CLEARWATER, MEXICO - MARCH 14: Devin Saltiban #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Listen folks, we’re getting to the end of the list here, but c’mon. Even squinting doesn’t really make this one make sense.
Devin Saltiban – 88 Griffin Burkholder – 23 Keaton Anthony – 11 Carson DeMartini – 11 Seth Johnson – 10 Yoniel Curet – 8 Alex McFarlane – 7 Mavis Graves – 5 Ramon Marquez – 4 Zach McCambley – 2
Yeah, I don’t get this one. Probably a lot of fake voting going on here, but at least there are still plenty of people that like him. The below scouting report is at least mildly interested in him, as is Matt Winkelman, who has him 16th on his list. The “slow burn” description is probably rather apt at this point, but he’s going to have to show quite a bit of improvement this season, else he finds himself off a bunch of lists completely.
He’s a plus runner and packs a powerful pull-side punch for a smaller guy, but Saltiban remains a high-risk prospect because of his strikeout issues, which stem from a lack of breaking ball recognition. Saltiban played second base in 2024, then a mix of second and center field in 2025. He is a flub-prone infielder and was still struggling to read the ball off the bat in center at the end of last season, but the timeshare and injury limited him to just 37 games out there. He only played center field in Australia and nearly doubled his career start total at the position. It’s imperative for his defense to improve out there; Saltiban needs to be able to make an impact in the field to give his strikeouts room to breath. This is a toolsy, slow-burning prospect who turns 21 in February.
With each new post, we’ll reveal who won the voting for that particular slot, then post new players for you to vote on, adding another one to the list each time until we get to our final tally of 20. Once we get to 20 top prospects, we’ll do an honorable mention post at the end. If a player gets traded to another team, we’ll just chuck him right on outta here and all the players will move up a spot. If a prospect gets acquired, we’ll ask where he should go on the list.
Probably the most important thing about this whole process – please vote. Give us a few minutes of your time, just click a button and then we can discuss other players and things in the comment section, but don’t forget – VOTE!
LaMelo Ball isn’t a child anymore. This was the justification used to hand-wave away Ball’s careless, stupid, reckless driving when he first entered the NBA, but now he’s the 24-year-old leader of the Charlotte Hornets and there’s no room for excuses. Ball is behaving like an asshole, and this was capped off Thursday night when the point guard refused to take questions from the media about his latest car accident.
Ball was behind the wheel of his custom Hummer this week when he swerved into oncoming traffic in the middle of uptown Charlotte, before hitting another vehicle and coming to a stop. Nobody was injured in the incident, thankfully, but that doesn’t mean it was okay, especially after seeing video of the speed at which the crash occurred.
This is not an isolated incident. Melo’s reckless driving has been well-documented ever since he entered the NBA. Routinely peeling out of the player parking lot at a high rate of speed in an array of exotic cars, Ball has been filmed coming close to cutting off other motorists, sideswiping fans, running red lights, and effectively being a danger to himself and others.
heres a compilation of LaMelo leaving the Hornets arena, someone needs to tell him to stop running red lights jfc… pic.twitter.com/sOHeRFCpgY
Regardless of whether or not a court finds that the injury to the autograph-seeking child was really Ball’s fault or not, this latest wreck is just another chapter in an established pattern of dangerous driving by the player. It also happens at the worst possible time for a Hornets organization, which is finally showing signs of life, playing the best basketball the team has in over a decade, and legitimately looks like a dangerous team if they can close out the regular season and find a way into the playoffs. At a time when every ounce of focus from players should be on basketball, Ball has brought in a massive distraction.
Seeing a star player for the Hornets get into a wreck also opens old wounds for the organization, fans, and the city of Charlotte. January 12, 2000 was the day that Bobby Phills died. The shooting guard for the Charlotte Hornets and the team leader at the time, Phills embodied the ultimate underdog story as he failed in the NBA, went to Europe, then returned to Charlotte in 1997 to become one of the best dogged on-ball defenders of his time.
A player always hailed for doing things “the right way” and giving back to the community, all it took was one horrible lapse in judgment to end his life. In the early hours of January 12, Phills was goofing around on the road with teammate David Wesley in their sports cars, when Phills lost control of his Porsche going over 100 mph. He struck two vehicles, and was pronounced dead on the scene, with the other drivers lucky to only have sustained minor injuries.
It was a loss that did immeasurable damage, not only for a city that mourned an athlete, but for the Charlotte Hornets organization. The 30-year-old’s role as the veteran leader of the team at the time was to nurture and help develop a young Ricky Davis, whom the Hornets took with an eye towards him being the future of the organization alongside Baron Davis. Ricky Davis regressed without Phills being a steadying force; he was traded, the team fell apart, and relocated to New Orleans following the 2001-02 season. It’s not that Phills’ death directly led to the team moving, but there is an alternate, unrealized timeline where the Hornets of that era reach their potential, return to their early-90s zenith, which gives way to the organization getting a new arena deal, and staying in Charlotte.
That’s a footnote to this, but underscores the inexorable link between traffic accidents and the Charlotte Hornets, and why it was triggering for older fans to see Ball driving recklessly even before this latest incident. Every single player on the Hornets knows the story of Bobby Phills. They see his jersey in the rafters of every home game. His cautionary tale is preached to every rookie upon arriving, and constant reminders remain in the community of his legacy.
LaMelo Ball has grown significantly on the court this season, evolving from a shoot-first point guard who tried to do everything himself to becoming a willing piece in a larger puzzle that has led to immense success. Now he needs to grow the hell up off the court. The dangerous driving isn’t just an aside, or a punchline anymore — and he needs to realize that. Too much is at stake, not in basketball, but for his life. Far too many times fate has smiled on him while he careens out of the arena like Mr. Toad, and this latest accident needs to be the final wake up call for a 24-year-old who somehow still doesn’t get it when he’s on the road.
INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Chet Holmgren #7 of the USA Stars Team drives to the basket during the game against World Team during the 75th NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images INGLEWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 15: Chet Holmgren #7 of the USA Stars Team drives to the basket during the game against World Team during the 75th NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets returned to action last night and faced off against a potential NBA title contender in the Cleveland Cavaliers. As you’d expect, the Cavs showed why they’re contenders and the Nets are not as they cut the Nets up by 28 points.
From facing title contenders to facing the reigning, defending NBA Champions. The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t going to set the single season wins record, but they are on top of a tough Western Conference. They went into the All Star break with a 110-93 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 8 PM.
🤕 Injuries
No Nic Claxton. Night two of a back-to-back so don’t be surprised if there are more absences.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Thomas Sorber, and Ajay Mitchell are out.
🏀 The game
In a fun twist, the Cavs and Thunder will play each other Sunday afternoon on ABC.
We mentioned that the Thunder aren’t going to set the win record since that was the early discussion when they got off to their hot start. However, they’re still one of the major favorites to win the NBA championship. From Ricky O’Donnell at the mothership:
When they’re healthy, we’ll see if they can get back to their top form.
The Thunder started this season at 24-1 and looked like they would be a heavy favorite to win the championship. Since then, OKC went 18-13 into the All-Star break, and looked a lot more beatable. Likely MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently sidelined with an abdominal injury, Jalen Williams is battling a hamstring strain after being kept out with a wrist injury to start the year, and breakout sophomore Ajay Mitchell has also been in and out of the lineup lately.
OKC needs to know if Williams can get back to the All-NBA level he played at this year, because he just hasn’t been the same player this season. SGA can still take this team over the finish line, but his teammates need to hit some shots. The Thunder are still a pretty average shooting team from deep, and that can catch up to them in the playoffs. The defense will still be elite if Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Alex Caruso can all stay healthy for the playoffs, and that alone should make them the favorites before it starts. I really think SGA is a special player, and one of the three or four best guards the league has seen since Michael Jordan retired. He can carry the Thunder across the finish line to become the league’s first back-to-back champ since Kevin Durant was on the Golden State Warriors. It just doesn’t feel like this is an undeniable dynasty at this point.
We’ll see what they look like once they’re back at full strength.
We’ll see more of the kids tonight. Danny Wolf filled up the stat sheet in his 28 minutes last night, and in the event Porter Jr is out tonight, he’ll get more time on the court. Like the other rookies, Wolf needs as many minutes as possible so he can continue to grow.
Speaking of young players, Jared McCain is looking to find his way on his new team. He came over from the Philadelphia 76ers prior to the deadline, and he’s slotting in to a nice role where he gets 20 minutes a night while the big dogs heal up. If he makes the most of this opportunity, Mark Daigneault could turn to him to provide some shooting in the playoffs.
For the Nets, they’ve had to consistently find ways to pick themselves up from blowout losses. Four out of their last five losses have been by at least 16 points. You learn a lot during the course of a long season, and for this young Nets team, they hope the lessons (and losses) from this year will carry them into 2027 and beyond.
👀 Player to watch: Chet Holmgren
The Thunder’s core is still incredibly young, and Holmgren’s continued growth plays a big part in OKC’s present and future success. Holmgren’s at a career high 56 percent from the field, thanks in part to the team finding more shots for him on the inside. He’s taking more shots inside of three feet, and he’s shooting a blistering 81.5 percent on the inside. Getting easy buckets always makes life easier and while Gilgeous-Alexander heals up, OKC can lean on Holmgren a bit more and trust him to make something good happen every team he has the ball on the inside.
Day’ron Sharpe will have his hands full tonight. Brooklyn got outrebounded by 20 last night and if they want to be competitive tonight, that’s going to have to change. Sharpe has done well on the boards and has a soft touch at the rim so he’s always down to give Jordi Fernandez some good minutes.
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox pitcher Gus Varland (37) pitches in the seventh inning during the Detroit Tigers versus the Chicago White Sox game on Wednesday September 29, 2024 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Towards the end of the offseason, Paul Toboni went on a spree of waiver claims. In particular, he added quite a few bullpen arms to the mix. With the number of guys he got, odds are that at least one of them hits and makes an impact for the team. I took a look at my three favorite claims he made.
My favorite pitcher Toboni acquired from this process is Andre Granillo. While he technically was not a waiver claim, he came to the Nats as part of the waiver process. The Nats claimed pitcher George Soriano from the Braves on January 30th, then quickly DFA’d him on February 5th.
However, the Cardinals wanted to cut the waiver line to get Soriano. To do that, they just traded reliever Andre Granillo to the Nats in exchange for Soriano. Honestly, I do not really get this move from the Cardinals perspective because I think Granillo is the much better pitcher. In his first taste of MLB action last year, Granillo posted a 4.74 ERA, much better than Soriano’s 8.35 ERA. Granillo is also the younger pitcher.
In addition to mostly holding his own at the MLB level, Granillo was dominant in AAA. He posted a 1.29 ERA in 42 innings at the Triple-A level. Granillo’s bread and butter is a wipeout slider he throws well over half the time. At the MLB level, Granillo threw the slider 65% of the time. Despite the heavy usage, the pitch was still effective and got whiffs almost 35% of the time in the MLB.
While Granillo’s fastball sits at about 95 MPH, the quality of the pitch is not great, so he has to rely on that slider. However, that slider is good enough to make him a solid middle reliever. Granillo also showed an occasional changeup to lefties which had some promise. If that can become a real weapon, there could be higher leverage upside for the 25 year old.
I just think Granillo has everything you want in a waiver claim reliever. He dominated in the minors, is still young, has intriguing stuff, has minor league options and held his own at the MLB level. At worst, Granillo will be a solid up and down relief arm. However, I think he is fully capable of grabbing a full time spot in the bullpen.
Another pitcher who has the talent to grab a full time bullpen spot is Gus Varland. He looked like he was on his way to doing that with the White Sox back in 2024. That season, he posted a 3.42 ERA in 26.1 innings with 27 strikeouts. However, Varland’s 2025 was ravaged by injuries.
He did not appear in the MLB and only made 8 appearances in the minors. If he can get back to what he was in 2024, that is a big league reliever though. Unlike Granillo, Varland’s bread and butter is the fastball. He sits 95-96 MPH and the pitch has great shape. It has explosive life at the top of the zone at its best.
Varland’s heater gets both run and ride. It has 18 inches of ride and 11 inches of run. Both of those numbers are above average. That life is why he was able to throw his heater 55.6% of the time and still get quality results. To go with the heater, Varland has a hard slider that is a bit inconsistent. It can be good at times, but is also susceptible to damage.
Like Granillo, Varland has experimented with a changeup, and making that a consistent third pitch would be helpful. I just think Varland has the ability to be a solid middle reliever who can make 60 appearances in a season and put up an ERA around 3.50. That is nothing flashy, but the Nats need guys like that.
The last potentially impactful waiver claim I want to talk about is a slightly different profile. Paxton Schultz, who the Nats claimed from the Blue Jays, is more of a multi-inning relief arm. He is even able to make some spot starts if needed.
The 28 year old was solid when called upon for the Blue Jays last year. He posted a decent 4.38 ERA in 24.2 innings. Schultz struck out 28 batters and only walked 8 in that time as well. He does not have elite stuff, so he got hit at times, but he always competed out there.
Schultz also performed in multiple roles. He made 13 appearances for the Jays last year, with two of them being starts. Schultz went at least two innings in 6 of his 13 outings. Like Varland, Schultz has a fastball with good carry. He does not get as much ride as Varland, but he also throws from a lower slot. The lower slot and still good ride makes his fastball shape strong.
Recently-DFA'd RHP Paxton Schultz could be worth a #Padres waiver claim.
In 2025 at the MLB level: – 25.5% K | 7.3% BB – 27.4% Whiff & Chase (32.7% vs FC) – 1.46 HR/9, .333 BABIP can indicate positive regression
The heater averages just under 94 MPH, but that shape helps it play up. As someone who goes multiple innings, Schultz has a deeper pitch mix than most relievers. In addition to the heater, Schultz throws a cutter, a changeup and a slider. None of them are elite, but the cutter and changeup are good pitches.
Schultz is a bit like Brad Lord. He can just do whatever you need him to in a bullpen and can even make starts. Lord is more of a real starter than Schultz, but you get the point. The Nats have quite a few pitchers who can fill that long relief role, so Schultz needs to pitch well to make the team.
Even if he does not make the team out of camp, I have a hard time believing he will not make an impact at some point. Schultz is a very valuable optionable arm to have. When the bullpen is tired, you can call him up and he can absorb innings for you.
In a sea of waiver claims this offseason, I think Andre Granillo, Gus Varland and Paxton Schultz will be the most impactful. They all have a history at the MLB level and do not require much projection. None are likely to be stars, but all of them are capable of being solid contributors.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Jordan Westburg #11 of the Baltimore Orioles poses for a photo during Spring Training photo day at Ed Smith Stadium on February 18, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, The Baltimore Banner reported that Jordan Westburg has undergone elbow imaging, indicating that there was concern about damage to ligaments. On Friday morning, Orioles GM Mike Elias delivered the official news about what’s going on with Westburg’s elbow. The infielder has been diagnosed with a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament. That’s the ligament that requires Tommy John surgery after a full tear.
According to Elias, the initial treatment for Westburg is going to be a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. At a minimum, he will be out through the end of April and things will be re-evaluated at that point. The PRP injection is an option to avoid surgery for only a partial tear. It doesn’t always work, as was demonstrated two years ago now when Kyle Bradish tried to avoid TJ by getting the PRP injection. In Bradish’s case, it worked for eight starts and then he needed the surgery anyway.
If you’re not optimistic about the PRP working and Westburg avoiding the surgery, I don’t blame you. In this case, for a position player, there’s not really a lot of downside to trying it. While position player rehab times for Tommy John are typically quicker than pitchers, Westburg would be done for the year if he decided he was getting the surgery tomorrow. He would also have a good shot of being fully ready to return for the start of next year’s spring training. That should still be the case even if he ends up deciding on May 1 that the only option is surgery. Trying the PRP injection is a longshot with almost no cost and a decent upside.
Westburg felt the elbow soreness while rehabbing for his oblique issue, Elias said. The imaging done on his elbow suggested that Westburg has probably had the partial tear in the UCL for a while. The throwing done by a position player just doesn’t do the same kind of stress on the elbow as pitching, so he could probably play through the issue and maybe not even think of it as much of an issue until this month when he suddenly could not. That’s the way it goes sometimes.
This is not good news. About all you can say about it is that at least now the Orioles have some clarity, in the sense that they know Westburg is going to miss at least a month, so they’ve got the remainder of spring training to figure out a solution to this absence. Between Jackson Holliday’s broken hamate bone and this, two of the four infield spots will be covered by backup options as the season begins. Holliday, at least, shouldn’t be out for as long, and his playing at all this season is less in doubt.
Whether the Orioles have readily-available solutions based on who is in camp already is another thing. Coby Mayo is taking aspirational grounders at third base and recently-acquired infielder Blaze Alexander might be able to be the guy for second base. Mayo needs some work at third and maybe he can’t be good enough no matter how much work he puts in. He also needs to hit enough to be worth playing at any position.
I hope the Orioles don’t get too invested in believing that Westburg will be back on May 1. I also don’t think that they will do this. They will know the PRP success rate even better than any of us. There’s only so much they can do on February 20 to adjust. “Use the backup plan we already had in place” is probably going to look the same as “do nothing.” As spring training moves along, we’ll get a sense of what that backup plan is and on Opening Day we’ll start to see how well it works.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Drew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a picture during the 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Photo Day at Charlotte Sports Park on February 19, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Spring Training games still haven’t begun but that didn’t stop Kevin Cash from declaring the team’s Opening Day starter.
Taking the mound on March 26th in St Louis for the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day will be Drew Rasmussen.
“I’m really honored. It’s really cool to get the opportunity to pitch on opening day. Just being given the opportunity, it is a blessing, and it is humbling. And I’m excited for the opportunity.”
Rasmussen, 30, was originally selected by the Rays with the 31st overall selection in the 2017 draft but the right-handed pitcher went unsigned; a year later, Rasmussen was taken in the 6th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. He’d quickly make his big league debut in the 2020 season and then eventually find his way to the Rays as he would be traded to Tampa Bay for Willy Adames in 2021. He had a breakout campaign in 2022 and looked tobe a possible Cy Young candidate early in 2023 before his arm decided to explode and he would mis the majority of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
This past year, Rasmussen made his return to be being a full time starting pitcher and enjoyed an All-Star campaign, compiling a 2.76 ERA | 3.84 FIP with a 21.7 K% & 6.3 BB% 0ver 150 innings pitched; due to Rasmussen’s injury history, the Rays limited his workload throughout the season, never permitting him to throw more than six innings in a game despite stellar performances.
The plan seems to be different in 2026 with Kyle Snyder saying that he think it’s “very reasonable” to expect Rasmussen to provide 170 innings this season, and bestowing upon him a starring role, in addition to his new clubhouse responsibilities as the clubhouse’s MLBPA representative.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 19: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks talks to the referee during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on February 19, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks aren’t winning it all this season.
Assuming they finish the regular season with a top-three seed, they’ll only meet the Pistons in the ECF.
That’s it, that’s where everything will end. The season won’t last past that.
Mike Brown said he liked the 3s his team generated in the first half but “they just didn’t go in.”
“He’s comfortable. We’re continuing to try to do different things to help free him up. And we’ll continue to search to try to do different things to free him up throughout the course of the year.”
On choosing Shamet over Bridges to close the game:
“Landry had hit a couple shots. We needed to score. They’re both really good defenders. And so I just stayed with Landry. But it wasn’t anything where, ‘Oh, I’m going to sit Mikal because he’s not doing this, or he’s not doing that.’ We were looking to score points and Landry was the only one to make a shot from behind the arc.”
On the Pistons’ defensive adjustments:
“In the first half, too, [the Pistons] switch a lot. So, with [Mitchell Robinson], they’re going to blitz or double-team the ball. With KAT, they’re going to switch, especially if they create separation. And so we tried running some of the same actions they switched, and he didn’t get as many good looks as he did in the second half. We opened it up and tried to set the screen a little bit higher and a little bit quicker in that second half, so we can get right to it, which freed him up at times.”
On defending Cade Cunningham’s size:
“He can do a lot for a guy his size and puts teams in predicaments with the stuff that he’s doing because really your guy is [6-foot-2], 6-1 and is on a guy who is 6-7 doing it. And you’re putting a small forward on him. Most of the time the small forward isn’t used to navigating the stuff that he does on the floor.”
On failing to keep ball out of the middle:
“We want to try to keep the ball off the middle of the floor. And we didn’t do a good job of it. We allowed him to get to the middle of the floor often. And when he got to the middle of the floor he hurt us. So we have to do a better job of trying to keep the ball on the sidelines and not allowing it to get to the middle of the floor.”
On the three-point shooting struggles on Thursday:
“We did a great job of generating some wide-open looks, especially from the 3-point line. They just didn’t go in tonight.”
On Sochan’s debut minutes:
“I thought his minutes were pretty good. It gives us the ability to give a guy like Cade [Cunningham] a different look. You know with his length and his strength and his athleticism, and we want to be physical.”
On Sochan’s physical defense:
“He hadn’t played in a while, but most of the time that he was on the floor and guarding Cade, there was a physicality to it, and we liked that. We need it.”
On overall debut evaluation:
“I thought for him, not having played in a while and him only being here for a couple of days, I thought he did a pretty good job.”
On the locker room disappointment following another lose:
“Nobody wants to lose. And everybody is disappointed. And I’m sure everybody is trying to figure out how they could’ve played better to help the team win. So it’s not a fun feeling. It shouldn’t be a fun feeling for me or anybody else in that locker room. But for sure it’s not the end of the world. We got to regroup, watch the film to see how to get better and get the next one.”
On Adam Silver’s tanking fixes:
“Definitely trying to make somebody fight for it at the end of the season. Whether you have a small tournament before the playoffs start or something like that to where it’s not just guaranteed that the team with the worst record gets the best odds. That may change it a little bit.
“Adam’s a smart guy and he’s figured out a lot of really good things for this league, so I have a ton of faith in him that he will figure it out.”
Jose Alvarado: "Playoffs is a whole different ballgame. We're not going to sit here and say, 'oh, they beat us in the regular season…' We're not thinking like that." pic.twitter.com/Dm1QB2oxbZ
“It builds a confidence going into a series. You also have great film to see what did work.”
On his role on the Brown’s offense:
“I mean, our offense is our offense. It’s been that way all year. So we have our system and we’re gonna — regardless of who’s in the game or not in the game — we run the system that we have implemented for our team to the best of our abilities.”
On his third-quarter aggressiveness:
“Just trying to make a play, be aggressive with play-making. Got a chance to get a shot up and wanted to capitalize on those opportunities. And hopefully get us a spark, start the third quarter on a strong note. What I definitely wanted to, if I could control anything in the third, was get us off to a quick start. I’m happy I was able to do that and find chances to impose my will in the game.”
On no moral victories in losing to Detroit by fewer than 90 points:
“There’s no moral victories or one New York wants to see. But we got a lot of film and we’ll see each other in the playoffs, and we got to be ready.”
“I’m just gonna continue what I was doing. Keep working and being ready for each opportunity that I’m gonna get. I’m not worried about that. I know the coaching staff and the team is gonna do whatever is good for the team, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
On his mindset amid his rookie season:
“I’m a rookie, rookie year, first year in the league. The league, anything can happen, so I’m just gonna take what I have to take and not take anything for granted and just keep working until I’m gonna be that player [I want to be].”
On where he’s improved the most in the NBA:
“I think my 3-point shot. I think my 3-point shot became a little bit more consistent. I think that’s the biggest thing, and maybe my defense too, a little bit.”
“It comes from doing the things I said, what I needed to do to be in that conversation. Now that we’re getting closer, there’s more [talk] like ‘What is your case? You should speak on it.’ I don’t really care to speak on it. I want the people that vote on it to be smart enough to look at the game for themselves.”
On sweeping the Knicks:
“To sweep a team as good as them, they play high-level basketball. To beat them, we’re trying to win tiebreaker and stuff, that means something. Just competing against the Eastern teams, beating a good team, means a lot.”
On making a statement on Thursday:
“What is it? I mean we’re the best team in the East, I don’t know what statement. The statement is coming to play every night, and we’re going to compete until you lay down for us.”
#BREAKING Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was in a wreck Wednesday afternoon in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/r5sJsDDeXS
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 11: Mike Baumann #53 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 11, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the my favorite bits in Mets discourse these days is that the only part of roster building that David Stearns is actually excited about is dumpster diving for relief arms. Signing a young superstar to a record-setting contract? Boring. Trading for a potentially electric center fielder or a very affordable #2 starter? Grunt work. Digging into NPB stats to pick out some minor league guys to invite to camp? There we go, that’s the good stuff.
Enter Mike Baumann (not to be confused with Michael Baumann the Fangraphs writer). A third round pick out of Jacksonville University in 2017, Baumann was never a top prospect not even a particularly notable one; even in the dog days of the Orioles rebuild, his stuff was never good enough to merit an extended chance in the rotation, nor was he very good out of the bullpen. The Orioles eventually cut him loose during the 2024 season, and he’d wind up bouncing between not one, not two, but four other teams before heading off to Japan for the 2025 season. After 15 mediocre innings with the Yakult Swallows (where he walked 7.2 batters per nine), he’s now back stateside on a minor league deal with an invite to camp.
What did the Mets see here? Well it’s definitely not the top-line performance as we just discussed, so it must be the underlying stuff. And indeed, all the public-facing stuff models have something positive to say about Baumann’s 2024 arsenal. His knuckle-curve was scored a 67 by PitchingBot (20-80 scale), a 118 by Stuff+ (100 is average), a 122 (100 is average) by Rob Orr’s metrics, and -1.1 by Baseball Prospectus’s StuffPro (negative is better). The movement profile isn’t amazing, but he throws it hard for a curve at 87.8 MPH. You can catch a couple shots of this pitch proving to be an effective put away offering in this 2024 compilation – watch out for the Miguel Sano jump scare at the start.
Baumann also has a fastball that’s consistently graded out as slightly above average (ignoring what I assume is a calibration or small sample size issue from PitchingBot in 2024), so you can see the potential building blocks. Maybe it’s a tweak to the fastball shape to make it a more effective offering and get Baumann two above average pitches. Maybe it’s an adjustment to his mix to focus more on the knuckle curve. Perhaps it’s a new third pitch or an improvement to his current slider or changeup that makes it all work better together. It could even be that some of this has already happened in Japan last year and we just can’t see it because we don’t have the data. There are a lot of different directions this could go.
Most minor league signings of this type never amount to much – a single appearance or three in the dog days of summer, or potentially only a couple of Spring Training outings before the club goes in a different direction. The success the Mets have had recently with pitching development is infectious though, as is David Stearns’ track record with building bullpens. You almost believe that everything they touch will turn to gold. Maybe that will be the case for Mike Baumann, providing him a respite from his professional odyssey and the Mets meme creators more fuel for their most reliable bit.
Feb 20, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula against the Chicago Cubs during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
With actual (spring training) games about to start, all the major prospect lists entering 2026 are in, which allows us to form a consensus of sorts. For the Dodgers prospects, the outfielders lead the way.
Josue De Paula is the top-rated Dodgers prospect at Baseball Prospectus, MLB Pipeline, FanGraphs, and ESPN. Eduardo Quintero is the top-rated prospect in the system according to The Athletic and Baseball America. De Paula’s average prospect rank in baseball at those six sites is 18.5, with Quintero averaging 27.7.
Zyhir Hope is the other Dodgers prospect named in the top 100 at all six of those national outlets, ranging from 18th to 63rd with an average of 37.5. Mike Sirota, completing the Dodgers outfield quartet, was ranked between 34th and 60th at five of the six sites, but was outside of the top 110 at FanGraphs.
Shortstop Emil Morales was also named to five top-100 lists, ranging between 56th and 92nd on those lists, missing out only on the Baseball America list.
In all, 10 different Dodgers prospects were ranked within the top 111 in baseball entering 2026. If we limit it to top 100 only, seven Dodgers were included on at least one of those lists.
LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — American freeskier Hunter Hess and three of his teammates have qualified for Friday’s 12-man halfpipe Olympic final, when they will have a shot at delivering the first gold medal in nearly two weeks of freeskiing or snowboarding at the Livigno snow park.
Hess was thrust into the spotlight at the Milan Cortina Games when U.S. President Donald Trump called him a “loser” after the athlete had said that "just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
Hess made a “L” sign with his hand, with L meaning “loser,” against his helmet after his first qualifying run on Friday. He then told reporters that he stands by the statement that had drawn Trump's ire, while also reiterating that he loves his country.
Hess will be joined by fellow Americans Alex Ferreira, Nick Goepper and Birk Irving in the final.
Brendan MacKay of Canada topped qualifying, when skiers got two runs down the halfpipe, with their best score counting. Two other Canadians also advanced.
Reigning world champion Finley Melville Ives of New Zealand missed the cut after crashing on both of his qualifying runs.
Elizabeth Lemley won gold in women’s moguls freeskiing at the Winter Games, but the moguls events are held at a separate venue in Livigno. The Livigno snow park hosts the halfpipe, slopestyle and big air events for freeski and snowboarding.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo have some big decisions to make this summer, but until then, the show must go on as they visit the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.
I’m not reading too much into Milwaukee’s 5-1 spurt before the All-Star break, especially with Myles Turner now also sidelined, but my Bucks vs. Pelicans predictions expect Ryan Rollins to feast against a shaky New Orleans defense.
Check out my NBA picks for this February 20 matchup.
Bucks vs Pelicans prediction
Bucks vs Pelicans best bet: Ryan Rollins Over 18.5 points (-115)
There’s a Giannis-sized hole in the Milwaukee Bucks’ starting lineup, and Ryan Rollins has a clear path to bumper stats after resting a foot issue over the break.
Rollins has nailed this Over in six of his last eight games, and he’s averaging 21.8 ppg so far in February.
I’ll gladly pick against a New Orleans Pelicans team that’s allowing 120.4 ppg, tied for fourth-most in the NBA. Rollins gave the Pels fits earlier this month on the way to 27 points.
One glance at the Milwaukee rotation tonight confirms Rollins will be doing the heavy lifting.
Bucks vs Pelicans same-game parlay
It’s been a road-heavy schedule lately for the Pelicans, but they’re 17-11-1 ATS at home this year. The hosts should escape with a win, especially if they profit in the paint against a Milwaukee squad missing Giannis and Turner.
I’ll double down on that with a pair of Derik Queen wagers. He and Zion Williamson can both put up impressive numbers tonight, but I’m targeting Queen, who will get even more touches if Trey Murphy III (doubtful) is ruled out.
Bucks vs Pelicans SGP
Pelicans moneyline
Derik Queen Over 12.5 points
Derik Queen Over 0.5 3-pointers
Our "from downtown" SGP: Point guards rollin’
It’s an all-point guard SGP here, with Rollins and Jeremiah Fears both set for big minutes down the stretch this season. Rollins gets the keys to the Giannis-less Milwaukee offense, while Fears will benefit from New Orleans’ thin backcourt depth.
Fears was within touching distance of a triple-double in his last outing before All-Star weekend.
Bucks vs Pelicans SGP
Ryan Rollins Over 18.5 points
Ryan Rollins Over 4.5 assists
Jeremiah Fears Over 14.5 points
Jeremiah Fears Over 3.5 assists
Bucks vs Pelicans odds
Spread: Bucks +4 | Pelicans -4
Moneyline: Bucks +145 | Pelicans -170
Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5
Bucks vs Pelicans betting trend to know
The Bucks are 11-18 SU on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Bucks vs Pelicans
Location
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Date
Friday, February 20, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Wisconsin, Pelicans+
Bucks vs Pelicans latest injuries
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FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Connor Wong #12 of the Boston Red Sox does sliding drills during a workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 19, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! The Red Sox will play an honest-to-god baseball game today, as Spring Training is finally under way. So my question to you today is: what are you watching for in Spring Training?
For fans, Spring Training tends to be about two things: the new guys and the rookies. But in the case of the 2026 Red Sox, a few of the big new names will be off playing in the World Baseball Classic (Ranger Suárez and Willson Contreras) while another (Sonny Gray) is more of a known commodity. Meanwhile, the club doesn’t really have any unknown rookies in camp this season, though there are plenty of young guys who still have questions to answer.
So here’s what I’ll have my eye on this spring:
Will either Connelly Early or Payton Tolle force themselves into the rotation?
Now the two-time NL manager of the year has agreed to a new contract that assures he will remain in Milwaukee for some time to come.
Murphy has led the Brewers to division titles and has been selected as NL manager of the year each of his first two seasons on the job. He had been Milwaukee’s bench coach on Craig Counsell's staff for eight seasons before taking over as manager.
“I don’t want to be with any other organization,” Murphy told reporters Friday from the Brewers' spring training complex after the deal was announced. “I feel really connected. This is going on my 11th season. I feel really part of it. I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.”
Murphy’s contract had been set to expire at the end of the season before he and the Brewers agreed to terms on this new deal. He had taken over as Milwaukee’s manager after Counsell let his contract run out following the 2023 season and then signed a lucrative deal with the rival Chicago Cubs.
Counsell said he talked to Murphy on Thursday night.
“Thrilled for him,” Counsell said before the Cubs' Cactus League opener in Mesa. “Absolutely thrilled for him.”
The Brewers didn’t release terms of Murphy's contract. The Athletic, which first reported Murphy’s new deal, said he now has a three-year contract with a club option for 2029.
“I really didn’t have any doubt that this was going to work out,” Murphy told reporters. “I’m really grateful, really thankful.”
Murphy, 67, owns a 190-134 record as Milwaukee’s manager and has helped the Brewers wildly outperform preseason forecasts each of the last two years. The Brewers earned a franchise-record 97 wins last season, won a third straight NL Central title and beat Counsell’s Cubs in the NL Division Series before getting swept in the NL Championship Series by the eventual World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Brewers went 93-69 and won the NL Central championship in 2024 before losing an NL Wild Card Series to the New York Mets.
Along the way, he has delighted Brewers fans and gained attention for his unique style, which has included pulling out pancakes from his pocket during a televised dugout interview and having his sons frequently sitting alongside him at postgame news conferences.
“He fits a young team really well, getting guys to believe in themselves — the kind of players who have made up our team over the years, where guys maybe hadn’t had success in other places and kind of come here and find their footing, find success and find themselves,” Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich told reporters.
Murphy is the first Brewers skipper ever to get named manager of the year. The only other people ever to get selected as manager of the year in consecutive seasons are Atlanta’s Bobby Cox (2004-05), Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash (2020-21) and Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt (2024-25).
“He’s special,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold told reporters. “I love the fact he wants to continue to challenge everyone in the room and try to make everyone better. I think he’s not afraid. He’s competitive. He’s going to fight you tooth and nail for a win and to make you better off the field. He cares about people. I love that about him.”
Murphy's only previous major league managerial experience came when he went 42-54 on an interim basis with San Diego in 2015 after the firing of Bud Black. He was a minor league manager in the Padres organization from 2011-2015.
Before that, Murphy posted a combined 947-400-2 coaching record at Notre Dame (1988-94) and Arizona State (1995-2009). He coached Counsell at Notre Dame and helped Arizona State reach the College World Series championship game in 1998.
He had a total of 1,000 college wins in a career that also included stints at Division-III Maryville (1983) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (1986-87).
“I really feel lucky driving to work every day,” Murphy told reporters. “I feel lucky this is what I do for a living. I feel lucky that someone says, 'Yes, yeah, we want you to be in this position for our organization. I feel lucky and I feel fortunate. I know how tough it is to get there.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 12: Ousmane Dieng #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 12, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the NBA trade deadline long gone and All-Star weekend now over with, it’s officially the tail end of the season and the Milwaukee Bucks ramp it back up tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center—God bless America! Last time these teams played, the Bucks were in the quandary of needing to win to protect their pick while teetering on tanking. After winning that one 141-137 in overtime, and unexpectedly winning three of the next four—including road wins against the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder—the Bucks are embracing winning again. Even better, new recruits Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng have been at the centre of the resurgence and look like potential long-term fits. So, with stakes now again on the line, can the Bucks live up to expectations?
Where We’re At
As noted, Milwaukee is on a tear, bringing much needed joy back to Bucks fans’ hearts. Thomas gives the team a bravado it’s needed—an unwavering confidence that it (he) can get a bucket when the opposition clamps down. In turn, Dieng fills a positional need and seems to be tapping into all that potential that made him the 11th overall pick in 2022. Of course, both bring youth too. So, giving up Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey, the Bucks got younger, filled a position of need, have upside, and are fun again. Kudos to you, Trader Jon.
Since losing to the Bucks, New Orleans has won two out of three, knocking off the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis and the Sacramento Kings at home before losing to the Miami Heat. It’s been the usual suspects for the Pelicans, with Zion Williamson (24.0 PPG, 70% shooting), Trey Murphy III (22.0 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.3 3PM), and Saddiq Bey (18.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG) leading the way in this stretch. The Pelicans have stuck with their unconventional lineup too, Herb Jones and Derik Queen joining the aforementioned three in a starting group where under 6’6”s need not apply—though bizarrely they don’t start anyone over 6’9” either. Roster-wise, New Orleans made just one move at the deadline—much to the frustrations of their fans—trading Jose Alvarado, the team’s “heart and soul,” to the New York Knicks for Dalen Terry and two future second-round picks. So, at least for the rest of the season, they’ll ride it out with the group the front office still believes is a playoff roster. You know, the one that’s got them to a 15-41 record. Without the fallback of a pick in the coming draft. Yikes.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Giannis (calf), Taurean Prince (neck), and Myles Turner (calf) remain out.
For the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray (Achilles), Yves Missi (calf), and Micah Peavy (toe) are out, while Trey Murphy III (shoulder) is doubtful.
Player To Watch
On a new team, one good game is expected. Two in a row raises eyebrows, but players are always juiced going up against the team that just traded them. Three in a row? Now that would smell like consistency. Does Dieng have it in him? While only he knows, what we do know is that he fits the desired archetype: size and length at the three, able to space the floor, some secondary ball handling, and activity on defence. That is, a multidimensional player. If you think it’s too good to be true, it just might be. Or, it might be transformational—for Dieng and the Bucks. Facing a Pelicans team that is loaded on the wing—including none other than long-time Bucks target Murphy—Dieng has a very real shot at placing a stake in the ground and claiming the starting small forward position as his own. However, with Ryan Rollins returning and stalwart starters Kevin Porter Jr. and AJ Green available, Dieng might have to do so from the bench. Doc Rivers’ rotation will be telling.
How To Watch
FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: AJ Blubaugh #69 of the Houston Astros throws a bullpen session during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 16, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be rolling out a series of prospect previews for Spring Training. This week we look at one of the top arms: AJ Blubaugh.
Blubaugh was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 draft out of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee after a solid, albeit limited, college career. In his first full professional season, he showed promise, striking out 112 batters over 100 innings. Despite a 4.41 ERA, he finished strong in Double-A with a 1.26 ERA. In 2024, he had a true breakout season, reaching Triple-A and finishing with a 3.71 ERA and 133 strikeouts over 128.2 innings, helping Sugar Land capture the Triple-A Championship.
Heading into 2025, expectations were high for continued success and a potential big league call-up. He made a couple solid starts before his MLB debut, where he allowed seven runs, two earned, over four innings. The next eight starts were a struggle, as he gave up 37 earned runs in 34.1 innings. Blubaugh regained his footing and earned a call-up in August, striking out eight over five innings in relief against Miami.
He finished the 2025 season in Houston dominant, posting a 1.69 ERA with 35 strikeouts over 32 innings while allowing just 17 hits. Blubaugh showcased a 98 MPH fastball and a devastating changeup which he didn’t allow a single hit with the pitch at the major league level, proving he has the tools to be a reliable big league arm. Blubaugh is extremely athletic and a former basketball player. Blubaugh is extremely athletic and a former basketball player, which contributes to his strong arm and agility on the mound.
Now entering 2026, Blubaugh has a legitimate opportunity to establish himself as a reliable big league arm. Read more on his 2025 season here.
