Sep 3, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks (46) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
Pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin are swapping the color of their footwear.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan has reported that the Red Sox are shipping the pair of righties to the Chicago White Sox.
Trade news: The Chicago White Sox are acquiring veteran right-hander Jordan Hicks and right-handed pitching prospect David Sandlin in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, sources tell ESPN.
In return, Boston will be getting another young pitching prospect: right-hander Gage Ziehl, a product of the University of Miami (the Florida one, not the Ohio one). The Red Sox will also reportedly be sending $8 million along to the South Side of Chicago in order to pay some of Hicks’ salary—he’s set to make $12.5 million in both 2026 and 2027, per Spotrac.
The White Sox are acquiring RHP Jordan Hicks and RHP David Sandlin from the Red Sox in exchange for RHP Gage Ziehl, per multiple reports.
Boston is also reportedly sending $8M to the White Sox in this trade to help cover some of Hicks' $24M salary. pic.twitter.com/pFx2OuczcB
First things first: Jordan Hicks is no longer a member of the Boston Red Sox—hit the music.
Of all of the pitchers who have ever worn a Red Sox uniform, Hicks was undoubtedly one of them. Coming over from San Francisco over the summer in a trade that involved some player I can’t remember, Hicks had previously been a guy who had shown some sick stuff—if perhaps not consistent stuff—throughout his major league career.
Alas, things just never really jived for him in Boston. Across 18.2 innings in 21 outings, Hicks logged a…(makes sure I’m not reading this wrong)…Jesus Christ, 8.20 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 51. He walked too many guys, he didn’t strike out enough guys to justify the free passes, and his outings were consistently miserable to watch. I hope, for his own sake, that he gets back on the right track with the Pale Hose, but another year (or two) of Hicks was not going to be good for anyone’s blood pressure in Red Sox Nation.
This move is a salary dump for Boston, clearly. It sucks to move off of Sandlin to execute that salary dump—the one-time Pod On Lansdowne guest has some promise, and perhaps he’ll get a shot to realize that potential with Chicago—but eight figures off the books is nothing to sneeze at.
This… plus the projected CBT payroll drops to ~$260.9M.
That's ~$16.9M above the first threshold, and ~$3.1M below the second threshold.
Plus, the Red Sox’s organizational depth within the pitching staff is solid. While Sandlin’s departure may sting, Boston now has a bit more flexibility thanks to the dumped salary and the extra 40-man roster space. Go get that infielder, Craig.
Of course, this is not the first time we’ve talked about moving off of salary via a trade involving Jordan Hicks. Rafael Devers’ trade was widely seen as a salary dump, and we are now dumping part of the salary for a guy involved in the first salary dump. It’s Dumpception.
Outside of that money-specific aspect, the return for Devers now looks…………………….interesting, to put it charitably. It’s Kyle Harrison, Jose Bello, this Ziehl fella (more on him in a second), and the brief services of Hicks and Dustin May—neither of whome were fruitful on the bump in 2025. However, I think this shows that Breslow and Co. are aware of the Sunk Cost Fallacy. They’re willing to cut their losses with Hicks and move on. That’s probably the wise thing to do, but it’s impossible to not raise the point about Devers when having this discussion.
As for Gage Ziehl, the 22-year-old pitcher joining the Red Sox organization: I’m not familiar with his game, but my quick skim on Twitter shows that he projects to be a guy with solid command in spite of a lack of powerhouse stuff. I’m sure one of my OTM colleagues who are smarter than I (so, all of them) will be able to take a deeper dive on him.
Righty Gage Ziehl is the arm coming back in the Hicks deal. He was ranked #21 in the White Sox system, per @BaseballAmerica.
4th round pick in 2024. Made it to AA at the end of 2025. Fills the zone. Command over stuff profile. 6’0, 212. Leans heavily on his sweeper and cutter. pic.twitter.com/GdocikltWz
Soto previously appeared in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and was one of the top hitters in the entire tournament.
In four WBC games in 2023, Soto led all players with a ridiculous 1.500 OPS, recording six hits in 15 at-bats, including two home runs, three doubles, and three RBI. In classic Soto style, he also walked three times.
Soto is coming of a debut season in Queens in which he finished third in MVP voting, posting a .921 OPS with 43 home runs, 105 RBI, 127 walks, and 38 stolen bases.
Along with Soto playing for Team Dominican Republic, fellow Mets Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes are set to pitch for Team USA.
Australia suffered the humiliation of its worst ever T20 loss in a 111-run defeat in the final game of the three match series against Pakistan in Lahore.
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Just one month after the NHL’s first outdoor game in Florida, it’s time for the second.
Tonight, Feb. 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for the 2026 Stadium Series.
While initially, it was projected that temperatures would hover around 70 degrees in the hours leading up to puck drop, it’s going to be colder than expected with temperatures dropping into the high 30 degree range. To ensure the ice would remain frozen in the days leading up to the game, the NHL employed a climate controlled tent to maintain the ice’s integrity.
2026 NHL Stadium Series: what to know
Who: Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
When: Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Channel: ESPN
Streaming: Sling TV (try a 1-day pass)
The Bruins have played in five previous outdoor games, most recently in the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. They are 4-1 outdoors.
Tonight’s is the Lightning’s second game on the outdoor rink. They won their first, the 2022 Stadium Series in Nashville against the Predators.
2026 NHL Stadium Series start time
Puck drop at the 2026 NHL Winter Classic is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET tonight, Jan. 2.
If you aren’t ready to commit to a full-on subscription and just want to tune into today’s game, you can try a Sling TV Orange Day Pass. Priced at $4.99, you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN. Sling also offers weekend and week-long passes for its Orange plan, which offer between three and seven days of access.
TRY SLING TV 1-DAY PASS
Where is the 2026 NHL Stadium Series?
The Bruins and Lightning will hit the ice on the field of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The stadium is the home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Dodgers FanFest 2026 is an annual reminder for fans that baseball is right around the corner. However, on Saturday at Chavez Ravine, the loudest presence was an absence.
For the first time since he was a wide-eyed 19-year-old draft pick, the Dodgers gathered without the man who had been their north star for nearly two decades. Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, former National League MVP, 11-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, retired at the end of the 2025 season.
Nov 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) celebrates with the Commissioner’s Trophy after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In two weeks, that reality will sharpen.
When this current Dodgers squad report to Camelback Ranch for spring training, they’ll walk into a clubhouse that has never existed for them before. There will be no locker with No. 22 hanging above it. No early-morning sprints before a start. No laughter as he sings in the weight room, no more Kershaw Days at Dodger Stadium.
“Obviously, we’re going to miss Clayton,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s a different ball club without him. When we get to spring training and Camelback and not seeing his locker where it’s been for 18 years is going to be different.”
Kershaw spent all 18 seasons with the Dodgers, a rarity in modern sports and a point of pride for an organization that watched him compile a 222-96 record, a Live Ball Era-best 2.54 ERA, 15 shutouts, and 3,000 strikeouts. He leaves second on the franchise wins list, just 11 behind Don Sutton, tied with Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the most seasons ever played in Dodger blue. A first-ballot Hall of Famer in waiting, even if Cooperstown won’t say it out loud yet.
Oct 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws a pitch in the first inning for game one of the NLDS for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“It’s going to be really weird not seeing him in there,” Mookie Betts said. “I also want him to enjoy his retirement. It’s a new chapter in life, and something that he’s not going to be used to. I really want him to enjoy it, but I really want him to come see the boys as well.”
Freddie Freeman smiled, then paused, the memory still fresh in his mind. “I just saw my walk-off home run [in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series] and they showed Kersh running onto the field like a 5-year-old looking for candy,” Freeman said. “Everyone talks about Kershaw the Hall of Fame pitcher, what he meant to this organization, but the day-in-and-day-out inside the clubhouse, the joy he brings, him singing at the top of his lungs shirtless in the weight room — those are the things I’ll miss more. It’s weird seeing Dodgers legends no longer walking around the clubhouse anymore.”
Will Smith put it more quietly. “I’m going to miss his presence each and every day,” he said. “He keeps the mood light, but also is intense with everything he does. His legacy is going to carry on in the clubhouse.”
FLUSHING, NY – SEPTEMBER 13. Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches as the New York Mets play the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citifield. Friday, September 13th, 2019. (Photo by Anthony J. Causi) Anthony J Causi
Kershaw once joked he was on the “no-plan, plan.” That didn’t last.
Team USA in the World Baseball Classic awaits, as does a new role on NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball. He’ll be around, Betts joked, hopefully not too critical of his former team.
Still, when spring arrives in Arizona, the silence will land first. The Dodgers will move forward. They always do.
They’ll just do it without Kershaw standing there, reminding everyone what it meant to wear the uniform.
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Spring Training hasn't even started, and the Chicago White Sox have already taken their first L of 2026.
The Southsiders' social media account rung in the first day of Black History Month on Sunday with a timeline looking back "upon momentous firsts for the White Sox organization." Some of the more notable moments included Comiskey Park hosting the first Negro Leagues All-Star Game in 1933, Al Smith becoming the organization's first Black All-Star in 1960 and current manager Will Venable becoming the third Black White Sox manager in team history and one of two active Black managers in 2024.
Frank Thomas, the club's all-time leader in home runs (448), RBIs (1,465), runs scored (1,327), doubles (447), walks (1,466), on-base percentage (.427), slugging percentage (.568), and total bases (3,949), was absent aside from a brief mention under Dick Allen's MVP section. None of his franchise records, five All-Star appearances, four Silver Sluggers, AL batting title — or his streak of seven consecutive seasons with at least a .300 average, 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored, 100 walks and 20 home runs from 1991-1997 — were in the post.
And the Big Hurt himself noticed.
I Guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable! Don’t worry I’m taking Receipts!
"I Guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable!" he said in a reply to the post. "Don’t worry I’m taking Receipts!"
Thomas' tweet ratioed the White Sox with over 2,000 likes and 218 retweets compared to 264 likes and 88 retweets on the original post as of 2:00 p.m. ET.
With the Vancouver Canucks in a rebuild, time on ice will be something to keep an eye on game to game. Vancouver is no longer fighting for a playoff spot, and, based on the current lineup, has committed to getting younger players minutes in the NHL. One of those young players is defenceman Tom Willander, who, based on his recent play, deserves more ice time.
On this recent homestand, Willander averaged 13:57 of ice time. He surpassed the 17-minute mark twice in seven games, but also recorded under 14 minutes on two separate occasions. It is also important to note that Willander, like others on the team, was dealing with an illness for part of the homestand, which is why he only played seven of the eight games.
One positive development when it comes to Willander's ice time is that he is getting more opportunities on the power play. He averaged 1:30 with the man advantage during the homestand, which ranked second behind Zeev Buium among Canucks defenders. At the same time, Willander only averaged 18 seconds per game on the penalty kill as Vancouver is still relying heavily on experienced players while shorthanded.
Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is a perfect example of the Canucks not using Willander enough. The 20-year-old played 16 minutes, which was the lowest amongst Vancouver defenders. Willander playing just 16 minutes is very surprising, as not only did he get some overtime shifts, but the game itself did not feature any special teams time.
Something else to keep an eye on outside of ice time is the number of shifts Willander has per game. On this homestand, he averaged 19.6 shifts per game, which ranked seventh out of the eight defencemen who played. At this point, Willander should be at or above 24 shifts per game, which has only happened three times in 43 games.
Jan 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
While every game unravels differently, the Canucks are at a point where they need to be giving Willander more minutes. Not only has he earned them, but now is the time to see if he 20-year-old can handle a bigger role at the NHL level. Ultimately, Willander should be averaging at least 18 minutes a game for the rest of the season and should also get more of an opportunity on the penalty kill.
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Near the end of the Dodgers’ annual Fanfest event on Saturday afternoon, a sudden buzz arose in the crowd.
Over the Dodger Stadium speakers, fans heard the familiar sounds of a high-pitched trumpet. They started clapping to the beat of what will soon become a common ballpark tune.
Edwin Díaz, the team’s new closer and $69 million free-agent signing this winter, wasn’t personally in attendance. But on the unofficial start day of a new and highly anticipated 2026 season, his Timmy Trumpet entrance song was already whipping Chavez Ravine into a frenzy.
Edwin Díaz speaks during his introduction as a new member of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) AP
It was a reminder of how, even for a franchise with back-to-back World Series titles, another big winter spending spree has re-energized the club.
Much like their team’s fans, Dodgers players have watched in amazement at the way the organization has continued stockpiling talent over the last several offseasons.
Such moves helped build this current Dodger dynasty, netting everyone from Shohei Ohtani to Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. They have also turned the Dodgers into villains, with their $400 million payroll becoming the bane of the rest of the sport.
Inside the clubhouse, however, this winter’s newest additions –– namely, Díaz and $240 million outfielder Kyle Tucker –– have served another purpose ahead of the team’s three-peat bid.
Dodgers players didn’t exactly need more motivation, or a reminder of the opportunity in front of them.
But seeing more big names walk through the door, “it injects energy into us,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “To go out and keep getting the best players year in and year out, even when you’re winning the World Series, it’s refreshing. It just really shows you that our organization, our front office, our ownership group wants to win every single year. To be a part of that, it’s special.”
Jan 21, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) is introduced to the media during a press conference at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
This has become something of an annual dynamic for the Dodgers in recent years.
Each season, they are saddled with lofty expectations. Anything short of another World Series has long been seen as a failure. That kind of environment presents an ever-present pressure, and the threat of mental fatigue over the slog of a long regular season.
The infusion of new blood, however, has come to provide an important internal reset.
“It’s huge in the sense that you’re getting the talent,” manager Dave Roberts said of this winter’s signings of Díaz and Tucker. “But the other part is, you’re getting a couple guys that haven’t won a championship (with us) … Having guys that haven’t had that feeling, that taste, infused with a lot of the guys that we already have here, I think that’s great.”
Third baseman Max Muncy, now the longest-tenured player in the organization following Clayton Kershaw’s retirement this offseason, was speaking to reporters Saturday when Díaz’s entrance song made its Chavez Ravine debut.
He said adding players of that caliber is a reminder to the rest of the roster.
“It always sends a message to the players: We’re here to win,” he explained. “It’s not, ‘Oh, we won one. We’re good now.’ It’s, ‘We want to keep winning.’ And for us as players, when we see that, you have to understand and know that we can’t just take this year off because we won last year. We have to keep going and get better.”
FILE – New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sept. 27, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) AP
Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas echoed that sentiment, describing the “sense of urgency” such moves create for a new campaign, especially after a long October run and short offseason of recuperation.
“It’s going to push ourselves,” he said. “Older players need to continue to get better. Younger players need to earn their spot. And I think that’s going to be a good competition, a good vibe and a good atmosphere in the clubhouse.”
The Dodgers wouldn’t be in such a position, of course, had it not been for their biggest recent signing of all in Ohtani, whose heavily deferred contract structure and revenue-driving celebrity status have enabled much of the club’s recent spending.
“When I signed with the Dodgers, I had conversations with (owner) Mark Walter and (president of baseball operations) Andrew Friedman, in terms of making sure we would be in position to continue to add players,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “I’m sure from a fan’s perspective, they’re ecstatic to see something like this.”
And on Saturday, it was clear that feeling was reverberating among his teammates, as well, setting the tone for a 2026 season in which the Dodgers will be pursuing history, and re-energized by the new pieces they’ve enlisted to help accomplish it.
“It’s why everyone wants to be a Dodger,” Muncy said. “They see that it’s just all about winning. It’s never about, ‘Oh, we’re good.’”
The Buffalo Sabres have made some changes to their roster.
The Sabres have announced that they have recalled forward Isak Rosen from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In addition, the Sabres shared that defenseman Zac Jones has been reassigned to Rochester.
Rosen is having an excellent season in the AHL with Rochester, so it is not too surprising to see him get another chance on Buffalo's roster. In 28 games with the Amerks this season, the 2021 first-round pick has recorded 20 goals, 12 assists, and 33 points.
Rosen has also played in 13 games so far this season with the Sabres, where he has set new career highs with three goals, four assists, and seven points.
Jones, on the other hand, has yet to play a game this season for the Sabres, even though he has been called up to the NHL roster multiple times. In 32 games this season with the Amerks, the 5-foot-11 blueliner has recorded six goals, 31 assists, and 37 points.
The sellout crowd at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday afternoon was primed from the get-go to explode in cheers for their Red Wings, who were facing the former heated rival Colorado Avalanche.
However, a good majority of the fans had already decided to get a head start on the traffic by the midway point of the third period in what was ultimately a 5-0 Avalanche win over the Red Wings.
Those that remained behind let out a few noticeable boos as time ticked away in regulation
The crowd wasn’t the only group feeling it. Several Red Wings players showed visible frustration after Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood shut down their scoring chances, while their power play came up empty and their passing lacked crispness.
Afterward, head coach Todd McLellan said that any visible frustration on the part of the players was earned by their performance, while also noting that it's on them to come up with the solution.
"There was frustration, but we earned it, and we deserved it," he said. "That can change just through our play and execution."
"They're (the Avalanche) a real good hockey club, and they're going to do some things to you that you're not comfortable with," he continued. "They're going to score some goals. But if you let frustration drag you down even deeper, you'll end up with exactly what we got."
All season long, McLellan has preached the importance of mental fortitude to avoid letting a rough stretch of play, which happens to every NHL team over the course of a long 82-game campaign, snowball out of control.
Never one to let his players off the hook, McLellan emphasized the need for a stronger start to games, as the Red Wings surrendered the first goal against in each of their last three outings, which all resulted in losses.
"One (reason) is lack of focus, and if there’s lack of focus, then that’s on all of us to get it back and make sure we’re executing," he said. "It could be you get stale with linemates, and it’s not working. It could be complacency that slips in, and you’re okay with what’s going on.
And that’s wrong, so we have to fix that."
Detroit gets a shot at a course correction Monday night in Denver when they face the Avalanche again.
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PARIS (AP) — Midfielder Noah Nartey made an immediate impact at his new club by scoring Sunday on his Ligue 1 debut to lead Lyon to a 10th consecutive win across all competitions.
In a match of few chances for both teams, Nartay broke the deadlock in the 37th minute as Lyon beat Lille 1-0 to climb to fourth place in the French league, level on points with third-placed Marseille.
The 20-year-old Danish player signed a five-year contract with Lyon last month, joining from Brondby.
Lille dominated the first half and Nartay showed his solid defensive skills. He then displayed his composure to send a low shot between the legs of the Lille goalkeeper. That capped a fine move by Ruben Kluivert, who had rushed down the the left flank then set up his teammate with a precise cut-back pass at the penalty spot.
“I'm proud of the team, we worked hard,” Kluivert said. “Lille was good, but we were better.”
Nartay's goal extended Lille's losing streak to a fourth consecutive Ligue 1 match, with Bruno Génésio's team in fifth place, seven points behind Lyon.
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain played at Strasbourg later Sunday and is looking to move back to the top. Lens reclaimed the lead with a 1-0 win against Le Havre on Friday.
Forget about Nazem Kadri reuniting with the Colorado Avalanche.
Any trade with the Calgary Flames would demand a significant return, and the team acquiring Kadri would be taking on the remaining four years of his $7 million-per-season contract.
While the Avalanche certainly have the assets to meet Calgary’s demands, doing so would likely come at a steep cost to Colorado’s long-term flexibility—and, more importantly, its chances of competing for a Stanley Cup.
3 years ago, today…..Nazem Kadri became the first Muslim to hoist the Stanley Cup. 🥲🩵 pic.twitter.com/tCryJuA3iL
Even if the Flames were to retain 25% of Kadri’s $7 million annual salary, the Avalanche would still be responsible for $5.25 million through the 2028‑29 NHL season—assuming the Flames were even willing to be generous.
Kadri is typically a second-line center, but he wouldn’t be replacing Brock Nelson, who was recently named to Team USA for the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. At 34, Nelson is on pace for one of the best seasons of his career, projected to finish with a career-high 43 goals and 31 assists for 74 points. For context, his previous career-high in points was 75, set with the New York Islanders during the 2022‑23 campaign.
Kadri himself posted a career-high 87 points during the 2021‑22 season with the Avalanche, tallying 28 goals and 59 assists in 71 regular-season games—a season that culminated in a Stanley Cup championship for Colorado. After the Avalanche were unable to re-sign him, he joined the Flames. While he has put up solid numbers in Calgary, he isn’t quite the player he once was.
How are we feeling about Nazem Kadri?
For me, he looks like the Kadri from the end of the 22-23 season. He looks disinterested and he's making a lot of careless plays with the puck
He has 4 points in the last 17 games. He's been outscored 14-4 at 5v5. It's been tough to watch pic.twitter.com/1foX0j0NE3
Although Kadri could certainly boost production on the third line, the Avalanche’s depth remains their greatest strength. And if Colorado were to pursue a trade, you could likely kiss Parker Kelly goodbye, Ross Colton is probably gone, top prospect Mikhail Gulyayev could be included, and a draft pick might also be on the table.
Teams That Could Snag Kadri
Even if the Avalanche were willing to go all-in, the bigger question remains: what’s the point? Trading solely to block another team rarely makes sense.
Recent reports indicate that the Central Division’s Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are showing interest in the 35-year-old forward. The Stars need little introduction: the Avalanche have historically struggled against them in the playoffs, losing five of seven series.
That might tempt some fans to argue for trading for Kadri just to keep him out of Dallas’ hands. But that’s a risky approach. Making a major financial decision just to block one team ignores the bigger picture—you still have to contend with other playoff contenders. Take the Wild, for example: they’re steadily closing in on the top spot that the Avalanche have long held.
Over the past month, while Colorado has hit a rough patch, Minnesota has continued to improve. At 32-14-10, the Wild have 74 points—just seven behind the Avalanche, who sit at 36-8-9 with 81 points.
Nazem Kadri has informed the Flames that he is open to being moved, per @TheFourthPeriod.
The Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild are among the teams that have kicked the tires on Kadri before. pic.twitter.com/GPDfwjMOga
If one of those teams ends up with Kadri, would it be disappointing? Perhaps, from a nostalgic perspective—but the Avalanche have their own battle to fight. No one will forget the 2022 team and what they accomplished, but the focus must remain on the present.
Chris MacFarland is probably working on a savvy trade as we speak and who knows, we could be wrong on the Kadri situation altogether. Let’s see what this team does to get even better.
A Sunday trade between the Hawks and Trail Blazers appears to be the precursor to future trades.
Atlanta is sending sharpshooting guard Vit Krejci to Portland for promising big man Duop Reath, as well as two second-round picks (the Hawks' own 2027 pick and the Knicks' pick in 2030), a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.
Krejci is a 6'8" guard averaging 9 points a game while shooting 42.3% from 3-point range this season, but he became a player Atlanta could move on from after acquiring Corey Kispert in the Trae Young trade (so the Hawks got a couple of picks for him). Krejci is on a very team-friendly contract, making $2.3 million this season with a non-guaranteed $2.7 million on the books for next season.
In Atlanta, Reath, who is out for the season following foot surgery, could well be waived to open a roster spot (the Hawks have another big man in N'Faly Dante out for the season due to injury, he is the other candidate to be let go, but Dante is under contract for another season while Reath is a free agent this summer).
In Portland, this seems like a trade that sets up another trade. Not that the Trail Blazers couldn't use Krejci, the Blazers have the worst 3-point shooting percentage in the league (33.4%), and the Czech guard can shoot the rock.
But the Trail Blazers are now up against the luxury tax and they will be looking to reduce payroll. The Blazers have a full 15 roster spots filled, but they want to convert two two-way players — Caleb Love and Sidy Cissoko — to regular contracts. Something has to give.
MESA, AZ - FEBRUARY 23: Henry Bolte #75 of the Athletics bats during a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at HoHoKam Stadium on February 23, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
Well he finally got his spot on our annual list. Outfielder Henry Bolte comes in as the obvious pick for the sixth-best prospect in the A’s system. The righty-swinging Bolte had a great all-around year this past season, demolishing Double-A pitching before a brief promotion to Triple-A. He faced some challenges at that next level but still held his own as a relatively young player against better pitching. While he may need another couple of months with the Aviators the speedy outfielder could be a legitimate option for the Athletics in the outfield this summer and looks like a potential contributor when the A’s open their new stadium.
The next nominee was a close vote but corner infielder Tommy White just eked out the win this time around. The former second-round pick has a strong right-handed bat but there are major questions about his ability to remain at the hot corner. With Nick Kurtz sticking around for the next few years at first base and Brent Rooker locked in as the DH White is going to need to show improvement at third base if he wants to get to the big leagues with the A’s.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Which A’s prospect do the fans believe is the #7 player in the system? Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
White’s right-handed power is legitimate and he can hit the ball a long way to all fields thanks to his strength and bat speed. He might be known for his home run totals but he’s a better overall hitter than people think, finding the barrel consistently and limiting strikeouts. His knack for contact can lead to him expanding his strike zone, but he doesn’t swing and miss very often.
It will be White’s bat that carries him to the big leagues. He’s a well-below-average runner who likely lacks the range and tools to stick at third base, where he toiled as a sophomore and junior, earning praise for playing through a shoulder injury at LSU in 2023. He’s likely headed to first base long term, which could give the A’s a glut of serious offensive talent between him and first-rounder Nick Kurtz.
At the plate, Morii features a smooth left-handed swing with tremendous balance. His power stands out, as he clubbed 45 home runs as a high schooler. He is considered an advanced hitter with good barrel control. On the mound, his fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph and sits around 92-93. He also brings a splitter with nasty movement, a true 12-to-6 curveball and a tighter slider with solid bite and depth, though that offering will probably require some fine-tuning. Having only been pitching with regularity for less than two years, Morii’s arm is relatively fresh as he enters the organization.
Morii’s high-octane throwing arm plays well at shortstop, but some evaluators see a possibility of moving to third base as his 6-foot-1 frame fills out. While scouts see Morii’s long-term future in the batter’s box, the A’s plan on giving him every opportunity to succeed as a two-way player, with excitement already building over his impressive physical traits and desire to become one of the next great players out of Japan.
It’s not often that teenage prospects launch home runs. But Colome has a tendency to get to that jumpy pop with frequency, consistently leveraging his swing well – so well in fact, that one evaluator mentioned the most recent occasion on which he saw an international prospect continually get to their launch point in such a manner was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Colome is a right-handed hitter with explosive hands and a solid contact rate, although he has been known to be a tad aggressive in the box as a means of getting to said power.
Something of an athletic marvel at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds at age 16, Colome is an agile athlete who shows a lot of lateral quickness. The fluidity of his movements and strong arm led to a Manny Machado comparison being hung on him defensively. Much like the seven-time All-Star, Colome may move off short as his frame fills out, but he’s a tremendously dedicated worker and has the feet, soft hands and instincts to stick at the premium position.
The A’s believe Echavarria’s stuff played better than the overall numbers might suggest. His fastball reached 98 mph and sat 95-96 with good ride up in the zone. The issue was struggling to command his arsenal when he would fall behind in counts. His mid-80s slider flashes plus, and his upper-80s changeup continues to improve. He also throws a two-seamer in the 92-93 mph range. He clearly dealt with some control issues, but the A’s are not at all sounding the alarm, instead patiently working with the teenager on adjustments.
Echavarria profiles as a starter for the long-term with his 6-foot-1 frame and sound delivery. Previously having shown an ability to consistently throw all of his offerings for strikes prior to the Draft, he will continue to work to rediscover that control in his second season of pro ball.
A switch-hitting shortstop, Montero has shown the ability to impact the ball from both sides of the plate, with his natural right-handed swing more direct to the ball, though his left-handed swing is more picturesque and he obviously gets more plate appearances from that side. He has the chance to hit for average and power, with a solid approach that has allowed him to walk more than he strikes out for much of the summer.
Last year, Montero was slower and less athletic, but attention to conditioning and nutrition has helped him get leaner and stronger. An average runner, Montero has the instincts and actions to stick at shortstop for a long time, with a solid and accurate arm. If his body gets bigger as he matures — he played all of 2025 at age 18 — he could move to the hot corner, but the A’s don’t see that in his future. What they are hoping for is that he comes to instructs this year and stays in the United States as one of the better prospects to come out of their Dominican academy in some time.
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All eyes are on LeBron James and a possible Madison Square Garden finale when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the New York Knicks tonight.
However, New York isn’t going to let “The King” steal the show, especially not All-Star guard Jalen Brunson.
My Lakers vs. Knicks predictions see potential in Brunson’s playmaking, featuring buyback value on his assist prop.
Here are my best NBA picks for Sunday, February 1, with tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
Lakers vs Knicks prediction
Lakers vs Knicks best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 5.5 assists (-120)
Jalen Brunson’s passing prowess has slimmed over the past month.
After averaging around seven assists through November and December, the New York Knicks guard dished out just 4.4 dimes per game in January and closed out the month by finishing Under his total in seven straight.
Brunson’s potential assists went from 11.7 per game to 8.0 in those seven outings, with Brunson converting only half of those chances for 4.0 assists.
Brunson has failed to record more than six dimes in a game during that stretch, and that’s pulled his assist market down to 5.5 O/U.
Tonight’s tilt with the Los Angeles Lakers offers a good spot to buy back the Over, considering the Lakers allow the sixth most assists per game on the season, with that metric spiking to 30.3 over the past three contests. L.A. also gives up a high assist-to-FGM rate, especially on the road (65.6%).
Brunson is a handful for any defender, but the Lakers don’t have anyone who can hang with the mighty guard when he wants to attack the paint.
Luka Doncic and Rui Hachimura are below-average defenders, and Austin Reaves, who is questionable, has been sidelined with a calf injury since Christmas.
New York’s offense thrives on spot-up shooting, and Brunson’s dribble penetration will draw help defenders and gift wing shooters with extra space on those kickout passes.
Despite his dip in assists, his projections vs. L.A. remain positive. His assist tally ranges from 6.0 to 7.4 dimes tonight, with my number at 6.6. That should have the Over 5.5 assists priced around -170.
Lakers vs Knicks same-game parlay
New York is riding a five-game winning streak and has covered in each of those games.
Mikal Bridges benefits from Brunson's playmaking, with projections north of 16 points.
Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-105) | Under 229.5 (-115)
Lakers vs Knicks betting trend to know
New York is 6-2 SU and ATS when hosting Western Conference foes. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Knicks.
How to watch Lakers vs Knicks
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Lakers vs Knicks latest injuries
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