San Diego Padres reliever Bradgley Rodriguez (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
When Jason Adam went down with a right shoulder strain, it left the Friar Faithful wondering what else could go wrong for the San Diego Padres. No team can afford to lose a key setup reliever and expect to play winning baseball.
Everyone began speculating about the team’s next move to replace a valuable member in the bullpen. The Padres did not turn to a veteran reliever; instead, they called up Bradgley Rodriguez. He provided early-season depth options for a team with issues in its starting rotation.
Rodriguez was an early-season success
Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove open the season on the Injured List. It was apparent the team’s rotation depth would be challenged in 2026. The back end of the bullpen would play a role in bridging the gap between a starting pitcher’s struggles to preserve a lead and the use of baseball’s premier relievers.
Rodriguez was ticketed for this bullpen role after having an outstanding spring training. Quickly, he showed his versatility, as Rodriguez was used as an opener on a bulk-pitching day. Also, he opened some eyes by throwing multiple innings to limit the damage after another poor start from the rotation.
However, the organization viewed Rodriguez as an option for an expanded bullpen role. They sent him back to Triple-A to become a complete pitcher.
Rediscovering his pitching repertoire
Rodriguez worked on finding a good mix among his changeup, heavy sinker, and four-seamer. It has allowed him to rediscover his entire pitching repertoire. He posted a 3.14 ERA across 14.1 innings pitched in 15 appearances before his promotion back to the majors.
He throws his changeup at 41.4%, his sinker at 26.8%, and the four-seamer at 23.2%. His repertoire keeps the hitters guessing, as Rodriguez throws his changeup in the low 90s. Often, they’re looking for a four-seamer coming in the high 90s. Instead, they hit on top of the ball for a groundout.
Rodriguez has done an excellent job of avoiding hard contact in his rookie season. He has given up only one home run in 39.0 innings pitched, as his hard-hit percentage (30.6%) is well below the league average (40.4%) this season. Opposing teams are hitting .202 against him.
Rodriguez has gained Stammen’s trust
Since his call-up, Padres manager Craig Stammen began using Rodriguez in the middle innings before bringing him in the seventh inning with multiple runners on base. He passed those high-leverage situations with flying colors. It won’t be long before Stammen uses Rodriguez in the setup role for closer Mason Miller.
The lone question remaining is whether his performance level is sustainable. Rodriguez is a rookie who has registered 39.0 innings pitched this season. His career minor league high mark is 46.2 innings pitched, so the Friars will need to monitor his usage in the second half.
However, no one will complain if he continues to have strong outings.
In an otherwise forgettable season, the emergence of Rodriguez as a quality setup reliever could be the highlight of the 2026 campaign.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 07: Tarik Skubal #29 and Dillon Dingler #13 of the Detroit Tigers walk on the field prior to the game between the Athletics and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Zack Belsky/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tarik Skubal is not going to sign a multi year contract extension with the Detroit Tigers from a purely financial standpoint. Even if he’d had interest the time for that was sometime in the past two offseasons, and frankly neither party expressed any real interest in doing so. As the reigning two time Cy Young winner, “the best pitcher in baseball”, and a free agent after the 2026 season. Skubal is in a position to command both the highest dollar value and the highest average annual salary that any pitcher, has ever received, probably $350 million or more as we demonstrate below.
To figure out how much it would take to sign Skubal to a multi year contract, just skip directly to the top of the list of pitchers’ salaries all time. Look at total dollars and average annual salary (AAV).
While there are no pitchers among the list of MLB’s ten highest total contracts, the most money given to a pitcher is the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamomoto, who signed a contract for $325 million to be paid over 12 seasons, 2024 through 2035. The Dodgers also paid a posting fee of more than $50 million to NPB, the Japanese professional baseball league.
Following is a short list of the ten highest total value contracts given to pitchers in MLB history:
PLAYER
TOTAL $$
TERM
TEAM
LENGTH
AAV
Yamomoto
325,000,000
2024- 2035
Dodgers
12 yrs
27.08M
Cole
324,000,000
2020- 2028
Yankees
9 yrs
36.0 M
Strasburg
245,000,000
2020- 2026
Nationals
7 yrs
35 M
Fried
218,000,000
2025- 2032
Yankees
8 yrs
27.25 M
Price
217,000,000
2016- 2022
Red Sox
7 yrs
31.0 M
Kershaw
215,000,000
2014- 2020
Dodgers
7 yrs
30.7 M
Scherzer
210,000,000
2015- 2021
Nationals
7 yrs
30.0 M
Burnes
210,000,000
2025- 2030
Arizona
6 yrs
35 M
Greinke
206,500,000
2016- 2021
Arizona
6 yrs
34.4 M
deGrom
185,000,000
2023- 2027
Rangers
5 yrs
37.0 M
Only two pitchers in MLB history have signed contracts with a total value more than $250 million. (We’re excluding Shohei Ohtani who is much, much more than a pitcher.
Only three pitchers have signed contracts with a total value more than $218 million. Only one of them in the past five seasons, and his salary is spread out over twelve seasons.
Still, Tarik Skubal is expected to command a total value contract that will push the highest numbers ever paid to a pitcher.
While Yamomoto holds the record for the highest total salary, his AAV ranks 51st all time among players in MLB and 15th among pitchers, because it’s averaged over 12 seasons. Whether he will actually pitch 12 seasons remains to be seen.
Following is a chart showing the ten highest average annual value contracts (AAV’s) paid to pitchers in MLB history.
PLAYER
AAV SALARY
TERM
TEAM
TOTAL
Ohtani
$46,081,476
2024-2033
Dodgers
460 M*
Scherzer
43,333,333
2022- 2024
Mets
130 M
Verlander
43,333,333
2023-2024
Mets
86.67 M
Wheeler
42,000,000
2024- 2027
Phillies
168 M
Framber Valdez
38.333,333
2026- 2028
Tigers
115 M
deGrom
37,000,000
2023- 2027
Rangers
185 M
Snell
36,400,000
2024- 2029
Dodgers
218.4 M
Cole
36,000,000
2020- 2028
Yankees
324 M
Strasburg
35,000,000
2020- 2026
Nationals
245 M
Burnes
35,000,000
2025- 2030
Arizona
210 M
Bauer
34,000,000
2021- 2023
Dodgers
102 M
Shohei Ohtani tops the list once again, but we’re going to discount his contract since he was signed primarily as a hitter who can also pitch. Yes, he’s a very good pitcher, too. Ohtani’s total value is adjusted here for deferred salary.
The highest average annual value paid to pitcher(s) was given to two former Tigers, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, who received $43,333, 333 salaries. Scherzer signed a three year deal and Verlander two years both with the Mets. The Philadelphia Phillies paid Zack Wheeler $42 million apiece for four seasons. Next on the list, at No 10 overall is Framber Valdez at $38.5 million, on a potential four year contract though the final two years are a player option in 2028 for Valdez, and a mutual option for 2029.
The only contracts that topped $40 million were for two to four seasons, excluding Ohtani. Skubal figures to change that as well.
There is only one contract among those 34M or more with a total value above 245 million, and that is the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole. The next highest is the Nationals’ Steven Strasburg at 35M for 7 years. Both of these deals were signed in 2020. Skubal promises to top both the highest AAV and the total dollar value for a free agent pitcher.
Skubal’s contract as a free agent, and therefore any contract he would sign before becoming a free agent, could threaten to break the AAV record, but only if it turned out to be a relatively short term contract. Think more like 8- 10 seasons at an annual salary above $43.33 million. Not that he is expected to pitch ten more healthy seasons, although he might, but teams like to spread out the term of contracts, assuming the long term risks while deferring salary. The Dodgers have made a policy of long-term deferred money, and with a new CBA coming, the brief window of free agency before an impending lockout might be their last big bite at the deferral apple. For some teams, that could also mean avoiding tax consequences through deferred money as well.
THE COST TO RESIGN SKUBAL
Start at 8 years x 43.333 + or about $350 million. Agent Scott Boras was reortedly dialed in on a $400 million contract, but that was before he needed surgery to remove bone chips earlier this season. $350 million is just the starting point if the Tigers were to make an offer.
REASONS TO STAY IN DETROIT
Skubal has little to gain by signing an extension with the Tigers unless the contract will pay him similar to what he would receive as a free agent one season later. There are a couple of perks in staying with Detroit, though.
In order to reach free agency, he must survive the season and remain healthy. A serious injury could derail his plans and significantly lower expectations for a free agent contract.
Commissioner Manfred and MLB owners are poised to shut down the game just as Skubal is set to hit free agency, in their never ending quest for a salary cap, which they know very well the players will never agree to. If it plays out like the last lockout, there will be a signing freeze for much of the winter and into the 2027 season.
In a related matter, Manfred has suggested that the owners could be looking for an individual salary cap that would affect only the very highest paid players. Presumably, there would have to be some offset at the lower end of the pay scale to get players to accept such a deal. MLB’s initial proposal to the players is that free agent contracts would be limited to five years for players changing teams and six years to remain with their current team. Any new rules may be phased in after a year or so.
Skubal is familiar with Detroit and the Tigers’ organization. Whether there is enough warmth to tilt the talks in favor of staying with the club is another question. Maybe even enough to break a tie? So far, all signs point to him testing the market.
On the flip side of the coin, the biggest contracts result from a bidding war between the games billionaire owners, each wanting to “win” the contract battle. Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, very rarely signs extensions that deprive his clients of the free agent experience. His modus operandi is to create leverage in competitive bidding between clubs, not being shy to let owners know – often directly through the media — that they’re being out bid by other owners. He has negotiated some of the richest contracts in sports history.
SERVICE TIME
The highest salary given to a pitcher with five plus seasons of service time was the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, who signed a seven year contract worth $215 million to stay in Los Angeles. After that, Luis Castillo signed a five year contract worth $108 million, an AAV of 21.6 M with Seattle.
Skubal himself has the record for the highest arbitration award at $32 million and that is also the highest AAV given to any pitcher prior to free agency.
There aren’t examples of pitchers signing extensions with just one season left before free agency, or at least not in the range of Skubal’s expectations. Again, no surprise here. He’s going to test free agency.
IF THE TIGERS KEEP SKUBAL
If the Tigers don’t trade Skubal and they are unable to sign him to an extension, they would surely make a qualifying offer in November, still under the terms of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, which projects to be about $22 million, and he would decline that offer and opt for free agency. Once he signs a contract with a total value of more than $50 million, the Tigers would receive a compensatory draft pick after the first round. So add up the value of Detroit having Skubal for the playoff run and the playoffs, plus the supplemental first round pick, for the Tigers to consider a trade.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
There is one critical factor that needs to be addressed, and everyone knows what it is. Pitchers get injured. The highest paid pitchers notoriously seem to wind up getting injured. So when a club signs a player for 8 years or 10 years, they pretty much know that they’re not going to get 8 to 10 healthy seasons of performance. And yet, pitching is what wins championships. Of course, it takes hitting as well, but the quest for front line starting pitching is a feature of every contender, in every off season, and again at every trade deadline.
Gerrit Cole has made 125 starts as a Yankee, but missed the entire 2025 season with Tommy John surgery and returned in May, 2026 after missing 569 days.
Steven Strasburg made just 8 starts for the Nationals since signing his $245 million contract
David Price averaged 24.5 starts for the Red Sox in the first four seasons of his seven year contract, but then just 11 starts in the final three seasons since he was traded to the Dodgers, mainly as a salary dump for LA to get Mookie Betts.
Corbin Burnes made just 11 starts in his first season of a $210M contract with Arizona
Jacob deGrom made just 9 starts total in his first two seasons of a four year contract with Texas. He made 30 starts in 2025 as he now enters the final year of the deal at age 38.
That’s five of the ten biggest contracts. Others on the list have been healthy and mostly productive, but the risk of injuries with pitchers looms large. A small to mid market club could be wiped out with such a large contract on the books and getting no value on the field.
The Tigers gave the 10th largest contract by average salary to Framber Valdez at 38.5 million per season, but that was for just three seasons. The salary is obviously not a deterrent, but the number of seasons at such a high salary is just too rich for them. That is something we could only speculate, but as they didn’t make any aggressive push for an extension, there’s no reason to expect anything but Skubal and Boras testing the free agent market and establishing a new bar for top pitching contracts. Depending on how the CBA negotations turn out, the new ruleset, with a proposed hard cap and floor involved, that bar may never be approached again, but it’s still hard to believe that the players’ union will ever agree to a hard salary cap.
Laker legend Derek Fisher believes LeBron James wasn’t as beloved by the franchise’s fans as he should’ve been.
“It’s hard to tell fans exactly what they should or shouldn’t do,” Fisher told the California Post. “I just think the celebration of his departure is a little bit much. I don’t know what the expectations were, short of winning multiple championships, which no NBA team has done since 2018 basically other than the Warriors.”
Lakers legend Derek Fisher revealed why he believes LeBron James wasn’t as beloved as other Lakers legends. NBAE via Getty Images
James joined the Lakers as a free agent in 2018 after winning two championships with the Heat (2012 and 2013) and one with the Cavaliers (2016). He helped dig the Lakers out of their lowest point in franchise history after they missed the playoffs six straight seasons, leading them to their first championship in a decade in 2020 in just his second season with the team.
When the 41-year-old James decided to leave the Lakers earlier this month after eight seasons, his longest consecutive stretch with any franchise over his 23-season career, Fisher was taken aback by the reaction from Lakers fans, which he deemed as “celebrating.”
“I don’t know what he was supposed to fulfill that he didn’t fulfill,” Fisher told The Post. “He took us to the playoffs [six] seasons, an NBA title, a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2023, the relevance, national television. The brand didn’t suffer. The Lakers are still world famous for great reasons. So, that part is a little confusing to me.”
Fisher believes James was never fully embraced like other Lakers legends such as Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
As for why there’s an apparent disconnect between James and Laker fans?
Fisher believes it’s because the superstar is being unfairly compared to franchise legends, such as Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, who each won five championships with the Lakers and spent their entire careers (20 seasons and 13 seasons, respectively) with the team.
James never belonged to the Lakers in the same way.
He didn’t grow up in the organization. He spent the first 15 seasons of his career in the Eastern Conference. He was already considered one of the greatest players of all-time when he joined the Lakers at age 33.
“He’s not supposed to be compared to Kobe,” Fisher told The Post. “He’s not supposed to be compared to Magic. Those are very different guys that started their careers here and ended their careers here. It’s apples to oranges as far as that part goes. I just think that considering where the organization was when he arrived, I just think we should be more appreciative.”
Fisher, who played with Bryant, believes that James wasn’t viewed in the same light as Bryant and Johnson because he wasn’t in Los Angeles to start his career. Getty Images
Things began shifting for James after the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade in February 2025. Doncic immediately became the Lakers’ top priority.
When asked whether Fisher believes the Lakers’ organization treated James with the respect he deserves, he shrugged.
“I’m not sure,” Fisher told The Post. “We don’t know whether he actually was actually frustrated by anything or, you know, [he thought] I’ve been here eight seasons, it’s been a great run. There’s now a new franchise player here the team wants to build around, so I’m going to go do something else. We don’t have to attach any other narratives or reasons to it.
“…I don’t necessarily think it was this negative falling out kind of thing. I just think sometimes your time is up and you can move on.”
Fisher played for the Lakers 13 seasons, winning five championships. Getty Images
James, who’s an unrestricted free agent, is still deciding where he’s going to play next season, but the frontrunners are Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia and Minnesota.
Fisher didn’t hesitate when asked where he hopes James chooses.
“Personally as a basketball fan, I want to see him and Steph [Curry] play basketball together for a whole season [on the Warriors],” Fisher told The Post. “I just want to see it. I don’t know if it’s even possible. But I just think they’d both enjoy what they’d create and do for each other. And then I think with Draymond [Green] and Al Horford, they’d just have a team for the guys that just drink wine and have fun.
“Whether they win 60 games, 40 games, who cares. I think it would just be a fun basketball team to watch.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 7: Blake Hinson #25 and Justin Harmon #44 of the Utah Jazz look on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League on July 7, 2026 at Jon M. Huntsman 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jazz, in fact, did not get to see Darryn Peterson and the Jazz come out with a dominant second game in Las Vegas. Quite the contrary; they were completely overwhelmed and throttled. Now the Jazz have officially been eliminated from Summer League Championship play. The roster, thus far, hasn’t shown many standouts that make their case for training camp deals.
But now they’ll have more eyes on them than ever. Utah continues to shuffle along the Las Vegas mess, finishing the end of a back-to-back against the 0-1 Chicago Bulls at the Thomas & Mack Center. It was after the conclusion of Sunday night’s game that it was announced Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey and Cody Williams have been ruled out of today’s matchup. I doubt we’ll see any of them against San Antonio on Wednesday, nor their consolidation game once the Summer League Playoffs begin.
It truly was a shame for the NBA, which continued to rack up the top of the draft’s prospects against Peterson. Caleb Wilson was next on the slate following gladiator battles with Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Keaton Wagler. Wilson himself had a historic debut in a 97-96 loss against the aforementioned Boozer and Memphis. He racked up 35 points and 5 stocks while shooting 12-21 from the field that included 7-11 from beyond the arc. This set an NBA Summer League debut scoring record and is the second-most points in a Vegas debut since the event began in 2004. We’ve all been riveted about Peterson over at Jazz Nation, but anyone in the top four has felt ‘Giddey’ about how their prospects have played thus far.
Kennedy Chandler, who the Jazz brought in on two separate 10-day deals last season, is also on the Bulls G League roster. He opened up with 11 points and 5 assists going into his debut. Noa Essengue may be the laughing stock after being the victim of a devastating tomahawk poster, but he’s quickly knocking off cobwebs after missing nearly the entirety of his rookie season. His defensive versatility posed a challenge against Cam Boozer in the paint.
No Darryn Peterson. No Ace Bailey. Wait, Cody was playing? Who on God’s green Earth will be on the floor for the shorthanded Jazz? The good thing is, we’ve already seen it. In Salt Lake City Summer League, at least, when that same Jazz team completely annihilated the equally shorthanded OKC Thunder 103-69.
Blake Hinson has already earned himself a two-way spot on the Jazz, but he’s likely to have the ball coming in his hands a whole lot more if he continues to play. Slimming down 25 to 29 pounds has completely revamped his conditioning and speed on the court. It’s become completely apparent that the Jazz found a hidden gem in Hinson, enough to keep him over Elijah Harkless this summer. He quietly finished yesterday with 16 points on 4-8 shooting, sinking 2-3 three-pointers from downtown. Expect him to get an extended number of touches tonight.
Tamar Bates was another under-the-radar signing for the Jazz this offseason. He originally signed a deal with the Denver Nuggets last season, but was cut that same season due to a fractured foot. So far for the Jazz, Bates has proved to be a highly energetic player. He operates as a catch-and-shoot player who has the potential to be a scrappy off-ball defender. You won’t see his performance show up on the stat sheet all that often, but make no mistake, Bates has an impact if you watch him play.
If anyone were to earn themselves any sort of preseason deal, Jonas Aidoo has put together the best resume. The 6’11 big’s skillset is anchored by elite rim protection, mobility, and efficient paint-scoring. It’s unsurprising, considering he’s a reigning G League Champion who started for the Greensboro Swarm. He’s followed that with an insane Summer League run that can persuade me into thinking he’s a solid third center for the main Jazz roster. Aidoo’s best performance this July by far has been his game against OKC, where he posted 16 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks. Now against Chicago, he’s likely got a massive Caleb Wilson assignment on his hands to prove he belongs in this league.
In philosophy, possibility is the study of what could be true, what is necessary, and what is impossible. For instance, it is entirely coherent to imagine Bez Mbeng outscoring Caleb Wilson without creating a logical contradiction. Does the fact that Bez Mbeng has never actually outscored Caleb Wilson in a game yet only exists as an abstract concept in an alternate possible world, or does his real-world triple-double in April prove that the condition of possibility was already fully active in our actual universe? The power of possibility is not found in what we fail to reach, but in the frameworks that allow us to aim for it in the first place.
Is it coherent for you, the viewer, to turn on your television screen and watch sicko Summer League Hoops? It is all in the realm of possibility, my friend.
Happy All-Star break to all who celebrate. May we all come away from this refreshed and ready for what awaits us in the next half, which kicks off Friday at home versus the Rangers.
This week is for rest and recovery, but also a secret third R: rehab.
The Braves (55-40) have announced that Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim will both begin rehab assignments with the FCL Braves. They play in North Port, Florida at noon today.
Acuña Jr. was placed on the 10-day IL with his second Grade 1 hamstring strain this season on June 10. This one was believed to be milder than the one that kept him on the shelf between May 3 and May 18. Even so, the Braves have understandably erred on the side of caution in not rushing him back.
Kim was placed on the 10-day IL on July 4 with right middle finger inflammation. We don’t need to belabor the season Kim is having, but here’s hoping something about this IL stint does him some good on the path to playing at a Major League level.
Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim today begin rehabilitation assignments with the FCL Braves.
One of the key points we discovered last time when looking at catcher offense is that each position stands on its own. The big league average for bases per out is .676, but that number is rarely ever the most relevant number. At first glance, it would appear that Christian Walker should be an American League all-star. He is at worst solid defensively and he has added 20 home runs (as of this writing) by the all-star break. However, we might be signing a different tune when we look at the American League numbers.
We are setting up the same rules as we did last time. Qualifying players need at least 120 outs and have had to play some first base. This will obviously include some designated hitters, but DH is not really so much of a position as a sanctioned strategy. So, when we profile Yordan Alvarez later on, he will be profiled as a left fielder. Given those caveats, there are 19 players that qualify for the analysis.
What we are looking for is an analysis of mean and median. It is one thing to say that the average big league hitter has a ,676 BPO. It is another to look at first basemen and see what their average is. Mean is of course what most people know as the numerical average. Median is the number in the middle. When we have smaller data sets we will commonly see some discrepancies between the mean and the median.
Bases per out is calculated by adding total bases, walks, stolen bases, and hit by pitches and dividing it by total outs. The general idea is that it is more inclusive and accurate than OPS. It encompasses everything a player does offensively. How is Christian Walker doing as compared to the typical American League first basemen?
Outs
TB
BB
SB
HBP
BPO
Nick Kurtz
251
166
76
7
2
1.000
Ben Rice
249
197
46
2
3
.996
Munetaka Murakama
162
114
44
1
2
.988
Willson Contreras
235
169
35
2
14
.936
Yandy Diaz
241
165
37
1
9
.880
Jonathan Aranda
253
156
51
0
7
.846
Pete Alonso
277
164
50
2
4
.794
Cody Clemens
232
145
21
6
5
.763
Paul Goldschmidt
178
114
17
1
3
.758
Christian Walker
279
164
32
0
7
.728
Spencer Torkelson
257
133
41
0
5
.696
Jake Burger
258
143
28
2
3
.682
Josh Bell
260
145
27
1
2
.673
Rhys Hoskins
183
78
42
0
3
.672
Nolan Schanuel
217
109
25
0
5
.641
Vlad Guerrero Jr.
261
115
40
6
4
.632
Josh Naylor
277
122
29
18
3
.621
Kyle Manzardo
213
95
32
0
4
.615
Vinnue Pasquantino
204
89
32
3
1
.613
Mean
236.1
135.9
41.1
2.7
4.5
.780
Median
241
139
35
1
3
.729
I certainly don’t have a degree in mathematics and I don’t teach it during the school year, but it isn’t difficult to see patterns. Generally speaking, the more success you have the more opportunities you get. So, the numbers on top are driving the mean up. This is the most important reason why the median makes more sense as a benchmark. If you look at who is literally in the middle it is Christian Walker.
Again, the components and the end results don’t quite add up because of the differences in opportunity. If you crunch those numbers in the median column you will not get .729. You will actually get .739. Either way, that number seems like a much more reasonable number when looking at the average of the position in the American League. We can also see clearly, that Walker really doesn’t have any business being near the All-Star game with the number of productive players we have here.
What is more interesting is pegging whether Walker is actually worth the 20 million dollars he is being paid. As per usual, that depends on how you phrase the question. In terms of pure value is actually probably pretty close. He was worth 0.3 BWAR last season, but has been worth 1.8 BWAR through the all-star break. That probably prorates to something around 3.0 BWAR. If each win is worth eight million dollars then he would need five WAR to equal that amount. He was worth 1.1 FWAR last year and has 1.6 FWAR this season. If we are to believe Fangraphs then he comes reasonably close overall and certainly earns his money this season. We can also look at his overall numbers as an Astro and compare that with BPO.
Outs
TB
BB
SB
HBP
BPO
Christian Walker 2025-2026
740
410
72
2
18
.678
So, again this is a question of perspective. According to these numbers, Walker has been a league average hitter overall in his time in Houston. However, the numbers above would indicate that he is not an average first basemen. The NL may not have the heavyweights that the AL has at first base, so he might end up looking better in the overall scheme of things, but clearly whether he has been worth the expense depends greatly on how you ask the question.
In the last article, we asked what Diaz would need to do differently to help advance the Astros offense. Walker clearly just needs to keep doing what he is doing. If he ends up with between 30 and 35 home runs and close to 100 RBI then that feels like a really good season for him. One of the biggest mistakes that teams and fans make is that they expect that big time dollars somehow make you something you are not. Walker’s 2026 numbers are in line with his career numbers. He has been the guy that he was before he came to Houston in 2026. No one should have expected him to be anything more than that.
The balance of power in the NBA flipped dramatically this offseason, after a flurry of big acquisitions turned the Eastern Conference into a hotbed of contenders.
With so many players changing homes, let’s rank the top 10 teams in the East based on likelihood to represent the conference in the 2027 NBA Finals...
10: Magic
A team that was largely quiet, the biggest thing going for Orlando is a bet on better health and their new head coach, Sean Sweeney. They have some of the best on-paper talent in the East that’s failed to unlock its full potential in recent years. Could this be the one?
9: Hawks
The Hawks are banking on the back half of last season not being a fluke, doubling down on smart guard additions in Devin Carter and Aaron Wiggins, plus drafting Kingston Flemings. They can easily sneak their way into a high seed while the rest of the East works through new teammates and injury concerns.
8: Pistons
All-Star center Jalen Duren still hasn’t re-signed, but even if he does, the Pistons needed a stronger summer to push themselves to new heights. With their spacing and secondary creation sticking out as major weaknesses in the playoffs, their one needle-mover was trading for Isaiah Joe, and otherwise swapping one middling power forward for another and trading away Caris LeVert.
7: Heat
Pat Riley made the biggest splash of the summer in trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, forming a dynamic duo with center Bam Adebayo. The talent speaks for itself, but the fit and supporting cast aren’t saying anything pretty.
Their current starting backcourt is Davion Mitchell and Tim Hardaway Jr., and they’ll be relying on a thin bench to help fill out the rotation. What’s more is their spacing will be a big question mark, especially in the postseason.
6: Cavaliers
The Cavs, like a few teams on this list, can vault a few spots if one particular pending free agent decides to sign here. In the meantime, they’re returning about the same roster from their Conference Finals run last year, hoping a James Harden training camp and the drafting of Meleek Thomas gives them an edge.
May 7, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) drives the ball against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) in the second quarter during game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. / David Butler II-Imagn Images
5: Celtics
As we saw last season, Boston has the depth and system to power through the regular season despite any on-paper talent they might be lacking. They can now double down on that system with a cleaner fit in Paul George, and a bolstered rotation thanks to the acquisitions of Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley.
4: 76ers
Adding a top talent and capable innings-eater like Jaylen Brown will do wonders for Philadelphia's regular season record and ultimate postseason ceiling, but plenty of questions remain. A Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid-centric offense now has a 1A guy thrown in the middle -- one who can’t drift into a supporting role for stretches as seamlessly as the previous player in his position.
The spacing and defense with Brown in the rotation is just the tip of the iceberg. Their depth is still questionable and while we’re assuming full health, we haven’t seen Embiid play 40 regular season games in three seasons, and his postseason impact is slowly degrading as well.
3: Pacers
Everybody seems to be sleeping on the 2025 Finals runner-up after an injury-riddled and Tyrese Haliburton-less 2026 season. Perhaps that’s because they were quiet this summer relative to the rest of the East, or because they’re replacing a spread five with paint-centric Ivica Zubac.
But if Haliburton is back and healthy, and they can avoid another avalanche of bad luck, Indiana will be in prime position to take advantage. Teams will be adjusting to new players and systems while the Pacers can pick up on the fast-paced chemistry they already built between their two All-Stars and strong supporting cast.
2: Raptors
Assuming the Kawhi Leonard trade goes through without a hitch, Toronto becomes the biggest threat to New York, pairing Scottie Barnes and his talented group with a legitimate alpha and postseason killer. The Raptors took the Cavs to seven games in last year’s first round without Immanuel Quickley, and are banking on improvements from Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamal Shead, plus whatever contributions they get from rookie Allen Graves.
Fans may point to Leonard’s availability, but if he’s healthy enough to get them to the postseason and suit up at that level, they could beat anybody in the East. Toronto's defense will be near flawless and adding an efficient 28 points per game scorer materially changes their offense.
The reigning champs still hold the crown, despite the improvements to their competition and the loss of Mitchell Robinson. They signed Andre Drummond in Robinson's place and re-signed the rest of their championship core, setting the stage for a repeat attempt.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Jase Bowen #4 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by Rodolfo Duran #48 after scoring a run during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park on July 12, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In their final turn at-bat in their final game of the ceremonial first half of the season, the San Diego Padres had their best inning of offensive execution, and the result was a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The win not only allowed the Padres to get their first series win of July it also sent them into the All-Star break with a .500 record at 48-48. Mason Miller, who locked down his 25th save of the season, is the lone All-Star for San Diego so the rest of the team will use the break to rest and reset for a potential playoff push in the second half of the year.
The Padres entered the bottom of the eighth inning trailing the Blue Jays, 4-3. Adrian Morejon allowed a run in the top of the inning during his second inning of work. Toronto turned to former closer Jeff Hoffman hoping to hold the lead and setup a potential save situation for their new closer, Louis Varland. Xander Bogaerts opened the inning with an infield single, which brought Manny Machado to the plate. Bogaerts stole second to move into scoring position, and Machado followed with a single into left-center field which tied the game at 4-4.
Gavin Sheets then grounded out to the shortstop, but Machado was able to advance to second on the play and was lifted for pinch-runner Jase Bowen. The rookie stole third base to put the winning run 90 feet away with Ty France at the plate with one out. France, who hit what proved to be the game-winning home run in the bottom of the sixth inning in the second game of the series, hit a deep fly ball into right-center field that carried all the way to the warning track. The ball was deep enough to allow Bowen to tag up and easily score from third base to put the Padres ahead, 5-4. Jake Cronenworth hit a two-out single, but the inning ended when Rodolfo Duran flied out to right field.
Miller came in for the save in the top of the ninth inning and made quick work of the three batters he faced. He got Ernie Clement to ground out to third base, Myles Straw to pop out to second base and put the punctuation mark on the inning and the game when he got Vladamir Guerrero Jr. to strikeout on three pitches with a nasty slider that finished in the left-hand batter’s box. Miller needed just eight pitches, seven of which were strikes, to ensure San Diego went into the break with some momentum for the second half of the season.
Machado’s game-tying hit in the bottom of the eighth inning was his third of the game. He finished the day 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Cronenworth was the only other Padres hitter to have a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI, which came in the second inning to score the first run of the game for San Diego.
German Marquez started the game for the Padres and lasted four innings. He allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. He was hurt by the long ball as all three runs for the Blue Jays scored on home runs. Marquez allowed a solo home run in the first inning to Nathan Lukes and a two-run home run in the fourth inning to Clement.
San Diego returns to action on Friday on the road against the Kansas City Royals.
The earthquake in Venezuela affected multiple players across MLB and many are finding ways to show their support for their home country. Padres reliever Bradgley Rodriguez is one of those players.
According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, Padres general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller wants to buy at the trade deadline, and the San Diego club will have to convince him to do so.
Baseball News:
Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays and Christopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies have been named as the starters for the All-Star game.
The Baltimore Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals that included the benches clearing following a hit-by-pitch that resulted in an injury for the Orioles.
LAS VEGAS — The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft looked exactly like that on Sunday.
AJ Dybantsa had 23 points on 6-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks in 24 minutes to help the Washington Wizards defeat the Kings and remain undefeated in NBA Summer League action.
Dybantsa had 27 points in his NBA Summer League debut Thursday.
The Kings haven’t had that type of consistent offensive production from their rookies — yet.
Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall pick, already has shown flashes of his superstar potential and the readiness and willingness to be the future face of the franchise in Sacramento.
But his efficiency hasn’t been up to his standards by any means, and he’s made that known.
“I got to be better, though,” Acuff said after scoring 19 points in Sacramento’s win Thursday. “I’m playing terrible. Too inefficient. I got to make more shots in a row and get my teammates involved more.”
The efficiency didn’t get any better in Sunday’s loss, as Acuff finished with 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field, missing all four of his 3-point attempts, with four assists and five turnovers in 28 minutes.
The concerns about his defense also have shown in glimpses, but the hope is that there is time for growth in that department.
Alex Karaban, the Kings’ No. 29 pick, finally scored his first points of summer league on Sunday.
The former UConn forward missed all three games of the California Classic as he recovered from an ankle sprain, making his official debut with the team on Thursday.
Karaban went scoreless in 24 minutes, shooting 0 of 6 from the field and 0 of 4 from downtown and adding two rebounds, one assist, three turnovers and one block.
He attempted just three shots in Sunday’s loss, making one 3-pointer in 23 minutes.
The Kings aren’t worried about the scoring, however, as they expect that to come. He still has made a lot of good defensive plays and is a smart player overall.
“I’m happy that he got his first summer league points today,” Maxime Raynaud said after the loss. “He also makes a lot of winning plays. Obviously, I don’t know if he shows in the box score, but his activity on the offensive board, I think that’s what opened some rebounds for Dylan [Cardwell] and I, even for himself, actually, He communicates a lot, and I mean, he’s able to be a good shooter to get down here as well.
“We’ve only been together for like what five, six days. Me, personally, only two. But I’m pretty sure it’s like you know, as we spend more time together, it’s gonna be good fun.”
Kings summer league coach Chris Darnell shared what his conversations with Karaban have been like.
“I’m just trying to tell him to play his game,” Darnell said. “Like, hey, maybe last game we didn’t make shots, but we know he’s a high-level shot maker. He’s a high-level connector, and one of those guys that created damages from this. … He’s a guy that doesn’t need a play called for him. He doesn’t need a certain action. Like he’s really good at reading the floor, reading the spacing on the floor. Very smart defender. It’s probably on me that I can put him in spots to be more aggressive.
“But overall, I think he’s a guy that just impacts the game again without any direct action. He’s just almost like a coach on the floor, just from the way he sees the game, the spacing.”
Emanuel Sharp also struggled shooting the ball Sunday, finishing with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field and 1 of 6 from 3-point range in 22 minutes, but the Kings’ second-round draft pick has been the most consistently impressive rookie on both ends of the floor thus far.
Summer league is all about going through the ups and downs, learning and getting a feel for the game at the NBA level.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Liam McNeeley #33 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on July 12, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas opened with a bang for multiple former Huskies. Liam McNeeley put on a show for Charlotte in their win over Orlando, putting up 28 points on 7-for-8 from downtown.
“I mean, a little nerves early on and they’re a team (Orlando) that’s got a little bit older guys, if you will, for summer league,” he explained. “So just kind of getting our feet settled into the game and responding to that physicality,” said McNeeley.
After being drafted late in the first round of the 2025 draft, McNeeley had a slower start to his NBA career, averaging 4.3 points in 31 games played for the Hornets. Year two for the soon-to-be 21-year-old could see him making the rotation after Charlotte moved off of star guard LaMelo Ball. McNeeley’s performance in this year’s Summer League can be the key reason McNeeley will get more looks during his sophomore season.
Liam McNeeley (28 PTS, 7-8 3PM) shot the LIGHTS OUT from deep 🔥
Looking over this season’s rookie class, Alex Karaban missed the California Classic due to a right ankle sprain during team practice on July 2. Karaban was cleared to play Thursday against the Clippers as he finished scoreless in 24 minutes, picking up 2 rebounds and an assist.
Tarris Reed made his debut in the California Classic earlier this week. The Kodiak Bear picked up right where he left off back in March as he put up a pair of double-doubles against the Lakers and Hawks. Reed scored 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting in his first game against Los Angeles as he hauled in 12 rebounds and 1 assist. In his second game, we saw more of the same, as he made his presence known by dominating the glass and making shots down low, putting up 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Dan Hurley made an appearance on the broadcast during the Houston vs Denver game and had much praise for his center.
Dan Hurley talked about Tarris Reed Jr.'s transformation into a first-round pick for the Spurs:
"Getting that guy to play with an identity, a dominance around the basket, becoming a great screener, rim protector, rebounder. Getting him to do things that aren't very sexy at a… pic.twitter.com/YTTaMkLJTN
Tristen Newton, who was a key benefactor in the back-to-back National Championships, was on the floor for Houston with Hurley in attendance. Newton finished the night with 13 points and 3 steals, making a smooth and-one finish as Hurley shouted “Gimme that!” as he saw the ball fall through the basket.
Tristen Newton grabs a tough and-one score in front of Coach Dan Hurley
Hurley made it clear that Newton can be a rotational player. Newton was named to the All-NBA G League First Team for the 2025-26 season, averaging 25.6 points for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s affiliate. Just like McNeeley, the Summer League may turn some coaches’ heads and get some Huskies NBA minutes.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 12: Brayan Bello #66 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the fourth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After not exactly lighting the world on fire in AAA, Brayan Bello nonetheless returned to the big leagues yesterday. And he shoved: 4.1 IP, 5 K, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB.
So the obvious question is: what now? The Red Sox do have room in the rotation — at least for now — with Ranger Suárez and Connelly Early on the IL. Moreover, as we saw in yesterday’s stunted start, the team is going to attempt to limit the workload of Payton Tolle in his first full season. Yet it must be said that Bello once again came out of the bullpen yesterday, and has not yet proven that he can be as effective in a starting role this year.
So what comes next for Bello? Is he thrown back into the rotation? Does he go in on a piggybacking timeshare with Tolle for the time being?
Use this space to talk about whatever you want. Be good to each other and go Sox.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 12: Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates after hitting a game-winning, walk-off single against the Houston Astros in the bottom of the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on July 12, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Kennedi Landry writes that after MacKenzie Gore stepped up for a short notice start, Brandon Nimmo provided the walk-off to send the Texas Rangers to the All-Star break with a winning record.
Shawn McFarland writes that the comeback win over Houston after they had lost a late lead shows that Skip Schumaker’s bid for clubhouse culture is taking shape.
Landry writes about the incoming draft class after the Rangers added 16 prospects on the draft’s final day yesterday.
McFarland writes that the Rangers are likely to sign potential first-round talent Brody Bumila after he slipped to them in the third round.
Landry writes that the big left-hander Bumila could be a steal for Texas but he will have to recover from arm surgery before he can make his mark.
McFarland notes that the Rangers had to spend light on Day 2 of the draft after jumping on some guys who fell to them on Day 1.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 14: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fittingly, Tyler Herro used the song ‘Coming Home’ in his farewell video to the Miami Heat. On the same day, he also posted a drenched Bucks workout singlet to his Instagram story, along with a Twitter post reading “414” when the trade was announced in principle a few weeks ago. Whether he gets traded to another location or not between now and the start of the season, this is a man who is genuinely excited about the prospect of playing in his home state, which, like it or not, is not something pro athletes often say about Wisconsin.
I’m starting to come around.
From obscurity to celebrity: The come-up
As most Wisconsinites are aware, Tyler Herro grew up in Greenfield, just a 20-minute drive from the heart of Milwaukee. He starred at Whitnall High School, committing early to attend the University of Wisconsin. Later, though, Herro decommitted from UW to accept an offer from the University of Kentucky, which, it must be said, upset a few folks back home. It’s worth mentioning that Herro was not some automatic one-and-done prospect coming into his freshman season at Lexington, like so many Wildcat recruits are. The risky decision to step away from the comfort of Wisconsin into the firestorm of Kentucky took, as Kobe would say, “cajones” and, looking back, was a microcosm of the fearless mindset that would set Herro apart in the coming years.
Before long, the (wild)cat was out of the bag. Coach Cal injected Herro into his starting lineup from the jump, and he did not disappoint. His slick scoring and feel led him to average 14.0 PPG, 4.50 RPG, and 2.50 APG, and he went on to be named the SEC’s Rookie of the Year. Herro later declared for the 2019 NBA Draft, where he was selected 13th by the Miami Heat.
Feet to the Heat
The kid known as “Boy Wonder” experienced a baptism-by-fire in his rookie season—on multiple levels. I mean, his rookie year was quite literally interrupted by a worldwide pandemic; yet and still, though, his numbers in the shortened regular season were phenomenal, averaging 13.5 PPG on nearly 40% shooting from deep while playing on a team that was trying to compete for the title (which they did, of course, downing our very own Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2019-20 NBA Playoffs). Herro was one of the headline stories to come out of those playoffs, announcing himself, at that time, as a near-untouchable piece of the Heat’s future.
Durability issues aside, Herro has been among the NBA’s upper echelon of players since that point. From year two to year three, he dramatically upped his PPG average from 15.1 to 20.7—a mark he has spent the rest of his career around. Herro won Sixth Man of the Year for the 2021-22 season and was selected as an All-Star three years later. Frankly, for all the issues people might have with the 26-year-old—and I’ve been a skeptic, to be sure—you look at the stats and have to concede that, when healthy, this is a damn good player who can contribute to winning basketball in the right situation. Over the last five seasons, Herro has averaged 21.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.5 APG while shooting 38.4% from three on a whopping 7.7 attempts per contest. He’s good!
Herro’s offensive game is built on the back of his three-point shooting ability. I mentioned his raw shooting stats above, but looking at the advanced tracking, there is no drop-off even when you differentiate his catch-and-shoot threes (37.3%) from his pull-ups (38.7%)—both on high volume, mind you. For whatever he lacks in explosiveness, he makes up for with craft. The Bucks will have touches to soak up (to some extent), and Herro is comfortable operating with a high usage, as evidenced by his shooting 50.3% on all shots taken off 3-6 dribbles, which, aside from off 0 dribbles, easily accounts for his most frequent shot taken. Yes, Herro will need to be insulated on defence, but I also think he’ll be highly motivated to shed the “poor defender” tag that has dogged him for his entire career.
Boy Wonder’s future in the Cream City
Look, is Herro a top option on a champion team? No way. But his reputation in the league simply doesn’t do justice to the player he has become. Behind the loud bravado and ostentatiousness lies an extremely talented hooper who is clearly motivated to prove the doubters wrong; trust me, this man is keenly aware that Pat Riley has attempted to trade him multiple times. And let me tell you something else: with nothing in the way of draft picks to play for this year, I am very down for a revenge-fuelled season powered by healthy levels of spite and pettiness, with none other than Herro leading that charge.
Now, would it be a smart choice for the Bucks to invest in Herro as a franchise pillar for the next 5-10 years? Probably not. Investing in him long-term may well be like choosing to satisfy your hunger with candy: it’ll have you feeling a buzz in the moment, but it’s not sustainable in the long run. At the same time, the Bucks don’t necessarily have to know what the “long run” looks like for a few years yet, and I’m not opposed to a sugar rush.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 06: Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves stands for the national anthem before the game against the New York Mets at Truist Park on July 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is kind of a weird question, but hear me out.
As it stands right now, the Braves are on pace for a 94-win season. That’s pretty good! Of course, you all know about how June (especially June 9-30) was a nightmare, and the best the Braves have managed since is .500 ball. So, at the same time, the bar to clear is both reasonable (playing above a 94-win pace for 2.5 months) and perhaps very high up there (a team that is among the worst in MLB for the past six weeks playing above a 94-win pace for 2.5 months).
But, I want to flag something else, which is that despite their record, the Braves’ production has been mediocre. Part of this is a brief story about the edges of production: once your production is high enough, you win more than expected since both your run scoring and run prevention make it hard to lose; at the same time, when any of your production is low enough, it’s hard to win.
Through June 8, the Braves were fourth in position player fWAR and ninth in pitching fWAR. However, the way in which they layered those got them way more wins than you’d expect from a top-ten team in both. I don’t really mean this is sequencing or a benefit from BABIP or anything, it’s more just that if you’re good at both, you can squeak out wins when one doesn’t fire. Combine that with some aggressive pitching management to make sure that you deploy the pitching when the offense isn’t pulling its weight, and yeah, that team probably shouldn’t have been 45-21, but that’s what happened.
After June 8, the Braves are 29th in position player fWAR and 23rd in pitching fWAR. That’s really bad. They’re maybe a little lucky to have gone 10-19 (case in point, the game against the Cardinals on Sunday), but that’s also about what you’d expect a bottom ten team in both to do.
So, put that together, and the Braves are still riding a bit of a “our record is way better than our production” from earlier in the season.
Which brings me to my question: do you think that the Braves can get back to their 94-win pace over the 67 games that remain? I tend to think “no” unless they go back to the same type of management they were doing through the first two months… and even that’s a stretch, because the management has to result in the same rate of wins, which isn’t likely. But, that’s why I’m throwing it out there. What do you think?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Manager Larry Bowa #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies on the American League Team looks on during the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Futures Game is a big part of the All-Star weekend in which teams send representatives from their minor league system to participate in what amounts to a prospect list All-Star Game. The problem is that, while it should be something of a showcase event, MLB has decided in recent years to banish it when other MLB games are on and to shorten it to seven innings, both stupid ideas.
The question is: did you watch any of it? It really is a game that is for baseball sickos since there are probably a lot of names people that aren’t diehards do not know. We, of course, know Gage Wood, the pitcher that started the game for the National League side and most probably know Wei-Hui Pan, the right hander in the team’s organization. Other than that, you’d have to dig deep to know many of the names.
