Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder hit hundreds for hosts
Australia face last-day chase to clinch Test and the series
It would be unfair to say that Australia let a winning position slip on the fourth day of the third Test at Cape Town, only because that would undersell how Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder prised it away. Australia’s vaunted four bowlers, owners of 1,674 wickets at day’s beginning, could only raise that to 1678 by day’s end. In the process, a lead of 40 became 287. South Africa had been 40 for 4 in the first innings at Gqeberha and bounced back to win; they were effectively 40 for 4 in the third innings here, and now have a great chance to do the same.
The unlikely basis was Rickelton, a franchise circuiteer who spends most of his year smiting runs or keeping wicket in 20-over blocks. In this series he was monstered in Durban by Josh Hazlewood, out for 0 and 2 while pinch-hitting as an opener, then made scant impression down the order with 31 in Gqeherha. He looked like a modern cricketer become anachronism in this ancient form.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tarik Skubal was the prize of the trade deadline, and will be a highly sought-after belle of the ball during free agency. He won American League Cy Young Awards in both 2024 and 2025 with the Detroit Tigers, then won a record $30 million decision in salary arbitration last winter.
After a strong season for both the Tigers and Dodgers, Skubal’s next salary will almost certainly exceed that $30 million. But what kind of contract might the left-hander receive this offseason?
But Skubal is likely looking for a contract longer than three years, so let’s look at a few more recent longer deals on the high end of the market.
Pitcher
Team
Age
Years
Avg. salary
Jacob deGrom
Rangers
35
2023-27
$37 million
Blake Snell
Dodgers
32
2025-29
$36.4 million
Gerrit Cole
Yankees
29
2020-28
$36 million
Stephen Strasburg
Nationals
31
2020-26
$35 million
Corbin Burnes
Diamondbacks
30
2025-30
$35 million
Two Cy Young Awards were already on the mantel for Jacob deGrom by the time he was a free agent, but injuries cut into his final two years with the Mets before reaching free agency. Skubal missed six weeks this past season after arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, and has pitched six full seasons in the majors. Here are the final six years before free agency for Skubal and deGrom
It looks like deGrom has the edge in production, though was hurt by making only 26 starts over his final two years with the Mets. Plus, deGrom was five years older than Skubal is now, so it would be reasonable for him to seek a contract larger than the five years, $185 million deGrom got four offseasons ago.
The real question might be how much will Skubal’s 2026 surgery impact his free agency. He missed six weeks but was also quite productive in his 26 starts. He also had flexor tendon surgery that limited him to 36 total starts between 2022-23 with Detroit.
Blake Snell has an extensive injury history, and like deGrom and Skubal, also has two Cy Young Awards to his credit. When he first free agency, after the 2023 season he was coming directly off the second of his Cy Young seasons. Snell then was one year older than Skubal is now, so let’s look at their previous six seasons before free agency, which also includes both Snell Cy Young years (2018, 2023):
Snell still had almost no market to speak of two offseasons ago, and he settled for a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants and opted out after one season in San Francisco.
It’s Snell’s five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers that is more of a thing for Skubal to shoot for than anything, but a market will have to develop. And the pending lockout adds a layer of uncertainty that at the very least might make Skubal have to wait a while before he finds his next deal.
Today’s question is how many years and guaranteed dollars do you think Tarik Skubal will sign for as a free agent this offseason?
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images | Getty Images
There is nothing like a first-time winner.
Earlier this week the Milwaukee Brewers won the World Series and in the process earned the franchise’s first-ever championship. The Brewers are winners forever now and have the 2026 team to thank for that.
But just because it was this year’s club that crossed that threshold hardly means that elite baseball hasn’t been played in Milwaukee before. We are talking about one of Major League Baseball’s most prolific franchises that simply did not have the thing that many people believe you have to have.
Once upon a time Milwaukee boasted the thing in the big leagues at the time in Prince Fielder. Watching Brewers legends like Fielder live through this team’s experience from their perspective was interesting for baseball fans everywhere, and on Friday morning I was able to talk to him about that and a host of other things (including his once-upon-a-time commitment to play college baseball for Pat Murphy’s Arizona State Sun Devils).
At both the beginning and end of our conversation I asked Prince about this year’s team and about something he specifically said about them throughout the run. Prince was on local news and was asked about his contributions to the Brewers and how he was a part of the group who helped lay the foundation for what they just became. He, respectfully, told the interviewer that he had nothing to do with this year’s team. He said he obviously played a role with the franchise, but that he had his time and this time belonged to this year’s group.
It isn’t often that you see such powerful perspective like that in sports. It takes a high level of humility to be able to reach that point and I was really impressed with Prince’s thoughts for that reason. Near the end of our interview I wanted to know what he would take away from this whole run given his unique mindset and he said that he’ll recall how nice it was to be regarded by everyone as it unfolded. He said he appreciated the sentiment from Brewers fans, baseball fans at large really, and how they connected what he did during his time with the franchise to what Pat Murphy’s group just accomplished.
Memories are a powerful thing in sports and Prince helped a lot of fans create some new ones on Friday as the Brewers celebrated their title. He teamed up with Budweiser to help distribute some truly one-of-one pieces of memorabilia… this stuff is unreal.
Budweiser is launching MemoraBEERlia, an exclusive limited-edition collection of exactly 150 collectibles crafted from MLB authenticated 2026 World Series items, celebrating the brand’s 150th anniversary and the crowning of a first-time champion.
Budweiser will also host a celebratory “First Taste of Victory” event on parade day in Milwaukee. Legendary player Prince Fielder will join Milwaukee fans 21+ to celebrate the historic moment by raising a Budweiser to the newly crowned champions.
For fans 21+, to celebrate Milwaukee’s victory, Budweiser is creating Championship Tap Handles, featuring MLB-authenticated pieces of 2026 World Series baseballs woven into the tap handle, World Series Base Coasters, featuring MLB-authenticated pieces of game-used 2026 World Series bases, and Celebration Pint Glasses, created with MLB-authenticated pieces of Budweiser championship bottles used in the 2026 MLB World Series locker room celebration. Fans 21+ will have a chance to enter on Instagram, Facebook, X or TikTok using #BudMemoraBEERlia #Sweepstakes now through November 5.
Fans 21+ can enter now through November 5 on Instagram, Facebook, X or TikTok using #BudMemoraBEERlia #Sweepstakes.
Imagine being a part of that and grabbing something from Prince Fielder himself. You would never forget it.
Thankfully Prince knows that nobody will ever forget him either.
Jun 6, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement (22) celebrates in the dugout with team mates after scoring a run against the Baltimore Orioles in the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
With eight Jays who have declared free agency (I wonder how many do it like Michael Scott declared bankruptcy?), I thought we would take a look at the 40-man roster as it is.
Pitchers (21)
Spencer Arrighetti
José Berríos (60-day IL)
Jake Bloss (60-day IL)
Dylan Cease
Brendan Cellucci
Chad Dallas
Braydon Fisher
Mason Fluharty
Bowden Francis (60-day IL)
John Klein
Chase Lee
Brendon Little
Spencer Miles
Cody Ponce
José Rodríguez
Tyler Rogers
José Soriano
Ricky Tiedemann
CJ Van Eyk
Louis Varland
Trey Yesavage
Catchers (3)
Alejandro Kirk
Shawn Ross
Brandon Valenzuela
Infielders (6)
Ernie Whitt
Andrés Giménez
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Charles McAdoo
Kazuma Okamoto
Josh Smith
Outfielders (8)
Addison Barger (60-day IL)
Brett Bateman
Jonatan Clase (60-day IL)
Nathan Lukes
Yohendrick Piñango
Anthony Santander (60-day IL)
Davis Schneider
Myles Straw
DH (1)
Sean Keys
That adds up to 39.
The players on the 60-day IL aren’t on the 40-man roster yet, but will have to be added in a couple of days.
And they have a club option to decide on with Myles Straw. My guess is they will decline it, but try to sign him to a cheaper deal.
And, of course, some will be DFAed when they need roster space. And some minor leaguers will have to be added to protect them from the Rule 5 draft (if there is one).
They will also have some decisions on players without options: Jonatan Clase, Brendon Little, and Jake Bloss. Well, Ernie Clements as well. And, the veterans, of course, Vlad, Kirk, Santander, Giménez, Cease, Berríos, Straw, and Rogers can’t be optioned.
By the time baseball rolls around again, presuming it does start again, the roster will look a fair bit different. It would be fun to guess how many of these 39 will still be on the 40-man opening day.
It’s hard to get the internet sports community to agree on anything these days, but the Miami Heat’s statue of Dwyane Wade brought about a rare level of consensus opinion. The Heat unveiled their Wade statue about two years ago as they were beginning the 2024-25 season, and absolutely everyone agreed it was terrible. The statue was so bad that Wade himself struggled to defend it, saying the statue didn’t need to look like him to capture an artistic moment. That’s a nice spin from a company man, but it didn’t stop anyone from getting their jokes off.
The Heat heard the slander, and years later, and they’ve finally done something about it. Miami updated the Wade statue outside of the Kaseya Center to actually make it look like D-Wade. The face on the statue was redesigned over the offseason, and it’s a big upgrade. Here’s a before and after photo of the Wade statue, with the updated version on the left and the old version on the right.
Heat fans admitted they were unreasonably angry about the initial version of the statue, and it makes sense. Wade put the team on his back to lead them to the 2006 NBA championship early in his career, and then helped recruit LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Beach, which brought the franchise two more titles. The Heat did him dirty on the initial statue, but at least they cared enough to fix it.
Here are some more looks at the updated statue:
The Dwyane Wade statue in front of the Kaseya Center has officially had a revamping with a new head and face. The original sculptors worked with Wade’s approval over the last few months to make it look more like him. pic.twitter.com/OnOn0i2O6C
The Heat have had a rough start to the season, but it’s only been a few games. Miami finally got its first win of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era earlier this week, and fixing the statue feels like a good omen for the rest of the season. I wasn’t very high on the Heat coming into the season, but if they put the same care into their on-court product that they put into improving the Wade statue, they should be just fine.
Wade is the greatest player in Heat history, and I will accept no other argument. This man is the Miami Heat. He finally has a statue worthy of his ability as a player.
The Calgary Flames have recalled two players from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers ahead of Saturday night’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken.
Following injuries to goaltender Devin Cooley and forward Brennan Othmann during Wednesday’s Battle of Alberta against the Edmonton Oilers, the Flames announced Friday that goaltender Arsenii Sergeev and forward William Stromgren have been recalled.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Stromgren has been off to a strong start with the Wranglers, recording three goals and eight assists for 11 points through 11 games. His point total currently ranks tied for fourth in the AHL.
The Flames selected Stromgren in the second round (45th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut last season, appearing in three games during his recall.
Sergeev has also put together a solid start in the AHL, posting a 4-2-0 record with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage through six appearances.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
A seventh-round selection (205th overall) by Calgary in 2021, Sergeev made his NHL debut last season and picked up his first career NHL victory in the process. He turned aside 27 of 28 shots in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on April 16, 2026, in the Flames’ regular-season finale.
With Cooley’s availability uncertain following Wednesday’s injury, Sergeev could be in line for an opportunity with the Flames once again.
Calgary will look to get back on track Saturday night when they host the Seattle Kraken at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“You’ve heard about the three strikes. But what about the 3 Ps?” the billionaire businessman quipped. “Our people, our passion and our practice.”
When it comes to the future of the franchise, that’s what he cited as the Dodgers’ guiding light.
In his chat with the Post this week, Walter tried to quash speculation about potentially selling the team (saying he would remain owner “no matter what”) and drew a distinction between the Dodgers and the Lakers (a club he ultimately did sell this summer, amid a federal investigation into his business empire, after receiving a staggering offer in a phone call from venture capitalist Josh Kushner).
However, those aren’t the only questions he faces as Major League Baseball enters an uncertain offseason.
This winter could represent a profound period of change for both the Dodgers and the sport.
Shohei Ohtani receives his World Series ring from Mark Walter at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, March 27, 2026. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
For the former, an aging roster needs to be retooled after a failed bid for a third-straight World Series title. For the latter, a fraught labor negotiation is threatening an extended work stoppage, as owners and players fight over the league’s push for a salary cap.
Both dynamics could mark an inflection point for Walter’s baseball club.
After a decade-and-a-half-long run of unprecedented success, the Dodgers are now trying to resurrect their dynasty after this year’s sweep to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.
And, after raising their already gaudy payroll totals to record-setting levels over the last couple seasons, they might face stricter spending rules as they begin turning over the league’s oldest roster.
So, how does Walter –– who declined to state his stance on the salary cap issue –– feel about the team’s ability to remain an annual, legitimate championship contender?
“I think on any playing field, we’ll still be among the elite teams,” he said, while harkening back to his three Ps motto.
“I think our people and our passion and our practice really does matter,” he insisted.
Dodgers owner Mark Walter walks onto the field during a retirement ceremony for Vin Scully at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Getty Images
That doesn’t mean the Dodgers are going to stop spending, either this winter (when Tarik Skubal will be the top free agent on the market) or beyond (when they’ll have to navigate the back end of long-term deals for gradually aging stars like Mookie Betts, Will Smith and even Shohei Ohtani).
Walter said his Guggenheim group’s financial commitment “will be just like it has been in the past.”
On multiple occasions, he referenced his vision for at least another decade of dominance under his ownership.
“We’re just trying to win consistently,” he said. “And do so for not just next season, but for the next decade and decades beyond that.”
However, both Walter and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman –– who joined the team’s chairman in this week’s interview with The Post –– referred to other ways the Dodgers will have to adapt amid the sport’s ever-changing landscape.
They pointed to a crop of promising young prospects they hope to further integrate into the majors leagues next season. They highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong player development pipeline and highly-ranked farm system.
“Everything in the current system is designed for us to have a bottom-three farm system in baseball,” Friedman said, citing the draft pick penalties and limited signing bonus pools the Dodgers have incurred from their heavy roster spending in recent years. “[And instead], we’re top two.”
That, Friedman argued, “speaks to the people we have.”
“From our perspective, whatever the rules are, we don’t decide them, but we will do everything in our power to achieve the most success that we possibly can within those rules,” he added. “And I think, obviously, our spending in the last few years has been aggressive and also very fruitful in a lot of ways, but I think it diminishes a little bit from the great work by so many people on the scouting, player-development side, our baseball operations group, our coaches with the onboarding.
Los Angeles Dodgers President and Owner Mark Walter speaks at the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala on June 12, 2019, in Los Angeles. Getty Images for Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation
“Just for us to have the farm system that we have, I think is something that gives all of us confidence in our ability to work together within whatever rules exist to be as good as we can possibly be.”
In the short term, that could signal something of a youth movement.
“One area we’re focused on is integrating our best young players into the major league team,” he said, before later adding: “It’s not just spending. Our farm system is pretty strong, and that and our player development are really big things for us.”
Friedman acknowledged the difficulties that still lie ahead for the club, describing the need to balance their expensive core of current veteran players with an infusion of younger talent as “way more art than science” –– especially given the uncertainties of what a new CBA will bring.
“We know the backside of these [long-term] deals oftentimes can be challenging,” he said. “So now the tricky part … is incorporating these young talented players onto our roster with our core, that we feel like will help contribute to us maintaining a very high level of play.”
One thing Friedman expressed confidence in was that, even amid the ongoing federal investigation into Walter’s non-sports businesses, the owner would continue to green-light bigger expenditures when the front office believes they are warranted.
Los Angeles Dodgers chairman Mark Walter speaks during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
“The financial backing has always been there,” Friedman said. “But Mark also follows it up with a thoughtful question of, ‘What does this mean for the future?’ And I think all of us being in lockstep on that has contributed to the success we’ve had looking back, and I think keeps us well-positioned for future success.”
Exactly what that will look like, either this winter or in the future, is still unknown.
But, after reaffirming his commitment to the club, Walter was adamant about his belief in the organization’s ability to sustain what they have already built.
“We’re going to be winning for 10 years or more,” he declared. “And, you know, we don’t win every year, but we’re going to try to.”
Following their 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins, the St. Louis Blues assigned top prospect Otto Stenberg to the AHL.
Stenberg was recalled on Oct. 18 and played three games in his call-up stint. He recorded one assist, two shots on goal, three hits, and one block while averaging 10:31 of ice time. Stenberg last played on Oct. 24 against the Carolina Hurricanes, serving as a healthy scratch for the previous two games.
The 21-year-old has now played 35 NHL games, tallying three goals and 11 points.
Stenberg returns to the AHL, where he's scored one goal and four points in six games, tied for third on the team in points behind Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and T.J. Tynan, and tied with Justin Carbonneau.
The return to the AHL was coming. Alexey Toropchenko returned from his injury on Oct. 27, and Ross Johnston is expected to be back soon. Not only would they not have the roster space, but sitting in the press box is not what's best for Stenberg's development.
He needs game action. In the AHL, he'll play higher in the lineup and in more goal-scoring situations than in the NHL, where he played on the fourth line in a checking role.
The Thunderbirds are 3-3-2 to start the season and sit in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. However, they rank fifth by points percentage.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the National Hockey League after one month of play. At 4-9-0, they are in last place in the Central Division and second-to-last in the entire league.
Chicago ranks dead last in goals for with 27. They've also allowed 48, giving them a -21 goal differential. Their defensive system forces them to step back before they step forward, and the players are getting hemmed in their own end as a result. Against good teams especially, they have a hard time breaking the puck out when they do get possession.
Heading into the next month of NHL action, it is going to be incredibly difficult for the Blackhawks to gain any ground within the division. Their next five games are at the Boston Bruins, home vs the Colorado Avalanche, at the Florida Panthers, at the Tampa Bay Lightning, at the Carolina Hurricanes, and home vs the Buffalo Sabres. Those teams have a combined record of 42-18-7.
The Central Division standings look as follows:
1. Minnesota Wild: 9-3-3, 21 points
2. Utah Mammoth: 9-5-0, 18 points
3. Colorado Avalanche: 7-5-1, 15 points
4. Dallas Stars: 7-5-1, 15 points
5. St. Louis Blues: 6-6-1, 13 points
6. Nashville Predators: 4-4-5, 13 points
7. Winnipeg Jets: 4-6-3, 11 points
8. Chicago Blackhawks: 4-9-0, 8 points
As you can see, the Blackhawks are four points behind the Jets after 13 games played. Winnipeg had a good start to the season, but are currently on a 3-game losing streak. The Blackhawks have a win against them, and it looks like they will be competing for last in the division all year. However, none of Winnipeg's losses have been as non-competitive as some of Chicago's losses. The Jets have a better goal differential by 11.
The rest of the division already looks out of reach for Chicago. The Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues are solid teams, even if they aren't as good as the division's top four.
The Minnesota Wild are obviously off to the hottest start of the bunch, but they have the Quinn Hughes issue hanging over their head. Is he going to stay, or is he as good as gone in free agency? Will they trade one of the five best players in the world if he doesn't commit to them by the deadline?
The Utah Mammoth came into the season with mixed expectations. They were less proven than the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, or Colorado Avalanche, but they gave the Vegas Golden Knights (who ended up winning the conference) a tough test in the first round of the playoffs last year. Now, it looks like they are the real deal with a great young core.
By their standards, Dallas and Colorado have been just okay so far, but the number of elite players who reside on those two rosters is unbelievable. By the end of the year, they are certainly going to enter the playoffs as Stanley Cup contenders.
The Blackhawks are 2-2-0 within this division, but the two losses are against top-four Central teams (Utah, Dallas), while the two wins are against the lower half (St. Louis, Winnipeg). It may be difficult to find wins within the division early in the season, unless a change they make turns things around.
Without Connor Hellebuyck and an aging roster, it is hard to see the Jets making much noise, but they are certainly better equipped than the Blackhawks. However, the rest of the division will play meaningful games until the very end.
Both the Central and Pacific Divisions may send one Wild Card team each, but there could be a world where 5 of these Central teams make it. It likely depends on how the Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks finish their seasons. Overall, the Pacific is worse than the Central from top to bottom.
When evaluating the Eastern Conference divisions, the Atlantic Division is the best in the NHL right now. The Metropolitan Division is not bad either, but the Central Division has been much better over the first month.
The Blackhawks are the team in the division that everyone is looking forward to playing, and that won't change until they make a change, whether it be roster, coaching staff, or front office-related.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Nate Eaton #18 of the Boston Red Sox looks on against the New York Yankees during the third inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The culling has begun.
As Matt Gross pointed out yesterday, a weird quirk of the Red Sox 40-man roster is forcing Craig Breslow’s hand as the offseason gets underway: he has to cut four players loose before free agency even begins. With a couple of minor trades yesterday, he’s at two down with two to go, as utility man and speed demon Nate Eaton was sent to the Athletics, while Tsung-Che Cheng will head to Detroit.
It goes without saying that these are two players the Red Sox can afford to lose. Eaton is a useful player whose speed and versatility gives him the type of profile that often leads to becoming something of a fan favorite. And I wouldn’t be shocked if he finds a way to contribute to the A’s in the next year or two. But with limited-to-no power to go with otherwise meh contact/on-base abilities, he’s never going to be a starter on a 95-win team (which, of course, should the Red Sox’ target). He was out of options and likely be to released for nothing, so getting anything in return for him is nice. He’ll get a real shot at sticking on a big league roster with the A’s and I’m sure most Sox fans would be thrilled if he does.
It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to Cheng, too. That’s kind of a crazy thing to say about a player who only got 39 at-bats with the big league club but, improbably, Cheng was the starting shortstop during most of the team’s historic 15-game win streak. He even made arguably the biggest defensive play of the season: a leaping catch to end the game when the Orioles had runners on second and third in the 9th, sealing the 14th win a row:
As for the return, Cheng only brought back cash, while Eaton brought back the definition of a lottery ticket: an 18-year-old Nicaraguan pitcher named Jareth Rayo who put up an ERA in the mid-5s and walked 20 batters in 36 innings in the Dominican Summer League last year. There probably is something that the research fellows in Craig Breslow’s pitching lab like about him, but there’s a good chance that this is the last time you ever read his name.
From the inaugural 2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights season onward, they were all in. In the spirit of Las Vegas, they pushed the chips into the middle of the table and pushed to win the Stanley Cup every season.
It’s led them to three Stanley Cup Final appearances and a title in 2023. The Golden Knights are in their 10th season of existence, and a regression is expected. Yet, they remain one of the best teams in the Western Conference and on the shortlist of Cup contenders in the Pacific Division.
They set the tone and a template for going all-in and making aggressive moves to win it all. In the modern NHL, with a salary cap and free agency, it’s more difficult to remain at the top. Yet, the Golden Knights proved to teams like the New Jersey Devils how it’s possible.
While the Devils weren’t always operating with that mindset, things changed when general manager Sunny Mehta took over. He’s running the Devils with a similar mindset to how Kelly McCrimmon runs the Golden Knights.
The Drive To Build A Superteam
When the Golden Knights made the 2018 Cup Final, they weren’t the star-studded team that they are now. They were a team built on depth, on a remarkable expansion draft haul where cast-offs from Alex Tuch, Jame Neal, and Jonathan Marchessault became key players. But that team wouldn’t win a Cup, and McCrimmon pivoted.
It’s led to tough decisions, from letting go of Marc-Andre Fleury to Ryan Reeves, two fan favorites. There were some regrettable trades, including acquiring Max Pacioretty from the Montreal Canadiens for Nick Suzuki. It also led to some moves that built the champion team in 2023 and the team that made the Final last season, including some of the big ones below.
Acquiring Mark Stone ahead of the 2019 trade deadline.
Signing Alex Pietrangelo in the 2020 offseason.
Acquiring Jack Eichel in the middle of the 2021-22 season.
Signing Mitch Marner in the 2025 offseason.
Acquiring Rasmus Andersson at the 2026 trade deadline.
A common perception in front offices is that it’s best to build through the draft and then develop prospects. Trevor Connelly became the first Golden Knights first-round selection to make his debut with the team. He was drafted in 2024 and made his debut this season.
Mehta got to work from day one when he took over the Devils this offseason. While none of the moves he made were splash additions, they added depth and set the table for big moves. Then came the big swing when the Devils landed Connor Hellebuyck in a blockbuster trade.
Now, the Devils are set on the next big move, whether it’s Dylan Larkin, Quinn Hughes, or another star player. “We’re never done. We’re never done,” Mehta stated during Hellebuyck’s introductory presser, and it’s the message that he’s willing to embody. He won’t stop making moves until the Devils are a super team.
The Non-Conventional Way Of Adding Depth
When the Golden Knights made moves for Eichel, Stone, and Andersson, they depleted the farm system and gave up draft picks. By default, they became a top-heavy team and lacked depth.
However, they didn’t add depth through the draft. Most of the time, it came through under-the-radar signings, whether it was Paul Cotter, Michael Amadio, or Adin Hill, who, like many Golden Knights, was a castoff who became the starting goaltender during the 2023 Cup run.
The Devils similarly are adding depth through trades and free agent signings. Anthony Mantha, Evan Rodrigues, and Jesper Boqvist make up their third line. All three were acquired in the offseason. They allowed Mehta to trade Dawson Mercer, a middle-six winger, in a Hellebuyck deal. Likewise, Luke Evangelista, who was acquired this summer, has turned into a top-six winger, and it allows the Devils to move other depth players in a blockbuster deal.
Adding depth works twofold for contenders. It helps the team right away with players who round out the roster, and it allows the GM to flip them or other depth players for stars. The Golden Knights proved it time and time again, and the Devils are doing the same.
Ultimately, It Keeps These Teams Competitive, It Certainly Did With Vegas
The Golden Knights are a decade into their existence and show no signs of slowing down. Eventually, they might regress, and they’ll be forced into a rebuild. However, they’ve managed to replace the top-end talent over the years.
It’s largely because they’ve become a destination. The outside factors play a role, with Vegas being in a tax-free state with great weather. That said, they’ve built up a perennial winner, and it’s made them attractive.
The message that a blockbuster trade sends to the room is that the front office is willing to do what it takes to win. The players respond by doing their part. The Devils saw the jolt that Hellebuyck provided and the energy shift in the room after the splash.
Likewise, an aggressive front office is noticed around the league. Players heading to free agency want to join a team that’s willing to spend and make a push for a Cup. It’s how the Golden Knights landed top free agents in the past and how the Devils are starting to become an attractive spot for players looking to win.
“You just look for an organization that’s willing to do whatever it takes,” Hellebuyck stated in his introductory presser when asked why the Devils were a team he wanted to lift his no-trade clause to play for. Mehta is willing to make the aggressive moves, and players have noticed.
Major League Baseball faces a precarious position as a potential lockout looms on Dec. 1 when the sport's collective bargaining agreement is set to expire.
Before that happens, some business still needs to be taken care of, as dozens of players have options on their 2027 contracts and will need to get those situations squared away for whenever the union and the owners decide that next season can be salvaged.
Teams face big decisions, and players must decide where they want to play the 2027 season by Nov. 2. Those include team, player and mutual options, as well as opt-outs for players who want to test the market and become free agents.
Some players who want to maximize their contracts can also accept a team's qualifying offer, which can be extended starting Nov. 2. The value of a 2027 one-year qualifying offer is $23.15 million, and free agents who decline a qualifying offer and sign with a new team will do so, as their old team will receive draft pick compensation as a result of their departure.
Here are the contract options that have been exercised and declined for the 2027 season:
MLB contract options exercised for 2027
Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves — Atlanta exercised $17M club option.
Ozzie Albies, Braves — Atlanta exercised $7M club option.
Sandy Alcantara, Marlins -- Miami exercised $21M club option.
Bo Bichette, Mets — Opted into his 2027 contract; has two years remaining on his three-year, $126M deal and can opt out again after 2027.
Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks — Opted into his 2027 contract, leaving four years on his six-year, $210M deal.
Tony Gonsolin, Royals — Kansas City exercised his $2.5M club option.
Ryan Helsley, Orioles — Opted into his $14M player option with Baltimore.
Andres Munoz, Mariners — Seattle exercised his $9M club option.
MLB contract options declined for 2027
Carlos Estevez, Royals — Kansas City declined his $13M club option, paying a $2M buyout.
Michael King, Padres — Declined his $28M player option for 2027. He also had a $30M player option for 2028. By opting out, he receives a $5 million buyout and walks away from the two remaining years of his deal.
Nick Martinez, Rays — Declined his $20M player option with Tampa Bay.
Dustin May, Brewers — Milwaukee's $20M mutual option was declined, with a $500K buyout.
Victor Robles, Mariners — Seattle declined his $9M club option, with a $500K buyout.
When is the MLB contract option deadline?
MLB teams and players must make their contract option decisions by Monday, Nov. 2, five days after the conclusion of the World Series. That includes decisions on club, player and mutual options, as well as eligible opt-outs.
Players whose options are declined or who exercise an opt-out can become free agents, while exercising an option keeps the player under contract for the 2027 season.
Qualifying offers are separate. Teams also have until Nov. 2 to extend them, but players who receive a qualifying offer have until Nov. 17 to accept or reject it.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 22: Chadwick Tromp #39 of the Atlanta Braves hits a walk-off RBI single in the eleventh inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Friday, May 22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
A familiar smile made a somewhat unlikely return to the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves behind the plate, as a spate of injuries caused the Braves to reach deep into their catcher depth chart before Memorial Day.
How Acquired
The Atlanta Braves first acquired Chadwick Tromp off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on September 21, 2021. In the seasons since, Tromp has been on the fringes of the big league roster as the proverbial fourth catcher on the depth chart. Seriously, the roster moves involving him have been legendary in length: DFAed in 2022 (and re-added), minor league free agency and a re-signing after the 2023 season, a DFA in early 2025, a stint with the Orioles, a stint with the Red Sox, re-added by the Braves in November 2025… you get the idea. All in all, Tromp had been a depth mainstay, spent part of the 2025 season elsewhere, but the affable Aruban played with the Braves for a fifth consecutive season in 2026. (And was part of the organization for a sixth consecutive season.)
What were the expectations?
Coming into 2026, Tromp had appeared with the Braves in every season since 2022 – beginning the the legendary “Chadwick Tromp Game” when he went 3-for-4 against the Tampa Bay Rays – but had only 28 games of action across four seasons to show for his Atlanta Braves tenure.
With catcher Sean Murphy recovering from surgery coming into 2026, Tromp’s addition made him one of two veteran options, with Sandy León, to back-up Drake Baldwin to start the season should Murphy not be ready. But, with the organization bringing in Jonah Heim in February 2026 to be Baldwin’s back-up, Tromp was relegated to the third or fourth option in the organization’s depth chart until Murphy’s return, which would have pushed him back further.
Performance-wise, Tromp has had the career of a quintessential third catcher: he can’t hit at all (career 63 wRC+, which is the result of substantially outhitting an unplayable .234 xwOBA), but he provides solid catcher defense (career +3 Statcast-based catcher runs above average in under 460 innings). That actually adds up to over 1 WAR per 600 PAs given how valuable catcher defense is, but Tromp came into 2026 with just 0.4 fWAR in 67 career games, given that no one really wants to give a bunch of playing time to a guy that can’t hit.
All of that is to say that Tromp was expected to be a staple in Gwinnett and an emergency option should something go unexpectedly wrong in Atlanta.
2026 results
Like 2021, something did go wrong, as the Braves dealt with a cacophony of injuries, leading to Tromp sharing time with León as the catcher tandem for several weeks in May.
He made 12 appearances for the Braves, including six starts, after the team traded Heim to the Athletics. Of course, that trade only happened because the Braves activated Murphy, but Murphy went right back on the shelf after a bat broke his hand on a catcher’s interference snafu… and Baldwin followed suit a week later with an injury of his own.
With the Braves, Tromp slashed a paltry .200/.192/.240 with Atlanta (11 wRC+), with surprisingly poor tiny-sample, no-meaning defense, leading to -0.1 fWAR in 27 PAs.
Tromp also had a similar lack of playing time with the Orioles, totaling 24 PAs and -0.3 fWAR; his defense “rebounded” but his bat was even worse (-39 wRC+). It was not a banner year for Tromp.
What went right?
Tromp picked-up a hit in his first 2026 at-bat with the Braves, and followed that up with another hit in his first start of the season a couple of days later. But, the highlight of his time with the Braves came on May 22, 2026 against the Washington Nationals — in what is now the new Chadwick Tromp Game. He went 2-for-3 after entering the game in the seventh inning, had a run-scoring hit in extra innings after the Braves fell behind 4-2 in the top of the tenth, and then proceeded to get the game-winning, walk-off hit for Atlanta in the 11th inning.
This performance earned him 0.46 WPA, and the walkoff hit alone was worth .392 WPA given that it came with two out. The WPA was the seventh-highest by a Braves hitter this season for a single game, and the walkoff hit itself was 12th.
After his heartwarming effort against the Nats, Tromp only managed one hit — a double in a shutout loss against Boston — in his final nine games with Atlanta. Sadly, his heroics were short-lived: two days after his huge game, the Braves had the bases loaded with one out while trailing the Nationals by a run. With no other options, Tromp was up to face new pitcher Orlando Ribalta… but he struck out on four pitches.
Atlanta designated Tromp for assignment on June 4, and the veteran inked a deal with the Baltimore Orioles, just as he did in an identical situation in 2025. After nine games with the Orioles, and an IL stint, Tromp was let go by Baltimore and landed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he ended the season at Triple-A.
2027 outlook
If the 2027 season starts on time, Tromp will turn 32 days before the regular season starts. As a veteran option who would likely play at Triple-A and give an organization depth as a third or fourth catcher, he seems likely to continue to have options for at least another five seasons.
Could that include Atlanta? Possibly. Perhaps even probably.
With Baldwin and Murphy expected to be on the big league roster in 2027, the Braves will likley need one or two veteran options in the system. Maverick Handley and Chuckie Robinson, both of whom have had cups of coffee in the big leagues, along with 2021 13th round draft choice Adam Zebrowski, are all catching options as well. That shouldn’t close the door to Tromp in ‘27, should both parties want to be dance partners again. Maybe there’ll even be a new Chadwick Tromp Game eventually.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: The sneakers featuring former Knicks captain Willis Reed worn by director Spike Lee during the third quarter of the game between the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Playing with Brunson: "We played together last year stretches, great guy to play off…Obv 2 smaller guards so I have to compete on D but I'm willing to do anything"
Clutch: We're a veteran group…ECF, Finals…tight game, we're gonna get it done" pic.twitter.com/wBTDPKwbq2
On avoiding turnovers and making smarter decisions as the Knicks’ backup point guard:
“Not trying to make the home run play. Just trying to get us in the offense, get the best shot for our team. It’s about being more mature in my game. Trying to take care of the ball, that’s what the team needs. When I go in there, I can’t be turning it over, I can’t be throwing it all over the floor. Got to get us in the offense, got to get us good shots.”
On playing alongside Jalen Brunson and benefiting from the defensive attention he attracts:
“We played together last season for stretches. He’s a great guy to play off. They’re going to double-team him, you get open shots.”
On the defensive challenges of playing in a two-point-guard lineup and staying ready for opportunities:
“Obviously it’s two smaller guards, so I have to compete harder on defense.
“You guys have seen [the double point guard]. It’s been successful in stretches, with Jose in the playoffs. With me a little bit in the NBA Cup. And then a couple games sprinkled in. But when coach is searching, trying to find something, everybody on the bench has to be ready for any situation.”
Shams Charania
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ willingness to accept a discount:
“He will sign for less than his max contract. He’ll take a sizable discount. $70 plus million less, that’s something that he is not willing to do right now.”
Knicks 2018 lottery pick Kevin Knox—who has played for 6 NBA and 3 G League teams—now heads overseas
