The Players Era announced its full schedule for the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship NIL-driven multi-team men's event in Las Vegas in November.
Kobe Bryant not in NBA's all-time top 10? Shaq thinks that ranking is 'criminal'
Shaquille O'Neal has an issue with a recent ranking of the all-time best NBA players.
On Monday, Bleacher Report released its list of the "top 100 NBA players ever," based on a compilation of rankings from a "legion of B/R NBA experts, writers and editors."
O'Neal finished just outside the top five. He didn't seem to have an issue with that.
Shaq's beef was with the placement of his former Lakers teammate, the late Kobe Bryant, who landed outside of the top 10.
Read more:Dodgers unveil Kobe Bryant bobblehead to be given away Aug. 8 at Chavez Ravine
"Kobe at 11 is criminal," O'Neal wrote on X in the comments of a Bleacher Report post that revealed the list's top 20. He left his comment a little more than an hour after the original Bleacher Report post went live.
Here are the 10 players ranked ahead of Bryant, in order from the top: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Stephen Curry.
Bryant is followed on the list by Hakeem Olajuwon, Kevin Durant, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West.
O'Neal has made no secret of his feelings on where Bryant ranks among the league's all-time greats. In 2023, the Diesel told The Times that his "first team" on such a list would be himself, Bryant, Jordan, Johnson and James.
Read more:Plaschke: Kobe Bryant has one more lesson for LeBron James — how to retire
(Coming off the bench for O'Neal on that hypothetical team were Curry, Allen Iverson, Duncan, Karl Malone, Isiah Thomas and Abdul-Jabbar.)
Last month, in connection with the Netflix docuseries "Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal," Shaq revealed another personal top 10 list in which he ranked Bryant at No. 2, behind Jordan and just ahead of James.
Bryant ranks fourth in all-time NBA scoring (33,643 points) and his "Mamba Mentality" work ethic is still cited as a major influence on current athletes. He spent the first eight years of his career as Lakers teammates with O'Neal, with L.A. winning three NBA titles during that span.
Read more:Finally a postseason force, Julius Randle credits Kobe Bryant for instilling 'Mamba Mentality'
Those Lakers also lost to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals. Soon after, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, with tension between the two superstars seen as one of the main reasons for the move. O'Neal won another NBA title with the Heat in 2006. Bryant won two more with the Lakers, in 2009 and 2010.
Over the years, O'Neal and Bryant acknowledged their rocky relationship as teammates but also insisted that they actually were close friends.
“I just want people to know that I don’t hate you, I know you don’t hate me. I call it today a ‘work beef,’ is what we had,” O'Neal told Bryant on “The Big Podcast with Shaq” in 2015.
"We had a lot of disagreements, we had a lot of arguments," he said later. "But I think it fueled us both.”
Years later, when it appeared their feud might be heating up again, the two NBA greats took to social media to nip that notion in the bud.
"Ain’t nothin but love there," Bryant wrote of his relationship with O'Neal.
“It’s all good bro,” Shaq responded.
Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among the nine people who died in a Jan. 26, 2020, helicopter crash in Calabasas. O'Neal was one of the speakers at the Feb. 24, 2020, memorial service for "my friend, my little brother Kobe Bryant and my beautiful niece Gigi."
"Kobe and I pushed one another to play some of the greatest basketball of all time and I am proud that no other team has accomplished what the three-peat Lakers have done since the Shaq and Kobe Lakers did it," O'Neal said. "And sometimes like immature kids, we argued, we fought, we bantered, we assaulted each other with offhand remarks on the field. Make no mistake, even when folks thought we were on bad terms, when the cameras are turned off, he and I would throw a wink at each other and say let’s go whoop some ass.
"We never took it seriously. In truth, Kobe and I always maintained a deep respect and a love for one another."
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yankees claim reliever Rico Garcia off waivers from Mets
The Yankees have claimed right-handed reliever Rico Garcia off waivers from the Mets.
Garcia was DFA'd by the Mets on Friday to make room on the roster for Kodai Senga.
Garcia tossed 2.2 perfect innings against the Orioles during Game 2 of the Mets' Thursday's doubleheader.
In his only other appearance for the Mets this season, he fired 2.0 scoreless innings against the Yankees on July 6, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Garcia, 31, has a 6.47 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in parts of five big league seasons with the Mets, Nationals, Athletics, Orioles, Giants, and Rockies.
Curveballs are disappearing in MLB as velocity obsession reshapes pitching landscape
ATLANTA — Curveballs have been thrown a curve by a modern game valuing velocity over variety, disappearing from the major leagues by more than 20,000 annually.
The Athletics have thrown curves on just 2.5% of pitches this season. The overall big league figure dropped from 10.7% in 2019 to 8.1% last year, the lowest since MLB starting tracking in 2008, before rising slightly to 8.5% this season.
There were 22,962 fewer curveballs in 2024 than five years earlier.
“You don’t really see a lot of people throwing 12-6 curveballs anymore,” Tampa Bay pitcher Shane Baz said. “They’d rather have a hard cutter/slider. It’s a lot easier for guys to throw a sweeper than it is a 12-6 curveball.”
Baz’s 28.1% is seventh in curveball use among those who have thrown at least 1,000 pitches this season.
Baltimore’s Charlie Morton, first at 39%, learned to throw a hook from his dad.
“He was reading some article or maybe he was reading some pitching book,” Baltimore’s 41-year-old right-hander said. “You basically throw it like you’re re-throwing a knife.”
Curveballs have been around for a century and a half
Hall of Famer Candy Cummings, a 145-game winner, is credited with inventing the curveball in 1863 when he was 14, discovering the movement when he threw sea shells into the Atlantic Ocean. Some attribute the curve to amateur pitcher Fred Goldsmith in 1870.
With an average velocity of 80.2 mph, curves are the slowest and loopiest of breaking pitches, often disrupting the timing of batters set for smoke. The phrase “thrown a curveball” has become part of the English language, much like “screwball,” more a phrase than a pitch these days.
Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan and Clayton Kershaw were among the consummate curveballers, bamboozling batters as balls they gave up on dropped like hang gliders into the strike zone.
“It’s become an industry of throwing over pitching,” New York Yankees senior adviser Omar Minaya said. “When you pitch, you use different pitches. What we’re seeing in the industry as a whole, especially with showcases, is people are looking more at velocity than pitchability — as a scout, I said that unfortunately.”
Former pitcher Dallas Braden, now a broadcaster, longs for those days of deception.
“You almost sympathize with the hitter in the moment because you’re like: Damn, I couldn’t have hit that. He couldn’t hit that. Nobody could have hit that,” Braden said. “The eephus is now almost like as close as we get, when a position player is on the mound, to an aesthetically pleasing pitch like that, just the visual presentation of the pitch starting in the clouds and ending up at the ankles.”
Nike’s “Chicks Dig the Long Ball” commercial defined baseball in the Steroids Era. These days the slogan might as well be: “Velo Rules!” There were just 214 pitches of 100 mph or more in 2008. There were a record 3,880 two years ago and this year is on track for 3,252.
In tandem, starting pitcher use has dropped. Starters have averaged just under 5 1/3 innings this season, down from 6 1/3 innings in the 1980s. Their pitch count averages 85.7, down from 97 in 2010.
Throw as hard as you can for as long as you can is the mantra
Average four-seam fastball velocity is a record 94.4 mph this season, up from 91.9 mph when MLB started tracking in 2008. But fastballs — four-seam, two-seam and cutters, have dropped from 62.1% to 55%.
Those missing hooks and heaters have been replaced by sliders, sweepers and slurves. They are 22.6% of pitches this year, up from 13.9% in 2008, and their average velocity has risen to 84.8 mph from 83.4 mph.
Colorado throws curves the most often at 15.6%, not that it has brought any success to a team that entered the break at 22-74, on track for a 37-125 finish and the post-1900 record for losses.
The Athletics haven’t thrown 10% curveballs since 2017.
“If you look around the game, swing and miss has taken more of a priority, so guys are trying to throw more sweepers with more horizontal movement, or they’re trying to throw the slider really hard at the bottom of the zone,” Athletics pitching coach Scott Emerson said. “They’re worried about contact with the curveball.”
Generational change in the 2020s
Veteran pitchers note the curve’s decline as youngsters integrate into staffs.
“As you’re an amateur going to the big leagues guys are looking at velo. Guys are just looking at stuff,” Yankees ace Gerrit Cole said. “Velo is important and it pays.”
Maybe because the pitchers who throw curves are committed, batters have a .225 average this season on curves, down from .263 on fastballs and up slightly from .222 on sliders, sweepers and slurves.
“That’s just how the game is trending: to throw it as hard as you can, spin it the best you can and hope the hitter doesn’t hit it,” Emerson said. “The hitters are up there trying to swing as hard they can. If they hit it with hard contact, make 27 swings that are really hard, you got a chance to hit a homer here and there. And it’s taken away from the contact-type pitchers.”
10 ‘impact' starting pitchers Red Sox should target in trades
10 ‘impact' starting pitchers Red Sox should target in trades originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The way Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has spoken over the last week, it would be shocking if he didn’t trade for a starting pitcher before the July 31 deadline.
In several interviews, Breslow has identified “impact starting pitching” as Boston’s top trade deadline priority.
“I think if we’re going to boost the rotation, trying to find impact starting pitching, not just starting pitching that can take a spot in the rotation,” he said, per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.
He used those three words again during his recent appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show.
“You can never have too much (starting pitching), so I think that’s probably what we would prioritize,” Breslow said. “We have some depth, but I think if there’s the opportunity to provide some impact starting pitching, and add that to the group, that’s probably where we’d focus.”
And once more during an interview on Rob Bradford’s Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast.
“We’re not just looking for bodies that we can call starting pitchers, right? Like, if we’re going to bring somebody in, they need to really move the needle for us,” Breslow said. “And so that’s where we’ll have our sights set, but it’s really hard to find impact starting pitching.”
So, what qualifies as “impact” starting pitching? As great as Red Sox starters Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello have been over the last month, Breslow is likely looking for a starter who can step up as a reliable No. 2 or No. 3 in the rotation. Fringe starters won’t cut it for a surging club looking to clinch its first postseason berth since 2021.
Which “impact” starters could be available on the trade market? Here are 10 pitchers Breslow should at least inquire about before 6 p.m. ET on July 31.
Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins
It’s going to take a significant haul to pry Ryan from the Twins. The 29-year-old is in the midst of a career year and is under team control through 2027. However, the Red Sox have reportedly expressed interest in Ryan over the last few weeks, so we’d be remiss not to include him on this list of “impact” starters they should target.
A first-time All-Star, Ryan boasts a 2.72 ERA and 0.915 WHIP with 121 strikeouts and 23 walks over 19 games (109.1 innings). He would slot in as a formidable No. 2 in Boston’s rotation after ace Garrett Crochet.
The Twins entered the break four games back in the American League Wild Card race. If they slump to start the second half, Breslow should be aggressive in his pursuit of Ryan — even if it means saying goodbye to beloved outfielder Jarren Duran.
Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres
It’s been a down year for Cease, but the veteran righty has a proven track record. He could snap out of his funk at any time in the second half and put up ace-like numbers. He finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting last year and was the runner-up for the AL Cy Young while with the Chicago White Sox in 2022.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Cease might be available for a bargain. If so, he should be near the top of Breslow’s list of targets. It wouldn’t be his first time reaching out to the Padres about a potential deal for the 29-year-old.
Cease has a 4.88 ERA and 1.33 WHIP this season, though his 3.69 FIP suggests some of his unfavorable numbers have been out of his control.
Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Breslow wants “impact starting pitching,” but there’s little doubt he prefers impact starters who have years of team control beyond 2025. That makes Keller the perfect trade target.
The 29-year-old is having the best season of his career and is under team control through 2028. He’s stuck on a last-place Pirates squad that has a surplus of young pitching but a glaring lack of offense. Pittsburgh may be motivated to move him for a bat, and Boston has the hitters to get a deal done.
Keller has a 3.48 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 20 starts.
Freddy Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are still very much in the postseason hunt, so Peralta isn’t one of the likelier trade candidates on this list. That said, Milwaukee has a history of trading star pitchers even while in contention, so Peralta must at least be mentioned as an option.
Peralta has an affordable $8 million team option for 2026 before he’s scheduled to become a free agent in 2027. That, plus his consistency over his eight years with the Brew Crew, makes the two-time All-Star an intriguing option for Boston.
Through 20 starts this season, Peralta has a 2.66 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
Edward Cabrera, RHP, Miami Marlins
Cabrera has been linked to the Red Sox in trade rumors before, but that was when the former top prospect struggled to find his footing at the big-league level. He appears to have found it this season with Miami.
The 27-year-old has a 3.61 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 16 outings this season. Those numbers may not qualify him for the “impact starter” label, but he’s also under team control through 2028. Perhaps a change of scenery would turn Cabrera into the frontline starter he was expected to be when he entered the league in 2021.
Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Texas Rangers
Old friend alert! Would the Red Sox consider bringing the 2018 World Series champion back for another run? They should.
Eovaldi has been lights out for the Rangers this season, posting a 1.58 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with 94 strikeouts and 14 walks over 16 starts. The 35-year-old is under team control through 2027.
While he may not be the long-term “impact” starter Breslow has in mind, Eovaldi would boost the rotation while bringing valuable leadership and postseason experience to the Red Sox clubhouse.
Kris Bubic, LHP, Kansas City Royals
Bubic has been outstanding for Kansas City the last two seasons, but he could be available on the trade market this summer if the Royals — currently 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot — opt to sell.
The 27-year-old southpaw has posted a 2.48 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 18 starts to earn his first All-Star nod. He has one year of arbitration left on his contract and is scheduled to hit the free-agent market after the 2026 season.
Bubic doesn’t have the track record of others on this list, but that shouldn’t dissuade Breslow from seeing what it’ll cost to get him into the rotation.
Seth Lugo, RHP, Kansas City Royals
The Red Sox nearly signed Lugo before the 2024 season, but the veteran right-hander chose to join the Royals instead. Will Boston find another way to finally get him into its rotation?
Lugo still has plenty left in the tank at 35 years old. He was the 2024 AL Cy Young runner-up and has a 2.67 ERA through 17 starts this season. He’d only be a rental, but he’s a proven starter who could help Boston make a second-half push for a playoff berth.
Merrill Kelly, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Kelly has been a rock-solid starter for Arizona since joining the club as a rookie in 2019. He has continued the trend this year, posting a 3.34 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 20 starts. So, why would the Diamondbacks part ways with him?
As a long shot to clinch a playoff spot, Arizona is expected to sell off several key pieces ahead of the deadline, including Kelly and his expiring contract. Kelly is a 36-year-old rental who should be one of the more affordable pitchers on this list.
Kelly was instrumental in the Diamondbacks making a surprise World Series appearance in 2023. Could he do it again with the Red Sox?
Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Much like Cease, Gallen is a proven veteran starter in the midst of a rocky season. Also like Cease, he’s a 29-year-old former Cy Young finalist on an expiring contract.
This could be a perfect buy-low opportunity for Boston. Gallen’s 5.40 ERA is a bit worrisome, but he’s a strong candidate for a second-half bounce-back. He placed fifth in Cy Young voting in 2022 and third in 2023. If you can get a guy like that for relatively cheap, you pounce at the opportunity.
Texas Tech hoping big money and top transfers lead to unprecedented payback in football
The Red Raiders never have won a Big 12 title or even had a 10-win season since 2008
Remembering John Gibson's Best Moments On His 32nd Birthday
Looking back at John Gibson's best moments as an NHLer for his 32nd birthday.
The Red Wings celebrate the birthday of Detroit's newest goaltender in former all-star John Gibson, who turns 32 on Monday.
HBD, Gibby! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/H5WzazK63r
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 14, 2025
The Pittsburgh native has spent 13 seasons and over 506 appearances with the Anaheim Ducks and during that span has produced some unbelievable moments. We look back at some of his best career highlights so Red Wings fans can get excited about their new starting goaltender.
Shutouts In NHL and Playoff Debut
Gibson entered the league during the 2013-14 season and made an immidiate impact with an 18-save shutout over the Vancouver Canucks en route to a 3-0 win. He became the youngest goalie to do so since 1985 and would go on to finish the season with a 3-0-0 record, a 1.33 goals against average and a .954 save percentage through three appearances.
Anahiem would continue on into the playoffs, Gibson again produced another shocking moment when he shutout the LA Kings in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Gibson's 28 saves made him just the second NHL goalie ever to post shutouts in both their regular season and playoff debuts since Bruins goaltender Tiny Thompson from the 1930s. Following the win, Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said Gibson was "the best goalie I’ve ever seen."
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
500th NHL Game With Anahiem
Gibson became the first ever Ducks goaltender to reach 500 games, cementing himself as an all-time great in the franchise's history. He backed up the milestone with a massive 26-save performance in a 2‑1 win over the Dallas Stars. Gibson would finish with 506 appearances with the Ducks, managing a 204-217-63 record with a 2.89 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.
Conference Finals Appearances
Gibson has seen his share of playoff success as he was on a pair of Anahiem teams that made it to the Conference Finals but fell short both times. Back in 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks were a dynasty and Gibson had to do his best to slow down a moving train. The Hawks would go on to win the Stanley Cup but Gibson gave them his best as he started Game 4, where he earned a 5-4 overtime win and followed it up with another overtime win for Game 5 to tighten up the series.
The Ducks would eventually lose in seven games with Gibson splitting time with Fredreick Andersen with the wins proving Gibson is legit. Fastforward to 2017, the Ducks are back in the picture but now against the Nashville Predators. Gibson would start five of the six games and would be pulled in Game 5 after struggling early on. He would total 13 goals against on 117 shots in a 4-2 series loss.
His overall playoff numbers currently sit at 11-13 with a 2.80 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. Gibson mentioned in his opening press conference with Detroit that playoffs are his only goal and when getting there, hopefully he can produce the same kind of numbers and help be a difference maker in the Red Wings success.
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Aaron Judge is barreling toward the hallowed 500-homer club. He might be joined by several peers
Aaron Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 350 career homers and it feels inevitable that the Bronx slugger will join the hallowed 500-homer club sometime in the next several years.
He could have plenty of company.
The 28-player group could swell significantly in the coming decade, with Yankees teammate Giancarlo Stanton (432), Mike Trout (395), Paul Goldschmidt (370), Manny Machado (359), Freddie Freeman (353), Nolan Arenado (351) and Bryce Harper (346) all within striking distance.
Lurking a little further down the active leaderboard, Kyle Schwarber (314), Eugenio Suarez (307), Mookie Betts (282), Francisco Lindor (267), Shohei Ohtani (257) and Pete Alonso (247) are piling up big numbers and still in their early 30s.
And then there’s Juan Soto, who already has 224 homers at the tender age of 26.
Some are stronger candidates than others, given their injury history and age. The 35-year-old Stanton has battled various ailments over the past several seasons, but has been productive when he’s played.
The 33-year-old Trout has been slowed by injuries, too, but hit enough homers in his 20s that it would be surprising if he didn’t eventually reach the mark.
This generation’s group of sluggers is reminiscent of a stretch from 2001 to 2009, when Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, Frank Thomas and Gary Sheffield all made it to 500.
The biggest difference is several of those players’ accomplishments were tainted — at least to some — because it was part of a era that included widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The club has been relatively hard to join over the past decade. The last to reach 500 was Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera on Aug. 22, 2021.
Before that, Red Sox star David Ortiz slugged his 500th homer in 2015.
Even among the elite sluggers, Judge stands out for the speed in which he’s piling up dingers. Many forget he didn’t play his first full big league season until he was 25, but the 33-year-old has needed just 1,088 games to reach 350 homers.
Unsung non All-Stars
This group of players won’t be featured at the All-Star game in Atlanta, but they are having great under-the-radar seasons through the first half.
Ceddanne Rafalea, Red Sox: The 24-year-old center fielder has blossomed in his second full MLB season and is hitting .271 with 14 homers, 48 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, all while playing excellent defense.
Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch, Cubs: Hoerner continues to be one of the game’s best second basemen, batting .283 with 18 doubles, 39 RBIs and 16 stolen bases, all while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense. The 27-year-old Busch is batting .290 with 19 homers, providing the NL Central-leading Cubs some thump.
Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies: The left-hander has been a big part of a stacked Philadelphia rotation with a 8-2 record, 2.50 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 115 innings. He put an exclamation point on his first half on Sunday, giving up just one run over 7 1/3 innings in a 2-1 win over the Padres.
Framber Valdez, Astros: The righty had a terrific first half with a 10-4 record, 2.75 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 121 innings.
Trivia Question
Soto’s 224 career homers lead the pack for MLB players who haven’t turned 30 years old. Who are the other players in their 20s that round out the top five?
Here come the Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have won 10 straight games heading into the All-Star break — their longest winning streak since 2018 — setting up an intriguing second half for a club that looked very average for most of the season’s first three months.
Rafaela has been one of the major catalysts for Boston’s surge, hitting a walk-off homer and another two-run homer.
The AL East race could be a barnburner as summer turns to fall with the Blue Jays (55-41), Yankees (53-43), Red Sox (53-45) and Rays (50-47) all in the mix. Even the last-place Orioles aren’t completely out of it yet, sitting at 43-52 which is 11 1/2 games out of first place.
Trivia Answer
Rafael Devers (217), Ronald Acuna Jr. (177), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (172) are two through four. Yordan Alvarez and Austin Riley are tied for fifth at 167.
Cody Bellinger has 212 homers but turned 30.
Daniel Dubois: ‘That first fight against Usyk is behind me – I’m a man of the future’
The IBF champion on flying under the radar, Oleksandr Usyk’s weaknesses and how past defeats have steeled him
“It’s definitely the biggest fight of my life,” Daniel Dubois says of his world heavyweight title unification bout against Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night before, following a slightly deflated pause, he highlights an unusually downbeat buildup. “It’s strange but it feels like it’s been going under the cover, like it hasn’t been really hyped‑up as I would have thought a unification fight will be. But maybe that will pick up on the night.”
Sitting in the July sunshine outside his gym in Borehamwood, with the Wembley arch clearly visible through the haze of heat, Dubois looks a little hurt when I ask if he can explain why there has been such limited fanfare around an interesting rematch between two contrasting heavyweights who own all the world titles between them. “I’m not sure,” Dubois says in his role as the IBF champion. He then laughs ruefully.
Continue reading...Why Giants' top 2025 draft pick Gavin Kilen sees Gavin Lux as a ‘great resource'
Why Giants' top 2025 draft pick Gavin Kilen sees Gavin Lux as a ‘great resource' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Gavin Kilen, whom the Giants selected No. 13 overall in Sunday’s 2025 MLB Draft, sees former top Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Gavin Lux as a mentor he can lean on as he navigates his professional baseball journey.
San Francisco’s first-round choice — and a fellow Wisconsin native — detailed his trust in Lux with reporters on Monday
“I’ve really never tried to mimic anybody, kind of throughout playing, but I feel like the easy one for me, I guess, would be Gavin Lux,” Kilen said when asked if he tries to replicate anyone’s game. “We played the same summer ball … here in Wisconsin. We had the same coach.
“I feel like I’ve grown in his shadow my entire life of being ‘Little Gav’ to ‘Big Gav’ because he was way older. I think that’s just the easy one to always say when people ask me that question.”
Kilen, a middle infielder like his older counterpart, played at Milton High School in Milton, WI, which is roughly an hour and a half drive from Lux’s Indian Trail High School and Academy in Kenosha.
The pair of Wisconsin natives are about six years apart, but already have been in contact about Kilen’s big-league future.
“Oh yeah,” Kilen said when asked if Lux is someone he talks to. “Just kind of [growing] up, same place, it’s kind of always been like ‘Big Gav,’ ‘Little Gav’ with him for the place we played at growing up.
“He texted me a lot this morning. We’ve been going back and forth the last two days since the draft, which has been pretty cool. His texting me was, you know, ‘All the fun stuff starts now.’”
Lux, currently slashing .265/.355/.379 with the Cincinnati Reds, is a six-year MLB veteran and a two-time World Series champion with the Dodgers.
Perhaps San Francisco fans can appreciate Lux’s assistance in what ideally would be a long Bay Area career for Klein, now that he’s no longer a member of the Giants’ bitter rival.
“So, I’m sure we’ll have more talks and I’ll have plenty of questions, and he’s a great resource that I’m always gonna have,” Klein said about Lux.
NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: The Dallas Stars’ Masterclass Continues On Defense
The Dallas Stars kick off a new week of our NHL prospect pool overview series.
Tony Ferrari digs into the Stars’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with some exceptions.
Initial Thoughts
The Stars put on a masterclass of how to usher in a new era while their older core ages. They’ve drafted and developed high-end talent, such as Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, Jake Oettinger and Roope Hintz, and they’ve bolstered that group by bringing in Mikko Rantanen.
Wyatt Johnston highlights the Stars' young core. He’s a high-level center who has scored over 30 goals in each of the past two seasons. Heading into his age-22 season, Johnston is poised to eclipse the point-per-game mark.
Thomas Harley is an emerging defender who played well in the spotlight when he joined Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. His mobility and length defensively, along with his puckhandling and passing offensively and in transition, allow him to impact the game at every level. He and Johnston are the centerpieces of the next generation, but they aren’t prospects anymore, so let's dive into the pipeline that will help bolster the Stars' winning ways.
The back end has solid players on their way through the system.
Lian Bichsel technically isn’t a rookie anymore, having played 38 NHL games this past season, but he still feels like one. The heavy-hitting blueliner has developed into a solid defensive player who uses his skating and size to impede offense for the opposing team. His puckhandling and passing are simple but steady, never looking to play above his head.
Aram Minnetian is one of the most promising players on their way through the system. He’s been a solid part of the Boston College blueline, using his skating and intelligent, timely play to ensure he puts his team in excellent positions. With a bigger role next season, he should be a key piece to a very good BC squad.
Tristan Bertucci jumps to the AHL after a solid OHL career. Despite not winning the league title, Bertucci finished his OHL career with 18 points in 16 playoff games, which was an offensive level he’s never reached before. While that isn’t expected at the next level, he’s known for his defensive game and physicality. He moves well, and that’s allowed him to showcase some transition ability as well. Bertucci is the kind of defender who flies under the radar at the next level, but they can be undoubtedly valuable.
On offense, Emil Hemming is one of the more promising forwards in the Stars’ system. Although he didn’t have the best season in the OHL, he has a great shot and plays the game with urgency. He gets involved in the forecheck and engages physically when needed. He isn’t the most refined attacker, but he exhibits some solid habits that could translate to the second or third line.
Ayrton Martino broke out in the NCAA as a senior, jumping from 27 points to 51. His speed makes him such an attractive prospect. He was finally able to show off his shooting talent at the college level. Martino has some rounding out to do, which will be addressed at the AHL level.
Key U-23 Players Likely To Play NHL Games This Season
Lian Bichsel (D), Wyatt Johnston (C)
2025 NHL Draft Class
Round 3, 94th overall - Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver (WHL)
Round 4, 126th overall - Brandon Gorzynski, C/LW, Calgary (WHL)
Round 5, 146th overall - Atte Joki, C, Lukko Jr. (Fin.)
Round 5, 158th overall - Mans Goos, G, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)
Round 6, 190th overall - Dawson Sharkey, RW, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
Round 7, 222nd overall - Charlie Paquette, RW, Guelph (OHL)
The Stars are known for taking swings at the draft, and they did exactly that with Cameron Schmidt. He was widely ranked as a first-round pick, but his size and lack of defensive commitment were major issues because he could get pushed around a bit, and he wasn’t always committed to playing in his own zone. With that said, his shot was as good as anyone in the draft, and he was a flash of lightning on the ice, flying around and bursting up ice with speed. He also has a bit of a nasty side, getting into it after the whistle and showing he has the fight in him that smaller players need. He must incorporate that into his game between the whistles a bit more.
To mitigate some of the risk from Schmidt, they went the safe route and drafted Gorzynski. He plays like your prototypical third-liner. Gorzynski looks to pressure opposing players with speed and effort, closing down the space they have to make plays and force mistakes. He doesn’t have the high-level skill to dictate play, but he has enough to advance play to teammates with the puck and find pockets to finish when given the chance.
In the fifth round, the Stars had two picks. The first of which was Atte Joki, a Finnish center who has displayed some really solid two-way ability and a crafty scoring touch at times. He’s likely destined for bottom-six duties at the pro level, but there is a level of intrigue that comes from his intelligent off-puck offensive play. Joki will need some time to develop, but the Stars have a knack for drafting solid Finns.
Mans Goos is a Swedish netminder with some hype back home. He’s got great size, and he cuts down the angle really well, taking away any light behind him in 1-on-1 situations. Goos must improve his lateral quickness, but he is a solid bet as a netminder with some solid pedigree.
When the Stars picked Dawson Sharkey, it felt like a swing on an energetic forward who plays with some physical intensity. He showed a decent touch around the net, finishing pucks in tight and even showing off a decent shot off the rush. Sharkey has a few tools but isn’t always able to put them together. Grabbing a player like this late is a bet on tools, which is better than drafting strictly for size, as some teams do.
With their final pick, the Stars drafted Charlie Paquette, who scored 70 points in 68 games as a 19-year-old OHLer and an overage draft eligible. He throws some hits, gets shots off from good spots and tries to get involved all over the offensive zone. He’s a good net-front presence as well. He strikes me as someone who will be a very good junior player and even a solid AHLer, but he has too much to put together, including passing and defensive play, to really challenge for an NHL job.
Strengths
The Stars’ pipeline has some promising defensemen. Bichsel is ready to roll in the NHL now, but with Minnetian and Bertucci on the way and some other nice swings in the pipeline, the Stars found ways to add a plethora of defensemen to the system.
Christian Kyrou is an offensive defenseman with a couple of years of experience in the AHL, having shown flashes of the skill and passing that made him a lethal OHL defender. Niilopekka Muhonen has an interesting blend of mobility and physicality. He had a solid season in which he helped the Medicine Hat Tigers capture a WHL title. The Stars have nice bets throughout their blueline.
Weaknesses
The Stars are weak down the middle in the prospect pipeline. Drafting Joki helps, but there aren’t any solid centers who could be much more than a fourth-line pivot. With that said, the Stars have Johnston and Bourque, who can play center at the NHL level. Dallas must replenish and continue to bring in centers to ensure long-term success.
Hidden Gem: Antonio Stranges, LW
Antonio Stranges is one of the most curious cases in hockey. His pure skill and creativity are incredible. Stranges has often been called a pre-game or practice all-star. Stranges has some of the most unorthodox but entertaining skating of any prospect in the last half-decade. His ability to deke, dangle or pull off tricks outside of the game was incredibly fun for people to watch. Last season, Stranges began to put the skill and mobility together at the AHL level. Whether he can continue to grow and eventually prove his skill at the NHL level will be the biggest question.
Next Man Up: Lian Bichsel, D
The Stars have missed the presence of Chris Tanev since he left in free agency. Tanev was a stout defensive force who helped keep the blueline steady in his limited days with the Stars. They are hoping that Bichsel can help fill that void after a season in which the Stars tried to patch the hole with unreliable veterans. Bichsel can lay the boom, and he can skate to shadow opposing players. Bichsel is young, but he might be the missing piece on the blueline.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Ayrton Martino, Antonio Stranges, Brandon Gorzynski, Justin Ertel
C: Angus MacDonell, Atte Joki, Francesco Arcuri
RW: Emil Hemming, Cameron Schmidt, Charlie Paquette, Matthew Seminoff
LD: Lian Bichsel, Tristan Bertucci, Niilopekka Muhonen
RD: Aram Minnetian, Gavin White, Christian Kyrou, Connor Punnett
G: Maxim Mayorov, Mans Goos, Arno Tiefensee, Remi Poirier, Ben Kraws
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.
MLB Draft 2025: Signing Bonus Slot Values for First Round Picks
The Washington Nationals selected high school shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 overall pick in Sunday’s MLB Draft. Willits, who doesn’t turn 18 until December, is the youngest player selected first since the Seattle Mariners took Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987.
Washington was in position to select Willits after winning the draft lottery in December, despite having only the fourth-best odds to do so—Miami and Colorado had the best odds but fell to seventh and fourth, respectively. The top pick came with a draft slot value of $11,075,900.
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Baseball’s slot values offer some wiggle room, unlike rookie contracts in the NFL and NBA, where first-round picks are tied to those leagues’ salary caps and are largely set in stone. NFL teams have the option to sign first-round picks below their draft slot amount but never do. NBA teams can sign first-rounders to contracts that range from 80% to 120% of their slot value, but the agreements are almost always at the max level.
Cam Ward signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. Cooper Flagg’s contract with the Dallas Mavericks is worth $62.7 million over four years, although only the first two years are guaranteed.
Compare those to Travis Bazzana, last year’s top pick by the Cleveland Guardians, who received an $8.95 million bonus, 15% lower than the $10.57 million slot value. The Pittsburgh Pirates gave Paul Skenes a $9.2 million bonus, 5% below his slot in 2023. A year before that, Jackson Holliday received an $8.19 million bonus from the Baltimore Orioles, 10% lower than the $9.05 million slot value.
Every pick in the first 10 rounds is assigned a slot value, and a team’s total bonus pool is the sum of those slot values. The Orioles have the highest pool this year at $19.1 million, followed by the Mariners ($17.1 million), Los Angeles Angels ($16.7 million) and Nationals ($16.6 million). The New York Yankees rank last at $5.4 million after MLB lowered their top pick 10 spots for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the luxury tax, and they also forfeited their second-round pick for signing free agent Max Fried.
When teams sign players below their slot values, it frees up more room to go over slot to sign a high school player who might choose college over a smaller signing bonus. Those negotiations sometimes happen before draft night. Willits was a surprise pick at the top of the draft, as the consensus top two picks were high school infielder Ethan Holliday and LSU pitcher Kade Anderson. They went third and fourth.
Last week, the Nationals fired general manager Mike Rizzo, who led their baseball operations for 17 years. Manager Davey Martinez was also fired last week.
Players selected after the 10th round can be signed for up to $125,000 without the bonus being applied toward the pool allotment, but anything over $125,000 is part of the pool. Last year, the Angels gave 11th-round pick Trey Gregory-Alford a $1.96 million bonus.
The total 2025 bonus pool for the 30 teams is $350 million, up 4.8% from the prior year, which is tied to the growth of MLB revenues. Teams often exceed their bonus allotment but never by more than 5%; up to 5%, the penalty is simply a 75% tax on any overage. Teams face a steeper penalty at higher thresholds, including the loss of draft picks. Spending 5% to 10% above the bonus pool threshold costs a first-round pick, and the penalty reaches two first-round picks at 15%.
In the minor leagues, rookie-level minimum salaries are $20,430 this year, while Triple-A is $36,590. The minimum annual salary in the majors is $760,000 in 2025.
The draft continues Monday afternoon with rounds four through 20.
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Deep Dive on Mets' 2025 draft pick Mitch Voit, who could be a future starting second baseman
The Metsselected two-way player Mitch Voit from Michigan with the No. 38 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. While he was announced as a two-way player, he hasn’t pitched since his sophomore year, and he will be sent out exclusively as a infielder in pro ball.
Voit grew up in Milwaukee for the first 14 years of his life before moving to Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, where he became close with the family of Cubs manager Craig Counsell, even playing high school ball and a year of college ball with one of his sons.
In 2021 at Perfect Game events he flashed tools, averaging 90 mph off the mound, but he was even more impressive in offensive and defensive drills. He flashed 94 mph exit velocities while touching 93 mph in infield throwing and showing plus straight-line speed with a 6.69 60-yard dash.
He was ranked as the No. 9 high school player in the state, winning the Wisconsin Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in 2022 after hitting .566 with a 1.431 OPS and posting a 0.52 ERA in 53.2 innings, striking out 86.
Voit started as the Wolverines' third baseman and pitched out of the bullpen as a true freshman. In 54 games he hit .267/.338/.439 with nine doubles, seven home runs, and 32 RBI. He also got into 19 games on the mound and posted a team-leading 3.25 ERA while striking out 25 in 36 innings with five saves. He made the All-Big Ten freshman team and Second Team Baseball America freshman team. He had a brief stint in the Cape Cod League, getting into six games as a third baseman and two games on the mound.
As a sophomore, Voit’s days as a pitcher would come to an end after posting a 5.49 ERA in 10 starts, as he would end up requiring internal brace surgery that he’d have after the college season concluded. He still hit, but his defensive home was more first base and some corner outfield. His offensive game took a big step forward from his freshman year, as he hit .292/.373/.572 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, and 46 RBI.
Voit entered his junior year as a third-team preseason All-American. It was his first season focusing exclusively on hitting and he made significant strides in aspects of his game. He hit .346/.471/.668 with the same 14 home runs that he hit as a sophomore in 56 games.
The biggest growth came in his approach at the plate, as his strikeout rate as a freshman and sophomore was at 23 and 22 percent, respectively. His junior year he slashed it nearly in half, striking out just 13 percent of the time. At the same time, he nearly doubled his walk rate that was in the eight percent range his first two seasons and spiked to 15.4 percent as a junior. Voit ended up walking (40) more than he struck out (34), while still showing off the ability to barrel the ball and post above average exit velocities, even flashing some plus numbers, though that was with a metal bat.
Voit attended the 2025 MLB Draft Combine, where he made a good impression at team meetings and had an excellent day of batting practice sessions with a max exit velocity of 107.8 mph and hit two home runs over 400 feet, with his max distance at 430 feet.
The Mets' interest in Voit dates back to the preseason in 2025, when he met and stayed in touch with area scout Chad Langley. They were intrigued by the growth in Voit’s first year fully focused on hitting, and that he comes equipped with true plus bat speed and a good feel for bat-to-ball.
The power may be more average than above average, but the batted ball data suggests there is a chance for more in there.
Defensively, Voit stood out at second base, a position he had not played before, ranking fourth among Division I second basemen with 13 defensive runs saved. Now that his arm is healthy, the Mets are likely to have him get some opportunity at third base, where his arm should play well, in addition to second base. He is an above average, nearly plus runner who stole 14 bases in 16 attempts in 2025.
Voit will be 21 for the entire 2026 season and his offensive game has really come into shape this year. He is evaluated as more of a high-floor than high-ceiling player, but there is thought with some swing tweaks, he could tap into a little more power. There is a real chance this is an offensively-driven future starting second baseman.
Projecting Contracts for Ducks Remaining RFAs
The NHL’s offseason is now fully upon us, the draft is in the books, most significant trades have already occurred, and free agency has mostly shaken out. The NHL landscape for the 2025-26 season has become clearer.
Only a handful of NHL players remain on the unrestricted free agency market, and the focus has shifted to restricted free agency. Eleven players filed for salary arbitration last week, with meetings scheduled to be held between July 20 and Aug 4.
Among those 11 players were a pair of Anaheim Ducks: goaltender Lukas Dostal and defenseman Drew Helleson. The hope with any arbitration case in the NHL is to negotiate and agree upon a deal before having to enter the boardroom. Historically, when each side makes their arguments in those rooms, damaging effects on the relationship between the player and the team can ripple moving forward. Arbitration dates are best utilized when treated like deadlines to get a contract signed.
The only other RFA on the Ducks roster is center Mason McTavish, with Sam Colangelo, Judd Caulfield, Jan Mysak, Tim Washe, and Calle Clang also in the organization and needing new contracts.
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AFP Analytics has been fairly accurate when projecting both the length of contracts and the percentage of the cap for an individual deal. Analyzing their projections can be an interesting exercise when attempting to determine what these key pieces to the Ducks’ roster will ultimately sign for.
Lukas Dostal
AFP Analytics Projection: (Long Term) 4 Years, $5.2 million AAV
Dostal was the steadiest and most reliable player in the Ducks organization in 2024-25. The tandem between him and since-traded John Gibson made up potentially the best goaltending tandem in the NHL and were the largest contributors to the team’s 21-point increase in the standings last season.
Despite playing the most hockey in his career in the 12 months between the end of the 2023-24 season and the end of the 2024-25 season, he’s remained healthy, poised, and impactful between the pipes for Anaheim.
Dostal got off to a tremendous start with Gibson out for the first three weeks of the 2024-25 season, who was recovering from an emergency appendectomy. Dostal’s numbers wavered as the season drew longer, but arguments could be made that uncertainty around Gibson’s nagging injury issues last season threw Dostal out of rhythm.
He finished the season with 49 starts and appeared in 54 games. He posted a .903 SV%, stopped 10.28 goals above expected, and tallied his first career shutout.
The goaltending outlook will be significantly clearer for Anaheim heading into next season, with Dostal earning his way to the status of “obvious number one.” His signature knowledge of angles, ability to track pucks around screens, occasionally casual yet remarkable athleticism, and improving game-management skills can be trusted to give the Ducks a chance to win any game they step on the ice for.
Author’s Projection: 5 Years, $5.8 million AAV
Drew Helleson
AFP Analytics Projection: 1 Year, $874,125
Jackson LaCombe’s breakout was the pleasant surprise of the 2024-25 season for the Ducks blueline. A close second, however, was Drew Helleson’s steadying impact on the right side.
After a brief three-game cameo with the Ducks to end the 2022-23 season, spending the entirety of the 2023-24 season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, and playing the first 12 games of his 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, Helleson was recalled to the NHL halfway through November and never looked back.
In his rookie 2024-25 season, he played 56 games, averaged 16:21 TOI, scored 13 points (4-9=13), and averaged over a minute of ice time on the penalty kill.
Helleson doesn’t dazzle with any one skill, but is as reliable as they come for a 24-year-old defenseman. He uses his 6-foot-3 frame to establish body position in front of the net or when retrieving pucks, outlets are crisp and decisive, and he does well to funnel pucks to the net around screens and succeeds at finding teammates' sticks for deflections.
Defensively, after some mistakes. needed adjustments were made to the speed and skill of the NHL game vs the AHL game, but he displayed quality fundamentals from the start, including gap control, angling, and sealing at the defensive blueline.
Filing for arbitration was an interesting tactic from Helleson’s camp, but he may be searching for more security or salary heading into his sophomore NHL season. He can make a strong case should a hearing take place, so it would be surprising to see him signed for as little as the AFP projection.
Author’s Projection: 2 years, $1.4 million AAV
Mason McTavish
AFP Analytics Projection: (Long Term) 6 Years, $6.77 million AAV/(Short Term) 3 Years, $3.98 million AAV
McTavish is the only remaining first-round pick on the Ducks roster from Bob Murray’s era as general manager. Pat Verbeek has let Jacob Larsson, Sam Steel, Max Jones, and Isac Lundestrom walk to unrestricted free agency without qualifying offers, and he traded both Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers.
McTavish has always been the player in that group who seems to most epitomize what Verbeek values in his players, and Verbeek has stated he’s a big piece of the organization’s future.
McTavish’s per-game production has increased in each of his first three NHL seasons from .54 in his rookie season to .66 in 2023-24 to .68 in 2024-25, where he totaled 52 points (22-30=52) in 76 games. His 22 goals led the Ducks last season, and his 52 points placed him second on the team behind only Troy Terry (55 points).
He’d grown his 200-foot game considerably from year two to year three in the NHL, and his brand of high-motor, small-area battling has become increasingly more impactful. He’s at his best when inviting pressure and distributing to the open ice created by the attention he draws from defenders.
Coming off his ELC, he’s in a similar situation to Drysdale and Zegras two summers ago. Based on how those negotiations went, where disputes with both players lasted into training camp and may have led to subsequent injuries, agreeing to terms sooner rather than later would likely be preferred by both parties.
However, in these situations, Verbeek has tended to use every ounce of leverage he can in an attempt to get the player down to a desirable number. Based on comparable contracts given to players like Quinton Byfield last summer and William Eklund this summer, compounded with Verbeek’s penchant for bridge deals for young players, it would be surprising to see McTavish sign a contract over four years in length.
It would also be surprising to see his number come in at AFP’s projection on a short-term deal. Sending Zegras to Philadelphia highlighted the Ducks' commitment to McTavish as their second-line center behind Leo Carlsson, and in doing so, Verbeek surrendered some leverage.
Author’s Projection: 3 Years, $5.83 million AAV
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Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images