The team confirmed Tuesday that Keefe will be back, while goaltending coach Dave Rogalski has been fired and assistant Sergei Brylin is being reassigned to another position.
Keefe recently completed his second season behind the bench for New Jersey, which parted ways with longtime GM Tom Fitzgerald and missed the playoffs. The Devils made it last year, losing in the first round to Carolina without top player Jack Hughes, who was sidelined by shoulder surgery.
Mehta is sticking with Keefe and making coaching staff changes while also overhauling the front office. He hired Braden Birch to be one of his assistants after they worked together with Florida and were part of back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. He decided not to renew the contracts of executives Chuck Fletcher and Dan MacKinnon.
Nick Morabito #70 of the New York Mets looks on during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Clover Park on March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
WASHINGTON — The kid was No. 8 for one night, but “The Kid” will get it back Wednesday.
Following a fan backlash on social media, the club announced Morabito’s number will change before Wednesday’s game.
Carter’s number is not retired by the Mets. It was last worn by Desi Relaford in 2001.
Among those displeased that Morabito received Carter’s old number was the team’s radio voice, Howie Rose.
“It appears that most fans are opposed to the Mets releasing #8 (to call up Nick Morabito) after having not issued it for 25 years,” Rose posted on X. “There’s been a debate over whether Gary Carter’s number should be retired, but to release it this 40th anniversary season of 1986 just seems wrong.”
Carter, a Hall of Fame catcher, helped the Mets win their last World Series in 1986. Although discussion about retiring his number has occurred in recent years, Carter’s candidacy has not received enough support from the committee that recommends such actions to ownership. Carter’s candidacy is hurt by the fact he played just five seasons for the Mets.
Nick Morabito looks on during the second inning of a Mets’ spring training Spring Breakout game against the Rays at Clover Park on March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Diamond Images/Getty Images
Carlos Beltrán’s No. 15 will join the list of retired numbers later this season. Tom Seaver (41), Mike Piazza (31), Jerry Koosman (36), Keith Hernandez (17), Willie Mays (24), Dwight Gooden (16), Darryl Strawberry (18) and David Wright (5) are the former Mets players with retired numbers.
Additionally, the club has retired numbers for managers Casey Stengel (37) and Gil Hodges (14). Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 is retired throughout MLB.
Morabito became the third rookie outfielder to debut for the club this season, joining Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing.
The 23-year-old Morabito, who grew up in northern Virginia, received his homecoming as the starting left fielder against the Nationals in the ballpark where he grew up watching players like Bryce Harper and Juan Soto.
Morabito brings the Mets a right-handed bat, replacing veteran Austin Slater, who was designated for assignment.
Former Mets catcher Gary Carter in 1985. ASSOCIATED PRESS
In 41 games for Syracuse this season, Morabito owned a .253/.364/.390 slash line with four homers and 14 stolen bases.
“I feel like in all aspects of my game I have been able to do pretty well,” Morabito said. “I feel like the first month of the year I was able to show a little bit more power to hit that many homers and I think that was pretty good for me. It was something I worked on in the offseason, just try to elevate the ball more.”
Morabito gives manager Carlos Mendoza the potential of starting an all-rookie outfield on any given day. But Mendoza indicated the plan is still to integrate Soto (who started at DH on Tuesday) into the left field mix.
The New York Post back page for Weds. May 20, 2026.
“We feel like the way [Morabito] has been playing this year in Triple-A, doing everything we are asking him to do, offensively, defensively, running the bases, continue just to learn to how to play the game,” Mendoza said. “And we felt like right now we’re looking for our best 26 guys that are going to help us win baseball games here, and he’s here for a reason.”
If nothing else, the Mets have infused athleticism into their outfield with the three rookies.
“It’s exciting and I think when you look around the league, that is the kind of trend,” Mendoza said. “You have got guys that can run, they can play multiple positions, they put the ball in play and play elite defense. It just allows you to manage the game in a lot of different ways.
After a sluggish start, Benge has emerged among the Mets’ hottest hitters. He entered play with an .877 OPS over his previous 23 games. Included was a three-hit performance Monday in the Mets’ 16-7 victory over the Nationals.
Ewing — who was promoted to the Mets at the start of their last homestand and was absent from Tuesday’s starting lineup with Tyrone Taylor starting in center field — reached base 14 times in his first seven major league games.
“You see how aggressive we are on the bases, bunting, putting the ball in play, hit and run, playing a little bit of small ball while also having a few guys that can hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Mendoza said. “It’s exciting and just more weapons for you to attack.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 08: Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns reacts to a three-point shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
When you’re having these holistic conversations about which players should be retained and which players could potentially be moved, it’s hard not to inject a little emotion and bias into the equation.
In the case of Royce O’Neale, the third-longest tenured member of the Phoenix Suns, he’s honestly a player I like having on this roster. What he brings, especially in terms of consistency, has real value. It’s one of those things you don’t fully appreciate until it’s gone. Think back only eight years ago, when the Suns ranked 30th in the NBA in three-point shooting. You would’ve killed for an O’Neale-type player on that roster.
So if next season starts and Royce is still on the team, I’m completely fine with it.
In the spirit of the thought exercise though, there are absolutely reasons why he could become a trade candidate, and it starts with the simple reality that he possesses one of the more tradable contracts on the roster paired with skill sets that fit almost anywhere.
Three-point shooting carries massive value in today’s NBA. Every team needs it, and the teams that already have it are constantly searching for more. So when Royce O’Neale shoots 40.8% from three in a season and owns a career 38.9% mark from deep, that’s naturally going to attract attention from teams around the league looking to improve in that area.
Then you factor in the contract. O’Neale is scheduled to make $10.9 million next season, which makes him even more attractive as a trade target. Plenty of teams will look at that combination of shooting, versatility, and contract value and see someone worth pursuing.
Of course, simply because other teams want what you have doesn’t mean you need to hand it over. For the Phoenix Suns, though, the primary reason I could see them moving O’Neale wouldn’t necessarily be basketball-related. It would be financial. More specifically, avoiding repeater tax territory.
This is an organization that appears interested in bringing back Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, and rightfully so. If the number makes sense, probably Mark Williams as well. The challenge is that retaining all three would put Phoenix in a very uncomfortable luxury tax situation. At that point, shedding salary where you can starts becoming part of the equation, and O’Neale’s contract becomes one of the more logical avenues to explore.
Let’s go ahead and do some math here.
The current luxury tax for the 2026-27 season is projected at $201 million. Before signing anyone, the Suns sit at $185.5 million (thank you very much, $23.2 million dead cap). Let’s say they bring back Collin Gillespie at $11 million next season and Jordan Goodwin at $5.5 million. That adds $16.5 million, pushing Phoenix to $202 million, barely above that tax line. Then comes the Mark Williams question. If his health hurts his value on the open market and the Suns bring him back on the $9.6 million qualifying offer, now you’re at $211.6 million. That puts Phoenix over the first apron with one open roster spot still left to fill.
So how do you shed salary? How do you get under the luxury tax and avoid repeater tax penalties? The path is pretty simple. You trade Royce O’Neale, and you do it with a team where you can take back a contract worth roughly half of his.
Need an example? How about the Portland Trail Blazers, a team that finished dead last in bench three-point shooting last season at 32%. A deal where Phoenix sends O’Neale to Portland for Kris Murray and a second-round pick would save the Suns $5.6 million in payroll.
That drops Phoenix to $206 million, $3 million under the first apron with one roster spot to fill. That means they can sign one more player to a veteran minimum deal, provided the player has 5 years of experience or less. It gets them under the tax and opens up a little flexibility.
And yes, I know it’s not about where you start the season relative to the luxury tax. It’s about where you finish. Still, that’s a tightrope the Suns walked this past season very carefully, and they may have to do it again if staying under the tax is part of the plan.
Of course, you could always make the same argument, and instead of Royce’s name, you insert Grayson Allen’s. My response to that is Allen is much more servicable in the rotation than Royce. Allen spent 84% of his time playing a guard position, so he fits in nicely as the backup two. Royce? Only 7% of his time was spent ot the shooting guard position, and he primarily played as a wing. Unfortunately, O’Neale starts to look like the odd man out in the rotation.
Let’s say the Suns are running a 10-man rotation, and let’s say they do it in the way I think they should:
PG: Booker/Gillespie
SG: Green/Allen
SF: Brooks/Goodwin
PF: Fleming/Oso
C: Williams/Maluach
There simply aren’t enough consistent minutes in that group for O’Neale. Sure, he becomes useful when injuries occur, and we know they will. You still don’t build your roster around injuries, and you probably shouldn’t have a $10.9 million player sitting outside the regular rotation. Moving off him gives you cleaner rotations, more defined roles, and a better opportunity for the youth movement to actually take hold.
These are the decisions facing the Phoenix Suns.
If the organization values Mark Williams more than Royce O’Neale, then O’Neale is probably the player you move in order to create apron flexibility. If O’Neale is viewed as the more important piece, then Williams is likely the one who doesn’t return.
There is, of course, another scenario where the Suns simply don’t care about the luxury tax or the penalties attached to it and bring both players back regardless. There’s also the possibility that Phoenix understands the real goal is to be under the tax by the end of the season, not necessarily at the beginning. In that case, you could absolutely see them bring back both Williams and O’Neale with the intention of moving salary later in the year once the market shifts and opportunities present themselves.
But if you are looking for reasoning as to why the Suns could and perhaps should move off of Royce O’Neale, now you have a more complete picture as to what, why, and how.
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The moments Adou Thiero played for the Lakers were exciting and promising. As a young player with an incredible athletic burst, he had some of the best dunks of the year for the Lakers.
Part of the reason for that was health-related. Thiero wasn’t able to play in Summer League or the preseason and didn’t make his NBA debut until mid-November, as he was recovering from left knee surgery. Add in an MCL sprain in late December, and most of Thiero’s rookie year, he was unavailable.
Once Thiero was healthy, the Lakers were in the final stretch of the season and fighting for playoff positioning, making it difficult for him to crack the rotation.
Now that the summer is here and Thiero is healthy, he’ll have a chance to maximize his offseason, which includes playing in Summer League events in San Francisco and Las Vegas. Thiero all but confirmed his participation in the summer competition during his exit interview.
“Most likely,” Thiero said. “I didn’t get to play last year, so I’d assume they’d have me out there this year.”
While Summer League isn’t the end-all be-all of player development, it’s good to hear that Thiero will likely play. Ideally, he looks too good for that level of play and can gain some confidence as a second-year player, dominating and playing for a few days in July.
Beyond those handful of games, Thiero should be spending most of the time in the gym. He is already near the top of the list when it comes to athletic players on the Lakers, but there is basketball work that needs to be done.
“Getting my shot a lot more consistent, but just getting the confidence to take the open shot when it’s there,” Thiero said. “Just keep building on my offensive game. Try and get more comfortable with the speed of the NBA. I feel like still a couple more reps would do that some good, but just trying and make myself a little bit more ready for the next season. Try to be a little bit more of an impact player for the team.”
It’s rare to hear a player admit that they don’t have confidence in their shot, so Thiero’s honesty and self-awareness are appreciated.
On the season, Thiero shot 51% from the field and a woeful 33% from 3-point range. These numbers are similar to his collegiate stats. In his final season at Arkansas, he made 54% of his shots and only 25% from deep.
Despite his shooting struggles, he did play in the playoffs for the Lakers and was a positive contributor.
He had some nice highlights in the team’s series win over the Rockets and played for shifts here and there against the Thunder. Playing in the postseason and proving he belongs were invaluable experiences for Thiero.
“Just being out there, seeing how teams are playing me,” Thiero said. “What reads I’ll have to make in the offense we run and everything. Just picking that up and seeing where I can be better at and now I can go into the offseason knowing what I got to work on.”
Thiero knows where the improvement needs to come from, and that’s half the battle. The other half involves a path towards improvement and then execution of said plan.
The Lakers have had mixed results with their draft picks as of late. Jalen Hood-Schifino didn’t work out, and Dalton Knecht has been out of the rotation for over a year now.
However, Thiero has shown promise.
If Thiero’s words are backed up with actions, we will see early returns on his efforts in Summer League. And next year, he’ll be in a prime position to take a leap in his career, which will greatly benefit himself and the Lakers as they try to bolster their depth and compete for a title.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Members of the public head towards a subway station following a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on April 12, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I spent the last hour in one of the lower circles of hell, a Rogers phone shop. I needed a new phone, something that should have taken 10 minutes……
Anyway, speaking of circles of hell, the Jays are playing at Yankee Stadium again. But Dylan Cease is on the mound to battle the demons.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 1: Mitch Keller #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on May 1, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pitching Matchup: Mitch Keller (4-2, 3.59 ERA) vs. Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 4.40 ERA)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the St. Louis Cardinals looking to grab a win.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 12: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins loses his helmet after rounding third base during the fifth inning of the game against the Miami Marlins at Target Field on May 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch: 6:40 PM CDT
TV: Twins.TV Presented by Progressive, FOX9 KMSP, Gray Media
Radio: TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, Audacy App, LosTwins.com
ICYMI: Royce Lewis was optioned to AAA and Ryan Jeffers was placed on the IL, with Orlando Arcia and Alex Jackson coming up to replace them. You can read more about that here.
The good news is that Byron Buxton is back in the lineup, leading off as the DH.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (29-19) will try to catch the San Diego Padres (29-18) for the NL West lead. The Padres shut out the Dodgers 1-0 in the first game of the series on Monday. The scheduled starting pitchers are Emmet Sheehan for the Dodgers, with a 4.54 ERA, and Griffin Canning for the Padres, with a 10.64 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres
Date: Tuesday, May 19
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET / 6:40 p.m. PT
Where: PETCO Park, San Diego, CA
TV Channels: Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health, SportsNet LA
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 13: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros reacts after a strikeout to end the third inning during a game against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on May 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros starter was scratched from his scheduled start today vs. Minnesota.
The Astros have placed RHP Lance McCullers Jr. on the 15-day IL (retro 5/16) due to right shoulder inflammation.
The team also optioned UT Shay Whitcomb to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Houston has reinstated CF Jake Meyers and RHP Nate Pearson from the Injured List.
McCullers becomes the fourth member of the Astros’ Opening Day starting rotation to land on the IL.
Jason Alexander is making the start tonight for Houston.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on May 06, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Has your heart rate returned to normal after last night?
The Yankees pulled out one of the tightest wins you can ever have on Monday night, but they must also turn around and face one of the game’s best in game two of this big series. Fortunately, they’ll be able to counter with a pitcher that truly seems to be rounding into his own form, and while Will Warren isn’t quite as good as Dylan Cease, I’m not sure Dylan Cease is as good as he’s been pitching right now.
Cease boasts a stunning 34-percent strikeout rate, the best of his career so far this season. A solid walk rate accompanies the whiffs, but what’s really helped him this year is the lack of home runs. Just a single baseball has left the yard in 52.1 innings this year, driving his FIP down to 1.80. Now, good pitchers typically don’t give up many home runs, but everyone leaves a ball or two over the plate once in a while. The Yankees are a good home run-hitting team, so they may be able to serve Cease up some immediate regression.
Do note that Cease is very much in the Blake Snell mold — he throws a lot of pitches and takes his time. For all his talent, it does suck to watch him.
Warren, meanwhile, has pushed himself to another level this year. His FIP stands at 3.00, and that from your No. 4 pitcher is a wonderful thing to have. Strikeouts are up, walks are down, and when guys are making contact he’s posted a new career best for lowest hard-hit rate. He still nibbles around the zone too much for my liking, especially once batters reach base, and cleaning that up is the next step in his continued development.
Speaking of development, Spencer Jones is back in the lineup, batting eighth and pulling DH duties. Austin Wells is behind the plate in the daily game of “can you stand there with a bat” that the Yankees play with their catchers.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
First pitch: 7:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, SN1
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280, SN590 THE FAN
DETROIT, MI - JULY 07: Third base umpire Charlie Ramos makes the call as Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers tags out Danny Jansen #19 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Monday, July 7, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Monica Bradburn/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
DETROIT, MI - MAY 2: Keider Montero #54 of the Detroit Tigers works up a baseball while pitching against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Comerica Park on May 2, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Detroit Tigers (20-28) vs. Cleveland Guardians (27-22)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: Covering the Corner Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (2-3, 3.65 ERA) vs. RHP Parker Messick (5-1, 2.35 ERA)
The Boston Red Sox (20-27) will try to win their second straight over the Kansas City Royals (20-28) Boston won 3-1 in Monday’s series opener. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Ranger Suarez for Boston, with a 2.44 ERA, and Bailey Falter for Kansas City, with a 10.13 ERA.
How to watch Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck a blistering 93 to power Rajasthan Royals to a seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants to boost their play-off hopes in the IPL.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 27: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning of their MLB game at Rogers Centre on April 27, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s a pair of ghastly statistics relevant to the Red Sox offense and this matchup that are so absurd, they almost sound fake.
Tonight’s starter, Ranger Suarez, has allowed ZERO Earned Runs in five of his last six outings, and the Red Sox are just 3-3 in those games.
The Red Sox have scored three runs or fewer in eight consecutive games overall (and only one of those was a Suarez start).
Ahead of this evening’s middle game in Kansas City, the baseball gods are trying to do everything in their power to give poor Ranger some runs. Specifically, they sent Kris Bubic, the original Royals starter to the IL, and replaced him with Bailey Falter, who has a 10.13 ERA. Falter’s appeared in only three major league games this season, all out of the bullpen, and (as you can see from his ERA) all have not gone well.
But this is the Red Sox offense, and since Falter throws left handed, the starting lineup won’t include either Masataka Yoshida or Marcelo Mayer. Instead, we’re getting an infield that includes Caleb Durbin at third, Nick Sogard at second (which I actually like), and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at short. (Andruw Monasterio is the DH.)
Jarren Duran and his .181 batting average still gets to bat left-handed from the lead off spot though.
Today’s Lineups
RED SOX
ROYALS
Jarren Duran – LF
Maikel Garcia – 3B
Ceddanne Rafaela – CF
Bobby Witt – SS
Wilyer Abreu – RF
Salvador Perez – DH
Willson Contreras – 1B
Lane Thomas – CF
Andruw Monasterio – DH
Jac Caglianone – RF
Nick Sogard – 2B
Starling Marte – LF
Carlos Narvaez – C
Vinnie Pasquantino – 1B
Isiah Kiner-Falefa – SS
Nick Loftin – 2B
Caleb Durbin – 3B
Carter Jensen – C
Ranger Suarez – LHP
Luinder Avila – RHP
⚾️ First Pitch: 7:40pm — Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
