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Washington Nationals claim former top prospect Ken Waldichuk off waivers

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Ken Waldichuk #64 of the Oakland Athletics reacts after the third out in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 29, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Paul Toboni and Ani Kilambi have been doing work on the waiver wire lately. They are churning through players on the fringes of the 40-man roster. Today, they claimed Ken Waldichuk from the Rays and DFA’d George Soriano in the process. Soriano was only claimed last week, but the Nats still decided to move on.

On the surface, Waldichuk is a weird claim. He posted an ERA over 8 in the minor leagues last year as a 27 year old. However, there is more than what meets the eye here. Waldichuk is a former top 100 prospect with some pedigree. He was part of the trade that sent Frankie Montas to the Yankees in 2022.

At the time of that trade, Waldichuk was a big deal. He pitched in the Futures Game for the Yankees and was a strikeout machine in the minors. For his career, Waldichuk’s K/9 in the minors is 13.02. Despite low to mid 90’s velocity, Waldichuk’s fastball has always played up.

In 2022, he got a cup of coffee in the MLB with the A’s, before spending all of 2023 in their rotation. He has 175.2 career innings with a 5.28 ERA and 165 strikeouts. Things did not work out very well for him in the MLB, but he was still a young pitcher.

However, he had to undergo Tommy John Surgery, missing all of 2024. When he came back in 2025, he did not look like the same guy. The Minor League ERA of 8.17 makes that pretty clear. His velocity was down about 2 ticks and his control was not there.

Despite that, Waldichuk was still getting strikeouts. He fanned 68 batters in 54 minor league innings last year. The fact he was still getting strikeouts makes him sort of interesting. A lot of pitchers struggle in their first year back from Tommy John before looking better as they get further removed from surgery.

There are some signs that this could be the case for Waldichuk. In bullpen’s this offseason, his fastball averaged 93.9 MPH. This season, he only averaged 91.6 MPH on his heater. If the Nats can get Waldichuk to sit 94 consistently, they could have something here.

Despite being a starter for his whole career, I think the Nats should transition Waldichuk to the bullpen. He has proven he is not a very effective starter at this point. Waldichuk throws his fastball a lot and I think letting it rip in shorter spurts could help him. A lot of his profile just feels like a failed starter who could thrive in the bullpen.

Even if the velocity is back, Waldichuk will still need to improve his control. Walks were a concern before the surgery, and the control was very bad last year. This is another reason why I think a move to the bullpen makes sense.

As we have seen, there is a chance Waldichuk is not on the team next week. Just ask guys like George Soriano and Micky Gasper. However, I think he is an interesting enough reclamation project for Toboni to want to see what he has in Spring Training. If he does not look good this spring, you can always DFA him again. 

The Nats have made a lot of additions on the waiver wire lately, but this one is more intriguing than some of the others. Waldichuk has a pretty high ceiling and has more pedigree than your average waiver claim.

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Blackhawks Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk Discusses Being A Leader, Boston University, & More

Ahead of the 2025-26 training camp, the Chicago Blackhawks signed veteran defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a PTO. He took that opportunity and ran with it. 

Grzelcyk earned a spot on the roster and has played in every Blackhawks game so far. Through 57 games with Chicago, Grzelcyk has 12 assists. Whether it's playing a depth defensive role or quarterbacking one of the power play units, he gives great effort in whatever role Jeff Blashill asks of him. 

Before coming to Chicago, Grzelcyk had a nice career playing on some great teams. The truth is, though, that he needed a PTO to stay in the league this year. To say he's grateful for his current organization would be an understatement.              

"I'm lucky to still be in the league and lucky that Chicago gave me a chance. I love it here so far," Matt Grzelcyk said of playing for the Blackhawks. It isn't likely that they are going to be a postseason team, but Grzelcyk confirmed that it is still his mindset to make it with Chicago and hasn't considered being traded to a contender. 

"I honestly haven't really thought about [being moved] at all," Grzelcyk said when asked about welcoming an opportunity to move on and try to compete for the Stanley Cup. 

When Grzelcyk arrived at camp on a PTO, nobody had any idea what the year could turn into for him. He was desperate to stay in the league, and now he's an important piece on Chicago's blue line. 

"I just wanted to come to camp and see what happens over two weeks," Grzelcyk said. "I chose [Chicago] because I wanted to be here, and I'm glad it's worked out. I've had a lot of fun this year getting to meet everyone on the team and in the organization. They treated me extremely well, so it's been a great experience so far." 

From a Blackhawks standpoint, Grzelcyk brings a lot of wisdom to this young group. He has played with some of the game's all-time great leaders like Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and Sidney Crosby. This history has allowed him to come in and bring some of that knowledge to players looking to learn. 

"A lot of the young guys have questions about those guys. You learn through experience, getting to see them, how they operate, their day-to-day, how they approach every single day [trying] to get better at some aspect of their game, and the way they take care of their bodies. That was a very eye-opening experience, so I try to pay that forward. You want to lead by example as much as you can." 

Matt Grzelcyk is very into Boston University as an alumnus. With Ryan Greene, a fellow alumnus, on the team and Sacha Boisvert on the way, this program means a lot to the modern-day Blackhawks.

"I train there in the summer, so I'm really tight with some of the coaches there," Grzelcyk said. "I had them all with the Bruins. Their trainer was my assistant with the Bruins, as well. He trains me in the summer, and before I went on PTO here, I skated with them for two weeks, so I got to know some of the guys on the team. It's been fun to keep up with them and just wish them luck." 

There is a squat rack in BU's gym named after Matt Grzelcyk. Alongside some of his fellow alumni, they had equipment named after them as a thank you for donating money to help make upgrades to the gym. 

"It was mostly guys who train there in the summer. We get to use the equipment in the summer. They didn't really ask us; it was something we wanted to do. You see the benefits of it, so it's been great."

Grzelcyk confirmed that he keeps in touch with a lot of his old teammates from BU, the Bruins, and the Penguins, which shows how liked he was as a teammate everywhere he goes. There is value to having a guy of his charachter around. 

There are a lot of ways that the rest of the season can go for Grzelcyk, but his impact on the young players in Chicago's locker room will be felt for a long time. He is one of the good guys in the NHL, and the Blackhawks are better for having him around. 

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Tarik Skubal reportedly wins salary arbitration case, will be paid record $32 million

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tarik Skubal won his salary arbitration hearing with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, and the two-time Cy Young Award winner will be paid a record $32 million this year instead of the team’s $19 million offer.

Jeanne Charles, Walt De Treux and Allen Ponak made the decision one day after listening to arguments.

Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had held the record for the highest salary in an arbitration case decided by a panel, winning at $19.9 million in 2024 in a case decided by Charles, De Treux and Scott Buchheit.

Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado submitted a record request of $30 million in 2019, then agreed to a $260 million, eight-year contract without a hearing.

Juan Soto’s $31 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2024 had been the largest one-year deal for an arbitration-eligible player. David Price had held the highest negotiated salary in a one-year contract for an arbitration-eligible pitcher, a $19.75 million agreement with Detroit in 2015.

A two-time All-Star, Skubal will be eligible for free agency after the World Series. The 29-year-old left-hander is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six major league seasons.

Skubal was 13-6 with an AL-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, striking out 241 and walking 33 in 195 1/3 innings while earning $10.5 million. His 0.891 WHIP topped qualified pitchers.

After the hearing Wednesday, the Tigers agreed to a $115 million, three-year contact with left-hander Framber Valdez, a deal pending a successful physical.

Players have won the first three decisions this offseason. Right-hander Kyle Bradish was awarded $3.55 million instead of the Baltimore Orioles’ offer of $2,875,000, and catcher Yainer Diaz received $4.5 million instead of the Houston Astros’ $3 million proposal.

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Mariners 2026 Prospect Rankings: Honorable Mentions Part Two

Jun 17, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; A baseball rests atop the mound before the first inning of a game between the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

It’s time for part two of our honorable mentions, this time covering exclusively the arms that just missed list. As a reminder, next week will mark the beginning of our top twenty and continue biweekly over the course of this spring. Check in every Tuesday and Thursday for more, and please let us know what you think in the comments below!

Michael Morales – RHP

2025 Statistic of Note – 2026 K-BB ratio: 1.89 (2025 at AA: 5.15)

That is not a fun statistic to share about Moose Morales, who ran into a wall on his second tour through the Texas League. Always a zone controller, that seemed to get away from Morales this year, as he issued as many free passes as he has in his career but with a troubling downtick in strikeouts. Morales remains young, just 23 years old, but in his third year of development, you’d hope to be moving forwards, not back. At this point, it seems like there’s no magical velo bump coming, so Morales will have to find a way to make his below-average fastball work at the big leagues, by throwing it stubbornly at the top of the zone and hoping the rest of the arsenal cooperates. That’s where there’s hope in the profile: his changeup and curve are both swing-and-miss offerings, if he can find them regularly. -KP

Walter Ford – RHP

2025 Statistic of Note – 18% K rate 

High school pitchers are the most volatile draft group, and that’s being borne out in Ford’s career so far. He’ll have fantastic outings followed by forgettable ones. The fastball velo hasn’t jumped forward like one might hope, but there’s still swing-and-miss promise in his slider. Unfortunately, the lack of a meaningful heater is capping his ceiling right now; even at 20 years old, Ford should be handling A-ball hitters with a little more authority. He will go through torrid stretches where you can see him putting it all together – he won Pitcher of the Month honors for the organization in June – but needs to close that last step so the forward momentum is constant and consistent. But he’s certainly not the first prep pitcher to struggle to do so; nor will he be the last.

Lucas Kelly – RHP

2025 Statistic of Note – Has not debuted

The Mariners’ sixth rounder from last July’s draft, Lucas Kelly was one of the premiere relief prospects in all of college baseball last season. Featuring a Sewald-ian release point from a 6’4 frame, Kelly achieves ridiculous VAA (Vertical Approach Angle, if you’re unfamiliar, is essentially a measurement of how steeply the pitch is approaching a hitter) metrics and can rush his heater up into the triple digits. Given his flat approach and high octane velocity, Kelly’s fastball eats hitters alive at the top of the zone and should be a plus pitch or better. His breaking ball has two somewhat similar shapes, but his gyro-spin cutter has the potential to be a weapon for him as a professional. The secondaries and command need some refinement, but the raw potential for a leverage reliever is apparent. With some development, Kelly could easily be the best pure relief prospect the M’s have had in a long time.

Danny Macchiarola – RHP

2025 Statistic of Note – Has not debuted

Macchiarola, last year’s 8th rounder out of Holy Cross, didn’t get a ton of fanfare when he joined the organization. The 6’2 180lb right hander had a relatively standard arsenal with solid, if unspectacular numbers at a small school in the Northeast. Considering he’s yet to debut as a professional, what’s changed?

Drawing rave reviews from offseason camp, Macchiarola was mentioned as a standout amongst the other gas campers, seemingly having added a tick on his arsenal as a whole. Possessing the innate ability to manipulate spin on the baseball, Macchiarola looks like he’s got a shot at debuting in pro ball with a complete four pitch mix that’s capable of putting hitters away consistently. He’s shown he can command his pitches consistently; if the velocity truly has taken a step forward, the Mariners may have found themselves another late round gem.

Matt Tiberia – RHP

2025 Statistic of Note – 2.27 ERA

Tiberia was one of the biggest surprises of last year’s minor league season, emerging from the 18th round out of Lynn University to put together a really nice season for the Nuts. The wiry right hander doesn’t have the most overpowering arsenal, but with a nice sinker that touches the mid 90’s, a tight slider, and solid mechanics down the mound, the 6’3 hurler has the look of someone who should continue to be a starter. He did miss some time with injury last season, but now healthy, the right hander should get a shot at starting the season with the Frogs in Everett as a rotation mainstay. If he’s able to replicate the kind of season he had last year, he’ll be all but assured to find his name considerably higher up our list come midseason.

Brock Moore – RHP

2025 Statistic of Note – 12.5 K/9

Moore is undeniably the most volatile pitcher to make this list. Strictly a reliever, Moore’s fastball frequently eclipses 100 mph and is paired with a hellacious two plane breaking ball that strikes out a ton of opposing batters. Throw in a changeup with massive fade and velo separation, and the makings of an elite reliever seem to be ready made. The problem? Borderline 20-grade command. Moore was the owner of a truly astounding 13.5 BB/9 mark last season and has little, if any, idea where any of his offerings are going. He’s a rather good athlete and evaluators have remained bullish on his ability to reign in his arsenal enough to get by, but until that point, he’s a tough watch out on the mound. With the best pure stuff in the system, hopefully the hulking right hander can dial it in and become the lockdown reliever his stuff would indicate he can be.

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Should the St. Louis Cardinals Extend Masyn Winn Now, Later or Never?

Aug 28, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0) throws to first base in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Vizer-Imagn Images | Tim Vizer-Imagn Images

I think it’s safe to say that most St. Louis Cardinals fans are anxious to identify the next St. Louis Cardinals core group of players you rebuild around. Once identified, you would hope to lock those players into long-term extensions. If you were St. Louis Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom, would you work to extend shortstop Masyn Winn? Would your answer be now, later or never?

The St. Louis Cardinals still have four years of team control as he’s currently on a trajectory to reach free agency after the 2029 season, but he’s eligible for arbitration after the upcoming 2026 season. Fangraphs has Masyn pinned as a 3.6 WAR while ZIPS projects him with a 3.1 WAR for the 2026 season. His elite defensive skills have already been rewarded as a Gold Glove finalist in 2024 and a Gold Glove winner in 2025. Offensively, Masyn had a solid 2024 slashing a .267 average with 15 home runs and an OPS of .730, but was hampered by nagging injuries in 2025 with his average dipping to .253, 9 home runs and an OPS of .673.

What would a Masyn Winn extension look like? As I shared a few weeks ago, it’s believed that an extension at this point in his career would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 years for around $100 million dollars. My initial reaction to that number and those years is I would jump at the chance if I were Chaim Bloom and Masyn Winn’s agent Andrew Guerra said yes. The cynical side of me says that I would wait at least one more year to see what Masyn’s performance is like now that the torn meniscus in his right knee has been surgically repaired. That would be the reason for a potential “later” answer.

The X factor for me is Masyn Winn’s maturity and potential team leadership role. He addressed that during the Winter Warmup a few weeks ago. He said that he specifically wanted to help JJ Wetherholt adjust to the major leagues.

Masyn Winn – “As far as…leadership…it’s something I take pride in. I’m gonna go out there and compete and play how I play…I’m really looking forward to playing with JJ…I want him to be himself…I want him to go out there and have some fun…I wanna be there for JJ and let him be great.”

I’ve seen enough of Masyn Winn to know that I want him to be a part of the new St. Louis Cardinals core, but I understand those who want to see more before they would offer an extension. What’s your opinion? Now, later or never?

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Tarik Skubal wins salary arbitration case, will be paid record $32 million

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tarik Skubal won his salary arbitration hearing with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, and the two-time Cy Young Award winner will be paid a record $32 million this year instead of the team's $19 million offer.

Jeanne Charles, Walt De Treux and Allen Ponak made the decision one day after listening to arguments.

Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had held the record for the highest salary in an arbitration case decided by a panel, winning at $19.9 million in 2024 in a case decided by Charles, De Treux and Scott Buchheit.

Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado submitted a record request of $30 million in 2019, then agreed to a $260 million, eight-year contract without a hearing.

Juan Soto’s $31 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2024 had been the largest one-year deal for an arbitration-eligible player. David Price had held the highest negotiated salary in a one-year contract for an arbitration-eligible pitcher, a $19.75 million agreement with Detroit in 2015.

A two-time All-Star, Skubal will be eligible for free agency after the World Series. The 29-year-old left-hander is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six major league seasons.

Skubal was 13-6 with an AL-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, striking out 241 and walking 33 in 195 1/3 innings while earning $10.5 million. His 0.891 WHIP topped qualified pitchers.

After the hearing Wednesday, the Tigers agreed to a $115 million, three-year contact with left-hander Framber Valdez, a deal pending a successful physical.

Players have won the first three decisions this offseason. Right-hander Kyle Bradish was awarded $3.55 million instead of the Baltimore Orioles’ offer of $2,875,000, and catcher Yainer Diaz received $4.5 million instead of the Houston Astros’ $3 million proposal.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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Tarik Skubal wins arbitration case, will earn $32 million in 2026

The long wait is finally over!

According to sources close to ESPN, Detroit Tigers ace hurler won his salary arbitration case on Thursday, giving him a $13 million raise over the franchise’s proposed figures and setting the record for the largest salary ever awarded through arbitration at $32 million in 2026.

That number surpasses the previous record set by outfielder Juan Soto, who settled with the New York Yankees at $31 million in 2024. The two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner is represented by super-agent Scott Boras, who also represented Soto in his case.

The decision also sets two arbitration records for pitchers. Skubal became the highest-paid arbitration-eligible pitcher by leapfrogging David Price, who earned $19.75 million with the Tigers in 2015; he received the largest raise for an arbitration-eligible pitcher by surpassing Jacob deGrom, who saw his salary surge from $7.4 million to $17 million — an increase of $9.6 million — with the New York Mets in 2019.

All in all, Skubal received a $21.85 million raise from $10.15 million in 2025 to $32 million in 2026 — a meteoric 215.3% increase in pay.

Skubal will now earn the sixth-highest base salary among MLB pitchers this season, with Zack Wheeler ($42 million, Philadelphia Phillies), Framber Valdez ($38 million, Tigers), Jacob DeGrom ($38 million, Texas Rangers), Gerrit Cole ($36 million, Yankees) and Tyler Glasnow ($32.5 million, Los Angeles Dodgers) ahead of him.

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Pacers land Ivica Zubac as Clippers shake up roster at deadline

The Los Angeles Clippers are continuing their wheeling and dealing this week, trading veteran center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers.

Los Angeles will receive guard Bennedict Mathurin and forward Isaiah Jackson in the deal. Indiana's protected 2026 first-round pick and unprotected 2029 first-round pick will go back to the Clippers.

The Pacers have the worst record in the Eastern Conference this season, but their draft pick is protected in picks 1-4 and 10-30.

The Clippers traded guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland earlier this week.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ivica Zubac traded to Pacers in Clippers’ surprising deadline deal

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Wizards vs Pistons Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

The Washington Wizards’ splashy moves before the trade deadline signal a brighter future, but don’t expect any immediate payoff as they visit the East-leading Detroit Pistons tonight.

Injured duo Trae Young and Anthony Davis will be given generous recovery time as Washington eyes a high draft pick, and my Wizards vs. Pistons predictions expect Jalen Duren and a relentless Detroit squad to cash in.

Get a look at this mismatch with my free NBA picks for Thursday, February 5.

Wizards vs Pistons prediction

Wizards vs Pistons best bet: Jalen Duren Over 29.5 points + rebounds (-105)

Jalen Duren’s growth as a legit No. 2 guy next to Cade Cunningham has been one of the biggest reasons for the Detroit Pistons' stunning season — and his first All-Star nod signals recognition for what he’s bringing to the table.

Tonight’s matchup against an inexperienced Washington Wizards squad is a perfect opportunity for Duren to give his numbers an extra boost, and I’m grabbing this combo Over. He’s already taken his scoring average from 11.8 points per game last season to 18 this year, and the consistency has been eye-catching, as he has scored 18+ points in eight of his last nine contests.

His rebounding is rock-solid, too, with a 10.7 rebounds per game mark that ranks sixth in the NBA, and he finished with 14 boards in an overtime victory vs. Washington back in November.

There’s upside for this pick, as Cunningham is listed as questionable and could be given some extra rest for his wrist injury. While that would take away Duren’s premier setup man, it could also propel the Pistons’ big man into a larger offensive role.

The Wizards have coughed up some big totals lately, including 132 points to the Knicks and 142 points to the Lakers, and I’m counting on Duren to make an impact here on both ends of the floor.

Wizards vs Pistons same-game parlay

Despite the predictably huge spread, I’m riding with a Detroit squad that’s 20-5 at home. The Pistons are 17-12 ATS against Eastern Conference opponents, and I see the hosts scoring freely against this Wizards defense, which is allowing 122.7 PPG.

Kyshawn George has started February with a couple of quiet outings, but he’s averaging 15.3 PPG, and he went past this O/U points number in nine of his 11 contests last month.

Wizards vs Pistons SGP

  • Jalen Duren Over 29.5 points + rebounds
  • Pistons -14.5
  • Kyshawn George Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Thompson Tags In

Ausar Thompson is another Piston who could punish Washington's shaky defense. He’s shooting 51% from the field, so he’s capable of nailing this Over without a big jump in volume, and Detroit is dealing with injuries on the wing.

Wizards vs Pistons SGP

  • Jalen Duren Over 29.5 points + rebounds
  • Pistons -14.5
  • Kyshawn George Over 14.5 points
  • Ausar Thompson Over 10.5 points

Wizards vs Pistons odds

  • Spread: Wizards +14.5 (-110) | Pistons -14.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Wizards +575 | Pistons -855
  • Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)

Wizards vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Wizards are 9-14 ATS on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Pistons.

How to watch Wizards vs Pistons

LocationLittle Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
DateThursday, February 5, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Monumental SN, FDSN Detroit

Wizards vs Pistons latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

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Dodgers spring training preview: Outfield

Los Angeles, CA - January 21: Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker with his new jersey and cap as he is introduced as the newest outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

The Dodgers had a clear need on offense, and they filled it by signing the best free agent available. Outfielder Kyle Tucker and his four-year, $240-million contract turned a weakness into a strength. Let’s look at the outfield as spring training nears.

40-man roster outfielders
  • Kyle Tucker RF
  • Andy Pages CF
  • Teoscar Hernández LF
  • Alex Call LF/RF
  • Michael Siani CF
  • Ryan Ward LF/RF/1B
Things to watch

Elevating the floor and ceiling: Dodgers outfielders as a group in 2025 hit .240/.299/.415, and ranked 17th MLB with a 98 wRC+. Upgrading from Michael Conforto to Tucker should work wonders. Tucker has a 130 wRC+ and at least four Wins Above Replacement in each of the last five seasons, the latter even in 2024 when he missed half the season with a fractured right tibia.

Staying healthy: The vast majority of Dodgers position players are in their 30s, but Tucker is 29 and joins 25-year-old Andy Pages in the suddenly more youthful outfield. Teoscar Hernández, now in left field, struggled in a 2025 season that saw him miss time with a groin strain and fouling a ball off his foot. When healthy, Hernández can be a force offensively, and now he’ll be a little further down a much deeper lineup. In addition to the shin injury in 2024, Tucker missed time with the Cubs last season with a calf strain and played through a hand fracture in June that led to a second-half decline.

Room for growth: Andy Pages had a dreadful postseason with just four hits in 51 at-bats, but also made a championship-saving catch in Kool Aid Man fashion in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series in Toronto. Pages and coming off a 27-homer, 4-ish WAR season and is also only 25 years old. There’s a lot to like here, especially when Pages is likely to hit at or near the bottom of the lineup.

Useable depth: The other three outfielders on the 40-man all have minor league options. Alex Call is the one most likely to stick on the bench, with the caveat that the inevitable return of Kiké Hernández hasn’t yet happened. Michael Siani is a defense-first center fielder who could be this year’s Justin Dean, but let’s see how many more times Siani is placed on waivers first.

Will Ward get the call? Ryan Ward had the best of his three seasons in Triple-A Oklahoma City last year in winning Pacific Coast League MVP, but was passed over in favor of several other call-ups with more defensive value before getting added to the 40-man roster in November to avoid losing him to minor league free agency. Ward is a modern-day Maytag repairman in that his best two positions are designated hitter and first base, and the Dodgers have Hall of Famers at those positions. Ward, who turns 28 in three weeks, also can monitor corner outfield space when needed, but now with Tucker the team is well-stocked in both left field and right field as well. There doesn’t appear to be much of a path to playing time for Ward on the Dodgers, but expect the Cactus League — he played in 45 spring training games over the last three years — to be his showcase to other teams who might have room for him.

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The San Francisco 49ers will play the LA Rams in the first regular-season NFL game in Australia

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers will be the team facing the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Australia next season, the league said Thursday.

The league had announced last year that it will be playing a game in 2026 in Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a venue that holds about 100,000 spectators. The Rams were also announced last year as the home team for that game, part of a multi-year commitment to play in Melbourne.

The NFL will play a record nine international games next season, including the league's first games in Paris and Rio de Janeiro.

“The 49ers are a popular franchise within the Australian market, and this rivalry game solidifies what we know is going to be an incredible NFL experience for our fans down under,” said Charlotte Offord, NFL Australia & New Zealand general manager.

The date and kickoff time will be announced later.

The Rams have had marketing rights in Australia since the NFL started its international marketing program in 2022. ___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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Tigers' Tarik Skubal smashes MLB contract record in landmark arbitration case

Tarik Skubal won his arbitration case against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 5, earning a record salary of $32 million after the Tigers requested a 2026 salary of $19 million.

Skubal's victory after a hearing before a three-person panel the day before sets him up for a final year in Detroit before the two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner is expected to receive a record haul in free agency.

Before hitting the market, though, he earned a landmark victory over his team.

The $13 million gap between team and player was a record in salary arbitration, and Skubal's victory was a record for a player who went to a hearing, topping Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $19.9 million award in 2024. It's also the single highest one-year salary for an arbitration-eligible player, edging Juan Soto's $31 million one-year pact with the Yankees in 2024.

Skubal is certainly worth it: Over the past two seasons, he's struck out 469 batters in 387 1/3 innings, going 31-10 with a 2.30 ERA and winning the AL's pitching triple crown this year. He also led the majors with a 7.30 strikeout-walk ratio and a 0.89 WHIP.

When is Tarik Skubal a free agent?

For one year, Skubal will join forces with top free agent pitcher Framber Valdez, who on the same day Skubal and the Tigers went to trial was agreeing to a three-year, $115 million deal with the Tigers. Valdez's $38.3 million average annual salary is a record for a left-handed pitcher, and will earn more this season than his Cy Young-winning mate.

That should change next year when Skubal hits the market. For now, he's already got a fairly big win in his column.

The three-person arbitration panel is tasked not with determining which salary to award, but rather whether to go higher or lower than the midpoint of the two sides' offers - in this case, $25.5 million. Skubal's body of work clearly moved the panel to favor a salary north of that - and Skubal will be compensated in record fashion for what's likely his final year in Detroit.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarik Skubal contract: Tigers ace wins historic arbitration hearing

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Illinois legends Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. team up in Minnesota

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 02: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Center on January 2, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Ayo Dosunmu’s time as a basketball star in the state of Illinois has come to an end.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported this morning that the Chicago Bulls traded Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips were traded in exchange for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks, per Charania.

Dosunmu played four and a half seasons for his hometown team, appearing in 324 games and starting 164. The Chicago native finishes his Bulls career with averages of 10.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 3.3 APG on 50.4% FG and 37.7% 3PT.

The 38th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Dosunmu was thrust into the Bulls’ starting lineup as a rookie. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Ayo’s trade value was at an all-time high this season, which explains why the now rebuilding Bulls would move on from a beloved fan favorite. Dosunmu has shot a career-best 45.1% from beyond the arc while averaging 15.0 PPG in 45 games in 2025-26.

One of four active Illini in the NBA, the 2021 Bob Cousy Award winner and consensus first-team All-American now joins fellow Illini Terrence Shannon Jr. on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Shannon Jr., the 27th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has appeared in 54 games for Minnesota over his two seasons in the league. He’s currently battling a left foot strain that has sidelined him for more than a month.

While at Illinois, Shannon Jr. brought Illinois to an Elite Eight and was named to the First-team All-Big Ten twice. He was named a Third-team All-American in 2024 as well.

Both Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr.’s jerseys are honored by the program and hang in the State Farm Center rafters.

The T-Wolves, led by superstar Anthony Edwards, (32-20) sit at 5th place in the Western Conference. The addition of Dosunmu and return of Shannon Jr. will surely make Minnesota one of the most electrifying watches in the NBA.

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Penguins Recall Forward Prospect For Final Game Prior To Olympics

The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to be pretty shorthanded on the forward front for their final regular season game before the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina begin.

But they will be getting some reinforcements - including one forward getting his first recall to the NHL level.

On Thursday, the Penguins announced that forwards Blake Lizotte and Rickard Rakell will be unavailable for Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, as Lizotte and his wife are expecting the birth of their first child and Rakell is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. In addition, Noel Acciari missed practice with an illness, and he will be a game-time decision.

In a correpsonding move, the Penguins recalled forward prospect Avery Hayes from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), their AHL affiliate. Hayes, 23, has 13 goals and 23 points in 31 AHL games on the season, including four goals and six points in his last six games. 

Pittsburgh Penguins At Buffalo Sabres Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchPittsburgh Penguins At Buffalo Sabres Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins will try to go into the Olympic break on a high note.

Undrafted, Hayes signed a two-year entry level contract with the Penguins last spring, which kicked in for the 2025-26 season. As one of the final NHL roster cuts during Penguins' training camp, Hayes is a feisty, versatile forward that can be plugged anywhere in a lineup and play on both special teams units. 

Should Hayes make his NHL debut against the Sabres, he will be the 11th rookie to appear in a game for the Penguins this season, which is the top mark in the NHL.

Penguins' Top Forward Prospect Scores First AHL Goal In 4-1 WinPenguins' Top Forward Prospect Scores First AHL Goal In 4-1 WinIt certainly hasn't taken long for <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' top forward prospect Tanner Howe to adjust to professional hockey.

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