MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 7: An overall view of the court after the Minnesota Timberwolves unveil new logo, uniforms and court on June 7, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Timberwolves fans and fans across the country.
Now that Kevin Garnett’s number 21 is finally going up to the Target Center rafters next season, it only feels right that the Minnesota Timberwolves can begin honoring other notable players in the franchise’s relatively short 37 year history.
The parameters for why a player should have their jersey number retired is subjective. There is no science to this and with an organization that has experienced so little success (outside of the current Anthony Edwards era), let alone sniffed a championship, it begs the question if anyone even deserves to have their number retired.
But why be so negative?
Teams without titles still deserve to celebrate their heroes of yore. So if it were up to you, who’s number would you like to see alongside Garnett and Malik Sealy (and the multitude of Lynx Hall of Famers)?
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 7: Sam Mitchell poses for a photo during the Minnesota Timberwolves new logo and court unveil on June 7, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If we’re going by longevity and dedication to the franchise, Sam Mitchell certainly deserves the nod. He played 10 of his 13 seasons with the Wolves, totaling the second most amount of games played just behind Garnett. He wasn’t an All-Star by any means, but he continued his Wolves lore as an assistant and interim head coach during the late Flip Saunders years. Mitchell still frequently shows up for fan and community events in Minnesota, such as during the new rebrand event this summer.
Kevin Love is the next person that pops into mind. Ironically, Love and Mitchell both wore number 42, but other franchises have retired the same number for different players before. His case is almost opposite to Mitchell though. First of all, Love is still technically an active player (and capable power forward free agent!). Second, Love had perhaps the highest peak of any Timberwolves player outside of Garnett and Edwards. Third, he had a bit of an unceremonious departure from Minnesota, though much of that blame can be shifted to then President of Basketball Operations David Kahn. Weirdly enough, Love only played five of his 18 seasons with the Wolves.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 1: Ricky Rubio #9 and Gorgui Dieng #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high five each other during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 1, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Is it too soon to think of more recent players like Ricky Rubio and Gorgui Dieng? Both have officially retired from the NBA (Rubio recently announced he would be continuing his playing career in Spain), but were deeply beloved by Wolves fans by in and outside of the local Minnesota community. They are tier one human beings who left a deep impact on others. Rubio, in particular, inspired a great deal of hope on-the-court during a very dark time for the Wolves.
If there’s anyone we missed, make your case in the comments below!
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 15: Pitching coach Carl Willis #51 and manager Stephen Vogt #12 of the Cleveland Guardians watch relief pitcher Colin Holderman #35 after an apparent injury during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Progressive Field on August 15, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I think we are all reaching the acceptance portion of the grieving process for the Guardians 2026 season. This is a bad baseball team. What’s next?
It is still possible, of course, that the Guardians pull it all together in their remaining 37 games, primarily because these are their remaining opponents: Giants for 3, Rockies for 3, Angels for 3, Royals for 3, Blue Jays for 3, Tigers for 4, Orioles for 3, Twins for 3, White Sox for 3, Athletics for 3, Red Sox for 3 and Royals for 3. That’s a very favorable schedule. Does this team look like a team that can go 25-12 over these remaining games and get to 85 wins? ABSOLUTELY NOT. But, I can’t say I saw them playing .570 ball over the end of the last season, either.
If I had to guess, I can see the Guardians finding their way to something like 19-18, finishing at 78 wins, their lowest total since 2023’s total of 76 where they absolutely went through the motions to end Tito Francona’s time here. That resulted in, needless to say, the biggest changes the organization had endured for a decade. I am desperate for them to make some changes on the coaching staff, specifically poaching some hitting coaches from a successful organization, but also considering some dugout changes, whether it’s bench coach, field coordinator, or third base coach. I am still a Stephen Vogt believer but something is awry with the current coaching group… and something has been off with the hitting group since 2019 during which time the Guardians have put up the 22nd worst wRC+ in MLB at 95. That has to change, period.
So, aside from rooting for the Guardians to pull off some last minute miracle, again, to rescue the season, what else is there to root for?
A Nice Draft Pick:
-A 78—86 record will give the Guardians a strong chance at a top-10 pick in the 2027 MLB draft. They are set for a pretty big bonus pool in what is supposed to be a deeper draft after failing to sign Logan Schmidt. Yipee. This will not cause me to root for losses (dumb), or be happy when they lose (evil), but it will give me a chance to sleep a little easier at night.
Rooting for Further Hitter Development:
-Obviously, we are watching looking for Travis Bazzana, Angel Genao, Angel Martinez, Brayan Rocchio, and a hopefully healthy Chase DeLauter to figure things out/continue strong performances at the plate over the last 35 games. Of course, if 3-4 of them DO perform well, they’ll also win baseball games. Bazzana, also, needs to show some development as a defender, as well.
DeLauter has been such a joy this season and the one reason for hope for our crop of young hitters. If his mild hamstring tenderness turns into something worse… someone hold me. He’s the primary reason to watch every night, right now.
This front office has been pleasingly aggressive with promotion of prospects and I hope that will continue. If the Guardians should have an absolutel collapse to end August, the team should waive Nathaniel Lowe prior to September 1st to let him find his way to a contender to qualify for a playoff roster and bring either Kyle Manzardo or Cooper Ingle back for a further look to end the year. TOMORROW, the team should DFA Rhys Hoskins and let Kody Huff come up and have his at-bats. Some of these bats have to progress before you will have a chance to be a different team offensively. I would keep Ralphy Velazquez in Columbus because of the potential of the lockout causing some 2027 games to be missed so he can continue to hit and develop until the major league team is through labor strife (he’s not Rule-5 eligible until 2027).
Enjoy Jose:
Jose Ramirez will start to show signs of being his old self. Every day he is in a Cleveland uniform is a good day and I plan to set myself to enjoy every moment of him.
Enjoy Steven Kwan:
I don’t know if the team will trade Kwan in November prior to his last season here or keep him and try for a comp pick if he leaves or try to extend him. I can’t even tell you which of those choices is right. But, Kwan’s comeback since the All-Star break has been great and the fact he has been an excellent centerfielder is such a joy. He’s a fun player and I am very glad he has been a Guardian and trying to appreciate him while he is.
Enjoy Jo Adell:
After a rough first week after being traded, Adell has put up a 126 wRC+ in Cleveland. He is clearly excited to be on a team that even has a CHANCE to sniff the playoffs. I’d love to see the team make that feeling last if only to give the former Angel a little more joy. Who knows if we will have a 2027 season to enjoy Adell or if the team will approach him about an extension? It’s time to appreciate that we have a legit right-handed slugger for a minute before it’s gone.
Promote the Parker Messick Rookie-of-the-Year Campaign:
Probably the Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle is going to need to have a very bad last six weeks for Messick to have a legitimate shot at the award, but the chance is there. Messick is the staff ace, no doubt, and has repeatedly come up big for the team when they have needed him the most. I can’t even imagine how bleak things would be without Messick’s amazing year, given all the pitching injuries the organization has sustained in the minors.
Believe that This is Likely the Last of Tim Herrin:
The Cleveland bullpen has finally showed the effects of Emmanuel Clase’s and Luis Ortiz’s absences (assuming Ortiz would have either pushed Cecconi to the pen or gone there himself). Nowhere has it been more clear than in Herrin’s 5.00 FIP. He’s just such an unreliable and often terrible pitcher. I don’t think Herrin will return in 2027. Why? Because I need that to be true for my mental health.
Root for Gavin Williams to get 200 strikeouts:
Williams has potentially 7 starts remaining and needs 51 strikeouts to hit 200. This isn’t likely, but it is plausible. I am right now, personally, miffed at Williams for his bad start against the Tigers, but he has been absolutely dominant for most of his starts and he and Messick will have to be great again in 2027 for the Guardians to have some playoff hopes. I enjoy his personality and demeanor and want to see him end the year extremely strongly.
Root for Cade Smith:
Could Cade Smith get 17 more saves? Unlikely, sure. But, if he does, he will have more saves this season than Emmanuel Clase ever did in one season and that would mean something to me. I believe so much in Smith and his durability and would love to see the Guardians extend him. If he hits 48 saves, it will also mean that Colin Holderman, Hunter Gaddis and Erik Sabrowski finished strong which would be great to see in a bullpen that has struggled way more than what we have been used to. But, it’s Smith and his ability to step up for this team when they lost the best closer in baseball that makes me feel most proud of this team, so I am rooting for him to have a strong ending to the season above everyone else.
There are still a variety of things to look for even if the Guardians don’t manage to make a playoff run. It’s not quite time to tune out and focus in on football with some young players trying to put together strong finishes to give fans optimism about the future. I can’t say I’m optimistic about the team’s ability to pull off a salvage miracle as they did last season, but I’m rooting for them to prove me wrong.
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 30: Mark Quinn of the Kansas City Royals runs the bases against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on August 30, 2000 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
Cardinals outfielder Joshua Báez was called up to play in his first MLB game on Saturday. He homered three times, and by the end he was receiving applause from the Wrigley faithful. That’s right, Cubs fans were congratulating a Cardinals player.
His performance may have been the best MLB debut ever, which got me thinking about Royals hitters playing in their first big league game. Who had the best MLB debut in Royals history?
Honorable mention: Kevin Koslofski, 1992
Koslofski grew very familiar with I-29, the highway between Kansas City and Omaha. The outfielder was a leading hitter for the top Royals minor league affiliate, and found himself shuttling between the minors and the big leagues for several years. He never really stuck, but in his first game, he definitely looked like a big leaguer. He hit leadoff and collected three hits against the Orioles, including an RBI single. He is just one of four Royals hitters ever to get three hits in their first MLB game.
10. Brian McRae, 1990
Mac had a lot to live up to, being a former first-round pick and the son of Royals legend Hal McRae. The Royals called him up in early August and hit him ninth. But Brian McRae was unlike his dad in that he was more of a speedster than a power hitter. And he showed off that asset immediately. He drilled a pitch from White Sox hurler Alex Fernandez down the right-field line and legged out a triple in his very first MLB at-bat. He would later single and score his first MLB run, giving him a 2-for-4 debut.
9. Paulo Orlando, 2015
Orlando was just the third Brazilian-born player to ever make the big leagues, a notable achievement on its own. But he really made a name for himself with Royals fans thanks to the blazing speed he developed as a track athlete in his younger days. He tripled in the fifth inning of that first game, part of a 1-for-3 day, but it was his second game that he became “Paulo Triplo” with two more triples.
8. Ryan O’Hearn, 2018
The Royals called up O’Hearn after the trade deadline in 2018, and he arrived in Chicago jet-lagged. After a few innings to gain his bearings, the left-handed slugger came up in the fifth against former Royals pitcher James Shields. He smacked it 359 feet for a two-run home run, in what would be a 4-2 Royals win.
“I’m just at a loss for words,” said O’Hearn. “I’m excited to be here and today was the most fun I had at a baseball field — once I settled down a little bit — ever.”
7. Kyle Isbel, 2021
Isbel has made his name with his glove, but in his first MLB game, it was his bat that did the talking. The Royals battered Rangers starter Kyle Gibson, batting around in a five-run first. Isbel did his part with an RBI single in his first at-bat of the game. He would finish with three hits and 2 RBI in the 14-10 win. He followed that up with another multi-hit game in his second MLB game, making him 5-for-9 (.556) to start his career.
6. Salvador Perez, 2011
Salvy never made any prospect lists, but from day one in the big leagues, he looked like something special. His offensive game was good, but nothing remarkable – an RBI sac fly, a single. But the 21-year-old was a defensive stud behind the plate, throwing out two runners on the basepaths, showing off the arm that would earn him five Gold Gloves.
The hype around Damon was enormous when he made his MLB debut in 1995. The Royals would eventually have an ad campaign where he wrestled a remote control with the legendary George Brett, a not-so-subtle sign of the expectations the franchise had of him. Damon hit .343 at Double-A Wichita before getting the call to the show at age 21 in August. Hitting leadoff, the Mariners retired him in his first two at-bats. But in the fifth, he laced a grounder down the line and showed off his blazing speed. He ended a third with a triple, the first of his three hits that night.
“It was Johnny Damon night,” remarked teammate Michael Tucker. “The first couple of times up it’s like he is just trying to figure out the pitching. He had three hits before you know it.”
4. Bobby Witt Jr., 2022
Bobby was one of the most heralded prospects in club history, and there was a lot of buzz on Opening Day of 2022 when he made his debut. He flashed some good leather at third base, but was hitless going into the eighth inning. With the game tied 1-1, Witt came up with a runner at second. He laced a double to left to give the Royals the lead, later scoring his first MLB run on a single.
The crowd was chanting “BOB-BY, BOB-BY!” after the game, the first of many times they would cheer his name.
3. Samad Taylor, 2023
The 2023 Royals were pretty crummy, but one highlight came in a wild, back-and-forth game against the Angels in June. The Angels led 8-2 going into the seventh inning stretch, but the Royals stormed back with three in the seventh and three in the eighth to tie it. The Angels reclaimed the lead in the ninth, but Maikel Garcia tied it up in the bottom of the inning. That brough up Taylor, who had been 0-for-2 with two walks in his MLB debut thus far. He drilled a pitch over Mike Trout’s head in center to score the winning run, a walk-off hit in his first game.
Welcome to the show, Samad Taylor 💥
His first big-league hit sends Royals fans home happy with a 10-9 walk-off win over the Angels.
Seitzer finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 1987, but he actually made his debut with a splash in 1986. After hitting .319 at Omaha, he was a September callup and made his debut in left field. He went hitless in his first three at-bats, but rose to the occasion with the game on the line. With the Royals trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth, he singled off Joe Cowley to lead off the inning. Steve Balboni doubled him home to tie the game and send it to extras. In the tenth, Seitzer came up with Willie Wilson at third, 90 feet away from winning the game. Seitz chopped one high off the turf at Royals Stadium, allowing Wilson to score and win the game.
“I was scared to death. I had never been on the 40-man roster before, so I wasn’t in big-league camp in spring training, and I didn’t really know anybody. I was petrified, but if it wasn’t for Quiz, I don’t know if I would have been able to do what I did. He talked to me and calmed me down.”
1. Mark Quinn, 1999
Only four players in Royals history have homered in their first MLB game – Clint Hurdle (1977), Ryan O’Hearn (2018), Nate Eaton (2022), and Mark Quinn, who did it not once, but twice. Quinn was an enigma. He was brash, but his bat backed it up in the minors. He hit .349 at Double-A, then won a batting title in Triple-A the next year, earning him a September callup.
Quinn doubled in the fourth against the Angels, but he was just getting started. He smashed a two-run home run in the sixth, then gave the Royals the lead in the eighth with another two-run home run. He became just the fourth MLB hitter ever to homer twice in his debut.
“I had fun tonight. That was probably the best night of my life.”
It would be the best night of his career. After a solid season in 2000 that earned him Rookie of the Year votes, his free-swinging approach (he once went 242 plate appearances without a walk) took its toll and he quickly washed out. By 2003, he was out of the big leagues, and by 2008 he was out of pro baseball entirely.
The latest Buss family dispute emerged Monday following a report that the family will sell its remaining stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to new majority owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.
The move to sell off the remaining 17.8% ownership stake, reported Monday morning by ESPN, would mark the end of the Buss family era with the 17-time NBA championship franchise.
In a statement reported by ESPN, the Buss family said. “We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction. We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
NBC Los Angeles has reached out to the Lakers, Buss family and representatives for Bob Iger and Josh Kusher for comment.
The sale would mean Jeanie Buss would no longer be the team’s governor, which requires a qualifying 15% ownership stake in a franchise. She has been team governor since 2013, following the death of her father Jerry Buss.
But later Monday, CNBC reported that Jeanie Buss is opposing the potential sale of her family’s stake, citing a letter addressed to law firms representing Jeanie Buss’s siblings. The letter said Jeanie Buss has not agreed to sell the team and a vote suggesting the family is selling “would be and is void,” CNBC reported.
Attorney Adam Streisand argued in the letter that Jeanie Buss remains the controlling shareholder, CNBC reported.
The siblings have been in frequent conflict since their father’s death. Jeanie Buss fired Jim Buss from his job as the Lakers’ head of basketball operations in 2017. A week later, she filed a lawsuit against her brothers during an attempt by Jim and Johnny to oust Jeanie from her role as the Lakers’ controlling owner.
Iger is the former CEO of the Walt Disney Co. Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka. They confirmed last week that they had reached an agreement to purchase the Lakers for a record $12.5 billion.
The deal was announced about 10 months after Dodgers owner Mark Walter purchased a majority stake in the team from the Buss family for $10 billion.
ESPN reported that a majority of the Buss siblings, Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse, voted to sell off the family’s remaining stake in the team. According to the ESPN report, Jeanie Buss’ agreement under the sale to Walter would have kept her as governor of the franchise through 2030.
The team sale must still go before the NBA Board of Governors for approval. The board’s next meeting is Sept. 15-16 in New York.
Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million. The deal included the NHL’s Kings and The Forum in Inglewood.
Following his death in 2013, Lakers ownership passed to his children, with Jeanie Buss serving as team governor ever since.
Under the Buss family, the Lakers captured 11 NBA championships, the last coming during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The latest Buss family dispute emerged Monday following a report that the family will sell its remaining stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to new majority owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.
The move to sell off the remaining 17.8% ownership stake, reported Monday morning by ESPN, would mark the end of the Buss family era with the 17-time NBA championship franchise.
In a statement reported by ESPN, the Buss family said. “We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction. We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
NBC Los Angeles has reached out to the Lakers, Buss family and representatives for Bob Iger and Josh Kusher for comment.
The sale would mean Jeanie Buss would no longer be the team’s governor, which requires a qualifying 15% ownership stake in a franchise. She has been team governor since 2013, following the death of her father Jerry Buss.
But later Monday, CNBC reported that Jeanie Buss is opposing the potential sale of her family’s stake, citing a letter addressed to law firms representing Jeanie Buss’s siblings. The letter said Jeanie Buss has not agreed to sell the team and a vote suggesting the family is selling “would be and is void,” CNBC reported.
Attorney Adam Streisand argued in the letter that Jeanie Buss remains the controlling shareholder, CNBC reported.
The siblings have been in frequent conflict since their father’s death. Jeanie Buss fired Jim Buss from his job as the Lakers’ head of basketball operations in 2017. A week later, she filed a lawsuit against her brothers during an attempt by Jim and Johnny to oust Jeanie from her role as the Lakers’ controlling owner.
Iger is the former CEO of the Walt Disney Co. Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka. They confirmed last week that they had reached an agreement to purchase the Lakers for a record $12.5 billion.
The deal was announced about 10 months after Dodgers owner Mark Walter purchased a majority stake in the team from the Buss family for $10 billion.
ESPN reported that a majority of the Buss siblings, Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse, voted to sell off the family’s remaining stake in the team. According to the ESPN report, Jeanie Buss’ agreement under the sale to Walter would have kept her as governor of the franchise through 2030.
The team sale must still go before the NBA Board of Governors for approval. The board’s next meeting is Sept. 15-16 in New York.
Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million. The deal included the NHL’s Kings and The Forum in Inglewood.
Following his death in 2013, Lakers ownership passed to his children, with Jeanie Buss serving as team governor ever since.
Under the Buss family, the Lakers captured 11 NBA championships, the last coming during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
On fire: Infielder Caleb Bonemer picked up another weekly award with a huge week for the Barons. | Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images
Charlotte Knights Record 2-4 (last week), 22-23 (second half), 64-56 (overall)
Knights Player of the Week David Sandlin 5 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K
Shane Smith 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K Drew Thorpe 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 6 K Noah Schultz 4 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 K Jonathan Cannon 10 IP, 10 ER, 14 H, 5 BB, 15 K
Charlotte had a tough assignment this week, facing the Red Wings in Rochester (71-47). The Knights got off to a good start, but they only picked up two wins total after a rough weekend on the road.
Pitcher David Sandlin, 25, had an outstanding start against the Red Wings, delivering five shutout innings and striking out six. In 50 2/3 innings with the Knights this season, Sandlin has a 1.95 ERA and a 3.81 FIP, providing plenty of stability for a pitching staff with a 4.90 season ERA (11th out of 20 International League teams). Sandlin has not found his footing in the majors yet, as he posted a 6.93 ERA and a 5.88 FIP in 24 2/3 innings at the highest level this season for his only MLB experience. However, if Sandlin has more outings like this one, he will have a strong case to rejoin the MLB roster.
2026 Charlotte Knights Players of the Week Korey Lee (March 27-April 5) Oliver Dunn (April 6-12) Shane Smith (April 13-19) Jarred Kelenic (April 20-26) Oliver Dunn (April 27-May 3) LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 4-10) Jacob Gonzalez(May 11-17) LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 18-24) Jacob Gonzalez(May 25-31) Braden Montgomery(June 1-7) Ryan Galanie(June 8-14) Kyle Teel(June 15-21) Korey Lee(June 22-28) Caden Connor(June 29-July 5) Nolan Jones(July 6-12) Andy Weber (July 13-26) Ryan Galanie(July 27-August 2) Korey Lee(August 3-9) David Sandlin(August 10-16)
Barons Player of the Week Caleb Bonemer .381/.519/.810, 2-for-3 stolen bases, 21 at-bats
Anthony DePino .333/.462/.762, 21 at-bats José Colmenares .250/.438/.333, 2-for-3 stolen bases, 12 at-bats James Taussig .188/.188/.375, 16 at-bats Samuel Zavala .200/.294/.267, 15 at-bats Colby Shelton .125/.348/.125, 16 at-bats
Connor McCullough 9 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 3 BB, 9 K Aidan Anderson 4 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K Dylan Cumming 4 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 2 K Shane Murphy 5 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 5 K Jake Palisch 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K
The Barons took turns against the Clingstones (53-56), with Birmingham winning on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at home.
In a surprise to nobody, infielder and top White Sox prospect Caleb Bonemer, 20, was the Baron of the Week. This is Bonemer’s fifth weekly award of the season (three with the Dash, two with the Barons) and his second in the past four weeks. This week, Bonemer went 8-for-21 with a homer, two triples, two doubles, three walks, four RBIs and a 1.329 OPS. Overall, in 44 games since being promoted to Double-A, Bonemer is slashing .273/.396/.558, a slash line that tops what he did with the Dash.
Jake Curtis 6 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 5 K Justin Sinibaldi 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K Grant Umberger 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K Drew McDaniel 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K Dylan Carmouche 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 5 BB, 3 K Aric McAtee 3 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K Max Banks 3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K
After the Dash only went 2-3 against Asheville (39-73) last week, they got back on track with a 4-2 series win on the road against the Grasshoppers (68-46).
Infielder Jeral Perez, 21, went 8-for-18 with two homers, three doubles, six walks and five RBIs. Perez, who plays second base and third base, offers defensive flexibility. Perez got off to a slow start at the plate in 2026, but he has been trending in the right direction for months. Perez slashed .184/.268/.299 in April and .135/.273/.203 in May. However, Perez slashed .254/.359/.358 in June, .253/.340/.418 in July and .275/.444/.500 so far in August. Well done to Perez, whose excellent performance earned him his first weekly award of the season.
2026 Winston-Salem Dash Players of the Week Caleb Bonemer (April 6-12) Colby Shelton (April 13-19) Colby Shelton (April 20-26) Caleb Bonemer(April 27-May 3) Colby Shelton(May 4-10) Boston Smith(May 11-17) George Wolkow (May 18-24) Morris Austin(May 25-31) Caleb Bonemer(June 1-7) James Taussig(June 8-14) Kyle Lodise(June 15-21) George Wolkow(June 22-28) Kaleb Freeman(June 29-July 5) Ryan Burrowes (July 6-12) Ely Brown (July 13-26) Calvin Harris(July 27-August 2) Derek Cerda(August 3-9) Jeral Perez(August 10-16)
Gabe Tanner 6 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 5 K Truman Pauley 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K Fabian Ysalla 5 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 1 K Andrew Berg 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K Alexander Martinez 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K
The Cannon Ballers had another strong performance, winning four of six at home against Hickory (66-45). After the Cannon Ballers got off to an 8-16 start to the season, they have turned things around in a big way and have been trending upward for a long time.
Right-handed relief pitcher Marco Barrios, 20, was fantastic on the mound for the Cannon Ballers. In 5 1/3 innings, Barrios allowed zero runs on one hit to lower his season ERA to 2.17. Overall, Barrios has pitched 45 2/3 innings this season, all with the Cannon Ballers, and opposing hitters are slashing only .231/.287/.341 against him. Barrios is still very young, and it seems as though he is ready to test how his stuff will fly in Winston-Salem. Barrios has been a big part of a strong Kannapolis pitching staff, which ranks first out of 12 teams in the Carolina League with a 3.69 ERA.
2026 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Players of the Week Stiven Flores (April 6-12) Abraham Núñez (April 13-19) Javier Mogollón(April 20-26) Arxy Hernández(April 27-May 3) Javier Mogollón(May 4-10) Max Banks(May 11-17) Riley Eikhoff(May 18-24) James Taussig(May 25-31) James Taussig(June 1-7) Derek Cerda(June 8-14) Matthew Boughton(June 15-21) Ryan Schiefer(June 22-28) Christian Gonzalez(June 29-July 5) Jaden Fauske (July 6-12) Steven Lancia (July 13-26) Anthony Patterson III(July 27-August 2) Grant Cleavinger(August 3-9) Marco Barrios(August 10-16)
DSL White Sox Record 2-4 (last week), 19-34 (overall)
DSL White Sox Player of the Week Orlando Patiño .333/.500/.722, 1-for-2 stolen bases, 18 at-bats
Hansel Pinales 3 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K Ronald Kelly 3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K David Colmenares 3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K José Taveras 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K Jhoriel De La Rosa 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K
The DSL White Sox had another losing week, dropping four of six. This will be our final weekly recap of this team, which will play on Tuesday for its only remaining game.
Outfielder Orlando Patiño, 18, wrapped up his final full week on a high note, finishing 6-for-18 with a homer, a triple, two doubles, six walks and five RBIs. Patiño has had an excellent season, slashing .319/.446/.467 (126 wRC+) with 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts (83.3%). Very well done to Patiño, who made a sizable stride forward after struggling in the DSL last year (.167/.294/.214, 44 wRC+).
2026 DSL White Sox Players of the Week Carlos Vielma(June 1-7) Sebastian Romero(June 8-14) Sebastian Romero(June 15-21) Ronald Kelly(June 22-28) Orlando Patiño(June 29-July 5) Ronald Cardozo (July 6-12) Nestor Pérez(July 13-26) David Colmenares(July 27-August 2) Félix Lebron(August 3-9) Orlando Patiño(August 10-16)
Mar 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Haywood Highsmith (19) reacts after scoring a basket during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Free agent F Haywood Highsmith has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, his agent Jerry Dianis tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/IpkzmLnRju
Five days ago, Phoenix opted to waive the veteran defensive specialist, who was owed $1 million on a contract that was not set to become fully guaranteed until January 10, 2027. Had Highsmith remained on the roster through that date, the deal would have become worth $3 million in total.
Now, less than a week later, he’s back.
So what’s the reasoning behind this? Why would the Suns waive Highsmith only to bring him back for roughly the same amount? Certainly there have to be some mechanics involved that benefit both sides, right? Because if not, the $1 million that was owed to Highsmith before he was waived would simply be added to the Suns’ dead cap, pushing that total to $24.2 million.
I haven’t seen an updated cap sheet yet or any official details on how the new contract is structured, but my assumption is that it will be fully non-guaranteed. If that’s the case, the $1 million previously owed to Highsmith would remain part of the dead cap, while his new deal would give Phoenix greater flexibility moving forward.
So why do it? For starters, the Suns gave Highsmith an opportunity to test the market and see whether another team would offer him a fully guaranteed contract. Given his recent injury history, including missing nearly all of last season after meniscus surgery, there were legitimate concerns. He cleared waivers, nobody brought him in, and ultimately he returned to Phoenix.
The Suns, meanwhile, may have created additional flexibility with the structure of the new deal. Had Highsmith remained on his previous contract, they already owed him $1 million, and that deal could have grown to $3 million if it had become fully guaranteed.
Under this new arrangement, Phoenix potentially avoids committing that additional money if Highsmith doesn’t make it to the guarantee date. If he does, the Suns have the room to keep him. That $3 million would hit the cap, but it wouldn’t necessarily create a major problem given where Phoenix already sits relative to the first and second aprons.
Another way to look at this is that Highsmith could potentially be on an Exhibit 9 contract, which would essentially make this a training camp invite and give the Suns an opportunity to see how he looks and responds physically. If he doesn’t make the regular-season roster, the deal wouldn’t count against the cap.
We could see something similar to what happened last season, when Jordan Goodwin and Jared Butler battled for a roster spot. This time around, that competition could involve Highsmith and Jamaree Bouyea, who also does not have a guaranteed contract. If that’s the case, Phoenix could still enter the season with an open roster spot, giving the organization another layer of flexibility.
For all the people who were devastated when the Suns waived Haywood Highsmith last week, you can settle down now. I found it funny how frustrated some people became, almost as if Phoenix were waiving a starter rather than a depth piece. In reality, Highsmith is someone who can step in when injuries occur or provide specific minutes against a point-of-attack threat. It’s a reminder that depth is fluid, and sometimes people become more emotionally invested in the idea of a player than what that player actually is in the present.
Highsmith still has a long road ahead of him to earn those minutes back. He needs to get himself back into complete NBA shape and rebuild that value. The fact that he cleared waivers also showed that his value around the league may not be as high as the local fan base believes.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t a worthwhile addition. He brings a defensive mentality, can shoot the three-ball, and fits with who and what the Phoenix Suns are trying to be from both an organizational and skill-set standpoint.
And the Suns? Kudos to them for remaining vigilant and finding ways to save wherever they can. For an organization that has been fiscally irresponsible in the past, this is further evidence that they are operating much more responsibly moving forward. You may look at saving $3 million as a risk when it meant potentially losing a player of Highsmith’s caliber, but it wasn’t necessarily much of a risk at all.
The Suns were already going to owe him $1 million guaranteed. My assumption is that this new deal is fully non-guaranteed, meaning they incur no additional financial loss if it doesn’t work out. Optionality. That’s what the Suns have given themselves.
Apr 18, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) hits a single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Did the Phillies turn their season around with the sweep over the Twins? Or was that series just a brief upturn before they resume their frustrating play?
We might find out this week, as the Phillies will host an opponent that’s been more all over the place than they have. You probably recall that the last time the Phillies played the Marlins, it didn’t go so well for the Fightins. But it’s tough to use that series to predict anything based on how bipolar the Marlins have been.
Already this season, the Marlins have had a six-game winning streak immediately followed by a 12-game losing streak. The sweep over the Phillies was part of a stretch where they won six of seven, only to drop four in a row before winning four straight.
They enter this series going 2-2 in their last four, which seems almost normal. So, they’re probably about to either win a bunch of games in a row or do the complete opposite. Personally, I’m hoping they lose a bunch in a row.
Opposition research: Otto Lopez
It’s somewhat amazing that in a division that features All-Stars like Trea Turner, Francisco Lindor, and C.J. Abrams, the best shortstop in the National League East this season might be Otto Lopez. In his first two seasons with the Marlins, Lopez was regarded as a good fielder whose bat was barely adequate. But this season, he’s actually become a plus at the plate, batting .308 with an NL leading 149 hits.
However, much of that success came in the first half of the season. Since the All-Star break, Lopez has regressed a bit.
#Marlins Otto Lopez has quietly struggled so far since the ASB.
Across 24 games (105 PA): – .224/.248/.276 – 230 wOBA | .259 xwOBA – 40 wRC+ – No home runs but still has 7 stolen bases. – Has recorded just 2 barrels and has a 56% GB%
Those numbers are even worse since the bgeinning of August: In 13 games, he’s batting just .200 with no home runs.
A trip to Citizens Bank Park might not be what he needs to cure his ills. In 15 games at the Phillies’ stadium, he’s batting .196, and has yet to go deep.
Hating on the Marlins
While they’re still in the Wild Card race, nobody seriously believes that this team is actually going to make the playoffs. Instead, they’ll probably do what they’re best at: Prove an irritant to actual contenders.
Hopefully, the Phillies already got their seemingly annual frustrating series against the Marlins out of the way last month. This time around, the Phillies need to put them in their place.
Remembering a guy who played for both the Phillies and Marlins
Jason Vargas finished eighth in Rookie of the Year voting with the Marlins in 2005 when the righthanded pitcher was 5-5 with a 4.03 ERA. But in 12 games the following year, his ERA ballooned to 7.33, and after the season, the Marlins traded him to the Mets.
Fun Fact: in 2019 the #Phillies traded for pitcher Jason Vargas.
What you may not remember is his average fastball velocity was a mind numbingly low 84.2 MPH
He spent the next few years circulating around the majors as a decent mid-rotation starter. He missed most of the 2015 and 2016 seasons due to Tommy John (RIP!) surgery but came back to lead the American League in wins in 2017 and made his only All-Star team.
In 2019, he was on his second stint with the Mets. Though he wasn’t having a particularly good season – he was basically a barely passable inning eater – the Phillies were desperate for rotation help, so they sent a lottery pick prospect to New York to add Vargas to their rotation.
He went 1-4 with a 5.37 ERA as the Phillies missed the playoffs. The Phillies made little effort to re-sign him after the season, and his major league career was over.
Additional thought about the series
The Phillies have made a conscious effort to walk more, and it seems to be working. After the Cardinals series in which they hit into about 20 double plays, it would have been easy for them to give up on that approach, but they stuck with it and saw positive results against the Twins.
While on-base percentage isn’t the end all in offensive performance, it stands to reason that if you get enough runners on base, eventually some of them are going to score. It certainly helps that Luis Arraez, Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott have been doing an excellent job in getting those runners home lately. Can they keep that up? I’d like to think so, but history says that it probably won’t be smooth sailing from here.
Since installing Luis Arraez as the #4 hitter in the @Phillies lineup, Bryce Harper has 18 walks in 11 games. He has a staggering .571 OBP in that span. Once Arraez goes on another heater with his bat, the Phillies are going to score a ton of runs. pic.twitter.com/ueuN2Nat3n
A new week is here, and I'm ready to kick it off with three of my favorite home run props and predictions for tonight's MLB slate, highlighted by Shohei Ohtani and Matt Olson.
Here are my favorite MLB picks for Monday, Aug. 17.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar owns the No. 1 rating on Batters-Box, where he covers 100% of Sugano's pitch mix. On top of that, across 150 elite ratings on the road over the last three seasons, Ohtani has left the yard 26% of the time.
Sugano has struggled against left-handed hitters, allowing 2.30 HR/9 and a 14% barrel rate against his last 60 faced. Those hitters have posted a .310 xBA and .638 xSLG during that stretch.
With this matchup taking place in Coors, the +197 price tag is not THAT awful, but I would not take this down much further. Find a boost.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNLA, COLR
Home run pick: Matt Olson (+291)
Atlanta Braves slugger Matt Olson has been generating a ton of hard contact and barrels over his last few games. He's coming off a home run on Sunday, but his matchup against Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober this evening might be even better.
Against the last 30 left-handed hitters he has faced, Ober is allowing a 43.3% hard-hit rate, 13.3% barrel rate, and 70% elevation rate. Those lefties own a .355 xBA, .680 xSLG, and .363 xwOBA.
Olson, across his last 10 games, is producing a near 50% hard-hit rate and 32% barrel rate, while posting a .684 SLG and .447 ISO.
At near three-to-one, it is a solid price worth paying. Take this down to +275.
Vargas, who homered on Sunday, has been racking up great numbers over his last 10 games. He's posted a .634 SLG, .366 ISO, and 12.5% barrel rate.
In his last 30 at-bats against a left-handed pitchers, he has a .520 SLG and .320 ISO, while generating a 50% hard-hit rate and 11.1% barrel rate.
The last 30 right-handed hitters Imanaga has faced have produced a 14.3% barrel rate and 23.8% ground-ball rate, while sporting a .341 xBA, .530 xSLG and .218 ISO.
Vargas should feast! Take this down to +300.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, Marquee
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 102-358, +11.3 units
Today’s HR combo
Shohei Ohtani
Trade Now +5056
Matt Olson
Miguel Vargas
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
DYERSVILLE, IOWA - AUGUST 13: The Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins walk out of the cornfield prior to a game at Field of Dreams on August 13, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Prior to the Field of Dreams game, the Twins took care of business against the Orioles, with Dean Kremer providing a “Revenge Game TM” performance against his old team. Unfortunately, the good vibes stopped as soon as the Twins walked through the cornfields, as they finished out the week getting swept by the Phillies, including dropping the final game on Sunday where at one point, they had a 4-0 lead.
Despite the poor week, the team is still only 1.5 games out of the final wild card spot, although it’s becoming an increasingly crowded field with six teams within 2.5 games of the Orioles, who are in that spot.
It does not get easier for the Twins as they face off against Atlanta in a three-game series starting today and then travel to San Diego for the weekend.
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
Game threads and recaps are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we experience the season together.
In the last week, nothing changed among the top-five teams in the American League, with the Rays at the top, followed by the Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, and Astros. The endless shuffle for the last wild card spot will be the race to watch for the remainder of the season.
Not much going on in the National League as well in the past week, with the only change being the flipping of the Padres and the Diamondbacks. It’s a much smaller field vying for that last spot, with three teams within 3.5 games of the Padres.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 13: Matt Wilkinson #35 of Team Canada pitches against Team United States during the eighth inning at Daikin Park on March 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants, as teams that are functionally eliminated from postseason contention should be doing, have turned to a youth movement in recent weeks. And that youth movement is taking another step forward. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Giants are calling up 23-year old left-handed pitcher Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson. The Giants have an off-day today, but will resume action on Tuesday in Ohio, facing the Cleveland Guardians … the team they acquired Wilkinson from in May’s Patrick Bailey trade.
It’s a bizarre move, to say the least, and one likely driven in part by the Giants feeling that they would have to roster Wilkinson in November as a Rule 5 Draft protection. While Wilkinson dominated AA this year, both with the Guardians’ affiliate and then the Giants’, he’s struggled quite a bit since getting to AAA. In 10 starts with the Sacramento River Cats, Wilkinson has just a 5.15 ERA and a 5.38 FIP, with just 43 strikeouts in 43.2 innings (to go with 17 walks). That said, home runs have been the biggest issue Wilkinson has faced, and that’s at least partially due to the Coors Field-esque environment of the Pacific Coast League.
Still, it’s a bit odd to see a player who is struggling in AAA, and who is in his first season above A-ball, get the call to the Majors, even though it’s abundantly clear that the Giants are huge believers in Wilkinson’s southpaw funk. He’ll certainly need that funk to play well, because Wilkinson is an absolute unicorn in the modern era of baseball: he relies on a low-velocity fastball. Tugboat’s fastball has averaged just 89.9 mph in AAA this year, which would be 2nd percentile in the Majors. More bizarre is that he uses that pitch 61.9% of the time, which stands in stark contrast to all the other low-velo pitchers in the Majors. It is, to be frank, a profile that no successful Major League pitcher in recent years has had.
But there are always exceptions, and the Giants are clearly optimistic that Wilkinson — who was a 10th-round pick in 2023 — is one such exception.
It’s unclear whether the Giants intend to use Wilkinson as a starter or in relief for his MLB debut. He’s worked exclusively as a starter in his Minor League career, but unless Logan Webb is going on the IL after getting hit by a comebacker on Saturday, the Giants rotation doesn’t appear to have any openings. Webb and Landen Roupp are established pieces, while the Giants are enjoying getting a longer look at prospects Carson Whisenhunt and Blade Tidwell. Adrian Houser would be the obvious option to be replaced, but he’s been pitching well lately and coming off his best start of the year; given that he’s a veteran option with another year left on his deal, the Giants likely want to keep giving him opportunities to prove that he can be part of the solution in 2027.
With the Giants set to activate Marcelo Mayer later this week, with a trip to Fenway Park starting Friday, it seems that they’re bringing up both Wilkinson and Mayer to have revenge appearances against their former teams. Perhaps that’s pure coincidence, or perhaps it’s the front office playing with vengeance … which would certainly be an odd strategy for a team 22 games below .500.
Either way, one of the best nicknames in baseball is up, and that’s exciting, even if I remain perplexed by the way the Giants deal with prospects. Wilkinson will become the 11th Giants player to make his MLB debut this year, and the 12th to collect their first active-roster check (Zach Morgan was called up for one game, but didn’t play).
San Francisco will have to make corresponding moves on both the active and 40-man rosters for Wilkinson. The latter will be easy, as Casey Schmitt and Harrison Bader can both be transferred to the 60-Day IL.
Seeing Wallstedt be named a top-10 goalie in the NHL is entirely understandable. He took a major step in the right direction this past season with the Wild and was certainly a reason for their success.
In 35 games this past season, Wallstedt posted an 18-9-6 record, a 2.61 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage. He also appeared in 10 playoff games for the Wild this past spring, recording a .909 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average.
When noting that this was Wallstedt's first full season in the NHL, there is no question that he had an impressive year. Now, he will be looking to build off it during the 2026-27 season with the Wild from here.
With Wallstedt being only 23 years old, he still very much has the potential to break out even further for the Wild. It will be intriguing to see if he can do just that from here.
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The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
22. Vasili Zelenov – Right Wing (Wisconsin - NCAA)
Zelenov was the first of the Sabres two seventh-round picks at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. The Moscow-born winger played at various lower-level youth leagues in Austria since 2021 and posted an impressive 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 40 games for the Salzburg RB Hockey Juniors in his draft year.
Who had the best and worst offseason in the Atlantic Division?
The 6’0”, 181 lb. winger was selected by the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers in their Phase II draft in May while Rochester Americans head coach Michael Leone was their GM and instead of staying in Austria, he headed to North America to play for the Gamblers to pursue a US college track. In 54 USHL games, he scored 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists).
Last season, as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, Zelenov had 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) in 28 games. He is a teammate of 2024 fourth-round pick Luke Osburn, who played for Team USA at the World Junior Championships last December.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in White Sox fans and fans across the country.
Well, it’s Crosstown week once again, and “this time it’s for real.” Did you know that of all the seasons since interleague play began (since 1997, that is), only one time have both the White Sox and Cubs won at least 65 games by their 125th contest? That came in the 2008 season — and now 2026 joins it, with the White Sox at 65-58 and the Cubs 72-53.
As the White Sox prepare to punch the Cubs in the mouth for a second series this season, we thought it might be fun to choose a favorite Sox triumph from interleague games past. The list was longer than what you see in the poll, but we had to trim some options away!
The Hockey News ranked each NHL team ahead of the 2026-27 season, with the Seattle Kraken ranking 29th out of 32 teams.
The bottom line, Adam Proteau writes, is “The Kraken are the epitome of a mushy middle team. They haven't been good enough to make the playoffs, but haven't been bad enough to acquire generational talent through the draft. There have been a handful of bright moments for the Kraken, but they are proving that progress isn’t linear. Until some elite players enter the organization, it's difficult to imagine they can be expected to contend with the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights near the top of the Pacific Division.”
The Kraken remain the newest team in the NHL, having joined the league in 2021. The team has struggled in its first five seasons, failing to make the playoffs in four of those seasons. In 2022-23, the team saw the most success, finishing the year with 100 points and a record of 46-28-8.
They placed fourth in the Pacific Division. The team defeated the Colorado Avalanche in seven games, advancing to the second round. However, they were knocked out of the playoffs by the Dallas Stars in seven games.
Heading into another season, the team made one big addition: Mackie Samoskevich. The right winger from the Florida Panthers was the only addition to the Kraken roster.
The team extended Bobby McMann for six years; however, they also failed to acquire any other players.
The team lost three players: Eeli Tolvanen, Jaden Schwartz, and Jamie Oleksiak. The two wingers and one defenseman left gaps in the Kraken roster.
As the team heads into its sixth season in the NHL, it brings a roster similar to past seasons, when it had little success.
For that reason, it makes sense that Proteau ranked the Kraken 29th out of 32 teams.
Visit The Hockey News Seattle Kraken team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
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Shohei Ohtani
Matt Olson
Miguel Vargas
