Dybantsa, 19, missed the Wizards' first four games this season due to a sprained left ankle suffered late in training camp. He steps into a Wizards offense already loaded with firepower, including Trae Young and Anthony Davis, the latter of whom has had a couple of very impressive games to start the season.
Dybantsa comes to Washington as the hope for the future, the top pick who will change the fortunes of a long-middling (or worse) franchise. Dybantsa was a standout at BYU, averaging 25.5 points a game, and followed that with an impressive Summer League. Dybantsa looked like a rookie still finding his footing in the preseason, averaging 12.8 points per game, shooting just 18.2% from 3-point range.
But that's just the preseason. Starting Wednesday night, things get real.
Keepers rebuild the innings to reach 330-4 at the close
Green sparkles but Labuschagne duck must be the end
If Cape Town’s first day was a rollercoaster, the second was some more sedate form of transport, though it continued with ups and downs fitting its mountainous backdrop. Twice, South Africa produced double strikes to stall promising Australian positions; twice the Australians rebuilt. Finally, Josh Inglis and Alex Carey pushed Australia in front, 330 for four to South Africa’s all out 329, ready to surge on through day three with those six wickets left in hand.
While Travis Head was there, Australia’s first session threatened to match South Africa’s the day before, when Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman had piled on 140 against a bewildered attack. Head threw his hands at width, mixing luck with skill for seven boundaries. His new foil Matthew Renshaw showed contrasting temperament for the opening role, leaving and defending the new ball with the clarity he had shown in the middle order in Durban, underlining why he was the original candidate to replace Jake Weatherald at the top before the selectors’ brief and ill-fated Nic Maddinson excursion.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 24: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors attempts a layup against Luke Kennard #8 and Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 131-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Small-ball lineups have been the bane of Jordan Ott’s existence during his early tenure with the Phoenix Suns, as through his first season and three games, it appears that they simply don’t work. The team compromises on rebounding to prioritize athleticism and flexibility. In theory, you should be able to play five out and shoot the ball effectively, but the Suns aren’t particularly good at shooting the ball.
But here’s where two harsh realities need to take root, at least based on the small sample size we’ve experienced through the first three games. First off, you don’t have to look exclusively at small-ball lineups to recognize the undeniable truth that the starting five hasn’t played particularly well together either. The combination of Booker, Brooks, Bridges, Green, and Khaman Maluach has logged 37 minutes together, producing a net rating of -35.5 and an offensive rating of 94.7.
The second is that small-ball lineups exist within the Phoenix Suns’ ecosystem out of necessity rather than by schematic preference. Ott isn’t sending Miles Bridges out there at the five because he thinks it’s a strategic advantage. Mark Williams is injured. Oso Ighodaro is injured. That’s a seven-footer and a 6’10” big man who are simply unavailable. The Suns are rolling out small ball lineups because they have to.
And yes, some of those lineups have been absolutely blasted early on. To the moon. Take the combination of Collin Gillespie, Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges. That group has played a total of 6 minutes across 2 games and has a net rating of -105.2. I didn’t know that was possible. It is.
What’s interesting, however, is that the five-man lineup with the second-most minutes played this season features Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Luke Kennard, Miles Bridges, and Ryan Dunn. Would you call that one small? I sure would. Yet that group has an offensive rating of 131.8, a defensive rating of 100.0, and a net rating of +31.8. Gasp!
So all this pounding the table about the small-ball lineups Ott is putting on the floor is based on a false premise. He’s not doing it by design, and within that context, one of the combinations he’s deployed has actually been productive.
If your response is, “Well, they should throw Rasheer Fleming into the fold because he has size,” let’s remember a few things. First, he’s still only 6’9”… so he would be too small as compared to the opposing center’s size. Second, think back to the preseason and the challenges he experienced in understanding his spacing and where he needed to be on the floor. Now ask him to know where to be as a five. Good luck with that. Third, when Fleming has played as the small-ball five alongside Gillespie, Goodwin, Bridges, and Dunn, that group has produced an offensive rating of 33.3 and a net rating of -36.7 over five minutes. That ‘disease of what if’ relative to Fleming isn’t a quality argument for his insertion into this shit show.
There’s a lot wrong with this team right now, of that there is no doubt. And once again, we’re searching for the person responsible, the individual upon whom we can place the blame. For some people, that finger points directly at Jordan Ott. I’m not suggesting he’s without sin in this situation. I’m simply making the point that the small ball philosophy is being forced upon him rather than chosen, much like what we witnessed during the back end of last season.
Even within those circumstances, there are some positives worth recognizing. The Suns have real problems to solve, and small ball hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory through the first three games. But context matters. Phoenix is playing without its two primary centers, the starting lineup hasn’t found its footing, and at least one smaller combination has produced encouraging results. Jordan Ott deserves scrutiny, but he also deserves a fair evaluation of the circumstances he’s navigating. Before we declare small ball a failed experiment, let’s see what happens when the Suns actually have the personnel to make other choices.
Oct 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Steven Matz (32) throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In the cinematic classic that is Pokemon: The First Movie, there is a scene where Mewtwo and his clone army face off against the heroes and their pokemon companions. The pokemon and their clone counterparts engage in an epic battle with neither side claiming a clear advantage. The battle rages on for an eternity until eventually both sides just collapse from exhaustion.
That is how I picture the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers right now after playing 12 incredibly strenuous innings last night in game four of the 2026 World Series.
Tampa Bay came out victorious, stalling out the Brewers World Series hopes for at least one more night.
Now, they’ll have to do it all over again.
Who will be on the mound for the Rays?
Nick Martinez was the scheduled starting pitcher but after entering last night’s game in relief, delivering two scoreless innings, he might not be available to start tonight’s game for more than 1-2 innings, and that’s assuming he’s good to go.
Following the game last night, Kevin Cash said it will be all hands on deck and we know that each Rays pitcher would be willing to throw. However, realistically, Cash’s options are a lot more limited.
The Brewers offense has been relentless in grinding down the Rays pitching staff, forcing the hurlers to inflated pitch counts. The two most well rested arms for Kevin Cash to turn to will be Cleavinger and Steven Matz; Matz has made two appearances in the World Series, last pitching on Monday when he threw 17 pitches.
#Rays Cash said staff would meet last night to discuss Game 5 pitching options: 5 didn't pitch Tuesday: Cleavinger, Matz, Sulser, Peralta (87 pitches Mon.), Rasmussen (89 Sat.). Pitches for who did: Jax, 74; Kelly, 12; Martinez, 33; Baker, 21; Wells, 24; Booser, 9; Seymour 32
Tampa Bay may also call upon potential game 6 and 7 starters Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta to help cover some innings. Drew Rasmussen told reporters that “I’ll be smoking hot” and both starters will need a bullpen day before their scheduled starts. It might as well be tonight!
The pitching plan is obvious for Milwaukee.
They’ll be sending the eventual National League Cy Young to the mound, Jacob Misiorowski.
Thus far in three postseason outings, Misiorowski is averaging under 5 innings a start with strikeout rate dropping to 25.5% compared to 37.9% during the regular season. During his start in game one of the World Series, Misiorowski allowed a run on 4 hits, while he walked one and struck out three over five innings pitched; the three strikeouts were the fewest he had in any start of 2026 and since striking out three Cubs in the postseason last year on October 11th, 2025.
Concluding thoughts
The Rays offense, despite walking it off last night, has been abysmal all postseason. They are currently averaging 3.5 runs a game and have a 68 wRC+, while the Brewers have a 110 wRC+. The World Series has seen the Rays unable to draw walks (4.2 BB%) or hit for power as they are collectively hitting .195/.236/.256 with only one homerun. For the Rays to have any chance of making a historic comeback, the offense needs to wake up.
There is also uncertainty regarding Junior Caminero who suffered a thus far undisclosed injury during the game last night. It looks like he might have gotten hurt during the play in the 4th inning, in which Caminero avoided a tag from David Hamilton. Later in the game, Caminero noticeably had difficulty making it up the line on a groundout. Then in the 12th, he also was seen in pain as he reached base on an error. He was still able to race to third base on Liam Hicks’ basehit but was then removed for Cedric Mullins.
Caminero told reporters that he would play in game five, but given his injury situation it may make things tricky for Kevin Cash in terms of a defensive lineup.
There are a lot of important decisions to be made between now and first pitch later tonight.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Jake Irvin #27 of the Washington Nationals pitches during a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on September 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Since he was called up in 2023, Jake Irvin has been an ever-present in the Nats rotation. He has been a durable arm, tallying 595.1 innings since he got called up. In the first half of the 2024 season, Irvin flashed middle of the rotation potential. However, he has been on a downward slide since then.
Irvin has posted an ERA well over 5 in each of the past two seasons. As the Nats look to take the next step, Irvin may not be a fit in the rotation anymore. While Irvin is durable and seems like a great guy off the field, the results just have not been there. He has been plagued by home run problems and has been unable to capture that early 2024 magic.
From 2005-20, the Nationals had only 1 pitcher with 100 IP and an ERA over 5.50 (Ramon Ortiz in 2006).
Since 2021, they've had 9: Patrick Corbin (2021-22, 2024) Erick Fedde (2022) Trevor Williams (2023) Mitchell Parker (2025) Miles Mikolas (2026) Jake Irvin (2025-26)
Jake Irvin will be arbitration eligible this offseason entering his age 30 season. That means Paul Toboni will have to make a decision about whether to keep Irvin around. Honestly, there are cases for both sides, which I will break down.
According to the MLB Trade Rumors projections, bringing back Irvin will not exactly break the bank. He is expected to make around $3.4 million next season if the Nats tender him a contract. That is not nothing, but it is not some huge number either.
While the last two years have not been pretty, I think there is a path for Irvin to be worth this much and maybe even a bit more. Irvin posted a 5.48 ERA this season, but he did generate more swing and miss. He struck out 110 batters in 106.2 innings, or 9.28 K/9. That is by far the best mark of his career. For context, he only struck out 6.20 per 9 in 2025.
Irvin had plenty of issues in 2026, but his curveball was extremely effective. Batters hit just .161 against the pitch with a 34% whiff rate. It is an unusual curveball that moves a lot like a sweeper. Irvin’s curve has always been solid, but it was better than ever in 2026.
His 4-seam fastball also generated pretty good results. Batters hit just .242 with a 23.6% whiff rate against that offering. That is not elite, but it is a rock solid mark, especially for a 93 MPH fastball. Those two pitches worked well for Irvin, the issue is that everything else was very bad.
Hitters absolutely teed off on Irvin sinker, with a .338 average and .676 slugging percentage. He also struggled to find another secondary pitch to complement the curveball. His cutter and sweeper were not very good, while his changeup flashed, but he only threw it 7.8% of the time.
Another aspect of Irvin’s game that is problematic is his velocity fluctuations. He often started games throwing in the 94-96 MPH range pretty consistently. However, by the time the third inning rolled around, he would be sitting between 90-93.
A lot of these characteristics lead me to believe Irvin would be better off in a bullpen role. It would allow him to throw harder and shrink his arsenal. I think Irvin could be a solid middle reliever who leans heavily on his 4-seamer and curveball.
However, is a guy who could be a decent middle reliever worth $3.4 million? I am not so sure about that. With how the past couple of years have gone, I am not very high on Irvin as a starter. He will post every 5th day, but on a team that has real aspirations, I don’t think he will be effective enough.
This will be an intriguing decision for the Nats early this offseason. I actually think Irvin has some talent, but it is unlikely to work as a starter. The Nats also have a plethora of multi-inning relief options. In my opinion, Irvin is surplus to requirements at this point, but it would not be unreasonable to tender him a contract.
DALLAS, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 25: Santi Aldama #34 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for portraits at Mavericks Media Day at American Airlines Center on September 25, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The team’s PR machine announced on Tuesday that stretch big man Santi Aldama, whom the Mavericks acquired in a six-team draft day deal in July, has been assigned to the Texas Legends “to practice with the team as part of his return-to-play protocol.”
Thrown in with that announcement is an upgrade for Aldama on the team’s injury report ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Thunder from “out” to “doubtful.” And on top of that, was this note attached to the end of the MavsPR update:
“He will scrimmage with the team and be recalled following practice without appearing in any games for the Legends.”
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that F Santi Aldama has been assigned to the Texas Legends to practice with the team as part of his return to play protocol.
He will scrimmage with the team and be recalled following practice without appearing in any games for the Legends.
As of this writing, that scrimmage has likely already taken place. So, it should stand to reason, then, when the Dallas Morning News reported alongside the announcement that “it appears possible that Aldama could make his debut on either Friday or Monday.”
Indeed, the PR machine basically confirmed as much when they gave a further update later in the day on Tuesday: that Aldama had been recalled from the Legends after practicing with the team.
The Dallas Mavericks have recalled F Santi Aldama from the Texas Legends after he practiced with the club as part of his return to play protocol.
The Mavericks host the Houston Rockets on Friday and the Sacramento Kings on Monday in the last two legs of the team’s first homestand of the season. That Rockets game is also the first group-stage matchup of the NBA Cup for the Mavs.
Dallas has turned some heads in the first four games of the season, with wins at the Indiana Pacers, in Tyrese Haliburton’s Welcome Home Game after missing last season recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and at the new-look Miami Heat, who remade their roster behind Giannis Antetokounmpo after nabbing the superstar in an offseason trade. Adding a stretch big to the mix after those early results, who scored 15 points per game last season (albeit in just 43 games), could elevate the Mavericks to a level many didn’t expect this year.
Joining the team five or six games into the season is pretty close to the best-case scenario we wrote about in Aldama’s purposefully vague player preview profile before the season started. He’ll need time to work his way into shape and into his role in a new team at the same time.
But if he can run the floor and fill lanes to shoot like he did with the Memphis Grizzlies, he definitely fits next to Cooper Flagg, as well as a true weapon off the bench.
Santi Aldama is a unusual transition weapon for a 7-footer…
One of the highest volume transition 7+ footers in the league. Runs the court well. Fills lanes to shoot. Gets to the rack. Can be weaponized running the floor next to Flagg. pic.twitter.com/dky0lhGxsh
He’s a versatile player. That gives us some level of confidence the veteran entering his sixth year will find a role and fill it successfully.
A little bit of excitement is gathering behind this young Mavericks bunch. The news about Aldama’s injury status should only serve to fill the fanbase’s sails with a little more hot air.
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 26: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards arrives to the arena before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 26, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa will play today against the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to the team.
Update: AJ Dybantsa has been upgraded to available for tonight's matchup. https://t.co/Zy2qaBsBnC
Remember when it felt like Semyon Varlamov might never play in the NHL again?
For nearly two years, that looked like a real possibility. Multiple knee surgeries and a long recovery kept the former Colorado Avalanche goaltender away from the game, and with every month that passed, a return seemed a little less likely.
Well, Varlamov is back.
The 38-year-old returned to regular-season action Tuesday night, helping the New York Islanders beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in a shootout. After everything he’s gone through just to get back in the net, picking up a win in his first game back makes the night even sweeter.
Look at the emotion of this team as they celebrate with Semyon Varlamov.
And if you watched Varlamov during his eight seasons in Colorado, you know this is pretty cool to see.
Varlamov hadn’t played an NHL game since Nov. 29, 2024. Heading into training camp, Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche called his progress “almost a miracle,” although he was quick to point out how much work the veteran had put in to get to this point.
Now, he has another NHL win to his name.
The Islanders made things interesting Tuesday, to say the least. They built a 3-0 lead against Nashville before the Predators battled back to tie the game and force overtime. Varlamov stopped both shots he faced in the extra period, and New York eventually got the job done in the shootout, with Kyle Palmieri and Bo Horvat scoring.
Not exactly the stress-free return you might draw up, but a win is a win.
The victory was the 290th of Varlamov’s NHL career. It’s a pretty remarkable number considering how uncertain his future looked not that long ago.
Avalanche Fans Know This Feeling
If Varlamov’s comeback sounds familiar, there’s a good reason.
Avalanche fans watched Gabriel Landeskog go through his own incredibly difficult journey back to the ice after missing nearly three full seasons with a serious knee injury. Plenty of people wondered whether Colorado’s captain would ever play again. Then he finally made his return during the 2025-26 season.
Varlamov’s situation isn’t identical, but the uncertainty surrounding both players was hard to ignore. At some point, you start wondering whether the next update will be the one that confirms a career is over.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case for either of them.
Varlamov spent eight seasons with Colorado from 2011-12 through 2018-19, playing 389 games and posting a .913 save percentage with a 2.79 goals-against average. He later moved on to the Islanders, but plenty of Avalanche fans will remember the years he spent holding down the crease in Denver.
He’s now played 621 NHL games in his career, with a .916 save percentage and 41 shutouts.
Tuesday also gave Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer a place in the history books. He became the first player in NHL history to play the entire five-minute overtime period.
That’s quite a night for New York, but Varlamov’s return is what really stands out here.
At 38, after multiple knee surgeries and almost two years away from an NHL game, he could have called it a career. Instead, he kept working until he got another chance.
And now he’s back in the win column.
For those of us who remember watching Varlamov in an Avalanche uniform, it’s hard not to be happy for him.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After making two preseason appearances earlier this month, rookie Cameron Carr hasn’t suited up since Oct. 6 as he navigates a right oblique strain. But according to Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, Carr is making clear progress and practiced with the Coachella Valley Lakers on Tuesday.
“He was able to do a full practice today,” Redick told reporters prior to Tuesday’s loss against the Portland Trail Blazers. “[With] five games in seven nights, we’re not going to be able to practice this week. [We] wanted to be cognizant of his ramp up and what he needed to do to be back in our lineup. Today was a good step for him.”
Carr participating in a full practice is a crucial checkpoint on his road to recovery. The oblique strain hasn’t really hindered his ability to stay well-conditioned but the organization wanted to ensure he could handle the bumps and bruises associated with the sport’s physical nature. On Tuesday, Carr accomplished that.
“Well, we needed him to be able to get through a full practice. So that’s probably a very important step,” Redick said. “Obviously, he was able to do some level of conditioning because it was an upper body injury. Wanted make sure he’s able to take hits and able to be in shape.”
In Carr’s preseason debut against the Sacramento Kings, he delighted to the tune of 19 points (7-of-13 shooting, 3-of-7 from deep), three rebounds, two assists and two steals. A day later against the Golden State Warriors, he didn’t offer as rosy an encore with five points (1-of-4 shooting, 1-of-3 from deep) and two steals.
Presumably, Carr will earn plenty of run with Coachella Valley once he’s fully healthy this season, so familiarizing himself with those surroundings certainly can’t hurt. He’ll join the Lakers’ trio of two-way guys, Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon and AK Okereke, as a significant G League contributor who also spends lots of time with the big league club.
Coachella Valley begins its season Nov. 6 against the Salt Lake City Stars as part of the G League Tip-Off Tournament.
The Buffalo Sabres have struggled for most of the month of October, whether it has been falling behind early in contests, to struggling on special teams, to inconsistent scoring and goaltending, the club held a .500 record prior to their 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen was unable or unwilling to meet the Winnipeg Jets price for goalie Connor Hellebuyck prior to his trade to New Jersey last week, but there have been some hints that the Sabres GM is still big-game hunting. The first to suggest a pivot after Hellebuyck to another big name was Expected Buffalo’s Chad DeDominicis, who stated that the Sabres should and have approached the Detroit Red Wings about disgruntled center Dylan Larkin.
Larkin, who was a teammate of Tage Thompson on Team USA’s gold medal winning Olympic squad, requested a trade from the Wings after the season and provided them a very narrow three-team trade list, which has recently been broadened to 10 teams.
Is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen the Sabres goalie of the future?
Clubs that are in desperate need of a first or second line center, such as the Montreal Canadiens, are not on Larkin’s list, and the Sabres are also not on it. The 10 teams seem to be exclusively perennial playoff clubs and top contenders for the Stanley Cup (Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Utah, Vegas, and Washington).
Montreal has made the playoffs two years in a row, but there appears to be little chance that Larkin would approve a deal to a Canadian club. Buffalo may have a better chance, but their slow start after snapping their 15-year playoff drought may be pouring cold water on their chances, since the whole purpose of leaving Detroit is to improve his chances of winning a Stanley Cup. The Wings have not made the postseason since 2016.
The Sabres appear to have the right ingredients for a Larkin trade, as the Wings reportedly are looking for young centers, and Buffalo has them in abundance in Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius, and Jiri Kulich. The question is whether Kekalainen is willing to trade one of them instead of names like Josh Norris or Ryan McLeod, and whether Larkin is willing to expand his list.
It is thought that the Devils, with the addition of Hellebuyck, and the growing possibility of Quinn Hughes joining his brothers in Newark next summer, could be the dark horse in the race for the 30-year-old.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 30: Manager Matt Quatraro #33 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during a mound visit against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 30, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is no doubt that one of the biggest weaknesses for the Royals in 2026 was the bullpen. Royals relievers had a 5.07 ERA overall, second-worst in baseball, with 26 blown saves and a league-worst 6.65 ERA in the ninth inning. J.J. Picollo acknowledged it as a top priority in his end-of-the-year press conference, when he indicated that the “bullpen is going to be a focus for us” in the offseason.
It might be tempting to take a shortcut and splurge in the free agent market to upgrade the pen. But the Royals have tried that before. Before the 2024 season, Picollo signed free agent relievers Will Smith and Chris Stratton, paying them a combined $13 million. In 2024, they pitched in 102 games, combining for a 5.98 ERA.
Ah, but maybe the problem was that they were shopping in the bargain bin? Let’s look at all of last year’s top free agent relievers who signed for $7 million or more and how they fared.
The results are pretty mixed. Of the 14 pitchers, I think you can say Tyler Rogers, Luke Weaver, Raisel Iglesias, and Gregory Soto were unqualified successes, while the rest either had injury issues or were ineffective.
The two World Series participants, the Brewers and Rays, do not have a single member of their bullpen who was signed as a Major League free agent aside from Steven Matz, who was signed as a starter. Instead, the found quality relievers through a number of different avenues – the draft (Ian Seymour, Aaron Ashby), international signings (Abner Uribe), minor league trades (Garrett Cleavinger, Chad Patrick, Trevor Megill, Grant Anderson), major league trades (Bryan Baker, Tyler Wells, DL Hall, Antonio Senzatela), cash considerations (Cole Sulser), minor league deals (Cam Booser), and the Rule 5 draft (Kevin Kelly).
The Brewers and Rays illustrate a different way to build a bullpen. Rather than paying a premium for established relievers, they assembled their relief corps through a variety of avenues, giving them more chances to find undervalued talent. Not every acquisition works, of course, but spreading the risk across several pitchers makes it easier to absorb a miss without having an expensive contract clog up the bullpen.
Of the top 50 relievers with the lowest ERAs last year, only seven were originally acquired by their team as a major league free agent – Aroldis Chapman, Taylor Clarke, Raisel Iglesias, Yuki Matsui, Tyler Rogers, Tanner Scott, and Luke Weaver. Free agent relievers tend to be old, and older relievers tend to be less effective. In 2012, Bill Petti and Jeff Zimmerman at FanGraphs found relievers “age more dramatically than starters.” Their velocity drops, their strikeout rates decline, and their walk rates rise.
Relievers also tend to have volatile performances on a year-by-year basis. Petti also found reliever performance was much more erratic on a season-by-season basis than for starters. Craig Edwards at FanGraphs looked at the bust rate for relievers in 2017 and found that while elite relievers tend to meet projections, “merely ‘good’ relievers had more trouble.” Relievers have smaller samples of performance to evaluate, leaving open the possibility that a few bad outings or plain bad luck can turn a promising season into a disappointing one. That makes it risky to pay a premium for a reliever based on one strong season, particularly when projecting how he’ll perform over a multiyear contract.
Instead, smaller-market clubs should value flexibility. If a free-agent reliever on a multiyear, multimillion-dollar deal endures a rough stretch, a team can find itself stuck with him, reluctant to eat the remaining salary or risk losing him for nothing. But if the bullpen is populated by lower-cost pitchers, the team has more options. A struggling reliever with minor-league options can be sent down to work things out, while another can be released without leaving a significant financial hole. The club can cycle through arms until it finds the right combination, giving opportunities to younger pitchers or taking a chance on someone else’s castoffs.
Of course, this approach isn’t without drawbacks. Cheap relievers are cheap for a reason, and a bullpen built entirely from unproven arms can become a revolving door of ineffectiveness. There is something to be said for coaching and pitcher development, areas in which the Rays and Brewers have excelled in for a long time. The Royals need to be on the cutting edge of development as well. They need to find enough quality among those lower-cost options to build a reliable group while reserving the biggest investments for pitchers who offer a meaningful advantage over the alternatives.
For the Royals, this may mean cultivating in-house options that show signs of success, like Steven Cruz and Nate Pearson, and supplementing them with pitchers acquired through other means. Picollo suggested the team will look at pitchers who provide a variety of “different looks” or “different stuff,” giving hitters a wide range of arm angles, pitch shapes, and velocity profiles to contend with.
That could mean trying more pitchers like Jose Cuas, who throws from different arm angles. It could mean trying more pitchers like Carlos Durán, who excels with a slider, but struggle with command. It could mean trying more pitchers like Nolan Hoffman, who throws from a lower arm angle.
But it is clear that the solution won’t come exclusively from spending lavishly on free agents. The Royals have already tried that approach, and it hasn’t consistently produced the results they need.
“We plan to be aggressive in acquisition,” J.J. Picollo said at his end-of-season press conference, before cautioning that he didn’t want that to be mistaken for being “aggressive in payroll.” He noted that the Royals ranked among the top five teams in bullpen spending over the previous three seasons, but the results have been mixed.
The lesson isn’t that the Royals should stop spending on relievers, but that spending more money doesn’t necessarily translate into a better bullpen. They need to be more effective at identifying which pitchers are worth investing in, while continuing to look for value, and maintaining flexibility. It shouldn’t take much to upgrade an awful bullpen. But the Royals need to get to the top of the league if they want to return to the postseason.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 22: Owen Murphy #73 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn May/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The second 2022 first-round pick to debut for the Braves this season, Owen Murphy got less of a chance than JR Ritchie to make an impression, not making his debut until July 6 and getting just five appearances spanning 12 innings.
How Acquired
Murphy was the 16th overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft with the Braves’ first first-round draft pick, 19 picks ahead of their selection of Ritchie in Competitive Balance Round A. The right-handed pitcher from Riverside, Illinois signed for $2.55 million, well below the $3.41 million slot value, electing to pass on his commitment to Notre Dame.
What were the expectations?
Murphy was somewhat of a slow riser through the minors. He debuted in rookie-ball in 2022 but didn’t reach Double-A until 2026, in part because of Tommy John surgery in June 2024 which kept him out for most of the 2025 campaign. He was excellent upon his return, posting a 1.19 ERA, 2.29 FIP and 2.94 xFIP over seven starts and 30 1/3 innings between the FCL Braves and Rome in 2025, with 34 strikeouts and just six walks.
He started the season as Battery Power’s fourth-ranked prospect in the organization, and was getting fringy rotation regular grades (e.g., a 45+ FV from FanGraphs). That said, he wasn’t really thought of as a guy that could immediately jump in and help in 2026, as the general timeline saw him as a 2027-ish debut.
2026 Results
But, he made his debut in 2026 anyway, and it was a promotion that was at least partially driven by necessity. Martin Pérez was placed on the IL when he was hit by a comebacker amidst a(nother) cursed run of starter injury luck, and Murphy was the next guy up. Given those circumstances, it wasn’t clear what exactly the Braves should have expected from Murphy. But, as noted, they didn’t have too many options.
Prior to being called up, Murphy wasn’t exactly thriving in the minors, with a 4.44 ERA and 4.67 FIP across 16 starts (11 of them at Triple-A). With that said, he was certainly improving as the season went along, with an ERA and FIP in the low 3.00s in the even outings before his callup.
With all that said, major league debuts don’t get much more intense than Murphy’s, when he was tasked with pitching the 10th inning of a game against the Mets on July 6. He was unable to do get the job done, retiring the first two batters before hitting a batter and giving up a two-run double. The Braves got one run back in the bottom of the inning, but lost by a score of 7-6.
He was much better in his second appearance, delivering three perfect innings with three strikeouts. But over his final three outings spanning one July start and two September relief appearances, he gave up 16 hits and eight runs (seven earned) over eight innings.
The right-hander finished with a -0.3 fWAR, a 7.49 xERA, 6.93 FIP and 5.37 xFIP over 12 innings.
Murphy was a Triple-A All-Star, with a 3.07 ERA (66 ERA-), a 4.23 FIP (90 FIP-) and a strikeout percentage of 24.2% in Gwinnett.
What went right?
While walks have been an occasional problem throughout Murphy’s time in the organization, they were not his issue at the major league level this season. He walked just three batters in 12 innings for a 5.4 percent walk rate. He also had a 34.7% chase percentage, which is borderline elite. Those two things probably went hand-in-hand: Murphy pounded the zone, so he got a lot of swings, even at non-strikes.
His pitches also all showed pretty good shape — which is probably a necessity given his lack of velocity.
Murphy’s lone unequivocally good outing came when he threw three innings while the Braves were down three runs. He breezed through the Cardinal lineup, basically getting a mix of easy flies and strikeouts. Unfortunately, the Braves weren’t able to mount a comeback.
What went wrong?
While Murphy did miss quite a few bats, the contact against him was loud when he wasn’t inducing whiffs.
His barrel percentage (11.6 percent), average exit velocity (92.4 mph) and hard-hit percentage (48.8 percent) were all well above the major league averages. This led to a situation where his four-seamer had a .333 xwOBA-against, but his other three offerings were in the no-go zone of at least a .400 xwOBA-against.
A lot of this can be tied to a total lack of command, as all of his secondaries were pretty much all over the place, and the fastball was “in the zone” without Murphy showing any real ability to keep it out of scary areas. Even the slider, which he at least had the idea of consistently locating on a corner, ended up over the plate — and the curve’s location was just a big mess.
All of this culminated in a very high fly ball rate, and four homers in his last three outings, as batters found it exceedingly easy to pull the ball in the air on pretty much all of his offerings. That’s what Luis Torrens did to hit that game-winning double in Murphy’s MLB debut, and it just continued further from there.
2027 Outlook
The more Murphy pitched for the Braves, it became more clear he wasn’t quite ready to stick at the major league level.
That makes this offseason, with that experience under his belt, a critical one for his future. Assuming there is baseball in 2027, the state of the Braves’ pitching staff health will likely provide Murphy another opportunity to pitch at the major league level.
He turned 23 in September, so time isn’t anywhere close to running out yet. But after four of his first five major league appearances came out of the bullpen, this could be an offseason to define his role.
If his command gets to “playable,” his offspeed stuff can start missing more bats, and his walks stay down, could he be a reliever even if his fastball velocity isn’t elite for a right-handed pitcher? You don’t want to bail on him as a starter yet, especially after he’s been good at that role in the minor leagues since returning from Tommy John, but early returns in the majors weren’t great. The Braves might want to wait until he really shows an ability to dominate the minors before giving him another shot… but their hand might be forced by injuries, as has happened repeatedly over the last few years. Hopefully, Murphy has made some improvements by then.
James L. Dolan at AMC Networks 2026 Upfront held at Spring Studios on April 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images) | Variety via Getty Images
The rich really are exceptionally good at finding ways to get richer.
Yesterday, Ben Horney reported in Front Office Sports that Knicks owner James Dolan has received a $10 million bonus for completing the Knicks-Rangers split. The transaction that closed Oct. 26 establishes the teams as separate publicly traded companies.
According to Horney, bonuses of this nature are not unusual when a company is split. However, this cash bonus “definitely stands out,” said a source. The median CEO award in a spin-off study was about $3 million.
Explanation for the size of the payout was limited in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. An independent compensation committee of three members (none with the Dolan surname) approved the award, but the filing did not give reasons why members arrived at such a generous number, or say which of Mr. Dolan’s contributions justified it.
From the article:
“If another public company did this, they’d likely have a page or two of disclosure around how they came to that figure,” the expert says.
When discussing financial matters that involve Dolan, we’re obliged to acknowledge his stance on the Knicks’ payroll. His insistence on staying below the second apron cost the team Mitchell Robinson this summer, and the Knicks have paused extension talks with Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Miles McBride, and Tyler Kolek. Keeping the core together at prices the players will accept while honoring Dolan’s spending limit remains an unresolved challenge. “There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do,” Dolan told WFAN. “One of them is the second apron.”
"There's certain things in the NBA that you'd have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron. I'll write as big of a check as possible, but I can't write a check that goes into the second apron."
Contrast that with what Sam Presti (President, OKC Thunder) has said: “The aprons are intended to make it so a team’s primary team-building philosophy can’t be spending.” And: “There’s nothing in the second apron that would prohibit us from keeping anyone on our team. The challenge is for every team that has a sufficient collection of talent is the finances that come with that.”
Presti’s point appears to be that the second apron makes it harder to improve an expensive roster, but it does not automatically prevent a team from paying to keep its core. Teams can still extend players and use Bird rights to re-sign their own free agents. Keeping their talent just means accepting the financial cost and the restrictions that come with crossing the threshold. So, maybe ‘suicidal’ is a strong term, McDuck? (Also, if you’re reading this: Hey, Jim. Hi! Love the Sphere, hope the Straight Shot’s doing well. I know we’re tough on you, but you know Knicks fans. Listen . . . uh . . . while I have your ear, just two requests? If you could maybe gift me a couple thou to loosen my financial collar a little—or even five or six figures—that would be just so gentlemanly of you. And please let Oak out of the doghouse. Cool?)
Back to the Knicks-Rangers split. Investors can now buy shares in either franchise individually, but the separation does not change who ultimately controls the businesses. The Dolan family retains majority voting control of both teams.
The bonus comes on top of substantial annual compensation. Dolan’s reported fiscal 2026 compensation across MSG Sports, MSG Entertainment and Sphere totaled roughly $42.1 million. The newly awarded $10 million is separate from that figure.
We first reported on the split back in August. According to the deal, MSG Sports would become MSG Knickerbockers Corp., containing the New York Knicks and Westchester Knicks (a very affordable ticket, btw). A new publicly traded MSG Rangers Corp. would contain the Rangers, Hartford Wolf Pack, and MSG Training Center in Greenburgh.
In July, Dolan’s 32-year-old son, Quentin Dolan, stepped into day-to-day operational control of the New York Rangers as the team’s new President, Chief Operating Officer, and Alternate Governor. The Rangers reported an operating loss of approximately $30.5 million for fiscal 2026. The combined MSG Sports business reported $28.9 million in operating income; standalone Knicks results were not disclosed.
Beyond the second apron issue, Papa Dolan’s payout arrives amid criticism of MSG’s decisions. Recent static has included a ticket pricing snafu, Isiah Thomas’s appointment to the Knicks’ board, controversy over championship-ring distribution, and an employee phishing test scandal. It’s hard to fathom but true: The Knicks win their first chip in five decades and yet again ownership manages to kill the vibes.
The Minnesota Wild remain persistent in their pursuit of a top-six center, and in order to find one, they're going to have to be comfortable selling the necessary assets.
The Athletic’s Chris Johnson believes the player is Danila Yurov; in his most recent NHL trade board, Yurov appeared at No. 17.
The 22-year-old is skating in his sophomore season and has posted four goals and five points in 14 games so far. He's seen ice time on various lines, at times skating with Kirill Kaprizov, but mostly with Yakov Trenin and Maxim Shabanov.
While no reports indicate the Wild are shopping Yurov, it makes sense that he would be considered a trade candidate if the Wild want to move for a player like Dylan Larkin. Beyond Yurov, the Wild’s under-23 tradeable assets include Charlie Stramel, David Spacek, Adam Benak, Riley Heidt, and Ryder Ritchie. None of those players have Yurov’s value.
The Wild would likely hope to keep Yurov and still acquire a top-six center, but it seems they have to come to the understanding that there are limited paths to do so without trading him.
"The Wild have dangled Yurov as part of packages aimed at landing bigger fish," said Johnston. "He’s in his sophomore NHL season and has demonstrated deft stickhandling skills and strong instincts while lining up as a third-line center in Minnesota. Yurov is a shifty player with upside who is cost-controlled, with an entry-level contract covering this season and next. It’s an attractive set of attributes."
Yurov wasn't the only Wild player on this list, as defenseman Quinn Hughes landed at No. 10.
The Wild hope to reach a contract agreement with Hughes instead of trading him. Still, the longer this stalemate goes on and the closer the trade deadline gets, the louder the noise will be.
It would be catastrophic for the Wild to lose Hughes in free agency after sending three NHL-ready prospects to the Vancouver Canucks just a year ago. Trading Hughes would be a last-resort move, but it warrants consideration.
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