To get to their Challenge Cup tie on Saturday, Salford fans had to find their way to the end of a dark, long and winding road to reach the lights of Chiswick Rugby. It was a metaphor for their last year. A few months ago Salford’s stay in Super League was ending in chaotic scenes and Hammersmith Hills Hoists were being crowned Southern Conference champions. And yet, when the clubs met by Barnes Bridge on Saturday night, many aficionados expected them to be well matched.
Hammersmith, formed by Aussie backpackers two decades ago and jokingly nicknamed after a washing line, had never seen a night like it: a couple of hundred Salford fans in red and white, chanting and banging drums, circled their 4G pitch to urge on their new team – a bunch of callow youths who would either rise to the occasion or crack. Many neutrals had come down to see a giant-killing.
Defender is the son of former NFL WR Antonio Freeman
US national team defender Alex Freeman is set to move from Orlando City to Villarreal in Spain’s La Liga, The Athletic and ESPN reported on Monday.
The transfer fee reportedly starts at more than $4m but could top $7m with add-ons included. Per ESPN, Orlando City would get 15% of the proceeds if Villarreal sells Freeman in the future.
Our 2026 Community Prospect List is through the first three rounds and there weren’t any surprises in the early going. Shortstop Leo De Vries absolutely dominated the first round of voting to no one’s surprise, taking over 95% of the vote to get things started. Considering he was the #3 overall prospect in the entire sport last year, it was an easy call for A’s fans to anoint him the top prospect in the system again. In a bit of a frustrating news De Vries couldn’t keep that spot in this year’s top prospects list, falling to the fourth spot behind Brewers middle infield prospect Jesus Made. De Vries didn’t do anything but tear the cover off the ball after the trade over from the San Diego Padres last year so one can’t help but think that De Vries is getting dinged a bit for being in the Athletics’ system now. Or perhaps if the top three weren’t also shortstop prospects De Vries would be higher up on the list. The top four prospects right now will all be judged against one another for the next few years and it’ll be interesting to see which ones have the best futures. Hopefully it’s our guy.
The next two rounds were also fairly predictable but also closer. Left-hander Jamie Arnold took roughly 60% of the vote in Round 2 to take the second spot on our CPL. Arnold only just joined the organization this past year when he was drafted 11th overall, which was a miracle for the Athletics considering he was expected to go much higher than that. While he’s a bit farther away as he’s yet to pitch in a professional game yet, A’s brass believes he could be a fast riser through the system. The A’s have had stud lefty prospects not pan out in the past though (staring at you, AJ Puk) so let’s not assume we have a budding ace before he’s even thrown a professional pitch. That’s the hope and the dream though, for the left-hander to be atop the rotation when the A’s make their eventual push for the playoffs.
Another left-hander followed suit in Gage Jump, who also took roughly 60% of the vote en route to claiming the third overall spot. A second-rounder in 2024, Jump’s rise has caught even A’s fans by surprise. A survivor of the dreaded Tommy John, Jump doesn’t have the typical build of a major league starter, or the obvious arnsenal and advanced repetoire of other high-end starter prospects. Instead Jump uses deception and a funky arm angle to give himself an advantage on the mound. He might not have the high ceiling that Arnold does, and there are some in the industry that believe an eventual move to the bullpen will happen, but for the coming year Jump is going to be continued to groomed as a starter and has the potential to be a quality mid-rotation starter behind Arnold on a future playoff squad. Jump currently ranks as the game’s #57 ranked prospect and could see the big leagues as soon as this summer.
Now that we’ve gotten the obvious top three out of the way, things will start to get much more interesting. Outfielder Henry Bolte has been considered the #4 prospect by national media and scouts in the know, but right-handed pitcher Braden Nett has become a serious contender to lay claim to that position. Then we have Wei-En Lin, who has absolutely rocketed up everyone’s boards and could be the option there ahead of Bolte and Nett. The early returns from you guys indicate it’s going to be one of those three, and it’s going to be close. So don’t wait! Go to our CPL and cast your vote if you haven’t already!
Connor Bedard was one of the league’s most productive players over the first chunk of the season.
While he’s gone a little quiet since returning from injury, my Blackhawks vs. Wild predictions expect him to get back on track and find the net in Minnesota.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Tuesday, January 27.
Blackhawks vs Wild prediction
Blackhawks vs Wild best bet: Connor Bedard anytime goalscorer (+175)
Connor Bedard has scored 20 goals in 39 appearances, putting him on pace for 42 goals over a full season. That would shatter his previous best of 26 goals per 82 games.
He’s only scored once since returning from injury, but it’s not for a lack of opportunity. Bedard has recorded at least three shots in seven of eight games, leading the Chicago Blackhawks during that span.
Bedard’s calling card is his unique release, and he's scoring on more than 15% of his shots. It goes without saying goals should follow when he’s consistently generating strong volume.
Getting looks should not be an issue against the Minnesota Wild, who rank second in pace and 26th in shot suppression over the past 10 games.
Bedard took advantage of this matchup the last time he faced the Wild, adding a goal, an assist, and three shots while attempting eight.
Blackhawks vs Wild same-game parlay
Teuvo Teravainen is expected to skate alongside Bedard at 5-on-5 and on the power play in his return to the lineup. He's more of a playmaker than a shooter and should help get the puck to Bedard in good spots.
Veteran winger Vladimir Tarasenko has generated multiple shots on goal in seven straight games. I don’t see him slowing down against a Chicago team that sits 30th in 5-on-5 shot suppression over the past 10 games.
Connor Bedard has scored in two of his past three meetings with Minnesota. Find more NHL betting trends for Blackhawks vs. Wild.
How to watch Blackhawks vs Wild
Location
Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN
Date
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, FDSN-NO
Blackhawks vs Wild latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Here’s the location of a 99 mile per hour fastball.
I wouldn’t advise swinging at this pitch. In the Statcast era, there have been 2,416 pitches thrown at least that fast in this part of the plate. The rare guys who’ve swung have a 56% whiff rate and a .307 xwOBAcon. (Imagine Mike Zunino’s whiff rate with Leody Taveras’s quality of contact. Only worse.) Swinging at that pitch is frankly reckless. But here’s what Josh Naylor can do with it:
There’s an Elizabeth Taylor quote that aired relentlessly during the playoffs as Fox pushed its documentary about her: “I don’t think I’m reckless. But I am fearless.” That’s Josh Naylor. And it’s exactly why we all fell for him so hard so quickly. He’s not afraid to swing at a pitch like that, but because he can pull it off, it’s not reckless.
Ryan dug into Naylor’s penchant for swinging high and away after Naylor’s three-hit ALCS Game 2. In that piece, Ryan pointed to Dan Wilson’s thinking on why Naylor can get away with this where others can’t: “His swing is so adjustable. When he sees a pitch up in the zone, he’s able to stay really short and get on top of it, and that’s the key.”
By nature, Naylor’s a bat control hitter. He’s got the raw power you’d expect for a first baseman, and he could use that to chase dingers. But rather than selling out for launch angle, he uses his skills to square up the ball at the 89th percentile, peppering hits all over the field, with enough power to keep pitchers honest. Given his baseball IQ, you trust that choice.
It’s that ability to get the most out of his swing that allows him to fearlessly go after pitches most guys would only flail at. In the Mariners’ biggest regular season series of the year, he went after another high pitch to help bury the Astros.
The conventional wisdom is to elevate and celebrate. Naylor knows he’s better this way, and he’s brave enough to go against the grain.
While it comes through in his hitting, when you think of Josh Naylor’s fearlessness, it’s probably his baserunning that comes to mind first. And in this department, his fearlessness is actually underrated.
Naylor’s a big-bodied first baseman with a sprint speed in the third percentile, 12th lowest in MLB. And yet he stole 30 bases this year, including going a perfect 19 for 19 with Seattle. When he first started his spree, you could say it was just pitchers ignoring a big guy, but he didn’t get any less daring after the word got out.
So when people talk about his stolen bases, they usually talk about how he’s able to do it because of his baseball IQ. He can spot tendencies and timing in pitchers at an apparently elite level, enough to compensate for his concrete shoes. But consider the 27 other players with sprint speeds under 25 feet/second. 17 of them are catchers; it’s not exactly a low-baseball-IQ group. Yet those other 27 players combined for just 15 stolen base attempts. Naylor’s 32 attempts are a testament to his willingness to take risks. His 94% success rate proves he knows what he’s doing and that his baseball IQ is, in fact, elite.
This all came together in one of the biggest games in Mariners franchise history: Game 5 of the ALDS. If ever there was a time for caution, this would have been it. A slow guy getting caught stealing, wasting a precious base runner against Tarik Skubal, could easily have ended up being the story of how the Mariners were eliminated from the playoffs. But Josh Naylor wasn’t afraid to try, and in a game that went 15 innings, you can bet the run mattered.
He plays defense the same way. As he daringly plays farther toward second than any other first baseman. Others play a bit farther from the bag, but they do it safely, playing back rather than shading towards second as Naylor does. His confidence that he can still cover the bag means he’s not sacrificing outs to play with optimized positioning. In other words, it’s not reckless. Aren’t you glad he wasn’t closer to the bag in ALCS Game 3? Lots of teams would like to position thier first baseman here against Alejandro Kirk. Only Naylor’s can actually do it.
Naylor employs a style of play that seems crazy. But he’s not being reckless, just fearless. And beyond merely being good, this is what made him an instant fan favorite and a player the Mariners and their fans felt they couldn’t live without. It’s no wonder he was ready for the big moment.
Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA excitement begins at 8:00 PM ET when the Milwaukee Bucks head to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers. Then, at 10 PM ET, it's the LA Clippers vs Utah Jazz in a West Coast showdown. Live coverage of tonight's doubleheader begins at 7:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch each game and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Tonight's game marks the third and final meeting of the season between the Clippers and Jazz. Utah won the first matchup 129-108 at home on October 22, before Los Angeles answered back with a 118-101 victory on January 1 to even the series.
The Clippers enter tonight's game on a hot streak, going 15-3 over their last 18 games, including wins in eight of their last nine games. Meanwhile, the Jazz are still searching for consistency, having lost six of their last seven and 12 of their last 15 overall.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, with just one loss in their last nine games. The Utah Jazz, on the other hand, are one of its coldest, scoring just a single victory in its previous seven outings.
The injury reports for both sides are busy, which leads my Clippers vs. Jazz predictions to L.A. center Ivica Zubac, who will be asked to pick up the slack against an ailing Utah frontcourt.
Clippers vs Jazz best bet: Ivica Zubac Over 14.5 points (-115)
Ivica Zubac’s scoring output is down in January compared to the first half of the season. Entering tonight’s tilt in Salt Lake City, the Los Angeles Clippers big man is averaging 12.5 points through 11 games this month.
His nightly scoring props had totals set as high as 16.5 and 17.5 points earlier this month before dropping to tonight's 14.5. However, this matchup with the Utah Jazz is a great buyback spot for Zubac’s offensive efforts.
He faces a Utah defense ranked worst in the NBA, with a notable soft spot inside. The Jazz could be down both starting bigs against Los Angeles, with center Jusuf Nurkic doubtful (illness) and standout forward Lauri Markkanen questionable (illness).
The Clippers could also need Zubac to pick up the scoring slack should Kawhi Leonard and Kris Dunn sit out Tuesday (both questionable). He did just that in the first meeting with the Jazz back in October, leading L.A. with 19 points on 9 of 13 shooting.
Zubac snatched three offensive rebounds in that contest and is a handful on the boards, hauling in 3.6 offensive rebounds a night and scoring an average of 4.2 second-chance points – third-most in the NBA.
Even at full strength, the Jazz have a tough time limiting second-chance looks, allowing 16.2 SCP per contest with the 12th-lowest rebound rate in the land. If Markkanen and Nurkic sit out, that’s a collective 17.4 rebounds per game gone from the lineup.
Player projections for Zubac are very optimistic, ranging from 14.8 to as high as 17 points tonight. My number comes out to 15.8 points, which should have the Over 14.5 priced around -125.
Clippers vs Jazz same-game parlay
The Clippers are rolling right now, while the ice-cold Jazz could be missing some big bodies tonight.
Zubac attacks the interior and picks up extra points on offensive rebounds.
James Harden could see more touches if Leonard and Dunn are out, which means more 3-point looks. He isn’t afraid to let it fly, and player models call for 3.6 makes from downtown.
Clippers vs Jazz SGP
Clippers -8.5
Ivica Zubac Over 14.5 points
James Harden Over 2.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Sour Note
Kyle Filipowski could see extra run and involvement with injuries to Utah’s big men.
Clippers vs Jazz SGP
Clippers -8.5
Ivica Zubac Over 14.5 points
James Harden Over 2.5 made threes
Kyle Filipowski Over 13.5 points
Clippers vs Jazz odds
Spread: Clippers -8.5 (-105) | Jazz +8.5 (-115)
Moneyline: Clippers -340 | Jazz +270
Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)
Clippers vs Jazz betting trend to know
The Over is 16-6 (73%) in the 22 games in which Utah has closed as a home underdog this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Jazz.
How to watch Clippers vs Jazz
Location
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Clippers vs Jazz latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The NBA's trade deadline is fast approaching. In the lead-up to the much-anticipated day, we take a look at which players’ stocks are rising and falling, and what it means for fantasy basketball.
→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock! The Bucks and 76ers get things started at 8 p.m. before the Clippers play the Jazz at 11 p.m. ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.
STOCK UP
Brandin Podziemski — PG/SG, Warriors
Given Jimmy Butler’s unfortunate season-ending injury and the Warriors’ need for another offensive weapon, it feels like now is the time for Podziemski. Even in a blowout win over the Timberwolves over the weekend that limited him to 22 minutes, he had a nice 12/5/6 line with four steals, which he followed with a 12/7/4 line in Monday’s rematch — the type of balanced effort on both ends of the floor that should be typical for him (see the recent Dallas game, where he posted a 9/4/10 line with two steals). Like with any other player, there will be highs and lows. But if Podziemski can hang onto his starting spot, it’s difficult to imagine that he won’t be a productive player from a fantasy basketball standpoint.
Grayson Allen — SG/SF, Suns
With Jalen Green and Devin Booker sidelined with injuries, who else, besides Dillon Brooks, is better equipped to take on more responsibility on the offensive end? To answer my own question — Grayson Allen. Even with him cooling off from beyond the arc lately, the volume and usage for a proven scorer like himself could realistically lead to more production. The efficiency could dip without Booker’s on-floor gravity, but having the ball in his hands a bit more could also elevate Allen as a playmaker – he’s averaging a career high 3.7 assists per game. It might take him a game or two to adjust to the new role, but there’s a chance for him to unlock even more in what’s been a career-best season to this point.
The Bucks are in a tough spot. They’re struggling to win games and have an injured superstar forward who is at the center of trade deadline discussions. With Giannis Antetokounmpo, the previously mentioned superstar, currently on the shelf, a path should be paved for Kuzma to consistently fill the stat sheet for the time being. Not only does the team need to fill the forward position with minutes, but they also need to replace some of Antetokounmpo’s scoring and rebounding, which should give Kuzma a high floor each time he takes the court. I’d consider him a double-double threat with potential to have some strong scoring performances while taking on more of the offensive burden. Stock up!
If the Kings ever decide to reboot this thing and start over with a young core, fantasy managers should keep recollection of that fun December run from Raynaud, when he averaged 15.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and posted 57.6/41.7/72.4 shooting splits across 12 games — Domantas Sabonis’ return to the lineup and now the starting unit has put a halt to the momentum the rookie forward had built up previously. Raynaud hasn’t scored in double figures or recorded double-digit rebounds in six straight games and has recorded fewer than 20 minutes in two of those appearances. It’s likely he won’t come close to the type of production he experienced when Sabonis was sidelined.
Mikal Bridges — SG/SF/PF, Knicks
Despite the Knicks’ rollercoaster ride of a season, Mikal Bridges has actually put up a very solid season from a fantasy basketball perspective. While his scoring is a bit down, his assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, and three-point production are all up from a season ago. However, the offensive production hasn’t been there of late — over the last three games, the veteran wing is averaging just 9.0 points while posting 31.4/18.8/100.0 shooting splits. The solution appears to be simple: make shots — this would be massively valuable in all fantasy league types, as he remains impactful on the defensive end amidst his shooting slump. But without the efficient scoring, the fantasy value slips.
Cam Thomas — SG/SF, Nets
The 2025-26 season has been a rough one for Thomas, the former 24.0 points-per-game scorer who is now averaging 16.2 points. He missed the Nets’ most recent game against the Clippers, but even before that absence, his fantasy production had been unspectacular. Here are some stats over his past four appearances that better paint the picture: 23 total points, zero stocks, 20 total assists on 7-of-33 from the field and 3-of-14 from beyond the arc. It’s been a rough stretch for Thomas, who’s seeing his minutes and role diminish as the season goes on. Where does he go from here? Better yet, where do the Nets go from here? The answer may provide clarity on what fantasy managers should expect for Thomas’ rest-of-season outlook. Until then, there’s not much to be optimistic about.
It is the start of trade deadline season and discourse always centers around which players an organization can hope to buy but never about what they can give up. With the Colorado Avalanche looking for finishing pieces on their upcoming Stanley Cup run, they’ll certainly be adding players over the next month, but what can they realistically afford to part with?
The organization got the party started on January 20th by moving out one of our targeted trade chips in depth defenseman Ilya Solovyov. Can the Avalanche sneak one more transaction in before the February 4th trade freeze? If so, one of the following five assets may be involved.
Five Trade Chips
Ross Colton
Upgrading the third line center position is something even Jared Bednar admitted is on his wish list. This isn’t going to be an easy task to accomplish with Colorado holding limited assets and cap space plus most of the NHL would love to add another center. That’s where Ross Colton comes into play as he is the likeliest candidate to move out if General Manager Chris MacFarland can find a dance partner. His $4 million Average Annual Value contract ends after the 2026-27 season with a 12 team no trade list, but those limitations should not be too prohibitive.
Colton is an experienced and versatile player with 20 points on the year but he just never found a great fit or consistency in the Avalanche lineup. Bednar does not like to keep him at center for any length of time and when he’s down the lineup Colton has a tough time producing. The 29-year-old went 11 games in December without a point and hasn’t scored a goal since November. Lately he was on the second line in Gabe Landeskog’s absence, before suffering a minor injury, which hints at a trade showcase. The Avalanche won’t just dump Colton without an impact return but adding anyone with significant salary or term beyond this year likely means he has to go the other way.
Ivan Ivan
Every organization has a plethora of prospects languishing in the AHL unable to graduate, however other GMs also find value in the validation that someone else’s prospect has seen a notable amount of time in the NHL. If the Avalanche have anyone that fits this description it’s Ivan Ivan with his 47 games of big league experience. The 23-year-old’s handful of random recalls in January isn’t a coincidence only supports the idea that he was called up for a trade showcase especially as he played for the Avalanche at center. The versatile forward is also a Restricted Free Agent this summer with arbitration rights and the circumstances are lining up to move Ivan before he’s due a raise.
Zakhar Bardakov
Similar to the Ivan Ivan situation, depth forward Zakhar Bardakov is also set to become a Restricted Free Agent with arbitration rights this summer. The 24-year-old has spent the vast majority of the season in the NHL with only one day and game spent in the AHL. Bardakov has been a useful depth piece for the Avalanche at fourth line center and wing but we’ve seen this movie before. Nikolai Kovalenko was moved to acquire Mackenzie Blackwood last season and without a likely commitment coming this summer, Bardakov is an easy player to move out for an upgrade even if the return isn’t substantial.
2027 Draft Picks
Surely the Avalanche see a real path toward the Stanley Cup this season and won’t be shy about utilizing the buy-now-pay-later plan. It depends on how far out into the future the Avalanche want to mortgage their assets and there’s little to offer from the 2026 draft other than a handful of 4th, 5th and 7th round picks. That’s where the 2027 draft comes into play for any impact move as the Avalanche still have their first round pick to go along with an extra 2nd and 5th rounder. If Chris MacFarland has to dip into the 2028 there’s the time value of money factor to keep in mind coiffure then the return on those picks will be deeply discounted, which is also why the 2027 picks are most likely in play.
Sam Malinski
This one is admittedly complicated. Malinski has taken a step forward as a valuable depth piece on the back end that has contributed meaningful production with three goals and 24 points from a third pair role. The issue is he is an Unrestricted Free Agent at the end of the season and the Avalanche missed the window to sign him to a reasonable extension instead choosing to execute just a one-year pact over the summer. The 27-year-old right handed defenseman wouldn’t get moved for a minimal futures in return, it would have to be a true upgrade and hopefully for someone with term beyond this season. It’s an unlikely deal to make happen, but it’s also not impossible.
Four Non-Trade Chips
Never say never because there’s few untouchables in the league let alone on a single team but the following players don’t make much sense to move out without a substantial upgrade in return.
Samuel Girard
The internet traded him five years ago but yet Samuel Girard is still in Colorado as one of the longest tenured Avalanche at this point. Another Stanley Cup run doesn’t feel right without him but the true issue with his potential availability is that Colorado needs all the defensive depth it can muster. Right now they are one injury away from replacement level defense and Girard can play in any pairing down the stretch. The questions about the 27-year-old’s future are fair since the left shot defenseman’s affordable $5 million AAV contract ends after the 2026-27 season but moving on from him without a significant upgrade in return doesn’t make sense. Girard has enjoyed a fairly productive season since an early season injury return with 11 points in 35 games.
Ilya Nabokov
A popular idea is to leverage Nabokov for win-now assets as the situation in net is set with both Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood under contract to Colorado through at least the 2026-27 season. That’s probably not what Nabokov had in mind when he signed his Entry Level Contract last year and it’s unclear what really the Avalanche plan to do with their young netminder who isn’t going to leave Russia to hang out in Loveland for long. The premise of moving Nabokov for help now isn’t faulty but the value just isn’t there on a goalie with zero North American experience, let alone any in the NHL. At this point Nabokov is worth more in the Avalanche system so they can figure out what he can provide before selling him to another organization who surely already has one or more of their own goalies in a similar situation.
Gavin Brindley
Championship teams need contributions from young cost-effective players and with Gavin Brindley’s recently signed dirt cheap two-year extension, Colorado would be wise to hold on to him. It remains to be seen what role awaits him after the Avalanche make their deadline trade acquisitions, therefore the 21-year-old’s value might become more evident long-term, but he’s also shown he can play higher in the lineup if needed. Hopefully MacFarland resists temptation to cash in on a bit of early success Brindley has enjoyed especially because any potential return isn’t moving the needle anyway.
AHL Players
Just like Ivan Ivan, every organization has their own replacement level players and without notable NHL experience there just isn’t value in a trade that could entice another organization to give up NHL level assets. The laundry list of such Colorado Eagles players includes Jason Polin, Chase Bradley, Tye Felhaber, Tristen Nielsen, Matt Stienburg, Nikita Prishchepov, and even the likes of Sean Behrens and Trent Miner. Colorado would be looking more for an AHL for AHL swap in their cases and therefore should not be Avalanche trade deadline candidates.
When the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Egor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets a little more than a month ago, it seemed like a worthwhile bet. Far from a guarantee to work out, but it was taking a talented player that had shown some goal-scoring ability in the NHL that may have simply needed a fresh start and change of scenery. Sometimes things just click for those guys. Especially if you put them into a good situation. Maybe you catch lightning in a bottle.
So far, things are clicking for Chinakhov and the Penguins.
More specifically, they are really clicking for Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin.
Since that duo has been put together on the Penguins’ line, they have been one of the most productive duos in the NHL from a goal-scoring perspective.
In more than 100 minutes together the Malkin-Chinakhov duo has outscored teams by an 8-1 margin during 5-on-5 play. Take it down to a per minute basis, and they are averaging 4.34 goals per 60 minutes and 3.09 expected goals per 60 minutes. Those are elite numbers.
When you add Tommy Novak into the mix that trio also becomes one of the best in the NHL with a 7-1 goal differential and more than five expected goals per 60 minutes. Also elite numbers.
How much so? Here are the goal-differential leaders for the best forward trios in the NHL this season with a minimum of 75 minutes played together:
Now their rank in goals scored per 60 minutes.
Those rankings are out of 216 different line combinations.
They are still relatively small sample sizes (both for Malkin and Chinakhov, and Malkin-Chinakhov-Novak), but they are extremely promising results, both in terms of production and process.
While so much of Chinakhov’s game revolves around his shot and ability to score goals, he has impressed in a lot of other areas beyond that. The goals obviously get the attention, but he has also demonstrated playmaking skills and not been a total liability away with the puck. I do not know that anybody is ever going to confuse him with a Selke Trophy candidate, but his all-around game has been better and more impressive than originally thought. He has simply done everything well so far and been an instant fit on that second line.
It has all just further balanced out the Penguins’ forward lines and made them a really tough team to defend. You know the Sidney Crosby line is going to produce. The fourth line has been a spark plug for the team in terms of its ability to tilt the ice, and even contribute some goals. The Ben Kindel line seems to have found some chemistry with the two big veteran forwards (Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha). Now you have a second line with a future Hall of Famer that is still playing at a high level, and two shrewd additions in Chinakhov and Novak complementing him. Not only are they complementing him, they are making a huge impact. Individually and as a group.
There are no liabilities here. There is not a single line you do not want on the ice. It is an encouraging development to watch.
Kiley McDaniel unveiled his preseason rankings of top 100 prospects in baseball on Tuesday at ESPN. Like the previously released lists — Baseball America (120 names), MLB Pipeline (110 names), and The Athletic (100 names so far) — McDaniel will likely reveal more names beyond the top 100. Last year his list went to 200, for instance. But for now we have his top 100.
A total of five Dodgers are in the top 100 at ESPN, led by outfielder Josue De Paula at No. 21 overall. De Paula in the four national prospect lists that have been revealed in the last week has settled into a fairly narrow range, ranked 15th by MLB Pipeline, 20th at The Athletic, 21st at ESPN, and 24th at Baseball America.
McDaniel had high praise for De Paula, comparing him to Yordan Alvarez “if it clicks.”
Eduardo Quintero continued to rocket up these lists, ranked 37th by McDaniel after his preseason ranking of 106th overall prior to the 2025 season. Quintero, who is a year younger than De Paula and Zyhir Hope, won California League MVP last year and finished the season with extended time at High-A Great Lakes.
“His raw power, bat-to-ball ability, and raw foot speed are all around average, but Quintero makes the most of them, putting up big numbers while being young for his level,” McDaniel wrote. “As is, his hit/power/speed/defense in center field tools are all average to a tick above to go with his plus arm.”
This year, shortstop Emil Morales is the youngest Dodger in the ESPN top-100 list, with the 19-year-old checking in at No. 65 overall. From McDaniel:
Morales has all of the traits to project big homer totals down the road (loft to his path, pull/lift, hard-hit rate, etc.), but that means that giving up some contact is part of that trade. His pitch selection is also below average, so in combination, that gives evaluators pause on his offensive projection.
In-game power usually comes later in the development process, but the Dodgers are the right development group to shepherd him through this process, and the pieces are here for a top-10 prospect in the sport if everything clicks.
The Mariners are reportedly closing in on a deal with the top teenage prospect in the 2027 international draft class, Dominican switch-hitter Mairon De La Rosa.
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was impressed with his initial look at new third baseman Bo Bichette. Although having played shortstop his entire career, Bichette looks comfortable in his new position for the Mets.
The Minnesota Twins have agreed to a one-year/$6.1 million contract with RHP Joe Ryan to avoid arbitration. The deal additionally includes a $13 million mutual option for 2027.
The birthday series we’re running here at Pinstripe Alley is interesting for multiple reasons, primarily because we’re introduced to players who may not have as much exposure as the stars of today’s game or had their time in the majors but end up in the weeds of Major League Baseball history. With the Yankees being an old franchise relative to most of MLB, the latter is bound to happen to plenty of different players from the olden days of our great game. Fred Heimach is one of the names that might be lost to time, but he still made his impact in his short stint with the Bombers.
Frederick Amos Heimach Born: January 27, 1901 (Camden, NJ) Died: June 1, 1973 (Fort Myers, FL) Yankees Tenure: 1928-29
Fred “Lefty” Heimach was born on this day in 1901 and worked his way up to the major-league ranks as a pitcher despite never playing high school baseball as a teenager. When the United States entered World War I, Heimach enlisted and trained to become a mechanic before being sent overseas to France, where he helped organize a baseball team for his unit in Romorantin in the spring of 1918. Tom Turner, who was then working as a quasi-scout for the Philadelphia Athletics and was the athletic officer for a team that was defeated by Heimach’s, said to him, according to Bill Nowlin from the Society of American Baseball Research, “When this war is over, and you still have two legs and two arms, see me without fail. You have a job with the Athletics waiting for you.”
And he did. Heimach returned to the United States, fresh off the war, at 19-years-old, and was signed by the Athletics. He was sent for some conditioning and made his MLB debut in a 13-3 loss to the Washington Senators on October 1, 1920.
However, despite the poor start and a 14.40 ERA to his name at the MLB level, he came back strong in his second season. At the Three-I League (Class B) level, he helped his squad, the Moline Plowboys, to a championship. He finished the year with a 24-8 record and led the league in wins and ERA with a 2.38 before making his second MLB start against the Chicago White Sox, where he pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only seven hits.
Heimach pitched 117 games more for the Athletics and started 64 of them before being moved to the Boston Red Sox in 1926. He finished with a 4.67 ERA in those games and a 5.65 ERA in 20 games with Boston. His next move, following an entire season in the minor leagues in 1927, was a pickup by the Yankees, who thought he could be a special player for them. He was acquired for $20,000 and a player to be named later, and in 13 games and nine starts, “Lefty” posted a 3.31 ERA in 68.0 innings pitched. He saw no action in the 1928 World Series against St. Louis but still walked away with a championship to his name.
Heimach was brought back for his 29-year-old season with the Yankees as well and had another decent season on the mound, finishing with a respectable 4.01 ERA and an 11-6 record. However, despite his two decent seasons in pinstripes, his contract was sold to the Toledo Mud Hens, and manager Bob Shawkey somewhat ominously told the New York World Telegram, “There are some things that this club will not elaborate.”
Heimach’s last MLB appearance came on August 30, 1933, for the Brooklyn Dodgers, before his retirement was forced by a back injury. He pitched four seasons for the Dodgers from 1930 to 1933, finishing with a 4.31 career ERA with the team. His final career ERA came out to 4.46, and he finished with a career record of 62-69.
After his MLB career ended, Heimach headed south and joined the Miami Beach Police Department, where he spent 20 years as an officer before retiring in 1956 and moving to Arizona before returning to Florida. Heimach passed away in Fort Myers, on June 1, 1973, at the age of 72, and is buried at the Fort Myers Memorial Gardens.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
RJ Petit is a tough guy to miss. Colorado’s pick in the 2025 Rule 5 draft from the Detroit Tigers organization is a 6’8”, 300-pound titan of a right-handed relief pitcher. Originally drafted by the Tigers in the 14th round of the 2021 draft out of Charleston Southern, the 26-year-old has mostly served as a reliever after dabbling with starting during his draft year. As one might surmise given his size, Petit can throw in the mid to high-90s with a downward plane. He pairs that velo with a hard, sweeping slider that tunnels well with the fastball and a developing change-up.
Mid-season 2025 Rank: N/A
High Ballot: 14
Mode Ballot: 23
Future Value: 35+, middle relief
Contract Status: 2025 Rule 5 Draft, Detroit Tigers, 40 Man Roster, three options remaining
MLB ETA: 2026
Petit entered 2025 back at Double-A Erie for the third season in a row (where he was of league-average age) despite posting decent results there in 2024 and being unprotected and unselected in that year’s Rule 5 draft. In 27 games with Erie, Petit posted a 2.28 ERA with a dominant 0.95 WHIP and a 9.6 K/9 rate against a 2.5 BB/9 rate in 43 1/3 innings.
Petit finally got the call up to Triple-A Toledo (which is in the much more pitcher-friendly International League) in mid-July. Petit appeared in 20 games at the level with a 2.74 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, an outstanding 12.9 K/9 rate, and a 3.9 BB/9 rate in 23 innings, including a save. Petit was strong against both righties (.629 OPS against) and lefties (.579 OPS) while allowing just four homers in 66 1/3 innings during 2025. Despite the success at the Triple-A level, Petit was again left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft and this time the Rockies took him with the first pick.
Here’s some video of Petit from his time in the 2023 Arizona Fall League:
Petit is a pretty standard mid-90s fastball (94-97 mph, touch 98) and a plus slider reliever. He utilizes his slider in all counts because his size creates hittable plane on his fastball, but the addition of a second fastball type (he throws both elevated four-seamers and in-zone two-seamers) helped limit opponents’ contact quality against his heaters in 2025, as both had a sub-.300 xwOBA against. Petit also creates enough sink on his changeup to keep lefties in check, so his role isn’t at risk of being minimized to that of a righty specialist if he throws enough strikes (no guarantees) to make the Rockies bullpen next spring.
Standing at 6-foot-8, Petit is a tremendous presence on the mound. He doesn’t get big extension out of that frame, instead using his height to create a steep downward plane leading to solid groundball rates. There is some velocity here, touching 98 mph while sitting 94-96, and he’s worked to generate a bit more heat. Petit’s 83-85 mph gyro slider is much better at generating swing-and-miss and chase low in the zone with strong depth, and the Rockies think it’s the kind of breaking ball that should play in Coors Field. He can tunnel his 86-89 mph changeup well enough off the fastball with just enough velocity separation for it to be effective.
Petit has shown the ability to get righties and lefties out at the upper levels, and he was able to get his walk rate back down in 2025 to 3.0 per nine after seeing it creep up in 2024 (4.1 BB/9). He’ll get his chance to stick with the Rockies, who see him as a potential bulk reliever.
Petit is almost certain to be a one and done PuRP, as he will either stick on Colorado’s roster long enough in 2026 to exhaust his rookie eligibility or he won’t and will be returned to the Tigers. He represents a good multi-inning mop-up relief a la Anthony Molina in his Rule 5 year in 2024, with the size and breaking ball to be better than that. I ranked him 23rd on my ballot at the bottom of my 40 FV tier due to the floor.
The Mets capped off their most active week of the offseason in a big way, acquiring Freddy Peralta and Tobias Meyers for Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. It’s likely the last large addition the Mets will make this offseason, but boy it sure is a great way to round things out.
Peralta is obviously the centerpiece. Since moving to the rotation full time in 2021, he’s tossed 738.1 innings of 3.30 ERA ball. In that timeframe, he’s one of only 25 qualified starters to post a 20% or better K-BB%. At this juncture, he’s probably something like a top-15 or top-20 arm in the majors – not quite good enough to meet the definition of “sure fire ace”, but undoubtedly a solid number two starter who will complement Nolan McLean at the top of the rotation.
We should note that despite being generally healthy (outside of a shoulder strain in 2022), Peralta is not a exactly a work horse. The Brewers were extremely judicious with how they deployed him, frequently pulling Peralta early and leaning on their bullpen to get the rest of the way. That was much the same in 2025, when he averaged a hair over 5.1 innings per start and didn’t face a single batter four times in a single game all season. Not a typo, the most batters Peralta faced in a game last season was 27, and he only topped 23 batters 7 times. There’s nothing wrong with this per se, particularly in the modern game, but it is a limitation that the Mets’ field staff will have to manage. (Raise your hand if you have faith in Carlos Mendoza here.)
The Mets are also getting the chance to extend Peralta here, and he’s already indicated a willingness to sign a long-term deal. We can look to Tyler Glasnow as a reasonable comp; a pitcher traded one year prior to free agency in his age-30 season. Glasnow ultimately received an additional three-years and $110M, with a club / player option for a fifth season. He was due a higher base salary ($25M), but Peralta has the better track record, so maybe that comes out in the wash. Something in the low 9-figure range that takes Peralta through his age-34 season would seem to make sense, and that’s a good deal for the Mets in all likelihood. And, if this doesn’t work out, the Mets can QO him and get a pick back for their troubles.
Three paragraphs later, we get to Myers, who is far more than a throw in despite the narrative delay. Now four years and three teams removed from being traded for Junior Caminero (a real oopsie by Cleveland), Myers has settled in as a valuable swing-man with five seasons of team control remaining. No, the stuff doesn’t totally leap off the page, and his strikeout rate dipped in 2025, possibly because he had a lingering oblique injury. He also doesn’t have the same upside of Sproat in all likelihood (more on that in a moment). What he does do is fill a very similar role for the Mets’ roster with a similar amount of team control and some untapped potential. It’s a great get as the second piece.
Now, for the cost. Williams and Sproat were set to rank 4th and 5th respectively on our upcoming top-10 list. I was a bit lower on both than our final consensus:
#4: Jett Williams
I don’t disagree that much with Jett’s ranking here (I had Ewing above him, but no one else), but I still find myself pretty down on him as a prospect, and I don’t think it’s just prospect fatigue. I began voicing concerns about Jett’s hit tool ~2 years ago, and in that time he’s not really assuaged any of those worries. Sure, injuries have played a role and the strikeout rate has held steady in the low-20s, but that’s not because Williams is great at putting bat on ball, it’s because he just doesn’t swing. He ranked in the 6th percentile for hittable pitches taken, nuking his SEAGER down to 3.9 despite the aforementioned healthy walk and strikeout rates. Couple that with what is still just okay damage on contact and a tweener-ish defensive profile and this is trending more towards “high quality bench bat” or “second division starter” rather than the sort of player we were extolling as the future of the team in 2023.
#5: Brandon Sproat
Brandon Sproat does a lot of things well. He throws pretty hard, he finally landed on a breaking ball shape that works, and the change is still a decent pitch. Put in terms of physical skills, you can say that he has good arm speed and feel for spin. However, this has never really all come together for him, in large part because his fastball shape just isn’t viable at present. Even with the addition of a sinker last season – one that grades out better but still not great – I’m still not convinced he’s the type of arm who can make it through a lineup two or three times. If you couple that with the lack of development runway relative to other arms (Sproat is older and was selected as a senior out of a major college program, which would normally mean there’s less juice to squeeze) in the back of the top-10 and I think I’d actually prefer Sproat a good deal lower, even though he’s a totally justifiable top-100 prospect.
Both are definitely top-100 prospects, but neither are in the tier of guys that it particularly hurts to move. Especially when you’re the Mets and are inducing jumps on both sides of the ball these days – it’s a lot easier to move Brandon Sproat when you have Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger, and it’s a lot easier to move Jett Williams when you have A.J. Ewing and Jacob Reimer.
This price is also roughly in line with another trade made by the Brewers, that being the Corbin Burnes deal. Burnes was a better arm making nearly double what Peralta will make in 2025, and he wasn’t likely to sign an extension either. Nevertheless, the Brewers gave up two prospects in the back half of the top-100 (Joey Ortiz and DL Hall, a package I would argue is of lower quality than what the Mets gave up but not by a huge margin) for one year of Burnes’ in 2024.
Had the Mets only received Peralta, this would’ve been a totally fine deal, a market-value acquisition for a #2 starter rental. With the addition of Myers and Peralta’s seeming willingness to extend, it looks even better. This deal receives an A.
Kurt Helin
Raphielle Johnson
