CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 28: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Kolin/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa made an immediate impact in his NBA debut, scoring 19 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers (3-1) after missing the first four games of the season with a sprained ankle that he suffered in preseason.
The No. 1 overall pick earned a spot in the starting lineup alongside Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George as Washington (2-3) shifted fourth-year wing Bilal Coulibaly to come off the bench for the first time this season.
Playing on a minutes restriction due to his injury, Dybantsa wasted little time making his presence felt. After Washington won the opening tip, it took Dybantsa just 16 seconds to attack the rim and draw a shooting foul on Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen to send the rookie to the charity stripe.
The BYU product knocked down both free throws for the first two points of his NBA career.
In his first six-minute stint as a pro, Dybantsa scored nine points on 3-for-3 shooting in the first quarter. He caught a half-court lob from Young, connected on his first career 3-pointer and recorded an assist to Sarr for a corner three in an impressive opening stretch.
AJ Dybantsa's FIRST BUCKET IN HIS NBA DEBUT was a lob from Trae 🔥
He exited the first quarter helping Washington take a 22-16 lead, and turned heads with a dazzling step through floater finish, past James Harden and over the seven-footer — Allen.
Despite the minutes restriction, Dybantsa played the final 8 minutes and 18 seconds of the fourth quarter, with Washington trailing 102-99. He connected on a mid-range jumper and a dunk as Washington — which led by 16 at one point — tried to re-take its lead in the final quarter.
The rookie finished with 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field, adding two rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes.
But, despite Dybantsa’s strong debut, Cleveland took control late in the game to secure the 121-111 victory over Washington — handing the Wizards their second consecutive loss of the season.
Dybantsa’s 19-point performance marked the highest-scoring debut by a Wizards rookie since Tom Gugliotta scored 20 points against the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 2, 1992.
Although Washington couldn’t come away with a win, Dybantsa’s efficient scoring and early contributions offered an encouraging glimpse of what the franchise’s top pick could bring as he begins his NBA career. He will be back in action for his home crowd debut at Capital One Arena against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET.
Charlotte beat Washington 110-103 on Monday night in North Carolina – while Dybantsa was sidelined.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 24: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Keegan Akin (45) pitches during the Cleveland Guardians versus the Baltimore Orioles on June 24, 2024 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As a player who arrived in the organization in the 2016 draft, Keegan Akin is one of the longest-tenured Orioles. We have been hearing about him as a prospect and then seeing him as a major league player for more than a decade. After all of that, Akin came into 2026 as a platform year heading into free agency. His up-and-down Orioles tenure is likely ending on a down note after a season where he was pretty bad until a June injury turned out to require season-ending Tommy John surgery.
One thing that I take as a given when considering relievers in general is the concept of year-to-year volatility. At least one guy is going to be better than people thought, and at least one guy is going to be worse than people thought. You might be able to make an educated guess which ends up being which, but you never really know. The same guy can fit both of these descriptions across multiple seasons.
Akin, over his time with the team, has embodied this about as well as anybody. After he failed his way out of the rotation in 2021, he was a speculative reliever conversion heading into 2022. He was pretty good! Then, out of nowhere, he was terrible in 2023, all while keeping pretty good peripheral stats. Akin returned to good results in 2024 – though the team had zero trust in him and was almost fanatical in only using him in low-leverage situations – and was also good in 2025, with concerning peripherals last year making him more of a question mark heading into 2026.
The alarm bells that were sounding in his under-the-hood metrics a year ago turned out to be for real. Akin missed the first month of the season due to a groin strain, then as he made his way back from the injured list, he showed how his season was going to go by giving up six runs in the span of an inning during a 17-1 blowout loss to the Red Sox on April 25. That was the first that we saw of Akin this season. What a disaster.
Every fan has their guys where what you mostly remember about them are the times that they stunk. I’ll be honest with you: Akin is one of those guys for me. The idea that Akin had three separate seasons where he had an ERA of 3.41 or lower escapes from my brain every time it goes in. I remember all of the times that he was bad. Akin giving up six runs in an inning is basically what I expected every time. He did it again this year, turning a close contest against the Nationals on May 16 into a 13-3 laugher by giving up six runs while getting only one out.
In a classic of the “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?” genre, Akin was fine if you take out those two outings. He pitched 22 other games and allowed just four earned runs in those games. Maybe if he had July, August, and September to keep pitching, he would have been able to turn around the unsightly 5.68 ERA.
The Orioles probably would have given him chances to do that, following the pattern they established over multiple years with Cionel Pérez, who bombed early on only to keep sticking around on the roster and salvage his numbers somewhat. There are some good things on his Statcast page, namely that batters weren’t hitting the ball hard off of him because they were so infrequently squaring him up. There are also some not-so-good things: Akin was not making batters swing and miss, posting the lowest K/9 of his career, just 6.0. Some relievers can do well without that many strikeouts; teammate Albert Suárez is one of them. Many do not do so well.
Akin did not get to pitch the last three months to see whether he could improve things. His season was cut short when he injured his elbow at the end of June. This led to mid-July Tommy John surgery that will probably knock him out of action for nearly all, if not all, of the 2027 season as well. Akin will be 33 years old by the time he gets to seriously pitch again.
The injury in combination with the poor 2026 performance probably means that Akin will not end up ever getting the opportunity to get a real free agent contract. That was rough luck for him. Even one year for a few million would have been better than he got for most of his arbitration seasons.
Some team will probably at least extend Akin a minor league contract with a spring training invitation when 2028 rolls around. Maybe it will even be the Orioles. If he really liked it here, he might take it. There’s not much risk in handing out spring training invitations to see whether a guy has something left in the tank, as long as you correctly assess what he’s got in the tank before potentially giving him a big league roster spot again.
By season’s end, the role that the Orioles went into the season thinking would be Akin’s had been taken over by a completely different age-31 lefty, Josh Walker. Camden Chat colleague Andrea wrote about Walker yesterday. Somebody stinks or gets hurt or both and the roster moves on. Akin ended up on the wrong end of that for 2026 and that may be the final memory that we have of him as an Oriole.
San Diego Padres SP Randy Vasquez (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In 2026, the San Diego Padres’ starting rotation was the roster’s weakest link. The group ranked 21st in the majors after posting a 4.40 ERA, a 1.335 WHIP, and 37 quality starts. Among the Padres’ top starters was Randy Vasquez, who emerged with a breakout season.
Vasquez exceeded expectations
The right-hander recorded his first double-digit win total, finishing 10-6 with a 3.90 ERA in 32 appearances. The biggest difference from prior seasons was a rising strikeout rate and a declining walk rate.
Vasquez raised his strikeout rate from 13.7% in 2025 to 14.8% this season. This shift allowed the young starter to shave his walk rate from 9.1% to 6.3% in 2026. The result left his strikeout-to-walk ratio at 2.35 for the season.
Becoming a more complete starting pitcher
Another area of growth for Vasquez was shifting away from a cutter-heavy pitching approach to throwing more high-velocity four-seam fastballs. He paired it with a heavy sinker; together, they accounted for 50% of the pitches thrown in starts.
The starter’s four-seamer became his go-to out pitch to end potential scoring threats. A velocity jump (mid-90s) convinced him to rely on the pitch more frequently. Still, Vasquez found himself in tight scoring jams when the velocity of his four-seamer waned. His sinker was terrific in bailing him out and limiting damage.
It turned into a dominant secondary pitch, inducing ground balls at a 39.1% rate in 2026. His baserunner strand rate was strong (81.5%) at the start of the 2026 campaign, but it dipped to 77.4% by season’s end.
He scaled back his cutter usage but found great success throwing the pitch away and outside the strike zone. The sharp movement kept hitters out in front, consistently yielding strikeouts or weak ground-ball outs.
The lone negative was that opposing teams’ batting average against him rose from .247 to .262 in 2026. However, Vasquez kept the ball inside the park. His home run rate went from 2.8% to 2.7% this season. Both numbers are well below the major league average of 3.1%.
His breakout 2026 campaign has vaulted Vasquez into a primary role for the Padres’ starting rotation next spring. To prove last season was no fluke, he must sustain this level of consistency on the mound.
Padres News:
Freddy Fermin came to the Padres as a much needed upgrade at the catcher position. However, in 2026 he struggled at the plate and became a defense-only backstop. See how Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball graded Fermin’s season.
Ryan Yarbrough’s four-seam fastball averaged 87.1 mph in 2026, in the 1st percentile of all major leaguers. His strikeout and whiff rates are also mediocre. Chase and groundball percentages? Also blue in Statcast. Yet the left-hander managed to post a 3.69 ERA in 63.1 innings for the Yankees in 2026.
Yarbrough got a much-deserved B in our Report Cards this season, although it arguably could have been a bit higher because it was also a B in 2025 when he posted a 4.36 ERA and a 5.04 FIP. The southpaw is who he is at this point, but he has found a home with the Yankees as the organization has encouraged him to pitch to his strengths. And it has worked.
Despite limited velocity and bat-missing ability, Yarbrough excels at one thing: contact management. Hitters just can’t find the barrel of the bat against him with any semblance of consistency.
Yarbrough ranked in the 96th percentile with his 3.6 percent barrel rate this year, and led the league with his 25 percent hard-hit rate. A whopping three-quarters of his batted balls left the bat at 94 mph or lower and, as you can imagine, it’s much easier to field an 84 mph soft liner than a 102 mph line drive.
The contrast between his average fastball velo (and percentile ranking) and his average exit velocity is one of the funniest things you will see today:
How does Yarbrough get away with such an underwhelming repertoire velocity-wise? Smarts. Command. Pitching know-how. Good coaching. A plan and perfect execution. A varied arsenal. And so on.
The left-hander uses five pitches almost evenly: a cutter (28.7 percent), changeup (22.7 percent), sweeper (19.8 percent), four-seamer (15.6 percent), and sinker (13.1 percent). The one chosen for every occasion will depend on a number of things, but only the ‘heater’ had a wOBA over .312 at .446, and it had a much lower .352 xwOBA. Every offering serves its purpose, and nothing goes to waste. That sums up his pitching philosophy of maximizing resources to get hitters out.
As things stand today, Yarbrough will enter the 2026-27 offseason as a free agent after the one-year, $2.5 million deal he signed before the 2026 campaign expires following the conclusion of the World Series. It will certainly not be a normal winter in baseball, but regardless of the looming lockout and what happens with the next CBA, a reunion makes sense for both the pitcher and the organization.
Will they reach a new agreement to extend Yarbrough’s stay in the Bronx? Nobody knows, but the Yankees should entertain the possibility. He is New York-proven, cheap, and highly effective in his multi-inning relief role. He is also highly versatile, having shown through the years the ability to adapt to various roles ranging from starter to a traditional one-inning bullpen piece.
Yarbrough won’t get you a strikeout per inning or triple-digit velocity. Heck, he won’t even crack 90 mph on the radar gun. But he performs, and he delivers when needed. That kind of profile deserves a spot on the roster.
See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.
Signing free agents is the easiest way to fill holes on a team, and the Yankees have plenty of them.
However, with most of the starting positions on the 2027 roster locked in, where can the Yanks look to improve? The bench needs a boost, and there are still questions surrounding second base and third base.
Not to mention the annual bullpen rebuild New York has become known for.
While the Yanks should be looking to bring back some of their own free agents, like David Bednar and Paul Blackburn, we'll make this list more interesting by including only players who were not in pinstripes this past season, starting with the bullpen, then catcher and finally the infield.
Raisel Iglesias
The Braves' closer for the last four seasons, Iglesias would make a great Bednar replacement if he were to get away.
Despite putting up 30-plus saves every season as Atlanta's closer, he was a first-time All-Star in 2026 while pitching to a 2.55 ERA -- his third sub-3.00 ERA in the last four seasons -- with 34 saves and a 1.08 WHIP.
The 36-year-old did miss some time this past season with shoulder inflammation, which isn't great, but he finished strong, helping the Braves win the NL East and make it to the NLDS.
Adrian Morejon
The name seemingly on every team's lips. Morejon has dominated in his time with the Padres, especially most recently setting up for Mason Miller.
Morejon pitched his third consecutive season with a sub-3.00 ERA and while he wasn't as unhittable as he was in his lone All-Star season in 2025, he had a career-high in strikeouts (107) and in K/9 (11.2).
With Brent Headrick already in the bullpen, Morejon would be a luxury as a southpaw, but would serve nicely as the setup man for whoever closes for the Bombers in 2027 and beyond.
Alex Vesia
A pursuit of Vesia should not be impacted by potential pursuits of Blackburn and Bednar.
Tim Hill, the once lockdown lefty specialist in the 'pen, is going to hit the market and Vesia would be an upgrade. Vesia pitched to a 2.64 ERA and struck out 74 batters across 58 innings for the Dodgers in 2026. The one bugaboo about him is his walk rate, as he averaged five walks per nine in 2026 and has a career walk rate of 4.3 per nine.
But the Yankees could perhaps overlook it, especially if you consider his postseason numbers. Vesia pitched 3.1 scoreless innings this postseason and was dominant in 2024, allowing just two hits and two walks across 5.2 scoreless innings, en route to a World Series title over the Yankees.
Pete Fairbanks
This would be a reclamation project. Fairbanks had a down 2026 with the Marlins, pitching to a 6.31 ERA (4.42 xERA) and a 1.35 WHIP after a magnificent 2025 with the Rays, when he locked down 27 saves and pitching to a 2.83 ERA.
The right-hander was also injured, missing a few weeks due to a shoulder issue, but he should be looking for a prove-it, one-year deal and the Yankees could use him after the departures and question marks surrounding some of their relievers.
Fairbanks' velocity was still in the 90th percentile per Baseball Savant, and he struck out batters at a 31.1 percent clip, so the stuff is there -- he just needs to execute. His 11.5 percent walk rate was his highest since 2020.
Jul 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (37) on deck in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Tyler Stephenson
The former first-round pick of the Reds is heading to free agency. While Cincinnati could extend the qualifying offer, the Yankees should still do their due diligence and see if Stephenson would be right for their club.
Stephenson's overall offensive numbers have declined, but he is still elite when he barrels up the ball. In 2026, he was in the 82nd percentile in barrel percentage, 80th in exit velocity and 71st in hard-hit percentage.
The 30-year-old is a good blocker behind the plate, but he isn't great at framing or holding runners on. It may be a necessary trade-off to get a competent bat.
Ryan Jeffers
The biggest name among the free agent catchers, the Yankees looked into acquiring Jeffers at the deadline, but the Twins weren't willing to trade him. Now with Jeffers on the market, the Yanks can pursue Jeffers to bring that pop from the right side.
Although Jeffers, like Stephenson, isn't the strongest behind the plate, the offense is a must. If the Yankees can get him at a reasonable deal, it would be worth it.
Alec Bohm
Made the pitch in our third base candidates list, but Bohm gives the Yankees a right-handed bat to play the hot corner on most days -- with McMahon coming in for late-game situations for defense -- and could replace Paul Goldschmidt, who is also a free agent,as the right-handed first base option.
Sep 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) hits a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at PNC Park. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Bohm is durable, playing in at least 140 games in four of his last five seasons, and has been solid at the plate. He's one of only seven right-handed hitters to drive in at least 85 runs in three of the past four seasons.
While his defense leaves a lot to be desired (-11 OAA playing third and first in 2026), it may be a worthy sacrifice to round out the lineup.
Eugenio Suarez
Another third base candidate from our list, Suarez could be the power option the Yankees could grab on the cheap after the veteran had a down season with the Reds.
Suarez's 2026 was so down that no team wanted him when he was put on waivers toward the end of the season. Perhaps that can motivate Suarez to recapture some of his prolific power. Suarez hit 26 bombs a season after smashing 49, but slashed .212/.307/.433 with an OPS of .740. It could be worth the risk for the Yanks if the money is right.
Like Bohm, Suarez's defensive metrics are not great. He played 50 games at third base in 2026 and had -7 OAA. His arm strength is also in the bottom 25 percent in the league, so a straight platoon with McMahon would be a must.
Luis Arraez
Speaking of players who can round out a lineup, Arraez is a hit machine, one the Yankees can surely use.
Arraez has improved defensively at second base, so that would be the only worthwhile position for him, so admittedly, this would be a luxury signing. His left-handed bat would replace Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s, but his market could be more robust than in years past.
If the Yanks can swing a one-year deal for Arraez's services, it can change the lineup and even influence other hitters to be more contact-oriented.
Brandon Lowe
Lowe was arguably one of the best acquisitions last offseason. Coming from the Rays after an All-Star 2025 season, the veteran infielder helped the Pirates become one of the more prolific offenses in baseball in 2026.
Now a free agent, Lowe could be the low-key steal of the offseason for the Yankees.
His offensive numbers were better across the board from his All-Star season, as he slashed .260/.331/.493 (.824 OPS) to go along with his 35 home runs and 96 RBI. And his defense is pretty solid at second base. He posted a career-best +12 OAA, playing 138 games at second in 2026. While not as athletically gifted as Chisholm, he has proven he can handle the position.
Lowe's career splits against left-handers (.220/.274/.410) are similar to Chisholm's, so the same pitfalls that made the Yankees susceptible to southpaws are there. But it could be worth it for the production Lowe brings, especially if they feel Luis Garcia Jr. isn't a fit to play second base.
McDermott: ‘It’s a difficult situation to negotiate’
The England head coach, Brian McDermott, has urged his side to keep their nerve as they attempt to hold up their end of the bargain on Friday and secure what would be a remarkable qualification for the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup.
Defeat by Tonga in their opening group game a fortnight ago appeared to all but consign England to an early exit, owing in no small part to a complex and shortened format, with the tournament reduced to 10 teams. However, the margin of their 82-0 win against France last Saturday means qualification is still possible, albeit unlikely.
Tonight’s matchup between the Vancouver Canucks (3–10–1) and San Jose Sharks (6–6–1) will feature the tale of two rebuilds. Vancouver, obviously just entering theirs, comes into tonight’s match riding the high of a 6–5 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, which saw them end a 10-game losing streak that started on October 4. The Sharks, who seem to have put their rebuild in the rear-view, have something to prove heading into tonight’s matchup, as they were shut out by the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and have dropped their past two.
The Canucks team that enters SAP Center for tonight’s matchup is undoubtedly at the beginning of their rebuild. They have their young talent in players like Zeev Buium, Tom Willander, and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, though most of the recent high-end prospects they’ve acquired are still developing in other leagues. From both a team and individual perspective, there’s still lots of room to grow.
San Jose, on the other hand, boasts a lineup that has seen their fair share of losing seasons and been rewarded greatly for it. Four of their current rostered players — Will Smith (4th-overall, 2023), Macklin Celebrini (1st-overall, 2024), Michael Misa (2nd-overall, 2025), and Ivar Stenberg (2nd-overall, 2026) — were picked within the top-five of the four most recent NHL Entry Drafts. While they’re still a young team, it’s clear their contention window is just beginning to open.
Players To Watch:
Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Jonathan Lekkerimäki was one of the Canucks’ strongest players on Tuesday night, scoring his team’s fourth and fifth goals with less than four minutes in regulation to earn the tie and send the game to overtime. His effort in the win propelled him to a tie for second on his team in points with 12. Given his performance on Tuesday, which saw him skate in a career-high of 19:55 minutes, it will be interesting to see if Lekkerimäki ends up being rewarded with an increased role or a boost in ice time compared to his averages on the season.
Ivar Stenberg
Tonight’s matchup will provide the Canucks with a first NHL-look at the second-overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. While he’s still only 19, Stenberg appears to be fitting into the NHL well. His three goals and six assists currently tie him with Tyler Toffoli for second on their team in points. He also sits tied for second in the NHL’s rookie scoring race for points, with only Gavin McKenna ranking ahead of him.
Vancouver Canucks (3–10–1):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 4–11–15
Jonathan Lekkerimäki: 6–6–12
Brock Boeser: 4–8–12
Filip Hronek: 1–9–10
Linus Karlsson: 3–6–9
Goaltenders:
Leevi Meriläinen: 2–3–1
Kevin Lankinen: 1–7–0
San Jose Sharks (6–6–1):
Points:
Macklin Celebrini: 5–10–15
Tyler Toffoli: 4–5–9
Ivar Stenberg: 3–6–9
Will Smith: 4–4–8
Jacob Trouba: 2–6–8
Goaltenders:
Alex Nedeljkovic: 3–1–1
Yaroslav Askarov: 3–5–0
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: SAP Center
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: KiSS West Coast
Apr 11, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9) and Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (40) battle for control of the puck during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 28: Fans of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after the Brewers won the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One in Game Five against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well, the Brewers won the final game of the 2026 MLB season. Now, it’s the offseason.
What does that mean for you?
Maybe you’re looking forward to pre-lockout free agency and similar activities. I imagine they’ll be very muted as teams await a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that they anticipate reshaping spending, but I could be very wrong and maybe there’ll be a flurry of meaningful pre-lockout activity.
Maybe you’re a sicko who loves MLB labor relations discourse. I can’t help you if that’s the case.
Maybe you need a break from baseball.
Maybe you’ve been dreading the lockout and related stuff so much you’re happy that it’s now rushing upon us in a way that will ultimately, eventually, get resolved.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout prior to Game Four of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The World Series ended on Wednesday, which brings the official start of the offseason. First up was 6 a.m. PT on Thursday, with scores of players across the sport now officially free agents. Nine Dodgers are free agents, headlined by ace pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Because Skubal switched teams during the season, he’s not eligible to receive a qualifying offer from the Dodgers. Same goes for Eric Lauer and Kris Bubic, but they weren’t going to get a qualifying offer anyway.
The Dodgers got Lauer from the Toronto Blue Jays in May to fill in once Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell made their annual stops on the injured list. Lauer lasted six innings in seven of his first 11 games with the Dodgers, and didn’t allow more than three runs in each of his first nine appearances before fading. In all, Lauer had a 4.50 ERA in 14 games, including 12 starts, with 46 strikeouts and 19 walks in 72 innings with the Dodgers.
Bubic was an All-Star starting pitcher in 2025 with the Kansas City Royals, but this year missed three and a half months on the injured list, first with elbow soreness then with shoulder soreness suffered while on rehab, and was acquired by Los Angeles on August 3. The left-hander joined the Dodgers in September and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless frames in his six appearances. Bubic pitched twice in the postseason and gave up a run both times, taking the loss in Game 2 of the NLDS and surrendering the tying run in Game 2 of the NLCS.
Bullpen mainstays now free
Vesia led the Dodgers with 72 appearances and put up a 2.64 ERA and 2.68 xERA with three saves, 74 strikeouts and 32 walks in 58 innings. After appearing in five games for the Miami Marlins in 2020, the Dodgers acquired Veisa that offseason and he’s spent the last six years as a stalwart in the back end of their bullpen, with a 2.66 ERA while averaging 61 innings, 54 2/3 innings, and 73 strikeouts.
“Looking back, getting drafted was a very big goal for me, and obviously Miami took a chance on a kid in the 17th round, and then the Dodgers liked what they saw. I definitely give a lot of credit to the coaching staff and the players and personnel in this room,” Vesia said on October 15. “I would not be where I’m at if it wasn’t for all of them. I’ve had very hard conversations, very happy conversations, a lot of great conversations that molded me into who I am and how I go about my business. The standard that is set here, to be great day in and day out is something that’s very motivating, and it’s been a great journey.”
Treinen has been with the Dodgers for seven years, with each of the last five years interrupted by injuries. In 2026 Treinen missed two and a half months with elbow inflammation, then suffered a shoulder injury during the last weekend of the regular season that removed any possible temptation for manager Dave Roberts to use Treinen in key situations this October. In between, Treinen had a 3.64 ERA and 5.07 xERA in 36 games, with 31 strikeouts and 13 walks in 29 2/3 innings. He turns 39 next June.
Brusdar Graterol has been with the Dodgers since 2020 but hasn’t pitched since 2024, missing most of that time after shoulder surgery. This year Graterol made four rehab appearances in May before getting shut down with a back injury that eventually required surgery.
Treinen, Graterol, Vesia, and Phillips were the four longest-tenured pitchers on the Dodgers 40-man roster. With all four now free agents, that distinction currently belongs to Gavin Stone, who debuted three weeks earlier than fellow 2020 draftee Bobby Miller.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to me personally moving forward for next year, but this team is well-positioned to keep winning, keep competing until October,” Hernández said on October 15. “Not only is this locker room very talented, but there are a lot of guys in the minor league system that can really be impactful players. The organization is in good hands.
“I love this place. I’ve played for three other teams, but every time I look at my career, I kind of obviously go back to this place,” Hernández said. “I hope I get back, I feel I have a lot left to serve.”
With the Mets seemingly set at all three outfield positions, shortstop, third base (if Bo Bichette opts in), and catcher -- and with the long-term answer at second base likely coming soon in the form of one of their top prospects -- it's not the worst thing in the world that this year's free agent market is quite weak when it comes to position players.
If the Mets pursue a full-time first baseman, the selection will be limited. But it's possible the biggest noise by New York this offseason will be made with starting pitching additions -- whether they come via free agency, trade, or both.
On the free agent market, one of the best starting pitchers in recent memory is available. There are also a handful of strong rotation anchors a tier below that, and plenty of middle of the rotation starters as well.
There are some high-upside relievers available, too, and the Mets could certainly use one of them.
With free agency set to begin soon, there's every reason to believe there will be a spending frenzy over the next month with the lockout looming on Dec. 1 when the CBA expires. So the Mets, and every other team, could be in a race to that theoretical deadline.
Here are the 10 players the Mets should have highest on their list of targets, ranked:
10. Bryan Abreu, RHP
Abreu has been a stalwart in the Astros' bullpen since 2022, with a 2.56 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 12.4 strikeouts per nine over 344.1 innings. In addition to generating strikeouts at a huge clip, Abreu has been adept at limiting hits, with a H/9 of 6.8 or better each of the last five seasons.
Walks were an issue for Abreu in 2026, but that might have been a one-year blip given his steady walk rates in recent seasons.
9. Alex Vesia, LHP
With Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter set for free agency after this season, the Mets traded both of them ahead of the deadline as part of their bigger summer sell-off. Once Raley and Minter were gone, left-hander Nate Lavender made his MLB debut and excelled, showing that he deserves a spot in the 2027 bullpen. But New York should be seeking another left-hander to pair with him.
To that end, Vesia -- who has spent the last six years dominating for the Dodgers -- would be a strong fit. Vesia will be entering his age-31 season in 2027 and is coming off a year where he posted a 2.64 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while continuing to miss bats at an elite rate. In addition to his effectiveness, Vesia has been extremely durable, pitching in 56 games or more five seasons in a row, including a career-high 72 appearances in 2026.
San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France (25) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a one run home run during the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park. / David Frerker - Imagn Images
8. Ty France, 1B
As is noted above, the group of position player free agents is not terribly strong. That includes the first base options, which feature some platoon guys (Paul Goldschmidt among them) and two players who are coming off late-career breakouts. One of them is Jake Bauers, who had a .675 OPS in eight seasons as a part-time player before erupting to smack 26 homers with an .874 OPS this season for the Brewers. The other player who had a breakout is France.
Unlike Bauers, France had excelled in a regular role before, from 2020 to 2022 with the Padres and Mariners. Following a few down seasons offensively, France slashed .295/.363/.502 (.865 OPS) in 133 games in 2026. France, who won the Gold Glove award at first base in 2025, continued to excel defensively this season, landing in the 93rd percentile in OAA.
France also hits from the right side of the plate, which could be a plus for a lefty-heavy Mets lineup that includes Juan Soto, Carson Benge, and A.J. Ewing as key cogs.
7. Jonathan Loaisiga, RHP
After becoming one of the key pieces in the Yankees' bullpen, Loaisiga's seasons in 2023 and 2024 were seriously impacted because of Tommy John surgery. He returned for the Yanks in 2025, but didn't round back into form until this past season.
In 67.0 innings for the Diamondbacks in 2026, Loaisiga had a 2.42 ERA (2.88 FIP) and 1.03 WHIP while allowing just three homers all year and walking a minuscule 1.7 batters per nine. Loaisiga relies mainly on a sinker that averages a tick under 98 mph and a changeup that averages 91 mph. He doesn't strike out a lot of batters, but is phenomenal when it comes to limiting hard contact and generating ground balls.
In 2026, Loaisiga was in the 93rd percentile or better in average exit velocity allowed, chase percentage, barrel percentage, hard-hit percentage, and ground ball percentage.
One of those two main rotation adds should be an ace, with the other filling more of a mid-rotation role -- something that Gausman profiles in at this point of his career. Gausman's ERA was a tick high in 2026 (4.51), but his FIP (3.74), WHIP (1.27), walk rate (2.4 per nine), and strikeout rate (9.3 per nine) indicate he's still a quality starter. He is also one of the most reliable pitchers in the majors, having pitched 174.2 innings or more six seasons in a row.
Ahead of his age-36 season, Gausman -- who has hinted at retiring soon -- could possibly be had on a one-year deal.
Apr 10, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers a pitch against the Athletics during the first inning at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher - Imagn Images
5. Clay Holmes, RHP
Holmes is one of David Stearns' biggest free agent hits, with him excelling in the rotation after the Mets signed him and transitioned him back to being a starting pitcher. Before he was traded to the Cubs at the deadline in the deal that brought top infield prospect Jefferson Rojas to New York, Holmes was viewed as one of the clubhouse leaders.
Given Holmes' ability, clubhouse presence, and familiarity with the New York market, it should be a no-brainer for the Mets to consider a reunion -- something SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes recently reported Holmes would be open to.
Since Holmes is about to enter his age-34 season, it's possible he can be snagged on a two- or three-year deal.
4. Michael King, RHP
It feels likely that King will opt out of the final two years of his deal with the Padres and attempt to cash in this winter -- something that would be wise coming off a huge 2026 season.
In 32 starts over a career-high 185.0 innings, King had a 3.21 ERA and 1.17 WHIP while allowing just 148 hits. King's strikeout rate was down this past season, but his stuff -- a five-pitch mix that includes a sinker, changeup, and sweeper -- graded out near the top of the sport.
There have been some serious injury issues during King's career, including a thoracic nerve issue that impacted him in 2025, but he was healthy for all of 2026. And a healthy King is a top of the rotation starter.
Another plus is that King grew up in the Northeast and has familiarity with the New York market, having played with the Yankees from 2019 to 2023.
But even if the Mets are confident Williams will bounce back and envision Senga back in the bullpen, they should still be attempting to bring in a dominant force to close -- or to at the very least step in for Williams if it's deemed he's best suited for a setup role.
Enter Morejon, who will be in his age-28 season in 2027 and has been pretty much injury-free since 2023. 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.
One downside here is that Morejon will almost certainly be saddled with the qualifying offer.
Mar 15, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers right fielder Teruaki Sato (8) poses for a photo after defeating the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome. / Darren Yamashita - Imagn Images
2. Teruaki Sato, INF/OF
Speaking shortly after the season ended, Stearns said the expectation was that the team would look externally for first base help.
Whether that means a platoon partner to share time with Jared Young or someone who profiles as a full-time player remains to be seen. But if the Mets are searching for a regular first baseman whose presence would slide Young to a bench role (they should be), Sato would be the most logical choice.
The Mets haven't made a splash with a Japanese position player since they signed Kaz Matsui ahead of the 2004 season, and the club didn't seem terribly interested in either Munetaka Murakami or Kazuma Okamoto last offseason. So a strong pursuit of Sato would be a bit of a surprise. But that doesn't mean it wouldn't make sense.
Primarily a third baseman in Japan, the belief of many experts is that Sato profiles as a first baseman in the majors. And he has thunder in his bat, having won the Central League MVP in 2025 and the Triple Crown in 2026. In 143 games this past season for the Hanshin Tigers, Sato hit .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs, 40 doubles, 100 runs scored, and 106 RBI.
There are some strikeout concerns with Sato, but his upside is sky high, the Mets have a glaring need at first base, and it's time for them to take a swing.
1. Tarik Skubal, LHP
Surprised?
With a young starting staff that includes Nolan McLean and Christian Scott, and could also feature Zac Thornton and eventually Jonathan Santucci, the Mets need a finishing piece -- a true ace who slides in at the top of the rotation. Skubal should be that guy.
And it can be argued that the stars are aligning for Skubal to the Mets.
There's the aforementioned need, the fact that Skubal won't be attached to a qualifying offer, the fact that the Mets have a huge chunk of money coming off their payroll after 2027, and the likelihood that there will not be another starting pitcher like this hitting the free agent market until after 2029 -- when Paul Skenes could theoretically be available.
Put that all together and the question becomes this: If Stearns isn't willing to make an exception for Skubal, it's fair to wonder if the Stearns-led Mets will ever bend their philosophy when it comes to megadeals for "older" starting pitchers. And if they don't, they'll continue to be left out in the cold.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 24: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts to flying out in the seventh inning during Game 7 of the NLCS between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
One of the first lessons you learn as a fan of sports is that you can’t win em’ all. It’s become a hackneyed phrase, but it is an unalienable truth one must accept if you’re going to emotionally invest yourself in a team, especially in a sport like baseball where even the best teams still lose roughly 60 games a year. That doesn’t mean that certain losses don’t sting, and some may even leave emotional scarring that could take years to heal if ever.
But what if you could undo the result of one of those games that still haunt you to this day. There are of course numerous examples from Phillies history, with perhaps the most famous being Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. Who knows what would have happened if Mitch Williams successfully locked down the save and forced a decisive Game 7 over the Blue Jays? Maybe the Phillies would have ended their Cinderella season with a ring. At the very least, an entire generation of Phillies fans would have been spared trauma.
There are some more recent examples too. The 2023 NLCS will go down in infamy in Philadelphia, but what if the Phillies were able to close it out in Game 6 or even in Game 7 to win their second straight NL pennant? It’s not hard to see them possibly going on to win their elusive third championship in their franchise history and making it easier to look back on this era fondly.
So, if you could change the outcome of one Phillies fame, which would it be? Would you undo Joe Carter? What about making it so that you never have to think about Kevin Ginkel again? Or maybe there’s one particular regular season loss that has lived in your head for your own personal reason.
Home crowds have plummeted amid a dispute with the owner, but 10,000 travelled 300km to see Tuesday’s 6-2 win
Serie A had its second scoreless draw of the season on Wednesday evening. Parma and Udinese were the culprits, though perhaps they can be allowed some grace. The game was not short on incident, Maduka Okoye saving a penalty for the Friulians, who had been on a six-game losing streak, midway through the second half. Mariano Troilo made a goalline clearance for Parma soon after.
An open, end-to-end game was made to look drab in the context of this bonkers campaign. While Parma and Udinese stymied one another at the Tardini, Milan came from behind to lead Bologna at San Siro. And then collapsing to a 4-2 defeat.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road to face the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at 7:00 PM.
Carolina Hurricanes- 10-2-2 - 22 Points - Won 2- 1st in the Metro
Columbus Blue Jackets - 5-5-0 - 8 Points - Won 2 - 7th in the Metro
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Matthew Knies has 1-4-5 in 9 career GP and has 2 multi-point efforts in his last 3 games against Carolina (1-3-4).
Charlie Coyle has posted 5-8-13 in 27career games and notched a four-point effort last season on Mar. 17 with 1-3-4 against Carolina at Nationwide Arena.
Adam Fantilli has 1-4-5 in nine career games, with two multi-point efforts in his past five contests against the Hurricanes (1-4-5).
Sean Monahan has 6-12-18 in 23 career GP, with assists in three of his last five meetings (0-5-5) and points in six of his past nine contests against Carolina (1-7-8).
Valeri Nichushkin has 5-7-12 with four multipoint efforts in 13 career games, including points in four of the past five contests (4-3-7).
Zach Werenski has 6-12-18 in 35 career GP with assists in six of the last nine games against the Hurricanes (2-7-9).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 11.1% - 30th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 72.7% - 23rd in the NHL
Goals For - 25 - 32nd in the NHL
Goals Against - 33 - 6th in the NHL
HurricanesStats
Power Play - 23.5% - 10th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 83.3% - 11th in the NHL
Goals For - 53 - 4th in the NHL
Goals Against - 33 - 5th in the NHL
Series History vs.Hurricanes
The Blue Jackets are 30-33-0-5 overall, and 13-18-0-3 on the road in Carolina.
Columbus went 1-3-0 in 2025-26.
The home team has won nine of the last 10 meetings and 13 of the last 16 dating back to Feb. 25, 2022.
The winning team has scored four-plus goals in each of the past nine contests (including SO goals) and in 17 of the past 19 since Oct. 23, 2021.
The winning team has won by three or more goals in eight of the past 10 meetings of the series.
The teams have combined for six-plus goals in 10 of the last 14 overall games of the series.
Who To Watch For TheHurricanes
Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes in Goals(8), assists(11), and points (19).
Logan Stankoven has 8 goals and 11 points.
Pyotr Kochetchov is 8-0-0 with a a SV% of .918. He's won 8 straight games.
Brandon Bussi is 2-2-2 and his last start was on 10-22.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 10 Games Missed
Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 10 Games Missed - Lightly skating. Could return soon
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 33
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
TV: CBJHN - Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo. DirecTV Ch. 660 (streaming), 660-1 (satellite). U-Verse (1735/735)
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Los Angeles, CA - March 25: Los Angeles Dodgers chairman Mark Walter during a press conference announcing a new partnership between the Los Angeles Dodgers and UNIQLO at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Dodgers’ principal owner Mark Walter has been all over the news lately, as he is under investigation for alleged misrepresented loans. He has sold his stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers and Chelsea Football Club, and is reportedly looking to sell the Los Angeles Sparks.
On Tuesday, Walter said that in regard to the Dodgers, in an exclusive interview with the California Post, he’s “keeping the team no matter what.”
“I certainly hope we can look forward to winning another World Series next year under my ownership,” he said. “And I think we’re just trying to win consistently, and do so for not just next season, but for the next decade and decades beyond that.”
Many articles have been written about the Dodgers and their offense that continued to diminish as the season went on. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic points out that usually the simplest explanation is what has really happened – the Dodgers just got tired. And going forward, the main cast of characters are still going to be around next season, (if there is a next season).
One player who will not be on the team next season of course is Miggy Rojas, who retired after the Dodgers lost the NLCS. Miggy was on Fox before Game 4 and said that he owes everything to the Dodgers.
“They gave me the opportunity to go back home in LA where I made debut 12 years ago …where I had where I had the opportunity to live the best four years of my life in baseball,” Rojas said.
Thomas L Murray of the California Post has more of the details from that appearance here.
1st over: England 0-0 (Banton 0, Duckett 0) Banton almost edges Asitha’s very first ball to slip, but it falls short. The ground is full only with empty green seats, as the call to prayer rings out. A maiden to start.
The sun is out, Asitha Fernando has the ball, the drums are rolling.
