Yay, another baseball game
Here’s the Guardians lineup:
Here’s the Rangers lineup:
Let’s go, Guardians!
RANGERS AT GUARDIANS: Cantillo vs. Gore, discussion
Blackhawks Sign Cole Smith To 3 Year Free-Agent Contract
The Chicago Blackhawks continue to add depth to their roster with their latest free-agent signing, Cole Smith. Smith is getting a three-year deal with a $3 million cap hit.
Smith is 30 years old, and he spent the first 6 years of his NHL career with the Nashville Predators before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2025-26 season.
Of course, the Golden Knights went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring, and Smith was a part of it as a member of their 4th line. In 22 playoff games, he had 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points.
During the regular season, Smith had 8 goals and 4 assists for 12 points in 63 games played. There isn't much offense there, but it is his physical presence and defensive play that will make the Blackhawks a bit harder to play against.
Cole Smith, signed 3x$3M by CHI, is a physical fourth line winger who brings defensive value. pic.twitter.com/WdNZ1XaGBz
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2026
On the penalty kill, Smith will be one of the forwards who replace Ilya Mikheyev. At even strength, he won't produce nearly as much offense; the Hawks will have to find that elsewhere.
With Jordan Greenway also coming in via the Bowen Byram trade, the Hawks have a couple of guys who bring a different style of game to their bottom six than their opponents have had to deal with in recent years.
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Tigers vs Yankees Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game
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The New York Yankees are in rare territory when they finish up a series against the Detroit Tigers today, and that's looking to avoid back-to-back sweeps.
I can't buy that they do, especially with them being -137 home favorites; I'm taking the underdog Tigers instead. Troy Melton gives Detroit the cleaner contact-suppression profile, while Will Warren has not been sharp enough to justify this number. I’m also on the Under with both starters carrying paths to limit damage.
Here are my Tigers vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for July 1.
Who will win Tigers vs Yankees today: Tigers moneyline (+124)
I’m backing the Detroit Tigers because Troy Melton gives them the cleaner starter profile.
Melton has a 3.36 expected ERA, .223 expected BA, 6.4% barrel rate, and 33.0% hard-hit rate. That hard-hit rate in particular stands out. It's in the Top 15th percentile of the sport, and a New York Yankees lineup that has been reliant on the longball has only become more reliant on it lately.
Will Warren is not a bad starter, but his reputation supersedes his reality. His 4.11 xERA and .398 xSLG allowed more room for Detroit to create offense. Play to +100.
COVERS INTEL: Troy Melton has posted just a 6.2% walk rate this season, a hidden separator in this matchup. Tigers vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-105)
I’m playing the Under because Melton’s profile is built to suppress the kind of loud contact New York needs to break out. His 88.7 mph average exit velocity allowed, 6.4% barrel rate, and .287 xwOBA allowed are all strong enough to keep the Yankees from breaking from this offensive slump.
Warren is the concern, but he has cut his barrel rate to 7.2% this season and faces a Detroit offense averaging only 4.19 runs per game. I make this closer to 8.4 runs and would play this to -120.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
- ML/RL bets: 32-29 +5.86 units
- Over/Under bets: 37-26, +15.62 units
Tigers vs Yankees weather
Tigers vs Yankees odds
- Moneyline: Tigers +124 | Yankees -130
- Run line: Tigers +1.5 | Yankees -1.5
- Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Tigers vs Yankees trend
The Tigers have cashed the first moneyline in nine of their last 15 games for +7.90 units and a 42% ROI.
How to watch Tigers vs Yankees and game info
| Location | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY |
| Date | Wednesday, July 1, 2026 |
| First pitch | 1:35 p.m. ET |
| TV | DSN, YES |
| Tigers starting pitcher | Troy Melton (4-1, 2.39 ERA) |
| Yankees starting pitcher | Will Warren (7-3, 3.75 ERA) |
Tigers vs Yankees latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Diamondback News: Pfaadt Keeps Snakes Perfect Against Giants
Diamondbacks News
Brandon Pfaadt Makes Successful Return
It was late in being announced, but the utterly foreseeable recall of Brandon Pfaadt put the beleaguered righty back onto the mound to start against the Giants. He gave Arizona all they could have asked for.
Pfaadt’s Terrific Return as Good as Could Be Asked by Snakes
Despite a limited pitch count, Brandon Pfaadt managed to complete more than five innings, allowing only one run. The righty’s return came as Arizona tries to juggle the rotation amidst an injury crisis. Pfaadt’s ability to pitch a full start did wonders to help save what could have quickly become a taxed bullpen.
Ex-Diamondback Confirms Story of Ex-Diamondback Naylor Knifing Him
Straight from the “What the Hell Files”, apparently Josh Naylor is a bit of a psycho.
Other Baseball News
Happy Bobby Bonilla Day
And the Mets cut Bobby Bonilla another $1.19 million check.
Benches Clear After Cavalli-Contreras Face-Off
When dirtbags collide.
Connelly Early Placed on IL
When it rains, it pours for Boston.
Rangers Place Corey Seager on IL
It seems that Seager’s return to the Rangers’ lineup will be a very short one.
Grass Is Green-er on Other Side
Hunter Greene’s return to Cincinnati is coming.
Berggren Re-Signs With Blues
ST. LOUIS -- Jonatan Berggren is staying put.
The St. Louis Blues winger re-signed with the club on Wednesday, getting a one-year contract for $2 million after the team and player did not come to terms in time to receive a qualifying offer on Monday at 4 p.m. (CT).
Blues general manager Alexander Steen sounded line someone who was confident that the forward, despite getting unrestricted free agency status as of Wednesday despite missing the QO deadline, would be retained.
The Blues came through with the forward, who was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings on December 16, 2025.
The 25-year-old played in 36 games for the Blues last season and had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists). He also played in 15 games for the Red Wings and posted six points (two goals, four assists).
"Berggren was more about the deadline," Steen said Tuesday. "We didn’t feel like we were going to get it done before then, but we’ve been in communication with both him and his agent. We’re hopeful that we can get something done and he can continue to grow as a player with the Bluenote on.
"He’s got high offensive vision. I enjoy watching him play. He has a unique ability. You can almost see when he sees the pass when it’s about to open up and then he presents it at the right time with the right weight with minimum amount of complication to it. And it goes fast. He picks it up fast. If he finds the offensive play to be a little bit on the risky side, he knows the time to score and he’ll revert to something else. He’s not a big risk guy, but he does have that offensive creativity. I think towards the end of the season last season it wasn’t easy because of the amount of bodies we had and what we were looking to accomplish with the last part of the season, but I thought that he really stepped up his all-around game. Defensively, he was very sound. We like him as a player. I know Monty and his coaching staff like him as a player."
Blues Buy Out Final Year Of Drouin's ContractForward had one year remaining on a two-year, $8 million contract signed with Islanders; was acquired on March 6 in Brayden Schenn trade; Blues owe $1.33 million against cap in each of next two seasons
Blues Promote Tkachuk, Thorburn; Hire Bortuzzo Among Front Office ChangesTkachuk, recently named to Hockey Hall of Fame, was previously director of recruitment; Thorburn was development coach; Bortuzzo hired to be pro scout
Steen Introduced As 12th GM In Blues History, Ready to Hit Ground RunningFormer NHLer of 15 years, including last 12 seasons in St. Louis, takes over for Doug Armstrong, who keeps role as president of hockey operations after taking over as GM in 2010
Robert Thomas: 'I've loved my time in St. Louis. I love it here, I love the organization, the city.'Blues top line center excited by recent acquisitions, affirms his commitment to St. Louis with no desire to be moved
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Senators Officially Sign Goalie Samuel Ersson To Two Year Contract
A week ago Friday, in the lead-up to the NHL Draft, the Senators acquired goalie Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fifth-round selection in next year's NHL Draft. Five days later, after not being qualified by the Senators, Ersson was allowed to walk into free agency as a UFA.
But it wasn't a very long walk.
Minutes after free agency opened on Wednesday, first reported by Elliotte Friedman, Ersson reportedly signed a two-year deal with the Sens worth $2.2 million a season.
The 26-year-old is coming off a two-year deal with he Philadelphia Flyers at $1.45 million a year
Ersson spent each of the past four seasons with the Flyers and played a career-high 51 games in 2023-24. In 2025-26, he appeared in 33 games for the Flyers, posting a 14-11-5 record with a 3.12 GAA.
The 6-foot-3 is regarded as one of Sweden's finest goaltenders, just like the man he'll be backing up. With Wednesday's $2.2 million investment, there's no doubt that he is officially Ottawa's number two. Given Linus Ullmark's history of never playing more than 50 games, Ersson will carry a heavy load in 2026-27.
“Samuel is a goaltender we identified as a good fit with our system,” Staios said Wednesday in a club statement. “He has a combination of NHL and international experience and has an upside that our staff is excited to work with.”
Ersson represented his country at the 4 Nations Face-Off in a third-place finish. He also represented Sweden twice at the World Hockey Championship, winning bronze in 2024 and 2025. He played for Sweden at last year's worlds, even though Linus Ullmark expressed a desire to play at season's end.
The Sens goaltending was all-Swedish two seasons ago when Ullmark was backed up by Anton Forsberg, who has since moved on to Los Angeles in free agency. Last year, the backup duties were split between Leevi Merilainen and James Reimer.
The Ersson acquisition speaks volumes about how mightily Merilainen's stock has fallen. He was anointed as the undisputed backup last season, and the Sens clearly aren't ready yet to give him that opportunity again.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News
Steve Cohen says perceived Juan Soto-Francisco Lindor feud is in the past
Mets owner Steve Cohen has weighed in on the perception that there is a cold relationship between stars Juan Sotoand Francisco Lindor.
"I don't see them going anywhere, and frankly I think that's a story that was last year's story, and that actually am told and believe strongly that these guys are getting along much better," Cohen said on The Show podcast. "And so I just don't see that as an issue anymore. I'm lucky enough to have two high-quality players like that, and with the elimination of whatever issues there were last year, I'm thrilled that they're on the team."
In saying that he doesn't expect either player to get traded, Cohen seems to be shutting down whispers about Lindor's future.
During the Winter Meetings this past offseason, Lindor didn't seem to be entirely off-limits in trade discussions.
Things also took a turn this February, when Cohen said the team would never have a captain during his ownership -- following speculation that Lindor could be named captain in the near future.
"It’s not where they want to go. I respect it, I understand it and I’m on board," Lindor said at the time. "It’s just one of those where it’s like, I’m going to focus on baseball. I feel like we’ve got leaders [without] captains and all that stuff. The clubhouse is the clubhouse. Let’s just play baseball, and let’s focus on winning."
Soto is having a phenomenal season, leading the National League with a .971 OPS and playing improved defense after shifting from right field to left field.
Lindor, who recently returned after missing roughly two months due to a calf injury, has finished in the top 10 in National League MVP voting each of the last four seasons.
The 32-year-old Lindor is in the fifth season of a 10-year, $341 million extension he signed after being acquired from Cleveland ahead of the 2021 season.
Soto, 27, is in the second year of a 15-year, $765 million deal he signed before the 2025 season. He has an opt-out after the 2029 season that the Mets can void if they add $4 million per year to his salary for 2030 through 2039.
Former Red Wings Blue Chip Prospect Signs New Deal With St. Louis Blues
On Wednesday, the St. Louis Blues reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract extension with forward Jonatan Berggren, bringing back the Swedish forward who rediscovered his game after being claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings midway through the season.
The signing closes what has been a pivotal chapter in Berggren's career, one that began with the promise of a high-end prospect and nearly faded before St. Louis stepped in and gave him the opportunity Detroit never quite extended.
The Red Wings selected Berggren 33rd overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, a pick that carried genuine expectations. The Uppsala, Sweden native arrived in North America with the pedigree of a player who could contribute offensively at the NHL level, and he flashed that potential during a promising debut season in 2022-23 that saw him put up nearly 30 points and turn heads as a legitimate top-six option in the making. That momentum, however, never fully carried forward in Detroit.
Berggren spent the bulk of his Red Wings tenure operating in a limited role, averaging somewhere between ten and thirteen minutes of ice time per game, a number that made it difficult for any offensive player to find consistent rhythm and production.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
By mid-December, the writing was on the wall as Detroit placed Berggren on waivers, and the Blues immediately jumped at the chance to claim him, recognizing what the organization believed was a player whose situation rather than his talent had been the limiting factor.
The results in St. Louis backed that theory up in a hurry. Given an average of 14:35 of ice time per night, roughly two full minutes more than he had typically seen in Detroit, Berggren responded with 16 points in 36 games with his new club, a pace that would have translated to nearly 37 points over a full 82-game season.
At 25 years old, Berggren is at precisely the age where most skilled European forwards hit their developmental stride, and St. Louis is betting that the second half of this past season was a preview rather than a peak.
The one-year, $2 million deal keeps him affordable while giving him a full training camp, a full season of meaningful minutes and a genuine chance to prove that his time with the Red Wings was a story of circumstance rather than ceiling.
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Former Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly joins coaching staff at Corona High
Corona High baseball coach Andy Wise has pulled off the most intriguing acquisition of the summer season.
Former Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly, a Corona graduate, is joining the program as an assistant coach to help guide pitchers.
Known for his quirky personality and ability to thrive under pressure, Kelly has followed the program in recent years after retiring as a player and jumped at the chance to help the pitchers, Wise said.
“My conversations with him over the years have been incredible,” Wise said. “What an asset for the pitching staff and the whole program. He’s got the time and he’s got a lot of kids. He’s not going to be here six days a week. He’s excited.”
Look who’s joining coaching staff at Corona High. Joe Kelly. pic.twitter.com/qAixVYlPTn
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) July 1, 2026
The plan came together after Wise went up to Northern California to speak with a group of players with Kelly.
“No stress, no pressure, anything you might help us with would be awesome,” Wise said he told him.
Wise said Kelly has been following the team in person and on GameChanger and offering ideas.
Just having around a 13-year former MLB pitcher should be inspiring to players next season.
“Joe is Joe and I expect him to be Joe,” Wise said.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Giants Reacts Survey: Robbie Ray or Luis Arráez?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Giants fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
It’s been a disaster of a season for the San Francisco Giants. And unless things dramatically turn around over the next month, that means they’ll be big sellers at this year’s deadline.
The silver lining there is twofold: the Giants have some intriguing pieces to deal, and arguably Buster Posey’s best work since taking over has been the deadline deals he made a year ago when flipping Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, and Mike Yastrzemski for prospects.
San Francisco is looking to unload some big contracts, and they’ll likely field offers on some of their younger players as well. But the moves we can expect revolve around the players on expiring contracts. And they have two who should have quite a bit of value: Robbie Ray and Luis Arráez.
So which of those two has more value, and will return a better haul to the Giants? On the one hand, Arráez has been the better player this year, and is almost sure to be in the All-Star Game as an offensively brilliant Gold Glove candidate. On the other hand, Ray had an exceptional June, and pitchers usually have more value at the deadline than position players. That’s compounded by the fact that Ray could slide into any team’s rotation, while there are a limited number of playoff-bound squads that have a roster hole to fill with Arráez.
Who do you think has the most value?
Kendry Chourio, Blake Mitchell named to MLB Futures Game
The Royals’ farm system may lack depth, but the higher-end talent is gaining notice on prospect lists. And during MLB’s All-Star weekend, you can get a look at the future!
Pitcher Kendry Chourio and catcher Blake Mitchell were both named to the MLB Future Game to be played at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m. CT. The American League will be managed by former Gold Glove shortstop Larry Bowa, while the National League will be managed by former All-Star outfielder Shane Victorino.
Chourio is ranked as a top prospect by both MLB Pipeline (#70) and Baseball America (#32). The 18-year-old right-hander dominated at Low-A with a 1.88 ERA in 11 starts with 44 strikeouts and just 9 walks in 48 innings, earning him a promotion to High-A recently. Chourio throws in the mid-90s with a plus change up and has excellent command and poise on the mound.
Mitchell was the eighth-overall pick in the 2023 draft out of high school in Texas. He suffered a hamate bone injury last year, but has rebounded to hit .210/.409/.425 with 13 home runs and 16 steals in 68 games at High-A this year. He features the best plate discipline in the organization and had an impressive 24 percent walk rate in the advanced Arizona Fall League last year.
The game will feature some of the best overall prospects in the sport including Brewers shortstop Jesús Made, Nationals shortstop Eli Willits, Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula, Athletics shortstop Leo De Vries, Mariners pitcher Kade Anderson, and Pirates pitcher Seth Hernandez.
The game will air exclusively on NBC with Melanie Newman, Yonder Alonso, Sam Dykstra and Sande Charles calling the action.
Past Royals Futures Game Representatives
2000 – P Jeff Austin and P Chris George
2001 – P Chris George
2002 – SS Angel Berroa
2003 – OF Alexis Gomez and P Zack Greinke
2004 – 2B Ruben Gotay and SS Andres Blanco
2005 – 1B Justin Huber
2006 – 3B Alex Gordon and OF Billy Butler
2007 – P Luke Hochevar
2008 – P Julio Pimental
2009 – P Danny Duffy
2010 – 1B Eric Hosmer and 3B Mike Moustakas
2011 – OF Wil Myers and P Kelvin Herrera
2012 – OF Wil Myers, P Yordano Ventura, and P Jake Odorizzi
2013 – P Yordano Ventura and P Miguel Almonte
2014 – P Christian Binford
2015 – 1B Balbino Fuenmayor, SS Adalberto Mondesi, and 3B Cheslor Cuthbert
2016 – OF Hunter Dozier and OF Jorge Bonifacio
2017 – P Foster Griffin
2018 – OF Seuly Matias
2019 – P Brady Singer and P Kris Bubic
2020 – No game played
2021 – 1B Nick Pratto and SS Bobby Witt Jr.
2022 – 1B Nick Pratto (selected, but promoted to MLB) and P Alec Marsh (replacement)
2023 – P Will Klein
2024 – P Ben Kudrna and OF Gavin Cross
2025 – C Carter Jensen and P Frank Mozzicato
Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres preview, Wednesday 7/1, 1:20 CT
Wednesday notes…
- WRAPPING UP JUNE: The Cubs were 16-10 in June, for a winning percentage of .615. That was their highest percentage in any June since 1992, when they were 18-10, .643. They were better than .615 in only six more of the past 80 seasons: .677 (21-10) in 1967; .621 (18-11) in 1969; .667 (18-9) in 1971; .704 (19-8) in 1977; .667 (16-8) in 1979; .621 (18-11) in 1983. They were better in 28 seasons from 1876-1946. They were .607 in 1972 and 2007 (17-11). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- STREAKING: A win today would give the Cubs their third-longest winning streak of the season, four games, behind their pair of 10-game streaks. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- COMPLETING SWEEPS: The Cubs have a shot at their 18th sweep of the Padres at Wrigley Field since the rivalry began in 1969, but only their fourth in 27 series on the North Side since 2000. The Cubs won all three games in 2009, 2012 and 2021. This season, the Cubs won the first two games of six previous series. They completed sweeps in five of them, including two of four games. The only third-game loss was at San Francisco. At home, they swept the Mets, Phillies and Reds. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- PCA’S JUNE: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s case for Player of the Month: 26 games, .381/.468/.781 (40-for-105) with five doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 20 RBI, 17 walks, 21 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
Cubs lineup:
Padres lineup:
Colin Rea, RHP vs. Walker Buehler, RHP
Colin Rea had a rough patch in early June but his last two starts, against the Blue Jays and Mets, have been very good – 10.1 total innings, one earned run.
Hopefully he can continue that tonight vs. the Padres, who he has not faced this year.
Rea has been much better at Wrigley Field (2.61 ERA in seven games, six starts) than on the road (6.60 ERA in 10 games, seven starts). Hopefully, that will come into play in this afternoon’s contest.
Walker Buehler was a free agent before 2026. He’s making just $1.5 million this year with the Padres. Coming off two pretty bad years, you can understand why teams weren’t interested.
He’s been very good this year in San Diego – 3.81 ERA and 1.308 WHIP, a 1.3 bWAR season so far. When he faced the Cubs April 28 in San Diego, he was struggling and allowed three hits, three walks and two runs in 4.2 innings, throwing 92 pitches.
Over his last nine starts: 2.64 ERA, 1.175 WHIP, 41 strikeouts in 47.2 innings. He’s not quite the guy he was with the Dodgers, but that’s really good. He turns 32 in a few weeks and if he keeps this up he’ll be a desirable free agent this offseason.
Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball. If you do go there to interact with Padres fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
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Charlie Condon and Roldy Brito named to 2026 Futures Game roster
The 2026 edition of the Midsummer Classic is coming up in just two weeks. While rosters for the All-Star Game at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia are still in the air, Major League Baseball has announced the teams for this year’s All-Star Futures Game.
Two Rockies prospects have been named to the National League Futures Team.
First Baseman and Outfielder Charlie Condon (no. 1 PuRP)
23-year-old Charlie Condon was selected third overall by the Rockies in the 2024 draft and is making his second All-Star Futures Game appearance after suiting up for the National League squad last year in Atlanta.
Although he got off to somewhat of a slow start in his third professional season, Condon has become a force to be reckoned with over the last month. The University of Georgia product and 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner hit .337/.462/.814 with a 1.276 OPS in June and slugged three doubles, four triples, and ten home runs with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.
It’s expected that Condon will make his Major League debut at some point this season.
Center Fielder and Second Baseman Roldy Brito (no. 11 PuRP)
One of the rising stars of the Rockies’ farm system, 19-year-old Roldy Brito exploded onto the scene with an incredible 2025 campaign. He was named the Arizona Complex League MVP after hitting .368/.445/.555 with 13 doubles, six triples, three home runs, 21 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases with the ACL Rockies. Once the short ACL season was over, Brito continued to dominate with a promotion to the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies. In 33 games with Fresno to finish the year, Brito hit .375/.442/.463 with another seven doubles, 17 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.
Brito has regressed slightly in 2026, but even then he is having an excellent season in a second stint with the Grizzlies. He is currently hitting .312/.363/.477 with 19 doubles, seven triples, six home runs, 60 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Brito is a likely candidate for promotion to High-A in the near future.
The 2026 All-Star Futures Game will take place on Sunday, July 12th at 10:00 AM MDT to kick off All-Star Week in Philadelphia and will be broadcast on NBC.
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3 Penguins' Storylines To Watch Heading Into Free Agency
It's Jun. 30, and that means NHL free agency is just one day away.
In years past, there was much more fanfare surrounding Jul. 1, especially since there was talent to be had in unrestricted free agency. That's not to say there isn't any talent this season, but there certainly isn't nearly as much intrigue surrounding the free agent class this season as opposed to years past.
Just take it from Pittsburgh Penguins' president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas, who actually laughed when asked about whether or not the Penguins will turn to free agency to fill talent holes.
"We can be as aggressive as we want on Jul. 1, but if you look at what's available, it could be an expensive mistake," Dubas said. "And I try to learn from the past. We'll try to steer clear of that."
Even if Pittsburgh could risk making some "expensive mistakes," however, that doesn't mean they won't be active on Jul. 1 - they just aren't likely to overpay.
So, what should Penguins' fans expect when free agency begins at noon ET? Here are three storylines to watch.
1. Will the Penguins address the left side?
After the trade that sent left defenseman and Erik Karlsson's partner Parker Wotherspoon to the Vegas Golden Knights for right defenseman Kaeden Korczak - as well as the free agent signing of veteran blueliner Trevor van Riemsdyk - the Penguins are loaded up on the right side, but they are pretty barren on the left.
As of now, they have Karlsson, Korczak, van Riemsdyk, Kris Letang, and Harrison Brunicke on the right side - in addition to Finn Harding and Chase Pietila right behind them as far as depth in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - so it is becoming a crowded place. In contrast, the Penguins now have just Sam Girard, Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, and Ilya Solovyov left over from last year's NHL roster on the left side, and Owen Pickering, Jake Livanavage, and Maleek McGowan will be pushing for a roster spot from WBS. The only surefire NHL-caliber player there - right now - is Girard.
In free agency, options are limited. 27-year-old San Jose Sharks UFA Mario Ferraro is, potentially, a name to keep an eye on, as he recorded seven goals and 23 points last season and is a perfectly solid bottom-pair guy who can be had for relatively cheap. Same goes for Calgary Flames 28-year-old UFA Jake Bean, who played just 16 games with Calgary last season because of a season-ending injury sustained in December.
And, of course, there's still a few big names to watch on the trade market if the Penguins want to shoot higher. Zach Werenski and Thomas Harley are hot names, as is Alexander Nikishin, as the Carolina Hurricanes are exploring his market.
This is definitely a situation to keep an eye on Jul. 1 and into the rest of the summer.
Reaction: Penguins' Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon Traded To Vegas For Another RightyThe Penguins swapped defensemen with the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday, leaving questions about the left side of their blue line.2. Will the Penguins offer sheet anyone?
To be upfront about this, I believe this is unlikely.
Dubas said last summer that he believed offer sheets aren't particularly viable in the rising cap environment: Teams not only have more cap space to match offers, but the pick compensation is also going to make things more complicated, as it will be a bit hard to predict how that ratio is going to work relative to the cap.
It's difficult to completely rule it out because there are some cap-strapped teams. However, with prime offer sheet candidates already off the board in Mavrik Bourque and Nick Robertson - the latter of which the Penguins already traded for from the Toronto Maple Leafs - it's hard to imagine much happening there.
Perhaps blueliners Braden Schneider and Arber Xhekaj made some degree of sense, but only for a reasonable cap hit - and I doubt Dubas would surrender first-rounders for either, meaning he can't go above $4.68 million. RFAs like Nikishin will cost too much on an offer sheet.
Again, I doubt this is the route they'll take. But never say never.
Penguins Acquire Nick Robertson From Maple LeafsThe Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Nick Robertson from the Toronto Maple Leafs.3. Is something bigger in the works?
Following Dubas's body of work, it's clear that he likes to make trades after Jul. 1 - particularly in the month of August. The Karlsson deal happened in August of 2023. The Rutger McGroarty deal in August of 2024.
But, given the trade market landscape right now, it's hard to imagine, if the Penguins are indeed shooting big in the trade market, that they will be able to wait that long to get something done.
Rumors have been swirling about superstar winger Jason Robertson, and Pittsburgh is in the thick of it. For three of the other teams that were revealed to have checked in on Robertson - the Seattle Kraken, St. Louis Blues, and Ottawa Senators - it was almost immediately shot down that Robertson would sign long-term with those teams.
So far, that hasn't been the case for Pittsburgh, and it's reasonable to think it would have been shot down by now if there was no interest, on his part, in coming to Pittsburgh.
As mentioned before, the Penguins are loaded up on the right side. A guy like Karlsson immediately makes a win-now team better. A guy like Brunicke gives a playoff-hopeful team something to look forward to. If the player is right, both of these guys are probably going to be in play, and Dallas needs right-side defensemen.
The chances of the Penguins pulling something as massive as Robertson off are slim, especially given their asset pool. But that doesn't mean it can't get done. And that doesn't mean they still won't be in the mix for a guy like Nikishin, or even a guy like Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov.
So, stay tuned. Things could get pretty interesting in the coming days.
'We'll Continue To Stay Involved': Dubas Prepared To Adjust Accordingly To Changing MarketPittsburgh Penguins' president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas is still trying to land a difference-maker in the trade market, but he may have to adjust to a changing landscape with the rising salary cap.Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Poor Cuz Gets Richer: Veteran Winger Nick Cousins Signs A Two-Year Deal
The Senators made it official on Wednesday morning. They've signed forward Nick Cousins to a two-year contract extension. The deal kicks in this fall and is worth an oddly specific total of $1.5875 million per season.
It's a decent raise for Cousins, who's 33 next month, and has obviously proven his worth to Sens management in his effective bottom six role. He's coming off back-to-back one-year deals with the club and has spoken openly about his desire to stay, ideally with some term.
Cousins didn't miss a game this season, putting up nine goals, 23 points and a career-high 92 penalty minutes. With Brady Tkachuk now gone, the Sens could ill afford to lose any more edge up front, and Cousins has never been an easy man to play against. In fact, he was voted as having the NHL's most punchable face for two years running.
“Nick has proven his value to our hockey club over the past two seasons," GM Steve Staios said in a prepared club statement. "He brings Stanley Cup-winning experience and is an important player inside our dressing room."
In parts of 12 NHL seasons, Cousins has collected 86 goals and 218 points with seven different clubs. He's also played for the Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, and Nashville Predators.
A member of the Panthers, Cousins won a Stanley Cup ring in 2024.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News
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