
At the top of it are two former Duke teammates who, to me, are a coin flip for Rookie of the Year at this point in Knueppel and Flagg. Neither is playing like a rookie. Their counting stats are relatively even — Knueppel is averaging 19 points per game, Flagg 18.8; Flagg is grabbing one more rebound and dishing out 0.6 assists more a game. Both are playing heavy minutes, and both have been impressive playmakers for rookies asked to carry a lot of their team's offense. Flagg has been the better defender, but Knueppel has held his own.
What separated them for me was that Knueppel has just been more efficient to this point — he's shooting better (particularly from 3) and putting up those numbers on fewer touches and lower usage. By the end of the season, I may well flip these two with my vote, but if the season ended today, I would vote Knueppel.
It's also very close in my mind for the No. 3 spot in this ranking, with the 76ers' VJ Edgecombe getting the nod but Memphis' Cedric Coward (maybe the most overlooked player in this class) right on his heels. If I were voting for the All-Rookie first team this week, those two would be in it with Derik Queen from New Orleans getting the other spot (and he could crack the top three for this award by the end of the season.
Betting ROY Race
We reached out to the NBC Sports betting experts for their thoughts on the Rookie of the Year race and how they might bet it.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst
Cooper Flagg is the rightful clear favorite, but Kon Knueppel's historic efficiency for a rookie, combined with the Hornets being a surprisingly frisky top 10 offense, should make the odds slightly tighter than they are currently.
Drew Dinsick, NBC Sports Betting Analyst
The clear favorite is Flagg but his case is far from secure as the Mavs face the 3rd toughest remaining schedule and the Anthony Davis injury makes their likelihood of tanking for draft position much higher. If the Mavs shut down Flagg with meaningful time remaining this season to preserve him for future years, it would not be entirely surprising. The second choice, Kon Knueppel (+600), has the opposite paradigm with the potential of getting wind in his sails. The Hornets have been playing very well of late and are likely in the mix for a play-in spot, if not a seat at the table in the postseason. Kon is effectively tied with Cooper right now in terms of raw production and it would again be unsurprising to see the voters reward his efforts if the Hornets continue to win games and threaten to qualify 8th in the weak East making it a solid bet at price.
Venezuelan catcher Fernando Graterol puts pen to paper as the White Sox welcome one of the top international prospects of the class.
The Chicago White Sox officially kicked off the 2026 international signing period last week by announcing a deep class of 18 prospects, spending a significant portion of the $6,679,200 international bonus pool that was allocated to the club this year.
Spread across position players and pitching prospects, Chicago’s international class tilts slightly toward the mound while investing well on both sides of the ball. Leading the way are a pair of dynamic prospects who each project to play key roles in the organization moving forward.
Top of the class: Catcher Fernando Graterol
The crown jewel of Chicago’s class is Venezuelan backstop Fernando Graterol. The 17-year-old bats from the right side and is regarded as one of the top catching prospects in the cohort.
Among his projected plus-tools, Graterol features:
6´2´´ frame with room to continue filling out
Plus bat speed and power with the ability to tap it over the fence as he gets older
6.8-second 60-yard dash time showcasing elite speed and athleticism that’s rare to see from a catcher
Ranked as Baseball America’s No. 27 international prospect and slots in as the top catching prospect in MLB Pipeline’s 2026 class.
Given MLB’s premium on quality catchers along with his offensive tools, Graterol is definitely the cornerstone piece of this White Sox class.
Also anchoring the group is Sebastián Romero, a left-handed hitting outfielder from Los Teques, Venezuela.
Romero features:
Projectable 6´2´´ frame that should continue to fill out naturally with age and strength
A smooth left-handed swing that includes quality contact skills and developing power
Defensive versatility with a chance to stick in center field, though a move to a corner outfield spot could enhance his run-production profile as he progresses
A spot in Baseball America’s Top 50 international prospects at No. 31
Romero has an intriguing combination of tools that should allow him to find success offensively while remaining versatile defensively. If those traits translate, Chicago just added another piece that could help bolster the system’s outfield corps, an area that certainly lacks organizational strength.
Class overview: Depth and balance
Beyond the headliners, this White Sox class features a mix of tools and positional balance:
Nine right-handed pitchers who add to their prospect capital on the mound
Three catchers, including Graterol and two others, as the organization continues to make the backstop position a priority
Three shortstops and three outfielders, diversifying the position talent
Players hail from the Dominican Republic (9), Venezuela (7), Colombia (1), and Mexico (1), underscoring the club’s broad scouting reach
This is the second international class under David Keller, special assistant to the executive vice president and general manager of international scouting. Keller appears to be laying the groundwork for a long-term influx of young talent.
Looking ahead
It’s always difficult to project how teenage signees will translate to big-league talent, but Chicago’s early returns are promising. They now have two top-50 international prospects and have shown a concentrated effort in several premium areas on the path to development. Here’s hoping that many from this specific group can factor significantly on the mound, behind the plate, and on the basepaths moving forward.
Carlos Beltran, Jerry Snyder and Gary Pettis are among the players with incorrect photos on their baseball cards.
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words ... but sometimes those words come from a different book.
When Carlos Beltran was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, collectors might have started searching for his key rookie cards.
Here's the problem: One of those cards, Beltran's 1995 Topps Traded rookie features a photo that is not the eventual Hall of Fame outfielder, but instead is a picture of a teammate who never climbed higher than Class AA.
But Beltran isn't alone with this photo error — in fact, he's not even the first Hall of Famer to have an image of someone else pictured on his card.
Here are seven baseball cards featuring an unfortunate case of mistaken identity.
1995 Topps Traded Carlos Beltran
Beltran was elected to Cooperstown with 84% of the vote, but anyone hunting for his flagship rookie card will likely be disappointed.
Included in 1995 Topps Traded, the front of Beltran’s rookie with the Kansas City Royals actually shows teammate Juan LeBron, an outfielder who would play 12 seasons of professional baseball, but never reached higher than AA in the United States.
According to GemRate, Beltran’s mistaken rookie is by far his most graded card with more than 2,400 authenticated by PSA. PSA adds a designation reading “UER: Juan LeBron Pictured” to each.
The public record for the card, according to data tool Card Ladder, is the $1,138 paid for a BGS 10 Pristine example on eBay in 2005.
Though Leiter would eventually become a two-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, he wasn’t exactly a recognizable face during rookie camp.
According to Leiter, he was confused for teammate Steve George by photographers when they mistakenly read the “SG” written on George’s glove as Leiter’s No. 56 jersey.
The error was eventually discovered when Leiter was asked to sign a copy for a kid at a Little League banquet in New Jersey.
“Kid came up and said ‘Mr. Leiter, Topps just came out with the ‘88 set, and I have your card, would you sign it?’” Leiter told MLB Network in 2021.
“Yeah, of course, kid. He runs over to his table, he comes back, and he plops this in front of me. Immediately I look, and I’m like, ‘This isn’t me.’”
PSA differentiates the error and the corrected card with “No ‘NY’ On Shirt” (George) and “‘NY’ On Shirt” (Leiter) variations after an updated photograph of Leiter was added with a team logo on his jersey.
To date, PSA has graded 184 copies of the card featuring George and 175 corrected examples with Leiter.
In 2023, a 1988 Topps Tiffany PSA 10 variation of the error card sold for $449 on eBay.
1987 Donruss Opening Day Barry Bonds
One of Barry Bonds’ earliest cards is an unfortunate example that just simply isn’t him.
Bonds would finish his career with 762 home runs, 14 All-Star appearances and a staggering seven MVPs, but back in 1987 he was mistaken for teammate Johnny Ray, an infielder who finished his career with 53 homers and zero All-Star selections.
To date, PSA has graded 177 examples of the Ray error and more than 3,100 copies of the corrected card, which features Bonds in a white jersey with a bat over his shoulder.
According to Card Ladder, the public record for the error card is the $33,000 paid for a BGS 10 Pristine example at PWCC in 2021.
The record for the corrected card featuring Bonds appears to be the $2,000 paid for signed copy on eBay in August 2025.
2021 Bowman Draft Jackson Merrill
A hobby darling at one point, Merrill discovered his first error card when attempting to sign autographs for an upcoming Topps product.
According to The Athletic, Merrill received 3,000 cards from Topps to sign for 2021 Bowman Draft, a prospect product that features players photoshopped into MLB jerseys.
The prospect shown on the card ended up being Isaac Frye, a player mistakenly photographed at a travel ball tournament when Merrill was announced as the hitter and listed in the box score.
That mistake led to Frye being misidentified in photographs and eventually used instead of Merrill in 2021 Bowman Draft.
“All the stats were right, name right, everything right. And then the picture wasn’t me,” Merrill told The Athletic.
Despite the error, PSA has graded more than 4,000 examples of Merrill’s 2021 Bowman Draft card, including parallels and variations.
According to Card Ladder, the record for any variation of the card is the $12,999 paid for the Padparadscha 1/1 on eBay in 2024.
2006 Topps Heritage Jerry Snyder Real One Autograph
Collectors have long coveted Topps’ on-card “Real One” autographs, and few are better than Jerry Snyder’s from 2006 Topps Heritage.
Snyder played just seven seasons for the Washington Nationals from 1952 to 1958, but the inscriptions he delivered nearly roughly 20 years ago punch well above his lifetime .230 batting average.
When signing cards for the set, Snyder added “This isn’t me” inscriptions alongside his signature.
Snyder’s ink from the set has sold for as much as $175 on the secondary market, according to Card Ladder, but has fetched $75 or less in recent sales.
1985 Topps Gary Pettis
Collectors hunting for the next breakout Angels outfielder in 1985 Topps got a Pettis card — it just wasn’t the right Pettis.
Gary Pettis was supposed to appear on the card, but it ended up being his younger brother, Lynn, in the photograph.
According to Gary, Lynn would sometimes dress up in a uniform at the ballpark and shag fly balls. Normally harmless, Lynn ended up in front of the camera and didn’t do much to correct the situation.
"He posed for the picture. I'm sure he had no idea it was going to end up on a baseball card,” Gary told MLB.com in 2018. “And then I think sometime during that offseason, a friend of mine said, 'Hey, you look really young on your baseball card.' I didn't think anything of it. ... Lo and behold, when I finally saw the baseball card later that year I couldn't help but laugh and go, 'Yeah, I do look pretty young because it's not me. It's my brother.'"
Though Pettis told MLB.com he believes it’s a cool story, he refuses to sign autographs on the card.
PSA has graded 49 copies of the card to date.
1988 Donruss Rookies Edgar Martinez
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, Martinez had a great career after an inauspicious introduction to the hobby.
Seattle signed Martinez in 1982, but he didn’t land on a trading card until 1988 — and it wasn’t even him.
Instead of placing Martinez on the front of the card, Donruss used a photograph of teammate Edwin Nuñez, a pitcher entering his seventh season with the team.
For many trading card mixups, you can see how mistakes can be made with a quick glance. For this card, Nunez and Martinez look nothing alike, resulting in a brutal error from Donruss.
PSA has graded more than 600 copies of the card to date.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the collectibles editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.
The Mets have signed right-handed reliever Luis Garcia to a one-year contract.
The club announced the deal, adding that infielder Tsung-Che Cheng has been designated for assignment.
The 38-year-old Garcia split last season between the Dodgers, Nationals, and Angels, posting a 3.42 ERA (3.28 FIP) and 1.46 WHIP while striking out 48 batters over 55.1 innings (58 appearances).
During his 13-year career, which has also included stints with the Phillies, Rangers, Cardinals, Padres, and Red Sox, Garcia has a 4.07 ERA (3.92 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP in 583.1 innings spanning 603 games.
Garcia has been very good when it comes to keeping the ball in the park, with a career HR/9 rate of 0.8. That rate was a microscopic 0.3 in 2025 as he allowed just two home runs.
With Garcia in tow, he figures to be part of a relief corps that features Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in the back end. The bullpen is also expected to include A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley -- though the start of Minter's season could be a bit delayed following lat surgery this past May.
Huascar Brazoban will also be in the bullpen mix, along with hard-throwing prospects Dylan Ross and Ryan Lambert.
Other relievers who could compete for roles include Jonathan Pintaro (who made his big league debut last season and recently transitioned to relief), Adbert Alzolay (who is on a two-year minor league deal and missed the 2025 season), Richard Lovelady, Alex Carrillo, and Joey Gerber.
At Citi Field this afternoon, the Mets formally introduced their new third baseman, Bo Bichette, to the media. Donning a #19 jersey, Bichette addressed the media alongside Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns and two of Bichette’s representatives.
Stearns, in his introductory remarks, called Bichette “one of the most complete right-handed batters in our sport,” as well as praising his baseball aptitude, and his intense desire to win. Stearns said that Bichette made it clear that his focus was “about winning, and our objectives [are] very well aligned there.”
When Bichette took the microphone, he thanked Stearns, Steve and Alex Cohen, and the entire Mets organization for making this happen. “It was very obvious that I wanted to be a Met,” said Bichette. “The organization is looking to win every year and has the opportunity to win every year.” Bichette also praised the roster and their abilities and desire to win.
Bichette didn’t miss the opportunity to get some cheap pop saying that New York was “maybe the best city in the world” and that Mets fans are “some of the best fans in the world,” and that playing in front of these fans is a “pretty cool opportunity.” A number of times Bichette stated that he is “excited to be here and excited to be a Met.”
When asked about the transition to third base and his openness to a position change, Bichette said that he was open to “doing anything if I felt like it was the place I needed to be, and it became very clear that I wanted to be a Met.” Bichette was asked about his relationship with new Met Marcus Semien, and he said that while it was not the reason he signed with the Mets, he looked forward to playing with Semien again.
Jon Heyman asked Bichette about the opt-outs in his contract and whether or not this could be looked at as a one-year deal. Bichette’s agent Greg Genske answered the question for him, “Bo had his choice of long term deals, short term deals, and deals with opt-outs. The important thing is to know that he’s committed to being here and committing to the team…Certainly it was important that we reserve optionality, but his commitment is to the Mets, his desire is to be here and compete for championships here.”
Bichette expressed his desire to be ‘the absolute toughest at bat every time I come to the plate” and talked about how his father, former MLB All-Star Dante Bichette, has drilled in him the importance of driving in runs from a young age.
In a conversation on SNY with Steve Gelbs after the general presser, Bichette mentioned how conversations between the Mets and his camp started at the beginning of the offseason and, again, praised the Mets, their stadium, and their fans. “This is one of my favorite stadiums [to play in]…[I’m excited to play in front of] unbelievable fans that hold you to a high standard.”
After the press conference, Steve Gelbs caught up with David Stearns, who did not have any public questions addressed to him during the conference. Gelbs asked about his approach to bringing in players that make more contact and Stearns pushed back against that slightly, saying that “contact wasn’t the priority per se,” but that they wanted a lineup that top to bottom took competitive at-bats. Stearns pointed to the players that were already on board with the Mets, the new additions, and the young players coming up as all giving the Mets those types of at-bats.
When asked about Bichette’s ability to hit with runners in scoring position, Stearns cited that while there’s not a lot of data to back up the underlying skills that allow for that success, there is a ‘skill in regulating yourself” in order to be more calm and patient in those spots, and that Bichette clearly excels at that part of the game.
In terms of Bichette and Jorge Polanco both being asked to switch positions, Stearns was honest but bullish on the proposition of having “four shortstops on the dirt some days.” He said that there will be “learning moments as they learn the intricacies” of their new positions, but that he believes that the players in question know the game well and have both the aptitude and the work ethic to make the transitions happen.
When asked about the newest Met, Luis Robert Jr., Stearns said that when you look under the hood at Robert’s skills, he still possesses everything that made him an elite player a few years ago. He said that when you see those skills “you want that guy in your organization” and that the team will do all it can to get the best out of Robert and cited the change of scenery may be very good for him.
Stearns then said that while he won’t stop looking, he feels good about the offensive side of the team at this point in the offseason, but that ‘unexpected things’ tend to happen at this point in the season, so he would not rule out additional offensive additions while reiterating how happy he is with that part of the team.
The starting rotation is another story, as Stearns stated that it is ‘[his] preference’ to add a starting pitcher. The team remains ‘engaged on a number of different fronts in that market’ and stated how there’s still plenty of time to make a move on that front.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced the induction of two new members into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday night: Carlos Beltrán and Andrew Jones. For the former, it was the fourth ballot he had appeared on before getting the nod, while the latter took nine tries to reach baseball immortality.
Funny enough, the two players were born one day apart, with Jones coming into the world on April 23 and Beltrán bursting on the scene on April 24 back in 1977.
A total of 425 ballots were cast, making it necessary to earn at least 319 votes to get in. The 11 blank ballots received this year were the most since 2011, and the average ballot had 5.8 names checked.
Next in line was Chase Utley, who was the only other former player to crack the 50% mark at 59.1% on his third ballot. Former Detroit Tiger Rick Porcello was among the first-balloters who fell short of the threshold to appear a second time, earning just two votes — both unknown.
It is worth mentioning that this year’s inductees do not come without controversy. Many remember Beltrán for his significant role in the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal, and a large share of folks feel like he does not deserve to be in the Hall because of it.
Between the past and present issues of PEDs, and a myriad of other wild inconsistencies, the drama continues in Cooperstown.
So, fellow Tigers fans, what are your thoughts on this year’s ballot? Is Beltrán undeserving? Did King Felix get snubbed? Will any of the legendary dopers like Alex Rodriguez ever get in? LOL Porcello?
Let us know what you are thinking in the comments below.
