While Montreal Canadiens Cole Caufield made history Thursday night by becoming the first Hab to score in eight consecutive games against the Boston Bruins, the team also achieved an impressive feat. The 5-2 win over the divisional rival meant that the Sainte-Flanelle got at least a point in its last 12 games. That hasn’t happened since the 1992-93 season, when the team won the last of its 24 Stanley Cups, which was an unexpected one as well.
What’s even more impressive, though, is that all those games were played without Russian sophomore Ivan Demidov, a key part of the Canadiens’ core. Furthermore, six of those games were played without team captain Nick Suzuki, while defenseman Mike Matheson also missed a sizeable chunk of matches. While some will say the results were skewed by great goaltending, mainly from Jacob Fowler, the fact is that the goaltender is an integral part of the team; it’s not a cheat code.
How many games can the Canadiens take that sequence to? Time will tell, but getting Demidov back would certainly help. While the Habs haven’t spelled out a new target date for his return, they announced this week that he would take part in a public signing session on November 22. That signing session was meant to happen earlier this season, but it was postponed because of his injury. Therefore, logic dictates that he should be back in the lineup by then; otherwise, he wouldn’t have committed to a signing session.
Montreal has five games left until then: the Avalanche and the Flyers at home, and a three-game road trip in three days against the Rangers, the Devils, and the Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. That’s bound to be a challenge, especially with the back-to-back games against the Devils and the Canes. When will Jakub Dobes come back in net? Will he be able to keep the streak intact? The next few games promise to be very interesting.
If you follow me on TikTok or Twitter you may already know this about me, but for those who don’t: I am a BIG NBA Cup supporter. We #RespectTheCup in this house. I am also a big soccer (or as I call it, footy) fan, so I was already prone to enjoying these in-season tournaments. When it was announced I actually think that I was one of the only ones in my content creation circle, and certainly the only one in my friend group, to be 100% on board with the idea.
While Adam Silver has had more missteps in the last few years than I would prefer, he knocked it out of the park with the NBA Cup. As mentioned above, I think that there are ways to improve the tournament, but even in its short existence, it has brought much needed excitement and punch to the early portion of the NBA season.
The Utah Jazz haven’t had the season that any of us would have envisioned, and while starting 1-11 is quite the hole to put ourselves in, the NBA Cup allows us to strive towards a real goal outside of “development.” Even more important than presenting an opportunity to lift up some hardware, getting all the way to the NBA Cup Final would prove that this team is ready to compete one day.
The NBA Cup’s lineage is relatively short, but in its brief history we’ve been able to see some truly great basketball teams compete for the prize. If we take a trip down memory lane, we will notice something almost immediately — the teams that make it are/were threats to the rest of the league.
These weren’t flukes, they were mistakes; if you made it to the Final, you were a team with the aspirations and the roster to play basketball in June.
2023-2024
The inaugural NBA Cup Final was a success by every single metric there is. The game drew 4.58 million viewers between ABC and ESPN, the arena in Las Vegas hosted over 19,000 fans, and the Final featured one of the most exciting teams in the league at the time in the Indiana Pacers and the one of the most well known brands in all of sports in the Los Angeles Lakers, of course led by LeBron James – one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.
While the Lakers weren’t world beaters at this time, being three years removed from a championship, the year prior this squad lost in the Western Conference Finals to the ever dangerous Denver Nuggets. On the other side of the bracket, Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers were the talk of the town. Haliburton was coming off of an All-Star campaign the year prior and the Pacers were just so fun to watch. The matchup also presented an opportunity for there to be a “passing of the torch” moment, but LeBron had other plans.
LeBron finished the game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, Anthony Davis had a game of a lifetime with 41 points and 20 rebounds, and Austin Reaves chipped in 28 points off the bench in route to a 123-109 victory. LeBron won the inaugural NBA Cup MVP award, the most recognizable NBA team in the world won the inaugural NBA Cup, and the win reiterated that the Los Angeles Lakers were still going to compete at the highest level.
While I was personally rooting for the Indiana Pacers in this game, they gave it everything they had. Haliburton had a cool 20 point and 11 assist performance while Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 off the bench. It wasn’t the result that they (or I) wanted, but it wasn’t long before they proved to be worthy opponents themselves. Lest we forget that the Pacers could have been one catastrophic injury away from lifting up the Larry O’Brien Trophy the following year in the 2024-2025 NBA Season.
2024-2025
The second iteration of the NBA Cup had quite the shoes to fill, but the NBA Cup Final did not disappoint. While there wasn’t a widely recognizable brand in the Final like the Lakers or the Celtics, there was a massive amount of star power.
The Milwaukee Bucks were just a few years removed from a NBA Championship themselves, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was out to prove that they could still compete. Giannis was, and still is, one of the the world’s best players and one of the game’s biggest names. With Damian Lillard at his side, Giannis was out to prove that the Bucks were still threats to come out of the East.
Over in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder were taking the league by storm. The year prior the team showed up on everyone’s radar after winning 57 games, and this year turned out to be no different. After it was all said and done, the OKC Thunder won 68 games led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who won his first MVP award, and the crew hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the year.
Unfortunately for the Thunder, Giannis and the Bucks weren’t ready to lose this night. Giannis lead the way with a 26 point, 19 rebound, and 10 assist triple-double while Damian Lillard scored 23 points and led the Bucks to a 97-81 victory.
The Power of Friendship didn’t help the Thunder on this night, but they did give it their best effort: SGA scored 21, Jalen Williams scored 18,and Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in 16. While they weren’t victorious this night, they did prove to the world that they could compete with anyone in the league. After making it all the way to the NBA Cup Final, they dominated the regular season and defeated the aforementioned Indiana Pacers in 7 games in the NBA Finals.
2025-2026
The third iteration of the NBA Cup was arguably the best of the three. It also combined the best of both worlds from the previous two matchups: mega star power AND a recognizable brand. The New York Knicks are either the second or third (depending on who you ask) most recognizable brand in all of basketball, and for good reason. They don’t call Madison Square Garden “The Mecca of Basketball” for no reason. To top it all off, the Knicks were coming off of a 51 win season and a Conference Finals appearance the previous year, and Jalen Brunson just made the All-NBA 2nd Team.
Out west the San Antonio Spurs were well ahead of schedule with their roster. Stephon Castle just won the Rookie of the Year award the previous year, they drafted Dylan Harper with the #2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and Victor Wembanyama had displayed All-World potential despite missing most of the 2024-2025 NBA season with DVT. To a lesser extent compared to the Knicks, the Spurs are also a world wide brand in the basketball realm due to the success of international stars like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
With all of the star power and recognizable brands at play, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Amazon Prime Video broadcast averaged over 3 million viewers. What also wasn’t a surprise is that both teams came to play. The Spurs had 7 players in double figures; Wemby and Dylan Harper combined for 39 points off the bench, while Stephon Castle scored 15 points and dropped 12 dimes as a starter. For the Knicks, their Power of Friendship mantra rang true with 7 players scoring in double digits led by Jalen Brunson’s 25 points and OG Anunoby’s 28 points.
The Knicks came out on top 124-113, but this was just the appetizer for the NBA Finals. In the NBA Cup Final both teams proved that they had what it took to compete at the highest level, and then they both powered their way through the NBA Playoffs to meet in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately for The Baseline Bums, the Knicks prevailed again in a 4-1 series win to secure a championship for the first time in 53 years.
Time and time again, the NBA Cup has proven to be the battleground for future competitors and NBA Championship threats. In all three years of existence, the teams competing in the NBA Cup have either already climbed to the mountain top or they were getting ready to take the league by storm. THAT is what we should be striving for. I think after the 1-11 start it would be very difficult to compete for a Playoff spot (I predicted that we would finish 7th) so we should strive to do something more enticing than another year of developing our young talent.
We had higher expectations for our team, but we’ve had a season from hell when it comes to the injury department: Jaren Jackson Jr. is out until the new year, Jusuf Nurkic will be out for at least another two weeks, and Lauri Markkanen will miss at least a month with his hand fracture. Do I think that it will be difficult to win the games necessary to advance in the NBA Cup tournament without them? Absolutely. Do I think that this is a tremendous chance for our young players to prove what they can do? Without a doubt.
The road will be hard, especially after dropping our first NBA Cup game against the Mavericks 112-100, but I don’t think that our chance to win has been snuffed out. Tonight we play the Houston Rockets, and while they are formidable, they are not unbeatable. After that, the Suns and Nuggets are both very volatile. There is a real scenario where the Jazz go 3-1 in group play and earn a spot in the NBA Cup Quarter Finals. Once we get there, it just takes a hot streak to take us all the way to the Promised Land.
Again, without Lauri or JJJ, the burden will be placed on our younger players and luckily we have the firepower to do it. Keyonte George is good for 20 points a game this year, Darryn Peterson became the first teenager in Utah Jazz history to score 20+ points in four straight games, and Ace Bailey has proven that he is invaluable to this team.
The season has been disappointing so far, but there are reasons to be excited and goals to strive for. There is a lot of basketball left to play this year, and I for one am not satisfied with chalking up this year to another development year. Our goal for the rest of the year should be to win the NBA Cup, because if we can do that with a depleted roster, just imagine what we can do in the 2027-2028 season with a fully heathy squad.
How do you feel about the NBA Cup? How do you think the Jazz will fare the rest of the season? Sound off in the comments below!
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on November 11, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the centerpiece of a trade that sent fan favorite Darius Garland to the Clippers, Harden was always going to face an uphill battle.
Now, coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, all eyes are on Harden as he begins his second season with the team. After twelve games, one thing is clear: his performance will determine whether the Cavaliers can improve on last year.
He was at the center of the team’s problems. There were long stretches of minimal effort on defense, and he often looked like he was coasting, barely attempting to bring down rebounds.
Offensively, it was just as bleak: 11 points on 3-9 shooting with four turnovers. Safe to say, the fanbase was ready to drive Harden to the airport and send him to whatever team, or country, would take him.
Then came the Knicks game on November 11.
Suddenly, Harden was energized and putting his mark on the game.
He orchestrated a 115-107 road win at Madison Square Garden and put the offense on his back with 32 points, going 9-for-14 from the field with five threes and 9-11 at the free throw line.
Putting those two games back to back is as stark as it is telling of where the Cavaliers are. The team knew the risks and still entered the James Harden business.
This isn’t MVP Harden, and this isn’t the Houston Rockets of the 2010s, but the sentiment still stands: Cleveland is reliant on Harden to make the pieces on this roster gel. When he is at his worst, the ripples spread throughout the entire lineup.
The numbers show just how much his play matters, if not in the way Cleveland hoped. Through his first 11 games, the Cavaliers had a -5.6 net rating with Harden on the floor and a +15.7 net rating with him off it. Whatever his Knicks performance does to those numbers, it was a long way from enough to erase them.
Is this too much to ask of a 37-year-old? Yes. But the Cavaliers knew this was the route they were taking when they traded for Harden and then extended him on a three-year, $97 million deal. At times this season, it has looked like a grave mistake.
Harden is posting some of the lowest numbers of his career: 16.7 points, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. That scoring is about seven points below his 23.6 average last season, and about four below the 20.5 he averaged in 26 games after joining Cleveland. His assists are down more than two per game from last season’s 8.0.
Still, the Knicks game suggests the player fans expect isn’t gone. The problem for the Cavaliers is how to keep Harden engaged and empowered enough that performances like that don’t become few and far between.
It will be a balancing act. Cleveland has to meet Harden at a level of comfort that lets him use his best traits, while melding his heliocentric style with an offense that fits the rest of the roster and lets the ball move more freely. That will take time. The Cavaliers knew this came with Harden, and fans need to understand it won’t be pretty until a resolution is found on the court.
After an injury-shortened 2025, Orlando Patiño came back strong in 2026 to crack our Top 100. | Orlando Patiño/Instagram
Orlando Patiño Right Fielder 6´2´´ 190 pounds Age: 19 First appearance in the South Side Sox Top 100 2026 High Level DSL (rookie) Age relative to high level +0.4 years SSS rank among all right fielders in the system 7 Overall 2026 stats 48 games ⚾️ 2 HR ⚾️ 20 RBI ⚾️ .315/.438/.462 ⚾️ 28 BB ⚾️ 31 K ⚾️ 10-of-12 (83.3% SB) ⚾️ .944 FLD% ⚾️ 1.1 WAR
Patiño was a member of the 2025 international class for the White Sox, and was a bit of a plum pick, inking for $570,000. He hails from the lone hotbed of international talent for Chicago, Venezuela. But don’t let that make you think Patiño was a consolation prize; the White Sox swooped in late to steal him away from the Dodgers, who felt the 17-year-old was already in pocket.
The outfielder’s debut in the DSL in 2025 was mediocre, and trimmed short by injury. But his truncated debut made Patiño’s standout repeat of the DSL look even more spectacular, as he flashed four-tool talent with hopes of power to come. There was nothing about Patiño’s full season down south that disappointed.
Some of Patiño’s teammates, even those specifically roaming the outfield, who are getting more attention among prospect hounds. But, with a nod to the broad takes anyone watching has to take out of DSL play, Patiño looks as promising as any, as he heads to the U.S. for his first ACL season.
CNBC has released its valuations for all 32 NHL teams. As per the report, all valuation figures are in U.S. dollars, with multiple teams surpassing the $4 billion mark for the first time. The Toronto Maple Leafs lead the league at $5.4 billion, while the Columbus Blue Jackets are the lowest-valued team at $1.65 billion.
As for the Vancouver Canucks, they sit 15th at $2.5 billion. According to CNBC, that is up from the $ 2.2 billion reported in 2025. The Canucks did fall in overall position, as they were ranked 12th last year.
2026 CNBC NHL Team Valuations:
Toronto Maple Leafs: $5.4B
New York Rangers: $4.7B
Montréal Canadiens: $4.1B
Los Angeles Kings: $3.9B
Edmonton Oilers: $3.7B
Philadelphia Flyers: $3.6B
Boston Bruins: $3.5B
Chicago Blackhawks: $3.35B
Washington Capitals: $3.2B
New Jersey Devils: $3.1B
Detroit Red Wings: $3.05B
New York Islanders: $3B
Tampa Bay Lightning: $2.7B
Carolina Hurricanes: $2.66B
Vancouver Canucks: $2.5B
Vegas Golden Knights: $2.45B
Minnesota Wild: $2.33B
Colorado Avalanche: $2.27B
Dallas Stars: $2.26B
Calgary Flames: $2.25B
Seattle Kraken: $2.2B
Florida Panthers: $2.15B
Anaheim Ducks: $2.1B
Pittsburgh Penguins: $2B
Nashville Predators: $1.95B
St. Louis Blues: $1.9B
Utah Mammoth: $1.85B
San Jose Sharks: $1.8B
Winnipeg Jets: $1.75B
Ottawa Senators: $1.72B
Buffalo Sabres: $1.7B
Columbus Blue Jackets: $1.65B
Nov 9, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (88) celebrates his goal with forward Brock Boeser (6) against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The sandpaper affair is back, and the reason it has hit Australia so hard is because it is sneaky – or basically quite English
Any plans for the weekend? Personally I’m all set. I will be watching the full Pat Cummins sandpaper denial press conference, filmed live on location in Sydney on Friday morning, and now preserved uncut and un-redacted on YouTube.
I will not speed it up, or flick through impatiently only to find myself bogged down in endless adverts for old fat guys doing military calisthenics, and pills that will dissolve the vile writhing parasites that definitely live in my guts.
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The defending NBA Cup champions are in need of a win.
At 7 p.m. ET, Jalen Brunson’s New York Knicks will play their second NBA Cup game of the 2026 season against Pascal Siakam’s Indiana Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
After losing the first of four group-stage games 98-93 to the 76ers, a second defeat wouldn’t automatically eliminate the squad but could certainly hurt their chances of advancing.
To add insult to injury, the 2026 NBA champs are also coming off a tough 115-107 loss to the Cavs — they can’t even say they “analytically won” — where James Harden dropped 32 points on them.
Indiana enters tonight 4-8 and flying high following their 114-101 victory over the Wizards on Nov. 11. Siakam led the way with 28 points; Ivica Zubac chipped in 20.
Like New York, they are also 0-1 in NBA Cup play.
This evening’s contest will be the first of the year between the bitter Eastern Conference rivals; star Tyrese Haliburton is sitting for the Pacers due to a mild left hamstring strain. He should be back in approximately 10 days.
Prior to tipoff, the last Knicks vs. Pacers game was on March 17; New York won 136-110.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Cup game live for free tonight.
When do the Knicks play again?
The Knicks are back in action tonight, Nov. 13, against the Indiana Pacers.
Knicks vs. Pacers start time
Knicks vs. Pacers will tip off at 7 p.m. ET with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.
How to watch the Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Cup game for free
Tonight’s Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Cup game is streaming exclusively on Prime Video nationwide, so you’ll have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to watch the game.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
TRY PRIME VIDEO FREE
All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.
NBA on Prime: 2026-27 Knicks schedule
The Knicks have 10 scheduled NBA on Prime games for the 2026-27 season, not including any potential NBA Cup knockout games. These are the seven remaining:
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. talks with New York Mets Owner, Chairman and CEO Steve Cohen prior to the 2024 London Series game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at London Stadium on Saturday, June 8, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The owners are going to lock out the players (again) in December 2026 when the current collective bargaining agreement expires.
You may ask why. Well, I blame two “culprits” who frankly have not done anything wrong in a baseball context: Mets owner Steve Cohen and Padres owner Peter Seidler.
Today is not the day to break down proposals and argue who is in the right and who is in the wrong, and why the owners are a bunch of money-grubbing morons who are going to strangle the sport when it has finally regained a measure of popularity to be the second-banana in American sports again, only behind the behemoth that is the National Football League.
Today is not the day I break down in graphic detail what I really think.
We have time for that trainwreck and to fully explore the anger and stupidity, as well as the slow march that got us here. We have time to discuss the cancers that have been allowed to metastasize and spread that we covered earlier this year.
Now, like a blip on Doppler radar that has grown scarier and angrier on the screen, the oncoming storm lumbers towards our figurative shores. It will come ashore, and it will be bad. But before the doom and gloom, we can take a second to mock the deserving.
This fact just in: I was wrong as to one solitary point. Steve Cohen did not become baseball’s boogeyman; Mark Walter and the Dodgers did. However, we’re not here to talk about the Dodgers. Even with all of the investment in Queens, and Lord, there has been a lot of investment, the New York Mets remain a laughingstock.
It’s like accidentally making a flop in the style of The Producers every year.
Now, on the verge of the imminent lockout that we are powerless to stop, we need to do three things. Today, we are going to present a prebuttal to an argument that I know will persist only to annoy me and highlight folks who are either terribly ignorant or lack any semblance of empathy.
Next time, we’ll present an idea that would make baseball stronger and better for the next century. It’s fan-friendly and would be a generational change, transforming the landscape of American sport forever. Accordingly, this idea has no chance in hell of ever being implemented. Ever.
The owners would hate it. The players would hate it. The traditionalists in the media would hate it. But the fans would probably love it.
Then, we discuss expansion: both how it would look in this new system and what we’re most likely going to get.
Controlling the Message
“It’s millionaires versus billionaires:” this framing of the coming labor dispute is so incredibly lazy.
We have extensively covered that the average player in MLB is not a millionaire, at least not yet. And even if they were, what we are dealing with here is a manufactured labor crisis where management doesn’t want to pay its employees what they are actually worth. For as conservative-leaning as baseball generally is, there’s a movement to socialize the risk for owners, which is my view of the current argument.
Certain sportswriters clearly come from some degree of privilege (guilty as charged here), and that shows in how they discuss labor issues. Invariably, a stinker from Brittney Ghiroli or Jim Bowden at The Athletic usually makes you question your sanity. Although Pedro Martinez, analyst at ESPN, unleashed a corker recently:
“Please, for the fans, both sides, figure it out, a good way to get it done, and do not lock out baseball,” Martinez said.
“I hope the commissioner can see me and hear and the players’ association hears what I have to say. I might be insignificant, but I lived it before. I experienced that before,” Martinez said. “… I was one of the most punished players at that moment because I had talent, and I needed to wait until arbitration to make my money. So I hope they don’t mess it up and they don’t mistreat the fans.”
“Back then, there was a need for other things to change, and they changed for the better. This time, there’s no excuse,” Martinez added in comparing the 1994 strike to today. “On both sides, not the PA, not the owners, not baseball. The fans do not deserve to be mistreated.”
In Boston for the Pedro Martinez Foundation’s 10th annual gala, Martinez said that “honestly speaking, I’m pissed” as he appealed to both players and owners to find a solution.
It’s as if the former Dodger planned to give the perfect segue to present the argument that I shall rebut:
The argument goes, if there is a salary cap in baseball, the owners will pass that savings along to the fans. Because really this salary cap is about the fans. Too many teams have no shot of winning at the start of the year. No one is worrying about the fans!
As to the Math
First, people have argued about trickle-down economics for about fifty years in the United States. As of this essay, this timeframe goes back to Ronald Reagan in 1980, before I was born.
The math ever since, every time it was tried, is pretty clear: it doesn’t work. At all. The richer get richer, the poor get shafted. That’s not politics; it’s math.
No one will highlight the actual regular people until it’s too late. People in operations, marketing, sales, security, and every ancillary person who isn’t a player but depends directly on baseball to operate and have a job. The tour guides, the media people, the medical personnel, the food service people, the parking attendants, the regular people who are forced to sit around or find other work because management is trying to grow their balance sheets.
Wage disparity has grown into an ever-widening chasm between the haves and have-nots, starting in the Reagan Administration and continuing almost in a straight line to now. If you think a salary cap will lower ticket prices, concession prices, or parking prices by a single dollar now, fifty years later with clear, empirical evidence in every other instance that says to the contrary, then nothing likely will sway you short of a shock to the system that breaks past dogma.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions; no one is entitled to their own facts. There are not two sides to every issue.
As to the Cap
Second, baseball already has a salary cap; it’s just a soft cap, with financial penalties. The proponents of the stoppage want a hard cap where teams are barred from spending over a set amount. What these cheapskates want is the reserve clause back in all but name, and their best players being forced to play with one team for the duration of their career in the name of parity, which does not pass the laugh test.
Under the expanded playoff format, every team but six has made the playoffs: San Francisco Giants (2021), Sacramento Athletics (2020), Washington Nationals (2019), Colorado Rockies (2018), Pittsburgh Pirates (2015), and Anaheim Angels (2014).
Also, 13 unique teams have played in baseball’s final four, but sure, the Dodgers have somehow ruined baseball.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2023)
Cleveland Guardians (2024, 2026)
Houston Astros (2022, 2023)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2024, 2025, 2026)
Milwaukee Brewers (2025, 2026)
New York Mets (2024)
New York Yankees (2022, 2024)
Philadelphia Phillies (2022, 2023)
San Diego Padres (2022)
Seattle Mariners (2025)
Tampa Bay Rays (2026)
Texas Rangers (2023)
Toronto Blue Jays (2025)
Yes, the Tony Gwynns and Clayton Kershaws of the world stayed with their respective organizations for their entire careers. The entire notion that homegrown stars are ripped from the fans of so-called small-market teams was perpetuated by Moneyball. Yes, so-called large-market teams overpay for players all the time.
Look at Tarik Skubal. The unspoken truth about the fact that he was dealt in 2026 stems from the fact that the Detroit Tigers tried to lowball him to an absurd degree, making a midseason move all but a fait accompli. Will a player accept less to stay put? Sometimes. What a player won’t and shouldn’t accept is being paid less. A hometown discount is one thing; being paid pennies on the dollar is another, unless you’re Shohei Ohtani, which is both an accounting joke and a gross oversimplification of his contract.
A lot of the discourse surrounding Skubal at the deadline largely missed the mark. Much was said about the Dodgers trading for Tarik Skubal. Some of it was insightful and thought-provoking. However, most of the discourse was devoid of rational thought, said with the emotional maturity of a sleep-deprived toddler.
At the time, there was plenty of excellent coverage here at True Blue LA to sort through that needs no repetition here, only citation.
The default argument that the Dodgers bought Skubal was just silly and a declaration that one does not understand how trades work. Skubal did not have a no-move clause, unlike the also-traded Kevin Gausman. Skubal no more chose to be in Los Angeles than Kyle Tucker chose to arrive in Chicago last year after being traded from Houston.
Skubal was in the last year of his contract, costing about $10 million for the remainder of the year, and any team could have afforded that financial cost.
The Dodgers gave up some prospect depth in Zyhir Hope and River Ryan, but the system retained its prospect depth, particularly in the outfield. The trade of River Ryan for Skubal felt oddly kismet because I had worked on a trade proposal essay in 2024 about that basic deal I had to spike due to Ryan’s injury. A 2024 Dodgers’ team that had a rotation of Skubal-Yamamoto-Buehler-Knack likely would have had a much easier postseason run.
Yes, the Brewers tried to get Skubal with public reports about the packages they proffered to Detroit to no avail. “The Tigers, though, wanted a controllable Major League pitcher in the deal. None of the sources would say who they favored, but Logan Henderson was among the names teams were asking for most often.” In most years, the Brewers’ frugality is their downfall. This year, they won in spite of that trait. Good for them.
As to the Fans
Third, the fans shouldn’t have a say in this dispute. Imagine if, in your work, your customer tried to intervene in how much you got paid at work, arguing you should just take what you get; you wouldn’t stand for it.
That said, the fans do have a way to voice their opinion in these proceedings, once baseball returns: if you’re truly that unhappy with baseball, don’t go, don’t watch. We have a dispute between management and labor. If the customer doesn’t like the price of the service, the customer can stay home, which leads to the unspoken truth: baseball’s antitrust exemption.
If you want baseball, MLB is the only game in town. Even the Savanna Bananas and their ilk are something else. Baseball is a legal monopoly. And frankly, it is long past time for the exemption to die.
Everyone tends to forget that MLB pruned minor league baseball with a figurative ax over the last few years. The MLB draft is a shell of itself, as rounds 21 through 40 no longer exist.
Given the proposals from the league that seeks to further prune the avenues for people to enter the sport, it seems apt to point out the Hall of Famers and other notable players who were fortunate enough to make it when they did, because they are currently out of luck in the current system.
John Smoltz (Round 22, 1985, inducted 2015)
Andy Petittitte (Round 22, 1990)
Mike Piazza (Round 62, 1988, inducted 2016)
Roy Oswalt (Round 23, 1996)
Brett Butler (Round 23, 1979)
Mark Grace (Round 24, 1985)
Paul LoDuca (Round 25, 1993)
Dusty Baker (Round 26, 1967)
Dave Roberts (Round 28, 1998)
Kevin Kiermaier (Round 31, 2010)
Mark Buehrle (Round 38, 1998)
The average fan will not be affected one iota by the strike, as they, we, just lose an entertainment option. Most writers will have to find something else to drive traffic and generate interest in baseball. Most will have to learn or relearn to love the art of long-form essay writing.
Note, I say fan, because there is a segment of regular people who will be deeply affected by the lockout.
I’m shining a light on the people who are already losing their jobs, those people who are caught in the crossfire of management’s unfettered greed: the support staff people in baseball. And the cull has already started.
No one will highlight the actual regular people until it’s too late.
People in operations, marketing, sales, security, and every ancillary person who isn’t a player but depends directly on baseball to operate and have a job. The tour guides, the media people, the medical personnel, the food service people, the parking attendants, the regular people who are forced to sit around or find other work because management is trying to grow their balance sheets.
I’m sure I’ve forgotten or missed someone, and that failure is one of imagination rather than intent.
This oncoming storm is appropriate for the age we are in. The retroclassic ballpark age ended a while ago. We now live in the Faux-Wrigleyville / The Battery Era, where the goal is creating an entertainment/mixed use district that keeps dollars flowing to organizations every day of the year, regardless of whether baseball is in season or not.
The utter rage I feel at these regular people being screwed is the genesis of this essay. Because there is a better way, and baseball will likely never do it. So next time, we’re going to describe the layout ourselves as we engineer the future.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Teruaki Sato #7 of Team Japan hits a RBI double in the third inning during the game between Venezuela and Japan at loanDepot park on March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Suddenly, there is a lot of smoke surrounding the Phillies and Japanese Triple Crown winner Teruaki Sato.
Numerous sources are linking the 27-year-old third baseman/outfielder to Philadelphia, a pretty incredible thing when you consider the Phils’ historical inability to have any impact in the Japanese market. Still, when NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury is being this vociferous in his belief that the Phillies are a legitimate option, one must take it seriously.
“Tonight, Wednesday, I’m starting to hear more buzz about the Japanese outfielder, Sato…
…They’re trying to establish themselves in the Japanese market, and I’m getting the feel that… I’m hearing credible buzz… …that they’re on him pretty good. And this guy’s gonna sign pretty soon because he was posted on the 1st [of November], he’s got 45 days so he is likely to sign before the lockout comes in 20 days.
I’m getting more and more a credible vibe that [the Phillies] might have something going on with Sato. We’ll see.“
Sato was not on many fans’ bingo cards to start the off-season. In terms of outfield upgrades, a primary area of concern for Dave Dombrowski, it was assumed the team would primarily pursue Randy Arozarena or Seiya Suzuki in free agency. It’s possible that will still happen, but as Salisbury noted on The Phillies Show podcast, Sato is the most likely to sign before the presumed lockout that will likely begin on December 2.
Which player would be the best fit for the Phils? Let’s break it down.
One of the biggest issues confronting this roster is its age. Dombrowski is understandably reluctant to hand out another five-year contract to a player entering his mid-30s. Sato is five years younger than Suzuki and Arozarena, a major factor for an aging roster.
Sato is the reigning Triple Crown winner in Japan following a season in which he hit .306/.383/.609 with 39 HRs and 106 RBIs with 40 doubles. He hit 40 dingers in 2025, so his power is no fluke, and in six seasons he’s piled up 167 homers. For a team that lost a significant amount of power last year, Sato would appear to be a prime candidate to help in that regard.
His numbers are comparable to last off-season’s big Japanese import, Munetaka Murakami, who signed with the White Sox and slugged 35 homers with 77 RBIs in his rookie season. He hit just .207 and struck out 196 times but also had 92 walks, good for a .347 OBP. The numbers were Kyle Schwarber-like. In his last full season in Japan (2024), Murakami batted .244/.379/.472, with an .851 OPS, 33 HRs and just 13 doubles. He struck out 180 times in that league and walked 105. Sato whiffed 164 times last season and walked just 68 times. So, a little more contact, fewer walks, a bit more power from Sato.
Sato has primarily played third base in Japan, although most teams believe he should transition to corner outfield. It appears the Phillies have the same idea, although he could be a good fall-back option at third as well. He committed more errors at third than anyone else in the NPB in 2024 and 2026, but threw a Gold Glove season in the middle of that in ‘25. He has 260 career games in corner outfield in Japan, so this would not be a difficult transition.
The great unknown about Sato, just like every other hitter who comes to the States, is how he’ll handle Major League pitching. More specifically, velocity. There are fewer hard-throwers overseas and no one knows how Sato will be able to handle seeing more pitches in the mid-to-upper 90s.
MLBTR’s contract prediction for him is for five years, one year longer than Suzuki’s and Arozarena’s, for $80 million ($16 million AAV).
Seiya Suzuki
Suzuki, himself a Japanese import ahead of the 2022 season, has had a remarkably consistent and productive big league career, spending all five seasons in Chicago with the Cubs. He has hit between .245 and .285 every season, posted an OBP between .326 and .368 (last year), a slugging percentage between .433 and .485, and an OPS+ between 125 and 138 over each of the last four years. He banged 26 home runs last year with 86 RBIs, had among the lowest chase rates in MLB and plays a very good corner outfield defense.
He’s a right-handed, consistent, pitch-taking power hitter who would seemingly provide solid production in the middle of the lineup. He’d probably be their best right-handed hitting outfielder since Jayson Werth. There really are no flaws in his game, as evidenced by his 5.1 WAR last year, other than his age. And potentially the cost.
The Phillies really don’t need to sign another player in their mid-30s to a long contract, and MLB Trade Rumors’ predicted contract for Suzuki is for four years, $105 million. That’s $26 million AAV, which doesn’t break the bank, but locks them in through Suzuki’s age-36 season. He also received, and rejected, a qualifying offer from Chicago, meaning the Phillies would relinquish a 2nd and 5th round draft pick in this year’s draft, as well as $1 million in international bonus pool money, items Dombrowski doesn’t seem too stressed about.
Randy Arozarena
Like Suzuki, Arozarena is a right-handed power hitter that, on paper, would seemingly be a perfect fit.
He had the best season of his career in 2025, hitting .281/.381/.484, with an .865 OPS that is even more impressive given he did it all playing half his games in Seattle, one of the most pitching-friendly environments in baseball. His 148 OPS+ indicates he was 48% above average offensively for players at his position last season. His 5.7 WAR was, by far, a career high, and he led the AL in runs scored (113), with 26 homers and 79 RBIs. He’s also athletic on the bases, good enough for a sixth-straight 20/20 season.
However, as noted by MLBTR, Arozarena’s bat speed has slowed significantly:
His swings averaged 72.8 mph back in 2023 — in the 64th percentile of big league hitters. It’s dropped in three straight seasons but fell precipitously in 2026 — from last year’s 72.3 mph to just 70.9 mph in 2026. That’s in just the 31st percentile of major league hitters.
He’s also chasing more:
Arozarena’s 30.7% chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone is the highest of his career and represents an increase of five and a half percentage points over his 2025 levels. He still walked at a strong 10.1% clip, but even that number is down noticeably from its 11.8% peak in 2023-24.
I’m concerned we’re looking at someone who will fare similarly to how Nick Castellanos’ career went in Philadelphia coming off a career-best season in 2021. At 32, Arozarena is projected to earn a four-year contract worth $100 million and, like Suzuki, was also given, and turned down, a qualifying offer.
From a pure baseball standpoint, I would prefer the Phillies to prioritize these outfielders as follows:
Suzuki
Sato
Arozarena
While I’m wary of Arozarena, the Phillies must pursue him if they lose out on Suzuki and Sato. That said, those two players should be ahead of him in the pecking order.
All have some warts, but all three are better than anything the Phils have in the outfield as present.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Tim Tawa #13 of the Arizona Diamondbacks plays first base against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning of the game at Target Field on September 13, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ten different players appeared at first-base for the Diamondbacks in 2026, with eight men starting games at the position. However, more than half of all the starts were by players no longer with the organization, in Ildemaro Vargas, Pavin Smith, Carlos Santana and Luken Baker, so a lot of playing time has to be replaced. In addition, the offensive production from the spot was flat-out terrible. Arizona was dead-last in the majors by OPS, hitting .233/.282/.354 for a dismal .636 OPS. That’s the worst in franchise history by 38 points. Second-worst at 1B? Well, that would be 2025, so it’s clearly a position at which the D-backs have struggled of late.
What will Mike Hazen do to improve the spot for 2027?
Previous occupants
Four of the eight starters are still in the system, so should be considered incumbents, and credible options for next year. They are Tim Tawa (45 starts), Jose Fernandez (17), LuJames Groover (9) and Tyler Locklear (9). The first three are not primarily 1B, and there’s a strong case to be made, that pinning them down there would be a waste of their flexibility. Tawa, for example, also started games at all three outfield positions, in addition to third base, which is a useful tool to have. No reason he or the others couldn’t occasionally start at first when needed, but making them the everyday starter feels sub-optimal. I’m not sure they have the power we’d like either.
Locklear is the exception. Small sample size, but he posted an .802 OPS in the majors over 15 games. The problem for Tyler was staying healthy, as he played just 86 times across all levels this season. He has shoulder and elbow surgery last October after a collision at first, and missed the first month. Locklear then fractured his thumb in September, ending his season. In between, he had an .871 OPS across 68 games for Reno: for comparison, that’s 54 points below Pavin Smith, and does not translate well to the majors. He turns 26 later this month, so is still somewhat young. But as a comparison, in his age 25 season, Smith played 145 games in MLB.
Internal candidates
Likely the most intriguing possibility is Nolan Arenado. Now, he has never played anywhere except third in his entire professional career, since he was drafted by the Rockies in 2009. However, as he moves into his late thirties and his career inevitably winds down, the ten-time Gold Glover seems open to shifting across the diamond. GM Mike Hazen brought up the possibility last month, indicating it had been talked about with the veteran:
“We’ve talked about Nolan playing some first base, so that might be something we take a look at… I think [third base has] taken a toll on him physically a little bit. So we’re trying to be mindful of that. It could help us, depending on what’s out there in the market for available players, by giving us more flexibility. It opens the door for us, externally, to consider different ways to improve the team.”
The logic would be that would allow the team to sign a third-baseman or a first-baseman, knowing Arenado is able to fill the other position as appropriate. First base is generally considered easier to play than the hot corner, Arenado’s defensive skills should be able to adapt, if that proves necessary.
Adrian Del Castillo is another possibility for a change of scenery, since it seems the team does not have a lot of faith in him as a catcher. His last start there came on July 4: his final 13 appearances all came either as the designated hitter or off the bench. Given things like Del Castillo throwing out only 3 of 39 stolen-base attempts (and at least one of those was a trick play!), you can understand why. As a left-handed hitter, he might be a candidate to form a possible platoon with Locklear.
External candidates
For now, we’ll table the possibility of getting a third baseman, and concentrate just on first base candidates. With internal options like Locklear, Tawa and even Arenado, all being right-handed hitters, the team is likely looking for a left-handed bat. The clear top name there is Jake Bauers, but coming off a breakout season and having received a qualifying offer, he might be expensive. However, his weak track record before 2026 makes a long-term contract something of a risky bet, and so his market for a multi-year deal could be relatively weak. MLB Trade Rumors predicts Bauers might well accept the QO to stay with the Brewers. However, some do predict Arizona signing him, such as ESPN’s Paul Hembekides, who expects the D-backs to pay $54 million for three years.
A cheaper alternative from that side of the plate could be Nathaniel Lowe. The 31-year-old is coming off an 111 OPS+ season, split between Cincinnati and Cleveland. He’s a strong platoon candidate, posting an .822 OPS against right-handed pitching. Lowe also won a Gold Glove at first in 2023, and was a finalist for the award the following season. If Arizona decides to trade instead of buy, one target could be the Cardinals’ Alec Burleson. He is under team control for the next two seasons and has an OPS+ of 121 across the past three years. Burleson turns 28 later this month, so is basically in his prime. Whether or not he is available, may depend on if the Cardinals think they can compete, after going 77-85 this year.
Conclusions
Indications are that the Diamondbacks are not going to have that much money to spend, and they may be cautious to commit, due to the uncertainty currently hanging over the entire 2027 season. There are also other needs, including adding starting pitching and finding replacements for a bullpen significantly depleted by the departure of free agents like Taylor Clarke, Jonathan Loaisiga and Kevin Ginkel. But first base represents an easy opportunity to upgrade, simply because it was so terrible this year. You don’t need to pay top dollar for a stud. Just getting to average there, would make the Diamondbacks 2-3 wins better. There aren’t many cheaper ways to improve by that amount.
Ideally, we’d see Locklear blossom, and become the everyday player we want at the position. It’s certainly not too late: Christian Walker had barely 100 major-league plate appearances when he turned 28. However, nor is it guaranteed, and relying on that, or failed dumpster-dives like Carlos Santana last year, could lead to the team spending another season in the basement of production from the position. So while I’m not expecting a big move by Hazen, I do expect something significant.
The Colorado Avalanche may have to navigate the coming stretch without their biggest superstar.
Following Nathan MacKinnon’s lower-body injury in Thursday night’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre, the Avalanche have recalled forward Gavin Brindley from their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
MacKinnon kicking off the rush against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Credit: Nick Turchiaro - Imagn Images
MacKinnon exited Thursday night's game against Ottawa after appearing to injure his right side while attempting a reverse hit on Senators defenseman Artem Zub. His final shift came at the 8:15 mark of the second period. MacKinnon initially remained on the bench before heading down the tunnel and did not return for the remainder of the game.
Nathan MacKinnon in a previous interview.
Brindley, known for his speed and offensive ability, has been called up several times this season. He previously spent time with the Avalanche while forward Logan O’Connor recovered from a lower-body injury and during O’Connor’s absence following the death of his father, Myles Connor.
Brindley has made the most of his opportunities with the Eagles this season, recording 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 10 games. His point-per-game production has helped keep him in the conversation as an option whenever Colorado needs reinforcements up front.
He has yet to find the back of the net in five NHL appearances this season, recording one assist while averaging 8:54 of ice time per game.
Brindley has already come close to delivering a memorable moment at the NHL level this season. In Colorado’s Oct. 14 matchup against the Dallas Stars, he appeared to score a beautiful wrist-shot goal, prompting the goal horn to sound and the arena to erupt in celebration. However, the excitement was short-lived. A replay revealed that the puck had struck both posts without crossing the goal line, leaving Brindley heartbreakingly close to his first NHL goal of the season.
The Avalanche ultimately fell 3-2 in a shootout, but Brindley’s near-miss provided one of the night’s most memorable moments.
Now, with MacKinnon potentially sidelined for an undetermined period of time, Brindley gets another opportunity to make an impact at the NHL level. His speed and offensive upside could give Colorado another option as the team looks to navigate the absence of one of the most important players in its lineup.
On this day in 1999, Detroit Red Wings star winger Brendan Shanahan scored the 400th goal of his NHL career in a 1-1 tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was a landmark moment for one of the league's premier power forwards, who was in the middle of a Hall of Fame career in Detroit.
Shanahan was far from finished as he would go on to retire with 656 goals and 698 assists for 1,354 points in 1,524 games, along with 2,489 penalty minutes and was one of the rare players in all of NHL history to finish with more than 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes.
After being the second overall pick by the New Jersey Devils in 1987, Shanahan would also play for the St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers, and returned to the Devils to close out his career.
His ten seasons in Detroit were the defining stretch of his career as over a decade in a Red Wings sweater, he won three Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998 and 2002, and added an Olympic gold medal with Canada at the 2002 Winter Games. His historic career would earn him a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013 and was named one of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players in 2017.
Shanahan's influence continued after he hung up his skates as he served as the NHL's senior vice president of player safety, then became president of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014, a role he held through 2025.
During that time, he oversaw a major rebuild of the franchise, including the hiring several general managers and the drafting of core players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Toronto made the playoffs every year of his tenure, though it struggled to break through in the postseason.
With his time in Toronto over, Shanahan's next move is one of the more intriguing storylines around the league. Detroit remains the team most closely tied to his legacy, and a return to the organization where he won his Cups would carry obvious appeal.
The Red Wings, who are chasing their first playoff berth in more than a decade could benefit from bringing back the franchise icon. Any reunion is speculation for now, and neither side has publicly said a deal is in the works.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Amid a struggling start for the Knicks wings, Josh Hart revealed he’s dealt with injuries since pre-training camp and agreed Friday that the team’s slow pace has negatively impacted himself, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
All three entered Friday’s game against the Pacers shooting under 40 percent, while the Knicks were dead last in the league in pace at 95 possessions per game.
“There’s less chances at the rim,” Hart said. “I think it also affects Mikal and OG. … [Coach Mike Brown] says Mikal is the best runner in the league. So if you have the best runner in the league and you’re not running, you’re wasting one of his talents. If we play faster, we’ll be able to do that. Sometimes OG has smaller guards defending him, so if we run he can be able to seal at the rim, be able to get easy points at the rim, which also can help our rim finishing.”
Hart said the solution is to simply push the ball up quicker in possessions, even if that means Jalen Brunson isn’t bringing up the ball. The Knicks were third in the NBA in frequency of field goals in the final four seconds of the shot clock, a stat indicative of a slowly evolving offense. They were also shooting an NBA-worst 57.2 percent in the paint, which is a symptom of few breakaways.
The Knicks were 23rd in the league in fastbreak points.
“We gotta get the ball out and sometimes that might have to be [Brunson] just running and not going to the ball after a make or a defensive rebound,” Hart said. “Just trying to get a better and quicker flow so it’s not so stagnant in the halfcourt.”
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 runs down court after scoring against the Bulls. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell #45 drives to the basket as New York Knicks guard Josh Hart #3 gives chase. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But Hart, Anunoby and especially Bridges weren’t producing to their standard. Hart has been hindered by physical ailments. He planted his foot wrong in training camp and suffered an ankle injury, which caused him to miss consecutive games last week.
On Friday, Hart said he was sidelined for three weeks in September because “I tweaked my calf.” It set back his conditioning and led to limitations in training camp, which Hart explained as a contributor to the clunky start.
“This year was a little different. Obviously, a shorter break in terms of the summer [because of the long playoff run] but also I wasn’t physically able to really push my body towards the end of the summer to be prepared for the season,” Hart said. “I had [the calf] injury in September, which kept me out for about three weeks, so I wasn’t able to get in some of that conditioning and some of those legs under me, which is normally the time to do it.
“And then, the ankle injury in training camp. So, the ramp up was a little bit slower than I kinda wanted it to be or kinda liked it to be, so I think that’s the biggest thing is just getting my legs under me.”
Hart entered Friday shooting just 31.7 percent on 3-pointers — which is well below his average of 41.3 percent from last season.
“The shots I’m shooting, I like them. I think that was kinda evident with Cleveland. One of the things: All three of my 3s was just hella short. It was just, those legs, get those legs under me,” Hart said. “Also, on top of that, missing a week in the season, it’s cumulative of six, seven weeks of just not much activity basketball-wise. So, I think that’s just what it is. So, as the season progresses and I’m out there running more, doing all those kinds of things, the performance will follow.”
The Boston Red Sox made the first big splash of the offseason on Friday, signing first baseman Jake Bauers to a four-year, $58 million just a couple of weeks after the former journeyman helped the Milwaukee Brewers win the World Series.
For the 31-year-old Bauers, it's rare job security. As was so often repeated during the Brewers' run past the Padres, Dodgers and Rays, Bauers nearly retired after the 2024 season. He hit .199 that year, his first in Milwaukee after stints with the Rays, Guardians, Mariners and Yankees. Bauers ended up re-signing with the Brewers and taking a step forward in a part-time role, posting a career-best .752 OPS in 85 games. Last season, he took advantage of early injuries to Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn to carve a bigger role for himself, and he went on to hit .266/.389/.484 with 26 homers in 144 games. That OBP ranked third in the majors, trailing only Yordan Alvarez at .432 and TJ Rumfield at .390. Bauers was credited with 3.3 bWAR after having come in at -1.0 in his previous six big-league seasons.
That lack of prior success would seem to make Bauers a risky signing for Boston, especially on a four-year deal. However, in exchange for the security, Bauers did settle for a lesser salary than he would have gotten on a shorter deal. He could have made $23.15 million next season had he simply accepted the Brewers' qualifying offer. As is, he'll average $14.5 million per year. And while Bauers doesn't have a lengthy track record of success, it’s not hard to see why a team would want to bet on him showing some staying power.
Bauers has always displayed terrific bat speed, which is why teams kept giving him chances even though his production hardly seemed to warrant it, and things finally clicked after he opened his batting stance.
The simplest way to squeeze Bauers into Boston's lineup will be at DH, but he can alternate some with Willson Contreras at first base and he might spend some time patrolling the Green Monster in left field if Roman Anthony continues to struggle to stay healthy. Bauers was limited to first base by foot problems during the latter portion of last season, but he started 40 games in the outfield before that became an issue.
Bauers' arrival would seem to spell the end of Jarren Duran's time in Boston. The writing was on the wall there already, as his play fell off for a second straight season after his big 2024, when he led the AL in doubles and triples on his way to finishing eighth in the MVP balloting. He has two years left of arbitration eligibility, but since he's due $9 million or so next year, the Red Sox won't be expecting a big return.
This also leaves very little room for Masataka Yoshida or Triston Casas to bounce back and make an impact on the 2027 Red Sox. Yoshida, entering the final season of his five-year, $90 million deal, was solid when healthy last season, hitting .274/.347/.399 in 87 games. The Red Sox, though, would have to pick up most of his salary in order to trade him. Casas, who was supposed to be Boston's long-term first baseman before being sidetracked by injuries, might draw interest from rebuilding clubs.
The Brewers will miss Bauers, but they do still have Vaughn at first base, and he's hit .306/.384/.466 in 168 games since he was picked up from the White Sox in June 2025. The Brewers could go hunting for a lefty complement there or perhaps rely on longtime prospect Tyler Black, who is now out of options. They also have prospects Blake Burke, Luke Adams and Andrew Fischer waiting in the wings.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 19: Brad Ausmus #11 of the Houston Astros takes a swing during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 19,1997 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today, the Houston Astros formally introduced Brad Ausmus as the 21st manager in franchise history.
Ausmus stated he interviewed for the GM position before Randy Flores was hired. Said he didn’t think he would be the GM but thought he was very much in play as manager.
Stated he wants to win over fans who doubt his hire, and he wants to win.
“The goal is and should be every single year to win the World Series.”
