The Braves decided to keep the drama high over the weekend. They were fortunate enough to win two of three in Baltimore, as each game was decided by one run. Sunday’s win may have been the most dramatic of all, as the Braves tried multiple times to give the game away. But in the end, Atlanta continues to thrives since the All-Star Break, as they are now 7-3 over their last ten games.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Franklin Arias #19 of the Boston Red Sox on the American League Team warms up at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Franklin Arias is still looking for his first AAA hit, but Kristian Campbell is finding plenty of ways to get on base. He had two doubles, while Braiden Ward had the only other hits on a day when the rest of the team struggled to produce. It wasn’t a pretty win, to say the least, but two members of the lineup were on their game. I wouldn’t worry too much about two games of Arias adjusting to AAA; he’s still the youngest player at his level, two of the the pitchers he faced (Zach Pop and Zack Brzykcy) have had a mentionable amount of Major League pitching time, and he reached on a fielding error that scored Ward, which would end up being the game-winning run. All in all, could have been worse!
Gage Ziehl, who may have read my article stating he may be leveraged in a trade, picked a bad time to have a rough outing. He avoided being taken out of the house, but needed 75 pitches to get nine outs. From there, the bullpen didn’t help matters, and despite the Sea Dogs going blow for blow, giving up six total runs in the first four innings to the Rumble Ponies (Mets AA) left the Sea Dogs in dire straits they couldn’t even surmount with another Jack Winnay home run and Mason White’s first since being promoted to Double-A.
It’s always good when you can make the other team pay for committing three defensive errors, it’s even nicer when it results in a walk-off the way Greenville’s Sunday afternoon game against Spartanburg (Astros High-A) did. The Drive came into the bottom of the ninth down by one with just a 20% chance of winning the game, but, fortunately for the Drive, Justyn Gonzales is a prospect to watch. He hit his fourteenth home run of 2026 directly after yet another Enddy Azocar knock to start the inning, and the rally was very anti-climactic.
The Green Jackets (Braves A) got to Williams Montero extremely early in his first A-level start, and the RidgeYaks turned to Leighton Finley to take the bulk of this game. Finley allowed eleven hits and seven runs, but someone was going to have to wear it against a Green Jackets lineup who was ready to mash. Andruw Mussett and Justin Barry each got a ball over the fence with zero outs, but not much of a fighting chance could have possibly been recouped when down 10-2 after six.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 07: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets reacts to a three-point shot against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the start of the NBA’s second wave of player movement.
LeBron James’ prolonged free agency seemingly held up other moves around the league while he was making up his mind on where to play next season. Now that James has committed to the Philadelphia 76ers, the rest of the NBA is back open for business, and there’s likely another round of transactions coming. Restricted free agents like Jalen Duren and Peyton Watson will finally get some clarity on their futures in short order, and there are still plenty of possible trade candidates before rosters are finalized for the 2026-27 season.
Training camps around the league don’t open until the final days of September. Buzzer-beater trades have become a regular occurrence over the last few years, with blockbusters like Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Timberwolves trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, immediately coming to mind. With tanking dead and so many teams having dreams of contention in both the East and the West, the regular season could be set for active trade deadline, too. These are the big names who could be available on the trade market over the next year.
Kevin Durant, F, Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant’s first year in Houston checked every box: there was a weird, unresolved Twitter burner scandal, a first-round playoff loss to the Lakers without Luka Doncic, and another hyper-efficient scoring season with 26 points per game on 64.1% true shooting. Durant is about to turn 38 years old, and he’s under contract for this season and next season. The Rockets could be really good this season if everything goes according to plan. Fred VanVleet is back from injury, Amen Thompson again feels like he’s on the verge of a true breakout, and there are multiple other young players who could level up with Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Tari Eason. Then again, the West is loaded, and if Houston doesn’t rise to the challenge, there’s bound to be a fall guy. It could be Sengun, or head coach Ime Udoka, but Durant has a history of wearing out his welcome pretty quickly in the latter stages of his career. KD has become the NBA’s ultimate mercenary, and no one should be surprised if he’s on the move again in the next year.
Kyrie Irving, G, Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs could really use Kyrie Irving’s ball handling to take pressure off Cooper Flagg to begin this season. I just wonder how long that will last with Dallas projecting as a likely lottery team this year. The Mavs need to align everything around the 19-year-old Flagg, and unfortunately for them, they don’t control their own first-round pick until 2031 due to trades originally intended to build around Luka Doncic. I’d expect more changes in Dallas with Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz now running the front office, and Irving should have plenty of suitors if he looks good early as he returns from a torn ACL. At 34 years old, Irving doesn’t fit Flagg’s timeline, and I doubt the Mavs are good enough in a loaded West to reject trade interest when it comes. The Mavs need all the future assets they can get if they hope to build a contender around Flagg by the time he reaches his prime, and trading Kyrie, P.J. Washington, and others is the best way to start that process.
Anthony Davis, C/F, Washington Wizards
Davis is extension eligible on Aug. 6, and that puts the Wizards in a tough spot. You know agent Rich Paul is going to want a lucrative contract, but Davis hasn’t played a game for Washington yet, and his age (33) and lack of durability make him a risky bet into his mid-to-late 30s. The Wizards already gave Trae Young a nonsensical max extension, so maybe Davis will get what he wants. If he doesn’t, I wouldn’t be surprised if the trade winds start blowing with AD aiming to land on a more competitive team. The Wizards could be pretty decent this year if everything comes together, but to me this is probably still a lottery team given the depth of the Eastern Conference. Washington can probably trade Davis for a lot more than they gave up for him if he starts the season strong. I have a hard time believing he’ll be in D.C. long term.
James Harden, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Harden is still a free agent at the time of writing, but everyone expects he’ll return to the Cavs on a multi-year deal. The veteran guard helped Cleveland reach the conference finals last season, but it’s hard to feel good about that after the rest of the East improved this summer while the Cavs swung-and-missed on a LeBron reunion. Donovan Mitchell is locked in long-term, but the rest of this core shouldn’t be feeling too comfortable, and that’s especially true for Harden. On the brink of his 37th birthday, Harden is still a very good regular season player whose pull-up three-point shooting and playmaking brings value to any contender. If the Cavs take a step back this year, I’d imagine Cleveland tries to move off Harden before it finally listens to offers for Evan Mobley.
Tyler Herro, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Herro is entering the final year of his contract on a team that is just beginning what’s sure to be a long and painful rebuild. The Bucks have other guards who need opportunities with Ryan Rollins, Brayden Burries, and Kasparas Jakucionis. Herro feels likely to be on the trade regardless of whether he inks an extension. His next contract could be a bit dicey from a team perspective, but he’s still an excellent offensive player with true three-level scoring ability who can help juice any offense off the bounce. He’s firmly in his prime as he turns 27 years old in January, and he deserves to be spending these years with a team that is actually building toward something in the short-term. The Bucks would be wise to act quickly, let their young players get reps in a lost season, and help Herro get to his next destination before he hits free agency.
Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans
Williamson’s nearly $45 million contract isn’t guaranteed for the 2027-28 season, and that gives New Orleans plenty of options if this season goes off the rails. The main objective for the Pelicans this season should be figuring out if Williamson can play with last year’s lottery picks Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. Queen and Williamson just feel like an odd match in the front court as two guys who need the ball in their hands and don’t play any defense. It would be nice to fully turn this team over to the young guns, and let Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Yves Missi surround them in supporting roles, but that can’t happen until they finally turn the page on the Zion era. New Orleans has some talent, but the West is so unforgiving, and it just feels like the injury bug always hits this team at the worst time. New head coach Jamahl Mosley is known for his demanding defensive principles, and it’s hard to see how Zion and Queen will fit into that. It sure seems like New Orleans’ front office likes Williamson quite a bit, but they fully have an out on his contract, and aren’t going to win many games. That usually signals a breakup is coming eventually.
Michael Porter Jr., F, Brooklyn Nets
Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez helped Porter Jr. turn in the best season of his career at age-27, and it came at a good time with the wing now entering the final year of his contract. Will the Nets want to give MPJ an extension? His always treacherous health situation makes that a risky bet, and there will certainly be suitors for his off-ball scoring and floor spacing if he hits the trade market. If the Nets are scared to give Porter Jr. an extension, then they have to trade him because they can’t afford to lose him for nothing. Brooklyn is expected to be terrible this year, but there’s actually a decent foundation here with Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Egor Demin, Mikel Brown Jr., and Day’Ron Sharpe. It feels like MPJ has been waiting his whole career to play for a coach like Fernandez, so I’d like to see both sides reach a deal. If it doesn’t happen, expect there to be substantial trade interest as a rental.
Bradford Doolittle grades the deal. He’s likes the Nats end of the deal better.
Mike Axisa also grades the trade. He also likes what the Nats got more, but he’s more positive on the Red Sox return.
Chad Jennings and Tim Britton offer separate grades for the deal. (The Athletic sub. req.) Jennings thinks Boston will win the trade and Britton likes Washington’s end better.
Keith Law offers his own Top 70 prospects (The Athletic sub. req.) for those wondering who has stuff to trade. Josiah Hartshorn and Jefferson Rojas are the Cubs prospects that made his list.
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
“Being down one and to give us the lead there, you know, felt really good,” Massey said. “Obviously, I don’t get a ton of ABs (off left-handed pitchers), but trying to stay ready. Trying to prepare as best I can in the cage with the machine on the left side. The hitting coaches are always doing a great job working those drills in there for me so I can stay sharp.”
“It’s incredible seeing him do that in that situation, too,” Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said after the game. “I thought it was really cool that the Tigers gave him a second to (celebrate). So yeah, that was pretty special. Home plate umpire (Erich Bacchus) did a great job of just kind of letting the moment breathe. Yeah, (Perez) is just fantastic, right.”
“I don’t want any of my records to be broken, to be honest with you,” Brett said recently in an interview with MLB.com. “But he’s a home run hitter — that record is going to be broken, there’s no doubt in my mind. It just means that he’s been here for a long time, he’s been a very productive player, and if anybody was going to break it, I’m glad it’s him.
“I thought Alex Gordon might have a chance when he came up here. Mike Sweeney if he had played 15 years here. But I’m happy for Salvy. I really am.”
And the big reason? Well, Cameron called his own pitches after consultation with the Royals pitching coaches and veteran catcher Salvador Perez.
“It has nothing to do with obviously the pitch calling from the catchers because they have been amazing all year,” Cameron said. “Just a little bit of yeah, I guess my idea, a little stubbornness from me. And yeah, it obviously, you know, worked.” Cameron said he began calling his pitches in a recent bullpen. It allowed him to pitch with more conviction — as evident by his start on Friday night.
“It was good, and I felt comfortable,” Cameron said. “I felt like I could work a little faster and just kind of go at guys and have full confidence in the pitch that was thrown.”
“I feel like the first few months of the year, I was trying to do way too much,” Collins said.
Now? Collins is looking much more settled in, and he’s producing like the hitter the Royals believed they were acquiring.
“I really just honed in on what I’m trying to do each time I get to the plate,” Collins said. “Looking where I need to look and getting my pitch. Just staying on my approach and just being really convicted. That’s kind of been the big theme for me lately, is just being convicted in who I am as a hitter and who I am as a player.
“There were some good games in the first few months of the year, but then it would just feel like I would take a step back two or three games later. But lately, it’s just been building, keep climbing the mountain.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 24: A general view of Oracle Park prior to during the game between the Miami Marlins and the San Francisco Giants on Friday, April 24, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
A new week of San Francisco Giants baseball is upon us. I’m starting to interpret that sentence as a threat, but I guess there’s not really much we can do about that part.
This week, the Giants continue their homestand by welcoming the Milwaukee Brewers to Oracle Park tonight to begin a three-game series. After that, they head south to begin a four-game series against the San Diego Padres starting on Thursday.
Personally, I’m never going to pick a Padres series as the series I’m most interested in. No offense to the Padres, they’re a more compelling team than the one we’re following. But we also see them approximately seven thousand times throughout the year (or it feels like it anyway). So I’m going to pick the Brewers series.
Which series are you most interested in this week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants begin this three-game series against the Brewers tonight at 6:45 p.m. PT.
ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 20: St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Riley O'Brien (61) pitching during an MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels played on July 20, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Though the offense has been on a monthlong slump, I think it is fair to say that the bullpen is the clear weakness of the team. For what is largely considered a rebuild season, I actually think this is more of a positive than a negative. I am not worried about the bullpen long-term. The bullpen is a perpetual short-term concern. Who is good today may not be good tomorrow.
And they also can be found anywhere. Riley O’Brien and George Soriano are arguably the two best relievers on the team. O’Brien was purchased because the Seattle Mariners didn’t have room on the 40 man for him. Soriano was DFA’d and claimed a few times before the Cardinals decided for him using Andre Granillo, an okay relief prospect who is already on his second team after being DFA’d himself. JoJo Romero was traded for a (very good) bench player.
And on top of that, the Cardinals are littered with pitching prospects who we want to see start, but may have to go to the bullpen, which will probably be to the bullpen’s benefit. If the Cardinals solely wanted to build a good bullpen, we may have even seen some of them already: Liam Doyle certainly, Tanner Franklin, a healthier Brandon Clarke and Cooper Hjerpe fit this too. Not all of these guys will start. So I am certainly not worried about the bullpen.
But because they have a bad bullpen, I’d expect to have some changeover by Opening Day of next season. And I wanted to see if I could guess what it might look like. And I wanted to do it before the trading deadline, because this will also function as sort of a prediction from myself on what I expect to happen some of to the relievers
Riley O’Brien
Here Opening Day 2027? Yes
For me, this would have been an interesting debate when you could truly claim you were selling high on O’Brien. I’m just not seeing this great return available. It’s not that I’m not open to trading him, I just look at his numbers and if I’m an opposing team, I don’t know why I would give up that much for him. I could be wrong, which I will put the necessary disclaimer that if a team will give you some fantastic return, sure trade him.
The other aspect of this, and really the only reason anyone is considering trading O’Brien, is that he’s 31 and had injury problems in the past. So I do get it. But to me, the return I imagine O’Brien getting back, it’s a worthwhile risk to just keep him. I would just be surprised if I feel immense regret at the loss of the prospects he’d bring back. I almost think he’d need to be paired with a catcher or something, which is something the Cardinals may do!
But by himself? Injury is the biggest risk. But if he’s pitching the exact same for the next year (and his advanced stats are pretty similar to last season’s), he will not get a worse return. Years of control for a 31-year-old reliever do not matter like they do for a 25-year-old SS. It does matter that he has multiple years of control, but I don’t think the difference between 4 years and 2 months and 3 years and 2 months is going to meaningfully change the return. I really don’t. You’ll be trading for the rest of that particular year and maybe two years in both instances. Anything beyond that, you probably aren’t counting on.
George Soriano
Here Opening Day? Yes
Not to disparage George Soriano, but he probably looks like a better pitcher than he is because of the bullpen he’s in. His numbers are okay honestly. An okay strikeout rate, an okay walk rate, a normal groundball rate. He was essentially a waiver claim at the beginning of this year. Nobody is giving you a haul for this dude. And if you take offense to what I’m saying, that you think he’s a really good pitcher, that’s even more reason not to trade him. Because it hasn’t shown up in the numbers yet. You think his numbers will improve? Why would you trade him now before he’s about to take the next step into being a high leverage reliever?
There is one argument to trade him, and that’s if you view Soriano as found money, that you think he’s essentially a fringe MLB reliever and you want to capitalize on a first half that he won’t repeat. But I don’t think many think of Soriano like that. In order to trade Soriano, I would need a team to view him as a much better pitcher than his numbers say he is, and I would be surprised if that happens.
Ryne Stanek
Here Opening Day 2027? God no
He’s been a bad reliever for like four straight years, I’m good. I don’t even know if he’s good enough to trade.
Gordon Graceffo
Here Opening Day 2027? No
Heavy, heavy disclaimer here: the year is not up, and Graceffo has recently rediscovered his strikeout stuff. So this is a July 27th, I’m looking at his situation and I’m not bringing him back. If his numbers significantly improve by the end of the year, different answer. But Graceffo is going to be out of options, and currently has a 15.5 K%, 11.7 BB%, 4.65 FIP, 5.17 xFIP, 5.03 SIERA, and 5.47 xERA. Yes, I am leaving out ERA. Literally the only stat that has him as a good reliever. He won’t have a good ERA if all the other stats stay the same, which we’ve seen a little recently.
Objectively speaking, there is no good argument to bring back Graceffo with the current stats he has. Again, he has two months to change this. He has 6 strikeouts in his last two appearances. If the strikeouts are truly back, okay we’ll see it in these next two months.
Justin Bruhl
Here Opening Day 2027? No
Similar to Graceffo, he could change things by the end of the year. We all know how he began the year, and he’s already turned his season around. Still, I picked out a few dates to see how much better of a pitcher he has been in the last two months, and I tried different dates to see if the stats changed enough, and I kind of shrug my shoulders. He still doesn’t strike people out, he just stopped walking them. I have to think the Cardinals were hoping for a better pitcher than this when they claimed him.
It was a good claim, we gave it a good shot, he’s just not a guy who I want to HAVE to carry on a roster all year. I know I keep hammering the options, but why keep a mediocre or bad reliever who you can’t send them down? Once again, I am emphasizing if the season ended today, this is where I stand. Both Bruhl and Graceffo have a chance to change minds, but their current stats are not worth keeping next year.
Luis Gastelum
Here Opening Day 2027? Yes
Good minor league pedigree, all three options remaining – possibly two by the end of the year – and if the Cardinals’ usage of him is any indication, they clearly view him as the future. I don’t actually know if he will literally be on the Opening Day roster, he will be on the 40 man however.
Matt Svanson
Here Opening Day 2027? Yes
Me including Svanson and not Graceffo or Bruhl for performance reasons will probably confuse fans who don’t know how this works. Svanson has an option and therefore he can be sent to AAA next season. The other two can’t. It’s that simple. Svanson also was straight up elite last year and the other two weren’t and because of that I may even had brought Svanson back if he had no options. With one more option remaining, it’s a no brainer.
JoJo Romero
Here Opening Day 2027? No
Sorry, he’s getting traded in a week, and I don’t think the Cardinals are going to sign him to free agent prices.
Ryan Fernandez
Here Opening Day 2027? Yes
But probably not on the actual roster. Would it surprise me if the Cardinals moved on? Absolutely not. Their actions speak loudly. In terms of how Fernandez has actually pitched this year, I don’t see why you wouldn’t bring him back. He’s pitched very well in the majors, despite limited opportunities, striking out 33% of hitters with a 2.70 ERA. His numbers in AAA are not terrible, and trust me that’s sometimes as good as you can ask for in Memphis.
All that said, he’s got two months to screw it up. Which is kind of why I want to see Fernandez in the majors. Cause I would like more than 13 innings in the MLB to base my decision. He’s pitched well enough in the majors to keep getting chances, and if you’re not a fan of Fernandez, don’t worry, if he’s as bad as you think, it’ll be reflected in the numbers after two months. And if he still looks like a capable MLB reliever after two months, okay he’s worth bringing back.
It’s just bizarre that they refused to send him down for as long as they did last year, and now he’s the literal last option they go to, and only when they’re truly desperate. And I must point out: Ryan Fernandez has one more MLB option.
Those are established 40 man relievers right now. And by my count, I have five relievers coming back, one of whom is very likely to start in Memphis (at least). I need to figure out the other four relievers on Opening Day. My hot take is that I think the Cardinals are going to keep trying Matthew Liberatore at starting, so that’s why he’s not mentioned. His numbers are extremely similar to Andre Pallante last year, who they stuck with.
Brycen Mautz
No brainer choice here. They recently moved him to the bullpen, he’ll probably get some MLB time after the deadline. He’ll definitely still be in the organization, it’s just a matter of if he’ll be in Memphis or St. Louis.
Cade Winquest
Winquest has been hit hard by the homer bug in Memphis, but otherwise looks like a future MLB reliever pretty easily. He has a 29.5 K%, 6.3 BB%, and 46.4 GB%, leading to a 3.49 xFIP. I would actually be surprised if the Cardinals don’t promote him at any point this year, because he needs to be added to the 40 man roster in November anyway. And we can be pretty sure he’d be selected in the Rule 5, because the Yankees literally just did and they only had 8 starts in AA to base their decision. A fantastic K/BB ratio in AAA surely would interest at least one team.
Tekoah Roby
No, I am not permanently moving Tekoah Roby to the bullpen. I am however recognizing that he will throw zero innings in 2026. He threw 78 innings in 2025. He threw 38 innings in 2024. He will, hopefully, be completely healthy at the start of 2027. I do not see a situation where you aren’t forced to heavily manage his innings and guess what, easy way to limit someone’s innings is to put him in the bullpen.
On top of that, he does have the issue of coming into next season with just one option. You retain that option when he spends 60 or so innings in the MLB bullpen, and then hopefully he pitches well enough that you want to move him to starter or at least try starting, and then you have the ability for him to be in Memphis when you’re not sure if he can start. Ideally, you don’t have to send him to Memphis.
But the main reason is just that if you only want him to throw 60 innings, it feels like a waste for that to be in Memphis and not St. Louis, where he can also learn how to get MLB hitters out. Again, I don’t know how the Cardinals plan to manage his workload, maybe they’ll just say “we’ll see if he can start 30 times” but looking at his innings history, I would be surprised if that were the case. If they have a low innings goal for him, and that may be a big if, MLB bullpen would be my choice.
And that’s all I got. They’re probably going to sign an MLB reliever or put in a few waiver claims or something. I’m not seeing it with Hancel Rincon, I’ll be honest. Maybe he’ll be a guy, I don’t think I use a 40 man spot on him. Might be worth calling him up this year to see how he plays at the MLB level to better inform a decision. He’ll certainly be eligible for minor league free agency, so it’s probably 40 or not in the organization. I wanted to say Sem Robberse, and if he looks good the rest of the year, he’s certainly in play, but that requires a bit more optimism than I was aiming for. Maybe it’ll be Peter Strzelecki, but I’ll certainly need MLB success this year for him to be on this list.
Interestingly, even though I have Roby on this list, it’s about a year early before the big guns might need to be moved to the bullpen. I don’t think they’ll give up on Cooper Hjerpe at starting by Opening Day next year, but maybe by the following year. So they might scrap heap the bullpen waiting to see who needs to move to the bullpen next year.
Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 7, Norfolk Tides 4
The Tides fell to Charlotte on Sunday, as starter Trace Bright and a stable of relievers—Dietrich Enns, Cameron Weston and Enoli Paredes—allowed a combined seven runs on ten hits, three of them home runs (one by Knights’ outfielder and former Oriole Austin Hays). Bright’s four runs allowed in 4.1 innings put him at a regrettable 0-8 record with a 7.39 ERA in 18 starts this year.
But there was good news, too. Heston Kjerstad, hitting in the three-spot, bashed two home runs, one an Earl Weaver Special, to give him four RBIs on the day—all of his team’s runs. Kjerstad is hitting .299 and OPS’ing .796 right now. Creed Willems had two hits. Jud Fabian singled.
The Baysox never trailed in this one. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead off the bat of Griff O’Ferrall, who hit a two-run second inning home run. In the sixth, Adam Retzbach hit a two-run double to put the Baysox up 4-1. Two more home runs—solo shots each by Tavian Josenberger and Patrick Lee made it 6-2. Not to be forgotten is Aron Estrada’s three-for-three day. O’Ferrall homered and singled. Brandon Butterworth singled and walked.
Chesapeake starter Luis de León pitched a gem, throwing 6 1/3 innings with just one run allowed and nine strikeouts. He’s now 5-6 with a 4.33 ERA. Richard Guasch pitched 1 2/3 innings and struck out three. Micah Ashman allowed one run on a solo home run.
High-A: Rome Emperors (Braves) 6, Frederick Keys 2
Two bad innings bookended the Keys’ Sunday loss. In the first inning, Boston Bateman left early with right hip flexor discomfort, after just eight pitches. Five pitchers combined to allow five runs in 7 2/3 innings, Cohen Achen, Ben Vespi, Cameron Foster, Ryan Cabarcas and Todd Kniebbe.
Despite posting eight hits, an Ike Irish-less Keys lineup still struggled to score runs. One run came home on a Victor Figueroa single. The hard-hitting first baseman went 3-for-4 and is OPS’ing .914. The Keys’ second and final run was on a home run by Yasmil Bucce. Wehiwa Aloy finished 0-for-3. The rehabbing Reed Trimble and Payton Eeles finished a combined 1-for-9.
Low-A: Hill City Howlers (Guardians) 10, Delmarva Shorebirds 6
It’s tough to climb out of a 6-0 hole after two innings. But starter Brayan Orrantia, a fourteenth-rounder in 2025 out of Mexico, had a terrible day, allowing six runs in 1.2 innings. Relievers Teddy Sharkey, Jack Crowder, Zac Lampton, Kenny Leiner, and Luis Beltrán threw 6 1/3 innings allowing four combined runs between them.
Several Delmarva hitters had a good day. First baseman Miguel Rodriguez went 3-for-4. DH Andrés Nolaya finished 4-for-5. And Elvin García had two hits and walked twice. Jaiden Lo Re singled.
DENVER , CO - JULY 22: Cole Carrigg (16) of the Colorado Rockies reacts to striking out against Cade Cavalli (24) of the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
It’s been just over six weeks since Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) made his Major League debut. He has played in 39 games, and the “Cole Carrigg Effect” is in full swing. Carrigg has been known to play “with his hair on fire” and hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down in the big leagues — both on and off the field. But how much has Carrigg truly brought to the Colorado Rockies since June 9?
Cole Carrigg himself
Since his debut on June 9, Carrigg has played in 39 of the Rockies’ 41 games and started 34 of them. He is slashing .287/.360/.519 in 129 at-bats with nine doubles, three triples, five homers, 26 RBI, 15 walks and three stolen bases in five attempts.
He immediately made his presence known, smacking a triple for his first MLB hit — only the second Rockie to accomplish the feat.
He also hit his first homer two games later against the Chicago Cubs on July 11, and hit two more over the next four games. Three of Carrigg’s five home runs have been three-run homers, and the other two were solo shots.
Prior to his call-up, Carrigg was a madman in Albuquerque. In 57 games with the Triple-A Isotopes, he slashed .338/.414/.529 with 15 doubles, five triples and six homers. He had 42 RBI, 27 walks, and 30 stolen bases in 37 attempts — including a steal of home on April 4.
As mentioned above, the Rockies have played 41 games since Carrigg’s debut. During that span, they have gone 18-23. In the two games Carrigg didn’t play at all — June 23 and July 19 — the Rockies lost both contests. And in the five games he didn’t start, they went 3-2.
On June 27 against the Minnesota Twins on the road, Carrigg entered in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter for Troy Johnston. He went 0-for-1 with a walk and a looking strikeout. The Rockies won 8-5.
On July 1 against the Miami Marlins at home, Carrigg entered in the eighth inning as a defensive substitution for Troy Johnston. He did not have an at-bat, and the Rockies won 6-3.
On July 5 against the San Francisco Giants at home, Carrigg entered in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter for Mickey Moniak. He went 0-for-1 with a swinging strikeout. The Rockies won 7-6.
On July 11 against the Giants on the road, Carrigg entered in the ninth inning as a pinch hitter for Ezequiel Tovar. He went 0-for-1 with a looking strikeout. The Rockies lost 4-2.
On July 17 against the Cincinnati Reds at home, Carrigg entered in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter for Mickey Moniak. He went 1-for-1 with a single. The Rockies lost 7-2.
Carrigg also had a mini slump, where he went 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts in the final five games before the All-Star break. The Rockies went 1-4 in those games.
That came on the heels of a brush up he had with Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing on July 6 after hitting a game-tying double and then scoring the go-ahead run in the 10th inning (the Rockies ultimately lost the game 8-7 in 11 innings).
While this wasn’t the first incident of Carrigg getting fired up over a play, it was the one that seems to have brought attention to him, especially with the mini slump that happened after.
Balancing the emotions
On the field, Carrigg has adjusted well to playing at the major-league level, and the numbers make that clear. However, in spring training, Carrigg pointed to the emotional part of his game as a work in progress:
“Probably handling failure like a professional,” Carrigg said of his next step, “getting rid of that immaturity and just letting them know that. If I do come up to the big leagues, I’m sure it’s not always going to be great – hopefully it’s awesome and I do well, but there’s going to be tough times. And being able to handle that like a pro and not bring the club down in any sense, and having any bad attitude or whatever and just being a good locker room guy… I felt like I did a really good job this spring. Granted, it went well so it’s a lot easier to be happy when things are going well. But just handling more of that type of thing like a professional.”
“The edge to win and to play for me, I will never lose – it will never leave. Being able to manage some of that on tough days is something I’ve worked on even through the Minors. But that’s just how I’m wired. I’ve gotten better at it and will continue to, but that won’t cause me to lose any type of edge.”
Recently, a consistent part of his game involves throwing his bat and/or helmet after he records an out while loudly yelling an expletive that rhymes with “fire truck.”
While this fire can help fuel Carrigg in big moment, it can also hold him back. Balancing these parts of his personality and his game is an ongoing project, one that he will need to adjust carefully as he lays the foundation for a long and successful major league career.
The Rockies broadcast crew on Tuesday provided their own insight during the eighth inning of the Rockies-Nationals game while Carrigg flew out to right on four pitches:
Drew Goodman: “I love everything about this kid, but you know what, as he grows, I think he’s going to control his emotions more because every pitch is… he’s living and dying.”
Ryan Spilborghs: “We see this from [Cubs’ center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong]. He’s very emotional. We see it from Cole. You probably heard something snap in the background.”
Jeff Huson: “Ah, it’s just a helmet.”
Spilborghs: “The game is not that easy where… you can’t expect to get a hit every single time, even late in the game.”
Goodman: “You love how competitive he is, but — I mean, you guys went through it for a long period of time in the big leagues. At some point you’re going to wear yourself down if you’re that emotional every at-bat.”
Huson: “Can’t do it every at-bat, no way.”
Spilborghs: “But we’ve also said this: You don’t want to take away that fire that’s in there.”
Goodman: “No, but temper it, right?”
Spilborghs: “Whatever that in-between is that you can just smooth some things out. I just don’t want to take any of that away from him. Like, you remember that conversation we had a few years ago with Justin Turner when he was with the Cubs and we were asking about PCA and he was like ‘Hey, he can be great if he learns to settle down. He’ll just be good if he stays on this path.”
Goodman: “And look at PCA the last two months. He’s handling his emotions — or maybe because he’s not making any outs, he’s not getting that emotional. I don’t know which it is.”
Huson: “Could be a combination of both!”
Huson’s and Spilborghs’ concerns, as well as those of his coaches before them, about Carrigg wearing out are a cautionary note that should not be taken lightly. Carrigg has shown the tools to be an elite baseball player with the versatility and toolsy approach the Rockies value. One part of his game to watch going forward, however, will be how that emotional part of his game evolves.
When Carrigg good, he’s on fire. When he’s struggling, he lets everybody know. And this is a pattern he needs to refocus on if he’s going to have a long and successful major league career.
If Ted Lasso can get through to Jamie Tartt, I’m confident Warren Schaeffer can help guide Cole Carrigg.
Jake McCarthy has had an outstanding season since the Rockies traded for him in January. Thomas Harding spoke with McCarthy and Warren Schaeffer about what he brings to the team, and whether or not he’ll be part of the Rockies’ long-term vision or be dealt to another team ahead of next Monday’s trade deadline.
Jordan Romano has been a nice pick-up for a Rockies team in desperate need of pitching, especially out of the bullpen in late innings. But his Colorado connection goes back to his days in Toronto, when he was coached by Matt Buschmann as a member of the Blue Jays. Romano made back-to-back All-Star games during that stretch, and is hoping to regain form. Kevin Henry caught up with both of them as they’ve reconnected in Colorado.
It was a back-and-forth affair between the Isotopes and the Express (Rangers). There was some traffic in three of Keegan Thompson’s four innings, but he didn’t allow a single run to score despite giving up three hits. He also walked two and struck out three. Then the bullpen came in, and the four relievers — Evan Shawver, Ryan Miller, Parker Mushinski and TJ Shook — all gave up at least one run (though Shook’s was unearned, as was one of Shawver’s).
On the offensive side, the Topes recorded six hits to the Express’ 12. Vimael Machín went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and a run scored. Recently-promoted Bryant Betancourt also went 2-for-3, while Jordan Beck and Chad Stevens had the other two hits. Betancourt knocked in the second run, but it wasn’t an RBI because left fielder Aaron Zavala committed an error that allowed Stevens to cross the plate.
This game didn’t start until the sixth inning, but unfortunately, all of the Flying Squirrels’ (Giants) runs were scored in the seventh. The Goats kicked things off in the sixth with an Aidan Longwell sac fly to score Dyan Jorge and put them up 1-0. Then, in the seventh, Jorge singled to drive in Mike Antico. But then it all fell apart.
Carlos Torres started the inning by getting Charlie Szykowny to fly out to center. But then Jancel Villarroel reached on catcher interference and Maui Ahuna walked. Jean Carlos Sio struck out, but then Ty Hanchey singled to score Villarroel. Diego Velasquez walked to load the bases, and then Trevor Cohen singled to score two more runs and give the Squirrels the lead. Cohen advanced to second on defensive indifference, but then scored alongside Velasquez when Gavin Kilen singled to center. Finally, Dakota Johnson grounded out to first base, but the damage was done.
The Goats recorded four hits (Jorge 2, Antico 2, McCabe 1) while Torres was saddled with the loss and the blown save after giving up the five runs (three earned) in his single inning of work. But Michael Prosecky (No. 25 PuRP) and Cade Denton looked sharp, combining for six innings (Prosecky 2.2, Denton 3.1) of work in which they allowed just three hits, one walk and seven combined strikeouts.
It was a fairly back-and-forth affair between the Indians and the Dust Devils (Angels), but an eight-run seventh put the Indians way ahead and they never looked back.
Spokane got things started when Tommy Hopfe was hit by a pitch and was eventually scored on a single by Alan Espinal. They gave one back in the second, but took one back in the third when Hopfe was hit by a pitch again, but then was replaced by Roldy Brito on a force out at second. Brito eventuall scored on a double by Espinal. Tri-City scored twice again in the fifth to put themselves up 3-2, but then Tevin Tucker was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the frame and was scored on a Hopfe double to re-tie the game.
The seventh inning is where things got weird. Francis Rivera got two quick outs, but then David Mershon doubled and Harold Coll walked. Kevin Bruggeman then hit a three-run homer to double Tri-City’s lead. But the Indians said “hold my beer” in the bottom of the frame. They started things off with three-straight singles and a walk, and then Tanner Thach was hit by a pitch to score Brito. Tri City’s reliever Ssam Tookoian was chased from the game between the Hernandez single and the Espinal walk. Kelvin Hidalgo then singled to tie the game… and there still wasn’t an out yet! Jacob Hinderleider was the next batter and the first out, but then Caleb Hobson walked to score Espinal. Tucker was hit by a pitch again to score Thach, and then Hopfe singled to score Hidalgo and Hobson. Tookoian was then replaced by Nicolo Pinazzi, who immediately gave up a single to Brito to score Tucker. That would be the end of the scoring in that inning, as two of the next three batters struck out (the third walked). In total, five Indians were hit by pitches and four walked, and nobody did both. The final run was scored in the ninth when Tucker doubled to score Hinderleider, who singled two batters before.
Not to be outdone by the Indians, the Grizzlies went on an offensive tirade against the Quakes (Angels). They managed 19 runs on 16 hits, but committed three errors. The Quakes, on the other hand, scored six runs on nine hits with two errors. Fresno scored in every inning except the third, fifth, and eighth and every batter recorded at least one hit except PH/LF Yeiker Reyes, 3B Carlos Renzullo and OF Landyn Vidourek.
The Grizzlies scored one each in the first and second, but it was the fourth inning where they blew things open. It started with a lead-off walk by Cruzmel Arias, which came around to haunt three batters later. Cam Hassert singled, but then Ashly Andujar reached on an error and Cam Nelson walked to score Arias. Jeremy Ciriaco then singled to score Hassert, and then Derek Bernard singled to score Andujar. Quakes’ pitcher Jaren Warwick was lifted in place of Alton Davis II, who immediately gave up a single to Wilder Dalis that scored Nelson. Kyle Fossum grounded out to record the first out, and then Vidourek struck out swinging. Arias came up to bat again, this time singling to score Bernard. Then back-to-back-to-back walks to Hassert, Andujar and Nelson scored Arias. Then there was another pitching change to Will Gervase, who threw a wild pitch to score Hassert. Ciriaco grounded out to Gervase to end the inning, but the Grizzlies were up 11-1.
The second big inning happened in the sixth, It started with another lead-off walk to Hassert, which came around to haunt again. A wild pitch by Gervase moved Hassert to second, and then Andujar grounded out to first but moved Hassert to third. Three-straight walks again scored Hassert, and then Dalis singled to score Nelson. Fossum had the biggest hit of the game, though, smacking a grand slam to run up the score 17-4. Vidourek struck out again, but then Arias reached on another error. Hassert singled and Andujar doubled to score Arias. 18-4, Grizzlies.
Dalis got the last laugh, homering in the seventh to make the final Grizzlies’ run total 19. They also ended up walking more times (12) than striking out (8).
The ACL Rockies began the ACL World Series tonight against the ACL Reds, and took Game 1 with a final score of 9-8 in the Arizona heat. The Reds got out to an early 2-1 lead, but a five-run fourth was enough for the Rockies to eke out a win after some late-inning drama.
The fourth inning started with a lead-off walk to Ben Wilmes, followed by a single by Kamuel Villar. Eriel Dihigo hit a sacrifice bunt to move the rummers, and then Matt Klein walked to load the bases. Parker Coddou singled to score Wilmes and tie the ballgame, and after a pitching change, Sebastian Blanco walked to give the Rockies the lead. Jared Thomas grounded out to score Klein, and then Christian Arguelles singled to score Coddou and Blanco. But then Arguelles was caught trying to stretch the single into a double, ending the inning.
The Reds tacked on another run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, but the Rockies scored three more times in the eighth. It started off (again) with a lead-off walk to Klein, who was replaced by pinch runner Gabriel Lopez. Coddou and Blanco hit back-to-back bunt singles, and then a throwing error helped score Lopez. Dariel Garcia then replaced Thomas as a pinch hitter, and two batters later Arguelles reached on catcher interference. Ronny Ugarte then drew a bases-loaded walk, and then Wilmes singled to run up the score 9-4.
The Reds made things a little interesting in the ninth inning, though. Marcos Pimentel came in and got Juan Brown to line out. But then two singles and a walk later set up Jirvin Morillo, who hit a grand slam to make the score 9-8. Pimentel was then replaced by Wilmis Paulino, who walked Eli Pitts to start. But then Naibel Mariano flied out to right, and Hansel Jimenez grounded into a force out at second to end the game.
Is Brett Kulak’s Avalanche Contract Really One of the NHL’s Worst? [Sports Illustrated]
After helping Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2022, Jack Johnson is beginning a new chapter by joining one of college hockey’s premier programs at Ohio State. [The Hockey News]
The Avalanche announced last week that the team has signed forward Georgii Merkulov to a one-year contract for the 2026-27 season. [Colorado Avalanche]
Former Colorado Avalanche forward Andrew Agozzino announced his retirement from professional hockey on Tuesday after 14 years. [Col Hockey Now]
News Around the League
Top remaining NHL free agents: The best 2026 UFAs still on the board. [The Daily Faceoff]
Larkin, Hellebuyck appear on ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ with fellow gold medalists. [NHL]
President Trump’s new 50% U.S. tariffs hit Canadian hockey: How Bauer, CCM, and Sherwood will be affected. [Yahoo Finance]
Former Maple Leafs, Oilers goalie Jack Campbell ‘walking away’ from hockey. [Sportsnet]
Hockey Canada coach Donskov praises Celebrini: ‘Touched by the hand of God’. [TSN]
Kane rejoined Blackhawks to win, not ‘ride off into the sunset’. [The Score]
The New York Yankees are short road favorites against the Chicago White Sox at -137, and I’m laying the moneyline.
New York is in a quick turnaround spot after Sunday Night Baseball, so I’m not eager to push the run line. Still, Noah Schultz’s contact profile is a tough fit against the Yankees’ power, while Max Fried gives New York the stronger run-prevention base.
Here are my Yankees vs White Sox predictions and MLB picks for Monday, July 27.
Who will win Yankees vs White Sox today: Yankees moneyline (-137)
I’m backing the New York Yankees and would play them up to -150.
Chicago White Sox left-hander Noah Schultz’s profile is a poor fit against this lineup. He owns a 6.07 xERA, a near-11% barrel rate, and a Bottom-15th percentile walk rate. That is a bad mix against a Yankees offense built to punish free traffic and loud contact.
Even without Aaron Judge, New York remains in the AL East race because of strong pitching and impact contact, ranking first in barrel rate and third in hard-hit rate.
This is the right matchup for the Yankees to do damage.
COVERS INTEL:Schultz has allowed an 87.7% zone-contact rate, well above the MLB average of 82.6%.
Yankees vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-105)
I’m playing the Over because Schultz gives New York too many ways to build offense. The Yankees do not need a perfect travel spot if they are getting free traffic and airborne contact from a pitcher allowing a 63.3% fly-ball rate.
Chicago can contribute enough on the other side, too. The White Sox are not a pure power offense, but their .324 OBP and 381 walks give them a path to pressure Max Fried into traffic.
Fried is Fried, but you get the sense that the White Sox offense won't have to do much here.
I'd play this to 9.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 40-36, +6.10 units
Over/Under bets: 44-34, +12.01 units
Yankees vs White Sox weather
Sunny, with 10-14 mph winds blowing to right field. Conditions are enhanced for both home runs and overall scoring today at Rate Field, per BallparkPal.
Yankees vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Yankees -137 | White Sox +119
Run line: Yankees -1.5 | White Sox +1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Yankees vs White Sox trend
The New York Yankees are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a left-handed starter. Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. White Sox.
How to watch Yankees vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Monday, July 27, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
YES, CHSN
Yankees starting pitcher
Max Fried (4-3, 2.67 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Noah Schultz (3-7, 6.04 ERA)
Yankees vs White Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
While it may have taken some time, the shockwaves the Philadelphia Flyers sent through the Anaheim Ducks with their $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson are starting to form visible cracks.
Because the Ducks matched the five-year, $18 million AAV deal signed by their 21-year-old budding star, they are now severely limited on cap space, left with just $9 million to sign young 40-goal-scorer Cutter Gauthier to a new contract--an amount not expected to be nearly enough.
Veteran contributors like Chris Kreider, Alex Killorn, and Frank Vatrano have all emerged as trade candidates with the Ducks in dire need of cap space, and other NHL teams are aware of that fact, meaning the Ducks may not get anything substantive in return with their lack of leverage.
The Flyers have forced the Ducks into an unwinnable position, even though their true intentions were to sign Carlsson.
Credit to the Ducks for being unwavering in their stance, but we're now starting to see the unintended consequences.
The latest example is that 2026 first-round pick Nikita Klepov, who was included on Michigan State University's roster just one day prior, signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Ducks on Saturday, making him ineligible for collegiate play.
Now, instead of playing college hockey at any point in his development, Klepov has two options: back to the CHL with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit, or make the NHL outright with the Ducks.
Because the Flyers forced such a massive contract upon the Ducks and left them in need of spare cash, the Ducks will need as many low-money contributors as they can to replace the likes of Kreider, Killorn, and Vatrano if and when they are traded.
As an 18-year-old on an ELC, Klepov has a cap hit of just $1.075 million, plus some potential for performance bonuses.
For comparison, Vatrano, the cheapest of the trio, comes with a $4.571 million cap charge.
It may very well not turn out to be the end of the world, but it certainly seems that the Flyers may have forced the Ducks to consider giving Klepov a real run at an NHL roster spot fresh out of the 2026 draft just because they needed to save some money.
Klepov, the 15th overall pick, is talented and absolutely deserving of his draft status, but being thrown right into a competitive NHL environment is far from ideal for his development.
Gauthier has the power to create a favorable outcome for the Ducks with his next contract, but that doesn't seem likely at this stage. Take it from the Flyers.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have taken on a slew of new contracts this off-season. That comes from their abundance of free-agency acquisitions, trades or even Gavin McKenna's entry-level contract that he signed on the final day of development camp on July 3.
Some contracts are better than others, and some are easy for the team to handle if a certain player needs to be moved. The constant growth of the salary cap helps with the way organizations handle the bigger contracts, and for the Leafs, it's tough to say there is a very horrible contract that's holding the franchise back.
Nonetheless, that doesn't mean there aren't challenging contracts on the team's payroll. Whether that be how long the deal is, the salary cap hit, or even the clauses that are included for each player.
Here are the three most challenging contracts on the Maple Leafs' roster going into the 2026-27 NHL season, in alphabetical order.
Dakota Joshua, LW
Dakota Joshua has two more years left on the four-year contract that he originally signed with the Vancouver Canucks in June 2024. Joshua and his $3.25-million salary cap hit became the Maple Leafs' responsibility when he was traded to Toronto for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick last off-season.
The main issue with this deal is that Joshua hasn't played up to the standard of his salary and has been bumped down the Leafs' lineup as a result. Even with the cap rising, it's not ideal to have a player earn above $3 million as a fourth liner, unless they provide another dimension to their game that's rare around the league.
It's fair to say that Morgan Rielly hasn't been playing up to standard over the past couple of seasons. However, he doesn't perform much lower than how a $7.5-million defenseman should.
After all, he still logs important minutes for Toronto, averaging the second-most minutes on the team for the past two seasons at 21:08 in 2025-26 and 21:23 in 2024-25. And frankly, he's a top-four defenseman on most teams in the NHL, despite only notching 36 points in 78 games this past year.
Therefore, the issue is not his salary. But if Toronto wanted to move off Rielly to change up the D-corps and for the veteran to receive a change in scenery after 13 seasons with the Leafs, the length of the deal and his clause might be what scares potential trade partners away, or at least from providing a sufficient return.
Rielly has four more years left on his contract, which will take him to the age of 36 when it expires. With that, he has a no-move clause for the rest of his deal, with a modified 10-team no-trade clause attached to the final two years of the agreement, according to PuckPedia.
For the Maple Leafs, Sissons' contract isn't all that back-breaking, just like much of the roster, thanks to the salary cap. However, his cap hit is a little high considering the stature of the player he is.
Sissons has never been a difference-maker offensively, and that attribute is the common denominator in paying a high price tag for a skater, even defensemen. Instead, the 32-year-old is known more for his two-way game and efforts on the penalty kill and faceoff dot. Those are still very much helpful tools to his new team, but it's not a rare talent.
Still, his cap hit isn't blasphemy, as he's still an effective player. But the fact that Sissons' salary is just about $140,000 less than what John Tavares makes - who is a consistent 30-goal scorer - is slightly puzzling, even if Tavares took an obvious pay cut.
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SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 29: Pau Gasol #16 and Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs talk during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 29, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In a recent interview, retires basketball player Pau Gasol sat down and shared that working with Gregg Popovich was a factor in his decision to join the San Antonio Spurs later in his career.
Pau Gasol says one of the main reasons for signing with the Spurs was to be coached by Pop and experience the Spurs culture. On what he appreciated about Coach Pop beyond the Xs and Os:
“Pop was also very caring about the social aspect. Understanding that we all had a platform,… pic.twitter.com/OUnN1onvdO
“Pop was also very caring about the social aspect. Understanding that we all had a platform, that that was important to have perspective of what was going on. That basketball was kind of our job, but what’s truly important is family, what’s truly important is giving back and being aware and sensitive to social injustices, to what’s going on and how we can affect our communities. So I appreciated those messages more than the basketball itself.”
Gasol played with the Spurs over three seasons before a stress fracture limited his play in his third year. He won two titles with the Lakers. He’s been celebrated in the NBA as well as overseas. His career is adorned with multiple FIBA and Liga awards. Since retirement, Gasol has increased his involvement UNICEF, St. Jude’s, and his own Gasol Foundation.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
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Jul 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio (11) and outfielder Luis Lara (18) celebrate a win over the Colorado Rockies as center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) looks on at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Brewers 8, Mets 3
Tuesday: Mets 4, Brewers 0
Wednesday: Brewers 4, Mets 3
Thursday: Off Day
Friday: Rockies 5, Brewers 2
Saturday: Brewers 8, Rockies 5
Sunday: Brewers 11, Rockies 2
Division Standings
Brewers: 66-39
Cubs: 59-46 (7.0 GB)
Pirates: 54-52 (12.5 GB)
Cardinals: 53-52 (13.0 GB)
Reds: 49-55 (16.5 GB)
Last Week
Brewers: 4-2
Cubs: 3-3
Pirates: 2-4
Cardinals: 2-5
Reds: 4-2
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
Jacob Misiorowski continues to dominate opposing lineups, as he made a pair of starts against the Mets and Rockies this week, totaling nine innings but striking out an incredible 18 batters. That includes a seven-strikeout stretch to begin Sunday’s game against Colorado, breaking a franchise record for strikeouts to begin a game previously held by Quinn Priester (six in 2025). Miz also allowed just two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk.
Cooper Pratt continued to make a case for NL Rookie of the Month, as he led the team with nine hits in 18 at-bats this week (.500 batting average), including a pair of homers — the first and second of his career — and a double, driving in six. He also swiped a pair of bags.
Honorable mentions to Andrew Vaughn (two homers, .313/.333/.750 line), Joey Ortiz (seven hits, including two doubles, two triples, and a homer), Brice Turang (eight hits, including a pair of doubles and a homer), and Luis Lara (four hits, including three doubles, and five RBIs), as well as to known hitter Randy Wolf, who slugged the deciding two-run homer in the Brewers Alumni Legends Game.
Infielder David Hamilton made his return to the roster on Friday ahead of the series with the Rockies, as he missed just over two weeks with a strained hamstring. Infielder Braden Shewmake, who the Brewers acquired from the Astros for cash considerations in the wake of Hamilton’s injury, was designated for assignment.
Just over a week after acquiring him (along with left-hander Colton Gordon) in a trade for Jadyn Fielder and cash considerations, the Brewers designated right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment. McCullers looked great in his first couple of innings as a Brewer (pair of 1-2-3 innings with three strikeouts), but he struggled overall, totaling 4 2/3 innings with five runs allowed (just two earned) as he gave up three hits and four walks. Right-hander Garrett Stallings was recalled to replace him on the active roster, but McCullers’ DFA means the Brewers now have two 40-man spots open.
Left-handed pitcher DL Hall and outfielder Brandon Lockridge were both sent on rehab assignments with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, as we could see both make their return to the majors in the next couple of weeks.
Outfielder Sal Frelick, who went on the IL last weekend with a right shoulder strain, was shut down from baseball activities for the next week. His return is still listed as TBD, but it’s looking like we won’t see him until at least mid-August.
Right-hander Joel Kuhnel threw his first bullpen session on July 21, and left-hander Kyle Harrison threw four “ups” in a live batting practice session on Saturday. Next steps for Kuhnel are TBD, while Harrison is expected to either make a rehab appearance in the minors or directly return to the rotation.
COVERS INTEL:
