SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 10: Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat smiles during the game against the Utah Jazz on November 10, 2026 at Delta Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Alex Goodlett/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This week, we revisited the biggest trade in franchise history (sorry, Mr Abdul-Jabbar), taking in early-season results, player form, and respective end-goals to try and determine who, if either team, won the transaction that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, and picks, including what ended up being Nate Ament. As it stands, fans had plenty to say but, for now at least, are happily straddling the fence.
Sir, can I have an extension?
The prevailing response (57%) was that it’s simply too early to come to any definitive conclusion regarding the trade. There are, however, plenty of concerns to keep Bucks fans from sleeping easy at night:
Regarding the Bucks’ upcoming free agents, I’m right there with you, naveed. But the way things are going, they might just have to pony up to retain every bit of talent they can.
No winners, just losers
While the majority of voters need more time to tell, 23% are leaning negative, believing Milwaukee did not win the trade. Oh, and Jon Horst is the worst:
Can someone check on PackofBrewss88? Also, if the veteran Heat get time to gel, surely the Bucks do too?
On another note, there was a larger sentiment that neither team really won the deal:
But, hey, as the adage goes, if neither team is happy, then maybe it was a fair trade after all?
One foot on the other side
While most thought it was too early to tell and 23% leaned negative, a nearly-equal 20% of voters have found their footing on the other side of the fence, feeling the Bucks did, in fact, win the trade. However, as MKE said, it all came—and comes—down to (hard luck and) circumstance:
Talk later?
Overall, whether fans saw the Bucks as winners, losers, or something in between, a prominent throughline was that this question needs to be revisited later in the year—and beyond:
Consider it bookmarked.
And on that note, we’re done. As always, thanks for your input—and if you’ve got any further thoughts, be sure to drop ‘em below.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 13: Jalen Smith #25 of the Chicago Bulls and Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks jump at tip off during the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game at the United Center on November 13, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were in action in the NBA Cup on Friday night but came up short in a 125-117 road loss in overtime against the Chicago Bulls. Jalen Johnson registered a triple-double of 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists and CJ McCollum added 20 points off the bench. For the Bulls — without star rookie Caleb Wilson — Norman Powell led the way with 33 points with seven Bulls scoring in double-digits.
The Hawks would have entered this game as favorites, with the Bulls heading into this game on the back of an eight-game losing streak and looking for just their second win of the season. Without impressive rookie Caleb Wilson, the Bulls were missing talent that is sorely needed and handed the Hawks a significant advantage with his absence. In reality, that is not how it played out.
The Hawks’ time spent leading this game was extremely brief, and it was the Bulls who ran out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter behind 10 first quarter points from Powell. The key difference in this game began to become clear from the first quarter as the Hawks shot 2-of-8 from three-point range as the visitors’ struggles shooting the ball became more concrete in the second quarter. The Bulls, meanwhile, had no problem dispatching their three-pointers and began to run their lead to a game-high 18 points in the second quarter.
While the Hawks found some success in the paint — and this was how they began to reign in the Chicago lead — the three-point shooting story was becoming clear: 3-of-17 for Atlanta, while the Bulls shot 11-of-28 from three in the first half. The Hawks were, at times, settling for transition, pull-up threes from above the break but only shot 1-of-11 from such shots in this game:
Off of a miss, Nickeil Alexander-Walker pushes the ball up the floor and springs into a three-pointer, but cannot convert:
On this attempt, the Hawks work themselves into a better opportunity from above the break, with Alexander-Walker finding Daniels, who finds Onyeka Okongwu all alone above the break, but the three is missed:
The Hawks would continue to strike out on these opportunities all night long, and relied on the inside scoring of Johnson, and some tough, crafty baskets from McCollum to keep the visitors in range, even tying the game in late stages of the third quarter.
The Bulls, however, quickly stretched their lead back to 10 in the fourth quarter, giving the Hawks a lot of work to do on the road. Even with 2:22 remaining the Hawks faced an uphill battle of seven points, but Okongwu and Johnson, tied the game.
Having not led the game since the first quarter — when the game was 7-6 — the Hawks had multiple opportunities to take a late lead in this game. The first comes in the form of the Hawks failing to secure a rebound off of a missed shot from Jalen Smith, with Johnson losing the rebound and the Bulls get the opportunity to call a timeout:
After a missed shot from Powell inside, the Hawks get a chance to get out in transition. Johnson is faced by Josh Giddey, and elects to pass the ball back out to the perimeter to Alexander-Walker, who is unable to hit the three-pointer:
I’m not sure Johnson realized how strong his advantage was here: no help was coming, Giddey was on his own, and it’s a one-on-one near the rim you would heavily back Johnson to score or draw a foul. Instead, he makes the unselfish play and finds Alexander-Walker, who continued his unfortunate shooting trend in this game at the wrong time.
The Hawks would get another chance as they advance the ball off of a timeout after another Bulls miss. Okongwu delivers a good pass to the cutting Aaron Wiggins, who is surely rim-side and through for a layup, but cannot complete the catch as the ball slips through his fingers and out of play:
Three differing chances for the Hawks to get/to score and all of them passed them by, and the game goes to overtime.
The Hawks would take their first lead since the first quarter, but it would not last, as Powell scored nine points in the overtime period to pull away from the Hawks before a dagger three Matas Buzelis dashes any hopes of a Hawks victory.
Postgame, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder highlighted the start of the game as an issue for the Hawks and discussed how the Hawks’ shooting issues were exacerbated by the Bulls’ own good three-point shooting night.
“We didn’t play with the force at the beginning of the game,” said Snyder postgame. “That impacts our defense, it’s, kind of, the complimentary of basketball: how your defense affects your offense. When we’re not forceful defensively, or active, and we’re not running. We know the things we need to have in the front of our minds to focus on. When we don’t do that, we don’t play well. By the same token, we started to find that, 18 (points) down. When you’re not shooting the ball well — we had a bad shooting night, which is going to happen — those things become even more important. When your opponent is shooting the ball, it compounds itself. We take from it what we can, and there’s a lot here we can focus on.”
“We’ve got to come out with energy from the jump, we just didn’t do that,” added Jalen Johnson.
This game can be summed up by living by the three and dying by the three. The Hawks finished with 8-of-40 from three (20%) while the Bulls shot 20-of-50 from three (40%), and while there are other nuances of this game that did not go the Hawks’ way (which we’ll touch on in a moment), the game can really be summed up as simply as that. If you hit eight threes while your opponent hits 20 (a 60-24 point disparity) it’s difficult to win games consistently. The fact the Hawks almost did, speaks to the nature of the Bulls’ season (allowing Jalen Smith to 15 shots and 1-of-6 from three is something the Bulls allowed to happen, for some reason).
From the Hawks’ side, it was another difficult night shooting the three from Alexander-Walker, who shot 1-of-11 from three, and 6-of-19 from the field — it just wasn’t his night, and there’s been a couple of those this season where it becomes evident it may not be his night from three and he ends up with a poor percentage on a high volume. It was the same story across the board: reliable three-point shooters for the Hawks couldn’t get their shots to fall. Okongwu shot 2-of-7 from three, while Aaron Wiggins shot 1-of-6 from distance.
Turnovers were also a key feature in this game, with the Hawks committing 17 in total, off of which the Bulls scored 20 points. These turnovers, as Snyder often references along with getting stops, impact the Hawks’ ability to establish their identity: it’s key for Atlanta to get out on the run in transition/off of a miss and when the Hawks are committing turnovers this impacts the Hawks significantly.
“It’s hard to stop the ball when you turn the ball over,” said CJ McCollum postgame.
Chicago turnovers were also how the Hawks remained in this game, scoring 34 points off of the Bulls’ 24 turnovers — without these, the Hawks would not have been able to close the margin as they did, with Johnson and McCollum credited for 10 points apiece off of Chicago turnovers.
In addition, when the Hawks are off form from three, they are at least able to rack up points in the paint — many of which came off of turnovers — scoring 66 points in the paint, with Johnson accounting for 20 of these. Johnson finished with 27 points on 11-of-26 shooting from the field to go with his triple-double.
The Hawks were chasing the game for much of the affair, but Snyder didn’t believe that this pursuit tired the Hawks physically.
“I didn’t feel like we were tired,” said Snyder. “Powell hit some tough shots in the overtime which I thought we defended pretty well. We made a couple of adjustments that our guys executed that I thought were really good. You put yourself in a position where you’ve got to make a lot of plays. We made enough to go to get where we were, but the game goes back and forth, and it went back one too many times.”
There’s no doubt the Hawks left themselves with a lot of work to do, both in the first half and in the fourth quarter when they trailed by double-digits. But they had their chances in regulation, and it slipped through their fingers (well, quite literally in Wiggins’ case). In overtime, the quality of Powell (33 points on 12-of-29 shooting) shone through as he seized the game, with enough support from the rest to see the Bulls through.
It’s a poor loss for the Hawks, who would have won this game had they hit any number of their 26 missed threes in regulation. They were also off since Monday, while the Bulls were in action on Wednesday, so their flat start to the game looks worse with context. In the context of the NBA Cup, the Hawks still have a positive point differential and are still in play to advance but cannot afford another loss such as this.
The Hawks (7-6) are back in action on Sunday when they will encounter another team on the road desperate for victory: the 1-12 Milwaukee Bucks.
Former Minnesota Wild forward Kevin Fiala is finally back in the NHL after a frightening injury kept him sidelined for nine months.
The Los Angeles Kings announced Thursday that Fiala had been activated from injured reserve and made his season debut against the New York Islanders. He notched an assist in the 5-2 loss.
Fiala had not played since suffering a serious injury while representing Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February. The injury brought his Olympic tournament to an abrupt end and forced him to miss an extended period of action.
Now, nine months later, the former Wild standout is finally returning to the ice.
Fiala spent parts of four seasons with Minnesota after being acquired from the Nashville Predators in February 2019 in exchange for Mikael Granlund.
His best season came in 2021-22, when he recorded a career-high 33 goals and 85 points in 82 games. Fiala finished second on the Wild in scoring that season, trailing only Kirill Kaprizov.
That summer, Minnesota traded Fiala to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and defenseman Brock Faber.
The trade ultimately helped shape Minnesota's future, with Faber developing into one of the Wild's most important defensemen.
For Fiala, the move to Los Angeles provided an opportunity to continue his career as a top offensive contributor.
However, his career was put on hold following the frightening injury during the Olympics.
His return marks a significant milestone after a lengthy recovery process that kept him out of NHL action for approximately nine months.
While it remains to be seen how quickly Fiala can regain his offensive form, his return is welcome news for the Kings and hockey fans who watched him develop into a star during his time in Minnesota.
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 13: Quenton Jackson #29 of the Indiana Pacers confronts Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 13, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fake comeback attempt by New York on Friday.
Fake concerning development across the nation’s airspace, too.
Here’s a bunch of the latest, including some interesting Josh Hart revelations.
Mike Brown on 106-104 loss to Pacers: "They physically dominated us…Zubac impacted the game at an extremely high level…9 offensive rebounds…Just like vs Cleveland, we lost the possession game––free throws + offensive rebounds + turnovers––by 21 points…We were fouling, I don't… pic.twitter.com/WXjo6PuatI
On the decision to draw up the final shot for Karl-Anthony Towns instead of Jalen Brunson:
“We needed a 2-pointer. We had executed something like that in practice. We thought we would gain an advantage with a little rip screen. KAT got a great look. Probably a shot that he makes nine out of 10 times. So I’m okay with it.”
On what really led to the Knicks’ loss to Indiana:
“That play was something we liked, and we went to it. But I’ll say this: That play did not cost us the game. We were lucky a little bit, and our guys did fight to give us a chance down the stretch. But I don’t care who you play, it’s going to be hard to win a game on the road when you lose the possession game like we did, if we get blown by on defense as bad as we did, if you let your opponent win the physicality battle like we did. It’s all a recipe for a loss. And that’s where I’m disappointed.”
On the Knicks’ fouling issues:
“I don’t know if we fouled that much, but we were fouling. They just could keep putting their head down and driving into us, and we weren’t ready to play. We didn’t do our work early and get in the stance, being ready to guard these guys off the dribble drive, and they just walked to the free-throw line time after time after time.”
On his reaction to the no-call on OG Anunoby’s drive to the basket:
“I did get a T, but the reality of it is they were playing harder than us. It was out of frustration. Some of it because we just had a game that we played, and you have a guy like Jalen [Brunson] who’s an All-Star and an MVP candidate; he goes 0-0 from the free-throw line. And at the end of the first half [here], I think it was maybe 20 to three or something like that, and that in itself is frustrating.
“To know that we’re getting beat that bad from the free-throw line, and they’re missing some calls. Now, are we fouling? Yes, and we got to do a better job doing our work earlier. But in the same breath, the discrepancy shouldn’t be that bad two games in a row. Hopefully not three games in a row coming up.
“And that’s what I’m taking a look at. That there are some fouls that they’re calling with our body because guys are just putting their head down and running into you and snapping their head back, but we’re not getting those same calls, and that is the frustrating part.”
On the Knicks’ inconsistent offensive rhythm and the need to improve:
“No, not yet. Not yet. At times, yes, but we’re not always in a good flow right now, which is fine, because there are other ways to win a basketball game while we’re trying to work on that.”
On missing the potential game-tying shot against Indiana:
“I thought it was a great shot. I was excited for the opportunity. I got to make a quick decision. It’s either OG is open on the rip screen and he has an open layup or I get to take the shot. I just was ready for the opportunity. … I’m happy with the follow through. I was happy with the technique. It just wasn’t my day.”
Mikal Bridges
On taking full responsibility for his struggles and needing to improve:
“I just look in the mirror, I just got to be better. Nobody else to blame but me and I just got to go out there and, whatever it is, just be better and go harder.
“When times are tough, you just gotta own up to it and just be better.
“I try to be my best throughout the whole year. Obviously, struggles come, which obviously nobody wants, but like I said, in these moments, gotta look in the mirror and you’re tested the most and just see what you’re made of. So, just gotta be better.
“I got to do everything better.”
Josh Hart revealed he hurt his calf in September and he was out for three weeks, which then led to limitations during training camp.
On the Knicks’ crowded wing rotation and the possibility of roster changes:
“There are several different ways you can look at it. You can look at it, if [Shamet and McBride] have it going, cool. Good. You could look at it like, ‘Okay, maybe something else has to change [like a trade].’
“But there’s going to good days with that, bad days. But whatever allows the Knicks the best opportunity and chance to win, that’s the most important.”
On the Knicks’ slow pace limiting the effectiveness of Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby:
“There’s less chances at the rim. I think it also affects Mikal and OG. … [Coach Mike Brown] says Mikal is the best runner in the league. So if you have the best runner in the league and you’re not running, you’re wasting one of his talents. If we play faster, we’ll be able to do that. Sometimes OG has smaller guards defending him, so if we run he can be able to seal at the rim, be able to get easy points at the rim, which also can help our rim finishing.”
On speeding up the Knicks’ offense even if Jalen Brunson doesn’t bring the ball up the court:
“We gotta get the ball out and sometimes that might have to be [Brunson] just running and not going to the ball after a make or a defensive rebound. Just trying to get a better and quicker flow so it’s not so stagnant in the halfcourt.”
On revealing a pre-training camp injury:
“I tweaked my calf.”
On how his calf and ankle injuries disrupted his conditioning and preparation for the season:
“This year was a little different. Obviously, a shorter break in terms of the summer [because of the long playoff run] but also I wasn’t physically able to really push my body towards the end of the summer to be prepared for the season. I had [the calf] injury in September, which kept me out for about three weeks, so I wasn’t able to get in some of that conditioning and some of those legs under me, which is normally the time to do it.
“And then, the ankle injury in training camp. So, the ramp up was a little bit slower than I kinda wanted it to be or kinda liked it to be, so I think that’s the biggest thing is just getting my legs under me.”
On his shooting struggles and the impact of missing several weeks of basketball activity:
“The shots I’m shooting, I like them. I think that was kinda evident with Cleveland. One of the things: All three of my 3s was just hella short. It was just, those legs, get those legs under me.
“Also, on top of that, missing a week in the season, it’s cumulative of six, seven weeks of just not much activity basketball-wise. So, I think that’s just what it is. So, as the season progresses and I’m out there running more, doing all those kinds of things, the performance will follow.”
On his mental struggles following the loss to Indiana:
“Just have to be better. Have to be better mentally. I just gotta get my mental right.”
On not knowing how to improve his mental state and on-court performance:
“Wish I could tell you. Don’t know. … I gotta figure out how to improve that and improve my play.”
Asked Jalen Brunson what was going on with him and Quenton Jackson.
Friday's Emirates NBA Cup group stage action showcased nine games, with several teams delivering standout performances while others endured close defeats or suffered blowout losses.
The San Antonio Spurs continued their commanding run in the NBA Cup, remaining unbeaten after a dominant 123-85 victory over the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors were without their star, Stephen Curry, who is sidelined for at least two weeks due to a right oblique tear. Stephon Castle stepped up for the Spurs, leading all scorers with a season-high 32 points, while Victor Wembanyama contributed a double-double performance with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite a 40-point performance from two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder could not pull it off in the final moments. Gilgeous-Alexander narrowly missed a 21-foot jumper that could have secured the win against the LA Clippers. Instead, the Clippers captured their first NBA Cup group play victory, surviving a 113-112 thriller and handing the Thunder their third consecutive loss.
The Indiana Pacers secured their first NBA Cup win in dramatic fashion, edging out the defending champions, the New York Knicks, in a 106-104 contest. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points, while Aaron Nesmith added 18 points to seal their victory and improve their record to 1-1 in group play.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 13: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets reacts after a win against the Utah Jazz during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup at Toyota Center on November 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sorry for the late recap, y’all. Our writer was stuck in airport mess, and I didn’t find out until this morning. Anyway, the Houston Rockets won their thrid game in a row on Friday night after a monster game from Alperen Sengun, defeating the Jazz 125-118. Alpie went for 43 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists on 17-for-24 shooting, becoming just the third player in Rockets history alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming to put up that stat line on 70 percent-plus shooting.
SENGUN JOINED HAKEEM AND YAO IN HOUSTON'S WEST GROUP A WIN!
43 PTS 12 REB 5 AST 17-24 FGM
3rd player in franchise history (joining Hakeem in 1994 and Yao in 2004) to record 40+ PTS, 10+ REB, and 5+ AST on 70%+ FG% since 1956-57, the first season FG% was recorded 🤯 pic.twitter.com/AmAqqkSpwP
The Rockets also got 22 points and 6 assists from Kevin Durant, who showed off some passing chops in this one despite shooting just 5-for-14. They got 17 points, 3 assists and zero turnovers from Fed VanVleet, 12 points and 10 boards for Amen Thompson, as well as 14 points and 11 boards from Tari Eason off of the bench.
This game was closer than it needed to be at home against the 1-11 Jazz, as the Jazz held close into the final minutes until VanVleet closed to door with some timely scoring to thankfully not waste Sengun’s nuclear night.
Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard combined to go 2-for-16 from the field and 1-for-11 from three, so the Rockets had to get role player help elsewhere — Bogdan Bogdanovich went 3-for-4 from deep for 11 points — and the defense wasn’t nearly as tight as it should have been against a bottom-feeder. The Rockets did allow the Jazz to shoot 46 percent, but they ultimately pulled off the win to move to 10-3 on the season.
The Jazz were led by Darryn Peterson with 28 points, Keyonte George with 27 and Ace Bailey with 21.
The Rockets are off tonight, but they will return to action on Sunday, where they will kick off a back-to-back set with a matchup against the Washington Wizards, rolling into another road game against the Miami Heat on Monday.
The Pittsburgh Penguins (7-10-2, 16 points) will look to build on their winning 2-1 California road trip Saturday when they take on the Ottawa Senators (12-6-2, 26 points) at home.
On Wednesday, the Penguins capped off the three-game swing with a 3-2 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks. A 34-save effort by rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov led the way, and it was his second win of the road trip as well as the second-most saves he made in a game this season, the most being when he stole the Penguins a point against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 9 with 45 saves on 47 attempts.
Even though a lot of the on-ice play was still a mixed bag for Pittsburgh - and their goaltender was outstanding enough to steal them a game yet again on Wednesday - they are some things to build off of. Their lineup seems to be gaining momentum, they are now near the top of the league in defensive zone giveaways with the third-fewest at 107, and they are actually beginning to see some synergy in their lineup.
The advanced stats back up the Penguins playing better five-on-five hockey as of late, too. They are fourth in the league in expected goals for per 60 with 2.88, their PDO is seventh-lowest in the league this season at 97.79 to indicate some poor luck, and their Corsi (shot attempts share) is eighth in the league at 52.67 percent amongst a bunch of playoff-positioned teams.
It remains to be seen if head coach Dan Muse keeps the same lineups together, but they did swap a few things around at Friday's team practice. After one game in the top-six, Nick Robertson was slid back down to the third line in place of Ville Koivunen in the lineup, while Hendrix Lapierre slotted back in at third-line center and youngster Rutger McGroarty remained in, taking line rushes on the fourth line with Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar.
Muse did not commit to a goaltender for Saturday's game in Friday's media availability, but he did like what he saw from Murashov on the road trip. And injured defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk did skate with the team Friday, but he was on the fourth pairing with Ilya Solovyov, perhaps an indication that he will not be in the lineup Saturday.
The team's first game back home will also be its 'Hall of Fame Game', when they will welcome back Marc-Andre Fleury, Larry Murphy, Jim Rutherford, and Jack McGregor and elect them to the Penguins' Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony. The first two will be inducted as players, while Rutherford will be inducted in the Builder category and McGregor in the Contributor category.
As for the Ottawa Senators, they are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and 5-4-1 on the road this season. They have fallen a bit in the standings to the first wild card position, but they are still a younger team with some weapons.
The Penguins have struggled against the Senators in recent years, going 2-5-3 with a minus-16 goal differential in their last 10 games head-to-head.
Chinakhov's stat line might not look like much, as he has just three goals and five points in 15 games played for the Penguins. But the stat line is no indication of the way he's played. He's struck iron on several occasions, and his 4.9 shot attempts per game is the third-highest mark on the team behind only Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell. He has developed some chemistry on the second line with Ben Kindel, and both have been playing better. It feels like when one goes in for Chinakhov, a bunch will follow.
Rutger McGroarty
McGroarty, 22, looks to be earning his second consecutive game after being called up during the Western trip and putting forth a nice effort in the 3-2 win over the Sharks. He may not be lighting up the scoresheet, as he has no points in three NHL games this season, but he is contributing on the defensive side of the puck and creating enough havoc in chance creation that he's still doing things to help the team win. The Penguins want to get younger, and McGroarty figures to be part of that mix — but he needs to keep forcing the Penguins' hand as far as keeping him in the lineup over others.
Pittsburgh Penguins (7-10-2, 16 points):
Points:
Erik Karlsson: 3-16-19 in 19 GP Evgeni Malkin: 6-11-17 in 17 GP Tommy Novak: 7-7-14 in 19 GP Sidney Crosby: 6-7-13 in 19 GP Rickard Rakell: 6-5-11 in 19 GP
Goaltenders:
Arturs Silovs: 5-6-1, .873 save percentage Sergei Murashov: 2-4-1, .891 save percentage
Mar 26, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark (35) makes a save on a shot from Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Egor Chinakhov (59) in a shootout at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
Ottawa Senators (12-6-2, 26 points):
Points:
Tim Stutzle: 10-14-24 in 20 GP Drake Batherson: 10-9-19 in 20 GP Shane Pinto: 9-8-17 in 20 GP Michael Amadio: 6-5-11 in 20 GP Dylan Cozens: 4-7-11 in 20 GP
Goaltenders:
Samuel Ersson: 3-3-2, .885 save percentage Linus Ullmark: 8-1-0, .938 save percentage
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 p.m. ET Venue: PPG Paints Arena Television: Sportsnet Pittsburgh Radio: 105.9 The X
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for the final game of a three-game homestand and will face the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at 7:00 PM.
Philadelphia Flyers- 5-10-6 - 16 Points - OT Loss 1 - 7th in the Metro
Columbus Blue Jackets - 7-10-0 - 8 Points - Lost 3 - 8th in the Metro
Series History vs. TheFlyers
The Blue Jackets are 33-19-3-4 overall, and 18-6-2-2 at home vs. Philadelphia.
Columbus beat the Flyers in Philadelphia in October.
Columbus has won six-straight games against Philadelphia overall and has earned points in nine of the last 10 in the series since Jan. 4, 2024 (8-1-1).
The CBJ have won consecutive home games and five of the past seven at Nationwide Arena dating back to Nov. 10, 2022.
The road team has earned points in 15 of the last 20 in the series since Feb. 20, 2020 (11-5-4).
The clubs have combined for eight or more goals in three of the last four played in Ohio and seven-plus in six of the last nine at Nationwide Arena.
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Kent Johnson has 5-5-10 in 12 career GP, including notching 2-1-3 and the OT GWG on Oct. 27.
Zach Werenski has 9-16-25 in 29 career GP, with five multi-point efforts in his last six games overall (3-7-10) as well as points in four-straight home contests (5-3-8) and five of the past six at NWA (6-4-10).
Matthew Knies has 3-5-8 in 10 career GP and has points in his past in each of his past three home contests against the team (1-3-4).
Sean Monahan has 14-7-21 in 26 career GP, with 4-4-8 in his last 12 overall, including points in four straight home contests (3-2-5).
Damon Severson has 10-15-25 in 49 career GP, including points in three of his past four games at Nationwide Arena (2-2-4).
Adam Fantilli has posted 2-7-9 in 11 career GP vs. the Flyers with points in six-straight meetings (2-5-7) after posting 1-1-2 in the Oct. 27 matchup.
Jet Greaves has gone 4-0-0 with a .956 SV% and 1.23 GAA in 4 appearances against the Flyers.
Charlie Coyle has posted 11-11-22 in 37 career games against the Flyers and has posted points in three of his last four home outings (3-2-5).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 18.6% - 26th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 73.9% - 24th in the NHL
Goals For - 40 - 32nd in the NHL
Goals Against - 54 - 8th in the NHL
FlyersStats
Power Play - 18.8% - 25th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 79.4% - 12th in the NHL
Goals For - 47 - 28th in the NHL
Goals Against - 68 - 25th in the NHL
Who To Watch For TheFlyers
Matvei Michkov leads the Flyers with 10 goals and 15 points.
Trevor Zegras leads Philly with 10 assists.
Goalie Dan Vladař is 3-4-4 with a SV% of .879. His last start was on 11-11.
Joseph Woll is 2-6-2 with a SV% of .902. His last start was on 11-09.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 17 Games Missed - Lightly skating. Could return soon.
Conor Garland - Upper Body Injury - 2 Games Missed - No timeline for a return.
Sean Monahan - Lower Body Injury - Day to day
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 43
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
TV: CBJHN - Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo. DirecTV Ch. 660 (streaming), 660-1 (satellite). U-Verse (1735/735)
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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 8: Jake Bauers #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers at bat against the Boston Red Sox during the game at Fenway Park on April 8, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I have the sense that this will be a wildly (or perhaps mildly?) unpopular take, but I like the Jake Bauers deal.
I was surprised to hear it happened but that may have had more to do with seeing any extensive activity right now, given the unknowns of the impending lockout. It may also have been disbelief at seeing the Red Sox make a quick move; we all know how they like to watch and wait during the offseason.
Let’s look at the objections to the signing and take them on, one by one.
Objections
Bauers only had one good year
Until recently, he had a pretty unimpressive stat sheet: playing for five teams in eight years, never hitting higher than .235 in any season, or hitting more than 12 home runs, or batting in more than 48 runs prior to 2026. His strikeout rate, always elevated, nearly reached 35% in 2023 and 2024. In fact, he planned to retire, only coming back to the sport due to the need for health insurance.
He started turning things around with a strong September in 2025. His career year, the outlier, was 2026, when his slash line was .266/.389/.484 with 26 home runs and he was named the MVP of the NLCS. He was a big contributor to the Brewers winning the World Series.
So was 2026 a fluke? Time will tell but we can say, despite his struggles, that he has some solid underlying metrics.
He’s always been disciplined at the plate, with a career walk rate of 12.64%
He wasn’t just lucky in 2026—his Expected Weighted On-Base Average (xwOBA) of .371 is in the 93rd percentile and backs up his production (.389 OBP / .873 OPS)
Since 2023, he’s had an excellent barrel rate, that beautiful combination of exit velocity and launch angle
The Sox already have a first baseman
They have a first baseman, Willson Contreras, who could use a backup. The Sox have essentially had a fragile ecosystem at first base for several years now. Don’t get me started on poor Triston Casas.
The Sox already have a DH
The hell they do.
Bauers is a poor fielder
Well, he was acquired to be the designated hitter, so his fielding doesn’t bother me too much. He’ll serve as a backup to Contreras at first.
He does play multiple positions (not necessarily well) but that works with the overall philosophy of having players who can slot in and give guys time off, or be available in case of injury.
What about Triston Casas?
God bless him. I love the guy, I’ve written about him many times, and he’ll probably always be The One Who Got Away for me. I wish it had turned out differently. I loved him as a player and an individual but we can’t count on him at this point because of his health. Breslow said he’s “optimistic” Casas will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic but there’s no date for that since he’s still not healthy enough. Breslow did the right thing by not taking him into account as an option for first base, at least for now. We’ll see what happens with him (and I wish him all the best).
Bauer’s age, or the contract’s age…something won’t age well
Can we give up on this argument, please? The very financial structure of the sport is predicated on a time-based model; young players are typically cheaper players, and as players bank more time in their career, the more they can expect to earn (up to a certain point in time). Once players arrive at the point in their career when they can truly cash in on this system with a lucrative multiyear contract, they are typically “in their prime.” That implies they are at or near their peak. Logically, no peak lasts indefinitely. In evaluating the performance of professional athletes, when does “decline” start and how steep will it be? The ageing process is full of unknowns, as is much of life. Multiyear contracts given out to mid-career players are part of doing business in baseball. Trying to sit that one out would mean passing on all the free agents and that’s not a world I want to live in.
This brings me to the main objection.
It’s a risk
Dan said it; others including Ryan Phillips of Sports Illustrated have said it. I don’t mean to sound flip, but what isn’t a risk? Until we’ve played the games and toted up the stats at the completion of a season, everything is an unknown; nothing is guaranteed. Risk, schmisk.
I would argue that the opposite of taking a risk is doing nothing. Haven’t we had enough of that? I have.
This is the first significant signing of 2026 free agency. It’s also notable that the Red Sox were involved in the very first trade of the 2026 offseason, when they sent Nate Eaton to the Athletics, the day after the World Series (the first eligible day). For several years now, fans have begged the front office to do something.
This is what doing something looks like.
It’s also not a pivot move, à lasigning Ranger Suárez in the wake of the Alex Bregman fiasco late in the 2025 offseason. This time, Breslow moved decisively and early. The Red Sox weren’t beat out by a more competitive bid and won’t be Interest Kings this year. We can confidently say that this is the move Craig Breslow wanted to make.
As with any move, whether in baseball or in life, it may turn out to have been the wrong one. We won’t know that for a long time.
But there’s something to be said for making the first move. I suspect it’s the first hand of several Breslow will play. It may even be the forcing move for finally addressing the no-longer-tenable situation in the outfield, since Bauers can play the corner positions in a pinch. It may also mean moving on from Masataka Yoshida. Breslow probably should have ironed out these sticking points in the roster already but I believe he’s going to do it now. One piece at a time is a good way to begin. Alex Speier has already reported that Duran is being shopped hard and presumably Breslow has lots of other balls currently in the air, a few of which will come to fruition.
As I said when Breslow traded for Adley Rutschman at the trade deadline, the Red Sox are making significant moves and I’m on board. I find it a breath of fresh air. Let’s go.
Mar 8, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies assistant hitting coach Pedro Guerrero (58) prior to the game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers this week also hired Pedro Guerrero as a hitting coach, replacing the departing Aaron Bates on the major league staff. Guerrero has coached the last nine years in the majors, and before that was a minor league player and coach in the Dodgers system.
“(He can) meet guys where they are,” McCullough said. “He is a good listener. That’s where he really does his best work. Some of those conversations, either in the cage during the day, with just trying to have a guy be in the best spot mentally that he can be for that given day. Then in the game, not letting some of the anxiety or some of the stress (pile up) for a player, he helps alleviate a lot of that.”
What has become an annual treat is Davy Andrews at FanGraphs perusing various baseball news items to chronicle various instances of teams saying essentially “we tried” as a way to placate an unfulfilled acquisition. This offseason’s first such instance appeared to come this week.
Amid all the Matvei Michkov drama, and controversies surrounding other well-known stars around the NHL, one former Flyers defenseman with over 1,000 games of experience in the league has planted his flag with an authoritative, disapproving stance.
Since the 2026 Winter Olympics, an increase of players have requested trades away from their teams. Notably, former Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was shipped off to Florida, and Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck ended up in New Jersey after holding out into the 2026-27 regular season.
Some, like Dylan Larkin, are still waiting for their turn. As for Michkov, he's in the last year of his entry-level contract, and despite the turmoil internally and externally, the Flyers have refuted reports that their young star wants to play elsewhere.
Former Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson, who played with Michkov in his rookie season in 2024-25 and with Flyers GM Danny Briere in Briere's last season in the NHL in 2014-15, has called out all Larkin and all the NHL players looking to leave their teams in the middle of their contracts during a pre-game segment for ESPN.
Johnson, 38, went through this kind of situation nine years ago in the prime of his playing career, when top forward Matt Duchene asked out of Colorado.
"The core guys of the team, Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, we went to [Avalanche GM] Joe Sakic, we said, 'Get him out of here. We want to be a part of the Avs, we want to be a part of the solution.' We ended up being rewarded for that [with a Stanley Cup], Johnson noted.
The Avalanche obliged, and Duchene ended up in Ottawa as part of a three-team trade, and Colorado ended up with a 2018 first-round pick that later became Bowen Byram.
"Now, Dylan Larkin, I can't stand these guys halfway through their contracts that they signed in good faith with their team now bailing ship and wanting to go for greener pastures," said Johnson. "As a former player, I don't like these guys abandoning their teams mid-season, mid-contract."
The other wrinkle of Johnson's comments is that many players, like Larkin and Hellebuyck, have no-trade and no-movement clauses that allow them to dictate where they will accept a trade to.
For the Flyers, if it comes down to it, that won't be the case with Michkov, though his status as a pending free agent will undoubtedly play a factor for inquiring teams.
Reports have indicated that the Flyers are not the most happy with the play of their veteran players; players like Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier, Travis Sanheim, and Christian Dvorak all have full trade protection, while Owen Tippett has a 10-team no-trade list.
As things develop in Philadelphia, this could make for a potentially interesting situation a few weeks and months down the road. And the feelings of experienced pundits, like Johnson, are clear as this trade drama becomes more and more commonplace around the NHL.
JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2025: Yairo Padilla #89 of the St. Louis Cardinals warms up during the seventh inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 14, 2025 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The 2026 Palm Beach Cardinals had five teenage prospects post a wRC+ above 100 while taking 100+ plate appearances: Miguel Hernandez, Sebastian Dos Santos, Yairo Padilla, Ryan Mitchell, and Alexander Frias. That seems pretty good! There were only 14 players total that met these criteria in the ten-team Florida State League.
In 2021, the FSL was loaded with prospects. There were 18 teenagers in the Low-A league to accrue at least 100 plate appearances. The wRC+ leaderboard for that season has some names you will recognize.
Jordan Walker, 19, 208 wRC+
Orelvis Martinez, 19, 149 wRC+
Colt Keith, 19, 143 wRC+
Masyn Winn, 19, 115 wRC+
Jasson Dominguez, 18, 105 wRC+
Elly De La Cruz, 19, 105 wRC+
Dariel Lopez, 19, 101 wRC+
Maikol Escotto, 19, 99 wRC+
Victor Mesa Jr., 19, 95 wRC+
Fast-forward to the present day, and the six bolded players have a Steamer-projected wRC+ of 95 or better heading into next year. All except Winn have a projection of 106 or better. From this quick snapshot, I can conclude that the Cardinals should get an MVP candidate and a couple of All-Stars out of their current group of teenage prospects!
2021 was also the first year that Statcast data was publicly available in the FSL. I thought it would be interesting to compare the underlying metrics of the 2021 class with the Cardinals’ young guns of today. I do want to emphasize that all the numbers we are looking at are super small sample sizes and groups of players. I am not trying to force conclusions by looking at this data, but I do think it is some interesting context to consider.
Before we get to the comparison with our current Cardinals prospects, let’s see if any metrics jump out as being especially important in predicting future success. I separated the 2021 class into two groups, the Hits (Walker, Keith, Winn, Dominguez, De La Cruz, Mesa Jr.) and the Busts (the 12 teenagers who have not made it yet). Here are the average metrics for each bucket.
Not surprisingly, the players who ended up being good were better at 18 and 19 than their counterparts. Masyn Winn was the only player from the “Hit” group to post an average exit velocity below 86.6 mph. In this small sample size, max EV was actually even more important with all six Hits posting max EVs of 109.8 mph or higher. Contact% and Zcontact% were fairly good indicators as well. Chase% was actually better for the Busts thanks to some wild early swinging from a trio of future Hits.
And here is how the Cardinals prospects stacked up.
A couple of disclaimers when looking at the data for the Cardinals prospects. Padilla, Frias, and Hernandez each had fewer than 130 plate appearances, so take their metrics with a spoonful of salt. The other obvious difference is that the 2021 class of Hits only had one 18-year-old while the Cardinals group included three.
Let’s run through each Cardinals prospect and see how they compare to the 2021 Hits, Busts, and one just-for-fun comp from the Hit group.
Ryan Mitchell, OF
Mitchell’s metrics aren’t great and fit in comfortably with the Bust cohort. One silver lining is that he was hitting with much more authority earlier in the year before trailing off in July and August (average EV from 87.2 to 81.9). It is reasonable to assume that the grind of his first pro season wore him out in the second half. Hopefully he comes to camp with some added strength. His contact and discipline metrics would look fine for a power hitter, but won’t be playable unless he adds some serious pop.
Yairo Padilla, SS
Padilla checked in with only 128 plate appearances, but you can see from his Statcast metrics why the Cardinals are so high on him. The concern with Padilla is that he struggles to hit the ball in the air. His FSL groundball rate was a terrifying 64%. For reference, Jordan Walker was at 55% in his FSL stint. Padilla will be a good test for the Cardinals player development group, but this will require him staying on the field. He has played in only 35, 38, and 27 games the last three seasons.
Alexander Frias, OF
Frias only had 110 plate appearances with the Cardinals. The comparison to De La Cruz would look better if we had Frias’ data from his time with the Brewers. He hit a ball 117 mph while in the complex league and carried a 77.7% contact rate at the Brewers’ Low-A affiliate. Frias will, presumably, start 2027 in Palm Beach and hopefully will start bringing more of his prodigious power into game action.
Miguel Hernandez, SS
Hernandez blitzed the FSL in his 102 plate appearances to the tune of 163 wRC+. His underlying metrics do not jump off the page, but Hernandez is the youngest player in our cohort (turned 18 on June 2). He was listed at 6’0″ and just 145 pounds when he signed, but Brian Walton at The Cardinal Nation now has him up to 165 pounds. Similar to Dos Santos, how he develops physically will go a long way to determining his ultimate ceiling. It is encouraging to see he has already hit a solid 108.8 mph max EV.
Sebastian Dos Santos, SS
Dos Santos had 255 plate appearances in Low-A, so he has a decent sample size. Not captured in this table is the fact that Dos Santos has an elite ability to drive the ball in the air to his pull side. The Cardinal Nation lists Dos Santos at 6’0″ and 173 pounds, up from his weight at signing of 140 pounds. Dos Santos is a switch hitter and had a bit more success, both from a production and underlying metrics perspective, from the left side.
The Dos Santos/Keith comp is about as close as I am going to get on any of these from a metrics perspective. If Dos Santos can turn into a better defensive version of Keith, that would be a heck of a player. Still, I am holding out hope that Dos Santos can get to another gear in his power as he fills out and matures.
What next?
So, what do we need to see next season? All six of the 2021 Hits advanced a level in 2022, and four of the six reached Double-A. Even Dominguez, the lone 18-year-old, repeated Low-A, cleaned up his plate approach, and finished the year in Double-A. The current cadre of Cardinals prospects is young, but to stay on pace with their 2021 forefathers, they will need to advance quickly. I will be watching to see if Mitchell comes to camp with added muscle, if Dos Santos and Hernandez can add a few ticks of EV thump, and if Padilla and Frias can improve their batted-ball quality.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 9: Kyle Karros #12 of the Colorado Rockies stands on the field with Cole Carrigg #16 in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on June 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Purple Row!
Here’s what’s going on with the Colorado Rockies and the rest of Major League Baseball.
2026 Rockies Defensive Play of the Year
There were some outstanding defensive plays made by the Colorado Rockies in 2026, but Purple Row readers have spoken. Cole Carrigg and Kyle Karros’ remarkable 8-5 double play against the Chicago Cubs on June 17 has been voted the Rockies’ Defensive Play of the Year.
The Rockies were trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning at Wrigley Field when Matt Shaw lifted a 345-foot fly ball into straightaway center field. Carrigg tracked it down, getting behind the baseball and positioning himself to make a throw to third base, where Ian Happ was attempting to advance.
Carrigg made the catch and unleashed a 99.8-mph throw toward third, generating so much momentum that he went tumbling into a barrel roll after releasing the baseball.
But the throw was only half the play.
The ball arrived on the infield side of third base, forcing Karros to reach out to make the catch before lunging back toward the bag. He managed to apply the tag to Happ just before the runner reached third, completing the double play.
It was an outstanding throw by Carrigg and an equally impressive piece of glove work by Karros. And considering the two are best friends, it’s fitting that they combined for one of the most memorable defensive moments of the season.
Carrigg’s arm strength was hardly a secret by the end of 2026. He averaged 96.9 mph on his qualifying outfield throws, ranking fourth among MLB outfielders and second among center fielders, behind only Oneil Cruz. His throw against the Cubs was among the hardest of the season to record an out.
The play didn’t ultimately change the outcome of the game. Colorado chipped away at Chicago’s lead but eventually fell 8-6.
Perhaps the best reaction came from the Cubs broadcast, where the announcer couldn’t help but admire what he’d just witnessed.
Thomas Harding spoke with Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta about the team’s positional depth and how it might factor into offseason moves. DePodesta believes Colorado has seven or eight MLB-ready outfielders and acknowledged that there simply isn’t room for everyone. He also confirmed that the team’s surplus has already come up in trade discussions. We’ve spent plenty of time talking about the possibility of moving position players to acquire pitching, and it sounds like the front office is exploring those options as well. The Rockies have some interesting young talent, but figuring out how to turn that depth into pitching could be one of DePodesta’s most important tasks this offseason.
Speaking of potential trades, the Shapiro and Piro podcast from Denver Sports discusses whether the Rockies should consider moving All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman. It’s an interesting question. Goodman is one of Colorado’s most productive players and could certainly be part of the team’s future. On the other hand, he’s also one of the few players on the roster who might bring back a substantial pitching return. Trading him would be a difficult decision, but it’s one the Rockies should at least be willing to consider.
Maddy Dickens of Sports Illustrated is optimistic about Colorado’s offense heading into 2027. With young players like Cole Carrigg and Charlie Condon entering the picture, Dickens believes the Rockies could reach 80 wins next season if they can add some average pitching. That’s quite a leap for a team coming off 104 losses, but hey, we could all use a little hopium this offseason.
MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword lays out the league’s argument for a salary cap, salary floor, and expanded revenue sharing ahead of the next round of collective bargaining. The video focuses on the growing payroll disparity between clubs and how MLB believes its proposed changes could improve competitive balance. Of course, the MLBPA sees things differently and has strongly opposed a salary cap. With the possibility of a work stoppage hanging over the next CBA negotiations, it’s worth hearing the league’s position directly, even if you don’t agree with its proposed solution.
Joel Reuter released his updated Top 100 prospect rankings, and four Rockies made the list. Ethan Holliday checks in at No. 35, followed by Charlie Condon (47), Roldy Brito (55), and Tyler Bell (91). It’s nice to see Colorado represented, but there’s a familiar theme here: all four are position players. The Rockies have assembled some intriguing young offensive talent, but developing pitching remains a significant organizational challenge.
Awards season continues with Zack Wheeler and Yordan Alvarez taking home the National League and American League Comeback Player of the Year awards. The Associated Press also provides a rundown of several other honors, including the Hank Aaron Awards for Alvarez and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Relievers of the Year Mason Miller and Bryan Baker, and Executive of the Year Erik Neander. There’s plenty to discuss as baseball continues handing out its 2026 hardware.
Jay Jaffe of FanGraphs takes a deep dive into Dusty Baker’s remarkable life and career as the longtime manager gets another opportunity at the Hall of Fame. Baker’s story goes well beyond the dugout. He fished with Satchel Paige, spent time with Jimi Hendrix, managed five franchises to the postseason, and eventually won a World Series. Jaffe examines the successes, controversies, and disappointments along the way while making the case for Baker’s induction. If you enjoy baseball history, this is a terrific read.
Oct 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers (9) hits a two RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Bauers was one of the best hitters available in what is an admittedly thin free agent class. He had an outstanding 2026 season, slashing .266/.389/.484 with 26 home runs as a 30-year-old. The campaign sticks out like a sore thumb in an MLB career. According to Baseball Reference, Bauers was worth 3.3 bWAR in 2026 alone, bringing his career bWAR up from the red to 2.0. The Red Sox will be betting that he is simply a late bloomer and can largely maintain that performance moving forward.
FanGraphs had projected Bauers, who did have a qualifying offer attached to him, would get a three-year deal worth $51 million ($17 million AAV). Instead, he gets four years at $58 million ($14.5 million) from Boston. Phillips had a projection of one year at $6.8 million. He was able to land a three-year deal worth $35 million ($11.67 AAV) in Atlanta.
The Bauers deal feels fair. He got less AAV but an additional year despite the QO. That’s pretty good. Phillips, a former Oriole that was born in Salisbury, has to be ecstatic about his new contract. He barely pitched between the end of 2024 and this past July due to injuries to his rotator cuff and then Tommy John surgery. But he was great towards the end of this past season and likely factors into high-leverage innings for Atlanta.
What does all of that mean? Honestly, who knows. Public projections often differ from how team’s are evaluating talent internally. But it certainly doesn’t seem like teams are too worried about the talk of a salary cap, at least not for 2027 anyway. MLB Trade Rumors explains that the Red Sox exceeded the 2026 CBT threshold and are on pace to do so again in 2027, if the system is in place. The signing of Phillips will push the Braves close to the line as well.
All that to say that if the Orioles were hoping Trevor Rogers might give them a discount on account of everyone being artificially strapped for cash, they had better think again. There is money to be spent, and it could come sooner than later, regardless of what’s happening behind the scenes.
Links
Mariners Notes: Infield Needs, Trade Candidates, Sloan | MLB Trade Rumors Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg are listed as potential trade candidates that fit what the Mariners are looking for. The O’s and M’s have long seemed like good partners due to the former’s glut of infielders and the latter’s wealth of pitchers. And yet, nothing has happened. Maybe that changes this winter.
This, that and the other | Roch Kubatko Roch touches on the Orioles closing situation. Ryan Helsley and Félix Bautista are both likely to factor in, but injuries are a concern. Yennier Cano has closing experience, though he has never really been a fit in the ninth inning. The team needs a real backup plan. How much they are willing to pay for it is unclear.
As a lockout looms, MLB teams say it’s ‘business as usual.’ Is it really? | The Baltimore Banner Obviously not. But what else are they gonna say? MLB will have their next season at some point, and the holes on a team’s roster are not going to fix themselves, so they have to make moves to address them. It won’t all happen overnight, and it’s quite likely that there will be a multi-week/month pause in the middle. But for now, they do what they can.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Freddy Galvis turns 37 today. He spent part of the 2021 seasona s the Orioles everyday shortstop before being dealt to the Phillies for a minor leaguer.
Curt Schilling is 60 years old. His storied 20-season MLB career began in Baltimore, where he spent parts of three seasons from 1988 through ‘90. The Orioles’ decision to then trade him, along with Steve Finley and Pete Harnisch, to the Astros in exchange for Glenn Davis is widely regarded as the worst trade in team history.
This day in O’s history
1973 – Jim Palmer is named AL Cy Young after winning 22 games and leading the league with a 2.40 ERA. The 28-year-old Palmer is a first-time winner and will go on to earn the award twice more in his Hall of Fame career.
2005 – The Orioles announce that neither Sammy Sosa nor Rafael Palmeiro will be returning to the team next season. Both players claim they wish to keep playing. Sosa will eventually sign back with the Rangers, but not until 2007. Palmeiro never gets another MLB deal.
2023 – Brandon Hyde is named Manager of the Year in the American League. Marlins’ boss Skip Schumaker earns the NL honor.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 29: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros pitches in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on September 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Thanksgiving approaches, Astros fans have plenty to be grateful for.
A year ago, Josh Hader was in the early stages of completing a throwing program with the intent of being ready for spring training. He’d ultimately return to action on June 3rd in a thrilling 11-9 win over the Pirates, overcoming a 5 run deficit. It would be the first save of Hader’s amazing comeback. Hader would appear in 45 contests and convert all 26 of his save opportunities. Opposing clubs managed to only hit .125 against him. We can be thankful that Hader has two more guaranteed years left on his deal.
Speaking of comebacks, Hayden Wesneski returned after enduring a 15-month rehab stint from Tommy John surgery. His recovery began throwing off a mound in the Florida Complex League before steadily progressing to Double-A. On July 29th, Wesneski was activated from the injured list and earned a win in his season debut verses the Angels. His signature sweeper pitch would notch 6 wins for an Astros staff in dire need of quality starts.
The head of the table for our tribute is none other than Jose Altuve. Sitting at 2,111 regular season contests, he’ll pass Jeff Bagwell next season for second place in all-time games played. As the face of the franchise, he’s worth every penny of his $30 million dollar contract. A pair of championships, along with seven silver slugger awards along with 9 All-Star appearances. His most recent milestone occurred on September 9th when he notched his 2,500th career hit verses the Phillies.
Last but not least, there’s Yordan Alvarez. After an injury shortened 2025 season, Alvarez would appear in a career high of 158 games. Everyone points to the massive offensive production but for me, the most remarkable stat was centered around his overall plate discipline, drawing 109 walks against only 120 strikeouts. Yordan is entering the prime of his career, set to turn just 30 years of age next June.
The Astros gave their fans plenty to be thankful for in 2026 and the table is already being set for more.
