“I think he’s a guy who has a knack [for] finding the barrel, can hit line drives to all parts of the field and has some power in there, too; good defender,” Posey told Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher about the 21-year-old infielder.
Kilen, whom San Francisco selected No. 13 overall on Sunday, slashed .323/.381 /.554 with 186 hits, 105 RBI and 24 home runs over three collegiate seasons — two with Louisville and his latest with Tennessee.
Posey admires how Kilen has a consistent bat. He also loves how the incoming rookie is all about baseball and is serious about holding his teammates to high standards. The latter stuck out to Posey and the rest of the Giants’ staff throughout the draft process.
“I think it’s important to me, as anything, as I stressed with our groups as we’re going through this, is just to know the person,” Posey told Murphy and Boucher. “It seems like all reports are he’s a guy who loves playing baseball; he plays the game hard; somebody who will push his teammates and hold them accountable. Really excited to see him in a Giants uniform.”
San Francisco is eager to see how Kilen develops over the next few years. The traits Posey identified in Kilen, too, represent the Giants’ approach to all of their draft choices.
The 2025 draft tied in what Posey wants San Francisco’s identity to be under his leadership, but also what the team needs sooner rather than later.
“Obviously, we want to be pitching and defense, but offensively, we drafted some players who know how to put good at-bats together. They’re not going to be one-dimensional. [They’ll] be able to move the line,” Posey told Murphy and Boucher.
“For us to win, I believe that’s the type of player we need. Everybody loves the homer — I love the homer as much as anybody — but for us, our philosophy is: we know we’re going to play tight games; we’re going to have to play good, clean fundamental baseball. And the hope is we got a lot of players that have that buy-in.”
Giants fans will know in due time how Posey’s first draft as San Francisco’s president of baseball operations fared, with most eyes likely to follow Kilen’s journey. But for now, Posey is proud of the work he and his scouting department have done, with priorities shifting back to the Giants’ busy second half of the 2025 MLB season.
Though he enjoyed the youthful energy of the past weekend.
“It’s funny, I was thinking about myself when I was going through that process — it’s been 17-ish years ago now. Man, it’s such an exciting time,” Posey told Murphy and Boucher. “You don’t really know what you’re in for until you get into it.
“I know [Kilen] and his family — and the rest of the guys that were drafted — are probably over the moon [and] thrilled to play professional baseball.”
Just two years after a blockbuster deal that made him teammates with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, Lillard reportedly is set to be a Trail Blazer again, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.
The reported pact between Lillard and Portland is for three years and $42 million.
BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old. pic.twitter.com/mm1uUtMgO6
Lillard had been waived by the Bucks earlier in the offseason following a torn Achilles suffered in the first round of the playoffs. He had two years and $113 million left on his contract, which the Bucks stretched out over the next five years in order to create cap space. That allowed the team to bring in center Myles Turner after losing Brook Lopez.
Charania added that Lillard and the Blazers both “deeply cared” about the comeback in recent weeks, with multiple meetings held to proceed on a deal.
The 34-year-old Weber State product will most likely be out all of 2025-26 to recover from his Achilles tear.
In 2023, Portland traded Lillard to Milwaukee for Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara, among other assets, before flipping Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and other assets. On June 23, Portland re-acquired Holiday from Boston for Anfernee Simons and now have two star veteran guards.
Portland is still a rebuilding team and will hope Lillard can return to form after averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists on a 44.8/37.6/92.1 shooting split this past season.
Just two years after a blockbuster deal that made him teammates with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, Lillard reportedly is set to be a Trail Blazer again, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.
The reported pact between Lillard and Portland is for three years and $42 million.
BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old. pic.twitter.com/mm1uUtMgO6
Lillard had been waived by the Bucks earlier in the offseason following a torn Achilles suffered in the first round of the playoffs. He had two years and $113 million left on his contract, which the Bucks stretched out over the next five years in order to create cap space. That allowed the team to bring in center Myles Turner after losing Brook Lopez.
Charania added that Lillard and the Blazers both “deeply cared” about the comeback in recent weeks, with multiple meetings held to proceed on a deal.
The 34-year-old Weber State product will most likely be out all of 2025-26 to recover from his Achilles tear.
In 2023, Portland traded Lillard to Milwaukee for Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara, among other assets, before flipping Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and other assets. On June 23, Portland re-acquired Holiday from Boston for Anfernee Simons and now have two star veteran guards.
Portland is still a rebuilding team and will hope Lillard can return to form after averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists on a 44.8/37.6/92.1 shooting split this past season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' need for a top-six forward prompted some pundits to suggest a reunion with Nazem Kadri earlier this month.
The Hockey News’ David Alter subsequently dismissed the possibility of the Calgary Flames parting with their first-line center and leading scorer.
Alter also cited Kadri's reaction to the trade speculation earlier this week. Speaking with the London Knights' podcast, The Knight Shift, the 34-year-old center said it was “a bit bizarre” to see his name flying around the rumor mill.
Kadri also suggested the trade chatter was due to a lack of any significant sports currently taking place. Meanwhile, the Calgary Sun's Wes Gilbertson cited the Flames center saying how much he and his family enjoy living in Calgary, and pointing to “some good players” coming along with the club.
“So I appreciate the C of Red, for sure,” he said.
Gilbertson stated that Flames GM Craig Conroy likely isn't keen to trade his leading scorer as he tries to balance maintaining a competitive team while retooling the roster.
Speaking of Kadri, Montreal Hockey Now's Marc Dumont cited Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos claiming the Flames center would waive his no-movement clause for the Montreal Canadiens and the Maple Leafs.
Dumont swatted down the idea of Canadiens GM Kent Hughes trading valuable assets for a player “on the wrong side of 30.” Hughes prefers adding players in their 20s, such as Joe Veleno, who was signed to a one-year deal on Wednesday.
Turning to the Seattle Kraken, there's speculation that their leading scorer might be available.
The Hockey News’ Julian Gaudio last week cited Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period claiming the Kraken are open to trading Jared McCann. Meanwhile, TSN insider Chris Johnston indicated the 29-year-old left winger's name was floating around the NHL rumor mill.
McCann is an original member of the Kraken, having been selected during the 2021 expansion draft. He's led the club in scoring in each of their four seasons, including a career-high 40-goal performance in 2022-23.
Thus far, no reports from Seattle have confirmed McCann's availability. Gaudio cited a report from February claiming the Kraken aren't shopping their first-line left winger but were willing to entertain offers.
That was before Jason Botterill took over as GM from Ron Francis, who was promoted to president of hockey operations. Botterill could be open to moving McCann, but his recent acquisitions of veterans Ryan Lindgren, Mason Marchment and Frederick Gaudreau suggest he's trying to ensure his club remains competitive for next season.
For the Mets and Yankees, the first half was a reminder of just how long the baseball season can feel, as both teams experienced extreme highs and lows that had them looking like championship teams at times and badly flawed clubs at others.
As such, the July 31 trade deadline looms as particularly important for decision-makers David Stearns and Brian Cashman. It feels like the right move, or three, could make all the difference in getting their teams to a World Series this season.
With that as a starting point, here are 10 bold predictions for the second half of the MLB season:
10. PETE ALONSO MAKES MVP PUSH AND METS LOCK HIM UP
Alonso’s resurgent season continued with his home run in the All-Star Game Tuesday night, and more and more it looks as if he’s primed to deliver for the Mets in what should be a down-to-the-wire race with the Phillies for the NL East title.
As such, I think Alonso could secure a Top 3 finish in NL MVP voting, no small feat considering he doesn’t have a big WAR number, which too many voters use as a top priority. In doing so he’ll likely convince Steve Cohen to give him the longer-term deal he wanted last winter – say four years, $120 million.
9. PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG WINS NL MVP
It’s looking more and more like trading Crow-Armstrong for Javier Baez in 2021 could haunt the Mets for years, especially since center field is currently their most glaring position need. They never envisioned him blossoming offensively the way he has this season, with 50 extra-base hits, including 25 home runs, to go with 27 stolen bases and Gold Glove-caliber defense.
Shohei Ohtani has more impressive offensive numbers but not to the level of last season, and it remains to be seen how much impact he has as a pitcher this year. PCA currently has a much higher WAR number, 5.2 to 4.0, because of his base running and defense, and today’s MVP voters seem to lean heavily on that metric as a guide to voting.
8. JACOB DEGROM AND ZACK WHEELER WIN CY YOUNG AWARDS
I know it would bring some pain to Mets fans, especially if PCA does indeed win the MVP Award as well, but it would also be kind of cool if deGrom and Wheeler were to pull off such a unique daily double, and both are very much in the running going into the second half.
I’d really like to see Wheeler win the NL award. He’s finished second twice, and should have won it in 2021, when he totaled nearly 50 more innings pitched than Corbin Burnes. It’s currently looming as a two-man race between him and Paul Skenes.
The task will be much tougher for deGrom. He’s having a brilliant comeback season but the competition is stiff, with Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, Max Fried, and Hunter Brown all putting up similarly impressive numbers so far.
7. CAL RALEIGH BREAKS AARON JUDGE’S HR RECORD
Why not? It’s looking more and more like a magical season for the Mariners’ catcher, as Raleigh took his new-found stardom into Monday night’s Home Run Derby and thrived in the spotlight, winning impressively.
To break Judge’s record of 62 he needs to hit 25 home runs in 66 games, which seems feasible considering he’s hit 38 in the Mariners’ first 96 games. It’s fair to speculate that as a catcher he’ll wear down in the second half, but the M’s have already used him in 23 games as their DH to help keep him fresh. The pressure of chasing the record will make it tougher as well, but being a switch-hitter gives him an advantage matchup wise, and Raleigh’s low-key personality could help as well.
6. YANKEES TRADE FOR RYAN HELSLEY
Helsley, the Cardinals’ closer, is having a mediocre season and is a free agent-to-be, so he could be available even though the Cards are very much in the NL Wild Card race. His 99 mph fastball is getting hit hard this year, mostly due to poor command, but his slider is a big weapon, as opponents are hitting just .098 against it. That's why Helsley could be especially useful if a team can pick certain matchups for him rather than having him close.
That could work for the Yanks, who need more depth in the late innings even if Luke Weaver and Devin Williams find more consistency in the second half.
The Mets are sure to add bullpen help at the trade deadline but McLean looms as an even better answer. The right-hander has pitched to a 2.17 ERA in 87 innings in the minors this year, including a 2.52 ERA in Triple-A, and scouts say his sweeper could be a big weapon right now at the big league level -- especially against right-handed hitters.
With that in mind, Mets people privately have expressed concern about McLean’s ability to get left-handed hitters out in the majors, at least for now, so utilizing him as a reliever and finding matchup innings might be the best option.
Also, as GM of the Brewers, Stearns broke in young starters like Burnes and Freddy Peralta as relievers in the big leagues, so it makes sense he’d do the same with McLean.
May 9, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez celebrates after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. / Mark J. Rebilas - Imagn Images
4. METS TRADE FOR EUGENIO SUAREZ
This could be a mini-version of the Juan Soto bidding war between the Mets and Yankees, and while the Bombers have a more glaring need, I believe Stearns will see Suarez as the difference-maker who could take the Mets’ lineup to a championship level.
The caveat is that If Mark Vientos mashes for the next two weeks, coming off his big weekend in Kansas City, and looks like he’s found his ’24 form, then that would ease the need for a slugger to hit behind Pete Alonso. But in the first half the Mets were very much in need of another big bat to lengthen the lineup and deliver in RISP situations.
Assuming Suarez is okay, after getting hit on the left hand by a pitch in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game, he’d be a great fit at third base. And because he’s a free agent after the season the Mets wouldn’t be making a long-term commitment.
Suarez is having a big year, with 31 home runs. The downside is he does strike out a lot and is only adequate defensively, but his .889 OPS speaks to his impact. There’s no guarantee the D-backs will sell, but they’re under .500 and 5 1/2 games out of the third NL Wild Card spot. He’ll cost more than a typical rental because several teams will be in the bidding, but the Mets’ farm system has enough depth now for Stearns to make this type of deal.
3. YANKS TRADE FOR JOSE RAMIREZ
Outbid by the Mets for Suarez, a desperate Cashman swallows hard and sends a big package, including Spencer Jones, to get a difference-maker at third base in Ramirez, the Guardians’ perennial All-Star.
As beloved as Ramirez is in Cleveland, he turns 33 in September, with three more years on his contract. And with the Guardians going nowhere this season they may see this as a chance to reload, depending on how highly they regard Jones, the Yankees’ power-hitting outfield prospect.
Ramirez has a no-trade clause in his contract but here’s betting he’d waive it for the chance to win a championship.
2. METS FALL TO DODGERS AGAIN
The Mets played well against the Dodgers this season, winning four of the seven games between them, and could very well have won all seven. But the Dodgers’ pitching was decimated by injuries at the time and they are likely to be much more of the juggernaut everyone predicted come October.
It would make for a compelling NLCS rematch, and the Mets would have a better shot than last year, but it still feels like they could be a little short, pitching-wise, unless Stearns gets ultra-aggressive at the deadline.
1. YANKS (WITH RAMIREZ) DEFEAT DODGERS IN WORLD SERIES
The caveat is that Cashman makes the Ramirez trade as predicted above. If so I think he’d be the perfect piece to get the Yankees over the hump and help them win the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Ramirez would be the ideal hitter to slot in behind Judge and deter pitchers from walking him in key spots. Assuming Giancarlo Stanton is healthy in October as well, and hitting behind Ramirez, the Yankees would have a monster lineup to carry them to a title.
The Mets announced on Thursday morning that the club has signed 2025 first-round pick Mitch Voit, who was selected with the No. 38 overall selection.
Voit, an infielder from the University of Michigan, will officially be introduced at a news conference on Friday.
“Today, we were able to add a dynamic player to the organization as we continue to build our farm system,” vice president of amateur scouting Kris Gross said in a news release. “I want to congratulate Mitch and his family on this momentous occasion. They have put a lot of hard work and sacrifice into getting to this point. Mitch has shown the ability to play at a high-level at several positions and make an impact at the plate. He has great makeup and a tremendous amount of potential. Additionally, I want to thank David Stearns, the Amateur Scouting Staff, and the entire Baseball Operations Department, as this is truly a collaborative effort across the entire organization.”
Voit, a Milwaukee native, started 56 games at second base for the Wolverines this past season, slashing .346/.471/.668 with 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases.
The Yankees need a third baseman. That fact was clear before the 2025 season and is even more obvious as we head toward the trade deadline.
With that in mind, GM Brian Cashman has to find a way to pluck another team's third baseman away from them, and they have to be the right fit.
There are a few options Cashman can choose from, like the Rockies' Ryan McMahon. But the biggest potential third base trade piece comes out of Arizona. Eugenio Suarez is arguably the biggest bat rumored to be traded at this year's deadline, but is he a good fit for the Bronx?
Here are the pros and cons of the Yankees trading for the Diamondbacks third baseman...
Pros
Any fan watching the Yankees knows there's a distinct lack of offense coming from the hot corner since they -- correctly -- moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second. The combination of Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas is eclipsed by Suarez's production this year.
The 33-year-old leads the National League with 78 RBI and is second with 31 homers. He has a .569 slugging percentage and is ninth in the league with his .889 OPS. Those numbers would make him the second-most productive hitter on the Yankees -- behind only Aaron Judge -- and lengthen the lineup.
Imagine the Yankees rolling out Judge, Cody Bellinger and Suarez somewhere in the top four every night?
Being a right-handed batter also benefits the Yanks. New York's lineup is very left-handed with Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Volpe and Judge the only everyday right-handers. Suarez could neutralize southpaws, which the Yankees have had issues with the last few years, while also offering balance.
Jul 12, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez (28) celebrates in the dugout after his second solo home run of the game during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea - Imagn Images
Suarez is also a solid defender. His advanced metrics may not show that -- he has a -4 OAA this season -- but as we saw in the All-Star Game, he's very capable.
The last two seasons, Suarez was worth 12 OAA in 2023 and 3 OAA in 2024, so perhaps he can turn his down defensive year around.
And then there's the contract. Suarez is in the final year of his deal, which gives New York flexibility if they are high on a prospect like George Lombard Jr. and his ability to win the job, or if they want to pursue another third baseman in the free agent market.
Cons
The biggest issue with trading for a talent like Suarez is the capital the Yankees will have to give up to Arizona. There will be multiple teams looking to acquire Suarez and if there's a bidding war that includes prospects, the Yankees may have to part with some serious prospects.
Trading away their future for a rental is not something Yankees fans will get behind, especially after past rentals like Juan Soto didn't turn into long-term commitments.
While Suarez is a fine defender, he has taken a step back. His 11 errors are already more than each of the last three seasons, so it's been a bit of a tough year for him.
But perhaps a Gold Glove first baseman can help with the fielding, and the option to sub him out for a superior fielder like Peraza is there. With that said, the Yankees would be weakening their fielding with Suarez at third.
National League third baseman Eugenio Suarez (28) of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts after getting hit by a pitch in the eighth inning during the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park / Brett Davis - Imagn Images
Verdict
This feels like too good of a match for the Yankees.
Suarez is the right-handed power bat that they are missing at third base, plays good enough defense, and there's no commitment after this season. With that said, the package that could get the deal done may be hard to stomach. But if the Yanks are serious about winning a World Series this year, it needs to be done.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger will be on the injured list for the second time this season when the team resumes play after the All-Star break.
Texas placed Burger on the 10-day IL on Wednesday because of a left quad strain. The move was retroactive to Sunday, a day after Burger struck out as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning at Houston. He had exited in the sixth inning of Friday night’s opener in the three-game series against the AL West-leading Astros.
The Rangers (48-49) didn’t immediately make a corresponding roster move. They open a three-game series at home Friday night against Detroit (59-38), which despite a four-game losing streak still has the best record in the major leagues.
Burger, who is hitting .228 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs over 75 games in his first season with Texas, played in only 10 games after returning from his previous IL stint. He missed 10 games from June 21 until July 2 because of a left oblique strain.
Texas got Burger in a trade from Miami in December. After he hit .190 with three homers and a team-high 32 strikeouts in 100 at-bats his first 30 games, the Rangers sent him briefly to Triple-A Round Rock. In 45 games since returning to the majors, he hit .250 with eight homers and 23 RBIs.
The Mets' starting rotation situation this year has been wild.
They started off with so much depth that there were questions about how they'd fit everyone in. By the middle of the season, though, a rash of injuries had them reaching into the minors for spot-starters, pondering whether to promote their top pitching prospects, and eventually deploying bullpen games for two of the three Subway Series matchups against the Yankees in early-July.
While the injury to Griffin Canning was season-ending and Tylor Megill's possible return is TBD, things have normalized.
The Mets are now finally using the rotation they envisioned would be their starting five on Opening Day:
Beyond those five pitchers are some intriguing options in Triple-A Syracuse. There's Blade Tidwell, who has been called upon a few times in his rookie year, and two prospects who have the potential to develop into top of the rotation arms: Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat.
Speaking earlier this month, president of baseball operations David Stearns said he was reluctant to use top prospects for spot starts. But it's possible McLean and Sproat both debut later this summer when they're deemed ready for long-term roles.
Still, while it's nice to picture a future where McLean and Sproat are mainstays in the rotation, it's impossible to rely on them in the heat of a pennant race in what will be their first taste of the majors.
Combine that with an injury question surrounding Manaea (pitching with a loose body in his elbow) and the workload question hanging over Holmes (who has already thrown more innings this season than any other), and New York should be placing a high priority on adding another legitimate starting pitcher via trade.
Should they target Royals right-hander Seth Lugo?
Jun 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (67) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Kauffman Stadium. / Peter Aiken - Imagn Images
PROS
Since transitioning from relief to a full-time starting role after leaving the Mets via free agency following the 2022 season, Lugo has been terrific.
In 2 1/2 seasons with the Padres (2023) and Royals (2024 and 2025), Lugo has a 3.11 ERA (3.66 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP in 454.0 innings across 76 starts.
He finished second in American League Cy Young voting last season after posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in a career-high 206.2 innings.
So far this season, Lugo has a 2.67 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 101.0 innings over 17 starts.
He has proven pretty forcefully that he is a legitimate weapon as a starting pitcher -- and someone who can be relied on to provide tons of innings per season.
Lugo is also likely headed for free agency after the season (it would be surprising if he exercised his 2026 player option that's worth only $15 million), which should mean the cost to acquire him won't be too painful.
The huge question for any interested team, though, is whether the Royals will sell. They are 47-50 and highly unlikely to catch the Tigers at the top of the AL Central. But they are just 4.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot.
CONS
While Lugo's surface level numbers are great, a look under the hood shows some concerning things.
Lugo's FIP (4.28) suggests that he has been pretty lucky so far this season, and that regression should be expected.
Jun 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (67) pitches during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. / Patrick Gorski - Imagn Images
Digging deep on Lugo's advanced numbers, he is near the bottom of the league in average exit velocity allowed, chase percentage, whiff percentage, barrel percentage, and hard hit percentage.
His ground ball rate has also plummeted, and his walks are up.
A caveat here is that Lugo has never been an advanced stats darling and has a history of outperforming his FIP.
It should also be noted that Lugo's fastball and curve are still playing up, and that he has six pitches in his regular arsenal that he can use to help keep hitters off balance.
Another thing to point out is that Lugo wasn't thrilled during his time with the Mets about being kept mostly in the bullpen. But that was under the previous front office.
VERDICT
If Lugo is made available, this should be an easy call for the Mets.
Lugo has experience pitching in New York, has been both very good and very reliable over the last several seasons, and would not cost the Mets any of their most prized prospects.
Yesterday, the Columbus Blue Jackets signed 28-year-old defenseman Dysin Mayo to a one-year, two-way contract. But who is Dysin Mayo? Let's take a look.
Mayo is 28-years-old from Victoria, British Columbia and was selected in the 5th round of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes.
From 2012 to 2016, Mayo played for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings, and had a solid career there as a defender. In 248 games, Mayo scored 28 goals and totaled 134 points, including 21 playoff points over those four years.
After he finished he junior career with Edmonton, he would play in 5 AHL games for the Springfield Falcons to get his pro career started.
The following season, Mayo would join the Coyotes AHL team, the Tucson Roadrunners, and would play 25 games for them. But, he would also get sent down to the ECHL's Rapid City Rush, where he would total 16 points in 25 games.
Starting with the season of 2017, Mayo would stay in either the AHL or NHL, but would spend most of his career in the AHL.
After playing seven seasons with the Coyotes organization, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for Shea Weber and a 5th-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Since the trade, Mayo was never called up by the Golden Knights, and would play the last three season with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL. He would have solid numbers in Henderson, playing in 142 games and totaling 48 points.
At the NHL level, Mayo never really got much of a chance. For Arizona, he played in 82 games and has 12 points. He didn't make his NHL Debut until Oct. 21, 2021. He made history when he became the first Coyotes defenseman to score in his first NHL game since Tony DeAngelo on Nov. 8, 2016. But he didn't much of a chance before or after that goal.
After his trade to Vegas, he only played in the AHL. With Vegas seemingly always going after top end players, it's no surprise that Mayo would never get a chance with the Golden Knights.
Mayo will most likely be in the same boat with Columbus, but he will be a valuable asset to the Cleveland Monsters, and at 28, he should know his role by now.
He will be used as not only a depth defenseman, but to mentor what will be a very young Monsters team and help guide them through a difficult AHL season.
Let us know what you think below.
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After struggling for about a week following his return from a hamstring injury, Vientos started to look more like the 2024 version of himself toward the end of the first half.
In the Mets' last five games before the All-Star break, Vientos went 7-for-19 with one homer, two doubles, one triple, three RBI, and a .947 OPS.
He also hit the ball incredibly hard with regularity, and began driving the ball with authority to the right-center field gap -- a great sign for a hitter who spayed homers all over the park last season.
As the Mets decide what to do with the trade deadline coming in two weeks, a hot stretch from Vientos could eliminate any possibility of New York exploring the available third basemen, which could include Eugenio Suarez of the Diamondbacks.
The Mets' needs in center field, the bullpen, and the starting rotation are greater than the potential need they have at the hot corner. So Vientos putting that situation to bed would be huge.
Did the break do the Mets' bullpen good?
New York's bullpen was humming along for the first few months of the season, but a barrage of injuries to a starting rotation that already wasn't providing enough length helped lead to overuse.
While the relief corps has several arms capable of pitching in the late innings, the only one consistent enough to be relied on in crunch time right now isEdwin Diaz, who is having a lockdown year.
Reed Garrett mostly stabilized after a few rough outings toward the end of the first half, but Ryne Stanek and Huascar Brazoban were still leaking oil during the Mets' six-game road trip before the All-Star break.
Improvement from Stanek and Brazoban should be expected, and the Mets could get reinforcements very quickly with both Brooks Raley and Jose Butto about to be activated from the IL.
But it will be a shock if New York doesn't add a legitimate late-inning arm before the deadline.
Wright will receive the ultimate honor ahead of Saturday's game, when his No. 5 is retired during a pregame ceremony that will air live on SNY.
David Wright / Imagn Images/SNY Treated Image
With Wright's No. 5 getting enshrined, he will join seven other Mets players who have received that honor: Tom Seaver (No. 41), Mike Piazza (No. 31), Jerry Koosman (No. 36), Keith Hernandez (No. 17), Willie Mays (No. 24), Dwight Gooden (No. 16), and Darryl Strawberry (No. 18).
The Mets' other retired numbers are No. 37 for manager Casey Stengel, No. 14 for manager Gil Hodges, and No. 42 for Jackie Robinson, which is retired across baseball. Additionally, broadcasters Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner have honored marks hung among the retired numbers, as does Bill Shea, who was instrumental in bringing National League baseball back to New York.
Saturday's ceremony will feature plenty of former Mets who impacted Wright during his career in Queens.
SNY's new documentary about Wright, The Wright Way, premieres on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Reds are right in the thick of it
Cincinnati has reached the playoffs just once since 2013, and that came during the shortened season in 2020.
But they enter the second half of the season with a record of 50-47, trailing the Padres by just 2.5 games for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.
A lot of the Reds' success has been on the back of their offense, which has scored 441 runs -- good for sixth-most in the NL.
They've been better in the cozy confines of Great American Ball Park, though, and have lost each of their last three road series (to the Cardinals, Red Sox, and Phillies).
The Elly De La Cruz Show
The 23-year-old De La Cruz is one of the most dynamic and exciting players in baseball, and is in the midst of the best season of his three-year career.
The human highlight reel is hitting .284/.359/.495 with 18 home runs, 18 doubles, three triples, 25 stolen bases, 63 RBI, and 72 runs scored.
De La Cruz has been on a serious tear, too, slashing .347/.406/.595 with six homers in 133 plate appearances over his last 31 games.
While the Reds have a handful of players who can do damage, it's De La Cruz who stands above them all.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Francisco Lindor
Lindor started to heat up before the break.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Mets have not yet announced their rotation plan for the series.
Which Reds player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?
Tadej Pogacar rode away from all his rivals on the Hautacam to forge a commanding 3min 31sec lead in the overall race
“I’m OK. Nothing too bad,” Pogacar tells Matt Stephens after his crash yesterday. “My whole left arm is open, burned off skin. And I hit my hip a little bit and my shoulder, but luckily I was back on the bike quite fast. Today is another day. It’s not the first time I crashed and continued the race. It’s more important the legs than my arm. I have a super-strong team around me. I am so grateful I can rely on them, even if I have a hard day today, but I hope not.
“It’s really sad to lose another young talent,” Pogacar says of Samuele Privitera’s death at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta yesterday. “It’s devastating. It’s one of the most dangerous sports in the world. Sometimes the risks we are taking are too far. I’m really sad for all his family. May he rest in peace … he deserves to “not be bothered” now. It’s a sad loss.”
Earlier this off-season, the St. Louis Blues signed forward Nick Bjugstad to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.75 million. With the Blues needing more center depth, seeing them bring in Bjugstad ultimately made sense. This is especially so when noting that Radek Faksa ended up leaving St. Louis and going back to the Dallas Stars in free agency.
While Bjugstad is not the flashiest of players, this is a signing that could end up being a good one of the Blues. When playing at his best, the 33-year-old is a very consistent bottom-six forward who provides a bit of everything.
When looking at the Blues' current roster, Bjugstad should be a nice fit as their new fourth-line center. However, due to his versatility, he is also capable of playing right wing, so the Blues will have multiple options to consider with him. Furthermore, he will also give the Blues another player to work with for their penalty kill due to his steady defensive play.
During this past season with Utah, Bjugstad posted eight goals, 19 points, and 104 hits in 66 games. While his offense was a bit low, he has shown in the past that he can provide decent secondary scoring. Just back in 2023-24 with the Arizona Coyotes, Bjugstad posted 22 goals and 45 points in 76 games. He also had 17 goals and 29 points in 78 games split between the Coyotes and Edmonton Oilers in 78 games during the 2022-23 season. Thus, the possibility of him producing more offense while also being a physical player is there.
Overall, when noting that the Blues got Bjugstad at a cheap price and this is a short-term deal, it is hard not to like this move for St. Louis. It will be fascinating to see how much of an impact the 6-foot-5 forward can make for the Blues from here.
The Boston Red Sox have gotten better and more consistent outings from starting pitchers such as Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello over the last few weeks.
That uptick in performance, combined with Garrett Crochet pitching like an ace all season, helped power the Red Sox into the All-Star break with a 10-game win streak and sole position of the second wild card playoff spot in the American League.
But you can never have enough starting pitching, and adding another impact arm to the rotation would be a huge upgrade for Boston ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline.
Finding an impact starter can be difficult, though. Teams are often hesitant to give up on them, and acquiring them is quite expensive.
One veteran starter who could be on the Red Sox’ radar leading up to the trade deadline is Charlie Morton of the Baltimore Orioles.
“One of many Orioles on an expiring contract, Morton suddenly looks like an attractive chip,” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal wrote Thursday. “During Fox’s All-Star preview show on Monday, I mentioned him as a possibility for the Boston Red Sox.
“Yes, the Red Sox would love to do better, and perhaps they will. But the starting pitching market is thin and Sox manager Alex Cora is familiar with Morton from the 2017 Houston Astros. With Bryan Bello and Lucas Giolito both on a roll, perhaps the Sox would be OK with someone like Morton rather than a pure (and possibly unattainable) No. 2 starter.”
Morton had a rough start to the season, but since the start of June he is 4-0 (seven starts) with an ERA under 3.00 and 43 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings.
His playoff experience would be valuable for the Red Sox, too. Morton played a part in two World Series championships with the Astros in 2017 and the Braves in 2021.
Morton likely would be a rental. He’s 41 years old and not signed beyond this season. He wouldn’t be a major upgrade, but acquiring him would improve the depth of the rotation and give it someone who isn’t afraid of late-season, high-pressure situations.
OHL teams have been taking advantage of the new rule change, which allows them to carry three import players on their rosters instead of two. Oshawa and Saginaw have each acquired a Russian goalie for next season, selected from the 2025 CHL Import Draft.
You can add the Ottawa 67’s to the list. They have signed both of their draft picks from the recent import draft ─ Ondrej Ruml and Jasper Kuhta.
Finnish forward Jasper Kuhta was the first of the two to sign with the organization back on July 11. He was their second-round pick, 72nd overall, earlier this month and had a very productive season last year back home in Finland.
Import forward Jasper Kuhta has signed an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team.
Kuhta finished second in goals (18) and points (43) in 38 games for HIFK U20 in the U20 SM-sarja. He even played eight games in the top Finnish league Liiga for HIFK last season.
“His top attribute is his IQ and anticipation. He’s intelligent but not dynamic. He has a good understanding of how plays are developing around him on both sides of the puck,” said Aaron Vickers from FC Hockey.
EliteProspects also wrote the following on his player page:
“Kuhta is a crafty finisher, particularly from closer distances, but also from the right half wall on the power play. He’s got a capable one-touch release, but can also beat goalies from his backhand. Outside of the scoring, he brings value as a reliable two-way supporter who facilitates others down the middle, keeps track of his assignments, and can use his 6-foot-2 frame along the wall when required.”
Kuhta just went through his first year of NHL draft eligibility. He went undrafted despite being ranked 47th amongst European Skates by NHL Central Scouting. But with his success at the U20 level in Finland, he should be able to immediately jump into a top-nine contributing role for Ottawa next season, and get looked at as an overage draftee for the 2026 NHL Draft.
Then, on Wednesday afternoon, the 67’s announced the signing of their eighth overall selection from the 2025 import draft, Ondrej Ruml.
Import defenceman Ondřej Ruml has signed an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team.
The Czech defenseman is a 2008-born and entering his NHL draft year. Ruml played the majority of the 2024-25 season in the Czechia U17 league for HC Dynamo Paradubice U17, where he led all defensemen in points with 40 in 41 games. Additionally, he put up nine assists and ten points in seven playoff games.
Ruml represented his country at the U17 World Hockey Challenge last November, where he recorded one assist in four games. We will see if he can crack the Czechia lineup for the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament.
It is a crowded blueline for the 67’s heading into the 2025-26 season. There’s no guarantee Ruml will be a full-time player for them, and the six-foot, 168-pound left-shot defenseman will have to beat out a few others who already have OHL games under their belt with Ottawa.
(Top photo credit: Ondrej Ruml - Ronald Hansel, Junior Hockey & Jasper Kuhta - All Over Press)
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