NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Vidal Bruján #2 of the New York Mets bobbles the ball during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on June 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Prior to tonight’s game against the Reds, the team designated infielder Vidal Bruján for assignment and added Zack Short, whom they claimed off waivers yesterday, to the major league roster. The team also added Kodai Senga back to the roster to make the start tonight, and optioned Jonathan Pintaro to Triple-A.
Bruján had just one hit in 11 at-bats for the club during his tenure, slashing .091/.167/.091 in nine games. Despite Francisco Lindor’s injury, which could have opened the door to more playing time for a club with few options at shortstop, he didn’t see the field much and was ineffective when he did. The team will instead opt to give Short a chance. Short performed marginally better than Bruján this season, collecting six hits in 36 at-bats for the Tigers before being DFAed. He hit .167/.304/.222 for Detroit this season.
The club also activated Senga off the IL to make the start tonight. Pintaro, who came in yesterday in relief of Tobias Myers, served as the corresponding roster move. The right-hander ate valuable innings in last night’s defeat, hurling 3 2/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. On the season, he’s allowed three earned runs in 10 1/3 innings for New York. Senga, meanwhile, will look to get his season back on track after struggling before his injury. In five starts, he posted a 9.00 ERA.
Joe Root says he is taking the England captaincy on a “game-by-game basis” after replacing the exiled Ben Stokes for this week’s second Test against New Zealand.
MILWAUKEE — Cooper Pratt has reached the major leagues 2 ½ months after the Milwaukee Brewers signed the shortstop prospect to an eight-year, $50.75 million contract.
The Brewers called the 21-year-old Pratt up from Triple-A Nashville before opening a three-game series with the Cleveland Guardians. They made room for Pratt by designating third baseman Luis Rengifo for assignment.
Brewers officials showed their faith in Pratt when they signed him on April 3 to an eight-year deal that includes club options for 2034 and 2035. The $50.75 million contract includes escalators that could raise the value by $10 million if he repeatedly finishes high in MVP voting and the team exercises those two options.
Pratt won a Gold Glove as the top shortstop in the minor leagues in 2024 and has continued to play outstanding defense ever since. His hitting is more of a work in progress.
Pratt was hitting .241 with a .349 on-base percentage, six homers, 32 RBIs and 17 steals in 58 games with Triple-A Nashville this season. He batted .238 with a .343 on-base percentage, eight homers, 62 RBIs and 31 steals in 120 games with Double-A Biloxi last year.
“We believe in the bat,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said when Pratt signed his contract. “We believe in the glove, certainly. This guy is really toolsy, too. He’s very athletic. He’s a big, physical kid, so we think there’s a chance to grow into some power. And he can really run. When you have that kind of athletic foundation, it’s a really good thing.”
The Brewers can afford to be patient with Pratt’s bat as long as he fields the way he did in the minor leagues.
Milwaukee has received little offensive production from the left side of its infield all season, yet the Brewers lead the NL Central by 4 ½ games over St. Louis as they chase their fourth straight division title. The versatile David Hamilton had been splitting time with Joey Ortiz at shortstop and with Rengifo at third base.
Hamilton is batting .231 with a .316 on-base percentage, .320 slugging percentage, three homers, 11 RBIs and 14 steals in 58 games. Ortiz is hitting .207 with a .299 on-base percentage, .262 slugging percentage, one homer, 14 RBIs and five steals in 60 games.
Rengifo was hitting .205 with a .280 on-base percentage, .254 slugging percentage, no homers, 19 RBIs and three steals in 57 games.
Pratt was one of two Brewers prospects to sign a lucrative long-term deal this year while still in the minors. Luis Lara, a 21-year-old outfielder playing for Nashville, signed a seven-year deal worth $31 million.
Tommy Edman (2B/OF Dodgers): Rostered in six percent of Yahoo leagues
Having hit .275/.351/.392 in 14 rehab games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Edman is finally back with the Dodgers after offseason surgery to repair the ankle injury that limited him throughout 2025. He'll be a part-timer initially and probably won't make an immediate impact in shallow leagues. However, he should prove to be rather valuable over the final three months.
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Edman hasn't really been at full strength since 2023, when he hit 13 homers and stole 27 bases for the Cardinals. The Dodgers acquired him at the 2024 trade deadline, even though he was still recovering from wrist surgery that had kept him out all season. They then gave him a five-year, $74 million contract extension prior to 2025 after just 37 regular-season games and a strong run in the postseason. Last year, he started strong before the ankle injury but then turned in his worst season to date, finishing at .225/.274/.382 in 97 games. It's fair to wonder if he'll return to previous form after all the missed time. The Triple-A stint wasn't particularly encouraging in that regard, as he struck out 28 percent of the time and had a 26 percent hard-hit rate.
A big part of what makes Edman worth betting on, if not now then in a couple of weeks, is that he's a Dodger. He should eventually turn into a lineup fixture for the best offense in baseball. Even last year, when he wasn't at his best, he had 49 runs and 49 RBI in his 97 games. With Dodger Stadium boosting homers for righties and lefties alike, the switch-hitting Edman has gone deep 12 times in his 60 home starts the last two years. It's unclear if he'll reemerge as a strong basestealer right away or at all, but he's always been exceptional when he chooses to run, having gone 115-for-133 on the basepaths in his career. After 13 games without trying a steal, he did collect one in his final Triple-A game on Sunday. He might not be more than a fringy mixed leaguer if he declines to run, but it'd be nice to have him stashed and see how fares the rest of the month.
Blaze Jordan (1B/3B Cardinals): Rostered in 17 percent of Yahoo leagues
Finally bailing on Nolan Gorman, the Cardinals called up Jordan last week to take over at third base. The 23-year-old's bat demanded it, as he was hitting .313/.373/.548 with more extra-base hits (31) than strikeouts (29) in 252 plate appearances for Triple-A Memphis. His glove... well, that might still be an issue.
From 500-foot homers at 13 years old to his first Major League homer
Jordan has split time between third and first every year since the Red Sox made him a third-round pick in 2020. Expectations have always been that he'd wind up at first or as a DH for the long haul, but third base is what the Cardinals have open for now. Range is the issue for him at the hot corner, but he'll handle what he gets to and make strong throws. Having an excellent shortstop next to him in Masyn Winn will help.
Offensively, Jordan still doesn't show as much power as his frame suggests, but he's gotten quite a bit better there this year. His hard-hit rate jumped from 34 percent in his 85 games in Triple-A last year to 42 percent this season, yet his strikeout rate still held steady at 11-12 percent. He hits too many groundballs, mostly because he's just really good at making contact; breaking balls that would produce missed swings much of the time instead turn into foul balls and groundouts when Jordan gets a piece. Jordan will have to become more selective to turn into a major threat. As is, though, he's still probably a contributor. As much contact as he makes, he'll be a nice RBI guy once he settles into the middle of the order.
Garrett Mitchell (OF Brewers): Rostered in five percent of Yahoo leagues
Last time Mitchell was featured here was on Apr. 7, when he was rostered in 15 percent of leagues. That the number has gone down makes some sense, as he slumped in the first half of May and faced playing time questions as Christian Yelich and Andrew Vaughn returned from injury. Mitchell, though, seems back on solid footing. He's batting .307/.366/.560 with three homers in 22 games since May 14. He also seems to have overtaken Sal Frelick on Milwaukee's outfield depth chart, keeping him in the lineup when the team opts to play Jake Bauers in a corner or gives Blake Perkins a chance against a lefty.
Mitchell is probably going to remain streaky going forward. He strikes out far too much, and though his exit velocity numbers are impressive, he's developed a bad habit of hitting too many balls on the ground this season. Mitchell’s Statcast page is truly remarkable. He's in the 96th percentile of major leaguers in bat speed and the 97th percentile in sprint speed. And he's in the first percentile in strikeout rate. In truth, he's probably swinging a little too hard. It's kind of nuts that he can be in the 91st percentile in chase rate yet in the second percentile in whiff rate. It's basically just him and Munetaka Murakami with that profile this year.
What's made Mitchell fairly disappointing for fantasy purposes this year is that he's just 6-for-11 stealing bases through 59 games. He'd been 23-for-28 in 141 career games coming into the season. Obviously, it's not a matter of speed. Still, Mitchell hasn't been willing to take chances lately; he hasn't attempted a steal since May 29 after being caught on his last two tries. Mitchell would need to get back to stealing bases to be an impact player in mixed leagues, but as is, he's still worth playing until his next injury arises.
Waiver Wire Quick Hits
- The Brewers didn't exactly wait until Cooper Pratt got hot to call him up. In fact, his .655 OPS in Triple-A this month is about 100 points lower than Joey Ortiz's .748 mark in the majors. Overall, he'd come in at .241/.349/.386 with six homers in 58 games for Nashville. He did have 17 steals in 18 attempts, but it's hard to see him being of much use in mixed leagues in the short term.
- There's no denying that Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien is a mess right now. Since opening the year with 13 consecutive scoreless appearances, he's posted a 6.88 ERA in his last 17 outings, walking 10 and hitting four batters in 17 innings. His K rate is a modest 20 percent during the span, and his usually strong groundball rate has collapsed. As good as he looked early on, he really shouldn't be closing for a major league team right now. If the Cardinals had a clear No. 2 reliever, he'd probably be worth stashing right now, but JoJo Romero, Ryne Stanek and George Soriano could all be candidates for saves if they pull the plug on O'Brien. I'd like to recommend Soriano as a sleeper, but I can't help but think Oli Marmol might default to the more veteran options.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler undoubtedly had a successful 2025-26 season. This is because he not only had success at the AHL level with the Laval Rocket but also proved to the Canadiens that he is ready for the NHL.
In 27 games this season with Laval, Fowler posted a 19-7-1 record, a 2.23 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage, and three shutouts. At the NHL level with the Canadiens, he had a 9-6-2 record, a .908 save percentage, a 2.43 goals-against average, and one shutout.
With numbers like these, it is clear that Fowler had a strong season in both leagues. However, with the 21-year-old having a ton of potential, it would not be surprising if we see him hit another new level next season.
Fowler has the potential to blossom into a star NHL goalie, and he should improve as he continues to gain more experience. If he does take another step forward next season, it would be huge for a Habs club that is entering its Stanley Cup window.
It is going to be interesting to see what kind of season Fowler can put together for the Canadiens in 2026-27. There is a lot to like about his game.
Jun 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Yankees pitcher David Bednar (53) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Despite featuring a closer who has, at times, underperformed and lacking a clear bridge to him in the late innings, the Yankees’ relief corps has posted the third-lowest ERA in the AL. Yes, a big reason for that statistic is the fact that New York’s starters have done their part, allowing their counterparts in the bullpen to toss the second-fewest innings in the league as manager Aaron Boone has been able to put his relievers in position to succeed. But it’s also a testament to the overperforming veterans who’ve buoyed the bullpen as a whole.
As I do each month in a given season, I’m going to take a look at the Yankees’ relievers to identify how Boone is deploying each and offer a verdict as to how much trust we can place in them moving forward.
Statistics below are as of June 15th.
The Closer
David Bednar
Recent stats (since May 15th): 11.2 IP, 3.86 ERA, 14 SO, 3.62 FIP, 4 Saves (in 5 opportunities)
After a sloppy start to the year, Bednar appears to have settled in. He’s rolled off eight straight scoreless outings, including a stretch of four hitless appearances to start the month of June. A few of those goose eggs put up by the Yankees’ closer came in games where the Yankees led by more than three runs, negating a save opportunity and perhaps providing an easier avenue for outs against an overpowered opponent. Still, zeroes are zeroes.
Bednar’s peripherals anticipated some positive regression after his early struggles, and that has started to come to fruition. Opponents are chasing on pitches outside the zone 39.4 percent of the time and putting the ball on the ground 59.8 percent of the time when they make contact, both of which are in the game’s upper echelon. Expect the eight-year veteran to continue an upward trajectory as he remains unchallenged for the ninth.
The Set-Up Man
Fernando Cruz
Recent stats (since May 15th): 14.2 IP, 1.23 ERA, 16 SO, 2.56 FIP
Cruz has gradually become the Yankees’ de facto set-up man. It’s not hard to see why. The 36-year-old has built on a breakout 2025, pitching to a 2.01 ERA in 34 games (only five MLB pitchers have made more appearances) while bringing an explosive intensity to the mound that has helped galvanize his teammates. As was the case last year, the only scary part of his game is control; Cruz has walked five batters over his last three appearances, creating the kind of traffic that can quickly lead to big innings.
Confidence level: High
Until proven otherwise, Cruz’s splitter remains an unstoppable force. Opponents are hitting just .117 against the pitch and are showing no signs of adjusting to its confounding vertical drop. The walks are a concern but, for now, he remains in the driver’s seat.
Recent stats (since May 15th): 11 IP, 4.09 ERA, 8 SO, 3.38 FIP
In Doval, the Yankees have a textbook case of analytics versus outcomes. The former Giants closer’s 2.76 expected ERA is sparkling; his 5.06 season ERA, not so much. FIP, looking at a 25:5 K:BB ratio but four home runs in 26.2 innings, is in between at 3.74. The good, old-fashioned eye test tells us that we have a pitcher with impressive stuff and strong control who struggles far too often to command the zone (his nearly 50 percent hard-hit rate backs this up as well). Where does that leave us?
Confidence level: Low
While Doval has pitched better of late, holding opponents off the board in his last five outings, there’s been far too much boom-and-bust in the right-hander’s game since he joined the Yankees at last year’s deadline (and before) for him to garner much trust. While he’s lost the set-up role with which he entered the season, Doval has remained in the late-inning mix and, considering his recent success, should see more opportunities, but we’re still in breath-holding mode when he enters in high leverage.
Brent Headrick
Recent stats (since May 15th): 12 IP, 1.50 ERA, 14 SO, 2.27 FIP
Headrick has been one of the sport’s biggest surprises at reliever and, considering the chasm between expectation and performance, arguably the biggest reason the Yankees’ bullpen has been as successful as it has so far this year. He’s one of those five pitchers with more than 34 appearances and has posted a 1.87 ERA while shouldering that heavy workload. Opponents are hitting below the Mendoza line against both his four-seamer and slider, the two pitches he throws nearly 85 percent of the time.
I’ve been skeptical of Headrick’s staying power in the column. And, while most metrics expect some regression, at some point you have to accept that the man is for real. Boone is using him often as a stopper in the middle innings, and to great success. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if he ends up throwing the southpaw into more eighth-inning work.
Tim Hill
Recent stats (since May 15th): 9.1 IP, 9.64 ERA, 7 SO, 6.00 FIP
It finally happened, folks: Hill had a bad month. When I wrote my last installment of this series a month ago, he had an even 1.00 ERA. It’s jumped all the way up to 3.95 after a doozy of a stretch that saw two different four-run blow-ups and a run of nine outings in which he escaped just three without putting runs on the board. While the sidewinder’s ground-ball rate has remained typically pristine, he’s allowing more hard contact and no longer getting by on the strength of his all-world sinker.
Confidence level: High
Hill has tossed off perfect outings his last four times out, lending credence to the notion that his nine-appearance implosion was just a fever dream. Between his track record since joining the Yanks last year and the specificity of his role in the middle innings, I remain confident in the 36-year-old’s ability to deliver. All signs point to his MLB-best 69.6 percent ground-ball rate continuing to carry the day.
Jake Bird
Recent stats (since May 15th): 7.2 IP, 5.87 ERA, 10 SO, 5.84 FIP
The Yankees just keep running Bird out there. He’s floundered since coming over at last year’s deadline, never settling in and bouncing between the bigs and Triple-A. He’s allowed 12 runs in 21 innings this year, a ratio that’s simply noncompetitive.
Confidence level: Low
Bird is a black hole in the Yankees’ bullpen right now, mostly entering in pretty close games and mostly exiting with the team worse for wear. He’s thrown more than 20 pitches just once this year, meaning he doesn’t even offer many bullets for a garbage time role. The 30-year-old’s roster spot should be considered tenuous at best, particularly since he can still be optioned down to the minors.
The Long Reliever
Paul Blackburn
Recent stats (since May 15th): 12.2 IP, 1.42 ERA, 10 SO, 3.03 FIP
After mostly using him in blowouts or bulk-type roles early in the season, Boone has experimented with inserting Blackburn for shorter appearances in closer games. The former starter has acquitted himself nicely, dropping his season ERA under 3.00 while avoiding any multi-run outings despite pitching more than one inning in six of his eight appearances over the past month.
Outside of a strong ground-ball rate, there’s not much to indicate Blackburn has transformed himself from a middling starter into a top-tier reliever a la Luke Weaver. Still, the Yankees are getting great value out of the 32-year-old on a one-year, $2 million contract.
The Mop-Up Man
Ryan Yarbrough
Recent stats (since May 15th): 7.2 IP, 3.52 ERA, 4 SO, 4.02 FIP
Clearly jumped by Blackburn in the pecking order, Yarbrough is an afterthought in the Yankees’ bullpen. He’s pitching about once a week, usually in a game that’s not particularly close. His outcomes remain serviceable but, after an excellent run last year that netted him a return engagement, it appears the honeymoon is over.
Confidence index: Low
The last man out of the bullpen is a dangerous place to be. It appears Yarbrough is sticking around because there’s no one in line to replace him who would offer more value (or who the team would not prefer to stash at Triple-A for the time being). If the Yankees add another bullpen piece — either from the minors, off another team’s scrap heap, or by bouncing a struggling Ryan Weathers to the bullpen — the veteran lefty is at serious risk of a DFA. Perhaps his best case to stick around is the team’s ability to option Bird down to Triple-A without passing him through waivers.
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With the Stanley Cup playoffs now in the rearview, the landscape for the NHL offseason is becoming clearer by the day. The Anaheim Ducks are currently projected to have $38.8 million in cap space, and the biggest hole in their lineup remains on the right side of their blueline.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday that veteran pending unrestricted free agent defenseman John Carlson (36), via his agent Rick Curran, has relayed to Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek that Carlson intends to remain unsigned and head to the UFA market on July 1.
“I’ve had good discussions with Pat,” Curran told LeBrun. “I told him how much John enjoyed his time in Anaheim. But his preference is to return and play in the East, closer to family and the familiarity with it. Pat was naturally disappointed but completely understood.”
The Ducks acquired Carlson at the 2026 trade deadline from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a conditional 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.
The goal of the acquisition was to reward the Ducks for their position in the standings, give them the best chance of making the playoffs, and the best chance of succeeding once there. Following the trade, Verbeek stated his intention to attempt to re-sign Carlson at the season’s end.
Carlson was injured at the time of the trade, but he returned to action on March 15, with 16 games remaining in the 2025-26 regular season. After some tense moments down the stretch where their standings position was in question, the Ducks qualified for the NHL Playoffs for the first time since 2018, going 7-6-3 with Carlson in the lineup.
To the Ducks’ lineup, Carlson brought with him a veteran poise and offensive production. He scored 14 points (3-11=14) while averaging 24:11 in 16 regular season games in Anaheim. He was instrumental in the Ducks’ first-round defeat of the Edmonton Oilers, and though he didn’t get the McDavid matchup during those games, he provided a quality two-way impact and notched four assists.
Carlson only tallied two assists in the Ducks second round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, as the entire team had a difficult time cracking the Knights’ zone coverage and penalty kill.
The Ducks were one of the NHL’s worst defensive teams in 2025-26, and are a young team looking to build on their year and become sustainable contenders for years to come. So, the acquisition of Carlson, who can mostly be considered an “offensive defenseman” at this stage in his career, and was on an expiring contract, may have caused some to scratch their heads. Especially given the reported availability of defensemen like MacKenzie Weegar, Colton Parayko, and Rasmus Ristolainen at the deadline, all of whom either have more term, are younger, and are better stylistic fits.
Reports indicate that Carlson’s preference will be to return to the East Coast on his next contract. Other Ducks right-shot defensemen Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba are also pending UFAs, leaving Drew Helleson, Ian Moore, and Tristan Luneau as the only RHDs in the Ducks’ organization with NHL experience.
The first-round pick that the Ducks sent to Washington in exchange for Carlson will be the 18th overall pick on June 26. It will mark the first time since 2017 that the Ducks won’t have a pick on the first day of the NHL Draft.
One week out from the NBA Draft, rumors around trades and free agency are coming fast. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the name most often discussed — get the latest on his potential trade here — but there is much more going on as well. Here are some of the latest news and notes.
Is Trae Young available?
All indications out of Washington have been that it plans to get Trae Young to reject his $49 million player option and get the All-Star point guard to sign a longer-term extension at a lower per-year number.
That said, teams are eying a potential Young trade, including the Miami Heat, who see him as a "big fish" backup if they strike out on landing Giannis Antetokounmpo, reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line.
That all seems a little odd after there was virtually no market for Young at the trade deadline, and the Wizards got him for a song. Fischer notes that the changed lottery rules — where the teams with the three worst records have a worse chance of landing the No. 1 pick than seeds 4-10 — have increased the value of a floor-raiser like Young.
The key thing to watch: If Young picks up that $49 million player option — which he has to do by draft day next Tuesday — it's a sign he's about to be traded.
Miami also has its eye on Kawhi Leonard — if he becomes available, he is not currently — and Ja Morant as big swings if they miss out on Antetokounmpo.
Kessler, Jazz at “odds”
Being a restricted free agent sucks, especially if the team holding a player's rights makes it known they plan to match any offer.
Enter Walker Kessler. The Utah Jazz big man will be a restricted free agent (once the Jazz extend a $7.1 million qualifying offer), and a number of teams have interest in the 24-year-old. However, he is frustrated by the way the Jazz are handling the situation, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.
Kessler... was already known to be frustrated by Utah's choice not to offer him an extension last summer. And now, with the Jazz choosing to leverage the realities of restricted free agency against him as a way to minimize his market, sources say he is strongly considering the prospect of a basketball future outside Utah. Yet, as is always the case with restricted free agents, it's never quite that simple. Kessler can either strike a deal with the Jazz, sign an offer sheet with another team (starting on July 1) that Utah could match, find a suitable sign-and-trade option for both parties or sign the qualifying offer (worth $14.6 million) for next season as a pathway to unrestricted free agency next summer. Whatever route he ultimately takes, this much is clear: Kessler is currently disenchanted with the Jazz franchise.
Welcome to Negotiations 101. Kessler and his agent want as big a deal as they can get from the Jazz, so the goal is to create leverage — and an unhappy player who might take an offer from another team, or hold a grudge long term, is some leverage. Will Kessler be able to get the size of offer he wants from a team with cap space, like the Lakers? Maybe, but those teams are not tying up their cap space for a couple of days unless they believe Utah will not match the offer. There is no reason to believe that.
Ultimately, Kessler and the Jazz will settle on a number and go from there. If Kessler can be the anchor at the five this team needs next to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen, then he will have a lot more leverage on a future contract.
Nuggets want to keep Gordon, trade Braun
There is going to be some re-shuffling in Denver this summer. Peyton Watson is a restricted free agent and his absence during the playoffs showed how vital it is for this team to re-sign him. With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray both making $50+ million next season, the Nuggets are already flirting with the second tax apron before re-signing Watson, which means shedding some salary.
I'm told Aaron Gordon, who turns 31 in September, is the Denver veteran drawing the strongest external trade interest. Next season will be the first on a three-year, $103.6 million contract extension ... League sources say that the Nuggets' preferred course for a roster shakeup is finding a trade market for Christian Braun rather than entertaining deals that involve Gordon or Jamal Murray after Murray's first All-Star season, but those efforts are rife with challenges.
A lot of teams would love to trade for Gordon for the same reason Denver can't afford to let him go — Gordon is the ultimate glue guy, a two-way four that was critical to their championship run. The market for Braun will not be as strong, but he is a plus defender on the perimeter who averaged 12 points a game last season and is a career 36.5% from 3-point range — he can help a lot of teams. He's also locked into a fully guaranteed contract with four years and $103.4 million remaining.
One way or another, Denver has to get under the second tax apron and create some flexibility.
Other trade notes:
• Cleveland, a team over the second apron last season, is looking to trim some salary and, with that, is seeing what the trade market looks for veteran guard Dennis Schroder, reports ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Schroder is set to make $14.8 million next season and $15.5 million the season after, but only $4.4 million of that second season is guaranteed.
• No, Oklahoma City is not trying to trade Chet Holmgren. It's not on the table. That was never logical or on the table, but when a few teams did call, they were shot down quickly, something Zach Lowe noted on his podcast.
• One trade the Thunder are looking to make is moving the No. 17 pick in this year's draft, with multiple reports that they are looking to move on from that selection. They likely keep the No. 12 pick.
• League sources keep telling NBC Sports to expect that the Lakers will re-sign Austin Reaves despite rumors of other teams expressing interest. The only question is the final number.
Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo watches during the first half of the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
TOC Nation, I know most of us are not pleased with the chain of events we have seen in East Lansing over the past few weeks. As Tom Izzo said yesterday in his brief comments to the media, it is up to all of the Spartan community to get things moving in the right direction. So in this week’s survey questions, I am asking a couple questions about the road ahead. First, I want to see if you believe we can get this thing turned around. And second, I want to see what you are looking for in the person to lead us there.
I look forward to seeing how you vote and reading your comments on these. And as always, sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The signing of T.J. Hughes out of the NCAA has been a wonder for the Colorado Avalanche. The Hobey Baker finalist, in his short span with the AHL Colorado Eagles, has already shown the fanbase and organization what's to come from him and how things can look even better.
Despite the Eagles losing to the Chicago Wolves in the Western Conference Finals in the Calder Cup Playoffs, as every game and series passed, Hughes managed to get more and more comfortable and show off different elements of his game that can really show how a successful training camp could have him as a runner-up for the final spot on the Avalanche 2026-27 opening night roster.
A Great Fit For The Middle-Six
After finishing his season with the University of Michigan and signing with the Avalanche, he played only two regular-season games before the team prepared for the playoffs, finishing with a goal and an assist. While his first couple of games showed some nervousness and unfamiliarity with the environment, in every game that followed, he showed increasing confidence with his linemates and the AHL's style of play.
By the end of the Eagles' run of the playoffs, he finished with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in seventeen games played. That's the third most points on the team behind Tristen Nielsen (17) and Ivan Ivan (15). Before Game 3 of the Calder Cup Finals between the Toronto Marlies and the Wolves, Hughes is still ninth in terms of scoring in the entire playoffs.
What really stands out in his game is his playmaking, as he can read plays and make the most of them however he can, all while playing as the second-line center. He was able to follow the play well and be in position for loose pucks, and while four goals wasn’t the most on the team, his shot volume was high as he finished with 54 shots on goal, the second most on the team behind Neilsen (56) and still fourth most among all AHL playoff skaters.
What really interests me is how the Avalanche could use him if he makes the lineup. While he is naturally a center, we have seen him play on the right wing at times, which opens up possibilities within the lineup. He probably won't play a center role in the top six, but he could see time on the wing if the role fits or if there is an injury.
The most sense is in a bottom-six position right away as a center to utilize his skills to the fullest, with players like Parker Kelly, Logan O’Connor, and Nicolas Roy; many defensive players can help Hughes while matching his speed and skills on offense.
How This Offseason Could Determine His Role
The Avalanche are in for a ride this offseason, and it's already started pretty hot. From fans wanting head coach Jared Bednar fired to General Manager Chris MacFarland, who is leaving for the Nashville Predators, change is on the way, and we learned that from Joe Sakic at the end-of-season media conference.
The bottom six as a whole could look a lot different to start next season. Joel Kiviranta is an unrestricted free agent, and Jack Drury and Zakhar Bardakov are restricted free agents. I’ve made my case for why Drury should be a key focus for the Avalanche to keep, but we could see Kiviranta go, with Bardakov as another player between the Eagles and Avalanche on a two-way deal.
Then there's the cap situation: the Avalanche have just under $3 million in cap space, and that's not gonna be enough if they want to keep Drury and Brett Kulak. So we could be looking at cap casualties like Ross Colton or Valeri Nichushkin.
If this team wants to match last season's success, it needs production up and down the lineup, as it did. With how well Kelly played last season, the ability to get a full season of a healthy O’Connor, and hopes of re-signing Drury with Roy to fill out the center positions, a guy like Colton needs to go, given his cap hit and limited production.
Before signing Hughes, other playoff teams in the league thought Hughes could jump right into their lineup and help produce. With what Hughes showed this playoff run with the Eagles, it's time for the Avalanche to put that faith into him and reap the benefits of his cheap ELC to improve other areas of the team.
David Pagnotta: Re TJ Hughes (college free agent): Teams like Toronto and Edmonton have viewed him as a player that can step in and play with some of the big boys right out of the gate - The Sheet (4/3)
ARLINGTON, Texas — When St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol saw his team had an unusual Saturday off during the season, and in the middle of a series, he had one question: “Can I make it to the soccer game?”
Not just any soccer game, a World Cup match.
The international soccer tournament, held every four years, is ongoing at 16 sites in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Those include 11 markets that also are home to a combined 13 Major League Baseball teams.
Kansas City, where the Cardinals open a three-game series, is hosting six World Cup matches at the NFL stadium in the same complex with the Royals’ ballpark. The Cardinals and Royals will be off Saturday, when Ecuador plays Curaçao.
“That is the goal, yes,” Marmol said when asked if he was going to that match.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and his wife, who played soccer at Old Dominion, plan to be there.
“It’s strange, but it’s special circumstances,” Pasquantino said. “It’s awesome that Kansas City got access to World Cup games. So, however many years until the United States hosts again, we’ll be all right with some off days like that.”
World Cup matches are being played in the United States for the first time since 1994.
Getting their kicks in Texas
A tournament-high nine matches are being played at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys that is adjacent to Globe Life Field. The neighboring Texas Rangers will host two split series, but also have a Monday off between home series on July 6, the day of a round of 16 match.
Texas now is in a three-game series against Minnesota that will finish Thursday, after a pause Wednesday when powerhouse England plays its Cup opener against Croatia.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson, who played soccer as a kid in California.
The Rangers completed a road trip Sunday in Boston, with thousands of Scottish fans chanting and singing at Fenway Park the night after Scotland won the opener of its first World Cup appearance in 28 years. That win over Haiti was at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 30 miles away.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said the presence of the Tartan Army made it feel like a European soccer game. He and members of his staff now want to attend the World Cup.
“It was so much fun that on the off day the majority of our staff is trying to find a way to get tickets to go to a game that they know really nothing about because of the atmosphere that was so incredible,” Schumaker said. “The passion was insane.”
In Philadelphia, the Phillies will be off Friday during their home series against the New York Mets since Brazil plays Haiti at nearby Lincoln Financial Field.
Like for the Rangers, Royals and Seattle Mariners, the home of the Phillies is next to an NFL stadium hosting some of the 104 matches during the nearly six-week tournament with teams from 48 nations. Those stadiums all have shared parking lots.
Texas and Kansas City both are off for round of 32 Cup matches on July 3, a Friday. The Rangers will have already opened a series against Detroit, while the Royals wait to start an unusual Saturday through Monday series against the Phillies.
Not all of the matches are next door
Either the Mets or Yankees have a home game on each of the eight dates World Cup matches are at MetLife Stadium across the river in New Jersey, including the championship finale July 19, when the Yankees also host Shohei Ohtani and the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Yankee Stadium is about 14 miles from the Meadowlands, with Citi Field about 24 miles away.
World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium will be about 13 miles from Dodger Stadium and 35 miles from Angel Stadium. Either the Dodgers or Angels play at home on six of the eight match dates in Inglewood. Those other two dates fall on normal off days during a homestand, one for each team.
With separation between stadiums, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Miami and Toronto all will play multiple home games that concur with World Cup matches in their markets.
Mariners and Red Sox almost played two
There still will be a split series for the Angels when they go to Seattle, with a midweek break July 1 for a round of 16 Cup match.
The Mariners originally were scheduled to have a home doubleheader Saturday against Boston with the United States playing Australia in Seattle. But when match time at Lumen Field was set at noon local Friday, the Mariners and Red Sox switched to a traditional three-game series with the opener that night, instead of playing MLB’s first scheduled doubleheader in two years.
Bill Simmons believes Jalen Brunson’s championship run has changed the way he should be viewed historically.
The Ringer founder said Brunson now belongs among the top 50 players in NBA history after leading the Knicks to their first championship since 1973, capped by a 45-point performance in New York’s Game 5 win over the Spurs.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks talks to the media after the game San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
It is a major jump in reputation for Brunson, who arrived in New York as an undersized guard with playoff credibility but not the profile of a player expected to become the centerpiece of a championship team.
That changed during the Knicks’ run.
Brunson was repeatedly the player New York leaned on to create offense late in games, and his Game 5 performance helped close out a 94-90 win over San Antonio that delivered the franchise its first title in 53 years.
Simmons said that kind of run puts Brunson in a different category, especially when compared with other great guards whose teams never quite reached the same stage with them as the clear lead option.
“He did something a bunch of great guards were never able to do,” Simmons said.
Simmons pointed to James Harden, Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd while making the argument.
Harden reached the Finals early in his career with the Thunder, but never got there as the lead star of his own team. Nash won two MVP awards but never made the Finals. Paul reached the Finals with the Suns in 2021 but lost to the Bucks, while Kidd lost twice in the Finals with the Nets before later winning a championship with the Mavericks.
“What Brunson did was up there with Dwyane Wade in 2006,” Simmons said. “It was up there with Walton in ’77.”
Wade led the Heat to the 2006 title with a dominant Finals performance against the Mavericks, while Bill Walton carried the Trail Blazers to the 1977 championship.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson motions after a basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in San Antonio. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Simmons said Brunson’s case was built not only on production, but on how often he delivered under pressure.
“He was the guy over and over again who could create the best offense for them, and he got better when it mattered,” Simmons said.
“He never got tired,” Simmons said. “As a small guy, the stuff that he did was inconceivable.”
The performance that appeared to push Simmons over the edge was Game 5, when Brunson’s 45 points finished off the series and secured the title.
“The more I look at it and stare at it, I think it is one of the great Finals games,” Simmons said.
Simmons said he now has Brunson ranked No. 40 on his all-time list, placing him above several Hall of Fame-level names, including Nash, Kidd, Sam Jones and George Gervin.
He also acknowledged how unlikely that would have sounded earlier in Brunson’s career.
Brunson was a second-round pick, became a key piece with the Mavericks and then took another leap after signing with the Knicks. What once looked like a strong free-agent addition turned into the foundation of a championship team.
“He is somebody that I never in a million years would have thought would make the pyramid,” Simmons said.
After the Knicks’ title run, Simmons no longer sees that as a debate.
Brunson, in his view, has moved from star guard to all-time company.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 14: Manny Machado #13 and Gavin Sheets #30 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after defeating the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday, June 14, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Piazza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Diego Padres were on the wrong end of the best start of Dustin May’s major league career. The righty threw nine shutout innings against the Friars with some help from some key defensive plays by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Padres only had one real rally in the seventh inning and it was quashed by a lucky double play.
Starter Lucas Giolito pitched well, surrendering just three runs across five innings of work. He looked better than he has in his last few outings, commanding his pitches well apart from a two-run fourth inning. But it was impossible for Giolito to keep up with May. Thankfully, San Diego staved off a perfect game after six perfect innings from the right-hander. Still, he pitched a one-hitter and gave up just one walk to Fernando Tatis Jr.
The Padres’ offense had looked great for the last few games until Tuesday night. Hopefully the Friars can right the ship in Game 2, and force their fourth consecutive rubber match.
Taking the mound
Andre Pallante (STL) v. Michael King (SD)
Pallante has been a solid starter for St. Louis to start the year. He boasts a 3.88 ERA and 1.26 WHIP through 69 2/3 innings. He’s been incredibly consistent throughout the year, surrendering less than four runs except for three of Pallante’s starts.
Most of the Friars have yet to face the right-hander. The only batter to have any success has been Manny Machado. The star third baseman owns a career .273 batting average in 11 at-bats against Pallante.
King has put up a fantastic season with the Friars, posting a 3.46 ERA and 72 strikeouts through 80 2/3 innings. He’s had some rough outings lately but bounced back somewhat against the Cincinnati Reds (3 ER, 6.2 IP).
Unlike Pallante, King has faced plenty of the Cards’ hitters. The ace has had plenty of success against the St. Louis lineup, with the group having a combined .148 batting average when facing King. Should he have the same success tonight, it would be huge for San Diego.
Batter up!
The offense struggled in an (almost) historic way on Monday night. San Diego had been slugging their way to victory in the last two series, scoring an average of 5.2 runs per game against Cincinnati and the Baltimore Orioles. It was a resurgent performance for the Friars. Hopefully the club can regain that momentum against Pallante in Game 2.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, 1B
Samad Taylor, LF
Will Wagner, DH
Sung-Mun Song, 2B
Rodolfo Durán, C
Monday night was Taylor’s first game out of the lineup since last Saturday against the New York Mets. He’s been a spark plug for the Friars offense so his departure came at a difficult time. He figures to be back in the lineup with manager Craig Stammen back after serving his one-game suspension for Saturday’s debacle with the O’s.
Relief corps
With Wandy Peralta being used as an opener, the Padres only had to turn to Kyle Hart to cover the final two frames for the San Diego pitching staff. Hart was called up in Mason Miller’s place after the latter was placed on the bereavement and family medical leave list ahead of Game 1.
With just those two relievers being used, San Diego has a plethora of options to turn to tonight. Jason Adam, Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Adrian Morejon, David Morgan and Bradgley Rodriguez are all available out of the bullpen. Marinaccio and Matsui haven’t been used since Saturday, and Morgan since Friday’s game against Baltimore. Those three will likely be the first out of the ‘pen once King exits the game.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 16: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves reacts as he rounds third base after hitting a solo homer to lead off the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is no way to sugarcoat it, the Atlanta Braves have struggled offensively this month. In fact, only three teams have scored fewer runs since the start of June. Of course, there are some excuses in terms of injuries, but the fact remains the same that the offense needs to get rolling again.
This evening the Braves are facing the San Francisco Giants who will be bringing Adrian Houser and his 5.54 ERA to the mound. With the news that reigning ROTY winner and first place All-Star vote getter Drake Baldwin will be back, there is hope that the Braves can catch a spark.
Baldwin coming back in itself is huge, but factor in that the catcher position for the Braves since the Baldwin injury is dead last in fWAR in all of MLB, it amplifies how big of a deal the return is.
As mentioned earlier, Houser is struggling this season for the Giants, and there are a few Braves players who have done well against him in their careers. Austin Riley has seventeen at-bats against Houser and has been successful with one HR, .471 average, and .1.147 OPS. Ozzie Albies has also done well in his sixteen at-bats where he has maintained an OPS of .974 which is promising since he typically hits lefties better than righties. Michael Harris only has eight at-bats against Houser but has a .375 average against him.
Interestingly, Matt Olson has struggled in his eleven at-bats against Houser with a .182 average and .630 OPS.
Baldwin will be the one leading off with Michael Harris hitting second. It should also be noted that Ha-Seong Kim will be getting the start at SS and will be batting ninth.
Grant Holmes has struggled mightily when he faces hitters a second time in a game. Hitters are averaging a slash line of .317/.391/.663 the second time they face him in a game. With JR Ritchie now slotted in the rotation, there is a good chance we will see Didier Fuentes today.
Only four players on the Giants’ active roster have faced Holmes before and none of them have more than five at-bats. Rafael Devers is the player to watch today. He has a .400 average in his five at-bats against Holmes. Willy Adames is one for two against Holmes. Matt Chapman and Luis Arraez are both hitless in their two at-bats against Holmes.
The Giants are starting every player that has faced Grant Holmes before as both teams look to get headed in the right track in this series.
