ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Dylan Lee #52 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the eighth inning during the game against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on September 23, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atlanta Braves reliever Dylan Lee has reportedly won his arbitration case over the team, according to a report by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Per the report, Lee will make $2.2 million for the 2026 season. The club had filed at $2 million. Lee was the Braves’ only arbitration-eligible player this offseason to go to arbitration.
Dylan Lee has won his arbitration hearing against the Braves, per source. Lee will earn $2.2 million in 2026; the club had filed at $2 million.
Lee has established himself as a key part of the Braves bullpen over his five seasons with the club. He appeared in a career-high 74 games in 2025 while posting a 78 ERA- and 78 xFIP-. Unfortunately, though, he got stung by the HR/FB bug and ended up with a 99 FIP-, such that he earned just 0.3 fWAR on the season. He struck out 76 hitters and issued just 14 walks in 68 1/3 innings. Over the arc of his career, Lee now has a 67 ERA-, 86 FIP-, and 79 xFIP- in 204 1/3 major league innings.
The Braves originally signed Lee in April of 2021 after he was released by the Marlins. He is in his second year of arbitration eligibility and isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2028 season.
SAN FRANCISCO — Three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and the San Francisco Giants finalized a $12 million, one-year contract on Tuesday.
A 28-year-old infielder, Arraez led the National League in hits the past two seasons and is expected to be San Francisco’s second baseman for new manager Tony Vitello.
Arraez, a left-handed hitter, batted .292 with eight home runs, 61 RBIs, 181 hits and 11 stolen bases for the San Diego Padres last year. The three-time All-Star spent his first five major league seasons with the Minnesota Twins before they traded him to the Miami Marlins in January 2023. San Diego acquired him in May 2024.
Right-hander Randy Rodríguez was placed on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot.
Jul 18, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Luis Arraez (4) tosses a fielded ground ball to first base against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
When the San Francisco Giants first made the mildly-surprising news to sign bat-to-ball maven Luis Arráez, there were questions about where he would play. Like most infielders, Arráez had played all over the dirt in the Minor Leagues, though he was viewed as a second baseman by the time he made the Majors. After a few years and some NSFW advanced metrics, Arráez was mostly moved to first base and designated hitter during his time with the San Diego Padres the last two years.
The Giants, of course, have first base handled for the foreseeable future with Rafael Devers, and hope to have designated hitter accounted for with Bryce Eldridge. Did the organization see things differently? Was Arráez there to play DH while Eldridge returned to Sacramento? Perhaps to play the Wilmer Flores/Dominic Smith role off the bench? Or was he supplanting Casey Schmitt at second base?
As soon as those questions were asked, reports were sent out that it was the latter: the Giants were hoping to sprinkle some of Ron Washington’s magic infield dust on Arráez’s glove (and arm, and cleats), and run him out as the near-everyday second baseman. But with the move not yet finalized and made official, neither Arráez nor the Giants could actually comment on that.
Now they can, and it’s clear as day: Arráez is the handsomely-compensated second baseman for your 2026 Giants.
Speaking in Giants gear for the first time on Tuesday at the start of Spring Training, the always-jovial Arráez confirmed the reports that he had rejected multi-year deals because the Giants, unlike the teams offering those longer contracts, promised to play him at second base.
Luis Arraez said he had multi-year offers, but chose the Giants because they’ll have him at 2B. He also spoke to Gregor Blanco, who gave a glowing review of SF. He’ll wear No. 1 as a Giant. Asked about his hitting approach, he smiled: “I hate strikeouts.”
The coaching staff and Buster Posey confirmed that Arráez is there to hold down the fort at second, and they certainly conveyed confidence in his ability to do so. According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser, Washington — widely considered one of the best infield coaches in baseball history — called the three-time batting champ a “pro,” and said, “He just has to be educated about the correct way to play defense — it’s more than what goes on between the lines, it’s also what your thoughts are, your work ethic, your ability to listen, learn and apply. I believe Arráez can be a very good second baseman.”
Posey, as is his style, was a bit more calculated in his response, but NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic quotes the Giants president of baseball operations as telling reporters, “I think we’re all really optimistic about (Washington) getting Luis into a good spot defensively, and then the bat, I mean, he’s the best bat-to-ball guy in all of baseball … We felt comfortable that there was a solid foundation there for a guy that could play second base well.”
Words and intention, of course, can only go so far, as Posey seemed to admit when saying, “As far as the defense, it’s not going to be for a lack of effort and work on his part and (from) the coaching staff.” But that’s what the next six weeks are for: seeing how far Arráez can progress, and how much work Washington and the coaching staff con do with him.
With no place to put him if second base doesn’t work out, it’s safe to say the Giants wouldn’t have committed $12 million to the three-time All-Star if they weren’t confident in his ability to play second … or at least, to derive more offensive value than he loses with the glove while at that position. So it seems likely that he’ll get quite a long leash, even if he struggles in the early part of the season.
The rosters have been set, and the game’s biggest stars will congregate in Los Angeles for the 75th edition of the NBA All-Star Game.
The league opted to use a “U.S. vs. World” format in a round-robin tournament that will feature three teams, one of which will be composed of international players.
The game, however, will be missing some key players because of injury, most notably last season’s Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA All-Star Game:
When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?
The game will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. ET.
Where is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?
Los Angeles will serve as host of All-Star weekend and all of its events, including the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, the Slam Dunk Contest and the 3-Point Contest. Events will take place at the Intuit Dome, the home venue of the Los Angeles Clippers.
How to watch 2026 NBA All-Star Game
The game will be broadcast on NBC and will be available for streaming on Peacock. The first game in the round-robin tournament will tip off at 5 p.m. ET. This is the first time in 24 years that the event is broadcast on a network other than TNT.
Who is participating in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?
The NBA is introducing an entirely new format in the All-Star Game: U.S. vs. The World.
Two teams of U.S. players and a team of international players will compete in a round-robin tournament in four 12-minute games, all to be held on the final day of All-Star Weekend — Sunday, Feb. 15 — the NBA announced Tuesday, Nov. 11.
All round-robin games will be played on Sunday, Feb. 15, and here’s how the tournament works:
Team A will play Team B in Game 1.
The winning team from Game 1 will play Team C in Game 2.
The losing team from Game 1 will play Team C in Game 3.
After Game 3, the top two teams by record will play each other in the championship game. But, if all three teams have a 1-1 record after Game 3, the point differential in each team’s two round-robin games will serve as the tiebreaker.
Dec 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (left) and guard James Harden (right) force Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) to turn the ball over during the third quarter at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Clippers
February 9, 2026
Location: Toyota Center – Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA TV
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790
Online: Rockets App, SCHN+
Time: 7:00pm CST
Probable Starting Lineups
Rockets: Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Craig Stammen at his first press conference in Peoria, AZ | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres season ended on a sour note in 2025. Losing two out of three to the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card series, the team then lost its manager when he retired 11 days after the season ended. Citing mental, physical and emotional exhaustion, manager Mike Shildt left the team and subsequently took a job with the Baltimore Orioles in their player development department.
After his retirement from managing, news came out about several issues that were common between Shildt’s two opportunities to manage in the major leagues. His temperament with his coaches and front offices was portrayed as volatile and there wasn’t anyone who watched the team closely that didn’t notice his short temper with media during his press conferences.
Despite these issues, Shildt was a successful manager and won 90 games or more in his two seasons with the Padres. Players cited their good relationships with him and how they felt he had their backs throughout his time with the organization. But the tensions and constrained environment could not have been good for the overall vibe with the team. It isn’t hard to assume that the choice of Craig Stammen as manager by president of baseball operations A.J. Preller was partly a reflection of wanting someone whose temperament and personality he knew well.
A different approach
So what will be the new philosophy for the team be going forward?
What will Stammen bring to the environment that takes a talented group of players and helps them take the next step that is needed to win a World Series championship?
During his first presser of Spring Training on Tuesday, Stammen was asked about his organizational philosophy for the team. His response shows his sense of humor as well as his desire to build on what the team has already accomplished and then add his own contributions.
“Score as many runs as possible, that would be a good philosophy,” Stammen said, with a big grin. “We’re going to talk about hard work, we’re going to talk about togetherness and we’re going to talk about, you know, adding days together that add up to a big picture. So, being really good at the small things, being ‘extraordinary at the ordinary’ – if you want some buzz words. Those are the things I believe in and the things I’m going to try to impart on the team.”
This does sound a little similar to Shildt’s ‘winning on the margins’ philosophy but if you add the comments of new hitting coach, Steven Souza, to what Stammen stated you get a more complete picture of what they want the offense to be like.
Steven Souza outlines his goals
“First of all, it’s nice to have a talented roster like this. You’re only as good as the players you have and the culture you create,” Souza said. “There’s a lot of really good players in this offense that do a really good job at a lot of different things.”
“Controlling the zone, hammering mistakes, being able to make the pitcher do something different out there,” Souza said.
Souza went on to expand on his thoughts by adding, “create traffic, when that happens, is a huge part of the success going forward.”
He acknowledged that slug was an issue last season but emphasized having a dialogue with the hitters to give them a different creative avenue.
“The offense needs to be able to play the game that we need to play,” Souza said, stating that hitting in Petco Park might mean spraying the ball around, but a different environment would call for more slug.
“Not limiting this roster to one type of team, I think that’s what I want to do. Controlling the zone is part of that.”
He also said that he wants the hitters to feel free to do what works for them. The dialogue and communication will stress that the hitters need to feel free to be themselves.
An optimistic clubhouse
Communication and relationships are the two words most often heard from both Stammen and the players who spoke to the media at Padres FanFest on Jan. 31 at Petco Park. Many of the guys he will manage this season also played with Stammen when he pitched for the Padres.
Jake Cronenworth wasn’t shy about his feelings for Stammen, as quoted in the San Diego Union Tribune – “What an amazing guy… a mentor and an incredible human to be around. I couldn’t be more excited.”
The other telling quote from that same article came from Padres pitcher and clubhouse leader, Joe Musgrove.
“The manager’s biggest goal is to have a happy clubhouse and a good relationship with the players,” Musgrove said. “He’s coming in already ahead of the game in that aspect, having played with us. I think the communication is going to be a lot freer and a lot more open, a little bit of honesty. And I think Craig’s the kind of guy that’s not looking for praise, you know, he’s not looking to be the hero that comes in and always makes the right decision.”
Read into that what you will but just from the tone at FanFest, this team seems happier.
There is a long way to go before we get to Opening Day, but the next six weeks will hopefully show signs of what the personality of this team will be, both on offense and defense. If Stammen and his coaches do their jobs well, the Padres should give the Friar Faithful more reasons to fill Petco Park in 2026.
Feb 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) shoots against the Charlotte Hornets in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Last year’s number one overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher was overlooked on the initial list for the 2026 Rising Stars event at the All-Star Weekend that will take place in under a week’s time. I outlined his injury-riddled disappointing second season earlier.
But with Ajay Mitchell of the Oklahoma City Thunder ruled out for the challenge due to injury, the NBA needed to backfill one of the sophomore spots. Today, we got some fortunate news for Risacher:
Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher will replace Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell on Team T-Mac in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars (2/13, 9 PM ET, Peacock).
Risacher will compete in Rising Stars for the second straight year. Mitchell is out with an abdominal strain. pic.twitter.com/3wh51WecGK
Risacher is averaging 10.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game — both figures fewer than his rookie season when he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
Spencer Schwellenbach #56 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at Truist Park on June 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
A Mets rival took a major blow to its starting rotation on Tuesday.
Braves righty Spencer Schwellenbach was placed on the 60-day injured list with inflammation in his throwing elbow.
The injury is the latest setback for the 25-year-old right-hander, who missed the final three months of the 2025 season after fracturing the same elbow in late June.
“I feel for Spencer more than anything else,” new Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “The kid has done some amazing things in a short time, and still has a bright future ahead of him. But I’m sure it’s tough for him.”
Spencer Schwellenbach will once again be sidelined with an elbow injury. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
While Weiss said Schwellenbach avoided a more serious injury to his ulnar collateral ligament, he said the young pitcher is still expected to miss a “significant amount” of time.
Before going down last summer, Schwellenbach emerged as an ace-like presence in the starting rotation, posting a 3.09 ERA across 17 starts.
In 2024, Schwellenbach’s rookie season, he looked just as strong, registering a 3.35 ERA in 21 outings.
The injury continues what has been a nightmare stretch for the Braves’ starting staff over the past year-plus, with Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes and AJ Smith-Shawver also missing time in 2025.
“I always say before a season even starts, your pitching depth is going to get tested,” Weiss said. “It’s inevitable. You’d rather not have it be right away in February, but we’ve got a lot of capable guys in there. They’re going to get a look, and that’s exciting.”
Spencer Schwellenbach of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at Truist Park on June 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
After coming into the season with World Series aspirations, the Braves finished 76-86, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
But they’re expected to once again be a division contender in the National League East alongside the Mets and Phillies this season.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 18: Tyler Kolek #13 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball while being guarded by Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tonight at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks (34*-19) host the Indiana Pacers (13-40). The Knicks are riding high, winning nine of their last ten tries, while the Pacers are dutifully clearing the conference drain of clogs. For tonight’s tilt, Mitchell Robinson (mgmt) and OG Anunoby (toe) will be out. With New York slated to play in Philly tomorrow night, a smart strategy would be for the healthy starters to slam the lid on this one early and let the bench crew—Kolek! Alvarado! Diawara! McCullar!—shovel the dirt on the coffin.
Tip-off is 7:30 pm EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Indy Cornrows. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Enjoy each other’s company, respectfully. And go Knickerbockers!
* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 07: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on February 07, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to roll into the All-Star break on a five-game winning streak. The only thing standing in their way is a less-than-stellar Washington Wizards team.
Wednesday will be James Harden’s first game in Cleveland as a Cavalier. He’s made a great first impression with the team as he’s come up big in the clutch against the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets. We’ll see what he has in store for his home debut.
The Wizards aren’t exactly trying to win games at this point in the season. Their midseason trades for Anthony Davis and Trae Young were done with next year in mind.
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App, NBA League Pass
Point spread: Cavs -18.5
Cavs injury report: Dean Wade – OUT (ankle), Evan Mobley – OUT (calf), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Emanuel Miller – OUT (G League)
Wizards injury report: Bilal Coulibaly – QUESTIONABLE (heel), Anthony Davis – OUT (finger), Kyshawn George – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Anthony Gill – QUESTIONABLE (hand), D’Angelo Russell – OUT (not with team), Cam Whitmore – OUT (shoulder), Trae Young – OUT (knee)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Jarrett Allen
Kyle Wright was the Braves’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in 2017 out of Vanderbilt and was a Top 100 prospect three years in a row (2018, 2019, 2020). He made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2019 and joined their rotation full-time in 2022, when he had an outstanding season: 21-5, 3.19 ERA, 1.159 WHIP, 174 strikeouts in 180.1 innings, 3.7 bWAR and 10th place in Cy Young voting.
A serious shoulder injury cost Wright most of the 2023 season and he had surgery on the shoulder in October 2023. A month later the Braves traded him to the Royals. Wright missed the entire 2024 season and made eight rehab starts in the Royals system with a 6.97 ERA and 1.565 WHIP in 23 innings. He became a free agent at the end of the 2024 season.
Wright turned 30 in October. There’s really no way of knowing whether he could get back to his 2022 form after that shoulder surgery, but this is a depth signing. Wright most likely starts the year at Triple-A Iowa (perhaps with an opt out) and will see some time during Spring Training. Seems a worthwhile NRI signing.
As noted by Jon Heyman, Wright is MLB’s most recent 20-game winner. Also, Wright and Dansby Swanson were Vanderbilt teammates in 2015. Here’s some video of Wright from a game April 28, 2022 against the Cubs:
BERLIN, Germany (AP) — Freiburg advanced to the semifinals of the German Cup after a 5-4 penalty shootout win at Hertha Berlin on Tuesday.
Freiburg goalkeeper Florian Muller saved Pascal Klemens' sudden death spot kick in the Olympiastadion in Berlin to secure his team's place in the last four of the competition. Yuito Suzuki's strike had put the visitors 5-4 in front, meaning Klemens had to score to keep the shootout going.
After the game ended goalless in regulation time, Yuito Suzuki fired Freiburg ahead in the 96th minute. Eight minutes later the game was level again when Fabian Reese struck with a shot into the top corner.
Muller denied Michael Cuisance earlier in the shootout, but Freiburg's Johan Manzambi then saw his spot kick saved by Hertha keeper Tjark Ernst.
Feb 4, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) grabs a rebound during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
With another week of college basketball complete, the next wave of NBA prospects continues to take shape.
Here’s the latest edition of The Long Forecast on NetsDaily, breaking down the latest regarding prospects in the 2026 NBA draft.
Where do the Nets’ picks sit?
Since last week’s column, the Nets went 1-2 and currently hold the league’s fifth-worst record at 15-37. Their only win came over the Washington Wizards, who currently sit one spot ahead of the Nets in the tank race at 14-38.
As for Brooklyn’s second-round selection, they are currently slotted at No. 35 and 43 overall.
Against Northwestern on Sunday, Stirtz was unstoppable, pouring in 36 points while shooting 12 of 20 from the field (60%) and knocking down 3 of 4 3-pointers, leading Iowa to a 76-70 victory.
Bennett Stirtz goes OFF for Iowa against Northwestern 👀👀
After playing at Drake last season, Stirtz is in his first season as a Hawkeye. Across 23 games with the program, the 22-year-old is averaging 19.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting a blistering 40.6% from three-point range.
He is a talented perimeter shooter who can score at all three levels. The main concern, though, regards his athleticism, as Stirtz is not a particularly explosive athlete.
After getting off to a hot start this season, Colvin has cooled down in recent weeks.
His biggest knock last season was his inconsistency from 3-point territory. To open this season, it appeared that he had addressed those issues, as he was shooting over 40% from beyond the arc through the season’s first nine games.
However, that mark has dipped. Now, in 23 games, he is shooting 35.1% from 3. Colvin is also averaging just 12.4 points per game and hasn’t reached double figures in two of his past four games.
To build his stock back up, Colvin must find consistency from 3-point range and make more of an impact as a scorer.
The 19-year-old is a poised combo guard who spaces the floor and rarely turns the ball over, averaging just 1.6 turnovers per game this season.
For someone that gets criticized for his lack of athleticism, Keaton Wagler doesn’t seem to have any issues getting into the paint. Then when he gets downhill it feels like he always makes the right decision. Really nice pass here before he relocates for an open 3.
Tanner is putting together a strong sophomore campaign at Vanderbilt, averaging just over 18 poins, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists across 31.6 minutes per game.
This was a special performance from Tyler Tanner. There’s always a roster spot in the league for guards who generate a ton of paint touches, shoot almost 40% from three, and finish at a 66% clip from the rim with only 29% of those attempts being assisted. pic.twitter.com/6vHsnSZz9f
The Tar Heels knocked off the Blue Devils 71-68 following a game-winning shot from Seth Timble, resulting in UNC fans rushing the court to celebrate, on Saturday, Feb. 7. While fans in the arena certainly seemed to appreciate the instant class, so did viewers watching at home.
According to ESPN, the game averaged 3.5 million viewers and peaked at 4.8 million. That is a 53% spike from the first time the teams faced off in 2025. The game was the most-watched men's basketball game in the last four years.
Duke and UNC are scheduled to conclude their regular seasons with their second matchup of the season on March 7, from Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.
