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Rafael Devers ready to put Boston situation behind and start fresh in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers strolled into the clubhouse side-by-side with home run king Barry Bonds, a fellow left-handed slugger who San Francisco's new big hitter has long admired from afar.

“I think just looking at him my game has already improved a lot,” Devers joked as he was formally introduced by the Giants on Tuesday, when he started at designated hitter batting third in the series opener against the Cleveland Guardians.

Cheered warmly when introduced before first pitch before a rousing ovation when he walked to the batter's box to chants of “Rafi,” Devers struck out swinging on five pitches in his initial at-bat in the first. Fans held their phones high to capture photos and video.

Devers is determined to leave his own lasting mark on the franchise in what is a much-needed fresh start for him and a monumental mid-season acquisition for Buster Posey and San Francisco's front office.

And whatever went wrong in Boston, Devers is done discussing any issues he had with the Red Sox and eager to move forward across the country with the Giants.

“That’s in the past now, I’m looking ahead and focusing on what I have here being a San Francisco Giant,” Devers said. “I’m eager to go out there and play and see what I can do.”

With a bright smile to match his bright new No. 16 jersey, Devers insisted he will play anywhere and do whatever manager Bob Melvin and his staff ask.

“I really like his answers by the way,” said Posey, in his first year as president of baseball operations.

And on Day 1, Devers was out fielding groundballs at first base - something he wouldn’t do in Boston. His batting practice drew a huge crowd at Oracle Park, where fans arrived early wearing his jersey.

The Giants will take on a mega contract after Devers signed a new $331 million, 11-year deal in January 2023. He joins several other stars here with long-term contracts - shortstop Willy Adames has a seven-year, $182 million deal and third baseman Matt Chapman at $151 million over six years through 2030 - as Posey builds a roster he expects will compete for another World Series championship, like the ones the Giants won with him as their star catcher in 2010, ‘12 and ’14.

San Francisco last made the playoffs in 2021, when it won a franchise-record 107 games and edged the rival Dodgers for the NL West title on the final day.

“I think this organization has talent, they have won championships. I am here to play, to win and to win a championship,” Devers said through an interpreter.

Posey thanked ownership for its willingness to go for it and trade for Devers to boost a club that has lacked power and struggled to score runs for extended stretches this year. The trade announced Sunday came together in the past few weeks after countless hours and conversations.

“I think the persistence really paid off,” chairman Greg Johnson said.

While the Giants will gradually get Devers up to speed playing the field again since he has strictly been a DH this year, they know he has plenty of mentors eager to help. Melvin doesn't expect Devers to play third but rather DH and first, the very position he didn't want to play after losing his job at third when the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to a $120 million, three-year contract in February to be their third baseman - the spot where Devers made 130 starts last year.

“When you have a guy like Barry Bonds around, arguably the greatest hitter of all-time, it's an added benefit for sure,” Posey said.

It will only be a matter of days before Devers' first reunion with the Red Sox, who visit Oracle Park for a weekend series.

He was batting .271 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs over 72 games as Boston's primary DH. When asked what the differences will be as he begins anew, Devers noted: “It’s the same baseball. I’m here to give my 100%.”

“Been a fan from afar,” pitcher Justin Verlander said. “Excited to add a player like that to our lineup.”

The 28-year-old Devers hadn’t been thrilled with the idea of playing first base in Boston but thanked the people who cheered him, calling them “great fans who supported me my whole time there.”

After all the fanfare of his introduction and receiving his jersey in front of most of his teammates, who made time to be at his news conference before doing their pregame routines, Devers got to work.

“The Giants brought me here for a reason and I will give 100%,” he said. “I'm now happy to be part of the team.”

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Shohei Ohtani 'feeling good' after his Dodgers pitching debut and could return to mound this weekend

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani came out of his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in good order, even if he was his own worst critic.

The two-way superstar from Japan gave up a run and a pair of two-strike hits in one inning of work Monday night against San Diego as he returned from right elbow surgery. It was his first outing since August 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels.

At the plate, he had two hits and two RBIs in the Dodgers' 6-3 win.

“I think he's just a little fatigued but feels good,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday.

Ohtani was in his usual leadoff spot as the designated hitter Tuesday night against the Padres. He'll likely throw a light bullpen in the next few days.

“Not quite happy with the results overall,” he said through a translator. “But I think the biggest takeaway for me is that I feel good enough to be able to go out for my next outing.”

He threw 28 pitches - 16 for strikes - and his fastball topped out at 100.2 mph - the second-hardest pitch thrown by a Dodgers hurler this season.

“What I noticed is that when I warm up to pitch in the game, I’m already really warmed up going into the game,” he said. "So I did feel a lot better overall than when I’m just DHing.”

Roberts indicated Ohtani could pitch Saturday or Sunday when the Washington Nationals are in town.

“It's kind of a week situation,” he said, “but it’s not like a hard and fast seven days.”

The Dodgers open a six-game trip at Colorado on Tuesday, but it seems unlikely Ohtani would pitch in Denver's high altitude where the thin air reduces the movement of pitches, particularly fastballs and curveballs, and favors hitters.

The team has the option to add an inning in his next start or keep him at one. The decision will be made between the medical staff and Ohtani, Roberts said.

Carefully and cautiously.

Despite a pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries, the team is not putting pressure on their $700 million man.

In fact, it was Ohtani who told the Dodgers he wanted to test himself in a big league game rather than face hitters in simulated at-bats as he'd been doing over the last three weeks.

“This is a unique situation,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. “We have to make sure that we’re also keeping one of our best hitters in the lineup. So much of it is the back and forth and how he’s feeling and making sure that every step we’ve done along the way is just erring on the side of caution.”

The Dodgers have eight starters, including Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Japanese rookie phenom Roki Sasaki, and six relievers on the injured list.

Glasnow (shoulder) threw about 40 pitches over two innings in a live batting practice session Tuesday. The right-hander looked “really good,” Roberts said.

Glasnow could throw a bullpen in a few days and go on a minor league rehab assignment soon.

Blake Snell (shoulder) threw a bullpen Monday.

Sasaki (shoulder) has been shut down from throwing after not feeling comfortable. He's been out since May 9 and Roberts has said “we have to plan on life without him as far as this year.”

Emmet Sheehan takes the mound for the Dodgers on Wednesday, his first start in the majors since his rookie year in 2023. He had Tommy John surgery in May 2024.

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Abbotsford Canucks’ Jonathan Lekkerimäki Returns For Game 3 Of The 2025 Calder Cup Finals

A familiar face will be rejoining the Abbotsford Canucks for Game 3 of the 2025 Calder Cup Finals against the Charlotte Checkers. Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki will be making his Calder Cup Finals debut, as the forward’s last game of the playoffs was against the Texas Stars in the Western Conference Finals. 

Lekkerimäki, the 15th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, skated in 11 games with the AHL Canucks prior to returning to the lineup tonight. He registered a goal and four assists in this span of time, as well as 17 shots on net. He made his NHL debut earlier in the 2024–25 season, skating in his first NHL game on November 12 against the Calgary Flames. In 24 NHL games, Lekkerimäki scored three goals and three assists. 

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Abbotsford’s offence has been stalling for the past couple of games against the Checkers, so inserting Lekkerimäki into the lineup could help out their shooting woes. In Games 1 and 2, Abbotsford put up 43 shots in nine different periods of play. In contrast, Charlotte put up 92. As a whole, the team will need to make their chances count tonight and take advantage of the electric home crowd at the Abbotsford Centre. 

Mar 18, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (23) handles the puck against the Winnipeg Jets in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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Yankees' scoreless streak reaches shocking 29 innings with 4-0 loss to Angels

The Yankees couldn't muster up a single run for a third straight game, as they fell to the Angels, 4-0, on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium for a fifth straight loss.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Will Warren looked comfortable from the jump. The Yankees' rookie starter retired the first five batters with three strikeouts and pushed his fastball velocity to 96.3 mph, up an average of 2.1 mph. But his groove didn't last long, as the Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single from Luis Rengifo that narrowly missed DJ LeMahieu's glove on a diving attempt and trickled into right field. Warren gave up more soft contact in the third, and while facing a bases-loaded jam, Taylor Ward pushed the Angels' lead to 3-0 with a two-run single to left that deflected off Jazz Chisholm Jr. at third.

The early mistakes didn't faze Warren. He quickly settled back in after the two-run single, retiring 11 straight on 46 pitches. The impressive bounceback effort allowed him to complete six innings for the first time since May 9, and he registered the quality start with a career-high 11 punchouts and zero walks across 93 total pitches. Warren also threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of 24 batters, fell into a full count only twice, and induced four groundouts.

-- Unfortunately for Warren, his strong performance was spoiled by a dormant offense. The Yanks entered Tuesday riding a jarring 20-inning scoreless streak, and the skid confoundingly reached 26 after six shutout frames and a season-high nine strikeouts from Angels starter Kyle Hendricks. Their struggles against Hendricks defied expectations, as the veteran right-hander took the mound with the second-worst ERA among all MLB starters.

-- Ian Hamilton took over for Warren in the seventh, and the Angels took advantage of the welcome pitching change by producing another bases-loaded rally on a single from Rengifo, a catcher's interference error from Austin Wells, and a hit by pitch to Zach Neto. With one out, Nolan Schanuel grounded out to second, driving in Rengifo and bumping the Angels' lead to 4-0.

-- The Yankees had no answers for the trio of Angels relievers that entered after Hendricks' exit. They went down in order during the seventh and eighth, and only managed to reach base once in the ninth on a walk. Overall, they struck out 12 times and produced just four hits. The ugly loss marked their first time being shut out in three straight games since 2016. It's happened just six times before.

-- Jasson Dominguez, who was penciled in to the leadoff spot for the first time this season, finished 1-for-4 with a single. The only Yankee with a multi-hit night was Giancarlo Stanton, who went 2-for-4. The sample size is somewhat small, but call the past week a slump for Aaron Judge -- he's hitting .125 (3-for-24) over his last seven games.

Game MVP: Will Warren

Sure, this accolade could belong to Ward, who delivered a back-breaking, two-run single in the third that essentially put the game out of reach. But the terrific performance from Warren can't be ignored. Despite the early blunders, he recorded a career-high 11 punchouts across six innings.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees (42-30) will continue their four-game set against the Angels on Wednesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Ryan Yarbrough (3-1, 3.96 ERA) is slated to take the mound, opposite Jack Kochanowicz (3-8, 5.53 ERA).

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Mets' Mark Vientos kicks off rust with first rehab game at Triple-A Syracuse

Mets third baseman Mark Vientos got his first action since he landed on the injured list two weeks ago with a hamstring injury.

Vientos served as the DH on Tuesday night for Triple-A Syracuse and looked to kick off the rust from his time on the bench, as he finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Batting in the first inning with a runner on first against right-hander Matt Pushard, Vientos swung through the first two pitches, a 94 mph fastball and a high, looping 79 mph curveball. He hit the next curveball hard (93.6 mph off the bat) but got under it for an easy fly out to center.

He came up again with a runner on first base in the third. This time against righty Josh White, he took a called strike on a slider before working the count to 2-1, laying off a pair of pitches down and off the plate. After fouling a slider the other way, he swung right over a thigh-high slider to end the third frame.

With one out in the sixth, Vientos got nothing but soft stuff from left-hander Josh Simpson and, after fouling off several pitches, reached out and smacked a low-and-away changeup 104 mph off the bat but right at the center fielder. Aside from the hard contact, Vientos' third at-bat was clearly his best, especially when he took a 1-2 changeup that was just off the outside corner.

In his final at-bat against righty Anderson Pilar, Vientos went down swinging on a 94 mph cutter off the inside corner. He is clearly kicking off a lot of rust after a fortnight on the shelf, as he swung and missed six times in four times up.

The Mets hope the rehab can jolt Vientos back into form, as he had just six hits in his last 36 at-bats (.167) and a .549 OPS in the 12 games before hitting the IL.

He has posted a .230/.298/.380 slashline for a .678 OPS (95 OPS+ and 94 wRC+) through 208 plate appearances in 53 games.

Before the Mets took on the Braves in Atlanta, manager Carlos Mendoza said Vientos will likely have Wednesday off before playing at third base in Thursday night's game. The Mets will look to get him into back-to-back games and give him time in the field before bringing him back to the big-league roster.

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Dodgers say Nezza is not banned from stadium for singing national anthem in Spanish

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 14, 2025: Singer and social media personality Nezza.
Singer and social media personality Nezza sings "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Spanish before the Dodgers game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on June 14. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

What started as a subtle act of protest has become national news.

Three days after singer and social media personality Nezza performed a Spanish version of the national anthem at Dodger Stadium — despite being asked by a team employee to sing it in English — the performer further addressed the situation Tuesday in an interview with CNN.

“With everything that’s been happening, I just felt like I needed to stand with my people and show them that I’m with them,” Nezza (whose full name is Vanessa Hernández) said on CNN’s “The Lead.” “I wanted to represent them that day.”

Read more:Nezza says she sang national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium against team's wishes

Nezza’s performance of the Spanish anthem — a version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" commissioned by the U.S. State Department in 1945 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt — became a viral story after she posted a video on TikTok of an unidentified Dodgers employee telling her beforehand that “we are going to do the song in English today, so I’m not sure if that wasn’t relayed.”

Nezza proceeded to sing the Spanish version anyway; doing so on the same day thousands gathered downtown to protest President Trump and recent ICE raids around Los Angeles in the last two weeks.

In email communications with the team leading up to her performance, Nezza said she asked if she could sing the anthem in both English and Spanish, but was told no because she would have only a 90-second window for her performance.

Still, she said she arrived at the stadium “fully thinking that I was welcome [to sing in Spanish], because nobody told me in that email thread, ‘No, you can’t.’”

“Had they told me you can’t have any Spanish in there,” she added, “I would have respectfully declined and not shown up on Saturday.”

Instead, Nezza performed the anthem in Spanish prior to the Dodgers-Giants game, before posting two videos on TikTok explaining the situation that quickly went viral.

Read more:Nezza sang the national anthem in Spanish. In doing so, she shed light on a forgotten Latina trailblazer

On Sunday, a Dodgers official told The Times in a statement that she would be welcome back at the stadium.

In Tuesday’s CNN interview, Nezza said she was “very shocked” to learn she was welcome back at the ballpark, noting that “30 seconds after my performance, we actually received a call that said, ‘Don’t ever call us again. Don’t ever email us again. The rest of your clients are never welcome here again.’ So for me, that kind of feels like a ban."

The Dodgers, however, reaffirmed to CNN that there were “no hard feelings” resulting from the situation. And a team spokesperson confirmed to The Times this week that, “She is certainly welcome back at the stadium. She is not banned from the stadium.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Frontrunners Forming In Marner Sweepstakes After Recent Insider Reports

Hurricanes, Golden Knights and Kings among frontrunners to land pending free agent Mitch Marner following recent reports from top NHL insiders. 

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The sweepstakes for superstar winger Mitch Marner are heating up with recent rumors taking teams out of the equation and narrowing down the field. 

It was reported by multiple sources that the 102-point scorer this past season is not interested in returning to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the team has reached out but has not found any success in reaching the 28-year-old. 

"The Maple Leafs have tried to talk to Marner and Marner's camp have engaged with them and I think everyone knows where this will be heading," 
- Friedman explained on his podcast, 32 Thoughts. 

With the confirmation of a new team being in play, we can start to narrow down the options for where we think Marner will go but we should first look back to what the latest betting odds were before the recent reports. 

More Hockey: First Six Players Named For Each Nation, New 2026 Olympic Betting Odds

Updated Mitch Marner Next Team Odds (via FanDuel Sportsbook)

Vegas Golden Knights +195

Carolina Hurricanes +470 

Pittsburgh Penguins +600 

Anaheim Ducks +800

Chicago Blackhawks +800

Los Angeles Kings +1000

Utah Mammoth +1600

Toronto Maple Leafs +2100

San Jose Sharks +2700

Florida Panthers +2900

Ottawa Senators +2900

Columbus Blue Jackets +2900 

Philadelphia Flyers +4000

New York Islanders +4000

Detroit Red Wings +4000


It was reported by Friedman that he's heard from Maple Leaf teammates of Marner that they believe he will move to the Western Conference as some described the move being a "clean break."

Friedman expanded on this by mentioning some of the teams he heard were in on Marner saying "People believe LA, people believe Vegas is definitely a team to watch if not the team to watch."

More NHL: Blackhawks Reportedly Open to Trading No. 3 Pick in 2026 NHL Draft

Along with the Kings and Golden Knights, Friedman confirmed that he heard through several sources that the Hurricanes are hoping to make a serious push for Marner after failing to secure a superstar talent when acquiring and then dealing winger Mikko Rantanen. 

This could open up the possibility to several teams remaining in the conversation like the Detroit Red Wings, who have slightly less cap space than Carolina but have one of the deepest prospect pools in the league and could prove to be enticing to Marner. 

The values for all these teams are still very solid if they are to remain what we last saw before sportsbooks starting taking down the bet. With the Golden Knights at +500, the Hurricanes at +470, the Kings at +850 and the Red Wings behind the rumored top favourites at +3500, it should make for an exciting bidding war.  

We could look to pull the trigger on placing a bet on the race, when we next get a chance, with the Hurricanes and Golden Knights appering to be the best cases as it was reported Marner would like to join a contender but the report was seemingly speculation and nothing official.

More NHL: Malkin's Last Ride? Penguins Star Nears NHL Farewell Against the Odds

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Blackhawks Reportedly Open to Trading No. 3 Pick in 2026 NHL Draft

The Blackhawks are reportedly interested in trading the third overall pick in this year's draft

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The Chicago Blackhawks are reportedly interested in trading the third overall pick in this year's draft for more immediate help for young star Connor Bedard, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli. 

The Blackhawks have made eight first-round picks over the past three years and aren’t focused on further stockpiling prospects. With the 25th overall pick this year and two more first-rounders next year, trading down from the No. 3 spot could make sense as the team shifts its focus from rebuilding to winning. 

They aren't desperate to trade the pick Seravalli added, however they would are looking to be aggressive this off-season and trading a top three pick would be just that. 

More NHL:Frontrunners Forming In Marner Sweepstakes After Recent Insider Reports

Chicago hasn't made the playoffs since 2020 and have accrued a 126-215-43 record during that span. A top six forward or top four defenceman could go a long way for this Blackhawks team that is starving for some wins. 

�� Anton Frondell �� USA! #svenskhockeytv #nhldraft2025🫢 Anton Frondell 🆚 USA! #svenskhockeytv #nhldraft2025undefined

Swedish forward Anton Frondell is the betting favorite to be selected third overall in this year’s draft, currently listed at -140 odds. Caleb Desnoyers is next at +250, followed by Porter Martone at +450, while Michael Misa and James Hagens sit further back at +750 and +900, respectively.

The gap between Frondell and the rest suggests he’s the clear frontrunner, but the presence of several high-upside options means there’s room for surprises especially with a trade very much in play.

More Betting: First Six Players Named For Each Nation, New 2026 Olympic Betting Odds

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Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre added to the AL staff as an honorary coach for the All-Star Game

Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre will serve as an honorary coach for the American League at the All-Star Game in Atlanta next month.

New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone invited Torre on Tuesday to join his staff at the Midsummer Classic. The 84-year-old Torre, currently a special assistant to the commissioner, won 2,326 games as a major league manager over 29 seasons. He led the Yankees to four World Series titles and six AL pennants in 12 years with the team.

Torre also managed the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers.

In addition, Boone invited Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt to join the AL staff for the game. He will join Yankees coaches in the dugout.

On the NL side, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts asked Braves manager Brian Snitker and Miami Marlins first-year manager Clayton McCullough to serve as coaches. They will join the Dodgers’ coaching staff.

The All-Star Game takes place July 15 at Truist Park, three days before Torre’s 85th birthday.

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Luke Weaver (hamstring) nears Yankees return with simulated game

NEW YORK — Yankees reliever Luke Weaver threw a simulated game Tuesday afternoon and is getting closer to rejoining New York's bullpen.

Weaver, who strained his left hamstring June 1 while warming up at Dodger Stadium, faced teammates J.C. Escarra and Oswald Peraza before the Yankees played the Los Angeles Angels.

“Kind of simulated four outs,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He looked great. He really looks good.”

The team initially expected Weaver to miss four to six weeks, but the right-hander said any pain in the hamstring disappeared within days of the injury. He had three side sessions before Tuesday’s simulated game.

“Obviously we passed the activation date, but we want to be smart and make sure the recovery is going well,” Weaver said. “Today was the biggest step thus far and I feel really good. So I’ll definitely advocate to tell them how I’m feeling.”

Weaver’s return will give the Yankees two legitimate ninth-inning options. He has a 1.05 ERA this season and emerged as New York's closer by converting six saves in seven chances after Devin Williams posted an 11.25 ERA in his first 10 appearances.

Williams, however, has a 2.90 ERA in his last 20 games and has converted all four save opportunities this month.

“I haven’t gone into that full-bore yet,” Boone said. “Filing that under a good problem to have. Love the way Devin’s throwing the ball right now. Just looking forward to getting another hammer back in Weave."

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Mets reliever Brooks Raley strikes out two in first rehab appearance

Mets left-handed relieverBrooks Raleytook his first small step toward making a return to the big leagues.

Raley made his first rehab appearance on Tuesday night for A-ball St. Luice, pitching a scoreless first inning, allowing one hit, but getting two swinging strikeouts on offspeed pitches down in the zone. Facing two left-handed batters and two righties, he threw 12 pitches (10 strikes).

The lefty threw seven sliders, four changeups, and one sinker and got four called strikes and two whiffs.

This was Raley's first time on the mound in a game in 424 days, which is a quick turnaround considering Tommy John surgery can be a 12-18 month rehabilitation. The lefty underwent the procedure, which also included an internal brace, last May after appearing in eight games with the Mets in 2024, allowing just two hits and three walks over 7.0 innings with nine strikeouts.

Acquired in a December 2022 trade with Tampa Bay, the lefty had a stellar first year in Queens, pitching to a 2.80 ERA and 1.262 WHIP in 54.2 innings over 66 appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed 19 runs (17 earned) on 44 hits with 61 strikeouts to 25 walks.

Raley, who turns 37 in two weeks, re-signed with the Mets this April on a one-year deal with a team option for 2026.

Due to the length of Raley's time out of action, president of baseball operations David Stearns said last week the rehab assignment could last the full 30 days or close to it.

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Nick Castellanos benched for 'inappropriate comment' after being pulled for defensive replacement

MIAMI — Nick Castellanos was benched by Phillies manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday for “an inappropriate comment” the outfielder made after he was pulled for a defensive replacement a day earlier, ending Castellanos' streak of 236 consecutive starts.

“One thing about Nick, one of the many things about Nick is that he is very emotional,” Thomson said before Tuesday night's game at Miami. “He loves to play. He loves to play every inning of every game.

“I just thought last night he made an inappropriate comment after he came out. So, today, he’s not in the lineup. And I’m going to leave it at that.”

Castellanos played right field and singled in four at-bats against the Marlins on Monday before Johan Rojas replaced him in the bottom of the eighth. Max Kepler moved to right and Rojas played center.

The 33-year-old Castellanos, who is in his fourth season with the Phillies, is hitting .278 with seven homers and 36 RBIs. Castellanos, born and raised in South Florida, often has dozens of relatives and friends in the stands when the Phillies visit the Marlins.

Kepler started in right field Tuesday night.

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Marchand cements Hall of Fame legacy with second Stanley Cup title

Marchand cements Hall of Fame legacy with second Stanley Cup title originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s settled. There’s no more debate. Brad Marchand is a Hall of Fame player. And not only that, he deserves to go in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

He already had a very strong Hall of Fame case going into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but after playing at such an elite level for the Florida Panthers and helping them clinch back-to-back championships, there is no counter argument anymore.

The Panthers secured their latest title by defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night. Marchand skated around the Amerant Bank Arena ice with the Stanley Cup — 14 years after he did it with the Boston Bruins as a rookie.

“It’s incredible,” Marchand told TNT’s Jackie Redmond postgame. “It’s a feeling you can’t really describe.”

Marchand, whom the Panthers acquired from the Bruins at the trade deadline in March, was absolutely brilliant for the Panthers all postseason long. And he played his best hockey when they needed it most.

His first clutch goal came in overtime of Game 3 in the second round. The Panthers were on the brink of a 3-0 series deficit to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Marchand rescued them. He then scored a goal with two assists in a Game 7 win at Toronto.

Marchand was arguably the best player of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. He scored in four of the six games, including the winning goal in overtime of Game 2, and a two-goal performance in a dominant Game 5. He is just the second player since 1968 to score five-plus goals in multiple Cup Final series.

Marchand finished the playoffs with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 23 games. His 158 career points in the playoffs are the second-most of any player since he made his NHL debut in the 2009-10 campaign. Only three players in the history of the sport have more postseasons with 10-plus points than Marchand, and they are Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Jean Beliveau.

His 66 playoff goals over that span are the second-most of any player. His 16 game-winning goals in the playoffs are the most during that period.

When he won his first Stanley Cup title with the Bruins in 2011, he scored twice in a Game 7 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. He had five goals in the series.

Marchand’s regular season stats are tremendous, too. His 980 points are the 12th-most since the start of the 2009-10 season. All 11 players ahead of him will be in the Hall of Fame. Only five players — Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane — have scored more goals than Marchand’s 424 since he entered the league.

His 36 shorthanded goals are 14 more than any other player during that span. He also ranks No. 1 with 21 overtime goals in that period.

Barring injury, Marchand will hit 1,000 career points next season. And he might need to play just three more years to reach 500 goals.

And you can’t forget about Marchand’s defense. He was an elite two-way forward for a long time. It’s one of the reasons why the Bruins’ penalty kill was so good for much of his career in Boston. Marchand and Patrice Bergeron were arguably the top defensive duo of their era.

Marchand isn’t everyone’s favorite player. If you live in Vancouver or Toronto, you’re probably not much of a fan of the 5-foot-10 forward.

But even his most vocal haters and critics now have to come to terms that, yes, he is going to be in the Hall of Fame someday. And it will be well-deserved.