The Yankees have agreed on a three-year contract extension with pitching coach Matt Blake, per multiple reports.
Blake, 41, was hired as the team's pitching coach ahead of the 2020 MLB season.
He will now remain in that role until at least the conclusion of the 2029 MLB season.
Since 2020, the Yankees trail just the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers in with a stellar 3.69 team ERA, are tied with the Seattle Mariners for third best in team WHIP (1.21), and rank fifth-best in K/9 (9.18).
While Blake has been able to rely on acquired stars in his pitching staff, such as Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Max Fried, he has also played a significant role in the farm system graduates both making the jump to and establishing themselves in the big leagues.
This includes most notably presumptive 2026 AL Cy Young winner Cam Schlittler, but also Will Warren, who continues to improve as a underappreciated back-end rotation arm. And while Luis Gil has had two straight seasons riddled with injuries and inconsistency, he did earn the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year award as a standout starter.
Additionally, Nestor Cortes Jr. bloomed under Blake. "Nasty Nestor" broke out in his third stint as a Yankee as a 26-year-old on a minor-league contract, earning a promotion to become a fan favorite starting pitcher in 2021, then earning All-Star honors and an eighth place finish in AL Cy Young voting during a career-best 2022 campaign.
Most recently, in 2026, Blake oversaw the transformation of Paul Blackburn from run-of-the-mill starting pitcher into lethal multi-inning bullpen arm, the emergence of southpaw Brent Headrick as a premier setup man, and the successful post-trade-deadline free agent additions of John Schreiber and Michael Fulmer to aid a thin bullpen at a crucial time in the regular season.
Collin Sexton (10) made an immediate impact for the Lakers with his defense. NBAE via Getty ImagesLakers guard Collin Sexton (10) “invigorated the game with more energy,” as Matisse Thybulle put it after the team’s win over the Clippers on Friday. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
“I felt like it immediately,” Thybulle said. “He just invigorated the game with more energy.”
Sexton’s first minutes of the season after sitting out the preseason and the regular-season opening win over the Warriors on Wednesday came when he subbed in for Austin Reaves with 3:52 left in the first quarter.
Eleven seconds later, the veteran guard stripped Clippers guard Darius Garland of the ball during his drive into the paint, leading to a steal for the Lakers after Luka Doncic dove on the floor to corral the ball.
“He’s a pest,” Reaves said. “He feeds off the energy, he loves doing the little things and plays the game the right way. He’ll have a big impact [on] what we’re trying to do.”
The former Alabama guard carried that energy into the second quarter.
The Lakers value Collin Sexton’s intensity. NBAE via Getty Images
“He has a really intense way about him that I think will be really good for our group and guys will feed off that,” coach JJ Redick said.
With the Lakers down 44-38 early in the quarter, his perimeter defensive pressure against Kris Dunn forced the Clippers to eat up 10 seconds of the shot clock before Dunn passed the ball to rookie guard Keaton Wagler.
Wagler tried forcing a pass to Brook Lopez on the low block while Ziaire Williams was in front of him, but the ball floated over the 7-foot-1 center’s head and Reaves grabbed the steal.
But the errant Clippers’ possession started with Sexton hounding Dunn even though he didn’t get credited in the box score for the play.
In addition to his three steals, the 6-foot-3 guard also had five points and two assists in 16 minutes.
“Ziaire and I talk about it a lot: That’s what we try to do for them,” Thybulle said. “Even as people who try to do that, to see someone else doing it, it gives us even more energy. It’s just one of those things that when everyone else is doing it, you don’t want to be the guy to not be. It’s almost like when you’re working out in practice and like everyone’s making shots in a row, you don’t want to be the one to miss it and mess it up. Defensively, you can have a similar thing, which is effort and energy.”
Sexton brought an abundance of both in the Lakers’ second win of the season.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
They needed a bastion down low. They listened to Luka Dončić when he said he wanted Walker Kessler. Rob Pelinka gambled everything to get him.
In his first two games?
Kessler is making Doncic look like a skilled scout. And he’s making Pelinka look like a man with good job security.
Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler, left, shoots as LA Clippers center Brook Lopez defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
The 7-foot-1 center, whom the Lakers acquired over the summer in a sign-and-trade deal with the Jazz, had 22 points on 10-for-14 shooting, eight rebounds, three assists, six blocked shots and three steals in the Lakers’ 125-117 win over the Clippers on Friday.
He had the highest plus-minus (+18) of anyone on the court.
That followed a 26-point performance on 12-for-12 shooting, nine rebounds, one assist and two blocked shots in his regular-season Laker debut against the Warriors on Wednesday.
This is who the Lakers wanted. This is who they needed. This is who could turn them into contenders.
Everyone knew the Lakers’ offense was going to be incredible behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. But last season, the Lakers ranked 20th in defensive efficiency. They desperately needed to improve.
So, the Lakers gave the Jazz two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to acquire the 25-year-old Kessler, signing him to a four-year, $130 million deal.
It was a risk.
It meant they wouldn’t have any tradable first-round draft picks for the next seven years. It meant Kessler would make or break this Laker team.
So far, so great.
In his debut against the Warriors, he was the first Laker since Wilt Chamberlain to shoot 12-for-12 in a game. And against the Clippers, he became the eighth Laker to record six blocks and three steals in a game, according to Stathead.
“He’s a fantastic basketball player and I think he’ll continue to get better,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I mean, that was one of the reasons that we wanted him and he was so appealing to us was because of his age and feeling like the fit with our two stars was really good. And [he’s] someone that can continue to grow and become just a fantastic player in the NBA.”
LA Clippers guard Kris Dunn, left, drives toward the basket as Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Kessler only played in five games last season after suffering a torn left labrum that required surgery. After missing an entire season of his prime, there were a lot of questions.
What’s his ceiling? Is he going to live up to expectations? Was he really worth the enormous price the Lakers paid for him?
Memories are short in the NBA, especially when a player misses 77 games. But Kessler is silencing his doubters.
“Oh, it’s so much fun,” Kessler said of being back on the court. “It’s so much fun. It was definitely a tougher year for me. But God is faithful. And just to be here now, I’m just so thankful. So thankful for this opportunity. So thankful to be healthy. Just very, very thankful.”
The Lakers need Kessler to develop into an All-Defensive-type player. They need him to complete their Big 3 alongside Doncic and Reaves. They need him to be a force.
He’s checking those boxes.
After the score was knotted at 64-64 at halftime, Kessler took over in the third quarter with his defense, helping the Lakers lead by as much as 14 points in the period.
“It just felt like Walker was everywhere in that third,” Redick said. “…There were multiple times [in the game] where it felt like they had a layup and he either came over and blocked the shot or created an altered shot.”
Kessler’s next game will meld his future with his past as the Lakers travel to Utah to face the Jazz.
For Kessler, it’s a return to where he spent the first four seasons of his career.
“I’m so excited to compete against those guys,” he said. “Coach [Will] Hardy does a great job with that franchise and my past teammates are really talented, really competitive. So I think it’s going to be a very competitive game and I’m just excited to go compete.”
But for the Lakers, it’s a reminder of how far they’ve come.
They emptied their treasure trove for Kessler.
And so far, every pick they gave Utah was worth who they got in return.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura were Lakers teammates from 2023-26. NBAE via Getty ImagesLuka Doncic was being jovial with Rui Hachimura throughout Friday. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic ran onto the court and hugged Hachimura pregame before the Clippers forward could start his routine.
And even when the 2019 first-round draft pick was going through his pregame process, there Doncic was, being jovial with his former teammate as Hachimura greeted his old Lakers coaches.
The playfulness from Doncic’s side continued during the game.
“I don’t like Rui…Nah, it was just great to see him,” Doncic said. “He’s my guy. We had a year and a half together, great friends, so it was really nice to see him.”
The playfulness turned into trash talk when the game started.
“He was just trying to talk trash or whatever,” Hachimura said. “But I don’t care about that stuff. I had a good time with him, two years with the Lakers. I’m happy to see him.”
It was clear Doncic wasn’t the only Laker who was happy to see Hachimura.
Hachimura and Lakers star guard Austin Reaves, who were teammates during the former Gonzaga forward’s entire tenure with the Lakers, also embraced on the court pregame and postgame on Friday.
Clippers forward Rui Hachimura was all smiles during his return to Crypto.com Arena. NBAE via Getty Images
“He’s one of my favorite teammates I’ve ever had,” Reaves said. “I made a joke the other day that I didn’t know if he spoke English for the first two weeks. We sat by each other on the plane his first year and I would say hey to him. He kind of just looked at me and [nodded].
“And then after that I couldn’t get him to shut up. Always in a good mood, happy to be here, puts the work in and it’s just good to see him be happy and successful and enjoying his life.”
Hachimura’s demeanor is why coach JJ Redick said he was “one of my favorite players I’ve ever been around in the NBA.”
“One of my favorite players I’ve ever coached,” he added. “And it’s because of just the consistency of joy and personality that he brings every day.”
And that joy radiated from Hachimura throughout Friday, despite his new team losing to his old team.
He finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals in 33 minutes against the Lakers.
“It was amazing, it was a great time with them,” Hachimura said of his time with the Lakers. “This organization, of course I missed them. But it was time to move on. It was special, my four years, four seasons with them. I’m happy with the Clippers right now. I gotta keep going with my career.”
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Oscar Bobb’s first Premier League goal for Fulham earned a win against Coventry that lifted Álvaro Arbeloa’s side clear of the relegation zone.
Bobb produced a fine bit of individual skill to score in the 80th minute, twisting his way into the area and bending a shot into the far corner. It was his second goal for the club since his £27m move from Manchester City in January.
11 Aug 1994: Fan holds up a sign in protest of the baseball strike during a game between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Mariners won the game 8-1. | Getty Images
Of course kids love baseball. Everybody loves baseball. But the lost games, canceled World Series and changed landscape left behind by the 1994–95 players’ strike remind us that the business side of the game we love is anything but child’s play.
More than 30 years later, Major League Baseball is once again approaching a potential work stoppage that could leave the Colorado Rockies with less than a month to conduct much of their offseason business.
MLB’s free-agent market opens shortly after the World Series, with players permitted to sign with new teams five days after the final out. But the current collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, and another lockout is widely anticipated.
Meanwhile, MLB’s owners have proposed a salary floor and cap that could eventually change how much teams are required to spend.
For Colorado, that raises a few questions: How much money might the Rockies have to spend, how quickly should they act, and where should they invest it?
A salary floor? Not so fast
Under MLB’s initial proposal, teams would operate between a $171.2 million salary floor and a $245.3 million cap in 2027.
Before looking ahead, it helps to understand where Colorado stood financially in 2026. The Rockies’ estimated 2026 cash payroll was $120 million, with a competitive balance tax (CBT) payroll of $138 million, ranking them 21st in MLB by cash payroll.
2026 MLB payroll comparison
Rank
Team
Cash payroll
CBT payroll
1
Los Angeles Dodgers
$412M
$422M
2
New York Mets
$358M
$358M
20
Cincinnati Reds
$129M
$154M
21
Colorado Rockies
$120M
$138M
22
Minnesota Twins
$111M
$134M
29
Cleveland Guardians
$87M
$103M
30
Miami Marlins
$76M
$86M
Source: FanGraphs RosterResource. Estimated 2026 payroll figures, rounded to the nearest million. Rankings based on cash payroll.
Looking ahead to 2027, Colorado’s projected CBT payroll is in the neighborhood of $110 million, potentially leaving the Rockies roughly $60 million below the proposed minimum.
That’s not exactly pocket change.
Now, an offseason where the Rockies suddenly have to spend another $60 million would be tremendously entertaining. I’d happily spend November dreaming up ways to convince Tarik Skubal to pitch at Coors Field on a one-year deal.
Unfortunately, that’s probably not where these negotiations are headed.
For starters, CBT payroll isn’t the same as cash payroll. It uses the average annual value of contracts and includes arbitration estimates, benefits and other obligations. The precise gap also depends on how those costs are calculated under a new agreement.
More importantly, the MLB Players Association has opposed the owners’ proposed salary cap, and neither the cap nor the accompanying salary floor has been agreed upon.
As Andy McCullough reported for The Athletic, the proposal includes a negotiated transition period, with one executive suggesting implementation could take years.
So the proposed floor might mean bupkis for Colorado’s immediate offseason. There’s no established requirement for the Rockies to add $60 million to their 2027 payroll.
But another deadline is approaching much faster.
November could get busy
Predicting what Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes might do is difficult. Their first offseason in Colorado was already abbreviated by their late arrival, and a potential lockout could make their second one unusual for entirely different reasons.
But they were hardly inactive. Despite limited time, the new front office made substantial changes to the roster, including bringing in several players on major-league contracts.
They’ve already shown they’re willing to make moves.
As McCullough reported, executives and agents anticipate an accelerated free-agent market ahead of a potential December 1 lockout. Players and teams alike could look to complete deals before a work stoppage disrupts normal business. The middle tier of free agency could be particularly active.
For Colorado, that’s an opportunity worth taking seriously.
The Rockies should enter November with their targets identified, evaluations completed and financial parameters established. Acting quickly doesn’t mean signing players out of desperation. It means being prepared to move when an opportunity presents itself.
The answer is pitching
Looking back at the Rockies’ free-agent activity under previous front offices offers a pretty good blueprint for what not to do.
And the Rockies haven’t been unwilling to spend money on pitching. Ahead of the 2018 season, they committed a combined $106 million to relievers Wade Davis, Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee.
But when it came to adding outside starting pitching, Colorado’s approach was considerably more conservative.
Rockies MLB free-agent starting pitcher signings from outside the organization
Offseasons
Starting pitchers signed to MLB contracts
2018–19 through 2024–25
Chad Kuhl, Dakota Hudson
2025–26
Michael Lorenzen, José Quintana, Tomoyuki Sugano
Outside starting pitchers signed to major-league free-agent contracts. Excludes minor-league deals, extensions, re-signings, trades and waiver claims.
Seven offseasons. Two outside starters.
DePodesta and Byrnes signed three in their first winter alone. Not every move worked, but the change in approach is hard to miss.
And with Colorado’s rotation finishing 2026 with a 6.28 ERA, the worst in baseball, that approach needs to continue.
So, what comes next?
The Rockies could use a right-handed corner outfielder and a defense-first backup catcher. But the biggest need is obvious.
Pitching. And lots of it.
That doesn’t mean bringing back every familiar veteran or signing another pitcher because he was good three years ago.
Colorado needs new arms, different arms, and as many legitimate options as possible.
Beyond traditional major-league free agency, that means exploring the Japanese and Korean markets, pursuing trades and aggressively adding minor-league pitching depth.
The minor-league market could be particularly interesting with a lockout looming. Minor leaguers have a separate CBA extending through December 2027, meaning players outside the major-league bargaining unit can generally continue developing even if MLB shuts down.
And the opportunities for organizational improvement could extend beyond the field.
Ryan Spilborghs raised an interesting possibility on a recent podcast: If other organizations make staffing cuts during a lockout, Colorado could have an opportunity to bring in experienced talent to the analytics department.
The Rockies are already working to strengthen their scouting and analytical departments. They reportedly added veteran scout Steve Barningham, and the organization is actively recruiting a senior or lead baseball analytics analyst.
The Rockies have the money. They have obvious needs. And whether it’s acquiring players before a shutdown or improving the organization during one, they have opportunities to make progress.
They don’t have to win the offseason. But they have every reason to be involved in it.
Before the Yankees were the Babe Ruth-led behemoth that took the baseball world by storm in the ‘20s, they were the laughingstock of the American League. Between 1913, their last year as the Highlanders, and 1914, their first as the Yankees, the team went 107-196. Things got bad enough that there were rumors the team might flip to the upstart Federal League, a nascent third major league that threatened the AL and NL.
Determined not to lose his New York franchise, AL president Ban Johnson worked behind the scenes during the 1914-15 offseason to strengthen the team’s roster, making it more attractive for a prospective new ownership group. He did so by encouraging the rest of the league’s teams to sell the Yankees useful players at a reasonable price. The first team to heed his call was the Tigers, who sold New York two players: a first-base prospect named Wally Pipp and a 27-year-old outfielder named Hugh High.
Hugh Jenkins High Born: October 24, 1887 (Pottstown, PA) Died: November 16, 1962 (St. Louis, MO) Yankees Tenure: 1915-18
High grew up in a family of 13 kids, three of whom would eventually play in the big leagues. The Highs were an itinerant bunch, living first in Pennsylvania, then New Jersey, then Illinois, and finally St. Louis in Hugh’s youth. He played semi-pro ball while serving as a plumber’s apprentice, making the jump to pro ball only after completing his obligation. He played well enough at Class-B Hartford of the Connecticut State League to draw the attention of several teams, including the Giants, who purchased his contract for $2,500 but ended up selling him back to Hartford for the same amount before he was able to join New York. High kept performing the next season and was once again a sought-after commodity, with the Tigers securing his services for the 1913 season.
High joined a crowded outfield picture in Detroit, with future Hall of Famers Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford as well as Bobby Veach, who’d finish a 14-year career with 2,063 hits and a .310 lifetime average. Still, he cracked the roster as a reserve outfielder and saw an expanded role early on with Cobb holding out due to a contract dispute and Veach on the shelf with an ankle injury. High played well enough that, when the roster returned to full strength, both Cobb and Crawford were briefly moved to the infield in separate stints to keep the rookie in the everyday lineup. While his raw stats never wowed, High was valued for his situational hitting and defense and developed a close relationship with the team’s manager, another future Hall of Famer named Hughie Jennings.
Which baseball player used the fewest distinct letters in his first & last names? I nominate Hugh High, at five. pic.twitter.com/CV4hQOsLR6
High improved in his second campaign, getting on base at a .363 clip while continuing to impress with his glove. The following offseason, the Tigers sold the talented youngster to New York to assuage Johnson’s concerns. His first season in pinstripes would be a career year. Finally given a full-time opportunity, he played in a career-high 119 games and showed some more pop, notching 27 extra-base hits after hitting 15 in the previous two years combined. High also swiped 22 bags, showcasing an all-around skill set that was an asset to a Yankees team still searching for an identity.
Prior to the start of the 1916 campaign, the Yankees continued to beef up their roster, headlined by the addition of future Hall of Famer Frank “Home Run” Baker. They put up their first winning season since their days as the Highlanders with High firmly entrenched in left, continuing to get on base consistently and play fundamentally sound baseball. He dealt with an ankle injury for much of the year, though, a harbinger for what was ahead.
The next offseason, High dealt with blood poisoning from an infected blister in his foot that set him back in spring training. He missed more time during the year as he dealt with boils on his neck. He ended up getting replaced in the lineup in September and would never regain his starting role. After the ‘17 season, the Yankees shopped High extensively, nearly reaching deals with the Senators, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Cardinals. They finally reached an accord with the Athletics a few weeks into the season but High refused to report to his new club. The Yankees suspended the outfielder and he walked away from the game, taking a job at a Maryland shipyard rather than shipping off to Philadelphia.
It was the start of an odyssey for High. The Red Sox tried again to trade for him; when High demanded back pay for the time he was suspended, the Yankees balked and he instead returned to the shipyard. The league reinstated High in 1919, but when the Yankees attempted to option him to the minors, he once again chose his job in Maryland. In May of that year, he finally accepted his sale, this time to the Vernon Tigers of the Double-A Pacific Coast League. High spent five seasons there, followed by another with Double-A Columbus and a final season with the International League’s Reading Keystones at the age of 37. Throughout this seven-year wilderness period, he showcased the consistent bat and slick fielding which had made him a valuable big leaguer in his youth.
After his baseball career, High returned to St. Louis, resuming the plumbing career he had put on hold in his early 20s. He died on November 16, 1962 at the age of 75. While never a star, Hugh High was a ballplayer’s ballplayer who helped shore up the Yankees franchise in its early, uncertain days and, through his long journey in minor-league baseball, demonstrated a love of the game few can match.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 27: AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves in action against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 27, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Stephanie Sears/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was a lot of anticipation and intrigue when it came to AJ Smith-Shawver and his return from Tommy John Surgery for the Atlanta Braves in 2026. Considering how much flux the backend of Atlanta’s rotation went through in the previous season, there was a clear opportunity for anybody who wanted to grab onto that role.
AJ Smith-Shawver got that opportunity once he eventually returned in July. So how did that go for him? It’s time to find out.
How Acquired
The Braves selected Smith-Shawver with the 217th overall pick as their seventh-round draft choice in 2021. He skyrocketed through the system in 2023, speedrunning three minor league levels and eventually making his debut in June. Despite, or perhaps because of, his rapid ascent, Smith-Shawver has yet to throw over 45 big league innings in any given season.
What were the expectations?
One of the reasons why Smith-Shawver was unable to clear that 50-inning threshold was because he had Tommy John Surgery in June of 2025, which meant that he’d have to wait a full calendar year before even getting ready to make his return to the mound. As such, the hope was that Smith-Shawver could simply get healthy and hopefully improve upon a 2025 campaign where he showed some flashes of brilliance while still having the typical rollercoaster experience that most rookies and young pitchers experience upon breaking through to the big leagues.
We all know that recovery from this type of thing isn’t exactly a linear or easy process — just ask Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach about the elbow issues that they’ve both been dealing with for the past couple of seasons. Still, it wasn’t crazy to hope that AJ Smith-Shawver could eventually make a bounce back and become a valuable part of Atlanta’s rotation.
Performance-wise, Smith-Shawver had an 88/115/115 line in 74 career innings before the 2026 season. His 2023 and 2024 were comparatively rougher, but 2025 looked much better at 92/96/105. It was hard to know exactly what to expect given the long layoff and rehab from major surgery, but ZiPS saw him as an above-average-but-very-short-stint starter (about four innings a start, but 1.1 WAR in 80 innings) as its point estimate — basically a slight improvement over his small-sample 2025.
2026 Results
Smith-Shawver made about a month’s worth of official rehab starts, but once July 29 rolled around, he returned to the big league roster for a day as the Braves called him up as the 27th man for a doubleheader against the Mets. He turned in the sort of start that had folks across Braves Country clamoring for him to stick around — even though he was always bound to return to Gwinnett due to the 27th-man rule. Despite a somewhat underwhelming line of just 4 1/3 innings pitched with a 4/2 K/BB ratio, Shawver’s velocity (on his four-seamer, especially his four-seamer) looked impressive, his stuff was lively and he had also added a sinker and a cutter to his arsenal — giving him a very interesting tool box of six pitches to work with.
Smith-Shawver eventually got his chance to join the rotation for real once he got called up ahead of a start on August 19 against the Twins and while his stuff looked lively as usual, this time he was once again unable to make it through the fifth inning in an efficient manner. In fact, Smith-Shawver only ended up making two appearances where he pitched at least five complete innings — and one of those appearances was in long relief after Reynaldo López made (what turned out to be) his final start of the season.
That five-inning relief appearance on September 14 was Smith-Shawver’s first apperance out of the ‘pen and he proceeded to make three more appearances in relief during the final month of the season and eventually made an appearance in the NLDS. That NLDS appearance didn’t go well, as he wound up giving up a two-run dinger to Kyle Tucker and a solo shot to Max Muncy (both in the same inning) that basically gave the Dodgers enough breathing room to take the game on home.
Ultimately, Smith-Shawver finished with a 6.61 ERA (157 ERA-), a 6.00 FIP (145 FIP-), and a 5.17 xFIP (123 xFIP-) with a drop in strikeout rate (18.8 percent compared to 21.9 percent in 2025) and an increase in walk rate (from 10.9 percent in 2025 to 11.1 percent in 2026). He didn’t qualify for a bunch of the usual MLB Percentile Rankings that Baseball Savant provides but if he did, a lot of his categories would’ve been in the blue instead of the red. Needless to say, Smith-Shawver didn’t exactly hit the ground running upon his return to the bigs from Tommy John surgery, and “earned” -0.2 fWAR for his efforts.
What went right?
Well, his velocity is still good after returning from Tommy John surgery and that’s always a positive. His four-seam velocity was back at 96 mph and his sinker was clocked at an average of 95.1 mph. Again, the stuff that he had on display during his 2026 debut against the Mets was encouraging to see and it sure seemed like AJSS had something to really build upon as a starter based on that first impression back.
Also, if that five-inning relief appearance against the Cubs qualified as a start then this would’ve been Smith-Shawver’s best “start” of the season. The Braves were definitely in need of having any starter who could give them innings while only giving up around a couple of runs and the Braves gladly would’ve taken that had it been a start.
Meanwhile, his most encouraging appearance as a reliever came on September 20 against the Astros, which is when he faced seven batters over two innings and only gave up a hit while striking out four batters. It was a very solid appearance during the divisional-clinching win for the Braves in Houston and it was the type of outing that makes you think “Hey, maybe there’s something here with this guy as a reliever.” The Braves certainly thought so, but it was kind of a mixed bag in the end — his next relief outing was pretty bad, and he gave up a homer while striking out three of the five batters he faced in his final tune-up. And then, well, the one in the playoffs didn’t go very wellk.
His splitter was a pretty effective pitch, as he racked up a whiff rate of 31.3 percent and a Put Away percentage of 15.8 percent and 16 of his 27 strikeouts on the season came from that pitch alone. It was clearly his best pitch and it’s clearly the one that he should throw a bit more of going forward.
What went wrong?
AJ Smith-Shawver was just unable to get really deep into games as a starter. In every one of his six long appearances this season, he walked at least two batters and walked at least three in four of those appearances as well. If he walked a batter then that guy usually came around to score. It was either that or his propensity to give up the long ball. While his four-seamer only had a .209 Batting Average against it (along with a .216 xBA), whenever hitters did catch up to his heater, they usually didn’t make a mistake with it. He gave up seven homers all season and four of them were against his heater. Opposing batters slugged .512 against his four-seamer (with an xSLG of .500). He was unable to get a lot of whiffs with it, either. When the pitch you lean on that much is getting hit that hard, it’s difficult to have a lot of success.
Smith-Shawver’s start on September 8 against the Rays was the end of the road (at least in 2026) as a starter and it was basically a single-game example of everything that’s been ailing Smith-Shawver at the big league level right now. He was charged with five hits, he walked two batters, two of those five hits were dingers (against a Rays team that, while excellent on offense, didn’t hit for a ton of power in 2026) and he only lasted 3 1/3 innings. He was unable to get deep into a game, it was his shortest start of the season, and Smith-Shawver found himself heading to the clubhouse after having a largely inefficient night on the mound.
Overall, Smith-Shawver found it hard to rack up strikeouts, he walked a lot of batters, he got hit decently-hard when batters did catch up with his stuff and he got barreled-up on a semi-regular basis. Fundamentally, he posted an xFIP- north of 100 in four of his five starts (well north of 100 in three) — or five of six if you include the five-inning relief appearance. It wasn’t a case of being unlucky or anything, he just wasn’t doing the fundamental business of striking guys out and not walking them well at all. That’s not a recipe for success as a starter, which explains why the Braves decided that the best place for Smith-Shawver going forward towards the Postseason was the bullpen. They just couldn’t afford to have him try to figure it out as a starter while they were holding on to the lead in the NL East and against playoff-caliber lineups in the Postseason.
One additional cruel twist of fate: above, it was listed that his xFIP was below average in every longer-stint outing but one. That one where it wasn’t? It was his worst start by WPA of the year, as, despite the better pitching quality, the Nationals dumped four runs on him and the defense thanks to walks and seeing-eye singles in the second, and then added a homer in the third. Welp.
2027 Outlook
AJ Smith-Shawver will be 24 heading into next season and when you combine his young age with the lack of mileage (when it comes to innings, at least) on his arm, it sure feels like he could get another shot at starting for the Braves once Spring Training rolls around (whenever that may be). He’s got the velocity on his four-seamer that can play but he still has yet to develop it into a truly effective pitch. His splitter is there but everything else still needs a bit of work, as evidenced by the high walk rate and the lack of strikeouts that he was able to get on a consistent basis. Something kind of amusing is that Smith-Shawver didn’t directly struggle with either pitch shape or command — he largely threw his four-seamer and splitter to the same spots over and over. But, those spots just weren’t very good in practice, largely because his splitter tended to miss the zone on the low armside corner. If he fixes that and has that splitter actually fall in for a strike, and things get a lot more annoying for batters, but it was easy to wait him out in 2026.
Early projections aren’t quite so sanguine about Smith-Shawver as they were before he made his return. He’s now targeted as a below-average bulk guy or swingman, even falling short of the “assume everyone is a fourth starter until they show otherwise” heuristic. He’s got some work to do, basically.
Assuming the Braves don’t add to their rotation outside of the organization heading into next season, Smith-Shawver should get an opportunity to make the Opening Day roster as a starter. Maybe with a full (and potentially extended) offseason to figure things out, Smith-Shawver can come back and finally really get rolling with his career. Again, he’s young and it still feels like he’s a bit of a rookie since he hasn’t really had an extended stint in the bigs quite yet. Maybe we’ll see him get that chance and embrace it in 2027. We’ll see what happens.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: What stood out to you in the Suns’ first regular season game against the Trail Blazers?
zenzino: Whew! Glad that one is out of the way.
The Suns got pulled under in the Portland wave and never resurfaced.
To call out any specific players for that game is asinine. That level of suck was a total team effort. There were no bright spots. The Blazers threw a ‘welcome home Dame ’ three-point party, and the Suns were the wallflowers.
That being said, we learned nothing from the first game. But the second game will tell us plenty about who they are going to be. Will they bounce back with effort? Will they lock down on defense? Will they hit a shot in the first 6 minutes?
What’s done is done. They still have the same number of losses as the Knicks and the Spurs (as of this writing). The next game is a lot more important than the last one.
Notable: Koa Peat made his NBA debut in the season opener, scored his first points, and got his first tech/fine. Welcome to the NBA.
Ashton: Next question. Pass. I literally asked Rod to strike this question in the game chat to save you all and me the mental anguish of having to relive it. I was denied.
Planet Orange? More like Clockwork Orange. I knew this question was coming, but I felt like I was strapped in a chair, unable to blink or turn away from the train wreck that I saw and is now permanently imprinted into my memories as I watched it from start to finish. Now, let’s get to the positives and negatives.
Positives: Literally none. If I had to call one positive out it was the over-600 post-game chat where we were unified in our negativity, and it was more entertaining than the actual game.
Negatives: Oh, where to start? How much time do you have? Sorry, I have to make an appointment with my sports psychologist.
This team is a work in progress, and that is putting it lightly.
OldAz: I was out of town on business and had been maneuvering all day to find a place to watch the game. As meetings ran long, the game started while I was with some associates at dinner, and I stuck to following the start of the game on my phone. Let’s just say I didn’t have much motivation to find someplace to watch the rest of the game by the time dinner was over.
I guess I did not spend much time paying attention to the other moves around the league this offseason, as I can understand why Portland came out with high energy and excitement. Their backcourt of Ja and a healthy Dame, with Jrue and Scoot coming off the bench! Plus, their best player is still probably Avdija, with some nice pieces along the front line. My impression is that Game 1 is a small sample size and more a product of a really good team centered around defense that is primed to break out this season. As for the Suns, that’s an ugly way to start, but I won’t draw too many conclusions around 1 game.
Rod: Nothing good. At this point, I have no idea as to whether it was one of those games where basically everything just goes wrong or many of us had some very unrealistically high expectations for this team. I mostly believe it was the former, but I’m quite eager for the next game to get a sign as to whether the 1st game was an aberration or the new norm.
There’s a saying from boxing that basically says that everyone has a plan…until they get hit. Well, the Suns got smacked around hard in the 1st quarter in Portland, and everything pretty much fell apart from there on. I can only hope that’s not the new team identity for 2026-27.
Q2: The Suns’ schedule starts off with 9 of their first 12 games at home. What are your thoughts on this?
zenzino: Hopefully, it will help them get off to a good start.
However, I’m not a fan of the easier home schedule to start because, as we’ve seen in the past several seasons, that usually means a really tough schedule down the stretch. Last season in particular, they had a legit shot at the 6th seed, but their last 10 games were mostly away and against some top teams.
Ashton: That Suns fans may actually set decibel level records for booing if they see the same effort that the Suns put against Portland at home against GSW. Heck, they may even set off seismic monitors around the Valley. The conversation may very well trend towards the over/under on how many points the Suns will get beat by. Is it 20 or 30 or even worse? Because what I saw on the road against Portland did not seem like it would translate into a home-court advantage. There is just too much to fix.
Now, granted, I am submitting this on a Friday and keeping the Cardinal Rule of my game emotions in check for at least 24 hours after a loss. I failed. GSW did not exactly look like world-beaters in their loss to the Lakers. Let’s see how that one turns out on Saturday. Maybe my tune will change when it comes to home-court advantage.
OldAz: Those 12 games are a big sample size, so they better get their defense in order quickly. A lot of home games should allow for time to work on their deficiencies with less travel to deal with. Otherwise, things could get ugly fast. There are not many easy opponents in the Western Conference, so not a lot of room for an extended slow start.
Rod: After the Game 1 debacle, all I can think of to say here is, “It can’t hurt.” Perhaps playing in front of the home crowd will give them a little additional motivation to get their act together, and hopefully keep it together, once they get out on lengthy road trips.
In 11 days, the Suns will face off against the Blazers again, but in Phoenix this time. How well they perform in that game is of particular interest to me.
Q3: What is your opinion of the addition of Drew Timme to the Suns on a two-way contract?
zenzino: Like most people, Timme wasn’t high on my name recognition list.
From everything I’ve read and seen since, it looks like he’s a less athletic version of Oso. Connector, team defender, good passer. He has a post-up game but is not quite as good a ball-handler. No outside shot. Not particularly good at rebounding. I didn’t check his free-throw percentage, but I’m just going to assume it’s better than Oso.
Makes me wonder if they knew Oso’s hip was going to be an on-off problem this season. Still no word about that at this writing.
It’s a 2-way contract. There is only possible upside. CG was a 3rd-year 2-way signing, and look how that turned out.
Ashton: I grew up in a small town outside of Spokane, and I love what Mark Few has done to prepare his players for the NBA at the collegiate level. Heck, the University of Arizona took his best assistant for head coach and that has turned out pretty well. I consider Gonzaga my second favorite team in college basketball and probably the last mid-market collegiate titan dynasty in the NIL era.
Now, with that said, the track record of Gonzaga players succeeding in the NBA has been spotty. I could go through the list (also RIP Brandon Clarke), but I won’t. Quite a few of them were hyped in mocks and actual NBA draft selections. Andrew Timme was voted as a consensus All-American at the collegiate level three times and remains Gonzaga leading scorer. His reward? He went undrafted in 2023.
Any Phish fans on the board? My favorite song is “Bouncing Around the Room”. This is Timme’s career in a nutshell because he has bounced around on two-ways, G League, and NBA contracts on multiple teams. Six of them, to be exact, before picking up his seventh team with the Suns.
So, I do not have the answer to this question. I do not think anyone does. But I liked watching him play at Gonzaga, thus my focus on college play. Timme is worth a flyer.
OldAz: Don’t know much about him, but I was never overly enamored with Brea, so I am glad they prioritized more front court help with their remaining two-way spots. In the past couple of years, Gregory has found good value in this pool of players, so hopefully he has done so again.
Rod: I think he’s a good addition, especially in light of Oso’s hip injury. Timme’s listed as a power forward, but he’s spent most of his time on the court playing center over his first two seasons (79%). At 6’9″, he’s a bit small to play at the 5, but he’s pretty much the same size as Reath (but 10 pounds lighter). I expect that’s where he’ll most likely get some court time with the Suns this season if Oso’s hip injury turns into a lingering issue. Unlike Oso, Timme can actually shoot from three (33.3% career, 44.0% last season on limited attempts), although he hasn’t played enough to know just how much you can count on him hitting those frequently. As an emergency backup, I’m happy with adding him to the roster.
Bonus Q: Do you like or dislike Oso Ighodaro’s contract extension?
zenzino: I’m thrilled!
Another team-friendly deal that also makes the player happy. Total win-win.
He played all 82 games last season for a reason. Even when MW was healthy and playing well, more often than not, Oso was out there at the end of the 4th quarter.
Even if a lot of people here don’t think he is all that great, the coaching staff and his teammates have a lot of confidence in him, and they showed it when they locked him up for the next 4 seasons.
Thrilled, I tell you!
Ashton: Wait. A bonus question that suspiciously seems like a Q4. Fantable, we need to unite and unionize against the three-question format turning into four questions or more! What is next, five questions? I checked our Fantable CBA (we don’t have one), and it specifically states that all opinions presented by Fantable are free of charge and allowed to be changed by the editors. Furthermore, any content provided by Fantable can be pilfered by the writers for roundtable and article discussions.
To the question. I liked the contract terms. There was a run on back-up centers (that is what Oso is) at the NBA trade deadline. This will happen again as NIL deals for collegiate centers are at an all-time high, and they will return for the money. The days of drafting a center on the cheap are probably gone. Also, Lakers overpay for center Walker Kessler is looking good, but we will see how it ages. So yes, a good value for Oso.
With that said, I am more than a little concerned about Oso’s hip injuries to start the season. I hope the trainers are not pushing him out while not 100 percent healthy. Yes, the center position is a need for the Suns, but let’s not rush it.
OldAz: I think it was good value and don’t really correlate his contract to the hip injury, as he has been pretty healthy during his career. However, for this season, their lack of depth at center, with his hip injury added on, does not bode well at all. This next week could get rough if that lingers.
Rod: I’ve seen some fans call it an overpay, but I think it’s about right for a quality backup center today. Yes, Oso has some faults/limitations, but so do all backups at every position…or they wouldn’t be backups (with a few rare exceptions).
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quote of the Week
“This (the loss to Portland) is definitely a wake-up call for us. I’m glad it happened early. Everything went wrong. We have a lot to learn from the tape offensively and defensively.” — Devin Booker
Suns Trivia/History
On October 25, 1975, Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor member Alvan Adams made his NBA debut for the Phoenix Suns in an 89-88 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. He was just 2 assists short of getting a triple-double (14 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists) in his NBA debut. Adams also played a big role in helping the Suns get to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance, where they were defeated 4-2 by the Boston Celtics. Adams was named to the All-NBA Rookie Team, won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, and was selected to play in the All-Star Game that year.
On October 25, 2013, the Suns traded Shannon Brown, Marcin Gortat, Malcolm Lee and Kendall Marshall to the Washington Wizards for Emeka Okafor and a 2014 1st round draft pick (Tyler Ennis was later selected). Okafor was injured at the time of the trade and never played a single game for the Suns.
On October 29, 1996, in conjunction with the NBA’s 50th anniversary celebration, the list of The 50 Greatest Players in NBA History was announced. It included two former Suns, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.
On October 30, 1972, new Suns head coach “Butch” van Breda Kolff was fired after coaching just seven games for the Suns (3-4). General Manager Jerry Colangelo took over as head coach for the remainder of the season. The team would go 35-40 for the rest of the season under Colangelo (38-44 overall) and miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
On October 30, 2009, Steve Nash dished out 20 assists in a 123-101 win over the Golden State Warriors. Ten days later, he would do it again with 20 assists in a 119-115 win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 9.
The Week Ahead
Saturday: Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors, 7:00 pm AZ time Monday: Phoenix Suns @ OKC Thunder, 5:00 pm AZ time Friday: Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets, 7:00 pm AZ time
Important Future Dates
Oct. 24 – NBA G League Draft Oct. 26 – NBA G League Training Camps open Oct. 30 – Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Group Play tips off Nov. 6 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027 March 1 – Playoff Eligibility Waiver Deadline April 11 – 2026-27 Regular Season ends (All 30 teams play) April 12 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2027 (3 p.m. ET) April 13-16 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament April 17 – NBA Playoffs 2026 begin
It wasn't long ago that they had Jazz Chisholm Jr. learn the position on the fly when they acquired him at the 2024 trade deadline. And since then, they've acquired Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario and Jose Caballero over the years to help fill the hot corner, without any of them able to capture it.
McMahon has been the biggest disappointment. While his defense has still been above-average, his offensive struggles have helped create the black hole in the bottom part of the Yankees' lineup.
Rosario was a nice bench piece who can give a few starts at third, here and there, but he's now a free agent. And Caballero was exposed as a bench piece who occasionally starts, not an everyday player.
Here's a breakdown of the internal and external candidates to be the Yankees' 2027 third baseman.
Platoon between McMahon and Caballero
There's no use separating McMahon and Caballero into talking points because, in reality, if the Yankees don't add someone from outside the organization, a platoon between the two is likely what we'll see when the 2027 season begins.
McMahon and Caballero complement each other, hitting from opposite sides, with neither having the track record as a Yankee to be that everyday player.
Caballero, while showing flashes in 2026 when Anthony Volpe was on the shelf, returned to his career mean, slashing .231/.290/.365 with an OPS of .655. While his 14 homers were a career high, it's unlikely he'll reach that power level again. This past season was the only one in which he reached double-digit long balls.
And McMahon's offensive struggles are well-documented. Despite tinkering in the box, the third baseman hit offensive career lows -- in non-shortened seasons -- in home runs (11), doubles (14), hits (70) and average (.213).
McMahon's defense also saw a slight regression. He was a zero in OAA, his lowest in a non-shortened season since 2019. With one more guaranteed season on McMahon's deal, the glove-first third baseman will likely be used in 2026, even if it's for late-game defensive purposes.
Anthony Volpe
If Volpe is used at third base, there must have been a drastic change in the Yankees' roster. Whether it's an injury to McMahon or Caballero, or the Yankees make a deal to bring in an everyday second baseman.
Since those are possibilities, we should dig into what Volpe at third base could look like in 2027.
First off, if McMahon is healthy, this would be a platoon -- at least to start. When Volpe was demoted in the middle of the season, he used his time in the minors to learn second base and a bit of third. When Aaron Boone and the Yankees were looking to adjust their lineup/roster to produce more offense and to give more flexibility, they actually had Volpe play a couple of major league games at the hot corner.
He made one start and didn't have any balls hit his way. If not for a rained out game that was never made up, Volpe would have had another try at third base before the postseason. Volpe did make an appearance at third in the postseason (for two innings) and converted on his single chance.
The Yankees will likely have Volpe start his offseason program playing second and some third. While second base is the natural fit for Volpe, if his bat warrants him in the lineup, he could be an option at third.
Sep 8, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm (28) flips to first against the Houston Astros in the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. / Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Alec Bohm
It's crazy to think that Bohm might be the biggest free agent in the third base market this offseason, but that's where we are.
The 30-year-old is coming off an uneven 2026, where he bounced back from hitting below the Mendoza line through May 15 to ultimately slash .249/.315/.383 with an OPS of .735. His off-the-field issues -- filing a lawsuit against his own parents -- could have played a role in his slow start, and perhaps he's closer to the .274/.340/.433 player he was in the 120 games since May 9.
While his career offensive numbers never jumped off the page, he posts every day, playing in at least 140 games in four of his last five seasons. He's also just one of only seven right-handed bats to drive in at least 85 runs in three of the past four seasons, including this past season.
You would have to overlook the defense, however.
Bohm had a -11 OAA playing both third base (-8) and first base (-3) in 2026. It was a big step back from 2025 (-2 OAA) and 2024 (5), so that's a red flag, especially for a Yankees team that seemingly falters on the defensive end in October. But Hal Steinbrenner blamed the offense for the team's lack of postseason success the last two seasons, so perhaps the organization will overlook it for Bohm.
And with McMahon on the roster, he can replace Bohm at third base in late-game situations when the Yankees are preserving a lead.
Bohm could also be a right-handed option at first base as a Paul Goldschmidt -- who is a free agent -- replacement. Again, the Yankees would have to overlook the defense, especially with Luis Garcia Jr. and Ben Rice as below-average defenders at the position -- though Garcia Jr. proved to be much better at the position than once thought.
Eugenio Suarez
Another option where offense trumps defense, Suarez would, admittedly, be a reach for the Yankees.
Suarez only played 50 games at third base in 2026 and had a -7 OAA. His arm strength is also in the bottom 25 percent in the league, so if the Yankees do scoop up Suarez, it would have to be a pseudo-platoon with McMahon.
There's more offensive upside for Suarez, but his 2026 was far from the 49-homer 2025 he enjoyed. Suarez still hit 26 bombs, but slashed .212/.307/.433 with an OPS of .740. But is 2026 an outlier for Suarez? It's worth the risk for the Yankees if the money is right to inject the position with some much-needed power.
The Reds and Suarez have a mutual option for 2027, which Cincinnati would certainly decline. The market for Suarez could be sparse, as no team wanted the right-handed slugger when the Reds placed him on waivers late this past season.
He signed with the Reds on a one-year, $15 million deal before the start of the season, so another one-year deal is likely for the 35-year-old.
Longshot candidates
Let's talk about some candidates who are unlikely to be available.
Bo Bichette has an option to return to the Mets, and while he bounced back from a slow start to the 2026 season, he would be leaving $42 million on the table if he opts out, a risk considering the upcoming labor negotiations.
If he were to test free agency, the Yankees could take a flyer on the former Blue Jay.
There's also the Astros' Isaac Paredes.
Houston has a club option to retain the 27-year-old for just $13.35 million, which they certainly will. Paredes slashed .262/.360/.447 with an OPS of .807 to go along with his 25 home runs on an objectively subpar Astros team.
If the Yankees could figure out a trade package to Houston's liking, Paredes would be a great choice.
Make a move
The Yankees' third base situation is similar to second base in that the prudent decision would be to start the season with in-house options. A platoon of McMahon and Caballero is the likely outcome, but if there's a splash to be made, it's at third.
Of the free agent options, Bohm is the ideal candidate as he can be the everyday third baseman for years to come, especially once McMahon is off the books following the 2027 season.
But spinning a trade for Paredes could potentially raise the ceiling of what the 2027 Yankees could be offensively. It would take a willing partner, but of all the potential trades Brian Cashman could make, he's the one I would eye.
When the Winnipeg Jets finally traded Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils on Friday, the reaction to the return was mixed. A debate has since taken hold on would the Jets have been better off with the deal that reportedly sat on the table at the NHL Draft?
Winnipeg sent Hellebuyck to New Jersey for forward Dawson Mercer, recent 12th overall pick Alexander Command, veteran center Nick Bjugstad, who is currently on the injured reserve, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Reports after the draft said the Jets had a Hellebuyck deal available from the Buffalo Sabres. According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, the package would have included the fourth overall pick, which Buffalo used on Daxon Rudolph, plus starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a player believed to be Jack Quinn and at least one more asset.
The Sabres also reportedly wanted Winnipeg's eighth overall pick as part of the deal. Comparing the two packages piece by piece, the Devils' offer comes out ahead, if only slightly in some areas.
In goal, Luukkonen is the more established NHL name, while Daws is two years younger and earlier in his development. Daws went 9-11-0 with a 3.15 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage in his first NHL season, then returned to the minors and improved.
Over the next two seasons, he went 5-2-0 with a 2.02 GAA and a .925 save percentage, all team-leading marks for the Devils over that span. This season, he allowed six goals on 32 shots in his season opener against the New York Islanders, but quickly rebounded, allowing five goals on 54 shots over his next three starts, nabbing two wins. Luukkonen has shown he can be a fringe NHL starter, while the jury is still out on Daws.
Among forwards, Mercer and Quinn are very close as the Sabres winger has ten points in as many games this season and a career high of 51 points, while mostly being a 40-to-50-point player.
Mercer, a year younger at 24, has a slighly higher career best of 56 points and so far has four assists but no goal in ten games this season. Quinn is listed mainly as a winger, while Mercer can play right wing and center, giving Winnipeg added flexibility that matters in today's NHL. Both are pending restricted free agents, so neither has an edge in financial flexibility but Mercer appears to be the slightly better option.
The draft picks may be the clearest difference as Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said at his press conference that Winnipeg was going to select Viggo Björck wherever it was picking if he was available. A trade with Buffalo would therefore have meant moving up to fourth overall for a player the Jets landed at eighth overall anyway.
Under the Devils deal, Winnipeg kept the pick, got Björck and added Command, an 18-year-old center who is unlikely to reach the NHL for several years. Both prospects are from Sweden and have already been in touch, and the pair could give the Jets a long-term one-two punch down the middle.
The unnamed additional asset in the Buffalo offer makes it hard to judge that package in full. But whatever it was would have had to outweigh a return that also includes Bjugstad, a depth center and pending free agent, and two picks, including the second-rounder. Cheveldayoff said he can use the added assets at the trade deadline to help further bolster the roster.
Bjugstad is recovering from surgery last month on a torn muscle and is expected to be out four to six months, though Cheveldayoff said some issues remain under a doctor's care. He is on IR in Winnipeg and will not need to be placed on long-term injured reserve.
Mercer could make his Jets debut as early as Sunday, when Winnipeg hosts the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium. If he plays well, it could leave a positive impression early on that Cheveldayoff made the right move by sticking to his guns.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Through the first 10 games of their 84-game season, the Devils rank second among all NHL teams in expected goal differential (+11.36, or +1.136 per game), but rank third worst in goal differential above expected (-9.36, or -0.936 per game).
Both of the goalies that have manned the net for the Devils this season - veteran Jake Allen and Winnipeg-bound Nico Daws - have struggled, combining to allow a whopping 6.0 total goals above expected thus far.
For reference, Hellebuyck was viewed to have had a very poor season by his standards in 2025-26, but still recorded 5.5 total goals saved above expected across 57 games played.
Within this context, New Jersey's solid 6-4-0 start to the year can be viewed as an underperformance, one which Mehta has reasonably diagnosed as a goaltending issue.
However, the other NHL players sent by the Devils to Winnipeg in exchange for Hellebuyck were forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad.
In solving one key issue (goaltending), Mehta may have created another (forward depth).
Mercer's versatility and complementary style could be greatly missed by the Devils moving forward. In 2025-26, he partnered center Nico Hischier and winger Timo Meier on what was, by far, the team's most productive and reliable forward line. Together, the trio played a team-high 476 minutes across 54 games, generating a total expected goal differential of +8.2.
Mercer scored 20 goals and added 22 assists in 2025-26, and at time of writing, he has an ongoing ironman streak, having suited up in 420 straight contests dating back to his NHL debut in 2021.
Apr 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (91) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Prudential Center. / Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
This season, Mercer was supplanted by newcomer Luke Evangelista on that forward line alongside Hischier and Meier. Mercer was instead mostly deployed alongside center Evan Rodrigues and winger Anthony Mantha on the Devils' third line.
Mercer is yet to open his scoring account this season, tallying four assists in the last 10 games he's played as a Devil.
Bjugstad, meanwhile, is a bottom-six veteran center who averaged just 10:00 minutes of ice time per game in the 26 games he played last season with New Jersey after he was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in early February of 2026. He underwent surgery for a torn left pec in September and is currently on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) with an expected return sometime in early 2027.
With a productive first two forward lines - top line of Arseny Gritsyuk and Jesper Bratt centered by Jack Hughes, second line of Evangelista and Meier centered by Hischier - head coach Sheldon Keefe will be tasked with finding the right combination of players to anchor the Devils' bottom-six forward lines.
Bottom-six forwards are often overlooked, but are crucial gears within a winning machine. These two forward lines provide short bursts of energetic, physical, defensively sound play, mucking up possession and trying to generate scoring opportunities through aggressive forechecking rather than end-to-end skill. As such, bottom-six forwards are also relied upon for penalty-killing duties.
The aforementioned Rodrigues won two Stanley Cups as a versatile bottom-six forward with the Florida Panthers. Mantha set career highs in both goals (33) and assists (31) with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, but at 6'5" and 240 pounds, he's also an intimidating presence on the ice who is a prototypical third-line spark plug.
Wingers Connor Brown and Stefan Noesen are grit-and-sandpaper types, willing and able to serve limited roles on the fourth line and as penalty-kill specialists. With the Devils' forward depth suddenly looking mighty thin, the top priority for these aging veterans is to stay healthy and productive.
With Mercer and Bjugstad now out of the picture, center Cody Glass and 23-year-old rookie Amadeus Lombardi have a chance to nail down expanded roles as bottom-six stalwarts.
Glass played pretty sparingly in his 70 games last season, but recorded career-best figures in goals (19) and faceoff win percentage (57.9 percent).
Lombardi, meanwhile, is yet to score his first NHL goal through eight games this season, but has three assists to his name, two of which came in the Devils' 7-1 rout of the Rangers in their home opener.
The Flyers coughed up two leads Saturday afternoon en route to a 5-4 loss to the Ducks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Rick Tocchet’s club led 2-0 and 3-2 in the second period, but it went into intermission tied at 3-3.
Anaheim took its first lead two minutes into the third period when Joseph Woll surrendered a leaky goal to third-pair defenseman Tristan Luneau. Beckett Sennecke cushioned the Ducks’ advantage to 5-3 with a power play goal 5:10 minutes later.
“I thought we played well enough to win the game,” Woll said. “I don’t think I played well enough to win the game. Sometimes it goes like that, so that’s disappointing.”
Matvei Michkov continued his scoring surge for the Flyers with a pair of goals. He’s on a five-game point streak (six goals, two assists).
“I feel good, but today I feel bad,” Michkov said. “My team lost.”
Porter Martone and Tyson Foerster provided the Flyers’ other goals. Foerster’s was a shorthanded marker, which put the Flyers back ahead 3-2. But Judd Caulfield responded for Anaheim not even a minute and a half later.
The Flyers (3-7-3) had their three-game winning streak snapped.
“We’re playing better, there’s lots to like about our game,” Tocchet said. “But the inability to win this game, it stings because I thought this was a game we should have won. But we let them off the hook with whatever factors. So you’ve just got to learn from it.”
Saturday afternoon was the latest edition of this budding rivalry between the Flyers and Ducks (5-6-0). Flyers fans welcomed back Cutter Gauthier with boos and chants.
The talented winger was visiting for the third time since being traded in January 2024 after he declined to sign with the Flyers. He was drafted fifth overall by the club in 2022.
The Flyers had dominated Gauthier’s first two trips to Philadelphia, winning both games by a combined score of 11-2.
But Gauthier and Anaheim got the best of the Flyers in this one.
“We come out hot, crowd’s amazing,” Martone said. “You get up 2-0 going into the second period. Credit to them, they had no quit. I like our bounce-back there in the third, but we’ve got to be able to play with a lead. That one definitely stings, to blow that one and lose by one goal.”
Last season, Trevor Zegras added a chapter to the rivalry. He had a big game against the Ducks after they traded him to the Flyers in the offseason.
This summer, the rivalry received some more fuel with the Flyers’ loaded offer sheet to Leo Carlsson. Anaheim ended up matching the offer to keep its franchise center from leaving for the Flyers.
Carlsson had a goal and an assist Saturday afternoon, while Gauthier collected an assist.
A Philly welcome for Cutter Gauthier, who is introduced as one of today’s starters. pic.twitter.com/3Ou8ZuFKoE
• Woll wasn’t as sharp as he has been this season, stopping 21 of 26 shots.
“I’ll flush it and get back to work,” Woll, who entered with a .917 save percentage, said.
The early third-period goal was a real tough one.
But the game was tied before that goal because of him. He made back-to-back stellar stops on Gauthier in the final 12 seconds of the middle stanza with the Ducks on a power play.
Anaheim ripped off three goals in the second period. Carlsson put the Ducks on the board when he took advantage of a failed exchange behind the net between Woll and Nick Seeler.
A.J. Greer scored Anaheim’s second marker on a quick shot that hit the post and then Woll’s skate before trickling over the goal line.
Tocchet believed the Flyers felt it was going to be “a bit of an easy” game when they went into the second period with a 2-0 lead.
“I thought we got loose in the second,” Tocchet said. “I thought we had a really good first. I thought we got loose, I think that let them back in the game.”
The head coach had Woll’s back.
“He’s fine,” Tocchet said. “The last thing we’re talking about is goaltending. We’ve had great goaltending every night.”
Ducks netminder Lukas Dostal stopped 28 of the Flyers’ 32 shots.
• Michkov and Martone have combined for 11 goals this season.
Michkov’s eighth of the season cut the Flyers’ deficit to 5-4 in the third period.
His seventh opened the scoring in the first period. The Flyers were on a 5-on-3 power play. Michkov curled into the slot area for a nice shot.
“His playmaking ability is off the charts,” Noah Cates said. “When he’s going and he’s feeling it, he’s making those plays. But he’s also playing smart and skating well.”
Martone made it 2-0 just 1:03 minutes after Michkov’s goal with the Flyers on the 5-on-4 power play. Travis Sanheim made a good read to find the rookie winger at the doorstep.
The Flyers had the power play opportunities because of Hunter McDonald. His clean hit on Sam Colangelo irritated the Ducks, who were hit with three penalties in retaliation.
McDonald, a 24-year-old defenseman, has been an effective hitter through three games this season.
• Rasmus Ristolainen returned to the lineup after missing nine games with an injury to his left hand.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 23: A general view inside the stadium from above prior to Game One of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday, October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Game one is in the books and what a game it was.
One of those games where a matter of inches was the difference between victory and defeat and you just have to tip your cap and move on to the next one.
So tonight the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers will move on to game two of the 2026 World Series with Milwaukee holding a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series.
Tampa Bay will be sending its ace to the hill with 31-year old Drew Rasmussen taking the mound as he faced the team that made him a 6th round pick in the 2018 draft. Rasmussen was among the best pitchers in all of baseball over the second half of the 2026 season and thus far has been the top pitcher of the postseason. Over three starts in the playoffs, Rasmussen has compiled a 1.29 ERA | 2.58 FIP with a 30.3 K% and 3.9 BB% over 21 innings pitched. Rasmussen’s last outing came on the 18th in game five against Cleveland where he allowed 1 run on 4 hits over 7 innings pitched en route to a 3-1 victory.
Opposing Rasmussen on the mound is 24-year old Logan Henderson, whom the Brewers selected in the 4th round of the 2021 draft out of McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. Henderson has soldified his place in the Brewers rotation despite injury woes the past two years. When Henderson does the take the mound, he has proven himself a capable strikethrower, capable of racking up strikeouts thanks to a plus change-up while limiting walks. Among 155 pitchers with at least 90 innings pitched, Henderson ranked 6th in K-BB%.
Overall over the course of the 2026 season, Henderson compiled a 2.47 ERA | 3.32 FIP with a 29.6 K% & 5.1 BB% over 98.1 IP. Thus far in the postseason, Henderson has a 3.00 ERA | 3.77 FIP with a 15.0 K% and 12.5 BB%. It has been nearly two weeks since Henderson last pitched, when he took the mound on the 12th for game two against the Los Angeles Dodgers; Henderson allowed four runs — two earned — on three hits while he walked two and struck out two over four innings of work.
Henderson and the Rays present an interesting matchup as the Rays make more contact than any other team in baseball, while Henderson ranks 2nd among pitchers with at least 90 IP in Zone%. Despite being in the zone 47.4% of the time, opponents make contact on those pitches just 81.2% of the time, which is in the 97th percentile.
On Friday, former Florida Panthers assistant GM and current New Jersey Devils GM pulled off a blockbuster deal, landing Connor Hellebuyck in a five-team trade.
The three-time Vezina Trophy winner and one-time Hart Trophy winner formally and publicly requested a trade this off-season and chose to sit out training camp, pre-season, and the start of the 2026-27 NHL regular season. He was suspended by the Winnipeg Jets without pay.
Nothing changed until yesterday, when the Devils sent five players in a package, led by forward Dawson Mercer and the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft, Alexander Command, to the Jets to land Hellebuyck.
Trade discussions involving Hellebuyck date back to the start of the off-season, and among the several teams interested, like the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes, the Panthers tried to land the gold-medal-winning goaltender from the Jets.
Speculation has circulated about what the Panthers may have offered for Hellebuyck, and yesterday evening NHL insider Elliotte Friedman joined the Kyper and Bourne show to outline the Panthers' offer.
"I think it was Rodrigues, I think it was Luostarinen, and a chunk of the picks they gave to Ottawa for Tkachuk," said Friedman. "Maybe not all of them, but a couple of them. And I heard that Winnipeg asked for Lundell, and that would have gotten the deal done. And Florida was like, 'We’re not doing that. We are not putting him in there.''
It's been long reported that the Jets were fairly insistent on acquiring Anton Lundell in a deal for Hellebuyck. The Jets believe they can compete whether Hellebuyck is with the team or not, so adding Lundell would have significantly improved their center depth.
As for the pieces they tried to trade, they eventually sent Evan Rodrigues to the Devils to acquire Jacob Markstrom. Eetu Luostarinen remains with the Panthers, and as Friedman mentioned, the picks they attempted to get involved in were used to acquire Brady Tkachuk.
Time will tell whether the Panthers made the right move by keeping Lundell rather than dealing him away for Hellebuyck. Lundell is off to a slow offensive start, posting just one goal and three points in 11 games.
Tkachuk has bounced back from a slow start, scoring seven goals and 11 points in 11 games, while Luostarinen has just two goals in 11. As for Markstrom, he's dealing with injury issues but has posted a respectable .897 save percentage over six games.
The Devils now become Stanley Cup contenders. With a strong roster headlined by Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Luke Hughes, the Devils have few weak spots and are a true threat to the Panthers in the Eastern Conference.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.
See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source.Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
