Bo Bichette is projected to slash .294/.339/.445 (121 OPS+), while Jorge Polanco is projected to hit .253/.327/.446 (118 OPS+).
As far as Marcus Semien, who is coming off two down seasons, he is projected to bounce back a bit and be literally a league average hitter (100 OPS+).
The projections are bullish on Juan Soto, with him slashing .271/.408/.524 (163 OPS+) with 37 home runs, 103 RBI, and 109 runs scored.
Francisco Lindor (123 OPS+) and Francisco Alvarez (112 OPS+) are also projected to have strong offensive campaigns.
STARTING ROTATION
Traditionally, the ZiPS projections for innings totals and ERA for starting pitchers can skew conservative, and that's reflected a bit in the Mets' numbers.
Freddy Peralta (3.87 ERA/9.7 K/9), Clay Holmes (3.90 ERA), and Nolan McLean (3.94 ERA) are all projected to have sub-4 ERAs.
A bounce back is projected for Kodai Senga (3.82 ERA) but not Sean Manaea (4.51 ERA).
Top prospect Jonah Tong is projected to have a 4.07 ERA while striking out 10.1 per nine.
BULLPEN
A big season is projected for closer Devin Williams, with a 3.14 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 57.1 innings (a rate of 12.4 per nine).
Luke Weaver is projected to have a 4.30 ERA, with solid seasons in the cards for A.J. Minter (3.53 ERA) and Brooks Raley (3.79 ERA).
Luka Doncic and the Lakers make the long trip to Inglewood to take on James Harden and the Clippers tonight.
The Lakers are coming off a 115-107 win in Denver Tuesday night against the Nuggets. Doncic was dominant scoring 38, pulling down 13 rebounds and handing out 10 assists to lead LA to their second straight win. LeBron James added 19 points and Marcus Smart chipped in 15. The Clippers’ six-game winning streak was snapped Tuesday night when the Bulls routed them in Chicago, 138-110. It was the second half of a back-to-back for the Clips who could not overcome the absence of Kawhi Leonard (ankle/knee). James Harden had 24 points in the loss.
After starting the season 6-21, the Clippers are 13-3 in their last 16 games. That run has moved them from the cellar out West to tenth place and a spot in the play-in game. The Lakers are 5-5 in their last ten games but still sit tied for first with the surprising Phoenix Suns in the Pacific Division.
This matchup boils down to the Clippers’ commitment to defend against the Lakers’ offense. Over their last 16 games, the Clippers are allowing just 108 points per game. The Lakers do not play much defense but are efficient on offense averaging nearly 117 points per 100 possessions (No. 7 in the NBA).
This is the third meeting of the season between these teams. The Clippers took the most recent encounter, winning 103-88 on December 20. The Lakers outscored the Clips on November 25, 135-118.
Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Lakers at Clippers
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Time: 10PM EST
Site: Intuit Dome
City: Inglewood, CA
Network/Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
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Game Odds: Lakers vs. Clippers
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers (-108), Los Angeles Clippers (-112)
Spread: Clippers -1.5
Total: 223.5 points
This game opened Lakers -1.5 with the Total set at 223.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Lakers at Clippers
Lakers
PG Luke Doncic
SG Marcus Smart
SF Jake LaRavia
PF LeBron James
C Deandre Ayton
Clippers
PG James Harden
SG Kris Dunn
SF Kawhi Leonard
PF John Collins
C Ivica Zubac
Injury Report: Lakers at Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Austin Reaves (calf) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Adou Thiero (knee) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard (knee) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) is OUT for tonight’s game
Derrick Jones (knee) is OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Lakers at Clippers
The Clippers are 11-9 at home this season
The Lakers are 14-8 on the road this season
The Clippers are 20-23 ATS this season
The Lakers are 23-19 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 25 of the Lakers’ 42 games this season (25-17)
The OVER has cashed in 21 of the Clippers’ 43 games this season (21-22)
The season series is tied at 1 game apiece
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Lakers and Clippers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Clippers on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Clippers -1.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 223.5
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It feels increasingly likely that MacKenzie Gore will be on the Nationals Opening Day roster. Those odds only went up when the Mets swung a trade for Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. The teams desperate to make a move for a starting pitcher are decreasing by the day. With that in mind, it really feels like MacKenzie Gore will be getting the ball on Opening Day.
BREAKING: The New York Mets have acquired All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is done. Top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat are headed to Milwaukee. One more big league pitcher will head to the Mets.
This offseason I have been mostly operating under the assumption that Gore would be dealt. The southpaw only has two years of team control remaining, and the Nats seem unlikely to be true contenders in the next two years. Gore is also a Scott Boras client, making an extension unlikely.
When you consider these factors, not trading Gore feels like a risk. Pitchers come with more injury risk than ever these days. Tommy John Surgery looms like a dark cloud for pitchers. If Gore suffers a major injury, his value would be gone. However, Paul Toboni appears willing to run that risk.
There is some payoff to keeping Gore. If he has a strong first half, his trade value could increase at the deadline. It is also possible that the Nats surprise some folks, though I do not think Toboni is counting on that. For me, holding on to Gore just feels like a big risk.
Teams have had a clear appetite for starting pitchers on the trade market this offseason. Shane Baz, Edward Cabrera and Freddy Peralta have all gotten impressive returns. Peralta is the best pitcher of the group, but only has one year of control. That did not stop the Mets from giving up multiple top 100 prospects.
One of my favorite analysts Lance Brozdowski wondered if that package would have been enough to get Gore. A package of Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat certainly would have excited me. Sproat is a high floor arm that should be a middle of the rotation piece. Williams is a potential spark plug at the top of a lineup.
Ok, hear me out, but how far off was a Jett Williams + Brandon Sproat package from getting MacKenzie Gore? 🤔
Most baseball fans, including myself, see Peralta as a much better pitcher than Gore. He is certainly more proven, with multiple All-Star appearances and a top 5 finish in NL Cy Young voting last year. Brozdowski actually said he thinks they project similarly in 2026, which really surprised me.
If you look at some of the advanced numbers, you start to see his point though. Over the last two seasons, Gore has a FIP of 3.64, while Peralta’s FIP sits at 3.90. Peralta had a 2.70 ERA with a 3.64 FIP last year, while Gore had a 4.17 ERA with a 3.74 FIP. It sure seems like Peralta is a regression candidate. I would take Peralta next year, but it is closer than I first thought.
With the Mets out of the Gore sweepstakes and February approaching, it sure feels like MacKenzie Gore will remain a Nat. There have been multiple reports that the asking price for Gore is sky high. Yankees reporter Jack Curry said the Bronx Bombers have discussed Gore, but have been turned off by the asking price.
The Yankees have spoken with the Brewers and Nationals regarding Freddy Peralta and MacKenzie Gore, but the prices remain extremely high, according to @JackCurryYES. pic.twitter.com/aYyHSEHa9K
This report came out a couple days ago, which is interesting. The Yankees traded for Marlins lefty Ryan Weathers about a week ago. I thought that trade would take them out of the mix for Gore. However, this does not appear to be true. Gore has proven to be much more durable than Weathers, so it seems like the Yankees want more of a sure thing.
The Yankees were also rumored to be in on Peralta, so Gore could be the fallback option. However, they don’t have that much incentive to move off their demands, given the fact they have Weathers already.
Other potential suitors include teams like the Giants and the A’s. Prying first baseman Bryce Eldridge away from the Giants would be a dream scenario. The Nats desperately need first base help and Eldridge is a local product. It does not seem like the Giants have put him on the table though because that deal would have probably happened already if he was.
The A’s are a team that has intrigued me for a while. They have a playoff caliber lineup, but a weak rotation. Gore would give them an arm with top of the rotation upside, something they do not currently have. He also fits within their budget as well. They have plenty of young talent for the Nats to choose from as well.
However, I don’t think we will see a Gore trade this winter anymore. I was confident it would happen, but as we get closer to Spring Training without a deal, it feels less likely. Personally, I think the Nats should trade him, but I understand not wanting to settle. Paul Toboni is taking a risk here, but it is one that could pay off.
We’re struggling to remember the last time a Sam Hauser 3-pointer touched anything but the net. It certainly didn’t happen on Wednesday night against Indiana, with all five of Hauser’s triples finding nothing but twine.
Hauser has made 25 3-pointers in his last five games. Consider this: There are 279 players in the NBA who haven’t made 25 3-pointers all season. Yes, Hauser has more 3-pointers in a week than half the league has made in half of the season.
Still, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for Hauser in 2025-26. He came into the new campaign as a starter on a robust $10 million per year extension, but got shuffled to the bench after three games due in large part to Boston’s rebounding woes. Hauser’s shot was off at times to start the season, and his minutes dipped below even his average on Boston’s recent talent-surplus teams.
Even in those moments, Hauser was a positive for the Celtics when he was on the court. But now his shot is falling, and he’s given an already-potent offense another jolt while shuffling back to the starting role.
Let’s crunch the numbers on all the ways that Hauser is helping Boston thrive when he’s on the court:
The turnaround
Let’s get the shooting discussion out the way. After some woes to start the season — at least by his lofty, above-40 percent-on-3-pointers standards — Hauser has found his groove over the last 16 games. Just look at the spikes in his scoring and shooting efficiencies:
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Most notable: Hauser was shooting 32.1 percent on all pull-up 3-pointers through the first 26 games. He’s up to a sizzling 52.4 percent over his last 16 games.
Catch and shoot will always be Hauser’s bread and butter — and even that percentage jumped 12.8 percent to 47.2 percent in his last 16 games — but he’s creating all sorts of quality attempts lately, including some sneaky moments where he puts the ball on the floor and ventures inside the arc.
Nothing but net for starters
The Celtics’ starting five featuring Hauser is outscoring opponents by a whopping 19.2 points per 100 possessions over 149 minutes of floor time this season.
Among the 40 five-man lineups in the league with at least 100 minutes played this season, Boston’s starters rank fourth in net rating behind only lineups from Oklahoma City, Denver, and — surprisingly — Charlotte.
Narrow that down to the 25 lineups with 120+ minutes this season, and Boston’s starting five vaults to second in net rating, trailing only the Denver starters when Nikola Jokic was healthy.
The Celtics rank second in the NBA in offensive rating this season at 121.3, trailing only the Nuggets (121.5).
Quick decisions, good ball security
Hauser is a perfect fit for the starting group in part because his presence forces defenders to stay attached and creates space for teammates. What’s more, he makes quick decisions and takes care of the basketball.
The stat crunchers at BBall Index note that Hauser ranks 74th out of 513 NBA players this season in quick-decision pass percentage, with 86 percent of his touches lasting 0.5 seconds or less. Hauser ranks 57th out of 513 players while committing 1.75 turnovers per 100 touches.
His bad-pass turnovers have crept up a bit this season, but he’s routinely valued the ball throughout his career and is a willing ball-mover when he doesn’t have a quality look.
It’s still comical to watch players trip all over themselves trying to go at Hauser in isolation. Hauser routinely competes in those situations, all while avoiding fouls by keeping his hands up. In fact, the numbers suggest he’s been the best isolation defender on the team this season.
Opponents are averaging 0.68 points per play in isolation against Hauser this season, the best mark of the 10 Boston players who have defended enough possessions to qualify. Opponents are shooting 28 percent in those instances and turn the ball over on 11.8 percent of those possessions. Hauser ranks in the 89th percentile among all isolation defenders.
Overall, the NBA’s tracking data suggests that opponents are shooting 0.7 percent below expected output when Hauser is the nearest defender. That’s another solid number considering the variety of players Hauser defends.
On Wednesday night against Indiana, Hauser spent multiple turns on Pascal Siakam. He had one excellent isolation stop early in the game, then got beat off the dribble later in the game and committed a tough and-one foul.
Still, Hauser commits fouls on just 2.3 percent of his team’s plays, which is an elite number for a player routinely tasked with defending an array of wings and bigs. What’s more, he commits shooting fouls on a mere 7.4 percent of his contested shots, which ranks in the 89th percentile for his position.
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Sam Hauser has been one of the Celtics’ best isolation defenders this season despite routinely drawing tough matchups.
Cleaning the glass
Hauser also quietly does a nice job on the glass. His defensive rebound percentage is up to 14.6 this season, which would be the best full-season mark of his career.
Boston grabs 69.8 percent of available defensive rebounds with Hausers on the court this season, the third-best mark on the team behind only centers Luka Garza (72.0) and Neemias Queta (70.2).
Final thoughts
While Hauser’s reputation hinges heavily on his shotmaking abilities, he continues to find ways to positively impact the Celtics beyond scoring.
In a league where shooters with other skills are some of the most valuable commodities, Hauser is a true luxury, particularly while accounting just for 6.5 percent of the cap this season, even as his extension kicks in.
With the NBA trade deadline lingering, and the Celtics having only a limited amount of tradable contracts, Hauser’s name will invariably be floated at times. The last few weeks have been a firm reminder of how valuable he is to this team and its quest to return to title contender status.
Hopefully David Stearns and his wife had an early anniversary dinner Wednesday night.
Brewers president Matt Arnold claimed the two pals completed their blockbuster Freddy Peralta trade on the day of the Mets president of baseball operations’ wedding anniversary to his wife, Whitney Ann Lee.
“He knows the players well. He and I have worked very well together for many years. Obviously care about him a lot,” Arnold said, according to the Journal Sentinel. “(Wednesday)’s his anniversary and I was at his wedding. We go back a long way. I think I might have ruined his anniversary dinner. He’s a dear friend and hopefully these are the types of trades that work out for both sides.”
David Stearns and his wife, Whitney Ann Lee. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The life of a baseball partner can be difficult due to the long hours and the never-ending season and offseason, with holidays, anniversaries and birthdays sometimes coming second.
Stearns and Lee married in 2017, when he was the Brewers’ general manager, and they have at least one child together, daughter Nora, born in 2018.
We assume that Arnold and Stearns had made plenty of progress before finally pushing this trade past the finish line Wednesday night.
The Mets needed a frontline pitcher and acquired Peralta, who posted a career-best 2.70 ERA spanning 33 starts last year.
Peralta has one year left on his contract, and the Mets capitalized on Milwaukee’s small-market operation that largely prevents them from signing star players to nine-figure contract extensions.
That’s not to say Peralta came cheap.
Brewers general manager Matt Arnold. AP
The Mets parted ways with MLB.com’s No. 30 prospect in infielder Jett Williams and starter Brandon Sproat, whom Baseball America ranked No. 81.
Milwaukee also sent swingman Tobias Meyers to the Mets.
“The reality is we have one year left with Freddy Peralta. He’s a free agent at the end of the season. That’s always going to be a challenge for us,” Arnold said. “We’ve had to make these tough decisions. To add two players that we like and have them as a part of this group this season and well beyond that is something that we felt is very good for the Milwaukee Brewers.”
For the Mets, this move likely puts a bow on their offseason after a January flurry including Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr. and now Peralta.
“Acquiring Freddy adds another established starter to help lead our rotation,” Stearns said in a statement. “Throughout the off season, we sought to complement our rotation with another front-end pitcher, and we’re thrilled we are able to bring Freddy to the Mets.”
A pair of superstars will hit the ice at Rogers Place tonight with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby visiting the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid.
This is a tough schedule spot for Pittsburgh, and Edmonton is without go-to scorer Leon Draisaitl, so my Penguins vs. Oilers predictions and top NHL picks are calling for this game to stay Under the number.
Penguins vs Oilers prediction
Penguins vs Oilers best bet: Under 6.5 (-110)
The Edmonton Oilers have allowed two goals through three games since star center Leon Draisaitl took leave from the team, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set.
Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid obviously can’t play the entire game, and the Oilers have only scored 1.36 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 without No. 29 or No. 97 on the ice this season.
No Draisaitl is a huge hit to the Edmonton attack, and the Penguins could also be without No. 1 defenseman Erik Karlsson (lower body), so there’s potential that both teams will be missing key drivers of their offenses.
I also value the Pens ranking fifth in penalty-kill percentage, and the Oilers checking in above average at 11th.
Penguins vs Oilers same-game parlay
This is a tough schedule spot for Pittsburgh, and Edmonton has won 14 of its past 16 games by 2+ goals while also allowing the fifth-fewest goals per game during the 16-9-3 stretch.
Turning to Oil winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, he’s marked the scoresheet in seven of his past 10 games and has long-standing chemistry with McDavid. The duo has clicked for a dominant 6.34 goals and 6.18 expected goals per 60 minutes over the past three seasons.
The Penguins have only cashed the Over in 10 of their last 25 away games for -4.15 units and a -15% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Oilers.
How to watch Penguins vs Oilers
Location
Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet Pittsburgh, Sportsnet West
Penguins vs Oilers latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Just five days ago, one of the hottest rumors making the rounds involved the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox having discussions involving Astros 3B Isaac Paredes and Red Sox OF Jarren Duran.
As typical to baseball offseason talks, however, that could all be a thing of the past just as fast as it was the hot rumor.
In her article today at The Athletic, Red Sox reporter Jen McCaffrey laid out a different path forward for the Red Sox this offseason:
Though Breslow wouldn’t commit to (Marcelo) Mayer at second or third base, a source with the team recently noted a preference for Mayer at third. After Bregman’s injury last season, Mayer played well at the position, but there’s also an idea of keeping him on the same side of the field as his natural shortstop position. He’s likely the heir to the shortstop spot after Story’s contract is up following the 2027 season.
With that in mind, it appears the Red Sox are seeking a strong defensive second baseman.
“It’s really important that we improve our defense, particularly our infield defense,” Breslow said. “Any additions that we may make, we’ll be very mindful of the defensive skillset.”
That would seem to rule out Houston’s Isaac Paredes, who has struggled defensively at third base.
You can see the whole article here (subscription required):
Inside the pivot that led the Red Sox to double down on pitching and add Ranger Suárez.
Also notes in here about the Red Sox looking to add a defense-first infielder https://t.co/gC2QquaHxV
While this doesn’t mean a deal between the two teams doesn’t eventually happen anyway, as trade talks ebb and flow all offseason and pivots/re-pivots happen all the time, it does change the outlook and perception of a deal that could possibly involve Isaac Paredes and the Red Sox to a less likely scenario.
The Yankees teams of the 1980s were a relative wasteland in the context of the franchise’s history. They made the playoffs just twice right at the beginning of the decade before falling into an extended stretch of inconsequentiality (though they did have a tough 97-win situation in 1985 that was only good for second). However, those opening years of the decade offered a glimmer of hope with a promising crop of prospects emerging on the farm, one of whom was Brian Dayett.
Brian Kelly Dayett Born: January 22, 1957 (New London, CT) Died: September 7, 2025 (Winchester, TN) Yankees Tenure: 1983-84
Dayett was born in January 1957 in New London, CT, and grew up in nearby Deep River. Despite his underwhelming size in high school, Dayett was an accomplished multi-sport athlete, but it was clear that baseball was his future. In the span of two weeks in 1975, Dayett hit for the cycle before tossing a 16-strikeout no-hitter. Following his graduation, he went to play third base for coach Norm Kaye at St. Leo University in Florida. A year later, the Yankees selected him in the 16th round of that June’s 1978 MLB Draft.
He was assigned to the Oneonta Yankees of the short-season New York-Penn League, where he batted .309 with 11 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 68 games in 1978. That year, Dayett played third, first, and even caught 26 games as the organization initially had trouble finding a spot for him defensively. He was called up to the Double-A Nashville Sounds in 1980 where he joined an exciting core of prospects that included Don Mattingly, Steve Balboni, Buck Showalter, Willie McGee, Max Winters, Otis Nixon and Rex Hudler, all playing under the management of Stump Merrill.
Willie McGee was so quick and had such a strong arm. Otis Nixon was a speedster. You knew his speed was going to get him to the big leagues. Mattingly was a self-made player who got himself stronger and a better hitter. He worked very hard everyday with a great work ethic.
In 1981, Dayett was the starting third baseman for Nashville, but found that his hitting was suffering. At the suggestion of coach Ed Napoleon, Dayett began to learn left field, and by 1982 he was a full-time left fielder for Nashville. That season, Dayett earned the Southern League MVP after tying with Balboni for the most home runs in the league with 34, and won the Southern League championship with a two-out, 13th-inning walk-off home run with Showalter on base. The following season, he was called up to Triple-A Columbus, where he again won the league’s MVP after smashing an International League-leading 35 home runs. Because of the surprising power generated from his smaller frame, Dayett earned the nickname “Bam-Bam” around this time.
That September when rosters expanded, Dayett got his first call-up to the big leagues. He made his MLB debut on September 11, 1983, pinch-hitting for Omar Moreno against the Orioles, and got a hit in his first big league AB.
Mike Flanagan of the Orioles had an 0-2 count on me. I battled back and got a hit up the middle past Cal Ripken, Jr.
He would go 6-for-29 in 11 games in that cup of coffee. Dayett was poised to break camp with the big-league squad in 1984 but suffered a hip-flexor injury at the start of the campaign. Lou Piniella was supposed to retire around that time, but he stuck around for a few months in 1984 until Dayett returned from injury. Piniella was then able to retire and became the Yankees’ hitting coach with Dayett crediting him as a mentor.
Dayett found opportunities hard to come by that season given the outfield logjam of Dave Winfield, Omar Moreno, Steve Kemp, Ken Griffey, Don Baylor and Oscar Gamble. However, he did manage to appear in 64 games and hit his first big league home run on June 22, 1984, again off of Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan. He finished the year batting .244/.295/.402 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.
During that December’s winter meetings, Dayett and pitcher Ray Fontenot were traded to the Cubs for for Henry Cotto, Ron Hassey, Rich Bordi, and Porfi Altamirano. Injuries again hampered the start of his season, bone spurs in both ankles limiting him to a bench role for the first three months. He hit a pinch-hit grand slam off 20-game winner Tom Browning in May of 1985. He was slated to take over as the Cubs’ starting left fielder in 1987, but they then signed Andre Dawson in free agency, and Dayett was relegated to splitting time with Rafael Palmeiro, Jerry Mumphrey, Bob Dernier and Dave Martinez. All the same, he appeared in a career-high 97 games, slashing .277/.348/.452 with five home runs, three of which came off of Astros pitcher Bob Knepper.
That winter, the Cubs sold Dayett’s contract to the Nippon Ham Fighters of NPB, where he signed a four-year, $3.75 million contract. He knew the general manager of the team, Tak Kojima, from their shared time with the Yankees. Injuries cropped up again in Japan, causing Kojima to lose his job as Dayett was his second American signing to get injured.
Dayett retired from professional baseball following the 1991 season and took several management jobs in Independent baseball. Between 2002 and 2014, he served as a minor-league hitting coach in the Astros’ and Rangers’ systems, before Parkinson’s disease forced him to retire. He passed away from the disease at the age of 68 in Winchester, TN, just before the beginning of autumn last year on September 7, 2025.
Dayett was a promising minor league player whose power tantalized. However, a string of unfortunate injuries in combination with competition for playing time prevented him from ever putting together a consistent stretch of starts, and you wonder if he could have reached his full potential with some better luck.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Recently we’ve been hearing more and more whispers about the A’s looking to add some more certainty to the lineup. First we got the news that the front office was kicking the tires on a potential Miguel Andujar reunion, followed by a scuttled trade for future Hall of Famer Nolan Arenado. After being left at the altar by Nolan, the team was a speculative candidate to dip their toes back into the free agent pool of remaining third basemen. The two specific names mentioned in Ken Rosenthal’s report were former Mariner Eugenio Suarez and former Angel YoanMoncada. Both fit the A’s need at third base and with the season creeping closer both teams and players will soon need to make decisions.
Well you can cross one of those speculative fits off the board. Moncada yesterday evening re-upped with the Angels, agreeing to a modest one year, $4 million contract for the upcoming campaign:
BREAKING: Third baseman Yoan Moncada and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a free agent contract, per sources.
That’s a contract that the A’s easily could have outbid if they really wanted Moncada, especially after the Arenado report indicated the Athletics were prepared to take on a substantial amount of money in the scuttled deal. That can really only mean three things:
The A’s believe that Moncada, who has been repeatedly injured throughout his career, is simply not worth that “large” of an investment. The front office truly believes that their in-house options (Max Muncy, DarellHernaiz, Brett Harris) will perform as well or better than Moncada at a fraction of the rate.
There could perhaps be other negotiations going on right now that we aren’t aware of, and Moncada simply took the offer in hand. That could mean either trade talks or contract negotiations for the A’s but they waited around too long for him.
Moncada just didn’t want to come here, no matter what we offered and playing time be damned.
Any of those could be true, but I’d lean towards Option 2. The A’s are still looking for upgrades if the Arenado deal was indeed about to happen. Adding him wouldn’t have changed the heart of the batting order, but it certainly would have elevated the floor of the production coming out of the hot corner. Add in the positive influence a guy like him could have had on Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz, and the appeal is obvious.
Moncada never really felt like the type of player that really changes the outlook at third base though. While he could have another fine season at the plate his overall production probably won’t be the difference between the A’s and a chance at the playoffs. The most likely outcome is that he’s a solid batter when healthy, but just can’t stay healthy. If the A’s do end up running out of options for an upgrade over the guys here, then they might as well roll the dice and see if a Muncy or Hernaiz or Harris can break out. It’s not worth blocking that chance for a minimal upgrade in Moncada.
This could all be sour grapes but he was truly at the bottom of the list in terms of potential additions. The team is running out of legitimate upgrade options though and the past few days have made it much more likely our starter at third base on Opening Day is already on the roster. The trade market seems like the only path now for an upgrade at third base.
Have another great day everyone. And don’t forget to vote in today’s Round 2 of our CPL!
I don’t think people grasp how bad of a spot the A’s were in 3 years ago after their fire sale netted very little, and how insane it is that they are on the brink of drafting their way out of that hole. That’s something that rarely happens in football, let alone baseball.
The Mets made their second major move in a 24-hour span, acquiring right-hander Freddy Peralta from the Brewers for infielder Jett Williams and righties Brandon Sproat and Tobias Myers.
Cole Messina is the only catcher we’ve got on this Purple Row Prospects list, so it’s a good thing the Rockies have All-Star Hunter Goodman manning the position right now. As a prospect, Messina combines decent plate discipline with good power potential and leadership qualities behind the dish.
The 22-year-old 6’0”, 230-pound righty, who signed for a slot bonus of just over $1 million after getting picked 77th overall in 2024, came to the Rockies after two-straight successful years in the toughest conference in NCAA baseball at South Carolina. He wasn’t the only Messina selected in the 2024 draft — his brother Carson, a pitcher, was picked in the 12th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Mid-season 2025 Rank: NR
High Ballot: 17
Mode Ballot: 17, 23
Future Value: 35, third catcher
Contract Status: 2024 Third Round, University of South Carolina, Rule 5 Eligible After 2027, three options remaining
MLB ETA: 2027
After barely playing as a freshman in 2022, Messina was impressive in the college wood bat Northwoods summer league (.893 OPS). He came back to Columbia his sophomore year and took hold of the starting catcher job. In 2023 he had 17 HR among his 36 XBH in 285 PA with a .307/.428/.615 line for the Gamecocks to earn first team All-SEC honors. Though he had to settle for second team All-SEC in 2024, Messina’s .326/.465/.701 line with 21 HR in 286 PA was an improvement across the board offensively.
The Rockies assigned Messina to High-A Spokane, where he was 1.5 years younger than league average. There he formed a battery with Colorado’s 2023 third rounder (and HM PuRP) Jack Mahoney, who was also drafted from South Carolina. Messina had a mess of a debut season offensively, hitting just .140/.232/.220 with a homer and a double in 56 plate appearances, which is an anemic 33 wRC+.
In 2025, Messina was sent back to Spokane as a league average aged player. He had more success offensively a second time around, hitting .259/.358/.382 with seven homers among his 31 extra-base hits in 374 plate appearances while walking in 12% of PA, good for a near league average 96 wRC+. He caught 83 games, committing 11 errors with 12 passed balls while throwing out 39% of would-be base thieves. In the final week of the year, Messina moved up to Double-A Hartford for a three game cameo, adding two singles in ten plate appearances.
There isn’t a whole lot of recent video on Messina out there, so enjoy this game-tying ninth-inning homer in the 2024 NCAA regionals:
Messina is a strong right-handed hitter who put up those good power numbers despite struggling with his approach during his junior season. There was a lot more swing-and-miss overall compared to his 2023 campaign, with higher whiff rates against fastballs than previously, and he’s always had a hard time with softer stuff. There’s plenty of power for him to tap into, especially to the pull side, and he may always have a power-over-hit approach with some walks thrown in.
With a take-charge attitude behind the plate, Messina has the right mentality to catch at the next level. He’s a solid receiver with an average arm and shows enough agility to block well even though he’s not fleet afoot.
Colorado’s third-round pick in 2024 has plus power and a big body already, so catching is going to require some body maintenance going forward. I don’t love the setup at the plate, as his hands are high and his bat is behind his body, so his path to the ball is longer and uses up too much time; he could benefit from dropping his hands the way Condon and Thomas did in their draft years. His defense behind the plate is already fringy, and if he gets any bigger he’ll have to move to first.
A bat-first college catcher who mashed for the Gamecocks the last two seasons, Messina made some defensive improvements last season, but the setup and swing is very reminiscent of Kevin Parada’s and Messina has struggled against non-fastballs at times. His poor post-draft showing in the Northwest League didn’t assuage the offensive concerns, but as third-round college catchers go, he was a reasonable pick.
Messina got a shade over $1 million as Colorado’s third rounder in 2024. He has above-average power, but I was bearish on his hit tool and defensive fit prior to the draft, and Messina didn’t do anything in pro ball to dissuade me from that notion.
First of all, if this isn’t Messina’s MLB walk-up song, I’m going to be disappointed. Messina has a path to a big league role ahead of him given the dearth of catching prospects in the upper minors for the Rockies (though I prefer Bryant Betancourt).
Messina could be a strong offensive player given his plate discipline and power potential, though because he hasn’t gotten that power into games it won’t work as a profile if Messina can’t stay behind the plate. The scouts seem to think the work ethic is there to do it though and the other intangibles are lauded as well. I’m not yet a believer and he wasn’t particularly close to making my list as a 35 FV player. If Messina can hit well against Double-A pitching in 2026, I’ll re-evaluate.
Luis Robert Jr.’s exit marks another inflection point in the White Sox rebuild under Chris Getz.
In true Chris Getz fashion, the White Sox are once again in a position that warrants more questions than answers. On a cold and random late January night, the Sox dealt Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets for prospects Luisangel Acuña and Truman Pauley. This trade is anything but straightforward, so let’s dive into it.
Financials
The Sox set themselves up for plenty of economic flexibility. With New York footing the bill for Robert’s $20 million option exercised in November, Chicago won’t risk overpaying a player who slashed .223/.288/.372 in 210 games over the last two seasons. In most circumstances, this financial relief would be welcome. But the Sox aren’t like most teams.
Although Getz hinted that the Sox will spend their freed-up $20 million on players, fans know better than to set their expectations too high. Realistically, rather than pursuing qualified free agents, Jerry Reinsdorf will put roughly $17 million toward Munetaka Murakami’s contract this year — one that required a hard sell from Getz and Brooks Boyer — and likely spend the remaining $3 million on a pair of one-year relievers.
Signing Munetaka Murakami was an excellent move for the White Sox, but why did Jerry Reinsdorf have to be talked into it? pic.twitter.com/2p64uT7eQ7
While dealing Robert makes economic sense, money shouldn’t be the sole driver of trades.
Return
Acuña headlines a lackluster trade package that doesn’t immediately remedy the South Siders’ needs. Acuña, MLB’s No. 66 overall prospect in 2024, is best known for his glove and quickness on the base paths. He paired 60-grade speed with impact defense, generating four baserunning runs in 2025 and posting a +2 fielding run value and three Outs Above Average in 2024. For him to stay in The Show, Chicago must help Acuña improve the quality of his contact, which dropped significantly last season to under 5% for solid and barrel events. Though he didn’t blow anyone out of the water in 2025 with his production (.234/.293/.274 in 95 games), Acuña has proven he can be a faster version of Brooks Baldwin.
Pauley has more unknowns but leaves fans with plenty of wishful thinking. His stats shouldn’t be heavily weighed in his evaluation, as he has tallied fewer than 50 games between two years of summer and college ball, plus half a season in Single-A. However, the 20 inches of vertical break on his fastball puts the pitch’s dominance in the conversation with hurlers like Chris Sale and Logan Webb, which may be a strong sign of future success if he can keep it in the zone.
12th-rounder Truman Pauley signs w/@Mets for $400k ($250k counts vs bonus pool). @HarvardBaseball RHP, crazy ride on a fastball that reaches 96 mph, low-80s gyro slider as well. First over-slot bonus I've seen after the 10th rd in this year's @MLBDraft.
Acuña and Pauley both bring plenty of unlocked potential to a team that still needs to prove it can successfully develop players.
Short-Term
It’s hard to see how the Sox took a strong step in their rebuild with this trade. Although no one expected them to get an All-Star after Robert’s career-low production, they also didn’t acquire a dependable player that can slot in right field for over 100 games. Another concern with bringing in an inexperienced utility player like Acuña is that it will be hard to guarantee him enough playing time to justify trading away a starter. While Robert’s various injuries sidelined him for 62 games, it will be much harder to carve out a spot for Acuña with several other qualified bench players chomping at the bit for a starting job. In terms of immediate impact, Acuña and Pauley won’t increase the win total dramatically if at all.
Long-Term
The best way to spin this trade is that the Sox are preparing to be in their prime by 2028, which is earlier than many expected. Chicago added depth to a team whose shallow end of the pool is overcrowded, but they’re starting to push their young guys closer to the deep end with every at-bat. With a surplus of prospects and an abundance of infielders, the Sox can quickly make a few trades to propel them from a fringe playoff contender to a dominant division threat in the next two years, especially if the Chicago takes Roch Cholowsky 1/1 in the 2026 draft.
Overall
For the first time in nearly a decade, the White Sox are straddling the immediate and long-term future rather than past and present. While this is refreshing, patience is still key for a team whose payroll always sits in the bottom third of the league.
For the third time in four games, the Milwaukee Bucks were blown out by a Western Conference team, losing 122-102 to the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Things have tumbled quickly for the Bucks; after winning five of their last seven games, they’ve now dropped four of five. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Despite missing several big-time defensive pieces in Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder still made it incredibly difficult for Giannis to get going. To his credit, though, GA was still very efficient, picking up another double-double and having seven assists.
The ball pressure from OKC’s defense really made it a hard day for Rollins as well. He found his spots at times, but between Cason Wallace and Lu Dort, it was tough for him to get consistent opportunities.
Grade: C-
AJ Green
32 minutes, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 4/9 3P, -14
Green has really found his stroke in January. He’s been shooting 40.7% so far, and added a 44% performance last night. The Bucks have needed these types of performances from him, even in ugly losses.
Things keep trending downward for Kuzma as the season progresses. He wasn’t able to do much on defence guarding SGA (to be fair, few can), and according to Doc Rivers, he wasn’t in the right spots offensively. According to Rivers, he was supposed to be a screener and roller in the middle, but ended up just spacing and hoisting up five three-pointers.
Bobby continues to be a consistent offensive player off the bench for the Bucks. He added another 15 points and even distributed the ball a little bit, doling out nine assists.
Grade: B-
Pete Nance
30 minutes, 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3/5 3P, +3
What a revelation Nance has been over the last two games. Last night, he played double the minutes he did on Monday and looked pretty solid on both ends. Of the players who played more than 10 minutes, he was the only Buck to be a positive in the plus/minus.
With Kevin Porter Jr. out, Doc Rivers tapped Cole Anthony to return to the rotation and fill in as the backup point guard. He did well and was Bucks’ leading scorer at halftime. While he had his moments of good play, the bad with Anthony reared its ugly head again with some bone-headed turnovers.
Grade: B
Doc Rivers
If any team has perfected the right approach to NBA basketball in the 2020s, it’s been the Thunder. The difference between them and how Doc runs the Bucks couldn’t be more stark. The way OKC runs offense and stays locked into their principles is impressive to watch. Meanwhile, the Bucks are apparently focused on the more basic elements of basketball, like moving the ball with pace. It’s the clearest example of how the modern NBA has passed Rivers by.
Grade: D-
Limited Minutes: Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr, Gary Trent Jr.
Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Amir Coffey, Jericho Sims
Inactive: Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr, Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo
Bonus Bucks Bits
Giannis wore an All-Star patch on his jersey, commemorating his selection as a starter from the Eastern Conference. With his 10th straight selection, Giannis became the first Bucks player in franchise history to have 10 All-Star appearances with the team.
Before the game, Myles Turner (left ankle sprain) and KPJ (oblique strain) were both ruled out. Rivers said that Turner is just day-to-day, but Porter could be out for some time, with no clear timetable for his return.
The Bucks are now 10-20 since starting the season 8-5.
This is the fourth straight game that Giannis has shot the ball 13 times or less. Giannis was asked postgame how the team could get him more shots:
“I’m not the guy who will yell and cuss a teammate out and demand the ball. I’ve never done that in my career. I feel like I’ve played with teammates who understand the gravity I can cause for our team, how I can create for my teammates or for myself. Maybe because we’re young, maybe it’s because we’re not playing well, maybe guys think it’s their turn. They want to carry the team on their back and try to turn this around, but I don’t get it. It’s not like I’m not trying to be aggressive.”
I asked Bobby Portis how he handles these types of loses, especially when they come this close together:
“It’s the NBA, man, in about six or seven games, I’m about to play my 700th NBA game, which is crazy to say. So, I’ve played in a lot of different games, a lot of different moments, can’t get too high or too low. Obviously, you want to have that sense of urgency on a nightly basis; that’s something you have to have, especially where we are in the season. We’re not where we want to be, you’ve just got to have that sense of urgency every night so you can give yourself the best chance to win.”
In previous interviews, Giannis has stated that there are times when he feels some of the younger players are trying to do too much. So, I asked Giannis about what type of learning curve it takes for a young player to break out of that and progress:
“Time and experience. I was like 20, 21. I think it was my third year in the league, but then in my fourth year, it (got) better. I had great vets that taught me how to play the game, how to play unselfish basketball, play winning basketball. I felt like I was always on go mode, and they were able to tell me to find my teammates and set the tone, move the ball. There are going to be times during the game it’s going to be your turn to take over the game. I learned to read the plays, I learned to read momentum, I learned to read runs. I remember back in the day when the team went on a run, there would never be a case where I didn’t touch the ball. If you can find a clip of the team going on a run and didn’t throw me the ball in the post, to go to the free throw line, get a wide-open shot, and create this gravity. When I was younger, I didn’t know what I was doing, but they understood for me.”
Up Next
Milwaukee will have another late tip-off at home this week, welcoming the Nuggets to Fiserv Forum to finish their two-game season series. Tip-off is slated for 8:30 p.m. Central time, with the game available to stream on Prime Video. On cable, it can still be watched on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
We are officially just 2 weeks away from the trade deadline! After weeks and weeks of rumors, speculation, and plenty of CelticsBlog articles, we’re getting close to the end. At this point, the agents have played their hands, the teams have signaled their intentions (or not), and the posturing has reached its apex. I’ve never worked for a front office, but it seems like this is the time when they pull up all the options they’ve been working on for months and really decide on what to prioritize, what hard line they are going to hold to, and what they can give up. From the outside looking in, we have no idea what those internal conclusions are.
So I went to our own team and asked for their inputs for the latest staff roundtable.
What would you like to see Brad Stevens and the Celtics do at the trade deadline?
Jack Anderson
I want the Celtics to add a center. It doesn’t need to be a big swing like Nic Claxton or Ivica Zubac but they need depth. I just worry about Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and small ball as the options in a playoff series. Marvin Bagley is on a minimum salary and could be an option to give Joe another option at center because he won’t put Tillman or Boucher out there.
Ian Inangelo
I want the Celtics to add another big. I think Tatum will be a great addition when he gets back but they need another guy at the center position. Ivica Zubac or Jaren Jackson Jr would be the best case scenarios in my mind but fine with a guy like Day’Ron Sharpe or Isaiah Jackson. Just another body to have at the big man position that can provide more depth.
Mark Aboyoun
I agree with Jack that a big man is the priority for me. I’m not necessarily in the camp of bringing back Robert Williams (although I am still a fan of his). We can use a front court player who can give us minutes either in front of Queta/Garza if we go for a big name center like Ivica Zubac, but need someone who can be that third big man with the rotation with Queta and Garza.
Bobby Manning
It’s a boring answer but I feel like the Celtics standing pat will be a win. It would keep the possibility alive of Anfernee Simons staying long-term, show new ownership’s willingness to pay luxury tax even in a borderline contending season and the cliché of Jayson Tatum being the deadline addition could hold true. The Celtics haven’t thrived with the marginal upgrade by using second round picks, and they shouldn’t utilize draft capital to offload salary either. So if neither of those things happen, there’s always the chance to take a buyout swing like they did with Torrey Craig last year. And they’re now eligible to sign the ones who make higher salaries now. Their current winning situation should attract a veteran.
Anfernee Simons
Mike Dynon
Assuming Jayson Tatum will be activated before long, a couple of small moves could make the Celtics very dangerous for the postseason. First, as others have said, acquire a center who can join the Queta-Garza rotation. He won’t need to be a top-level talent, but rather (as the saying goes) a serviceable big man. Not sure who that should be, but am happy to let Brad surprise us (as usual). Perhaps Chris Boucher could be part of the deal and thus be freed from Joe Mazzulla’s purgatory.
Second, don’t trade Anfernee Simons – unless it’s for another significant difference-maker. The Anferno’s recent outburst probably enhanced what dealing him could bring in return. On the other hand, it also demonstrated what a weapon he is. It’s understood that his defense isn’t the best, and his contract is expiring and he might leave for nothing after this season. But if the Celtics add Tatum and another big, and feel they have a legit chance to reach the Finals, hanging onto Simons’ firepower could help win some playoff games. Give us a successful postseason, even if he walks later.
Nik Land
I would like to see the Celtics add another low-cost big man, similar to their previous acquisitions of Mike Muscala and Xavier Tillman. While a major addition such as Ivica Zubac would undoubtedly elevate the team, I don’t believe such a move is absolutely necessary for Boston to be highly competitive. If the Celtics were able to acquire a younger option like Day’Ron Sharpe (Nets), Karlo Matković (Pelicans), Yves Missi (Pelicans), or another big who fits a similar profile, I would be happy. All of these players are on affordable contracts that would keep the Celtics below the second apron, and each comes with team options that provide Boston with additional roster flexibility and control. That said, I think it is more likely the team ultimately stands pat.
Bill Sy
I only want one thing.
Nirav Barman
My trade priorities depend on how likely the Celtics are to retain Anfernee Simons in the offseason. Seeing how well the team is doing right now without JT is very exciting, but I think making a push solely for this year would be short-sighted. With the exception maybe of Tillman and Boucher, everyone on this team is a contributor. Outside of those two and Simons, they’re also all under contract, and should be back the following year with a healthy JT. If Brad thinks he can retain Anfernee at a reasonable price, stay pat. If not, he absolutely has to take advantage of the trade value, preferably to find a backup big, and maybe some cheap extra firepower off the bench.
Jeff Clark
My opinion on this has shifted 2 or 3 times over the last few months. I imagine that Brad Stevens is much more measured, thoughtful, and deliberate about how he approaches his job. Things can develop over time to change his mind, but I have a feeling that he’s had a plan (or several versions of plans) all along. So I’ll submit that Brad knew very well how good Simons could perform and fit into our system and he knew the drawbacks to his game and long term fit (both on the court and financially). If he decides that the right value is out there to make an upgrade to this team now and for the future, I’ll probably trust him.
All that aside, at this moment I also want to keep Simons and see if we can sign him to a more reasonable deal in the offseason. Sometimes you just need a guy that can go out and get buckets. Like everyone else, I think the Celtics need more reliable depth at the center position and hope that they can address that in a smaller move. Maybe that means that the guy we get will not play all that much in the playoffs when benches get short and (knock on wood) Tatum will be back. But we need more depth at that position and giving Joe Mazzulla more options is always a good idea.
Your Turn!
Tell us in the comments what you’d like to see Brad Stevens and the Celtics do at the trade deadline.
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
