Bobby McMann, once rumored to be a potential addition for the Colorado Avalanche, is instead heading west to the Seattle Kraken. The Toronto Maple Leafs traded the 29-year-old forward to Seattle in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Nick Kypreos.
This marks Toronto’s second roster move this week amid a disappointing season. On Thursday, the Maple Leafs sent centre Nic Roy to Colorado.
Before the deal was finalized, speculation had swirled that McMann could be headed to the Avalanche. Insider Frank Seravalli shared the report on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
Bobby McMann highlights with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Sounds like #GoAvsGo and #LeafsForever engaged again on Bobby McMann. We’ll see where it goes.”
McMann, a Wainwright, Alta., native, has spent his entire NHL career with Toronto. Undrafted out of junior hockey, he signed as a free agent in April 2022 and is now in the second and final year of a two-year, $2.7 million extension. This season, he has produced 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 60 games, demonstrating the speed, physicality, and scoring ability that would have made him an ideal top-nine power forward for Colorado. Over his three NHL seasons, he has tallied 15, 20, and 19 goals, proving his consistency as a goal scorer.
With the trade to Seattle, McMann becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, giving the Kraken a potential short-term boost down the stretch while providing him a fresh opportunity in a new market.
And for the Avalanche, it could be seen as possibly a disappointing deadline. They reportedly had a deal to acquire Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames, but ownership nixed the deal at the last second, and they were also unable to snag McMann. However, Nic Roy and Brett Kulak were definitely solid acquisitions.
North Carolina's star freshman and a projected top-five pick in next June's draft, Caleb Wilson, is done for the season after fracturing his right thumb (which requires surgery to repair) while throwing down a dunk in practice on Thursday, North Carolina announced Friday.
Wilson had missed the last six Tar Heel games with a fractured left hand but was working his way back into the rotation when the injury occurred, coach Hubert Davis had told reporters.
Wilson is expected to be cleared to return to basketball activity during the pre-draft process, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. This injury should not impact his draft status.
Wilson, a 6'10" forward, was in the midst of a standout season in Carolia blue, averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
Caleb Wilson was incredible today vs Kansas
24 points 7 rebounds 4 assists 4 steals 9-12 FG
High level motor with NBA athleticism, length, shotmaking, just an incredible performance today pic.twitter.com/IwBQ7B2tOc
Most pundits, as well as front office people NBC Sports has spoken with, have Wilson fourth on draft boards, and maybe the one guy who could crack the "big three" at the top of the board (AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer). His athleticism and power have impressed scouts, and head-to-head he has outplayed Boozer and Peterson when their teams met this season. While there are questions about his game — can he develop a 3-point shot, can he clean up some things defensively — Wilson is considered an elite prospect who almost certainly will be drafted in the top five next June.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 5: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs goes for a block on Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons in the second half at Frost Bank Center on March 5, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“Thereby was wrought the Hydra, many-necked, flickering its dread tongues. Of its fearful heads some severed lay on earth, but many more were budding from its necks…”
– Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (4th Century A.D.)
It’s not often that a basketball game makes me think of (or reference) a mythical creature.
I had to double-check, because after 8 years of writing here, my articles have run the gamut as far as subject matter is concerned, but I have somehow managed in all that time to avoid referencing a single primordial cryptid, folkloric being, or otherwise fantastical beasties.
It’s honestly a bit of a shock. Perhaps even an accomplishment at this point, having regaled (and annoyed) so many with the outlines of various historical battles, obscure pop culture references, philosophical and grammatical meanderings, geopolitical analysis, astronomical phenomena, the minutiae of antiquated technologies (and one very odd article about bugs bouncing off of windshields) to find that I’ve yet to have used up my quota for mythological entities.
Not as much of a shock, though, to have spent an evening watching what the Spurs have mutated into over the course of a season, in the face of stiff competition.
The Detroit Pistons are a very good team. To leave it at that feels like a gross understatement. While I didn’t write the preview for that game, I feel duty-bound to point out that not only are the Pistons leading the Eastern Conference, but they have both a higher Net Rating and Defensive Rating than the Spurs do.
Against this version of the Spurs, it just did not matter. At all.
The Spurs were inconsistent on defense in the 2nd and 3rd quarters? Didn’t matter.
Stephon Castle lived inside of Cade Cunningham’s jersey like a toothpick fish inside a urethra. Wemby seemed to block players by just looking in their direction. Devin Vassell floated from defensive rotation to defensive rotation and engulfed his match-ups like the smoke from a dockworker’s Marlboro Red.
The Pistons tried to shut down San Antonio’s outside shooting, keying on Champanige, and Vassell, and even the slumping (25% from three over the last ten games) Keldon Johnson? Didn’t matter.
De’Aaron Fox and Wemby took the opportunity to detonate from inside (and just about everywhere else), and Champagnie and Vassell broke loose in the 4th quarter anyway while Castle flung passes from corner-to-corner with the focus of a professional darts player who just chugged a pint of Ritalin.
It wasn’t even that the Pistons were playing badly. They just couldn’t keep up with the heads of the Grecian monster before them. They even tried to muck things up a bit in 3rd quarter, testing whether the Spurs would cave to their particular brand of physicality. It did not matter.
For every head that the Pistons lopped off, another two grew back. If you were a Pistons fan, it was demoralizing. If you were a Spurs fan, it was mesmerizing.
At the 3/4 mark of the season, these young Spurs are starting to intuitively adapt to in-game adversity. Maybe it’s because they spent so much of the first half of the season having to operate at less than full strength. Maybe each starter (and some of the bench players) having to carry the load at one point or another has transformed them into a largely unsolvable conundrum, each head as deadly and regenerative as the next.
Maybe San Antonio’s front office, not unlike the Greek Goddess Hera, has finally created the perfect foil for the would-be demigods just north of the Red River.
Maybe. I’m still not sure. The postseason is a whole other organism. But there can be no question that the Spurs have reached a whole new level of play over the last five weeks, and barring a few bumps here and there, there are just not many teams that can take on the swarming behemoth of heads, and arms, and legs.
Chances are, there’s at least one Herculean opponent out there to test this silver and black monstrosity.
I am beginning to wonder, though. The Warriors and Suns were able to trouble the Spurs earlier in the season, but that was a different version of this team, and they haven’t had as much trouble with them since.
The Pistons actually took down the Thunder themselves just a week ago, but the Spurs are starting to look like a rough match-up for them due to the defensive abilities of San Antonio’s guard rotation. The Thunder are 1-4 against the Spurs, and several of those games featured the Thunder at full strength (and the Spurs, not so much).
The Rockets are still quietly lurking, but they haven’t looked the same since they lost Steven Adams for the season. The Nuggets seem unable to reach a place of full strength/health, and while the Knicks have been a bad match-up for the Spurs, they’re still the Knicks until further notice.
That really just leaves the Cavaliers (who dusted San Antonio twice during a wave of injuries), the Timberwolves, and the no-longer-Tatum-less Boston Celtics. Only one of those teams will be contending in the West.
Dimly, in the distance, a path begins to take shape. It’s going to take some luck (as it always does), but I’m starting to see an aisle carving its way through the postseason clutter.
One thing that’s often forgotten about the tale of the Hydra, is that it reigned uncontested until the arrival of Hercules. There simply wasn’t anyone else capable of contending with the creature. The toxicity of its breath was enough to take out most of the opposition.
Imagine the mighty Herc had gone down with an untimely injury. That might have changed everything.
Takeaways
I’d like to revisit Stephon Castle for a minute, because, good lord, that man has been putting in work on the defensive end! Castle’s been fantastic on that end all year, but he seems to take it up a notch against the best teams and ball-handlers. Fun fact: Cade Cunningham has gone 15-52 shooting against the Spurs this season. Even more fun fact: The Spurs are now 7-1 against the top other 3 teams in the NBA (by record). Those things are not unrelated. While Wemby is responsible for the black hole that the post is for most teams facing the Spurs, Castle has consistently shown the ability to flat-out erase perimeter superstars at a level I haven’t seen since the-nephew-who-must-not-be-named. It’s absolutely nuts that I don’t feel like the comparison is a bridge too far, but I can’t deny what my eyes are seeing. The number of picks that teams set against Castle whenever he’s on the court is noticeable, and still they’re having to pry the dude off with a crowbar. Cunningham looked frustrated and demoralized by the middle of the fourth. And exhausted. I’ve been referring to getting locked down by Castle as being ‘put in the dungeon’ for a few weeks now, but I’m thinking about upgrading it to ‘the pit of despair’, and I honestly think there are more than a few NBA guards who would agree. If Castle doesn’t make 1st team All-Defense, I say we burn the whole thing down!
I’m starting to get a little worried about Keldon Johnson. Sure, his scoring wasn’t as needed on a night when Wemby and Fox both went off at the same time, but he got a little banged up over the last month, and his shooting has fallen off of a cliff. He’s shooting 45% from the field over the last 10 games, and his True Shooting and Effective Field Goal percentages have both dropped by 50+ points after spending most of the season flirting with Kevin Durant levels of efficiency. Hopefully it’s just the result of him pacing himself after inuring his left shoulder, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye. Thankfully this hydra has many heads, but they’ll still need someone to bring the scoring (and energy) off the bench, and Keldon’s been vital in that way all year.
Luke Kornet only got 8 minutes last night on account of Wemby going thermonuclear, and not a peep was (or will be) heard about it, because that dude is clearly all about the team. Even when he’s not playing, he’s clearly engaged on the sidelines, encouraging his teammates and applauding like he’s an end of the bench big man. I don’t know if this team’s going to really get a shot at the title this season, but if they do, a big part of it will have been the mentality that Kornet and others contribute to. My head still isn’t sure, but my heart says that the vibes are immaculate, and that’s not nothing.
It should be noted that the Spurs took down the Pistons minus one head of the hydra in Harrison Barnes. I know there are those who have mixed feelings about the dude (and the immensely relatable middle-aged hilarity of injuring oneself in one’s sleep probably doesn’t help), but if there’s one thing the talking heads have been right about when it comes to the Spurs, it’s that they’re on the smaller side, and it’s noticeable without Barnes. I have a feeling he’s going to be incredibly critical when it comes to postseason match-ups, so I hope that hydra head regenerates quickly. Especially since the Spurs face the Celtics (and possibly Jayson Tatum) on Tuesday, and Tatum is a perfect player to exploit that weakness at Power Forward. Still, how good are the Spurs that they didn’t even need him against the #1 team in the East?!
The trade deadline has come and gone for the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawks. Ahead of it, they traded away Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach, and Nick Foligno.
The last UFA that was in the mix to be traded was Ilya Mikheyev, but he was not moved. They tried to get an extension done earlier in the year, but to no avail. That made the trade rumors surrounding him a little bit louder.
Now that the deadline has passed, the Blackhawks are done, and Mikheyev was not moved. He will remain with the team for at least the rest of this season.
The Blackhawks had a similar situation with Ryan Donato last season, but they decided to keep him and eventually signed him to a long-term deal in the summer.
Maybe Mikheyev is on the same path. He is worth signing to a smaller extension due to the fact that he's an incredible penalty killer, a great defensive forward, and a contributor on offense. For a guy who's that good in a defensive role, his 15-20 goals per season make him even more valuable.
Matt Grzelcyk was another UFA to keep an eye on, but there wasn't much of a market for him. He will finish out the year with Chicago as their oldest defenseman and go from there.
A handful of non-core young players were in rumors from time to time as well, but none of them were moved on deadline day.
The Blackhawks will now host the Vancouver Canucks at the United Center on Friday night in a quick turnaround. Kyle Davidson will speak to the media before the game, so there will be more updates on his thought process coming up.
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MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 06: Ronald Acuña Jr. #21 of Team Venezuela hits a double against Team Kingdom of the Netherlands /d1i of a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 06, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The much-anticipated Battle of the Braves between Venezuela’s Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies of the Netherlands saw a decisive winner, as Venezuela came out on top 6-2 in Pool D of 2026 World Baseball Classic action.
From a Braves perspective, this was a one-sided affair as Acuña hit the ground running in helping his team to victory in this one. Venezuela manager Omar López made the smart decision to have Acuña lead off and he was rewarded for that decision by seeing his leadoff hitter smack one into the gap in left-center field for a leadoff double on the very first pitch that he saw.
An RBI single from singles machine Luis Arraez eventually brought Acuña home for the first run of the gameand Acuña wasn’t done there, either. He followed up a leadoff hit-by-pitch taken by Andrés Giménez with a walk that eventually turned into a bases-loaded situation. Acuña then scampered home again for his second run of the day on a single from Willson Contreras that made it past Didi Gregorius at third base and into the outfield for a two-RBI knock.
Acuña’s exploits weren’t just limited to his plate appearances or on the basepaths as well. The Netherlands attempted to respond to Venezuela’s four-run fifth inning by loading the bases up with nobody out to start the sixth inning. Braves catcher Chadwick Tromp hit a soft blooper to right field that could’ve easily been one of those Bermuda Triangle-type hits that do a ton of damage without a ton of exit velocity. Fortunately for Venezuela, Tromp’s Braves teammate in right field made it clear that he wasn’t going to give his fellow Brave any easy hits. Acuña made a long run to get under the ball, make the catch and then flip the ball on one hop to home plate in order to save a run.
While Acuña was all over the place in a good way for Venezuela, it was a quiet day on the diamond for Ozzie Albies and Chadwick Tromp. Albies went 0-for-4 at the plate and Chadwick Tromp went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in this one, as the Netherlands went into this one as clear underdogs and proved those prognostications correct. Braves Hall-of-Famer (and future Baseball Hall-of-Famer) and Netherlands manager Andruw Jones did have something to smile about in this one, as the two runs that Honkbal did score in this one off the bat of his son, Druw Jones. Druw tied things up in the second inning on an RBI double and then he hit a sacrifice fly to Ronald Acuña Jr. for the second run of the game.
That was as good as things got for the Netherlands in this one, as Venezuela ended up cruising to a four-run victory in this one. There wasn’t really a ton of drama in this one and the only Acuña/Albies interaction that we saw was the two pals goofing off at second base in the first inning after Acuña made it there on the leadoff double.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 6, 2026
Outside of that, it was all Acuña and Venezuela as one of the dark horse candidates to win the whole thing got off to a good start in this one. Venezuela will return to the field tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. ET against Israel on Fox Sports 2, while the Netherlands will be facing off against Nicaragua at 12:00 p.m. ET on tubi. If you’re trying to keep an eye on Ozzie Albies, Chadwick Tromp and Andruw Jones then make sure you’ve bookmarked tubi because you aren’t done with the land of low-budget movies just yet.
Meanwhile in Houston, Nacho Alvarez Jr. is also making his presence felt for Mexico as he hit a dinger in the second inning during his first at-bat of the game in order to give his squad the initial lead. As of writing, Mexico is currently in a serious fight with Great Britain as they’re deadlocked 1-1 in the seventh inning, so keep an eye on that one. Hopefully we’ll see Nacho Alvarez Jr. continue to show out for Mexico and we’ll update this post if he does add to his tally in this one.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23, 2026: Chase DeLauter #24 of the Cleveland Guardians runs out a fly ball during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Goodyear Ballpark on February 23, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
I am running around all day, but feel free to discuss the game below! Sorry this is late
One of the biggest needs for the Detroit Red Wings was a right-shot defenseman, and they have filled that need in the immediate aftermath of the official passing of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
The Red Wings have acquired veteran defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues; in return, they've sent the Blues defenseman Justin Holl, 2022 second-round (52nd overall) draft pick Dmitri Buchelnikov, a 2026 1st round pick, and San Jose’s 2026 3rd round pick.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have acquired Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Justin Holl, Dmitiri Buchelnikov, Detroit’s 2026 1st round pick and San Jose’s 2026 3rd round pick. pic.twitter.com/vTi304dCvi
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 6, 2026
Faulk has played in 61 games this season and has tallied 11 goals with 21 assists, and has also averaged 22:29 of total ice time per game.
Holl, who was in the final season of the three-year deal he signed to join the Red Wings from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023, has yet to appear in an NHL game in 2025-26, having spent the entire campaign playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL.
A native of South St. Paul, Minnesota, Faulk was selected in the second round (37th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes after having previously played with the Michigan-based USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
He played a single season for the University of Minnesota Duluth before beginning his professional career with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, eventually making his NHL debut with the Hurricanes by playing in 66 games in the 2011-12 season.
He would remain a fixture on Carolina's blue line through 2019 when he was traded to the Blues along with a 2020 fifth-round pick for Joel Edmundson, Dominik Bokk, and a 2021 seventh-round pick.
While with the Blues, Faulk signed a 7-year, $45.5 million contract that carries a salary cap hit of $6.5 million; he is signed through the end of next season.
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The 2026 NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and the Philadelphia Flyers will be keeping their biggest trade chip in Rasmus Ristolainen for yet another season.
On Friday, with just under 15 minutes to the trade deadline, Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported that the Flyers will not be trading Ristolainen, 32, as their asking price in a trade was not met.
In previous NHL trade deadline action, other right-shot defensemen like Tyler Myers, Connor Murphy, Timothy Liljegren, John Carlson, David Jiricek, Luke Schenn, Jeff Petry, MacKenzie Weegar, and Nick Blankenburg were all moved for assets, though Ristolainen, who was perceived to be more valuable than most on this list, stayed put.
And, at the time of this writing, the Detroit Red Wings are moving on St. Louis Blues righty Justin Faulk.
Ristolainen comes with a significant injury history, having suffered a season-ending triceps injury in each of the last two seasons.
Additionally, the hulking Finn has two years remaining on his contract, including this one, at a $5.1 million cap hit, so there is less flexibility for inquiring teams in regards to the future in addition to needing the Flyers to, presumably, retain the maximum 50% of his salary for two seasons.
With Ristolainen remaining in Philadelphia with the Flyers, the team will need to make exceptions if they want Jiricek and Oliver Bonk to see NHL action this year.
Assuming Travis Sanheim remains on the left with Ristolainen, the latter and Jamie Drysdale will occupy two of the three spots on the right side of the defense.
Player development has long been an issue in Philadelphia, and the Flyers are doing themselves no favors by holding onto their veterans for longer than they have to.
Time will tell if Ristolainen is eventually traded, but this NHL trade deadline featured some truly bananas prices for average depth defensemen. The Flyers may have missed out on a big opportunity to help secure their future.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 04: Cristopher Sanchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after getting the third out in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of the Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is one thing I would suggest Phillies fans, myself included, do more of this year.
Zoom out.
Here in Philly, we can be a bit myopic when it comes to our sports teams. We are immersed in the day-to-day, week-to-week, monthly and yearly frustrations that come with following a baseball team with great intensity, and it is easy to lose the forest for the trees.
Like you, I was not happy with the off-season. After a second straight first round playoff exit and three consecutive highly disappointing postseasons overall, the 2026 Phils are largely the same squad as the ‘25, ‘24 and ‘23 teams, at least in terms of its core.
The starting rotation still features Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Cristopher Sanchez. The best players in the lineup remain Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh and Alec Bohm. The bullpen changes on a yearly basis, but that’s largely true for most teams. Everyone’s a year older, with yet another postseason frustration on which to chew.
We wanted change because it feels like this particular group has hit a brick wall. Teams that stick together this long don’t usually suddenly break through in Year No. 5. But it’s fair to note the Philadelphia Phillies are the two-time defending NL East champions and have been to the playoffs four straight years. This group did advance to a World Series in ‘22 and nearly got back there again in ‘23. And they won the NL East by a whopping 13 games a year ago.
Nationally, baseball analysts and the public are much higher on the Phils than the hardcore fanbase. This week, ESPN released their ranking of the Top 100 players in the league, and the Dodgers led the way with 8 players in the Top 100. But guess which team had the second-most? Yep, your Phils, with 7 (Sanchez, Schwarber, Turner, Harper, Luzardo, Jhoan Duran, Wheeler). That’s a lot!
MLB’s Mike Petriello released his Tier Rankings of all 30 teams, and while the Dodgers were in the top tier all by their lonesome, guess which tier the Phillies fell into? Yep, Tier 2, along with the Cubs (the only other NL team mentioned), Blue Jays, Mariners, Red Sox, Tigers and Yankees. That’s pretty great!
On my Hittin’ Season podcast from WHYY this week, MLB.com’s Mike Petriello joined me to offer his thoughts on why the Phillies largely chose to “run it back” in 2026, and why it’s important for us, as fans, to zoom out a bit and observe the rest of the league, too.
“You know, it’s funny. So I live in New York, but I’m not a Yankees fan, but I hear a lot of Yankees chatter and it’s the exact same conversation. Yankees and Phillies, right? We’re running it back and this is terrible. And it’s like, well, you’re running back a 96 win team in Philly and a 94 win team in New York. And every Phillies fan demanded Kyle Schwarber come back and every Yankees fan demanded Cody Bellinger come back. And at a certain point, if you’re bringing back players you wanted on a very good team, how many more moves are there to be made?
Yankees fans were furious. ‘We need a new shortstop.’ It’s like, shortstops don’t exist! You literally cannot go and find a shortstop right now. For the Phillies, I think it’s a little bit different just because I don’t mind them bringing back Schwarber, I don’t mind them bringing back JT Realmuto, because there just weren’t any other good options.”
And while Petriello did not like the Phillies’ plan for the outfield, specifically the move to acquire Adolis Garcia in free agency and place Justin Crawford in center without a real back-up plan, he called Brandon Marsh and his 2025 second half “underrated” and noted Bryson Stott’s outstanding second half after making a mechanical adjustment.
Things to consider.
While we’re nervous about a seemingly less stable starting rotation, Petriello believes the Phillies’ cadre of starters appear to still be the best in the division.
I've got a brand NEW Hittin' Season for Phillies fans, powered by @WHYY! https://t.co/zXmRzx7eZ2's @mike_petriello stops by to chat about which NL East rotation he has the most confidence in, and which he has the least. You'll LIKE the answers!
“The team that I’m out the most on rotation-wise is Atlanta, for sure. Just because of the pitching injuries. And I don’t know what [Spencer] Strider is and Chris Sale has been amazing, but he’s also going to be, what, 38? And [he] doesn’t exactly have a long track record recently of staying healthy. So that scares me the most. I think there’s huge disaster risk right there.
And between the Mets and the Phillies… I guess I’m still going to take the Phillies because it sounds like Wheeler won’t miss that much time. You know, it’s hard to know if he’s going to be “ace” [Zack] Wheeler, or just pretty good. I’m cautiously optimistic about [Aaron] Nola. I think Cris Sanchez is great and always underrated. I really like [Jesus] Luzardo. You know, even if [Andrew] Painter is only a number five, you’re not asking him to be an ace, right? The Pirates are asking Connor Griffin to be Bobby Witt right now and the Phillies are not asking that of Painter.
So I guess I would take the Phillies, then the Mets, then the Braves.“
This is perspective that gets lost when everyone is neck-deep in the echo chamber. Like you, I have a tendency to zero in on the minutia of what’s happening with the Phils, which is why it’s always great to get an outsider’s perspective, something I try to do a lot of on Hittin’ Season.
It’s easy to be down on the Phillies after a disappointing October and off-season. So let’s all make an effort to zoom out a bit more in 2026 and listen to folks who aren’t as emotionally invested in this team as we are.
It might save our sanity and maybe, just maybe, make us smarter baseball fans, too.
MARYVALE, - MARCH 12: General view of American Family Fields stadium, spring training home of the Milwaukee Brewers, following Major League Baseball's decision to suspend all spring training games on March 12, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. The decision was made due to concerns of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Double your pleasure, double your fun! More taste! Less filling! And other appropriate advertising jingles of the seventies. For Arizona plays two games this afternoon. Attention will probably be focused on the White Sox game, because you can at least listen to that, through a dbacks.com livestream, hosted by Chris Garagiola alongside Jake Lamb. The Brewers game is in Maryvale, which is basically the “Here be dragons” of Spring Training venues [Look, I used to live near 35th Avenue, I’m not judging], and so results will be transmitted back to the outside world through semaphore flags.
Couple of bits of good news out of camp regarding our injured list this morning. Nick Piecoro says “Corbin Carroll is already taking live at-bats as he works his way back from hamate surgery.” And Alex Weiner reports, “Merrill Kelly came out of his bullpen session feeling good, and he will throw live batting practice on Sunday, per Torey Lovullo.” Finally, this:
Druw Jones representing the @dbacks on the world's biggest stage with an RBI double for team Netherlands 😤 pic.twitter.com/U6JyAJnhAf
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 20: Jack Leiter #35 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Miami Marlins at Globe Life Field on September 20, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gunnar Word/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers welcome the hated Seattle Mariners to Surprise for an Arizona-flavored AL West battle.
RHP Jack Leiter will take the mound for Texas opposite fellow notable former first-round SEC hurler Kade Anderson. The lefty for Seattle is fresh off leading LSU to a championship last summer, while Leiter made his name with Vanderbilt earlier this decade.
Today’s Lineups
MARINERS
RANGERS
Cole Young – 2B
Brandon Nimmo – RF
J.P. Crawford – DH
Evan Carter – CF
Brennen Davis – RF
Joc Pederson – 1B
Connor Joe – LF
Danny Jansen – C
Patrick Wisdom – 3B
Ezequiel Duran – 2B
Leo Rivas – SS
Mark Canha – LF
Jhonny Pereda – C
Michael Helman – SS
Carson Taylor – 1B
Tyler Wade – 3B
Jonny Farmelo – CF
Cooper Johnson – DH
Kade Anderson – LHP
Jack Leiter – RHP
The Mariners have a radio feed, otherwise you can follow along on Gameday. First pitch from Surprise Stadium is scheduled for 2:05 pm CT.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 05: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets shoots against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Toyota Center on March 05, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors were massive underdogs entering Thursday night’s matchup against the Houston Rockets.
Already shorthanded without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Kristaps Porzingis, the Warriors were dealt additional blows with Moses Moody, Will Richard, and Gary Payton II also unavailable. As a result, Golden State had to lean on its entire available roster for a nine-man rotation, including three two-way players: Nate Williams, LJ Cryer, and Malevy Leons.
The challenge was even greater considering the opponent. The Rockets entered the night holding the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 38–22 record while ranking among the NBA’s top five in both offensive and defensive rating.
On paper, everything pointed toward a difficult night for the Warriors.
But Golden State has a long history of thriving in Houston, and that familiarity seemed to fuel the group once again. The Warriors jumped out to a strong start, building a 30–20 lead after the first quarter. Houston responded and eventually erased the deficit, but each time the Rockets made a push, the Warriors had an answer.
That resilience ultimately pushed the game into overtime, where Golden State held its ground to secure a gritty 115–113 victory.
Afterward, head coach Steve Kerr explained the significance of Thursday’s hard-fought win.
Steve Kerr on another win in Houston
“This is a good building for us…A lot of good memories in that locker room.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said tonight’s victory is “right up there” with Golden State’s most significant wins this season. “Vintage” showing for Draymond Green in what “might be” Brandin Podziemski’s best game this year.
Draymond Green helped set the tone for that kind of effort. The four-time champion brought defensive intensity throughout the night, battling Houston’s Kevin Durant while anchoring the Warriors on that end of the floor. Despite the injuries and adversity, Green emphasized that the team continues to hold itself to a championship standard — a mindset that has helped carry Golden State through this injury-riddled stretch.
“We’re a championship organization and there’s a standard. You have to play hard.”
Draymond Green on why the Warriors, undermanned as they are, refuse to roll over against stronger opponents. pic.twitter.com/WiH7hq1Bau
IN THE LEAD-UP to the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5, the Warriors checked in on Jaren Jackson Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo and were among the teams to make a call about Kawhi Leonard when it appeared the LA Clippers might be open for business, league sources said.
None of those deals materialized, so the Warriors pivoted to their backup option in return for the disgruntled Kuminga, who was on an expiring contract.
So as speculation swirls about NBA expansion and bringing the Sonics back to Seattle, Payton II’s answer about bringing a team back to his second home was immediate.
“Request a trade to Seattle,” Payton II recently told The Athletic. “Probably.”
He (probably) isn’t kidding. The love for Seattle and the Sonics is still in his heart.
“Respectfully. I love it here so much. But if we do (have a Seattle team) when I’m still here, I definitely want to go back and play there,” he added.
Steph Curry texted Draymond Green after the win in Houston: "A bunch of exclamation marks. Y'all did that."
Here is Draymond on his recent conversations with Curry, who he said texted him today: "Keep going. I know it's tough, but promise you, I'm coming back." pic.twitter.com/FcofL23mjv
James hit a turnaround 12-foot jumper over Zeke Nnaji with 12 seconds left in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s mark.
“My name being mentioned with some of the greatest to ever play this game has always been humbling and pretty cool,” James said. “It’s a pretty cool thing. I grew up watching and reading, idolizing a lot of the greats. And if I ever was able to be a part of the NBA, I wanted to be in position where I could be named with some of the greats by doing something right.”
The record-breaking bucket gave James 15,838 career field goals in his unprecedented 23rd NBA season. Abdul-Jabbar had 15,837 baskets when the skyhook-wielding big man ended his 20-year career in 1989 as the NBA’s career scoring leader. Karl Malone is a distant third with 13,528 field goals.
Golden State needs a big man, or possibly two. Trayce Jackson-Davis is gone, and Al Horford’s status is up in the air: he has a player option for next year, but it’s unclear if he’ll exercise it, return to free agency, or retire. Regardless, Porziņģis is an intriguing fit for the Warriors over the summer, and potential contract offers are surely something that Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the front office are already mulling over.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on March 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After each game, Brew Hoop evaluates each Buck’s individual performance with a letter grade. At this season’s 25% mark, we decided to check the Bucks’ grades as a progress report. We also had a midseason report, but now that we have hit the 75% point of this slow torture that is the season, it’s time to see how the grades turned out since the last check. Below are the players’ first-quarter averages, midseason averages, third-quarter average, their most common grades, and their highs and lows. You will probably notice a trend.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Q1 average: A-
Midseason average: B+
Current average: B+ (Q3 is an incomplete since he missed the majority of the quarter due to injury)
Most common grade: A (nine games)
Best grade: A+ on October 26 (Cavaliers) and November 17 (Cavaliers)
Lowest grade: D on January 15 (Spurs)
Myles Turner
Q1 average: B-
Midseason average: C+
Current average: C+
Most common grade: B- (nine games)
Best grade: A on November 7 (Bulls) and December 29 (Hornets)
Lowest grade: F on January 15 (Spurs)
Ryan Rollins
Q1 average: B+
Midseason average: B
Current average: B-
Most common grade: B (eleven games)
Best grade: A+ on October 28 (Knicks), October 30 (Warriors), and December 27 (Bulls)
Lowest grade: F on March 2 (Celtics)
Kevin Porter Jr
Q1 average: Incomplete
Midseason average: B-
Current average: B-
Most common grade: A (seven games)
Best grade: A+ on December 6 (Pistons)
Lowest grade: F on January 15 (Spurs)
AJ Green
Q1 average: B-
Midseason average: C+
Current average: C+
Most common grade: B+ and B (nine games)
Best grade: A on October 26 (Cavaliers), November 29 (Nets), December 3 (Pistons), January 19 (Hawks), and February 12 (Thunder)
Lowest grade: F on December 21 (Timberwolves), January 4 (Kings) and 15, (Spurs), March 2, (Celtics) and March 4 (Hawks)
Gary Trent Jr.
Q1 average: C+
Midseason average: C
Current average: C (Q3 incomplete)
Most common grade: C+ (six games)
Best grade: A- on February 3 (Bulls)
Lowest grade: F on October 26 (Cavaliers), December 21 (Timberwolves), January 2 (Hornets), January 15 (Spurs), and February 1 (Celtics)
Bobby Portis
Q1 average: C+
Midseason average: C+
Current average: C+
Most common grade: B (11 games)
Best grade: A on November 24 (Blazers)
Lowest grade: F on February 11 (Magic)
Kyle Kuzma
Q1 average: B
Midseason average: C+
Current average: C+
Most common grade: B+ (four games)
Best grade: A+ on November 14 (Hornets)
Lowest grade: F on November 15 (Lakers) and January 13 (Timberwolves)
Jericho Sims
Q1 average: C+
Midseason average: C+
Current average: C+
Most common grade: C and C+ (two games each)
Best grade: A+ on December 3 (Pistons) and February 11 (Magic)
Lowest grade: D- on February 27 (Knicks)
Gary Harris
Q1 average: B-
Midseason average: C+
Current average: C
Most common grade: C (six games)
Best grade: A- on November 14 (Hornets) and January 7 (Warriors)
Lowest grade: F on March 2 (Celtics)
Pete Nance
Q1 and midseason averages: Incomplete
Current average: B-
Most common grade: A- (three games)
Best grade: A on January 19 (Hawks) and January 30 (Mavs)
Lowest grade: C- on March 4 (Hawks)
Ousmane Dieng
Current average: C+
Most common grade: C- (two games)
Best grade: A+ on February 12 (Thunder)
Lowest grade: D on February 27 (Knicks)
Cam Thomas
Current average: C
Most common grade: C- (three games)
Best grade: A+ on February 11 (Magic)
Lowest grade: F on March 2 (Celtics)
Doc Rivers
Q1 average: B-
Midseason average
Current average: C
Most common grade: D (six games)
Best grade: A on October 30 (Warriors), November 7 (Bulls), February 20 (Pelicans)
Lowest grade: F on December 14 (Nets), January 13 (Timberwolves), January 15 (Spurs), and March 1 (Bulls)
The following received incompletes due to injury and/or lack of playing time: Andre Jackson Jr., Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo, and Taurean Prince. Meanwhile, Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey traded classrooms, but new students Ousmane Dieng and Cam Thomas take their place. Pete Nance also makes an appearance after cracking through the rotation during Q3
No player was able to raise their grade, but only Ryan Rollins and Gary Harris saw their overall grades dip. If we didn’t include the last week of games, his average grade would have ended up with a B, but those hot/cold streaks come and go. Gary Trent Jr. finally got his first grade with an A next to it, but then had two uninspiring performances, and with the arrival of Thomas and Dieng, he lost his spot in the rotation, collecting plenty of DNPs and garbage time. The new additions all had moments of brilliance, earning As, but also had some duds.
Some of the worst games of the season, like losses against Brooklyn, Minnesota, and San Antonio, really hurt the averages with plenty of D or F grades. Doc Rivers somehow didn’t see his average drop, but he can be thankful for the Bucks’ hot streak in the month of February to thank for that. In the last week, Doc hasn’t gotten a grade higher than D+, and at this point, I cannot handle the unserious incompetence. Forget the IEP, I will just be counting down the days he is no longer in my class. Truly having to pull the No Child Left Behind card on Doc in 2026 is a statement of failure.
Australia dominated day one of the day/night Test against India at the WACA, but there was no fairytale first innings from retiring captain Alyssa Healy.
The Pittsburgh Penguins made a deal less than an hour before the trade deadline on Friday.
They acquired Detroit Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
The Penguins have acquired forward Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick (originally belonging to San Jose).
Soderblom, 24, is signed for the rest of the 2025-26 season and the entire 2026-27 season at a cap hit of $1.125 million.
He's listed at 6-foot-8 and 252 pounds and has played in 39 games for the Red Wings this season, compiling two goals and three points.
He has played in 86 NHL games, recording 11 goals and 22 points.
Soderblom has also played in 119 games for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, compiling 23 goals and 54 points. He'll have a chance to play in some games down the stretch and during the 2026-27 season before becoming a restricted free agent.
