CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 16: Koby Altman speaks during a press conference announcing a WNBA franchise in Cleveland on September 16, 2025 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Kolin/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The team announced the news on Sunday afternoon, along with a statement from Koby Altman, the Cavs’ president of basketball operations.
The statement from Altman reads:
“After careful evaluation and a clearer view of the Eastern Conference landscape, we believe adding Dennis and Keon strengthens our depth, expands our flexibility, and positions us to keep building a Championship caliber team now and into the future. In a season defined by its parity, this move better aligns us for a deeper postseason run. I’m thankful as well to De’Andre, who made an immediate impact upon his arrival to Cleveland and represented the Cavaliers with class. We appreciate everything he did for us both on and off the court, and we wish him the best in Sacramento. We drafted Luke in 2022 and have seen his development improve each year and thank him for his contributions to the franchise.”
The most interesting part of this statement to me is that Altman mentioned that the trade “expands our flexibility.” The move saves the Cavs approximately $50 million in luxury cap payments this season. That is something that would undoubtedly interest the ownership group. However, it also got the Cavs closer to getting under the second-apron threshold. Cutting the money that they did makes it more viable for them to go big-game hunting if they wanted to.
We’ll see what other moves, if any, the Cavs make before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 31: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots against Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets in the first half at Toyota Center on January 31, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The kid Cooper Flagg had just put together an all-time performance, accomplishing something we’d never seen a teenager do in an NBA game, and he was getting ready to follow it up with 34 and 12.
So, of course, Saturday afternoon was the perfect moment for two of the most insane media takes you could dream up in the interim.
Udonis Haslem and Jamal Mashburn, both former NBA players, proved on Saturday that they don’t watch actual NBA games as part of their duties as media personalities, unleashing separate takes on Cooper Flagg’s rookie year that were equally untethered to reality.
Perhaps it’s healthier to simply ignore takes as asinine as these, but this isn’t the doctor’s office. After all, one of them was offered by an “analyst” who was also a highly sought-after NBA Draft prospect once, selected fourth overall by the Dallas Mavericks in 1993. Let’s start with Mashburn.
He was being recorded for broadcast to a wide audience of sports viewers when he said on Saturday, “If I was to put [Cooper Flagg] on that list [of current college Freshmen], he would be sixth.”
"If I was to put [Cooper Flagg] on that list [of current Freshman], he would be 6th." 😳@jamalmashburn breaks down why this year's top Freshman stand out to him 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/qGkknRPSgp
Imagine telling a million sports fans with eyes that the guy who had just matched Michael Jordan’s best scoring output as a rookie in an NBA game would be the sixth pick in the upcoming NBA Draft if he hadn’t reclassified, because he “still has some holes in his game.”
It’s true, the 2026 NBA Draft class is likely going to be one of the best in recent memory. BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Arizona’s Koa Peat, North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson and Duke’s Cam Boozer are all legit prospects with the potential to help change the trajectory of an NBA bottom-feeder. One or two of them may even end up being generational players. Miss me with the “Caleb Wilson’s game is a better fit for the NBA than Cooper Flagg’s” nonsense, though. One is actually doing it. The other hasn’t been given the chance yet. Comparison, and especially this brand of comparison, is the thief of, not only joy, for fuck’s sake, but sanity.
Flagg is already busy proving he is the guy these other six hope to one day become. His 49-point outburst in the Mavericks’ 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets was the best scoring night by a 19-year-old in NBA history. It was his second 40-plus point outing this season. He would follow it up with 34 points and 12 boards in a 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets mere hours after Mashburn inserted his foot into his mouth on cable television, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record back-to-back 30-point double-doubles in the process.
We’ll save this clip for a year or so to see how many 40-point nights any of these six tremendous prospects have in their rookie NBA seasons. Kobe Bryant never scored 40 as a rookie. Neither did Luka Dončić. Victor Wembanyama scored exactly 40 once in his rookie season. Flagg is putting together a rookie year that separates him from even these greats. He’s entering rarified air occupied by only Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James on his best nights.
Now, onto everyone’s (read: no one’s) favorite, Udonis Haslem, who also ran his mouth on Saturday before Flagg continued his run of excellence, when he said that if he were starting a team with one of the NBA’s current rookies, he’d choose Philadelphia 76ers’ guard VJ Edgecombe over Flagg.
Udonis Haslen says he would start his franchise with VJ Edgecombe over Cooper Flagg and Kon because of his two way ability: pic.twitter.com/0d4u0OInbo
“If I’m starting a team, I’m starting a team with a two-way guy,” Haslem said — the inference being that the two rookies he was comparing Edgecombe to are not two-way guys.
“I know Cooper [Flagg] is doing his thing, I know Kon [Knueppel] is doing his thing, but out of all these guys, VJ is the two-way guy,” were the words that tumbled from Haslem’s mouth hole. “He is the guy that can impact the game on both ends. I’ve watched three quarters of VJ Edgecombe guarding Brunson, guarding Luka and then all of a sudden in the fourth quarter, he’s making big shots.”
My brother in Christ, you just described Flagg’s rookie year in an attempt to credit another rookie with doing the exact things that Flagg has accomplished. Too many times, through Flagg’s first 30 or so games with the Mavericks, his teammates forgot about him, the offense flowed through a revolving door of role-player schlock, while Flagg worked tirelessly on the defensive end to keep the opposing team’s best player in check. Then, at a certain point, whether in the fourth quarter of a close game or as fall turns to winter in Flagg’s first season in the NBA, Flagg takes any choice in the matter out of the hands of his coach and his teammates.
He’s been one of the top-10 performers in clutch-game scenarios in the NBA this year. He’s taken his development — again, as a 19-year-old — to another level by asserting his will on games after getting his feet wet for the first 20 games of his rookie campaign. You say you’re describing Edgecombe, but what you’re actually doing is proving that, despite your lofty title at your cushy Amazon gig, you haven’t watched Flagg play.
What you find out when you watch way too much basketball and basketball-related content is that these “analysts” often say shit just to say shit. They blather and meander and meander and blather, filling endless segments with meaningless debate fodder. But when they open mouth and insert foot to this degree, I’m glad Flagg is there with a 34-point, 12-rebound retort at the ready, and I’m glad he’s wearing a Mavericks jersey when he does it.
WINSTON, SALEM, N.C. (AP) — A bomb cyclone over North Carolina forced NASCAR to push its preseason exhibition to Wednesday night because the snow-covered roads are too dangerous for teams and fans to get to historic Bowman-Gray Stadium.
The Clash had been scheduled to run Sunday night and has now been postponed twice, with a schedule adjustment, because of the intense snowfall that blanketed the area. NASCAR first condensed the race into a one-day, Sunday-only show, then pushed the race to Monday.
NASCAR said Sunday it was moving it to Wednesday evening “due to the impacts of historic winter weather across the North Carolina region.”
The race is now scheduled to run one week before qualifying for the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, where The Clash was held from 1979 through 2022.
The Clash went to a temporary track inside the Los Angeles Memorial Stadium for three seasons, then moved to its grassroots anchor at Bowman Gray last year.
Its first year was a success but the second running has been interrupted by the bomb cyclone, known to meteorologists as an intense, rapidly strengthening weather system. It contributed to nearly a foot (30 centimeters) of snow in and around Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city and home base for the majority of the NASCAR teams.
The snowfall represented a top-five snow event all time in Charlotte, said Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist with weather prediction center in College Park, Maryland.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: The Boston Bruins logo is seen during the build out for the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium on January 30, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Welcome to Sunday afternoon/evening, folks!
The Bruins and the Lightning will take it outside for an Atlantic Division showdown at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
It’s actually forecast to be pretty chilly in Tampa on Sunday afternoon, with temperatures in the mid-to-low 40s (F).
The forecast for Wednesday is 70º F, so…much better to try to play hockey outside today.
Per the NHL, today’s game is the league’s 45th outdoor game, but just the 6th to feature match-up between two teams with 30+ wins.
Both teams are 8-1-1 in their last ten. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.
Anyways, here’s to hoping for good ice, no injuries, and an entertaining game.
PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 29: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 29, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons were a very good basketball team last year, and they have graduated to excellent this season. While saying as much earlier in this season might have generated some side eye, you don’t generate a 5.5-game lead in the Eastern Conference by accident.
The Pistons have made this leap on the back of great coaching and culture setting by JB Bickerstaff and the front office, and continued growth from a core of young players. Nobody has been more important than All-NBA candidate Cade Cunningham, but not too far behind are likely All-Star at 22 years old Jalen Duren and steady growth from Isaiah Stewart, Ausar Thompson, and Ron Holland.
Armed with the third-best point differential in the NBA and the league’s second-most potent defense, the Pistons are for real. They have the foundation, personality, and alpha scorer needed to go to the NBA Finals.
They also have the critical flaws that could see this team bounced in the first round. It deserves better than to chance that fate.
That is why the Pistons front office must make a deal at the NBA trade deadline this week to add at least one and maybe two shooters. Headlines indicate that the Pistons are unlikely to make a big swing at the deadline (think someone like Michael Porter Jr.) and, you know what, fair enough. Detroit doesn’t want to strip away its core or its long-term roster-building vision. Fine.
But you don’t need to make a deal at the top of the market to address this team’s most glaring weakness, and it is glaring. Detroit ranks 28th in 3-point attempts per game and 21st in 3-point percentage. They are middling in overall shooting efficiency despite being able to absolutely dominate in the paint, and that is because they have so few reliable 3-point shooters.
Detroit does have Duncan Robinson, and he has been critical to Detroit’s success. The Pistons rank dead last in 3-point makes this season, and Robinson accounts for just under 25% of the team’s total successful attempts. Only five teams have a player eclipsing 24%, and two of those are the Pelicans and Mavericks. Detroit’s second-most prolific marksman in Cade Cunningham with 78 makes. That is bottom-4 in the league, along with Orlando, Memphis, and the Los Angeles Lakers. In contrast, the No. 2s at the top of the league include former Pistons wing Tim Hardaway Jr. in Denver (140 makes) and Anthony Edwards in Minnesota (156 makes).
The Pistons are playing a dangerous game, and it is one they cannot win in the playoffs. There is too much time between games to scheme up your defense, and there are too many targets on Detroit’s roster offensively and defensively. You want Ausar on the floor, but he needs shooters around him to stick on the floor. Conversely, you need Robinson on the floor for shooting, but how many times can the opponent force a switch so their best player can flambe Robinson’s D are you willing to risk?
The other side of the coin is just how dangerous this team could be if they address the relatively low-hanging fruit of adding some shooting. Their defense would likely remain elite, and they would still be able to dominate opponents inside. They would even better be able to maximize the Cunningham-Duren pick-and-roll. They would still rebound the hell out of the ball, generate steals, and get out and run. That is the recipe for great success in the playoffs. If only the defense isn’t allowed to ignore the perimeter or send two or three guys at Cunningham all game.
I don’t expect or need the Pistons to be going all-in for a title this season. But I need them not to sabotage their chances at a deep playoff run, and the valuable experience it provides for players we are confident will be on this roster for a true potential title run (guys like Cunningham, Duren, and Thompson).
Detroit doesn’t need to sell the farm for Michael Porter Jr., but there are other ways to add 3-point shooting to this roster. The Trail Blazers added Vit Krejci from the Hawks for the cost of Duop Reath and two seconds. Krejci is no All-Star, but he is a 6-foot-8 wing shooting 42% from deep this season.
That is the level of move the Pistons need to make this season. Anything less is letting down their players, their fans, and potentially sabotaging their future. They can’t let that happen.
Sep 3, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks (46) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
Pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin are swapping the color of their footwear.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan has reported that the Red Sox are shipping the pair of righties to the Chicago White Sox.
Trade news: The Chicago White Sox are acquiring veteran right-hander Jordan Hicks and right-handed pitching prospect David Sandlin in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, sources tell ESPN.
In return, Boston will be getting another young pitching prospect: right-hander Gage Ziehl, a product of the University of Miami (the Florida one, not the Ohio one). The Red Sox will also reportedly be sending $8 million along to the South Side of Chicago in order to pay some of Hicks’ salary—he’s set to make $12.5 million in both 2026 and 2027, per Spotrac.
The White Sox are acquiring RHP Jordan Hicks and RHP David Sandlin from the Red Sox in exchange for RHP Gage Ziehl, per multiple reports.
Boston is also reportedly sending $8M to the White Sox in this trade to help cover some of Hicks' $24M salary. pic.twitter.com/pFx2OuczcB
First things first: Jordan Hicks is no longer a member of the Boston Red Sox—hit the music.
Of all of the pitchers who have ever worn a Red Sox uniform, Hicks was undoubtedly one of them. Coming over from San Francisco over the summer in a trade that involved some player I can’t remember, Hicks had previously been a guy who had shown some sick stuff—if perhaps not consistent stuff—throughout his major league career.
Alas, things just never really jived for him in Boston. Across 18.2 innings in 21 outings, Hicks logged a…(makes sure I’m not reading this wrong)…Jesus Christ, 8.20 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 51. He walked too many guys, he didn’t strike out enough guys to justify the free passes, and his outings were consistently miserable to watch. I hope, for his own sake, that he gets back on the right track with the Pale Hose, but another year (or two) of Hicks was not going to be good for anyone’s blood pressure in Red Sox Nation.
This move is a salary dump for Boston, clearly. It sucks to move off of Sandlin to execute that salary dump—the one-time Pod On Lansdowne guest has some promise, and perhaps he’ll get a shot to realize that potential with Chicago—but eight figures off the books is nothing to sneeze at.
This… plus the projected CBT payroll drops to ~$260.9M.
That's ~$16.9M above the first threshold, and ~$3.1M below the second threshold.
Plus, the Red Sox’s organizational depth within the pitching staff is solid. While Sandlin’s departure may sting, Boston now has a bit more flexibility thanks to the dumped salary and the extra 40-man roster space. Go get that infielder, Craig.
Of course, this is not the first time we’ve talked about moving off of salary via a trade involving Jordan Hicks. Rafael Devers’ trade was widely seen as a salary dump, and we are now dumping part of the salary for a guy involved in the first salary dump. It’s Dumpception.
Outside of that money-specific aspect, the return for Devers now looks…………………….interesting, to put it charitably. It’s Kyle Harrison, Jose Bello, this Ziehl fella (more on him in a second), and the brief services of Hicks and Dustin May—neither of whome were fruitful on the bump in 2025. However, I think this shows that Breslow and Co. are aware of the Sunk Cost Fallacy. They’re willing to cut their losses with Hicks and move on. That’s probably the wise thing to do, but it’s impossible to not raise the point about Devers when having this discussion.
As for Gage Ziehl, the 22-year-old pitcher joining the Red Sox organization: I’m not familiar with his game, but my quick skim on Twitter shows that he projects to be a guy with solid command in spite of a lack of powerhouse stuff. I’m sure one of my OTM colleagues who are smarter than I (so, all of them) will be able to take a deeper dive on him.
Righty Gage Ziehl is the arm coming back in the Hicks deal. He was ranked #21 in the White Sox system, per @BaseballAmerica.
4th round pick in 2024. Made it to AA at the end of 2025. Fills the zone. Command over stuff profile. 6’0, 212. Leans heavily on his sweeper and cutter. pic.twitter.com/GdocikltWz
Soto previously appeared in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and was one of the top hitters in the entire tournament.
In four WBC games in 2023, Soto led all players with a ridiculous 1.500 OPS, recording six hits in 15 at-bats, including two home runs, three doubles, and three RBI. In classic Soto style, he also walked three times.
Soto is coming of a debut season in Queens in which he finished third in MVP voting, posting a .921 OPS with 43 home runs, 105 RBI, 127 walks, and 38 stolen bases.
Along with Soto playing for Team Dominican Republic, fellow Mets Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes are set to pitch for Team USA.
Australia suffered the humiliation of its worst ever T20 loss in a 111-run defeat in the final game of the three match series against Pakistan in Lahore.
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Just one month after the NHL’s first outdoor game in Florida, it’s time for the second.
Tonight, Feb. 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for the 2026 Stadium Series.
While initially, it was projected that temperatures would hover around 70 degrees in the hours leading up to puck drop, it’s going to be colder than expected with temperatures dropping into the high 30 degree range. To ensure the ice would remain frozen in the days leading up to the game, the NHL employed a climate controlled tent to maintain the ice’s integrity.
2026 NHL Stadium Series: what to know
Who: Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
When: Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Channel: ESPN
Streaming: Sling TV (try a 1-day pass)
The Bruins have played in five previous outdoor games, most recently in the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. They are 4-1 outdoors.
Tonight’s is the Lightning’s second game on the outdoor rink. They won their first, the 2022 Stadium Series in Nashville against the Predators.
2026 NHL Stadium Series start time
Puck drop at the 2026 NHL Winter Classic is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET tonight, Jan. 2.
If you aren’t ready to commit to a full-on subscription and just want to tune into today’s game, you can try a Sling TV Orange Day Pass. Priced at $4.99, you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN. Sling also offers weekend and week-long passes for its Orange plan, which offer between three and seven days of access.
TRY SLING TV 1-DAY PASS
Where is the 2026 NHL Stadium Series?
The Bruins and Lightning will hit the ice on the field of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The stadium is the home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Dodgers FanFest 2026 is an annual reminder for fans that baseball is right around the corner. However, on Saturday at Chavez Ravine, the loudest presence was an absence.
For the first time since he was a wide-eyed 19-year-old draft pick, the Dodgers gathered without the man who had been their north star for nearly two decades. Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, former National League MVP, 11-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, retired at the end of the 2025 season.
Nov 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) celebrates with the Commissioner’s Trophy after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In two weeks, that reality will sharpen.
When this current Dodgers squad report to Camelback Ranch for spring training, they’ll walk into a clubhouse that has never existed for them before. There will be no locker with No. 22 hanging above it. No early-morning sprints before a start. No laughter as he sings in the weight room, no more Kershaw Days at Dodger Stadium.
“Obviously, we’re going to miss Clayton,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s a different ball club without him. When we get to spring training and Camelback and not seeing his locker where it’s been for 18 years is going to be different.”
Kershaw spent all 18 seasons with the Dodgers, a rarity in modern sports and a point of pride for an organization that watched him compile a 222-96 record, a Live Ball Era-best 2.54 ERA, 15 shutouts, and 3,000 strikeouts. He leaves second on the franchise wins list, just 11 behind Don Sutton, tied with Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the most seasons ever played in Dodger blue. A first-ballot Hall of Famer in waiting, even if Cooperstown won’t say it out loud yet.
Oct 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws a pitch in the first inning for game one of the NLDS for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“It’s going to be really weird not seeing him in there,” Mookie Betts said. “I also want him to enjoy his retirement. It’s a new chapter in life, and something that he’s not going to be used to. I really want him to enjoy it, but I really want him to come see the boys as well.”
Freddie Freeman smiled, then paused, the memory still fresh in his mind. “I just saw my walk-off home run [in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series] and they showed Kersh running onto the field like a 5-year-old looking for candy,” Freeman said. “Everyone talks about Kershaw the Hall of Fame pitcher, what he meant to this organization, but the day-in-and-day-out inside the clubhouse, the joy he brings, him singing at the top of his lungs shirtless in the weight room — those are the things I’ll miss more. It’s weird seeing Dodgers legends no longer walking around the clubhouse anymore.”
Will Smith put it more quietly. “I’m going to miss his presence each and every day,” he said. “He keeps the mood light, but also is intense with everything he does. His legacy is going to carry on in the clubhouse.”
FLUSHING, NY – SEPTEMBER 13. Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches as the New York Mets play the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citifield. Friday, September 13th, 2019. (Photo by Anthony J. Causi) Anthony J Causi
Kershaw once joked he was on the “no-plan, plan.” That didn’t last.
Team USA in the World Baseball Classic awaits, as does a new role on NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball. He’ll be around, Betts joked, hopefully not too critical of his former team.
Still, when spring arrives in Arizona, the silence will land first. The Dodgers will move forward. They always do.
They’ll just do it without Kershaw standing there, reminding everyone what it meant to wear the uniform.
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Spring Training hasn't even started, and the Chicago White Sox have already taken their first L of 2026.
The Southsiders' social media account rung in the first day of Black History Month on Sunday with a timeline looking back "upon momentous firsts for the White Sox organization." Some of the more notable moments included Comiskey Park hosting the first Negro Leagues All-Star Game in 1933, Al Smith becoming the organization's first Black All-Star in 1960 and current manager Will Venable becoming the third Black White Sox manager in team history and one of two active Black managers in 2024.
Frank Thomas, the club's all-time leader in home runs (448), RBIs (1,465), runs scored (1,327), doubles (447), walks (1,466), on-base percentage (.427), slugging percentage (.568), and total bases (3,949), was absent aside from a brief mention under Dick Allen's MVP section. None of his franchise records, five All-Star appearances, four Silver Sluggers, AL batting title — or his streak of seven consecutive seasons with at least a .300 average, 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored, 100 walks and 20 home runs from 1991-1997 — were in the post.
And the Big Hurt himself noticed.
I Guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable! Don’t worry I’m taking Receipts!
"I Guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable!" he said in a reply to the post. "Don’t worry I’m taking Receipts!"
Thomas' tweet ratioed the White Sox with over 2,000 likes and 218 retweets compared to 264 likes and 88 retweets on the original post as of 2:00 p.m. ET.
With the Vancouver Canucks in a rebuild, time on ice will be something to keep an eye on game to game. Vancouver is no longer fighting for a playoff spot, and, based on the current lineup, has committed to getting younger players minutes in the NHL. One of those young players is defenceman Tom Willander, who, based on his recent play, deserves more ice time.
On this recent homestand, Willander averaged 13:57 of ice time. He surpassed the 17-minute mark twice in seven games, but also recorded under 14 minutes on two separate occasions. It is also important to note that Willander, like others on the team, was dealing with an illness for part of the homestand, which is why he only played seven of the eight games.
One positive development when it comes to Willander's ice time is that he is getting more opportunities on the power play. He averaged 1:30 with the man advantage during the homestand, which ranked second behind Zeev Buium among Canucks defenders. At the same time, Willander only averaged 18 seconds per game on the penalty kill as Vancouver is still relying heavily on experienced players while shorthanded.
Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is a perfect example of the Canucks not using Willander enough. The 20-year-old played 16 minutes, which was the lowest amongst Vancouver defenders. Willander playing just 16 minutes is very surprising, as not only did he get some overtime shifts, but the game itself did not feature any special teams time.
Something else to keep an eye on outside of ice time is the number of shifts Willander has per game. On this homestand, he averaged 19.6 shifts per game, which ranked seventh out of the eight defencemen who played. At this point, Willander should be at or above 24 shifts per game, which has only happened three times in 43 games.
Jan 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
While every game unravels differently, the Canucks are at a point where they need to be giving Willander more minutes. Not only has he earned them, but now is the time to see if he 20-year-old can handle a bigger role at the NHL level. Ultimately, Willander should be averaging at least 18 minutes a game for the rest of the season and should also get more of an opportunity on the penalty kill.
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Near the end of the Dodgers’ annual Fanfest event on Saturday afternoon, a sudden buzz arose in the crowd.
Over the Dodger Stadium speakers, fans heard the familiar sounds of a high-pitched trumpet. They started clapping to the beat of what will soon become a common ballpark tune.
Edwin Díaz, the team’s new closer and $69 million free-agent signing this winter, wasn’t personally in attendance. But on the unofficial start day of a new and highly anticipated 2026 season, his Timmy Trumpet entrance song was already whipping Chavez Ravine into a frenzy.
Edwin Díaz speaks during his introduction as a new member of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) AP
It was a reminder of how, even for a franchise with back-to-back World Series titles, another big winter spending spree has re-energized the club.
Much like their team’s fans, Dodgers players have watched in amazement at the way the organization has continued stockpiling talent over the last several offseasons.
Such moves helped build this current Dodger dynasty, netting everyone from Shohei Ohtani to Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. They have also turned the Dodgers into villains, with their $400 million payroll becoming the bane of the rest of the sport.
Inside the clubhouse, however, this winter’s newest additions –– namely, Díaz and $240 million outfielder Kyle Tucker –– have served another purpose ahead of the team’s three-peat bid.
Dodgers players didn’t exactly need more motivation, or a reminder of the opportunity in front of them.
But seeing more big names walk through the door, “it injects energy into us,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “To go out and keep getting the best players year in and year out, even when you’re winning the World Series, it’s refreshing. It just really shows you that our organization, our front office, our ownership group wants to win every single year. To be a part of that, it’s special.”
Jan 21, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) is introduced to the media during a press conference at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
This has become something of an annual dynamic for the Dodgers in recent years.
Each season, they are saddled with lofty expectations. Anything short of another World Series has long been seen as a failure. That kind of environment presents an ever-present pressure, and the threat of mental fatigue over the slog of a long regular season.
The infusion of new blood, however, has come to provide an important internal reset.
“It’s huge in the sense that you’re getting the talent,” manager Dave Roberts said of this winter’s signings of Díaz and Tucker. “But the other part is, you’re getting a couple guys that haven’t won a championship (with us) … Having guys that haven’t had that feeling, that taste, infused with a lot of the guys that we already have here, I think that’s great.”
Third baseman Max Muncy, now the longest-tenured player in the organization following Clayton Kershaw’s retirement this offseason, was speaking to reporters Saturday when Díaz’s entrance song made its Chavez Ravine debut.
He said adding players of that caliber is a reminder to the rest of the roster.
“It always sends a message to the players: We’re here to win,” he explained. “It’s not, ‘Oh, we won one. We’re good now.’ It’s, ‘We want to keep winning.’ And for us as players, when we see that, you have to understand and know that we can’t just take this year off because we won last year. We have to keep going and get better.”
FILE – New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sept. 27, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) AP
Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas echoed that sentiment, describing the “sense of urgency” such moves create for a new campaign, especially after a long October run and short offseason of recuperation.
“It’s going to push ourselves,” he said. “Older players need to continue to get better. Younger players need to earn their spot. And I think that’s going to be a good competition, a good vibe and a good atmosphere in the clubhouse.”
The Dodgers wouldn’t be in such a position, of course, had it not been for their biggest recent signing of all in Ohtani, whose heavily deferred contract structure and revenue-driving celebrity status have enabled much of the club’s recent spending.
“When I signed with the Dodgers, I had conversations with (owner) Mark Walter and (president of baseball operations) Andrew Friedman, in terms of making sure we would be in position to continue to add players,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “I’m sure from a fan’s perspective, they’re ecstatic to see something like this.”
And on Saturday, it was clear that feeling was reverberating among his teammates, as well, setting the tone for a 2026 season in which the Dodgers will be pursuing history, and re-energized by the new pieces they’ve enlisted to help accomplish it.
“It’s why everyone wants to be a Dodger,” Muncy said. “They see that it’s just all about winning. It’s never about, ‘Oh, we’re good.’”
The Buffalo Sabres have made some changes to their roster.
The Sabres have announced that they have recalled forward Isak Rosen from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In addition, the Sabres shared that defenseman Zac Jones has been reassigned to Rochester.
Rosen is having an excellent season in the AHL with Rochester, so it is not too surprising to see him get another chance on Buffalo's roster. In 28 games with the Amerks this season, the 2021 first-round pick has recorded 20 goals, 12 assists, and 33 points.
Rosen has also played in 13 games so far this season with the Sabres, where he has set new career highs with three goals, four assists, and seven points.
Jones, on the other hand, has yet to play a game this season for the Sabres, even though he has been called up to the NHL roster multiple times. In 32 games this season with the Amerks, the 5-foot-11 blueliner has recorded six goals, 31 assists, and 37 points.
The sellout crowd at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday afternoon was primed from the get-go to explode in cheers for their Red Wings, who were facing the former heated rival Colorado Avalanche.
However, a good majority of the fans had already decided to get a head start on the traffic by the midway point of the third period in what was ultimately a 5-0 Avalanche win over the Red Wings.
Those that remained behind let out a few noticeable boos as time ticked away in regulation
The crowd wasn’t the only group feeling it. Several Red Wings players showed visible frustration after Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood shut down their scoring chances, while their power play came up empty and their passing lacked crispness.
Afterward, head coach Todd McLellan said that any visible frustration on the part of the players was earned by their performance, while also noting that it's on them to come up with the solution.
"There was frustration, but we earned it, and we deserved it," he said. "That can change just through our play and execution."
"They're (the Avalanche) a real good hockey club, and they're going to do some things to you that you're not comfortable with," he continued. "They're going to score some goals. But if you let frustration drag you down even deeper, you'll end up with exactly what we got."
All season long, McLellan has preached the importance of mental fortitude to avoid letting a rough stretch of play, which happens to every NHL team over the course of a long 82-game campaign, snowball out of control.
Never one to let his players off the hook, McLellan emphasized the need for a stronger start to games, as the Red Wings surrendered the first goal against in each of their last three outings, which all resulted in losses.
"One (reason) is lack of focus, and if there’s lack of focus, then that’s on all of us to get it back and make sure we’re executing," he said. "It could be you get stale with linemates, and it’s not working. It could be complacency that slips in, and you’re okay with what’s going on.
And that’s wrong, so we have to fix that."
Detroit gets a shot at a course correction Monday night in Denver when they face the Avalanche again.
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