The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
We are continuing to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Kekalainen ideally is looking for someone who could make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six, with the trade of Jordan Greenway to Chicago.
The Sabres appear to be set at center next season, with Tage Thompson, Josh Norris, Ryan McLeod, and Sam Carrick, and youngsters Kulich, Ostlund, and Helenius capable of shifting to the middle in case of injury. A player like Frost has played center during his seven-year career with Philadelphia and Calgary, but is also capable of being effective on the wing.
Who will make up for the goal scoring deficit created by the departure of Alex Tuch?
The 27-year-old was a 2017 first-rounder of the Flyers, and was dealt to the Flames in 2025. Frost has been a consistent 40+ point forward since becoming a full-time NHLer in 2022, and last season, in his first full year with Calgary, he scored a career-high 22 goals.
Unlike Brock Boeser, who has six years of term remaining, Frost will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 season. While Boeser would likely cost a couple of the Sabres top prospects, the cost for a quality rental would be significantly less. One factor that could drive the price up on Frost is the normally inflated cost of centers before the trade deadline.
The Flames are a rebuilding club, and have a ton of cap space available, and with Frost in his mid-20’s, he is young enough to be in his prime when they are ready to contend. The question is whether GM Craig Conroy is willing to commit long-term and pay the going rate for a second-line center or top-six/top-nine winger instead of dealing him for a package of draft picks and/or prospects.
An eight-team no-trade list became a factor in the final year of his deal, but Frost being from Aurora, ON (north of Toronto) might make that a non-factor. With the Sabres likely entering the season hoping that their youngsters will pick up the scoring slack, they may choose to wait until the middle of the season before addressing any scoring deficiencies, and that timetable may be a perfect fit for the Flames, considering trading their expiring contracts.
Before the 2004-05 lockout, there was no salary cap. The league's financial structure was changing, competitive balance had become an increasing concern and the NHL ultimately lost an entire season while the owners and players fought over a new collective bargaining agreement.
When hockey returned, the sport looked different.
The introduction of a salary cap created a new reality for NHL teams. You could still build a powerhouse. You could still keep a championship window open for years. But eventually, difficult decisions would come. Good players would become too expensive. Veterans would age. Draft picks and prospects would become currency.
In other words, success could only last for so long before something had to give.
That is the nature of the modern NHL.
There are ebbs and flows. Some organizations spend years near the bottom, accumulating draft picks and young talent before finally emerging as contenders. Others reach the top and do everything possible to stay there, often sacrificing pieces of their future for a better chance to win in the present.
The San Jose Sharks are a perfect example of the first path.
After several difficult seasons, San Jose has begun building one of the NHL's most exciting young cores through the draft. Macklin Celebrini has already emerged as one of the league's brightest young stars, while Will Smith and Michael Misa give the organization even more elite talent to build around.
The Colorado Avalanche are on the opposite end of that cycle.
They haven't had the luxury — or perhaps more accurately, the need — to think like a rebuilding team.
When you have Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar in their prime, the future can wait.
The only thing that really matters is whether the roster in front of you is good enough to win the Stanley Cup.
And sometimes, that means paying for today with tomorrow.
That brings us to the Avalanche being ranked last in the NHL by The Athletic's Corey Pronman in his recent evaluation of each organization's under-23 talent.
On the surface, 32nd out of 32 teams sounds alarming.
For Colorado, though, the ranking is both understandable — and not necessarily something that should keep anyone up at night right now.
The Avalanche have spent years operating in win-now mode. They have moved first-round picks. They have traded promising prospects. They have prioritized players capable of helping them compete for a Stanley Cup today rather than simply stockpiling talent that might be ready three or four years from now.
That's what happens when your championship window is open.
And while I don't necessarily agree that Colorado's prospect situation is truly the worst in hockey, it's also difficult to argue that the Avalanche possess one of the league's stronger pipelines.
They don't.
The question is whether that actually matters right now.
And for the Avalanche, the answer is probably no.
The concern isn't necessarily that Colorado is ranked 32nd today. The concern is what happens when the championship window finally closes.
For now, though, the Avalanche still have an opportunity to win.
And when you're staring at a Stanley Cup window that may only remain wide open for another year or two, worrying about the prospects who might help you five years from now probably shouldn't be at the top of the priority list.
Tomorrow will eventually come.
The Avalanche can worry about rebuilding when it does.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 22: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by Luis Rengifo #21 after Merrill hit a home run against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Petco Park on August 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres had no business winning Saturday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins. Starter Casey Mize exited in the third inning after twisting his ankle on the dugout steps. Before departing he had already surrendered four runs, three of them coming via the long ball. Minnesota starter Dean Kremer limited the Padres to just two runs and dominated through five innings.
But then, it happened. The Friars flipped the script in the seventh inning, scoring four runs against reliever Andrew Morris. It was a resurgent night for the San Diego offense in many ways. Jackson Merrill, after struggling immensely in his last few games, knocked in the first Padres run with a second-inning homer. He ended the night 2-for-3 with a walk. It was an all-around effort from the club that will allow San Diego to go for the sweep in today’s finale.
Taking the mound
Bailey Ober (MIN) v. Walker Buehler (SD)
Ober has looked a bit worse for wear this season. The righty sports a 4.62 ERA through 103 1/3 innings pitched. Beyond that, the strikeout numbers are down. Ober has struck out just 71 batters in that time, alongside an abnormally high 1.25 WHIP. The lower strikeout numbers and increased traffic on the bases hasn’t been a good combination.
The Twins’ right-hander has been pretty consistent in his mediocrity throughout the year. Ober owns an ERA over 4.00 in his last seven, 15 and 30 games. His last start was decent, with the righty pitching 4 1/3 innings of two-run ball. That said, if San Diego is hitting like they have been, it’ll be hard for Ober to keep them down long.
On the other side of the mound, Buehler has surged back from his troubling July, again becoming one of the most reliable arms in the San Diego rotation. He’s given up two runs or less in five of his last six starts. In the start he gave up more than two runs he surrendered just three.
The problem has been his innings. Buehler has only worked six innings twice in that same stretch of time. Across those six appearances, the righty has thrown 31 1/3 innings. That comes out to an average of 5 1/3 innings in each appearance. That’s not nothing, but it’s certainly not what the Friars are hoping for. If he can work deep against the Twins, it would be a massive sigh of relief for the Padres’ bullpen.
Batter up!
The offense was potent on Saturday night, tagging Minnesota’s pitching staff for seven runs in the eventual victory. All but one came in the sixth inning or later. Kremer was able to silence the Friars for some time, but the Padres were able to get to the Minnesota ‘pen rather easily. Hopefully they’ll be able to put together a similar performance tonight.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Luis Rengifo, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Luis Campusano, C
Gavin Sheets, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Of the 10 Padres batters that stepped up to the plate Saturday night, eight reached base at least once. The lineup combined to go 10-for-35 with three walks in a beautiful display of what this club is capable of. If they keep this up into October, the Friars will have no problem getting exactly where they want to go.
Relief corps
With Mize’s early (and unfortunate) exit, the bullpen was deployed rather unorthodoxly. Kyle Hart and Griffin Canning covered 4 1/3 innings, getting the Padres into the seventh. Once they took the lead, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller quickly slammed the door on the Twins.
That will somewhat deplete the ‘pen for the series finale. Jeremiah Estrada, Yuki Matsui, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez will all be available once Buehler departs. That said, San Diego will hope for the starter to work a little deeper in order to save the relief corps for the upcoming series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 17: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez #61 reacts during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins on August 17th 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Phillies will try to finish off a sweep of the Cardinals – and win their ninth game in a row – as the series against St. Louis concludes on Sunday afternoon.
Cristopher Sanchez gets the start for the Phillies. With 16 wins on the season, the lefty hopes for another good outing in his quest to become the first 20-game winner in baseball since 2023.
Incident happened in Derby as Durham celebrated win
Brydon Carse was handcuffed by police in Derby on Saturday as he became the latest England cricketer to become involved in a late-night incident.
A brief video on social media shows the fast bowler being apprehended by several police officers outside a nightclub as he celebrated Durham’s County Championship win over Derbyshire.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 18: Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers before the game against the Miami Marlins has news come out that he is out for season with an injury requiring surgery at American Family Field on July 18, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a surprise twist on Saturday afternoon, Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who was previously thought to be lost for the next year-plus to a second shoulder surgery, announced that he is no longer undergoing surgery. His follow-up appointment with his doctors showed unexpected healing, and as a result, he will soon start a throwing program.
Just a few weeks ago, many were wondering if Woodruff’s career was going to be officially over. A re-injury to his shoulder capsule appeared devastating and the road to a second recovery was going to be far more challenging than the first.
It certainly would have been a horrible way for Woodruff’s career to end, and from the competitive aspect, it’s understandable why Woodruff wanted to continue pushing through. Even with diminished velocity, Woodruff was incredibly effective out on the mound, even when his shoulder started barking at him again.
So the news that Woodruff’s injury was not as bad as initially thought and that surgery would not be necessary was incredibly welcome news in the Brewers clubhouse.
“I’ve been hearing about this for a couple weeks, and I was like ‘it could happen’, you know. But now we also have to think of the reality of it, okay? Now he hasn’t picked up the ball. Now it’s the progression back. How quickly? How much risk is there in that?” Pat Murphy said pregame on Saturday.
With Woodruff’s injury history, there certainly is a lot of risk with that. Original projected timelines have a way of getting extended and there is barely more than a month left in the regular season.
The plan for Woodruff is a 5-week throwing progression that is beginning on Wednesday. He hasn’t thrown a baseball since the initial diagnosis, so he’s been shut down for several weeks already and it will take some time to build it back up through his progression. But already 5 weeks puts the timeline into early October, when the postseason will have already began.
How long the Brewers make it in the postseason is obviously yet to be determined and completely out of Woodruff’s control. But if they do make an extended run, with a 5 week throwing progression, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that Woodruff could conceivably come back for the later rounds, such as an NLCS or a World Series.
“I think there’s a low possibility, you know, but I think there’s a possibility, and why not go with it?” Murphy said.
It’s a very low possibility, and it’s important to temper expectations here. Woodruff would need everything to go smoothly and perfectly with his recovery and throwing progression. Throughout his last few years of shoulder issues, a smooth recovery and progression has not really happened.
But, again, if he were to make this miraculous recovery and return for the postseason, he certainly would not have enough time to build up to be a starter again this year. Woodruff would likely be stretched only to one inning, maybe two at most.
When you get to the NLCS or the World Series, however, would it be wise for the Brewers to use one of their roster spots on a surprise return there from Brandon Woodruff, or would that spot be better served with someone like DL Hall out of the bullpen?
That’s a question for further down the line that Brandon Woodruff is going to have to force the Brewers to answer by having a smooth progression from here on out. The margin for error is razor thin. It’s certainly great news for Woodruff’s potential to pitch in 2027 and continue his career. Avoiding surgery is huge for continuing his career.
Will it be enough to salvage a 2026 return? The odds are stacked against him, but as Woodruff has done throughout his entire career, he’ll give it everything he has.
Jesper Wallstedt's emergence has apparently caught the attention of EA Sports.
The Minnesota Wild goaltender received an 87 overall rating in NHL 27 and was ranked as the eighth-best goalie in the game.
Tampa Bay Lightning star Andrei Vasilevskiy leads the position with a 94 overall rating, followed by Ilya Sorokin at 93 and Connor Hellebuyck at 92.
Igor Shesterkin received a 91 overall rating, Logan Thompson is at 90 and Jeremy Swayman sits at 89. Jake Oettinger is seventh at 88 before Wallstedt checks in at No. 8.
Wallstedt is tied at 87 overall with Anaheim's Lukas Dostal and Calgary's Dustin Wolf.
For Minnesota, Wallstedt's placement is particularly noteworthy considering the company now views him in the same group as some of the NHL's established starting goaltenders.
The Wild drafted Wallstedt 20th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft with the expectation that he could eventually develop into their long-term answer in net.
EA Sports appears convinced that development has arrived.
With an 87 overall rating, Wallstedt isn't simply being viewed as one of the league's promising young goalies anymore. NHL 27 already has him rated as one of the 10 best goaltenders in hockey.
Wallstedt, 23, is entering the last year of his two-year contract with the Wild and will be a restricted free agent (RFA) after the season.
The 6-foot-3 goaltender went 18-9-6 in 35 games for the Wild with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. In ten playoff games Wallstedt went 5-5-0 with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.
With Filip Gustavsson injured and recovering from off-season surgery, Wallstedt is set to play in a bigger role this season. He will be the starter for at least the first two months of the season before Gustavsson comes back in November.
But with Wallstedt in his final year of his contract and a bunch of goaltenders getting big contracts, along with Gustavsson out for two months, this will be a big year for the Swedish goaltender.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The 20-year-old Briton is riding in his first Grand Tour
Tadej Pogacar retains overall leader’s red jersey
Matt Brennan emerged triumphant from a bunch sprint to claim victory in the second stage of the Vuelta a España, while overall favourite Tadej Pogacar retained the red jersey on Sunday.
Britain’s Brennan was followed over the line by Pau Miquel and Pogacar after a long 214.3km stage with over 3,000m of climbing, leaving Monaco and heading to Manosque in France. It is Brennan’s first stage win in a Grand Tour – “Hopefully it’s not the last one,” he said – in his first appearance at this level.
PRODUCTION - 31 March 2026, Saxony-Anhalt, Schierke: Icicles form on the cloud house on the Brocken. Snow and ice have a firm grip on the Brocken area above 900 meters. Photo: Matthias Bein/dpa (Photo by Matthias Bein/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Hickory starter Jacob Johnson allowed one run in three innings, walking three and striking out four. Michael Trausch allowed a run in two innings, striking out two and walking one. Louis Marinaro walked two and struck out two in 1.2 shutout innings.
Paulino Santana was 2 for 4 with a stolen base. Jay McQueen had a hit. Dewar Tovar was 2 for 4 with a homer. Josh Springer was 3 for 4.
For Hub City, Andrew Susac threw 1.2 shutout innings, walking three, hitting a batter, throwing two wild pitches, and striking out two. J’Briell Easley struck out one and walked one in a scoreless inning.
Casey Cook was 2 for 3 with a triple. Paxton Kling doubled. Evan Morrison doubled. Gleider Figuereo was 2 for 5 with a double. Maxton Martin had a pair of hits.
Frisco starter Aidan Curry was pulled after 35 pitches in the first inning, recording just two outs, walking three and allowing three runs. Bryan Magdaleno struck out five in 2.1 IP, allowing a three run homer. Josh Trentadue struck out four in three shutout innings.
Malcolm Moore doubled. and homered. Dylan Dreiling had a hit and a stolen base. Arturo Disla was 3 for 5. Yeison Morrobel had a hit.
For Round Rock, Gavin Collyer allowed two runs in 1.2 IP, walking one and striking out two. Michel Otanez struck out one in 1.1 scoreless innings.
Alejandro Osuna and Logan O’Hoppe were both lifted mid-game for pinch hitters. John Taylor was 2 for 4 with a double, a walk and a stolen base. Cam Cauley had a pair of doubles, a walk and a stolen base. Aaron Zavala was 2 for 5 with a double and a stolen base.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 21: Reynaldo Lopez #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Truist Park on July 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Right-handed pitcher Reynaldo López will begin his rehabilitation assignment with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, the Atlanta Braves announced earlier this morning. López, 32, was placed on the 15-day IL on August 2 – backdated to July 30 – with inflammation in his left knee.
López miss almost all of 2025 after a sterling first season with the Braves in 2024. After beginning 2026 in the starting rotation, he shifted to the bullpen, before returning to the rotation. On the season, he’s appeared in 24 games – making 11 starts – striking out 66 in 71.2 innings pitched.
The active roster expands from 26 players to 28 players on September 1, so it is plausible López could be added after that date. He would provide another option for the rotation or bullpen given his ability to cover multiple innings.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Chaney Johnson #31 of the Brooklyn Nets warms up before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on March 22, 2026 in Sacramento, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As players begin to return to the HSS Training Facility for pick-up games and workouts prior to to the opening of training camp at the next of next month, it’s typically a time when word begins to trickle out about how each has developed throughout the offseason … who’s looking good, who will surprise.
That intrigue becomes even more prevalent when a player didn’t appear in Summer League, as was the case with Nolan Traoré, who enters his second season in Brooklyn after an up-and-down rookie year as the league’s sixth youngest player.
Nets two-way forward Chaney Johnson has had an up-close look at his teammates in recent weeks and he’s excited about the French guard’s progress since the last time they took the court together back in mid-April.
“Honestly, I’m going to have to say Nolan,” Johnson told me when asked about what he’s seen . “All the guys have improved, but I feel like Nolan … he’s a different guy now. He done put on some mass. He’s walking around with a sleeveless hoodie on, looking at the biceps, you know what I’m saying? He done put on some strength.”
Traoré didn’t play in Summer League, recovering from a knee scope, although he is expected to make a full return for training camp. While he wasn’t active on the floor, he’s has still been active in the gym and the weight room all offseason long, evidenced by Johnson’s comments.
We got only a brief look at him in Las Vegas when the Nets opened up the gym to the media …
Nolan Traore isn’t playing in Summer League because of his knee scope, but he made the trip to Vegas and is progressing well. #netspic.twitter.com/uhNP3GvqrX
After a rookie season in which he looked skinny playing against NBA competition, a bulk-up is expected to help Traoré’s game as he looks to take a Year 2 leap. Traoré finished the year on a high note, indicating he has plenty of upside and room for growth. Over the past month and half of the season (31 games), Traore averaged better than 11 points a game along with four assists, putting up individual games of 23 points, 12 assists and five 3-pointers. Even before that, in February, Traore led the 2025 rookie class in assists with 67.
Johnson had good things to say about the other members of the Flatbush 5 as well.
“All the guys have improved,” he added. “Drake has gotten stronger. Danny has gotten stronger. He’s gotten a lot more mobile. He’s moving a whole lot better. I can just tell the confidence that he’s [showing] in his workouts and the way that he’s operating. Ben has gotten stronger.”
Johnson spoke as well of the two veterans, Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle, who he said will bring needed “grit” aka physicality
“You know, I got to be around MPJ a solid bit toward the end of the season last year, and then just getting to meet Julius Randle and being around him a lot more. Julius Randle, for sure, just brings a grit that I’m not going to say we don’t have, but just a grit that we need,” he said.
“He brings — like, Jordi is a hard-nosed, dive-on-the-floor, play-hard, but at the same time make sure we take care of the basics type of coach. I feel like Julius brings that. He just brings an added benefit on top of what Jordi already wants out of his players.
“He’s a cool dude. I feel like he’s a lot bigger in person — pause. But muscle-wise, this man is, like, [unclear], man. He just brings strength. He brings a toughness that I feel like is going to pay off this year.”
Johnson experienced an encouraging offseason of his own. The 24-year-old averaged 13.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and a Summer League-leading 3.3 steals per game in Las Vegas as he continues to strengthen his case for an expanded role with Brooklyn.
Currently on a two-way contract, Johnson is looking to earn a standard NBA deal with the team, and his Summer League showing was certainly a step towards accomplishing that.
“I just wanted to go out there and have fun,” Johnson said of his own performance. “Of course, we wanted to win it all, but we fell short. The camaraderie that we had, we just enjoyed it. I feel like that kind of showed on the court.”
That alone didn’t leave him satisfied, though. Since returning to Brooklyn, he has continued working to round out his game ahead of training camp.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot stronger, a lot more athletic,” Johnson told me. “My touch has improved. I feel like my shot has improved a good bit since last year.”
One of Johnson’s biggest offseason priorities has been developing his shooting game. He has worked closely with Nets shooting consultant Dave Love to fine-tune his mechanics.
“I’ve been getting a lot of reps in,” Johnson said. “I’ve been working with Coach Dave Love, just working on loading my wrist, getting my hand under the ball and making sure my balance and everything is keyed in. My confidence with shooting has come a long way.”
Despite standing at only 6’7”, Johnson spent significant time at the 5 throughout Summer League games in Sacramento and Las Vegas, and despite being undersized for the position, he believes the way Brooklyn uses the center spot fits him.
“I feel like it suits my strengths,” said Johnson regarding the way Brooklyn utilizes the five. “Playing at the 5, driving on DHOs, you just can’t be loose with it. You’ve got to make sure you’re getting below the defender so you can make the handoff easier and make the guy coming off the DHO open for three or for the attack.”
Given that he is undersized, he’s faced challenges defensively, but Johnson has learned to lean on his athleticism and instincts as much as possible.
“Since I am shorter than the average NBA center, I just use my athleticism as much as I can, use my quickness and try to use my mind to get every advantage,” Johnson said of his 40+“ vertical. “One thing you can’t get is height, so I’m just trying to use all my strengths — my strength, my quickness and my athleticism — to my best advantage.”
At the end of the day, though, Johnson’s goal is to see the NBA floor as much as possible. After signing with the team in December on a two-way contract, he knows exactly what it takes to battle for recognition.
He had to make his mark with the Nets’ G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, before earning an NBA chance. Prior to that, he was with the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ G League team.
Johnson played in 24 games for Long Island (four starts), averaging 14.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 26.9 minutes while shooting 56.1% from the field.
His journey began, though, in the Division II ranks at the University of Alabama at Huntsville before transferring to Auburn, where he helped lead the team on a Final Four run in 2025.
“I’m just attacking every single day, attacking every weight-room lift, attacking recovery and trying not to take any days for granted,” Johnson said. “If I get the opportunity, I’m going to go out and play hard. I’m not leaving anything on the court.”
Johnson can’t control how many minutes will be available when the season begins. For now, he remains focused on making sure he is ready to give 110% whenever his name is called.
At the end of the day, his path for minutes won’t be easy. Brooklyn has eight players on rookie contracts, not counting second-round rookie, 6’9” shooter Tyler Bilodeau, who is also on a two-way deal.
There will be no shortage of competition for playing time, but Johnson has already shown he will put in the work and make the most of whatever comes his way.
Bottom line, Johnson said he and his teammates want “to win every game” after last year’s 20-win season which he described at “terrible.”
“I just feel like we’re hungry,” he said. “They know — we realize how terrible of a team we were last year, or how terrible we did. I know ‘terrible’ is a strong word, so I don’t want to — but we weren’t the best team last year. So I feel like we’ve got that chip on our shoulder now, and we’re ready to prove some people wrong.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees in action against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium on August 04, 2026 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Cardinals 2-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees made a flurry of roster moves ahead of Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, activating Cody Bellinger from the injured list, sending Ryan Weathers to the IL with a left forearm flexor strain, and recalling pitcher Brendan Beck from Triple-A Scranton.
The return of Bellinger, who has been out since July 25th with a left hamstring strain, was anticipated for several days. The left fielder had begun a rehab assignment with the RailRiders on Thursday, and after one game as the designated hitter and one in the outfield, declared himself “ready to go” yesterday afternoon. In anticipation of the move, the Yankees sent Max Schuemann, himself recently recalled when Ryan McMahon went on the shelf with a left thumb sprain the other day, back to the minors last night.
Weathers going on the IL does not come as a surprise, either, as he left yesterday’s game in the fourth inning with left elbow discomfort. While speaking to reporters yesterday, Weathers expressed hope that he would be able to return this season, but the official diagnosis suggests that he faces an uphill battle: back in 2020, Dr. Christopher Ahmad published research indicating that pitchers missed an average of 117 days for a forearm strain — and that’s assuming the absence of an underlying UCL tear that will require Tommy John surgery. It’s not officially a season-ending injury, but at this point, the odds are against him.
As manager Aaron Boone hinted, Weathers’ only hope is that it’s a minor elbow barking and that he can at least return in a bullpen role.
Ryan Weathers will not throw for 2-4 weeks. Aaron Boone said “there’s a great chance” that Weathers will return this year “in some capacity,” which suggests a bullpen role.
To replace Weathers on the roster, the Yankees recalled Brendan Beck from Scranton.
The 27-year-old rookie has made two appearances for the big league club this season, one on May 7th, the other on July 4th. Neither went particularly well, as he has allowed seven runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings, walking five and striking out four. At this point, the Yankees have yet to announce their starters for the Astros series, it’s unclear exactly how the team will handle the rotation going forward. In theory, the team may be able to skip Weathers’ spot in the rotation thanks to tomorrow’s off day, using Beck as an extra long man in the bullpen until Max Fried returns to the rotation next weekend (assuming, of course, that Fried misses the minimum 15 days). They also can just roll with a bullpen game in that spot, employing Beck as the bulk pitcher. Elmer Rodríguez could see a return as well.
Prior to today’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves: •Returned INF/OF Cody Bellinger (#35) from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list. •Recalled RHP Brendan Beck (#89) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. •Placed LHP Ryan Weathers…
Stop worrying about going to work tomorrow! We have home run props to cash! Here are my three favorite home run props and MLB picks for tonight’s MLB slate, with Yordan Alvarez and Shohei Ohtani leading the way.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Yordan Alvarez
+344
Shohei Ohtani
+238
Jo Adell
+307
💲Today's HR parlay
+18780
Home run pick: Yordan Alvarez (+344)
Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has been generating far too many hard-hit balls over his last few games, with four balls hit over 100 MPH since August 18. Over his last 10 games, he's maintained a .467 SLG and .200 ISO while owning a 24% ground-ball rate and 52% hard-hit rate.
Alvarez enters with one of the highest matchup ratings on the day over at Batters-Box, where he covers every single pitch in Athletics right-hander Jack Perkins' pitch mix. On top of that, the big fella is leaving the yard over 33% of the time across 24 elite ratings at home this season.
Over the last 30 left-handed hitters Perkins has faced, he owns a sub-8.00 ERA while allowing 3.18 HR/9, a 57% hard-hit rate, 19% barrel rate, and 33% ground-ball rate. Those left-handed hitters own a .443 xBA, .855 xSLG, and .402 ISO during that span.
Snagging Alvarez at nearly +350 to leave the yard today feels like a gift. Take this down to +300.
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SCHN, NBCS-California
Home run pick: Shohei Ohtani (+238)
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani draws Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski, who's been struggling a ton against left-handed hitters this season. Especially across the last 30 he's faced, he owns a 14.40 ERA, 10.50 xERA, and 5.70 xFIP while allowing a 50% hard hit rate. Left-handed hitters during that stretch have posted a .475 xBA, .648 xSLG and .488 xwOBA.
Ohtani has been hitting the cover off the ball as of late, but he has not left the yard since the 18th. Since then, he has crushed four balls above 104.3 MPH. Over his last 10 games, he's maintained a .667 SLG and .385 ISO while posting a nearly 60% hard-hit rate and 18.5% barrel rate.
The megastar also enters with an elite rating on Batters-Box, where he's left the yard 25% of the time he has been rated elite this season (25 games).
The price will never be overly attractive for Ohtani, but with how poorly Mlodzinski has been pitching, +238 is worth backing. Take this down to +220, or find a boost.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Los Angeles, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Home run pick: Jo Adell (+307)
A man who isn’t elite in any dataset on Batters-Box, or even has a strong rating, but continuously came up during the morning research is the Cleveland Guardians' newest slugger Jo Adell, who did leave the yard yesterday and is easily the strongest look to do so this afternoon.
The big fella is the only bat in this lineup with a hard-hit rate over 60% and a barrel rate over 20% over his last 10 games. Adell also owns a .400 ISO and 40% HR/FB rate during that stretch.
I already wrote about how Colorado Rockies seasoned sophomore starter Tomoyuki Sugano is in a rough spot tonight with all the left-handed hitters in the Guardians lineup, but he has still had issues with right-handed bats this season.
Over the last 30 right-handed hitters he has faced, the right-hander owns a 6.42 xERA while allowing a 56.5% hard-hit rate and 43.5% line-drive rate. Those right-handed bats own a .457 xBA, .703 xSLG, and .402 xwOBA during that span.
With Sugano allowing over 43% hard contact this season and Adell producing almost 42% on the season, this could be a great spot to back the big fella to go back-to-back days with a nuke. Take this down to +290 at the most, but try to get around the number above. Getting +300 for a home run at Coors Field is huge!
Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: COLR, CLEG
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 108-373, +18.4 units
Today’s HR combo
Yordan Alvarez
Trade Now +18780
Shohei Ohtani
Jo Adell
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.
A few days ago, Montreal Canadiens owner, president, and chief executive officer Geoff Molson was interviewed on Radio-Canada Sports and discussed several topics, including the Habs' two remaining RFAs: Arber Xhekaj and Zach Bolduc.
Unsurprisingly, Molson is very pleased with how last season went, and he believes that with another year of experience under their belt, the players will be eager to achieve even more this season and ready to start on the right foot.
The owner doesn’t appear to be overly concerned by the fact that Kent Hughes has yet to manage to sign Bolduc and Xhekaj. When the topic was brought up, he replied:
Those are two important players for us, and we’re working very hard to keep them.
- Molson on Xhekaj and Bolduc
While both fans and the owner agree that Xhekaj is an important part of the organization, his use by coach Martin St-Louis suggests otherwise. The coach has repeatedly said he doesn’t have a problem with the player, but when push comes to shove, he just doesn’t give him enough ice time and won’t let him play on the penalty killing, opting instead to give more ice time to Lane Hutson. At 25 years old, no one would blame the blueliner for wanting to be in an organization that believes in him.
The gritty blueliner has played four NHL seasons, but he’s still battling to find a regular role, and what was a duel with Jayden Struble is starting to look like a Royal Rumble. David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom have now made their way to the ring, and it’s looking like a big battle is set to take place at training camp. It’s a shame because the Canadiens do need more grit, physicality and size, but Xhekaj doesn’t look like a frontrunner right now, especially not after his limited use in the playoffs.
As for Bolduc, the hope is that he will become an important player for the Canadiens, but after just one season in the organization, it’s still early to qualify him as such. He finished the playoffs playing on the wing of the fourth line, which is likely not what Hughes had in mind when he traded Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for the young winger. Still, we saw some growth there during the postseason as he realized the type of game he needed to play to be useful to the team. However, it’s still early days to value what he brings and commit long-term, which likely explains why he remains unsigned.
“WELCOME BACK ENZO” read the tifo beforehand and by the breathless close this was a joyous return for Manchester City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, as a damaging loss became a memorable win due to Marc Guéhi’s 84th-minute equaliser and Josko Gvardiol’s added-time winner.
Until then, Marco Rose had been closing in on leading Bournemouth to a first ever away victory at City. But two lapses in defence and suddenly City were the ruthless proposition they had failed to be before.
Yordan Alvarez
Shohei Ohtani 
Jo Adell