The NBA’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers possibly circumventing the salary cap via a no-show endorsement deal with Kawhi Leonard has officially become a basketball controversy.
The Clippers and the Toronto Raptors announced this week their trade involving Leonard is on hold pending the outcome of the league probe. The possibility that Leonard’s contract will be voided and that he will be suspended are two variables that dramatically impact the trade’s value and could lead to a reworked trade package.
Last month, the Clippers agreed in principle to trade Leonard to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks. Leonard, 35, previously played for the Raptors in 2018-19; the team won the NBA title that year, and Leonard was named Finals MVP.
Leonard, however, is a central figure in an alleged plot by the Clippers to pay him millions beyond his player contract—a direct violation of the CBA.
Last year, journalist and podcaster Pablo Torre, of the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, broke the news that Leonard and then-Clippers sponsor Aspiration signed a four-year endorsement deal in 2022 that didn’t obligate Leonard to perform services and would have ended if the forward had been traded.
The Clippers have denied the allegations and stressed several reasons to question them.
Aspiration, which was renamed Catona, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year and its co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, was recently sentenced to 14 years in prison for wire fraud. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has said he lost $60 million to Aspiration and contends he was a victim of Sanberg, whom the U.S. Department of Justice has called a “con man” who used lies and exaggerations to “prey on investors and lenders.”
Sanberg has also cooperated with the NBA’s investigation, a point Ballmer portrays as problematic as it relates to his team. Not only is Sanberg’s credibility highly questionable, but he arguably had an incentive to make himself seem useful to the NBA.
Before Sanberg was sentenced to prison, attorney David Anders, whom the NBA retained to investigate the Clippers, wrote a letter to the presiding judge describing Sanberg as sharing “information that was relevant to our investigation” and helping them “develop a more complete understanding of key events.”
The Clippers and Ballmer Could Be Punished
Much of the attention on the scandal has focused on potential consequences for the Clippers and Ballmer.
If NBA commissioner Adam Silver determines the Clippers violated the CBA, he could strip away Los Angeles draft picks, suspend Ballmer and impose various fines on both. Circumventing the cap undermines fair play and provides a team with an unfair advantage since it gives that team an advantage over teams that follow the rules.
In 2000, Silver’s predecessor as commissioner, David Stern, ordered the forfeiture of five first-round picks from the Minnesota Timberwolves and imposed a $3.5 million fine for a salary cap scheme. The Timberwolves agreed to pay forward Joe Smith less in initial one-year contracts so they could sign other players those seasons in exchange for promising to later sign Smith to a long-term, lucrative deal after they acquired “Larry Bird rights,” which let a team go over the cap to keep a player. Stern also voided Smith’s 1999-2000 contract with the Timberwolves and by also voiding Smith’s previous Timberwolves contract (1998-99), effectively stripped Smith of his Larry Bird rights.
If Silver reaches similar conclusions about the Clippers, he could impose a hefty penalty. However, the commissioner could determine a lesser penalty, or even no penalty, is appropriate if he concludes the evidence is uncertain and unreliable.
The Clippers insist they have “fully cooperated” with the investigation, including by “participating in dozens of interviews” and “providing tens of thousands of documents.” Silver, who like several of his deputies is an accomplished attorney, has also said while the NBA is not a court of law, it values due process and fairness and that the “mere appearance of impropriety” isn’t enough.
To that point, Silver said last fall the investigation must be consistent with “any process that requires fundamental fairness” and one that reaches decisions based on “the totality of evidence.”
Leonard Also Could Face League Punishment
Article XIII of the CBA states that the commissioner can void any player contract, or any renegotiation, extension or amendment of a player contract, as one type of penalty for salary cap circumvention. Leonard is set to be paid $50.3 million in 2026-27 in the third year of a three-year, $149.5 million deal. The obvious risk to the Raptors would be if, after trading for Leonard, his contract for 2026-27 is voided. The team could conceivably sign him to another deal, but the risk of contract forfeiture alone is a reason to delay consummating the trade.
In the scenario of contract voidance, Leonard could borrow a page from the Smith playbook, as Smith challenged Stern voiding his contracts. However, an arbitrator upheld Stern’s decision. Then-NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said the arbitrator “recognized the importance of enforcing the provisions relating to secret agreements” and demonstrated “that if you enter into secret agreements, the consequences of getting caught can be fairly significant.”
Leonard could also be suspended by the league, meaning regardless of his contract status, he would be ineligible to play.
Both the uniform player contract and CBA contain language that permits Silver to punish Leonard if the commissioner concludes Leonard acted wrongly. For instance, if the NBA concludes the Clippers knowingly circumvented the cap through its dealings with Aspiration, the NBA might also conclude Leonard—who stood to benefit financially—was aware of the plot and thus “in on it.”
The uniform player contract requires that an NBA player “conduct himself on and off the court according to the highest standards of honesty, citizenship and sportsmanship.” It also forbids a player from doing “anything that is materially detrimental or materially prejudicial to the best interests of the team or the league.”
The league could also punish Leonard if it determines he wasn’t fully cooperative, including in the candor and forthcoming nature of his statements and in evidence he’s shared or not shared. Article VI of the CBA obligates players to “cooperate with investigations of alleged player misconduct conducted by the NBA.”
Further, the league constitution contains far-reaching language that is potentially on point. Through Article 35, Silver can suspend for a definite or indefinite period a player who, in Silver’s opinion, made statements that are detrimental to the best interests of basketball or to the NBA or partook in conduct that “does not conform to standards of morality or fair play” or is “prejudicial or detrimental” to the NBA.
Leonard would have the right to contest a punishment. A suspension of 13 or more games can be appealed to a neutral grievance arbitrator, while a suspension of 12 or fewer games can be appealed to Silver or a designee of the commissioner’s choosing. Leonard could not only argue he is innocent, but even if he is at fault, that the punishment is excessive given past player suspensions. Leonard might also assert he too is a victim of Sanberg as the bankruptcy records indicated that Aspiration owed KL2 Aspire, Leonard’s limited liability company, $7 million.
The Waiting Game Is the Smart Game
In short, the Raptors are wise to wait to see whether the NBA finds the Clippers at fault and, in doing so, terminates Leonard’s contract or suspends him. The league has discretion on when it concludes its investigation and when it announces what, if any, actions will be taken.
If Leonard becomes available for a shorter period to Toronto than the whole season, the team could demand a reworked deal—such as sending back fewer draft picks to LA.
So the Clippers and Raptors might have to hold on for a bit. So, too, will their fans.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 9: Andre Pallante #53 of the St. Louis Cardinals walks to the dugout after being pulled against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning at Busch Stadium on July 9, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cardinals host the Braves this weekend at Busch Stadium leading up to the All Star Break. If you haven’t heard, Jordan Walker will be in the Home Run Derby on Monday night on Netflix, AND be at the All-Star Game, as the Cardinals lone position player representative. Riley O’Brien was also added to the All-Star roster because certain pitchers were scheduled to play in games this weekend and would not have enough rest time for the exhibition game. Old news, I know, but the All-Star Break is just right around the corner after this series hosting Atlanta.
(Personally, I am going to watch the HR Derby for the first time in years, because I currently have Netflix… and probably ignore the All-Star Game as usual, unless I am bored and can find it on streaming TV somehow).
the 2026 Atlanta Braves
Over the last 10 games, the Braves are 5-5, two of those losses and one of those wins due to the Cardinals. Since the Cardinals went to Atlanta, the Braves split a 4 game series vs the Mets, and won a three game series in Pittsburgh. Before we won that series against them in Atlanta, the Braves had been bailing the water out of their boat, going 9-14 in June. So, I cannot tell if their going 5-5 in the last 10 games is them turning it around or, just treading water. Regardless of recency bias, they are one of the best teams in baseball and first place in the ultra tough NL East division, where 4 out of 5 teams possess winning records.
What must be really frustrating for Braves fans during their hapless June: losing series to teams like the Mets, Giants, and Padres, and being swept in two games by the White Sox, while doing well vs the Brewers. Go figure.
The Braves have one of the best bullpens in baseball, and they fare well at home, on the road, and vs over .500 teams. How can a team that has been floundering so much lately be that on top of things? They stacked up 22 wins in March and April, and 18 wins in May.
How is Atlanta so good?
It’s not so much the hitting, it’s the pitching. Their lineup can certainly hit home runs well beyond the midrange, tied for 6th in MLB with 3 other teams. Overall, their lineup is good not great, most similar to the Houston Astros. And similar to the Cardinals, the Braves don’t like to take many walks. They take even less walks than St Louis, and perhaps the biggest weakness to their lineup is on-base percentage. But hey, if you’re hitting the long ball, whatever about walks, amirite.
Braves pitching is what makes their team win a lot. Their best trait is most similar to the Giants, but all the Brewers: they don’t let you barrel the ball. As a team they are really doing well, but there’s a caveat…
Braves pitching has an airtight, lockdown bullpen. So it’s their relievers! Believe it or not, the Braves bullpen is worth nearly as much WAR as their starting rotation. The Braves are either proof that an elite bullpen can elevate your above average team to elite, without having anything more than an above-average lineup and above-average starting pitching by ERA/xERA (below average by FIP stats!).
Braves Defense
The Braves defense is good, especially because of center fielder Michael Harris II, left fielder Mauricio Dubon, rangey first baseman Matt Olson, and part time shorstop Jorge Mateo, if we are going by Fielding Run Value on Baseball Savant. They can certainly prevent some runs on defense, so maybe their starting rotation isn’t as important a factor in their winning ways.
Home runs, prime outfield defense, and a bullpen just as good as the Brewers, only bettered by the Dodgers and Padres by fWAR.
It Ain’t braggin’ if you go out and do it.
Dizzy dean
The Cardinals defense throws all their eggs in one basket, with arguably the best middle infield defense in MLB. Overall St Louis ranks higher than the Braves defense, but it’s not by a lot. Hopefully this can be a good series.
Cardinals 4-6 in their last 10 games
The 2026 Cardinals as they stand today are road warriors. At home they are a game under .500. Earlier in the season the team was over .500 vs teams over .500, but now will need to take two of three from the Braves to go back over .500 vs good teams. That’s a lot of .500! Which is also their expected win/loss record, currently.
No matter how you critique Atlanta, the Cardinals are the underdog here. The Cardinals have a slightly better position-player group overall, with that elite middle infield and a slightly better lineup because of the years Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, and Ivan Herrera are having, with the added on-base power of table setters JJ Wetherholt and Lars Nootbaar and the 134 wRC+ bat of Nelson Velazquez.
While the Braves don’t have stellar run producers like Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson, they score more runs because of a deeper lineup. So as much as statcast and sabermetric stats like the Cardinals a little bit more, the Braves are winning more games because of scoring more runs… and having much better pitching.
You might be surprised that the Cardinals rotation is about the same as the Braves in ERA, and actually a fair deal better in total fWAR. That is where the similarities end, the Cardinals bullpen ERA is 4.28 and the Braves is 3.13! And the difference by xERA is even more devastating. If you prefer the lens of fWAR, the Braves bullpen is 3.5 wins better than the Cardinals!
This will strike home but the Braves bullpen probably will not walk you. No free passes. Whereas the Cardinals bullpen corps is practically inviting you onto first base in comparison. When Riley O’Brien is your most stingy walks guy, there is a problem. Ryne Stanek, Ryan Fernandez, Matt Svanson, and Gordon Graceffo are the prime offenders, but George Soriano needs some work too. The usually reliable JoJo Romero isn’t having his best year, but his ERA is good at least.
Series Schedule and Matchups
7:15 PM Friday July 10, 2026: Chris Sale vs Kyle Leahy
Fangraphs odds: Braves favored 58.1% to Cardinals 41.9% chance of winning
-Watch on: AppleTV (sorry guys)
Aging Ace Chris Sale is a lefty, so we should expect to see Nelson Velazquez in left field and batting cleanup. Blaze Jordan will probably play first base. Pedro Pages will likely catch Kyly Leahy.
Keys to the game: our outfield is like the inverse of Atlanta’s, defensively. Not good! Jordan Walker and Nelson Velazquez are having a race to the bottom in OAA numbers. At least Nathan Church is playing, it would seem! The Cardinals need to rely on pitch-to-contact, ground out style pitching. They must somehow get to and/or catch Chris Sale on a bad day. Because you don’t want to have to win vs Atlanta’s bullpen. Burleson needs a big hit in a big pinch hit opportunity, if the Cardinals pitching can even tame the Braves lineup.
Should we win this? No. But it sure would be nice.
6:15 PM Saturday July 11, 2026: Reynaldo Lopez vs Matthew Liberatore
Fangraphs odds: Braves favored 53.6% to Cardinals 46.4%
-Watch on: CardinalsTV
Reynaldo Lopez looks really good by old school stats ERA and W/L record. Everything else looks prime for regression, whether it’s his xERA or FIP stats. He probably just isn’t that good. He will probably issue some walks. But on the flipside, he is still better than the Cardinals worst starting pitcher in 2026, Matthew Liberatore.
Liberatore is worse than Lopez across the board except he actually issues less walks. It could be argued that Reynaldo is having a lucky season while Matthew is having a .325 BABIP against disaster. Whatever the case, Liberatore is having a bad season and is getting hit harder. Lopez also has less miles on the tires, at only 50 some innings pitched. This game is winnable, but we are going to have to see a decent Liberatore outing.
Lopez is a right-handed pitcher, so look to see Burly man first base, with Herrera catching Liberatore and Nootbaar in left field. I am using roster resource projected lineups for the purposes of this preview.
Keys to the game: Let’s make Reynaldo Lopez regress quickly, shall we? Score as many runs as possible early on.
Should we win this: I’m going to call it a draw, flip a coin, whatever.
1:15 PM Sunday July 12, 2026: Hurston Waldrep vs Dustin May
Fangraphs odds: Braves favored 45.3% to Cardinals 54.7%
-Watch on: CardinalsTV
Hurston Waldrep sounds like a name in a sci-fi or fantasy novel, or maybe a steampunk character, but he doesn’t seem to be a very good pitcher. This would be like if it was Liberatore vs Sale, because our guy Dustin May is pitching vs their worst pitcher. Who knows what could happen since he doesn’t seem to be a regular starting pitcher and we are dealing with small sample size, somewhat… but this guy has a major, major walk issue.
Dustin May may have a babip against problem in 2026 (he usually doesn’t), but his underlying numbers and non-ERA rate stats look real good. He is on pace for a 4 fWAR season powered by a 3.21 FIP. His xERA is 3.78, making him the Cardinals ace by that measure. It is looking like the standard Burleson lineup Sunday as Waldrep is a righty. Look for Herrera to catch again Sunday, maybe.
Keys to the game: see if Waldrep will walk you first and foremost, and if not, do some damage. May will need to have a decent game, if the Cardinals lineup is mystified by the newbie starting pitcher. Or maybe it’s a bullpen game for them that day, great.
Should we win this: why the heck not! Winning the last game before the All Star Break seems key, somehow. Maybe this is the game where we prove we can outhit the Braves.
See you Wednesday on the other side of the All Star Game! Go Cardinals.
And of course, tomorrow afternoon starting at noon is the MLB Draft! Full coverage here on VEB for each pick! don’t miss it… google tells me that it is on both NBC and MLB Network, or on streaming through Peacock, Fubo, and MLB.com.
Cardinals baseball will resume next Friday night in Arizona, after this Braves series
The Toronto Blue Jays open a weekend series looking to keep their bats warm against the San Diego Padres and left-hander JP Sears.
Ernie Clement has become a near-automatic source of offense and headlines a card built around Toronto's edge against southpaws, with Shane Bieber taking the ball for the Blue Jays.
Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Padres predictions and MLB picks for Friday, July 10.
Blue Jays vs Padres predictions
Blue Jays vs Padres best bet: Ernie Clement Over 1.5 total bases (+115)
We're starting to talk about Ernie Clement as a hit-per-day guy. He's gone under this prop in three of his last four games, but he has recorded a hit in four straight and carries strong career numbers against Padres starter JP Sears.
The Toronto Blue Jays infielder is 3-for-8 lifetime against Sears without striking out. Clement is a contact machine who has cemented his place atop Toronto's order, and I'm backing him to spark the offense as the Jays carry their San Francisco momentum into San Diego.
I'd play this bet down to even money.
COVERS INTEL: Clement is batting .287 with a team-leading 27 hits against left-handed pitchers this year, with nine going for extra bases. That's exactly the matchup he draws against Sears.
Blue Jays vs Padres same-game parlay (SGP)
Neither Shane Bieber nor JP Sears has been sharp lately, so I'm riding Over 8 total runs in what should be a hittable pitching matchup.
I'll pair that with the Toronto Blue Jays moneyline at plus money. The Jays are 7-2 on the road against left-handed starters this year, while the market appears overly concerned by Bieber's tiny sample.
Kazuma Okamoto Over 1.5 total bases rounds out the parlay, as Toronto's top power bat draws a favorable matchup against a homer-prone southpaw.
Blue Jays vs Padres SGP (+475)
Toronto Blue Jays moneyline
Over 8
Kazuma Okamoto Over 1.5 total bases
img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"
Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.
Blue Jays vs Padres home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+240)
I won't go so far as to say you should always bet Kazuma Okamoto's home run prop, but the Blue Jays rookie has been a power beast lately. He's homered in two of his last three games, including a grand slam in Wednesday's finale against the Giants, and leads Toronto with a .474 slugging percentage against left-handers.
That makes Okamoto a strong bet to go yard against Sears, who carries an inflated 6.05 FIP and has allowed 2.3 home runs per nine innings. I like the prop at +240, but I wouldn't play it below +230 and would keep the wager to a quarter unit.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 6-1, +4.48 units
SGPs: 2-6, +0.19 units
HR picks: 1-7, -0.63 units
Blue Jays vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Toronto +105 | San Diego -125
Run line: Toronto -1.5 (+160) | San Diego +1.5 (-190)
Over/Under: 8 (Over -120 | Under +100)
Blue Jays vs Padres trend
The Toronto Blue Jays are 7-2 on the road against left-handed starters this season, a strong backdrop with JP Sears on the mound. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Padres.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Friday, July 10, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, Padres.TV, TVA Sports
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Shane Bieber (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
JP Sears (2-1, 4.70 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Padres latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Padres weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
AKRON, OHIO - MAY 26, 2026: Sabin Ceballos #2 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels warms up prior to a game against the Akron RubberDucks at 7 17 Credit Union Park on May 26, 2026 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
I had yesterday off, so didn’t have a roundup of Wednesday’s Minor League Baseball games … so today, we get Wednesday and Thursday from the San Francisco Giants system! Let’s jump in!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
AAA Sacramento (48-39)
Wednesday: Sacramento River Cats beat the Salt Lake Bees 6-1 [box score] Thursday: Sacramento River Cats beat the Salt Lake Bees 5-3 [box score]
It’s a 3-game winning streak for the River Cats, and while there weren’t many standout performances in these games, there’s a lot to talk about.
Let’s start with the rehab, as there was some exciting news on that front. Daniel Susac (No. 20 CPL) made his Sacramento debut on Thursday, as he kicked off a rehab assignment by being the designated hitter for most of the game. He went 0-3 with a strikeout. Given Susac’s recent slump, and the fact that he had a mediocre offensive year in AAA last year, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Giants wanted to drag out his rehab a little bit so that he can get some additional AAA seasoning, which he otherwise can’t get due to Rule 5 restrictions. Then again, they (justifiably) don’t really seem to trust the trio of catchers in the Majors right now, so they might rush Susac back to San Francisco as soon as he can handle it.
On the pitching front, RHP Keaton Winn made a rehab appearance on Wednesday and pitched a scoreless inning, with a walk and a strikeout. It was Winn’s 3rd rehab appearance, with 1 each in rookie ball, Low-A, and AAA. He can’t single-handedly fix San Francisco’s wretched bullpen, but he sure can help!
And rounding out the rehabs was RHP Jason Foley, who had far and away his best performance thus far, striking out the side in a perfect Thursday inning, while throwing 10 of 12 pitches for strikes. Foley’s rehab has been fairly unsightly, so this was good to see.
There was some excitement in Wednesday’s game, as LHP Cesar Perdomo made his AAA debut and pitched quite well. Perdomo had a high class season with AA Richmond — “breakout” might be a slightly exaggerative word, but he certainly cemented himself as an exciting prospect, with a 3.98 ERA, a 3.56 FIP, 11.1 strikeouts per 9, and 2.7 walks per 9 … stats that ranked 11th, 6th, 9th, and 10th, respectively, out of the 43 Eastern League pitchers who have thrown at least 50 innings this year.
With LHP Carson Whisenhunt (No. 8 CPL) heading back to the Majors, the Giants called on the 24-year old Perdomo to try his hand at AAA and he delivered on Wednesday, throwing 5 innings while allowing just 3 hits, 2 walks, and 1 run, and striking out 6. The only stain on his resume was a home run allowed to former Major Leaguer Kyren Paris. That’s quite a performance!
What followed, however, was odd: after Winn pitched (and before LHP Reiver Sanmartin struck out 3 in 2 scoreless frames), there was a relief inning from LHP Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL). Whitman pitched in relief on Sunday, and it seemed like that was primarily due to it being his regular pitching day coinciding with LHP Matt Wilkinson’s return. But now he pitched an honest to goodness relief inning (0 hits, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts), and I’m a bit at a loss for explanation. Whitman certainly hasn’t been forced out of the rotation due to depth — he’s a higher-rated prospect than Perdomo, and certainly higher-rated than tonight’s starter, LHP Seth Lonsway — and there’s really no reason to start converting him into a reliever. Perhaps the Giants are just using some relief outings, mixed with the upcoming All-Star break (it coincides with Major League’s), to get Whitman a little midseason breather, given that he’s already at 80.1 innings, which leads all Giants prospects (though Whisenhunt has more if you include his MLB time). Either way, something to keep an eye on.
Thursday’s starter was RHP Blade Tidwell (No. 9 CPL) and he was decent, as he needed just 80 pitches to go 6 innings deep, while giving up 6 hits, 1 walk, and 3 runs, with 6 strikeouts. 3 of the 6 hits went for extra bases, though, including — like Perdomo — a homer ceded to Paris. Tidwell has been fairly sharp lately, and in his last 3 games has a 19-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, with 14 hits and 4 runs in 17 innings. It seems likely that the Giants will have 2 holes in their rotation after the trade deadline, and Whisenhunt and Tidwell seem the pitchers to fill them.
Also pitching on Thursday was RHP Eric Cerantola, whom the Giants recently claimed. He made his organizational debut and pitched a scoreless frame with 1 hit and 1 strikeout.
It was a quiet pair of games on offense, save for great performances from 2 outfielders: center fielder/right fielder Scott Bandura hit 4-6 with a 2-run home run, a walk, a sacrifice fly, a stolen base, and 2 strikeouts, while left fielder/center fielder Turner Hill went 4-7 with a solo home run, a triple, a walk, and a stolen base.
king of the Hill 👑
Turner knocks one out to get the Cats on the board!
Bandura, a soon-to-turn 25-year old who was taken in the 7th round in 2023, is starting to make his adjustments in AAA, and is up to a .726 OPS and a 90 wRC+ through 43 games, with 6 stolen bases in 7 attempts. Over his last 13 games, he’s gone 15-44 with 6 extra-base hits, 9 walks, and just 8 strikeouts.
Hill just keeps on raking, as the 27-year old UDFA has an .871 OPS and a 131 wRC+, with 16 stolen bases in 18 attempts. With Jonah Cox and Harrison Bader injured, Grant McCray rehabbing, and Victor Bericoto leaving last night’s game with an apparent injury, Hill could potentially be looking at an MLB debut. The slap hitter has certainly taken advantage of the Pacific Coast League environment: he has 6 home runs in 64 AAA games this year — at the time of his promotion earlier this season, he had 5 home runs in 281 career games across all levels.
Wednesday: Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Altoona Curve 8-5 [box score] Thursday: Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Altoona Curve 5-3 [box score]
A few days ago, it was third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL) who hit a flurry of home runs in a short stretch. This time, it was another player who plays third (though he was a first baseman and designated hitter in these games): Sabin Ceballos (No. 43 CPL).
Ceballos made it clear that his power is emphatically back, as he went 3-7 with a walk … and with all 3 of his hits clearing the fences. Ceballos, a 23-year old who was taken in the 3rd round in 2023, has seen his power come in waves after needing some adjustment time. When the Giants traded Jorge Soler for him in 2024, he was sitting on just 3 home runs in 377 plate appearances with Atlanta’s High-A affiliate … and then, for the rest of the season, bashed 7 dingers in just 140 plate appearances with San Francisco’s High-A squad.
Last year he spent the full season with Richmond, and hit 6 home runs in 420 plate appearances. This year? 13, in just 299 plate appearances. You love to see that!
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 8, 2026
Ceballos, who has a .788 OPS and a 111 wRC+ on the year, with quality defense at third when Harber vacates the position, continues to have one strange quirk in AA: he has a hard time getting hits. He draws a lot of walks (11.2% rate last year; 12.7% this year) and does a strong job limiting strikeouts (17.4% last year; 20.1% this year). And yet, despite that, he had just a .273 BABIP in 2025, and a lowly .256 mark this year, leading to batting overages of .232 and .234, respectively. Given that he’s got the power, the plate discipline, the swing-and-miss avoidance, and the defense … he could really become something special if he can figure out how to turn that contact into hits!
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 9, 2026
Speaking of power surges, they continue for right fielder Jean Carlos Sio (No. 44 CPL), who only hit 1-7 over these pair of games (with a walk, a strikeout, and an outfield assist), but the hit was a big fly. Despite his small frame, the 22-year old lefty — who had very limited power early in his career — is up to 12 home runs on the season, despite getting a late start with an injury. He’s tied for 5th in the system in home runs, and just 38th in plate appearances.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 9, 2026
The overall package is still in need of some adjustments — Sio has a .768 OPS and a 95 wRC+ in 29 games since getting promoted — but considering that he plays all over the infield and outfield, and is nearly 2 years younger than his average peer in the Eastern League, it’s certainly time to be excited about Sio.
The best pitching performance came from Thursday’s starter, LHP Greg Farone. It’s been a very difficult 2nd season for the 2024 7th rounder, but this was his 2nd fantastic start in a row, as he dealt 5 innings of 1-run ball, while allowing just 1 baserunner per inning (3 singles, 1 walk, and 1 hit batter), and striking out 6. He was efficient and lived in the zone, throwing 53 of 82 pitches for strikes.
After finishing June with 17 earned runs, and just 16 strikeouts to 15 walks in 21 innings, Farone has opened July with an 11-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 11 innings, with only 1 run allowed. Perhaps he’s starting to figure it out!
RHP Yunior Marte (No. 25 CPL), unfortunately, had a rough go of it, giving up 9 hits (5 of which went for extra bases) in just 3.2 innings, tagging him for 8 runs and 6 earned runs. The future is quite bright for the soon-to-turn 23-year old, who had 2 strikeouts, but his AA adjustment has been difficult, as he has a 5.74 ERA and a 4.73 FIP through 7 starts. He is doing fairly well with strikeouts and walks, though, as he has 10.3 and 2.9 per 9, respectively.
LHP Dale Stanavich struck out all 3 batters he faced, as he has started to find a groove. The 27-year old, signed in April as a Minor League free agent, has given up just 11 hits and 3 runs in 12 innings since the start of June, with 20 strikeouts against just 4 walks. LHP Jack Choate (No. 37 CPL) also had a nice relief outing, allowing just 1 hit in 2.2 innings, with 3 strikeouts. He has a 3.06 ERA and a 3.92 FIP on the season, and has been excellent at pretty much everything except limiting walks. So it was nice to see him not issue any in this game.
High-A Eugene (50-34)
Wednesday: Eugene Emeralds beat Spokane 10-2 [box score] Thursday: Eugene Emeralds lost to Spokane 4-1 [box score]
The Emeralds might have lost on Thursday, but it featured the best performance of the 2 days, for any Giants affiliate, thanks to one player who is putting his season together in a hurry: LHP Jacob Bresnahan (No. 11 CPL). Bresnahan started the season injured, then moved into rust, then moved into good pitching, and on Thursday, graduated to greatness. The just-turned 21-year old pitched 6 innings and allowed just 2 hits (though admittedly 1 left the park) and 1 run, while striking out a whopping 11 Spokane hitters. 11!
He did walk 3 batters, which has been his weakness this year and in prior years, as his 4.2 walks per 9 allowed is right in line with what he’s done at previous levels. But other than that, it was a truly exceptional day for half of the Alex Cobb return.
For Bresnahan, who lowered his ERA to 3.02 (though his FIP is just 4.42, due to 1.1 home runs allowed per 9 innings), it was his 4th consecutive dominant outing and his 4th consecutive start in which he went at least 6 innings. That’s largely missing in the system, so fabulous to see.
Over those last 4 starts, Bresnahan has pitched 24.1 innings and allowed just 9 hits, 7 walks, and 2 runs, with 28 strikeouts. The home run and walk suppression may need work, but 10.4 strikeouts per 9 innings and just 37 hits allowed in 59.2 innings is very exciting. Among the 42 Northwest League pitchers with at least 40 innings this year, Bresnahan is 5th in ERA, 13th in strikeouts per 9, and 2nd in batting average against (.174). All while being more than 2 years younger than the average pitcher in the league. What a year he’s suddenly having!
Jacob Bresnahan was dealing. 🔥
The lefty tossed 6.0 innings, allowed just 1 run on 2 hits, and struck out a career-high 11 while throwing a career-high 93 pitches.
It was a decent start for RHP Hunter Dryden as well, as the 2024 17th rounder handled 5.1 innings of 1-run ball on Wednesday, giving up 5 hits (including a home run), 2 walks, and 1 hit batter, while striking out 4. Dryden had really been struggling lately — he’d allowed 20 earned runs in 26 innings since the start of June coming into this start — so great to see him have a good outing. He has a 4.78 ERA and a 5.42 FIP and, like Bresnahan, is struggling with both walks (5.2 per 9) and home runs (1.4 per 9).
But a great relief outing from RHP Gerelmi Maldonado (No. 21 CPL), who pitched a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts. The strikeouts are never surprising for the flamethrower, who has a staggering 31 of them in 20.2 innings. Seeing him not walk anyone, however, is surprising, as this was just the 3rd time this year he’d pitched at least an inning without issuing a walk, and in total he has 27 of them, good for 11.8 per 9 innings. That needs to come way way way way down.
Wednesday was a superstar showing from right fielder Lisbel Diaz (No. 32 CPL), who hit a perfect 4-4 and finished a triple shy of the cycle, while knocking in 3 runs. Diaz, who went 1-4 on Thursday, just keeps showing off the power, as he’s now tied with his teammate Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) for 2nd most home runs on the farm (15), despite having 74 fewer plate appearances.
As I’ve talked about repeatedly with Diaz, all the tools are there, it just hasn’t all worked out. Despite all those home runs (3 of which were in Low-A), and despite a delightful 16.6% strikeout rate, Diaz’s OPS and wRC+ are fairly middle of the road, at .772 and 98, respectively. But the tools are worth dreaming on (he also has an absolute cannon of an arm), especially since he’s more than 2.5 years younger than the average hitter in the league (he turns 21 next weekend). The future is (hopefully!) bright.
Left fielder Carlos Gutierrez (No. 18 CPL) and catcher Jancel Villarroel (No. 42 CPL) also had brilliant Wednesdays, with Gutierrez hitting 2-3 with 2 walks and a strikeout, and Villarroel going 2-4 with a double and a walk. Gutierrez, who went 1-4 with a strikeout on Thursday, has an .802 OPS and a 117 wRC+, while Villarroel, who didn’t play Thursday, has an .892 OPS and a 139 wRC+. Both players are still just 21, and both have strikeout rates at or below 20%.
A brutal pair of games for first baseman Jakob Christian (No. 40 CPL), who hit 1-8 with 7 strikeouts. Christian, a 5th-round pick in 2024, has always had good numbers with awful strikeout rates, and that’s no different this year, as he has a .782 OPS, a 111 wRC+, and a 33.5% strikeout rate. Unfortunately, that’s not really a recipe for success at higher levels.
Low-A San Jose (52-32)
Wednesday: San Jose Giants beat the Visalia Rawhide 15-4 [box score] Thursday: San Jose Giants beat the Visalia Rawhide 11-3 [box score]
The Baby Giants are officially back and rolling, as, following a midseason slide, they’ve now won 10 games in a row! Holy guacamole!
It was the long ball that led the way for San Jose, and above all else, it was first baseman Jeremiah Jenkins, who hit 5-10 with 3 home runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, and 7 runs batted in. That’s certainly a damn good pair of days at the office!
Jenkins, a 14th-round pick in 2024, is quietly having a very strong offensive season. He’s tied for 5th in the system with 12 home runs, which he’s paired with a sky-high 15.8% walk rate. Add in the .917 OPS and the 124 wRC+, and it’s been a very memorable campaign for the left-hander.
You might read that and think he’s someone we should be talking about more but, unfortunately, the season isn’t lacking for warts, either. Jenkins has a scary 30.5% strikeout rate, and is nearly 2 years older than the average Cal League hitter. Add in the fact that he’s exclusively a first baseman (and thus really needs to hit), and there’s as much reason for skepticism as optimism. Still! A good year worth celebrating.
Speaking of good years, that’s exactly what third baseman/second baseman Isaiah Barkett is having, and he showed off in these games as well, hitting 5-9 with a home run, 2 doubles, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. The Giants have to be utterly thrilled with the debut season from last year’s 10th-round selection, as he has an .887 OPS, a 124 wRC+, and just an 8.6% strikeout rate. He also plays strong defense at second and third, and has even logged innings at first base and right field this year.
Left fielder Angel Guzman made his Low-A debut after a recent promotion and had quite a showing, homering in his 1st game! Over the course of the 2 games, the 20-year old lefty went 3-9 with a walk and 2 strikeouts. Welcome to San Jose, Angel!
Rounding out the dinger party was catcher Daniel Rogers, who hit 2-6 with a solo shot. Rogers, a 24-year old UDFA in his 2nd season, has hit very well with San Jose, but has played sparingly. He’s appeared in just 11 games for the Baby Giants, plus 11 more for Eugene this year.
Not homering but playing very well was shortstop Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL), who hit 3-9 with a triple, a double, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and a stolen base. Meola now has a 5-game hitting streak, during which time he’s 11-21 with 5 extra-base hits, 4 walks, and just 4 strikeouts, bringing him up to a .762 OPS and an 89 wRC+, with 9 stolen bases in 12 attempts.
The starting pitching performances were encouraging, if not particularly successful. LHP Jordan Gottesman started on Wednesday and struck out 6 batters in 4.1 innings, but also allowed 4 hits, 2 walks, and 3 runs, while needing 84 pitches to get his 13 outs. RHP Ben Bybee had a similar outing on Thursday, striking out 7 batters in 5.2 innings, but allowing 6 hits (including 2 home runs), 1 walk, and 3 runs.
The pair, who are in their debut seasons, are not having the best campaigns, as Gottesman (last year’s 6th-round pick) has a 4.48 ERA and a 5.31 FIP, while Bybee (taken 2 rounds later) has a 5.08 ERA and a 5.13 FIP. Both players are doing a great job limiting walks, though.
RHP Samir Chires, a 22-year old from Venezuela, made his Low-A debut and it went swimmingly, as he struck out 2 batters in a scoreless inning, with a hit allowed. It’s a long time coming for Chires, who was signed in 2021 and, prior to his promotion, was in his 4th season in the ACL.
Joining him was RHP Chen-Hsun Lee, a 24-year old from Taiwan who also made his Low-A debut, and also pitched well, throwing 2 scoreless frames with a hit and a strikeout. Lee, who signed in 2023 but pitched just 4 times that year before suffering injuries that cost him all of 2024 and 2025, has some really nasty stuff, but is still trying to figure out how to harness it. Great to see him in affiliated ball.
Arizona Complex League (28-21)
Thursday: ACL Giants lost to the ACL Guardians 6-3 [box score]
Not the most exciting game. AAA center fielder Grant McCray continued his rehab and hit 1-2 with a hit by pitch, while stealing 2 bases. He should be nearly ready to head back to Sacramento.
The best offensive day belonged to catcher Broedy Poppell, who hit 2-4 with a strikeout. Last year’s 13th-round pick has a .952 OPS but just a 102 wRC+ since getting sent from Low-A down to the ACL to work as a catcher.
Second baseman Josuar González had a nice game, hitting 1-3 with 2 walks and a stolen base, though he also had a strikeout and a caught stealing. The 18-year old switch-hitting sensation has a 1.037 OPS and a 158 wRC+, with 7 stolen bases in 9 attempts. I’m starting to wonder if we might see him in San Jose before the ACL season even ends.
Really strong relief showings from LHP Jose Rengel and RHP Jose T. Perez. Rengel pitched 2 perfect innings with 4 strikeouts, while Perez struck out 2 in a perfect frame. It’s been a brutal pass through the ACL for Rengel, who has had an ERA in the 7s in all 3 years at the level. Nice to see him have a great game. Perez is also having a tough season (4.82 ERA and 5.48 FIP in the ACL, with far worse numbers during a short Low-A stint), but his strikeout stuff is firmly on display. The 22-year old has struck out 32 batters in just 18.2 Complex League innings.
Just a single DSL game, as the Giants Orange team had Thursday off, while the Giants Black squad didn’t play Wednesday, and had their Thursday game postponed in the 2nd inning due to weather.
A pair of nice hitting games from second baseman Yoxander Benitez and first baseman Albert Jimenez. Benitez, a 19-year old in his 3rd season, hit 1-2 with a double, a walk, and a strikeout, bringing his OPS to .763 and his wRC+ to 98 … not great numbers, but better than past years, and he’s not striking out much. Jimenez, also a 19-year old in his 3rd season, went 2-3 with a double, and now has a 1.059 OPS and a 143 wRC+, with more walks than strikeouts. A very nice season for the righty.
RHP Jesus Lopez was the star on the mound, tossing 3 scoreless innings with 1 hit and 2 strikeouts. It’s been a pretty tough year for the 21-year old, who is in the DSL for a 4th straight year, but he’s been a little better lately. Hopefully it can hold.
Home run tracker
15 — Lisbel Diaz — [12 in High-A; 3 in Low-A] 13 — Sabin Ceballos x3 — [AA] 12 — Jean Carlos Sio — [7 in AA; 4 in High-A; 1 in ACL] 12 — Jeremiah Jenkins x3 — [Low-A] 6 — Scott Bandura — [3 in AAA; 3 in AA] 6 — Turner Hill — [AAA] 5 — Isaiah Barkett — [Low-A] 3 — Angel Guzman — [1 in Low-A; 2 in ACL] 3 — Daniel Rogers — [Low-A]
Friday schedule
Sacramento: 6:45 p.m. PT vs. Salt Lake (SP: Seth Lonsway) Richmond: 3:00 p.m. PT at Altoona (SP: Charlie McDaniel) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Spokane (SP: Niko Mazza) San Jose: 6:35 p.m. PT at Visalia (SP: TBD)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
Carolina Hurricanes majority owner Tom Dundon holds the Stanley Cup in the air during the team's championship celebration June 20 in Raleigh, N.C. (Karl B DeBlaker / Associated Press)
Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jordan Staal is on there.
Their coach, Rod Brind’Amour, also is on there, as is general manager Eric Tulsky.
A total of 53 names have been engraved onto the Stanley Cup to represent the 2026 champions. At the very top of the list is team owner Tom Dundon ... and his wife and their five children, whose ages are believed to range from single digits to mid-20s.
The Dundon family comprises the entire first two rows of names on the iconic chalice, even though Papa Dundon is the only one who holds a position within the organization.
According to the NHL’s website, up to 55 names per championship teams can be engraved on the Cup. Players who appeared in at least 41 regular-season games or one Stanley Cup Final game automatically make the cut, and teams can petition the commissioner for permission to include other players. The team determines which names from the management staff are engraved on the trophy, but all names must be approved by the Hockey Hall of Fame and NHL.
So it would seem that all the names submitted by the Hurricanes would have required approval before being etched into immortality. The Hockey Hall of Fame told the Associated Press it is not directly involved with the engraving.
The NHL did not immediately respond on Friday to a request for comment from The Times.
Owners have included family members’ names on the trophy before. In 1984, Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington had the name of his father, Basil Pocklington, engraved even though Basil held no position with the team. Apparently the NHL was initially unaware of this addition, and the elder Pocklington’s name was later covered with a row of X’s.
Penny Vinik, then-wife of Tampa Bay Lightning majority owner Jeffrey Vinik, was included with the 2021 championship listing. She didn’t hold a traditional position within the organization but was largely considered a co-owner and was active in team operations.
The wife and three children of Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola were included on the Cup following the team’s titles in 2024 and 2025. All of them, however, are designated as alternative governors on the team.
While the entire Dundon clan made the cut, some notable Hurricanes omissions include defenseman Joel Nystrom (who played 38 games with Carolina this season); development coach Jesper Fast (who played four of his 11 NHL seasons with the Hurricanes); nutritionist Kristin Pirigyi; and three investors (Brett Jefferson, Marc Grandisson and Bobby Farnham) who joined the team’s ownership group in March.
Dundon’s move was widely criticized — and ridiculed — after the Hurricanes on Thursday posted a picture of the engravings on social media. The team declined to comment for this story.
NHL reporter and broadcaster Chris Johnston, who also covers hockey for the Athletic, called the matter “embarrassing.”
“Let me be crystal clear here: If you didn’t give every last piece of your being to earn this thing, you don’t deserve to have your name engraved,” Johnston wrote on X. “If you’re in primary school in Dallas when a team wins in Raleigh ... forget it.”
Hockey broadcaster Jeff Marek had an interesting idea.
“Compromise - if the Carolina Hurricanes owner wants to do this how about just engraving ‘The Dundon Family’ instead of each name?” Marek wrote on X.
Former NHL player and current analyst Anthony Stewart posted a doctored image of the engraving that featured his name in place of two of the Dundons as well as in several other spots down the list.
“I see zero issues with the names on the Stanley Cup,” he wrote.
Defector deputy editor Barry Petchesky may have had the funniest observation of all. He wrote of the first two lines of names on the Cup: “That’s more Dundons than an episode of Law & Order.”
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins announced that catcher Ryan Jeffers was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing nearly two months with a left hamate bone fracture.
The 29-year-old Jeffers had a .295 batting average, .949 OPS, seven homers and 26 RBIs in 37 games before the injury. He recently played five games in Triple-A on a rehab assignment, batting .375 with two homers.
Jeffers is in his seventh season with the Twins, hitting .243 with 75 homers over 552 career games.
To make room for Jeffers on the roster, the Twins optioned outfielder Kyler Fedko to Triple-A. Fedko was hitless in 16 at-bats over 14 games.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 04: Egor Demin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket on Nique Clifford #00 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half in the California Classic a NBA Summer League game at Golden 1 Center on July 04, 2026 in Sacramento, 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tonight, the Brooklyn Nets kick off their first of at least five Summer League games in Las Vegas.
After playing in a back-to-back-to-back during the “California Classic” in Sacramento, the team arrived in Vegas to face off against a familiar organization: the cross-town rivals and reigning NBA Champion New York Knicks.
Now, it may not be regular-season action or even preseason, but hey, it’s still a battle of the boroughs… just happening in Vegas with mostly non-NBA players.
Where to watch?
Tonight’s clash from the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas can be watched on Prime Video or the Gotham Sports App.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm ET.
The game
The Nets finished the California Classic with a 2-1 record. Above all, though, several pieces from their young core thrived.
Egor Dëmin finished second in scoring (23 points per game) in two outings, trailing only Darius Acuff Jr.’s 23.5, who did it on much more inefficient splits.
While Dëmin wasn’t very efficient beyond the arc (30.8%), we consistently saw him use his newly chiseled frame to drive to the rim and make plays around the basket, an area of his game that wasn’t fully unveiled during his rookie season and barely seen in Vegas a year ago.
Chaney Johnson, who is on a two-way contract with the team, was highly consistent, averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2 steals per game over two outings in 21 minutes.
The Nets’ other two-way player, and second-round rookie Tyler Bilodeau, was electric beyond the arc. His 3-point shooting has always been his calling card, nailing 46.4% of his 3-point attempts at UCLA last season.
He quickly flashed that ability in two Summer League games, averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 26 minutes per game while converting 58.3% of his 3-point attempts. He even drilled four triples in just the first half of the Nets’ final game at the California Classic.
Then, there was the player everyone in NetsWorld wanted to see. Mikel Brown Jr. did not disappoint even in limited minutes. During his Summer League debut, the Nets’ lottery selection last month popped off the screen, notching 10 points in 19 minutes, along with four assists, on 36.4% shooting from the field and 40% from 3-point range. He was, as his coach said, post-game, “electric.”
His impact went beyond the stat sheet, as his size and feel for the game were on full display, and his defensive traits were evident as well.
Drake Powell, on the other hand, needs to get on the right track in Las Vegas. A first-round pick from last year’s draft, he should be providing promise against Summer League-level competition. However, that has not been the case.
In 23.5 minutes across two appearances, he has averaged three points while converting just 1 of 17 field-goal attempts (ouch). That is simply unacceptable, but it is a decidedly small sample.
Throughout the team’s five games in Vegas, Powell’s offensive production needs to pick up.
As for the Knicks, they will begin their Summer League tonight, having not played in Sacramento or Salt Lake City.
Key players on their roster include Pacôme Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara, both of whom held up the Larry O’Brian trophy last month at the Garden as well as Toby Okani, Jaden Akins, Tyler Nickel, and Jack Kayil.
Dadiet, a 2024 first-round pick by the organization, hasn’t been able to find rotational NBA minutes due to the team’s competitiveness while Okani was with the Knicks’ G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, last year, before closing out the season on a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Akins was dominant with the Motor City Cruise last year in the G League, earning him a spot in the 2026 NBA G League Next Up Game. Nickel and Kayil were the Knicks’ two draft selections this year, each coming in the second round.
Most notably, Diawara played a major role in the Knicks’ regular-season run last year before falling out of the rotation in the playoffs. He quickly became a fan favorite and was a key part of that team, earning him a four-year, $11.27 million contract extension this offseason.
Both teams seemingly share the same goal at this time of year: to hope for the growth and development of young talent and to win some bragging rights.
The Buffalo Sabres suffered a notable loss to their roster this off-season. This is because they sent forward Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals in a major sign-and-trade.
Tuch was a very important part of the Sabres' top six during his time in Buffalo. However, with the Sabres being able to come to terms on a new deal with the then pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), it made sense that they traded him instead of losing him for nothing.
Now, due to this, the Sabres are being predicted to make a big move next season to replace Tuch.
In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Lyle Richardson predicted that the Sabres would trade for Detroit Red Wings star forward Alex DeBrincat at the 2027 NHL Trade Deadline.
"Having traded Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals, the Sabres could be in the market for a top-six winger by the trade deadline if they haven't addressed that need by then. If the Detroit Red Wings are out of playoff contention again, winger Alex DeBrincat could be available," Richardson wrote.
If the Red Wings shop DeBrincat, it would make a lot of sense for the Sabres to try to acquire him. This remains the case whether it is this summer or next season. The Sabres could use another star in their top six, and landing DeBrincat would give them just that.
DeBrincat appeared in 82 games last season for the Red Wings, where he posted 41 goals and set new career highs with 44 assists and 85 points. With numbers like these, he would be a strong pickup for a Sabres club that is looking to continue to head in the right direction.
It will be interesting to see if the Sabres pursuing DeBrincat. If they acquired him, he could work well on their second line with Ryan McLeod and Jack Quinn.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 30: Puma shoes are seen worn by Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics during a game at State Farm Arena on March 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jun 22, 2026; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; NBA 76’ers player Andre Drummond on the sideline as the Connecticut Sun take on the Chicago Sky in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
Before the month of July became the seventh month of the year, it used to be Quintilis, the fifth. And if mi abuela had wheels, she’d be una bicicleta. Are there no absolutes in this topsy-turvy time? There never were! But have no fear: the P&T July mailbag invite is here, to lend a sense of order to our orderless, non-odorless lives.
Last month, the Knicks won the NBA title. This month, they added Andre Drummond. We’ve heard rumors about both for-EVER. Now that they’ve both come true, I wonder — what is your favorite Knick rumor? Either oldest, wrongest, longest-running, weirdest. I remember hearing my first: June 26, 1991.
*Back then* ( I LOVE getting to use that term now!), the Knicks were in the middle of their 40 years wandering the desert in search of a point guard. They had no shot at that year’s top option, NYC’s own Kenny Anderson, who went second to the team across the river. Rumor had it the Knicks were enamored with maybe the second-best floor general available, UNLV’s Greg Anthony, but Anthony wasn’t expected to fall that far, with Milwaukee in the 11th spot and also known to be after a point guard. Rumor had it the Knicks were thrilled when the Bucks bucked expectations by instead selecting Oregon’s Terrell Brandon, leaving New York free to land Anthony, best-remembered for the ‘90s-ist shirt of all-time.
Got Knick questions or takes? Share ’em. NBA curios? Drop ‘em. Whatever your little atria and ventricles desire, shout ’em from the rooftop, baby.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the ball during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The chase for LeBron James has gotten weirder than ever. Speculation has run rampant, and new rumors are swirling every day. That’s partly because James has left us all in the dark, leaving everyone grasping at straws.
According to reports, James has only directly spoken to one front office executive throughout all of this madness. The exec?
James’ childhood friend and current member of the Cleveland Cavaliers front office, Brandon Weems.
The Athletic’s Joe Vardon shared rumors that the rest of the league is still waiting for direct contact with James.
“League executives who spoke with The Athletic on Thursday in Las Vegas at the official start of the NBA 2026 Summer League said there was only one team executive believed to have had direct contact with James during this free agency, Brandon Weems,” said Vardon.
James and Weems were seen hanging out in Akron during Fourth of July weekend. It’s unclear how much, if any, conversation was held about James’ future in the league. It’s possible this was two friends spending time together while business was strictly forbidden.
Though we can’t say anything for sure.
It appears the rest of the NBA is in the same boat. Executives across the league are scouring the internet for information just like us.
“We really don’t know, we just know what we read… My friends text me and ask what he’s going to do, and I don’t have to lie to them.”
Some teams have reportedly even sent voice notes to Rich Paul, who represents James for Klutch Sports, to pass along to James himself. No direct contact has allegedly been made up to this point.
If this all sounds crazy, well, it kind of is. I can’t recall any other situation like this in league history. Multiple teams are vying for the oldest player in the NBA. And, miraculously, he has them all at his fingertips.
That’s because James is still talented enough, even at 41 years old, to push a team over the top. There’s a reason all of these teams are engaging in the frenzy. Signing James this summer could result in a championship next year. That’s worth diving into the deep end.
Los Angeles, CA - April 29: Austin Reeves #15 high fives teammate LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers after scoring against the Houston Rockets in the first half of game 5 of a Western Conference first-round NBA playoff basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Throughout Austin Reaves’ career, LeBron James has been there every step of the way.
LeBron was there to give guidance, encouragement and mentorship. We saw this on the court when LeBron would talk to Reaves, creating some iconic viral moments.
But all good things come to an end. When Reaves plays for the Lakers next season, LeBron won’t be present as his teammate.
Thanks to a story by Edward Lewis in the California Post, we know about the immediate interaction Reaves had with James once he knew of LeBron’s departure.
“I texted him,” Reaves said of his initial reaction to James bolting from Los Angeles, “and told him I was having a great day on the golf course until he ruined it.”
Many Lakers fans wanted LeBron back, and it’s no surprise Reaves felt the pain of James no longer being his running mate.
They had a ton of success together and gelled well on and off the court. The admiration worked both ways. LeBron had Reaves on his “Mind The Game Podcast,” and he wouldn’t do that if he didn’t think Reaves was a person worth talking to.
Reaves was interviewed by Keith Jouganatos at the 2026 American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament and elaborated further on LeBron leaving LA.
“Obviously, you never want to see people that you’ve been with for years leave. I don’t have all the time in the world to talk about how great LeBron is and how much he means to me and my career. I’m going to miss all those guys but it’s a good opportunity for us to turn the page and see what’s next.”
The Lakers are certainly turning the page with so many new additions, making this the start of a new era. However, the memories will always remain and the bond between LeBron and Reaves is still strong.
The first time LeBron and Reaves face each other will be an incredible moment, filled with handshakes, hugs and a ton of cameras.
But, as Reaves has said, it’s time to turn the page. Reaves is now the clear No.2 in Los Angeles. Let’s see what he does in that role. Hopefully, he makes LeBron and Lakers fans everywhere proud.
Full-slate Friday is filled with a ton of exciting matchups, with plenty of players set up for success, with others facing much tougher spots.
Check out my favorite MLB picks for Friday, July 10.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Tanner Gordon
Over 2.5 earned runs
-121
Munetaka Murakami
Over 1.5 total bases
+132
Kyle Schwarber
Over 1.5 total bases
+104
Tanner Gordon Over 2.5 earned runs (-121)
Waking up this morning and seeing Tanner Gordon set to face NINE elite rated San Francisco Giants bats this evening nearly forced me to write about it.
It does not end there, as San Francisco also has three hitters with strong ratings, meaning whoever is in the starting lineup should have a great matchup against the Colorado Rockies starter.
The Giants have been dominating at the dish over the past week, owning a .360 wOBA, 136 wRC+, and an .822 OPS while generating a 10.3% barrel rate over their last six games.
Meanwhile, Gordon has been a complete mess in his last five outings, posting an 8.14 ERA, 5.35 xERA, and a 1.81 WHIP.
With the amount of Giants hitters in a great spot on Batters-Box, I have to back San Francisco in this spot.
Entering today with the second-highest matchup rating, Murakami has already shown some of the strongest trends on Batters-Box through nearly 30 games. He surpasses 2+ bases 51.72% of the time while also hitting a home run 41.38% of the time. Not to mention, he owns a 64.3% arsenal coverage rate against Aaron Civale.
The Athletics right hander has been getting crushed by left handed bats all season long, allowing a 43.8% hard hit rate, 8.9% barrel rate, and 71.9% elevation rate. Those left-handed hitters are also posting a .486 xSLG and .346 xwOBA against Civale this season.
We are getting a great price here. If I had to, I would take this down to +120, or simply look at the home run market for a little extra #FUN.
Schwarber owns over 70% arsenal coverage against Flaherty's pitch mix. Plus, over his last 60 plate appearances against right handed pitching, he has generated a 70% hard hit rate, a .321 ISO, and an 18.1% barrel rate.
Meanwhile, Flaherty has allowed lefties to feast all season. Left-handed hitters are producing a 46.7% hard-hit rate, a 9.2% barrel rate, and nearly a 70% elevation rate against him.
Knowing how much hard contact Schwarber can generate, this feels like another great spot for him.
Do not pay juice for his total bases prop. If the price gets too high, pivot to his home run or double prop instead.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DSN, NBCSP
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 287-535, -13.7 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Mets have made a couple of moves before Friday's game against the Red Sox.
The biggest news is Mark Vientos officially landing on the IL with what's being called a right hand fracture.
Andy Green said that this was the expected outcome for Vientos after he left Thursday afternoon's victory in the bottom of the second following a tough HBP on the hand.
It's unclear if Vientos will require surgery, but he will certainly be out for awhile.
In a corresponding roster move, infielder Zack Short has been selected to the major league roster.
Short appeared in three games this season for the Mets, but he was DFA'd following Francisco Lindor's return.
Additionally, the club has DFA'd right-handed pitcher Dan Hammer after being up with them for just one game, and Tobias Myers is back up in the big-leagues after being optioned prior to Thursday's game.
Myers has struggled of late, allowing at least one run in each of his last 10 major league outings.
The expectation is James will prioritize competing for a championship as he looks to earn a fifth NBA title. That's why it's hardly a surprise the Philadelphia 76ers are among the teams that have frequently been connected to the 41-year-old superstar.
The 76ers are expected to be one of the Eastern Conference favorites for the upcoming NBA season. They added Jaylen Brown to a core that already includes Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, so signing James would further bolster their chances of winning their first NBA title since 1983.
The Philadelphia 76ers will be among those pitching James on joining their squad, but their argument got an assist from another prominent Philadelphia athlete.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley made his own pitch to James at a his youth football camp at Haddonfield High School in New Jersey.
"I think it is one of the greatest sports towns in the world," Barkley said when asked how he would pitch James on coming to Philadelphia, per NBC Sports Philadelphia. "I know [New York Knicks forward] Josh Hart said the opposite. I saw that today on Twitter. But I have to disagree with him. If you want to go out with a bang, I feel like a great spot would be in Philly, and bringing a championship to Philadelphia, you'd be remembered forever."
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) July 9, 2026
Barkley knows first-hand what it means to bring a championship to Philadelphia. He helped achieve that goal in his first season with the Eagles, becoming just the ninth running back in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 yards and helping power Philadelphia to a 40-22 Super Bowl 59 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
As sweet as Barkley's championship with the Eagles was, Philadelphia only had a seven-year gap between their Super Bowl wins. By comparison, the 76ers faithful have waited more than four decades for another NBA title and the team hasn't appeared in the NBA finals since 2001.
COVERS INTEL: Clement is batting .287 with a team-leading 
Tanner Gordon
Munetaka Murakami
Kyle Schwarber