PLANO, Texas — A's prospect Ryan Lasko was in stable condition after undergoing back surgery following a scary collision with minor league teammate Devin Taylor during a Double-A game in Frisco, Texas.
Dr. Jonathan Poggi performed the spinal decompression and stabilization operation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano to address a fractured C6–C7 vertebra.
Lasko is an outfielder with Double-A Midland. He and Taylor dove into each other trying to catch a flyball, and Lasko remained motionless on the field after the play.
“I’ve been in touch with Ryan’s mom, Patti, to pass along the organization’s support and to let her know that all of us, throughout our system, have them in our thoughts and prayers,” A’s general manager David Forst said in a statement. “We are incredibly grateful to Noah Huff and Audy Merrick, our athletic trainers in Midland, for their on-field actions last night, as well as to the Frisco RoughRiders and the paramedics on the scene.
“We are encouraged by the reports and updates from Dr. Poggi, and we will continue to put all of the resources of our medical staff towards supporting Ryan and his recovery.”
Forst added that player development director Ed Sprague was traveling to Frisco and counseling will be available to players.
The 24-year-old Lasko was selected by the Athletics in the second round of the 2023 amateur draft from Rutgers. He was batting .209 with six homers, 34 RBIs and a .635 OPS for Midland this season.
Lasko appeared in 13 games at Triple-A Las Vegas last year. He also played 21 games in the Arizona Fall League for promising prospects, batting .357 with nine stolen bases.
Stanley Cup-winning goalies Frederik Andersen and Sergei Bobrovsky moved to the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively, on the opening day.
The New York Rangers traded Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth, getting back defenseman Sean Durzi as part of the deal. They later traded for defenseman Marcus Pettersson to boost their blue line. The San Jose Sharks added Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse to their defense.
He gets three years. The Maple Leafs continue remaking their bottom six after adding Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons and Teddy Blueger Duhaime totaled 324 hits in his two seasons with the Capitals and has topped 200 twice.
He gets a three-year deal. After moving out some depth scoring in Ross Colton and Jack Drury, the Avalanche add back. Schwartz is a six-time 20-goal scorer and had 26 goals in 2024-25 with the Kraken.
But unlike most teams that end up selling this time of year, the Mets will not be doing so in the middle of a full-fledged rebuild. They could use prospects, yes, but they will also need pieces who can help them next year, when they intend to contend again.
Given those circumstances, this Mets deadline will be both complicated and pivotal. We reached out to some rival executives to get an idea of which players contending teams will see as assets and what they might give up for them.
Here is a very early take on who is most likely to go and what kind of talent the Mets might be able to get in return.
All of this is speculative and subject to change depending on when the Mets sell: If they start selling now, they will find a market low on supply and middling on demand. If they wait until other teams sort out their fates, their assets will be part of a bigger supply, but demand might also be more drastic, too. In other words, stay tuned.
Raley’s name comes up in almost every conversation about the Mets’ trade deadline. He is an experienced lefty who can handle righties and whose contract is expiring after this season. He is having one of the better seasons of his career, pitching to a 2.32 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 31 innings. The 38-year-old will probably be one of the better relievers available, and certainly one of the better non-closers on the market.
Given that, one could look to a few recent deals to inform a potential return: The optimistic extreme would be the Mets’ deal for Tyler Rogers last season, one in which they sent three prospects, two ranked in their system’s top 15, to the Giants in exchange for the veteran reliever. That might have been a slight overpay, and Rogers consistently ranks among baseball's best in terms of Stuff+ (His 133 is best among all relievers this year, while Raley is tied for 31st).
A more conservative comparison might be the deal the Mets made for Ryan Helsley last year, in which they sent three players to the Cardinals, also including two prospects ranked in their system’s top 15. Both of those deals came closer to the deadline.
Minter, like Raley, is an experienced lefty who can also handle righties. Minter, like Raley, will be a free agent after this season. He has not allowed a run in 13 appearances since returning from shoulder surgery this year, has a 3.12 career ERA, and pitched in a World Series-winning bullpen for the Braves in 2021. His 101 Stuff+ does not inspire as much confidence as Raley’s, but his track record and performance should make him appealing to a similar group of suitors. His return seems likely to be less than Raley’s, particularly if teams have concerns about the fact that he is still within a year of major shoulder surgery. But one could spin it this way, too: He has fewer innings on his arm over the last two seasons than just about any proven reliever who will be available, which could make him fresher for October.
Peralta struggled again against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, making it three bad starts in his last five. His 4.81 ERA is the worst of his career as a regular starter by nearly a full run, and he is battling his mechanics in ways that appear to be affecting his stuff and on-field morale.
Still, Peralta is a durable starter in a contract year, and because his issues appear to be the result of some inadvertent changes to his delivery early this season, pitching-savvy teams should have reason to believe they can fix him. He is also a good budget option in a starting pitching market that can often be rather costly: He is owed $8 million total this season, meaning any team trading for him would only inherit approximately $2.5 million prorated salary he is owed after the deadline. That would seemingly make him a good option for everyone from big-market teams looking for help to smaller-market teams hoping to bolster rotations without major investment.
Perhaps, obviously, the Mets will not get back what they gave up for Peralta. And his struggles will not help his value. Still, veteran Yusei Kikuchi was traded with a 4.75 ERA in his walk year two years ago, and that deal netted the Astros three prospects that ranked in the Blue Jays’ top 15 at the time, all of whom have since played in the majors. Track record counts for something.
Even in a worst-case scenario, consider the return the Orioles got last year for veteran Charlie Morton, who was more expensive, a decade older and pitching worse than Peralta when they traded him to the Tigers at last year’s deadline. He netted the Orioles a prospect named Micah Ashman, who struck out Cal Raleigh and Roman Anthony in the WBC this spring and has 50 strikeouts in 30 innings in Double-A this year. Proven starters can return value, even if it is not as much as the Mets gave up to get him.
New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at Rogers Centre. / Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Given the state of the Mets' rotation heading into 2027, they should probably consider extending Holmes, who was a stalwart for them earlier this season before breaking his leg on a comebacker in May. But if they are not able to do that, they should trade him, and multiple executives pointed to the deal that the Blue Jays made to acquire Shane Bieber last year as a potential template.
Holmes is not currently healthy. He is throwing his first bullpen since his injury this week, and he will need time to build back up to a starter’s workload from there. As such, he might not be available to audition for teams in time for the Aug. 3 trade deadline. If he is, he might not be able to offer much of a sample.
Bieber was even less of a sure thing when the Jays traded for him last year. He had not pitched in a major league game in more than a year and was due back from Tommy John surgery in the last month of the year. Toronto, needing starting depth, traded a respected pitching prospect for him anyway, planning for his return.
Holmes has pitched well more recently than Bieber had. He is not coming back from an arm injury. He is on an expiring contract that will owe him a bit less than $5 million in prorated salary for August and September, which is affordable for a frontline starter, but could be prohibitive for small-market teams. Still, all of that suggests the Mets should be able to get more than the Guardians got for Bieber – and they got a former second-round pick and a top-five prospect from the Jays system in Kahl Stephen.
Stephen needs elbow surgery that has stalled his rise up prospect rankings, but he was pitching to a 3.44 ERA in 12 Double-A starts before the injury.
IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT
RHP Huascar Brazobán
Multiple executives raised Brazobán’s name as one the Mets could consider moving at this deadline, even though he is not on an expiring contract. The formerly volatile righty is compiling the most consistent season of his career, pitching to a 1.94 ERA with a sub-1.00 WHIP in a variety of bullpen roles.
Unlike the other relievers mentioned here, Brazobán is entering his second year of arbitration and will not be a free agent until after the 2029 season. He is, therefore, a more affordable relief option than many available this time of year, which could appeal to contending teams trying to improve their bullpens on a budget. Because of his success this year and that extended team control, any deal for Brazobán should secure the Mets a legitimate prospect or two. If it doesn’t, they do not need to trade him: After all, the 2027 Mets will need cost-controlled relievers, too.
Multiple executives speculated about the potential availability of Weaver, who has not allowed a run since April 30. He has been one of the best relievers in baseball this season, walking just nine batters while striking out 39 in 36 innings and is maintaining a career-low 0.806 WHIP. He is also under contract through next season at a reasonable top reliever rate of $11 million for 2027 – a price any mid- or big-market team intending to contend next year would happily pay to lock down a bullpen stalwart before an unpredictable offseason.
But the Mets are a team that intends to contend next year, and keeping the pairing of Weaver and Devin Williams intact would mean not having to start from scratch in the bullpen, at least. Both Cohen and David Stearns have acknowledged the possibility that too much roster turnover, implemented too quickly, might have contributed to the 2026 team’s early struggles.
So Weaver’s status likely depends on more variables than, say, Raley's or Minter's. First, it depends on Cohen and Stearns’ goals for this deadline. If they decide they need to salvage as much as they possibly can from this season and strip the roster for every possible asset, Weaver certainly would bring significant value. But neither the owner nor his president of baseball operations has operated in extremes this year.
More likely, the plan for Weaver will depend on how many teams decide to sell and how many elite relievers are available. If supply is sparse, the potential return might help the Mets more in 2027 than Weaver would.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after hitting a two run triple against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Cohen told the Post on Wednesday that he does not see the Mets moving either of their high-priced superstars, Lindor or Soto. That should end 95 percent of all speculation about whether Lindor will be traded. He is on this list for one reason: If the Mets decide they need to recalibrate the heart of the roster – whether due to clubhouse dynamics or multiple years of on-field malaise -- the last five-and-a-half years of Lindor’s $341 million contract are still easier to shop than the billions and eons remaining on Soto’s.
Could a team in need of a long-term middle infield solution and a middle-of-the-order bat decide Lindor is better than what will be available to them in the free-agent market? Or that cost certainty on a player of his caliber is an asset heading into the lockout? That does not seem impossible, particularly for a POBO with a history of trading big, veteran contracts for one another like Stearns did with Brandon Nimmo and Marcus Semien.
Still, Lindor is an extremely valuable hitter at his position who has committed himself to New York and proven himself capable of handling ups and downs here. It is not easy to envision the kind of deal that would inspire Cohen to part with him, let alone to shop him while planning to win again in 2027.
In keeping with the idea that all starting pitchers with any recent history of success qualify as treasured assets this time of year, Manaea is a starting pitcher with some recent history of success. Some team might be willing to bet his revived velocity, 3.53 ERA, and 3.16 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) marks since May 22 are representative of the pitcher he will be for the remaining year and a half of his three-year contract – or that they can make him even better.
But given how much he struggled early in the season, and the fact that he still has one-year remaining on a three-year, $75 million deal, he seems likely to appeal to a smaller group of high-payroll teams – unless the Mets want to pay down his contract. Then again, they will also need starters in 2027, not to mention down the stretch in 2026.
Right-handed hitting outfielders are notoriously hard to find, and Taylor is an excellent defender who provides credible at-bats as a fourth outfielder. He is making $3.8 million this year, so even at a prorated price, teams could likely find cheaper options. But the free-agent-to-be is known as a strong defender and could potentially fit a contender needing a veteran on the bench.
His strong run of form should continue against the Detroit Tigers, who rank 21st in both OPS and OBP vs. right-handed pitching.
The Texas Rangers have a better matchup against Framber Valdez. Although he has pitched better of late, this is a spot where we could see a hiccup.
The Rangers lead the majors in batting average and sit second in wOBA against lefties since June 1. They should provide Eovaldi with enough support to get a win.
Eovaldi has started six games over the last two months against teams striking out at a Top-10 clip. He's averaged well over six innings while posting a 2.56 ERA.
Playing in a pitcher’s park against a strikeout-heavy team missing one of its most productive bats against righties (Gleyber Torres), he should fare well.
Valdez owns a 3.23 ERA over the past month and has opponents hammering balls in the dirt, sporting a ridiculously high 63.5 GB% along the way.
Runs should be hard to come by, making the Under an appealing play up to -110.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 46-37, -1.35 units
Over/Under bets: 45-34-4, +6.79 units
Tigers vs Rangers weather
Tigers vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Tigers +100 | Rangers -120
Run line: Tigers +1.5 (-210) | Rangers -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-120) | Under 7 (+100)
Tigers vs Rangers trend
The Rangers have cashed the Under in 24 of the last 40 home games for +8.95 units and a 21% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Rangers.
How to watch Tigers vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Thursday, July 2, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
Detroit SportsNet, RSN
Tigers starting pitcher
Framber Valdez (4-5, 4.05 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi (8-7, 3.95 ERA)
Tigers vs Rangers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The trade means that George will have suited up for five teams, with three massive trades centered around the three-level scorer. Now that the Celtics deal is in the rearview mirror, we can look back at these staggering deals to see everything that has been given up for PG-13 over the years.
George was traded from the Pacers to the Thunder in 2017 for Victor Oladipo, who seemed destined to become a star — and Domantas Sabonis, who Oklahoma City took with the No. 11 pick the year prior. This was the smallest haul for George, but represented two young talents that were supposed to be cornerstones of the Pacers for years to come.
Next up was the mammoth trade to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, when the Clips were trying to build a big-two contender with Kawhi Leonard and George as the centerpieces. The NBA-shaping deal sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, FIVE first-round picks, and two pick swaps from L.A. to OKC.
George declined his player option with the Clippers in 2024, and signed a max-deal with the Sixers.
That brings us to Wednesday, when the 76ers traded George to the Celtics for Jaylen Brown, as well as a 2028 1st round pick/swap (whichever is more favorable), and two second-round picks. Brace yourselves for everything that Paul George has become over the years, because it’s WILD.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jaylen Brown
Jalen Williams (2022 draft pick)
Cason Wallace (2021 draft pick)
Domantas Sabonis
Nikola Topić (2024 draft pick)
Tre Mann (2021 draft pick)
Thomas Sorber (2025 draft pick swap)
Aday Mara (2026 draft pick swap)
Victor Oladipo
Danilo Gallinari
Oh, and OKC still has one more 1st-rounder coming in 2027. So, you could either have Paul George, or literally everything needed to build an NBA franchise.
Apr 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (88) skates against the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Danny Wild-Imagn Images
NHL free agency spilled into Thursday with some high-profile players still on the open market, including a three-time Stanley Cup champion.
Patrick Kane is still available after spending the past three years with Detroit. Kane is 37 now and a decade from winning the Hart Trophy as MVP when he led the league in scoring but takes playoff MVP experience and three Cup rings wherever he goes. Also unsigned are wingers Vladimir Tarasenko, who has won twice, and Anthony Mantha, who is coming off a career year, and forward Claude Giroux, who is still chasing a championship at 38.
The first 11-plus hours of free agency featured more than 55 players changing places across the league with more than $360 million worth of contracts. And that’s not even counting Bowen Byram becoming the highest-paid defenseman at an average salary of $12.5 million beginning in 2027 under his new deal with Chicago after he was acquired in a trade with Buffalo.
Byram’s time with that distinction may be short if Colorado gets a new contract done with two-time Norris Trophy-winner Cale Makar, which also would into effect in 2027-28.
The salary cap getting another record increase to $104 million led to some big-money deals but also reduced the depth of available talent because teams had room to re-sign their top players. New Jersey extended captain Nico Hischier, Florida re-signed center Eetu Luostarinen and Philadelphia rewarded goaltender Dan Vladar with a long-term contract.
New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche was expecting a break after a busy stretch with the draft and free agency happening less than a week apart. And yet, he’s also keeping an eye out.
“We’ll have probably over $40 million of cap space next summer,” Darche said. “I’m still going to be working the rest of the summer, especially the next couple weeks. A lot of GMs, I won’t lie to you, they go on vacation and it goes pretty silent on the GM chat. But if I have opportunities to improve the team, I will. Every single day, it’s a relentless pursuit of trying to get better.”
Hischier’s Devils made a splash late Wednesday by tendering an offer sheet for Utah center Barrett Hayton for $4.775 million. The Mammoth, who acquired Vincent Trocheck in a trade with the Rangers, have a week to match or would receive a second-round pick as compensation.
The threat of an offer sheet remains for Dallas winger Jason Robertson, who turned down a trade to Seattle last week and needs a new contract. The Stars signed forward Joel Kiviranta to a one-year contract after he had nine points in 51 games for Colorado last season.
Reigning Norris winner Zach Werenski won’t be going to the Stars and reaffirmed with two years left on his deal that he’s happy to be in Columbus after trade rumors settled quickly.
On Thursday, one day after being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, the former Boston Celtics superstar took to social media with an official goodbye to the city he has called home for the last 10 years.
Read the full statement below:
First and foremost, thank you to the most high, even in the midst of adversity. I’m here with gratitude
I”m still processing how this all went down. I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect from this city. I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge.
The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me.
Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something.
I’m big on respect and actions speak louder than words. To the people of Boston, thank you. To the community I built here I love you, and to the shiftaz we are locked in for life.
As one chapter closes, another begins.
I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia. Every city has its own identity, its own passion, and its own expectation. I respect that, and I’m looking forward to earning that respect the only way I know how – through the work.
The Celtics selected Brown with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The 29-year-old developed into an All-NBA talent alongside co-star Jayson Tatum, leading Boston to six Eastern Conference Finals appearances, two NBA Finals berths, and one championship. He was named MVP of the 2024 East Finals vs. the Indiana Pacers and the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
In this year’s playoffs, the Sixers erased a 3-1 series deficit to defeat Brown and the Celtics in the first round. Now, Philly will include Brown in a loaded projected starting lineup that also features Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Dean Wade, and Joel Embiid.
Boston received Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-rounders from Philly in exchange for Brown.
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 23: Jack Natili #69 bats during the 2026 Draft Combine at Chase Field on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
2026 MLB Draft Preview: Jack Natili scouting report.
The 2026 is less than two weeks away — the first round kicks off on July 11, 2026 — so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangers’ first round pick is at #16, their second round pick is at #54, and their third round pick is at #89.
Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at University of Cincinnati catcher Jack Natili.
Jack Natili is a 6’3”, 198 lb. righthanded hitting catcher for the University of Cincinnati. Natili went undrafted int 2023 out of high school in Pennsylvania, and played for Rutgers as a freshman before transferring to Cincinnati, where he’s played the past two seasons. A junior, Natili turned 21 in March.
Offensively, Natili is a power-over-hit guy. He has a swing that is geared towards getting the ball in the air, helping him make the most of his plus power. However, his swing is described as getting long, and he can have problems catching up with fastballs. He is described as making good swing decisions, so his issues are less about chasing pitches out of the zone and more about making contact often enough with pitches in the zone.
Defensively, Natili has a plus arm which is perhaps his biggest asset behind the plate. He’s described as having made strides in his work behind the plate, though he’s not considered a particularly strong blocker or receiver of pitches. Nonetheless, he is expected to be able to stick behind the plate. As is the case with most catchers, he has below-average speed.
Natili hit .230/.386/.367 in 183 plate appearances for Rutgers as a freshman, striking out 32 times and walking 12 with 5 homers. As a sophomore for Cincinnati, Natili slashed .338/.451/.556 in 244 plate appearances, striking out 53 times and walking 30 times with 9 homers. He took a big step forward power-wise this year, hitting 19 homers in 276 plate appearances while slashing .339/.424/.674, with 29 walks against 56 Ks.
Catchers are always in demand. Power is always in demand. Thus, catchers with power are always going to be attractive to teams.
Natili is seen as someone who is always going to have a lot of swing and miss in his game, with the question offensively being if he can handle velocity well enough for him to utilize his power, rather than just being blown away by professional pitchers at the upper levels. The possibility is strong enough for him to likely go somewhere in the second through fourth rounds.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks controls the ball against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second half at the TD Garden on October 28, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I have this thing happening to me. Every day I go to bed, and without fail, I always find myself waking up at around 4:30 to 5 a.m. Funny thing is, the stuff tends to work in waves; sometimes it disappears and stays that way for a month and I sleep uninterrupted nightly, then it might come back for a week, or two, or eight, or whatever. Must be about aging. Whatever.
I woke up earlier today and checked the time exactly at 5:00 am. There was a notification on the phone; it was Russell Richardson in the P&T Slack letting us boys know about the infamous Jaylen Brown trade.
I checked it, was surprised, couldn’t really believe it, but that was it. Turned to the other side of the bed to try and catch some more sleep till the alarm sounded around an hour later, fully knowing my destiny was not to earn a single extra second of unconscious rest. It’s always the same.
With all of our crew sleeping overseas, I tasked myself with covering the trade in the early morning here in Spain after reading a bunch about it to get the full picture of it. You can read about in my earlier post linked above. And if you read that little story, you know I cut it short of where I wanted it to go because I have to admit I was going to go overboard. Hence, this new (Part II?) post.
With the near-factual feeling across the NBA world regarding how unexpected and ridiculous and hilarious and nonsensical (so much so Brad Stevens extinguished his Instagram account) Boston’s decision to flip Brown — coming off his best NBA season — for a 36-year-old human and four dubious draft picks, it just hit me that while this was ludicrous, the truth is that we’ve been watching similar stuff unfold in front of our eyes for a full week and change.
So consider this post your “how does Brown’s deal affect the Knicks?” silly breakdown, only expanded to the full Eastern Conference and linked to the beaten-to-death concept of parity.
There have been 8 different NBA Champions in the past 8 years 🏆
🔸2026- New York Knicks 🔸2025- Oklahoma City Thunder 🔸2024- Boston Celtics 🔸2023- Denver Nuggets 🔸2022- Golden State Warriors 🔸2021- Milwaukee Bucks 🔸2020- Los Angeles Lakers 🔸2019- Toronto Raptors pic.twitter.com/TSyAwuuo54
Too much has been written and said about the new NBA Parity Era. And hey, it might be true, because there have been eight different champions in eight consecutive years — including your reigning, defending, undisputed NBA Champions of the World, the New York Knicks. But also, hey, it might be just the damn whole lot of roster-building randomness the NBA is dealing with these days, isn’t it?
After nine days of offseason transactions, from the draft to the first two days of free agency, the Knicks are the only team that can claim to have something no other team in the Eastern Conference can confidently say: ridiculous continuity. Yes, New York has lost Mitchell Robinson (RIP) and has a bench featuring a whole lot of guards, one unproven forward, and… no centers at all. As I type this, pending further moves, it’s a reason for concern.
But the East, simply put, is utterly unrecognizable these days. You don’t need to come out of a ten-, five-, or two-year-long coma to spot the differences. Just a little week-long trip to a hospital without Wi-Fi could have your head spinning as you read this.
Miami landed Giannis Antetokounmpo but lost Norman Powell and a bunch of rotation players.
The Hornets followed by sending their two best players away in LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges to the Western Conference, taking a step back and looking forward to a brighter future.
Philadelphia answered the Heat’s blockbuster by acquiring Brown in the most shocking trade since Luka Doncic went to LA.
Toronto brought Kawhi Leonard back, but sent two starters in Brandon Ingram and Grady Dick the other way.
The Pistons have lost J Cole and could whiff on bringing Jalen Duren back, although even if they do, they are just going nowhere, so don’t worry.
Indiana flew under the radar and was awful last season, but they will have Tyrese Haliburton back and nearly all of the roster that graced the 2025 NBA Finals.
Cleveland is perhaps the closest to the Knicks in terms of staying the same, only they might have the biggest FA signing of the year coming their way in LeBron James.
Atlanta, Orlando, and Chicago mostly stood pat but they don’t scare anybody.
You already know Washington is my dark horse for ECF, but all they did was luck into the No. 1 pick.
Miami still needs to build half of its roster with pocket money. Philadelphia has one of the highest ceilings in the conference, but Joel Embiid’s health won’t hold, and we’ll see how the Maxey-Edgecome-Brown trifecta meshes. Toronto looks better defensively, but again, the chem might not be there for them to contend. Boston will be kinda good anyway, but they will lack the ultimate punch come killing time. The 2025 Pacers were a mirage. Cleveland is Cleveland. And the Pistons are the biggest lie in recent history.
The Knicks enter the season knowing exactly who they are. That doesn’t guarantee another trip to the Finals, but it’s a much better place to be than trying to build chemistry around another blockbuster trade coming off a championship.
But again, when it comes to parity, and while the reigning champs are the one team keeping the core together and running it back for the most part, it’s just impossible to bet on them against the field for the 2027 NBA title, given how much the league has changed in a matter of days. How can you expect any consistency when one whole damn conference has changed entirely, and the other one has done the same, as this business is a zero-sum game?
If you don’t recognize the LA Lakers roster above, you’re not alone. It’s the same story out West. Los Angeles parlayed LeBron’s departure into literally $450 million, all of them spent in a 15-minute flurry of moves.
The Timberwolves are putting all their money in a fun LaMelo-Ant backcourt that might equally win games or force Minny’s fans out of the arena out of frustration.
The Blazers don’t have money for their coach or their G League team, but they just traded for Ja Morant.
Shouts out to the Thunder and the Spurs — even though they’ve made a few moves — for nearly keeping their squads together, barring blatant dumpings and hiring a rapper.
So with all of the above written, how does the NBA or any fan out there expect anything else than “parity” or, better said, just plain dumb randomness? Who can really predict the outcome of a system whose variables change massively from one iteration to the next?
And again, even if the same suspects and longest-running teams will always at least be considered to be in the picture once again—your Knicks, Spurs, Thunder—there is nothing you can really do if you’re dealing with 15 different, new teams every year. As Knicks fans, we know it from the inside. New York slowly started to put together a team to beat the Celtics (which they did a year ago), but ultimately didn’t even meet Boston on their way to the title, and now the C’s look nothing like they did in 2024.
The Wolves appeared to be locked into building a tank to stop the Nikola Jokic Nuggets (which they achieved), only now they have flipped their roster entirely, while Denver remains nearly the same. Get back in time, and you’d find the Rockets attempting to build the anti-KD-GSW machine, only for Durant to bolt out after the 2019 title. The Big 3 Celtics (for the young lads, the ones featuring Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen) were built for countering LeBron James before he even moved out of Cleveland to form his own Voltron in Miami.
Who’s to say how the Eastern Conference picture will look come April? If you ask me this very minute (I have scheduled this story to publish five hours from now, who knows how the picture will look by that time…), this might be it compared to how things were by June 15 (not a per-se standings table, just a perception).
Jun. 15 EC Ranks
July 2 EC Ranks
1. Knicks
1. Knicks (-)
2. Celtics
2. Raptors (+4)
3. Cavaliers
3. Heat (+6)
4. Pistons
4. Celtics (-2)
5. Sixers
5. Sixers (-)
6. Raptors
6. Pacers (+5)
7. Hornets
7. Pistons (-3)
8. Hawks
8. Cavaliers (-5)
9. Magic
9. Wizards (+6)
10. Heat
10. Hawks (-2)
11. Pacers
11. Magic (-2)
Long story short, you can plan and make moves for the present, but as is the case with our brains and attention spans, rosters are so much in flux and long-term planning is shrinking into a yearly affair that it just doesn’t make any sense to think more than two springs ahead. You can keep your team together (good), but you can plan for chaos elsewhere. And even if you get better or worse, there are still a thousand pieces moving around and out of your control that can swing your position up or down in the table at a moment’s notice.
These days, the League looks like a snow globe in the hands of a wicked two-year-old with erratic hand-shaking tendencies.
Parity, randomness… who cares? It will all have changed again before you close this page.
Jan 18, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Dillon Dube (29) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Sergei Belski/Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
ST. LOUIS — Dillon Dube signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Blues, making him the second of five players acquitted in the Canada 2018 world junior sexual assault case to get an NHL deal since the trial ended just under a year ago.
Dube was signed for $850,000 for next season on a one-way contract, which means he gets paid that salary whether he’s in the NHL or the American Hockey League. He played 58 games this past year for the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds after agreeing to a professional tryout in December with St. Louis’ top minor league affiliate.
“We’ve gotten to know him a lot better through that time frame,” said general manager Alexander Steen, who added the organization was well aware of the situation and spoke to coaches and teammates about how Dube was in Springfield.
“He wants to be a positive influence. He’s had a positive influence on (that team) or a positive impact,” he added. “He approaches it with a sincerity and humility. Since I got here in St. Louis, the organization has always been a second-chance organization and this is Dillon’s opportunity and we feel confident in giving it to him — to fight for a spot on our team next year.”
The 5-foot-11 winger who turns 28 on July 20 follows goaltender Carter Hart back into the league. Hart signed with Vegas in October and backstopped the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to Carolina in six games.
The NHL in September reinstated Hart, Dube, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton, allowing them to play beginning Dec. 1. That came after a judge in London, Ontario, found them not guilty of sexual assault and McLeod additionally of a separate count of being a party to the offense.
McLeod in October signed a three-year contract to remain in the Russia-based KHL. Foote signed an AHL deal with the Chicago Wolves and played for them this past season. Formenton played in Switzerland.
As NHL free agency continues to unfold, three former members of the Calgary Flames have found new opportunities heading into the 2026-27 season.
Veteran winger Victor Olofsson is joining the Vegas Golden Knights after splitting last season between the Colorado Avalanche and the Flames. The 30-year-old appeared in 78 games during the 2025-26 campaign, recording 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points. He now adds experienced scoring depth to a Golden Knights team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Forward John Beecher is also on the move, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers. Beecher, 25, suited up for 35 NHL games between the Boston Bruins and Calgary last season, collecting three goals and four assists while providing versatility and size down the middle.
Another fan favourite in Calgary, Justin Kirkland, has also secured a new deal in free agency. The 29-year-old has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000. Kirkland appeared in 20 games with Calgary during the 2025-26 season, contributing one goal and one assist while earning an opportunity to establish himself at the NHL level.
On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets bolstered their bottom six, signing forward Noah Gregor to a one-year, $850,000 deal.
The former San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers forward brings exactly the kind of energy and checking presence that a depth line needs to be effective night in and night out at the NHL level.
Gregor, originally selected by San Jose in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, has spent the better part of eight seasons carving out a professional career built on forechecking, physicality and an agitating style that opponents consistently find difficult to play against.
Over 330 NHL games, the forward has put up 40 goals and 39 assists for 79 points, numbers that reflect a player whose value extends well beyond the scoresheet. At the AHL level, Gregor was an even more pronounced difference maker, posting 25 goals and 32 assists for 57 points in just 69 games across five seasons.
We have a 1-1 game in Colorado thanks to Noah Gregor 😼
His most recent chapter in Florida may have been what caught Winnipeg's attention most. In 37 games with the Panthers this past season, Gregor filled his checking role to perfection, becoming a noticeable and disruptive presence on a Stanley Cup contending roster.
He agitated opposing teams, won puck battles along the wall and brought an infectious energy that resonated within one of the league's top organizations. That ability to fit seamlessly into a winning culture while excelling in a specific role is a quality Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has consistently sought out when rounding out the bottom of his roster.
For Winnipeg, Gregor slots naturally into a checking line role alongside similarly detailed forwards, giving head coach Scott Arniel another reliable option for penalty killing situations and the kind of grinding, forecheck-heavy shifts that can swing momentum in a close game.
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With equipment strewn across the ice and streamers cascading from above, Jesper Boqvist found himself at the center of the celebration inside Amerant Bank Arena as fans roared and he and his Florida Panthers teammates reveled in their Stanley Cup championship on June 17, 2025.
Yet amid the celebration, one person was foremost in Boqvist’s mind: his son, who happened to turn two months old on that unforgettable day.
“He was there, sleeping through it all,” Boqvist said with a shy smile. “It was special, for sure.”
At 26 years old, Boqvist already achieved what every hockey player sets out to do: to hoist the Stanley Cup.
But the path from the New Jersey Devils' second-round pick to Stanley Cup champion was anything but straightforward. With a stop in the Boston Bruins organization in 2023-24, he faced moments that tested his resolve.
After leaving the Devils organization, Boqvist signed a one-year NHL contract with the Bruins. The young Swede was coming off a season where he scored 10 goals and collected 21 points in 70 games.
After a challenging training camp in Boston, the organization sent him to the American Hockey League (AHL) to start the season with the Providence Bruins.
“It is always hard for anyone who comes in new,” then Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery told the Boston Herald at the time. “You are trying to acclimate, you are trying to understand how we want to play. Almost every player wants to do what you are asking of them. They are trying to assimilate; they are also trying to find their way in a new city. They have got a bunch of new teammates, and they are trying to find their comfort zone everywhere off the ice, and then they are trying to find their comfort zone on the ice.”
Back in 2023, Boqvist told The Hockey News that he was going through a learning period and that the system in Boston was very different from what he had experienced in New Jersey.
In Providence, he played under head coach Ryan Mougenel, who recognized that confidence was the catalyst for the forward's success.
As Boqvist settled in, his game took off.
“He wasn't nearly as good of a player at the beginning of the year as he was at the end of the year,” Mougenel said in a phone interview. “He was a totally different player, and I think the only thing that can be attributed to that is confidence.”
The versatile forward appeared in 31 AHL games and, while there, made the most of his time, even offering guidance to the young Swedes in Providence.
“The quality of person is off the chart,” Mougenel continued. “He came down here, and he didn't sulk. He worked and enjoyed it.”
When Montgomery eventually called Mougenel in need of a call-up, Boqvist was part of one of the AHL’s top lines. Serving as a driver, he made his linemates better.
“It was one of those times as a coach where the second (Boqvist) went up; it was 100 percent the right call,” Mougenel said.
“I think for a player like him, (whose game depends on his) confidence, I think he needed the American League level to get that back, but it was pretty evident in his last 10 games that we had him that he didn't belong in the American League,” he continued.
After his season with the Bruins, Boqvist signed with Florida as a free agent, where he carved out a meaningful role and ultimately became a Stanley Cup champion.
“It has been a wild ride,” Boqvist told The Hockey News back in March. “Leaving New Jersey and going to Boston for a year, I learned a lot from my experience there. The locker room and the people there. Then coming to Florida, obviously the reigning champs and the expectations that come with that. Learning from all these guys and seeing what they do day to day.
“Along the way, I have taken some steps too, and I felt like when I had a chance, I contributed last year, too,” he continued.
On June 30, the Devils reacquired Boqvist along with Evan Rodrigues and Ben Steeves, in exchange for forward Angus Crookshank and goaltender Jacob Markström.
Boqvist returns to New Jersey as a father and Stanley Cup champion. He feels his overall game has improved: he's become a more reliable two-way center who can be used on the penalty kill and can add a bit more physicality than he showed in his first stint with the Devils.
Reunited with his Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler and Jesper Bratt, among others, the addition of Boqvist provides New Jersey much-needed depth and another weapon in their bottom six.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
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FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 7: Miguel Bleis #44 of the Boston Red Sox bats during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 7, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Wednesday against the Mets, Brayan Bello had a start. It was… a start. It was fine. He allowed three runs, went five innings, throwing 50 strikes on 81 pitches, struck out six and didn’t walk anyone. The pitching staff as a whole hurled fourteen strikeouts and, aside from Noah Song, were all huge in high-leverage situations. Allan Castro again played hero, hitting what would become the game-winning RBI single last night. This is the second consecutive game that the outfielder was instrumental in a win.
I mean… at what point is it enough of a sample size to admit that Franklin Arias can hit this level of pitching and that it’s time to evaluate his bat at the next level? Yesterday against Altoona (Pirates AA) he hit a home run for the second consecutive game, the third such time he’s had a home run streak, as he’s now at 17 homers on the season. He’s slashing .329/.414/.606. I mean, come on now.
Brooks Brannon’s bat woke up with a bases-clearing double. The team surpassed a slumping Hayden Mullins getting hit to death and managed to win having had just five knocks on the night.
Luke Heyman led the charge with his seventh home run of the season, but there was simply too much Winston-Salem (White Sox High-A) offense to overcome. Jojo Ingrassia couldn’t go any longer in this game but pitched solidly enough overall for five innings. The bullpen, though, let a ton up, unable to hold the 4-2 lead they had after six innings, and this game just wasn’t winnable after an 8-run 8th inning for the Dash.
Feels like a Red Sox game, doesn’t it? The pitching staff allowing just two hits to the Green Jackets (Braves A). Avinson Pinto matched that total himself, but all four Salem hits were singles, and the RidgeYaks couldn’t advance any runners and also couldn’t draw any walks. Tough to win a baseball game in that capacity no matter how good the pitching is.
The Chicago White Sox have won six of the last nine and are priced at -110 to come out on top in tonight's series opener.
My White Sox vs. Guardians predictions and MLB picks suggest the road team should be favored against a Cleveland team missing its best player.
Who will win White Sox vs Guardians today: White Sox moneyline (-110)
Slade Cecconi has allowed six runs over his last five starts and managed a 1.88 ERA, despite a 3.97 xFIP and 4.02 FIP.
Opponents hit an unsustainably low .229 on balls put in play over the past month. Even more unsustainable is that he has stranded 93.3% of baserunners, which is miles above his 71% career average.
The Chicago White Sox rank ninth in ISO and 12th in wOBA vs. righties since June 1, making them a strong candidate to bring Cecconi back to earth.
White Sox vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-110)
This total is half a run too high. Cecconi has not pitched as well as his numbers suggest, but it’s not as if he should be getting shelled. He simply deserves middling results rather than high-end. In a pitcher’s park, I don’t think he’ll get blown up entirely.
The Cleveland Guardians are missing a couple of key bats, and it shows. They rank 24th in wOBA and 29th in ISO against righties at home since June 1.
Davis Martin has allowed only five runs through six starts against Bottom-10 teams in OPS vs. right-handed pitching. Bet the Under to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 46-37, -1.35 units
Over/Under bets: 45-34-4, +6.79 units
White Sox vs Guardians weather
White Sox vs Guardians odds
Moneyline: White Sox -110 | Guardians -110
Run line: White Sox -1.5 (+150) | Guardians +1.5 (-175)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)
White Sox vs Guardians trend
The White Sox have cashed the moneyline in 26 of their last 45 games (+9.4 units, 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Guardians.
How to watch White Sox vs Guardians and game info
Location
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Date
Thursday, July 2, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, Guardians.TV
White Sox starting pitcher
Davis Martin (9-3, 3.00 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcher
Slade Cecconi (4-6, 4.19 ERA)
White Sox vs Guardians latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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