KANSAS CITY, MO - CIRCA 1986: George Brett #5 and Bo Jackson #16 of the Kansas City Royals circa 1986 Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
I didn’t care for baseball as a young child. I knew the Royals were in the World Series, but I was more enamored with the guy in the red uniform doing backflips when he ran on the field than I was with any Royals players. At school, we were asked to draw a picture of our favorite Royals player. I asked my teacher who played left field for the Royals, since that was the position I played in t-ball (reflecting my playing ability at the time). She told me Lonnie Smith. I didn’t know what he looked like, so I drew a white guy with curly blonde hair. Lonnie Smith is not a white guy with curly blonde hair
But in 1987, my next-door neighbor set up a small TV in his garage and we watched the American League Championship Series between the Twins and Tigers on that thing. The Tigers are my ancestral team – my dad grew up in Detroit (attending Al Kaline camp!), and I was born there before we moved to KC when I was a tot. So I was rooting for them and slowly getting hooked on baseball. That offseason, I read everything about baseball I could get my hands on, and when the next season rolled around, I was a rabid fan.
I am pretty certain I could name every player on the 1988 Royals from memory, from Bo Jackson and George Brett down to Rey Palacios and José de Jesús. It was a fun team to follow with Bo becoming a superstar, George still in his prime, recognizable vets like Willie Wilson and Frank White, exciting young players like Danny Tartabull and Kevin Seitzer, and a terrific pitching staff with Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubicza, and quirky submarining closer Dan Quisenberry.
But they floundered around .500 much of the year and were overwhelmed by an emerging mini-dynasty in Oakland, the “Bash Brothers.” They won 84 games, finishing a distant third place, 19.5 games back.
Still, I had watched as many games as I could (it was like 30-40 games on TV back in those days, kids!) and listened to the rest on my radio, sometimes cradling it in bed for the late-night West Coast games, drifting off to sleep as Denny Matthews described Charlie Leibrandt’s battle against Claudell Washington. I read the Star sports section on a regular basis – Dick Kaegel, Gib Twyman, and Jonathan Rand in those days. I asked for Royals Starting Lineup figures for Christmas. I got a Bo Jackson poster in my room. I got my first Royals cap.
That was my first season following the Royals. What was yours? What was the team that got you hooked?
JUPITER, FL - MARCH 14: Quinn Matthews #68 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Jared Blais/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals prepare to do Spring Training battle with the New York Mets on Friday, February 27, 2026. According to MLB.com, Quinn Matthews will start the game for St. Louis while the New York Mets will have Freddy Peralta on the mound. Here are the lineups according to the Cardinals website:
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 22: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 22, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Depending on your investment in the NBA Draft Lottery — which, you’re here on this page, so — we’ve entered a very tense time in the Dallas Mavericks’ season. Every season there is hand-wringing about the state of tanking in the league. So much so that we’re getting mixed rumors of NBA officials attending player MRIs just to verify that the player is, in fact, injured.
If you’re catching up, Friday’s were reserved for scanning the media landscape in our NBA Power Rankings Watch. Now, the Mavericks are more focused on moving down than up, so last week we shifted our sights to the lottery. Ten or more teams are currently in a fight for their life, jockeying for position to have greater odds in the lottery pull for one of the deepest draft classes in recent years. Draft order will be determined May 10. And until the end of the Mavericks’ season on April 12, we’ll be keeping a close eye on this board for the final 24 games. Cooper Flagg’s future running mate is on the way.
Lottery standings
Last week we identified that Mavericks fans should watch closely on results from the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies, the two teams clustered with Dallas in the tank standings. We’re now keeping casual watch on the New Orleans Pelicans (three game win streak) and the Chicago Bulls (11 [ELEVEN] game losing streak) as well. Don’t be surprised if the last six weeks of the season groups these teams closer together.
For now, no real shuffling to the standings themselves. The Mavericks went 2-2 last week, with the team facing several other lottery bound opponents there will be plenty of roster mischief in the days ahead. The Jazz went 0-3, creating some space between themselves and Dallas. The Grizzlies went 1-3, at one point tying the Mavericks by record. For all these teams, it might be worth taking into account remaining schedule strength: Mavericks (3rd toughest remaining schedule), Grizzlies (7th), Jazz (12th), Bulls (14th), Pelicans (19th).
Weekly schedule
Until New Orleans falls further back or Chicago “jumps” forward, we’re focus in on the three teams from last week. You’ll notice some very key head-to-head matchups, mixed with some games against teams in the top four of the lottery standings. A pretty key week:
Dallas Mavericks: vs. Memphis Grizzlies, vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, @ Charlotte Hornets, @ Orlando Magic
Utah Jazz: vs. New Orleans Pelicans, vs. Denver Nuggets, @ Philadelphia 76ers, @ Washington Wizards
Each week we’ll take one spin around the block at tankathon.com and see where the chips fall. As last week brought one large swing of chaos, this week’s chaos was of a different sort. Three teams, including the Mavericks, jumped into the top four of the draft.
You can’t ask for much more from the lottery in this moment.
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 29: Clint Capela #30 of the Houston Rockets and Vit Krejci #27 of the Atlanta Hawks hug before the game on January 29, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For a while, it worked. In November, Ayton was the best version of himself, averaging 16.6 points and nine rebounds per game. Recently, though, his scoring has dropped, his defensive aggression has evaporated and he’s been benched during clutch games.
What’s wild about Ayton’s quote, besides the fact that he’s dissing one of his peers, is that Capela is exactly the kind of big man the Lakers desire. He’s an important part of the Rockets’ rotation and does all the little things that impact winning.
Ayton’s words caused quite a buzz on social media, so much so that Capela went on Instagram and encouraged Ayton to lock in with his floor generals.
It feels like Ayton has been told by everyone who has ever cheered for him to lock in, but it hasn’t ever consistently come to fruition. If things keep trending negatively in LA, you can add this stop as another in his career where the sizzle was far more enjoyable than the steak.
To make this entire situation even worse for Ayton, Capela outplayed him on Thursday night. Capela was hustling hard, helping the Rockets beat the Magic 113-108.
Ayton, on the other hand, was rather pedestrian during his performance in LA’s loss to Phoenix.
The box score comparison between the two bigs matched the eye test. Capela ended the night with four points, six rebounds and two blocks in his 17 minutes off the bench. Ayton had two points and four rebounds in his 23 minutes as a starter.
Capela took the petty route with his response to Ayton, and considering who he was reacting to, most won’t have a problem with it.
Also, Capela’s right. Ayton does have to lock in, and playing more like Capela would be better for everyone involved.
As has been true for a lot of his career, Ayton just doesn’t seem to get it.
On this day two years ago, the White Sox re-acquired a 2020 draft pick, Bailey Horn. | Tiffany Wintz/South Side Sox
1973 Coming off of his 1972 MVP season, Dick Allen signs a three-year, $750,000 contract with the White Sox, making him the highest-paid player in baseball. While contract details for early baseball are sketchy, this is believed to be the first time a White Sox player has been the highest-paid in the game.
Oakland owner Charlie Finley, himself embroiled in salary wars with players on his world champion A’s team and once aspiring to own the White Sox, blustered in the aftermath of Allen’s deal: “There’s an old saying that pigs get fat and hogs go to market. Well, some of the payers these days aren’t even pigs or hogs — they’re gluttons. We have to keep salaries within reason. If we just rolled over and gave them what they wanted, we’d price ourselves out of business.”
Allen earned his deal by leading the AL in homers (37), RBIs (113), on-base percentage (.420), slugging percentage (.603) and OPS (1.023).
It would be 24 years before the White Sox would boast the highest-paid player in the game again, when Albert Belle signed a deal that paid him $11 million for the 1997 season.
1986 Former White Sox ace LaMarr Hoyt checks into drug rehab after having been arrested twice already in 1986 for drug possession.
Hoyt had excelled for the Padres in his first season in San Diego in 1985, going 16-8 with a 3.47 ERA and 2.5 WAR in his only All-Star season. While trade centerpiece Ozzie Guillén won the 1985 AL Rookie of the Year for the White Sox and would go on to amass the most defensive WAR in franchise history, Hoyt would see 1986 as his last season in the majors, as his ERA swelled to 5.15/71 ERA+ with a -1.0 WAR.
1990 After meeting for five hours and casting three votes in Tampa despite four of its 18 members (Birdie Tebbetts, Stan Musial, Red Barber and Roy Campanella) absent, the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee failed to elect a single person for the 1990 class to join BBWAA honorees Jim Palmer and Joe Morgan. It was the second time the group had refused to elect a player in three years.
The group started with 25 candidates and debated that list down to 11, including White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox. Fox, who would be elected by the Veterans Committee seven years later, was last considered for the Hall on his 15th ballot, in 1985 — when he infamously fell just two votes shy of enshrinement.
“All of them got heavy support,” committee member Ted Williams said. “It just shows how conscientious the members are about their voting, and the concern they have for putting someone in the Hall of Fame.”
2008 In their first game of Spring Training, the White Sox wear Northern Illinois University baseball caps, honoring the victims of the shooting rampage on the school’s campus earlier in February. The game-worn, autographed hats were later auctioned off to build a scholarship fund set up in memory of the five students who were killed.
2024 The White Sox reversed a trade of three years earlier by re-acquiring lefty Bailey Horn from the Cubs for righthander Matt Thompson.
Horn had been the final White Sox pick of the 2020 draft, which in that lost season was just the fifth round. After pitching in just 14 games in 2021 and reaching High-A, he was swapped across town for reliever Ryan Tepera. To get him back, the White Sox swapped a once-promising high school arm in Thompson, their second-rounder in 2019. Thompson had labored through a 6-15 season at Double-A Birmingham in 2023 and performed about the same at Double-A for the Cubs in 2024; he was released by the north siders before the 2025 season and is out of baseball.
Just two months later, the White Sox sold Horn to the Red Sox. He has since made the majors, with both the Red Sox and Tigers.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Marcelo Mayer #11 of the Boston Red Sox throws during a spring training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 16, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is it on TV?
It’s on NESN at 1:05 PM
What’s the lineup?
What should we watch for?
It’s been an… interesting spring training for Marcelo Mayer so far. The wrist surgery he underwent last August was said to necessitate only a three-month recovery and Mayer arrived at Fort Myers claiming he was fully healed and ready to go. But then the Red Sox deliberately slow-walked his hitting program, while Alex Cora made a point to say that he hadn’t earned his position on the big league team yet. I don’t think either of these things warrant getting too worked up about, but they are two things most people didn’t expect just a few weeks ago. So I’ll be watching Marcelo today.
Might keep an eye on that Braves starting pitcher, too…
The Knicks have been without one of the key pieces on their bench for just under a month now, and it appears they won’t be getting him back in the mix anytime soon.
Speaking for the first time since undergoing core muscle surgery, Miles McBridetold reporters Friday in Milwaukee that he remains without a timeline for a return.
McBride hopes he'll be able to get back before the end of the regular season, but is unsure.
League sources told SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley earlier this month that a potential timetable for a return post-surgery would be six-to-eight weeks.
The guard underwent the procedure on Feb. 6, penciling him in for an earliest return in the first week of April.
The NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.
McBride said that it is a slow process back, but he has begun shooting without jumping.
In his absence, head coach Mike Brown has been leaning on trade deadline acquisition Jose Alvarado, who was picked up from the Pelicans just before the news of the 25-year-old's injury broke.
Khris Middleton has a decision to make, and a Sunday deadline to make it.
Dallas has given the veteran forward the choice of whether or not he wants a buyout to join a playoff team, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Middleton has until Sunday to make his decision, which is the cut-off day to be waived and still be eligible for playoff rosters.
The Denver Nuggets are interested in Middleton, according to Stein and other reports, although other playoff teams may have contacted him as well. For the record, Cleveland, Golden State, and New York cannot sign anyone on the buyout market because they are over the tax apron.
Middleton started the season in Washington but was traded to Dallas as part of the Anthony Davis deal. In six games with the Mavericks Middleton has looked pretty good, averaging 14.5 points and 4.8 rebounds a game, shooting 38.1% from 3-point range. That said, nobody should confuse the 34-year-old with the younger version of himself, who was a three-time All-Star, a gold medal winner at the Tokyo Olympics, and the player who was a key part of Milwaukee's 2021 title run.
Middleton is set to be an unrestricted free agent next summer, unless he is waived and then signs a multi-year contract with a new team.
The Cleveland Cavaliers (37-23) travel to Little Caesars Arena tonight for a battle against the league-leading Detroit Pistons (43-14).
The Pistons lead the season series against the Cavs having won two of the first three games. Each team sits Top 4 in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons sit atop the East by 5.5 games over the Celtics while the Cavs are making noise, sitting in fourth, 7.5 games behind Detroit.
The storyline for tonight’s matchup is heavily influenced by a significant injury report for the Cavaliers, who are facing a severely shorthanded backcourt. Star guard Donovan Mitchell has been ruled out with a groin strain, while recent acquisitions James Harden (thumb) and Keon Ellis (finger) are listed with injuries alongside Dennis Schröder and Dean Wade. Cleveland will rely heavily on their strong frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to dominate the paint and control the glass, while requiring secondary scoring from a depleted bench to compete with Detroit.
Detroit, which has won six of its last seven games and eight of their last ten, takes the court far healthier than the Cavs with only Isaiah Stewart (suspension) sidelined. The Pistons' balanced, high-intensity team relies on stellar defense and top-tier playmaking from Cade Cunningham, who has evolved into one of the East's premier players and the dominating interior presence of Jalen Duren.
Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Cavaliers at Pistons
Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
Time: 7PM EST
Site: Little Caesars Arena
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Cavaliers at Pistons
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers (+200), Detroit Pistons (-245)
Spread: Pistons -6.5
Total: 227.5 points
This game opened Pistons -7.5 with the Total set at 224.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers at Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG James Harden
SG Sam Merrill
SF Dean Wade
PF Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen
Detroit Pistons
PG Cade Cunningham
SG Ausar Thompson
SF Tobias Harris
PF Duncan Robinson
C Jalen Duren
Injury Report: Cavaliers at Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers
James Harden (thumb) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Dennis Schroeder (ankle) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Dean Wade (ankle) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Keon Ellis (finger) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Donovan Mitchell (groin) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Max Strus (foot)has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Detroit Pistons
Isaiah Stewart (suspended) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Cavaliers at Pistons
The Pistons are 22-7 at home this season
The Cavaliers are 17-12 on the road this season
The Pistons are 31-25-1 ATS this season / 14-15 at home
The Cavaliers are 25-35 ATS this season / 13-16 on the road
The OVER has cashed in 29 of the Cavaliers’ 60 games this season (29-31)
The OVER has cashed in 25 of the Pistons’ 57 games this season (25-32)
Each of these teams have won 8 of their last 10 games
Detroit has won 2 of the last 3 against Cleveland and has covered the spread in 3 of the last 4 against the Cavs
Jalen Duren has recorded double-doubles in each of his last 3 games (26.7ppg, 14reb/gm)
James Harden is averaging 8 assists per game since being traded to the Cavs
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Cavaliers and Pistons’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Pistons -5.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 226.5
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There’s a quick turnaround in action from the Yankees first night game of the Grapefruit League yesterday to a day game at the Twins. Let’s take a look at the starting pitchers and the lineups for both teams.
Luis Gil makes his second start of the spring after giving up a run and striking out four across 2.2 innings against the Mets on Sunday. His fastball velocity was still down, something which became a talking point when he returned from a lat injury last season. but he maintains that it’s not something he’s worried about since it’s early in spring training. In 11 starts last year, Gil went 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA (123 ERA+), 4.63 FIP, and 41 strikeouts in 57 innings.
Marco Raya was the Twins’ 18th-ranked prospect in 2025 according to MLB Pipeline, drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He throws a four-seamer and a sinker in the mid-90s, both topping out at 97, and a variety of secondaries including a slider, sweeper, curveball, and changeup. He made 30 appearances (20 starts) in Triple-A last season, going 2-8 with a 6.02 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 98.2 innings.
Aaron Judge may not have made the trip to Fort Myers, but there is still plenty of pop in the Yankees lineup. Ben Rice leads off, while Jasson Domínguez and Paul DeJong continue to get consistent reps in left and at shortstop, respectively. Top prospects Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. bat sixth and seventh, the former with a pair of booming home runs already this spring sporting an Ohtani-like toe-tap and the latter raking a two-run double last time out.
The Twins lineup more closely resembles what we might see on Opening Day than does the Yankees lineup. Byron Buxton leads off after reaffirming his commitment to the franchise amid trade rumors over the winter. Luke Keaschall burst onto the scene as a rookie last year and the second-year second baseman looks to be a cornerstone of their rebuild. We even get a visit from old friend Gio Urshela, who is in Twins camp as a non-roster invitee.
How to watch
Location: Lee Health Sports Complex — Fort Myers, FL
First pitch: 1:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: Gotham Sports App, Twins.TV, FOX9+KMSP, Gray Media
Radio broadcast: WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM (Twins broadcast)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 28: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the third inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day, another Spring Training game day for baseball fans.
After dropping a game yesterday’s performance to the Yankees with Carlos Carrasco on the mound, the Braves are set to face the Red Sox with a more competitive squad showing up, with Ronald Acuña Jr. batting leadoff, and a newly girded ace, Chris Sale, ready to close out the first full week of spring training games.
Gametime is set for 1:05 p.m. EST at CoolToday Park, North Port, Florida. You can catch it streaming on Gray TV, and listen on ESPN 103.7.
Apparently, the only thing that can stop Karl-Anthony Towns is his own team.
After blazing out of the All-Star break with efforts of 21, 25, and 28 points, KAT was iced out in the New York Knicks’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Towns shot the ball only five times — making all five attempts — and finished with just 14 points over 28 minutes. What makes that stat even more baffling is that the rest of New York’s roster shot a collective 37% in defeat.
The Knicks can right that wrong by feeding Towns early and often when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks, who are without star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
My Knicks vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks are taking Towns to topple his scoring total on Friday, February 27.
Knicks vs Bucks prediction
Knicks vs Bucks best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points (-112)
The media is throwing gas on the fire after Karl-Anthony Towns’ lack of involvement on Tuesday. Before being limited to five FGAs, KAT averaged more than 15 shots in the first three outings back from the break.
The New York Knicks' big man has actually been hot all of February, upping his average points to 19.6 and shooting 55.4% from the field.
He won’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo in pursuit against the Milwaukee Bucks after struggling in the first two matchups with Milwaukee (4 for 20 with Giannis). His projections sit between 19.2 and 20.2 points tonight, giving good value to Over 18.5.
Knicks vs Bucks same-game parlay
The Knicks need a win to get right after a dud in Cleveland and opening the post-break slate with a 2-2 record. No Antetokounmpo on either end of the floor helps that cause a lot.
Towns is projected for 20+ points and has the hot hand this month, including a 40.5% clip from beyond the arc.
With Giannis sidelined, Bobby Portis gets extra touches inside and will battle on the boards for second-chance looks. Game models are as high as 13 points.
Knicks vs Bucks SGP
Knicks moneyline
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Bobby Portis Over 9.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Going to Town!
After getting the cold shoulder from his team earlier this week, the Knicks jumped on KAT’s back.
His scoring, rebounding, and block projections all sit above these prop totals, powering New York to a road win and cover.
Knicks vs Bucks SGP
Knicks -8.5
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 10.5 rebounds
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 0.5 blocks
Knicks vs Bucks odds
Spread: Knicks -8.5 (-110) | Bucks +8.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Knicks -330 | Bucks +265
Over/Under: Over 219.5 (-110) | Under 219.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Bucks betting trend to know
Karl-Anthony Towns has scored 19+ points in seven of his last 10 games, topping his O/U scoring prop in six of those outings. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Bucks.
How to watch Knicks vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Friday, February 27, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG Sportsnet, FDSN Wisconsin
Knicks vs Bucks latest injuries
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Feb 22, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jesus Sanchez (12) is congratulated by manager John Schneider (14) after he scored a run against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Jesús Sánchez is a 28-year-old, left-handed hitting, outfielder. The Jays traded Joey Loperfido to the Astros to pick him up. Loperfido will be 27 in May, so there isn’t that much difference in age. Sánchez has played 580 MLB games and has a 4.8 bWAR. Loperfido has played 122 games and has a 1.1 bWAR. We could debate which player will be the most valuable for the rest of their careers, but, if we are talking this season, I’d bet Jesús will be more valuable, and that’s more important to the Jays at the moment.
Jesús isn’t a free agent until 2028.
Sánchez was traded from the Marlins to the Astros at the deadline last year. With the Marlins he was hitting .256/.320/.420, with the Astros .199/.269/.342. David Popkins, Jays hitting coach, told Keegan Matheson:
Popkins: “He went over to Houston, and they had some ideas for him to change some things and I think they didn’t quite resonate with his personality and who he is as a hitter. It kind of went more towards weakness prevention than his strengths, so we’re shifting him back more towards, ‘We want you to do what you do well.’ Let’s start there, then we can go elsewhere. We’re just trying to see him have rhythm again and get his swing off. We’re excited. He’s had some good days the last couple of days.”
Basically, ‘the Astros ruined him’. I always take these things with a grain of salt. I think if you can hit you can hit and a batting coach shouldn’t be able to change that. Or at least ruin that. But I’m hopeful that Popkins will help him find his way back to the swing that made him valuable. I also think Popkins says that to build up Sánchez’s ego a bit. Sports physiology is a big thing.
The best thing about Sánchez is that he hits the ball hard, 93rd percentile in bat speed, 79th percentile in Average Exit Speed last year. The year before (when he was just with the Marlins) he was 95th percentile in Bat Speed, 93rd in Exit Velocity and 95th in Hard Hit %. He was 46th percentile in strikeout rate and 51st in walk rate.
Ideally, he is a low average/high power hitter (though he hasn’t cracked the 20 home run barrier yet). Career, his batting average is .239. I’m hoping he’ll do better than that this year. It would be nice if he had more than 20 home runs.
Defensively? He’s ok. Outs Above Average had him at a +1 in right field. Savant has him a 41st percentile in range and 80th percentile in Arm Strength.
He steals some bases too. 13 last year, caught 3 times.
Steamer has Sánchez playing in 88 games, hitting .248/.317/.427 with 13 home runs. Seems somewhat pessimistic to me.
I don’t know what to expect, but I think he’ll be playing against right-handers everyday (presuming no injury issues). I’d like to think the batting coaches can unlock his power and he hits a few more than 13 home runs.
I think there are lots of reasons to be optimistic. He was a little unlucky last year. His strikeout rate improved a lot last year. I’m taking Popkins at his word that Popkins can improve his swing from last year.
Max Scherzer's 8-year-old daughter wanted her father back with the Blue Jays so much she wrote a letter to the team in December expressing her hope for his return to Toronto.
“Dear Blue Jays,” the note began, "I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, the (CN) Tower and of course the stadium. I am looking forward to come back next season. Love, Max Scherzer daughter”
An eight-time All-Star, Scherzer is a 41-year-old right-hander with a 221-117 record and a 3.22 ERA for Arizona (2008-09), Detroit (2010-14), Washington (2015-21), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), New York Mets (2022-23), Texas (2023-24) and Toronto (2025). He ranks 11th on the career list with 3,489 strikeouts — 20 behind Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.
MONTGOMERY, AL - JULY 03: Homer Bush Jr. #35 of the Montgomery Biscuits pose in the dugout before the game between the Columbus Clingstones and the Montgomery Biscuits at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Natalie Buchanan/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Previous Winner
Homer Bush Jr., OF 24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215 AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/A
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
Dom Keegan got his first votes this most recent round and almost took it from Bush, an impressive showing after no votes in any previous round. Keegan could get MLB reps this season, so this range is right. We add sleeper short stop prospect Adrian Santana after receiving an “other” vote.
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Gary Gill Hill, RHP 21 | 6’2” | 160 A+ | 3.82 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 136.2 IP (25 GS), 18.8% K, 5.3% BB
A groundballer, Gill Hill was a feather in the cap for the Rays scouting department when snagged in the sixth round in 2022. He raised his armslot in 2024 to great success, but got off to a rocky start in 2025, which muddies the water on his statline. On the whole, GGH has the body and the look to be a major league starter, particularly thanks to a plus fastball in the upper 90’s and plus control, but needs to find a longterm solution for opposite handed hitting as he climbs the ladder. Accordingly, he projects as a reliever until his arsenal finds a plus third pitch.
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
Dom Keegan, C 25 | R/R | 6’0” | 210 AAA | .241/.306/.429 (89 wRC+) 297 PA, 10 HR, 0 SB, 8.1% BB, 30.6% K
Keegan is at an inflection point in his minor league career, having joined the 40-man roster as the third catcher, and overall the jury is still out. Trusted more at first base than backstop at Vanderbilt, the Rays have kept him behind the dish but reports still have his defense below average, and 2025 was a wash after an elbow injury in the Spring sank his season, in particular his bat speed. While the lack of progress on the edges of his game has some evaluators calling into question his once-sure major league projection, he’ll get a long look in Spring Training, where his ability to punish mistakes in the zone may flourish.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
