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Which Lakers benefit from Jonathan Kuminga going to Timberwolves?

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Adou Thiero of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrait during the 2025 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Lakers' Colin Sexton and Jake LaRavia are seen as the team visits Ljubljana, Slovenia, for camp on Friday, August 21, 2026

The Lakers may have come up short on signing Jonathan Kuminga, who’s joining the Timberwolves, and the opportunity to add a wing/forward who’d be a Day 1 starter. 

But the missed opportunity should create other opportunities for players already on the roster. 

With the Lakers unlikely to make a significant move before training camp starts at the end of September, the answer to the question of who will be the fifth starter alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and (presumably) Quentin Grimes is probably already on the roster. 

And the trickle-down effect of who’ll grab that final starting spot will be felt throughout the roster. 

Here are a few players who should directly benefit from the Lakers not adding Kuminga:

Jake LaRavia

LaRavia’s prominence on last season’s Lakers team shouldn’t be overlooked. 

He not only played in all 82 regular season games, but his 2,061 total regular-season minutes played ranked No. 2 among all Lakers for 2025-26 behind Doncic (2,289 minutes).

Among players Nos. 3-11, only Austin Reaves (1,762 minutes for No. 7) and Jarred Vanderbilt (1,128 minutes for No. 9) are still on the team after a summer of roster reconstruction.

LaRavia will be an important part of the Lakers’ 2026-27 season.

Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (right) could compete for a starting job once training camp starts. REUTERS

If Kumimga was in the fold, it would’ve been reasonable to expect LaRavia’s playing time (he averaged a career-high 25.1 minutes last season) to dip in 2026-27. 

But without Kuminga, the 6-foot-7 LaRavia should be a part of the competition to figure out the last starting spot, and have opportunities to build off last season. 

At 24 years old (he turns 25 in November) and entering his fifth season in the league, LaRavia should have room to grow in multiple areas.

And with the talented youngster on the final season of the two-year deal he signed with the Lakers last year, it’ll be a crucial season before he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Adou Thiero

From a physical profile standpoint, Thiero (6-foot-8, 220 pounds) and Kuminga (6-foot-7, 225 pounds) have similarities.

Including elite athleticism and quickness for their size. 

But Kuminga is far ahead of Thiero when it comes to offensive skill and production. Without Kuminga though, there’s a pathway for Thiero to be on the fringes of the rotation. 

Adou Thiero should be in line to receive more playing time opportunities in his second season. NBAE via Getty Images

The second-year Lakers forward, who was sidelined for parts of last season because of lower-body injuries and spent most of 2025-26 in the G League, ended the year getting consistent minutes in the playoffs.

Thiero’s performances in July during summer league in San Francisco and Las Vegas showed he’s still pretty raw and has plenty of development ahead of him.

And that playing time should be easier to come by if the Lakers are looking for a bigger wing who can be a lob threat, strong rebounder and hold their own defensively against bigger forwards – all things that would’ve been asked of Kuminga that Thiero is equipped to handle.  

Jarred Vanderbilt  

If Thiero isn’t ready to handle a bigger role yet, Vanderbilt would be in line for more playing time opportunities.

The ninth-year forward wasn’t a consistent part of the rotation when the Lakers were healthy last season. 

Jarred Vanderbilt could be on the fringes of the rotation if Adou Thiero isn’t ready to contribute. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

But he still played 65 regular games in 2025-26, and was on the court for seven of the 10 playoff games. 

It’s assumed around the league that Vanderbilt will pick up his $13.3 million player option for 2027-28, so this upcoming season won’t be a make-or-break season. 

But potentially having more chances to contribute on the court will help him rebuild his value.

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Mets to call up RHP Justin Hagenman and OF Nick Morabito as rosters expand in September

With MLB rosters expanding to 28 players on Tuesday, the Mets are recalling right-hander Justin Hagenman and outfielder Nick Morabito from Triple-A Syracuse. 

Interim manager Andy Green confirmed that Hagenman will start the series finale against the Rays on Thursday, as the club will give Christian Scott an extra day of rest.

If possible, the Mets would like to give Scott, Nolan McLean, and Zac Thornton extra rest whenever they can.

"It’s hard to be completely committed to it every turn of the rotation, but by and large [with] our younger guys, I think we’d prefer to see them on five days of rest instead of four days of rest as we close out September," Green said on Monday.

"In all of their cases they’ve pitched more than they ever have in their careers. … When we can, we’d like to wedge in an extra day."

Hagenman appeared in nine games for the Mets last season, but has not pitched in the majors in 2026. Morabito, meanwhile, had a brief five-game stint with the Mets earlier this year.

This means that for now, Jonah Tong will remain in the minors, though he was initially thought of as a potential September call-up.

Tong pitched in three major league games (all in relief) at the end of May and early June, going 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA over 10.0 IP, and has found a groove recently in the minor leagues after an up-and-down season.

He's pitched to a 0.84 ERA over his last four starts (21.1 IP) with 23 strikeouts, including a seven-inning one-hitter on Aug. 29.

Overall, the 23-year-old has gone 5-6 with a 4.54 ERA across 23 starts in Triple-A, tallying 126 strikeouts to 59 walks over 107.0 IP. 

New York has been patient with his development in the minors this season and have made him earn his next opportunity in the rotation. Last year, after being rushed to the majors due to injuries, Tong struggled with a 7.71 ERA over five starts.

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Today in sports history, September 28

Sept. 28

Today in sports history

Today is Sept. 28. On this date in:

1811: English heavyweight champion Tom Cribb knocked out American challenger Tom Molineaux in the 11th round of their rematch to retain his title.

1919: The New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1 in 51 minutes, the shortest nine-inning game in major league history.

1920: Chicago White Sox players Eddie Cicotte and Shoeless Joe Jackson testified before a grand jury and admitted involvement in the plot to fix the 1919 World Series, bringing the Black Sox scandal into the open. Eight members of the White Sox were later indicted.

1938: Chicago Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett hit his famed “Homer in the Gloamin’,” a two-out, ninth-inning home run that beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 at Wrigley Field during Chicago’s late-season drive to the National League pennant.

1941: Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams went 6-for-8 in a season-ending doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics and finished at .406, becoming the last Major League Baseball player to hit .400 for a full season.

1951: New York Yankees pitcher Allie Reynolds threw his second no-hitter of the season, an 8-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox that was part of a doubleheader sweep that clinched the pennant for the Yankees.

1951: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Norm Van Brocklin passed for an NFL-record 554 yards in a 54-14 victory over the New York Yanks, a single-game record.

1953: American League owners unanimously approved the St. Louis Browns’ move to Baltimore, where the franchise became the Orioles.

1960: Ted Williams homered in the final plate appearance of his major league career, hitting the 521st home run of his career in Boston’s 5-4 victory over Baltimore at Fenway Park.

1972: Paul Henderson scored with 34 seconds remaining to give Canada a 6-5 victory over the Soviet Union in Moscow in the eighth and deciding game of the Summit Series.

1974: California Angels ace Nolan Ryan threw his third career no-hitter, struck out 15 and defeated the Minnesota Twins 4-0.

1975: Vida Blue, Glenn Abbott, Paul Lindblad and Rollie Fingers combined for the first four-pitcher no-hitter in major league history as the Oakland Athletics beat the California Angels 5-0.

1976: Muhammad Ali retained the WBA, WBC and Ring heavyweight championships with a unanimous 15-round decision over Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium in their third and final meeting.

1978: Houston Astros ace J.R. Richard became the first right-handed pitcher in National League history to record 300 strikeouts in a season, reaching the milestone during a 4-3 victory over Atlanta.

1979: Larry Holmes stopped Earnie Shavers in the 11th round to retain the WBC heavyweight title, strengthening his standing atop boxing’s heavyweight division.

1988: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser threw 10 scoreless innings against San Diego to extend his streak to a major league-record 59 consecutive scoreless innings, surpassing Don Drysdale’s record.

1993: Montreal Expos right-hander Dennis Martínez became just the seventh pitcher to win 100 games in both the American and National leagues.

1995: Montreal Expos pitcher Greg Harris became the first major leaguer in the modern era to pitch with both hands in the same game, working the ninth inning against Cincinnati.

1996: Iowa State running back Troy Davis rushed for a school-record 378 yards against Missouri, one of the highest single-game rushing totals in major college football history.

1997: Europe defeated the United States 14½-13½ at Valderrama in Spain to win the Ryder Cup, the first Ryder Cup held in continental Europe.

2000: Norway defeated the United States 3-2 after extra time in the women’s soccer final at the Sydney Olympics to win the gold medal.

2001: Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez hit his 50th home run of the season, becoming the first shortstop in major league history to reach 50 homers in a season.

2008: Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie won the Berlin Marathon in a world-record 2 hours, 3 minutes, 59 seconds, becoming the first man to run a marathon in under 2:04.

2008: Fernando Alonso won the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix, the first night race in Formula One history.

2008: The Boston Red Sox retired Johnny Pesky’s No. 6 during a Fenway Park ceremony honoring one of the franchise’s most beloved players, coaches and broadcasters.

2011: The Tampa Bay Rays completed one of baseball’s most dramatic comebacks, erasing a seven-run deficit and clinching the American League wild card when Evan Longoria hit a 12th-inning walk-off home run against the Yankees.

2011: The St. Louis Cardinals completed a historic September surge and captured the National League wild card with an 8-0 victory over Houston.

2012: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey threw the first of his two career no-hitters, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0.

2019: American Christian Coleman won the 100-meter world championship in Doha in a world-leading 9.76 seconds.

2019: New York Mets rookie Pete Alonso hit his 53rd home run of the season, breaking Aaron Judge’s major league rookie record in a 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

2020: The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the COVID-delayed Stanley Cup Final to capture their second Stanley Cup championship.

2022: New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit his 61st home run of the season to tie Roger Maris’ American League single-season record.

2025: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 250 career touchdown passes, accomplishing the feat in his 116th game during a 37-20 victory over Baltimore.

2025: Europe defeated the United States 15-13 at Bethpage Black to win the Ryder Cup on American soil for the first time since 2012.

— USA TODAY Network

This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Today in sports history, September 28

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Texas Rangers lineup for August 31, 2026

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 30: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a two RBI ground-rule double against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth inning at American Family Field on August 30, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for August 31, 2026 against the Athletics: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Gage Jump for the Athletics.

Texas is back at home for seven games, the first of which is against the Athletics. The Rangers are facing a lefty, and so the righthanded-swinging crew is in there. Notably, Ezequiel Duran is hitting leadoff, the first time in his career he’s started a game in the leadoff spot. He now has been in the starting lineup at each of the nine spots in the batting order.

The lineup:

Duran — CF

Seager — SS

Langford — LF

Nimmo — RF

Burger — 1B

Foscue — 2B

Diaz — DH

Freeman — 3B

Jansen — C

7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -214 favorites.

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Too-early season predictions: Insiders see a slim but real chance the Raptors make a ‘big’ move before the trade deadline

Sep 28, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol (33) at the podium during Media Day at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

The 2026-27 season is a couple of months away from tip-off, yet striking parallels, sometimes uncanny, to the 2018-19 season are hard not to notice, even to the ‘casual’ eye. For one, LeBron James will be playing for a different team come October after spending the last eight years under the bright lights of LA, marking the end of his longest stint with a franchise. The Raptors, on the other hand, are still awaiting the conclusion of the league’s investigation regarding the trade that would reunite them with the 2019 Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard.

As similar as the storylines are from seven years ago, context should be taken into consideration, given the drastic difference in the landscape of the league and the reality of aging. Leonard will be entering his 15th season in the league, joining a Raptors roster that has yet to hit their summit, as players and as a unit. 

That is not to say that these parallels are superficial, as there are some similarities worth noting for their relevance and substance. LeBron might have signed for a discounted veteran’s minimum, but the whole free-agency saga was built around his impending decision at that time because he’s still a high-end talent, and any team that gets him will automatically be tagged as championship contenders. 

The same goes for the Raptors. Kawhi raises expectations for Toronto, just as his arrival did eight years ago. One thing that flew under the radar for non-Raptors fans, however, was how the roster differed from the start of the season to its climactic conclusion in June that year. The Raptors traded for Memphis Grizzlies’ long-time centre, Marc Gasol, at the deadline.  

Insiders’ insights   

ESPN’s annual summer forecast allowed NBA insiders to weigh in on hypothetical scenarios and how likely they are to occur in this upcoming season. Such scenarios include teams that are likely to outperform expectations, or do the complete opposite and underachieve. Out of the bunch, the Raptors were listed in just one category — teams that will likely pursue a ‘big’ trade before the trade deadline.

Toronto placed fifth in a five-way tie, having received one vote among the panelists. Needless to say, teams like the Golden State Warriors, who ranked first league-wide, are expected to be major buyers come February, given their missed opportunities to add franchise-altering names like James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who were said to have been pursued by the team to pair with Stephen Curry for one last-ditch effort at opening another contention window.

The Raptors are not expected to be at this level of conversation come February, but a vote indicates that there’s a real possibility they make a subtle yet impactful deal midseason. While Leonard was the driving force and the central piece of the 2019 championship, Gasol allowed them to realize their ceiling.

The last domino to fall for the 2019 Raptors

Gasol, at 34 years old, was still one of the league’s premier passing big men, with a newly developed three-point shot that commanded coverage, stretching defences in the process. Given his age, he was still an elite defender, an effective anchor in the paint and, at the same time, managed occasional switches with quicker perimeter players. Some, however, thought that the Raptors gave too much depth after trading away rotation pieces C.J. Miles and Delon Wright, and settling for an older big man than the one they had in Jonas Valanciunas. 

This move would eventually pay dividends for Toronto as Gasol’s passing ability provided another point of concern for opposing defences, as he threaded the needle to open teammates, seemingly operating as a point guard in a big man’s body. His defense, however, was the real game changer during their title run. Golden State’s depleted big-man rotation proved no match for Gasol, as he adjusted comfortably to any matchups he was put on. He also played a crucial role in limiting Curry’s attempts from beyond the arc through blitz coverages. Against the Bucks, Gasol was a key component of the Raptors’ ‘Wall’ that proved effective in deterring Antetokounmpo from taking shots within close range. His most notable contribution, however, came in the grueling seven-game series against the Philadelphia 76ers, where he was matched up with arguably the league’s best center at the time, Joel Embiid.

Gasol held Embiid to just 17.6 points a game, coupled with an inefficient 37.1% field goal percentage, as Toronto outlasted Philadelphia in a thrilling Game 7 buzzer-beater by Leonard over Embiid himself.

What could the 2026-27 Raptors learn from this trade?

Barring Kawhi’s second coming, the Raptors are not the same team they were seven years ago. The roster’s youth is a glaring distinction from the 2019 squad, composed mostly of seasoned veterans with playoff experience. Not to mention, the head coaches’ philosophies are opposites of each other: Nick Nurse had a heavy reliance on individual skills, while Darko Rajakovic’s takes a committee approach. 

Likewise, team needs vary in both iterations, considering the difference in player utilization and how they mesh with each other. Front-court depth and perimeter shooting emerge as the most concerning gaps for this year’s team. While hybrid centre-forwards like Collin Murray-Boyles emerged as effective small-ball options, it won’t be sustainable long-term given the increasing prevalence of skilled big men. While the Raptors could experiment more on recent acquisitions like Trayce Jackson-Davis and Trey Jamison III, a trade surrounding a center is something to keep an eye on, especially if rebounding deficits and interior mismatches persist. 

Rajakovic utilizes his wings as secondary playmakers, switchable defenders, and as floor-spacing and cutting options. With the impending departure of Gradey Dick, the minutes allocation will be distributed between two breakout rotation pieces from last season. Jamison Battle and Ja’Kobe Walter both received their fair share of playing time last year, as Dick and Ochai Agbaji gradually faded out of the picture. With Dick expected to be moved regardless of the trade’s completion, Battle and Walter are expected to fill in those minutes and provide a well-needed boost on three-point shooting and perimeter defence.

The potential acquisition of Kawhi does not mean the team figures out everything from the get-go. Compromises from the roster and coaching staff alike will have to be made as the season progresses and players settle into their roles. Take the 2019 squad for example, where players like Fred VanVleet spoke about uncertainty with fit, particularly Kawhi’s 60-game limit for the entire season, which he deemed insufficient for Leonard and his teammates to develop familiarity with each other’s play. 

However, the front office saw enough from that 60-game window that warranted them making a deal for the Grizzlies’ big man, given the team’s needs and his potential fit with the rest of the roster. If the trade for Gasol taught us anything, it’s that a team may take until the midseason to reveal its true identity. Toronto took 55 games into the regular season before eventually trading for their starting big man, as their real gaps began to show. The Raptors don’t necessarily need another Gasol; what it needs is a keen eye from the scouting department and front office to identify team flaws and search for personnel who solve those problems.   

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What happened to the pure slugger in baseball?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 22: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park on August 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cardinals 12-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in baseball fans across the country.

Looking at the long history of Major League Baseball shows a clear swinging of the pendulum in style of play. Booming offenses gives way to dominant pitching, which in turn brings out an emphasis on home runs. After the heyday of the steroid era, it became common for the home run leader to slug fewer than 50, or even 45, home runs in a season. That has gradually changed to the point where over the last few years the home run champ finishes at or near 60 on the season.

This year, however, has seen a step back. Kyle Schwarber currently leads the league in home runs with only 40, on pace to hit 47 on the year. That would mark the fewest home runs in any season (excluding the shortened 202o season) in a decade. Schwarber isn’t a lock to win the home run race, either. There are five other players who are basically just a really good few games away from being tied for the lead.

Who will win the home run race?

Just as interesting as who will win the race is how many home runs it will take to wear the crown. There are seven players right now who are on pace to hit at least 40 home runs. How many of those players can catch a little bit of fire and surpass 45 on the season?

Looking at the season as a whole, it hasn’t felt like there has been a shortage of long balls. Maybe the distribution of home runs is all that has changed, so more players are hitting a dozen home runs instead of a select few hitting 55.

In the hopes of finding a happy medium, what do you think is the right amount of home runs in a season for the best slugger in baseball? How many homers should the top guy expect to have in a given season?

Be on the lookout for results to these surveys and the rest of the SB Nation Reacts surveys later this week!

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Rays' Freddy Peralta looks back on Mets' tenure ahead of facing former club on Tuesday

The Mets’ addition of Freddy Peralta, and the right-hander’s subsequent performance on the mound, was a microcosm of what didn’t go right for the club this season. 

Acquired in a trade with Milwaukee that sent Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to the Brewers, Peralta came to New York to be the team’s ace, with a chance to sign a multi-year contract extension that would keep him in New York for a long time. 

But Peralta struggled to the tune of a 4.99 ERA, and the Mets traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of the deadline. 

Now, Peralta is set to take the ball against New York on Tuesday night.

“It’s a challenge. Every game for me, I think I take it the same way,” Peralta said on facing the Mets. “I just come in to compete and try to get the win.”

Peralta was an All-Star with the Brewers in 2025, pitching to a 2.70 ERA and finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting. But for whatever reason, things just didn’t click in New York.

“It was the first time that I was struggling like that, but I never give up,” Peralta said. “I was always trying to find a way to feel better, to pitch better. I knew what I could do, and I was feeling good physically too and healthy, but I couldn’t make an adjustment. The good thing is that now I’m different, I feel different and I plan to keep going until my worst year is over.”

Despite his struggles on the mound, the veteran right-hander says that he’ll remember the people that made his time with the Mets special.

"I made good friends there, really good friends,” Peralta said. “People there, they took care of me really well. For me, that’s a little sad.” 

Peralta is now on a first-place team, as the Rays look to hold off the Yankees (currently 4.5 games up) in the AL East race. He’s had his struggles as a Ray as well, pitching to a 5.60 ERA, but he’s coming off his best start, going 6.0 shutout innings against Detroit in his last outing.

He’ll look to keep that up on Tuesday, when he faces Sean Manaea and his former team.

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Southwest division watch: Mavericks planting their Flagg

Hey folks we’re back at it, going division by division figuring out just who the Golden State Warriors should be concerned about this season. And after the way things turned out last year when the wounded Dubs didn’t even make the postseason, that answer could easily be anybody. But one of the teams GSW had success against last year comes from the Southwest Division. I’m talking about the Dallas Mavericks, a team that floundered with the injury absence of Kyrie Irving, the rookie lessons of Cooper Flagg, and the inconsistent play of former Warrior Klay Thompson. The Warriors took two out of three from Dallas last season, including a big win on Christmas. Unfortunately one of those battles cost them the knee of Moses Moody.

Dallas spent this offseason trying to convince everybody it finally has its act together, and for about five minutes in the spring, I believed it. They fired Nico Harrison, allegedly the brains behind the PR disaster that was the Luka Doncic trade. They hired Masai Ujiri, the guy who built a championship team in Toronto, to run the whole operation. They brought in Dusty May off an NCAA title at Michigan to replace Bay Area legend Jason Kidd as head coach. On paper that’s the best offseason of competent decision-making this franchise has had in years, and it’s happening around Flagg who just won Rookie of the Year doing things nobody his age should be able to do.

Then the actual roster-building started, and I need somebody in Dallas to explain something to me.

We already know what Flagg is. Nobody in the Bay needs a stat sheet to tell them he’s the problem. What Dallas doesn’t have is anybody to take some of that creation load off him, because right now the only reliable ballhandler on the roster is Kyrie Irving, who’s 34 and coming off a torn ACL that’s kept him out since March of last year. Everybody assumed Dallas would use the ninth pick on a guard. They took Morez Johnson Jr., a forward out of Michigan, where Dusty May coached him. I like the player but I don’t understand the team.

And then they waived Klay Thompson, ending a very bland first chapter of the ex-Splash Bro’s post-Dubs career.

Our friends over at Mavs Money Ball were guardedly optimistic in their roundtable of the Mavericks’ offseason moves, but one quote stood out for me:

The problem is that Dallas chose to work around the margins instead of truly reforming the roster. The Mavericks still have too many overlapping forwards, not enough reliable ball-handling and several veterans who do not clearly fit Flagg’s timeline. Other young teams have been more aggressive in defining their direction, whether by collecting draft assets, clearing veterans or building a cleaner developmental roster. The individual moves mostly make sense, but they do not yet form a coherent plan.

What kinda team is this? Dallas’ answer at backup guard last season was Brandon Williams, who averaged 13 points and 4 assists for them and even dropped 26 off the bench in the Christmas game against Golden State. The Warriors just signed him though!

Cooper Flagg is a ridiculous young talent surrounded by a roster that has hella question marks. That young supertalent scares me. The Mavericks do not.

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Orioles claim Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from Mets

Luis Robert Jr. #88 of the New York Mets celebrates hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on August 18, 2026 in New York City.

The Baltimore Orioles have claimed center fielder Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the Mets, and with that, the 29-year-old’s brief tenure with the Mets has come to an end.

Known as an injury-prone player before the Mets traded for him ahead of the 2026 season, Robert missed a huge chunk of time this year with a lower back issue. He played in 58 games for the Mets, made 218 plate appearances, and hit .223/.303/.399 with 10 home runs, a 96 wRC+, and 0.5 fWAR. He’s earning $20 million this year and has a team option for 2027 at the same salary with a $2 million buyout in the very likely event that the option is declined.

For now, the Mets save some money, and Robert joins Pete Alonso and company in Baltimore as the Orioles attempt to make the playoffs via the third Wild Card spot in the American League. At the moment, they’re 68-69, one game back of the Guardians for that spot, a half-game ahead of the Rangers, and one game ahead of the Rangers. And if the Twins, Mariners, or Tigers were to go on a brief hot streak, they’re not totally out of that playoff picture yet, either.

To replace Robert on the active roster, the Mets have reinstated Mark Vientos from the injured list. The 26-year-old has hit just .211/.256/.388 with 11 home runs, a 76 wRC+, and -1.1 fWAR, which has made him the sixth-worst in baseball among position players this year. He’s made just 254 plate appearances and had been on the injured list since early July with a fractured hand.

And last but not least, the Mets are planning to call up outfielder Nick Morabito when rosters expand tomorrow, per a report from Will Sammon.

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Top 3 Storylines for the Winnipeg Jets Heading Into Next Season

Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Winnipeg Jets have plenty on their plate as they look to get back into the mix as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. From roster battles to a lingering trade saga to a long list of players auditioning for their next contract, here are the three biggest storylines to watch as training camp approaches.

Are Brayden Yager and Elias Salomonsson Ready to Make the Pro Jump This Season?

Some of Winnipeg's hope for a bounce-back season rests on fresh blood joining the roster full-time. Brad Lambert has already established himself as a lineup fixture, with both Elite Prospects and Daily Faceoff projecting the 22-year-old to make the team out of camp. Less certain are the roles awaiting Brayden Yager and Elias Salomonsson.

Salomonsson was a regular presence for the Jets over a stretch of last season, but the additions of Jack St. Ivany and Haydn Fleury, both capable of playing the right side of the defense, muddy his path to a roster spot. 

The former second-round pick appeared in 32 games with Winnipeg last season, recording a goal and four assists for five points with a minus-six rating, while also posting nine points in 29 AHL games with Manitoba. His season ended early after a shoulder injury suffered during the Moose's playoff push required surgery.

Yager, also 21, may be a step behind Salomonsson in NHL readiness, but he made a strong case for himself in his first full pro season, picking up 30 points in 68 games with Manitoba and adding four points in seven playoff games. He also got a brief NHL look, appearing in three games with the Jets late in the year. Both players figure to be among the most interesting names to watch once camp opens.

Will Connor Hellebuyck Remain in Winnipeg All Season?

No storyline looms larger over the Jets than the future of Connor Hellebuyck. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner made his intentions known during his end-of-season media availability, saying that after winning Olympic gold with Team USA, all that's left on his mind is a Stanley Cup, whether that happens in Winnipeg or elsewhere.

That stance nearly resulted in a trade to the Buffalo Sabres around the draft, in a deal reportedly involving the fourth overall pick, before talks fell apart. On August 27, Hellebuyck's agent, Ray Petkau, released a statement confirming that Hellebuyck had requested a trade months earlier and that his "position has not changed." 

Hellebuyck is coming off a down season by his standards, finishing 2025-26 with a 23-23-11 record, a 2.86 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage, a steep drop from his back-to-back Vezina campaigns, when he combined for an 84-31-7 record, a 2.19 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. 

The Jets have already hedged against his potential departure by acquiring goaltender Stuart Skinner in free agency, giving them a capable option in net regardless of how the situation resolves.

Several Impact Players Enter Contract Years

Beyond the Hellebuyck situation, the Jets have a notably long list of players entering contract years who could shape the roster's direction going forward.

Up front, Nino Niederreiter is looking to bounce back from one of the roughest seasons of his career, having posted just 19 points in 61 games last year and at 33, he'll be chasing what could be his final contract.

Center Vladislav Namestnikov faces a similar situation after a down year of his own, managing 14 points in 60 games, and will be looking to return closer to his previous near-40-point form. 

Morgan Barron, who posted a career-best 23 points in 65 games despite missing time to injury, could be in line for a bigger role and a corresponding payday if he can build on that progress. And Lambert, entering the final year of his entry-level deal, faces his own prove-it season as he looks to lock down a long-term role.

On the back end, veteran Haydn Fleury enters the final year of his contract as Winnipeg's projected seventh defenseman, while Salomonsson, still on his entry-level deal, will need to show he's ready for full-time NHL minutes to secure his next contract.

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MLB Power Rankings: Braves stay hot, Pete Crow-Armstrong pulls ahead in NL MVP race

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the Braves are rolling, PCA pushes ahead in the NL MVP race, the Guardians are still in the fight, Walker Jenkins is here, Wade Meckler flashes the leather, and much more.

As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.

Let’s get into it!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, August 31

1) Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 1

The Brewers own an eight-game lead in the NL Central and they have a chance to put the Cubs away for good with seven games between the two clubs over the next 10 days.

2) Tampa Bay Rays ⬆️

Last week: 3

The Rays swept the Padres over the weekend and moments like his homer from Jonny DeLuca make you wonder if this is a truly charmed season for them.

In other news, after what has been a decade-plus of drama and uncertainty, the Rays are finally getting a new ballpark in Tampa Bay.

3) Atlanta Braves ⬆️

Last week: 4

Seven straight wins for the Braves, including a throwback performance from Chris Sale against the Dodgers on Thursday where he struck out 11 in a complete game shutout. His son’s reaction to him coming out for the ninth inning was some great TV.

Sale is now sporting a 2.06 ERA with 177 strikeouts across 24 starts. In any other year, he’d be the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award. Unfortunately for him, Jacob Misiorowski exists.

4) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️

Last week: 2

Tarik Skubal fired six innings of one-run ball in his return to Detroit on Friday, but perhaps the biggest revelation was that after the trade, he took back the espresso machine he previously brought for the Tigers’ clubhouse. Can we do a blind poll and find out if his ex-teammates miss the espresso machine or Skubal more?

5) New York Yankees ⬆️

Last week: 6

Heliot Ramos is finally on the board. It took 21 games, but Ramos connected for his first homer as a member of the Yankees during Sunday’s blowout win over the Red Sox. Ramos entered Sunday’s action hitting just .119 (7-for-59) with the Bombers, but he’s capable of much better.

6) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 7

The Phillies extended their win streak to four games on Sunday as Zack Wheeler fired six innings of one-run ball against the Angels. It was a positive step for the veteran right-hander, as he had an unsightly 8.51 ERA with 16 walks and eight homers allowed over his previous six starts.

7) Chicago Cubs ⬇️

Last week: 5

The Cubs have lost seven out of 10, but Pete Crow-Armstrong is doing his part. After slugging three homers on Saturday, he went deep twice on Sunday Night Baseball. He’s now put up 17 homers over his last 35 games as he begins to pull away in the NL MVP race.

There’s a lot to highlight with PCA over the weekend, but we’ll just focus on the fact that Sammy Sosa is an oracle.

8) Boston Red Sox

Last week: 8

While the Red Sox got crushed in Sunday's finale against the Yankees, it was nice to see Roman Anthony hit the ground running in his return from the IL.

Unfortunately, the Red Sox will have to get by for a little while without Willson Contreras as he rests his nagging hamstring injury.

9) Chicago White Sox ⬆️

Last week: 11

We’re starting to get used to seeing the White Sox at the top of the AL Central, but don’t forget about the context of their rapid turnaround.

The White Sox get the Astros to begin the week, an important series as we look ahead to what the playoff schedule could entail.

10) Arizona Diamondbacks

Last week: 10

Ryan Waldschmidt is sure making his home runs count in his rookie season. He’s now slugged three homers through 249 plate appearances in the majors. Two of them have been walk-offs. The latest came against the Giants last Wednesday.

The D-Backs are set to bring Ketel Marte back into the fold on Monday as they begin a big series against the Phillies in the desert. Recent drama aside, he's one of the best second basemen in the game when he's right.

11) San Diego Padres ⬇️

Last week: 9

We already covered the bad luck (or good luck, depending on your perspective) home run against Mason Miller on Sunday, but either way it resulted in the Padres' fifth loss in their last six games. Michael King has been their ace and they need him at his best as they begin a series against the Reds on Monday.

12) Houston Astros ⬆️

Last week: 13

The Astros enjoyed their time in New York, taking two out of three from both the Yankees and the Mets as they cling to first place in the AL West. It’s still a bit of a gauntlet from here, as they have the White Sox, Diamondbacks, Phillies, and Rays on the schedule through mid-September.

13) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️

Last week: 15

The Guardians won seven in a row before losing two out of three to the red-hot Royals over the weekend. Still, there was a lot to like in Sunday’s blowout victory, most notably José Ramírez’s first home run since June 6. Cleveland will be a lot more dangerous down the stretch if he performs like he’s capable of doing.

14) Baltimore Orioles ⬆️

Last week: 19

After sweeping the Athletics, the Orioles are now one game away from .500 for the first time since late April. Gunnar Henderson clubbed two homers and finished a double shy of the cycle in Sunday’s win, a welcome sign for a player who has been searching for answers at the plate for much of the year. The Orioles claimed Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the Mets on Monday, which is a nice message to send to the fanbase.

15) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️

Last week: 17

It’s 2026 and I’m highlighting starts from Chris Sale and Max Scherzer. What a world. Scherzer ripped off 10 strikeouts while allowing just one hit over seven scoreless frames on Sunday as the Blue Jays finished off a sweep of the Mariners.

In the vintage showing, Scherzer actually passed Gaylord Perry for ninth place on the all-time strikeouts list. He’s just 19 behind Justin Verlander for eighth all-time. With Verlander iffy to return in September as he wraps up his legendary career, Scherzer has a real chance at passing him.

16) Miami Marlins ⬇️

Last week: 12

Kudos to the Marlins, who find themselves one game above .500 as the calendar prepares to flip to September. That’s real progress for this team. Still, it will be a challenge to close the gap (3.5 games) in the Wild Card race if Xavier Edwards’ thumb sprain turns out to be serious.

17) Texas Rangers ⬇️

Last week: 14

Another rough roadtrip for the Rangers, who lost four out of six against the White Sox and Brewers over the past week. They’ll get a soft landing as they return home to begin the week with a three-game set against the Athletics.

18) St. Louis Cardinals ⬇️

Last week: 16

Baseball is a humbling game indeed. Joshua Báez made headlines and history by homering three times in his MLB debut on August 15, but he has just six hits in 50 at-bats (.120 batting average) with 22 strikeouts in 15 games since.

19) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬆️

Last week: 20

We already highlighted the asterisk homer that Johnny DeLuca hit against Mason Miller on Sunday, but this blast from Oneil Cruz was legit. It was the first homer allowed by Miller all season.

While the Pirates are effectively out of it in the Wild Card race, it was nice to see Paul Skenes look more like himself in his most recent start last Tuesday. It was his first scoreless outing since May 12.

20) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 18

With Byron Buxton on the IL and the Twins losing seven out of nine, the playoffs are probably a pipe dream at this point. There’s still reason to watch with rookies Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper set for regular roles down the stretch.

21) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️

Last week: 22

Sal Stewart is looking to squash any debate about the NL Rookie of the Year race. He homered in three straight games over the weekend while becoming the first player in the majors to reach the 100-RBI mark. With JJ Wetherholt on the IL, he’s now looking like the strong favorite for the hardware.

22) Washington Nationals ⬆️

Last week: 24

After giving up six runs in the ninth inning on Sunday, the Nationals have now blown 35 saves this season, by far the most in the majors. The Tigers rank second with 28 of them. Safe to say the Nationals know where they need to improve this offseason.

23) Seattle Mariners ⬇️

Last week: 21

Cal Raleigh is finally swinging the bat well, but is it too late for this Mariners team? Losers of four straight, Seattle is reportedly calling up toolsy prospect outfielder Lazaro Montes in hopes of providing a spark.

24) Detroit Tigers ⬇️

Last week: 23

Riley Greene began a minor league rehab assignment on Saturday and could rejoin the Tigers as soon as Tuesday. Detroit has gone 4-13 with him on the sidelines.

25) Kansas City Royals ⬆️

Last week: 26

This season hasn’t gone as hoped for KC, but they went 16-12 in August while Jac Caglianone enjoyed the best month of his brief MLB career.

26) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 25

This has been a rough year for Francisco Lindor defensively, but this catch against the Brewers from last week is as good as it gets.

27) San Francisco Giants

Last week: 27

In a week where the Giants suffered their worst ninth-inning comeback in franchise history, president of baseball operations Buster Posey said that Tony Vitello’s job is safe as manager. Everything is fine.

28) Athletics ⬆️

Last week: 29

As we’ve noted in this space, the A’s have been ravaged by injuries, but at least Henry Bolte has emerged as a contributor moving forward. He hit .321 in August and boasts some really impressive tools. In addition to having the top sprint speed in the game, he ranks in the 89th percentile in arm strength and the 95th percentile in bat speed.

29) Los Angeles Angels ⬇️

Last week: 28

Imagine having a ridiculous catch like this one from Wade Meckler only to give up a go-ahead grand slam and lose. It’s all very Angels.

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

Acquired in the deal that sent Victor Vodnik to the Marlins at the deadline, Connor Norby is hitting .298/.394/.491 through his first 18 games with the Rockies. Things didn’t work out for him in Miami, but Norby was a Top 100 prospect with the Orioles. Perhaps he’s finally finding a home in Colorado?

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Ask Pinstripe Alley: Yankees mailbag questions request

Ask Pinstripe Alley

The Yankees completed their homestand this weekend with about as good of a result as you could ask for. After dropping two of three to Houston and getting just one run scored in the finale of that series, Friday’s 1-0 nailbiter of a win against Boston and subsequent shutout loss to them on the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday brought back concerns of their stagnant offense. However, they ripped through the final two games, scoring nine in the nightcap to split the doubleheader before blasting their way to 16 runs in the finale on Sunday to take the series and the season record against Boston. They now stand four games up on the Red Sox in the standings, but with that tiebreaker in hand they’ve got an extra game of protection should these two teams remain in the top Wild Card slots and face off to start October.

The final month of the season is now in front of them, and they’ve got both a sizeable gap on Boston to uphold while also facing a nearly-identical gap between them and Tampa Bay for first place. Their penultimate series of the season lines them up to deal with that problem head-on, but if the deficit isn’t more than a game or two by then the odds of totally flipping the standings are negligible. Is the offensive eruption they had this weekend a sign of the lineup finally clicking, or will the droughts keep popping up? Was Will Warren’s performance in the finale the best start he’s had in his career, and can he follow it up with more down the stretch? How much are you expecting from Aaron Judge as he gears up to jump straight back into an MLB lineup without rehab games? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.

Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of September 3rd will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

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Why MLB contenders are getting players for nothing after the deadline

Baseball spent the last three days running like Facebook marketplace.

Luis Robert Jr. sold. The Mets put the center fielder on waivers Saturday, essentially putting an ad out for the other 29 teams to let them know he was available. By Monday afternoon he was an Oriole. New York gets nothing back except salary relief and a waiver fee. No prospect, no draft pick, not even cash considerations. The Mets are just happy they are out from under the $3 million left on his deal.

Eugenio Suarez and TJ Friedl did not sell.

Cincinnati put both on waivers last week and told the other 29 teams they could have either one for the cost of their salary. Friedl's cost about $700,000. Nobody bit. He is still a Red, So is Suarez. And everybody knows the Reds were willing to give them away.

Welcome to waiver claim season.

Nearly a month after MLB's official trade deadline, teams are looking for depth and potential at little cost and risk. They have been perusing the waiver wire like a marketplace for nearly a month. Monday was the last day that they could make a move and have it matter in October.

So, here's what's happening.

Wait, didn't MLB say the trades were over Aug. 3?

They are. Since 2019 there has been no such thing as a trade after the deadline. MLB changed the trade deadline and eliminated the waiver trades in August 2019.

A waiver claim is not a trade. It's a giveaway with a receipt. A team puts a player on outright waivers, the other 29 teams are told he is available, and any of them can have him by agreeing to pay what is left on his contract. Nothing goes back to the original team beyond a $50,000 waiver fee.

No haggling. No prospects. Take him or leave him.

Who gets first dibs?

The worst team in baseball gets first dibs. Waiver priority runs in reverse of the standings, so the club with the uglier record picks first, and then if there are two really bad teams vying for a player, last season's record breaks ties.

Being bad is one of the few things baseball rewards immediately. But bad teams rarely make waiver claims.

These claims are also final. A team cannot float a player, see who bites and pull him back like they used to do. That loophole closed in 2019. Put him on waivers and he is gone if he is claimed.

Why would a team give away a player?

Money, mostly.

A club going nowhere, like the Mets, is paying a veteran to finish out a lost month. Handing him to a team vying for a spot clears salary and opens the roster spot for somebody the team plans to keep.

It usually suits the player too. He gets a pennant race instead of a countdown to his offseason tee time.

Some claims are strategic. A contender can take a player it has no intention of using in order to keep him off a rival team.

What happens if nobody claims a player?

He goes back to his locker, knowing the team was willing to give him away. And he is waiting for the other shoe to drop.

That's Suarez and Friedl right now. Unclaimed players stay put, and their teams can send them outright to the minors, though veterans with enough service time can refuse that and take free agency instead.

Why is there a flurry of moves on Aug. 31?

It's the last hours before the deadline that really matters.

To play in October, a player has to be in the organization before the Sept. 1 cutoff. MLB's rules draw the line on being on the 40-man roster or on the 60-day injured list. Players like Luis Robert Jr. and Tommy Pham, who was claimed by the White Sox from the Phillies, are eligible for October.

A claim takes about 48 hours to clear, so anyone hoping to dump salary had to file by the weekend. Saturday, Robert and Royals reliver John Schreiber were put on waivers. Monday, Robert is now an Oriole and Schreiber was claimed by the Yankees.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why MLB contenders are getting players for nothing after the deadline

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Former Sharks Defenseman Released by Czech Team

After two seasons and a Czech Extraliga Championship with HC Kometa Brno, former San Jose Sharks defenseman Brandon Davidson will be looking for a new home for the 2026-27 season.

"We thank Brandon for everything he has done for Kometa," HC Kometa Brno Sports Manager Tomas Vincour said in a press release. "The reason why our paths are now diverging is the overpressure in the defensive ranks and the decision to give more space to our younger players. It is definitely not an easy farewell for us, but considering the breadth of the squad, its reduction was inevitable. We wish Brandon good luck and success in his future hockey journey,"

"I will never forget the time I spent at Kometa," Davidson himself said in the same release. "The championship title, the energy and the atmosphere around the club in the last two years changed my life. I would like to thank the fans for the support I have always felt here. I appreciate it very much. I am proud to have been part of such a first-class organization. My thanks go to the entire Kometa team, led by Libor Zábranský, for everything they have done for me."

Davidson didn't play at all during the 2025-26 season due to injury, leaving the 35-year-old defenseman's future somewhat up in the air moving forward. 

Davidson played for the Sharks during the 2019-20 season, when he appeared in five games for the team in teal after being acquired for future considerations. The defenseman also had stops with the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres.