ARLINGTON, Texas — When St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol saw his team had an unusual Saturday off during the season, and in the middle of a series, he had one question: “Can I make it to the soccer game?”
Not just any soccer game, a World Cup match.
The international soccer tournament, held every four years, is ongoing at 16 sites in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Those include 11 markets that also are home to a combined 13 Major League Baseball teams.
Kansas City, where the Cardinals open a three-game series, is hosting six World Cup matches at the NFL stadium in the same complex with the Royals’ ballpark. The Cardinals and Royals will be off Saturday, when Ecuador plays Curaçao.
“That is the goal, yes,” Marmol said when asked if he was going to that match.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and his wife, who played soccer at Old Dominion, plan to be there.
“It’s strange, but it’s special circumstances,” Pasquantino said. “It’s awesome that Kansas City got access to World Cup games. So, however many years until the United States hosts again, we’ll be all right with some off days like that.”
World Cup matches are being played in the United States for the first time since 1994.
Getting their kicks in Texas
A tournament-high nine matches are being played at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys that is adjacent to Globe Life Field. The neighboring Texas Rangers will host two split series, but also have a Monday off between home series on July 6, the day of a round of 16 match.
Texas now is in a three-game series against Minnesota that will finish Thursday, after a pause Wednesday when powerhouse England plays its Cup opener against Croatia.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson, who played soccer as a kid in California.
The Rangers completed a road trip Sunday in Boston, with thousands of Scottish fans chanting and singing at Fenway Park the night after Scotland won the opener of its first World Cup appearance in 28 years. That win over Haiti was at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 30 miles away.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said the presence of the Tartan Army made it feel like a European soccer game. He and members of his staff now want to attend the World Cup.
“It was so much fun that on the off day the majority of our staff is trying to find a way to get tickets to go to a game that they know really nothing about because of the atmosphere that was so incredible,” Schumaker said. “The passion was insane.”
In Philadelphia, the Phillies will be off Friday during their home series against the New York Mets since Brazil plays Haiti at nearby Lincoln Financial Field.
Like for the Rangers, Royals and Seattle Mariners, the home of the Phillies is next to an NFL stadium hosting some of the 104 matches during the nearly six-week tournament with teams from 48 nations. Those stadiums all have shared parking lots.
Texas and Kansas City both are off for round of 32 Cup matches on July 3, a Friday. The Rangers will have already opened a series against Detroit, while the Royals wait to start an unusual Saturday through Monday series against the Phillies.
Not all of the matches are next door
Either the Mets or Yankees have a home game on each of the eight dates World Cup matches are at MetLife Stadium across the river in New Jersey, including the championship finale July 19, when the Yankees also host Shohei Ohtani and the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Yankee Stadium is about 14 miles from the Meadowlands, with Citi Field about 24 miles away.
World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium will be about 13 miles from Dodger Stadium and 35 miles from Angel Stadium. Either the Dodgers or Angels play at home on six of the eight match dates in Inglewood. Those other two dates fall on normal off days during a homestand, one for each team.
With separation between stadiums, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Miami and Toronto all will play multiple home games that concur with World Cup matches in their markets.
Mariners and Red Sox almost played two
There still will be a split series for the Angels when they go to Seattle, with a midweek break July 1 for a round of 16 Cup match.
The Mariners originally were scheduled to have a home doubleheader Saturday against Boston with the United States playing Australia in Seattle. But when match time at Lumen Field was set at noon local Friday, the Mariners and Red Sox switched to a traditional three-game series with the opener that night, instead of playing MLB’s first scheduled doubleheader in two years.
Bill Simmons believes Jalen Brunson’s championship run has changed the way he should be viewed historically.
The Ringer founder said Brunson now belongs among the top 50 players in NBA history after leading the Knicks to their first championship since 1973, capped by a 45-point performance in New York’s Game 5 win over the Spurs.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks talks to the media after the game San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
It is a major jump in reputation for Brunson, who arrived in New York as an undersized guard with playoff credibility but not the profile of a player expected to become the centerpiece of a championship team.
That changed during the Knicks’ run.
Brunson was repeatedly the player New York leaned on to create offense late in games, and his Game 5 performance helped close out a 94-90 win over San Antonio that delivered the franchise its first title in 53 years.
Simmons said that kind of run puts Brunson in a different category, especially when compared with other great guards whose teams never quite reached the same stage with them as the clear lead option.
“He did something a bunch of great guards were never able to do,” Simmons said.
Simmons pointed to James Harden, Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd while making the argument.
Harden reached the Finals early in his career with the Thunder, but never got there as the lead star of his own team. Nash won two MVP awards but never made the Finals. Paul reached the Finals with the Suns in 2021 but lost to the Bucks, while Kidd lost twice in the Finals with the Nets before later winning a championship with the Mavericks.
“What Brunson did was up there with Dwyane Wade in 2006,” Simmons said. “It was up there with Walton in ’77.”
Wade led the Heat to the 2006 title with a dominant Finals performance against the Mavericks, while Bill Walton carried the Trail Blazers to the 1977 championship.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson motions after a basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in San Antonio. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Simmons said Brunson’s case was built not only on production, but on how often he delivered under pressure.
“He was the guy over and over again who could create the best offense for them, and he got better when it mattered,” Simmons said.
“He never got tired,” Simmons said. “As a small guy, the stuff that he did was inconceivable.”
The performance that appeared to push Simmons over the edge was Game 5, when Brunson’s 45 points finished off the series and secured the title.
“The more I look at it and stare at it, I think it is one of the great Finals games,” Simmons said.
Simmons said he now has Brunson ranked No. 40 on his all-time list, placing him above several Hall of Fame-level names, including Nash, Kidd, Sam Jones and George Gervin.
He also acknowledged how unlikely that would have sounded earlier in Brunson’s career.
Brunson was a second-round pick, became a key piece with the Mavericks and then took another leap after signing with the Knicks. What once looked like a strong free-agent addition turned into the foundation of a championship team.
“He is somebody that I never in a million years would have thought would make the pyramid,” Simmons said.
After the Knicks’ title run, Simmons no longer sees that as a debate.
Brunson, in his view, has moved from star guard to all-time company.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 14: Manny Machado #13 and Gavin Sheets #30 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after defeating the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday, June 14, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Piazza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Diego Padres were on the wrong end of the best start of Dustin May’s major league career. The righty threw nine shutout innings against the Friars with some help from some key defensive plays by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Padres only had one real rally in the seventh inning and it was quashed by a lucky double play.
Starter Lucas Giolito pitched well, surrendering just three runs across five innings of work. He looked better than he has in his last few outings, commanding his pitches well apart from a two-run fourth inning. But it was impossible for Giolito to keep up with May. Thankfully, San Diego staved off a perfect game after six perfect innings from the right-hander. Still, he pitched a one-hitter and gave up just one walk to Fernando Tatis Jr.
The Padres’ offense had looked great for the last few games until Tuesday night. Hopefully the Friars can right the ship in Game 2, and force their fourth consecutive rubber match.
Taking the mound
Andre Pallante (STL) v. Michael King (SD)
Pallante has been a solid starter for St. Louis to start the year. He boasts a 3.88 ERA and 1.26 WHIP through 69 2/3 innings. He’s been incredibly consistent throughout the year, surrendering less than four runs except for three of Pallante’s starts.
Most of the Friars have yet to face the right-hander. The only batter to have any success has been Manny Machado. The star third baseman owns a career .273 batting average in 11 at-bats against Pallante.
King has put up a fantastic season with the Friars, posting a 3.46 ERA and 72 strikeouts through 80 2/3 innings. He’s had some rough outings lately but bounced back somewhat against the Cincinnati Reds (3 ER, 6.2 IP).
Unlike Pallante, King has faced plenty of the Cards’ hitters. The ace has had plenty of success against the St. Louis lineup, with the group having a combined .148 batting average when facing King. Should he have the same success tonight, it would be huge for San Diego.
Batter up!
The offense struggled in an (almost) historic way on Monday night. San Diego had been slugging their way to victory in the last two series, scoring an average of 5.2 runs per game against Cincinnati and the Baltimore Orioles. It was a resurgent performance for the Friars. Hopefully the club can regain that momentum against Pallante in Game 2.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, 1B
Samad Taylor, LF
Will Wagner, DH
Sung-Mun Song, 2B
Rodolfo Durán, C
Monday night was Taylor’s first game out of the lineup since last Saturday against the New York Mets. He’s been a spark plug for the Friars offense so his departure came at a difficult time. He figures to be back in the lineup with manager Craig Stammen back after serving his one-game suspension for Saturday’s debacle with the O’s.
Relief corps
With Wandy Peralta being used as an opener, the Padres only had to turn to Kyle Hart to cover the final two frames for the San Diego pitching staff. Hart was called up in Mason Miller’s place after the latter was placed on the bereavement and family medical leave list ahead of Game 1.
With just those two relievers being used, San Diego has a plethora of options to turn to tonight. Jason Adam, Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Adrian Morejon, David Morgan and Bradgley Rodriguez are all available out of the bullpen. Marinaccio and Matsui haven’t been used since Saturday, and Morgan since Friday’s game against Baltimore. Those three will likely be the first out of the ‘pen once King exits the game.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 16: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves reacts as he rounds third base after hitting a solo homer to lead off the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is no way to sugarcoat it, the Atlanta Braves have struggled offensively this month. In fact, only three teams have scored fewer runs since the start of June. Of course, there are some excuses in terms of injuries, but the fact remains the same that the offense needs to get rolling again.
This evening the Braves are facing the San Francisco Giants who will be bringing Adrian Houser and his 5.54 ERA to the mound. With the news that reigning ROTY winner and first place All-Star vote getter Drake Baldwin will be back, there is hope that the Braves can catch a spark.
Baldwin coming back in itself is huge, but factor in that the catcher position for the Braves since the Baldwin injury is dead last in fWAR in all of MLB, it amplifies how big of a deal the return is.
As mentioned earlier, Houser is struggling this season for the Giants, and there are a few Braves players who have done well against him in their careers. Austin Riley has seventeen at-bats against Houser and has been successful with one HR, .471 average, and .1.147 OPS. Ozzie Albies has also done well in his sixteen at-bats where he has maintained an OPS of .974 which is promising since he typically hits lefties better than righties. Michael Harris only has eight at-bats against Houser but has a .375 average against him.
Interestingly, Matt Olson has struggled in his eleven at-bats against Houser with a .182 average and .630 OPS.
Baldwin will be the one leading off with Michael Harris hitting second. It should also be noted that Ha-Seong Kim will be getting the start at SS and will be batting ninth.
Grant Holmes has struggled mightily when he faces hitters a second time in a game. Hitters are averaging a slash line of .317/.391/.663 the second time they face him in a game. With JR Ritchie now slotted in the rotation, there is a good chance we will see Didier Fuentes today.
Only four players on the Giants’ active roster have faced Holmes before and none of them have more than five at-bats. Rafael Devers is the player to watch today. He has a .400 average in his five at-bats against Holmes. Willy Adames is one for two against Holmes. Matt Chapman and Luis Arraez are both hitless in their two at-bats against Holmes.
The Giants are starting every player that has faced Grant Holmes before as both teams look to get headed in the right track in this series.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 02: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammate Brandon Marsh #16 after hitting a home run in the forth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Earlier today, Joe asked the question about how everyone is feeling about the team’s All-Star voting results after the first round of results were released.
Now, we’re asking a different question.
Realistically, Sanchez and Schwarber are as close to locks as we can get. Sanchez is probably going to start while Schwarber will be the backup to Shohei Ohtani as the DH. They do have other candidates available, but let’s be honest: J.T. Realmuto and Bryson Stott probably aren’t going to in the All-Star Game. These other three do have a solid chance at making it.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phillies fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Eric Reyzelman of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders reacts during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Eric Reyzelman was glad to be back in Triple-A.
After spending all of last season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the right-handed reliever and No. 28 prospect in the Yankees organization opened this season in Double-A Somerset. He was promoted May 19th.
“I loved being in Double-A. We have a great staff, great team, love the facilities and the people over there,” Reyzelman said. “It was really good for me to go back there and get some confidence and get back to how I feel I should be pitching.
“But obviously, really good to be here. Definitely wanted to be back here and pitch well and put myself in a good spot to move through.”
Unfortunately, his return was curtailed by a trip to the injured list.
In Reyzelman’s first three outings, he allowed one run and four hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Then at Syracuse on June 3rd, he gave up four runs and three hits in two-thirds of an inning with four walks and one strikeout. He was put on the seven-day IL on June 5th.
Injuries were the primary culprit for Reyzelman’s struggles last season. He appeared in 34 games with the RailRiders and was 1-2 with a 4.29 ERA, 42 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 42 innings. He was experiencing back pain, but didn’t say a word. Being so close to The Show, he was afraid to tell the Yankees anything.
Part of the reason he didn’t say anything was due to the season he had in 2024. He went a combined 1-1 with a 1.16 ERA, 63 strikeouts, and 5-for-5 in save opportunities in 31 games across three levels: Rookie ball, High-A, and Double-A. He got an invite to big-league spring training in 2025 as a result.
“To know I was a call away, I just really, really wanted to push through,” he said. “It turned out to not be the right decision. But all of that is a learning process and experience and something that I now know how to deal with.”
Reyzelman said it was like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet hole. He would do all these short-term fixes, but all he was doing was making things worse.
Finally, after a rough outing on August 3rd against Nashville – three runs, one hit, three walks, two strikeouts in two innings – he couldn’t take the pain anymore and spoke up.
“I realized if I did go up, if there was a circumstance, a situation, if I had a couple good outings in a row, when I did get called up to the big leagues, I wouldn’t be able to bring my best self,” Reyzelman said. “I didn’t want to go up there and not pitch the way I know I can pitch. I know how tough it is, I know what the business is like. You go up there and don’t throw the ball well, it makes it a lot harder to get back up. Unfortunately, that’s how it goes sometimes. You need to be ready and the truth is I just wasn’t physically, mentally, all the stress of dealing with that. Where I was, the headspace I was in, wasn’t going to translate to good pitching performances.”
When rest and rehab didn’t work, Reyzelman had back surgery in the offseason. He also did a lot of work with Aaron Barnett in the Yankees’ mental conditioning department.
Having surgery meant Reyzelman wasn’t able to go to big-league camp this year nor able to pitch alongside fellow Triple-A arm Harrison Cohen for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. Then, his first outing in minor-league spring training wasn’t great.
“I went in there thinking, ‘I’m going to throw the best I’ve ever thrown,’” Reyzelman said. “That first outing it was like my body forgot what to do. I think I walked three or four in a row, gave up a couple hard hits in the zone and my velo was 91, 93. I just had to take a step back. Last year, after all those outings, I’d be so shortsighted that I’d lose sight of why I wasn’t pitching well, which was my back. I tried to make all these changes on the fly and reinvent the wheel every outing. I kind of defaulted back to that for a second and was like, ‘Oh, no. It didn’t work.’
“But we just have the best people in the business. John Kremer, our rehab coordinator, sat me down and was like, ‘Dude, it is your first time on the bump in who knows how long. You just had major surgery. Everything we’ve been doing is 100 percent right. We have a great process, you have the best routine you’ve ever had. Continue to hammer it and the results will come.’ As much as I didn’t want to listen to him, I did. It was the best advice I’ve taken. I did not change a thing in my routine since that day and progressively every outing just got better and better and better.”
It showed at Somerset. In 13 games, he was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA, 32 strikeouts and just four walks in 17.1 innings to earn the promotion to Triple-A.
Now, it’s wait-and-see for how long Reyzelman is on the injured list before returning to the RailRiders.
The Carolina Hurricanes have barely had time to pop the champagne and the sportsbooks are already moving on, posting their early Stanley Cup odds for the 2026-27 season.
As always with early markets, there are numbers that make sense and numbers that are going to raise eyebrows, and perhaps none raises more eyebrows than what oddsmakers have done to the Winnipeg Jets.
Just one season removed from winning the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular season team, the Jets find themselves tied for the eighth-worst Stanley Cup odds in the entire league at +8000.
That number puts Winnipeg in the same company as the New York Rangers, a team that finished with the third-worst record in the NHL this past season. The message from the sportsbooks is that they do not believe the Jets will improve next season and may actually get worse.
It is a stunning fall from grace for a franchise that was considered among the elite teams in the Western Conference not long ago. A combination of poor roster decisions and underwhelming additions derailed what should have been a serious Cup run, and Winnipeg ended up missing the playoffs entirely. The market is clearly pricing in that disappointment and expressing serious doubt about the organization's ability to course correct quickly.
Meanwhile, at the top of the board, the Colorado Avalanche open as the outright favorites at +700, with the Hurricanes right behind at +750 as they chase back-to-back titles and a chance to become the fourth consecutive repeat champion since 2016. The Vegas Golden Knights, fresh off a Finals appearance, are listed at +1000 as they look to go one step further next spring.
At the back of the pack, the Vancouver Canucks sit at +50000 and the Calgary Flames at +30000, two franchises that face significant rebuilding before entering any serious contention conversation.
But back to Winnipeg, because the Jets situation deserves a closer look before anyone writes them off entirely. The top of their forward group remains genuinely dangerous, with elite talent that most teams in the league would envy. The issue this past season was depth, and that is precisely where this summer's free agent market sets up favorably for them.
This is shaping up to be one of the stronger free agency classes in recent years when it comes to middle-six and bottom-six options, exactly the kind of players Winnipeg needs to replenish around their core stars.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has cap space to work with and a clear understanding of where this roster needs to be fixed. If he hits on two or three of the right depth additions this summer, the Jets could look like a dramatically different team by October. A franchise with Connor Hellebuyck in net, a proven top-six and a replenished supporting cast is not a +8000 team.
For bettors willing to look past one difficult season, the Jets may represent the best value on the entire board heading into 2026-27. The sportsbooks have lost faith in Winnipeg and the Jets may make it a costly mistake for them.
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Now that the Carolina Hurricanes have emerged as Stanley Cup champions in just 19 games, it has become clear that there was no shame in the Senators' first-round exit.
The 'Canes lost one game in the Eastern Conference bracket, and it came on the heels of an 11-day layoff and back-to-back series sweeps.
The question most often asked now is:
“Who was Carolina's toughest opponent in the playoffs?”
The Hockey News Ottawa's Steve Warne discusses with Gregg Kennedy how new NCAA eligibility rules could lead to some sleeper picks at the draft.
Does it really matter?
For the record, when comparing the Hurricanes' four playoff foes, the Senators basically had the least effective offence and the most effective defence.
But more importantly, what can Sens GM Steve Staios glean from watching the 'Canes playoff run if he wants the Senators to enjoy similar success?
Apr 25, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wingers Warren Foegele and Fabian Zetterlund and defenseman Carter Yakemchuk (58) and center Tim Stutzle (180 and defenseman Nikolas Martinpalo (33) stand on the ice following their loss of game four against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn
Patience
Carolina had Rod Brind’Amour as head coach for the last eight years through the highs and lows. He was an assistant for seven years before that. They kept most of their core together, including Conn Smythe winner Jordan Staal, who's been there throughout Brind’Amour’s entire head-coaching tenure, using the philosophy 'if you build it, they will come.'
'They,' in this case, is the likes of Taylor Hall and Nikolaj Ehlers who could smell a winner.
The Senators can’t run the same team back from last season and inspire confidence in their fans. However, if they believe in the core, then they need to keep them together and build around them.
Keep the core of Tkachuk (8 yrs), Stutzle (6 yrs), Sanderson (4 yrs), Batherson (6 full yrs) and Chabot (9 yrs) together and the missing pieces in free agency will come.
Structure
The Hurricanes' structure and ability to impose their will on their opponents with speed and cohesion were a huge part of their series against the Senators, and when they had that in the other series, it wasn’t even close.
The good news on that front is that Travis Green and his staff have definitely instilled structure within the game plan without sacrificing the natural skill of their star players.
However, it was Carolina dictating terms against the Senators and not the other way around during that playoff series.
So there is still work to be done.
Wisdom in Free Agency
Teams that try to right the ship in free agency often end up sinking, with ill-advised contracts being given out. Above all, the Senators should be looking to find players who fit the mould of a player who can fit with what Green is trying to do.
Carolina signed Ehlers to an eight-year deal because he's a player with high skill, but can also play with the pace that Brind’Amour was looking for.
The sign and trade to get K’Andre Miller allowed the Canes to get a mobile, puck-moving defenseman with size, which every team wants. It was also a shrewd piece of asset management that allowed Carolina to get Miller for the full eight-year extension.
These acquisitions weren't designed to be team-altering; they were meant to surround the core and fit with the team identity.
If you will forgive the baseball analogy, the Senators don’t need to swing for the fences this summer. They just need to advance the runners
They need to replace what's missing organically or through wisely spent free agent dollars, focusing on filling holes with the right player fit.
Cap Discipline
With the cap going up $8.5 million to $104 million next season, a lot of focus is on whether or not the Senators will spend to the cap. Michael Andlauer suggested at the recent Sens Alumni golf tournament that he's willing to do whatever it takes in that area.
As the Canes accepted the Stanley Cup on Sunday night, they were nearly $12 million under the cap. That should show that it’s the quality of money spent, not quantity.
Extensions for the likes of Jordan Spence (2026 RFA), Batherson, Zub, and Amadio (UFA’s in 2027) should be as much or more of a priority for Staios than summer spending on free agents.
All four will come at a cost. However, they are the known quantities. They fit what Green is trying to do.
Watch the Waiver Wire
The Senators had goaltending issues almost from the outset, with neither of their goalies being effective early on.
But Brandon Bussi was right there for the taking.
Bussi had no experience, and his performance this year was surely a surprise even to the Canes. The Senators' pro scouting needs to identify these types of players the way the Carolina's did, or the way the Florida Panthers did in claiming Sens defenseman Donovan Sebrango.
The Hurricanes are going to be a force for years to come based on these lessons. If Ottawa wants to keep pace, and perhaps meet them again later in the playoffs, they need to borrow from this model.
The Golden Knights are a win-now team, evidenced by them firing Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season and hiring Tortorella. The move worked as Tortorella turned around the slumping team, won the Pacific Division and three rounds of the playoffs before Vegas lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final.
One of the bigger available names, Peter Laviolette, was hired by the Los Angeles Kings. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are far along in their coaching searches, which could take more names out of circulation. Craig Berube is available, but would a reunion with Mitch Marner be a good thing?
Here are potential candidates for the Golden Knights' coach opening:
Ryan Craig, Henderson Silver Knights coach
He's the coach of the Golden Knights' American Hockey affiliate and was an assistant coach on Vegas' 2023 championship team, so he'll be familiar to players. He got Henderson to the second round of the AHL playoffs this year. It seems as some point, he will get the job.
Hire from within
John Stevens and Dominique Ducharme are former NHL head coaches. Stevens was an assistant coach for the 2012 and 2014 champion Kings and the 2023 Golden Knights. Ducharme led the Montreal Canadiens to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, getting past the Golden Knights along the way.
Jay Woodcroft, Anaheim Ducks assistant coach
Woodcroft worked with star players on the Edmonton Oilers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and the Golden Knights have plenty of stars. Edmonton reached the conference finals in his first season in 2021-22 and had 50 wins in his second season. He was fired after a slow start in this third season.
Patrick Roy, former New York Islanders coach
He's a big name who had success in junior hockey. But he might not be a good fit because he has never advanced out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Islanders replaced him with four games left in the regular season.
Comedian Rob Schneider has inserted himself into Major League Baseball’s latest Pride Night controversy, offering to pay any future fines for players who display Bible verses on their uniforms and accusing the league of being “anti-Christian.”
Schneider’s comments came after MLB issued warnings to San Francisco Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, who wrote references to Genesis 9:12-16 on their Pride Night caps during Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. Another Giants pitcher, Sam Hentges, chose not to wear the rainbow-themed cap at all, opting instead for the club’s standard black cap.
Rob Schneider weighed in on the MLB Pride Night cap controversy, saying he will pay the fines for any MLB Christian player who wears a Bible verse on their uniform. Andy Kropa/Invision/APThe San Francisco Giants celebrate Pride Day at Oracle Park on June 7, 2025 in San Francisco, California Getty Images
“I will pay the fines for any MLB Christian player who wears a Bible verse on their uniform,” Schneider wrote on X. “MLB is ANTI-CHRISTIAN.”
The league, however, has maintained that the warning had nothing to do with religion.
“The writing on the cap violates our rules and consistent with normal practice we have warned the players about future violations,” MLB said in an initial statement.
MLB later clarified that the warning was procedural and not disciplinary. No fines have been reported
“To be clear, this routine verbal warning not to wear the hat in future games is not disciplinary and had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message,” the league said. “We respect players’ right to free expression. However, writing of any kind, with any message, is prohibited.”
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws against the Chicago Cub John Hefti-Imagn Images
The league added that it has previously issued similar warnings for messages such as “Dad,” “Happy Mother’s Day, I Love Mom,” and names of family members.
Roupp later explained that the Bible passage reflected his Christian faith.
“It’s just about God’s covenant and a promise that he makes to us, his faithfulness and his mercy,” Roupp said. “That’s just kind of something I believe in, and I stand firm in that.”
Hentges also emphasized that his decision not to wear the Pride Night cap was not motivated by hostility toward LGBTQ people.
“It’s just something that I feel like I was forced to support when I don’t morally support it,” Hentges said. “There wasn’t hatred behind it. I think that’s kind of something that’s misinterpreted. I don’t hate the LGBTQ community. It’s just something I believed and talked with teammates and family, and they supported it.”
San Francisco Giants pitcher Sam Hentges (31) throws against the Chicago Cubs IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectSan Francisco Giants relief pitcher JT Brubaker throws in the sixth inning of the MLB game between the San Francisco Giants Tannen Maury/UPI/Shutterstock
During the late 1970s, a group of San Francisco players dubbed by the media as the “God Squad” became a frequent target of media scrutiny after several players, including reliever Gary Lavelle, openly discussed their Christian faith, including their views on homosexuality.
The Giants situation is also far from the first time professional athletes have objected to Pride-related initiatives.
Pride month celebration at Oracle Park Getty ImagesBlake Treinen #49 and Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers Getty Images
Last season, several Tampa Bay Rays pitchers declined to wear Pride-themed jerseys, citing their Christian faith. In 2023, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw publicly criticized the team’s decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, while stressing that his concerns were directed at the organization and not the LGBTQ community.
More recently, Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen appeared during Los Angeles’ Pride Night wearing the team’s traditional blue cap rather than the rainbow-themed version worn by most of his teammates. Treinen did not publicly explain the decision, but it quickly generated discussion across social media.
The Giants have since reaffirmed their support for Pride Night and the LGBTQ community while acknowledging that individual players may make personal decisions regarding team activations.
“We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations. We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that. Those choices do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all.
“We remain grateful to our fans, partners, employees, players, and coaches who help make Pride Night a meaningful celebration.”
For now, MLB has indicated no discipline beyond the warning, but Schneider’s pledge has ensured the debate over faith, free expression and Pride Night celebrations will continue well beyond Oracle Park.
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When asked by Dan “Big Cat” Katz on Fox’s “Wake Up Barstool” whether he abstained for that long, the starring Knicks role player laughed and dodged the question.
“Did anyone on the team take James Dolan’s pleas to not have sex for the entire playoff run?” Katz asked.
“Oh man. Oh, man,” Alvarado said with a giant laugh.
Katz jokingly scolded Alvarado when it appeared that he couldn’t quite abide by Dolan’s request.
“Jose! The boss told you,” Katz added, while everyone laughed with him.
Jose Alvarado laughs when asked if he did or did not have sex. Barstool Sports
“He said 10 weeks. He said sacrifice. We all sacrificed,” Alvarado eventually responded.
Dolan met with his team on April 3 before a playoff run that turned into an incredibly dominant ride in which the Knicks lost only three games and won the NBA title.
James Dolan asks his team to not have sex for 10 weeks. Roomates Show
“I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks,” Dolan told the Knicks before the playoffs. “You don’t have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks, but like Spartans — do you know what Spartans are? — They denied themselves to gain an edge. Get the edge.”
Dolan’s joke was part of a 15-minute speech to the team about sacrifice.
“Go home, talk to your wives. Don’t tell them you’re not going to have sex, and don’t tell them it was my idea,” Dolan added. “But let them know what this is going to be like, what your commitment is going to be like.”
Whether the team actually abided by Dolan’s request will forever remain a mystery, but Alvarado’s response to the question is even more intriguing.
Marcus Pettersson wants to remain a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
The defenceman, who has a no-move clause in the six-year, $5.5M AAV contract he signed with Vancouver last February, had his name pop up in trade rumours within the past day or so. San Jose Sharks reporter Sheng Peng spoke on the veteran’s desire to move during this week’s episode of his podcast, San Jose Hockey Now.
“Pettersson is motivated to move, I think. That’s what I understand. That’s what I think. I don’t know that for sure.”
Earlier today, this thought was denied by CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal, who obtained information via Pettersson’s agent, Peter Wallen. In Dhaliwal’s report, Wallen noted that Pettersson is “thrilled to see what the new management crew will bring and lead them to.”
Pettersson will be entering his 10th NHL season in 2026–27. Despite only just turning 30 in May, the defenceman has already been considered one of Vancouver’s veterans — the only players older than him with contracts through next season are Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen.
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) watches as Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar (11) battles with defenseman Marcus Pettersson (29) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Towards the end of the 2025–26 season, Pettersson spoke to The Hockey News about what he’s looking forward to about being a Canuck despite the rebuilding position the organization is in.
“We’re rebuilding. Everybody expects and thinks, it’ll be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. We can still win games. We’ve got great players. We’ve gone on runs — the December New York trip was a really good one for us — where we can actually see, ‘okay, we can string a few together and get off to a good start.’ Anything can happen.”
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As per an announcement from the team, Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon has announced that head coach John Tortorella will not return to the team's coaching staff following the 2025-26 season.
Hired with just eight games left in the season, he took over for Bruce Cassidy and led the Golden Knights all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, where Vegas lost in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon has announced John Tortorella will not return to the team's coaching staff following the 2025-26 season.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 16, 2026
It was believed that the hiring was only meant to be temporary. It was more a change at the helm that was needed, with Cassidy's message no longer getting through, and the Golden Knights needing a push. Torts was the guy to give it to them.
However, as NHL insider Elliotte Friedman notes, "As Tortorella said before the Cup Final, his contract expires June 30. He still wants to coach. Vegas had indicated they wanted him for the rest of the season and had a plan for next year."
Where do the Golden Knights go from here? Many believe the plan is to hire Ryan Craig, the current AHL Henderson head coach and former Golden Knights assistant. He played for Kelly McCrimmon at WHL Brandon and it's expected he's their succession plan.
Where does that leave Tortorella?
The most obvious choices are the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers.
Tortorella has been linked to the Oilers, but mostly because they've been linked to almost everyone that coaches his style -- push hard and hold players accountable. They tried to interview Bruce Cassidy. That was squashed and it's not clear if the Golden Knights will change their stance on allowing an interview to take place, or if the Oilers even want one now. The Oilers then shifted to Mike Babcock, but the NHL is undergoing an investigation into his conduct from 2023. It's unclear how that whole process will shake out and if there will be hurdles to jump if the Oilers want to bring Babcock in.
Ironically, the safest and easiest option may be Torts.
A polarizing coach that doesn't always get along with media, he's said to be great with the players. He forces them into achieving attainable but often uncomfortable goals. Many players have moved on, but remembered their time with him. If he wants to coach, the Oilers' job might be attractive.
Then again, so might be the Toronto job. However, it seems unlikely the Maple Leafs are his landing spot. GM John Chayka said the team in in the final stages or hiring their coach, and they aren't allowed to speak with Tortorella yet. It seems odd they would be close to hiring someone they've not spoken with.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 5: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA Finals are over. The Knicks have beaten the Spurs in five games. Every year, there are storylines that pervade the playoffs. Last season, it was Haliburton’s incredible run.
These playoffs, the storyline that stuck out to me more than any other was De’Aaron Fox’s fall from grace. Just a few seasons ago, he was the star of the Light The Beam Kings. He was an NBA media darling. Now, he’s a leper, and it isn’t hard to understand why. Take a look at his game log over the course of the NBA Finals:
Yikes. That is frighteningly low efficiency, especially for the volume of shots he was taking. That’s just his stats. There was also that layup attempt that the world has criticized him for.
Add an estimated salary next season of $49.5 million (which only escalates) and the fact that Dylan Harper looks ready to start next season, and you have a recipe for a player with negative value. The Spurs could look to dump Fox this offseason.
Can the Suns get involved? Should the Suns get involved?
What a trade would look like:
This is one option for what a De’Aaron Fox salary dump would look like. Right now, the calendar year hasn’t flipped over, and Fox’s on-paper salary is still $37 million. After the July 1 calendar change, the Suns are likely adding salary to this in the form of Grayson Allen.
In this deal, Jalen Green goes to the Pistons, who are in desperate need of buckets next to Cade Cunningham. In exchange, the Pistons send Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert to San Antonio and two firsts to Phoenix. Those two firsts are this year’s #21 and Detroit’s own first in 2028. If Grayson is added to this deal, he goes to Detroit as well. In fact, I think Detroit may demand Grayson as part of the deal if they are giving up two first-round picks.
The Spurs are getting off of Fox and adding two quality vets on short contracts. In return, the Spurs are sending Atlanta’s 2027 1st, Boston’s 2028 1st, and Dallas’ 2030 1st to Phoenix.
Why this deal makes sense for Detroit
Despite boasting the 8th-best offense in the NBA last season, Detroit was 17th in three-point percentage, 29th in three-pointers attempted, and 28th in three-pointers made. After Cade Cunningham’s 18.6 field goal attempts per game, their second highest was Jalen Duren at 11.5. What the Pistons need is volume scoring and three-point shooting.
Green gives you average three-point shooting and high-volume scoring. With Detroit’s third ranked defense, you can get the benefits of Jalen Green in a system built to support him. If you add Grayson to this deal as well, then you also get great three-point shooting to go along with him.
To add this, you lose two first-round picks, one at #21 and the other likely to be even later in the draft, and two veteran role players that you are already replacing with upgrades in this trade.
This has the potential to be a no-brainer for Detroit.
Why this deal makes sense for San Antonio
If the Suns and Pistons call San Antonio with this deal, the Spurs will say yes faster than you could believe. At the end of this deal, they get off of one of the worst contracts in the NBA, get two quality NBA veterans, and they still have all of their own draft picks. They go into next season with Harper and Castle as their starting backcourt, and they threaten to go on Finals run after Finals run for the next decade.
Is three first-round picks a lot to give up? Yes, it is. But does it open the door for their core to flourish? Yes, it does. They are going to have to dump Fox at some point in the next few years anyway in order to pay for that core. The second apron comes for all in the end.
For San Antonio, the price prevents this from being a no-brainer, but I don’t think it stops the deal from being done.
Why this deal makes sense for Phoenix
This deal does many great things for the Suns. To start, it rights a wrong done almost a decade ago. In the 2017 NBA draft, the Suns should have selected De’Aaron Fox, not Josh Jackson. Fox should have been the Suns’ point guard for the last nine years.
More importantly, this deal nets the Suns around five first-round picks. While yes, there are new lottery rules that make picks more valuable and less likely to be traded in large quantities, this trade involves exactly zero first-round picks that are projected to be lottery picks. The most likely lottery pick is the Dallas pick in 2030, and we might have a whole new lottery system for that season. The new lottery system that just got approved is set to expire in 2029.
This trade opens a whole new level of flexibility that the Suns haven’t had in years. This gives the Suns first-round picks in every draft moving forward except 2029 and two in 2028.
The biggest reason the Suns do this trade, though, is because you are buying as low as possible on a second star. One that fits next to Devin Booker.
Don’t let the Finals fool you, De’Aaron Fox is really good at basketball. He was an All-Star just this past season, averaging 18.6 points, 16.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. To top it off, he is just 28 years old.
De’Aaron Fox is not a washed-up has-been. Much like Jalen Green, he is wildly overpaid on a roster where he is redundant. In Phoenix, he could have a new life as the co-star that Devin Booker needs.
Is he perfect? No, of course not. But we as Suns fans need to get used to the fact that in the near future, Phoenix is shopping for stars in the bargain bin. This kind of deal, where the Suns would provide an opportunity for a redemption arc while collecting assets, is the kind Phoenix needs to take a chance on.
The original name for this article was “The buy-low option I want to love.” But the fact is that I do love it. This deal, even if it was just for Fox and four first-round picks, brings the Suns closer to a title than they have been in years and gives them the asset flexibility to get even better in the future.
What do you think, Suns fans? Are you ready for the De’Aaron Fox experience?
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 19: Matt Chapman #26, Willy Adames #2, Luis Arraez #1 and Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants talk during a mound visit at Chase Field on May 19, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The industry is buzzing over the possibility that the San Francisco Giants might hold a fire sale for their 2026 roster. I’ve already ranked the top 10 trade chips the Giants have, but yesterday, we got some actual names bandied about via informed rumormongering from Ken Rosenthal for The Athletic in a piece with the headline, “Giants start testing the waters on potential trade deals: Sources,” and from an X post by Buster Olney which said that the team is “open to offers for […] Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman — among other obvious trade candidates, like Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray.” Let’s examine this exquisite corpse the Giants are about to present to market and see if we can make ourselves a little hungry in anticipation of potential returns.
I’ll give you some analysis and then list teams I think might be interested, and in the comments, you can agree/disagree and/or find some potential returns from the other team’s organization.
Luis Arraez
Profile: Both Arraez and Robbie Ray are labeled by both Rosenthal and Olney as the “most obvious” moves to be made. They’re both free agents at the end of the year so, yeah, makes sense. At the beginning of the month, Arraez was the 23rd-most valuable in the sport. He’s currently #18 with +2.5 fWAR. Most impressively, his +6.9 Defensive Runs Above Average makes him one of the 11-best defenders currently gloving it in the sport. Wow! He is the second-best defender at second base behind St. Louis’s JJ Wetherholt.
Possible trade partners: Sixteen teams have sub-average performance at the plate from their second baseman, with Texas’s 99 wRC+ making it more like fifteen. Among them: the Nationals (38-35), Mets (32-40), Red Sox (29-40), Reds (34-37), Rays (41-28), Astros (33-41), Orioles (34-39), Athletics (36-36), Twins (34-40), Phillies (39-33), Dodgers (46-27), and Cubs (38-35).
The Giants probably won’t trade with the Athletics and certainly not the Dodgers. The Orioles are going to stick with Jackson Holliday, I’m sure. The Rays might like the roster they have and prefer to use the $4 million they might have to commit to the remainder of Arraez’s deal on someone else. The Cubs have Nico Hoerner for a long time and for a lot of money now. Do the Twins really think they’re in the race? Their owner was calling season ticketholders in the offseason to convince them that things would be okay, and now they’re just 3 games back of a Wild Card spot. Sure, they’re 6 games under and have a -40 run differential, but… 3 games! The Nationals have Luis Garcia Jr. who’s a left-handed second baseman. No, he’s not Arraez, but they might consider themselves to be a year or two ahead on their rebuild and might want to hold on to prospects. The Astros have Jose Altuve at second base.
So, let’s go with a field of the Red Sox (more on them in a bit), Reds, Phillies,Twins.
Robbie Ray
Profile: He has certainly pitched his way out of being a meaningful figure in any team’s rotation, but the trade deadline can get silly and one of these last minute pitching depth deals are sure to be when the Giants can move the lefty. In the trade value piece, I compared the situation to when the Padres got Nestor Cortes from the Brewers at the end of last year’s trade deadline. Teams always need pitching.
Possible trade partners: Now, he’s already pitching in the ballpark with the best Park factor for home runs (79) and walks (93), but the Pirates are right there with Oracle Park in both of those categories, and so maybe Pittsburgh (36-37) might try to supplement their rotation at the deadline just to show their fans they’re trying.
But, they’re already a top 5 staff. How about the Rangers? They play in a stadium with a solid Park Factor for Ray’s arsenal. They also have a house of cards rotation. 38-year old Jacob deGrom, 36-year old Nathan Eovaldi, and MacKenzie Gore are the front three, but the back part of Kumar Rocker, who will cross his previous MLB innings high of 65ish innings in his next start, and Jack Leiter, who has a 4.97 ERA, are shaky in a way that might require a solid backup.
Matt Chapman
Profile: As big of a mess as the Giants have been and figure to be for the foreseeable future, they might’ve somehow avoided being the messiest — and, therefore, worst — team in the sport thanks to the Boston Red Sox. Last week, Olney floated the possibility that someone in the ownership group has stepped forward to inquire about trades in hopes of improving the team’s fortunes in 2026.
So, this is what I’m getting from other teams. That, generally speaking, there isn’t a lot of trade stuff going on, and in fact, when Sam Kennedy came on and said, ‘Hey, there’s more trade talk than ever. There’s a lot going on,“ a rival executive actually called around thinking like, ‘Oh man, I missed something.’ […] and when he checked into it, what he got back was, ‘The Red Sox are looking aggressively.’ And the Red Sox are kind of on their own in that regard.
And then I heard last week from a couple teams that they [the Red Sox] were signaling that they were willing to take on money. Today, I talked to someone who with another team who told me that it’s to the degree that Red Sox ownership has gotten involved. […] I have not confirmed the name of the owner […] but, an owner […] is actually calling around and trying to grease the skids to get a right handed bat.
Buster’s unnamed rival exec also wondered, “Why didn’t they just offer Alex Bregman more money [to stay with the team after last season]?” and that’s how we get to Matt Chapman being on the block, I think, because there’s a potential deal to be made here. Craig Breslow — he’s a Yale grad, you know — got pretty cute with prospect capital and thought he was Moneyball Billy Beane when made this trade to replace Alex Bregman:
Brewers receive INF David Hamilton LHP Kyle Harrison LHP Shane Drohan
Red Sox receive 2B/3B Caleb Durbin INF Andruw Monasterio 3B Anthony Seigler Competitive Balance Round B Draft Pick
Durbin is hitting .194/.255/.313 in 222 plate appearances (63 games). It would be an understatement to say that the addition of Matt Chapman would improve the Red Sox. Bregman signed for 5 years, $175 million with the Cubs, a $35 million AAV through 2030. Chappy’s deal also runs through 2030 but carries a $25.167 AAV by comparison. But there’s also the age factor. Bregman will be 36 at the end of his while Chapman will be 37. I don’t know how much that will weigh on the Red Sox taking on the contract — certainly, if Breslow is hewing close to SABR orthodoxy than Matt Chapman is mostly red flags. A big AVOID.
If the Red Sox are willing to take on money, as Olney suggests, then the Giants wouldn’t necessarily have to take back Masataka Yoshida’s $18 million salary for next season (but that’s just the CBT figure: it’s $18.6 million in actual value). That could limit the return, too, but sometimes it’s about quality and not quantity. And just to make sure it’s clear that I know he has a no trade clause, I’ll end this writeup by mentioning that, and how it could help or hinder the Giants. Help because it might make the other team more willing to part with a good prospect, but it could also be a hindrance if the best deal is with a team Chapman simply refuses.
Other trade partners: Mariners, Phillies, Yankees
Rafael Devers
Profile: I don’t think Devers has much more ceiling in him — at least this season. He’s owed a lot of money for a long time and carries an average annual value figure of $27.5 million. Not great for someone who might only hit around the league average. First base isn’t a position where a lot of teams have struggled to find production. The Giants’ 98 wRC+ is 23rd overall, but only 3 teams are below 90 wRC+: the Mets, Royals, and Diamondbacks.
Trade partners: The Blue Jays are using George Springer in that spot and have gotten no power. Literally, a .076 Isolated Slugging Percentage. He does get on base and doesn’t strike out much, but he might be an upgrade. In 47 games at Rogers Center, he’s hit 12 homers and has a .979 OPS (204 PA). He’s a notorious Yankees and Orioles killer, too. The Blue Jays might be trying to ride the wave of relevance from last year’s World Series appearance and might be motivated to make a big trade but also one that doesn’t really hurt them from a player development side — the Giants would almost certainly like to have the money back versus prospect capital. This is the last year of Springer’s contract ($25 million), and so Devers could simply slide into that slot for next season and beyond.
Willy Adames
Profile: I am surprised that the Giants would be willing to trade Adames, but that must mean things behind the scenes are as bad as they are in front. He has been the 8th-least valuable starting position player this season, so at first blush, it would seem like a lot of imagination and creativity are needed in order to envision a trade. On the other hand, over the last month (28 G 121 PA), he’s slashing .239/.306/.532 with 8 homers and a far more palatable 2.6 K/BB. He’s also hit 6 doubles and a triple and all with a .247 BAbip. So, some team out there would almost certainly be willing to buy his rise. It was from this point last season that Adames turned his season around, hitting .225/.323/.443 with 25 homers, 66 RBI, 60 BB, and 128 strikeouts over his final 116 games and 490 plate appearances. A similar resurgence seems to be happening here.
Defensively, though, he’s a mess, and an acquiring team might be more inclined to move him to another position. But then why not go for Luis Arraez when the cost would be considerably less long term? Well, it’s of a thought with acquiring Matt Chapman or (lol) Rafael Devers — if the owners are expecting a salary floor in the new CBA, then some teams might try to grab a guy who gets them to that threshold but without resorting to current and future market rates for similar players. Adames (like Chapman) isn’t a bargain, but the cost of a 3 or 4-win shortstop isn’t likely to get much cheaper than Adames, who’s owed $155.7 million through 2031 with a $26 million AAV for CBT purposes.
Trade partners: Yankees, Brewers (59 wRC+ — 30th), Red Sox (65 wRC+ — 27th) , Phillies (62 wRC+ — 29th). Of course, in order to make even this list seem plausible, you’d have to imagine the Brewers as one of those teams anticipating a salary floor, that the Red Sox would prefer Adames over Chapman, and that the Phillies would want Adames for second base (or, somehow, have convinced Trea Turner to move to second base). All three situations are tough to imagine right now.
But then there’s the New York Yankees, who I’ll register as a possible dark horse for any of the Giants trade chips. Matt Chapman or Willy Adames would be upgrades on Ryan McMahon, Jose Caballero, and/or Anthony Volpe.
Now, as the Rosenthal piece points out, the team has “not fully committed to becoming sellers at the trade deadline.” For some fans, that’s a sign that the team still thinks they can get back into the playoff race or, at the absolute worst, make a run to wind up with a more respectable record and maintain a core that has gathered some momentum heading into next season.
Maybe this is the cynical read, but I think the only reason why Rosenthal’s sourcing cautioned that the team isn’t fully committed is only because they haven’t yet heard any returns they like. Recall that in the offseason, the Giants were frustrated by the asks they were getting during various trade talks, and that’s when they were trying to add somebody. Taking their time to see what they could get for their high-priced players should only prove more frustrating. Remember, the Giants’ front office thought they had one of the best lineups of the last 20 years heading into the season. They’ll be dealing with an industry that never came close to sharing that opinion.
But that’s not to say the Giants won’t be sellers in some way. I was hoping they’d DFA the bullpen and let God sort it out, but there might be some small deals to be had with some of them, if the “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” expression has any meaning.
We’ve heard nothing about Jung Hoo Lee, who’s hitting well enough that he might have some interest, or Heliot Ramos, who might be a good power option from the right side once he returns from injury. Logan Webb and Casey Schmitt were the only two from reporting who the Giants don’t appear to be moving.
Personally, I agree that this is what needs to happen. The Giants don’t need to be precious about this roster. Yes, competing in the near-term will require some sort of Chapman-Adames-Devers core, but if it’s Schmitt-Adames-Eldridge are you about as competitive? Or Devers-Schmitt-Eldridge? But maybe you don’t think the Giants need a dramatic shakeup.
So, of this entire list, who do you think is most likely to be moved and to where and for what return?
