Connor Bedard has become one of the NHL's highest-paid players. The Chicago Blackhawks signed the 21-year-old to a five-year deal on Saturday, which carries an AAV of $15 million. As of writing, Bedard will have the third-highest cap hit for the 2026-27 season while his $17 million total salary ranks fourth.
Ever since Bedard was first drafted into the WHL, Vancouver Canucks fans have hoped he would one day play for the franchise. Born in North Vancouver, the rising NHL star grew up a fan of the Canucks and at one point, listed former Vancouver forward Tyler Motte as his favourite NHL player. With Bedard set to become an unrestricted free agent once his new extension is complete, Canucks fans are already dreaming that a John Taveres-type situation could unfold in five years.
"HE'S COMING HOME TO VANCOUVER!!!! WALKING HIM TO UFA!!!! GREATEST MOMENT IN CANUCKS HISTORY SINCE 2011!! HE'S FOLLOWING THE GAMEPLAN PERFECTLY!!!!" wrote @taj1944 on "X".
As noted in the post, there has been a big push on social media to get as many BC-born players to Vancouver. The other player constantly mentioned in this social media campaign is San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini, who will be a restricted free agent next year. The Canucks already have Macklin's brother, Aiden, in their system, as he was drafted in 2023.
Another comment on "X" came from @TrevBeggs, who wrote. "This is the best birthday present I could ask for."
Finally, @LaheyHNIC on "X" wrote, "420 games until Connor Bedard is a Canuck. Official countdown"
The next few years will be intriguing, especially as Bedard inches closer to becoming an unrestricted free agent. With a passionate fan base in Vancouver, there are going to be constant posts, whether on social media or Canucks Reddit, about a potential homecoming. This season, Bedard and the Blackhawks play twice at Rogers Arena, with games scheduled for November 22, 2026 and March 3, 2027.
Nov 5, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (98) collides with Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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On Saturday, one day after his 21st birthday, Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks came to terms on an extension. It’s a five-year deal with a cap hit of $15 million per year.
There was a lot of drama surrounding this contract, but it didn’t have much to do with negotiations. Bedard injured his shoulder during a summer skate, which complicated things, and there has been offer-sheet drama around the NHL.
It is worth noting that Bedard signed for $3 million less than Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, who signed a 5-year, $18 million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers before Anaheim matched it. Bedard could have commanded that, or more, but he gave Chicago a break.
On the flip side, this is the start of a competitive clock for the Chicago Blackhawks. When Connor Bedard’s new 5-year deal is up, he will be a 25-year-old unrestricted free agent. You’d think he is going to walk if the Blackhawks are still consistently a lottery team by that point.
At that time, Bedard will likely have established himself as one of the best players in the NHL. The current wave of players in their prime will be starting to slow down, and this new generation will be entering their greatest years.
The Blackhawks, specifically Kyle Davidson, believe in what they’ve seen from Bedard. There is internal confidence that he has the tools to lead the team for a long time.
“Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL,” Davidson said. “He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice. Connor’s strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core, and we’re excited for the incredible impact he’ll have in this next chapter of Blackhawks hockey.”
If Kyle and his staff don’t have this team in a good spot by the fourth year of this deal, however, things will get ugly.
A no-move clause kicks in for the fifth year of this contract, so Bedard will then control the situation even more. If they start making the playoffs and showing the potential to make deep runs, then Bedard will be more likely to extend again on another long-term deal.
Connor Bedard’s contract takes up 14.4 percent of the salary cap, which is about right for an NHL team’s top star. The fact that an offer sheet never entered the equation and he took less money than he could have gotten shows his commitment to the team that selected him first overall.
That loyalty would wear off if the team doesn’t do right by him now when it comes to the talent surrounding him, and they have the next five years to make their case.
Next up for the Blackhawks when it comes to Bedard? For one, naming him the captain would go a long way. Bedard has already mentioned that as a challenge he welcomes in the next chapter of his career.
They also need to, over the next year or so, find him his true running mate when it comes to his wing. The plan is for Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell to play center, so getting Bedard a sniper on his line is a must. Is that player already in the organization, or will external options come into play?
The first order of business is done with his newest contract following his entry-level deal. Now, the focus can go back to being the roster around Connor Bedard. Superstars are a must, but depth around them is as big a factor.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game on March 31, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James’s free agency continues as he decided not to reveal any decision at his scheduled events at Fanatics Fest this weekend.
“That’s the goal, that’s the plan,” Harden said when asked by ESPN Brazil if he could envision a trio of himself, Donovan Mitchell, and LeBron. “Hopefully, we’ll see [that] in the next few days.”
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“I hope he comes to Cleveland,” Harden said in a separate interview about James this weekend. “It’s a perfect storybook finish. He’s at home for his last year. But you know, he’s going to decide. He’s smart enough. I don’t think anybody’s pitches are going to move him.”
Harden comes across as quite confident in both clips that James could be returning to Cleveland. In many ways, it felt reminiscent of how head coach Kenny Atkinson and Mitchell have handled questions about LeBron in the last week.
That said, the Cavs are hardly the only team that seems confident about LeBron signing with them. Gilbert Arenas mentioned at a live recording of his podcast that he talked about the possibility of James signing with the Miami Heat with Giannis Antetokounmpo, saying, “They’re thinking in Miami that they’re getting him.”
Additionally, the Philadelphia 76ers are pulling out all the stops to let James know they would love to add him to their team. It’s been reported that Sixers owner, Josh Harris had a “brief, friendly conversation” with LeBron during Fanatics Fest this weekend.
We’ll see how this plays out. LeBron is reportedly getting much closer to a decision. Whether or not we get an announcement of that in the coming days remains to be seen.
Every season, each team will have a small handful of AHL players get an opportunity in the NHL. It's often to fill in for an injured player or because they've been impressing in the American League and deserve a look in the big league.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs' organization, the situation is a little bit different than usual, considering their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, is coming off their second Calder Cup championship in franchise history.
Several players from that Marlies team deserve a regular chance with the Maple Leafs. However, GM John Chayka made a considerable splash on July 1, acquiring an abundance of players to fill the NHL roster for 2026-27.
The path up to the NHL within the organization for some of those Calder Cup winners isn't so clear now. But that doesn't mean a few can't see some action with the Maple Leafs.
This past year, four Marlies players received a notable opportunity with the Maple Leafs. Jacob Quillan, Dakota Mermis, Dennis Hildeby and Bo Groulx all featured in more than 10 NHL games in 2025-26.
Quillan played the most, appearing in 23 contests and scoring a goal and two assists. Next is Hildeby, who played 20 games in relief due to the absences of Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, with most of his action coming from November through January.
Groulx was introduced to the Maple Leafs lineup later in the campaign, making his season debut on March 10 and playing 13 games for the club. Mermis was used as an injury replacement throughout the year, playing 11 games for the Leafs, all before Dec. 9.
With those numbers from this past year, how much action in the NHL can some of the Marlies' core players expect for this coming season?
For starters, it certainly won't be much playing time if the majority of the Maple Leafs roster remains healthy. Chayka's free agency haul blocks out some opportunity for the impressive AHL champions.
With the goaltending, Woll was shipped to the Philadelphia Flyers, and Hildeby to the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, future Hall of Famer Sergei Bobrovsky was added to the mix with a three-year contract.
Therefore, for Akhtyamov to get a stint in the NHL, he'd have to be patient for either an injury or a serious dip in performance from Stolarz or Bobrovsky. And to be fair, that's very possible.
Stolarz has had an injury-riddled career so far and has never played more than 34 games in a single season. Also, Bobrovsky is coming off the worst campaign of his lengthy NHL tenure and will be turning 38 before the next season's start. So to say Akhtyamov could get 15 to 20 games like Hildeby did last year isn't the biggest stretch of the imagination.
One thing that sticks out with the Maple Leafs' defense is Chris Tanev. The veteran blueliner didn't see a whole lot of action after suffering multiple injuries early in the year. As a result, he only featured in 11 contests for Toronto, so it'll be interesting to see how he carries himself in 2026-27 as a 36-year-old.
Add Tanev's return to the lineup with the additions of Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae to the back end this off-season. With that, there's still Troy Stecher, who was re-signed to a two-year deal, and even Philippe Myers is still a depth piece in the organization.
That leaves scraps for a player like 24-year-old defenseman William Villeneuve. Which is a shame because he finished second in the AHL's playoff scoring race with 23 points in 24 games. In another situation with another team, Villeneuve would potentially see at least 20 games based on that Calder Cup performance, and still at a relatively young age.
Not to mention, 20-year-old Ben Danford has made it clear multiple times that he's looking to crack the Maple Leafs' roster out of training camp this fall. That would certainly be a tall task considering the bodies ahead of him on the depth chart.
In terms of Toronto's forward group, Quillan and Groulx would be the obvious candidates to be the first in line for a call-up.
Quillan, 24, has shown great signs of growth in the American League this past year, almost reaching a point-per-game average in the regular season. He scored 14 goals and 36 points in 40 appearances with the Marlies. What helps his case even further is his NHL experience, as he spent over a quarter of the NHL regular season with the Leafs.
As for Groulx, he was a pleasant surprise with how quickly he produced offensively for the Maple Leafs when he was called up in March. In his first six games in the NHL, the 26-year-old scored three goals and five points.
Unfortunately for those two, the additions of Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Jack Roslovic and Gavin McKenna hinder the chance of replicating the time they got with the Leafs in 2025-26. This time around, they would be lucky to see more than 10 games, barring a long-term injury to an NHL regular.
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The Mavericks will match the Knicks' offer sheet to restricted free agent Moussa Cisse, his agents told Shams Charania of ESPN. Dallas could have waited until Monday but apparently just went now.
This isn't a surprise, considering how little this was going to cost. The offer sheet was for two years at the minimum ($2.2 million this season, $2.6 million for 2027-28), but that is reportedly only partially guaranteed for this season ($1.1 million, but he would have to be waived by Oct. 1, just after the start of training camp, or it's guaranteed for the season) and non-guaranteed for next season.
Cisse, a 6'11" center, showed promise last season, starting on an Exhibit 10 contract, then being converted to a two-way contract for the season. He was a regular part of the Mavericks' big man rotation for a stretch last season and averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in the 38 games he played.
With Cisse on the roster, Dallas is up to a full 15 players with guaranteed contracts on the roster. Dallas is stacked with big men — Cisse joins Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Santi Aldama and just drafted Morez Johnson Jr. There are reports Dallas is open to trading Gafford and Washington.
Some players get you to the Stanley Cup playoffs, players who get you through them, but some players solidify your lineup despite seeing very little ice time. That’s what former Montreal Canadiens’ forward Nicolas Deslauriers has done with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes acquired the 35-year-old La Salle native on trade deadline day to add depth, experience, and physicality to the Stanley Cup Champions-to-be.
Even though he had only played 24 games with the Philadelphia Flyers in the regular season, GM Eric Tulsky didn’t hesitate to strike a deal for the gritty forward, sending a conditional seventh-round pick at the 2027 draft to Daniel Briere and the Flyers. Speaking about the trade, Tulsky said:
Nicolas is a strong, physical player who plays with an edge, factors that become even more important as we get to the postseason.
Deslauriers played only seven regular-season games with the Hurricanes, recording an assist and five penalty minutes. He got a fighting major against Mathieu Olivier in his very first game with the Canes. With his team trailing 2-0 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 6-foot-1 and 208-pound heavyweight decided to try to wake his team up. In the playoffs, he saw one match of action in the fourth game of the Canes’ first-round series against the Ottawa Senators, taking a double minor for roughing on then-captain Brady Tkachuk andfor unsportsmanlike conduct.
While he definitely fell short of meeting the threshold to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup (having played at least 41 regular-season games with the champions or one game in the final), it was a no-brainer for the Canes to petition the league for permission to put his name on the Cup. The winger found out from Tulsky that he would get his name on Lord Stanley’s mug:
“I got a call, I think, on the day before the (championship celebration) parade talking about what I did for the organization. It was a long, 15-minute talk with Tulsky and me, and then he said that they petitioned for my name and that it was actually not hard and asked me how I wanted to write it on. Still thinking about it gives me chills."
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The Canes recognized the importance of the leadership role he assumed with the team and even signed him to a new two-year contract, live from the stage during their championship celebration. Speaking about his role in the conquest, Tulsky said:
"Nic was there in the room with the guys every single day from April to June," he said. "And regardless of how many games he played, he was part of the team."
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On Friday, Deslauriers chose to spend the day with the Cup in North Wildwood, a vacation spot he and his family fell in love with during his four seasons with the Flyers, where he bought a home on June 30. He spent most of the day taking pictures with fans on the Seaport Pier as over 1,100 fans turned up.
Deslauriers spent two seasons with the Habs in 2017-18 and 2018-19 before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks for a 2020 fourth-round draft pick on June 30, 2019, in a cap-space-clearing operation that also saw them trade veteran Andrew Shaw. The gritty Deslauriers put up12 goals and 19 points in 106 games over two seasons with Montreal but wasn’t one of then-coach Claude Julien’s favorites. His last season in Montreal didn’t start well when he suffered a facial fracture in a preseason fight against New Jersey Devils’ Brandon Baddock, and he only skated in 48 games in that campaign, which led to the forward wanting out even though playing for the Habs had been a childhood dream of his.
Since being selected in the third round of the 2009 draft by the Los Angeles Kings, Deslauriers has skated in 708 NHL games, totaling 106 points and 799 penalty minutes along the way. The fact that the Canes made it a priority to get his name engraved on the Cup and sign him to a new contract goes to show how important that kind of player can be to an organization. The Hurricanes are not the Broad Street Bullies from the 1970s, but they recognize just how useful Deslauriers has been and can be. One has to wonder if the Habs are aware, as their own tough guy, Arber Xhekaj, is still waiting to sign a new contract.
The final few games are running late, due to a rules brouhaha in an earlier match. So if you’ve been hammering away at refresh waiting for news of Tommy Fleetwood, here he comes now. The usual hubbub on the tee, then he takes his fairway wood, hits the ball, and twirls the club in satisfaction. Not exactly sure why, because his ball disappears into a thick clump of grass atop a bank to the left of the fairway. Some tension in the shoulders no doubt.
Another birdie for Scottie Scheffler! He crashes his drive at 5 greenside, chips up to four feet, and rolls in the putt. No fuss. The defending champion is now -7, and if he continues like this, posts a number, and the late-starting leaders have to deal with the cranking up of both wind and pressure … well now, we’d have quite the Open. A long way to go yet.
Russell out on opening lap after clash with Hamilton
Antonelli has 50-point lead on Mercedes teammate
Kimi Antonelli won the Belgian Grand Prix for Mercedes with a cool, assured drive but his title rival and teammate George Russell was left distraught after his championship challenge suffered another serious blow when he was knocked out on the opening lap after a clash with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli was in control at the front and delivered a commanding drive including coming back at Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished second, after the Monegasque driver had gained the lead through the pit stops. The win was assuredly deserved but the race was notable because of Russell’s retirement, for which the British driver took aim at his Mercedes team and what he sees as his car’s weakness.
CANADA - MAY 12: The Blue Jays have relied heavily (too heavily?) on the strong right arm of reliever Duane Ward. (Photo by Jeff Goode/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The Blue Jays announced that Duane Ward passed away in Toronto.
He was in Toronto for the ceremony for the World Series winning teams, but didn’t get to the ceremony Saturday. They say he died of natural causes. He was just 62. Far too young.
We mentioned that it was strange that Tom Henke was in a truck by himself, yesterday, I’m sure Ward was to be with him. I wonder if they knew he passed then and kept it quiet.
Duane ranks second on the Blue Jays’ all-time saves list with 121.
Duane Ward, born on May 18, 1964, in Park View, New Mexico, was drafted out of high school as the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 1982 amateur draft by the Atlanta Braves. The 6’4” right-hander initially faced challenges as a starting pitcher prospect in Atlanta’s system, struggling with control and walking five batters per nine innings, while not yet developing his eventual strikeout prowess. On July 6, 1986, the Blue Jays acquired Ward in a trade for Doyle Alexander. While Alexander was a reliable starter, the Jays ultimately benefited more from the deal.
After short appearances in the majors during 1986 and 1987, Duane Ward started the 1988 season in the Blue Jays’ bullpen, quickly establishing himself as Tom Henke’s primary setup man. That year, he shined with a 9-3 record, 15 saves, and a 3.30 ERA across 111.2 innings in 64 games. His 60 walks and 91 strikeouts showed that his unpredictability was part of his effectiveness. Times have changed; today, no setup man is expected to pitch that many innings—nowadays, 70 innings is considered a heavy workload for a reliever.
Ward remained Henke’s setup man for the next four seasons, forming a dominant bullpen tandem. Each year, Ward’s performance improved, with ERAs dropping from 3.77 to 1.95. He was no longer limited to setup duties, often pitching multiple innings, and notched double-digit saves each season, topping out at 23 in 1991. That year, he struck out 11 batters per nine innings and lowered his walk rate, earning a ninth-place finish in Cy Young Award voting.
When Tom Henke left after the 1992 season, Ward became the Blue Jays’ closer. He excelled, leading the league with 45 saves—still a franchise record—while striking out 97 batters in 71.2 innings and posting a 2.13 ERA. Ward’s dominance was evident in his 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings and a .182 opponents’ batting average. He was named an All-Star, finished fifth in Cy Young voting, and even garnered MVP consideration.
Ward was instrumental in the Blue Jays’ consecutive World Series championships. In 1992, he pitched in three ALCS games against Oakland, earning a win, and appeared in four World Series games against Atlanta, where he won twice, allowed no runs, and struck out six in 3.1 innings. The following year, Ward pitched four times and earned two saves in the ALCS win over the White Sox, then made four more appearances—including a win and a save—in the World Series victory over the Phillies.
Ward missed the entire 1994 season with a torn rotator cuff. He attempted a comeback in 1995, but after only four appearances, his career was cut short at age 31—a stark reminder of the toll heavy workloads can exact on relievers. For six seasons, Ward was a dominant force, regularly throwing 95 mph fastballs and sharp sliders. In his era, relievers were often expected to pitch multiple innings and appear in as many as 80 games per season.
Rob Neyer ranked Ward as the second-best reliever in Blue Jays history. Ward traveled with the Blue Jays’ clinics. My youngest son attended those clinics a few times, and Ward was excellent with the kids and kind with his time, he spent a few minutes talking to after clinic days.
Deepest condolences to his family and friends. He was a favourite of mine.
DENVER, CO - JULY 18: TJ Rumfield #7 of the Colorado Rockies rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, July 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As the second half of the 2026 MLB season unfolds, what will rookie TJ Rumfield of the Colorado Rockies do for an encore after a breakout opening half of 2026?
If his performance on July 19 against the Cincinnati Reds in Colorado’s second series after the All-Star break is any indication, the first baseman may well be on his way to securing more than just a set of lofty statistics at season’s end.
The Richmond, Virginia, native erupted for career highs of four hits and four RBI while smashing a career-long 456-foot home run in Colorado’s 10-3 shellacking of the Reds at Coors Field.
Against Cincinnati, Rumfield went 4-for-5 at the plate with a pair of run-scoring singles in addition to his two-run monster homer to pick up right where he left off before the All-Star break.
In fact, the Virginia Tech product could not have dreamed about a much better first half—both offensively and defensively—than what he displayed in his team’s opening 98 games before the All-Star Game.
Rumfield was selected as the National League Rookie of the Month for May and June, the first player in franchise history to earn the award two times and the first NL player to turn the trick since Michael Harris of Atlanta in August-September 2022.
Beyond that, among all MLB rookies this season and through games of July 18, Rumfield ranked first in batting average (.295), second in slugging percentage (.472) and OPS (.851), tied for first in games played (96) and hits (100), tied for second in extra-base hits (34) and doubles (20), and he was fifth in RBI (47).
So, how is the first-year player, who leads Colorado and is tied for second among all ML first baseman with seven Defensive Runs Saved, approaching the season’s second half?
“I think it’s just trying to be a better teammate every day,” he said.
“You can do so much on the baseball field, but the people who remember you are your teammates. They are not going to remember if you went 4-for-4. I’ll just remember if you said ‘Good morning’ or whatever.”
With his 99 hits before the All-Star break, Rumfield became the first player to reach that total in a debut season since Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees and Rocco Baldelli of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003.
Based on Rumfield’s first-half performance, and with a solid second half, could the left-handed swinging first baseman be a solid candidate for NL Rookie of the Year accolades?
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer weighed in on that possibility before the Rockies’ game July 19 against the Reds.
“Listen, he’s right in the middle of it,” Schaeffer said. “He’s been doing things that are very well deserving. (He’s) got 63 games left that you have to finish strong in.
“Honestly, with all due respect, I think it’s too early to talk about it. He’s got work to do, and he knows that.”
If Rumfield were to gain ROY honors, he would join pitcher Jason Jennings from 2002 as the only Colorado players to be so named.
Quite a scenario for a player who was drafted in the 12th round by Philadelphia in 2021. The Rockies obtained Rumfield from the New York Yankees in a trade for pitcher Angel Chivilli in January of this year.
Ever since then, Rumfield has been a man on a mission.
“I think the biggest thing for me was just coming into spring training with my body in a position ready to play, try to just show up every single day with a good attitude, be a good teammate and let all the other things fall into place because I can’t control them,” he said.
“So, pitch to pitch, go out there and try to control my performance as much as I can. But it’s really just showing up and making sure your body is ready to go.”
Schaeffer noted that, once Rumfield had an opportunity to display his talent with the Rockies, good results followed.
“It’s what makes it such a nice story with TJ because he was blocked for a while with New York and then became clear and got an opportunity and he’s really showing what he can do really well,” the manager said just before the All-Star break.
Rumfield will let his play on the field speak for itself.
“I think in the beginning…it’s still every day trying to prove to them that I’m the guy who can play first base,” he said. “I can only control what I can control. So whatever they think about me, it’s whatever they think. But they leave me in there and I like it.”
Rockies fans certainly liked what they saw from the ROY candidate in an early second half of the season encore on July 19 against the Reds.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - APRIL 22: Bryce Mayer #6 of the Corpus Christi Hooks pitches during the game between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. (Photo by Braeden Botts/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (47-47) won 8-3 (BOX SCORE)
Nezuh got the start and went 4.1 innings allowing 2 runs. The offense got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Biggio solo home run. They got another in the 5th on a Whitcomb sac fly. After falling behind 3-2, Salazar gave Sugar Land the lead with a 2 run home run in the 6th inning. Sugar Land rallied for 4 runs in the 8th to extend the lead on a Biggio walk and Guillemette 3 run double. The bullpen was solid as they closed out the 8-3 win.
Jackson Nezuh, RHP: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (WIN)
Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Cody Bolton, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (41-48) won 5-2 (BOX SCORE)
Mayer started for the Hooks and pitched well tossing 5 scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts. The offense got on the board in the 7th inning scoring 2 runs on a Sisneros 2 run double and Whitaker RBI double. DeVos made his Double-A debut and allowed 2 runs over 3 innings with 6 strikeouts. The offense got some insurance with 2 runs in the 8th inning on a Janek 2 run home run. Chirinos came on for the 9th and tossed a scoreless innings as the Hooks won 5-2.
A+: Asheville Tourists (31-57) lost 12-5 (BOX SCORE)
Smith got the start but really struggled allowing 6 runs without retiring a batter. Asheville got on the board in the third inning on a Hernandez solo home run. Rome added a few more runs making it 10-1. In the 6th, Frey connected on a 2 run home run, his 7th of the season. The offense got 2 runs in the 9th on a Powell RBI double and Batista sac fly but that was it as Asheville fell 12-5.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (44-43) won 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
Perez got the start for the Woodpeckers and went 3.2 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 5 batters. The Woodpeckers got on the board in the bottom of the 4th inning scoring 4 runs on an error, a Wakefield 2 run triple and a run on a wild pitch. Weber tossed 4 no-hit innings in relief. Cassedy came on for the 9th and allowed a run but was able to hold on as the Woodpeckers won 4-3.
Jul 17, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Brewer Hicklen (53) on the field before a game against the Texas Rangers at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Braves are keeping the core of the lineup that has come out of the All-Star break in better form through two games intact, with only a few small changes for Sunday’s 1:35 p.m. ET rubber match against the Texas Rangers at Truist Park.
The top five of the order remains the same, although Drake Baldwin moves back behind the plate to bring Dominic Smith, who is hitting sixth, in at designated hitter against a righty starter.
Additionally, Jim Jarvis, who has been in form of late with six hits in the last three games, moves up a spot to eighth while Brewer Hicklen replaces Eli White in right field and will hit ninth.
The Rangers are running back the same lineup they had for Saturday’s comeback win. That includes old friend Joc Pederson as DH in the leadoff spot.
The current Braves hitters have not had a ton of success against Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi (9-7, 4.04 ERA). They’re a combined 12-for-64 (.188) with four doubles, eight RBIs and 14 strikeouts to five walks.
Among players with more than two at-bats, only Michael Harris II (3-for-8, .375) and Dominic Smith (2-for-6, .333) are hitting above .200 against the veteran right-hander.The B
The Rangers only have a combined 22 at-bats against Braves starter Grant Holmes (5-4, 3.61) but they have had success against him, with a combined .409 batting average and .864 slugging percentage.
Jake Burger (3-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs) and Elias Diaz (2-for-5, 2 doubles) have had particular success versus Holmes.
But none of that history means anything when the teams take the field Sunday afternoon. Let’s see if the Braves can build momentum to begin the second half with a series win.
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 11: Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees looks on prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Olivia Vega/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Nobody could’ve ever imagined that Trent Grisham would be where he is right now when the Yankees acquired him as a partial salary dump in the Juan Soto trade during the 2024 Winter Meetings. After all, the team planned on him being the fourth outfielder while Alex Verdugo manned left field. And even when spots opened up in the outfield after Verdugo and Soto both walked (with varying levels of interest), he was referred to as a non-tender candidate who, if he stayed, would once again be the fourth outfielder after the team acquired Cody Bellinger and got star prospect Jasson Domínguez back healthy.
But funny things happen when opportunity arises. Minor injuries and struggles opened up playing time for Grisham early in 2025. In an opportunity sport like baseball, sometimes people just need a little daylight to force their way in. That’s exactly what Grisham did, becoming the team’s everyday center fielder and leadoff hitter for much of the season.
Despite emerging into a borderline All-Star bat at a very important position, a lot of fans were willing to bid him adieu in the offseason. With Bellinger as more of a priority, most were willing to give Domínguez more of an extended run or even give a look to Spencer Jones while using Grisham’s money to shore up the bullpen or improve the offense in the infield.
But those thoughts didn’t last long. The Yankees extended him a $22 million qualifying offer, which he surprisingly accepted. We’ll never know if his market was depressed because of the contract year effect or if he viewed it as best for himself in the short term, but it quickly tied up a lot of money in what ultimately was a quiet offseason for the Yanks. As such, he drew the ire of the fanbase as the poster boy for not meaningfully improving a roster that crashed out in the ALDS.
The Yankees believed they had the core to do it, and whether they truly wanted Grisham back for that $22 million or extended him thinking he’d decline (the former is more believable), they were adamant that his 2025 wasn’t a fluke. After all, how often does a guy meaningfully improve all around as a hitter in his physical prime and just revert out of nowhere?
Right away in 2026, things didn’t look great. He was hitting well below the Mendoza Line and wasn’t slugging nearly as much as he did in 2025. While his walk rate remained elite and his peripherals looked just as good as before, the dissenters grew ever louder as he entered May continuing to struggle. The Yankees don’t spend like the Dodgers or Mets, so that kind of money needs production.
That production came, and everyone is slowly realizing that Grisham is, in fact, a good MLB hitter. And for a Yankee team that’s missing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for at least another month-plus, he’s a stabilizing force for a lineup that’s been in the doldrums. He’s their rock.
His defense is still regressing considerably. He doesn’t have long for center field due to declining athleticism and recurring lower-body injuries, but he still can be a leader in an outfield that now often has a guy like Domínguez or Max Schuemann to his right. Even if his future is likely in a corner himself, he’s nowhere near a liability.
At the plate, he remains pivotal. He’s still sporting an elite 13.7 walk rate and .337 on-base percentage despite spending much of the season below the Mendoza Line. In 122 plate appearances since mid-May, he’s hitting .333 with a 163 wRC+. Before going down with a minor hamstring ailment in June, he kept the offense afloat after Judge’s injury at the end of May.
But when he did go down, the offense completely fell apart. In the 18 games played with him on the injured list, the team topped five runs only three times, all initially during the Paul Goldschmidt heater. After he cooled off, the team was the worst offense in the sport. When he was out, the team had an 80 wRC+. Since he’s returned? Back to 109, a top-10 figure in baseball.
Bringing him back into the fold brought two critical things for the offense: clutch hitting and plate discipline. The Yankees, usually an elite walk team and a mediocre strikeout team, have been among the worst in the sport in both categories since Grisham’s injury. Those two things are what the 29-year-old excels at, and while his plate discipline has slipped since his return, it’s an improvement over the guys he’s taking at-bats from.
The clutch hitting is where the Big Sleep is most important. He was one of the most clutch players in the sport last year and has delivered timely swings all season long for the team, regardless of how he’s performed at times overall. He was a pivotal part of the three come-from-behind wins in Washington, hitting a go-ahead homer last Saturday and scoring the go-ahead run on Ben Rice’s triple on Sunday.
His impact also extends to providing protection for the guys behind him. Rice in particular was struggling mightily without Grisham, but has improved massively since his return:
Ben Rice 6/13 to 7/1 (w/o Grisham): .197/.260/.408, 27.3 K%, 81 wRC+ Since 7/3 (w/Grisham): .361/.465/.917, 18.6 K%, 271 wRC+
Leaving Rice on an island left him vulnerable to getting every pitcher’s best stuff. After all, he was one of the only guys teams were circling in the pitchers’ meetings before the game. Now, with Grisham back, his ability to see pitches, grind at-bats, and give Rice protection is allowing the young first baseman to re-emerge as an MVP candidate.
All of what he’s doing makes the Yankees’ decision to tender a qualifying offer to him one of the best moves by any team last offseason. What would the Yankees have done if they hadn’t? Would they have used Bellinger’s money to get Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette, who are both mightily underachieving with $60 million salaries? Would they have signed a reliever like Brad Keller, who’s undergoing Tommy John surgery? What would a full season of relying on Domínguez and Jones have looked like with the injuries? Thankfully, we won’t have to find out.
We may have even reached a point where he and the team negotiate a multi-year extension in the offseason. The free agent market for outfielders is incredibly bleak, and there’s a case to be made that two of the top three hitters overall hitting the market will be Yankees. If that’s the case, with neither Domínguez nor Jones showing they can contribute to winning the way Grisham has, why not consider it?
His offense isn’t a fluke, and Judge’s age will slowly push him to being the DH down the road anyway, especially when Stanton’s contract expires. Why can’t he settle into a favorable Yankee Stadium right field as he enters his early 30s while Bellinger continues to be a rock in left field? I’m sure these discussions are happening internally, which is incredible considering where he was not too long ago in his career.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 18: Brandon Nimmo #24 (left), Ezequiel Duran #20, Nicky Lopez #33, Evan Carter #32, and Wyatt Langford #36 of the Texas Rangers celebrate after winning a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, folks…
The Texas Rangers beat the Atlanta Braves yesterday by a score of 7-6.
'Another Mistake By GM Kyle Davidson': Social Media Has Mixed Feelings On Bedard's Extension With BlackhawksOn Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks locked up their franchise player, Connor Bedard, to a five-year, $15 million AAV contract, but the deal has social media torn, with several noteworthy reactions. 
