SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Trump administration gave San Jose State University 10 days to resolve what the U.S. Education Department has deemed are Title IX violations involving transgender athletes, saying the school will face legal action and the possible loss of federal funding if it fails to comply.
The department in January found that the university had discriminated against women by letting a transgender athlete play on the women’s volleyball team. The department issued its ultimatum in a Tuesday letter.
Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary for civil rights, said the administration had provided the university with multiple ways to resolve the violations, including separating “male” and “female” athletes based on the administration's definitions of those terms.
"Yet, SJSU remains obstinate, choosing a radical ideology over safety, dignity, and fairness for its own students,” she said. “With today’s action, the Department is putting the university on notice: comply with the law or risk losing its federal funding.”
Title IX is a 1972 gender equity law.
A spokesperson for the California State University system directed The Associated Press to a web page in which the system and university say they disagree with the department's legal position and findings.
In a letter to the department, the university said Title IX prohibits discriminating against transgender individuals.
The Education Department has taken action against a series of states, schools and colleges that allow transgender athletes to participate on sports teams, something President Donald Trump has promised to end.
The investigation into San Jose State was opened in February 2025 alongside a similar one at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn later agreed to a deal similar to the one being offered to San Jose State, modifying school records set by a transgender swimmer and apologizing to other athletes on the swim team.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Members of Team United States stand on the foul line during the national anthem prior to an exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 04, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
And now we find respite from our troubles. It’s a new season of Major League Baseball, one of the best pain relievers known to humankind. Unless your team is on the receiving end of some bad baseball luck. But we won’t talk of such things, not in this opening paragraph. Let us embrace the joy of possibility inherit in every Opening Day Night.
The San Francisco Giants will host the New York Yankees in San Francisco at Oracle Park for the first Opening Night in MLB history. It’ll be a Netflix-themed event as the broadcast will only be available on the world’s most popular streaming service. If you don’t have a Netflix subscription or if your internet goes down right before first pitch, you can still listen to the familiar voices of Giants broadcasters on KNBR, at least.
The biggest story of this new season is that the Giants franchise has never gone more than four years without a winning season. This would be the fifth consecutive non-winning season if they can’t manage to get to 82 wins. That’s the pressure new manager Tony Vitello finds himself under before he logs a genuine inning of a major league game. That’s right — the Giants are a winning franchise, and breaking an internal streak of their own that helps define that winning way is a really big story. A new manager making the leap from the college ranks to the big leagues, like some sort of NBA coach, is probably the second-biggest story of this season.
His first task will be juggling a nebulous relief corps that would seemingly have every defined role in an open audition. To some extent, a baseball game is a baseball game, and in-game managing for either an SEC game or an NL West game would prove very similar at many points. But how will Vitello handle the pressure late in the game when it’s Aaron Judge stepping into the box and the Giants are clinging to a 4-3 lead?
Ah, and then there’s the Aaron Judge of it all. The Giants host the New York Yankees for this opening series and outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers, this is an intense first test for a first-time MLB manager as well as a roster hoping to sneak into the Wild Card. This is where Rafael Devers comes in.
During the runup to this Opening Night on Netflix, the advertisements touted Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees versus Rafael Devers and the San Francisco Giants. That’s a big change from recent years and having a figure with national name recognition and as a sort of lineup anchor is a redefinition of the team. With his bat in the middle of the order, the lineup takes shape. This is one of the few times in recent years where the lineup has a lot of expectations on it, with the bare minimum being league average. That’s a big shift from recent years, when it was basically “if it could just be league average, the team will be in good shape.“
The Yankees have a great bit of expectation on them as they always do. They’re expected to win the AL East, as tough as a division as the NL West the Giants find themselves in. Last season, they had the best lineup in the sport (+34.3 fWAR — 1st, 849 runs scored — 1st) and this season they’ll be returning basically the same group of hitters. That helped cover for a decidedly average pitching staff (+16.3 fWAR — 14th, just ahead of the Giants at +15.7 fWAR), which is more or less where the team will find itself to start the season, as their two most expensive rotation pieces — Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon) aren’t set to return until around May or June.
As much as Judge is the face of the Yankees and the national media has installed Devers as the face of the Giants, it’s Logan Webb who is the Main Giant, and he’ll take the ball on Opening Night. Now, he’s faced the Yankees in game 1 before, right after Aaron Judge turned down the Giants’ massive contract offer in free agency, and it was memorable for 12 strikeouts but still a loss. He did finally defeat the Yankees last season (career: 1-2, 5.50 ERA in 18 IP), but Aaron Judge has never stopped tormenting our favorite team. In 9 games against the orange and black, he’s hitting .484/.590/1.000 with 5 home runs. So, that’s something to keep in mind.
Also worth keeping in mind: both participated in the World Baseball Classic, and Logan Webb was great for Team USA while Aaron Judge was not. He might be The Kid Who Only Hit Homers against the Giants, but in world competition and, like, the World Series, he’s a non-entity. So, take some solace in that, I suppose. Logan Webb? He’s pretty great all the time. Maybe the Giants can get him into the postseason before he’s gone. Though, to be clear, Aaron Judge is 3-for-7 against him, with a pair of homers and a double (but also 3 K and 2 BB).
The Giants did not win the Cactus League again, but they did place second. Last year, they stormed out of the gates following their success in the spring. Can they do the same here against a quality opponent? Whatever the outcome, baseball is back, and at least for the first couple of games, that’s good enough.
Series overview
Who: New York Yankees (94-68 in 2025) vs. San Francisco Giants (81-81 in 2025) Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California When: Wednesday at 5pm PT, Friday at 1:35pm PT, Saturday at 4:15pm PT — that’s right. No Sunday game. National broadcasts: Wednesday (Netflix — yes, the streaming service; and, it’s exclusive), Saturday (FOX TV)
Projected starters Wednesday: Max Fried (LHP) vs. Logan Webb (RHP) Friday: Cam Schlitter (RHP) vs. Robbie Ray (LHP) Saturday: Will Warren (RHP) vs. Tyler Mahle (RHP)
Players to watch (besides Logan Webb & Aaron Judge)
Yankees
Trent Grisham: The Yankees got him in the Juan Soto trade as a way to balance the finances for the Padres, but he was considered a throw-in. But then, last season, he hit 34 home runs and posted an .811 OPS in 581 plate appearances; so, the Yankees tagged him with the qualifying offer, which he accepted ($22.03 million). Is he a $22 million dollar player? No. Have I forgotten (or forgiven) him for hitting that walk-off home run at Oracle Park during the 2020 season? Also no. He is not a thorn in the team’s side as he was in 2020 & 2021 (29-for-95, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 9 2B, 3 3B), with just just 21 hits (1 HR, 2 2B) in his last 95 at bats against them and 3 walks against 30 strikeouts, but you’ve always got to keep an eye for that dude who is not the lineup’s main dude (Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm, Ben Rice), and he’ll be one of the guys the Giants’ carousel of lefty relievers will have to perform well against.
Camilo Doval: We will see if the Giants’ former closer starts off his first full season with the Yankees on a hot streak. We know how wild he can be, but also how effective his velocity is.
Ben Rice & Paul Goldschmidt: Two players at opposite ends of the career spectrum, but Rice’s 26 home runs and left-handed swing should give Giants pitching some problems while Paul Goldschmidt figures to still be a Paul Goldschmidt in the Giants’ side.
Giants
Luis Arraez: It’ll be a big first test for the Giants’ new second baseman as the Yankees offer some speed on the basepaths and a lot of hard contact. He also has the chance to flare some balls all over the field and delight those Giants fans who never stopped believing in batting average as the sole measure of a hitter’s capabilities.
Patrick Bailey: The Yankees’ speed showed up as 134 stolen bases last season (8th in MLB) and so on top of defending against the running game, he’ll also have to deal with the hitters — even as the dugout will be calling more pitches for him this season. And then there’s the ABS Challenge System, which has the chance to spotlight just how effective of a catcher he is, either by showing umpires that he didn’t dramatically frame something or simply that he understands the strike zone enough to know when a pitch has been missed.
Rafael Devers: He should hit at least 3 home runs in this series. He has 31 home runs in 119 career games against the Yankees and a triple slash of .270/.348/.533 to go with it.
Tony Vitello watch
The Vitello era kicks off with a matchup against the New York Yankees and… Aaron Boone. Now, Boone is considered to be a great clubhouse manager, but the knock on him is that he’s not a good in-game strategist. That sort of criticism has lost its impact here in the 21st century, though, as front offices typically provide the manager with so much information that the guy standing on the top step doesn’t really need to think for himself. He just has to manage the human beings around him.
That’s sort of why Tony Vitello’s not going to be a total flop in the early going. Zack Minasian and the quants will have provided Vitello and his coaching staff with all the scouting reports and decision trees he’ll need to get through 9 innings, just as Brian Cashman has given Boone. Boone is 697-497 in 8 seasons. Given that, I’m sure he has earned the right to go “off script” and has probably developed some good instincts. Enough to outfox or fluster Tony Vitello, baseball rat? I doubt it. In case you forget, Boone had never managed anything anywhere when he got the call to manage the Yankees.
So, although it’s unlikely that either guy will make an obviously embarrassing decision, I’ll be watching to see if there’s anything that stands out and if Aaron Boone can out-manage Tony Vitello or vice versa.
Prediction time
The Giants did win their 3-game series against the Yankees last season. But! They are just 3-6 in the matchup since 2023, so let’s go with our favorite line on this site: Giants avoid the sweep.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 27: Jacob Latz #67 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 27, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
Today we are looking at pitcher Jacob Latz.
The 2017 draft didn’t work out too well for the Texas Rangers.
Texas signed five picks to bonuses of at least $500,000.
First rounder Bubba Thompson got $2.1 million. He was fast and toolsy but didn’t hit. He did spend 109 games in the majors, and stole 27 bases, and got a ring because he was in the majors in 2023 with Texas. Thompson retired from baseball after the 2024 season, enrolled in South Alabama, and walked onto their football team as a quarterback. He was on the roster in 2025 but didn’t appear in a game, and transferred in January to West Florida.
Supplemental first rounder Chris Seise got $2 million. He impressed with his ability and makeup, and was considered at one point possibly the team’s best position prospect, but injuries and the pandemic meant he only played in 31 games from 2018-21, and he has been out of baseball since putting up a 591 OPS for Frisco in 2023.
Second rounder Hans Crouse got $1.45 million. After an impressive 2018 season he was appearing on top 100 lists, but he regressed, was traded to the Phillies in the Kyle Gibson/Spencer Howard deal, had a decent run for the Angels in 2024, was released by the Angels after 2 AAA appearances in 2025, and didn’t sign with another team until January of 2026, when he inked a minor league deal with the Orioles.
Third rounder Matt Whatley got $517,100. He got good marks for his makeup and glove, but didn’t hit. He became a minor league free agent after 2023, re-signed with Texas for the 2024 season, then signed with Toronto for 2025. Toronto released him in May, 2025, without him ever appearing in a game for their organization, and it appears he is out of baseball.
11th rounder Obie Ricumstrict got $500,000. He never hit and was released in 2022.
So the big dollar draft picks from 2017 didn’t pan out.
The Rangers did end up hitting on a couple of pitchers they selected that year, though.
One of them was John King, who got $10,000 as an injured 10th round senior sign out of the University of Houston. King pitched for the Rangers from 2020-23, then was traded to St. Louis as part of the Jordan Montgomery trade in 2023, so like Thompson, King got a World Series ring. He signed with the Miami Marlins this offseason, and made their Opening Day roster out of the bullpen, and will be out in the pen with fellow former Rangers Pete Fairbanks and Tyler Phillips, and teammates with Liam Hicks and Heriberto Hernandez.
The other was Jacob Latz, who got $386,100 as a fifth rounder out of Kent State. Well, kind of out of Kent State…King spent his first two seasons at LSU, redshirting his freshman season due to elbow surgery and pitching only 8.1 innings in 2016. He wasn’t eligible to pitch for Kent State as a junior, but showed enough in side work that the Rangers drafted him and gave him slot money*.
* I am assuming that was slot money for a fifth rounder in 2017. If not, it is close. I’m not going to go look it up.
Latz made his major league debut in 2021 without actually being on the 40 man roster, as he was a COVID replacement call up. He was added to the 40 man late in 2023, made three appearances in September, and earned himself a ring.
After doing good work in the major league pen in 2024, he started 2025 in AAA, but was called up in mid-April, and stayed in the bigs until the numbers game with the trade acquisitions resulted in his being sent down on August 1. He returned in mid-August and stuck around the rest of the season.
Latz had a rather interesting 2025 campaign for the Rangers. Used out of the bullpen early in the year, the team had him make a few spot starts in the middle of the season, and he acquitted himself well. Texas plugged him back into the rotation in late August during the Injurypocalypse, and he made four more respectable starts, went back to the pen for a couple of outings, and then started once more, in the next to last game of the season.
Latz is a four pitch pitcher, throwing his fastball half the time, his change and slider each a little over 20% of the time, and his curveball the rest of the time. His fastball and slider were both were his best pitches.
Latz’s fastball has average velocity, but it plays up due to his extension and vertical movement. Interestingly, Latz’s fastball showed three more inches of armside run in 2025 compared to 2024, going from having below-average horizontal movement on the pitch to above-average horizontal movement. His heat map shows he consistently located the fastball at the top of the zone.
Latz’s slider was his best pitch in 2025, as he allowed a .244 wOBA and .260 xwOBA against it. As one would expect, he threw the slider to lefties much more frequently than righties, but had success against both sides with it.
The changeup was Latz’s weakest pitch. As one would expect, he threw it mostly against righthanders, and generated a 41% whiff rate with it. When batters made contact, however, they hit it hard, resulting in a .362 wOBA and .343 xwOBA on the change.
As one would expect, in light of all that, Latz showed significant platoon splits in 2025. Righthanded hitters hit .250/.338/.382 against him, while lefties hit .170/.239/.302 off of him.
What is notable, though, is that the x-numbers on the splits are much closer than the raw numbers. Righthanders had a .316 wOBA and .318 xwOBA against Latz, while lefties had a .240 wOBA and .309 xwOBA against him. Latz also showed a sizeable split between actual and xwOBA against lefties in 2024, with a wOBA of .303 and an xwOBA of .339.
Latz is a fly ball pitcher who strikes out an average number of hitters and issues an above-average number of walks — his 10.6 walk rate in 2025 put him in the 15th percentile, per Statcast. While one would expect, given that, that Latz’s success is driven by avoiding hard contact, he actually is below average in that regard (31st percentile), although he did avoid barrels.
One would think that, given those peripherals, Latz would have especially benefitted from the Shed’s pitcher-friendly tendencies in 2025. Latz did have a superior ERA at home (2.23) as compared to the road (3.28), but he actually allowed a higher OPS at home (683) than on the road (642), with his slugging allowed being 38 points higher at home, which undercuts that theory.
Given all that, it is not surprising that Latz shows a big spread between his actual ERA in 2025 (2.84) and his FIP (3.72) and xERA (4.11). He benefited from both a .272 BABIP and an 81.1% strand rate, and, I suspect, the stellar outfield defense that he had behind him.
All this makes it hard to figure out what to expect from Latz going forward. He turns 30 in April, but also still has two options remaining, which gives the Rangers some flexibility. He didn’t make the rotation out of spring training, and is probably best suited for a role that allows the Rangers to take advantage of that versatility, spotting him against lefties sometimes, using him in a multi-inning role sometimes, and having him make the occasional spot start when needed.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 21: De'Anthony Melton #8 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 21, 2026 at State Farm Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Golden State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
De’Anthony Melton’s first season with the Golden State Warriors didn’t go very well. He fit in with the team exceptionally well during the 2024-26 campaign, but in early November suffered a season-ending ACL injury. The Warriors later traded the veteran as they sought reinforcements and were able to use his salary to get something done.
His second pass through the Bay Area has gone much better. Melton re-joined the Warriors as a free agent this year and, after finishing up his rehab, hit the ground running. In 41 games with the Dubs, he’s averaged a career-high 13.0 points per game, along with 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals. He’s slid into a starting role with Steph Curry injured, and has played admirably.
He’ll be a free agent again this summer. The Warriors will certainly want to bring him back, but will he be a priority for them? And will he be in their price range?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 22: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Brooklyn Nets in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center at Barclays Center on May 22, 2021 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 Steven Ryan/Getty Images) | Getty Images
‘Make him say no,’ is always popular this time of year when discussing Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and every single major college coaching job that opens up.
Gotta make Brad Stevens say no, which he will, but have to make him say no https://t.co/NEf4RODJBL
This year was no different when North Carolina moved on from Hubert Davis after five seasons. UNC made the call and Stevens, as expected, said no.
NEWS: Brad Stevens—who was atop the list of targets—has already removed himself from consideration for the UNC job, sources told @CBSSports. No surprise of course, but notable all the same as Carolina starts its search to replace Hubert Davis.
“As for Stevens, the news is anything but surprising yet still an important public update that allows North Carolina to sharpen its focus on realistic candidates,” wrote CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. “An Indiana native, Stevens has turned down the Hoosiers job the past three times it opened since he left Butler for the Celtics. The 49-year-old hasn’t strutted the sidelines as a coach since 2021, when he pivoted to the organization’s front office as its chief decision-maker.”
There are rumors that Bill Self might retire from the Kansas job so if that happens, I’m sure another call will be lobbed into the Auerbach Center and greeted with a similar response.
The Boston Celtics will be signing Charles Bassey to a second 10-day contract according to a report by Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Bassey signed his first 10-day contract with the Celtics on March 14th, making today, March 25th, its expiration date. As such, Boston opted to bring him back to stay in compliance with league minimum roster rules as they try to duck the luxury tax.
Charles is just 25 years old, and a five-year vet of the NBA. The 6’10 center has had stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Memphis Grizzlies before his time with Boston. In his five years, he’s played a combined 118 games, most of those coming from his three-year run with the Spurs from the 22-23 season through the 24-25 season. He averages 4.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.8 blocks across his career, with a field-goal percentage of 62.7%.
This signing brings Boston’s roster back up to 14 players on standard contracts, at least for the next 10 days. At the end of that timeline, it is widely expected that the Celtics will convert Ron Harper Jr.’s two-way contract to a standard deal to ensure he is playoff eligible, while also keeping the team in roster compliance, and giving them just enough room to stay under the Luxury Tax for the season.
Boston is signing Bassey to a second 10 Day, per @AdamHimmelsbach.
This gives the Celtics maximum flexibility with managing roster spots through the end of the regular season.
Ron Harper Jr. will get a standard deal before the season ends, but as I've said for weeks, it'll come… https://t.co/i7mdAnVbZ3
At this point, Bassey has only played in two games for the Celtics this season, a combined four minutes across those two games, all in garbage time. Given the limited on-court opportunity, Bassey didn’t have much room to prove himself, but he did score 4 points on 2-3 shooting while picking up 2 rebounds and 1 steal.
Charles was with Boston before the season as well, playing three games as part of the Celtics Summer League roster. He managed to impress fans who tapped in during that time, averaging 15.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 21.3 minutes per game, shooting 70.4% from the floor. His Summer League performance likely influenced the Celtics decision to bring Bassey in for the two recent 10-day contracts. While it’s unlikely that he will be retained for the season after this most recent contract expires, it’s clear he made an impression on the team.
The Vancouver Canucks are 70 games into their 2025–26 NHL season and have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. They also hit a new franchise-high in losses on home-ice in a single season with their 3–1 defeat against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon. With sights set on the future, here’s how the Canucks stack up to the rest of the NHL 70 games into their 2025–26 season.
Team Stats
Vancouver Canucks team stats 70 games into the 2025-26 season.
Vancouver’s highest-ranked team stat is, once again, their work in the faceoff dot. Their 49.4% faceoff win rate ranks 19th in the entire league, putting them ahead of teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning (47.5%, T-26th) and Minnesota Wild (46.8%, 30th). After that comes their power play, ranking 21st in the NHL with a success rate of 19.4% — higher than the Anaheim Ducks (18.1%, T-22nd) and Colorado Avalanche (16.7%, 27th). Aside from their 25th-ranked shots per game (26.1), Vancouver remains in either 31st or 32nd in the rest of their categories.
Individual Stats
Vancouver Canucks individual stats 70 games into the 2025-26 season.
For the most part, Vancouver’s individual stat leaders haven’t shifted too much from how they were at the last check-in. The only major changes are that Elias Pettersson has taken sole possession of the team lead in points and has also joined Jake DeBrusk in having the team-high of 17 power play points, while Drew O’Connor has tied Brock Boeser for the team lead in goals with 17. Prior to trading him, Kiefer Sherwood held the team’s high with this exact amount, though both Boeser and O’Connor only hit it in the team’s 70th game of the season. Interestingly enough, star players such as Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning), Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis Blues), and Logan Cooley also have 17 goals thus far.
Goaltending Stats
Vancouver Canucks goaltending stats 70 games into the 2025-26 season.
Since the 35-game mark of this season, Thatcher Demko has held the team’s season-high in wins with eight. Kevin Lankinen finally met this stat with a 5–2 win against the Florida Panthers in what was Vancouver’s 67th game of the season. With Demko out, Lankinen, of course, has been the busiest of all Canucks goaltenders, as he has started in four consecutive games. As a result, he has logged the 25th-most minutes of all NHL goaltenders (2196:10), the 22nd-most shots-faced (1069), and the 14th-most high-danger shots faced (328).
Vancouver will play in one more home game, against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night, before embarking on a four-game road trip. They’ll start with a game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday before facing the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. The Canucks will wrap up this road stretch with a back-to-back against the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild on Wednesday and Thursday.
Mar 24, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Poehling (25) checks Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (40) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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NBA superstar Kevin Durant played his rookie season for the Seattle Supersonics before the team relocated to Oklahoma City [Getty Images]
Seattle could regain an NBA team after the league's board of governors voted to explore adding two expansion franchises, with Las Vegas the other potential location.
The Seattle Supersonics competed in the NBA from 1967 to 2008 before being relocated to Oklahoma City and renamed the Thunder after the franchise was bought by an Oklahoma-based group in 2006.
If the expansion is approved, it would increase the number of NBA teams from 30 to 32.
Las Vegas has not previously had an NBA team, but has two teams in the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.
NHL side the Las Vegas Knights were founded in the Nevada city as an expansion franchise in 2017, while the NFL's Raiders moved there from Oakland in 2020.
MLB team the Athletics, previously based in Oakland and currently playing in Sacramento, will move to Las Vegas from the 2028 season.
Seattle hosts teams in three of the four major leagues - reigning NFL Super Bowl champions the Seahawks, MLB's the Mariners and the NHL's Kraken.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the current NBA champions, while the franchise previously won one title as the Supersonics in 1979.
Seattle would reportedly be able to use the Supersonics name and logo if a franchise were to return to the city.
Las Vegas has hosted NBA all-star events and summer league games, while Women's National Basketball Association side the Aces are also based there.
Any expansion is still several steps away and would require approval by at least 23 of the 30 NBA governors to pass.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the vote "reflects our board's interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle - two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball."
He added: "We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties."
If both expansion teams are created, they would be placed in the Western Conference, with either the Memphis Grizzlies or Minnesota Timberwolves moving to the Eastern Conference to ensure 16 teams in each.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 24: Jeremy Peña #3 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a two run home run during an exhibition game against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Daikin Park on March 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today, the Houston Astros finalized their 26-man Opening Day Roster.
The roster includes 13 pitchers and 13 position players.
To finalize the Opening Day roster, the Astros made several roster moves official this morning:
RHP Christian Roa and C Christian Vázquez have been added to the 40-man roster.
OF Zach Dezenzo (right elbow sprain) has been placed on the 10-day IL.
RHP Ronel Blanco (recovery from right elbow surgery), RHP Enyel De Los Santos (right knee strain), LHP Josh Hader (left biceps tendinitis), RHP Nate Pearson (recovery from right elbow surgery), LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) and RHP Hayden Wesneski (recovery from right elbow surgery)have been placed on the 15-day IL.
LHP Brandon Walter (recovery from left elbow surgery) has been placed on the 60-day IL.
C César Salazar has been designated for assignment.
OF Zach Cole has been optioned to Triple A Sugar Land.
Following today’s roster moves, the Astros 40-man roster remains full.
Several Astros have made their first career Opening Day rosters as active players, including RHP Mike Burrows, RHP AJ Blubaugh, RHP Tatsuya Imai, OF Joey Loperfido, IF/OF Brice Matthews, RHP Roddery Muñoz, RHP Christian Roa, RHP Kai-Wei Teng and RHP Ryan Weiss.
Among the veterans, 2B Jose Altuve leads the club by making his 14th career Opening Day roster. He’s also in line to make his 14th career Opening Day start, which would rank third in club history, trailing only 2B Craig Biggio (19) and 1B Jeff Bagwell (15).
The Astros begin play tomorrow afternoon with a 3:10 p.m. CT Opening Day matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. RHP Hunter Brown will get the start for the Astros, marking his first career Opening Day start.
Feb 13, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets left fielder MJ Melendez (1) takes batting practice during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
With Grapefruit League play in the books and Opening Day just days away, it’s time to choose our 2026 King of Spring Training! Let’s review our candidates and their final spring training numbers.
Cristian Pache – .419/.500/.710 in 31 ABs
Pache’s batting line has fallen a touch since our update last week because he’s gone hitless since then, but he still ended up tied with Bo Bichette for the second-most spring training hits on the team, behind only Opening Day right fielder Carson Benge. He also ended up with the highest OPS of anyone on the team with more than a small handful of at-bats. He impressed on both sides of the ball this spring and while most know him for his defensive prowess, it’s unlikely anyone expected him to hit like this. He is the definition of a prime KoST candidate and the current favorite by my (admittedly arbitrary) KoST point tally, but my assessment is not what determines the KoST. It’s you, the lovely Amazin’ Avenue community, who determines the KoST.
KoST Points: 2 Total KoST Points: 14
Mike Tauchman – .241/.371/.448 in 29 ABs
What a terribly unfortunate ending to Mike Tauchman’s fabulous spring.
Mike Tauchman has a meniscus tear and will need surgery, Carlos Mendoza says.
Based on his spring performance, he was a near lock to make the team, but he injured his knee in the penultimate Grapefruit League game and will now have to miss significant time. It’s a shame for Tauchman, who still has a strong KoST case despite the injury.
KoST Points: 1 Total KoST Points: 9
Vidal Bruján – .273/.400/.273 in 33 ABs
From a KoST perspective, Tachman’s loss may end up to be Bruján’s gain. Bruján was a late addition to the field, but he is making a last minute case, as he improved his batting line from our last update and may end up snatching that last bench spot due to the injury to Tauchman. His seven walks in Grapefruit League action lead the team.
KoST Points: 2 Total KoST Points: 7
MJ Melendez – .364/.364/1.000 in 11 ABs
MJ Melendez sprinted out of the gate with a fast start in our KoST contest, but then was away from Mets camp due to the World Baseball Classic and ended up with only 11 spring at-bats. Still, his brief KoST candidacy demonstrated his value as AAA depth and there’s a chance he could see some big league at-bats this season.
KoST Points: 0 Total KoST Points: 4
Austin Barnes – .313/.389/.500 in 16 ABs
Barnes did not appear in any of the Mets’ final few Grapefruit League games and was released by the Mets on Sunday, so he is now a free agent, which possibly disqualifies him as KoST. But for the sake of completeness, I will not allow his brief KoST campaign to be forgotten.
KoST Points: 0 Total KoST Points: 4
Tobias Myers – 2.31 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 14 Ks in 11 2/3 IP
I understand the argument that as a guy who was likely always going to make the team, Myers may not be KoST eligible in the eyes of some. But I believe his candidacy is deserved because heading into spring, he was sort of seen as the “throw in” to the Freddy Peralta trade and demonstrated this spring that he is far more than that. He led the pitching staff in strikeouts this spring, generated a ton of whiffs, and lit up the stuff models. I don’t think it would be all that surprising if Myers was a key contributor to the Mets’ rotation this season.
KoST Points: 2 Total KoST Points: 9
Matt Turner – 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 7 Ks in 6 IP
Unfortunately, Matt Turner’s scoreless streak ended in his final spring outing, which was his only bad one. But he still got a long look and distinguished himself from the pack, which is KoST-worthy in and of itself.
KoST Points: 1 Total KoST Points:7
Austin Warren – 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 5 Ks in 5 IP
Austin Warren was one of the final cuts this spring; he was optioned to Triple-A following Friday’s game. Warren was one of a few pitchers vying for the final spot in the bullpen, but the fact that he has options remaining unfortunately probably worked against him, despite his strong spring that made him a KoST candidate. He will likely be one of the first pitchers called up should the Mets need bullpen reinforcements and I would be surprised if he doesn’t see big league innings this season.
KoST Points: 2 Total KoST Points: 5
Robert Stock – 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 6 Ks in 3 IP
Like Tauchman, Stock had his KoST candidacy cut short by injury and his injury came much earlier in spring before he really had a chance to build his case, unfortunately. But he’ll have that shiny 0.00 spring training ERA in the books forever.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 16: First Base/Infield/Baserunning Coach, Dan Fiorito #85 talks to Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13, Anthony Volpe #11, Ben Rice #22 and Paul Goldschmidt #48 of the New York Yankees during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 16, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The hot stove often overshadows changes made to coaching staffs, unless a team is searching for a new manager. The Yankees, of course, were not looking for a new skipper this offseason, but they did make a few changes to ensure the coaching staff was not fully the “run it back” version of last year’s group.
In many ways, the “run it back” Yankees applies just as much to the coaching staff as it does to the roster. The core remains, but a few older voices have been replaced with a group that blends youth, development, and a modern application of analytics. That said, this group also includes two internal promotions and one familiar face returning for a second stint in the Bronx.
Before this season kicks off, let’s remind ourselves of the Yankees’ 2026 coaching corps, with big-league staff tenure entering the season noted:
Manager: Aaron Boone (9th season)
Bench Coach: Brad Ausmus (3rd season)
First Base/Infield/Baserunning Coach: Dan Fiorito (1st season)
Third Base/Outfield Coach: Luis Rojas (5th season)
Assistant Pitching Coach: Desi Druschel (1st season, 5th overall; second stint with Yankees)
Hitting Coach: James Rowson (3rd season)
Assistant Hitting Coach: Casey Dykes (5th season)
Assistant Hitting Coach: Jake Hirst (1st season)
Major League Field Coordinator/Catching: Tanner Swanson (7th season)
The new additions are Desi Druschel for round two in the Bronx, along with Jake Hirst and Dan Fiorito.
On the pitching side, the Yankees made their most notable change, parting ways with longtime bullpen coach Mike Harkey. Harkey had been a steady presence in New York dating all the way back to the old Yankee Stadium, originally serving under Joe Girardi from 2008 through 2013 before taking a job as Diamondbacks pitching coach, ultimately returning in 2016 and remaining through the transition to Aaron Boone. Like the other coaches who weren’t brought back for 2026, Harkey’s contract simply wasn’t renewed.
Harkey represented more of an old-school presence on the staff. His replacement, Desi Druschel, aligns much more closely with the modern, analytics-driven approach that has become central to Matt Blake’s pitching infrastructure.
Druschel’s first stint with the Yankees began in 2019, when New York hired him away from the college ranks to serve as Manager of Pitch Development, a role created specifically for him. In 2022, he was promoted to assistant pitching coach at the major league level, a position he held through the 2024 season before spending last year in a similar role with the Mets.
Now, he returns after a more seismic coach staff shakeup in Queens.
Druschel has built a reputation as one of the more analytically inclined pitching minds in the game. His time away only added to that profile, and he now rejoins a system that has continued to evolve in his absence.
The Yankees have invested heavily in pitching development, and bringing Druschel back signals a desire to keep pushing forward. His role will likely focus on bridging data, pitch design, and in-game adjustments, areas that have become critical to modern pitching success. It is not often that a coach leaves and then returns so quickly, which is exactly what makes this move stand out. The Mets had fired his superior in pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, so they allowed Druschel to talk to other teams and potentially move on if he wanted; he took that path.
There is also one lingering semi-question on the pitching side.
Although Boone said in December that Claiborne—a former Yankees reliever from 2013-14 who later became a minor-league coach and was named to the big-league staff for 2025—would serve as the bullpen coach, the Yanks did not formally designate him in that role, leaving some ambiguity about how those responsibilities will be handled early in the season. Perhaps the Yankees plan to move away from the traditional model and rotate responsibilities within the pitching group—though it would probably be safe to assume that Claiborne will be the one actually standing out in the bullpen on Opening Day in San Francisco.
On the hitting side, Jake Hirst joins the big-league staff as an assistant hitting coach, replacing Pat Roessler. Roessler was not removed due to performance, and while nothing has been formally announced, the organization indicated a desire to keep him in another role.
Hirst’s promotion reflects a continued emphasis on development. He enters his seventh season in the Yankees organization, having served as assistant minor league hitting coordinator in 2024 and minor league hitting coordinator in 2025.
Hirst is on the younger side, as he graduated from Central College in Pella, Iowa, as recently as 2017, when Aaron Judge was already socking bombs and leading the Yankees. He played baseball for Central and then coached in Illinois at Augustana College before being hired by New York; he was widely acclaimed for his strong focus on communication and player development. That profile fits the modern assistant hitting coach role, where translating information into actionable adjustments is often more important than the information itself. This has quietly become one of the most important jobs on a coaching staff.
The Yankees are not overhauling their hitting philosophy, but they are doubling down on a coach who has already played a role in developing their next wave of hitters. Just look at Ben Rice and Austin Wells’ development paths to understand what the Yankees are hoping to unlock with this promotion.
The final change comes on the infield side, where Dan Fiorito steps into a big-league role as first base and infield coach, replacing Travis Chapman.
Chapman’s departure followed a 2025 season in which the Yankees’ infield defense and fundamentals were inconsistent (and there was even a rare public show of frustration from Boone toward one of his own in the dugout). Whether fair or not, those areas often fall under the lens of coaching, and the organization clearly felt a new voice was needed.
Fiorito, however, is not an outside hire. The Fordham Prep product has been with the organization since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2012. After his playing career in the Yankees’ system ended in 2016, he transitioned into coaching and was named League Manager of the Year while leading the Somerset Patriots to an Eastern League championship in 2022. Fiorito later served as a minor league infield and outfield instructor before becoming the organization’s coordinator in 2024 and 2025.
The Yankees continue to lean into internal development, not just with players, but with coaching as well. Fiorito’s promotion reflects a belief in the voices already within the organization. Now, that philosophy moves directly to the major league level.
Around these three changes, the rest of Boone’s staff remains in place. That continuity is intentional, and the hires deliberate.
Druschel returns with experience and a deep understanding of the Yankees’ pitching identity. Hirst adds a fresh but familiar developmental voice on the hitting side. Fiorito brings internal continuity and a direct connection to the organization’s pipeline.
Brian Cashman might push back on the idea that this is a “run it back” approach, but the fan base is starved for championships. A lack of visible change can sometimes be interpreted as a lack of urgency. Here’s to hoping this refreshed coaching staff is the group that helps guide the 2026 Yankees to, and through, the Canyon of Heroes.
While Opening Day technically starts tonight for the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, the real regular season gets underway tomorrow, signaling a fresh start and renewed hope for all 30 MLB teams.
My MLB picks have you covered with five of my favorite futures to bet on for 2026.
Five best MLB future bets
Market
Best Bet
AL MVP
Wyatt Langford
+4000
NL Rookie of the Year
Sal Stewart
+700
World Series Winner
Detroit Tigers
+2200
NL Manager of the Year
Don Kelly
+750
Regular Season HR Leader
Nick Kurtz
+1700
Wyatt Langford - AL MVP
The fourth-overall selection by the Texas Rangers in 2023, Wyatt Langford has already showcased his raw talent in his first two seasons. He’s appeared in 134 games in consecutive years, improving his OPS+ to 127 after posting a 115 mark as a rookie.
Langford’s BB% and Barrel% both ranked in the 87th percentile or better at Baseball Savant last season, and he's now slotted to hit second between Brandon Nimmo and Corey Seager to start 2026.
Texas's left fielder is in a great spot to produce with more traffic on the basepaths, and he won’t be hitting any lower in the lineup following the departures of Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia.
A breakout campaign awaits Langford, and at +4000, a bid at AL MVP is worth a sprinkle.
Pick: Wyatt Langford - AL MVP (+4000 at FanDuel)
Sal Stewart - NL Rookie of the Year
Sal Stewart’s cup of tea with the Cincinnati Reds was a promising one in 2025, launching five home runs in just 18 games.
This spring training, Stewart slashed .327/.450/.592 while swiping four bases, and Terry Francona has the 22-year-old first baseman set to hit cleanup in his first full season with Cincy.
Great American Ball Park remains one of the most hitter-friendly venues in baseball, and Stewart could be in line for an incredible full campaign as the Reds’ cleanup man — one who should easily lead all rookies in HRs and RBI.
Pick: Sal Stewart - NL Rookie of the Year (+700 at FanDuel)
Detroit Tigers - World Series Winner
The Detroit Tigers will run away with the AL Central this season.
Boasting a rotation that now features Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, and Jack Flaherty, the Tigers open 2026 with one of the best pitching staffs in baseball — especially if they’re able to get something out of their reunion with Justin Verlander.
Top prospect Kevin McGonigle raked during Spring Training and will add some punch to an offense that was their kryptonite in the postseason, while adding veteran reliever Kenley Jansen to the bullpen gives them a closer with no shortage of postseason experience.
After standing pat at last year’s trade deadline, I’d still like to see Scott Harris be more aggressive this time around, even if that means parting ways with a youngster like Max Clark.
Flags fly forever.
Pick: Detroit Tigers - World Series winner (+2200 at FanDuel)
Don Kelly - NL Manager of the Year
Just like most coaching awards, this one will go to the team that defies expectations.
Pat Murphy has taken home NL honors in consecutive seasons for the Brewers, but this time around, the Jolly Roger might be flying.
Following a 71-91 campaign, the Pittsburgh Pirates were surprisingly aggressive in free agency, adding DH Marcell Ozuna, All-Star outfielder Ryan O’Hearn, and trading for second baseman Brandon Lowe.
Looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2015 and capitalize on having Paul Skenes while they can, the Pirates should be right in the mix in a wide-open NL Central.
Pick: Don Kelly - NL Manager of the Year (+750 at FanDuel)
Nick Kurtz - Regular Season Home Run Leader
Nick Kurtz burst onto the scene with the Athletics by launching 36 home runs in 117 games last year, running away with AL ROY honors and finishing 12th in MVP voting.
Although Kurtz struggled against southpaws, Sutter Health Park is a haven for left-handed power hitters, ranking 108 in Park Factor in 2025.
Boasting an exit velocity and Barrel% in the 98th percentile last season, he’s hard to overlook at these odds, especially if he's able to stay healthy.
Pick: Nick Kurtz - Regular Season Home Run Leader (+1700 at FanDuel)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming out of irrelevance and into the limelight, with BetMGM reporting they are the most bet team to make the 2026 MLB postseason
Key Takeaways
The team hasn’t had a winning record since 2018.
Bettors picked the Pirates to win the NL Central more than they chose any other team to win a division.
Nineteen clubs still lead the Pirates in World Series odds.
While every team in every sport begins its season with dreams of reaching the playoffs and competing for a championship, those ambitions have generally felt very far-fetched for the Pirates.
This year’s team already looks much different from last year’s, which finished 71-91 and last in the division. The arrivals of Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O’Hearn, and Brandon Lowe should add more firepower to the offense, while young pitchers Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler will be tasked with adding quality starts behind reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller.
The Pirates’ +220 odds (31.3% implied chance) to reach the playoffs at BetMGM are easily their best since 2017, per Sports Odds History. They also highlight the difference five years can make, as the team was a whopping +10,000 to qualify for the postseason entering the 2021 campaign.
Here’s how the Pirates' preseason odds to make the playoffs have looked for the past 10 years.
2026: +220 (TBD)
2025: +400 (missed)
2024: +450 (missed)
2023: +1,500 (missed)
2022: +1,500 (missed)
2021: +10,000 (missed)
2019: +550 (missed)
2018: +800 (missed)
2017: +185 (missed)
Bettors backing Buccos
While the Pirates' recent history has been forgettable at best, bettors at BetMGM are buying the newfound hype.
BetMGM shared with Covers that the Pirates have received more tickets than any other team in the “Make the playoffs” market. Fittingly, they were supported by more wager money than all other clubs.
Bettors’ optimism didn’t end with the playoffs. The Pirates (+600 to win the NL Central) are also the most popular pick and the biggest liability to win the division out of all teams despite only being fourth in odds to win the Central. The Chicago Cubs (+110), Milwaukee Brewers (+240), and Cincinnati Reds (+500) are all ahead of them, while the St. Louis Cardinals (+3,000) bring up the rear.
Other books are noticing a similar trend.
“There’s a lot of love for the Pittsburgh Pirates,” Caesars Sportsbook’s baseball lead Eric Biggio told Covers this week. “Their win total went from 70.5 to 78.5, as they actually spent some money this offseason.”
Completing such a huge turnaround will require not just improved team play but also huge individual performances.
Skenes, the best player on the roster, is a +220 favorite in Cy Young odds in what would be his second straight Cy Young season. His two-year career marks stand at a record of 21-13, a 1.96 ERA, and a 0.95 WHIP.
The 23-year-old is also +4,000 to win NL MVP, putting him below 12 of his peers. He was sixth in MVP voting a year ago, although the winner, Shohei Ohtani, claimed all 30 first-place votes.
World Series outlook
Even with the piling support for Pittsburgh, the Pirates still have a long way to go to climb the list of World Series odds.
The Dodgers are huge +220 favorites to win what would be their third straight title. The Pirates sit all the way back at +6,600, putting them behind 19 teams.
With the first game of the 2026 MLB season just hours away, we got the Rotoworld Baseball crew together to offer their predictions on how things will play out.
As most preseason prediction articles go, this is intended to be a fun exercise more than anything else. But just a quick warning: You probably won't hear the end of it if someone hits on an obscure prediction.
Below you'll find our picks for division winners, Wild Card teams, World Series winners, and all of the top individual awards. Enjoy Opening Day!
⚾️ Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Wyatt Langford
Sal Stewart 
Detroit Tigers
Don Kelly
Nick Kurtz
D.J. Short