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Are the Heat odds-on favorites for LeBron James after YouTube debacle?

LeBron James is 41 years old, will be 42 by the end of the 2026-27 NBA season, and yet his free agency still has NBA fans everywhere on the edge of their seats. Rumors have swirled, podcasts have had whole episodes dedicated to trying to figure out where The King will opt to play next season.

On Tuesday night, if even for a moment, fans believed he'd made a decision. Fans discovered that the Miami Heat had scheduled a video to be published on YouTube titled "LeBron James Introductory Press Conference." Everyone around social media was flabbergasted at how sudden James' decision seemingly was. Turns out, it was an accident.

According to a spokesperson from the Heat, the video was accidentally posted while the social media team was preparing for a possible James signing.

Of course, the Heat are still in the running for James, but they haven't signed him just yet. Clearly though, people in the building must feel at least somewhat confident that a deal could be reached soon, right? Why prep anything if you didn't feel it was possible?

But are the Heat even the favorites to land James? After James spent four years in South Beach, winning two championships along the way, would he really opt to return after the team just traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Here are the latest odds on which teams have the best shot at signing LeBron James. All odds via BetMGM.

Which teams have the best odds of signing LeBron James?

According to BetMGM, the Golden State Warriors have the best odds of signing James, currently sitting at -250, with the Cleveland Cavaliers in second-place at +300.

The Miami Heat are third at +800, and the Spurs round out the top-four at +1600.

Have other teams been linked to James?

Other teams like the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers have all been linked to James this offseason.

However, as time has progressed, those teams have seemingly fallen away from their pursuit of James. There is still obviously a chance that one of these teams winds up with James as well, but they all seem like longshots at this point.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Are the Heat odds-on favorites for LeBron James after YouTube debacle?

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Red Sox win 15th straight, matching longest in club history, with 6-3 victory over Orioles

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox won their 15th straight game to match a club record for the longest winning streak in team history from 80 years ago, beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 in the opener of a split doubleheader.

They equaled the 1946 American League champions, who were led by future Hall of Famer Ted Williams.

Jarren Duran had a two-run triple and a sacrifice fly, and Caleb Durbin — who hit a tiebreaking homer when they posted their 14th straight victory — chipped in with a two-run single.

Ceddanne Rafaela added a solo home run for Boston in the makeup game.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand had a solo homer for Baltimore, his second in two games.

Red Sox rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (6-3) worked 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs — one coming on a sun-aided RBI double by Tyler O’Neill — on nine hits.

He took a 102.8 mph liner off the stomach from Taylor Ward in the fifth, but remained in the game after being checked by a trainer, interim manager Chad Tracy and first baseman Willson Contreras, who appeared to make him breath while telling him to lift his arms.

Aroldis Chapman got the final three outs for his 23rd save and 390th of his career, tying Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley for ninth all-time.

The Red Sox jumped out to a 4-0 lead against Dean Kremer (1-3) in the first on Durbin’s line single and Duran’s two-out hit.

Encarnacion-Strand hit his homer into the batter’s eye to make it 5-2 in the fourth but Rafaela hit his over the Green Monster in the bottom half.

Kremer lasted six innings, allowing six runs.

Up next

Orioles: RHP Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61 ERA) is set to start the nightcap.

Red Sox: LHP Ranger Suárez (4-3, 3.15) could come off the injured list or they’ll go with a bullpen game.

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Red Sox top Orioles again, 6-3, tie franchise-best win streak

Jul 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox mascot Wally leaps in the air to celebrate after the Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Remember when this was supposed to be a hard-fought series between the two hottest teams in baseball? It sure looks like a one-sided letdown to me.

The O’s again failed to quash Boston’s historic winning streak, which tied a franchise-best 14 games in a 6-3 Red Sox victory. Dean Kremer bombed immediately, coughing up four runs in the first, and the Sox cruised into the record books from there.

In the opener of this series on Monday, the Orioles, even in defeat, gave the Red Sox a heck of a scare. Whenever the Sox took a lead, the O’s would deliver a counterpunch, going toe-to-toe with the league’s hottest team right down to the final out. Defensive shenanigans aside, the Orioles at least made the Red Sox sweat.

But this game? Not so much. The Red Sox were in total control from the very beginning, and despite the O’s actually out-hitting them, the Birds never really felt like they had a chance.

The Red Sox took command immediately, torching Dean Kremer for four runs and five hits in the bottom of the first. The first two knocks weren’t especially well hit — a bloop into center, a slow roller to second — but Boston hitters stung the ball more as the inning went on. Willson Contreras lashed a single to left to load the bases, and a Caleb Durbin hit up the middle plated two runs.

Had Kremer been able to limit the damage at 2-0, things might’ve felt less bleak. He could not. With two outs, Jarren Duran lashed a triple into the right-field corner, bringing home another pair to make it 4-0. Because of course the guy with a .594 OPS delivered the big hit. Whatever devil magic has gotten into the Red Sox apparently isn’t going away anytime soon.

We’ve seen games this year where the Orioles fell behind early but rallied for a late comeback. This was not one of those games. Red Sox starter Jake Bennett, buoyed by his ample run support, never allowed the Birds to get particularly close. The rookie southpaw, who carried a 2.35 ERA into this game, put some traffic on the bases but mostly kept the O’s off the board.

Through the first five innings, the only runs Bennett allowed were on a gift RBI double in the third — when center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela lost a routine Tyler O’Neill fly ball in the sun, allowing Pete Alonso to score — and a solo homer by Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the fifth. In any case, the Red Sox quickly got both runs back against Kremer, first on a Duran sac fly in the third and then a Rafaela homer in the fourth.

Kremer ended up working six innings and giving up six runs. I wrote in the game thread, “If Kremer hopes to cool down the red-hot Red Sox, he’ll need to work a little further into the game than he has recently.” Perhaps I should have specified that he needs to both work further into the game and actually pitch well. My bad. But I will give him credit for saving the bullpen. The O’s needed only one reliever, Anthony Nunez, to finish the game, which leaves all of their high-leverage guys available for the nightcap of the doubleheader. Of course, that will only matter if the O’s actually have a late-inning lead to protect.

As for this game, Bennett began to tire in the sixth, giving up doubles to Coby Mayo and the scorching hot Encarnacion-Strand to make it a 6-3 game, and he departed after 5.2 innings. Normally I’d say that chasing the starter in the sixth inning is a moral victory, but the Red Sox have the best bullpen in baseball, so it wasn’t even that.

Sure enough, Boston’s lockdown relief arms shut out the Orioles the rest of the way. Justin Slaten worked 1.1 scoreless innings, Garrett Whitlock cruised through a perfect eighth, and closer Aroldis Chapman worked around a walk and a single to nail down the save in the ninth. As shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng threw out Pete Alonso for the final out, the Fenway Park crowd of 35,039 erupted, celebrating the franchise record-tying 15th consecutive win. I look forward to the Red Sox still finding a way to ruin their own season eventually.

The Sox will aim to break their record in the nightcap, scheduled for 7:10 pm. It sure would be nice if the Orioles found a way not to be on the wrong side of history.

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NBA Offseason Trade/Free Agent Rumors 2026: Mario Hezonja return rumors, plus Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis

While the NBA world impatiently waits — and a lot of free agent action is held up — until LeBron James announces his decision on his next team, rumors are still flying around. Here is some of the latest free agency chatter around the Association.

Mario Hezonja drawing interest

The last time we saw Mario Hezonja in the NBA was with Portland during the bubble, a season where he came off the bench and averaged 4.8 points per game. Since then, the former No. 5 pick has played and starred for European powerhouse Real Madrid, but now there is buzz about an NBA return at age 11. Marc Stein of The Stein Line has been in front of this story.

If he's willing to come back for the veteran minimum, a number of teams might have interest in the 6'8" forward who can handle the ball and has to be respected from beyond the arc. He could be a bench role player in the right setting.

Bradley Beal interest

Bradley Beal is one of the players — along with DeMar DeRozan and others — in a holding pattern until LeBron makes his call, but there is interest in him, something NBA insider Jake Fischer reported during a live stream for Bleacher Report.

The Heat, Celtics, and Clippers are taking a look, Fischer reports. Beal played six games for the Clippers last season before surgery to repair a fractured hip ended his campaign. He declined a $5.6 million player option with the Clippers to become a free agent, but Fischer said a reunion is still possible. Expect Beal talks to pick up once LeBron makes his call.

Jonathan Kuminga latest

The market and money that Jonathan Kuminga thought was out there for him — and that Atlanta hoped it could sign-and-trade him into — does not seem to be available. But Kuminga is holding out hope.

For example, if LeBron does not choose to return to Cleveland, Kuminga's camp is hopeful the Cavaliers would jump in the mix for the wing, setting up a sign-and-trade with Atlanta for more than the $15 million mid-level exception, Jake Fischer reports. (Kuminga reportedly started the offseason hoping for a new deal with an average salary of around $25 million a season, then that fell to $20 million in some more recent reports, and now this.) Cleveland seems a long shot here as the Cavaliers are bumping up against the second apron and it would take some other moves to get Kuminga there. Plus, LeBron would likely make the minimum if headed there, but if the Hawks strike out they would be eager to pay Kuminga more?

Other teams known to be interested include the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks. It has been reported in multiple places that the Lakers and Hawks are nowhere close to a sign-and-trade (the Lakers wanted to do it for Jared Vanderbilt, but he's got two years left on his deal and the Hawks don't want that $13.3 million for 2027-28 on the books), and that Kuminga and the Los Angeles front office were not on the same page with regard to his salary next season. His coming to the Lakers seems unlikely at this point.

Other free agent news

• Anthony Davis and the Wizards will start talking contract extension when he becomes eligible on Aug. 6, reports Michael Scotto at Hoopshype. That will be something worth watching, the Hawks already overpaid Trae Young on a four-year deal, they have AJ Dybantsa coming in as the new cornerstone player and face of the franchise, so where does the 33-year-old Davis slot into all this? Do the Wizards want to make sure this contract is tradable, because there is some interest around the league (to this point the Wizards have shot all such talk down)?

• Golden State could target stretch bigs Kelly Olynyk or Georges Niang, especially if they land LeBron James, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

• Along those same lines, if LeBron does choose Miami, don't be surprised if Kevin Love follows him to South Beach.

• Denver has shot down trade calls for Cam Johnson, reports Scotto of Hoopshype. Which is a little odd considering the Nuggets are trying to trim salary (they have yet to re-sign restricted free agent Peyton Watson), but Scotto reports they liked how he finished last season and think he is poised for a better, healthier season coming up.

• Bennedict Mathurin is one of the people hung up by the dragged-out investigation into Kawhi Leonard, Aspiration and the Clippers. Los Angeles wants to re-sign the restricted free agent, but isn't able to do much of anything until the decision and potential punishments from the alleged salary cap circumvention are finalized.

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Is now the time for the Cincinnati Reds to trade Spencer Steer?

DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 17: Spencer Steer #7 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates with teammates in the dugout after his eighth inning inside-the-park home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Reds fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

With 16 homers to his credit through just 95 games played this season, Spencer Steer is well on his way to topping 20 homers in a season for the fourth consecutive season. All four of those seasons have come with the Cincinnati Reds, as did a 28 game cameo with them the season before that homer streak began.

That’s a fun way to look at some pretty consistent production from the guy. It’s also a testament to just how much time has elapsed since the last Cincinnati Reds rebuild, as Steer – who came from the Minnesota Twins in a deal that sent Tyler Mahle the other way – was one of the first big pieces of it.

That rebuild simply hasn’t worked out.

The 2025 Reds snuck into the expanded playoffs, lost both games they played, and finished the year having won just two more games than they lost – and that is the peak the Reds got from this whole large-scale rebuild. Now, they’re mired in last place again and going nowhere in 2026, and the time has come to ship off pieces that have good present value for, ideally, a handful more that look to be promising down the road.

Steer has hardly been the problem with the Reds during this time. As complementary pieces go, he’s been perfectly fine, specifically with a bat from the right-side that can crush lefties and an ability on defense to be at least passable just about everywhere they try to play him. The problem for the Reds, though, is that he’s already been plying his trade that way long enough to earn $4 million in his first arbitration year this year, and that’s only going to escalate for the two additional years of team control that he has.

So, the question is this – is now the time for the Reds to trade Steer?

As market conditions go, he’s pretty ripe for the picking right now. Teams like the Mariners, Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies are all desperate for right-handed hitting help that can crush lefties, and Steer owns a 1.062 OPS in 96 PA against southpaws this season. You’d be hard pressed to find that who’s who of buyers interested in exactly what Steer provides at precisely the same time again, and there simply aren’t a ton of other obvious guys out there who are availble right now with the same set of abilities.

The Reds would be forfeiting the two additional years of team control by moving him, something they may well like to think is still a window for them to put together a contender. With Elly De La Cruz presumably around for those years and Hunter Greene pairing with Chase Burns atop the rotation it’s not unfathomable, but so much else about the rest of the roster needs fixing that moving a valued piece like Steer, now, might well land them multiple pieces who can help for two years and beyond.

So, what say you? Is now the time to move Steer if you’re the Reds, knowing there’s a defined market for what he provides even though the Reds have him under control through 2028?

Let us know in the poll below!

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Cubs vs Tigers Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for July 22

Chicago (57-44) dominated Detroit (47-54) on Tuesday, 11-2, setting up a series finale on ESPN. Both teams are 3-2 in their last five games and won the first series of the second half.

The Cubs sit firmly in the drivers seat of the NL Wild Card, while the Tigers are five games back in the AL Wild Card race. Chicago is hitting .290 out of the break (7th) and has a 2.93 ERA (6th). The Cubs are tied for the fourth-most runs scored (35) since the All-Star break whereas the Tigers are tied for 17th (21).

Detroit has scored two or fewer runs in three of their first five games since the All-Star break and are hitting .227 as a group (22nd). The Tigers went on a sweet stretch of nine wins and three losses entering the All-Star break, so despite the semi-cold hitting, Detroit is warming up in the wins department.

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Tigers at Cubs

  • Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field 
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Tigers at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (-125), Detroit Tigeras (+104)
  • Spread: Tigers +1.5 (-208), Cubs -1.5 (+170)
  • Total: 8.0

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Cubs 

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (July 22): Keider Montero vs. Colin Rea
  • Tigers: Keider Montero

2026 stats: 100.2 IP, 6-5, 3.22 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 76 K, 37 BB

  • Cubs: Colin Rea

2026 Stats: 100.2 IP, 7-6, 4.74 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 73 K, 38 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong is hitting .285 with 107 hits, 21 home runs and 55 RBI over 376 at-bats
  • The Cubs’ Dansby Swanson is hitting .215 with 71 hits and 86 strikeouts over 331 at-bats
  • The Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle is hitting .282 with 104 hits, 9 home runs, and 35 RBI over 369 at-bats
  • The Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson is hitting .205 with 70 hits and 127 strikeouts over 342 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at Cubs

  • Detroit is 52-49 ATS
  • Chicago is 45-56 ATS, ranking sixth-worst
  • Detroit is 54-43-4 to the Under, ranking fourth-best
  • Chicago is 54-46-1 to the Over, ranking ninth-best
  • Detroit is 22-28 ATS on the road, ranking fourth-worst
  • Chicago is 20-31 ATS at home, ranking third-worst

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Cubs and the Tigers

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Tigers and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cubs at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.5

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Red Sox tie franchise record with 15th straight win, set table for history in nightcap

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 22: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox hits a two RBI single to bring home Masataka Yoshida #7 and Ceddanne Rafaela (not pictured) in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during game one of a doubleheader at Fenway Park on July 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Red Sox will not be defied by weather or competition. The wins just keep coming.

Boston rolled out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning and rode that momentum to a 6-3 victory over the Orioles in the opening game of the doubleheader. Jake Bennett did enough to win and the offense set the tempo with the fast first-inning start. 

Here’s three takeaways from Wednesday afternoon’s win. 

CALEB DURBIN STAYS RED HOT

Durbin already made his mark on the series with Monday’s game-winning solo home run to clinch the 14th straight win. He started a multi-hit performance Wednesday with a two-run single that kickstarted the scoring. 

With the recent media support from ownership, Boston’s third baseman continues his remarkable season turnaround with a real offensive presence in the lineup. Durbin has hit .298 with nine homers and a .894 OPS since June 1. 

BENNETT STAYS SOLID
All things considered, the young left-hander gave the Red Sox another impactful start.

Getting the ball for the second straight doubleheader opener, Bennett entered after 13 innings of scoreless work in his previous two starts. The lefty allowed three runs in 5 ⅔ innings against the Orioles and left with the lead. The bullpen held it down from there, earning him the win. Bennett holds a 2.58 ERA through his first 10 MLB starts. 

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? 

The Red Sox have lost just two games since June 25. The remarkable run completely turned the narrative of one of the most rollercoaster seasons in recent memory. Now, Boston turned back the clock 80 years to join an elite company with the 1946 team featuring Ted Williams and other legends.

A win tonight would put the 2026 Red Sox in a remarkable class of their own.

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Boston Red Sox tie 80-year-old record with 15th consecutive win

With a first-inning blitz and yet another effective pitching performance, the Boston Red Sox tied an 80-year-old franchise record for most consecutive wins.

The Red Sox won their 15th consecutive game Wednesday, July 22, scoring four first-inning runs and easily suppressing the Baltimore Orioles in a 6-3 victory in Game 1 of the teams' day-night doubleheader.

Now, the 1946 Red Sox have company - at least for a few hours.

They set the franchise record for consecutive wins with a team centered around Ted Williams, who returned from three years of service during World War II to win the American League MVP, hitting 38 home runs and leading the major leagues in seven significant offensive categories.

These Red Sox don't have such a future Hall of Fame luminary. But they have shown the gumption to overcome a miserable start and start exploiting a less-than-mediocre AL.

Wednesday, they rapped four consecutive hits in their first five batters, including a two-run single from Caleb Durbin, who'd provided their 14th consecutive victory July 20 with an eighth-inning home run. That was more than enough for rookie left-hander Jake Bennett, who improved to 6-3 with a 2.58 ERA with 5 2/3 innings of three-run ball.

Red Sox pitchers have posted a 2.05 ERA in their 15-game winning streak.

When will the Red Sox try for 16 straight wins?

Boston won't have long to ruminate on its franchise-tying streak. The Red Sox and Orioles play the second game of their day-night doubleheader at 7:10 ET Wednesday, offering an immediate chance for a record-breaking 16th win in a row. The Red Sox named Eduardo Rivera their starting pitcher, while the Orioles will start ace Kyle Bradish. Lefty Ranger Suarez is feeling under the weather.

Where does the Red Sox's streak rank?

Boston's 15-game run ranks tied for fifth since 2000, equaling the 2000 Atlanta Braves and 2001 Seattle Mariners. They still have plenty of work remaining to equal Cleveland's record 22-game streak in 2017. The Red Sox do, however, own the second-longest streak for a team that was at least 11 games under .500 when it began.

The 1916 New York Giants won 17 consecutive games after a 2-13 start.

What is the Red Sox's record?

Their 15th straight win gives Boston a 52-48 record, a practically literal turnaround from the 37-48 mark before it began. At the moment, they are six games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East and have a two-game lead for the final AL wild-card berth.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boston Red Sox tie 80-year-old record with 15th consecutive win

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Jose Ramirez returns to Guardians after missing 5 weeks following left hand surgery

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez was activated from the injury list after missing five weeks following left hand surgery.

The seven-time All-Star has been sidelined since getting hurt against Detroit on June 13 and having an operation to remove the hamate bone in his left hand. The return of Cleveland’s best player gives the club a major boost as it defends its AL Central title.

The Guardians managed to stay afloat without Ramírez, going 15-15 and keeping pace with the division leaders. Cleveland entered against Minnesota in a virtual tie for first place with the Chicago White Sox.

Ramirez is in the starting lineup, batting second and playing third.

Ramirez did not go on a minor league rehab assignment before being activated. The Guardians trusted him throughout his recovery. He had a similar injury to his right hand in 2019, the only other time he’s been on the injured list.

To make room for Ramírez, the Guardians optioned outfielder Kahlil Watson to Triple-A Columbus.

The 33-year-old Ramírez, who owns numerous offensive club records, was batting .239 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs in 72 games before getting hurt. The Guardians aren’t the same without him in the lineup, and his mere presence should help a team that has struggled to score.

Watson played well in his stint with Guardians, batting .239 with one homer and 11 RBIs in 27 games. On Tuesday night, he made a game-ending leaping catch down the right-field line before crashing into the padded wall.

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St. Louis Cardinals Game Discussion vs Los Angeles Angels Wednesday

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 11: Hunter Dobbins #40 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 11, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up what has up until today been a massively disappointing road trip as they take on the lowly Angels (who have won the first 2 games) in a Wednesday afternoon contest. The Cardinals will send Hunter Dobbins to the mound while the Angels are giving Reid Detmers the start. First pitch is scheduled for 3:07pm central time in Angel Stadium. TV broadcast available thru Cardinals.tv.

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Power ranking all 30 MLB farm systems ahead of the 2026 trade deadline

The MLB trade deadline is right around the corner. With a myriad of superstars available in trade talks, there's sure to be tons of phone calls made between managers looking at every angle at which they might be able to acquire someone capable of leading them on a World Series run.

However, trades go both ways. A great player will require an equally great payout of prospects. So, while your team may be in a position to make a move for a serious superstar like Tarik Skubal or Mason Miller or Byron Buxton, they are going to need a great farm system to make it work. And frankly, not every team has that.

The most well-run organizations in the league have both star players to either trade away or go on a run with, plus a fantastic farm to fill the big league lineup once the other stars have either left or retired. Teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers might be buying every superstar known to man at exorbitant prices, but they have also done a remarkable job at producing homegrown talent like Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing, and top prospect Josue De Paula. That's just one of the reasons why they're on top year in, year out.

Here are our rankings of the best farm systems in Major League Baseball.

Power Ranking MLB farm systems

*Top prospects listed per mlb.com

30) New York Mets

Top 5 prospects:

  • RHP Jonah Tong
  • 1B/OF Ryan Clifford
  • 3B/1B Jacob Reimer
  • RHP Jack Wenninger
  • SS/2B Mitch Voit

When your top prospect, the only player in your farm system listed in MLB's Top 100, looks like a shadow of his former self, that's never a good sign. Coming into the season, the Mets' system leaned heavily on the strength of its top pitchers, but both Tong and Wenninger have struggled in 2026.

Tong specifically saw his ERA jump to a massive 5.83 across 71 innings in Triple-A this year, while his strikeout rate has decreased and his walk rate has increased. Wenninger, meanwhile, has been better at keeping runs off the board, but lacks putaway material, seeing his strikeout rate drop to under 9.0 per nine innings in Triple-A. Neither of them is moving in the right direction, which makes it hard to trust this team's system in the immediate future.

29) Houston Astros

Top 5 prospects:

  • OF Kevin Alvarez
  • 3B/SS Xavier Neyens
  • OF Ethan Frey
  • C Walker Janek
  • RHP Bryce Mayer

While Alvarez and Neyens are two of the best prospects the Astros have had in years, the Astros still don't boast a very impressive farm system. They have a good influx of hitters at a wide variety of positions, but very few of them seem to be standout bats, capable of being All-Star players at the major league level. Couple that with lackluster pitching prospects, and the Astros remain near the bottom of the rankings yet again.

28) Los Angeles Angels

Top 5 prospects:

  • RHP Tyler Bremmer
  • OF Nelson Rada
  • LHP Johnny Slawinski
  • RHP George Klassen
  • C/3B Gabriel Davalillo

The Angels are certainly taking a smarter approach with their farm system as of late, giving their players a little more time to develop rather than just speedrunning them to the majors as fast as possible. However, despite their improved management on that front, they still remain one of the thinnest systems in MLB, boasting only one Top 100 prospect and very few promising hitters.

27) San Diego Padres

Top 5 prospects:

  • C Ethan Salas
  • LHP Kruz Schoolcraft
  • RHP Miguel Mendez
  • LHP Kash Mayfield
  • SS Jorge Quintana

The Padres have one — ONE! — standout performer in their farm system. With their decision last year to trade away Leo De Vries to the Athletics, the team gave away what little depth it had in exchange for potentially trading Mason Miller at this year's deadline.

The Padres' farm system is also filled with players who are far too old for where they are playing in the minors. While the presence of Salas keeps this team from being last place, it wouldn't be far-fetched to say this is all-around the worst farm in MLB.

26) Arizona Diamondbacks

Top 5 prospects:

  • OF Ryan Wladschmidt
  • SS Kayson Cunningham
  • OF Slade Caldwell
  • 2B/3B Demetrio Crisantes
  • 2B JD Dix

While the Diamondbacks' system certainly looks better than it did a year ago, it still isn't where it needs to be. Now, that could change soon, and the D-Backs could be the biggest riser on this list by the end of the season, but that relies a little too heavily on the continued development of lower-tier prospects like Carlos Virahonda, Daniel Egan, and Druw Jones. If they continue their current trajectories, the Diamondbacks could certainly be in business.

25) Kansas City Royals

Top 5 prospects:

  • RHP Kendry Chourio
  • SS/3B Josh Hammond
  • C Blake Mitchell
  • LHP David Shields
  • OF/2B Sean Gamble

While the Royals have tremendous pitching depth in their system, boasting several options who will likely blossom into capable MLB starters, their hitting depth remains questionable, specifically in the outfield. Sean Gamble looks poised to operate more as an infielder, and the best prospect the team has in the outfield appears to be Asbel Gonzalez and he's still years away from joining the big league club.

24) Chicago Cubs

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS Jefferson Rojas
  • OF/1B Josiah Hartshorn
  • RHP Jaxon Wiggins
  • OF Ethan Conrad
  • OF Kane Kepley

The Cubs might have one of the top-ten regiments of hitters in their minor league system, but they lack pitching depth. Even their best arms are mostly slated to be relievers, making their options at starter very thin for the foreseeable future. Although Jaxon Wiggins looks like a capable arm, he has had serious struggles with injuries throughout his career, making his future as an innings-eater seem dim.

23) Texas Rangers

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS/3B Sebastian Walcott
  • RHP Caden Scarborough
  • RHP AJ Russell
  • RHP Jose Corniell
  • RHP Winston Santos

While Sebastian Walcott remains one of the most promising prospects in the league, even after his elbow injury forced him to miss a good chunk of the 2026 season, the Rangers' system lacks substantial depth. That said, the incredible potential of Walcott, Scarborough, and guys like Santos and Josh Owens makes the top-heavy system look good enough to avoid the bottom-five.

22) Baltimore Orioles

Top 5 prospects:

  • OF Nate George
  • OF/1B Ike Irish
  • LHP Joseph Dzierwa
  • LHP Luis De León
  • RHP Trey Gibson

Given how many great bats have come out of the Orioles' system in recent years, it's nice to see depth in their pitching prospects. Trey Gibson, Luis De Leon, JT Quinn, Boston Bateman, Nestor German, and Juaron Watts-Brown all appear to be valuable arms that will contribute to the big league club.

The hitting side certainly lacks some depth, though, and of the hitters they hope to provide pop in the majors, guys like Jud Fabian, Enrique Bradfield Jr., Vance Honeycutt, and Griff O’Ferrall have all struggled to carry their weight offensively this season.

21) Atlanta Braves

Top 5 prospects:

  • LHP Cam Caminiti
  • OF Eric Hartman
  • 2B/SS Tate Southisene
  • SS Alex Lodise
  • RHP Owen Murphy

Eric Hartman was selected in the last round of the MLB draft. Now look at him. He's a stud. That's the kind of win that great organizations like the Atlanta Braves get. At the start of the year, this organization probably would've ranked near or at the bottom. While they certainly haven't climbed into that upper echelon of farm systems just yet, they have created some excitement about their pipeline. Now, if they can just add a little more depth.

20) Cincinnati Reds

Top 5 prospects:

  • C Alfredo Duno
  • SS Steele Hall
  • SS/2B Edwin Arroyo
  • SS/3B Tyson Lewis
  • OF Héctor Rodríguez

Alfredo Duno is a monster. He has remarkable power and plate discipline, but his ability to stay as a catcher long-term is still in question. In general, the Reds' farm system has tons of hitting to love moving forward, but their lack of pitching depth keeps them this low.

19) Toronto Blue Jays

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS JoJo Parker
  • SS Arjun Nimmala
  • RHP Nolan Perry
  • LHP Johnny King
  • LHP Ricky Tiedemann

This may not last long, as reports indicate that the Blue Jays are willing to move some of their top guys, particularly Arjun Nimmala, at this year's deadline. Until that happens, though, the Blue Jays are chock full of promising offensive talent and steady pitching for their future. They don't have many standout performers, but several solid options have them near the middle of our rankings.

18) Philadelphia Phillies

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS Aidan Miller
  • RHP Gage Wood
  • OF Francisco Renteria
  • 2B Aroon Escobar
  • OF Dante Nori

Though this farm system certainly lacks in hitting depth, they make up for it with an incredible heap of right-handed pitchers, including Moises Chace, Matthew Fisher, Cody Bowker, and Ramon Marquez, among others. Of course, that won't matter if the big league club can't score runs. As great as someone like Aroon Escobar is at the plate, he struggles to play second base, which could end up moving him to a power position and stifling the offensive potential of this farm.

17) Athletics

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS Leo De Vries
  • LHP Jamie Arnold
  • LHP Wei-En Lin
  • RHP Braden Nett
  • SS Johenssy Colome

The A's certainly have some of the best prospects in baseball, but that's about it. The guys at the top are studs with Johenssy Colome, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, and Edgar Montero all offering signs of immense potential even if some of their moments in 2025 have been equally disappointing. The shining star of this group is undoubtedly Leo De Vries though. He's having a remarkable 2026 and is a huge reason the A's rank this high.

16) Colorado Rockies

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS Ethan Holliday
  • 1B/OF Charlie Condon
  • OF/2B Roldy Brito
  • OF Jared Thomas
  • OF Robert Calaz

The Rockies' farm system might be one of the most polarizing in the league. On one hand, you have a myriad of talented hitters who were high draft picks. On the other hand, they don't have much experience between them. Guys like Ethan Holliday, Charlie Condon, and Roldy Brito have all the tools to develop into stars, but we haven't seen enough of them yet to make a great prediction. Regardless, placing the Rockies in the 20's or even toward the bottom of the rankings is not uncommon.

15) Pittsburgh Pirates

Top 5 prospects:

  • RHP Seth Hernandez
  • OF/1B Edward Florentino
  • LHP Hunter Barco
  • OF Jhostynxon Garcia
  • 2B Termarr Johnson

Between Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Seth Hernandez, Reinold Navarro, and Antwone Kelly, the Pirates are going to have an absolutely loaded rotation with remarkable strikeout potential. That is, if they can hold on to all of their guys until everyone is ready. The Pirates have some very good, very promising options, but far too many of their top prospects are still years away from the majors.

14) San Francisco Giants

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS Josuar González
  • SS Luis Hernández
  • SS Jhonny Level
  • SS/2B Gavin Kilen
  • OF Dakota Jordan

Every time you take a look at the Giants' top prospects, they're taking another leap up the top 100. They are good. Really good. And there's a good chunk of them. However, the same can't be said for their pitching. Most of their top pitchers are still years from joining the team.

13) Tampa Bay Rays

Top 5 prospects:

  • OF Theo Gillen
  • C Nathan Flewelling
  • C Caden Bodine
  • RHP Brody Hopkins
  • OF Jacob Melton

The Rays have everything they could possibly want from their farm system. They've been able to develop prospects with solid consistency and have always had great talent to call up. However, they fall just short of the top-ten because ironically, many of their top prospects are not ready to be called up just yet.

The Rays are a small-market team, meaning any chance they have to call prospects up to improve their ball club, they will take. But the fact of the matter is that this year, the team is more likely to trade for a piece at the deadline rather than call up a talent from Triple-A to give them an extra push. In two years, this will be the best farm system in baseball bar none.

12) Boston Red Sox

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS Franklin Arias
  • RHP Anthony Eyanson
  • OF Justin Gonzales
  • RHP Kyson Witherspoon
  • RHP Juan Valera

The top-five listed above does not encapsulate just how deep the Red Sox are at pitcher. The team only recently saw Payton Tolle and Connelly Early move to the big league level, but between them and the names above, the Red Sox have a lot of homegrown pitchers to pick and choose from.

The biggest issue with the Red Sox farm system is undoubtedly swing-and-miss power. Though most of their hitting prospects outside of Arias can smack towering home runs, many of them struggle to make consistently good contact.

11) Detroit Tigers

Top 5 prospects:

  • OF Max Clark
  • SS Bryce Rainer
  • C/1B Josue Briceño
  • 2B/3B Max Anderson
  • C/1B Thayron Liranzo

Many people look at the Tigers' farm system and think, "They can't stay healthy.' However, when they are healthy, this is one of the best pools in MLB. While the team lacks a serious top pitching prospect, the high-end hitting makes the Tigers one of the most enviable farm systems in the league.

10) New York Yankees

Top 5 prospects:

  • INF George Lombard Jr.
  • SS Dax Kilby
  • RHP Elmer Rodríguez
  • RHP Carlos Lagrange
  • RHP Ben Hess

The depth among position players is certainly thin within the Yankees' organization, but with the two highest-ranked prospects being position players, the team has enough time to develop more position players, particularly outfielders, to fill the team once the current core starts dissolving. Given how consistent the Yankees are at either generating talent or trading for talent, the current lack of depth isn't too concerning.

9) Miami Marlins

Top 5 prospects:

  • LHP Thomas White
  • LHP Robby Snelling
  • SS Aiva Arquette
  • RHP Karson Milbrandt
  • RHP Kevin Defrank

The pitching in this system is undeniably great, with talented arms like Keyner Benitez and Grant Shepardson not even listed among their top-five prospects. However, the hitting is the biggest concern here. Many of their top hitting prospects have at least one solid to elite trait, but lack the overall hitting talent you'd want. Still, having so many hitters with high-end traits is hard to come by. At the very least, many of them will make for solid power or contact options, even if you'd prefer to have everything wrapped into one.

8) St. Louis Cardinals

Top 5 prospects:

  • C Rainiel Rodriguez
  • LHP Liam Doyle
  • OF Joshua Báez
  • RHP Jurrangelo Cijntje
  • C Leo Bernal

This is where we start getting into the fantastic farm systems, and there really isn't anything too negative to say about St. Louis. They have tons of power at key positions coming up and pitchers with terrific breaking material. There are some concerns about the amount of walks doled out from guys like Xavier Cruz, Brandon Clarke, and Jacob Odle, but that's what the minors are for: to iron out those issues before they get to the bigs.

7) Minnesota Twins

Top 5 prospects:

  • OF Walker Jenkins
  • SS Kaelen Culpepper
  • C Eduardo Tait
  • OF Emmanuel Rodriguez
  • LHP Dasan Hill

Much like St. Louis, this is a farm system with very few holes, but one glaring flaw. In this case, it's availability. Two of the Twins' top prospects in Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez have spent almost as much time off the field dealing with injuries as on it. Furthermore, many of the team's top pitching prospects have missed significant time this year as well.

6) Cleveland Guardians

Top 5 prospects:

  • 1B/OF Ralphy Velazquez
  • SS Angel Genao
  • C Cooper Ingle
  • RHP Braylon Doughty
  • OF Jaison Chourio

The Guardians are absolutely loaded at the catcher position, and given how thin that position is at the major league level, they could utilize their plethora of backstops as trade chips to acquire game-changing talent at this year's deadline. Guys like Bo Naylor, Bennett Thompson, and Kody Huff are all MLB-caliber catchers that teams would love to get their grubby fingers on.

5) Chicago White Sox

Top 5 prospects:

  • 3B/SS Caleb Bonemer
  • OF Braden Montgomery
  • LHP Hagen Smith
  • SS Billy Carlson
  • RHP Tanner McDougal

The White Sox farm system is absolutely loaded. Braden Montgomery boasted an insane .548 slugging percentage in the minors before being called up. Caleb Bonemer is sitting at .527 for the season. I could go on and on, but the power in this system speaks for itself. The pitching is also high-end with a small concern regarding the lack of innings from their top guys. Still, that is a minor, minor issue considering the upside most of their prospects bring.

4) Washington Nationals

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS Eli Willits
  • RHP Travis Sykora
  • RHP Jarlin Susana
  • INF Ronny Cruz
  • INF Devin Fitz-Gerald

With so many prospects in MLB's Top 100, it's hard to find a weak spot in this system. Some of their pitchers have trouble staying healthy. Both Susana and Sykora are currently out, but they also lack significant injury histories to be concerned about. Furthermore, the amount of talent that can play shortstop in the minors is a sign that Washington would likely be comfortable trading CJ Abrams at this year's deadline. They have so many options coming up at that position that some of them, like Fitz-Gerald and Gavin Fein, are learning different positions to accommodate for how many shortstops they have. Even if several fail at the major league level, they'll have more players to choose from. They have backup plans on backup plans on backup plans. That's depth right there.

3) Seattle Mariners

Top 5 prospects:

  • LHP Kade Anderson
  • RHP Ryan Sloan
  • OF Lazaro Montes
  • 2B/OF Michael Arroyo
  • OF Jonny Farmelo

The Mariners' top-ten prospects are almost certainly the best set of prospects in baseball. Beyond them, there are some questions. Still, nine or ten homegrown talents that look primed to provide considerable value at the major league level is more than basically every team in MLB can say.

2) Milwaukee Brewers

Top 5 prospects:

  • SS Jesús Made
  • INF Luis Peña
  • SS Cooper Pratt
  • OF Luis Lara
  • 3B/SS/OF Jett Williams

No team matches the overall depth of the Milwaukee Brewers. Boasting the No. 1-ranked prospect as well is just icing on the cake.

Anything you could want from a farm system is available with the Brewers. You want power? Look no further than Blake Burke or Andrew Fischer. You want defensive versatility? Check out Jett Williams or Josh Adamczewski. You want great starting pitching? Logan Henderson. They have so many great prospects that their talented pitching staff options don't even crack their top-five. That's the mark of a well-run organization.

1) Los Angeles Dodgers

Top 5 prospects:

  • OF Josue De Paula
  • OF Mike Sirota
  • OF Zyhir Hope
  • OF Eduardo Quintero
  • SS Emil Morales

Well, the rich get richer. The Los Angeles Dodgers not only boast two of MLB's top-11 prospects, but have more Top 100 prospects than anyone else (9). To put this in perspective, there are 31 outfielders on the MLB Top 100 prospect list currently. The Dodgers own seven of those guys. Yeah. They're loaded at every level.

The only flaw you could possibly find in the farm system is the lack of depth at positions like catcher. That said, not only have they recently graduated Dalton Rushing, but they have so many talented prospects at other positions that if they really needed another catcher, they could either trade one of their millions of top prospects or just give someone way more money than they deserve in free agency.

Yes, the Dodgers are a superteam at the MLB and MiLB levels. They will be at the top of baseball for a long, long, long time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Power ranking all 30 MLB farm systems ahead of the 2026 trade deadline

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Victor Webmanyama graces NBA 2K27 cover, explains taking pay cut

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 19: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is surrounded by teammates after he scored the game-winning basket against the Phoenix Suns at Frost Bank Center on March 19, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Victor Wembanyama has returned to the States after vacationing in France since the NBA Finals ended, and it has been an eventful week for him. He was spotted at the FIFA World Cup Final and naturally went viral, both due to his height and taking advantage of it to shield the sun in a manner no one else in his seated position ever could. (I’m sure it would have been an even better experience for him had France made it out of the semi-finals.)

Another big event for him this week was he received the honor of being on the cover of the NBA 2k27 Standard edition, which will be released on September 4. He is joined by Caitlan Clark and Derrick Rose, who will be on the Deluxe and Ultimate edition covers, respectively.

While Wemby is the first Spur to make the cover of the Standard edition, other Spurs who have made covers in the past include Tony Parker on the NBA 2K17 French edition, Pau Gasol on the same Spanish edition, and Tim Duncan on the NBA 2K17 LIMITED edition.

If we want to get really technical, Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell can also make the same claim thanks to cameo appearances, since Wemby’s image comes from his celebration of hitting a game winner against the Phoenix Suns late in the regular season — the shot that clinched the Spurs’ first playoff berth in 7 years — and those two were captured. According to the Spurs themselves, this is the first time teammates have been on the cover.

Finally, Wemby recently spoke to Jason Jones of The Athletic, and he explained his decision to waive the supermax escalator, which will keep his extension worth the max of 5 years, $252 million without the possibility of it rising to a supermax worth $303 million, saving the Spurs $50 million in cap space over the next five years (beginning next summer). The odds of it escalating would have been very likely considering all it would have taken was he win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, or make an All-NBA Team — all of which he very well may enter the season as the odds on favorite for.

“We have a good team, we had a very good playoff run, and we had a very good regular season. But what’s even better and greater is our potential. The reality of today’s NBA is that often, the potential of teams is not fulfilled because of money. I just want to make sure it’s never our case.”

While many keep referring to Jalen Brunson as someone who took a similar discount, it’s been going on a lot longer than that in San Antonio, as Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker were all known for taking discounts to keep the team together for the sake of winning over money.

It has been an eventful week in the U.S for Wemby, but soon he will be back overseas to suit up for the French National Team for two FIBA World Cup Qualifers against Slovenia and Sweden on August 27 and 30, respectively. It’s pretty rare for players to play at that level of international play right after making the NBA Finals, but clearly Wemby is ready to get going again. After being robbed of being able to play much basketball and develop last summer while he recovered from deep vein thrombosis, you can’t blame him for wanting to make up for lost time this summer.

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Where To Go From Here?

TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 21: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays gets pulled from the game by manager John Schneider #14 standing alongside Brandon Valenzuela #59 in a break in play against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on July 21, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The last several games have been incredibly disappointing. Not because they lost. Because they haven’t played well in any part of the game. 1-6 in the last seven games. They’ve scored 2.7 runs per game. They’ve allowed 6.7 runs per game. And they have been making errors far too often. It seems like they’ve shut off.

I don’t know what you do if you are ownership or management.

The knee jerk response is fire the coaching staff. They got rid of a few coaches before last year and they went from 74 wins to 94. Pretty amazing really. The same coaches are here now. I have a hard time making the case that they went from smart to stupid in an off-season. I’d imagine some changes will be made, likely after the season, but that sort of things happen most years. Like that say, it is easier to fire the coaches than the players.

I remember Earl Weaver, when the team was in a deep slump, would put names out of a hat to pick the batting order. Maybe that would be fun for one game.

Fire the front office? Well, again, they build the team that won last year. I didn’t think the changes they made in the off-season would cause the team to crater. I don’t really think Bo Bichette was the ‘straw that stirred the drink’, as much as he had a good season 2025 season.

I didn’t expect George Springer to have as good a season as last year, but then I didn’t expect him to go from 4.8 bWAR to a 0.1 bWAR. Nor did I expect a similar drop from Vlad (4.6 bWAR to 0.8). Or, for that matter, Varsho to drop from 2.7 to 1.0.

I didn’t expect Kevin Gausman to go from 4.0 bWAR to 1.1.

Last year the stsrting pitches had a 4.34 ERA, this year 4.52, so not all that much of a difference. Relievers had a 3.98 ERA last year, 3.92 this year. not all that much different.

Injuries haven’t helped, but if you have an older team, you have to expect some injuries.

The trade deadline should be interesting. We won’t be adding any rental players, but maybe they look for some creative deals like they made to get Shane Bieber.

I’m sure they will sell some guys off. They have Gausman, Springer, Scherzer, Bieber, and Varsho coming up to free agency. Straw has a team option ($8 million). Some of those guys might bring them some prospects. I don’t know that the team would be all that excited about bringing any of them back next year.

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Cavs ‘keeping tabs’ on Jonathan Kuminga; Schroder and Strus on market

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on April 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It might not look like it, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are busy.

The weeks-long race for LeBron James is turning into a marathon. One that would have disastrous results if the Cavs came out of the other end empty-handed. A contingency plan is needed. That’s why the Cavs have continued to keep tabs on another small forward who could help bolster their depth on the wing.

“While LeBron James remains atop their wish list, the Cavaliers have continued to keep tabs on Kuminga consistently,” said Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Kuminga is an unrestricted free agent after the Atlanta Hawks declined his $23 million team option. The Hawks are reportedly interested in keeping Kuminga in a one-plus-one deal. However, they’ve shown interest in potential sign-and-trade scenarios with teams including the Cavaliers.

Other teams reportedly interested in Kuminga are the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks.

The Cavs, being one of the most financially restricted teams in the NBA, would likely make a consolidatory move to free up space for Kuminga. That means salary dumping Dennis Schroder or Max Strus, two players whom they have explored options for this summer.

“Amid Cleveland’s pursuit of both players [James and Kuminga], Max Strus and Dennis Schroder have come up as potential trade candidates,” said Scotto.

Cleveland has reportedly garnered attention from the Charlotte Hornets, who have their eyes on Schroder as a backup point guard.

“The Charlotte Hornets have been linked with interest in Schroder, league sources told HoopsHype. It’s worth noting that Hornets executive Jeff Peterson is said to still be a fan of Schroder dating back to their time together in Atlanta,” said Scotto.

Whether the Cavs end up with their crown jewel or a consolation prize — moving one of Schroder or Strus is likely required. Doing so would open up the financial flexibility they desperately need to improve the roster. Big or small, it’s the first stepping stone to any upgrades.

Kuminga is 23 years old and can patch up some of Cleveland’s holes on the wing. He’s an athletic forward who, at times, has shown microwave scoring ability as a punishing slasher. Kuminga also has raw defensive potential that has yet to be fully realized.

Then, there’s the finished product that is LeBron James. Cavs fans are familiar with what James brings to the table. Even the 41-year-old version of him would provide sweeping improvements to everyone on the roster. This is the type of player that undoubtedly raises your ceiling. It’s who the Cavs are primarily hoping for.

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Mariners Game #103 Preview and Discussion: CIN at SEA, 7/22

Jul 21, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Victor Robles (10) catches a line drive against the Cincinnati Reds during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

The Mariners look to avoid falling below .500 in the rubber match of a three-game set against the Reds Wednesday afternoon.

Emerson Hancock (3.66 FIP) gets the ball for the M’s with the hopes of keeping the Reds’ lackluster offense (90 wRC+, 29th in MLB) subdued. On the other side, Brady Singer (5.44 FIP) will lead the way for Cincinnati, having been on the losing end of three of his last four decisions. Jake Mailhot has more on today’s pitching matchup in his series preview.

Wednesday’s contest wraps up a six-game homestand to begin the second half. The Mariners will want to bank another win before heading out on the road for a crucial four-game wraparound series with the Rangers in Arlington that could have major implications on the AL West race.

Lineups

Julio Rodríguez is back in the lineup after being left out Tuesday in an abundance of caution — he left his mark on that game anyway, entering in the sixth inning as a pinch-hitter and coming away with a solo homer and the two hardest-hit balls of the evening.

News

J.P. Crawford remains out of the lineup Wednesday, still dealing with wrist soreness. However, manager Dan Wilson hopes another couple of days off can do the trick.

José Ferrer made his third relief appearance since the All-Star break on Tuesday, and though he was able to avoid any damage that came with a leadoff walk of Elly de la Cruz, and the throwing error on a pickoff that advanced him to third, it was the latest instance of control struggles with the sinker.

Game Information

First Pitch: 12:40 p.m. PDT

TV:Mariners.TV, with Aaron Goldsmith, Angie Mentink and field analyst Ryan Rowland-Smith

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.