Did someone with the Miami Heat leak LeBron James' decision before he did? The Heat deny it, but in a vacuum of information about where LeBron will play next season and when it will be announced, it took on a life of its own.
Someone with the Heat posted a link to a YouTube stream titled "LeBron James Introductory Press Conference | July 27, 2026" and that quickly took off on social media.
The Miami Heat’s official YouTube channel had LeBron’s introductory press conference scheduled for July 27
The Heat instantly denied it, telling the Miami Herald and ESPN’s Shams Charania that this was simply Miami's social media team preparing for the possibility of LeBron choosing the Heat and they accidentally put the link live for a minute. The Heat deny it has any meaning.
LeBron James going to Miami, joining forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, has reportedly been one of the frontrunner options for the 41-year-old four-time champion and four-time MVP. Cleveland, Philadelphia and Golden State also have been frontrunners at various points, and Minnesota is still in the mix according to reports.
But nobody really knows. LeBron and his agent Rich Paul have kept a tight circle — anyone saying they have a "source" who knows when the announcement is coming or where he is going is just going for clicks. Everyone around the league has guesses — people NBC Sports has spoken to expect Cleveland — but nobody really knows, and if LeBron wants to be somewhere that can compete to win the East Miami is a good bet and a good basketball fit for him.
Brandon product Matt Calvert is heading back to the NHL.
The Nashville Predators have announced that the former big league forward has joined the organization as its new Forward Development Coach, where he'll work closely with the Predators' forward prospects.
Photo by Joe Camporeale/USA Today
Calvert, now 36, played 11 NHL seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche, recording 95 goals and 203 points in 566 career games before retiring in 2021 due to injury.
Prior to his time in the NHL, Calvert made his name as a hometown kid on the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he put up well over a point-per-game in three full seasons of WHL play.
Since ending his playing career, Calvert has served as co-founder and director of recruitment and development for CAL Sports Management, a player agency based out of Winnipeg and Brandon.
The hiring reunites Calvert with Predators' recently hired president of hockey operations and general manager Chris MacFarland, who was part of Colorado's front office during Calvert's time with the Avalanche.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Kevin Alvarez #17 of the Houston Astros runs to second base in the seventh inning during the 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (48-48) won 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Guillemette groundout. Hendrickson started for Sugar Land and pitched well allowing 2 runs over 6 innings while striking out 7. Sugar Land tied it up in the 6th on a Brooks RBI single. The bullpen pitched well keeping the game tied at 2 and in the bottom of the 10th, Biggio walked it off as Sugar Land won 3-2.
Note: Ullola has a 1.47 ERA in relief for Sugar Land.
Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (WIN)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (42-49) lost 7-6 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning scoring 3 runs on an Austin RBI single, an error and a Call solo home run. They got another run in the 4th inning on a Whitaker solo home run. Dombroski started for the Hooks and allowed 3 runs over 4.1 innings. Perez came on in relief in the 8th but struggled allowing 3 runs as the Sod Poodles took the lead. The Hooks got one back in the 8th inning on an Encarnacion RBI single. David allowed a run in the 9th and in the bottom of the 9th, the Hooks got a run on a Call RBI single but that was it as the Hooks fell 7-6.
Jack Dashwood, LHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Railin Perez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (32-57) POSTPONED
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (45-44) won 7-0 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning on an Alvarez solo home run. In the 2nd inning, the offense put up 2 runs on a Newman groundout and Wakefield RBI single. They scored 2 more runs in the 3rd inning on a wild pitch and Fielder RBI single. The offense continued to add on with an Alvarez RBI single in the 4th and Newman sac fly in the 6th. Fraide got the start and pitched well striking out 6 over 5 innings. The game was called in the 6th inning due to rain as Fayetteville won 7-0.
Note: Fraide has a 2.38 ERA this season in Fayetteville.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: A glove and ball in the dugout before the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Without loads of individual brilliance, the player of the day pick was clear with a dominating outing in Single-A.
Player of the day
Will Gagnon was nearly untouchable for the Tower Buzzers, delivering his finest performance to this point, holding the Giants to just three hits on his way to winning the game with a season-high 10 punchouts.
Striking people out was never an issue for Gagnon this season, but limiting the opposition to no free passes came as a surprise, something he had not done since the middle of May.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Waiting until the eighth inning to score all three runs they would in this game certainly didn’t help; nevertheless, the burden of remaining winless this season still falls on the shoulders of Jackson Ferris himself, allowing five runs, four of them earned, in a 7-3 defeat for the Comets.
It is not your day when your leadoff hitter, in this case Alek Thomas, strikes out three times. All the Comets’ scoring came from the bat of Ryan Ward with a three-run shot in the eighth inning.
The River Cats quickly answered with two in the bottom of that frame to keep the last frame drama-free.
Double-A Tulsa
Scoring nine runs, the Drillers’ offense gave the pitching staff a far bigger margin for error than they needed in a 9-2 win, holding the Travelers to a mere three hits the whole game. If Ferris remains winless in Triple-A, Roque Gutierrez knows no other result than a win, earning his seventh with 5.1 scoreless frames, punching out five and walking two.
Producing five hits in nine at-bats with a runner in scoring position, the Drillers offense didn’t even need many extra-base hits for this offensive explosion. Mike Sirota capitalized on the benefits of hitting in front of Kendall George and Josue De Paula with a 2-for-4 performance, driving in a third of his team’s runs.
Outhitting your opponent 12 to 7 doesn’t matter much when you allow a seven-run rally—this is what happened as the Loons were beaten by a score of 9 to 6 by the Lugnuts. A couple of ninth-inning home runs from Charles Davalan and Logan Wagner kept the final score close even if the Loons were not really in it.
Relievers Nicolas Cruz and Justin Chambers were the responsible parties for this seven-run sixth inning that took the Loons out of the game. Starter Sean Patick had a reasonably productive outing, allowing just a pair of runs in five innings of work.
Single-A Ontario
Will Gagnon struck out 10 in six scoreless innings and did so averaging fewer than 12 pitches per frame. With that level of production from its starting pitcher, the Tower Buzzers had to follow through and win this game over the Giants by a final score of 6-2.
There was never anyone on to make these more than solo shots, but leaving the yard three times, the Tower Buzzers scored in five different half-innings. Third baseman Easton Shelton is now one homer away from 30 on the season, responsible for one of those three long balls. One Ontario hitter who didn’t have a good time was Ching-Hsien Ko, striking out four times.
Transactions
Right-handed pitcher Landon Knack was optioned to the Comets, also activating recently acquired reliever Seth Halvorsen. Right-hander Brady Smith was assigned to the Tower Buzzers, while Aidan Foeller was assigned to the Loons.
Tuesday’s scores
Sacramento 7, Oklahoma City 3
Arkansas 2, Tulsa 9
Lansing 9, Great Lakes 6
San Jose 2, Ontario 6
Wednesday’s schedule
12:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Christian Romero) at Sacramento (TBD)
1:00 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at San Jose (TBD)
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Isaac Ayon) at Lansing (Samuel Dutton)
4:35 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Patrick Copen) at Arkansas (Ryan Hawks)
Jul 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Alejandro Osuna (19) celebrates scoring a run with right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images | Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images
Morning, all!
The Rangers have agreed to deals with their top three draft picks and introduced them Tuesday.
Lefty reliever Marco Gonzales has joined the big league club, replacing Jose Corniell who is heading to the IL with a flexor tendon issue.
Kyle Higashioka is also headed to the IL with a flexor tendon issue and will be out for an unspecified amount of time.
And, if that wasn’t enough, Josh Jung exited last night’s game with a left calf injury.
Jung hopes to play in today’s finale against Chicago and says that he wanted to play through it last night.
It’s still unclear whether Corey Seager will be back from his tricky back before the August 3rd trade deadline.
Kumar Rocker and Brandon Nimmo were the heroes in last night’swin over the White Sox.
Rocker threw six innings of one hit ball on 10 days rest, and probably still has some left in the tank as he left the game after only 75 pitches.
For 15 games last season, Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud were part of the group that gave Kings fans something to smile and cheer for with their unique postgame celebrations.
There aren’t many positives that come with a 22-win season, but “The Beam Boys” did their due diligence after the 15 wins at Golden 1 Center. The then-rookie trio of Cardwell, Raynaud and Nique Clifford, and veteran forward Precious Achiuwa, assembled at the center of the G1C court after each home win, sunglasses on and energy up.
It became a wholesome tradition during a season that probably didn’t deserve one.
But The Beam Boys want to be more than a feel-good ritual. They want to impact winning and lead the charge of the cultural makeover in Sacramento.
Cardwell and Raynaud believe that starts with them in Year 2. They want it to.
“I think just the way our team is going right now, we had three young guys last year, we have three more young guys this year, that’s almost half of the team already,” Raynaud told NBC Sports California. “So, if the young guys who, ‘quote, unquote,’ will be the future of the team later on don’t try to buy in and don’t try to set their own culture, we can’t go far. We have a guy that’s been to multiple Final Fours, one championship in college. He knows what it takes to win. And clearly, if you don’t have a self-starter culture, there is no way for you to get it going. Your coaches can only do so much. Your GM can only do so much. We work as a group, and at the end of the day, it’s our responsibility to get it going on the floor, get it going at practice.
“So we just have to be able to set the tone, set that culture, and that is for us, and also for the organization as a whole. The Kings welcomed us with open arms, the city welcomed us with open arms, and that’s also our way to give back.”
After a strong rookie campaign, Raynaud has been viewed as a steal in the 2025 NBA Draft after Scott Perry and Co. snagged him in the second round at No. 42 overall.
With All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis dealing with various injuries last season, Raynaud played 74 games and started 56 for Sacramento. The 7-foot-1 French center averaged 12.5 points on 57.1-percent shooting, with 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.5 minutes.
While Raynaud has been a success story thus far, his team’s 60 losses in his first taste of NBA action weren’t.
But exit interviews with coach Doug Christie, Perry and B.J. Armstrong hope to spark the beginning of the change. The messaging from the Kings’ brass to Raynaud and Cardwell? Be more vocal.
They have taken that to heart, and they aren’t waiting for the 2026-27 season to start to implement their increased leadership roles. It started with NBA summer league. Dinners. Escape rooms. All the crucial off-the-court, team chemistry stuff. But, perhaps more importantly specific to this team, accountability — on the court — has been massive.
DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook were the vocal veterans last season. With DeRozan gone and Westbrook’s future unknown, who is going to step up and fill that void?
“Why not you, Max and Nique?” Cardwell told NBC Sports California as he recalled what Perry told him at his exit interview. But Cardwell’s initial reservation was that they were only entering their second year in the league.
“So what?” Perry responded.
That is all Cardwell and Raynaud needed to hear.
Three months later in Las Vegas, after a blowout Summer League loss to the Brooklyn Nets, an unrecognizable Cardwell called his team “soft” and said they got “punked” while speaking to reporters. The guy known for his high vibes and positive energy looked and spoke like his team just lost Game 7 of a playoff series. But no, it was summer league.
“We’re trying to build something for next year,” Cardwell said after that game.
Yes, it was a summer league game. But that didn’t matter to Cardwell and Raynaud. They are trying to build good habits and maintain them in all games, regardless of severity. California Classic. Summer League. Preseason. It doesn’t matter.
They want to win.
And they want to win in Sacramento. It means more to them.
“That’s what Scott Perry brought us to do,” Cardwell told NBC Sports California. “It’s very rare that a GM in his first year has that many draft picks and brings that many guys in. And his first choices were Nique, Max, and I. We don’t take that very lightly. We know that with us three, that he was trying to build the foundation of what he wants to do, and so we kind of feel like it is our duty, not just to Scott Perry and B.J. Armstrong, but also to the city of Sacramento. Like, hey, like this is this franchise’s next phase of what we’re trying to do, and winning in Sacramento means a lot because obviously you hear about the 16-year drought. Everyone talks about the Beam Team in 2022, 2023, but it’s like, what can we do? What can our group do to help maintain a level of success, playoff success, hopefully Finals success in Sacramento?
“Sacramento is a great city. They’re a very loyal fan base, but we want to contribute to winning. We want to win here, and I don’t want to go anywhere else. It just goes back to we were Scott Perry and B.J. Armstrong’s first choice, and we don’t take that very lightly.”
It is easier for the guys to buy in and play for someone who’s been there and who gets it.
Christie, although inexperienced as an NBA head coach, was a part of some of the most successful and fun Kings teams in Sacramento.
When you walk into his office, you can’t miss the 2001 “The Greatest Show on Court” Sports Illustrated cover. It was the last time consistent success was showcased in Sacramento. The Kings have made one playoff appearance in 20 years. But walking into Christie’s office and looking at that magazine feature is motivation.
“Doug Christie was one of the guys that led these 2000 teams to one of their best runs in the playoffs for the past couple years, and on a personal level, whenever I get to meet in his office at the facilities, there is this one big poster of Sports Illustrated, which is the starting five, and I don’t know, it just inspires me to see guys that have done it in the past,” Raynaud told NBC Sports California. “There has been a drop ever since; I think it would be awesome for us to be able to bring it back a whole generation later. As competitors and as basketball lovers, that’s our duty. So that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Now it’s time to execute the leadership across a full 82-game season. Raynaud and Cardwell have accepted the challenge to lead a rebuilding team.
It won’t happen overnight. It likely won’t happen next season.
But building a sustainable winner is the goal. And The Beam Boys are eager to lead the way.
Mike Gansey hasn’t even been running the Sixers for two months. Yet his first impression could not have been better as the offseason rolls on and we approach a bit of a dead time on the NBA calendar. Of course, we’re all waiting for the big shoe to drop as LeBron James remains an unrestricted free agent. The fact that the Sixers are even one of the reported finalists should speak volumes to Gansey’s ability to clean up what many would have called a salary cap mess upon his arrival.
Gansey’s three primary additions so far were Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons and Labaron Philion. You could lump Dean Wade in there too if you’re optimistic about Wade’s fit in Philadelphia. Gansey’s been busy, but he’s not just making moves to make moves. He’s doing things that should give Sixers fans an optimistic outlook both in the short-term and the long-term.
It goes without saying that adding Brown is an upgrade to Philadelphia’s current starting lineup. The move also makes the franchise’s long-term outlook much brighter with Brown, 30 when the season starts, replacing 36-year-old Paul George. It was always going to be a hard task for Gansey to unload the final two years of George’s contract, but to do so in a trade that brought back Brown should have Sixers fans feeling confident that Gansey can navigate less chummy salary cap waters in the future.
Then there’s the addition of Simons. At 27 years old, Simons signed a two-year deal with the Sixers worth just over $12 million. Simons should take the minutes vacated by the departure of Quentin Grimes and statistically looks like a better player than Grimes was. Gansey was able to cheaply add Simons to the roster in what could be a nice upgrade on the margins. Even if Simons doesn’t play in Philadelphia beyond the duration of this two-year contract, if he’s successful as a Sixer, fans should feel good about Gansey’s ability to make similar cost-effective upgrades to the bench in the future.
Drafting Philon showed another reason for optimism for Sixers fans concerning Gansey’s leadership in the front office. For as easy as it is to look at the current roster heading into a draft and deciding which prospects are the best fits for said roster, we all know that drafting the best player available is a better strategy for long-term sustainability.
Gansey could have prioritized a front court player who would have had a faster pathway to lots of playing time. He could have avoided a guard and dodged the criticism that comes with taking a guard with the top draft asset that came back in the Jared McCain trade. But Gansey must have seen a potential with Philon and the team’s starting guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. He also likely viewed Philon as a player that could make a bigger long-term impact than some of the bigs that he would have selected and that’s what the draft is all about.
While you might not be as bullish on the acquisition of Wade, Gansey had a relationship with Wade from their time together in Cleveland that had to have helped in bringing the veteran forward to Philadelphia. Relationships, no matter how small, are always going to be a part of running a front office and Gansey has already displayed a good ability to maintain previous relationships.
These are all positive signs for the franchise moving forward. A lot of them probably factored into the Sixers getting a seat at the table when it comes to the LeBron James sweepstakes. If they’re in the conversation for LeBron, regardless of how old he is, that’s a sign that the guy in charge of the front office is doing a good job.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 20: Joshua Kuroda-Grauer #44 of the Athletics lays in the batters box after getting hit by a foul ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Chase Field on July 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Wednesday A’s fans!
This afternoon, the Athletics will wrap up a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks before flying to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Twins this weekend.
While there is a chance first baseman Nick Kurtz could return during the second half of this road trip, the A’s will be without hot-hitting rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer for the next several weeks, if not the rest of the season, as he recovers from emergency surgery to repair a ruptured testicle.
It is a significant blow for both the team and the player. JKG’s big-league career was off to a blistering start, with the 23-year-old infielder collecting 25 hits, including his first home run, in 60 at-bats for a .417 batting average.
With Kuroda-Grauer joining fellow infielder Zack Gelof on the shelf, expect Max Muncy and Tommy White to receive playing time at third base over the next several games. Will the A’s defense take a step back with these two less-than-stellar defenders manning the hot corner, or will one—or both—of them impress defensively?
As a result of how the team played going into the All-Star Break, the A’s now face a steep climb back to .500 and playoff contention. As things stand, it seems likely they will do at least some selling ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs and second baseman Jeff McNeil could both be traded, as each can become a free agent at the end of the season if the Athletics decline their club options. Springs has struggled this season, but part of that can be attributed to being a fly ball pitcher in a hitter-friendly home ballpark.
On a team that plays in a more pitcher-friendly environment, Springs could return to the form he displayed last season with the A’s and earlier in his career with the Tampa Bay Rays. At the very least, he could provide value as a bullpen option to neutralize left-handed hitters. Likewise, McNeil could give a contender a valuable utility infielder and veteran bench bat.
There have also been rumblings surrounding the A’s increasingly crowded outfield, as well as catcher Shea Langeliers, who would likely command the biggest prospect return of any A’s player currently mentioned in trade rumors.
With trade season approaching and the club’s 2026 MLB Draft class beginning its professional careers, the Athletics’ farm system is about to receive a fresh infusion of talent. It will be interesting to see how many of those newly drafted players make their professional debuts before the season ends and what levels they’ll be assigned to.
How many A’s players do you think will get traded? Do you think this team still has a realistic chance to turn its season around as the end of July approaches? If so, what needs to happen?
Get well soon, JKG. His injury should remind his teammates and other MLB players to wear cups to help prevent similar injuries. It will also hopefully lead to him no longer swinging at pitches that are about to hit him.
"No balls and one strike"
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer fouled a ball directly off his nuts, then recovered and got a base knock pic.twitter.com/wtFcxBXjKd
Will Mark Leiter Jr.’s latest hip injury change the Athletics’ trade deadline strategy? If so, how aggressive do you think they’ll be when it comes to buying or selling?
Sucks because JKG was playing great.
Also sucks because they can’t flip MLJ for a flier prospect at the deadline.
A’s 2026 first-round pick Drew Burress is already integrating himself with the team.
A’s 2026 first-round pick Drew Burress signed his contract at the A’s Spring Training complex in Arizona and is here today at Chase Field taking batting practice with the team. pic.twitter.com/TyvSK6geGq
We have our cover athletes for NBA 2K27, and once again the three-tier system of NBA star, WNBA star, and recent Hall of Fame inductee is reigning supreme. 2K Sports gave SB Nation an early look at the covers, before releasing them to the world on Wednesday and here’s a full look at both the different designs, as well as what the different versions of the game entail.
Victor Wembanyama (Standard Edition — $69.99)
Base game, launching September 5, 2026
Caitlin Clark (Deluxe Edition — $99.99)
100,000 VC MyCAREER content (25x 6 Types of Skill Boosts, 25x 3 Types of Gatorade Boosts, Victor Wembanyama Jersey, Caitlin Clark Jersey, and a 2HR 2XP Coin.
MyTEAM content (Full ’27: Series 1Team Selection, Triple Threat Park Free Agent Pack, 5x ’27: Series 1 Packs, and a 2HR2XP Coin.
Includes Early Access starting on August 28, 2026, up to one week before worldwide release.
Derrick Rose (Ultra Edition — $149.99)
Includes everything in the Deluxe Edition, plus an additional 35,000 VC.
Season 1 ProPass, and the Summer Season Pass Pro Pass Bundle (Seasons 7–9 Pro Pass, releasing in Summer 2027)
Roses Oversize Hoodie in MyCAREER
Premium SKUMyTEAM Player Cards, which includes a guaranteed 98 OVR card (December 2026) and a guaranteed Invincible card (May 2027).
The decision to make Wemby, Clark, and Rose the cover athletes was explained by 2K
“Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose each come from different worlds, but they share the same obsession that has altered the trajectory of the game,” said Zak Armitage, SVP & GM of NBA 2K. “Wembanyama has broken the mold for what a big man can be and keeps breaking it. Clark is pulling up from the logo, not just redefining what range looks like, but thewomen’s game entirely. And Rose changed what it meant to be a point guard – explosive, physical, unstoppable – and when faced with setbacks, his hunger for the game is what brought him back. None of them have an off switch, and that same relentless drive is what defines NBA 2K27”
The first gameplay trailer for NBA 2K27 will release on July 28.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 21: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
It is the time of year when baseball sites, including Gaslamp Ball, try to predict or look ahead at what could be in store for various teams around MLB. The San Diego Padres have had a confounding 100-plus games this season. At times, the starting pitching appeared to be carrying the team, while at other times it, albeit on fewer occasions, it seemed the offense was carrying the team. This inconsistent play has led the Padres to a game below .500 with a record of 50-51. That is not exactly the position the Friar Faithful hoped to find their favorite team at this point in the season, but it still has San Diego within striking distance of a Wild Card berth.
With that being said, the MLB Trade Deadline is just around the corner on Aug. 3 and the path for the Padres is anything but clear. One thing is for certain; president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller is not one to sit idly by at the deadline. He is always in conversations with various teams around the league about any number of players. Of course, he also listens to offers on his own player, but recent seasons have seen Preller focus on adding to his club.
The 2026 season and deadline may be one of the rare occasions where Preller is forced to sell. It is not something he seems to want to do no matter the situation, but it is something a prudent front office executive will have to do from time to time. Preller may have to part with pieces to build up his minor league system. It has been rumored he could look to move a major player like Mason Miller in hopes that he could attach an albatross contract like Xander Bogaerts in an effort to get some salary relief. However, he also has his top minor league prospect in Ethan Salas who could fetch a fair trade should the Padres convince Preller to go all-in at the deadline.
The Padres Reacts Survey poll question this week on Gaslamp Ball focuses on those two players. Miller is arguably the best player on the San Diego roster and is already rumored to be the crown jewel of the trade season and Salas could be a unicorn as a switch-hitting catcher who is better on defense with his offensive skills steadily improving. It is not hard to imagine Miller or Salas being moved in a trade and they could be moved for very different reasons. Who has the most value? Miller or Salas. Which player, if traded, would be more difficult to lose? There is nothing set in terms of how Preller will approach the deadline but these questions may become very real very fast depending on the remaining games before the deadline.
Brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
Jul 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Marco Gonzales delivers a pitch to the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images | Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images
Good morning friends and happy Wednesday!
The Mariners failed to get their offense going last night against Chase Burns and the Reds, dropping the middle match 4-2.
How have you felt watching Eugenio Suárez find success during this series? I can’t help but be happy for him, even if I think letting him walk was the right decision for Seattle.
The Angels are reportedly keeping an open line with teams regarding top controllable players including shortstop Zach Neto and starting pitchers Reid Detmers and José Soriano.
The Angels fired a pro scout who calls himself “The Baseball Spy” after he was caught filming Rockies coaches with his phone while in the stands. Brittany Ghiroli and Sam Blum at The Athletic have the report. ($)
Longtime ESPN baseball announcer Karl Ravech was laid off from the company just hours after calling his last game for them.
Yankees ace left-hander Max Fried will be activated from the injured list today to make his start against the Pirates. Fried has been on the shelf since mid-May with a bone bruise in his throwing elbow.
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Nearly everyone got involved in this offensive eruption.
Angel Genao led the way, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two walks.
Cooper Ingle also reached base safely four times, going 2-for-4 with two walks, as did Kody Huff, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and two walks.
George Valera went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks and Milan Tolentino went 2-f0r-4 with a home run and a walk. Juan Brito blasted a three-run home run and Bo Naylor went 2-for-6. Alfonsin Rosario doubled and Ralphy Velazquez walked twice and was hit by a pitch.
Starting pitcher Trenton Denholm was rock solid, allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 5.1 innings to earn the win.
Steven Perez and Daniel Espino were both superb out of the bullpen. Perez tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and Espino had a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout. Tanner Burns pitched around a solo home run to close out the win in his return from the injured list.
Tim Herrin’s rehab outing did not go smoothly. The southpaw was used as the opener Tuesday and he was lit up for three runs on two walks and a hit while only getting one out.
Offensively, Angel Martinez continues to perform well in his rehab assignment. This time, he blasted a home run and a double in four plate appearances.
Nolan Schubart went 2-for-4 with a walk while Jacob Cozart went 2-for-5 with a home run.
Jose Devers and Christian Knapczyl added doubles.
Matt Jachec impressed out of the bullpen with 2.0 scoreless innings. Cam Walty also had a scoreless apppearance.
Lake County looked like it had this one in the bag after jumping out to a 6-0 lead, but Michael Kennedy thought otherwise.
Harrison Bodendorf was tremendous in his High-A debut, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, one walk and two hits allowed.
Kennedy was fine finishing the fifth inning, but then he gave up a run in the sixth, another in the seventh, three more in the eighth before allowing the tying run to score in the ninth. Conner Zsak then allowed the walk-off winner.
Offensively, Juneiker Caceres had his best game since being promoted to High-A, going 3-for-5 with a triple.
Tommy Hawke walked three times and stole a pair of bases. Jonah Advincula singled, walked twice and stole two bases as well and Welbyn Francisca went 2-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base while catcher Ty Howard singled and walked twice.
The lone position player left behind at High-A from last year’s draft class, first round pick Jace LaViolette showed there was a reason he didn’t get promoted to Akron by going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 18: Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics hits a three RBI double during the bottom of the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Sutter Health Park on July 18, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If your offense is struggling, you know what they say, “Trade for another catcher.”
You can view our larger trade deadline piece here as we discuss a wider pool of options the Guardians may consider. To make my position clear, I expect the Guardians to make smaller moves, like trading Bo Naylor and getting a castoff/undervalued reliever. But, in the interest of exploring potential larger moves, we are doing a series looking at some of those bigger names. So far, we have discussed Spencer Steer and Luis Arraez. Today, we look at Sacramento Athletics’ star hitter, Shea Langeliers.
I am about to bury the lede about Langeliers, so let’s talk about his hitting. He has a 111 wRC+ for his career, 123 wRC+ this season with a .359 xwOBA, with a 129 wRC+ for his career vs LHP and 105 wRC+ vs. RHP. He offers a lot of slugging as part of his offensive profile, with his slugging percentage over .500 for the last two seasons. Langeliers has been reported to have turned down a contract extension with the A’s and is only under team control through 2028 while about to turn 29 years old by the end of the season.
Why would the Guardians acquire a catcher, you may ask? Langeliers is not a good defensive catcher by the metrics with -30 Defensive Runs Saved and -32 Fielding Runs Value for his career. He appears to be having his best defensive season, currently, and will almost certainly resist being asked to move positions. If a team wants to acquire Langeliers as a starting catcher, I suspect they will beat any offer Cleveland makes. I think Cleveland would try to move Langeliers into a part-time catcher role, working on teaching him first base and having him DH. One potential selling point for Langeliers might be the way to prolong his career and increase his offensive output may be to play catcher less often and add first base defense to his toolbox. Langeliers isn’t a good pitch framer but this skill is not as important with ABS challenges instituted (and full ABS likely not far behind).
Admittedly, just like with most right-handed hitters, Langeliers’ home run output would be affected by the 19-foot wall at Progressive Field. His career 110 homers would be more like 93 with Cleveland as his home part according to Baseball Savant, but that still amounts to around 27 home runs in a season of full-time at-bats here. There simply aren’t many right-handed hitters out there who wouldn’t see some homers turned into doubles with Cleveland as their home park.
I can’t say I see Cleveland expending more resources on acquiring a catcher with defensive questions, given that they just traded for Patrick Bailey. However, on the outside chance that Langeliers indicates willingness to move positions, I am offering this potential trade for your consideration. To get Langeliers, I believe it would require one of the Guardians’ top prospects in Angel Genao, Ralphy Velazquez, Juneiker Caceres or Braylon Doughty. I am not here to tell you that Cleveland SHOULD part with one of those or to choose which one, but I am willing to say that Langeliers is one of those rare right-handed sluggers for whom I would consider such a move, especially as I do think his hitting will improve if he is not wearing his body down with catching. In my mind, this opportunity is a chance to get in on a “Willson Contreras”-type hitter early, if Langeliers is open to moving positions/playing DH more full-time. I would like the Guardians to consider their DH role less as a way to get players off their feet (give them more days off, instead) and use that lineup spot to find an actual slugger. So few sluggers are available but I do believe Langeliers will be available… for a healthy return of prospects for the young and constantly rebuilding/retooling A’s.
A post-Langeliers trade lineup might look like: 1. Kwan CF 2. Jose 3B 3. DeLauter RF 4. Langeliers DH 5. Manzardo 1B 6. Rocchio SS 7. Martinez LF 8. Hedges C 9. Bazzana 2B
Let me know what you think about this slightly unorthodox trade target for the Guardians in the comments below!
TORONTO, ON - JULY 21: Cedric Mullins #31, Jonny DeLuca #21, Taylor Walls #6 and Ben Williamson #15 of the Tamp Bay Rays celebrate after winning the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Colton Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Yankees and Pirates weren’t the only teams to get washed out of play on Tuesday night. In addition to numerous minor-league postponements, the only thing that could apparently stop the streaking Red Sox in their path was the rain. Like the Yankees, they will have a day/night doubleheader on deck today against the Orioles, during which Boston will attempt to tie and then break their franchise record of 14 consecutive wins; Ted Williams’ 1946 pennant-winning club had 15 in a row. The long All-Star break couldn’t slow them down, but maybe the O’s and a minimum 18-inning day can.
Here’s what else was going on around the American League on July 21st.
Tampa Bay Rays (58-42) 12, Toronto Blue Jays (46-55) 2
The Rays added a half-game to their AL East lead on the idle Yankees (2) and Red Sox (6.5) by crushing the collapsing Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Toronto went 54-27 at home during their pennant-winning season last year; they’ve already lost more home games in 2026 (29) before August than they did in all of 2025. The Jays fans booed through the team’s sixth loss in seven games and 16th in 23 since the start of play on June 23rd. No matter how you slice it, it’s been an immensely frustrating year for John Schneider, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and company. Regression is a force.
Because the Blue Jays are falling apart, former ace Kevin Gausman could very well be making his final starts with them. His five-year contract ends after 2026, so if they’re going nowhere, then they will see what they can get for him. If Tuesday was meant to be an audition, then he was certainly off key. Gausman won a 12-pitch battle with Yandy Díaz to lead off the ballgame and got the next batter before running into two-out trouble. Junior Caminero walked, Cedric Mullins doubled, and Jonny DeLuca singled them both in with a flare to right. He swiped second and scored himself on a Chandler Simpson single, granting the Rays a quick 3-0 lead.
The score stayed there until the fourth, when the grinding Gausman departed after recording just 10 outs on 90 pitches, allowing nine hits and two walks. He also had five runs on his record, as a Díaz single and Caminero walk not only ushered his departure but preceded both coming around to score due to a throwing error on catcher Brandon Valenzuela and DeLuca’s second RBI knock.
Although Drew Rasmussen wasn’t particularly dominant for Tampa Bay, he did throw five innings of two-run ball, not allowing any Jays to dent home plate until the score was already 8-0, Rays. Batterymate Nick Fortes got in on the fun with a three-run smash off rookie Lazaro Estrada that really got the boos going. The Rays piled on in the ninth due to the Patrick Corbin Experience, Fortes driving in another and Yandy delivering the haymaker with a three-run shot of his own.
Toronto is six games behind Boston in the Wild Card race, and there are five teams ahead of them. The writing may be on the wall.
Cleveland Guardians (54-48) 5, Minnesota Twins (49-53) 2: The surprising Twins are one of those teams between Boston and Toronto in the Wild Card chase, but they may be running out of steam as well. They’ve now come out of the All-Star break with four consecutive losses, now trailing the Red Sox by 3.5 games and the AL Central leaders by five. Cleveland moved into a virtual tie atop the division with an unexciting-but-clean home win behind 5.2 quality innings from Parker Messick and a well-rounded showing on offense. Because this game was not a thriller, I’m just going to show something that should interest Yankees fans: Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers’ first-inning solo shot.
Texas Rangers (51-50) 10, Chicago White Sox (53-47) 0: Kumar Rocker still hasn’t had the kind of season that was once expected from him as a top-10 draft pick by both the Mets and Rangers. But he had it working last night in Texas, as the 26-year-old blanked the Pale Hose on one hit, two walks, and six strikeouts in six innings. The Rangers’ offense obliterated Noah Schultz, led by Brandon Nimmo’s first-inning homer that began a four-hit night for him, as well as a two-run clout from Wyatt Langford against Tyler Schweitzer. Amusingly, 10-year veteran Marco Gonzales returned from Baseball Siberia to record a three-inning save in his first MLB appearance since August 7, 2024. Texas is a half-game up on Seattle in the AL West; the only downside from Tuesday was leadoff hitter Josh Jung departing early with calf tightness, though the Rangers hope that it will be minor.
Seattle Mariners (51-51) 2, Cincinnati Reds (46-54) 4: The team that the Jays defeated in a dramatic seven-game ALCS is not having as bad a follow-up, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a Mariners fan happy with how 2026 is going. The AL West is awful with those aforementioned Rangers leading at exactly one win above .500 and the M’s have still failed to ever take control. All of their top four hitters went hitless last night at the hands of the admittedly-good (and extended) Chase Burns, and old friend Eugenio Suárez woke up from his own nightmare 2026 with a homer off Burns’ ace predecessor in Cincy, Luis Castillo. Elly De La Cruz had led off the day with a homer against Castillo, and Nathaniel Lowe added a solo shot in the ninth for some insurance after some Julio Rodríguez yardwork.
Lastly, here is your unrelated moment of zen, brought to you by whatever the damn hell J.T. Realmuto was thinking at the end of this Dodgers/Phillies game.
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 23: Yordano Ventura #30 of the Kansas City Royals reacts as he walks to the dugout after being pulled in the sixth inning while taking on the Toronto Blue Jays in game six of the 2015 MLB American League Championship Series at Kauffman Stadium on October 23, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s hard to believe that this coming January will mark ten years. I remember when I heard the news. It hit me like a slug hitting a deer. I had to sit for a few minutes, reading and re-reading the story. My brain refused to believe that the news was true, but eventually reality set in.
All of us have different memories and reactions to the death of Yordano Ventura. Things we know for certain: he had one of the best arms the Royals ever signed and developed. His stuff was electric. He had a fiery attitude that we loved and opponents often hated. He had his share of dustups, notably with Mike Trout, Manny Machado, Jose Bautista, and the entire roster of the Chicago White Sox. There was also a tiff with Brett Lawrie that looked personal. Even when he was in the wrong, we stood behind him because he was our guy.
I loved the way he would swing his right leg around after delivering one of his blazing fastballs.
We felt like he was just starting to tap into his massive potential. Then he was gone way too soon.
His postseason appearances were must-see TV. Ned Yost unwittingly used him as a reliever in the 2014 Wild Card Game, which ended in a spectacular blowup. He was brilliant against the Angels in the Division Series, tossing five-hit ball over seven shutout innings. He threw 95 pitches in that game. Twenty-two of those pitches reached 100 mph or more. When you add in his devastating curveball, well, sometimes there’s just no chance for the hitter. He was brilliant against the Giants in the World Series, allowing just two runs in 12.1 innings of work.
He could be wildly inconsistent. He scuffled against Houston in the 2015 Division Series, allowing six runs in seven innings over two starts. The Mets tagged him for five runs in just 3⅓ innings during his only start of the 2015 World Series. Despite that, the Royals always had a chance when Ventura was on the mound.
Ventura’s start with the Royals is the stuff of baseball legend. Sometimes I wonder what it must be like to be an international baseball scout. You look over a dusty field and see poor kids playing ball. Many do not have gloves. Some play barefoot. They play because they love the game. Once in a blue moon, you see something that catches your eye: a live arm or the sound of some kid hitting bombs. You stop to investigate and see whether the youngster has potential.
Ventura was one of those kids. He quit school at the age of 14 and went to work for a construction company. He eventually enrolled in the Royals Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic after being scouted by Pedro Silverio and Rene Francisco. The Royals scouts saw something in that thin frame and electric arm.
Ventura signed with the Royals at the age of 17, then spent the next 18 months training at the Academy, learning baseball fundamentals under the watchful eye of Academy Director Victor Baez.
Former general manager Dayton Moore absorbed a lot of criticism on this site, but one thing he did early in his tenure was revive the Royals’ flagging Latin American operations.
By 2011, the Royals assigned Ventura to Class A Kane County. Everyone agreed that he had star potential but needed to harness both his emotions and that arm. He made 19 starts, covering 84 innings, to the tune of a 4.27 ERA. Decent numbers, but hardly anything that made you stand up and take notice.
This started a quick progression up the Royals’ minor league ladder. He started 2012 at Wilmington, where he made the Carolina League All-Star team. That prompted a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. In 2013, the Royals moved him to Triple-A Omaha.
The Royals rewarded him with a late-season call-up in September 2013. Ace made his major league debut on September 17 against Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium. Ventura got the start and was terrific, scattering five hits over 5.2 innings while allowing just one run. He left with the Royals leading 3-1.
The Royals’ 2013 bullpen was solid, especially compared to the 2026 version, so you had to feel good about their chances to hold on for the win. Will Smith got the final out of the sixth.
Kelvin Herrera came on and coughed up two runs in the seventh to tie the game.
Wade Davis pitched the eighth and gave up a walk and a double to give the Indians a 4-3 lead. Luke Hochevar, not wanting to be left out of the destruction, handled the ninth and surrendered a long home run to Michael Bourn to make the final score 5-3, Cleveland.
2026 Royals fans can relate to that sequence.
Ventura was in Kansas City for good in 2014, posting a 14-10 record over 183 innings with a sparkling 3.20 ERA. It could have been even better. Five of those losses came in one-run games. The Royals went 19-12 in games Ventura started. You could see him beginning to figure things out.
2015 brought similar results: a 13-8 record over 163 innings. His ERA ticked up to 4.08, but his stuff was as good as ever. Then came the postseason and the World Series championship. Ventura was still just 24.
2016 had to be a bit of a disappointment for him. He made a career-high 32 starts and threw a career-high 186 innings, but his record slipped to 11-12, and his ERA climbed again, this time to 4.45. The Royals missed the playoffs but felt like they had the pieces to make it back in 2017.
On January 22, 2017, everything changed.
Ventura, driving a Jeep Wrangler, lost control and rolled over on a curve near the town of Juan Adrián in the Dominican Republic. He was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. There were unconfirmed and disturbing reports that he was found alive, and that his body was later looted, including the theft of his World Series ring.
Ventura’s death was another in a long line of tragedies involving Dominican players. Former Royals pitcher Ambiorix Burgos ran over and killed two women there in 2010. Jose Oliva, Rufino Linares, Jose Uribe, Jairo Capellán, Andy Marte, Andújar Cedeño, and Oscar Taveras all perished in automobile accidents in the Dominican Republic. Andy Marte died on the same day as Yordano. In a strange twist of fate, Marte’s final major league at-bat came as a pinch hitter against the Royals—a strikeout by Greg Holland. Yordano made the start in that game.
For all its natural beauty, the Dominican Republic has the highest traffic-related death rate in the Western Hemisphere at 30 per 100,000 people.
His death was a tremendous shock to the organization and its fans. Ventura had just signed a five-year, $23 million extension after the 2014 season. Those closest to him talked about how focused he was on the 2017 season. He had begun working on adding a cutter to his arsenal. He seemed like he was maturing. He was still just a young man living in a foreign country, trying to figure out his place in the world. He had a huge heart and a soft spot for children, often making unannounced visits to pediatric cancer wards and children’s softball and baseball games.
The saddest part about losing someone so young is the questions you can never answer. Would Ventura have harnessed his immense potential and become a full-blown star? Would he have remained a Royal for the entirety of his career? Instead of mourning his death, would we have been discussing his pending retirement and his place in Royals history?
He was survived by his spouse, Maria del Pilar Sangiovanni. The couple had just married in 2016.
