The Toronto Maple Leafs revealed their pre-season schedule ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season on Wednesday. With the new CBA, NHL pre-seasons will be much shorter than it has been in the past, and that's what the Maple Leafs get here.
Toronto will play four pre-season games within two separate days in the coming campaign, two of which will be at Scotiabank Arena on home ice.
Pre-season begins on Sept. 19 with two split-squad games against the Montreal Canadiens. The second day of the Maple Leafs' pre-season will feature the Ottawa Senators, which will also include two split-squad games on Sept. 23.
That's in contrast to this past year, when the Maple Leafs played six pre-season games, two each against the Senators, Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings.
This marks the sixth straight pre-season in which Toronto faces its neighboring rivals in Montreal and Ottawa in a campaign. That streak was reset when the 2020-21 COVID-19-affected season didn't include a pre-season.
This pre-season will be the first real look at what the new Maple Leafs will look like. The new front office, new coaching staff, and several new players.
The 2026-27 regular-season schedule is yet to be announced. However, it's been revealed that the opening night matchups will be unveiled on July 15, followed by the full schedule release on July 16.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on June 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the Atlanta Braves got nearly single-handedly bombed by Ryan O’Hearn, the Braves have now lost at least three-straight games on five different occasions since the start of June. They’re currently going in the wrong direction but they have no choice but to push forward as they look to avoid dropping a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Grant Holmes is getting the ball to start this one for the Braves and it’s clear that the main hurdle that Holmes has to clear is successfully navigating the lineup for a second time. If he can do that then he’s perfectly capable of breaking through and delivering a quality start. If he can’t get through the order a second time then we’ll likely see some more pitching struggles.
The numbers for Holmes’ trips through the orders are honestly staggering. The firt time through the order, Holmes is a very solid pitcher with a 2.57 ERA and a slash line against him of .197/.285/.283. That second time through the order is usually a doozy, as he’s now sitting on a 6.99 ERA while opponents are hitting .311/.387/.664. Assuming he makes it through the second time through the order without stepping on a land mine, he actually improves upon his first time through the order numbers and posts an ERA of 1.84 with opposing batters hitting .173/.283/.250 against him. That’s been pretty rare, as he’s only faced 60 batters this season for a third time in a single game, compared to facing 144 batters for the first time through the order and 137 on the second trip.
So while it’s tough to boil it down to “Holmes has just got to get through the second trip through the order safely,” that’s largely been the case for Holmes. Fortunately, he’s improved a bit over his past three starts when compared to the struggles he had in mid-June so hopefully he’ll continue to stay on the right path against a challenging Pirates lineup.
Meanwhile, the Braves will be getting to tangle with Jared Jones for the first time as a team. Jones has had a very up-and-down go of it so far this season — he’s made seven starts so far this season and in three of those starts, he’s gotten blown up for four runs or more. He’s also only made it through five innings one time this season, so he hasn’t exactly been an imposing threat on the mound this season.
With that being said, he’s got a serious heater that averages 99-mph (98.6 to be exact, according to Statcast) and he’s been generating an elite whiff percentage of 32.8 percent. That could actually bit a bit frustrating for the Braves, as they currently have the league’s tenth-highest whiff rate on four-seamers as they’ve whiffed on 23.3 percent of the fastballs that they’ve seen so far this season. They also have the (tied for) third-lowest “perfect contact” rate on four-seamers, so if Jones gets rolling against the Braves then it might be because they can’t find a way to put the bat to the ball when it comes to that heater of his.
Still, the Braves have been getting better at the plate lately after spending nearly the entirety of June struggling mightily at the plate. Atlanta has scored at least four runs in their last seven games. This was after they accomplished that task only four times in their final 14 games to end June, so we shouldn’t be taking this plate resurgence for granted. The offense is showing real signs of life again but they need the pitching staff to get things back under control again, otherwise they’ll just be continuing to struggle but in a more exciting way than how they were struggling in June.
The Pirates offense is rolling, so that will be a tough challenge for Atlanta’s pitching staff. We could be in for plenty of runs once again and hopefully the Braves can continue to swing the bat well so that they’ll have a shot at potentially winning any slugfest that might break out tonight. We’ll see what happens!
CB Bucknor has had a justified reputation as one of the worst umpires over the last couple of decades. This became even clearer this year with the beginning of ABS challenges.
Bucknor had six calls overturned in his first game behind the plate this year, March 28 in Cincinnati:
ABS Challenge:Narváez (Ball-Confirmed); Anthony 2 (Strike-Overturned to Ball, Strike-Confirmed); De La Cruz, E (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Suárez, E 2 (Strike-Overturned to Ball, Strike-Overturned to Ball); Benson 2 (Strike-Overturned to Ball, Strike-Overturned to Ball).
Bucknor did, in fact, sustain a concussion and has not worked since. He’s likely umpired his last game in MLB, as per this report from Bob Nightengale (kind of buried at the bottom of that column), Bucknor and six other umpires will be given buyouts and will retire after this year:
Players and fans can soon stop complaining about veteran umpire CB Bucknor. He is one of seven umpires who have informed MLB that he will retire at the season’s conclusion, accepting their buyout offer. The other six umpires: Laz Diaz, Brian O’Nora, Lance Barksdale, Marvin Hudson, Tony Randazzo and Andy Fletcher. The wave of retirements could open the door for Jen Pawol becoming the first full-time female umpire in 2027.
Of the others listed, Diaz also has a reputation as an umpire who misses many ball-and-strike calls and who can, at times, be combative with players and managers.
In my view, neither Bucknor nor Diaz will be missed. I do wish them well in retirement.
The other big news from that article is that Jen Pawol, the first woman to call a MLB game, could wind up becoming a full-time umpire next year. Pawol is now part of the rotation of umpires who substitute for the full-timers when they are on vacation during the season. She has yet to work a game at Wrigley Field, though I hope she will at some point this year. She did work one Cubs Spring Training game at Sloan Park and I heard nothing but good things about her work.
MLB has done well with revamping umpiring in recent years. Umpires appear to be in better physical shape than they were in decades gone by, and the various review systems are, I believe, helping the umpires improve their craft.
One thing we can say about the ABS challenge system — it shows how good most umpires really are at calling balls and strikes. Many of the overturned calls are by a sliver of a baseball. It’s still a good system and I like it.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Ziaire Williams #1 of the Brooklyn Nets gestures during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on April 03, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Sixers have now filled out 14 of their 15 available roster spots this offseason, they are obviously waiting on one more big shoe to drop. The fact that they’re even in the James sweepstakes is such a pleasant shock in and of itself. It would be incredible if somehow Philadelphia ends up being where James chooses to play next season, but he still has plenty of options that just feel more likely.
Regardless of who takes up that last roster spot, the Sixers will only have the veteran’s minimum to offer. Even if they land James, they could probably use one more center or forward to fill out the roster. They’d be able to do so by waiving Dalen Terry, whose contract is not guaranteed yet. With a week of free agency in the books, here are five realistic targets that are not named LeBron James.
Nick Richards
This maybe wouldn’t count as a glut, but Richards would be the fourth center on the roster should they bring him in. Joel Embiid and Adem Bona are already on the roster, and the team signed Ariel Hukporti earlier in the offseason. If the last two years have shown anything, the Sixers can never have enough bodies to throw at that position.
At 6-foot-11, Richards presents a bigger option at that position than Bona. He’s always posted a solid block rate throughout his career, rarely dropping below 2.5%. Last year was no different for both Phoenix and Chicago.
Richards had fallen out of the rotation in Phoenix, only averaging nine minutes a game and appearing in just 28 games before being moved to the Bulls at the trade deadline. Once he got there he played 22 minutes a game and averaged 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds. Other than size, he might not have a ton more to offer than Bona or Hukporti, but a taking a flyer on him is something this blog has been a fan of for a long time.
Ziaire Williams
The backup big rotation has been shaken up a little bit, but the Sixers’ depth chart on the wing is jarringly different from a season ago. Gone are Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes. In their place are Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons.
Justin Edwards had an encouraging moment or two in the playoffs, but his sophomore season on the whole didn’t instill a lot of confidence. Williams, who’s spent his five seasons in the league with Memphis and Brooklyn, would provide a different flavor on the wing for Nick Nurse.
The 6-foot-9 wing has made his name in the league so far by causing deflections. This past season he posted a 2.6% steal rate for the Nets, one that put him in the 94th percentile in the league, per Cleaning the Glass. On top of having a skill Nick Nurse has always coveted, Williams’ three-point percentage has increased as he has increased the volume of his attempts.
After making the jump to 4.8 attempts per game in 2024-25, Williams has settled into a 34% three-point shooter the last two seasons. If he can continue hovering around the league average, he could be a forward that fits well into Philadelphia’s system.
Kevin Love
It’s become a tradition of the Embiid era to acquire a washed-up backup center, regardless of the front office. The 37-year-old Love, who will turn 38 when the season begins, fits that bill. His days of being able to provide stout defense are past him, but he could still help a team in a very limited capacity.
His touch and feel for the game haven’t gone anywhere, shooting 37% from three last season in Utah while posting an assist percentage in the 79th percentile across the league. A stretch big just hasn’t been common for the Sixers in this era. Love, like so many true stretch-fives, is certainly an imperfect option, but he could give the offense a different wrinkle. This blog was frankly bummed that Guerschon Yabusele returned to Europe to sign with Panathinaikos in Greece. With Yabusele off the board, Love is the last best option as a toolsy big.
Another part of Love’s game that hasn’t gone anywhere is his rebounding. He posted a 26.1% defensive rebounding rate, which is still good enough to be in the 97th percentile. The Sixers, who have been a below average rebounding team for nearly half a decade now, can take whatever help on the glass they can get.
This is really getting into flyer territory with Nance having only played 59 games over the past two seasons. While he’s not the bouncy forward he used to be, Nance is still a big body who will at least get his hands on the ball every now and then. Returning to Cleveland last season, Nance posted a 2.1% steal rate in the limited playing time he got.
The most concerning sign for Nance as it pertains to the Sixers is the decline in his rebounding. He averaged 2.7 boards in his limited time last season with his defensive rebounding rate dropping just as much. Regardless of what position the Sixers go with to use their final roster spot, rebounding is something they need to prioritize.
Drew Eubanks
With the Dancing Bear no longer an option here, Eubanks is one last choice to add a center and, at 29 years old, he presents an option that isn’t immediately washed. Eubanks played 42 games last season for the Sacramento Kings. The 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds averaged per game were right in line with his career averages.
There’s also at least the idea of Eubanks as a rim protector. He’s hovered over a 2% block rate his entire career, posting one of 2.2% last season with the Kings. At 6-foot-10 he doesn’t have a big size advantage over Bona and Hukporti, but would still be more of a traditional big option if that’s what the Sixers want to add.
MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 17: Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) fouls a ball off his leg during a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cleveland Guardians at American Family Field on June 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A familiar feeling unfolded for me as I watched the Guardians’ lose to the Twins last night.
Earlier this season, I wrote about how acting Guardians’ manager Tony Arnerich set off alarm bells for Steven Kwan against these same Twins by asking him to sacrifice bunt with a runner on, no outs, and a 3-1 count against a bad reliever. After that article, the Guardians dropped Steven Kwan in the batting order and started cutting back his playing time (despite the usual public lies about “We have total confidence in Steven Kwan”). Yesterday, a similar situation unfolded with Kyle Manzardo, part of a continued pattern with the Guardians’ young hitter.
In the top of the 9th inning, down 3-1, Chase DeLauter, God bless him, put up a great at-bat against left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers and drew a two-out walk. Manager Stephen Vogt decided to pinch-hit for the next hitter, Kyle Manzardo, with the only right-handed hitter available on his bench, Gabriel Arias. Now, this incensed me because, flatly, Arias is a bad hitter. He has a 76 wRC+ for his career, an 80 wRC+ this season, and a career 48 wRC+ against LHP. Now, Vogt may have made this move to get the Twins to bring in their closer, right-hander Yoendrys Gomez. Arias has a career 90 wRC+ against RHP, and the Twins are forced to pitch their closer, which may pay benefits later on down the road in the series. Because of these two factors, I know I was wrong to hyperbolicly tweet during the game that pinch-hitting Arias was a “fireable offense.” I don’t want Vogt fired and I didn’t want to imply that… only to express my incredulity at the move.
This is an incredulity that I still feel, but for perhaps a different reason. Kyle Manzardo has a 97 wRC+ this season and a career 94 wRC+ against RHP, but a 108 wRC+ against LHP. Had you brought Manzardo in to face Rogers, so far, for his career, he would offer +60 in wRC+ against the lefty over Arias, +18 vs Arias against RHP, and STILL +4 against RHP. Does this all mean that I believe Manzardo is good? Absolutely not. Manzardo has been wildly disappointing this season following a 113 wRC+ in his age 24 season in 2025. His ISO is down .070 points. The team DESPERATELY needed him to take a step forward this season and instead, so far, he has taken a significant step back. With all that said, he has still been a significantly better hitter than Gabriel Arias… because Arias is one of baseball’s worst 10 hitters of the past four years. The bar for Manzardo to clear, here, is on the floor.
So, why did Arias bat last night? Aside from the aforementioned “Get their closer in the game” theory above, I would posit, as some CTC commenters have suggested, that Vogt felt like he was rolling the dice with Arias for a better chance of a once-in-a-blue-moon game-tying homer. Take that in – Stephen Vogt felt subbing for his CLEANUP hitter for one of the absolute worst hitters in MLB since 2022 would increase his chances at getting a home run to tie the game. And, you know what? Despite my angry tweets last night, I get it! Arias has an underwhelming ISO of .179, but it’s still .024 better than Manzardo’s current .155. Yes, Arias swung and missed at three straight pitches (I discovered that 10% of his at-bats since 2024 have ended in a three-pitch K, fun fact!) including two sweepers in the zone and a fastball six inches above the zone. But, as just about everyone and their uncle has pointed out to me, I have no confidence that Manzardo would not have also struckout against Rogers. I suspect it would have been on a 2-2 count, but the end result would be exactly the same… and the Twins would not have had to get their closer up. So, on one hand, an apology to Stephen Vogt from me is owed. And, I’m glad this move wasn’t as inexplicable as I thought it was.
On the other hand, however, I am still firmly convinced pinch-hitting Arias for Manzardo was 100% the wrong-move for the longterm. It very, very likely had ZERO impact on the final outcome of last night’s game. But, the issue is on where the Guardians need to go from here. The Guardians NEED to determine if Kyle Manzardo can be a reliable middle of the order hitter or not and that should be one of the top five priorities for the rest of this season, unless the team is planning at least TWO huge moves for proven middle of the order hitters to make a World Series run in August (Oh, what’s that you say, Mike Chernoff? You’re too busy turning down great deals for your veteran players like Kwan like you did last season? Ok, got it). Manzardo is 25 years old. This is the last season where you can say “He’s still young, he may figure this out.” I don’t understand why Manzardo is an automatic pinch-hit against left-handed pitching when he had decent splits against them in the minors and has a 108 wRC+ against them in the majors.
I don’t understand why we are pinch-hitting Manzardo EVERY TIME a lefty is on the mound and even playing these little games with despicable hitters like Arias batting for him instead of saying “Figure this out, big fella, because we are riding you till the wheels completely fall off.” Vogt’s strength is “believing in his guys.” It would seem to me that the only way out for Manzardo is through; to either sink or swim, you need to let that big kid flounder in the deep end until he either figures something out or drowns. You have a chance, here, the rest of the season to see if he can show you something or not, and move him to a team that believes they can fix him before the lockout if he fails.
And, is there anyone here who can say another team would not be able to fix Manzardo? He has useful tools. He looked like a can’t-miss hitter in the minors. The Guardians’ hitting team has been unable to finish his development as they have with numerous other hitters. Is it a pull-lift heavy approach? Maybe. Is it a lack of focus on bat speed development? Possibly. Is it hiring too many Driveline guys instead of some old-school guy with the ability to fix mental struggles from just good vibes? I can’t rule anything out. What I can tell you is that when I see social media influencers ask “What trade would you want your team to make at the deadline?” my answer is, currently, “Trading whoever we need to for the Brewers to send us their hitting development folks.” The team needs to overhaul their hitting development program and pay the money to poach talent from organizations who have figured it out, full stop. And, probably nothing else they do will matter until that happens.
Last night should be an inflection point for the Guardians and Manzardo. Are they really convinced he is only a platoon hitter capable of playing slightly below average defense at first? If so, carry on, I guess, and line up a trade for him to someone who thinks they can fix him as soon as possible, at the deadline if it’s there. But, if they still have hope he can find himself at the plate, then stop pinch-hitting for him at the first opportunity. Stick him in the lineup everyday and let him sink or swim so you know the final answer on this hitter. Believe in your guy, Vogter, until he removes all doubt about that belief being wrong. The potential upside on subbing Arias, Hoskins or even Fry in for him is simply not worth it at this point in the game.
ROUND ROCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Oregon State Beavers pitcher Ethan Kleinschmit throws a pitch during the Karbach Round Rock classic game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Oregon State Beavers on February 23, 2025 at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With the draft just a few days away, most of the attention has rightly gone to the Nationals first pick at 11th overall. However, I wanted to discuss a few names that could fit for the Nats with their second round pick at 42nd overall, or maybe even their third rounder at 78. With pitching being the Nats biggest organizational need, I am breaking down three college arms.
Despite the Nats badly needing pitching, most of the rumors about the Nats 11th pick have been about hitters. Infielders Ace Reese and Chris Hacopian have been linked, as has high school two-way player Jared Grindlinger, who they seem to prefer as a hitter. I do not have a problem with the Nats taking a bat in the first round, but if they do, Paul Toboni and co. will need to focus on pitching down the board.
The Nats biggest need in the system is pitching, but more specifically close to big league ready pitching. That is why I think the Nats need to explore college arms with their second and/or third round picks. While Paul Toboni was with the Red Sox, they had success developing post-first round college arms. Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, and now Anthony Eyanson are three good examples of that. Without further ado, let’s dive into the pitchers.
The first name I want to talk about is Jack Radel from Notre Dame. Radel is a physically imposing 6’5 250 pound right hander who is expected to go in the 35 to 45 range. He has been a work horse for the Fighting Irish, and has gotten better in each of his last three seasons. Radel pounds the zone with a five pitch mix that is headlined by a mid-90’s fastball that plays up due to elite extension.
It feels like Notre Dame RHP Jack Radel is being a little bit undervalued on some public boards.
Workhorse frame with elite extension down the mound (Averaged 7.3+ ft on Hawk-Eye) Fastball up to 98 w/ above-average riding life. Pounds the strike zone (> 67% strikes on the year)…
Radel just seems like a great fit for the Nats who need high floor pitching that can get to the big leagues quickly. The burly right hander just feels like he can be at least a back of the rotation starter who can eat 170 innings for breakfast. None of Radel’s secondary pitches are elite, but he throws a variety of different offerings. As we are seeing with Foster Griffin, a deep arsenal can go a very long way.
The other two pitchers I will discuss probably have higher ceilings and are more exciting developmental projects, but neither have the floor of Radel. I really think Radel could be one of those guys who flies through the minors and could get to the big leagues by 2028. Radel is built to eat innings, and could be a near plug and play number 4 starter.
Ethan Kleinschmit from Oregon State is the next pitcher I want to discuss, and he is a very different profile. Of the three names we will talk about, Kleinschmit is the lowest ranked, and could be available in the third round. He is ranked 69th by MLB Pipeline and 78th by Baseball America. However, there are sharp people in the industry like Lance Brozdowski who really like Kleinschmit, especially if his velocity could tick up.
Right now velocity is the missing piece for the southpaw. His heater averages 92 MPH, which is light these days. However, Brozdowski wrote in his college pitcher ranking list that there are those in the industry that believe Kleinschmit could have the ability to sit 94ish with a year of professional development.
Ethan Kleinschmit (@BeaverBaseball) was outstanding across 5 frames, tallying 9 Ks. Repeats well. FB worked 90-93 with life (21” IVB). 14 whiffs with it. Sharp SL at 76-79 (2797) has bite. Flashed CH at 83-85 (1739). Starter traits @PG_Draft
If the southpaw can actually do that, it would be a gamechanger for him. The rest of Kleinschmit’s game is already very advanced. He has a sweeper, slider and changeup that can all be at least above average. Kleinschmit also has a good fastball shape, and could probably add a sinker in pro ball. His command is also at least average, and he has a multi-year track record of success at Oregon State.
The Nats could grab the lefty in the second round if they feel convicted about him. However, the dream would be to get Radel in the second and Kleinschmit in the third. That duo would give the Nats a really high floor arm, as well as a super exciting development project. Mason Edwards of USC is expected to go in the first round, and I don’t really think his profile is all that different from Kleinschmit, so getting him in the third would be outstanding.
Ben Blair out of Liberty is the last pitcher I want to discuss. Unlike Kleinschmit, Blair is firmly a second rounder. Funk is the name of the game for the 6’3 righty. His delivery is wild to watch, but he has found a way to pound the zone despite those unorthodox mechanics.
Liberty RHSP Ben Blair is a top draft crush of mine. Uber-athletic w/ outlier release traits (4.9’ relH / ~7.2’ ext). FB up to 98 has an unreal -3.8° t3VAA, and he can manipulate two different looks with it. 83 MPH SW has -15” HB. Fun 85-87 lifty CT running 65% str. 4% BB & +cmnd pic.twitter.com/G8CSgmbcEZ
Blair has a super low release which creates a ton of deception. He has solid velocity, averaging 94 on his heater, but the unique look helps the pitch play up. Blair also has a cutter, a sweeper and a lightly used changeup. Between his deception, and his ability to pound the zone, this is a very intriguing package.
I have mentioned it a couple times, but it is hard to overstate Blair’s control. He only walked 1.6 batters per 9 innings. The low release, sweeping breaking balls and elite control give me shades of guys like Joe Ryan and Bryan Woo. That is what you are dreaming of here.
However, there is some real relief risk here. All you need to do is watch Blair’s delivery to have questions of whether he could hold up as a starter. He has a track record of durability in college, but those mechanics sure look like reliever mechanics.
I think Blair could be a good, or even very good reliever. However, I am not sure if he quite has the stuff to be a lights out closer type. If you are taking a guy who will be a reliever in the second round, you want that guy to be a lights out reliever.
If the Nats have faith that Blair can hold up as a starter with those mechanics, it would be a pick that makes a lot of sense. He has a nice combination of ceiling and floor. However, those mechanics are just so weird, which is both a blessing and a potential curse.
Even if the Nats don’t take an arm in the first round, there are still plenty of good choices that will be available down the board. If you want a high floor, innings eating righty, Jack Radel is the guy. If the new regime wants to bet on their ability to improve velocity, Ethan Kleinschmit is the man. Lastly, if they want a funky arm who has good stuff and pounds the zone, Ben Blair is the option for them.
The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Kekalainen ideally would like to replace the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, and another possibility is someone the former Columbus GM is quite familiar with and that is Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko. The 25-year-old was a 2018 second round pick who spent three seasons with SKA St. Petersburg before coming to North America in 2022.
In four NHL seasons, has exceeded the 20-goal mark each year, with a career-high 31 goals in 2024-25. Marchenko has one year remaining on a three-year bridge deal at a $3.85 million AAV and has one more year before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Similar to the report that Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski would not sign a long term extension with Columbus, the big Russian winger indicated he would not be staying with the Blue Jackets past the remaining two years of control.
Zach Benson signs contract extension with the Sabres
Columbus GM Don Waddell was able to quiet the heated trade chatter regarding Werenski, but there still appears to be some talk about Marchenko, with teams like Montreal looking for top-six scoring help. The Sabres could be a viable option for the winger, since he does not have any no-trade protection and Kekalainen has a number of NHL ready assets with years of control that Waddell would be looking for in return.
There may be no haste on the part of the Blue Jackets, since they have control of Marchenko for two years, but the Sabres need to add a scorer to replace as much of Tuch’s production as possible might make them willing to move a promising youngster like Noah Ostlund in a trade that Waddell cannot turn down. The fact that Marchenko would not be a one-year rental makes him more valuable to any interested team, and given the Sabres hope of building on their Atlantic Division title and playoff run last season, they may be willing to pay the price that Columbus is looking for.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on March 27, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James might be gone from the Lakers, but that doesn’t mean player empowerment is over in Los Angeles.
Luka Dončić has had some things to say.
He’s reportedly been in “constant communication” with Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka this summer and has made it known he wants an A-list center.
It cost Pelinka a King’s ransom to fulfill The Don’s request. Gone are LA’s two first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, and the Jazz can swap firsts in 2028 and 2030. That’s the draft capital going to Utah, but Los Angeles still has to foot the bill. The Lakers agreed to a four-year, $130 million deal for Kessler, making him the third highest-paid player on the roster.
However, if Luka is the franchise, then making him happy is a top priority. According to Iztok Franko, a basketball reporter who has covered Luka for years, he wanted Kessler on the Lakers.
The price the Lakers paid for Kessler was a steep one: unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round swap rights in 2028 and 2030. It is comparable to, and in some cases exceeds, what other teams paid this summer for established stars like Jaylen Brown, LaMelo Ball, and Kawhi Leonard.
At the same time, there is a perfectly valid counterargument. If Kessler was the franchise center Dončić wanted so badly, and from the people I’ve spoken to I can confirm he pushed hard for this move, then perhaps that was simply the cost of doing business.
So, yes, it may have been a slight overpay. And sure, it cost a ton of draft capital. But sometimes in life, when you really want something, you pay the price.
It’s why drinks at sporting events are so expensive, and the food at Disneyland costs far more than it takes to produce. But when you are enjoying that cold beverage and eating at the greatest place on earth, none of that seems to matter.
The joy of the moment gives one a dopamine hit money could never. And if Kessler makes Dončić happy, fuels him to become the best version of himself and brings the Lakers a title, the cost of this deal will be irrelevant.
Pelinka did his job. He got his star backcourt player the frontcourt partner he desired. Now it’s up to them to make it worth it.
When DeMar DeRozan walked into Golden 1 Center alongside Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé on July 6, 2024, it seemed the fortunes of the team had shifted.
Pairing DeRozan with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis seemed like taking the next step to relevancy following a pair of promising seasons.
Two years later to the day, the Kings waived DeRozan before he entered the final year of the three-year, $76.7 million contract he signed in 2024.
Kings general manager Scott Perry spoke with media members on Wednesday and explained what went into the decision to waive the six-time All-Star.
“Since the season is over, when we could start looking at different moves to make, we were trying to figure out ways how we could keep him,” Perry said. “But, as we all know, one of the things in this league, there is a financial component to this job, so unfortunately we weren’t able to figure out or do anything that would allow us to keep him from that standpoint, but I’m going to miss him, I’ll be honest with you.”
DeRozan had $10 million guaranteed left on his deal and, as of now, the Kings reportedly haven’t decided whether or not they will stretch those funds over an extended period to lower the cap hit, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
DeMar DeRozan is a cap casualty for a rebuilding Kings team that needed to reduce salary. Only $10 million of his $25.7 million was guaranteed this upcoming season. The Kings could choose to stretch the $10 million later, per source, but no decision yet.https://t.co/WmoYI9cNsB
While DeRozan’s time with the Kings didn’t go the way the team had hoped, Perry said his ability to mentor the young players on the team and professionalism stood out.
“I’ve been in the league 26 years, and he was one of my favorite players to work with, bar none,” Perry said. “… His professionalism, his leadership, the way he went about preparing for his job each and every day — exemplary. And how he poured into our young players last year, our rookies, was very important and very much appreciated.”
The 17-year veteran is now one of the NBA’s top free agents and will surely garner the attention of plenty of title hopeful teams — potentially including the Warriors.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 07: Pavin Smith #26 of the Arizona Diamondbacks walks to the dugout after striking out during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on July 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
One Step Forward, One Step Back Zac Gallen surrendered four runs in the first inning before settling down and pitching decently afterward. Arizona’s offense, after an eight-run outburst on Monday, left their mojo at home and managed to only claw across one run.
Padres Beat Gallen, Snakes in First Inning Zc Gallen had yet another bad first inning, allowing four earned runs in the frame. Despite 27 outs to get tie things back up and then take a lead, Arizona’s offense only managed to scratch out one run, despite having base runners.
How to Watch Diamondbacks Baseball Tonight This is yet another game that yet another service is required to view the Snakes take on the Friars tonight in a battle for second place in the NL West. Tonight’s coverage will be brought to you by ESPN.
ZiPS zStats for Hitters at the Midway Point The Arizona Diamondbacks, despite their offensive woes, do not show up here in the categories of underachievers like it feels like they should for those of us watching them all the time.
First-Half MVPs for Each Team Corbin Carroll makes the list with honourable mention going to Eduardo Rodriguez for his all-star caliber pitching.
Kansas City Royals slugger Jac Caglianone is the latest to commit to participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Philadelphia.
The 23-year-old Caglianone joins Ben Rice from the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero in the competition. The other five participants have not yet been announced.
Five Kansas City players have previously participated in the event: Bo Jackson (1989), Danny Tartabull (1991), Mike Moustakas (2017), Salvador Perez (2021) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2024). None have come away with the title.
Witt was the runner-up in 2024 when he hit 50 home runs in total. He hit 13 HRs in the final round, one shy of Teoscar Hernandez’s 14.
In his first full season with the Royals, Caglianone is hitting .258/.322/.455 (77-for-299) with a team-high 14 home runs and 33 RBIs in 85 games. His 14 home runs have averaged 418 feet in length, which is tied for the best average in the majors this season.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Ryan Conwell #7 of the Miami Heat looks on in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on July 06, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s taken a little under three weeks for former Louisville guard Ryan Conwell to endear himself to Miami Heat fans both on and iff the court.
On the court, Conwell was Miami’s clear standout during its three games at the California Classic Summer League. Conwell led the team in scoring at 21.0 ppg, while also adding 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest.
On a team in need of exactly the type of niche player that Conwell can be at the next level, it certainly appears that Conwell has a very good shot at not just making the Heat’s opening night roster but cracking the team’s rotation.
You can count former NBA standout turned podcaster Jeff Teague among Conwell’s believers.
Jeff Teague says Ryan Conwell is making summer league look easy:
“He’s actually killing though. The fact he got 26… I ain’t gonna lie, Ryan you out there killing boy! You ain’t ever scored on me like that. He’s making it look easy.”
Off the court, Conwell also has received praise for the way he has handled the Heat adding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, a player who expressed a desire to wear Conwell’s No. 7 for Mimi.
“Giannis, I mean, he get whatever he wants,” Conwell said on Tuesday. “I’m just now coming into the league. I got a lot of work to do and I’m trying to get to where he’s at. So whatever number Giannis wants, he can have it. And I’m going to take whatever number the team gives me.”
He was an easy guy to root for here, and he’ll be an easy guy to root for at the next level.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 13: Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Dax Kirby as the thirty-eighth overall pick by the New York Yankees during the 2025 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Coca-Cola Roxy on Sunday, July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We are now just a few days out from the start of the 2026 MLB Draft. Both here at Pinstripe Alley and around the media, you’ll fine plenty of analysis and mock drafts projecting who the Yankees and the rest of the teams will be selecting, and how those players could pan out in the future.
This is not that. Instead, we’re going to be taking a look at the history of the 35th, 63rd, and 99th overall picks, the Yankees’ first three available slots in 2026 (due to some tax and free-agent signing penalties), and looking back at who have managed to make something from those slots over the years. Those three picks aren’t going to have the hype or pedigree that come with an early selection, but it’s definitely still possible to get some talent from those picks. Let’s see what history can tell us.
Pick 35
The best player to ever come out of the 35th pick wasn’t selected by the Yankees, but does have a history in the Bronx: Johnny Damon. The Royals took him 35th overall in 1992, and he went on to an 18-year MLB career. The most notable of which, of course, came with the Yankees and Red Sox, helping each franchise to a World Series title.
Another “Hall of Very Good-er” was taken at this spot, with four-time All-Star pitcher Mark Langston going there in 1981. Super center fielder Aaron Rowand also went there, as seven 35th picks overall have had career rWARs over five. One of those is the most notable recent 35th pick: Brent Rooker. The A’s DH and outfielder is already done for 2026 following knee surgery, but has been a very productive hitter in recent years, swatting 99 homers between 2023-25.
The Yankees only ever selection at 35 came back in 1969. They selected New Jersey high school pitcher Peter Helt, but didn’t come to an agreement to sign him. At least according to this Facebook post, he went on to play college baseball at Michigan (where he was a captain), but didn’t get drafted after that and never played minor-league ball.
Pick 63
The team’s next pick will come at 63rd overall. That spot has produced a no-doubt Hall of Famer, as the Orioles took slugger Eddie Murray there back in 1973. The O’s inked him to a deal and “Steady Eddie” went on to hit 504 home runs, over 300 of which came with Baltimore.
If the early career hype can keep going, it’s certainly possible another star could come out of No. 63. That’s where the Brewers took their flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski in 2022 out of a little known JuCo, Crowder College. There’s obviously still a long way to go in his career, but “The Miz” definitely has Hall of Fame potential at his peak.
Darren Oliver, Jason Kipnis, Zane Smith, and former Yankee Elliott Maddox all had 15+ rWAR career after going 63rd. (However, Maddox didn’t sign that year and ended up getting re-drafted two years later.)
The Yankees have had this exact pick twice, both in the 2000s. They took Jason Arnold in 2001 and J.B. Cox in 2005, but neither ended up reaching the major leagues.
Pick 99
The team’s last top 100 pick will come at 99th overall. There are no elected Baseball Hall of Famers from this spot, but there’s someone who arguably should be, as the Tigers picked Lou Whitaker there in 1975. Whitaker had a productive 19-year career in Detroit, winning the 1984 World Series, and eventually getting his No. 1 retired by the team. It took his longtime double-play partner Alan Trammell a long time to get to Cooperstown, but Whitaker has never gotten remotely close. He only garnered 2.9 percent when he appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2000, but further reexamination of his career with more modern metrics make him look much more favorable, as he was a stud both at the plate and in the field.
There are not a ton of success stories in recent years from the 99th overall pick. Reliever/opener pioneer Ryne Stanek is probably the most recognizable name to come out of this slot in the last 20 years.
Over the years, the Yankees have had the 99th pick on three occasions. They took outfielder Steve Madden there in 1980, but didn’t come to terms with him. In 2004, they selected pitcher Christian Garcia. He never made the majors with the Yankees, eventually getting released in 2010. Garcia did end up having a brief MLB career with the Nationals. Most recently, the team picked Trevor Hauver 99th in the COVID-shortened 2020 draft. The Yankees later used him as part of the Joey Gallo trade with the Rangers. Hauver is still in Texas’ organization, but hasn’t made the big league level as of yet.
As said before, the 99th pick hasn’t produced any Baseball Hall of Famers, but there’s a reason I specified “Baseball.” In 1979, football legend Dan Marino was taken by the Royals out of Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. He probably made the right choice in attending Pitt and later going to the Dolphins in the NFL.
For a bonus, here’s a quick rundown of some famous picks from the Yankees’ other spots this year (focusing on anyone who actually signed), if not only to offer a reminder that gems and contributors can be found anywhere:
127th: Starter Marty Pattin (1965), reliever Mike Timlin (1987), infielder Dee Strange-Gordon (2008)
160th: Reliever Hunter Gaddis (2019)
189th: Infielder Casey Blake (1996)
218th: Utilityman Mark McLemore (1982) and outfielder Will Venable (2005)
248th: Infielder Ben Oglivie (1968) and reliever Scott Eyre (1991)
278th: Relievers Scott Williamson (1997) and Tony Watson (2007)
338th: Infielder Dan Uggla (2001) and catcher John Jaso (2003)
428th: Outfielder Kenny Lofton (1988)
458th: Outfielders Mike Cameron (1991) and Jermaine Dye (1993)
So, there’s the history of the Yankees’ first few picks in this year’s draft. Hopefully, they can take some players who can rewrite the history of those numbers in the coming years.
After the Boston Celtics won the title in 2024, you couldn't blame fans — or Jayson Tatum — for envisioning a few more to follow. This was a well built team with two elite perimeter players in the form of Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were primed to go after banner 19.
Instead, just more than two years later, the roster is barely recognizable from the one that won that ring. The last dagger was Boston’s surprising trade of Brown to division rival Philadelphia for a way-too-small package built around Paul George and draft picks.
"To be honest, weird. It's weird... You play on a team with a guy for nine years. I was fortunate enough to go to the finals with him twice, and win a championship, and push each other to be the players that we are today...
"It's tough. But it just makes you appreciate the moments and time that we had. Obviously, it came to an abrupt ending, but it doesn't mean that it wasn't super successful. Great years, obviously, that he gave to the city and to the organization."
Celtics boss Brad Stevens was clear when speaking about the trade this week, he did not consult Tatum in making the deal.
Stevens’ reasoning for the trade was that, in the salary cap apron era, having two supermax players (Tatum and Brown) eating up a combined 70% of the salary cap meant the team couldn't build out a championship roster. He pointed to recent champions built around one star, such as the Knicks being built around Brunson.
That also only worked because Brunson willingly took far below the max. Good luck finding another star willing to do that. It's going to take some very creative team-building to win in the luxury-tax apron era, and Stevens believed he was getting ahead of the curve with this trade.
However, in the short term, the Celtics got worse, and that's going to be hard on Tatum.
The New York Islanders' summer business has churned to a halt, as most teams start to breathe for a few months.
The Islanders, as expected, did not undergo any major surgery. They did lose longtime captain and franchise stalwart Anders Lee to free agency, where Lee signed with the Utah Mammoth.
The #Isles are making #NHL history by becoming the first team to let fans design an official jersey.
One fan's creation will become the club's 2027-28 Third Jersey.
The Islanders signed Matias Maccelli to a one-year, $2.25 million deal. Depth one-year signings in Matthew Kessel ($850,000) and Vitek Vanecek ($1 million) made up the rest of New York's business on July 1.
With all the dust settled, the Islanders currently have a team cap hit of $101,002,083 million. The new cap ceiling sits at $104,000,000, meaning the Islanders have $2,997,917 in cap space remaining.
However, that cap number is based on the Islanders carrying three goalies and 20 skaters, with Vanecek on the books.
In reality, Vanecek likely begins in Hamilton, with his entire hit getting buried.
That one change gives the Islanders just under $4 million in cap space.
With that type of money, they have plenty of room if they choose to offer a one-year deal to any of the remaining free agents.
If they make no other changes, the Islanders could carry one of Isaiah George ($913k cap hit), Victor Eklund ($974k cap hit), Mitchell Chaffee ($850k cap hit), or Liam Foudy ($850k cap hit).
That gives additional wiggle room, even if only in a small amount.
The Islanders can save that space for Matthew Schaefer's likely $3.5 million in bonuses for 2026-27.
Next summer, the Islanders will begin with over $40 million in cap space before any trades or extensions for Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman.
The entire setup for this summer is about flexibility, and that's exactly what the Islanders have.
