Despite us being in the dog days of summer, hockey is just around the corner. On Wednesday morning, the San Jose Sharks' home opener for the 2026-27 was officially revealed. On October 1, the Sharks will host new-look Florida Panthers, featuring both of the Tkachuk brothers, in their first game at the SAP Center of the new campaign.
Historically, the Sharks have struggled a bit against the Panthers, as they have an overall record of 16-19-5 against the team from Sunrise, Florida. Things did change during the 2025-26 season though, as the Sharks were able to sweep the season series against Florida for the first time since the 2015-`16 season. The Sharks' win over the Panthers on November 8, 2025 was their first victory over them in general since the 2017-18 season.
It'll certainly be a tough test for the Sharks when they start the season, but considering they have playoff aspirations, it's an important one. Even though the Panthers missed the playoffs last season, they should be a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference once again this season, now that they're fully healthy. If the Sharks are truly going to be competing for a playoff spot in April, they'll need to have convincing performances against teams with proven success in recent memory. While they won't have to go through the Panthers for a playoff spot, getting one over on one of the NHL's top teams would be a great start to the new season.
Joe DeMayo welcomes New York, New York's John Jastremski as guest co-host to deliver the latest episode of The Mets Pod, which looks ahead to the trade deadline and looks back on the MLB Draft with Mets VP of Amateur & International Scouting Kris Gross.
First up, Joe and JJ dive into the Mets' recent struggles, the issues with Francisco Lindor,all kinds of potential trade possibilities, plus stories about Juan Soto and the All-Star Game.
Later, Joe catches up with Gross for an in-depth recap of the Mets' 2026 draft class, and then the show wraps with Joe and JJ answering Mailbag questions about trades, the best rookie for the Mets this season, and undrafted free agents.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 10: Spencer Steer #7 of the Cincinnati Reds walks out to the field during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on July 10, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You remember when the Cincinnati Reds hitt he rebuild button with a sledgehammer, right? Back when they shipped away Sonny Gay, Luis Castillo, Jesse Winker, & Co. in search of greener pastures and a ‘sustainable’ future?
Man, it often feels like just yesterday. It’s about to feel like tomorrow though, too.
As the last place Reds emerge from the All Star break, that rebuild is in dire need of being rebuilt again already. That 2022 season saw Cincinnati also deal away pitcher Tyler Mahle to the Minnesota Twins, a deal that commanded the since-DFA’d Christian Encarnacion-Strand as well as the infinitely versatile Spencer Steer – the latter of whom actually made his big league debut that very season.
There was initially hope that Steer would turn out to be something significant, what with his rock-solid 2023 performance. The reality, though, is that across over 2350 PA in his career, he’s the owner of an almost perfectly average 102 OPS+. Across the 2024-2026 seasons (nearly 1600 PA), that dips just a slightly below-average 98 OPS+ and 99 wRC+, numbers that are more or less in-line with what he’s doing this year (103 OPS+, 103 wRC+).
If that isn’t the definition of ‘settling into who you are as a hitter,’ I do know know what is.
He walks a bit over 9% of the time, which is good. He strikes out 21-22% of the time, which is just fine. He’s a solid baserunner, knows how to barrel a ball pretty well despite subpar bat speed, and his defense – hardly his calling card – is still somehow adaptable enough that he was a Gold Glove finalist at 1B in 2025 and found himself in CF most of last week.
Settling in as a super-utility guy is fine for a club. Most good clubs desperately need that, in fact. But the thing about ‘settling in’ when it comes to baseball is that it’s a finite experience by design – free agency inches closer, salaries jump higher, and all of a sudden teams are paying what they’d like to pay for star production for guys who are the malleable bits on the roster.
Because baseball’s arbitration process values arcane/concrete things like homers, RBI, and steals – three things that a mostly healthy Steer has compiled with aplomb despite middling rate stats over the years – he’s already making $4 million in his first arb year this year. He’ll get two raises on that in 2027 and 2028 years that he’s team-controlled, all that despite having accrued just a grand total of 3.4 fWAR/2.6 bWAR since the start of the 2024 season.
That’s hardly jumping off the page, even if it doesn’t value things like ‘you can hold your nose defensively with him at time because there’s value in him giving so many other guys a needed day-off.‘
Almost by design, the Reds have already painted over Steer. You’d almost think that if any one of the litany of hitters they acquired in the last rebuild had actually hit the ground running (i.e. CES, Noelvi Marte, Matt McLain, etc.) he might have already been traded away by now. But his work at 1B has been swallowed up by the need to play Sal Stewart there since Stewart’s ability to play 3B has been thwarted by the signing of Eugenio Suarez and the long-term acquisition of Ke’Bryan Hayes. If you can’t play a player at his best position because there’s someone better that needs to play there, well, your roster construction has hit a total snag.
TJ Friedl being horrendous, Noelvi Marte floundering again, and both Blake Dunn and Dane Myers getting hurt have opened time for Steer to be a mostly full-time OF for the time being. It’s a great showcase for ‘he’s doing it’ whether it’s actually a showcase of ‘he can do it,’ but perhaps that’s intriguing to other clubs out there. So much so that Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported earlier in the week that clubs were eyeing Steer as a potential trade target. His work against LHP this season (.333/.436/.603 in 95 PA) seems to be standing out as much as anything, as teams across the league are in desperate search for such a commodity.
Don’t believe me? Check this MLB.com preview of team needs at the deadline and search for ‘right-handed bat.’ Each of the Red Sox, Guardians, Mariners, Tigers, Marlins, and Phillies are listed with that very same need, and while each of them have openings in various places around the infield, that’s precisely what makes Steer so damn attractive right now – he can, in theory, play pretty much any of them.
Seemingly the only real case against trading him right now, barring an acceptable return, is that he’s too important to the team and he’s got two more years of team control, maybe they’ll be good by then! The latter is constantly debatable since this is the Cincinnati Reds with the same front office they’ve always had we’re talking about here. The former, though, is something of a tell – if a guy who’s the literal definition of average offensively and slightly sub-par defensively across the board is too valuable to the roster, the roster’s in a pretty damn awful state, right?
Right?
If, and only if, the Reds commit to cutting Hayes and eating that contract, if the Reds call time on Marte the way they did on CES and Rece Hinds, if the Reds non-tender TJ Friedl and concede McLain is a bench-glove, and then if they commit to spending actual good money this winter via free agency and trades to back a five-man rotation of Hunter Greene, Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Rhett Lowder heading into 2027, I will acknowledge that dealing Steer doesn’t need to happen. The only thing needy about even discussing this is that it’s the Reds we’re talking about, who won’t go spend or push in chips in trades this winter to actually try to win within the next two years – other teams with a guy like Steer at this point in his career would gladly start him 5 times a week (as many as they can against LHP) and bat him 7th or 8th and be happy about it.
That’s not the scenario in which this club operates, however. They have committed to flipping guys when they get expensive for younger ones, and Steer – who’ll turn 29 this December – has already become one of the older guys who has the league’s spotlight turned his particular way.
I don’t like advocating for it necessarily, as I do think he’s a perfectly fine complementary piece. On the Reds, though, he’s been tasked with being so much more, and that’s simply not working on a team 9 games under .500 and mired in last place. So, you move him, in my humble opinion, and begin the process of spending the ~$6 or so million you’d otherwise be spending on him next year in another way.
(For an interesting thought piece, now consider JJ Bleday, who also has two years of team control remaining after this year…)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Ben Grable #39 of the New York Yankees on the American League Team signs autographs at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every year, after the coffers are refilled through the draft, it is a good time to take a look at where the organization’s depth stands. Over the last few seasons, the Yankees have promoted several of their top prospects and used their farm system depth to acquire pieces at the Trade Deadline. Coming into this season, many evaluators ranked New York’s farm system in the bottom third of baseball. The system was also seen as top-heavy, with a drop-off after the first four players and then another big drop from the sixth slot down.
The draft is not going to fix those flaws over one weekend, but it is a starting point. Prior to the draft, the farm system was particularly thin at catcher and among position players in general. Other than top prospect George Lombard Jr. and the injured Dax Kilby, the Yankees desperately needed an infusion of mitts and sticks.
Brian Cashman and the rest of the front office addressed that need by using two of the team’s first five picks on catchers, adding Brendan Brock out of Oklahoma in the third round and Bear Harrison of Texas A&M, in the fifth. The Yankees do not currently have a catcher ranked among the organization’s top 30 prospects, as they’ve used their previously compiled depth in various trades over the past couple years. In the past, the team has often turned to the international signing period to add catching talent. The current lack of depth appears to have pushed the organization toward adding some domestic talent to the pipeline as well.
Other than the previously mentioned Lombard and Kilby, the only other Yankees position player prospect ranked in the organization’s MLB Pipeline top 10 is Spencer Jones. Putting it nicely, the organization is thin as a rail when it comes to hitters.
In addition to the two catchers, the Yankees added rock-solid outfielder Paul Gutierrez Contreras II from Cal State Fullerton in the fourth round. They then dipped into the high school ranks to select third baseman Andrew Gonzalez out of Americas High School in Texas in the sixth and returned to the prep ranks in the 13th and 15th round for outfielder Lee Garris and shortstop William Cutshall. Look for any draft slot value surplus go toward adding these talented young hitters and convincing them to go pro; despite the rounds where they were taken, there’s likely a higher ceiling on both than many of the collegiate players from the back half of the first 10 rounds. This is always the calculus with the modern MLB Draft. As of now, Garris and Cutshall are on the verge of signing, but Gonzalez could take time.
Luke Pettitte, a two-way player and son of former Yankees great Andy Pettitte, was selected in the eighth round out of Dallas Baptist. Many evaluators believe he projects better as a pitcher, but Pettitte performed well as a designated hitter last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. It would be a surprise to see any of these position players initially crack the organization’s top 10, but a few could land in the teens, with several others potentially filling out the back end of the top 30 prospects list.
If there was one area where the Yankees already had some depth, it was on the mound. Prior to the start of the season, the Yankees had more pitchers ranked among their top 30 prospects than any other organization, with 21. That was particularly true among right-handers, who made up six of the organization’s top 10 prospects including three of the top five in Elmer Rodríguez, Carlos Lagrange, and 2024 first-rounder Ben Hess. This is not even counting Ben Grable who recently went to the Futures Game to showcase his 96.1 mph with his four-seamer that produces about 21 inches of induced vertical break.
Despite being stick-thin, literally, the Yankees opted to use their first two picks on pitchers. However, both were lefties with high ceilings who fell to the Yankees’ draft slots, at least in part, because of injury concerns.
Hunter Dietz is a big lefty out of Arkansas, while Sean Duncan is a prep arm from British Columbia. Dietz, like most first-round picks, projects to slot into the organization’s top 10 prospects and will likely be the team’s top ranked lefty , while Duncan could debut somewhere in the teens. The team also added a few right-handers in the first 10 rounds, selecting Michael Harpster out of East Tennessee State in the seventh and David Leslie from Pittsburgh in the ninth.
The back half of the draft has been fruitful for the Yankees lately, with Ben Rice serving as the most obvious example, but after the 10th round, players become much harder to project. A few names to keep an eye on over the next several years include shortstop Anthony Potestio, right-hander Garrett Ahern, and first baseman Tyce Armstrong.
When you consistently pick near the back end of the first round, it is difficult to infuse top-end talent into the farm system through the draft. It appears the Yankees focused on the best value available with their first two selections before making a somewhat-concerted effort to address organizational depth, especially at catcher. The sticks remain thin for now, but the pitching pipeline has a few more names ready to slot in and begin climbing the rankings.
In case you missed it, check out Pinstripe Alley’s full draft coverage!
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros talks to the media before the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Houston Astros/Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Major League Baseball reaches the All-Star break, Astros fans have every reason to celebrate what has been another remarkable season from Yordan Alvarez.
He’s not just putting together another All-Star campaign.
He’s making a legitimate case to be the American League’s Most Valuable Player.
While much of the attention over the next few weeks will center on the trade deadline and what additions Dana Brown might make to strengthen Houston’s roster, another question is quietly looming in the background, one that could ultimately shape the future of the franchise.
Will Yordan Alvarez finish his career as a Houston Astro?
At the moment, both sides are saying all the right things.
Alvarez has repeatedly expressed his desire to spend his entire career in Houston. From the organization’s standpoint, there has been no indication that the Astros are looking to move arguably the most feared hitter in the American League.
That’s exactly what Astros fans want to hear.
But words are one thing.
Long-term commitments are another.
History tells us that Jim Crane is one of baseball’s smartest and most disciplined owners. He’s also shown time and again that he has a financial line he’s unwilling to cross, regardless of how popular or accomplished the player may be.
We’ve seen this story before.
The Astros let Gerrit Cole leave in free agency rather than match the record-setting contract he received from the Yankees. George Springer departed for Toronto. Carlos Correa eventually moved on after Houston refused to meet his long-term demands. More recently, Kyle Tucker was traded because the organization understood the type of contract he would eventually command and made the difficult decision to move him before reaching that point. Alex Bregman shuffled off to Boston with hardley a finger lifted by Crane and the team.
None of those decisions were made because the Astros didn’t value those players.
They were made because Jim Crane believed the long-term financial commitment outweighed the potential return.
That brings us back to Yordan Alvarez.
Will Crane view him differently?
Will he break from the organizational philosophy that has defined the Astros for nearly a decade and commit to the type of contract required to keep one of baseball’s premier hitters in Houston for the rest of his career?
Or will Alvarez eventually become the next franchise cornerstone to either leave in free agency or be traded before reaching that point?
It’s an uncomfortable question, but it’s one Astros fans should begin thinking about.
Emotionally, the answer is easy.
Every Astros fan wants Alvarez to retire in Houston. Players with his combination of power, patience, and ability to change a game with one swing simply don’t come along very often.
The business side, however, isn’t nearly as simple.
History has shown that massive, long-term contracts often become burdens before they become bargains.
Albert Pujols is perhaps the most obvious example. After signing one of the richest contracts in baseball history, injuries and declining production prevented him from replicating the superstar numbers that earned him the deal in the first place.
Mike Trout has remained one of the greatest players of his generation, yet injuries have dramatically limited his availability over the past several seasons.
Even Shohei Ohtani’s unprecedented contract carries risk. While he’s still an elite hitter, the Dodgers signed him expecting a two-way superstar. Injuries have significantly reduced his ability to contribute on the mound.
Aaron Judge has continued to perform at an MVP level when healthy, but even he has battled injuries that have forced the Yankees to navigate lengthy stretches without their biggest star.
That’s the challenge every front office faces.
You’re not paying for what a player has already accomplished.
You’re paying for what you believe he’ll do over the next eight, 10, or even 12 years.
Those projections rarely age as well as fans hope.
That doesn’t mean Yordan Alvarez isn’t worth keeping.
Far from it.
He’s one of the rare players capable of carrying an offense for weeks at a time and changing the trajectory of a season almost single-handedly. Players like him are incredibly difficult—if not impossible—to replace.
The question isn’t whether Astros fans want him to stay.
The question is whether Jim Crane is willing to make the kind of financial commitment he has consistently avoided throughout his ownership.
His track record suggests caution.
His heart may tell him one thing.
His business instincts have historically told him another.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Astros remain focused on chasing another championship. But once this season comes to an end, the organization’s biggest decision may not involve adding talent.
It may involve deciding whether the face of the franchise will remain in Houston for the rest of his career.
So I’ll leave Astros fans with one question.
If it requires one of the largest contracts in franchise history, do you believe Jim Crane should commit to Yordan Alvarez for the remainder of his career?
Or is history destined to repeat itself once again?
The Winnipeg Jets now know who they'll welcome to Canada Life Centre to begin the 2026-27 season.
On Wednesday, the NHL announced each of its 32 clubs' home openers, in advance of the full 1,344 game schedule, set to drop on Thursday.
The Jets will open their home schedule on Friday, October 2 vs. the visiting Boston Bruins.
Photo by Eric Canha/USA Today
The matchup comes during the opening week of the NHL's expanded 84-game season, which begins Sept. 29 with a five-game slate highlighted by the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes raising their championship banner before hosting the Florida Panthers - the previous back-to-back champs.
For the Bruins, the game in Winnipeg will be their second road contest of the new campaign. Boston opens the season at home against the New York Rangers on Sept. 29 before traveling west to face the Jets.
The Jets very well could start the season on the road, should a team playing on the 29th also suit up in a back-to-back to start the year, meaning Winnipeg could play on September 30 or October 1 before hosting the Bruins on October 2.
While Winnipeg's full schedule remains under wraps until Thursday, one other notable date is already locked in. The Jets will host the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium on Oct. 25.
Thursday's full schedule release will reveal Winnipeg's season opener, longest road trips, back-to-back sets and nationally televised matchups as the club prepares for its first season under the NHL's new 84-game format.
Franchise legend Steve Yzerman, the executive vice president and general manager for the last seven seasons of that drought, will become senior advisor to governor and CEO Chris Ilitch. A search for a new head of hockey operations is underway.
The Red Wings said Yzerman will remain in charge of day-to-day responsibilities until his successor is named. The team added that Yzerman would be an advisor to the search committee, which will be led by Ilitch.
“Clearly, we are not where we and our fans expect to be as an organization," said Ilitch. “I’m looking forward to bringing in new leadership to build the championship-caliber organization Hockeytown deserves."
Here are answers to questions about the Red Wings' move on Wednesday, July 15:
Yzerman, the team's longtime captain, three-time Stanley Cup winner and Hall of Famer, was hired in April 2019 to oversee a rebuild. He drafted current standouts Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond early in his tenure as the team purposely bottomed out with back-to-back seasons of fewer than 20 wins in order to build through the draft.
He began adding veteran players such as Andrew Copp, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. The Red Wings missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker in 2023, but for the most part, finished sixth or seventh in the Atlantic Division.
This past season, Yzerman addressed the goaltending by trading for John Gibson. Unlike in 2024-25, he was active at the trade deadline, bringing in Justin Faulk and David Perron. But the Red Wings had another March swoon and missed the playoffs again, ending the season with an 8-1 loss.
After the season, captain Dylan Larkin, who was born in Michigan and played at the University of Michigan, requested a trade.
How does this affect the Dylan Larkin trade request?
The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported Larkin listed the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Minnesota Wild as places where he would accept a trade.
Yzerman, during the draft, confirmed the trade request but said he wouldn't make a move unless it benefited the team. The new GM also will insist on a good return because this trade will be franchise-altering. Larkin might have to expand his list of teams.
Who could be the next general manager?
Ilitch said the team would look at internal and external candidates. Assistant general manager Kris Draper would be an obvious candidate for an internal hire. Shawn Horcoff, who oversees the Grand Rapids Griffins, would be another.
The timing for external candidates is bad because the top GM candidate of the offseason, Sunny Mehta, was hired by the New Jersey Devils, while Brandon Pridham joined the Pittsburgh Penguins front office.
No timetable was given for the hire.
What's up with Patrick Kane?
Kane spent the last three seasons with the Red Wings and is an unrestricted free agent. Hall of Famer Chris Chelios told Chicago's 104.3 The Score that he spoke with Kane and the all-time leading U.S.-born scorer is deciding between returning to the Chicago Blackhawks or signing with his hometown Buffalo Sabres.
Can the Red Wings make the playoffs in 2026-27?
It will be difficult. They added Viktor Arvidsson and backup goalie Daniil Tarasov in the offseason, but the key will be what happens with Larkin.
The Atlantic Division competition is tough. The 2024 and 2025 champion Florida Panthers are a favorite to make it back because of the return of injured captain Aleksander Barkov and the trade for Brady Tkachuk. The Toronto Maple Leafs also made multiple moves that could lead to a playoff return.
According to Crotchfelt family lore, Zach’s great-grandfather was scouted by and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, playing for their Class AAA farm club back in the day. Perhaps in a few generations, Zach’s great-grandchildren will be telling stories at blurnsball games themselves about how their ancestor played baseball with the New York Mets. A local kid, Crotchfelt was born in Neptune and grew up in Jackson, attending Jackson Memorial High School. The left-hander was a three-year letterwinner there, missing the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, he posted a 1.38 ERA in 117.2 innings, allowing 53 hits, walking 60, and striking out 220; in his junior year in 2021, he posted a 0.85 ERA in 41.1 innings, allowing 16 hits, walking 23, and striking out 76, and in his senior year, 2022, he posted a 1.07 ERA in 65.1 innings, allowing 33 hits, walking 30, and striking out 130.
The southpaw created a bit of buzz among scouts and evaluators, and many considered him one of the best draft-eligible prospects from New Jersey available in the 2022 MLB Draft, but his name was not called because he had a strong commitment to Auburn. Head coach Butch Thompson utilized the freshman quite a bit when he arrived on campus for the 2023 season, initially utilizing him as the team’s Sunday starter before shifting him into the bullpen for the rest of the season. Appearing in 17 total games, making 6 starts, the left-hander had trouble putting things together, posting a 5.62 ERA in 41.2 innings, allowing 41 hits, walking 25, and striking out 45. Injuries unfortunately marred his sophomore season and limited him to just 7 appearance, where he pitch 7.1 innings and allowed 5 runs on 10 hits and 6 walks, with 10 strikeouts.
Crotchfelt supplemented his innings load by pitching for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League that summer, appearing in 8 games and posting similar results to his time on the mound with Auburn. Also that summer, the left-hander entered the NCAA transfer portal that summer and left Auburn, transferring to Texas Tech, ending his Tigers career with a 5.69 ERA in 49.0 innings of work, allowing 51 hits, walking 31, and striking out 55. His time with the Red Raiders was unfortunately for him more of the same. Appearing in 13 games and making 1 start, he posted a 9.17 ERA in 17.2 innings, allowing 28 hits, walking 10, and striking out 15. Eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft, the former prep stand-out did not hear his name called.
After pitching for the Wisconsin Rapids of the Northwoods League that summer, Crotchfelt once again entered the NCAA transfer portal, this time transferring to Troy University. The senior had his best year as a collegiate pitcher and was a big reason the Trojans had a storybook season, making their first-ever College World Series. Pitching out of the bullpen as a multi-inning fireman, the left-hander posted a 3.49 ERA in 67.0 innings over 29 appearances, allowing 66 hits, walking 23, and striking out 81, establishing career-bests in virtually every pitching category.
The 6’3”, 220-pound left-hander throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a loose, easy arm. He hides the ball well and pushes off the mound with good extension, and while his mechanics don’t have any obvious injury red flags, the crossfire in his arm can be detrimental for his command and control. Crotchfelt utilizes a three-pitch mix that includes a four-seam fastball, changeup, and curveball. As a consequence of primarily being a reliever, he heavily leans on his fastball, with his other pitches still being very undeveloped for a college senior.
The southpaw’s fastball sits in the low-to-mid-90s, reportedly hitting as high as 97 MPH. Thanks to its spin rates and the left-hander’s arm slot, the pitch has some run and rising life and has been most effective up in the zone.
His changeup sits in the low-to-mid-80s, occasionally flashing quality depth and occasionally lacking much movement at all. Crotchfelt struggles with telegraphing the pitch, slowing up his arm when throwing the pitch. His curveball sits in the mid-to-high-70s, and like his changeup, the pitch occasionally flashes sharp 11-5 bite and other times simply floats into the zone.
Jul 2, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Mickey Moniak (22) following his solo home run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Colorado Rockies are a team in the midst of a rebuild. With this in mind, the staff at Purple Row thought it would be useful to revisit the “State of the Position” series that we ran in March to see where things stand. We’ve asked authors of the spring articles to re-evaluate their earlier remarks with an eye toward the August 3 trade deadline.
The Colorado Rockies entered the 2026 season with new organizational leaders, shifting front office priorities, turnover in prospects, and plenty of lineup puzzles to solve. When thinking about team needs, particularly for player depth, the theme of evaluation was key. This season was and is all about using the lineup’s fluidity to identify players that could be part of the team’s long-term plans and, conversely, to determine which players it might be in the Rockies’ best interest to move on from.
The first half of the season brought some clarity around those decisions, thanks in part to versatile bench pieces that emerged and allowed for evaluation. As we approach the trade deadline and more prospect call-ups in the back half of the season, we have a good idea of how Colorado is utilizing the bench and about its philosophy for the Designated Hitter position.
The pre-season hypotheses
The Rockies used 22 players at DH over the course of the 2025 season. Back in March, I wondered if the Rockies might be best suited to lock a smaller handful of players into the DH role, rather than continuing to use the platoon approach. That wondering was in part because of the success of other teams who used a consistent DH and in part because of an opportunity to capitalize on Mickey Moniak’s relative strengths and weaknesses. I suggested upping Moniak’s DH usage to give him the bulk of the starts there, also allowing the Rockies to explore their backlog of outfield depth.
Hypothesizing about the bench pieces, I mainly focused on the infield. Newcomers Edouard Julien and Willi Castro seemed to offer some much-needed flexibility, while TJ Rumfield threatened for a roster spot after an extraordinary camp. It also felt like Blaine Crim (after a stint on the IL) and Ryan Ritter would be in the mix.
At the All-Star break, DH usage is still in flux but a little more concentrated than last season. Some unforeseen faces have joined that mix, while a handful of guys are taking a bulk of appearances. As for the bench, Castro and Julien are slotting in around the diamond (the former performing better than the latter), while Crim has since been waived and Ritter is down in Triple-A. However, a mix of exciting bench pieces have filled those slots.
Continuing the DH platoon
The DH role is still fairly fluid in Colorado, but on a different trajectory than last year. Again, 22 players appeared at DH in 2025, with only one player there for more than 30 games (Hunter Goodman at 39). Tyler Freeman slotted in for 28 games, Yanquiel Fernández for 26, and Kyle Farmer for 24. Mickey Moniak was fifth in DH appearances with 15.
So far in 2026, the Rockies have honed in again on a core group of players to serve as DH, with others appearing less frequently but still pitching in a few games:
The main contributor so far is none other than our All-Star Hunter Goodman who has slotted in at DH for 26 games in addition to his 64 as catcher. Perhaps the clues were there! He had a similar 2025 with 104 games as catcher and a team-leading 39 at DH.
While the Rockies didn’t quite listen to me about giving Moniak the most DH appearances, he’s moved up the list to number two AND he’s already surpassed his total games at the position with 18 already this year.
After that, four players have 10+ games at DH: Fulford (15), Troy Johnston (13), TJ Rumfield (11), and Sterlin Thompson (10).
Julien and Freeman start to round things out with nine games each, Sullivan adds four, and Jake McCarthy pitches in two.
The Rockies seem to be continuing their approach from last year of using Goodman as the primary contributor while casting a wide net for DH spot starts. This setup has allowed the Rockies to utilize his powerful bat with lineups that play to the matchups, putting Goodman behind the dish most often against right-handed pitching and allowing Brett Sullivan or Braxton Fulford to start at catcher with Goodman at DH against lefties.
His batting splits seem to support that versatility. He’s batting .292 against lefties and .237 against righties. His positional batting splits are somewhat surprising though, as he’s hitting significantly better as catcher than at DH. At catcher, he’s notched 22 of his 27 home runs, logging a .286 batting average. That’s compared to just .174 as DH.
As for Moniak and his role, the setup allows for a good bit of flexibility in the outfield. Moniak has played more games in left field (29) than he has at DH, but fewer in center field (11) and right field (10). This has opened up various combinations of McCarthy, Brenton Doyle, Freeman, Johnston, and Cole Carrigg in the outfield, with Moniak taking more of a backseat there.
By the numbers, that has been effective. One reason it seemed like Moniak would be a good DH candidate after the 2025 season was because of his efficiency as a hitter compared to his struggles in the field. That has tracked into 2026.
Looking at where he stands in league percentiles, Moniak’s batting run value has been great while his fielding run value is on the wrong side of the average. In other categories, he’s excelling more as a hitter than in the outfield, begging the question about whether more DH starts could be useful. Looking at his batting splits by position, he’s contributing at all spots, but he’s actually hitting better when at left field (27 hits, 19 RBI, and eight home runs with a .290 average in 93 at bats) than when at DH (14 hits, six RBI, and one home run with a .241 average in 58 at bats).
Despite their dip in hitting production at DH — at least relative to their positional output, which could be due to a number of other variables — relying on Goodman and Moniak to carry the bulk of the load allows for a couple of the team’s leading hitters to get consistent work at the position, while both allowing for flexibility at other positions and capitalizing on pitching matchups.
It doesn’t appear that the Rockies are trending to be like other teams around the league that give one or two players 60+ starts, but by the end of the season they might have two players surpass the 40+ game mark, something that no single player did for the club in 2025.
Castro’s contributions
Willi Castro appeared at every position but catcher and first base in 2025. That level of versatility was an exciting addition to the organization and it’s playing out here in Colorado. So far in 2026, Castro is doing it all. While not leading appearances at any given position, he is the ultimate bench piece with 58 appearances at second base, 25 at third base, 19 at shortstop, 10 at first base, seven in left field, and two in right field. Starting where needed and moving around as games goes on, Castro racks up those appearances in a way that reflects and complements team needs.
Across all those games, he’s got a 0.5 pWAR (which is best among the team’s second basemen). By the stats, Castro hasn’t excelled anywhere. He’s below average in percentile rankings for batting, baserunning, and fielding value. Even still, he’s been serviceable overall and his batting ranks higher than many on the team.
More than anything, his positional flexibility has put him on the trade radar for teams across the league. Even if moved at the deadline, he served as a cheap and useful piece for the Rockies as they evaluate the roster.
An emerging bench and final thoughts
A number of positions around the field have taken shape (more on those later in this series!) and with that, so have the bench spots. Fulford is one of those pieces. He’s solidified himself as a strong utility piece this season. He’s mixed in well as a third catcher behind Goodman and Sullivan, making 13 appearances there with another 15 at DH. Johnston is another key piece with 38 games in right field and 26 games in left field behind, serving behind the leaders at each of those positions as essentially the fourth outfielder in the rotation.
Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, much of this reliability is subject to change in the near future. With Moniak and Castro tabbed among some of the top trade candidates that the Rockies have to offer, moving one or both of them would send ripples throughout the lineup. Colorado brought them on with short “prove it” kind of deals and they’ve set themselves up to bring a return back to the team with the contributions they’ve made in the first half of the year.
Ultimately, many of the bench pieces on the roster this year were never going to be foundational pieces long-term. The case could still be made to invest in Moniak and keep him around with the growth he’s shown as a Rockie. If either player is moved, their absence will be felt but it will also allow some of the top prospects banging on the major league door to make their way up to conclude the 2026 campaign.
Oregon State starting pitcher Ethan Kleinschmit on the bump against Arizona (Courtesy of Oregon State Athletics)
The newly rebuilt Pac-12 had a great weekend during the 2026 MLB draft, as they wound up sending 15 prospects to the majors across the two-day endeavor. The No. 22 Oregon State Beavers were the biggest contributors, led by top 200 prospect Ethan Kleinschmit, while new affiliate member Dallas Baptist was right behind them. Of those selected, eight were pitchers and six were positional players, with Luke Pettitte of DBU being the sole two-way player from the new Pac-12 making up the final spot.
All in all, a great year that sets a great expectation for the conference and its members in 2027. Here’s a breakdown of each player drafted listed by school and what round/pick they were taken.
Dallas Baptist University: 4
Luke Pettitte (2WP, New York Yankees, Round 8 Pick 248)
As mentioned earlier, Pettitte was the only two-way player drafted from the Pac-12, which can be a great addition to the New York Yankees lineup in the future. The junior took more appearances at the plate in 2026, hitting .337 with a 1.096 OPS across 166 at-bats in 42 games. He was a fireworks machine, knocking 16 balls out of the park and notching 48 RBIs, nearly one-tenth of the run production of the squad. Pettitte didn’t see time on the mound in 2026, but had a 0.00 ERA in six appearances across 11.1 innings pitched during the 2025 season. Pettitte could turn into a great two-way player if he can develop as a pitcher while continuing to be dominant at the plate, putting him in elite company if so.
Jake Bennett (C, Toronto Blue Jays, Round 8 Pick 252)
Getting the call just four picks after his former teammate, now divisional rival, Bennett’s 2026 campaign helped set himself up for success. In his second year with DBU, Bennett hit a clean .346 average with an astounding 1.251 OPS, one of the best in the nation. He had better production numbers than his two-way teammate, recording 19 home runs and 53 RBIs throughout the season. On top of the great performance at the plate, the senior was perfect in fielding behind the plate as a catcher, getting 32 put outs and four assists in 36 chances for outs. Bennett can be a great asset for the Blue Jays once he gets some time in the minors, especially when you consider that Toronto is currently last in the AL East, having gone through one of the biggest flips year-over-year so far.
Ben Tryon (IF, Houston Astros, Round 17 Pick 511)
Continuing the march around the diamond of picks for Dallas Baptist, Tryon was selected later in the second day after reaching new heights in 2026. After a decent 2025 campaign, Tryon hit a great .315 average and .966 OPS, an increase of .050 and .155 respectively. Across his 67 hits, he notched 11 doubles and home runs while drawing 33 walks and five stolen bases. An all around threat in the box, Tryon’s utility across the entire diamond was great, but he took the majority of his time on the field as a first baseman and left fielder while serving as the designated hitter from time to time. That type of moldability can help elevate Tryon’s stock faster, hopefully turning into opportunities at The Show.
Aiden VanDeHatert (P, Boston Red Rox, Round 20 Pick 604)
In one of the final picks of the draft, the Patriots had one more prospect in Aiden VanDeHatert get his name called. VanDeHatert was a reliable closing/relief option for DBU, with several shutout appearances throughout the 2026 season. However, bad outings against New Mexico State, Kennesaw State, Oklahoma and UTA brought up his averages, putting his ERA to 6.10 after impressive stints once the UTA outing was put behind him. VanDeHatert had similar effects happen to his win-loss record, finishing with a 2-3 record and one save. With some time and with the potential of some much needed run support, VanDeHatert could become an even better prospect for the Red Sox, who don’t necessarily need a short inning relief or closing pitcher at the moment, but could down the line.
Gonzaga: 1
Mikey Bell (3B, San Francisco Giants, Round 19 Pick 568)
Mikey Bell was the best statistical player on the Bulldogs’ roster this year, resulting in earning the honor of being named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. In 225 at-bats in 54 games, Bell hit .378, notching the most hits on Gonzaga with 85 while crossing the plate 52 times. With an OPS of 1.058 (.604 SLG, .454 OB), he was extremely productive in his redshirt junior year. Fielding was not the greatest, as he did commit 12 errors for a .923 fielding percentage, but that can be remedied over time. The Giants do have name power at third with Matt Chapman taking the helm, but his best years are seemingly behind him, leaving the hot corner open for competition for Bell and others to fight for.
The only top-200 prospect in the Pac-12, Ethan Kleinschmit was the journeyman for the Beavers this year. Pitching in the most innings of any pitcher on the staff (77), Kleinschmit allowed 33 earned runs this year, only giving up more than two runs in four of his 15 appearances. He did have the worst ERA of any starting pitcher on the team (3.74), mainly due to his 11 home runs given up. However, Kleinschmit held his opponents to a .222 batting average, which is no small feat when playing schools like Arizona, Alabama and a white hot Air Force team. He won’t be in the majors, and maybe not triple-A in his first year like other amazing pitchers, but don’t be shocked when we all hear the name Kleinschmit getting the call to the majors soon.
Eric Segura (RHP, Chicago White Sox, Round 4 Pick 105)
Even though he was drafted two rounds later, Segura had a great resume heading into the MLB Draft that stacked up with Kleinschmit, especially from this year. Sporting a 2.22 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, the right-handed senior only appeared in two games where the Beavers lost, earning a 6-2 record. In fact, the only times where Segura’s ERA was above 2.00 was when he had his two losses to Purdue and Air Force, but eventually brought them down to great numbers. He also had 82 strikeouts in 73 innings while giving up only 56 hits. The White Sox are now seemingly in a spot to contend for a divisional pennant, but with Segura growing in their farm system, that trend might continue with the right conditions.
After seeing two of his mates get drafted on the first day, Wyatt Queen had his name called first on the second day. In 2026, Queen was one of the best relief pitchers in the Beavers’ bullpen, earning a 2.49 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP. Through 47 innings pitched and 171 batters faced in 21 appearances (including one start), he only allowed 35 hits and 13 earned runs, holding batters to a .205 batting average. All of these stats were improvements year-over-year while only pitching in just two-thirds of an inning less from 2026 to 2025. The Seattle Mariners have been utilizing the “piggyback” style of pitching rotations, keeping a priority on its starting pitching and using them more than the average starting rotation. Queen can still find a spot as a short relief pitcher or closer, which given his track record over the last two years, should definitely be in the cards.
Isaac Yeager (P, Chicago White Sox, Round 14 Pick 405)
Yeager was in a similar boat to Queen, with a great 2026 relief year under his belt that got him picked up by the Chicago White Sox. With a 2.04 ERA and a .91 WHIP, Yeager came in clutch for the Beavers, earning himself a 6-2 record in the process. That was with less innings pitched than his former teammate, but also had four more appearances, so the exposure was still there. Plus, Yeager had a .184 opposing batting average, further cementing his presence on the mound. Again, the White Sox are currently in a decent position, as they are tied for first with the Guardians. But, just like his teammate Segura, with the right development and potential for a spot opening up in the future, Yeager could see himself in the black and white with a stint in the minors.
Albert Roblez (P, San Diego Padres, Round 16 Pick 485)
The final and arguably best relief/closing pitcher from the Beavers’ bullpen, Roblez heard his name late, but should still make an impact in the big leagues. In 24 appearances, the California native posted a 1.50 ERA in 30 innings, only allowing a .173 opposing batting average while giving up 18 hits and five earned runs. Those are all amazing stats to capture in just one season, but there’s one that trumps all in my eyes, which is the 14 saves Robelz secured throughout the year, a save rate of 58.3 percent. The Padres have Mason Miller, which should be their guy for years to come. But regardless of whether it’s in San Diego or somewhere else, Roblez has the potential to have his own walk up song once he’s in the majors.
San Diego State’s Rohan Lettow was one of the best pitchers in the Mountain West last year, leading the Aztecs all the way to the conference championship. With an impressive 3.79 ERA and a decent 1.29 WHIP, Lettow was the ace of the SDSU lineup, earning an honor as an all-MW first team member. He also produced the lowest opponent batting average of the starting pitchers with a .251, which was great in a league where hitting was great. The Pirates are in the middle of figuring out whether they want to keep the pieces they already have developed or just clean house. Regardless of that choice, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Lettow climb the ranks and get a spot in the future.
Jake Jackson (OF, Los Angeles Angels, Round 20 Pick 589)
The Mountain West Player of the Year, Jackson was bound for the major leagues and found a home in Los Angeles. He was statistically the best hitter in the conference, posting a .338 batting average with a 1.027 OPS. Getting 78 hits through 231 at-bats, Jackson got 18 doubles and 15 home runs (both best on the team) while hitting in 48 RBIs. And even though he was caught four times, Jackson also stole eight bases, proving himself to be an all around threat. The Angels are in last place in the AL West and aren’t in any position to take any near-future accolades, giving time for Jackson to grow and prove himself in their farm system with the hope to see him in The Show.
Anthony Marnell IV (C, Athletics, Round 20 Pick 591)
The Aztecs final pick was one of their most consistent hitters down the line in Anthony Marnell IV. Overall, the 2026 season was not the greatest for the redshirt sophomore. Sporting a .257 batting average and a .722 OPS, things were a mixed bag for Marnell IV, with many multi-hit games in between getting blanked at the plate. Despite the rollercoaster of a season through the first two months, Marnell IV ended the year on great terms, getting a hit in eight of his final 10 games, including the five games SDSU played in the Mountain West tournament. If he can harness what he did in the final games of his college career, then Marnell IV will have a great start to his minor league career.
Texas State: 2
Chase Mora (INF, Milwaukee Brewers, Round 9 Pick 281)
Despite having a down year, Mora was selected as the final single-digit round pick of the Pac-12 to the Brewers. Posting a .235 batting average (his worst in college) through 226 at-bats. Slugging wise, 2026 was a decent season, as he got a .447 slugging percentage, hitting 11 balls out of the park and 13 doubles. However, Mora had one of his worst on-base percentages of his career, only getting on base 29.3 percent of the time, striking out 67 times as well. Mora will have time to grow with a mix of young and experienced players currently on the Brewers roster, which should prove wonders for the Tomball, Texas native. Given the chance, Mora could get the chance once he puts in that time.
Following up his teammate seven rounds later, Galloway was picked up by the Astros, which could prove to be a powerful bat staying in Texas. In his best statistical season in college, Galloway finished with a .318 batting average, getting 84 hits with 27 doubles and 12 home runs. He had the second best slugging percentage on the team of those who qualified with a .580, combining with his .368 on base percentage for a .948 OPS. Rounding out his performance was his presence behind the plate, as he had 108 chances for an out and only recorded two errors for a .982 fielding percentage. The Houston franchise might need to go back to the drawing board depending on how the second half of the season goes, giving Galloway the opportunity to rise and grow quicker.
Many races throughout the league are wide open, particularly in the AL, where the playoffs feel unattainable for very few teams. Late pre-All-Star surges from the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox have taken two perceived sellers with coveted second half players and thrown their status into flux. And the Los Angeles Dodgers are still the team to beat, having gone into the break with the best record in baseball as the two-time defending champions.
There are plenty of major names on the market, to be sure. After last season saw two elite closers in Mason Miller and Jhoan Duran get moved, another big reliever name has been bandied about. Ten years after he was a major factor in the Cubs' World Series run after being acquired at the deadline, reliever strikeout leader Aroldis Chapman is again being mentioned as a big trade target.
This season is also a rarity in that multiple quality starting pitchers are seemingly available on the market. Tarik Skubal is, of course, the name flashing on the marquee. But other arms who would solid in the front-to-middle of the rotation depending on the landing spot like Joe Ryan, Reid Detmers, and Casey Mize are also on the block. Whether or not their teams will be willing to move them is in the air.
But there's a dearth of bats. Staying in Boston, Willson Contreras could be a contributor to the right situation. CJ Abrams seemed like a lock to get moved in December, but is now an All-Star starter on a team that has wild card aspirations. And catchers Hunter Goodman and Ryan Jeffers seem to have Rockies and Twins determined to hang onto them, respectively.
In short, things are a mess. Here's what to know to make sense of a deadline that has just as much potential to bring fireworks as it does to fizzle out like so many sparklers.
When is the the 2026 MLB trade deadline?
Date: Aug. 3, 2026
Time: 6 p.m. ET
The MLB trade deadline is at 6 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. CT, 4 p.m. MT, and 3 p.m. PT on Aug. 3. While some trades sometimes trickle in under the wire, that is when communications for teams to deal players must cease.
Key MLB trade deadline targets
This is by no means an exhaustive list, plenty of other names are on the block. But here are some of the top names being talked about heading into this year's deadline.
P Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
Tarik Skubal might be the biggest starting pitcher trade deadline rental baseball has seen in almost 20 years. CC Sabathia being traded to the Brewers in 2008 before joining the Yankees is the last name that comes to mind. The Tigers' mega-ace and two-time defending Cy Young winner hasn't fully returned to form after getting a NanoScope procedure for loose bodies in May, but even so his ERA since his return is sitting at an outstanding 3.08 and he has 44 strikeouts to five walks in six starts. Skubal also has nine strikeouts in three of his last four starts, indicating his punchout stuff is still excellent while his control has not wavered since the surgery.
It was a bit shocking to see Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran moved at last year's deadline while Joe Ryan stayed put. He arguably had the most value on the Twins roster at the time, and with plenty of control, he could have pulled in a decent haul. Now, the Twins are in a complicated situation. Ryan is a free agent after the 2027 season, and is having the best season of his career with a 2.85 ERA, 150 ERA+, and 2.77 FIP, all career-bests. Ryan is a frontline starter who could slot into any rotation, but the Twins, like the Tigers, play in a division that could be won by anyone who gets hot.
P Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox
The 37-year-old Aroldis Chapman is, as it turns out, ageless. Even as his average velo dips (dips, not drops), he is still missing bats and his sinker is as devastating as ever. Though his walk rate is a bit up and his strikeout rate is a bit down from his outstanding 2025 (which would be inimitable for 99% of the league anyways), Chapman is one of the few high leverage relievers who might be available on the market. It carries echoes of 2016, when Chapman was traded to the Cubs and helped a World Series run. Ten years later, he has the potential to do the same thing.
P Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox
Though Zack Wheeler made the headlines as an All-Star snub, Sonny Gray also has reason to gripe in what has been a return to form season for him. In the absence of Garrett Crochet, Gray has settled in as Boston's ace, pitching to 2.54 ERA to this point, a career best if it holds. He's a true five-pitch pitcher with three fastballs, whose cutter-sinker-four seam combo offsets his relatively low velo. Gray could be a boon to a team looking to shore up its rotation, should Boston move on from him.
This will be a stubbornness check for the Orioles, but Taylor Ward is the best rental bat on market. Even though Baltimore is just two games out of a wild card spot, and Ward is a right-handed bat who could make a difference to the right suitor. Will the Orioles clutch and hope to make a run, or will they move Ward, who is a premium player on this market?
C Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins
Ryan Jeffers should be back from hamate surgery soon, so his value is TBD until teams actually see him play. But with a .292 batting average and an OPS of .942, Jeffers is the type of right-handed bat who could bolster a lineup. Though he doesn't bring elite power to the fold, he plays a position where offense like his can be hard to come by. Adding catchers is tricky, but Jeffers may be worth the flier.
MLB trade deadline burning questions
Will Tigers, Red Sox streaks change selling landscape?
Ask around in early June, and it was a forgone conclusion Tarik Skubal would be wearing a different jersey come August. But the Tigers are 21-12 in June and July and – by virtue of a brutally bad AL and an AL Central that continues to hover just below mediocre as a whole – are back in the playoff race. Similarly, the Red Sox entered the break scorching hot on a nine-game win streak, and could well be in the race as well. If Skubal, Casey Mize, Chapman, and Gray are off the table as trade options, the deadline is shaping up to be completely different.
Who will swing to catch the Dodgers?
As the AL continues to shuffle onward this season, one team in the NL lords over MLB: The dreaded Dodgers. While it would be folly to think the Dodgers will sit on their heels at the deadline, it's clear someone in the NL has to take a big swing to try to unseat the two-time defending MLB champs. The NL East has three teams mired in a hot race, while the Brewers may be best positioned to try to unseat L.A. Milwaukee added Lance McCullers Jr. to its pitching staff, but may need to go out and get a bat to try and compete with baseball's current Death Star.
How aggressive will the Yankees be?
In the AL East, it's reasonable to assume the Rays will continue to live on the margins and try to add role players who can contribute to their order, particularly after seemingly surviving an All-Star Game scare to star slugger Junior Caminero. As the Yankees chase them in the AL East, things seem to be slipping for the Bronx Bombers. They went 12-14 in June and are 6-5 in July. The good news? The Yankees aren't getting decimated by right or left-handed pitching, their splits are pretty even. They're reportedly chasing either Jeffers or Hunter Goodman, though the latter would be difficult to pry away from Colorado. Reliever help is also a question, with the Yankees reportedly inquiring on fireballer Mason Miller.
Will the Mets go into firesale mode?
In Queens, this season has been an unmitigated disaster. The Mets are 17 games below .500 and 16 games out of the NL East lead. The only untouchable player on that roster should, of course, be Juan Soto. The bullpen would likely garner the most interest, particularly Luke Weaver, but catcher Francisco Alvarez is also a question mark. Brooks Raley and AJ Minter likely already have their lockers packed as well.
Are the Angels serious about holding onto their players?
What the hell are the Angels going to do? GM Perry Minasian was fired after saying he was going to hold on to key Angels pieces, but with him out the door, it stands to reason Reid Detmers and Jo Adell are available. Mike Trout's no-trade clause waiver discourse is an annual tradition at this point, but until there's any indication of that happening, it's just noise.
The Astros have traded the veteran right-handed pitcher and left-hander Colton Gordon to the Brewers, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
Houston is receiving outfielder/DH Jayden Fielder, the 21-year-old son of Prince Fielder, per multiple reports.
McCullers, who won World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 with the Astros, has been on the IL since May 19 with right shoulder inflammation.
Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros reacts on the mound after giving up a home run during the fifth inning. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
He has a 6.86 ERA in 39 ⅓ innings across eight starts with Houston this season and is in the final year of a five-year, $85 million contract.
The Astros have plenty of pitching depth. Hayden Wesneski and Ronel Blanco are expected to come off the IL later this month and they added Tatsuya Imai, Peter Lambert and Mike Burrows this offseason.
This trade was made by Houston to free up money for potential other moves ahead of the trade deadline. Houston has overcome a rough start and sits at 47-51, just 1 ½ games out of the final wild-card spot in the middling American League.
With the 32-year-old gone, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are the only two members of the 2017 World Series championship team left on the roster.
That season was McCullers only All-Star Game appearance, though his best season was in 2021 when he posted a 13-5 record with a 3.16 ERA in 28 starts, finishing seventh in AL Cy Young voting.
Since then, tough, McCullers has been unable to stay healthy.
McCullers Jr. had surgery on his pitching arm earlier this week and looks to return sometime in 2024. AP
The right hander dealt with a complex right flexor tendon repair surgery and bone spur removal following the 2022 World Series that kept him out for two-and-a-half years.
In his return to the mound last season, McCullers struggled with a 6.51 ERA in 55 ⅓ innings in 16 games, and found himself on the IL three times.
McCullers’ current injury has been going on for a little while, according to Astros manager Joe Espada, he’s just been pitching through it.
In late May, the Astros 2012 draft pick faced live batters during batting practice in late June, and has been on rehab assignment since then, posting a 2.45 ERA in three games.
McCullers also previously dealt with Tommy John surgery, missing the 2019 season with rehab.
Gordon, the other half of the deal, has an 11.57 ERA in 9 ⅓ innings for the Astros this season. He has made just four appearances and one start.
Major League Baseball has played a Futures Game featuring top prospects every year since 1999 as part of All-Star Game festivities.
It began as a seven-inning affair and was lengthened to nine innings from 2008-18, but since 2019 has reverted to the seven-inning format.
Many future stars have played in this game. Then-Cubs prospect Kyle Schwarber was the MVP of the 2015 game, played in Cincinnati. Schwarber, who had already played six MLB games in a brief call-up in June 2015, hit a two-run triple in front of about 100 friends and family — he grew up in Middletown, Ohio. (Future Cub Michael Conforto was 2-for-2 in that game.)
The Futures Game is a great showcase for up-and-coming talent. Unfortunately, Major League Baseball has pretty much buried it in terms of exposure. This year, the game was played at 12 noon Eastern time — up against a full slate of MLB games.
Why have an event if hardly anyone is going to watch it? MLB didn’t even report attendance for this game in the box score.
MLB has put together quite a lineup of events for what it now terms All-Star Week. The MLB Draft is now held in conjunction with All-Star festivities (and that’s a whole other issue I could devote an article to). The Home Run Derby and All-Star Game get prime time attention — why shouldn’t the Futures Game?
On the Sunday before the All-Star Game, MLB doesn’t have its usual Sunday Night Baseball nationally televised game. This is to give players who have to fly to the All-Star host city extra time to get there, as these players are expected to be available for practices and interviews on the Monday of All-Star week.
So why not move the Futures Game to that Sunday night slot? It would give the game a national showcase and would provide some MLB programming to a TV network that doesn’t otherwise have baseball on that evening.
NBC, who had the rights to this game this year, would likely not put it on its main broadcast channel. But there are cable (NBC Sports Network) and streaming (Peacock) options available. Yes, those cost extra. But at least the game would not have to compete with a 15-game full slate of MLB games.
For those who say, “Move it to Wednesday,” that wouldn’t work because MLB wants to leave that date open for potential ASG weather issues. The Sunday night slot is ideal.
While they’re at it, return this game to a nine-inning format. That would give all the players a bit more playing time and not have to squish some of the pitchers into a two-pitch or three-pitch appearance just so they get everyone in the game.
I assume this makes too much sense for MLB to ever do it, though. We can still hope — and they can start by doing this next year when All-Star Week is hosted at Wrigley Field.
Apr 22, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox first base Triston Casas (36) hits a three run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
With Willson Contreras having emerged to become the face of the franchise, it’s fun to look way back in the archives. Like, remember Triston Casas? Whatever happened to that guy? But seriously, when does Casas ever return to the Sox, even if he somehow miraculously stays healthy? Does he ever?
Ryan Burrowes discovered another gear, crushing four home runs after hitting just seven total over the previous two seasons combined. | (Ryan Burrowes/Instagram)
Charlotte Knights Record 3-3 (last week), 7-11 (second half), 49-44 (overall)
Knights Players of the Week Nolan Jones .364/.375/.818, 22 at-bats
Jonathan Cannon 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K David Sandlin 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 3 K Mason Adams 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 5 K Zach Franklin 4 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K Shane Smith 4 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K
After back-to-back 2-4 series, the Knights took a step in the right direction with a series split against the Sounds (53-40).
Outfielder Nolan Jones, 28, was seeing the ball very well all week. Jones went 8-for-22 with three homers, a double, a walk, and 12 RBIs. The White Sox acquired Jones from Cleveland in exchange for cash considerations on June 11, and so far, Jones is slashing .230/.311/.494 in 25 games with the Knights. Jones has played 349 MLB games, and at the top level, he has slashed .247/.336/.396 (95 wRC+) and has accumulated 2.7 fWAR. Jones played at the top level for the Guardians for most of the 2025 season, but he has not appeared in the majors in 2026. If Jones has more weeks like this, he will have a strong case for a promotion.
2026 Charlotte Knights Players of the Week Korey Lee (March 27-April 5) Oliver Dunn (April 6-12) Shane Smith (April 13-19) Jarred Kelenic (April 20-26) Oliver Dunn (April 27-May 3) LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 4-10) Jacob Gonzalez(May 11-17) LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 18-24) Jacob Gonzalez(May 25-31) Braden Montgomery(June 1-7) Ryan Galanie(June 8-14) Kyle Teel(June 15-21) Korey Lee(June 22-28) Caden Connor(June 29-July 5) Nolan Jones(July 6-12)
Barons Player of the Week Dylan Campbell .368/.400/.632, 3-for-3 stolen bases, 19 at-bats
Alec Briley .280/.333/.440, 0-for-1 stolen bases, 25 at-bats Anthony DePino .227/.320/.455, 22 at-bats Boston Smith .278/.381/.611, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 18 at-bats Caleb Bonemer .235/.316/.412, 17 at-bats T.J. McCants .333/.333/.417, 2-for-2 stolen bases, 12 at-bats Colby Shelton .150/.150/.350, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 20 at-bats Samuel Zavala .214/.353/.286, 0-for-1 stolen bases, 14 at-bats
Dylan Cumming 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K Gabe Davis 6 2/3 IP, 8 ER, 10 H, 4 BB, 7 K Lucas Gordon 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K Jake Palisch 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 4 K Jackson Kelley 3 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 7 K
The Barons failed to keep the good vibes rolling after their 4-2 week, going 1-5 against the Clingstones (40-42).
Outfielder Dylan Campbell, 24, was on fire, going 7-for-19 with a homer, two doubles, a walk, and three stolen bases without being caught. The White Sox acquired Campbell from the Phillies in the Derek Hill trade on June 11. Through 24 games in the organization, all with the Barons, Campbell is slashing .233/.347/.372. Campbell got off to a slow start to the season, but he has been gradually trending in the right direction lately, and he could not be stopped this week.
Cannon Ballers Player of the Week Jaden Fauske .286/.500/.429, 3-for-3 stolen bases, 14 at-bats
Stiven Flores .438/.471/.438, 16 at-bats Nick McLain .333/.364/.444, 18 at-bats Alexander Albertus .227/.292/.455, 0-for-1 stolen bases, 22 at-bats Efren Teran .250/.333/.250, 16 at-bats
Caedmon Parker 5 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 K Gabe Tanner 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K Truman Pauley 7 1/3 IP, 6 R (1 ER), 6 H, 6 BB, 10 K Alexander Martinez 4 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K Gabriel Rodriguez 3 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K Ryan Schiefer 3 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 5 K
The Cannon Ballers got off to a flaming hot start, winning their first four games of the week. They couldn’t keep it going over the weekend, but they still won the series by taking four of six against Delmarva (31-56).
Outfielder Jaden Fauske, 19, was an on-base machine against the Shorebirds, as he could hardly be retired. Fauske went 4-for-14 with two doubles, six walks, three RBIs, and three steals in as many attempts. So, Fauske reached base 10 times in 20 plate appearances, and after reaching base, he was dangerous. The South Siders drafted Fauske in the second round of the 2025 draft. Like Landon Thome, who the White Sox drafted 34th overall on Saturday, Fauske went to Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park.
2026 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Players of the Week Stiven Flores (April 6-12) Abraham Núñez (April 13-19) Javier Mogollón(April 20-26) Arxy Hernández(April 27-May 3) Javier Mogollón(May 4-10) Max Banks(May 11-17) Riley Eikhoff(May 18-24) James Taussig(May 25-31) James Taussig(June 1-7) Derek Cerda(June 8-14) Matthew Boughton(June 15-21) Ryan Schiefer(June 22-28) Christian Gonzalez(June 29-July 5) Jaden Fauske (July 6-12)
ACL White Sox Record 1-4 (last week), 14-37 (overall)
Complex Sox Player of the Week Osniel Castillo .667/.667/1.111, 1-for-2 stolen bases, nine at-bats
Yordani Soto .278/.278/.556, 18 at-bats Landon Hodge .400/.538/.900, 10 at-bats José M. Mendoza .308/.357/.462, 13 at-bats Eduardo Herrera .500/.571/.500, six at-bats
Fidel Montero 5 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K Orlando Suarez 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K Justin Fuson 4 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 4 K Fabian Ysalla 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K Jefrank Silva 3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 0 K Dylan Carmouche 2 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K
I feel like a broken record with this sentence, but the Complex Sox only won one out of five games this week. At least their overall win percentage (.275) still exceeds that of the 2024 White Sox (.253), but it is getting close.
Outfielder Osniel Castillo, 20, was cold in June, but he was fantastic this week. Castillo went 6-for-9 with a homer and a double, as he gave the Complex Sox an enormous spark. Castillo’s season has been topsy-turvy, as he has slashed .300/.391/.400 in May and .121/.147/.121 in June. Let’s hope Castillo can build on his momentum and sustain impressive numbers in July.
2026 Complex Sox Players of the Week Alexander Albertus(May 4-10) Eduardo Herrera(May 11-17) Yordani Soto (May 18-24) José M. Mendoza(May 25-31) Yordani Soto(June 1-7) Landon Hodge(June 8-14) Tommy Vail(June 15-21) Yordani Soto(June 22-28) D’Angelo Tejada(June 29-July 5) Osniel Castillo (July 6-12)
DSL White Sox Record 2-3 (last week), 11-18 (overall)
DSL White Sox Player of the Week Ronald Cardozo .462/.500/1.154, 13 at-bats
Roderic Ramírez 4 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K Ronald Kelly 3 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K David Colmenares 3 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K Yordany Marte 3 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K
After the DSL White Sox’s improbable 4-1 week, they went 2-3, which is in the middle of the road for this squad.
Catcher and first baseman Ronald Cardozo, 17, was on a different level, going 6-for-13 with two homers, a triple, a double, two walks, and 12 RBIs. In Cardozo’s first 27 games of affiliated ball, he is slashing .329/.436/.598 (136 wRC+). The Dominican Summer League has an extremely high run-scoring environment, but even considering that, Cardozo has been terrific.
2026 DSL White Sox Players of the Week Carlos Vielma(June 1-7) Sebastian Romero(June 8-14) Sebastian Romero(June 15-21) Ronald Kelly(June 22-28) Orlando Patiño(June 29-July 5) Ronald Cardozo (July 6-12)
Unfortunately, our latest free poll embed software no longer functions. We will regather and decide what to use going forward, and we will likely still stick polls in this section in the near future.
