CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 02: Chase Burns #26 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on August 02, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If ever the Cincinnati Reds are going to sneak their way into the playoff race, they’re going to need every last good thing than ace Chase Burns can give them – especially now that they’ll be without Hunter Greene for the remainder of the season.
Problem is, Burns is going to slam into an innings limit at some point in the very near future. He’s already at 118.2 IP so far in the 2026 campaign, already outpacing the 109.1 IP he threw across all levels just last year. Given that he only touched 100 IP exactly in his final college season, there’s not a ton of ‘build up’ on his prized right arm just yet, and letting him blow past 150 IP likely isn’t in the designs of the Reds front office this season.
So, they need to maximize his opportunities while they have them, and one comes around again on Saturday against the Washington Nationals.
Burns starts opposite Nats lefty Andrew Alvarez with first pitch slated for 6:45 PM ET, and the Reds have done what they can to stack the lineup against the southpaw accordingly.
Williams ranks in the 96th percentile in K%, thanks to elite extension and a filthy sweeper generating a 44.3% whiff rate. Since the All-Star break, he leads the majors with a 1.26 xFIP.
The Chicago White Sox are struggling against righties. Since the All-Star break, they rank 26th in BA (.218) and 25th in BABIP (.267) against RHP, with the fifth-highest K% (25.5%) of any team.
Add in their league-high 31.8% K% the past week, and it’s a great spot to back another strong outing from Williams.
I’m backing them to take victory down to -145.
COVERS INTEL: Gavin Williams leads the majors with a 48.4% K% since the All-Star break among SP with at least 70 batters faced—nearly nine percentage points higher than the next-best pitcher.
Guardians vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-126)
Anthony Kay is coming off a strong outing against the Rays, and has looked improved since the break. He’s also posted a home ERA of just 3.24 this season, compared to a 4.88 road ERA.
That’s largely driven by Kay’s home HR/9 of just 0.62 which is a full dinger less than his road metric.
The Guardians have hit the ball well the past week, but their ISO of .121 and HR/FB rate of 9.3% since the break make it unlikely they’re going to post crooked numbers.
Cleveland will win a lower-scoring contest.
Back the Under to -135.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 13-16, -4.66 units
Over/Under bets: 16-13, +2.01 units
Guardians vs White Sox weather
Hitters will be dealing with temps in the upper 70s and winds blowing from left field towards first base at up to 10 mph, which will help both pitching staffs limit the damage on big flys.
Guardians vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Guardians -137 | White Sox +124
Run line: Guardians -1.5 (+134) | White Sox +1.5 (-148)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+114) | Under 7.5 (-126)
Guardians vs White Sox trend
The Cleveland Guardians have covered the Run Line in 9 of their last 12 away games (+5.55 Units / 32% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. White Sox.
How to watch Guardians vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Saturday, August 8, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Guardians starting pitcher
Gavin Williams (11-6, 3.56 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Anthony Kay (8-5, 4.01 ERA)
Guardians vs White Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Nathan MacKinnon getting traded by the Colorado Avalanche would qualify as one of the most stunning transactions in NHL history.
There is no indication that Colorado is considering such a move, but veteran NHL reporter Jimmy Murphy recently floated the possibility—and he readily admitted the idea came to him while drinking at a bar with a friend, which may tell you everything you need to know.
During an appearance on The Sick Podcast, Murphy explained that a bartender mentioned MacKinnon was his favorite player, sparking a thought that eventually led him to wonder whether the Montreal Canadiens could be a fit for the Avalanche superstar.
"I don't know, this light bulb went off my head, and that's sometimes a good thing, sometimes a bad thing when it happens."
From there, Murphy started thinking about Colorado's disappointing postseason results since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, Cale Makar's impending contract extension and whether the Avalanche could eventually decide they need a major change.
That led him to the ultimate hypothetical: What if MacKinnon were actually made available?
Murphy believes the Montreal Canadiens would be particularly well positioned to make a deal.
"If this ever happened where this guy was available, I think the Montreal Canadiens are the most poised to acquire him. They have all the things that Colorado can use."
The Canadiens have a combination of young NHL talent, prospects and draft capital that could theoretically appeal to Colorado.
Murphy suggested that Montreal could provide the Avalanche with both present and future assets, allowing Colorado to remain competitive while reshaping its roster around Makar.
Of course, actually acquiring MacKinnon would require an enormous package.
Michael Hage could be an intriguing young center for Colorado, while players such as Kaiden Guhle, Noah Dobson, Juraj Slafkovsky or Cole Caufield could potentially enter the conversation. Multiple first-round picks would almost certainly be part of any realistic blockbuster.
Even then, Montreal would have to absorb MacKinnon's $12.6 million cap hit.
The end result would be a trade almost impossible to imagine right now.
But that's what makes Murphy's hypothetical so entertaining.
There is zero evidence MacKinnon is available, and Murphy himself repeatedly stressed the word if when discussing the possibility.
For now, it's nothing more than a wild idea that started with a bartender mentioning his favorite player.
Still, if the unthinkable ever happened and MacKinnon hit the trade market, Murphy believes the Canadiens could be one of the NHL's best-positioned teams to make the call.
And if you actually believe Nathan MacKinnon is headed to Montreal, you might be “Sick,” drunk, or both.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 07: Former Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. talks with Greg Amsinger (L) and Harold Reynolds prior to a game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 07, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The enterprise of selecting the top 50 Seattle Mariners in the franchise’s history is a fun and challenging one. As such, we let our staff take a few cracks at it. Some folks leapt at it, while others are more eager to pick through the official list in the next few days when it’s revealed Saturday night. Below, we’ve got a few lists, each with variable criteria, along with some explanations and tiers from a few members of the staff, and we’ll be glad to hear your thoughts as well.
Grant:
So here’s the thing: if you’re reading this, you know that the Seattle Mariners just haven’t been that good over 50 seasons. We’ve had three different high points (1995, 2001, 2025), a few other playoff seasons, and lots of mediocrity sprinkled in.
Perhaps, then, it doesn’t surprise you that putting together a top 50 list leans on the nostalgia. There are some genuinely great players on this list; there are also some who played 3 seasons with the team or who have <= 8 WAR. We have five different batting title winners, and we have kinda mid second basemen/utility men.
My list isn’t in order outside of my top 10, and if you try this on your own, you will also find out how challenging it is once you hit #30 or so. But as you go down this list, no matter what, you’ll stumble across some players who make you smile, who lifted your spirits on summer weeknights driving home after a long shift, who drove you just a little crazy, who made you stand and applaud, who made you cry. You might find your kid’s first ever favorite player or the one who you’d bond over with your parents.
Yes, this team has been bad for much of its existence, and yes, baseball is nearly unbearable right now if you’re a Mariners fan. But as Dave Niehaus said, it fills our days and brightens our nights, and these 50 folks epitomize this team.
Welcome back, baseball. Stay forever.
Top 10
Ken Griffey Jr.
Ichiro
Felix Hernandez
Edgar Martinez
Randy Johnson
Dave Niehaus
Alex Rodriguez
Rick Rizzs
Julio Rodriguez
Lou Piniella
Honorable Mention
Kyle Seager
Amazing, but not known as elite for the Mariners
Robinson Cano
Edwin Diaz
Adrian Beltre
Close but no cigar…yet
Cal Raleigh
Logan Gilbert
George Kirby
Bryan Woo
Andres Muñoz
Jerry Dipoto
Simply, Truly Good Players
Mitch Haniger
Nelson Cruz
Hisashi Iwakuma
James Paxton
Marco Gonzales
J.P. Crawford
Early Days
Mark Langston
Alvin Davis
Mike Moore
Phil Bradley
Harold Reynolds
Floyd Bannister
Bruce Bochte
Dave Valle
2001 Immortality
Jamie Moyer
Bret Boone
Freddy Garcia
Kazuhiro Sasaki
Mike Cameron
John Olerud
1995 Immortality
Jay Buhner
Dan Wilson
Jeff Nelson
Nostalgia in Some Way or Another
Jose Lopez
Franklin Gutierrez
Mike Zunino
Mark McLemore
J.J. Putz
Luis Castillo
Diego Segui
John:
I love a list. It’s one of the delightful parts of prospect writing, gathering all the names together to consider what sets one player apart from another and whether they deserve clear demarcation. For my list, I’ve only selected players, and while I considered exclusively ruling on players I’ve seen myself, I ultimately opted to follow my heart and those I’ve read about enough to feel a connection to. I’ve broken them out in tiers that made sense to me in the moment, but they are hardly steadfast in terms of their true ordering.
The Hall of Famers
Ichiro Suzuki
Edgar Martinez
Félix Hernández
Ken Griffey Jr.
Randy Johnson
Seattle Royalty
Kyle Seager
Jamie Moyer
Jay Buhner
Julio Rodríguez
Alvin Davis
Meteoric
Alex Rodríguez
Cal Raleigh
Mike Cameron
Held it Down When Things Were Grim
Harold Reynolds
J.P. Crawford
Me and Félix’s Favorite Pitcher
Freddy Garcia
Era-Defining Stars With Warts
Bret Boone
Robinson Canó
Game 161
Nelson Cruz
Game 163 (sorry Mark, you were great here too but it was too easy)
Mark Langston
Boron Rods in the Reactor
Dan Wilson
Logan Gilbert
Raúl Ibañez
Free Agents That Worked Out
John Olerud
Adrian Beltré
Hisashi Iwakuma
Mike Zunino
Mike Zunino
Pitchers I Never Saw But Made the Early Mariners Less Awful
Mike Moore
Erik Hanson
The Guys Who Were Luckier Than Kyle Lewis
Mitch Haniger
Franklin Gutierrez
Relievers Who Fuck
Arthur Rhodes
Kazuhiro Sasaki
Andrés Muñoz
J.J. Putz
Edwin Díaz
Mike Jackson
Era-Defining Starting Pitchers
Luis Castillo
James Paxton
Marco Gonzales
Hitters I Never Saw But Made the Early Mariners Less Awful
Phil Bradley
Tom Paciorek
Ken Phelps
Bruce Bochte
Good Vibes Iron Men
Eugenio Suárez
Dave Valle
I Am Tired Of Everyone Trying To Trade You
George Kirby
The First Mariner (Julio Cruz should get to be here too)
Ruppert Jones
Relievers I Joked About Putting On But No, They Actually Deserve It
Jeff Nelson
Tom Wilhelmsen
Kate:
This is a vibes-based list, hand-written and transported with haste to the world wide web for you all to enjoy. It leans on going through year after year and seeing the top performers in each individual season, which was an interesting exercise in seeing what had to sustain many, many years of this club.
San Diego Padres SP Michael King (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres looked to upgrade their depleted starting rotation at Monday’s trade deadline. In the final hours, the front office acquired Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants and Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers.
However, both pitchers were less than impressive in their first start in new surroundings. Ray’s control betrayed him in last night’s 6-3 defeat. The southpaw allowed four runs on seven hits, walked five batters and struck out two in five lackluster innings.
With this loss, the Padres fall two games behind in the National League Wild Card race.
Taking the mound: Peter Lambert (HOU) vs Michael King (SD)
San Diego will turn to Michael King (6-8, 3.45 ERA) to get the team back on their winning ways in the second game of the three-game set. He has been solid all season, but King put together his best statistical month in July.
In five starts, he went 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA. But one stat that should bring a smile to the Friar Faithful is that King went six innings in four of the five starts. His pitching repertoire is finally coming together and becoming an effective arsenal.
King’s mix of the changeup, four-seam fastball, and sweeper has kept batters off balance during at-bats. You can tell the right-hander is pitching well when he induces ground-ball outs. King is near his normal career rate (43.3%).
If he can generate swing-and-misses or weak contact, it will be a long day for the Stros hitters.
The Astros are sending out Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.06 ERA) to secure a series victory today. The right-hander has been the one constant in an ever-changing starting rotation, as Spencer Arrighetti, Lance McCuller Jr., and Tatsuya Imai were either dealt away or shuffled out of the rotation this season.
The road to becoming a quality starting pitcher has not been easy for Lambert. He struggled with the Colorado Rockies after they drafted him in the second round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. The right-hander went 8-19 with a 6.28 ERA before the organization released him after the 2024 season.
His return to the majors began with a season in Japan. Lambert made some adjustments to his delivery and began working from a different spot on the rubber. He has been outstanding, as lowering his arm angle has made his sinker and cutter more effective in the strike zone.
The results increased his innings pitched, from 89.1 with the Rockies to 124.1 in Japan, and improved his strikeout numbers (111 batters in 24 starts). In 2026, Lambert has struck out 108 batters and held opposing teams to a .206 batting average in 19 starts.
His signing may have been the best under-the-radar move this winter.
Today’s lineup
8/8 ⚾ Astros Lineup is Out! Provided by mlbstartingnine (@DailyMLBLineups for link)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 20: the sneakers of Isaiah Stevens #40 of the Sacramento Kings against the Charlotte Hornets during the 2025 NBA Summer League Championship game on July 20, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Mets and Carson Benge received the results of the imaging on his wrist Saturday and things look encouraging.
Although Benge isn't in the Mets' starting lineup for the second of their three-game set with the Pirates, the youngster gave an update on his status and how he's feeling.
"Everything came back positive. Should be back in there within a few days," Benge said. "Nothing too serious, thankfully."
Benge said he's still a little sore, but is feeling better than he did in Friday's series opener. And who could blame him?
In the third inning, Benge made a feet-first slide into the left field corner at PNC Park. Benge stuck his glove out and caught the ball, but jammed his wrist against the wall. Benge was hunched over for a few seconds before finishing up the half-inning.
Benge said he knew something didn't feel right, but after about 10 seconds the pain went away and he was able to finish. But once he got back to the dugout, the adrenaline was gone and he felt the pain again. The Mets then pulled Benge from the game and the X-rays after came back negative.
"He’s in a good spot. He has a bone bruise, don’t believe it’s significant," interim manager Andy Green said Saturday. "We’re going to let him breathe today, see where he’s at tomorrow. Make determinations on how quickly we can get him back. We do believe at this point in time we’ve avoided an IL stint. That can change once he starts hitting again and feels it more, but we expect him to be in a good spot in a day or so."
Benge was already 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI before he was pulled and has picked up his offense of late.
Over his last 15 games, Benge is slashing .328/.371/.517 with two home runs and eight RBI.
So while he wants to be in the lineup, he understands he can still help the team in other ways.
"I always want to be in there every single day…I feel like this isn’t going to be something that’s going to take me a long time to come back from," Benge said. "Everyone plays a part, no matter who it is; if you're on the bench, just being a good teammate. Everyone feeds off each other. Being able to pick up on that is pretty big."
During the 2026 NHL Draft, the Detroit Red Wings traded prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth, bringing an end to speculation that he could eventually be their goaltender of the future.
This, combined with veteran Cam Talbot not being re-signed, meant there was an opening behind John Gibson for the backup position. The Red Wings filled that void by signing Daniil Tarasov to a one-year contract after he played last season with the divisional rival Florida Panthers.
But in an interesting development, Tarasov's KHL rights were recently traded back in his native homeland. Salavat Yulaev, his former club that he played for in 2020-21, traded his rights to SKA St. Petersburg in return for Joe Blandisi.
Thank you, Joe! 👏
Joe Blandisi has moved to Salavat Yulaev, while SKA have received the #KHL rights to goalkeeper Daniil Tarasov.
However, this won't affect Tarasov's standing in the NHL with the Red Wings, who are paying him $2 million for the upcoming season.
Whether or not Tarasov is eventually re-signed by the Red Wings, signs elsewhere in the NHL, or returns to the KHL following the 2025-26 campaign remains to be seen.
The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Tarasov with the 86th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and he eventually made his debut in 2021-22.
Following several seasons in the Blue Jackets organization, he was signed last offseason by the Florida Panthers to a one-year contract.
He owns a 32-49-9 record with a 3.30 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage with one shutout in the NHL. Conversely, he's gone 11-4-3 with a 2.13 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage, and two shutouts in KHL action.
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Cleveland Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias reacts to his home run during the home opener against the Chicago Cubs on April 4, 2026, in Cleveland. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Earlier today, the Mets added Gabriel Arias to the big league roster. The newest Met will wear number 25, which was most recently worn by the since-traded Brooks Raley. To make room on the roster, the club sent Eric Wagaman down to Syracuse.
The Mets claimed Arias off waivers from Cleveland on Friday after his former club designated for assignment earlier this week. The 26-year-old has appeared in parts of five seasons for the Guardians and has experience at all four infield positions, making him a versatile option for New York. In 42 games this year before being DFA’ed, he hit .244/.284/.386 with five home runs, 13 runs scored, an 84 wRC+, and 0.5 fWAR.
Wagaman has been on the big league roster since being recalled to replace Juan Soto when the team’s star was placed on the IL back on July 26. However, he has only appeared in two big league games since then, going 1-for-3 in the team’s 1-0 loss to the Braves back on July 29 and picking up a hit and a run in two at-bats in the team’s 13-6 win over the Guardians on August 6. Wagaman is hitting .190/.277/.333 with a 74 wRC+ and -0.1 fWAR in 23 games for New York this season.
Friday, the Cubs got an excellent outing from one of their new starting pitcher acquisitions, Kevin Gausman.
Today, they will hope to get another such start from Clay Holmes, who was acquired from the Mets Monday. Holmes was activated from the 60-day injured list and added to the 26-man active roster to make the start against the Royals Saturday evening.
To make room for Holmes on the active roster, Braxton Garrett was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Garrett was acquired from the Marlins in a deadline deal and had been added to the active roster Thursday, but did not appear in a game. Garrett is coming off Tommy John surgery and has not appeared in a major league game this year. The consensus is that Garrett will compete for a rotation spot in 2027.
The Cubs’ 40-man roster is now full, and as always, we await developments.
Los Angeles has now dropped seven consecutive games, which coincides with the team making a huge acquisition in pitcher supreme Tarik Skubal.
This streak is the longest since the team dropped seven in a row back in July 2025. As a reminder, the Blue Crew lost 11 consecutive games in September 2017. But there is no way this iteration of the team can slide so far, right?
With so much promise on the mound and stars in the lineup, the Dodgers look perfectly inoculated from such a slump. But let's diagnose the issues from least troublesome to most glaring.
The newly acquired pitching stopgap was doing just that, preventing the Dodgers from losing games anytime he took the bump. Prior to his most recent start, Lauer was 5-0 with a 2.88 ERA since coming over from the Toronto Blue Jays.
That's when the stink of the new Dodgers form got to him. On Aug. 5, he got knocked around the ballpark to the tune of 11 hits across four innings, giving up six earned runs.
Edwin Diaz continues to struggle
Edwin Diaz came to the Dodgers amid the blaring trumpets of promise but has landed like the long drawn-out cacophony of a whoopee cushion.
Diaz started the season by giving up seven earned runs, while striking out 10 in six innings of work. Then came his three-month sojourn to the injured list.
The closer returned on July 29 and has spent most of his time admiring home runs. In four games of work, he has pitched three innings, given up two home runs and surrendered four earned runs.
Injuries abound
Will Smith's neck was a big issue, but then Dalton Rushing and his brash backstop play gave the Dodgers a boost. That is, until Rushing went down with a torn UCL.
The Dodgers now look to Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia to guide the staff for the foreseeable future. And that's just the maladies behind the plate.
Los Angeles will welcome back some fresh arms, but the recent slide can possibly be attributed to a pitching staff that has been without Diaz, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow for considerable durations of the season. Add to that Shohei Ohtani's ongoing knee issues, and L.A. is certainly eager to see what healthy pitching can do for the staff.
Offense suddenly stagnant
The Dodgers are first in MLB OPS with .770 as a team and are fourth in runs scored (628). In August, things have shifted dramatically.
The team's .706 OPS is good for 16th across MLB during the month, and they are 22nd in runs scored during the month. During the seven-game losing streak, the team has been outscored 46-25.
Outside the immediate, there are continued issues with consistency from stars like Mookie Betts (.233 with 13 home runs) and Kyle Tucker (.244 with 10 home runs).
Pitching
The Dodgers, despite injuries, have been a top 10 team in ERA (3.75), WHIP (1.16) and BAA (.219). In August, the wheels have come off. L.A. has given up 36 earned runs through August, the second most across MLB. Teams are also batting .265 against them, good for No. 21 during that stretch.
Previously steadfast arms like Justin Wrobleski and Lauer have particularly struggled, giving up 13 earned runs between them across their last two starts.
Blake Snell is close to returning from an elbow injury and recently participated in a minor league rehab assignment for the organization's Triple-A affiliate.
Tyler Glasnow is also close to a return, throwing two scoreless innings for the Dodgers' Class-A affiliate on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The Dodgers could use some help as the joy in Mudville is getting muddier by the day.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 03: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on against the Miami Heat during the second quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on March 03, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nets can extend Michael Porter Jr.’s expiring $40.8 million contract right up to next July’s free agency. There’s no real deadline, but Tuesday may offer a signal as to the Nets thinking on the 28-year-old who put up 24/7/3 last season, a career high, as the Brooklyn rejected trade offers at the February deadline.
As Brian Lewis explained Saturday:
The upcoming season’s deadline is expected to be Feb. 11.
Due to the quirks of the CBA, that does make this Tuesday worth watching.
If Porter gets an extension — with a raise of 5 percent or more than two additional seasons — then he can’t be traded for six months.
And if the Nets renegotiate his contract, he also can’t be moved for six months.
That means if Marks plans to do either of those things with Porter, he’d either have to do them by Tuesday, otherwise the forward couldn’t be traded until next summer.
If the Nets and MPJ can’t come to an agreement, there’s speculation both sides might want a separation, but a trade now, with most rosters set, might not be the time. Assuming nothing changes before the deadline, and he keeps playing at tha same pace, he could be a valuable piece for a contender. But Sean Marks & co. give every indication they want to keep him, although it’s uncertain what’s progressed..
“I’m sure we’ll have those discussions,” Marks said at the end of the Vegas Summer League. “We value him a lot. He had a terrific year last year, arguably his best year as a pro. I give him a lot of credit for that.
“I also give Jordi [Fernandez] and the coaching staff a heck of a lot of credit for putting him in places where he can have that type of success. It’s been great to see what Mike’s done for us. So I look forward to having those discussions, and just seeing what Mike can do the rest of the summer and the rest of the season…
“As I said before, I love Mike, the guy, the person, the player, and I hope he is part of this team. But we’re just gonna have to have those discussions between the two of us and our representatives and go from there.”
Porter Jr.’s agent has expressed similar sentiments, and Porter Jr. himself has lavished the organization with praise. But money is money and flexibility is flexibility. There’s also a league-wide trend to keep contracts short unless a team is trying to keep a superstar on the roster.
MPJ has been eligible for a four-year, $234 million deal since June 19. That’s an annual average value of $58.5 million. That isn’t happening, but it does seem that if Brooklyn and he can agree to a deal, it may turn out to be creative. Mark Bartelstein, Porter Jr.‘s agent, also has a reputation for making things work using the CBA’s nooks and crannies.
The most rumored — and that’s all it is, rumored — solution is for the Nets to take their remaining $4.9 million in cap space and re-jigger MPJ’s remaining deal so he gets an immediate $4.9 million raise this year to $45.7 million then tag on a multi-year extension starting at perhaps $35 million in 2027-28, the length of which being the key issue. (Brooklyn would still have a $9.4 million room MLE and be a good $10 million under the luxury tax threshold.)
Porter spoke this week on just how long he intends to play in the league. He’s still bothered by a bad back suffered in college. He said once he settles down, it will be about family.
“When we start having kids, I don’t want other people really raising my kids,” Porter said on the “Girls, Disrupted” podcast. “But the thing is, I don’t want to play basketball for 10 more years. I want to be done in the next five, six years. So then, during that time, I’m fine being home a lot. I’m a chill dude. I want to raise my kids.”
Sounded like a hint he’s planning long-term right now.
Losing MPJ would, barring some surprise, put the Nets in an offensive straitjacket. Finding a missing 24 or 25 points a game would not be easy. The most likely return on a deal would be more draft assets of which the Nets have plenty. Moreover, in his time in Brooklyn, Porter Jr. has become a mentor and leader for the team’s younger players, an added and unexpected bonus for Brooklyn.
it does seem the Nets want to keep him. In June, they traded Nic Claxton to add anther high-scoring forward, Julius Randle, in hopes of igniting Jordi Fernandez’s offense. Both are proven NBA vets: Porter started on an NBA championship team and Randle is a three-time All-Star and two-way All-NBA selection with a love of the city … and things to prove after the Knicks unceremoniously dumped him for Karl-Anthony Towns at the beginning training camp in 2024..
So, we shall see starting Tuesday where things are headed.
While the Philadelphia Flyers may have already taken care of their most pressing pieces of offseason business, re-signing a number of restricted free agents, headlined by Trevor Zegras, they could get a jump on next summer's plans if they really wanted to.
Having already signed Tyson Foerster to a lucrative eight-year extension, the Flyers have three players left on their roster eligible for contract extensions.
They are defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Simon Benoit, and franchise winger Matvei Michkov.
It's plausible that Ristolainen and Benoit, both veteran defensemen who play a physical brand of hockey, earn extensions from the Flyers, but from a player development standpoint, a lot would have to go wrong for that to happen.
Foerster's case is unique in that he is a young player still under contract, and he signed an eight-year extension--the longest allowable under the current CBA.
If the Flyers want to do the same with Michkov, who has been far more productive offensively without two arm injuries in the same season, they will need to act quickly.
As of Sept. 16, just over a month from now, players will only be eligible to sign seven-year contract extensions with their respective teams, meaning that the Flyers will soon lose the ability to sign Michkov to an eight-year deal.
Aside from the Flyers already doing this with Foerster, other teams around the NHL have taken notice and have acted accordingly.
The most notable example of this is up north across the border with the Montreal Canadiens, who signed their own Russian starlet, Ivan Demidov, to an eight-year, $73.2 million contract extension ($9.15 million AAV) on July 1.
Demidov, 20, just played his first full NHL season, scoring 19 goals, 43 assists, and 62 points in 82 games, while adding three goals, six assists, and nine points in the Habs' 19-game playoff run this year.
Comparatively, Michkov, 21, scored 26 goals and 63 points in his first NHL season with the Flyers in 2024-25, before regressing to a still-respectable 20 goals and 51 points under new head coach Rick Tocchet this past season.
Michkov, with just one assist in eight playoff games, was even less effective than Demidov in the postseason, but 51 points in a sophomore season where everything that could have went wrong for him did go wrong is still admirable.
The 2023 No. 7 overall pick has worked hard this summer to improve his physical condition on the back of criticism he received throughout last year, including from Tocchet, and he is more established than Demidov.
Should Michkov reach his full potential, or even come close to it, signing a contract that carries a cap hit similar to Demidov's $9.15 million would be a major steal for the Flyers.
On top of Michkov himself, another benefit for the Flyers is that, by locking up another core piece, they will know exactly how much room they'll have to operate with if they want to pursue another massive move, like they did earlier this summer with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet.
Porter Martone will be eligible for a contract extension starting next July 1, so the Flyers have nothing pressing aside from Michkov between then and now.
Conversely, if the Flyers choose to wait it out, Michkov will have the opportunity to earn himself even more money with a strong performance during the season, on top of losing one potential contractual year due to the CBA changes next month.
Fortune favors the bold, and the Flyers have an important choice to make in the next five weeks.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 26: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field on July 26, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for August 8, 2026 against the Baltimore Orioles: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Kyle Bradish for the O’s.
Texas will try to make it four games in a row and get back above .500 against the Orioles this evening.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Nimmo — RF
Duran — 3B
Carter — CF
Burger — 1B
Wynns — C
Lopez — 2B
6:15 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -145 favorites.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 02: Ben Peoples #70 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on August 02, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have activated pitcher MacKenzie Gore from the paternity list, the team announced today. To make room for Gore on the active roster, the Rangers have optioned relief pitcher Ben Peoples to AAA Round Rock.
Today was the deadline for Gore to be reinstated from the paternity list, so the only question was in regards to who would be bumped to make room for him. Peoples ends up the odd man out, due in large part, I imagine, to the fact he can be optioned.
Peoples has appeared in 12 games since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for A ball catcher Ben Hartl. In 12.1 innings he’s put up an impressive 2.19 ERA, though with a 6.25 FIP and 3.82 xERA. He has done a very good job avoiding walks, but he has just 6 Ks on the year, resulting in a 12.2% K rate, which is way below average. He’s also allowed three home runs this season.
I am sure that there will be complaints that the Rangers should have designated Cole Winn, who is out of options, for assignment. However, sending Peoples down allows the Rangers to keep both players in the organization for the time being, which is not insignificant, given the depth issues the Rangers have been dealing with in regards to their pitching staff.
COVERS INTEL: Gavin Williams leads the majors with a 48.4% K% since the All-Star break among SP with at least 70 batters faced—nearly 
