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NEW YORK — The NHL took the first step toward expansion in Texas, agreeing to terms with billionaire Dan Friedkin and his family to explore the feasibility of putting a franchise in Houston or Austin.
Far enough from the Dallas Stars, who relocated from Minnesota in 1993, a new team would not interfere with their territorial rights. And the league has shown no fear of adding one team at a time, so No. 33 does not have to come with No. 34.
“Symmetry I don’t think should necessarily govern expansion,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “You expand if you think it makes sense and enhances what the league has.”
Money is the obvious answer. Bettman said the total investment of the project would be some $3.5 billion, which would include expansion fees paid to established owners along with the cost of building a new arena.
The Houston Rockets’ arena downtown is publicly owned but controlled by team owner Tilman Fertitta’s Clutch City Sports and Entertainment group. The home of the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars, in the Austin suburb of Cedar Park, has a capacity of 8,000 that is a little over half the size of the NHL’s smallest current rink (Winnipeg).
“I would be surprised if the NHL would be OK with an expansion team that does not have a new arena,” said Brian Mills, an associate professor at the University of Texas who teaches courses on sports economics and strategy. “The revenue potential with the luxury boxes and the way that they set those up and the money that they like to extract from the local cities is way too large to pass up.”
They also are huge markets. Houston at nearly 2.4 million is the fourth-most-populated U.S. city; Austin at just over 1 million is in the top 12.
“Obviously it makes sense if you’re a sports league to have a franchise in the nation’s fifth-largest metro area and one that is growing rapidly,” said Holy Cross professor Victor Matheson, an expert in sports economics. “Houston obviously makes sense in general as a destination for any league.”
Austin is smaller but has doubled its population since the mid-1990s and has seen an infusion of people over the past five years. Only eight of the NHL’s existing markets are bigger.
“It’s becoming more and more of a tech city, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more hockey fans here than there used to be,” Mills said. “I would imagine there’s some market for the NHL here in Austin, particularly more than when it was a sleepy, small town capital of Texas 30 years ago.”
When hockey was picking up in popularity in the 1960s and ‘70s and the NHL went from six teams to 18, the rival World Hockey Association was founded and Houston got a franchise when the one in Dayton, Ohio, failed to get off the ground.
The Aeros’ inaugural season was in 1972-78, and they were best known for “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe playing for them along with sons Mark and Marty. They won four Avco World Trophies as WHA champions before folding.
An AHL team using the same name existed in Houston from 1994-2013. The Texas Stars have played in Austin since ’09.
“There’s some interest of hockey,” University of Houston economics professor Steven G. Craig said. “Houston is full of immigrants from around the country and around the world. And Austin is sort of similar in the sense of a pretty heterogeneous population.”
Growing the sport in another so-called non-traditional spot is a big benefit. Smashing successes in places like Las Vegas and Tampa, Florida, show what hockey can do across the Sun Belt when strong ownership is involved.
“Southern cities have been doing pretty well now these days in the NHL: the Lightning and the Panthers,” Mills said of the two teams in Florida. “You’ve got some pretty good hockey teams after some pretty miserable failures with some earlier expansion to the South.”
Abandoning the second try in Atlanta (the Thrashers from 2000-11) was more a failure of ownership than the market. The same could be said in Arizona, where a revolving door of owners led to arena miscues and eventually the Coyotes being sold and moved to Salt Lake City in 2024 to become the Utah Mammoth.
A 33rd team also means 20-23 more NHL players and hopefuls in the minors. The changing landscape of hockey development at the junior and college levels has the potential to churn more talent through the pipeline in North America than ever before, along with players coming from Europe.
“You do have a pretty big pool of players,” Matheson said. “I’m not particularly worried about diluting the talent there because I think there’s a lot of skill.”
After this six-month exploratory phase is complete, recent history suggests a season-ticket drive would be one of the subsequent steps. Ticket drives validated interest that led to the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken.
The Board of Governors would need to approve moving forward in the process. No vote has yet been held, though the executive committee supported exploring Houston and Austin.
And while the NHL is comfortable with unbalanced Eastern and Western conferences, getting to 34 teams seems inevitable if it goes to 33. Bettman said the board was updated on situations in Atlanta and Arizona, and it would be no surprise if one of those places got another crack at it.
Lance McCullers Jr., on the IL since May 19 with a right rotator cuff impingement, is scheduled to make his first rehab start tonight with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Constellation Field.
Josh Hendrickson is currently listed as the Space Cowboys starter tonight when the team hosts the El Paso Chihuahuas.
That, combined with the wording of the tweet from the Triple-A team, indicate McCullers will likely get a 1 inning appearance out of the bullpen.
McCullers showed promise in spring and had a terrific first start of the season, but it has been a struggle for the veteran ever since with fluctuating velocity levels and intermittent command.
McCullers currently sports a 2-3 record with a 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 8 starts in 39.1 IP.
Officially, Garnet Hathaway has played his last game as a Philadelphia Flyers player.
On Thursday morning, the Flyers traded Hathaway to the Florida Panthers, ending a three-year tenure in Philadelphia for the veteran tough guy.
By moving on from Hathaway, the Flyers moved up one round in the 2026 NHL Draft.
In exchange for Hathaway, 50% retention of his $2.4 million cap hit, and a 2026 sixth-round pick, the Flyers received a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.
After adding Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa, the Panthers continue to add experienced, physical players who can help them win now.
As for the Flyers, they clear a roster spot, a contract spot, and $1.2 million in cap space while adding even more draft capital.
They do, however, lose an important leader who played some hard minutes for head coaches John Tortorella and Rick Tocchet.
The Hathaway trade clearly indicates that the Flyers feel their young players are ready to step into greater leadership roles, and this gives a veteran who accepted a reduced role a chance to win a Stanley Cup elsewhere.
Just months ago, the Flyers did the same with tough guy Nick Deslauriers, trading him away for free, and he won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes and was subsequently rewarded with a two-year extension.
Hathaway, 34, stumbled to just one goal and two assists in 66 games for the Flyers last season, but finishes his career in Philadelphia with 18 goals, 23 assists, and 41 points in 215 games, the second-most he's played with any team in his 11-year NHL career.
Yes, good morning, everyone. To conclude their four-game series in St. Petersburg, the Royals and Rays face each other on this fine Thursday a.m. It’s not every day that you can watch baseball before noon–well, maybe it is if you live out west, but rare is this chance for Kansas Citians.
At stake: the series! The Royals won the first two games against the Rays in vastly different fashions before dropping last night’s ho-hum contest. Now, Kansas City can take the series with a victory while the Rays, bless their hearts, can only split the series.
Let’s check out the lineups with the Royals first, of course.
Once more, Bobby Witt Jr. is not in the lineup, nor has he been placed on the Injured List. Maybe he’ll show up in Chicago.
But focusing on those starting, Carter Jensen remains in the leadoff spot, where he’s hit very well. I’m glad to see Nick Loftin getting another start, although, I mean, who else is there to play over him? Jac Caglianone didn’t hit a home run yesterday, so he’s clearly a bust. Lane Thomas is batting cleanup. Sure, whatever. Salvador Perez remains in the sixth spot, Isaac Collins and Starling Marte round out the outfield, and Tyler Tolbert starts at short.
The Royals face Opener–I refuse to call this man a starting pitcher–Casey Legumina. Have you heard of him? If so, kudos. I hadn’t, though I’m not exactly a Rays fan. It’ll be his 17th appearance for the Rays after appearing in eight games to start the season with the Mariners. Looking at his numbers…he’s fine.
Seth Lugo is on the mound for the Royals. Recently on 810 Sports Radio, ESPN’s Jeff Passan named Lugo as the biggest Royal name to be moved at this year’s deadline. Makes sense. I like Lugo a lot, but he’s probably better off pitching for a contender (he’s already 36) while bringing back a younger piece or two to Kansas City.
Lugo’s last outing was an odd one. He picked up the win against the Cardinals after surrendering only one earned run (two runs total) through six. He gave up five hits and allowed three walks while not striking out a single batter. In fact, his strikeouts have decreased each of his last four starts from six to four to two to zero. Expect negative strikeouts today.
Here’s the Rays lineup:
Game starts at 11:10 a.m. CST.
CHICAGO — Bowen Byram got the opportunity he wanted in a place he wanted to go. He thinks he’s ready.
So do the Chicago Blackhawks — and they paid a hefty price because of that belief.
Byram is stepping in as Chicago’s No. 1 defenseman after he was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres. The Blackhawks sent the No. 4 and No. 45 selections in the NHL draft and defenseman Louis Crevier to the Sabres for Byram and physical forward Jordan Greenway.
“To be honest, I feel like I’ve just been preparing for an opportunity like this for a long time,” Byram said.
Byram, who just turned 25 on June 13, had 11 goals and a career-high 42 points for Buffalo last season. He was part of a strong group of defensemen who helped the Sabres to the Atlantic Division title and the franchise’s first playoff appearance since the 2010-11 season.
But Byram never has been the top defenseman on his NHL team. He played with Cale Makar in Colorado at the beginning of his career and Rasmus Dahlin in Buffalo. He also is eligible for free agency after this season, putting him in line for a lucrative extension before he suits up for his first game with Chicago.
“I think at the end of the day, I can’t get too carried away with anything,” Byram said. “I’ve just got to come in and prove what I can do. I know that I’m confident in myself. You know I feel that, after this move, the Blackhawks are confident in me, so it’s a great feeling to have a team believing in you.”
Then there is the cost of the trade. While the top forward prospects likely will be gone by the No. 4 pick, Chicago could have used the selection on one of the top defensemen — albeit one that probably wouldn’t have been able to help the team for a while. Crevier, 25, also made major strides last season, finishing with seven goals and 18 assists in 78 games.
The Blackhawks haven’t made a postseason appearance since the NHL used an expanded playoff format after the 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This was just a value that we put on a really, really good young player in Bo that we felt it was advantageous to move on and acquire for our group,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. “He fits the style of play that we want to play. He fits that the age range that we want to put our players into and have our players grow together within. And so it just made a lot of sense.”
The No. 4 pick also could have played a role in finding some help for Connor Bedard on the team’s top line. While remaining open to another trade, Davidson said he likes the team’s internal options at forward. Roman Kantserov, one of the team’s top prospects, is coming over from Russia after agreeing to an entry-level contract in May.
Bedard is on his way to a big contract this summer. He has skated with Byram in the summer in the past, and the two played together for Team Canada in the 2024 world championships. The players spoke on the phone.
“We’re just both excited,” Byram said. “I’m super excited to get the opportunity to play with him. Everyone knows how good of a player he is.”
Byram’s father, Shawn, played for Chicago on Nov. 3, 1991, in the last of his five NHL games. The Blackhawks had a chance to take Byram in the 2019 draft, but they opted for Kirby Dach at No. 3 and Byram went to the Avalanche at No. 4.
Byram also cheered for the Blackhawks while growing up in western Canada.
“It’s funny how things have kind of come full circle,” he said.
Byram joins a group of promising young defensemen in Chicago that includes Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski — all first-round draft picks who have experienced some growing pains since coming into the league. The Blackhawks also have Alex Vlasic going into his sixth NHL season.
Byram said he is ready to share what he has learned on the road from the top of the draft to regular minutes on the blue line.
“I don’t think I’ll necessarily try to change the world or anything when I come into the locker room,” Byram said. “Just going to try to be myself. And you know I’m a vocal guy to begin with, so I don’t think that’ll stop in this situation.”
Greenway, 29, had a goal and five assists in 40 games with the Sabres last season. Davidson said the 6-foot-6 Greenway can kill penalties, and he brings a physical element to the team’s bottom two lines.
"He’s a really big body that can get in on the forecheck and make life difficult for opposing defenders and that’s something that we wanted to improve,” Davidson said.
Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa will wear No. 4, he announced at his introductory press conference on Thursday.
Other notable Wizards to wear No. 4 include: Chris Webber, Antawn Jamison and Russell Westbrook.
Dybantsa, 19, was selected by Washington with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged a Division-I best 25.5 points and 6.8 rebounds as a freshman at BYU.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are hosting the Mariners for their final game of a three-game set in a Thursday matinee at PNC Park.
Bubba Chandler is drawing the start for the Buccos, and he’s coming off a game in which he pitched six innings against the Colorado Rockies on June 19 at Coors Field. Chandler went six innings, giving up just two earned runs, but could not grab the win as he failed to generate any run support. The Pirates offense will have to step up against the Mariners, but they won’t have it easy against Bryce Miller.
Miller has been very impressive since entering the rotation in the middle of May. He has a 3-0 record with a 1.58 ERA. He hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any start this season and has gone at least five innings in every appearance he’s made. This doesn’t bode well for the Pirates, who have been inconsistent with their offense as of late.
With the Pirates slipping in the standings, they need to ensure that they aren’t dropping too many games, especially at home. The halfway point of the season has come and gone, so the Pirates’ margin for error is growing increasingly thin for the standings.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Bryce Miller (3-1, 1.58 ERA) vs. Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.62 ERA)
BD community, chime off in the comments section below.
Veteran big man Al Horford is staying in the Bay Area.
Horford, 40, told Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN that he was going to sign a new contract to stay with Stephen Curry and the Warriors. According to the report, Horford will decline his $5.97 million player option to sign a fully guaranteed two-year, $14 million contract.
Horford played in just 45 games last season due to injuries — primarily sciatica and a calf strain — and when he did, he averaged 8.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, shooting 36.1% from 3-point range. Horford told ESPN why he wanted to return to a team that looked like it might make some noise in the West until Jimmy Butler went down with a torn ACL.
"I want to see it through," Horford said. "That [injury] kind of put a damper on things. Jimmy is a very special player, and he was doing so much for us. I feel like things were starting to turn...
"Me being here a year, being acclimated with [coach Steve] Kerr, with Steph, with everybody else, I feel like we can continue to take steps forward and have a better season," Horford said.
Butler is going to miss the start of the NBA season still recovering. Curry missed time last year due to a lingering runner's knee issue. Moses Moody missed time with a torn left patellar tendon. This is an older core, but if the Warriors can get this group through the playoffs largely healthy, they will be a tough out in a deep conference.
Keeping Horford and his steady hand is part of that.
As Montreal Canadiens fans get ready to experience the next season without Brendan Gallagher wearing the Sainte-Flanelle, the mayor of Montreal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, has named the alternate captain an Honorary Citizen.
By definition, an Honorary Citizen is someone with a lasting impact on the well-being of Montrealers through their actions, art and commitment. According to the city’s website, the distinction was first granted in 2002, and no other Canadiens players have ever received it.
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The honor was last bestowed in 2023 on Roger Thibault and Theo Wouters, the first same sex couple to be civilly united in Canada. Before them, Commandant Robert Piché had received it in 2022, after Lucien Bouchard, Louise Harel, and Louise Forrestier had received it, amongst others, in 2021. The ceremony will be held on Thursday at 3:00 PM.
While some may question how a hockey player can make a lasting impact on Montrealers’ well-being, it’s easy to understand when you think back to the mood in the City when the Canadiens make a deep playoff run, something they experienced for the first time in five years last spring. Furthermore, over the years, Gallagher has been involved in numerous fundraising efforts and has made a lasting impact both on and off the ice.
In 14 seasons with the team, Gallagher has skated in 911 games, picking up 487 points, including 246 goals, and has become a fan favourite thanks to his rugged style of play, grit, determination, and dedication to the team. At 34 years old, the veteran has become surplus to requirements in the Canadiens’ lineup and, on dressing-room clear-out day, announced that he would be moving on.
There have been rumblings about his being traded to the Vancouver Canucks ever since, but no deal has been made. Should the Canadiens be unable to move him and his $6.5 million cap hit, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them buy him out to allow him to start afresh and sign a less onerous contract with another team, since he has made it clear that he has no interest in sticking around if he's not going to play.
Since announcing his upcoming departure, the winger has received an outpouring of love from the fans and was also named the Sports Personality of the Year by the Cummings Center Foundation. This weekend, he will also take part in a signing session at Memorable Authentic in Mascouche, giving fans what is likely their last opportunity to meet him.
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The WooSox got out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Wednesday against the Mud Hens (DET), thanks to a two-run double from Allan Castro. The pitching was unable to hang on, though, with starter Raymond Burgos allowing four runs (three earned) in four innings. Reliever Tyler Samaniego gave up a home run in the fifth, to get the loss, falling to 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA in his time at Triple-A. Samaniego had a 2.66 ERA in the big leagues over 20 1/3 innings, but has struggled at Worcester over 11 1/3 minor league innings.
Braiden Ward had two hits for the Woo Sox in the leadoff spot, stealing his 33rd and 34th bags of the season. Ward would be a great September call-up when the rosters expand for his speed, or even the last guy on the bench in a playoff series … never mind.
Brayan Bello (0-0, 5.19) will get the ball for the Woo Sox on Thursday at 6:45.
Lastly, when I used to read the Boston Globe box scores meticulously every day as a kid, my favorite team name in any sport or level was the Toledo Mud Hens. I’m just glad this team name still exists in the same form.
The Sea Dogs exploded for 14 hits against the Yard Goats (COL) on Wednesday, in a 10-4 rout. Portland also had eight walks and a hit by a pitch on the day. By my math, that’s 23 baserunners. Tons of multi-hit efforts, including three from Matt Fraizer, and two from Franklin Arias, Nate Baez, Jack Winnay, and Marvin Alcantara.
Starting pitcher Hayden Mullins fell one out short of qualifying for the win, going 4 2/3 with 6 strikeouts and 2 runs allowed. Michael Sansone took it from there, going the final 4 1/3 for the win, allowing 2 runs. Hopefully, this is a step in the right direction for Mullins, who was excellent a year ago (2.21 ERA between High-A and Double-A) but had not gotten out of the fourth inning in three consecutive starts.
Gage Ziehl (3-2, 4.56) will start for the Sea Dogs on Thursday at 7:10.
The best performance of the day throughout the minor leagues for the Red Sox was from last year’s eighth-round pick, Dylan Brown. Brown dominated Asheville (HOU) hitters over seven innings, striking out 11. Brown has a 3.34 ERA combined between Salem and Greenville this season, in 12 games.
Luke Heyman hit a two-run homer for the Drive, his fifth, and Antonio Anderson had a two-hit day.
This line in the box score made me laugh. I wish I could find a video. “Ejections: Drive hitting coach Jarrett Pico ejected by HP umpire Natanael Rodriguez Garcia (2nd).”
Jojo Ingrassia (1-0, 1.52) takes the hill for Greenville at 6:45 on Thursday.
The RidgeYaks got ahead early, thanks to home runs from Adonys Guzman and Andruw Mussett, to take a 3-0 lead after two.
Starter Leighton Finley, a sixth-round pick a year ago, took it from there, pitching great against the Pelicans (CHC) to pick up the win on Wednesday. He struck out ten batters in five innings, allowing two runs. Williams Rodriguez picked up a seven-out save, not allowing a run.
Cole Tolbert (1-0, 2.55) will toe the rubber for Salem on Thursday at 6:35.
Finally, a reminder that if you want to chat about major league or minor league Red Sox baseball, you can reach me on Twitter @BobOsgood15 or by email at redseatpodcast@gmail.com
The 1993 Yankees were a pivot point. After posting four straight losing seasons for the first time in nearly 80 years, the ’93 squad climbed out of the morass with an 88-win season. While that finish left them with the third-best record in a two-team AL playoff picture, it served notice that the Gene Michael and Buck Showalter-led Yankees were on the rise. On a team laden with veteran stars like Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs, and Paul O’Neill alongside up-and-comers like Bernie Williams, the team’s most valuable position player was a much less heralded player who, at the age of 30, was getting the chance to start full-time for the first time in his career.
Robert Michael Stanley
Born: June 25, 1963 (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Yankees Tenure: 1992-95, 1997
Mike Stanley grew up in Florida, where he starred on both sides of the ball at the University of Florida, earning all-scholastic SEC team honors. Taken by Texas in the 16th round of the 1985 MLB Draft, the catcher quickly rose through the Rangers’ system, hitting .327 across three levels of the minor leagues to turn himself into a legitimate prospect. Stanley made his debut on the day before his 23rd birthday in 1986 and the future looked bright.
However, he struggled to translate his offensive profile into big-league success. Over parts of six seasons, he never held down a regular job while posting a subpar .699 OPS. “I never knew until about the last day (of spring training) whether I had a job,” said Stanley of this frustrating period. Things got bad enough that he considered walking away from the game altogether. “I love fishing,” he later said. “I thought I might open a tackle shop.”
The Rangers did not offer Stanley a contract after the 1991 season, letting him become a free agent. With his career on the brink, Michael offered him an opportunity as a non-roster invitee to compete in Yankees camp for a backup role behind Matt Nokes. The legendary talent evaluator saw enough in the consistent, “quality at-bat” and ability to handle a pitching staff Stanley demonstrated with Texas. “I made calls around to ask people I respect about him, and I liked what I heard,” said the Yankees GM of the fortuitous decision.
Stanley indeed won a role with the ’92 Yankees and began to show some offensive upside, hitting a career-high eight homers in just 173 at-bats while posting an .800 OPS. He also contributed positively to the clubhouse culture, making “gooners” t-shirts for himself, Pat Kelly, Mike Gallego, Jim Leyritz, and Randy Velarde to wear in a tongue-in-cheek embrace of their roles as part-time players.
That performance was enough to net Stanley a two-year extension after the season, giving him some welcome stability for the first time in his career. “When you’re not a superstar and not one of the top five players in the game, you feel fortunate to be in the majors,” Stanley said upon receiving the deal. “I think you sit back and appreciate it more when you’ve been the 25th man. I know I do.”
Expected to serve as a backup once again, Stanley quickly overtook a struggling Nokes and ended up playing in 130 games, by far the most of his career. He emerged suddenly and unexpectedly as one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, slashing .305/.389/.534 with 26 homers and 84 RBI while leading Yankees regulars in everything from WAR to OPS and OPS+ and earning a Silver Slugger.
Even the man himself was caught off guard by his sudden dominance. “There is no explaining it. I never hit like this on the big-league level,” said Stanley. ”I feel good, don’t feel any extra pressure. I feel I belong.”
His manager agreed. “Mike Stanley exemplifies what in a lot of ways our team is about this year,” said Showalter. “He’s a gamer.”
Entering the ’94 season with higher expectations, Stanley proved his first season as a starter was no fluke, once again hitting .300 and improving on his OPS in the strike-shortened season. By the time baseball returned in ’95, Stanley was firmly entrenched in the middle of the Yankees’ order, making his first and only All-Star. In the first game of a doubleheader on August 10th, he set career-highs against the Cleveland team that would romp to the pennant, clobbering three homers and driving in seven runs.
That October, Stanley joined most of his teammates in seeing the first playoff action of his career. He rose to the challenge against Seattle, recording at least one hit in each of the four ALDS games in which he played. He particularly shone as a bright spot in his team’s losses, reaching base in six of his 14 plate appearances in Games 3-5.
The Yankees’ heartbreaking first-round exit prompted many changes before the ’96 season. Michael and Showalter were out at GM and manager, with Bob Watson and Joe Torre taking their places. With Stanley a free agent and his greatest internal champions no longer calling the shots, the new administration chose to trade for the more defensively sound Joe Girardi to man the backstop and let Stanley walk.
Stanley signed with the Red Sox that offseason and was magnanimous after his departure, offering his best wishes to Girardi when the latter was booed at a fan festival by Yankees fans upset with Stanley’s departure. “I appreciate immensely the fanfare I had in New York,” Stanley said. “But it’s not (Girardi’s) fault. What’s done is done. It’s time for me to move on and for him to come in and do a job for them.”
Perhaps in part due to the grace with which he handled his exit, Stanley had a brief second act in pinstripes. To augment an aging roster at first base and DH, Watson traded for Stanley in August of 1997 in what would be the last trade between the Yankees and Red Sox for 17 years. So beloved was Stanley among his former teammates that Wade Boggs and Paul O’Neill had made sure his locker, situated between theirs, remained empty after his departure. With his locker reclaimed, Stanley posted an .871 OPS in 28 games before going 3-for-4 during another futile ALDS tilt, this time at the hands of Cleveland.
Despite Watson expressing an interest in retaining Stanley, he signed with Toronto that offseason. He’d play three more seasons, splitting time between the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Athletics before retiring at the age of 37. The 16th-rounder who didn’t earn a regular role until the age of 30 ended his career with 1,138 hits and 187 home runs to go with a sterling .827 OPS.
After hanging up his spikes, Stanley briefly served as a bench coach for Boston in 2002 before retiring to Florida for good. He remains a fan favorite among the Yankees faithful for his underdog narrative, prowess on both sides of the ball, and reliability during a time when baseball in the Bronx became exciting again. Please join us in wishing a very happy 63rd birthday to Mike Stanley.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
The Chicago Blackhawks made a big trade on Tuesday that involved sending the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Buffalo Sabres, with defenseman Bowen Byram coming the other way.
On Wednesday, the Blackhawks made Kyle Davidson available to the media, and he went over a variety of topics. Of course, he started by addressing the trade that had taken place the day prior.
"This was a value that we put on a really, really good young player in Bo," Davidson said. "He fits the style of play we want to play."
There is a lot of value to adding a defenseman like Byram to this group. For one, he's a great offensive defenseman who continues to work on his game in his own end. He is also a Stanley Cup champion with a pedigree of winning in the NHL with two different organizations. It will be helpful for the younger guys to have him around.
"Our young players like Sam Rinzel and Arty Levshunov are going to sit behind Bo and learn from him," Davidson said. "It's immediate help. [He] makes us a better team."
The Blackhawks have already drafted several defensemen over Kyle Davidson's tenure. They are all working their way to being good in the NHL, but it takes time, especially with that position. Byram was no exception to that rule earlier in his career. Now, he's at a point where he is ready to be a number one ahead of their youth.
There was some backlash against this move for Chicago. They gave up a lot to get Bowen Byram, including their number one trade chip in the number four overall pick. Davidson said that Byram doesn't have to do anything specific to make it a positive return on investment because his natural progression is going to be the value.
"I think we look at a young defenseman who's not only accomplished, but one that is not done getting better or growing his own game and own profile," Davidson said. "We feel that over the next couple of weeks, we can find [a contract] where we can make sure he's here for a long time. He's already one of the top 5-on-5 play drivers in the league before he even gets on the first power play unit. We're going to provide the opportunity to become one of the top defenseman around the league."
The draft picks weren't the only pieces given up for Byram. Chicago also sent Louis Crevier, who had a great year going from the team's 7th defenseman to the top pair in 2025-26, to Buffalo.
"You've got to give to get. [Crevier] was part of the give," Davidson said on sending Crevier away. "In our estimation, we had to provide something of value, and obviously Buffalo felt that too."
Kyle Davidson was asked about Connor Bedard as well. He made it clear that they are going to keep any conversations about his pending contract situation private. He won't reveal anything until a deal is complete.
When it comes to finding a legit NHL linemate for Bedard, it sounds like Davidson is confident in what they have currently, while also acknowledging that they are always looking.
Davidson highlighted Roman Kantserov during this discussion, who is coming over after leading the KHL in goals last year. He said that if they signed him as a free agent rather than drafting and signing him, people would be more confident in him as Bedard's potential winger.
It is curious to assume that a rookie coming from overseas is going to step into the NHL and be a capable winger for one of the game's best young centers, but that is the direction that they are choosing to go.
Speaking of free agency, Davidson was asked about Ilya Mikheyev's situation, and he confirmed that it is likely that he tests the open market on July 1st. Davidson didn't completely rule out Mikheyev's return, but the player is going to go shopping.
Going back to Bowen Byram later in the presser, Davidson didn't hesitate to use the word elite. Byram being elite, according to Davidson, will go into their commitment to paying him good money for a long time.
"We believe in this guy," said Davidson. "We believe he's a very good player, and one that can be elite. We need to respect that and honor that. That's something we have to reckon with in the negotiations. We're ok paying great players."
It wouldn't be very surprising if Byram extends right away on July 1st. With the way he spoke about Chicago and the way Davidson spoke about him, it seems like a mutual interest.
"We all want to improve. We all want to take meaningful steps. That's the motivation."
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The Pittsburgh Pirates had struggled in the month of June but despite the 40-40 record the Bucs are still three games out of a Wild Card spot.
What’s clear is the team has to improve before this year’s MLB Trade Deadline, and that marker is quickly approaching. With limited time, the Pirates have to accomplish these three things before the deadline passes.
The biggest issue right now with the bullpen is that there isn’t a single pitcher that you can rely on in the late innings. Guys like Mason Montgomery, Gregory Soto, Yohan Ramirez and Denis Santana have been too inconsistent. Since there has been that inconsistency that has put a lot of pressure on the starting rotation which of late has been shaky as well. Going six innings isn’t enough anymore, as turning the ball over to the pen is a gamble manager Don Kelly seems hesitant to play.
The Bullpen right now ranks 18th in the league with a 4.38 ERA. That needs to improve if Pittsburgh wants to stay in the National league Wild Card race.
The Pirates adding Hunter Stratton is fine but its not a piece that will completely change the bullpen and make them better. A reunion with Aroldis Chapman is something that could work. Antonio Senzatela from the Colorado Rockies is another pitcher that could come in and change the bullpen for the better.
Consistency can go a long way for this team, especially offensively. The Bucs made a big move in the offseason to bring in 35 year old veteran Marcell Ozuna as the designated hitter. However, Ozuna has struggled with a .201 batting average and six home runs with 25 RBIs.
Those stats don’t warrant him starting on an everyday status. The Buccos have been putting different guys like Bryan Reynolds, Henry Davis and Spencer Horwitz. The lack of consistency in this lineup is caused by injuries to Konor Griffin and Oneil Cruz. It’s clear to me that the Pirates need to move on from Ozuna, and it starts by finding someone they can put at the DH spot everyday that can produce.
With Oneil Cruz expected to miss more time, the Pirates really need to find another outfielder. Jake Mangum hasn’t been horrible but Billy Cook and Tyler Callihan aren’t reliable options.
Even when Cruz comes back he could be the reliable designated hotter that the pirates need. His defense is still not great and there is nowhere else on the field to put him. I don’t think Bryon Buxton is realistic but someone like Taylor Ward from the Baltimore Orioles could be someone to target and be that reliable piece with Ryan O’Hearn and Bryon Reynolds.
Adding another strong right handed bat like Ward would help the lineup as well with the injury of Konnor Griffin.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, we asked if y’all wanted to watch Jac Caglianone play in the home run derby
I have to admit, I’m surprised by these results. Almost all of the comments I saw on the poll were quite negative in one way or another toward Jac Caglianone participating, but perhaps I should take that as a sign that the comments aren’t actually representative of much.
In the end, not just a plurality, but a full majority of voters think Jac belongs in the Home Run Derby, hitting his hammers, jacks, and whatever other word play we can come up with to signify his home runs. A full 53%! And yeah, after this poll question went up, Jac had a two bomb night in Tampa Bay, including a mammoth shot that absolutely went further than the 444-foot estimate and line drive hit so hard that it cleared the centerfield fence before it could drop enough to stay in the park.
31% of voters felt that while Jac might “deserve” a trip to the derby, they hoped he wouldn’t go. Most of you who voted that way fear that it would wreck his swing, I imagine. If he does get to participate, you can take solace in the fact that every study on the subject has debunked this myth.
16% of fans just don’t think Jac would be one of the best possible contestants. And to those people, I submit the above highlight video. Watch those two bombs again and tell me the guy who can hit those doesn’t have a place in the derby. At the very worst, Jac Caglianone deserves to go on the same merits that saw Oneil Cruz selected last year. He hits the absolute tar out of the ball on a regular basis, and there simply can’t be eight more people in MLB who would be more fun to watch strut their stuff like that.
Last year, MLB The Show developer Sony San Diego studios brought back an in-game prediction game that had been part of the series previous for the Home Run Derby. Players were encouraged to guess who would win the derby, who would hit the longest home run, who would hit the most home runs in a round, and which league would win the All-Star Game itself. Once I knew who was in the field, guessing who would hit the longest dinger was a no-brainer for me; it was always going to be Oneil Cruz. Cruz indeed hit the longest blast at an estimated 513 feet. Outside of maybe Giancarlo Stanton or Cruz again, Jac has the best chance among current MLB players to outdo that.
These survey results are sponsored by FanDuel.