Ben Simmons won’t appear in a game for the Kings this NBA season, but he still managed to deliver some good-natured trash talk to one of their Western Conference rivals.
The Warriors were interested in Simmons’ services before the former No. 1 overall pick eventually inked a contract with Sacramento this offseason, Spears reported, citing a source, but apparently not interested enough to send a representative to Simmons’ August workout in Miami.
The 30-year-old Simmons last played for the Los Angeles Clippers, at the end of the 2024-25 NBA season, before going unsigned for the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign due to lingering back injuries.
“I said something to Steve [Kerr],” Simmons told Spears regarding Golden State’s Oct. 10 preseason game against the Kings. “I said, ‘Y’all didn’t want me?’ That was in the first quarter. And [Kerr] said, ‘I didn’t know if you were healthy.’
“And I was like, ‘OK. That’s why you have people that do their job and go fly out and see.’ But it is what it is. That’s just me being competitive. It wasn’t personal.”
Simmons also relayed to Spears his brief interaction with Curry the same day.
The Kings bet on Simmons’ talent to provide veteran production this offseason, signing him to a one-year, $3.5 million deal in September after attending the August workout, the only NBA team to do so.
At first, the move looked brilliant. Simmons impressed in his two preseason games with the Kings and appeared as though he’d flawlessly fill the role Sacramento envisioned for him as a starter and captain.
Then came Oct. 18, and a season-ending torn right Achilles suffered in a practice drill. Now, rehabbing in Sacramento, Simmons says he is more determined than ever to step back on an NBA floor.
“My mentality is that I’ll be back,” Simmons told Spears from his home on Tuesday. “I’ll do everything in my power to get back, get healthy and be better than I was before. There is nothing but time and opportunity to do so. So, I’m going to attack it the way I am now.”
5. Tarik Skubal, pitcher | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Milwaukee Brewers are now your new World Series champions. The retrospectives are already here, as Andy McCullough of The Athletic has an article out today tracing their path to the franchise’s first World Series title. One note is particularly interesting for Tigers fans. According to this report, the Brewers made a very competitive offer for Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline, and the Tigers had accepted it in principle. The Brewers front office thought they might have a deal done, only to watch as Zyhir Hope was pulled from his Double-A game and a deal between the Tigers and Dodgers was announced instead.
Well, kudos to the Brewers, who clearly didn’t need much help. The reported deal was for two top 100 position players in infielder Luis Pena and utility player Jett Williams, along with outfielder Josh Adamczewski. The Tigers wanted pitching, but the Brewers were unwilling to part with rookie left-hander Logan Henderson in a deal. So the offer was the best offer they were going to make when Scott Harris called to ask for their best package before moving to the Dodgers to get their final offer. Not long after, they noted the Hope news, and Harris called back to tell them he was going with a different offer.
“I appreciated the s— out of that,” Arnold said. “He was very transparent.” The timing allowed Milwaukee to pivot and trade for St. Louis reliever JoJo Romero and starter Dustin May. But they did not add an ace.
Instead, the Tigers accepted the deal for Zyhir Hope, who is similarly ranked to Williams, along with injured right-hander River Ryan and High-A pitching prospect Brady Smith. Smith and Adamczewski are pretty comparable, thought the latter is graded a notch higher by some prospect sites.
I’m a big fan of Luis Pena, so this pains me a little bit, but at the same time, the Brewers had to know the Tigers were hunting for pitching with both Skubal and Casey Mize headed to free agency. Someday this may be a very interesting what if, as the Brewers package was the stronger offer on paper. It just didn’t address the Tigers main need, which was pitching to fill the gap until their stock of A-ball level pitching prospects develops further. It really all comes down to Ryan, and whether he can finally put the injuries behind him and reach his potential as a frontline starter or potential ace reliever.
It’s an interesting little study in approach as well. Harris asked for the final best offers and picked the best package from his perspective. It’s tricky balancing need vs. overall value in all sports, but particularly in baseball. Maybe if Harris had acquired both Pena and Williams, he could turn entirely to pitching in free agency with a killer group of position prospects on their way to bolster what they already have in Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, and others. But adding pitching in free agency has not been a front office strength. As far as potentially trading Williams or someone else for cost-controlled pitching later on, the truth is that acquiring arm talent with significant team control is really difficult. No one wants to give up inexpensive pitching, even for a good position player generally ranked in the middle of many top 100 lists. Certainly not during the offseason.
We’ll see how it all shakes out in the long run, but it was interesting to get a bit more of a blow-by-blow of events than has been previously reported. Good to know Harris didn’t just string anyone along and potentially leave the Brewers scrambling in the final minutes. That’s the kind of thing that can really put other teams off from dealing with you again, but it’s certainly not mandatory to inform a team that their trade isn’t accepted. They sometimes don’t find out until a deal is already complete.
The report is a bit of housekeeping from a Tigers fans perspective, but we’ll take it as closure on the 2026 Skubal saga. Let the offseason begin.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets runs to third base during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With 2026 baseball officially behind us, and so much speculation and insecurity around 2027 baseball, we are now entering that liminal space between seasons that may wind up lasting far longer than any of us would like. We will be with you throughout all of it, however long it lasts, and to begin the official offseason coverage, we’re going to take a look at some important dates for the Mets and Major League Baseball as a whole.
Deadlines and Important Dates:
October 29:
Free Agents file
At the end of the season, the Mets had zero (0) free agents. Every single player that was due to hit free agency today was traded (or claimed off waivers) during the season. And so the 9am deadline came and went without any Mets activity at all.
November 2:
Free agency opens at 5 p.m. ET
Last day to issue Qualifying Offer
60-day Injured List reinstatement
Contract options deadline
In terms of the internal machinations, the Mets have no Qualifying Offers to issue. The Mets currently have three players on the 60-day Injured List who will need to rejoin the 40-Man roster (Tylor Megill, Reed Garrett, and Jorge Polanco). Bo Bichette is the only Met with a player option, so he will have to make a decision about his future in Queens by Monday evening.
With the lockout expected to begin less than a month from now, look for free agency to happen quite quickly.
November 9-12
GM Meetings in Las Vegas
These are usually fairly tame, in terms of trades and signings, compared to the Winter Meetings, but with those in question, look for the GM meetings to be a hotbed of activity.
November 17
Deadline for players to accept the Qualifying Offer, 4 pm ET
Rule 5 protection deadline (Players need to be added to 40-man roster to protect from the Rule 5 draft)
With the Mets needing to add some minor leaguers to their 40-man roster, expect a flurry of releases and trades to make some room before this deadline. Our Lukas Vlahos did a great job of outlining where the Mets’ roster stands at the end of the season.
November 17-19
Owners meetings in New York
Expect to see a lot of cigars lit with $100 bills and other signs of excess while crying poverty.
November 20
Non-tender Deadline
See the note about the Rule 5 deadline above.
December 1
CBA Expires 11:59 pm ET – Lockout begins
This is the big one; even if things go better than any of us expect, there will likely still be a lockout starting on December 1st.
Likely to be postponed or cancelled
December 7-9: Winter Meetings in San Diego
December 8: Draft Lottery
December 9: Rule 5 Draft
January 8: Arbitration Figures Exchanged
The Winter Meetings almost certainly won’t happen, and the others in this category will be postponed until the lockout ends.
January 15
International Signing Period opens
This will be the only real activity between the lockout’s beginning and end.
Awards and Hall of Fame:
November 1
Gold Glove Awards announced
The Mets have three players – Luis Torrens, Nolan McLean, and Carson Benge – who are Gold Glove finalists. The award announcements will be exclusively revealed via ESPN at 9pm EST.
November 2
HOF eight-person Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for managers, executives and umpires
Silver Slugger Award finalists announced – 2 pm ET
BBWAA Awards Finalists announced
The Mets look to have at least one Rookie of the Year candidate, but seem unlikely have any finalists in any other categories (Cy Young, MVP, Manager of the Year). These will be announced on an MLB Network broadcast from 6pm-8pm.
November 6
Heart & Hustle Awards announced – TBD – MLB Network Gold Glove Awards dinner in NYC – Platinum Glove winners announced
November 9
Rookie of the Year – 7-8 pm ET (MLB Network)
It seems likely that Carson Benge and/or Nolan McLean get votes in the Rookie of the Year category, with Benge being the Met frontrunner.
November 10
Manager of the Year – 7-8 pm ET (MLB Network)
The Mets had two managers this year and neither seems likely to grab any votes here.
November 11
Cy Young Awards and BBWAA relievers of year – 7-8 pm ET (MLB Network)
MLB Awards show – 9-11pm ET (MLB Network)
All-MLB first and second teams
Hank Aaron Award winners
Comeback Players of year
Mariano Rivera & Trevor Hoffman relievers of year Edgard Martinez DH of year
I suppose there is a chance that a Met picks up an honor on the first or second team, but that seems like the only likely Mets action here.
November 12
MVP Award – 7-8 pm ET (MLB Network)
In what world would a 2026 Mets be an MVP candidate?
November 16
Hall of Fame announces its 2027 ballot, 12 pm ET – Writer’s ballot
Bobby Abreu, David Wright, and Francisco Rodriguez will all be on this ballot, with potential ex-Mets Asdrubal Cabrera, Todd Frazier, and Jay Bruce potentially looking at debuts on the ballot.
November 17
Silver Slugger Awards
December 6
BBWAA announces Contemporary Baseball Era inductees
January 19
Hall of Fame announces BBWAA voting results & 2007 inductees, 6 p ET (MLB Network)
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 15: Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager Jeremy Shelley (L) of the San Francisco Giants speaks with Randy Winn during Spring Training at Scottsdale Stadium on February 15, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Giants are suggested for five players: 3 hitters, 2 pitchers. The hitters are outfielders and the pitchers are starters. So far, MLB Trade Rumors is on the right track. Yesterday, I noted that the hitting group was pretty thin in the outfield, and that any notable move was likely to make the acquisition the best of the bunch. And, even if we all agree that the entire pitching staff needs to be reworked, grabbing a starting pitcher or two should be the first order of business in that process.
But of this group, only 2 players would be under team control beyond 2027. That’s important because the Giants aren’t one big trade away from being a playoff team, nor should they approach this offseason that way. If they’re going to expend prospect capital — or even somebody from their major league roster (MLBTR offers up four potential trade candidates from the Giants) — it ought to be somebody who will be around for at least a couple of years. There’s no compelling reason to do otherwise.
You’ve probably noticed by now that I haven’t named any of the players mentioned. I didn’t want to cannibalize their work for a post so fresh — although, it’s notable that they listed CJ Abrams as a trade candidate but did not include the Giants as a potentially interested team, even though they tried to trade for him last offseason. But beyond preserving some first 24 hour clicks for MLBTR, I don’t think the names are as important as the idea. Should the Giants trade prospects or major league talent to acquire major league talent that’s nearing the end of team control? The answer has to be no.
But MLB Trade Rumors’ article does list a Giant. Their rankings try to balance value and likelihood of a deal, and for those reasons, they’ve got Rafael Devers at #19. Now, the Giants made Devers available as recently as three months ago, so this isn’t outlandish. Just yesterday, I celebrated Devers’ season for how it flipped the narrative about him and demonstrated that he’s just a hitter who hits no matter where he is. Their reasoning is fine:
The Giants wouldn’t get much of a prospect return, but this might be their best chance to unload one of their long-term contracts and clear payroll room to spend on pitching or outfield help.
If the money is equal, let’s say, then of the Adames-Chapman-Devers trio he’s the easiest to move. He’s the youngest, the best hitter of the bunch, and plays a position with a more predictable age/decline curve and one that points to a solid performance tale over the length of the contract. But there’s a massive however: in order to make the money equal, the Giants would have to get Adames ($155.7 million) and Devers ($211 million) at least down to what Chapman’s still owed ($100.67 million). MLBTR is in the range of $30-46 million in buydown.
But trading Devers for salary relief is a bad reason to trade Rafael Devers. And at the end of the day, whatever money that will be spent on free agency is likely to go towards paying a premium on players a great farm system could produce for far less of a cost or who will simply be adequate rather than significant improvements. They’re better off trading young hitters for young pitchers… but those are the trades with the highest difficulty.
Maybe the Giants have turned the corner in their player acquisition and development pipeline or maybe they just have a good crop. That’s what time will tell. What is an absolute certainty right now is that the major league roster needs a lot of improvement. So, rather than try to execute the most difficult kind of trade or try to clear massive salaries off the books, why not do the easiest thing and simply add payroll?
The Giants spent an estimated $189.76 million on their major league roster in 2026. They’re currently projected to be around $173.93 million to start next season, about a $15 million difference. They can double that without any trades just by getting out from Harrison Bader’s $13 million (easier said than done, sure, but they’re working on it) and non-tendering a couple of their arbitration guys. Committing to a payroll of $210 million, let’s say, gives them about $52 million to work with. That seems like a perfectly fine amount for a team that’s kicking off a whole new rebuild while not trying to tank. By the way, that’d be more in 1-year spending than the team committed in 2025 ($36 million) and 2026 ($44.95 million).
The final thought in all this is that the second-best use case with a farm system is being able to leverage it to acquire players in trades. They have an “excess” of middle infielders to offer and some intriguing upside pitching prospects, too, but the Giants haven’t had a farm system that just makes their team better in such a long time that it stands to reason letting it play out for that purpose is the best move right now.
On Thursday morning, Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan confirmed that Dylan Larkin would not be in the lineup for their game later that evening against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.
He then said interim general manager Shawn Horcoff would be addressing the matter.
That immediately led to understandable speculation that Larkin was either being held out of the lineup as asset protection ahead of a potential trade or had chosen to sit out of frustration over the lack of progress regarding the trade request he made months ago.
Now, it appears the latter is the more likely scenario.
According to Larkin's agent, Pat Brisson, in a statement released to NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, his client "has had enough".
“Dylan’s had enough of the situation. We believe he’s been very professional and cooperative through this process.”
Statement from Pat Brisson, agent for Dylan Larkin, regarding his client deciding not to play while awaiting a trade: “Dylan’s had enough of the situation. We believe he’s been very professional and cooperative through this process.”
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Larkin requested a trade from now-former Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman shortly after the 2025-26 season concluded, with Detroit missing the playoffs for a 10th consecutive year.
The trade request became public in early June, and Yzerman confirmed it following the NHL Draft later that month. However, he made it clear there was no guarantee the request would be granted, emphasizing that Larkin still had five years remaining on his contract.
Shortly before Training Camp began, the Red Wings announced they would move forward without a captain, a role Larkin had held since the start of the 2020-21 season.
Larkin also missed all of Training Camp and the preseason, as well as the first two regular-season games, due to an off-ice training injury.
Seated next to interim GM Shawn Horcoff, Larkin held a media availability session on Detroit's first day of Training Camp. While he confirmed that he had requested a trade, he declined to explain why or say whether the request remained active, adding that he may never fully reveal the details behind it.
When he was introduced with the rest of Detroit's scratches on Opening Night on Oct. 2, Larkin was heavily booed by fans at Little Caesars Arena.
He returned to the lineup on Oct. 6 against the divisional rival Ottawa Senators and was roundly booed whenever he touched the puck.
However, those boos quickly turned to (mostly) cheers after Larkin scored a power play goal, added an assist, and was named the game's first star as part of the 5-3 win.
So far this season, Larkin has appeared in 10 games, scoring twice while adding four assists.
His most recent goal came Monday against the Oilers, when he scored the tying marker late in regulation in what may have been his final appearance in a Red Wings uniform.
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Crotty is a 27-year-old right-handed defenseman measuring 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds. He's played three NHL games this season, averaging 11:09 of ice time. In his NHL career, Crotty has played 11 games, one of which came with the Wild in 2024-25.
Crotty spent the majority of his lone season with the Wild in the AHL, where he captained the Iowa Wild. He dressed in 64 games and recorded 10 assists.
Prior to joining the Wild and then the Senators, Crotty was a third-round pick (82nd overall) by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2017 NHL draft. He played just one game with the Coyotes before leaving the organization as a Group-6 UFA.
In the 2025 off-season, Crotty signed a two-year, two-way deal with the Senators carrying an $812,500 AAV. He's now in the second year of his contract and will become a UFA on July 1.
While the Wild deal with injuries to Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon, who is now on the injured reserve, Crotty will be an extra defenseman if the Wild elect to keep him up with the NHL club. The Wild recalled Carson Lambos as tonight’s extra defenseman, but because Lambos cleared waivers earlier this season, they can move him freely between the NHL and the AHL.
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers battles Baba Miller #18 of the LA Clippers for position during the second half of a game at Intuit Dome on October 28, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Across the first four games of the regular season, Jarred Vanderbilt found himself entirely outside of the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation, with head coach JJ Redick opting for Sandro Mamukelashvili and Kevon Looney as his backup big men behind Walker Kessler. But Looney struggled mightily in those appearances. His insufficient scoring and passing were stunting the offense while his lack of size and declining mobility rendered him an issue defensively.
So, Redick gave Looney’s rotation spot to Vanderbilt against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night and the veteran forward, in his first minutes of the season, delivered. His motor, range and quickness defensively caused problems and the Lakers outscored the Clippers by 22 points during his 21 minutes. In particular, Redick cited Vanderbilt’s ability to front the post against Brook Lopez as a crucial contribution.
Following the victory, Collin Sexton — who previously spent half a season alongside Vanderbilt with the Utah Jazz in 2022-23 before Vanderbilt was dealt to Los Angeles — praised Vanderbilt’s even-keeled mentality while he rode the bench early on and how his approach benefits the whole team.
“Vando is somebody that is always going to stay ready … You never see any bad days for Vando. He’s always going to be a leader,” Sexton told reporters. “He’s always going to come in and be that vet and be that good person whether he plays no minutes or he plays 48 minutes. He’s always going to be the same person and I feel like that’s one of the things that helps in the locker room is we’re all for the team and tonight, he was definitely for the team. He came in and he brought that juice right away and I feel like he was a huge, huge impact in us winning.”
Given Vanderbilt’s impressive 2026-27 debut and Looney’s poor showing through four games, it seems pretty likely Vanderbilt will continue garnering rotation minutes for the time being. His next chance comes Friday on the road when the Lakers kick off their NBA Cup Group Play against the Golden State Warriors at 7 p.m.
Despite leading the Belleville Senators and the entire American Hockey League in goal scoring last season, free agent forward Arthur Kaliyev had to wait until late October to find a new team.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Kaliyev is signing a 25-game professional tryout agreement with the Iowa Wild, the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild.
Kaliyev scored 40 goals in 70 games with the Belleville Senators last season, becoming the first player in franchise history to win the AHL goal-scoring title. He also added 28 assists for 68 points, finishing tied for third in league scoring and earning a spot on the AHL's First All-Star Team.
Sens GM Steve Staios was asked about the Kaliyev allegations at the start of the 2025 training camp.
It was an outstanding season for the 25-year-old winger, but it wasn't enough to earn him another contract with the Senators organization.
There was already some familiarity between Kaliyev and the Senators' front office. He played junior hockey for the Hamilton Bulldogs when Michael Andlauer owned the team and Steve Staios ran its hockey operations.
Despite his impressive production in Belleville, Kaliyev barely got a cup of coffee in Ottawa. Maybe an espresso. He appeared in two games and got one assist, before being returned to the minors for the rest of the season.
When the summer arrived, he became a free agent and the Senators let him walk. Not many people in Ottawa complained about that, but no one would have imagined that he'd go six months without getting a deal.
Kaliyev's former girlfriend, Lauren Mochem, accused him of defrauding her of more than $50,000 during their relationship, alleging that he used the money to support a gambling addiction. The police and the NHL investigated and found no evidence of any violation.
Kaliyev's offensive ability has never been the biggest question about his game. The former second-round pick has a shot that's elite, even by NHL standards.
His skating and defensive play have been more persistent concerns, helping explain why his success in the AHL hasn't translated into a permanent NHL role.
For now, Kaliyev will attempt to rebuild his career in Iowa, where a 25-game tryout gives him another chance.
It's a weird position for the reigning AHL goal scoring champion to find himself in.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Manager John Schneider #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays and Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. speak prior to the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Derik Hamilton/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers dispatched the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night, their 4-1 victory in Game 5 of the World Series giving them their first title in franchise history. Up there in baseball Valhalla, Bob Uecker had the night of his afterlife.
That puts a wrap on the 2026 Major League Baseball season as a whole, meaning the Cincinnati Reds can once again peel themselves off the couch and begin preparations for a 2027 season that, mercifully, cannot possibly be as disappointing as the one that just ended. Baseball wastes little time in sprinting into administrative season, and that began this morning at 9 AM ET when players eligible for free agency were allowed to file.
That includes the likes of Tyler Stephenson of Brock Burke, two names in particular who need a spotlight right here. Though both could have filed for free agency as early as this morning, there’s a five-day window where their former team will be the lone club that can negotiate with them, and since both sure do look like players the Reds would like to have back in 2027 (and beyond), that means the two sides have five days to figure out what a contract would need to look like going forward for that to work. I don’t expect either to sign during this window, but at least there’s a little bit of a heads-up that the Reds will get prior to both getting the opportunity to talk to all 30 clubs beginning next week.
The end of that five-day window will also be the final chance for teams to issue a Qualifying Offer to any of their free agents who were not acquired mid-season. At one point in time that seemed like a discussion the Reds front office was having surrounding Brady Singer, though that has (thank the lord) gone silent amid his season-ending slump. That also marks the day where option decisions must be made, so by then we’ll know if Emilio Pagan has opted into his $10 million salary to remain with the Reds in 2027 or decided to test the free agent waters again. We’ll also have a resolution on the mutual option between the Reds and Eugenio Suarez, though those almost never get picked up by both sides anyway. It’s also the deadline to put players back on the roster from the 60-day IL, so there could be some DFA shuffling (or minor trades) to accommodate the likes of Hunter Greene and Spencer Steer needing 40-man spots once again.
November 1st will see the Gold Glove Awards given out to star defenders across the league. The Reds have no star defenders in the eyes of the powers that be, though – at least, not this year.
November 2nd will see Silver Slugger Award finalists announced, and here’s where we may see the sport’s spotlight swing back to Elly De La Cruz. The 2nd will also see the finalists for all the major BBWAA awards announced, of which Sal Stewart will surely be included in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
November 9th will be the day the Reds find out if Sal won the NL RoY, or not. While the honor itself is a glorious one, keep in mind that the Reds would be in line to get an extra draft pick at the end of the 1st round in 2027 if Sal takes home the prize – and the draft bonus pool boost that goes along with that.
November 9-12 will feature the GM meetings in Las Vegas, ones that will surely be interesting this season given the looming lockout that will be just three weeks later.
November 11th will be the day both the NL and AL Cy Young Award winners will be announced. Chase Burns won’t win the NL award this season despite being firmly in the mix for most of the year, but he’s going to end up with some down-ballot votes.
November 12th is the day the MVPs are announced in both leagues. Elly’s not going to win in the NL this year, but there’s a realistic chance he finishes within the Top 3.
November 16th is the date we’ll see who the BBWAA has included on their ballot for induction in the Hall of Fame, at which point in time social media will become a giant argument over who is worthy of a plaque in the hallway of an old building in an obscure and hard to reach town in upstate New York.
November 17th is the day Silver Slugger Awards are actually announced. It’s also the deadline day for players to accept QOs, if they’d received them. It is also-also the day teams must add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from potential selection in the Rule 5 Draft, which is typically held during the Winter Meetings in December…
…however, the Winter Meetings are currently scheduled for December 7-9th, and that’s after the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire on December 1st, and there’s zero indication whatsoever that the MLBPA and MLB itself will come to an agreement before that date to postpone an inevitable lockout.
There’s a lot that typically goes on between December 1st and the start of spring training in mid-February, but the dates when those events will occur (or be cancelled) are pretty meaningless at this juncture. Baseball will have to see the arbitration process dealt with in short order at some point, the Draft Lottery to determine the order for next June’s draft will need to take place, and who signs who will all have to fight what figures to be a long, dark transaction freeze until the two sides can figure out how to properly distribute their billions of dollars. It remains to be seen whether teams will make moves in a fury before the expiration date of the current CBA, or if they’ll roll the dice on getting lucky with what’s left after the fact.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 7: Trayce Jackson-Davis #32, Jakob Poeltl #19 and Head Coach Darko Rajakovic of the Toronto Raptors participates in an all access practice on March 7 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“Yak is our starter. We’re number one defence in the league at this time, and he, Yak, has a lot to do with that.”
This is the stance of Raptors coach Darko Rajaković after the Toronto team’s first four games in the season. In them, Jakob Poeltl, that Raptors’ starting centre, has averaged three points, four and a half rebounds, and less than one block per game, in just under 20 minutes a game.
This is a far cry from Yak’s near 15-10 season back in ‘24-’25, and the injuries that have plagued Poeltl in the years since have contributed heavily to two seasons (thus far) of very limited production from the big man. Nevertheless, Rajaković refuses to publicly condemn his player.
“Yak does so many things on defensive end of the ball that it helps us tremendously,” the coach said at today’s presser. “And lot of those things, they will not show up in the box-score you know, and the way he’s presenting himself in the paint, the way he’s controlling screener, the way he rotates and helps our guys… Offensively, I think his rhythm is gonna come.”
While overreacting to a small sample size is unhelpful, it is clear as day that some type of issues are present. Whether lingering injuries remain a concern, or something else is keeping Poeltl at bay, something needs to change for the Raptors if they want to win games in the modern NBA. And, while Rajaković remains steadfast, standing by the Austrian big man, he has also insinuated that he is not burying his head in the sand, and may be choosing to address this issue from a rotational perspective at this juncture.
the raps can keep starting jak if they want to, i don't care too much about that. but the minutes distribution at centre is gonna have to change. soon.
Journalist Joe Wolfond seems to have cleanly summed up the direction the Raptors may be taking the team, as the coach indicated that the Raptors’ current arrangement of centre minutes was not set in stone.
“Everything is on the table, you know?” Rajaković said when asked about Trayce Jackson-Davis getting more minutes at the 5. “Obviously, I love to have as many players as possible to be ready to help us and to step on the floor. It’s just finding those right moments, right minutes and the right rotations to maximize that.”
While relatively non-committal, this statement suggests that Rajaković may be exploring what having the 6’9” centre play a bigger part in the Raps’ rotation could look like. And if last night is any indication, that looks good. In a game where both Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray Boyles got into f0ul trouble, Jackson-Davis stepped up to grab 11 rebounds, and looked like a ray of hope for the Raptors.
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 21: Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against Trayce Jackson-Davis #32 of the Toronto Raptors in the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jackson-Davis is two inches taller than Collin Murray-Boyles, and the two of them off the bench may combine to give the Raptors that extra support at the 5 that is so necessary, but cannot be sustained at this juncture by Poeltl and Boyles alone.
With the Raptors facing off against the Orlando Magic again this Friday, the team will have another opportunity, both to give Jakob Poeltl time to demonstrate that he is a starting-calibre centre, and for Trayce Jackson-Davis to show both the organization and the fans that he needs more minutes.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Orlando Ribalta #64 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Nationals Park on August 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It has been well established at this point that the Nationals did not have a good bullpen. They set the record for blown saves and had a rotating cast of characters all season long. Of that group, Orlando Ribalta and Brad Lord were the most reliable. Neither were lights out, but both of them posted sub-4 ERA’s and logged at least 40 appearances.
Ribalta and Lord are unlikely to be star relievers, but they are the type of arms you need to fill out a bullpen. The Nats are trying to build a bullpen filled with unique arms, and these two are an example of that. Despite both being right handed relievers, they have very different pitching styles and roles.
At 6’7 245 pounds, Ribalta is a towering presence on the mound and comes at hitters with an over the top delivery. His 97 MPH 4-seam fastball has a good combination of velocity and ride. Ribalta’s secondary pitches include a slider he often uses to get ahead of hitters and a fluttering changeup to put guys away.
Ribalta’s calm mound presence allowed him to come through in some big spots for the Nats. He played a role in some of the Nats meltdowns, but most of the time, Ribalta was not the one causing the fire. In fact, he was the one putting them out. Ribalta had a knack for getting out of bases loaded situations, and he earned the trust of Blake Butera.
MLB hitters are now 0-11 vs Orlando Ribalta this year with the bases loaded.
— Optimistic DC Sports Fan (AC12 Ring Before Harper) (@JWoodGlazer29) July 25, 2026
Overall, Ribalta had a nice breakthrough season, but there is still room for growth. The 28 year old posted a 3.77 ERA and a 3.91 FIP with 42 strikeouts in 43 innings. His 84.6 MPH average exit velocity against and 36.7% chase rate were both elite metrics. However, his strikeout rate of 23.6% and walk rate of 10.1% are both pretty average for a reliever. Right now, Ribalta is a solid 7th inning guy, but if the strikeouts start matching his stuff, the ceiling is higher.
While Ribalta was a high leverage arm, Brad Lord was in a different role. Lord is your classic multi-inning reliever, a role that is becoming more common across the league. With starters not pitching as deep into games, teams need to get creative with how they use their pitchers.
Most of the time, Lord pitched about 2 or 3 innings in his appearances. In his 40 outings this season, Lord threw 83.1 innings. Until about late June, Lord was an absolute weapon in that role. However, he hit a wall after blowing a game against the Phillies in devastating fashion. Lord had a blow up outing against the Pirates shortly after that, and then he went on the IL.
However, Lord had a rock solid finish to the season. After August 1st, Lord had a 3.55 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. He is not the flashiest reliever in the world, but he is very helpful and can eat innings effectively. Lord was the only Nats reliever who was on the team from start to finish.
Barring an unforeseen development, the Nationals’ Opening Day bullpen will be:
Clayton Beeter Cole Henry Brad Lord Cionel Pérez (L) Andre Granillo PJ Poulin (L) Gus Varland Ken Waldichuk (L)
We saw this season that Lord is not someone you really want to turn to in save situations. However, he can be a nice piece in a good bullpen. His profile reminds me a lot of Chad Patrick in Milwaukee, who logged 106 innings this year, mostly in a bullpen role.
From a pitch mix standpoint, Lord relies heavily on his 4-seam fastball and sinker. Both pitches have a lot of movement thanks to his sling shot release. His low release point and funky mechanics make him a tricky at bat. Lord is great at doing the dirty work in the bullpen.
Neither Lord nor Ribalta should be your best relievers, but that says more about the state of the rest of the Nats bullpen. Both are useful pieces who should play a role for years to come. Now the priority should be to acquire truly elite arms so those two can pitch in the proper role.
I actually think the Nats have a decent amount of interesting bullpen arms. The depth is in a much better spot than it was a year ago. However, they need to find a true anchor in the back end to tie everything together. If they do that, we will also see the best of guys like Lord and Ribalta.
Former New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz will be inducted into the Nashville Predators' Golden Hall on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals.
“This franchise, to me, is everything, really."
A storied career, an unforgettable impact. Celebrating our Golden Hall inductee, Barry Trotz.
Trotz, who won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, joined the Islanders that summer along with former general manager Lou Lamoriello.
In 288 regular season games behind the Islanders' bench, Trotz went 152-102-34, helping the Islanders to back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021.
Following his dismissal from the Islanders after a rough 2021-22 season, Trotz was named general manager of the Predators a year later, a role he held until he announced his retirement this past June 2nd.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: The shoes of Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden on October 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Reaves acknowledged he didn’t even think they would become friends.
“I wasn’t joking,” Reaves told the California Post in an exclusive interview. “There were times when the trade first happened where we would walk by each other in the locker room and not say anything to each other because I didn’t know what to say to him. That was the first reaction: ‘What is this guy going to be like?'”
It’s hard to believe that was just a year and a half ago.
Nowadays they often spend their afternoons together on golf courses. They jokingly take shots at each other during interviews. And they have each other’s backs.
Their chemistry has translated onto the court, where they’re the NBA’s best offensive duo.
Dončić leads the league in scoring (36 points per game). Reaves is 16th (24.4 points per game). Dončić and Reaves are the highest-scoring duo in the league (60.4 points per game) by a landslide, averaging nine points more than Steph Curry and Yaxel Lendeborg (51.4 points per game) who are second.
They’re averaging more combined points per game than the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O’Neal duo ever did, including when they averaged a combined-high of 57.5 points in 2001-2002 en route to leading the Lakers to three straight championships.
Luka Doncic (77) and Austin Reaves (15) of the Los Angeles Lakers high-five during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
When Dončić was dealt to the Lakers, he was shellshocked.
He was coming off a 2023-2024 campaign in which he led the Mavericks to the Finals and finished third in MVP voting before Dallas ripped the rug out from under him. Dončić had wanted to spend his entire career with the Mavericks. Instead he was left feeling betrayed and mortified as the only NBA superstar of his caliber to be jettisoned against his will in his prime in the modern era.
When he first arrived in Los Angeles, his head was spinning.
“For me, it’s hard to speak when I come to a new team, new people,” Dončić told The Post. “It’s kind of hard for me to speak. I had some people I knew from before, so I kind of hung out with them. But after that, in [next season’s] training camp, [Austin and I] got really close. That’s when it probably started.”
***
It was obvious everything had changed between Dončić and Reaves last season.
Their awkward silence had morphed into brotherly teasing.
Dončić joked that Reaves wanted to be his friend, but he’s “not allowing it.” Reaves pointed out that he had more dunks than Dončić. Dončić lovingly called Reaves “a hater.” Reaves tenderly called his teammate an “A-hole.”
Dončić was happy.
He needed the summer to wrap his mind around the trade. After having some space, his hurt transformed into determination. He realized he had an opportunity of a lifetime ahead of him: He was the face of the 17-time champion Lakers, a globally celebrated brand. As soon as Dončić fully bought in, his personality began to show.
Reaves saw who he really was.
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Draymond Green are seen at the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Golden State Warriors season opener at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. London Entertainment
“Once we came back for the next year, right off the bat we had similar interests,” Reaves told The Post. “We kind of act the same, which is kind of sad to say for me. But we both love joking around, having a good time.”
Reaves and Dončić are both funny. They’re understated. They’re humble. They prefer spending time with their loved ones over the LA scene. Golf is their meditation.
As soon as they developed a bond, their chemistry started bleeding onto the court.
When LeBron James was out at the top of last season because of sciatica, Dončić and Reaves led the Lakers to a 15-4 start. Then last March, when James was struggling with multiple ailments and sidelined for three games, the duo led the Lakers to wins over the Pacers, Knicks and Timberwolves, sparking a 15-2 run.
There was a synergistic dance between the guards. They reacted off one another as though they were musical instruments in an orchestra.
“Having him come out of his shell and just be himself is the best thing that can happen, not just for the organization, but for him, for us, for everybody,” Reaves told The Post.
***
Last season was challenging for both stars, who tried to support each other through their speedbumps.
Dončić was in a custody battle with his ex-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, over their two daughters who were living with her in Slovenia.
Reaves knew he was going to turn down his $14.9 million player option in June to become a free agent, and he hoped he could return to the Lakers.
In a bit of poetic cruelty, Dončić and Reaves both suffered injuries in a game against the Thunder on April 2 that derailed the Lakers’ playoff hopes.
Dončić suffered a strained hamstring that sidelined him the entire postseason. Reaves sustained a strained oblique, an injury that would keep him out the first four games of the team’s first-round series against the Rockets.
They were there for each other through everything.
“It’s very interesting how life works, and there’s certain things that happen in people’s life where you kind of create a bond over things,” Reaves told The Post. “We’re all around each other 95 percent of the time throughout the year, especially when [basketball is] in season. We might get an off-day every week or two weeks.
“But you travel together and you know the things people are going through. And you just want to be there for him. And there were a couple of things on both sides where we were both going through things and having each other’s company was the best thing that could’ve happened. And it’s grown into a real relationship after that.”
***
Dončić and Reaves banter like brothers, but they also have each other’s backs as though they were family.
Last summer, Dončić made it clear to Lakers brass that a few things were very important to him. He wanted a franchise center. And he wanted Reaves to remain his teammate.
The Lakers were Doncic’s team after James left in free agency for the 76ers in July, and the franchise’s top priority was to make its superstar happy.
In Reaves’ first public comments after agreeing to the deal, he let it be known how much Dončić meant to him.
“Luka,” Reaves said in Las Vegas in July, “I mean, he’s one of my best friends on this planet. Talk to him almost every single day. He sends me videos of his golf swing and asks me what he can do to get better, and I tell him I’m not a coach.”
Austin Reaves, left, and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers pose for a portrait during NBA Media Day on Monday, September 28, 2026, at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves went from viewing Dončić as a shy enigma with whom he didn’t know if he could relate, to letting him into his inner circle.
And Dončić went from feeling devastated that he was traded to the Lakers, to wanting to spend his entire career in a purple-and-gold jersey — and wanting Reaves in one alongside him.
“Hopefully, yeah,” Doncic told The Post when asked if he wants to retire as a Laker.
Doncic and Reaves won each other over.
They have one of the most amusing bromances in the league, which has led to them becoming the NBA’s most potent offensive duo.
Just a year and a half ago, this seemed far-fetched.
The Sixers added Jaylen Brown to their injury report Thursday night ahead of a second matchup with the defending champion Knicks.
The team listed Brown as questionable with left knee soreness for Friday night’s contest at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The game will be the Sixers’ first of four in East Group B of the 2026 NBA Cup.
Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Jabari Walker (left knee patellar tendinopathy), Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain) and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear) were all still listed as out.
For the first leg of the Sixers’ back-to-back, neither Joel Embiid nor LeBron James appeared on the team’s injury report. The two stars had split injury management nights on the Sixers’ back-to-back last weekend. The Sixers will head to Charlotte on Saturday to play the Hornets.
The Sixers earned their first victory of the season by beating the Knicks on opening night. New York started 0-3 but has won its last two games, topping the Pistons and Bulls.
