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Holley: Making sense of Mazzulla's contract situation with Celtics

Holley: Making sense of Mazzulla's contract situation with Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Brad Stevens was nearing the end of his press conference Wednesday night when he made a comment that raised a few eyebrows.

“Joe and I — first of all, keep any of those discussions in-house — but we’ve got Joe under contract for multiple years right now,” Stevens said when asked if the team had begun discussing a possible contract extension for head coach Joe Mazzulla. “We certainly want Joe to be around here for a long time.”

The most recent reporting around Mazzulla’s contract suggested the 2025-26 season would be the final year of his current deal, hence the speculation that he could sign an extension this offseason. But that reporting doesn’t seem to align with Stevens’ insistence that Mazzulla is under contract for “multiple years.”

So, what’s going on here? NBC Sports Boston’s Michael Holley shared his take Thursday night on The Off C’season show during the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

“I think there may be a team option for Joe Mazzulla,” Holley told co-hosts Tom Giles and Tim Welsh. “So, technically … Joe Mazzulla is not in the final year of his contract if it’s up to the team. Now, I don’t think it will come to that.

“So, in other words, he’s got a year, and a team option that would make it ‘multiple years.’ So, he’s technically under contract for ‘multiple years’ with the Celtics.”

Under this scenario, Mazzulla would be under contract for the 2025-26 season, then the team could decide whether to extend his deal into the 2026-27 season or end it after the upcoming campaign. Holley believes we won’t even get to that point, however.

“What I think is going to happen is, they’re going to tear up the contract and he’s going to get an extension,” Holley added.

“… I think Brad made it clear. He didn’t like how things went down (in the playoffs), especially in those first two games against the Knicks, but he likes Mazzulla, and I’d be shocked if Mazzulla is not signed to a contract extension. … I think a contract extension is just inevitable.”

Mazzulla has built quite the impressive resume since taking over as Boston’s head coach in September 2022 following Ime Udoka’s suspension. Mazzulla currently owns the best regular-season winning percentage of any coach in NBA history (.740) and guided the Celtics to their 18th championship in 2024.

Boston won 61 games during the 2024-25 campaign — the first time the C’s have won 60-plus games in back-to-back seasons since 2008 and 2009 — before falling to the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 playoffs.

Mazzulla is about to face his most difficult challenge as Celtics head coach: His best player, Jayson Tatum, is expected to miss most or all of next season due to a ruptured Achilles, while two key pieces of his 2024 title team — Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis — are out the door, with the possibility of more departures as Boston looks to shed salary.

At this point, however, it sounds like Stevens still believes in Mazzulla’s ability to navigate those challenges — and he could reiterate that belief by handing his head coach a contract extension before the season begins.

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Raducanu glad to share spotlight with Draper as Wimbledon pressure builds

  • Raducanu: ‘For us to be British No 1s is pretty cool’

  • Old friends can benefit from sharing responsibility

Emma Raducanu believes that the recent success enjoyed by Jack Draper can only help her as the two old friends tackle Wimbledon, and all the pressure that comes with it, as Britain’s No 1 players.

Draper has taken over Andy Murray’s mantle on the men’s side of the game, having reached No 4 in the world rankings after a remarkable six months. Although Draper has never passed the second round at Wimbledon, he is capable of making his first deep run at the All England Club when the championships begin on Monday.

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Canadiens: Acquiring A Centre Without Paying The Big Bucks

While there are plenty of teams trying to take the next step right now and the competition to land quality centers is fierce, a new option has just landed on the market, and it’s an option that has proven chemistry with Montreal Canadiens’ rookie Ivan Demidov.

Last season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, Demidov spent time skating alongside former NHL player Evgeny Kuznetsov. After finishing his contract with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023-24, the pivot decided to sign a new contract with the Raleigh-based outfit with a $3.9 M AAV. Still, days later, the parties mutually decided to part ways, and he was put on unconditional waivers.

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The Russian then headed back home to Russia, where he signed a four-year pact with SKA on July 24, 2024. In 39 games under Roman Rotenberg, the pivot put up 37 points, picked up 38 penalty minutes, and finished his season with a plus-13 rating. However, in early April, the club and the player agreed to part ways, and the contract was terminated.

On Thursday, Kuznetsov’s agent Shumi Babaev announced that his client has decided he wants to return to the NHL next season, and he has reportedly already had talks with multiple teams who could potentially be interested.

The 33-year-old has played 743 games in the NHL with the Washington Capitals and the Hurricanes, picking up 575 points in the process. His most productive campaigns came skating alongside fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin when he gathered 83 points in 79 games. That was in the 2017-18 season, when the Caps won the Stanley Cup. In these playoffs, he scored 32 points in just 24 games. However, Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after recording 27 points, including 15 goals.

The end of Kuznetzov’s tenure in Washington was a rocky one, as he joined the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in February 2024. There hasn’t been any confirmation as to what prompted him to enter the program, but he was banned from playing for Russia for four years in 2019 following a positive drug test for cocaine. That same year, he was also suspended for three NHL games for “inappropriate conduct”.

After he was cleared to return, the Caps placed him on waivers, where he went unclaimed and was assigned to Hershey in the AHL before being traded to Carolina. There’s no denying that Kuznetsov could be an interesting option for Demidov on the ice, but only if his issues with the ice are behind him.

Given what Jeff Gorton said to the media on Thursday about not being careful not to bring a player that wouldn’t be a good fit in the room, the Canadiens would have to be satisfied that there is no chance of his behavior becoming an issue.

Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

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TNT Sports Is Parting Ways With NBA TV

TNT Sports is walking away from NBA TV, as the Warner Bros. Discovery cable unit has elected to close out its oversight of the league-owned network this fall.

Talks that would have seen TNT retain its oversight of NBA TV operations, a role it had held down since the 2008-09 season, did not bear fruit. While financial considerations obviously played a key role in the split, the diminished number of games that will be carried on NBA TV under the league’s new 11-year rights package is said to have undermined TNT’s interest in maintaining the partnership.

The decision to end the alliance was announced Friday morning by TNT Sports Chair and CEO Luis Silberwasser in a memo to employees. In the note, Silberwasser characterized the split as a mutual parting of ways.

“We made several proposals to continue to provide services and operate the NBA TV network and related digital assets,” Silberwasser wrote. “However, we were unable to agree on a path forward that recognized the value of our expertise, quality content and operational excellence that our fans and partners have come to expect from TNT Sports.”

Silberwasser went on to note that day-to-day oversight of the network would revert to the NBA on Oct. 1.

While this marks the end of a 17-year arrangement that was originally brokered by former Turner Sports capo David Levy, TNT will continue to serve as a generator of digital content for the NBA via its Bleacher Report and House of Highlights properties.

TNT’s DNA will also persist care of its Inside the NBA studio show, for which Silberwasser licensed the rights to Disney’s ESPN and ABC. Under the terms of that side deal, the four leads (Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal) will remain locked in behind the desk and TNT will continue to have absolute editorial control of the show.

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Mets option Jared Young to Triple-A, keep Ronny Mauricio with Mark Vientos coming off IL

The Mets have decided it will be DH Jared Young who is optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room on the active roster for third baseman Mark Vientos to come off the IL on Friday, SNY's Andy Martino reported.

The move means both Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty are staying with the big-league club for the series-opening game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Young heads back to Syracuse after 17 games with the Mets. He tallied seven hits in 41 at-bats (.171) with three home runs and for four RBI with a .642 OPS.

Vientos, who had been sidelined since the beginning of the month with a hamstring strain, had been off to a slow start at the plate, but should provide a boost to the lineup. And with Mauricio and Baty remaining on the roster, Vientos can see more time at DH as he eases his way back into the swing of things.

Vientos had four hits (two doubles) during the six games of his injury rehab at Triple-A. He was batting .230 with a .678 OPS over 53 games before landing on the IL.

"Mark is a big part of our team," Carlos Mendozasaid on Thursday. "We saw it in the playoffs last year, he drives the ball to all fields, gives you good at-bats, and the power is real -- if we get him going, we’re talking about a deep lineup one through nine. He’s a guy who can hit anywhere in the lineup, so it just adds to the quality of our roster."

Mauricio, who was seen as the most likely candidate to get sent down, notched four hits in his last two games, including a solo homer on Wednesday night. His average is .226 with a .676 OPS after 18 games and 62 at-bats.

"I’ve been impressed with how he’s handled the adversity," Mendoza said ahead of Thursday's game. "I haven’t been around him much because he spent all of last year rehabbing and this year.... Watching him after missing so much time and struggling, he’s being the same guy, continues to work and asks for feedback for help -- it was finally good to see a really good game from him last night, we hope to see that same version moving forward."

Baty is off to the best start of the bunch who was under consideration to go down, with eight home runs and 27 RBI and a .225/.276/.401 slash line for a .677 OPS through 60 games of the year.

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Mike Dunleavy reveals specifics Warriors must address in 2025 NBA free agency

Mike Dunleavy reveals specifics Warriors must address in 2025 NBA free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The first part of the Warriors’ 2025 offseason has come and gone with the NBA draft in the rearview, and now the real fun begins.

While Jonathan Kuminga’s future will be a domino effect for the rest of Golden State’s free agency, which is set to begin Monday morning, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy spoke to Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” about what their top priority is for the rest of the offseason regardless of how the Kuminga situation unfolds.

“Yeah, I think the biggest thing for us is knowing the guys that are going to be here, how do we complement them?” Dunleavy said. “How do we complement around Steph [Curry], Jimmy [Butler] and Draymond [Green]? [Brandin Podziemski], Moses [Moody], and going down the list. What do we need to add to that?

“I think there’s some specific skill sets that we can use on both sides of the ball, while also understanding what types of players work for us. What types of players can play for Steve [Kerr], in the system with Steph and dray and what they’ve done for many years here. It’s a tricky one. You got a little bit of a needle thread with it, but there are players out there that we can get that make us better.”

Since their 2024-25 NBA season came to a crushing end with Curry sidelined due to injury, the Warriors remain committed to their one-season quest to win it all with their superstar point guard — and his partners in crime.

So, what type of skill set is Dunleavy looking for specifically?

“The good thing is there’s a lot of players available, whether that’s in the free-agent market or we can make trades and put offers out on guys. So we’ll target some players that we think can fit well. You got to have that balance of playing with these guys offensively by making shots and being able to pass, handling the ball and reading the game. And defensively, you’ve got to be able to guard. You’ve got to be able to hold up. I can’t bring in a guy who’s a great shooter and, on the other end, defensively can’t do anything. It’s a problem.

“So we’re trying to look at guys that can make this team better. I think we’ve done a pretty good job in free agency, whether it’s minimums or exceptions. I have a good feel for our group and what we can do to get better. So we’ll see what we can do.”

Kuminga will be given a qualifying offer by Sunday’s 2 p.m. PT deadline, giving Golden State the chance to match any contract another team agrees to with him as a restricted free agent.

Teams officially can begin negotiating with players on Monday at 3 p.m. PT.

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Will Red Sox trade Jarren Duran? Star OF candidly addresses rumors

Will Red Sox trade Jarren Duran? Star OF candidly addresses rumors originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Are Jarren Duran’s days with the Boston Red Sox numbered?

With the MLB trade deadline just over a month away, Duran’s name has been among the most often mentioned in rumors across the league. The 28-year-old outfielder was No. 2 on ESPN’s top 50 trade candidates list, which set his odds of being dealt at a reasonably high 25 percent.

The Red Sox’ outfield logjam increases those odds. Duran headlines a Boston outfield that also includes Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, and Rob Refsnyder. Trading Duran could clear a path for Anthony, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, to play every day in left field with Rafaela in center and Abreu in right.

If the Red Sox sell ahead of the deadline, the 2024 All-Star Game MVP would undoubtedly be one of their most valuable trade chips. During an appearance on Underdog’s Section 10 podcast, he addressed the possibility that his time in Boston is nearing its end.

“Honestly, the way I think about it is I have absolutely no say and no control. So why would I even give it two thoughts?” Duran said. “That’s the way I think about it.

“If it happens, I’ll probably break down crying having to say goodbye to (Rob) Refsnyder and Trevor Story and the boys. That’ll happen, but at the end of the day, it’s like, I have absolutely no control. The more I feed that into my own brain, the more it’s gonna tear me up. So I just don’t really think about it. And if it happens, it happens. But at the end of the day, I have no control.”

ESPN listed the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets as Duran’s best fits if he’s dealt. The Padres have reportedly already shown interest in acquiring him.

Of course, if the Red Sox remain in the playoff hunt, trading Duran would be unwise. Although his 2025 campaign hasn’t been on par with his 2024 breakout, he’s still one of the club’s most talented players. He showed MVP potential last season, leading the majors in doubles (48) and triples (14) while posting 21 homers and a .834 OPS.

But if Boston’s season continues to spiral, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow will be busy fielding calls from teams willing to pay a hefty price for Duran’s services. By trading veteran slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants in a stunner, Breslow has made it clear he isn’t afraid to part ways with fan favorites if he believes it’s for the benefit of the team’s long-term outlook.

For now, Duran will look to help the Red Sox snap their five-game losing streak when they welcome the Toronto Blue Jays to Fenway Park. He’ll bat leadoff in Friday’s series opener with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET.

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Masai Ujiri ousted as president of the Toronto Raptors, executive led franchise to only title

Thirteen years ago, the Toronto Raptors were an afterthought, if they were thought of at all. The organization had missed the playoffs in nine of the previous 11 years. Then the franchise hired Masai Ujiri as its lead executive and things changed — the Raptors made smart decisions on players, built one of the best player development programs the league had seen, and turned itself into one of the top teams in the East led by beloved players such as Kyle Lowry, winning the franchise's only title in 2019. Ujiri was at the heart of turning the franchise around and he became one of the most respected executives in the NBA. The franchise has reportedly quadrupled in value since he was put in charge of basketball operations.

Ujiri is now out as Vice Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) announced Friday, the day after the NBA draft. Ujiri was about to enter the final year of his contract.

The rest of the front office staff, including general manager Bobby Webster, remain in place, and the team will begin a search for a new president. It will be interesting to see who Toronto can bring into a job where the GM is already in place and just extended his contract, combined with the fact that MLSE has shrunk its president role with other sports organizations it owns, such as the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, reports Josh Lewenberg of TSN.

Ujiri was born and raised in Nigeria and, with that, has been instrumental in the NBA's growth on that continent and internationally, at one point serving as the director of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program. He has been actively involved in numerous charitable programs in Canada and internationally as well.

On the court, the Raptors struggled to a 30-52 record last season and have missed the playoffs three consecutive years. That said, they have rebuilt a roster that could well return the team to the postseason if healthy, led by Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and center Jakob Poeltl. Of that group, only Barrett played in 65+ games last season due to injuries.

If Ujiri wants to jump to another team immediately, there will be plenty of offers — teams have tried to poach him out of Toronto multiple times over the previous years, but he has remained loyal. Until the organization did not.

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Mike Dunleavy reveals reason Warriors kept future first-round NBA draft picks

Mike Dunleavy reveals reason Warriors kept future first-round NBA draft picks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry and Draymond Green aren’t going to play forever.

That was the main point Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy made on Friday’s episode of “The TK Show” with Tim Kawakami, which aired one day after the 2025 NBA Draft, when he discussed why the team is hesitant to let go of their future draft picks.

“We’re probably more protective of them than most teams,” Dunleavy told Kawakami. “Because not knowing after a few years what our roster is, the uncertainty of that, of putting those picks out in the future which, on the market makes them more valuable, but for us they’re a little bit more dangerous so we got to walk that line.”

And walk that line is what they’re doing. Curry and Green both will be unrestricted free agents heading into the 2027-28 NBA season – the four-time champs would be 39 and 37 years old, respectively.

Green also has a player option for 2026-27, but it’s unlikely he’d forego the $27 million he’s due that season.

Additionally, Jimmy Butler also will be a free agent in 2027, as the two-year, $112 million contract extension he signed with Golden State aligns with the two Warriors stalwarts.

“The good news is, you know, if there’s a player that you can call on or reach out, you know, is available, we’re going to be in the game,” Dunleavy added. “Because I think the rest of the league sees these picks way out as pretty valuable because, look, the reality is Steph and Draymond, Jimmy, those guys probably aren’t going to be playing for the Warriors in 2032.”

For now, the Warriors will keep the future draft picks close to the vest, but, if given the chance, it sounds like Dunleavy would be willing to pull the trigger for the right deal.

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The morning after yet another pitching injury, maybe the Mets are actually okay?

Let’s be contrarian optimists for a moment about the Mets during this highly challenging moment for the starting rotation and its health.

It’s easy to bemoan the recent run of luck after Griffin Canningcrumpled to the ground on Thursday night with a likely Achilles injury -- an event that followed Kodai Senga’s hamstring injury, Tylor Megill’s elbow injury, and the loose body discovered to be rolling around in Sean Manaea’s left elbow.

It’s like the baseball gods heard us all talking about the team’s stellar pitching and decided, on a cruel whim, to smite it.

But while pitching remains the team’s most significant concern, as we detailed earlier this week, there’s another way to view the situation the morning after the Mets lost Canning: When Senga returns in a few weeks, he will front a rotation that includes David Peterson, Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes.

Peterson has grown into a top-of-the-rotation starter. Montas’ season debut on Tuesday was a significant performance for the Mets, who saw a high-90s fastball and heavy sinker that looked anything but fringy or back-end. It changed the conversation from, “Oh crap, Montas is starting tonight,” to “Oh cool, Montas is starting tonight."

Continued health for Holmes is the key to the entire group, and the Mets know they must watch him closely.

Holmes did not recover well from his June 7 start in Colorado. He attributed that to the location of that game, which leaves many a ballplayer sore and fatigued. By all accounts, he has been healthy since, but was clearly less than satisfied with the quality of his stuff in a five-inning win on Wednesday. This bears watching.

If the team can keep Holmes right, the rotation might just remain stable. Relief pitching is a significant concern, but it was at many points last summer, too. Remember, it’s a long season. Maybe the strong performances from Dedniel Nunez and Austin Warren on Thursday can signal a slowing of the daily bullpen carousel.

The front office will, of course, look for pitching between now and the trade deadline. In the short term, prospect Blade Tidwell will be in the bullpen tonight, and in the longer term, he can slot in for Canning if the Mets decide to use him as a starter.

There is room for optimism on the offensive side, too. Juan Soto has somehow made his morose and unproductive Mets beginning seem like a distant dream. The Mets will likely seek a trade upgrade at center field.

Mark Vientos is set to return Friday night. Despite a slow start to the season, he brings the strong potential for offensive upside, as does Ronny Mauricio, who survived the roster move. According to a league source, the Mets optioned DH Jared Young after Thursday’s game and kept Mauricio. The team will find at-bats for Mauricio, Brett Baty and Vientos at the major league level, and live for the moment without a perfect DH platoon. (Jesse Winkerstarts a rehab assignment Sunday.)

It’s also easy to forget that the Mets have reclaimed first place in the National League East. The Phillies were swept in Houston this week, scoring a grand total in the series of, wait for it, one run. Baseball is weird for other good teams, too -- not just the Mets.

And the Braves left New York on Thursday night unsatisfied with a series split and a 5-2 season record against the Mets. For a team that began the season so poorly, they felt a need to fare even better while playing catch-up.

"We needed to go 7-0 against them, quite honestly," Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters on Thursday night. "We are trying to dig out of a hole, and we need to win every series we play."

So there you have it. The Mets woke up Friday morning in Pittsburgh in a less terrible spot than it seemed.

You buying it?

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INTERVIEW: Tomáš Hertl Responds To Trade Rumors

Tomáš Hertl, who was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights from the San Jose Sharks late in the 2023-24 season, has recently been the subject of trade rumors again, which THN Vegas writer Julian Gaudio recently explained in detail.

Hertl is currently back home in his native Czechia with his family, training for the upcoming season. Recently, he was interviewed by Hokej.cz journalist Ondřej Mach, whose piece was published on Friday morning in Europe. In it, Hertl spoke about the speculation about him heading to the Carolina Hurricanes, his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered in March, and his off-season with the family in Prague.

What is your view on what has been circulating in the North American media recently?
“Honestly, I didn’t even know – it was the people around me who told me. I knew the situation – they can’t trade me at all until July 1, and then I have three teams that I can choose from. Then general manager Kelly McCrimmon called me and said he was sorry that this had even come up, and that nothing was being discussed. I was calm; I have the situation in hand. When a journalist writes something, everyone’s reaction is quick. I know that (the Golden Knights) are counting on me for next year, but you can never know anything 100 percent. That’s just how it works.”

Do you appreciate the Golden Knights GM reaching out to you?
“Yeah, that was nice. Everyone was writing to me that I was going to Carolina and I didn’t know why, based on our conversations after the season had ended. Vegas is one of those aggressive teams, so nobody has anything 100 percent certain, whether it’s Jack Eichel or whoever. They want to win, they have a quality team, and they make big moves. We’ll see what happens in the free agent market in a week.”

Are you happy with how your first full season in Sin City went?
“I would have been happier if we’d lasted longer in the playoffs. But after the start, when I was getting used to playing with new guys and a new team, things started to click around December. I found my line and the team was playing great. Plus, we had one of the best power plays in the league. Everything was going great until I got injured 10 games before the playoffs. That was an unfortunate moment – I was worried that I wouldn’t even get back in time for the playoffs. The first round was good, then the second against Edmonton… I didn’t score a goal, even though I had some decent games … but (scoring) was expected of me, so that was a disappointment.”

REPORT: 'Smoke' Surrounding Possible Golden Knights and Hurricanes Trade Involving Tomas HertlREPORT: 'Smoke' Surrounding Possible Golden Knights and Hurricanes Trade Involving Tomas HertlThe Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly working on a trade that would send Tomas Hertl to the Hurricanes. 

During the playoffs, were you taking any anesthetics?
“A little bit. That comes with the territory, and you don’t even think about it. Of course, I would have preferred not to have gotten injured. I had scored two hat tricks in two weeks (prior to the injury), was scoring goals, and I could have reached a new (career) high. It would have been better if it hadn’t happened.”

When you mentioned the setup in the Vegas organization, do you feel the pressure to succeed? In eight years in the league, the Golden Knights have made it to the finals twice and won the Stanley Cup.
“The first year, they were lucky to (make the finals). But the organization is set up that way, it works great. The general manager goes for it every year; he takes advantage of the gaps in the salary cap. Like Tampa. They don’t rely on drafting a player who will be good in two or three years. That’s why I was really happy to go there. Careers are getting shorter, and you want to be on a team where you can win something.”

Radim Zohorna Signs With Swedish ClubRadim Zohorna Signs With Swedish ClubCzech forward Radim Zohorna, 29, has signed a two-year contract with Färjestad BK, the SHL club announced on Friday.

Are you 100 percent healthy yet? The injury didn’t let you go to the World Championship.
“Yeah, it’s fine. It doesn’t limit me at all. Now I have the whole summer to strengthen my shoulder, but that shouldn’t be a problem. I should be 100 percent. It’s just a matter of strengthening it, but according to the doctors, and how I feel, I should be fine.

Is the preparation for the upcoming season in full swing?
“I don’t take any big time off. I’m happy to keep going. The kids keep me up to speed, but I’m already in preparation – I’m training with Radim Zohorna and Martin Nečas, like I have for the last three years. I’m in the gym for now and I’m going to the ice soon. And I’m also doing some sports around here.”

And are you planning to relax somewhere by the sea?
“We’re not flying anywhere; we’re more staying around home. When the 4 Nations were played in February, we went on vacation. We have a lot going on now – we have some weddings to go to in the next four weeks. Maybe we’ll take a long weekend, but for now we’d rather have some family time at home in Prague.”

© Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Martin Nečas: “I’m ready for anything”Martin Nečas: “I’m ready for anything” A restricted free agent, Martin Nečas has been the focus of trade rumors the entire off-season, and now he has elected for salary arbitration.
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NHL Trade Rumors: 2 Teams Interested In Penguins' Bryan Rust

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust is one of the NHL's most-talked-about trade candidates right now. With the Penguins retooling their roster, the veteran winger has naturally been the subject of trade speculation. 

The Penguins are not in a position where they need to rush a potential move, though, as Rust has a bargain $5.125 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season. However, he also just had a big season, so it is fair to wonder if the Penguins could take advantage of his heightened trade value. 

During the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman named the Buffalo Sabres and the Columbus Blue Jackets as two teams that are likely interested in Rust.

"I think there has been a lot of interest in Bryan Rust, and for good reason," Friedman said. "It wouldn't surprise me if Buffalo was one of those teams, too. Don't know if it will happen, but I think there are a lot of teams looking at that guy. I would think Columbus would be another... But someone told me that Buffalo was one of the teams around Rust."

Hearing that the Sabres are reportedly interested in Rust is not surprising in the slightest. After trading JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth, they have a clear hole in their top six, and Rust would undoubtedly fix it. In addition, he would give the Sabres another impactful veteran forward to help mentor their younger players, which is a clear need for them as they look to turn things around. 

When looking at Columbus' lineup, it is fair to argue that they could use a player like Rust, too. He would certainly give the Blue Jackets' top six and power play a major boost if acquired. Furthermore, with the Blue Jackets on the rise, bringing in a star like Rust could help them take that next step and get back into the playoffs. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins Have Prime Target In Utah ForwardNHL Trade Rumors: Penguins Have Prime Target In Utah ForwardThe Pittsburgh Penguins are currently retooling their roster. While there certainly is a chance that they could end up trading away some of their key players before the off-season is done, they also should not be afraid to acquire players who could help them in the long term.

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Marlins at Diamondbacks prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for June 27

Its Friday, June 27 and the Marlins (34-45) are in Phoenix to take on the Diamondbacks (41-39). Eury Pérez is slated to take the mound for Miami against Merrill Kelly for Arizona.

Miami îs 4-0 over the last four games and 5-1 in the last six outings, while Arizona is 5-2 over the last seven games and coming off a 7-3 loss to the White Sox in a series they won 2-1.

The Diamondbacks last played the White Sox and Rockies, so this is another favorable series for the DBacks.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Marlins at Diamondbacks

  • Date: Friday, June 27, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Chase Field
  • City: Phoenix, AZ
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNFL, ARID

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Marlins at the Diamondbacks

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Marlins (+146), Diamondbacks (-174)
  • Spread:  Diamondbacks -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Diamondbacks

  • Pitching matchup for June 27, 2025: Eury Pérez vs. Merrill Kelly
    • Marlins: Eury Pérez, (0-2, 6.17 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly, (7-3, 3.39 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Marlins and the Diamondbacks

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Marlins and the Diamondbacks:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Marlins at Diamondbacks

  • The Diamondbacks have won 6 straight games against the Marlins
  • In the Diamondbacks' home games last season with Merrill Kelly on the mound the Over was 5-2 (71%)
  • The Diamondbacks have failed to cover the Run Line in 9 of their last 11 games with a rest advantage over their opponents

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Mets' Griffin Canning injures left ankle. Manager Carlos Mendoza says ‘it looks like an Achilles’

NEW YORK — The New York Mets’ depleted pitching rotation took another hit when right-hander Griffin Canning likely suffered an Achilles injury during a non-contact play in the third inning of a 4-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.

“He’s getting an MRI, we’re waiting for the result — but it looks like an Achilles injury,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.

The Mets initially said Canning suffered a left ankle injury when he was hurt while breaking toward the left side of the infield on Nick Allen’s one-out grounder to shortstop.

The 29-year-old Canning, who allowed one hit and struck out three, immediately began hopping on his right leg and took only a couple steps before dropping onto the field with his left leg elevated. Catcher Luis Torrens signaled for time and assistance before Allen was thrown out at first by Francisco Lindor.

“I was watching the play and before you know it, I see him on the ground,” Mendoza said. “Not a good feeling there.”

Canning covered his face with his hands as he was tended to by trainers. Mendoza and Mets infielders gathered around the pitcher as the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr., the on-deck hitter, watched from a few steps behind.

After a couple minutes, Canning limped off the field with his arms draped around trainers.

“See him just wincing in pain and his leg in the air — for anyone to do that, when they’re not getting up by themselves, it’s obvious, you kind of know something’s not just off but really, really wrong,” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said. “Hate to see it.”

Austin Warren relieved Canning and retired Acuña on a pop-out, stranding White at second. Warren earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief.

“Adrenaline kicked in right away,” Warren said.

Canning, who signed a one-year deal worth $4.25 million on Dec. 19, is 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 16 starts this season after going 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA for the Los Angeles Angels last season.

“Feel sorry for the guy, especially how big he’s been for us and the way he’s been throwing the ball the whole year,” Mendoza said. “He’s been pretty consistent.”

Canning is the third member of the Mets’ opening day rotation to get hurt in the last two weeks — a stretch in which New York has gone just 4-10.

Ace Kodai Senga is on the injured list after suffering a right hamstring strain reaching for an Alonso throw on June 12, while Tylor Megill hasn’t pitched since June 14 due to a right elbow sprain.

In addition, left-hander Sean Manaea, who appeared to be nearing a return from an oblique injury suffered in spring training, was diagnosed with a bone chip in his elbow following his most recent rehab appearance for Triple-A Syracuse.

Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns said they hope Manaea, who received a cortisone shot, can resume his rehab.

The Mets got one starter back, when Frankie Montas tossed five scoreless innings after recovering from a lat injury suffered in spring training,

“We lost two starters very quickly with Senga and Megill and here we are now with Griff going down,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got some reinforcements coming back. Guys will step up.”

Posted on

Dodgers at Royals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 27

Its Friday, June 27 and the Dodgers (51-31) are in Kansas City to take on the Royals (38-43). Dustin May is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Noah Cameron for Kansas City.

Kansas City enters on an 0-5 stretch after being winners of four consecutive, while Los Angeles is 4-0 in the last four and 10-2 in the previous 12 outings.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Royals

  • Date: Friday, June 27, 2025
  • Time: 8:10PM EST
  • Site: Kauffman Stadium
  • City: Kansas City, MO
  • Network/Streaming: SNLA, FDSNKC, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Dodgers at the Royals

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Dodgers (-154), Royals (+129)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Royals

  • Pitching matchup for June 27, 2025: Dustin May vs. Noah Cameron
    • Dodgers: Dustin May, (4-5, 4.46 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Royals: Noah Cameron, (2-3, 2.08 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Royals

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Dodgers and the Royals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Royals

  • The Dodgers have won their last 4 road games, while the Royals have lost 17 in 20 at home
  • 6 of the Royals' last 7 home games stayed under the Total
  • The Dodgers have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.36 units
  • The Royals have lost four straight games with Cameron pitching

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)