Stephen Fleming is expected to be named as England’s Test coach, after impressing the England and Wales Cricket Board in a series of interviews over the past two weeks. The 53-year-old would work alongside his predecessor, compatriot, former teammate and friend Brendon McCullum, who remains in charge of the white-ball teams.
Fleming stood down as head coach of the Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings – as well as their subsidiaries Joburg Super Kings in South Africa’s SA20 and Texas Super Kings in America’s Major League Cricket – this month. That announcement was made after CSK finished eighth out of 10 teams in this year’s IPL, following on from a last-place finish in 2025, but also less than 24 hours after McCullum was sacked by the ECB as Test coach.
While the Los Angeles Lakers had already taken steps to hand the proverbial torch to star guard Luka Dončić, LeBron James' departure for Philadelphia earlier this month made it clear who will be leading the way on the court. Player-organized offseason minicamps have long been a thing in the NBA, and Dončić will reportedly host one of his own for his Lakers teammates next month.
According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Dončić will host his teammates in his native Slovenia over four days in August. In addition to on-court work, they're expected to get in some golf, check out the sights and do some bonding ahead of training camp, which opens in late September.
Luka Doncic is hosting the entire Los Angeles Lakers roster in Slovenia for a four-day minicamp in August, a source close to the Lakers told ESPN. The itinerary will include workouts, golf and some Ljubljana tourism and bonding ahead of training camp.
Despite injuries to Dončić and fellow guard Austin Reaves, the Lakers managed to eliminate Houston in the first round of the playoffs before being swept by Oklahoma City. And the on-court time could prove beneficial to JJ Redick's team, which has undergone many changes this offseason.
In addition to James, Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard have moved on. Among the new arrivals are Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton and first-round pick Cameron Carr.
Kessler's addition via sign-and-trade with Utah was the most important for the Lakers, given Ayton's inconsistency last season. While he was limited to five games last season due to a torn labrum, Kessler can offer the lob threat and rim protection that the Lakers have been seeking at the center position since acquiring Dončić from the Mavericks.
Los Angeles, CA - July 28, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) runs to second base during the ninth inning of an MLB game against the Seattle Mariners at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
It’s been almost four weeks since Shohei Ohtani last pitched in a game, still managing the left knee inflammation that still isn’t 100 percent. But that’s not the only injury the Dodgers superstar is dealing with.
After Tuesday night’s game, Ohtani revealed that his right bicep has also been bothering him. That was part of the reason that his planned bullpen session over the weekend in New York was scrapped.
“It started with the knee, and the bicep thing started when he took a swing — I don’t know, three or four weeks ago. Then as we got to the break we wanted him to rest his knee, to rest his body and arm. Then as he started ramping back up, in the bullpen … it just wasn’t responding. Nor was his knee,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters Tuesday night, as shown on SportsNet LA. “There is an effect from the lower half to the compromising of the upper half. So trying to mitigate that, we stopped the throwing, stopped the bullpens, trying to take care of the knee and hopefully not try to create velocity with the arm that’s not 100 percent.”
Ohtani homered and doubled on Tuesday, part of a three-hit game against the Mariners. But he’s hitting .250/.307/.500 in July, decent numbers but well below his established norms. Since the All-Star break, Ohtani is hitting .238/.283/.405.
The Dodgers hold an 11 1/2-game lead in the National League West. They are making the postseason, and it would take a lot for them to not be one of the top two seeds, securing them a bye past the wild card round. They are a team managing with an eye toward October, a month they have already secured though not yet clinched.
If there was ever a time to be conservative, to take a step back, this is it.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Tate Southisene #19 of the Atlanta Braves covers as Coby Morales #38 of the New York Yankees steals second base during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves made the ultra-aggressive move to promote their star infield prospect Tate Southisene to Double-A at the age of 19 after just 104 professional games, but his run with the Clingstones is going to have an unfortunate interruption. In the second inning of his debut on Tuesday night Southisene was hit in the wrist by an errant sinker up-and-in, and while he initially remained in the game to run the bases he was pulled in between innings. The Columbus Clingstones announced that the Braves 2025 first round pick, who received a $2,622,500 signing bonus last summer, would be placed on the injured list, halting his meteoric rise through Atlanta’s ranks.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) July 29, 2026
Southisene has been nothing short of phenomenal in his first full season of professional baseball, with a 139 wRC+ split across Single-A Augusta and High-A Rome. He spent most of the season in Single-A, where he hit .297/.429/.500 with eight home runs and 36 stolen bases in 51 games, before what was seen as an aggressive call up to High-A in early June. Southisene took about a series to adjust to High-A pitching before going on a rampage and hitting .272/.393/.456 over his final 30 games in High-A. His power numbers did take a dip, but his ability to work deep counts and recognize the strike zone is years ahead of the typical 19-year-old and that approach is what gave the Braves confidence he could succeed in Double-A. Southisene is starting to get top 100 looks nationally, and though his ultimate defensive home is still up in the air he is seen as one of the best position player prospects in recent seasons for the Braves and a player who projects to being at least a solid major league regular.
DENVER, CO - JULY 22: Starting pitcher Gabriel Hughes #43 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field on July 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sloppy defense and ineffective pitching led to a gut-punch loss for the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night. The Rockies had four errors and allowed six walks, making it hard to quell the continuous pressure from the San Diego Padres. Now, the Rockies look to snag a series split to close out the short stint against the Padres.
Gabriel Hughes (0-2, 2.79 ERA) looks to continue the strong start to his young career. Over his three starts, Hughes has proven to be unflappable and capable of handling any type of big league lineup. He has gone at least five innings and allowed three or fewer runs in each start while striking out at least five batters. In his last outing, Hughes battled the Washington Nationals, allowing just one run on five hits over five innings of work. Hughes’ cut fastball continues to baffle hitters and when his secondary pitches are working, he can almost look unhittable. The issue he ran into his last time out was that the Nationals ran his pitch count up with an excess of foul balls. That was also what got Michael Lorenzen in trouble yesterday. Either way, Hughes will have to find a way to get ahead of the Padres and work quickly and efficiently to save the bullpen.
The Padres announced that Kyle Hart (0-2, 5.21 ERA) will make the start today. A starter for most of his professional career, Hart has mostly been used as a reliever by the Padres at the big league level. In 27 appearances this season, including two starts as an opener, Hart has allowed 24 runs over 38 innings with 33 strikeouts and 12 walks. His last time out, Hart tossed two scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins and in the outing before that he started against Athletics and threw a scoreless inning. He has faced the Rockies three times this season, allowing three runs on four hits over 5.2 innings of work. In five total outings against the Rockies, he owns a 2.70 ERA in 13.1 innings.
Jul 4, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws a runner out at first against the New York Mets in the fifth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Rise and shine, Braves country! A Wednesday split doubleheader is at your service.
Chris Sale is on the mound for the Atlanta Braves to face the New York Mets in today’s second game of the doubleheader in this three-game series.
With a 2.19 ERA, Sale has been a dominant force on the mound that continues to produce, even when the offense hasn’t been. His last outings against the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers in mid-July showed everything the Braves have been trying to execute. Coming off the All-Star break, that’s the spark they needed to show the work they’ve put in coming to fruition.
Monday night’s matchup, however, was the opposite of that.
Mets’ Christian Scott is boasting a 3.13 ERA across his 14 games this season, and is expected to provide a steady duel against the Braves’ ace.
The Mets have also been a team that’s been struggling with consistent offense, but Monday’s matchup showed they could get hot unexpectedly and run with it.
It’s disappointing to experience a loss, but even worse when it’s behind a Chris Sale start. Expect a pitcher’s face-off, but uncertainty when it comes to both teams’ offense. Will the Braves bounce back after Monday to finish off this doubleheader, or will they fold under the pressure?
Tune in at 7:10 p.m. to find out.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, July 29, 7:10 p.m. EDT
Location: Citi Field, Flushing, NY
TV/Streaming: BravesVision
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
Yahoo Sports' "Football 301" podcast hosts Nate Tice and Matt Harmon spent an episode going through their top 10 NFL offenses heading into the 2026 season. Their dueling lists consisted largely of the same teams and featured a fun debate on who should be No. 1. Here's how their rankings broke down:
Harmon's top 10
Tice's top 10
Jaguars
Packers
Patriots
49ers
49ers
Lions
Chargers
Bears
Bills
Bengals
Bengals
Bills
Cowboys
Patriots
Bears
Chargers
Lions
Rams
Rams
Cowboys
Why Dallas can outgun everyone — if the line holds
It's easy to fall in love with the Cowboys' firepower. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens form a dazzling one-two punch that can win with finesse or rock fights, and newcomer Ryan Flournoy is no slouch as WR3.
"It's one of the only teams where their third receiver is actually dangerous," Harmon raved, pointing out Flournoy's ability to step up if injuries hit.
The tight end group might be the NFL's most versatile. Jake Ferguson pairs receiving chops with real Y-blocking; Brevyn Spann-Ford is an elite edge-sealer; even the fullback, Hunter Luepke, is a tactical weapon — a "rug that ties the room together," as Tice put it.
But the O-line, long Dallas' calling card, faces a new test. Tyler Guyton is a supreme athlete but, as Tice noted, "He was always hurt in college. Right now, same story … so, can he string together 15-16 games in the NFL?"
Thankfully, Dallas has rare depth. "Nate Thomas wasn't bad last year when he had to play," Tice said, suggesting continuity even if Guyton misses more time.
What sets Dallas apart isn't just stars. The Cowboys are already solving the problems modern defenses throw at them. When teams flood the line with five defenders ("clouds" and 5-man fronts), Dallas answers with pullers and fullbacks, creating mismatches and staying one move ahead.
"That's why I'm so optimistic. They already showed the signs of going supernova … they were good on offense last year. I'm just all systems go," Tice said.
Even weaknesses don't feel fatal. The running back room is solid, if unspectacular. But on this team? "If running back depth is your biggest worry, you're probably going to be alright," Tice said.
With an offense already carving up the trends of 2026 and enough O-line talent to (probably) patch over injuries, the Cowboys are as close as it gets to an offensive sure thing.
If Guyton can string together a healthy campaign — or if Thomas picks up where he left off — expect Dallas to be at the top of every power ranking come Thanksgiving.
The case for the Rams
At the core of Harmon's justification for putting the Rams No. 1 on his list is the "MVP at quarterback" in Matthew Stafford and the elite playmaker duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, calling Nacua "a top receiver in the NFL, period, end of story" if healthy. The Rams' offense is built around stars at key positions, giving them the capacity to run their entire passing game through explosive weapons.
The tight end group is another area of strength unique to the Rams. With perhaps "the fastest tight end in the NFL in Terrance Ferguson, who can truly be a sacrificial player from 13 personnel" plus proven producers like Colby Parkinson, the Rams have the ability to seamlessly pivot from multi-tight end sets to 11 personnel when the situation demands.
"They're always ahead of it," Harmon says of Sean McVay-led units. The Rams stay atop modern trends, blending a multiple-tight end attack with tempo and versatility. McVay's willingness to adapt — such as increasing fourth-down aggressiveness from 10% to 29% over his Rams tenure — keeps defenses off-balance and maximizes the roster's strengths.
Despite naming them No. 1, Harmon admits there is a "little bit of a house of cards element" to the Rams' setup. He points out some serious risks: Nacua's offseason legal troubles, Adams' age (34, unprecedented for a WR1), depth concerns at receiver behind the top two, and the durability of key linemen like Alaric Jackson. There's also the wild card of Stafford's health and age; any significant time missed could derail L.A.'s ceiling.
DAZN, the British streaming platform primarily focused on live sports, has entered into an agreement that will make it the exclusive digital home for the MSG Networks and YES Network during the 2026-27 NBA, NHL and MLB seasons.
"It is a defining moment for us and underscores our commitment to expanding our footprint in the United States," DAZN CEO Shay Segev said in a statement.
The deal with MSG Networks and YES Network comes as professional sports leagues confront the decline of regional sports networks and look for new distribution models and revenue streams. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month in Las Vegas he expects to have a centralized solution for teams that are currently scrambling to find local carriers for their 2026-27 regular-season games.
DAZN, by virtue of Wednesday's announcement, is now positioned as a potential candidate to helpthe NBA with its local broadcasting issues moving forward.
“We’ll cobble together a series of solutions for this season, but I feel good that we’ll have something on a national basis for the following year,” Silver told reporters.
What is DAZN?
DAZN, pronounced 'da-zone,' was founded in 2016 and has previously carried combat sports events and international soccer programming in the U.S. It has also served as a streaming platform for audiences outside the U.S. to watch American sports, with international rights to NFL, NBA, NHL and college football and basketball games throughout the year.
DAZN will also have 24/7 feeds of MSG, MSG Sportsnet and YES Network, in addition to on-demand access to highlights and original programming. Those who currently watch MSG Networks and YES Network through The Gotham Sports App will eventually be migrated onto DAZN's platform, but the exact timing has been not disclosed yet.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 24: Tyler Soderstrom #21 of the Athletics high fives teammates after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Friday, July 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Turner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
For the Guardians to remake their lineup with real intent, they will need to swing big at the fast-approaching MLB Trade Deadline, which is why they should try to land the Sacramento Athletics’ Tyler Soderstrom.
You can view our larger trade deadline piece here as we discuss a wider pool of options the Guardians may consider. To make my position clear, I expect the Guardians to make smaller moves, like trading Bo Naylor and getting a castoff/undervalued reliever. But, in the interest of exploring potential larger moves, we are doing a series looking at some of those bigger names. So far, we have discussed Spencer Steer, Luis Arraez, Shea Langeliers, Taylor Ward, Heliot Ramos, Jo Adell and Ty France. Although the Guardians’ greatest need is hitting, the market is aflush with starting pitching so it also may make sense for the Guardians to see if they can find a good value there, as we wrote here and looked at specifically with Jose Soriano.
Soderstrom is 24 years old and signed to a 7-year, $86 million extension with a team option for 2033 at $12.29 million. Over the past two years, he has a 125 wRC+, 21/10 K/BB/%, while managing a 102 wRC+ against LHP in that time period showing he is not a platoon player. He has a .475 slugging percentage and has been a good left fielder by Defensive Runs Saved at +14 and slightly below average there by Outs Above Average at -1.
Why would the Athletics trade Soderstrom? It should be clear to the Athletics that they need to leverage some of their major league talent into some prospect help for their upcoming move to Las Vegas. Soderstrom is a good piece but probably worth more to trade now then to hang on to in hopes he will be in his prime when the team reaches Vegas. It will not be cheap to acquire Soderstrom and will require two top 100 prospects given his years of cheap team control… likely will take something like Angel Genao and Braylon Doughty, and probably a lower level prospect thrown in. Expensive, but, in one fell swoop, the Guardians would provide themselves a middle of the order hitter making their lineup something like:
Kwan CF
Jose 3B
DeLauter DH
Soderstrom LF
Bazzana 2B
Angel Martinez RF
Manzardo 1B
Bailey C
Rocchio SS
Is that a lot of lefties? Yes. The majority of major league pitchers are right-handers and most of these lefties can handle southpaws with aplomb. It is worth noting that Soderstrom isn’t a pull-hitter as much, explaining why his 54 career homers look like they’d be 45 at Progressive Field, but getting a few more pulled-balls-in-the-air is something he could potentially work on doing to increase his offensive output in Cleveland.
What do you think about making a big swing for Tyler Soderstrom? Let me know in the comments below.
SAALFELDEN, AUSTRIA - JULY 26: Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth during a pre-season training session at Saalfelden Arena on July 26, 2026 in Saalfelden, Austria. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images) | AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
It’s one thing to talk about Tottenham Hotspur player injuries. It’s another thing when Spurs’ primary attacking target picks up a long-term injury. David Ornstein, among others, is now reporting that Bournemouth attacker Eli Junior Kroupi has sustained a metatarsal injury to his foot during preseason training and will miss the next 3-4 months, putting a significant crimp into Spurs’ summer transfer window plans (as well as everyone else’s who were pursuing a move for Kroupi this summer).
🚨 Junior Kroupi expected to be out for 3/4 months with foot injury suffered in pre-season training. 20yo Bournemouth forward flew back from Austria tour & underwent successful surgery today. Departure this summer never countenanced by #AFCB@TheAthleticFChttps://t.co/UWi4BtYQjE
OK here’s the point where you can make lots of #jokes about Tottenham’s injury history, including swipes at Spurs’ medical team extending their remit to injuring Spurs targets, resigned quips about how will fit right in on Tottenham’s recovery table, and sensible chuckles about how Ange Postecoglou is at it again — when will he stop getting away with this?
Ready? GO.
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Okay, now that we’ve gotten it all out of our system, this is a real shame. Kroupi looked to be the ideal young attacker that could really level up Spurs’ attack. I’d say it’s almost a certainty that Spurs will now move onto other targets (Cody Gakpo is the name coming up most frequently, more on him later). It probably means that all the teams that are after him now will shift their attentions to signing him NEXT summer, or possibly in January if he returns before then.
But it’s a real bummer. There was no guarantee that Spurs would’ve signed Kroupi this summer (even though they were ostensibly in the lead according to several sources), but I like him a lot and was really hoping we’d end up buying him. And let’s also not forget that this is also a serious blow to Bournemouth, who were hoping to keep him and capitalize on his play to improve on their sixth place finish from last season.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 30: Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo before the Royals home opener against the Minnesota Twins on March 30, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 2026 season has been a big fat dud for the Kansas City Royals, a team that had designs on competing in what looks like a weak Central Division. With the August 3 trade deadline soon approaching, the Royals will almost certainly be sellers. The question is – what path will they take? General manager J.J. Picollo has said the team will be “open-minded to anything,” but will the team look at a modest sell-off of expiring contracts, a more aggressive re-tool, or will they combine selling with buying?
Here’s what each approach would look like, and what it would mean for the future of the franchise.
The obvious moves
Any team out of contention is going to look to move players on expiring contracts. The Royals have a few candidates.
John Schreiber has been fairly effective this year, and relievers are always in demand at the trade deadline. He has been a righty-killer – they’ve hit just .178 against him – but he has been hittable to lefties.
Lane Thomas hasn’t been great, but he’s a solid right-handed bat who has hit .261/.366/.432 against lefties. Contenders could view him as a nice complement to their lineup.
Starling Marte is a good clubhouse guy and has some value as a bench option, but the return is going to be very light for a 37-year-old with a 81 OPS+.
Matt Strahm would have been a good trade chip except he has given up 10 home runs in 34.2 innings with a 6.75 ERA. Unless some team thinks they can fix him quickly, I wouldn’t count on a suitor.
Kris Bubic is throwing and expected to return in August, but his injury and lack of availability will considerably diminish his trade value.
Carlos Estévez and Jonathan India are unmovable due to injury and ineffectiveness.
Moving any of these players other than Bubic is a no-brainer, to get some sort of compensation for a player that won’t be under contract by November.
Bubic is a different case in that the Royals could risk offering him a Qualifying Offer to bring him back next year on a one-year deal. Plus it is very difficult to say what the trade value is for a guy with his injury history who is currently out. Most likely his trade value is quite low, although you could argue that they should move him for anything they can get. Had he returned before the deadline and established his health in a few outings, it would be a different story. The Royals seem to be snakebit historically in having valuable trade pieces get injured before the deadline!
The retool
The problem with just trading the rentals is that teams don’t give up a lot for two months of service unless it is for an elite talent. Controllable years have value, and if the Royals are serious about adding talent to contend in the future, they may have to part with players that are under club control beyond this year.
Jeff Passan of ESPN suggested the Royals retool, writing that “Most of their top prospects are at the lower levels, so focusing on near major-league-ready talent — ones who will be there when the Royals move into their new stadium in 2030 or ’31 — makes sense.”
That means holding on to core players – Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone, Carter Jensen – but being willing to deal players who will be eligible for free agency in a year or two. The most likely candidates are pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. The Royals opted not to trade Lugo a year ago, instead signing him to an extension that will pay him $20 million next year, with a vesting option for 2028. The 36-year-old has had mixed results since signing the extension, and the Royals may want to free up financial flexibility and avoid age catching up with him.
Wacha has been excellent this year, earning an All-Star appearance, and he is under a very club-friendly contract that will pay him $14 million next year with a $14 million club option for 2028. But if the Royals want to replenish the young talent in the organization, they may need to move the veteran while his value is still high. Wacha has been a steady contributor the last few years, but is 35 years old, and Father Time catches up to everyone.
Picollo seems open to moving the veterans, but with some reservations, saying “we have to be very, very pointed on what we want to get out of any one of those two. And it’s also, they made a commitment to us, and that’s big. And I think that’s important to the morale of the team.”
A retool could involve trading younger players as well. Daniel Lynch IV is having a breakout season in the bullpen, but the team could look to move him while his value is high. Michael Massey and Nick Loftin have also emerged as quality bats, but having both on the roster may be redundant, leaving one of them as a trade candidate. Vinnie Pasquantino could also become available if the team wants to get Caglianone back to first base, although his offensive struggles and recurring wrist injuries make a deal less likely.
Selling and buying
The Royals are coming off back-to-back winning seasons, and even though they missed the playoffs last year, they seemed to think they were on the right track. Although this year has been a disaster, the Royals have indicated they think the nucleus of this team can get back to contention.
“You all know the core we have on this club that’s going to be back in the coming years,” Picollo told reporters last week. “It’s a really good starting point. So if we can add to the roster and get our roster better, that will be the objective.”
I would not rule out the Royals actually adding to the roster at the deadline, despite their place in the standings. They wouldn’t be interested in short-term players, but those that can help in 2027 and beyond. What would that look like? Perhaps they trade away Michael Wacha, but acquire a younger pitcher with some promise to take his place in the rotation. They trade away a short-term bat like Lane Thomas, but also look to acquire a young outfielder with potential in a separate deal.
The farm system has made great strides this summer, and the team could look to cash some of those chips in now to position the team back into possible contention for next year. They know they have a window with Bobby Witt Jr. they need to maximize, and they need to build a good team around him to have a chance at a postseason run.
What about a full-blown rebuild?
Passan writes that the Royals “can’t totally tear things down, not with Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia locked up long term.”
But what if even Bobby is not off-limits?
At the Athletic, Red Sox beat writer Jen McCaffrey considers what it would take for Boston to acquire the All-Star shortstop, and suggests a starting point of outfielder Roman Anthony, pitcher Payton Tolle, top shortstop prospect Franklin Arias (#7 overall in MLB Pipeline’s list), and pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson (#49).
Sure, Bobby Witt Jr. signed a long-term deal with the club, but remember he has an opt out after the 2030 season. And the Royals may want to move him before that, when his salary rises $30 million in 2028. You could get a lot of talent for him. Anthony was third in Rookie of the Year voting last year, Tolle has been terrific this year at the MLB level, and Arias and Eyanson are both top prospects in baseball that could be in the big leagues in a year or two.
But it ain’t gonna happen.
Players like Bobby Witt Jr. are once-in-a-generation talents that don’t come around all the time. Prospects are great, but they often fail. Trading Witt for four young players – even highly rated ones – is still trading 80 cents on the dollar. Plus the team is trying to build support for public financing for a new stadium – dealing your franchise player is not conducive to that goal.
The Royals aren’t deciding whether to buy or sell. They’re deciding how aggressively to reshape the roster. Trading the expiring contracts is the easy part. The harder question is whether Picollo is willing to sacrifice good players today to build a better team in 2027 and beyond, or whether he believes this core simply needs a few tweaks to get back into contention. The next few days will reveal just how much faith the front office still has in this roster.
Left-hander Foster Griffin is having a really good year for the Washington Nationals.
He’s 12-2 in 21 starts with a 2.76 ERA, 1.032 WHIP and only 28 walks and 113 strikeouts in 124 innings, and he was named to the National League All-Star team.
Can I stop for a minute and say “I told you so”?
Because I did tell you that the Cubs should have signed Griffin as a free agent, coming back from three years in NPB, in an article posted here last November 21.
What I wrote back then:
In three seasons in NPB, Griffin posted a 2.57 ERA and 1.033 WHIP in 54 games covering 315.2 innings, with 78 walks and 318 strikeouts, both good ratios, and allowed just 18 home runs in that time.
This isn’t the sort of signing that would make big waves, or solve any large problem with the Cubs rotation. Nevertheless, I think the results Griffin has had in NPB could translate pretty well to MLB.
In fact, that is exactly what has happened. Griffin’s numbers in MLB this year pretty well match those NPB numbers. And as I noted in the article, the Cubs knew Griffin well as they had faced him in an exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants during their trip to Japan in March 2025.
The Nationals signed Griffin to a one-year deal for $5.5 million. That would have been a lot better use of that money than, say, signing Phil Maton.
Anyway.
The Nats are on the fringes of the wild-card race, currently tied with the Pirates, one game behind the Diamondbacks for the National League’s last wild card spot. So perhaps they’d be willing to do what some are terming “soft selling.”
Griffin would look good in the Cubs rotation for the rest of the year and would not be expensive. He turned 31 on Monday. He’s been healthy and productive, throwing at least six innings in 12 of his 21 starts.
Would you trade Kevin Alcántara to the Nationals for Griffin? I would. Maybe throw in an A-ball pitching lottery ticket.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 02: Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket between Darius Garland #10 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter at Rocket Arena on January 02, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Nuggets 113-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cleveland’s interest in Jonathan Kuminga is well-documented, but Chris Fedor of cleveland.comsaid on the Wind and Gold Talk podcast that the Cavs have expressed interest in Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson and forward DeMar DeRozan. “I’m told the Cavs have expressed interest in all three of those guys,” Fedor said. DeRozan presents the easiest option given he is an unrestricted free agent and has been seen widely as the backup to teams that missed out on James.
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But Watson presents a similar issue to that of Kuminga, in that the Cavs would need to pony up some assets in a trade to make that happen. The pathway to acquiring Watson would have to be a sign-and-trade that could cost them someone like Jarrett Allen. That will likely prove to be a dealbreaker for the Cavs, who have been very reluctant to part with Allen unless, of course, it brings back a difference-maker player. Watson is a good player and is coming off a good season, but he is likely not the kind of player the Cavs would seek in return for Allen.
Denver has reportedly offered Watson an extension in the $16-$18 million range per year, according to Marc Stein via his Substack, which is well below his desired amount. Allen signed a three-year, $91 million extension with Cleveland in 2024 and will make $28 million this upcoming season, escalating to just over $30 million and $32 million over the next two years.
The Atlanta Hawks have also shown interest in Allen, but the Cavs would need more in return than just Kuminga. Trade scenarios involving sending Allen to Denver or Atlanta seem unlikely, unless the Cavs can get demonstrably better while tying up future money to either Watson or Kuminga in the process.
Just over half of MLB players believe the league is doing enough to protect the game from players teaming up with gamblers, according to a survey conducted by The Athletic.
Key Takeaways
Eighteen players said MLB isn't doing enough.
One player said the league was hypocritical for constantly promoting gambling.
Others believe the onus should be on the players themselves.
MLB is only one year removed from the scandal that involved Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Both were suspended after being accused of manipulating pitches for the benefit of sports bettors in cases that are still being fought in court.
“It takes plain stupidity to do that,” an NL reliever told The Athletic. “You can’t fix stupid.”
MLB’s sports betting rules are straightforward: Wagering on baseball games at any level is not allowed. Team personnel and league employees also cannot share privileged information with sports bettors or fix their performances so that associates can profit at sportsbooks.
Similar rules exist in other professional and amateur sports federations. But despite that, cases of illegal betting have proliferated.
The Athletic’s poll, conducted under the veil of anonymity from February to May 2026, asked players if they believed MLB has done enough to protect games from interference by sports bettors. Fifty-five of the 100 players surveyed answered "Yes," while 27 were unsure or had no opinion and 18 said no.
“It’s kind of like PEDs,” said an AL Central position player. “It’s well-known that you shouldn’t be doing that, so if you do it, I feel like that’s your decision rather than a lack of understanding.”
An NL pitcher suggested that any ambiguity or uncertainty about the league’s rules and enforcement will disappear by the seriousness with which it approached the Guardians pitchers' situation.
“The whole deal in Cleveland seems like a pretty good start,” the player said. “They got rid of one of the better players in baseball, which tells you, ‘We don’t allow this for anybody.’”
Players express concern
While the majority of the respondents said MLB has done enough, a smaller portion questioned the league’s integrity for partnering with U.S. sports betting companies.
“I think it’s a pretty hypocritical thing to take the stance they do on gambling and put such a negative stigma around players gambling ... while also promoting DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook and those things,” said an NL hitter, per The Athletic. “It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”
“It’s in every stadium,” an AL pitcher added. “There’s f---ing ads everywhere - BetMGM, Bet Hard Rock, all this s---. There’s nothing saying, ‘Don’t do it.’ It would be too easy. We already saw it.”
Another player went so far as to say that MLB is “promoting (sports betting) rather than helping players.”
MLB signed its first gambling partnership with MGM Resorts International in November 2018, just over six months after the practice was legalized federally. The league currently maintains partnerships with FanDuel, DraftKings, and MGM Resorts/BetMGM.
Team entities, including stadiums, broadcast networks, and much more, are also eligible to partner with gambling companies.
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Columbus jumped out to an early 4-0 lead then held on to preserve the victory Tuesday. Leading the way was Ralphy Velazquez, who snapped out of a short funk by going 2-fo-4 with a massive 415-foot three-run home run in the first inning while also doubling.
In his first game back in Columbus, Daniel Schneemann was perfect at the plate, going 1-for-1 with three walks. Cooper Ingle went 2-for-5 and Angel Genao went 1-for-3 with a walk while Kody Huff homered and George Valera doubled.
Starting pitcher Rorik Maltrud danced around four walks to toss 4.1 innings while allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts.
All three relievers Steven Perez, Carlos Hernandez and Cody Heuer allowed one run in their appearances.
Akron’s offense erupted on Tuesday, scoring 12 runs on a whopping 19 hits with everyone getting in on the action.
Nolan Schubart led the way, going 2-for-5 with a mammoth home run, a double and a walk.
Also homering was Ryan Cesarini, who went 2-for-5 with a walk; and Maick Collado, who went 2-for-5.
Jaison Chourio went 2-for-6 with a double, Dean Curley went 3-for-5 with two doubles, Aaron Walton went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk and Alex Mooney went 2-for-5.
The terrific offense backed up the pitching staff in a semi-bullpen game. Sean Matson allowed three runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings. Jack Jasiak was perfect in 1.2 frames with three strikeouts. Dylan DeLucia tossed 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings, Kendeglys Virguez’s Double-A debut saw him strike out the side in a perfect inning and Zane Morehouse closed out the win with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
The bottom of the batting order did most of the damage in this one, but people definitely will be talking about Juneiker Caceres’ first High-A homer, a majestic shot in the third inning. He might be the team’s top overall prospect soon if he keeps this up.
Jeffrey Mercedes had a great game, going 3-for-4 with a double while Esteban Gonzalez was perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run and two walks.
Welby Francisca went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a hit by pitch and Anthony Martinez went 1-for-2 with two walks.
Starting pitcher Jacob Zibin allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 5.0 innings.Logan McGuire picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning.
Catching prospect Reiner Herrera had a sensational game, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and a walk. Also standing out was Jonathan Martinez, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases. No one else reached base safely twice, although Alejandro Blasco had a hit in one of his two plate appearances before leaving the game in his full-season debut.
Starting pitcher Alejandro Rivera allowed five runs on five hits with one walk and no strikeouts in 5.0 innings in what also was his full-season debut.
