MIAMI — The New York Yankees released veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman on Friday, a day after making a flurry of moves at baseball’s trade deadline.
Stroman, who is in his 11th season in the majors, was cut ahead of the opener of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.
The Yankees acquired All-Star relievers David Bednar and Camilo Doval, as well as utilityman José Caballero in separate trades Thursday. New York also optioned right-handers Ian Hamilton and Yerry de los Santos to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room on the 26-man roster.
Stroman signed a two-year deal worth $37 million with New York before the start of last season and is still owed the rest of his $18.5 million salary. He has an $18 million conditional player option for 2026 that would be exercised if he pitches 140 or more innings in 2025. Stroman has pitched only 39 innings so far this season - he missed 2 1/2 months with left knee inflammation.
He made his ninth start of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, picking up the win after allowing four runs and six hits in five innings.
MIAMI — The New York Yankees released veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman on Friday, a day after making a flurry of moves at baseball’s trade deadline.
Stroman, who is in his 11th season in the majors, was cut ahead of the opener of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.
The Yankees acquired All-Star relievers David Bednar and Camilo Doval, as well as utilityman José Caballero in separate trades Thursday. New York also optioned right-handers Ian Hamilton and Yerry de los Santos to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room on the 26-man roster.
Stroman signed a two-year deal worth $37 million with New York before the start of last season and is still owed the rest of his $18.5 million salary. He has an $18 million conditional player option for 2026 that would be exercised if he pitches 140 or more innings in 2025. Stroman has pitched only 39 innings so far this season - he missed 2 1/2 months with left knee inflammation.
He made his ninth start of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, picking up the win after allowing four runs and six hits in five innings.
Hockey Canada revealed their roster for the summer camp for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, with 42 players from 20 different NHL clubs. One of the dozen teams that was not represented was the Buffalo Sabres, although two former Sabres and an ex-Buffalo draft choice were named.
Two-time Stanley Cup winner Sam Reinhart was among five Florida Panthers named, along with Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour. Former Sabres draft pick Brandon Hagel was one of three Tampa Bay players chosen who played at the NHL Four Nations Face-Off for Lightning head coach Jon Cooper.
2021 top overall pick Owen Power was thought to have an outside chance of being selected after a career-high 40-point season, but the five left-shot blueliners selected were Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey, Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers, Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Colorado’s Devon Toews.
Buffalo is expected to have a number of players who will be in the mix for an Olympic bid for their respective countries. Rasmus Dahlin is a shoo-in for Team Sweden, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch will be in the mix for Team USA, as will Jiri Kulich for Czechia, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Former Sabre JJ Peterka will undoubtedly be a part of Germany’s squad next February, along with Henri Jokiharju for Finland,
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
The Sharks have added many new players this offseason, but are any of them difference makers?
Between trades and free agency, the Sharks have added forwards Adam Gaudette, Philipp Kurashev, Ryan Reaves, and Jeff Skinner, while also addressing the blue line with defensemen John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, and Dmitry Orlov. San Jose also added goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.
Frankly, most of these veterans probably are a little past their prime, so it’s hard to say if any will be difference makers, but each, in small-but-significant ways, can still make an impact.
Per Stathletes, let’s look at some of the underrated ways that the new Sharks can help their new team.
Kurashev, on the other hand, is happy to carry the puck and dish it.
Per Stathletes, in 2023-24, Kurashev’s breakout campaign for the Chicago Blackhawks, he led all forwards in 5-on-5 Successful Passes and Puck Carries Per 60.
This playmaking mentality could make him a nice fit next to shooters Tyler Toffoli, Jeff Skinner, or Gaudette.
Reaves is still one of the NHL’s most-feared enforcersm and should provide a degree of protection for the Sharks’ young guns.
He’s also still a guy who’s likely to come up with the puck along the boards: The 38-year-old led the Toronto Maple Leafs in Puck Battles and Puck Battles Won, suggesting he can still keep up with the league.
The offensive blueliner can still carry and dish the puck.
During the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final, the 32-year-old blueliner was second among defensemen behind kingpin Evan Bouchard in both 5-on-5 Puck Carrys and Successful Passes Per 60.
Don’t count on him to shoot the puck much though, he’s more a playmaker.
The Sharks are hoping for a renaissance campaign from the oft-injured former star, and his work during the post-season suggests that it could happen.
The Sharks haven’t had a defenseman like Orlov in a while.
He actually led a deep Carolina Hurricanes blueline in 5-on-5 Offensive Zone Possession Time Per 60: The two-way defenseman should help the Sharks to sustain OZ time, a glaring weakness for San Jose since they traded Erik Karlsson.
In the last two seasons, the Sharks have been dead-last in the NHL in OZ Possession Time, “one-and-done” being an appropriate adjective for their pop gun offensive attack.
Orlov should help keep the puck cycle alive, which should free up shooters like Toffoli and company.
It’s a small sample size, but last year, Nedeljkovic and his Pittsburgh Penguins battery mate Tristan Jarry had the worst 5-on-5 Rush Shot Save % in the league.
So it’s incumbent on a veteran Sharks’ blueline and developing forward group to improve their OZ puck possession time, puck management in all zones, and kill more plays at the blueline, so not to expose Nedeljkovic in the same way.
Luisangel Acuña's latest stint with the Mets has come to an end, at least for now.
The team announced Friday evening that the versatile infielder was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for new outfielder Cedric Mullins.
Acuña has seen his playing time drop as Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos stabilized their offensive production. Since being recalled on July 10, Acuña has only appeared in 12 games. In that span, he went 3-for-14 with a double, one RBI and one stolen base.
With Mullins splitting centerfield with Tyrone Taylor, pushing Jeff McNeil to his natural position of second base, there was no room for Acuña on the roster.
In addition to the Acuña move, the Mets also outrighted LHP Jose Castillo to Triple-A after he cleared waivers after being DFA'd on July 27.. In 14 appearances with the Mets, Castillo pitched to a 2.19 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP.
The team also announced that LHP Brandon Waddell is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday.
Luisangel Acuña's latest stint with the Mets has come to an end, at least for now.
The team announced Friday evening that the versatile infielder was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for new outfielder Cedric Mullins.
Acuña has seen his playing time drop as Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos stabilized their offensive production. Since being recalled on July 10, Acuña has only appeared in 12 games. In that span, he went 3-for-14 with a double, one RBI and one stolen base.
With Mullins splitting centerfield with Tyrone Taylor, pushing Jeff McNeil to his natural position of second base, there was no room for Acuña on the roster.
In addition to the Acuña move, the Mets also outrighted LHP Jose Castillo to Triple-A after he cleared waivers after being DFA'd on July 27.. In 14 appearances with the Mets, Castillo pitched to a 2.19 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP.
The team also announced that LHP Brandon Waddell is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday.
By Oct. 1, we will know where Jonathan Kuminga is playing basketball next season.
That's the date Kuminga would have to pick up the $7.9 million qualifying offer and play next season with the Warriors. That is a "nuclear option" (as Sam Amick of The Athletic put it) that neither side wants, but Kuminga's social media post that he is willing to bet on himself suggests he's considering it.
Jonathan Kuminga’s latest Instagram story: “I’ll bet on myself all day” with his agent tagged and pictured next to him pic.twitter.com/AHmpNaIgZE
There has been a lot of sound and fury around Kuminga's restricted free agency, so far signifying nothing. Here is where things stand right now, according to multiple reports.
• Kuminga rejects Warriors' offer. The Golden State Warriors offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million contract. While Kuminga would like a larger payday — his agent reportedly countered with three years, $82 million — the bigger reasons he rejected the offer was because Golden State is insisting on a team option for the second season, and that Kuminga waive the built-in no-trade clause would come with a two-year deal, reports Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN.
• The money is similar everywhere. Kuminga reportedly was seeking something close to $30 million a season, but the market is not offering more than the low $20 million a year range. The Warriors' offer was two years, $45 million ($22.5 million per year average). The Kings offered three years, $63 million ($21 million average), Amick reported. Kuminga's agent, Aaron Turner, spoke with Phoenix, which reportedly offered him four years, $90 million — exactly what the Warriors offered per year, just with more years.
• Suns, Kings trade offers not impressing Warriors. The hope for both Kuminga and the Warriors at the start of free agency was to find a sign-and-trade that landed Kuminga in a new home and brought players and picks back to the Bay Area that the Warriors wanted. Sacramento and Phoenix have talked sign-and-trade with the Warriors, but no offer has come close to being accepted.
Sacramento offered a package based around Dario Saric, Devin Carter and a lottery-protected first-round pick, but the Warriors rejected it, reports Jason Alexander at the Sacramento Bee. The Warriors want the pick to be unprotected. They would also like Keon Ellis included in the deal, but he is off-limits according to the report (as is Keegan Murray, but that should go without saying).
Phoenix's trade offer is rumored to be something along the lines of Royce O'Neale, Nick Richards and three second-round picks, but Amick reports the Warriors have shown "zero interest" in that offer, adding: "Per team sources, the talks between the Suns and Warriors have never progressed in any serious manner."
Does Kuminga take the qualifying offer? We are a long way from that needing to happen, and there is good reason for both sides to find a middle ground before then. For the Warriors, that qualifying offer comes with a no-trade clause, meaning they might not be able to trade him and next summer Kuminga walks out the door for nothing. For Kuminga, playing a season at $7.9 million leaves a lot of money on the table. In a career where your window to earn top dollar is not very long, and that doesn't even mention the risk of serious injury or something that could hurt future earnings.
Kuminga, 22, averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 47 games last season (he missed time with an ankle injury).
Right now, more than six weeks away from training camp even opening and a couple of months out from the Oct. 1 deadline, everyone can do their public posturing. There is some pressure on the Warriors to resolve the Kuminga situation so they can formally sign Al Horford and finalize their roster, but they can afford to wait a while. Eventually, the sides will likely find a middle ground.
For now, Kuminga is the biggest offseason drama still on the board, and that's drawing a lot of interest.
Heading into the All-Star Break, Tyler Rogers wasn’t expecting to be moved.
The Giants were in the thick of things in the crowded NL Wild Card race, but they opened the second half of the season on an extreme cold stretch and quickly things changed.
The dagger was a three-game sweep at home against the Mets.
After that, San Fran began looking more like obvious sellers heading towards the trade deadline, and then on Wednesday afternoon, the right-hander was shipped out to the Big Apple in a deal for three young pieces.
“I spent so long in San Francisco, great people over there,” Rogers said. “I gave them everything I had, I can’t say enough about the people over there and the city, it’s where I got started and got drafted -- I just can’t say much more about them.”
Ironically enough, it won’t take long for him to see his former club again.
His first outing in orange and blue will likely come against them this weekend, as the two teams face off in a three-game set at Citi Field.
Once he does that, he’ll have an appearance against every team in his career.
“Baseball is funny that way,” he said. “13 years I was in the Giants organization, to get traded is new -- to go out there and pitch for a new team for the first time ever is gonna be weird, then to look up and see a Giants uniform in the batters box will be something.”
Rogers flew to New York with the Giants before joining his new team.
Though it’s a big change, the veteran is excited to join the NL East-leading Mets down the stretch.
“Looking across the dugout a week ago, you could just tell this team is the complete package,” he said. “I’m very excited to be a part of it -- I’m just trying to slide in and do my part, whatever they need me to do.”
Rogers’ role will likely be similar to the one he played in San Fran.
He’ll help bridge the gap to All-Star closer Edwin Diaz alongside other deadline acquisition Ryan Helsley in the revamped Mets bullpen.
On the season, the 34-year-old has a 1.80 ERA and 0.86 WHIP across 53 appearances.
Heading into the All-Star Break, Tyler Rogers wasn’t expecting to be moved.
The Giants were in the thick of things in the crowded NL Wild Card race, but they opened the second half of the season on an extreme cold stretch and quickly things changed.
The dagger was a three-game sweep at home against the Mets.
After that, San Fran began looking more like obvious sellers heading towards the trade deadline, and then on Wednesday afternoon, the right-hander was shipped out to the Big Apple in a deal for three young pieces.
“I spent so long in San Francisco, great people over there,” Rogers said. “I gave them everything I had, I can’t say enough about the people over there and the city, it’s where I got started and got drafted -- I just can’t say much more about them.”
Ironically enough, it won’t take long for him to see his former club again.
His first outing in orange and blue will likely come against them this weekend, as the two teams face off in a three-game set at Citi Field.
Once he does that, he’ll have an appearance against every team in his career.
“Baseball is funny that way,” he said. “13 years I was in the Giants organization, to get traded is new -- to go out there and pitch for a new team for the first time ever is gonna be weird, then to look up and see a Giants uniform in the batters box will be something.”
Rogers flew to New York with the Giants before joining his new team.
Though it’s a big change, the veteran is excited to join the NL East-leading Mets down the stretch.
“Looking across the dugout a week ago, you could just tell this team is the complete package,” he said. “I’m very excited to be a part of it -- I’m just trying to slide in and do my part, whatever they need me to do.”
Rogers’ role will likely be similar to the one he played in San Fran.
He’ll help bridge the gap to All-Star closer Edwin Diaz alongside other deadline acquisition Ryan Helsley in the revamped Mets bullpen.
On the season, the 34-year-old has a 1.80 ERA and 0.86 WHIP across 53 appearances.
Heavy.com’s Steve Bulpett reported on Thursday that he heard from a scout who saw Tatum partake as an instructor in the Elite Camp, a basketball camp featuring top college and high school prospects, in Las Vegas this week. And the scout came away impressed with how the Boston Celtics star was moving around the gym without a walking boot, according to Bulpett.
“He was moving really well,” the scout told Bulpett. “There might have been a slight limp or something, but the surprising thing to me is that he didn’t have a boot for any of it.
“I’m no doctor, but I’ve seen guys coming back from Achilles’ tears, and he looked way ahead. I was kind of shocked to see how well he was moving. I have no idea for what any of this means for when he can come back. I’m sure him and the Celtics’ medical people have their program set up, and they’ll make sure that he’s where he needs to be when he does get back. But he looks great right now.”
The scout added that while Tatum wasn’t jogging or running, he looked to be “in great shape” and “had no trouble doing his part at the camp.”
The Chicago Blackhawks, the last time the Olympics had NHL players participating, were swarmed with Olympians all over their roster. Things are a little bit different coming into 2025-26, which will finally be a year where the NHL takes a break to go to the Olympic Games in Italy.
One player that the front office, fans, and the league would like to see work his way onto Team Canada's roster is Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard. If he made it, that would mean that he had a tremendous start to the year, and he looks like the marketable player that everyone was hoping he'd be when he was selected first overall in 2023.
Bedard didn't make the Four Nations Face-Off roster last season, but he didn't earn it. In all honesty, he probably wasn't even one of the first four or five off. With that said, his potential is what makes people think he has a shot at the Olympics.
On Wednesday, Canada announced their roster for the 2026 Olympic Orientation Camp, which will take place in August. Connor Bedard made the camp.
Bedard joins other young stars like Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks as newcomers. A lot of stars that have made Team Canada so great over the years are also going to be there, like Sidney Crosby, Brad Marchand, Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, and Nathan MacKinnon, among others.
Canada will enter the Olympic Games with as good a chance as anyone to win the Gold Medal. When the young players mentioned are bubble guys for the roster, that speaks to the depth of Hockey Canada.
Heading into the latter stages of the NHL off-season, this will be a great experience for Bedard. Learning from some of the game's most prolific stars can be great for development.
Connor Bedard opted to miss the IIHF World Championships earlier in the off-season. That may make him have to work extra hard to catch Hockey Canada's eye, but they won't deny the best chance to win. It's up to Bedard, through his play at the camp and with the Blackhawks, to prove that he can help them.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has won two Olympic Gold Medals throughout his legendary career and will have the chance to win a third at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Crosby was one of 42 NHL players invited to Canada's orientation camp to prepare for the 2026 Olympics. He is joined by the likes of Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel, Sam Bennett, and many more.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be the first to feature NHL players since the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Hockey Canada has invited 42 NHL players to orientation camp in preparation for the 2026 Italy Olympics:
After winning a Gold Medal for his country at the 2005 World Juniors, Crosby guided Team Canada to Olympic Gold Medals in 2010 and 2014. He also helped his country win a Gold Medal at the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey before assisting Canada to win this year's 4 Nations Face-Off.
The 4 Nations Face-Off served as an appetizer for the 2026 Olympics and was a major success for the NHL.
Canada's Olympic orientation camp will take place in Calgary from August 26-28.
With it now being August, things around the NHL have naturally slowed down significantly. It is not surprising, as most of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed. However, there are still some veterans who are UFAs at this point in the summer, and one of them is former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Nieto.
The Penguins elected not to re-sign Nieto this off-season after he spent each of the last two seasons with the team. In 32 games this past season with Pittsburgh, the Long Beach, California native recorded one goal, two assists, three points, 39 hits, and a minus-8 rating.
Nieto was also placed on waivers by Pittsburgh in February. After clearing them, he joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). In 15 games with the AHL squad, he recorded three goals, four assists, seven points, and a plus-2 rating.
While the 2024-25 season was a tough year for Nieto, it is fair to wonder if a team out there could consider inviting him to training camp on a professional tryout (PTO). The 2011 second-round pick has plenty of experience and can be a serviceable bottom-six forward when playing at his best. Thus, he could be a decent veteran for a club to bring in to improve their forward depth.
In 54 games over two seasons with the Penguins, Nieto recorded two goals, five assists, seven points, 53 hits, and a minus-3 rating.
Per Hockey Canada, the National Teams Orientation Camp is a three-day, off-ice event with players and staff from all three programs, which will include presentations, team-building opportunities, team meetings, and media opportunities in preparation for the upcoming season.
Also included on this list is former Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson, who was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens on June 27 ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Both represented Team Canada at the 2025 World Championships, with Horvat leaving the tournament early due to an injury which he has fully recovered from.
Not included on this list is Islanders forward Mathew Barzal, who is still working his way back from a lower-body injury.
EA SPORTS will announce the cover athlete for NHL 26 on Aug. 4, the company said in a release Friday.
EA SPORTS NHL changed all of their profile photos and banners on social media to a generic NHL 26 logo, finally acknowledging the games existence, as well as a standard and limited edition version of the game.
With Season 8 set begin in NHL 25 on it will be interesting to see if there are any tie-ins with NHL 26.
Comment below you think the cover athlete will be. The Hughes brothers were revealed to be the NHL 25 cover athletes in a leaked trailed on Aug. 19, 2024.
