Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Michael Lorenzen is ready to be a problem solver at Coors Field

The Colorado Rockies officially signed 34-year-old RHP Michael Lorenzen to a one-year, $8 million deal on Thursday morning after the signing was first reported last Wednesday. Lorenzen met with the media over Zoom on Thursday afternoon to discuss his ties to the Rockies and his excitement about working with this team.

“One of the things [that drew me to Colorado] is just that I feel like it’s untapped, and I don’t think you could say that about anywhere else in Major League Baseball,” Lorenzen said. 

“It feels like there’s a lot of new information to be learned, and that’s kind of right up my alley. I enjoy problem solving. Failure is going to happen; trials are going to happen; you’re going to get your teeth kicked in. But it’s the problem solving and how to make the adjustments that I really enjoy. And Colorado, I feel like, presents that opportunity.”

“We didn’t have to convince him of anything,” PBO Paul DePodesta added in a separate Zoom meeting earlier in the day. 

“He ran toward this challenge. Michael actively wanted to pitch here. He’s done a lot of different things in his career – he was an outfielder, he’s been a reliever, he’s been a starting pitcher. I don’t think he’s afraid of anything. He’s also got some history with some of our staff members, so I think there was some appeal there as well.”

Lorenzen’s ties to the new Rockies pitching staff were definitely an extra enticer to sign with the team, and he’s known a lot of them for a long time.

“I’ve known Alon [Leichman] since 2017, I want to say, before he was in pro ball. I’ve known him for a really long time, and he and I have kept in touch throughout the years,” Lorenzen said. “So when he told me he was interviewing for the job, I was stoked for him, and he mentioned that he was going to try and bring me in if he ended up getting the job, which is pretty cool that we’re able to work together.

And as far as the other coaches go, Lorenzen mentioned that he knew pitching coordinator Matt Daniels from his time at Driveline in 2017; he knew assistant pitching coach Gabe Ribas from their time together with the Detroit Tigers in 2023; he knew Jeff Pickler from their time together with the Cincinnati Reds, where Pickler was the bench coach; and he knew Brett Pill from their time at Cal State Fullerton.

Lorenzen brings a six-pitch arsenal to Coors Field (though according to Baseball Savant, he has seven, and Lorenzen says he’s planning to bring out another one next year). 

And it was actually the pitching coach of the Philadelphia Phillies, Caleb Cotham, who helped Lorenzen understand pitch shapes to expand his repertoire.

“[He] helped me understand in detail what causes a pitch to do certain things, and I kind of made it my own,” Lorenzen said. 

“I was able to create a consistent sweeper; I was able to create a consistent gyro (sweeper); and I know what I’m trying to do with the cutter. So all of a sudden, I feel like I own my shapes and when I’m trying to manipulate the ball, I can. I just know what I’m trying to do. I know what I’m looking for. I know the feel I’m trying to create. But obviously being in Colorado is going to have its challenges, so I’ll be making my way up there soon to throw some bullpens and see exactly how these shapes are going to move. 

“And that’ll give me an idea of how I can use each one,” he continued. “Do I pick three of them? Do I lean on certain three more than others when I’m pitching in the altitude? So we’ll see. But I would say I’ve got three fastballs and two different changeups. Now I’ve got the sweeper, the slider, and the curveball.”

Lorenzen’s intensity intrigues DePodesta.

“I’d say part of the appeal for him is that he’s a very good strike thrower and pitches with an aggressive mentality,” DePodesta added. “He’s going to go after the hitter, he’s going to make the hitter beat him, he’s going to attack the strike zone, and he has a deep arsenal of pitches. Here at Coors in particular, we need to find different ways to keep hitters off balance, and I think having a deep arsenal is at least one of those ways.”

That all being said, Lorenzen is excited to be in Colorado for this next chapter of his career and to help this team get back in the thick of things.

“I don’t care how many games were lost last year,” he continued. “Every guy is one adjustment away from being one of the best in the game, and there’s a lot of low-hanging fruit that can be changed. We’ll see performance increase, and so I think there’s a lot of easy ways to get better and I’m really excited.”

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Posted on

What will Austin Riley produce in 2026?

Prior entries:

The Braves haven’t had too fun of a time lately. Neither has Austin Riley. This isn’t a pure coincidence — a thermonuclear Austin Riley can carry a team for a month, and the Braves haven’t gotten that, for one reason or another, for a while. While the team has maneuvered to be different in terms of coaching and roster construction in 2026, Riley’s production is going to be a big part of whatever the team’s fortune will be going forward.

Career-to-date, status

2026 will be Riley’s eighth MLB season; he’ll turn 29 right around Opening Day. For his career, he has a 122 wRC+ and below-average defense. He’s solidly in well-above-average territory with a career 3.5 fWAR per 600 PAs to date, but that’s very much an average, as he had three straight 5+ fWAR seasons from 2021-2023 but has managed just 4.1 fWAR in his last two seasons combined.

A substantial xwOBA underperformance, like most of his teammates, made Riley’s 2024 look worse than it was. Consistently maligned by defensive metrics, Riley had a bit of a defensive breakout in 2023, but didn’t really sustain it in 2024. Still, it was better than getting worse as he aged.

Riley holds the most lucrative contract in Braves history, signing a $212 million, ten-year deal that includes a club option for an eleventh season in August 2022. He’s due to make $22 million annually in 2026 and every year onward through 2032; his club option has a $20 million salary with no buyout.

Recent performance

As noted, Riley’s production took a dip in 2024 and then again in 2025. The former was not “really” his fault, as his .361 xwOBA in 2024 was in line with his .365 xwOBA in 2023. After a slow start to 2024 outputs-wise, he was hitting really well (not thermonuclear on outputs, but definitely beautiful inputs) in the summer before a hit-by-pitch ended his season.

2025 was more of a struggle for various reasons. His xwOBA dipped to .328, and it was right around that range in both June and July before he succumbed to a series of abdominal strains that necessitated season-ending core surgery. His struggles were very generic: more swing and miss in the zone, but ostensibly without any conscious attempt to do so in order to increase power output — in other words, more swing and miss, worse contact quality. Not what you want to see.

There’s not too much to say beyond that — Riley was just worse, but not really in a way that his teammates were worse in terms of trading power for walks or anything. Whether that bodes well or poorly for him going forward is an open question. Defensively, he rebounded a bit relative to 2024 and looked similar to 2023. At this point, Riley probably won’t be a good defender at third base, but his hard work seems to have moved him from outright bad to okay.

Forecasting

Same brief disclaimer: once upon a time I built a projection system to try to mirror/get at the workings of Steamer and ZiPS. I called it IWAG. You can figure out what that means, maybe. I’m bringing it back for this series of posts. Here’s Riley, for 2026.

You can see the injuries being priced in a bit here, and IWAG forecasts Riley’s wRC+ considerably below his career mark of 122. That latter phenomenon occurs because, well, there’s no good or simple explanation for his 2025 offensively — he just looked kind of broken, even leaving the xwOBA underperformance aside.

This aligns almost exactly with Steamer (3 WAR in 601 PAs, 116 wRC+); ZiPS is the “outlier” as it seems to push his career line forward moreso than any debit for 2025.

The probability distribution from IWAG here is a bit silly due to Riley’s recent injuries — you can see that the distribution of talent is a reasonably normal-looking curve that probably aligns with what you expect, but IWAG figures “injured and ineffective” is more likely than “injured and effective” or “fully healthy and effective,” based on our lived experience of Braves trying to play through injury to no good outcome recently, hence the dip in the middle.

Your turn

Alright, I’ve given you the info. Well, some info. You may have your own info. With that, I ask you:

  • Rounded to the nearest fWAR, how much will Austin produce in 2026? (I am once again seriously inveighing that if you ignore this and provide a partial fWAR, I will round it for you, and your scoring will not be based on 1 WAR around your point estimate, but 1 WAR around the rounded number. Just a pick whole number and don’t make me round.)
  • How confident are you in your choice? Go with a scale from 1-5, where 3 is “I dunno, reasonably confident,” 5 is certain, and 1 is “I am participating but have no confidence in my choice and don’t want the fact that it will likely be incorrect to affect my place in any theoretical standings all that much.”

Posted on

Dominique Wilkins reflects on first MLK Day games 40 years ago, honor of playing on day

It was 40 years ago this week that the United States first officially paused to remember and celebrate the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day in his honor.

On that first Martin Luther King Jr. Day, in the city where King was born, Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks took to court as part of the celebration — and it's a day the Hall of Famer will never forget.

"Being in Atlanta and having that first MLK game, I don't think people understand how big and how blessed we were to play in the first game on his birthday," Wilkins told NBC Sports, reflecting on a game where he dropped 33 on the Bucks in a Hawks win.

Two years later on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Human Highlight Reel lived up to his nickname dropping 45 points on the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.

"It's a huge night. Just being from the birthplace of Martin Luther King, how you just wanted to represent and have a great night, just to celebrate what he's done for all of us," Wilkins said. "So that was, that was out there."

When basketball is at its best, it connects people — players on the court, fans with their team, even entire cities. Martin Luther King Jr. understood that power of connection — and he loved to play the game. He was known to get on the court with young men and play pick-up as a way connect with them on one level so he could open the door to talk about so many things bigger than basketball. (You can learn more about that in an upcoming documentary on Hulu called Hoops, Hopes & Dreams.)

The NBA also understands the power of connection, too, which is why for 40 years the league has celebrated Martin Luther King Day with a slate of its best players and teams. This year, those games are on NBC and Peacock all day Monday, starting in the birthplace of King himself — Atlanta. The four games are:

• Milwaukee at Atlanta, 1 p.m. ET (Peacock, NBCSN)
• Oklahoma City at Cleveland, 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)
• Dallas at New York, 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)
• Boston at Detroit, 8 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

Players will be wearing special Martin Luther King Jr. Day T-shirts during warmups. As part of the broadcast on NBC and Peacock, Donovan Mitchell will talk about the impact of Dr. King in Cleveland. Then Karl-Anthony Towns will do the same for New York and Isaiah Stewart for Detroit.

Those players understand the sacrifices Dr. King made and the impact he had. However, Wilkins is concerned we are losing some of that understanding over time. For a younger generation of players, many know that playing on MLK Day is a huge stage — one of the biggest days on the NBA calendar — but Wilkins added that those players have grown up in a United States that is better because of the changes Dr. King brought. Because of those changes, they may not fully grasp his sacrifices.

"I don't know if they do, to be honest with you," Wilkins said. "A lot of young people don't know or don't understand the significance and the sacrifice that he made for all of us. I don't think they really realized. I think they then inherit a different type of existence, and don't realize the struggle that people before them went through to give us a quality of life…

"The sacrifice that he made for us… man, to give his life to make sure that everybody else had a quality of life. I don't think these young guys or young people today understand that sacrifice."

Wilkins understood, because he grew up in a very different time and in many ways a different world. He is old enough to remember Dr. King being assassinated. And when an 18-year-old Wilkins, growing up in North Carolina, announced he was going to play his college ball at Georgia, he said he got death threats and his family had a cross burned on their lawn. Wilkins saw firsthand the changes Dr. King helped bring about.

Players who spend time with the Hawks organization in Atlanta get an understanding — not just from the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District, but from the way his presence is still felt throughout the city.

"I think with guys are playing Atlanta, they get a chance to see it all the time," Wilkins said. "And so it's right there in front of them. I won't say you forced to understand it and see it, but it's right there, where you're going to be a part of it — if you want to or not — because it's right there in your face."

Wilkins, a Hall of Fame player for the Hawks who has been the franchise's Vice President of Basketball as well as color analyst on broadcasts since 2004, maintains a personal connection to the King family.

"I've been friends of the family for a very long time," Wilkins said. "Martin [Luther King III], his eldest son, Dexter King, before he passed. And the sisters. I've been around the family, and so it was just surreal to be with the family and hear the stories and what they've been through. Man, this is priceless."

Is the King family filled with basketball fans?

"Oh yes," Wilkins said. "Still, to this day, Martin King and I, we still communicate with each other to this very day."

The King family will be at the heart of the celebrations and remembrances around the nation that day — and that will include a little basketball in Atlanta.

Posted on

Dodgers won’t have as many draft picks in 2026, after signing Kyle Tucker

The Dodgers signed Kyle Tucker, landing the top free agent on the market with an eye-popping four-year, $240 million contract. After setting competitive balance tax records in each of thelast two seasons, this move ensured they will stay in that area for at least two more years, if not longer.

But along with the pure financial cost of signing Tucker — $60 million per year on average, or $57.1 million AAV for competitive balance tax purposes accounting for deferrals — comes another penalty.

Tucker was one of nine free agents to reject a qualifying offer in November. Any new team that signs such a player faces a draft-pick loss. As a competitive balance tax payer, the Dodgers’ penalty for signing a qualifying-offer free agent is forfreiting their second- and fifth-highest draft picks. If this sounds familiar, it’s because the Dodgers already signed a qualifying-offer free agent by adding Edwin Díaz in December.

Signing free agents with a qualifying offer isn’t new for the Dodgers, having brought in A.J. Pollock (2019), Trevor Bauer (2021), Freddie Freeman (2022), and Shohei Ohtani (2024) previously. But this is the first time they’ve signed two in the same offseason.

Because the Dodgers gave up their second and fifth-highest picks for signing Díaz, their penalty for adding Tucker will be losing their third and sixth-round selections this July. That leaves a relatively bare cupboard at the top of their draft board for 2026.

The Dodgers’ first-round pick would normally be 30th overall, at the end of the first round after winning the World Series. But because they surpassed the third competitive balance tax threshold last season — they also blew past the fourth (highest) threshold, too — the Dodgers will see their first pick drop 10 slots to 40th overall. We saw this in both 2022and 2024 as well.

The 2026 draft order isn’t yet finalized, as there are still three qualifying-offer free agents remaining on the market — Framber Valdez, Bo Bichette, and Zac Gallen. But we have at least a general idea of when the Dodgers will pick in July.

RoundPick No.2025 equivalent slot value
140$2,443,600
4137$534,100
7226$248,700
8256$210,900
9286$195,300
10316$187,300
Totalbonus pool$3,819,900
pick numbers after 1st pick are estimated

A team’s draft bonus pool is comprised of the recommended slot values of every pick that team has in the first 10 rounds. Every signing bonus from the first 10 rounds is counted against the pool, as is any amount over $150,000 for picks after the 10th round. Teams are allowed to exceed the bonus pool, with a 75-percent tax on any overage up to five percent over the pool. Any overage above five percent would result in the loss of draft picks. In the 15 years of this system, no MLB team has spent enough to incur this draft-pick penalty.

But the bottom line is the Dodgers will have less to spend than probably any other year of the draft slotting system. If we use the 2025 slot values for each estimated Dodgers pick in 2026, that comes to $3,819,900. The slots and bonus pools increased by 8.7 percent from 2023 to 2024, but only went up by 4.8 percent from 2024 to 2025. If those total Dodgers slot values increase by 4.8 percent this year, they’ll have $4,003,255 to spend. If it goes up by 8.7 percent, they’ll have $4,152,231 to spend.

Either way, it’ll be their lowest bonus pool in the 16 years of the draft slotting system. Their previous low was in 2022 with $4,223,800 to spend, a little below 2021 when their bonus pool was $4,646,700. The Dodgers had a higher bonus pool even in 2020 ($5,928,500) when the draft was truncated to only five rounds.

Posted on

Clippers vs Raptors Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

The Los Angeles Clippers look to pick up their fifth straight win, but they’ll have to go through the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena tonight.

Scottie Barnes has been a jack of all trades for the Raps this season, but it’s his playmaking that’s really caught my attention.

I’ll break down why Barnes should stack up plenty of dimes in my Clippers vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks for Friday, January 16. 

Clippers vs Raptors prediction

Clippers vs Raptors best bet: Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists (-135)

The Toronto Raptors have been dealing with injury issues for a few weeks now, and three starters remain out or questionable for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Toronto has managed to stay afloat, though, and that’s largely due to Scottie Barnes’ ability to play a variety of roles.

Need 25 points? Barnes is there.

Need someone to clean up the glass? Scottie’s got it.

However, perhaps his most important skill for the Raptors has been his playmaking.

Barnes is averaging 6.7 assists per game since December 28 — that’s the seventh-best mark in the NBA among all forwards over that span.

The Raptors star is also averaging 50.2 passes made per game, second only to starting point guard Immanuel Quickley (56.1), who may be out tonight with a back injury.

Barnes is coming off a 13-assist game on Wednesday, while topping 4.5 dimes in six of his last 10. He hits that number with ease against the Clippers tonight.

Clippers vs Raptors same-game parlay

Just like Barnes, Brandon Ingram has had to step up into other roles to help his team down the stretch. The Raptors forward has snagged Over 5.5 boards in six of his last seven contests, and they’ll need him to be a factor on the glass with Poeltl sidelined.

The Raptors may be banged up, but so are the Clippers, who could be without three starters of their own in Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac. Toronto is 5-2 in its last seven home games and appears somewhat undervalued as the underdog here.

Clippers vs Raptors SGP

  • Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
  • Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
  • Raptors moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Zub Cleans the Glass

Zubac missed LA’s last game, but the 7-foot center is undeniable on the glass.

He’s posted Over 10.5 rebounds in three of his last five outings and is averaging 10.7 rpg this season — tied for 10th in the NBA.

Clippers vs Raptors SGP

  • Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
  • Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
  • Raptors moneyline
  • Ivica Zubac Over 10.5 rebounds

Clippers vs Raptors odds

  • Spread: Clippers -2 (-110) | Raptors +2 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Clippers -130 | Raptors -115
  • Over/Under: Over 216 (-110) | Under 216 (-110)

Clippers vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Raptors.

How to watch Clippers vs Raptors

LocationScotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
DateFriday, January 16, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVFDSN Southern California, Sportsnet

Clippers vs Raptors latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Posted on

Roster improvements paying off for the Penguins

It’s been a little over a month since the trade with Edmonton sent Tristan Jarry for Brett Kulak, Stuart Skinner and a second round pick. To add a little more commentary on what was touched on earlier on this website today, the trade has been aging better by the day for the Penguins. What started out as a nice escape to clear the troubling contract of Jarry (who went back to the IR soon after the trade) turned out to enhance the Pens quite nicely so far on the ice.

There’s the future second round pick, which has no short-term relevance besides beefing up the reserves. Kulak’s addition to Pittsburgh has finally provided them with a second top-four caliber left-side defenseman and served to make Kris Letang look the best he has looked in…quite a while. Much has been made of Letang’s decline — and to be fair, time waits for no one and the 38-year old has looked every bit of his age recently. Then again, last season Letang’s most common defense partner was Matt Grzelyck, this season it was Ryan Shea prior to Kulak joining the team. It’s about 14 months overdue, but finally Pittsburgh has a partner for Letang with an above-average defensive impact, so it’s probably no wonder that the results the Pens have seen on the ice out of Letang have drastically improved once the blueline was addressed.

That alone would probably make the Edmonton trade enough of a success, but the headline-grabbing focus is naturally going to be on the goalie-for-goalie swap. It’s not every day in the NHL these days that you see two teams exchange starting goalies for one another. Skinner can a polarizing figure, although so far the Pens have to be thrilled. Skinner has five quality starts out of eight per hockey-reference, so far easily out-pacing Jarry’s one quality start for Edmonton. Jarry does have that IR stint working against him there, but as Beau Bennett taught us the best ability is availability and that’s another point in favor of the deal working out favorably.

Skinner can tend to ride extreme highs and lows, right now he’s caught a groove with a 4-1-0 record since the Christmas break that features a .941 save% and only allowing seven goals in those five games. In that stretch, the Penguins have commanding wins over three division rivals (Philadelphia last night, New Jersey last week, Carolina back on 12/30). In all of those games Skinner was not only one of their best players on the ice, he was a driving factor in every victory.

Trades often live on in relitigation for months and years afterwards so it surely is early to plan a parade or anything, but what a short-term boost that deal has provided for the Penguins to this point. The Oilers, despite Jarry’s injury, are 9-5-2 since the deal in their own right, so they’re probably not too mad about how things have gone lately either — since in an indirect way the move served to open a path for Connor Ingram’s return to the NHL where he has looked fairly sharp.

—

Speaking of decisions paying instant dividends, Kyle Dubas has to feel assured about locking Blake Lizotte up for three more seasons earlier this week, not that he likely had many doubts about it in the first place. The length of the term isn’t back-breaking but it’s still a sizeable and notable one for a 28-year old with fourth line upside. It’s well-worth the commitment when a player is as capable as Lizotte to make an imprint on a game like he did last night against Philadelphia.

Lizotte scored a goal that ended up standing as the game winner and later threw a massive clean hit that triggered a response fight where he handled himself nicely (albeit, against a non-fighter in Matvei Michkov).

The supporting cast players for the Pens has been a massive issue dating back to the start of this decade. In 2021, perhaps Pittsburgh’s last best season where they won their division, Pittsburgh saw a +18 mark in goals for vs goals against at 5v5 when neither Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin were on the ice. By 2022-23, the first time they missed the playoffs, the Ron Hextall built team had slumped to -24 in that same category.

This season, the Pens are back strongly in the playoff hunt over halfway through the season and thanks to players like Lizotte and his frequent fourth linemates of Noel Acciari and Connor Dewar who have been on the ice for more goals for than against. When a team’s fourth line is not getting outscored despite the harsh defensive starts, that’s a good sign that they are going to be doing at least alright. Overall in the 5v5 category the Pens still have some work to do to with the performance of their mid-lines (players like Ben Kindel, Justin Brazeau, Kevin Hayes, Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen have all been out-scored at 5v5) but so far they’ve definitely found something to work with and some major improvements from their depth, to which Lizotte will continue to be a key piece for the foreseeable future.

In previous early years of Dubas’s stint with Pittsburgh, a veteran on an expiring contract like Lizotte would have been traded away by the deadline. Whether this re-signing indicates a significant step into a phase of retaining key contributors or is a one-off remains to be seen, though it certainly is a strong piece of evidence that the Penguins are looking to hold what they can instead of defaulting into strictly selling off all parts when the time comes.

—

Furthering the theme of improving the current roster, the acquisition of Egor Chinakhov has shown promise as an upgrade as well. Chinakhov’s stat-line with Pittsburgh isn’t overwhelming (three goals and an assist in eight games), his impact has been notable with his speed, shot and even a contribution of a shootout goal. Chinakhov is still something of a reclamation project coming off his stint in Columbus (he only manufactured three goals in 29 games at the start of the season with the Blue Jackets) yet there’s been encouraging early returns with the change of scenery.

In some ways, Dubas and the Pens have to hope this could be a case of “you get what you pay for” when comparing Chinakhov to a similar last year acquisition of Philip Tomasino. Chinakhov cost a fair bit more (a second+third round pick, compared to just a fourth rounder for Tomasino) and that is due to having a little bit more to work with. Last night’s short-side goal on the rush demonstrates an example – Chinakhov has the tools to generate game-breaking ability. Whether or not he has the consistency will be a lingering open question for a while. Finishing ability like this is worth the price, now it’s just about seeing how often he can deliver.

Fit in the frame of the big picture, it might also be pointed out that the move from adding second round picks — which Pittsburgh did under Dubas in every year in a stretch for the 2024-29 drafts (besides jockeying for draft positioning in 2025) — into now sending out a second round pick to bring in an NHL caliber player is some evidence of a sea change in the current organizational strategy. Whether it was trading away Jake Guentzel, Conor Timmins, Anthony Beauvillier, Luke Schenn, Tristan Jarry and Reilly Smith or taking on the bad contracts of Kevin Hayes and Matt Dumba, the Penguins operated for a couple years in a way of strictly accumulating second round picks. Now, in one instance at least, the worm turned the other way and Dubas acted on previously stated intentions to turn a pick into a current contributor.

The takeaway at this point shouldn’t be a drastic shift into an expectation of full-on spending, though it does seem notable that the tide could be starting to change in this regard depending on the inputs of the team. In the end, Dubas might get the best of both worlds where his ample cap space allows him to scour the league for future 22-25 year old players with potential while retaining more draft capital than just about everyone else in the league to use to select more than his fair share for the future too.

Because, ultimately, responding to the team’s inputs has been Dubas’s role in the past few years. He threw some caution to add/retain players like Erik Karlsson, Ryan Graves and Tristan Jarry in year one, when that didn’t work out in the standings, management shifted gears accordingly to pare down on players like Guentzel and Marcus Pettersson who needed new and expensive contracts, without dealing away quality performers like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell who didn’t. The Pens got younger and suffered a bit to take lumps in losing key contributors without immediate replacement. Now that the team is in the hunt, it makes the situation appropriate for the manager to make moves that dovetail as good for the present while being good for the future, a fitting category for all three of the team’s transactions of the last month.

Posted on

Kyren Wilson wards off Neil Robertson fightback to reach Masters semi-finals

  • Englishman sees out victory in final frame

  • Wu wipes the floor with Xiao in 6-0 rout

Kyren Wilson edged into the semi-finals of the Masters after fending off a Neil Robertson comeback to win 6-5.

Wilson had taken a three-frame lead, hitting two century breaks along the way, and took a 4-1 advantage before Robertson fought back, winning four straight frames and recording breaks of 110 and 107 to lead 5-4.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Crucial Rivalry Weekend Provides A Golden Opportunity For The Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators have pivotal back-to-back games this weekend, with the Montreal Canadiens visiting the Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday night and a quick turnaround to a road game against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

With their backs against the wall in the Eastern Conference playoff race, two wins would do wonders to get back in the mix and push for a wildcard spot. But these matchups are about more than getting points to climb the standings.

The Senators need to prove that they have another gear.

THN Ottawa's Jack Richardson says the pressure is rising on Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios.

A somewhat nail-biting 2-1 victory over the reeling Vancouver Canucks at home on Tuesday snapped a 4-game losing streak, and the Senators followed it up a night later with a dominant 8-4 beatdown at Madison Square Garden over the lifeless New York Rangers.

They were expected to do exactly what they did and deserve credit for doing so, but most fans likely have a “wake me up when you beat a good team” mentality after a despondent stretch of games. 

That is why these games against the Canadiens and Red Wings are on a platter for the Senators to make a statement. 

Entering play Friday night, Detroit and Montreal are 2nd and 3rd in the Atlantic division, respectively. The Senators are dead last and 7 points out of the second wildcard spot.

Typically, a back-to-back scenario against top teams in the division would be daunting for a team fighting to get back into the playoff hunt. But given the Senators’ recent history with both teams, the expectation this weekend should be 4 points. 

For the last five years, the Senators have built feisty rivalries with the Canadiens and Red Wings. It’s a result of the young cores the teams have been assembling during their respective rebuilds. Each franchise has been desperate to take the next steps to become Stanley Cup contenders, especially after watching an Atlantic division team win it all in four of the last six seasons.

Montreal and Detroit have each taken a significant step so far this season, pacing the East with consistent play and leaving Ottawa in the rearview mirror.

But head-to-head, the Senators have done well against the Habs and Wings.

Ottawa has made two visits to the Bell Centre this season, the first was an overtime loss on a brainfart turnover by Drake Batherson in November, and the second was a convincing win in December to wrap up a 7-game road trip, punctuated by a signature Brady Tkachuk goal on a feed from Tim Stützle.

Saturday will be the first matchup in Ottawa and gives the Senators a chance to take a stranglehold on the season series with the Canadiens.

Sunday will be the second of four games against the Red Wings this season. The first was just last week in Ottawa, in which the Senators dominated but could not buy a save.

Both the Canadiens and Red Wings play a fast and skilled game, but the Senators’ defensive identity should allow them to thrive in both games. All eyes will be on Tkachuk, Stützle and Jake Sanderson, who all seem to step up their games against Montreal and Detroit.

These are good matchups for the Senators on paper. But results trump the process at this point in the season. They desperately need points, and this weekend is a great opportunity to gain significant momentum in the standings while making a statement against two budding rivals.

Jack Richardson
The Hockey News - Ottawa

This story is from The Hockey News Ottawa. You can visit the site here or click on one of their latest articles below:

Leading League In Scoring, Sens Prospect Named To AHL's All-Star Classic
Former Senators Star Injured Right Before What May Be His Final Olympics
Time Is Running Out For The Senators... And Steve Staios Knows It
Why The Senators' 2020 NHL Draft Lottery Heartbreak Became A Blessing
Did the Senators Handle Social Media Controversy The Best Way?
What's Going On With Sens Captain Brady Tkachuk?

Posted on

Mike Tirico makes surprise NBA on NBC admission about Michael Jordan interview

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Michael Jordan being interviewed on NBA on NBC, Image 2 shows Mike tirico interviewing Michael Jordan on NBA on NBC
Jordan NBC

Michael Jordan’s contributions to the NBA coverage on NBC have been lacking.

The GOAT’s addition to the lineup for his “MJ: Insights to Excellence” segment has been one single long-form interview with Mike Tirico, with clips shown throughout the season — leaving fans who wanted to hear from the six-time NBA champion on the league’s current events unfulfilled.

“Was it what everyone wanted? Probably not,” Tirico said on “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” this week. “Was it better than not hearing from Michael Jordan? You’re damn right it was. And if we get another shot at it, will I be more than excited to be a part of it? You betcha. In our world right now, all you want to do is make the final answer before you know everything. I love that Michael trusted us enough to sit and do something that he hasn’t done in a long, long, long time.”

Mike Tirico admitted his Michael Jordan interview for NBA on NBC has left fans wanting. NBA on NBC

The issue, however, is that Jordan was pitched to fans and viewers as a “special contributor,” a role that would seemingly include more than one two-hour interview filmed over two days months ago.

There is no doubt that basketball fans want to hear from Jordan, a six-time NBA Finals MVP, five-time NBA MVP, 14-time All-Star and 10-time scoring champ.

He is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets and his Jordan Brand remains a major part of the league’s culture.

“Every time one airs, people say, ‘Oh, this is from the same interview.’ But they also talk about what he said,” Tirico said. “It starts a topic of conversation. His voice still resonates.”

Tirico confirmed that there are no plans for a second interview with the 62-year-old at this point.

“Nothing scheduled as of now that I know of, but it is a possibility,” he said. “I hope there’s something else after it. Michael was awesome.”

Posted on

Panthers sign defenseman Uvis Balinskis to 2-year extension

The Florida Panthers have locked up one of their defenseman for a couple more years.

On Friday, the team announced they had come to terms with defenseman Uvis Balinskis on a two-year contract extension.

The deal comes with an average annual value (AAV) of $875,000, a slight raise on his previous contract.

The extension will keep Balinskis with the Panthers through the 2027-28 season.

“Uvis has proven his ability to be a dependable NHL blueliner on a consistent basis,” Panthers GM Bill Zito said in a statement released by the team. “He possesses a relentless work ethic and we are excited that he will continue his career with the Panthers.”

Florida initially signed Balinskis out of the Czech Extraliga in 2023.

He was re-signed to a two-year extension in January of the following year that carried an AAV of $850,000.

Balinskis has played 36 games with the Cats this season, accumulating a goal and eight points while racking up 24 penalty minutes and earning a plus-1 on-ice rating.

In his third NHL season, Balinskis has skated in 138 games with the Panthers, accumulating six goals, 29 points and 59 penalty minutes.

He was also named to Team Latvia's Olympic team and will represent his country next month in Milan. 

Florida now has six defensemen signed at least through 2028: Balinskis, Seth Jones (signed through 2030), Aaron Ekblad (signed through 2033), Gus Forsling (signed through 2032), Niko Mikkola (signed through 2034) and Dmitry Kulikov (signed through 2028). 

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers road trip continues in Carolina with Cats searching for third straight win

Tobias Bjornfot And Jack Devine Selected As Charolette Checkers AHL All-Star Game Representatives

Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers to visit White House for second straight year

Niko Mikkola Misses Practice; Deemed Healthy And Available For Panthers’ Next Game

Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand practice with Panthers, nearing return to lineu

Photo caption: Dec 4, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis (26) moves the puck against the Nashville Predators during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Posted on

Mets Minor League Mailbag: Is Dylan Ross undervalued because he's a reliever?

SNY's Joe DeMayo answers your Mets prospect questions...

How high is Dylan Ross’ ceiling? Feels like his future as a reliever has him being a bit undervalued on prospect lists, but the stuff looks like it could potentially dominate major league hitters given the chance - @aschorling34

Ross was called up by the Mets during the last weekend of the 2025 season, but did not get into any of the final three games against Miami.

The Mets selected Ross in the 13th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of Georgia. He underwent a Tommy John revision and did not make his professional debut until Sept. 7, 2024, the next-to-last game of Low-A St. Lucie’s season.

In 2025, Ross pitched at three minor league levels, spending most of his time with Triple-A Syracuse. In a combined 54 innings, he posted a 2.17 ERA, allowing only 29 hits and striking out 80 batters. His bugaboo was the 33 walks he issued.

While he will likely never have plus command, there is thought in the organization that with more reps (he has thrown just a combined 66.2 innings since 2022), the command should improve.

Ross is a pure power reliever, with a fastball that will sit at 97 mph and touch 101. That isn’t his best pitch, though, as scouts will give the nod to his low-90s splitter that minor league hitters could not touch, with a 48.3 percent whiff rate. He supplements it with an upper-80s slider that he didn’t throw as much, but had an even higher whiff rate of 67.7 percent.

If Ross can put some more command together, I look at him as someone with high-leverage, setup type potential. He should be squarely in the competition for one of the spots in the Mets bullpen on Opening Day.

When this current top of the farm system graduates, what kind of position will the Mets system be in? Will the Mets still have a high-ranked system, or will it take a few years to get back to the point they are at? - @GreatOnPaperNYM

In general, minor league systems and their rankings generally have ebbs and flows. Right now, the Mets have one of the best farm systems in baseball.

But to your point, there are likely to be multiple graduations in 2026. It starts with the three top arms of Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong,and Brandon Sproat.

Sep 18, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong (21) pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Citi Field.
Sep 18, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong (21) pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images

Outfielder Carson Benge has a chance to crack the Opening Day roster, if not shortly thereafter. Infielder/center fielder Jett Williams, first baseman Ryan Clifford, and relievers Ross and Ryan Lambert are some other names who could potentially be up in 2026 and appear in enough games to graduate.

Whether it is all, or most of the above names, that is as many as six of the top 10 prospects in the system graduating from prospect status.

The Mets' next wave of prospects includes players with high ceilings like A.J. Ewing and Elian Peña, bats that look like future big leaguers in Jacob Reimer and Mitch Voit, as well as another group of pitchers in Jonathan Santucci, Jack Wenninger, and Will Watson. The Mets' most recent international signing, Wandy Asigen,should immediately profile somewhere around the top half of the top 30 with huge upside, but he's years away.

The goal of the organization under senior VP of player development Andy Green certainly includes not having that “dip” last long. A few years would not be considered an acceptable outcome internally. There is a draft every year, and there is international free agency every year as two mechanisms to add talent to the system. The Mets also need to continue developing prospects the way they have the last couple of seasons.

Specifically, they have excelled in pitching development under vice president of pitching Eric Jagers, especially given that they haven’t signed a first-round pick who was a pitcher since David Peterson. Among the six pitchers ranked in the top 12 of the system, only Sproat and Santucci were picked in the first two rounds. Only McLean was picked in the top three. The Mets have been able to identify the right pitchers to draft and have proven to be able to make them better as professionals.

The hitting development took a stride forward in 2025 under Jeff Albert, who is now on the major league coaching staff. There were breakout years from prospects like Benge, Ewing, and Nick Morabito, as well as bounce back years from Williams and Reimer. That momentum needs to be carried into 2026.

The Mets believe they have the infrastructure in place with their scouting and player development departments to sustain a well-regarded farm year over year. While it is fair to expect the system to dip in some public rankings in the next few months, it should not be for an extended period if they are executing their plan.

Posted on

Sabres Get Massive Night From Thompson In Win Over Habs – And That's What They Need More Of

Tage Thompson (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)
Tage Thompson (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres are back on a win streak, as they beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 Thursday night to win their second straight game and solidify their hold on a Stanley Cup wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. And the Sabres got the best night of the season from star winger Tage Thompson.

Thompson scored a hat trick and added a pair of assists against the Habs, giving him 25 goals and 49 points in 46 games this year. And he’s now on pace for a 45-goal, 87-point season. That would put him close to his career-highs of 47 goals and 94 points, both of which were set in the 2022-23 campaign. And that would be an improvement on the 44 goals and 72 points he generated last year.

"The Big Show"

But nights like the night Thompson had Thursday are the type of clutch performances Buffalo needs if they’re going to earn a playoff berth this season. You always need your best players to lead the way, and Thompson definitely did that against Montreal. And Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is rewarding Thompson with more ice time, as Thompson has averaged between 20-and-22-minutes in each of his past three games. 

Thus, while it’s also important Buffalo gets strong efforts from their supporting cast – and they got that against Montreal, as young winger Josh Doan had a goal and two points – it’s more important that core components like Thompson and star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin lead the way. 

Dahlin logged a game-high 27:39, while veteran blueliner Bowen Byram played 25:05. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is leaning on his top players to get his team in the win column, and those players are rewarding him for the trust he’s putting in them.

Canucks, Jets Veterans Should Be On Sabres' Trade Target ListCanucks, Jets Veterans Should Be On Sabres' Trade Target ListThe Buffalo Sabres need veteran help from the trade market. And acquiring a Winnipeg Jets defenseman and/or a Vancouver Canucks forward would bolster Buffalo's playoff push before the trade deadline.

But Buffalo has to continue getting strong showings from Thompson in particular. He was picked to be on Team U.S.A. at the 2026 Olympics for good reason, and he’s moving into top gear at the right time of the season. And Thompson needs to ride the good vibes of being an Olympian toward peak play by the time the Olympics arrives a few weeks from now.

It wasn’t a coincidence that Thompson’s sub-par season last year was one reason why the Sabres weren’t a playoff team. They only have a limited number of genuine difference-makers, and Thompson is one of them. So as Buffalo continues its playoff push in the second half of the season, they’re going to need Thompson leading the way.

Sabres Are Back On A Win Streak, But Buffalo GM Must Still Make Notable Additions Via TradesSabres Are Back On A Win Streak, But Buffalo GM Must Still Make Notable Additions Via TradesDespite the Buffalo Sabres getting a new win streak going, Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen must acquire veteran talent before the trade deadline to solidify the Sabres' playoff aspirations and address the team's depth. Because standing pat would be a major mistake.

Because if they don’t get strong play from Thompson, the Sabres are likely to slide down the standings and miss the playoffs for a 15th consecutive season. Buffalo’s supporting cast can only do so much, and if Thompson doesn’t put them on his back and carry them into the post-season, there’s going to be bigger conversations about Thompson’s future in Western New York. 

The pressure is on Thompson right now, and it will remain on him the rest of the season. But the good news is nights like Thompson had Thursday night show he’s capable of delivering the results Sabres fans have been desperate for.

Posted on

Top remaining MLB free agents 2026: Best players left after Tucker, Bichette deals

Major League Baseball's free agent season has finally passed the midway point and is headed for home.

With Kyle Tucker's landmark agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets' lightning-strike pivot to Bo Bichette, half of USA TODAY Sports' top free agents at the outset of winter have found homes, including seven of the top 10. Outfielder Cody Bellinger is now the best position player available, and several difference-making starting pitchers can be had.

But time is running out, with spring training camps opening beginning Feb. 10. A ranking of the top remaining free agents, and a look at who's already signed:

(Ages as of April 1)

1. Framber Valdez (32, LHP, Astros)

Not sure if he’ll sniff the Max Fried rent district for lefty starters but it never hurts when you’re literally one of two on the market. Valdez is consistently right around 200 innings, has a championship pedigree and suppresses the home run ball. Not an ideal conclusion to his Houston era, but it’s also easy enough to hand him the ball and set your alarm clock for September.

2. Cody Bellinger (30, OF/1B, Yankees)

Bellinger topped the 150-game mark for the first time since 2019 and had an excellent season his one year in the Bronx – producing 5.1 WAR, hitting 29 homers and playing typically sound defense. Given his health history, there will be some risk wagering on a hale Bellinger for the next five-plus years – but his overall skill set will be difficult to ignore.

3. Zac Gallen (30, RHP, Diamondbacks)

He led the NL in WHIP (0.91) and the majors in fewest hits per nine innings (5.9) in 2022, but regressed to 1.26 and 8.3/8.1 the past two seasons. He was much better once the trade deadline passed, posting a 3.32 ERA in his last 11 starts.

4. Lucas Giolito (31, RHP, Red Sox)

Giolito finally turned the page on a pair of injury-ravaged seasons to make 26 starts and post a 3.41 ERA, enough to comfortably decline his $19 million player option. Giolito completed at least six innings in 15 of his 26 starts, though he missed a playoff outing with elbow soreness.

5. Eugenio Suárez (34, 3B, Mariners)

Forty-nine home runs at age 34: What kind of a price do you put on that? Suarez, a free agent for the first time in his career, is about to find out. Suitors know what they’re getting: Punishing power, a ton of strikeouts, suboptimal defense at third but off the charts on the clubhouse affability index.

6. Chris Bassitt (37, RHP, Blue Jays)

A little high for the reliable righty? Well, consider that there are so few Chris Bassitts out there and this one just completed a three-year, $63 million deal with numbing consistency: 32 starts a year, a 3.89 ERA, nearly six innings per start. He topped that off with a selfless stint in the playoff bullpen, where he gave up one earned run in seven appearances.

7. Max Scherzer (41, RHP, Blue Jays)

He indicated after World Series Game 7 that he hadn’t thrown his final pitch, and he posted often enough in 2025 that the standard one year, $15.5 million deal should still be waiting for him.

8. Justin Verlander (43, RHP, Giants)

Those videos of Verlander and Scherzer playing bridge in the nursing home are gonna be wild 40 or so years from now. For now, though, they’ve got innings in their arms and for Verlander’s sake, hopefully he can find a home that’s both pitcher-friendly but also not totally lacking in run support: His 3.85 ERA resulted in a 4-11 record as he sits on 266 wins.

9. Luis Arráez (28, INF/DH, Padres)

Let the Arráez Rorshach tests begin. Do you see a singles hitter with a league average OPS? Or a magician with elite bat-to-ball skills? A three-time batting champion with three teams? Or a guy who can never justify his lack of slug despite all those one-baggers. Be interesting to see what the market thinks.

10. Nick Martinez (35, RHP, Reds)

More invaluable than his peripherals indicate, Martinez took the ball 82 times over two years in Cincy, including 42 starts, and amassed 6.3 WAR and a steady 3.83 ERA.

11. Jose Quintana (37, LHP, Brewers)

Can we at least spare this man the indignity of nosing around for a job in March?

12. Paul Goldschmidt (38, 1B, Yankees)

Until further notice, he remains a decent right-handed platoon option at first, the Yankees eminently pleased at the 1.2 WAR and clubhouse gravitas he provided.

13. Harrison Bader (31, OF, Phillies)

The man simply seems to get better and more valuable with age. He received $6.25 million from Minnesota last winter, and after a July trade to Philadelphia was perhaps their most valuable player down the stretch.

14. Rhys Hoskins (33, 1B/DH, Brewers)

A bumpy couple of years in Milwaukee, where injuries and the emergence of Andrew Vaughn cut Hoskins out of the fun this past season. He struck out more than once per game as a Brewer but did salvage league-average OPS thanks to his power.

15. Zack Littell (30, RHP, Reds)

Littell completed the transition from swingman to full-fledged starter the past two seasons and this year reached 186 ⅔ innings with Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. Just 130 strikeouts might give suitors pause to believe he can repeat it, but Littell has proven himself as a reliable innings-eater.

16. Seranthony Dominguez (31, RHP, Blue Jays)

Durable and relatively dependable, Dominguez cut his home runs per nine in half this year (1.5 to .7) and landed a high-leverage spot in a playoff bullpen after a trade to Toronto.

17. Tomoyuki Sugano (36, RHP, Orioles)

A tale of three seasons for Sugano, who started strongly, faded badly and then made a mini-comeback to land almost exactly on the definition of "quality start": A 10-10 record and 4.64 ERA. Probably did enough to land another job stateside in 2026.

18. Michael Conforto (33, OF, Dodgers)

Will that beautiful left-handed swing again prove irresistible to a suitor? The Dodgers gambled $17 million that they could turn him into a weapon and he batted .199 and did not make the playoff rosters.

19. Marcell Ozuna (35, DH, Braves)

Last call for the full-time DH? The Braves couldn’t get rid of Ozuna at the trade deadline and now he’ll take his 21 homers to the market. Hit 40 and 39 homers in 2023-24, finishing fourth in NL MVP voting in ’24.

20. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (31, INF, Blue Jays)

Simple though his role may be, there’s simply not many IKFs out there, tasked with catching the ball, running the bases well and possessing the ability to fill in anywhere on the infield.

21. Austin Hays (30, OF, Reds)

Cincy was a solid fit for Hays, who smacked 15 homers in 380 at-bats. Still adept in a right-handed platoon role.

22. Patrick Corbin (36, LHP, Rangers)

Can still eat innings – 155 of ‘em in 2025 – and now with a little less pain, as he shaved his ERA from 5.62 his final year in Washington to 4.40 in Texas.

23. David Robertson (40, RHP, Phillies)

Used to be only Roger Clemens could get away with chilling out for a few months and then hopping aboard a playoff train. Robertson did so to some success in Philly; will he be up for the long haul next spring?

24. Tommy Kahnle (36, RHP, Tigers)

Leaving New York – where he’d posted a 2.38 ERA his past two seasons – was tricky for Kahnle, whose 4.43 ERA was his worst since 2018.

25. Daniel Coulombe (36, LHP, Rangers)

Was better before he got caught up in the Twins fire sale (1.16 ERA in Minnesota, 5.25 in 15 appearances in Texas) but on balance remains one of the most reliable and versatile lefty relief options available.

26. Jakob Junis (33, RHP, Guardians)

All he does is get outs, though the itinerant swingman did see some WHIP inflation (1.230) this past season.

27. Walker Buehler (31, RHP, Phillies)

The arm is too good to give up on, even if the Red Sox had little choice but to do so after posting a 5.45 ERA and 5.89 FIP in 22 starts there. He fared a little better in a two-start look-see with Philadelphia, but he’ll clearly be in a short-term incentive-laden situation in 2025.

28. Jon Gray (34, RHP, Rangers)

His 2025 was a wash, as a fractured wrist in spring training and shoulder neuritis limited him to six appearances.

29. Tyler Anderson (36, LHP, Angels)

Seemed like a quick three years in Anaheim, mercifully, where Anderson posted a good year, not-so-good and a so-so season. He’s coming off the last of those, the biggest bugaboo a career worst 1.8 homers per nine.

30. Miles Mikolas (37, RHP, Cardinals)

A bit of will-he or won’t-he involved with Mikolas, who may retire, though he’s never one to leave any innings on the table. Last year, he ate up 156 ⅓ of them, with a 4.84 ERA.

31. Victor Caratini (32, C, Astros)

A fairly deluxe backup catcher, with a league-average OPS, 12 homers and well-regarded behind the plate.

32. Miguel Andujar (30, INF, Reds)

A nifty revival for the 2018 Rookie of the Year runner-up, as he posted an .822 OPS with the A’s and Reds and positioned himself as a versatile righty platoon bat going forward.

33. Justin Wilson (38, LHP, Red Sox)

About as close to a LOOGY as one can get in this three-batter minimum era, as Wilson tossed 48 1/3 innings in 61 appearances, holding lefties to a .212 average.

34. Mitch Garver (35, C/DH, Mariners)

The bat continues to fade, but Garver did catch 43 games backing up the Big Dumper in Seattle.

35. Scott Barlow (33, RHP, Reds)

A throw-till-you-blow guy and well, Barlow hasn’t blown yet, his 75 appearances always a value to a team needing innings.

36. Martin Perez (34, LHP, White Sox)

Declined the player portion of his mutual option after a flexor strain limited him to 10 starts in 2025.

37. Starling Marte (37, OF, Mets)

His four years of meritorious, if injury-plagued, service in Flushing are over. But Marte should still retain some value as an extra outfielder.

38. Andrew McCutchen (39, OF, Pirates)

He’s not so sure about that open invitation to return to Pittsburgh, but has indicated he’ll run it back one more time, somewhere, in 2026.

39. Brent Suter (36, LHP, Reds)

If only for the post-clinch dance moves. For real, though, Suter never pitched more than 3 ⅔ innings last season but appeared in 1 through 9 at some point. Anytime, anywhere.

Free agent signings, with pre-winter rankings:

1. Kyle Tucker (29, OF, Cubs)

SIGNED: Four years, $240 million with Dodgers, Jan. 15.

2. Bo Bichette (28, SS, Blue Jays)

SIGNED: Three years, $126 million with Mets, Dec. 16.

3. Alex Bregman (31, 3B, Red Sox)

SIGNED: Five years, $175 million with Cubs, Jan. 10.

5. Pete Alonso (31, 1B/DH, Mets)

SIGNED: Five years, $155 million with Orioles, Dec. 10.

7. Kyle Schwarber (33, DH, Phillies)

SIGNED: Five years, $150 million with Phillies, Dec. 9.

8. Dylan Cease (30, RHP, Padres)

SIGNED: Seven years, $210 million with Blue Jays, Nov. 26.

10. Edwin Diaz (32, RHP, Mets)

SIGNED: Three years, $69 million with Dodgers, Dec. 9.

11. Ranger Suárez (30, LHP, Phillies)

SIGNED: Five years, $130 million with Red Sox, Jan. 14.

12. Josh Naylor (28, 1B, Mariners)

SIGNED: Five years, $92.5 million with Mariners, Nov. 16.

13. Shota Imanaga (30, LHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: Accepted $22.025 million qualifying offer from Cubs, Nov. 18.

15. Trent Grisham (29, OF, Yankees)

SIGNED: Accepted $22.025 million qualifying offer from Yankees, Nov. 18.

18. Merrill Kelly (37, RHP, Rangers)

SIGNED: Two years, $40 million, with Diamondbacks.

19. Ha-Seong Kim (30, SS, Braves)

SIGNED: One year, $20 million with Braves, Dec. 15.

20. Robert Suarez (34, RHP, Padres)

SIGNED: Three years, $45 million with Braves, Dec. 11.

22. Gleyber Torres (29, INF, Tigers)

SIGNED: Accepted $22.025 million qualifying offer from Tigers, Nov. 18.

24. Michael King (30, RHP, Padres)

SIGNED: Three years, $75 million with Padres, Dec. 18.

25. J.T. Realmuto (35, C, Phillies)

SIGNED: Three years, $45 million with Phillies, Jan. 16.

26. Raisel Iglesias (35, RHP, Braves)

SIGNED: One year, $16 million with Atlanta, Nov. 19.

32. Mike Yastrzemski (35, OF, Royals)

SIGNED: Two years, $23 million with Atlanta, Dec. 10.

33. Devin Williams (31, RHP, Yankees)

SIGNED: Three years, $51 million with Mets, Dec. 1.

34. Emilio Pagán (34, RHP, Reds)

SIGNED: Two years, $20 million with Reds, Dec. 3.

35. Tyler Mahle (31, RHP, Rangers)

SIGNED: One year, $10 million with Giants, Dec. 31.

38. Tyler Rogers (34, RHP, Mets)

SIGNED: Three years, $37 million with Blue Jays, Dec. 12.

39. Jorge Polanco (32, INF, Mariners)

SIGNED: Two years, $40 million with Mets, Dec. 13.

40. Ryan O’Hearn (32, 1B/OF, Padres)

SIGNED: Two years, $29 million with Pirates, Dec. 23.

42. Kyle Finnegan (34, RHP, Tigers)

SIGNED: Two years, $19 million with Tigers, Dec. 9.

45. Brad Keller (30, RHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: Two years, $22 million with Phillies, Dec. 17.

47. Steven Matz (34, LHP, Red Sox)

SIGNED: Two years, $15 million with Rays, Dec. 8.

48. Ryan Helsley (31, RHP, Mets)

SIGNED: Two years, $28 million with Orioles, Nov. 30.

49. Drew Pomeranz (37, LHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: One year, $4 million with Angels, Dec. 16.

50. Michael Lorenzen (34, RHP, Royals)

SIGNED: One year, $8 million with Rockies, Jan. 7.

52. Danny Jansen (30, C, Brewers)

SIGNED: Two years, $14.5 million with Rangers, Dec. 13.

53. Phil Maton (33, RHP, Rangers)

SIGNED: Two years, $14.5 million with Cubs, Nov. 25.

54. Josh Bell (33, 1B/DH, Nationals)

SIGNED: One year, $7 million with Twins, Dec. 15.

56. Caleb Thielbar (39, LHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: One year, $4.5 million with Cubs, Dec. 16.

58. Shawn Armstrong (35, RHP, Rangers)

SIGNED: One year, $5.5 million with Guardians, Dec. 18.

60. Luke Weaver (32, RHP, Yankees)

SIGNED: Two years, $22 million with Mets, Dec. 17.

67. Mike Soroka (28, RHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: One year, $7.5 million with Diamondbacks, Dec. 8.

69. Sean Newcomb (32, LHP, Athletics)

SIGNED: One year, $4.5 million with White Sox, Dec. 23.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top MLB free agents remaining 2026 after Tucker, Bichette contracts

Posted on

Canadiens Send Two Players Down To Laval

The wait is over, and we finally have a resolution to the goaltending carousel. The Montreal Canadiens have just announced that Jacob Fowler and Owen Beck were being sent down to the Laval Rocket in the AHL.

There has been a lot of speculation over the last few weeks as to which goaltender would be sent back down to the Rocket, but in the end, the Habs’ brass went with the logical solution. Not that Fowler hasn’t been great in the 10 games he has backstopped the Canadiens in, he’s got a 4-4-2 record with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage, but he’s the least experienced goaltender.

Furthermore, the Canadiens have big plans for the youngster, and logic dictates that playing more games will benefit his development. That’s what he’ll get in Laval: a lot of action and not so much of riding the pine behind another goalie. The Florida native can be proud of what he has accomplished in his first stint in the NHL. He gave the electroshock the Canadiens’ goaltending duo needed. A bit of internal competition has never hurt anyone, and he was part of the reason why Samuel Montembeault finally found his form back.

Canadiens Farm Team To Be Well Represented At AHL All-Star Game
Canadiens Outworked And Outperformed By The Sabres
Canadiens: The Curious Case Of Kirby Dach

As for Owen Beck, he’s been the 13th forward since Josh Anderson came back, and the writing was on the wall, especially with the acquisition of Phillip Danault, which really helped the Canadiens’ depth at center.

In 15 games, the 21-year-old center has scored the first goal of his career, and even though that was his only point, he has still done well in a fourth-line role and has a plus-four rating. There’s a limit to what a player can do when he’s only seeing an average of 9:11 of action every night.

The fact that Beck was sent down might indicate that Kirby Dach is finally ready to return. The Canadiens are set to practice at 1:00 PM. We’ll know then if he has joined the team in Ottawa ahead of its duel with the Ottawa Senators tomorrow night.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Posted on

Dirk Nowitzki goes down memory lane with long-time trainer ahead of NBA’s first-ever regular season game in Germany

When Dirk Nowitzki first started playing basketball in Germany, he was a member of DJK Würzburg, a team in Germany’s second-tier division, behind the Bundesliga. It was there that his longtime trainer, Holger Geschwindner, noticed him for the first time.

“The first thing [I noticed] is you had no technical skills,” Geschwindner joked after being asked by Nowitzki during a video segment with Amazon Prime, prompting a laugh from the Mavericks legend as the two jested back and forth.

Nowitzki went on to be one of the greatest players in NBA history, winning league MVP in 2007, an NBA championship in 2011, and scoring over 31,000 points in his career, good for sixth on the all-time leaderboard. He retired after 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks in 2019 and took a job with Amazon Prime’s new NBA coverage team last year.

That job led him to this game, a Thursday matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic, taking place in Berlin, Germany. It’s the first regular-season game in NBA history to be played in Germany following numerous preseason and exhibition games in previous years.

Amazon Prime is covering the game and sent Nowitzki to Germany to cover the game and take a stroll down memory lane with his longtime friend and trainer. Nowitzki and Geschwindner shared memories of their first training sessions as they walked past courts in Germany. Nowitzki remembered having trouble shooting when he first started training with Geschwindner.

“The key is first of all, the ball has to be your friend,” his trainer said. “Shooting only on the fingertips, the most sensitive, and put some pressure at the end.”

Nowitzki told stories of the two sleeping on mattresses on the gym floor. Geschwindner said players often dream of NBA careers and 5-star hotels without doing the work first, so he wanted Nowitzki to start at the bottom and work his way to that level of success.

They discussed the 1998 Nike Hoop Summit where most NBA and college scouts saw Nowitzki for the first time in person.

“The hoop summit completely changed our lives,” Nowitzki said.

The 7-footer played well in the exhibition game and was selected 9th overall in the NBA Draft later that year, but struggled in his first season — a 50-game, shortened season due to a lockout earlier that summer. Nowitzki and his trainer remember all the harsh words that were shared about him during that season, including predictions he’d be back in Germany within a year’s time.

“All the things those top coaches told us, it was garbage,” Geschwindner said in the segment.

He often had Nowitzki doing abnormal drills that focused on balance and footwork. He wanted Nowitzki to be able to do all things on the court.

“Those days, all the big guys had been pretty clumsy,” he said. “The big guys usually had to be responsible for the rebound, but a good basketball team has to have five guys on the floor that can shoot. That’s the reason why we started the Institute for Applied Nonsense.”

Applied nonsense, Geschwinder explained, is the explanation for why they did these drills that most others saw as garbage or useless. They helped make Nowitzki the legend he was. His trainer was always there, every step of the way from the time Nowitzki was 14 on the streets of Germany to his final game in the NBA after 21 grueling seasons.

“Every time I needed you, one phone call and you were here helping me out,” Nowitzki said.