Posts

Posted on

Knicks mount fourth-quarter comeback for 103-90 defeat of Nets

The Knicks beat the Nets at Madison Square Garden Monday night, 103-90, extending their winning streak over their crosstown rivals to 15.

Here are the takeaways...

-- While the Nets entered the game riding the high of their first win of the season, the Knicks were hoping to bounce back after their second loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The last time Brooklyn beat New York was Jan. 28, 2023, just over one week before superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were traded away.

-- The Nets jumped ahead early, finding their way to a 7-5 lead in the first three minutes of play. Despite working to overcome their turnover troubles early in the season, the Knicks committed their first of the game just 94 seconds in, which allowed for a three from Nets sophomore point guard Nolan Traore. OG Anunoby was the only Knick to score through the first three minutes until Mikal Bridges landed two free throws, tying the game at seven-all. 

After that, the Knicks tightened their defense and found their way to the basket, scoring 10 straight points punctuated by back-to-back Jalen Brunson threes. Brooklyn was quick to tie it back up, but two shots from beyond the arc by Deuce McBride and a trio of free throws from Landry Shamet sent New York into the break up 27-21.

-- The back-and-forth play continued through the second frame. While the Knicks struggled to find the basket for the first three-and-a-half minutes, the Nets climbed to a three-point edge. Four uninterrupted points from Bridges — two free throws and a dunk — put the Knicks back out in front, and they maintained the lead through the end of the quarter, but Brooklyn kept the deficit low until Shamet landed back-to-back threes. 

Brunson attempted to add three at the buzzer but was fouled by former Knick Julius Randle, earning two free throws. He missed the first, but his second shot gave the Knicks a 51-44 as the half came to a close.

-- Both teams found themselves in turnover trouble through the first 24 minutes of play, coughing it up a combined 15 times (Knicks had seven). Despite only shooting 36 percent — compared to Brooklyn's 40 — New York found game-changing success at the free throw line, going 15-for-16.

Karl-Anthony Towns, who recorded five double-doubles in the first six games of the season, headed to the locker room without a single point, though he recorded 10 rebounds and three assists in his 17 first-half minutes.

-- New York's energy quickly evaporated in the third. Towns finally got on the board, landing two driving layups and two of his three free throws through the first four minutes, but the Nets responded with a 13-0 run through the middle of the frame spearheaded by Randle, Day'Ron Sharpe, and Michael Porter Jr. Shamet finally broke the streak with a three, adding a second 90 seconds later to keep the Knicks in the game, but it wasn't enough. After outscoring New York 35-24 in the third, Brooklyn ended the quarter ahead by four, 79-75. 

Shamet's 20 points through the first three quarters led all players at that point.

-- Then, as they often do in the fourth, the Knicks reappeared. Josh Hart drove New York to a 10-point lead in the five-and-a-half minutes of the frame, scoring a 25-foot three-pointer, assisting two Anunoby threes and a layup from Tyler Kolek, and adding a running layup as the Knicks outscored Brooklyn 16-2 to start the frame. Traore kept cut into New York's 10-point lead with a 24-foot jumper, but Anunoby and Towns responded quickly with two free throws and a field goal, respectively, to open up a 9-0 run. 

As the Knicks continued to gain momentum, the Nets crumpled, turning the ball over six times through the first 8:30 and scoring just five points in the same span before Randle got the Nets moving again on two free throws with 2:23 left to play. Another foul shot from Randle and a three from Traore cut the Knicks' lead to 13, but the deficit proved too much to overcome, and the Knicks walked away with the 103-90 victory.

-- Overall, the Knicks shot 41 percent from the field, 39 percent from three, and 83 percent from the free throw line, compared to Brooklyn's 38 percent, 34 percent, and 70 percent, respectively.

-- Despite the rocky start, Towns finished with yet another double-double, scoring 11 points and adding 16 rebounds. He also had five assists and four turnovers.

-- In his first game against his former team since joining Brooklyn's squad in July,Randle recorded his first double-double as a Net, notching 21 points and 11 rebounds. He was the only player on Brooklyn's roster to break 20 points against the Knicks.

Game MVP: Landry Shamet

Shamet, who played for Brooklyn during the 2020-21 season, posted a game-leading 22 points, tacking on one rebound and one assist in 29 minutes of play. He also went 6-for-8 from the field, 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-6 from the free throw line.  

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks are set to host the Chicago Bulls Wednesday. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Across the river at the Barclays Center, the Nets will take on the Charlotte Hornets that same night, when they'll look to avenge their 110-103 season-opening loss. 

Posted on

Carter Mazur Scores 1st NHL Goal, Red Wings Hold Off Panthers With 5-3 Win

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

Following their disappointing 5-4 setback against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon, the Detroit Red Wings knew they needed to rebound on the road against the divisional rival Florida Panthers.

Thanks to the key contributions of several young players, they did just that. 

Carter Mazur scored his first NHL goal, while Michael Brandsegg-Nygård scored what ultimately proved to be the game-winning tally as part of Detroit's 5-3 win over the Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday evening.

With the win, the Red Wings improved their record to 7-5-3 through the first 15 games of the 2026-27 campaign. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Image

It was Mazur who struck first during the game's opening period, whistling a shot from the right face-off circle past goaltender Jacob Markstrom for the milestone goal. 

While the Panthers tied the score thanks to Sam Reinhart, it was Alex DeBrincat who soon registered his seventh tally of the season early in the second period. 

Florida once again knotted the score thanks to an unfortunate break while trying to kill off a Red Wings power play, as defenseman Aaron Ekblad banked the puck in off the skate of former teammate Daniil Tarasov from below the goal line. 

"Keep Moving Forward": Red Wings Begin Two-Game Divisional Road Swing "Keep Moving Forward": Red Wings Begin Two-Game Divisional Road Swing The Detroit Red Wings have no choice but to rebound from their disappointing 5-4 setback on Saturday afternoon when they face two straight divisional opponents on the road starting on Monday evening.

However, the Red Wings responded as well as one could hope, thanks to a pair of goals early in the third period less than a minute apart. Justin Faulk blasted a shot past Markstrom's glove on the power play, followed by Brandsegg-Nygård finishing a nifty feed from Lucas Raymond in front of the net. 

While Panthers forward Sam Bennett managed to cut the lead to a single goal with Markstrom on the bench, Florida was unable to secure the equalizer. Forward Emmitt Finnie sealed the victory with his seventh tally of the campaign in the waning seconds of regulation. 

Tarasov, who played last season for the Panthers, picked up the win by making 23 saves, while Markstrom countered with 24 saves. 

The Red Wings will next make the short trip to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning on Tuesday evening. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Panthers' Comeback Attempt Comes Up Short In 5-3 Loss To Visiting Red Wings

The Florida Panthers came up shot while in search of their first four-game winning streak of the season.

Playing in the second game of a three-game homestand, the Panthers never led while falling 5-3 to the visiting Detroit Red Wings on Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena.

After scoring the first goal in each of their past two games, the Panthers found themselves trailing early after surrendering an early tally to the Red Wings that came off the stick of Carter Mazur.

It took about ten minutes of game time, but Florida did eventually find the equalizer.

A quick backhand pass by Carter Verhaeghe found Sam Reinhart in the slot, and Reino’s quick wrister beat former Panthers goalie Daniil Tarasov to knot the score at one with 5:41 left in the opening period.

Detroit went back in front shortly after the intermission, though.

Star forward Alex DeBrincat finished off an odd-man rush by sending a long wrist shot past a moving Jacob Markstrom, picking up his seventh goal of the season.

That’s how the score would remain until late in the middle frame, when a Red Wings power play led to Florida’s second tally of the evening.

With Lars Eller leading an odd-man rush despite the Panthers being down a man, Aaron Ekblad drove to the net and grabbed his own rebound, backhanding a shot from the side of the net that went off Tarasov and over the goal line.

Once the third period arrived, it didn’t take long for the Red Wings to give Florida a quick slap in the face.

Goals by Justin Faulk and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard 45 seconds apart had the Panthers facing a sudden two-goal deficit, with less than a period to attempt a comeback.

Sam Bennett gave Florida some late life, slamming home a great pass by Matthew Tkachuk to bring the Cats back within one with 3:20 to go.

Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Panthers would get.

Props to Tarasov, as the former Cats’ tendie came up with saves on seven of Florida’s eight high danger shots, per Natural Stat Trick.

To his credit, Markstrom stopped nine of the 10 high danger shots he faced, but he also allowed four goals on a night his expected goals against was 3.21.

Alas, on to the Blackhawks.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Florida Panthers Prospect Ryder Cali Off To Strong Goal Scoring NCAA Start

Jacob Markstrom Returns To Panthers Lineup For Hometown Remix Matchup With Red Wings

Florida Panthers Debut Flashy New Hometown Remix Jerseys

Florida Panthers Power Play Has Been On Fire After Starting Season Ice Cold

Panthers' Akira Schmid To Man The Crease Against The Jets; Jacob Markstrom Returns To Practice

Florida Panthers Show Off New Equipment With Hometown Remix Colors Ahead Of Official Release Next Week

Sasha Barkov, Brad Marchand Resume Skating, On Track To Return From Injury Next Month

Photo caption: Nov 2, 2026; Sunrise,Florida, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) moves the puck againstFloridaPanthersdefenseman Seth Jones (3) during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Posted on

Lightning star Nikita Kucherov says trade request stems from disrespect and lack of communication

Philadelphia Flyers v Tampa Bay Lightning

TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 5: Right wing Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Benchmark International Arena on October 5, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images)

Getty Images

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Reigning NHL MVP Nikita Kucherov requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning because he feels disrespected by a lack of communication with general manager Julien BriseBois.

“It was never about the money for me,” Kucherov told reporters after practice on Monday. “More about poor communication and respect. Over the last four months, we only have had two conversations and Julien, in the end, made it clear that I’m free to walk on July 1.”

Kucherov will become an unrestricted free agent on that date. He’s in the final season of an eight-year, $76 million contract signed in 2018 before he helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup twice, led the NHL in scoring three times and won the Hart Trophy in 2018-19 and 2025-26.

Asked what the organization has meant to him, Kucherov said: “Everything. Got drafted here, played for, now this is my 14th year. A couple championships, met a lot of great people. You know, everything. My kids grew up here, and I’m forever grateful for this organization.”

Kucherov’s 1,142 points in 892 regular-season games since debuting in 2013 are third most among all players over that time behind only Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon. His 177 points in the playoffs are the most during that span.

The 33-year-old Russian winger became the franchise’s career points leader last month, passing former captain Steven Stamkos. Kucherov has four goals and 14 assists for a team-leading 18 points through 13 games.

The Lightning are 7-3-2. They’ve been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs four consecutive years after falling two wins shy of a three-peat in 2022.

“We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita,” BriseBois said in a statement last week.

BriseBois told reporters in mid-September that the goal was to get Kucherov signed to a new deal that keeps him around for years to come as part of a perennial contender. BriseBois said he and agent Dan Milstein would keep the lines of communication open to that end.

“For now, I’m part of this team, and I’ll do anything I can to help my teammates win,” Kucherov said.

He added that he personally informed his teammates of his trade request.

“They heard it from me first. Those guys are my family and this will never change,” he said.

Posted on

Giants round out cut day by designated Reiver Sanmartin for assignment

View from the front of Reiver Sanmartin throwing a pitch.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Reiver Sanmartin #48 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park on September 07, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Monday always figured to be a big transaction day for the San Francisco Giants, and Major League Baseball as a whole. With the World Series having been five days ago, Monday was the date when teams had to reinstate their players from the 60-Day Injured List … and, for many teams, cut other players to accommodate said players.

No team was more impacted than the Giants, who went into the offseason with roughly 109 players on the 60-Day IL (or 17, who’s counting). So, even though they made a handful of moves over the past week, they had a lot to get to today.

They made most of them in a big chunk, which Bryan covered earlier in the day. In one fell swoop, the Giants announced the departures of eight players: Shay Whitcomb, Brett Harris, Zach Morgan, Duncan Davitt, and José Buttó were claimed by other teams; Tristan Beck was released; and Joel Kuhnel and Seth Lonsway were outrighted to AAA Sacramento.

That left the Giants with 41 players on the 40-man roster, and one final move was needed. A few hours later, that move was announced: left-handed reliever Reiver Sanmartin was designated for assignment. Sanmartin, a 30-year old from Colombia, appeared in 24 games for San Francisco this past season, his first with the team. He was fairly nondescript in those games, posting a 4.22 ERA and a 4.41 FIP, with 16 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. Given how many names the Giants had to clear, and that Sanmartin was out of options, his departure seemed inevitable.

In addition to DFA’ing Sanmartin, the Giants announced that they declined the option for right-handed reliever Rowan Wick. The veteran, who turns 34 in a week, remains on the 40-man roster, and is now arbitration eligible. It’s an interesting move, since Wick — who was signed a year ago to a one-plus-one deal while he rehabbed a season-ending injury — was owed less money than he will get if the Giants tender him a contract through the arbitration process. My bet is that they are planning on non-tendering Wick and re-signing him to a Minor League deal, which would allow him to continue rehabbing with the medical team during the impending lockout. Had they waived Wick, he would have been eligible to be claimed by a rival team, whereas non-tendering him will allow him to go straight to free agency, and re-sign with them if they have a handshake agreement.

The Giants are now down to 40 players on the roster, and can lay low for a while, but more moves are certainly incoming. The date to make Rule 5 protections is November 17, so the Giants will need to clear a few spots by then, and also for any free agents they plan to sign.

Posted on

Baker, Bochy, Maddon and Piniella among 8 men on Hall of Fame contemporary era committee ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Retired managers Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon and Lou Piniella are among eight men on the ballot for the Hall of Fame’s contemporary era committee for managers, executives and umpires that meets on Dec. 6 at the winter meetings in San Diego.

Former general managers Sandy Alderson and Brian Sabean also are on the ballot along with the late Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner and former player, broadcaster and National League President Bill White, the Hall announced Monday.

The identities of the 16 voters will be announced closer to the meeting, and 75% of the vote is needed for election. Anyone chosen will be inducted into the Hall next July 25 along with players voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose balloting will be announced on Jan. 19.

Piniella received 11 votes in 2023, when Jim Leyland was elected, and 11 in 2018, when Harold Baines and Lee Smith were voted by the today’s game era committee.

The Hall in 2022 restructured its veterans committees for the third time in 12 years, setting up panels to consider the contemporary baseball era from 1980 on and classic baseball era from before 1980. The contemporary baseball era holds separate ballots for players and another for managers, executives and umpires.

Baker, 77, was a two-time All-Star outfielder who hit .278 with 242 homers and 1,013 RBIs for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta, the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants from 1968-86, then managed the Giants (1993-2002), Chicago Cubs (2003-06), Cincinnati (2008-13), Washington (2016-17) and Houston (2020-23). He had a 2,183-1,862 regular-season record as manager over 26 seasons, winning the 2022 World Series title. He was voted Manager of the Year in 1993, ’97 and 2000.

Bochy, 71, caught for the Astros, New York Mets and San Diego from 1978-87, then managed the Padres (1995-2006), the Giants (2007-19) and Texas (2023-25). He had a 2,252-2,266 regular-season record as manager over 28 seasons, winning World Series titles in 2010, ‘12, ’14 and ’23. He was voted NL Manager of the Year in 1996.

Maddon, 72, managed the Angels (1996, ‘99, 2020-22), Tampa Bay (2006-14) and Cubs (2015-19), leading the Cubs in 2016 to their first World Series title since 1908. He had a 1,382-1,216 regular-season record as manager over 19 seasons and won Manager of the Year awards in 2008, ’11 and ’15.

Piniella, 83, was 1969 AL Rookie of the Year and a one-time All-Star outfielder while hitting .291 with 102 homers and 766 RBIs for Baltimore, Cleveland, Kansas City and the Yankees from 1964-84. He managed the Yankees (1986-88), Cincinnati (1990-92), Seattle (1993-2002), Tampa Bay (2003-05) and the Cubs (2007-10), compiling an 1,835-1,713 regular-season record over 23 seasons. He won a World Series title with the Reds in 1990 and was voted Manager of the Year in 1995, 2001 and ’08.

Alderson, who turns 79 on Nov. 22, was Oakland’s general manager from 1983-97, helping the A’s win the 1989 World Series title. He was Major League Baseball’s executive vice president for baseball operations from 1998 to 2005, CEO of the San Diego Padres from 2005-09 and worked for the Mets as general manager from 2010-18 and as team president from 2020-23.

Sabean, 70, was head coach at the University of Tampa in 1983 and ’84, then joined the Yankees as a scout. He moved up to director of scouting in 1986 and vice president of player development/scouting in 1990, then joined the Giants in 1993 as assistant to the general manager and vice president of scouting/player personnel. He was promoted to senior vice president of player personnel in 1995 and was general manager from 1996-14, winning three World Series titles. Sabean was the Giants’ executive vice president of baseball operations from 2015-18.

Turner, who died on May 6 at age 87, bought the Braves in 1976 and led the team until 1996, when Turner Broadcasting System merged with Time Warner. He was a broadcasting innovator, turning WTBS into a superstation with national distribution. His Braves won the 1995 World Series title.

White, 92, was an All-Star in five seasons as a first baseman and occasional outfielder, hitting .286 with 202 homers and 870 RBIs for the New York and San Francisco Giants, St. Louis and Philadelphia from 1956-69. He won a World Series title with the 1964 Cardinals, was a Yankees broadcaster from 1971-88 and NL president from 1989-94.

Each committee meets every three years. Classic baseball meets in December 2027 and contemporary baseball/players in December 2028.

Managers and umpires were eligible if they had 10 or more big league seasons and have been retired for five years, though people 65 and older are eligible six months after retirement. Executives must be retired for five years, but active executives 70 or older are eligible.

A candidate who does not receive at least five of the 16 votes is not eligible for the next ballot of that committee three years later. A candidate who does not receive at least five of the 16 votes on multiple ballots would no longer be eligible for that committee.

The ballot was picked by a historical overview committee that included Adrian Burgos of the University of Illinois, Bob Elliott of the Canadian Baseball Network, historian Steve Hirdt, La Velle Neal of the Minnesota Star Tribune, former The Athletic writer David O’Brien, José de Jesus Ortiz of Our Esquina Media, BBWAA secretary-treasurer Jack O’Connell, former Fort Worth Star-Telegram writer Jim Reeves, former San Francisco Chronicle writer Glenn Schwarz, San Francisco Chronicle writer Susan Slusser and former Southern California News Group writer Mark Whicker.

Buster Posey, Jon Lester and Ryan Zimmerman are among players eligible for the BBWAA vote for the first time. Holdovers include Chase Utley, Andy Pettitte and Félix Hernández.

Posted on

Rangers primary CF Evan Carter has hip surgery and likely won’t be ready to start of next season

Texas Rangers primary center fielder Evan Carter had right hip surgery and is not expected to be ready for the scheduled start of next season.

Chris Young, the team’s president of baseball operations, said Monday that Carter had surgery last week. Dr. William Robertson addressed a labral issue and hip impingement during the arthroscopic procedure.

Young said the hip likely affected Carter throughout the season, Carter played 141 games and made all 112 of his defensive starts in center field. He hit .194 with nine homers, 40 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.

There is a likely recovery period of about six months, but Young said the Rangers expect Carter to play a majority of next season.

With a lockout looming when baseball’s five-year labor contract expires on Dec. 1, there will be uncertainty about spring training and the scheduled start of the 2027 season on March 24.

Young said the team thought during Carter’s exit physical that his discomfort was muscular and nothing major. The 24-year-old outfielder had further diagnostic testing after the soreness continued into the offseason, then saw two specialists who recommended the surgery.

“I do believe in light of what we’ve learned in this diagnosis for Evan, that it probably impacted him to some degree over the course of the season. It is impressive, his ability to play through this,” Young said. “I think it’s safe to say, given the extent of the surgery, that there was something in there.”

A championship-winning debut for Carter

Carter made an impressive MLB debut in 2023 as part of the Rangers team’s only World Series championship. After his call-up in September as an injury fill-in, he made his big league debut 10 days after his 21st birthday Carter hit .306 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 23 games and reached base in all 17 of the Rangers’ postseason games, hitting .300 with nine doubles and 10 walks.

He played in only 108 out of a possible 324 games the following two seasons due to injures. Carter missed most of 2024 with a lower back injury and had three injured list stints in 2025, for a right quadriceps strain, back spasms and a season-ending fractured right wrist.

A speedy outfielder who plays stellar defense, Carter has hit .215 with 24 homers and 92 RBIs in 272 big league games.

“He still is a young player with a bright career ahead of him. Our doctors anticipate that he will make a full recovery,” Young said. “But it’s going to be an offseason of rehabbing versus an offseason of training for next season.”

Ezequiel Duran, who Sunday was selected a Gold Glove winner for a utility player, started 14 games in center last season, and primary left fielder Wyatt Langford made 13 starts in center. Young wasn’t ready to say how the Rangers would cover center without Carter, and said that could be impacted by any potential offseason moves.

Some coaching changes for the Rangers

Alex Cintron will not return as full-time assistant hitting coach on the big league staff, but will remain to work in the hitting department for the entire Rangers organization. Young said that was a choice made by Cintron, and that the search is underway to find his replacement on the staff.

Assistant pitching coach Dave Bush also will not return, but Young said there are no plans to fill that vacancy.

The rest of manager Skip Schumaker’s staff is returning next season.

Posted on

Japanese players Teruaki Sato, Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh enter MLB posting system

NEW YORK (AP) — Infielder Teruaki Sato of the Central League’s Hanshin Tigers and right-handers Kaima Taira of the Saitama Seibu Lions and Hiromi Itoh of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Pacific League are entering Major League Baseball’s posting system and will be available to teams to sign as a free agent from Monday until Dec. 16.

Infielder Si-Hwan Roh of South Korea’s Hanwha Eagles is entering the posting system and can sign as a free agent from until Dec. 1.

Sato, a left-handed-hitting 27-year-old third baseman and occasional outfielder, hit .306 with 39 homers and 106 RBIs this year, winning the Central League’s Triple Crown. He was the Central League’s MVP in 2025, when he batted .277 with 40 homers and 102 RBIs. Sato was 3 for 10 with two RBIs for Japan in this year’s World Baseball Classic.

Taira, who turns 27 on Nov. 15, moved back into the starting rotation this season and was 12-5, leading the Japanese major leagues with a 1.36 ERA. He had 31 saves in 2025.

Itoh, 29, helped Japan win a a gold medal at the 2021 Olympics, pitching five scoreless innings over three games, and also pitched for the Samurai at this year’s World Baseball Classic. He was 10-10 with a 3.18 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings this year. He won the 2025 Sawamura Award, Japan’s version of the Cy Young Award.

Roh, a 25-year-old right-handed hitter, batted .283 with 25 homers and 96 RBIs this season.

While the posting period for players from Japanese clubs is 45 days, it is 30 days for players from South Korean teams. The deadline to sign is at 5 p.m. EST on the final day of the posting period.

MLB is likely to lock out the Major League Baseball Players Association when their collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1. During the lockout that began on Dec. 2, 2021, posted players were frozen during the work stoppage and signing windows continued after an agreement between MLB and the union was reached on March 10.

Under MLB’s posting agreements with Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organizations, the posting fee would be 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% of any amount over $50 million. There would be a supplemental fee of 15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.

Posted on

Bobby Witt Jr. named finalist for AL MVP award

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 12: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Now that the World Series is over, baseball can start handing out hardware. On Monday, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was named a finalist for AL Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career.

Witt led the American League with 7.0 fWAR, and hit .281/.359/.441 with 18 home runs. He finished ninth in the league in hits (157), ninth in runs scored (94), sixth in doubles (33), second in steals (45), and ninth in Runs Created (95). He led all AL defenders with +24 Outs Above Average and was a finalist for a Gold Glove Award. Witt will be up against Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez and Rays third baseman Junior Caminero. Witt finished second to Aaron Judge in 2024. He finished fourth in MVP voting last year, and seventh in 2023.George Brett is the only Royals player to win AL MVP, taking home the award in 1980.

Carter Jensen was not named a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year, despite a strong season behind the plate. The Kansas City native hit .239/.323/.467 with 27 home runs and 65 walks, but was shutout in favor of Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers, Parker Messick of the Guardians, and Payton Tolle of the Red Sox.

The MVP Awards will be announced on November 12, at 6 p.m. CT on MLB Network.

Here is a complete list of finalists for MLB awards:

AL MVP: Yordan Alvarez, Astros; Junior Caminero, Rays; Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

NL MVP: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs; Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers; Brice Turang, Brewers

AL Cy Young: Dylan Cease, Blue Jays; Parker Messick, Guadians; Cam Schlittler, Yankees

NL Cy Young: Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies; Chris Sale, Braves; Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers

AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle, Tigers; Parker Messick, Guadians; Payton Tolle, Red Sox

NL Rookie of the Year: Carson Benge, Mets; Sal Stewart, Reds, JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals

AL Relief Pitcher of the Year: Bryan Baker, Rays; Cade Smith, Guardians; Louis Varland, Blue Jays

NL Relief Pitcher of the Year: Jhoan Duran, Phillies; Trevor Megill, Brewers; Mason Miller, Padres

AL Manager of the Year: Kevin Cash, Rays; Chad Tracy, Red Sox; Will Venable, White Sox

NL Manager of the Year: Don Mattingly, Phillies; Pat Murphy, Brewers; Walt Weiss, Braves



Posted on

Status of the Padres bullpen

The San Diego Padres enter the condensed free agent season before the expiration of the current CBA with multiple holes in their starting rotation. The five-day exclusive window for negotiating with pending free agents expired along with the deadline for setting each team’s 40-man roster on today.

Then the real fun begins with all free agents open to negotiate with any team they choose and deciding if they want to sign before the CBA expires or take their chances with the status of the game after the new contract is signed.

Bullpen losses 

The news on Oct. 30 was the first blow to the Padres bullpen. Bullpen coach Ben Fritz, a member of the Padres coaching staff since 2015, was hired away by the Arizona Diamondbacks to be their pitching coach.

Fritz was the bullpen coach under Larry Rothschild until Rothschild’s firing in 2021. He assumed the primary job for the remainder of that season and then became the bullpen coach again when Ruben Niebla was hired prior to the 2022 season.

As the shepherd of one of the best bullpens in baseball over the past several seasons, the Padres gave Fritz a big raise last offseason to keep him on staff. He had reportedly been targeted by several other teams as their pitching coach.

LHP Adrián Morejón is a free agent. The Padres’ closer, Mason Miller, acknowledged Morejón’s value to the bullpen, saying he believed he was the most valuable reliever in MLB. In an article by Dennis Lin in The Athletic on Sept. 14, Miller stated, “He’s the most valuable reliever on our team and, I would argue, in baseball too.” 

It remains to be seen if the Padres can offer the reliever a contract that will keep him in San Diego. His projected value, which ranges from 3 years and $42 million by Jim Bowden (The Athletic) to 5 years and $90 million by Joel Reuter (Bleacher Report), might not be in the budget for the Friars due to the lack of starting arms on the roster. 

Morejón has stated on multiple occasions his desire to stay with the Padres but team-friendly free agent deals are mostly nonexistent in modern baseball. If the team can come up with a creative deal to keep Morejón, A.J. Preller will need to keep the top priority on the starting rotation.

Keeping Hart, Matsui, Peralta and Estrada

The Padres got very lucky when LHP Yuki Matsui opted to remain with the team. He had a player option to make himself a free agent but decided to accept his $6.5 million salary for 2027 and has another option in 2028. 

After signing with the Padres before the 2024 season, Matsui posted a 3.86 ERA over the first two seasons with the team. Coming to MLB after dominating as a closer in Japan, Matsui was unable to replicate that success. He pitched well but wasn’t able to repeat his dominance. Making some adjustments to his pitch arsenal before the 2026 season, Matsui went back to featuring his slider and improved his effectiveness. In 64 innings of relief, Matsui lowered his ERA to 1.83 without a significant change in walk or strikeout rates. 

By staying in the fold, Matsui saves the Padres the need to find a high-leverage replacement for the 31-year-old lefty.

LHP Kyle Hart had an up-and-down 2026. He had stretches of valuable effectiveness and a few blow-up appearances. He finished the season with a 4.92 ERA in 64 innings pitched. The Padres exercised his $2.5 million team option, keeping the 34-year-old in the bullpen for the 2027 season. This most likely represents the team’s need to keep the bullpen as intact as possible for the next season. His salary is reasonable for a pitcher who can pitch at any point in a game and for more than one inning.

LHP Wandy Peralta opted in for the third and final time in his four-year contract with the Padres. He signed a 4-year, $16.5 million deal before the 2024 season and has a sub-4 ERA with the Padres for his time in the bullpen. In 2026, he finished with a 3.61 ERA in 77.1 innings. Peralta was left off the postseason roster after losing effectiveness at the end of the season. 

RHP Jeremiah Estrada is arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason. He will need to be offered a contract by Nov. 20 for his first opportunity at arbitration. His 2026 season was injury-marred, and that will probably affect the offer he gets for his first contract year.

Only throwing 31 innings for the year, Estrada finished with a 3.48 ERA. He had both shoulder and leg injuries that limited his availability and effectiveness. 

Arbitration-eligible 

Closer Mason Miller is in his second year of arbitration eligibility and stands to earn a big raise from his $4 million 2026 salary. After posting 38 saves and a 1.67 ERA in 70 innings pitched, Miller is projected to earn $8.1 million, according to MLB TradeRumors.

RHP Bryan Hoeing, who again spent most of the season on the injured list with flexor tendon surgery,  is projected to be offered $0.8 million in arbitration. He should be healthy to start 2027.

RHP Jhony Brito is arbitration-eligible and is projected to be offered $0.8 million for 2027. He spent part of 2026 on the injured list from his Tommy John surgery and then completed his rehab in time to log innings in El Paso and pitch nine innings for the Padres. He should be a contender for the either the bullpen or possibly as a starter in 2027.

The rest of the bullpen

RHP David Morgan, RHP Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP Hunter Stratton, and RHP Garret Hawkins are under contract and on the 40-man roster for the 2027 season. All should be in the running for bullpen spots when the 2027 spring camp begins. 

Other options

The status of Joe Musgrove is undetermined but it would be a big surprise if he isn’t in the mix for the starting rotation in 2027. Pitching three innings from the bullpen in the 2026 postseason showed that Musgrove can still pitch. The questions are about his ability to bounce back from his outings. His health will most likely be determined during the spring of 2027.

These 11 players will be joined by the pitchers signed by the organization during free agency or acquired by trade. There are also several minor league pitchers who could be added to the roster before being left available for the Rule 5 draft.

As it stands, the bullpen only lacks Morejón from the dominant bullpen seen in 2026. It should remain a strength for the 2027 Padres.

Posted on

Cam Schlittler named finalist for AL Cy Young Award

BRONX, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches during the New York Yankees game against the Boston Red Sox in game 1 of the American League Wild Card Playoff Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Borough of the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Cam Schlittler was officially announced as a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award on Monday night as MLB Network revealed the finalists for all BBWAA end-of-year awards. Schlittler was the lone Yankee to finish in the top three for any of the honors.

The 25-year-old ace, who led the AL with a 1.95 ERA and 6.2 FanGraphs WAR, was named by the BBWAA alongside Dylan Cease of the Blue Jays and Parker Messick of the Guardians. The winner, along with the recipients of each league’s MVP, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and the newly-created Reliever of the Year awards, will be announced next week on MLB Network. The Cy Young voting results in particular will be revealed on Wednesday, November 11th.

View Link

The NL Cy Young nominees are World Series champion Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers, Atlanta’s Chris Sale, and Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sánchez.

Seeing as 2026 was not a banner year for the Yankees’ position players, no Bombers were nominated for MVP. Presumptive winner and Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, Rays star Junior Caminero, and the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. are up for the award on the AL side. There was some hope that Schlittler or slugger Ben Rice might have an outside shot at third, but no dice; they’ll instead eye a top-10 finish.

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs is likely to receive his first career MVP—Shohei Ohtani is nominated in the NL for the third straight year, while Brice Turang of the World Champion Brewers is also on the podium. The only year since 2021 that Ohtani hasn’t won an MVP is 2022, when Aaron Judge beat him out with 62 homers; this will almost surely be the second.

As for Rookie of the Year, New York was represented—albeit across town in Queens. Mets outfielder Carson Benge was nominated in the NL, along with JJ Wetherholt of the Cardinals and Sal Stewart of the Reds. The AL nominees are Messick, Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle, and Red Sox starter Payton Tolle.

Unsprisingly, Aaron Boone was not given the nod as a Manager of the Year finalist, but two of his division rivals were. Kevin Cash, who led the Rays to the World Series, was nominated alongside interim-turned-full-time Red Sox skipper Chad Tracy and upstart White Sox manager Will Venable. Yankee icon Don Mattingly was nominated on the NL side for his interim work in Philadelphia. He is up for consideration alongside Braves first-year manager Walt Weiss and the Brewers’ Pat Murphy (who is eyeing a MoY three-peat).

The Reliever of the Year finalists are unsurprisingly all closers: Bryan Baker, Cade Smith, and Louis Varland in the AL; and Jhoan Duran, Trevor Megill, and Mason Miller in the NL. Note that this a brand-new honor that the BBWAA decided to start giving out, and it is fully separate from the Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year awards, which are given by MLB itself alongside the Hank Aaron Awards, the Edgar Martinez Awards, the Comeback Players of the Year, and the All-MLB Teams.

Posted on

Kadri and Schwartz Each Score Twice as Avalanche Surge Ahead of Blackhawks

The Colorado Avalanche have completely flipped the script at the United Center.

After falling behind 2-0 early, Colorado rallied with goals from Nazem Kadri and Jaden Schwartz to even the score before Kadri struck again in the second period. Schwartz added his second of the night with just 10.6 seconds remaining, sending the Avalanche into the third period with a 4-2 lead over the Blackhawks on the road in Chicago.

First Period

It was an unfortunate start for Colorado, as Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser was credited with a goal after his point shot deflected off Cale Makar and past Mackenzie Blackwood, who couldn't track the puck in time.

The Avalanche had a chance to respond after Ethan Del Mastro was called for interference, but they failed to capitalize on the power play. Their road struggles continued at the 7:05 mark when a costly turnover by Nazem Kadri led to a 2-on-1 rush. Connor Bedard fed Roman Kantserov for a one-timer over Blackwood's glove to make it 2-0.

Past the halfway point of the period, Brock Nelson was called for high-sticking after accidentally catching Ryan Donato with the blade of his stick while attempting to change lines.

Colorado appeared to get on the board with 6:38 remaining when Nathan MacKinnon set up Devon Toews for a one-timer that Martin Necas redirected past Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight. Chicago challenged for goaltender interference, however, and officials in Toronto overturned the goal, ruling that Gabe Landeskog interfered with Knight.

The Avalanche eventually got one that counted. Kadri pounced on a rebound that Knight couldn't cover, diving forward to poke the loose puck across the goal line and cut Chicago's lead to 2-1.

Just 26 seconds later, Colorado had its equalizer. Jaden Schwartz finished off a beautiful pass from T.J. Hughes with a one-timer past Knight to pull the Avalanche even at 2-2.

Things got chippy shortly after when Artyom Shumenov caught Cale Makar in the face with an elbow. Martin Necas stepped in to defend his teammate, dropping the gloves with Shumenov. Both received roughing penalties, while Shumenov was also assessed a four-minute penalty for the hit. Colorado couldn't capitalize on the ensuing power play.

The Avalanche outshot Chicago 14-4 in the opening 20 minutes, carrying plenty of momentum into the second after erasing the early two-goal deficit.

Second Period

Colorado found itself shorthanded early after Kadri cross-checked Ryan Greene from behind while the two battled for a loose puck. With just three seconds remaining on the penalty kill, Oliver Moore was called for tripping T.J. Hughes, giving the Avalanche a brief power-play opportunity. Colorado couldn't convert, marking its third unsuccessful man advantage of the night.

Blackwood continued to come up big at the other end, making a spectacular split save to rob Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard. The stop sent Bedard tumbling over Blackwood's left pad and into the net.

After coming up empty on their fourth power play, the Avalanche finally made their fifth count. Kadri redirected a blast from Makar past Knight for his second goal of the night and fourth of the season, putting Colorado in front 3-2.

The Avalanche also managed to kill off a late cross-checking penalty to Noah Juulsen. Knight kept Chicago within striking distance moments later, denying Nathan MacKinnon on a beautiful backhand.

But Colorado had one more punch to deliver before the intermission. With just 10.6 seconds remaining, Sam Malinski fired a wrist shot from the point, and Schwartz got just enough of his stick on it to redirect the puck across the goal line. His second goal of the night gave the Avalanche some much-needed breathing room and a 4-2 lead heading into the third period.

Third Period

Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane left the game in the second period and was absent from the bench to start the third. He was later ruled out for the remainder of the night with what appeared to be a lower-body injury.

The Avalanche caught a fortunate break on what could only be described as a double doink. Frank Nazar rang the puck off both posts, sparing Mackenzie Blackwood from potentially giving up a goal.

Brock Nelson was sent to the penalty box at 8:02 for tripping Nazar, but Colorado once again came through on the penalty kill. The Avalanche successfully killed off the infraction, improving to a perfect 4-for-4 on the night in a much-needed response from a unit that had struggled in recent games.

Image
Posted on

Shaikin: Mark Walter says he won't sell the Dodgers, but his plans keep changing

Dodgers majority owner Mark Walter speaks during a celebration of the team's 2025 World Series win.
Dodgers majority owner Mark Walter speaks during the team's World Series celebration at Dodger Stadium on Nov. 3, 2025. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Mark Walter isn’t selling the Dodgers, right?

He is selling the Lakers. He is selling his share of Chelsea, the Premier League team. He is looking into selling the Sparks.

And now he is looking into selling his share of the Cadillac Formula One racing team, as Sportico first reported Monday.

But keeping the Dodgers, right? “No matter what,” Walter told the California Post last week.

Wait a second, though. In August, Walter’s TWG Global holding company issued a statement that was definitive in two specific aspects: the Dodgers were “not being sold” and his company was “not considering exiting its stake in the Cadillac Formula 1 team.”

Read more:Mark Walter, Josh Kushner agree on outstanding terms linked to $12.5-billion Lakers sale

So I reached out to Walter’s company and to his personal spokesman, asking how to reconcile the definitive statement denying interest in a Formula One sale with the news of a possible sale and, in light of that development, whether the denials of interest in a Dodgers sale should remain credible.

No one at the company emailed me back, and the spokesman declined to comment. Someone in contact with Walter, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to comment, advised me to wait and see if a Formula One deal actually materializes and, if so, for what value.

Amid federal investigations into whether the insurance companies Walter controls might have violated laws designed to protect investors, and as he is a defendant in multiple civil lawsuits filed by investors that allege fraud and breach of contract, Walter is selling off assets from his sports empire.

He could generate a significant share of the more than $20 billion he might need to recapitalize the insurance companies and satisfy state regulators. It is uncertain how that might influence the federal investigations and civil lawsuits.

Read more:Dodgers owner Mark Walter is seeking to sell the WNBA’s Sparks for record valuation

The Lakers sold for $12.5 billion — the valuation for the entire team, not for Walter’s controlling share.

Walter is seeking $3 billion for his interest in the Formula One team, according to Sportico, and $700 million for the Sparks, according to Bloomberg. The sale of the Chelsea stake, owned jointly by Walter and Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, generated about $1.27 billion, according to the Financial Times.

The sale of the Dodgers could generate $10 billion to $13 billion, The Times has reported.

None of this is to say Walter is not genuine in his proclamation that he is not selling the Dodgers. He said the Dodgers would win, and they have: three championships within six years, after three in the previous 56. The shine has been restored to an L.A. crown jewel.

But things can change. Potential Dodgers bidders, including Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, are considering offers should Walter decide to sell. Some have inquired discreetly and been told what everyone has been told: the team is not for sale. Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league is keeping an eye on developments surrounding Walter’s insurance empire.

Read more:Dodgers owner Mark Walter wins partial approval to begin reshaping $20-billion network of loans

“As always when we have an investigation — external, law enforcement, whatever — we monitor that,” Manfred said at the World Series. “That’s where we are right now. We’re just watching what’s going on right now.”

And that is indeed where we are right now: We don’t know what’s going to happen with the feds, and in the courts. For today, and for the immediate future, the Dodgers are not for sale. But plans can change, as Walter’s Formula One team just learned.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

It’s time for Basketball: San Antonio Spurs vs Utah Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 28: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots over Svi Mykhailiuk #10 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Delta Center on October 28, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

It was just five days ago that the Spurs met up with the Jazz, defeating them 117-111 with a 36 point outburst from Victor Wembanyama and a good supporting effort from Devin Vassell and all of the guards. The short handed Jazz depended heavily on their youthful players with Keyonte George torching the Silver and Black defense for 31 points and Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey doing their parts. Multi-team retreads Mo Bamba and Jaxson Hayes actually looked like legit bigs in that game, and the Spurs had their hands full pulling out a win on the road in Salt Lake City.

Lauri Markkannen should be back in the lineup tonight, which should improve their big man rotation a lot, and this could be a tough game than it looks for San Antonio against the 1-6 Jazz. The Spurs offense looked much better at times against the Timberwolves on Saturday than it did against the Jazz, but also had some extended lapses where they took several minutes of game time off from scoring. Victor Wembanyama’s masterclass performance with 43 points and 6 blocks took over the game, but it would nice to have a game where the Silver and Black don’t need that kind of performance to win, and maybe let some of the younger players like Reed get in some work and game experience. Tonight could be the night if the Spurs can play with consistent effort and put the Jazz away early.

Let’s GOO Spurs!! Victor must dominate Lauri. If you’re eligible to vote in the US elections and you haven’t voted yet, get out and vote tomorrow.

Game Prediction:

Responding to the criticism of the three guard lineup, Mitch Johnson puts in a triple tower lineup of Wemby, Reed, and Kornet to start the game. They hold the Jazz to 6 points in the first quarter, but only score 16, all of them by Victor.

San Antonio Spurs vs Utah Jazz
November 2, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Streaming: DAZN, League Pass
TV: DAZN
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

Posted on

San Diego’s Bona Fide Ace

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability). 

Petco Park’s King of the Hill

When Michael King was traded to the Padres in 2024, he was the main piece in their return for superstar slugger Juan Soto. Up to that point, King had mostly been used out of the bullpen by the New York Yankees. He had produced phenomenal results in 2022 (2.29 ERA) and ‘23 (2.75 ERA). After coming over from New York, King anchored San Diego’s rotation with a 2.95 ERA across a career-high 173 2/3 innings pitched. An injury-plagued 2025 campaign caused King to re-sign with the Padres heading into 2026.

Overall Grade: A+

He immediately proved his value, anchoring the rotation after Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove spent most of the season on the injured list. King posted a 3.21 ERA across a career-high 185 innings of work. He was even better as the season went on, with a 2.84 ERA in his final 15 starts and a 2.53 ERA across his last seven.

San Diego’s ace found his biggest problem in something that wasn’t even his fault. King had the fourth-least run support among all starting pitchers (3.68 runs per game). Of the three pitchers with less run support than King, only one of them had more wins (Cam Schlitter, 14-6). In 14 of King’s 32 starts he surrendered one run or less. The right-hander was also ranked 11th in quality starts with 18.

King declined his $28 million player option earlier this week, making him a free agent. He’ll be one of the most sought-after pitching free agents on the market. King is predicted to land a five-year, $118 million deal this offseason. San Diego expects to be a major player to re-sign their ace. New ownership has stated that they’re all in. What that means will be tested by whether King remains with the Padres in 2027.