Sports News – Page 916 – Worldwide Sports News

Coming off a 6–2 homestand, the Golden State Warriors head out on a four-game road trip beginning Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 PM PT in Dallas and can be watched on Prime Video and NBC Sports Bay Area.

Dubs in Dallas 🤠

🏀 GSW at DAL
🕖 4:30 pm PT
📺 @NBCSAuthentic & @NBAonPrime
📻 @957thegame
📲 https://t.co/6BLvDT0oIP @Betway || #DubNation pic.twitter.com/hU7pw7eNqF
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 22, 2026

Previously with the Warriors:

The Warriors are coming off a tough 145–127 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in what was the team’s first game without Jimmy Butler — who was officially ruled out for the season after suffering a torn ACL the night before. Butler’s absence was felt immediately, as Golden State surrendered 41 points in the first quarter and spent the rest of the night playing from behind. Despite a few spirited runs in the second half, the game remained firmly in Toronto’s control with the team still figuring out how they plan to navigate the Butler injury.

Draymond said the Warriors could win a championship last year at the All-Star break after acquiring Jimmy Butler — and now the tables have turned completely.

"Shit I don't know. We gotta go through it… we'll figure it out. Nature of the game we play. Injuries happen. But I… pic.twitter.com/VOmRCozHup
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 21, 2026

What to watch for tonight:

Golden State looks to bounce back Thursday night as they begin their road trip in Dallas. With Butler gone, the Warriors must find new ways to replace his all-around impact on the game, especially on the offensive end where he was averaging 20 points per game this season. On Tuesday, that responsibility fell to Jonathan Kuminga, who returned after 16 straight games listed as a DNP to score 20 points in just 21 minutes.

Jonathan Kuminga tonight:

20 PTS
5 REB
2 AST
7-10 FG

First game after 16 consecutive DNP-CDs.pic.twitter.com/Ow4JAAo9gI
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) January 21, 2026

Despite a turbulent stretch that included Kuminga requesting a trade from the team, he provided a much-needed offensive spark. Head coach Steve Kerr has consistently pointed to the lineup fit alongside Butler and Draymond Green as the reason for Kuminga’s extended absence, but with Butler sidelined, the door is now open for him to slide into a larger role. For now, this appears to be the Warriors’ solution, but it’s worth monitoring whether Kuminga playing is merely a short-term fix or part of a broader plan to keep him beyond the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

Steve Kerr on Jonathan Kuminga:

"I thought JK was really good and it's a great sign. With Jimmy out, obviously there's a hole at that spot on our roster. JK's gonna factor in here again and really pleased with the way he stayed ready." pic.twitter.com/Wdldt6YOAQ
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 21, 2026

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!!

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Draymond Green, Quinten Post

Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington, Dwight Powell

How to watch Regular Season Game 46

Who: Golden State Warriors (25 – 20) vs. Dallas Mavericks (18 – 26)

When: Thursday, January 22nd, at 4:30 p.m. PT

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas

TV: Prime Video and NBC Sports Bay Area (available on fuboTV)

January 22, 2026

Rangers land All-Star pitcher MacKenzie Gore in trade with Nationals

The Texas Rangers landed the most coveted arm remaining on the trade market when they acquired MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals in exchange for five prospects, the clubs announced Jan. 22.

Gore, 26, earned his first All-Star nod in 2025, and while he faded a bit in the second half, still possesses one of the most dominant left-handed arms in the game. He established career highs in strikeouts (185) and strikeouts per inning (10.4) last season for Washington.

Part of the return package includes shortstop Gavin Fien, as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 draft joins the No. 1 overall, Eli Willits, in Washington's system.

The Rangers finished last season 81-81, their second consecutive non-winning season since taking the 2023 World Series. They traded second baseman Marcus Semien to the New York Mets, non-tendered slugger Adolis Garcia and have been relatively quiet this offseason otherwise.

Now, they can slot Gore between the right-handers Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom atop the rotation, giving them a potentially dominant starting pitching look.

That's assuming Gore, whose fastball reaches 98 mph, cleans up some of his peripherals. He posted a 1.35 WHIP last season and walked 3.6 batters per nine innings. Yet after the trade of Freddy Peralta from Milwaukee to the New York Mets Jan. 21, Gore was the clear-cut best remaining arm on the trade market - and he comes with two years of club control before becoming eligible for free agency.

Gore joined Washington as one of the centerpieces of the blockbuster 2022 deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego. While the trade worked out splendidly for the Nationals, with Gore, shortstop CJ Abrams and slugger James Wood emerging as foundational pieces, the Nationals lost 91, 91 and 96 games in the three full seasons since that deal.

Their most recent struggles preceded the firing of manager Dave Martinez and longtime GM Mike Rizzo. Now, the original rebuilding structure is getting torn down as new GM Paul Toboni tries to construct a winner anew.

In addition to Fien, a high school draftee from Temecula, Calif., the Nationals will receive right-hander Alejandro Rosario, a 24-year-old who sat out all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. Abimelec Ortiz (Class AAA outfielder, 23), Devin Fitz-Gerald (Class A infielder, 20) and Yeremy Cabrera (Class A outfielder, 20) are also headed to Washington.

MacKenzie Gore trade details

Texas Rangers receive:

LHP MacKenzie Gore

Washington Nationals receive:

SS Gavin Fien
RHP Alejandro Rosario
1B/OF Abimelec Ortiz
INF Devin Fitz-Gerald
OF Yeremy Cabrera

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MacKenzie Gore trade to Rangers details as Washington deals All-Star

January 22, 2026

Roman Josi reflects on career with Nashville Predators ahead of 1,000th career game

It has been 5,171 days since a 21-year-old Roman Josi was called up from the Milwaukee Admirals to join the Nashville Predators.

He remembers it vividly. On Nov. 26, 2011, Josi played his first NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings.

"I remember going out there for warmups and thinking that it was the coolest thing," Josi said. "It was at Joe Louis Arena, which was historic and across from me, you had guys like Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, which was pretty surreal. You never forget your first one."

Thursday, in the Predators' home matchup against the Ottawa Senators, Josi will play his 1,000th career game and become the first player in franchise history to play all 1,000 games with the Predators.

"It's a crazy number and a pretty special day," Josi said at Thursday morning's skate. "It's a good time to reflect a little bit and think about the time you've been here. It's pretty special to do it with this organization and the only team I've played for."

Roman Josi speaks to media ahead of his 1,000th career game #Preds pic.twitter.com/8CSJP7M2i4
— Jack Williams (@jackgwilliams) January 22, 2026

Josi's list of accolades, not just in the Predators organization, but in the NHL and internationally, is a long one.

He's established himself as one of the best defensemen of his generation, a four-time NHL All-Star, 2020 Norris Trophy Winner, and just the second defenseman ever to lead an NHL franchise in points, the other being Hall of Famer Ray Bourque (1,506 points) with the Boston Bruins.

Over 999 career games, Josi has tallied 198 goals and 554 assists for 752 points.

"To play 1,000 games in one uniform is really hard these days," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "With the CBA and free agency, it's a heck of an accomplishment."

Josi has been a pioneer in the growth of Switzerland's hockey presence, winning three silver medals at the IIHF World Championships, competing in the 2014 Olympics, and gearing up for another run at the 2026 games next month.

While he's originally from Switzerland, Nashville has become home to Josi. It's where he met his wife, Ellie Ottaway-Josi, and where his two kids were born and are being raised.

Josi's family will be attending the game on Thursday.

"My kids are at a good age now where they kind of understand what's happening a little bit," Josi said. "I met my wife here. My kids were born here. There are so many things that have happened in this town over the last 15 years.

"My family is here from back home (Switzerland). They've been here so many times and they love it."

Nov 26, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) takes the puck up ice against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at the Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images

Reaching 1,000 games means even more, considering Josi's health and the possibility in the 2025 offseason that he may not reach the milestone.

After missing the final two months of the 2024-25 season, it was revealed that Josi had been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a circulatory disorder that causes a rapid heart rate increase.

With his status in flux throughout the summer, days before training camp, General Manager Barry Trotz announced that Josi would be ready, "100 percent healthy."

"We were all a little bit scared last year. I'm sure he was," Brunette said. "I think the clarification with what he was dealing with eased a lot of tension in all of us, especially him. To see him back, he's pointed at a really high level this year.

"We played better because Roman's healthy and in his groove, so I'm happy to see him. He's been scoring some goals lately. His game is at a really high level."

Josi said a lot has to go right health-wise in order to get to 1,000 games, but he credited the people around him in the Predators organization who got him there.

"There are a lot of people to be thankful for," Josi said. "Our staff does an amazing job to keep you healthy and a lot goes into it. I feel very lucky, health-wise, to make it to 1,000."

Feb 9, 2011; St. Paul, MN USA; Minnesota Wild forward Andrew Brunette (15) with his wife Laurie Brunette (second left) and father Dan Brunette (left) is presented with a silver hockey stick for his 1000th game played last week before the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-Imagn Images

The moment allowed Brunette to reflect on his 1,000th career game, which he eclipsed in 2011, with the Minnesota Wild. He said the moment can be emotionally "tough."

"When you get to that game, sometimes it feels like an obituary at times," Brunette said. "You see everybody talk about it and you gotta kind of catch yourself that you're, you're not dead. The tributes and the things people say.

"As a hockey player, you're always moving forward. Next game, next shift, the next play. To take a second and reflect, for me, wasn't a great feeling."

The celebration has already begun ahead of the game, as Josi has received gifts from his teammates, including a limited-edition Norqain watch and VIP tickets to the US Open.

It'll be a special celebration Thursday night, but Josi is aware of the task at hand of beating the Senators and avoiding a third straight loss.

"You obviously want to enjoy the moment, but once the game starts, we're trying to win," Josi said. "It's a special game for me, but once the game starts, you focus on that."

January 22, 2026

Rangers land Gore from Nats, per reports

MLB Trade Rumors: The Texas Rangers have acquired starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals, per reports. Texas is sending five prospects, including 2025 first rounder Gavin Fein.

Well, we have been saying that the Rangers needed to add another starting pitcher. It appears they have done so.

Gore, who turns 27 next month, is a lefthander who was picked third overall in the 2017 draft out of Whiteville High School in North Carolina. He was a consensus top-10 prospect heading into both 2020 and 2021, but a disappointing 2021 season that saw him start poorly at AAA, miss time due to blisters and general ineffectiveness, and ultimately make just 12 starts in affiliated ball (half of them below AAA) before struggling in three Arizona Fall League starts saw him plummet in the rankings.

He started 2022 in the minors, but ended up making 13 starts and three relief appearances in the bigs for the Padres before being traded to the Washington Nationals in the Juan Soto deal while on the injured list with elbow issues.

From 2023-25, Gore has posted a 4.15 ERA in 89 starts covering 469.1 IP, with 517 Ks against 186 walks and 62 homers. Last season he threw 159.2 innings in 30 starts, with a 4.17 ERA, a 3.74 FIP and a 4.33 xERA.

We will update as more information becomes available.

UPDATE — According to Evan Grant, along with Fein, the Nats are getting Abi Ortiz, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Alejandro Rosario, and one other prospect. The unknown prospect is not, he says, Sebastian Walcott or Caden Scarborough.

UPDATE II — The fifth prospect is reportedly Yeremy Cabrera.

Fein is the guy in the deal who you feel like could make the Rangers regret the deal.

Ortiz had a strong final couple of months of 2025, but he’s a bat-only guy who wasn’t a lock to be added to the 40 man roster this offseason. He was, of course, ultimately added, which means that Gore will replace Ortiz on the 40 man.

Rosario was a super-exciting prospect at the end of 2024, a guy who was on most top 100 lists. He then was diagnosed with a torn UCL in the spring, needed Tommy John surgery, didn’t actually have Tommy John surgery for a while, and it isn’t clear whether he actually has had it or not (ed. note — he had it on January 13, so nine days ago). He was not going to be pitching again until 2027, so you see why the Rangers would be willing to part with him, given his injury situation.

Fitz-Gerald was the Rangers’ 5th round pick in 2024. He performed well in the ACL in 2025, and earned a promotion to Hickory to finish out the season.

Cabrera was a $10,000 international signee who turned heads in 2024. He spent the 2025 season at Hickory, slashing .256/.364/.366 with 43 stolen bases.

Their ranks on the Rangers’ BA list:

Fein — #3

Fitz-Gerald — #8

Rosario — #13

Cabrera — #14

Ortiz — N/R

I will offer more extensive thoughts on Gore later on tonight.

January 22, 2026January 22, 2026

Europa League roundup: Tielemans and Emery clash as Sancho seals Villa progress

Manager shoves his own midfielder in stoppage time
Aston Villa into last 16 with victory at Fenerbahce

Aston Villa sealed a top-eight finish in the Europa League after Jadon Sancho’s first goal for the club gave them a 1-0 win over Fenerbahce in Turkey. But the Villa manager, Unai Emery, was involved in a touchline spat with Youri Tielemans after the midfielder was substituted in stoppage time.

Villa’s win was their sixth from seven European matches this season and ended Fenerbahce’s unbeaten home record. Sancho opened his account in Villa colours to put the visitors in the driving seat amid a loud Sukru Saracoglu Stadium atmosphere.

January 22, 2026

Hawks rally in Memphis, defeat Grizzlies behind Johnson’s all-around night

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Atlanta Hawks showed resilience, poise, and just enough late-game execution to slip past the Memphis Grizzlies, 124–122, grinding out one of their most satisfying road wins of the season. Atlanta

After absorbing an early punch from a fired-up FedExForum crowd, Atlanta settled in, leaned on its versatility, and delivered when it mattered most exactly the kind of performance Hawks fans have been waiting to see after being on a four-game losing streak.

Atlanta was powered by a monster all-around night from Jalen Johnson, who was everywhere on the floor. Johnson attacked mismatches, cleaned the glass, and facilitated offense in transition, finishing just shy of a triple-double with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, setting the tone for the Hawks’ aggressive approach.

“I thought our group showed real toughness tonight. Memphis made multiple runs, the crowd was into it, and we didn’t blink. Jalen set the tone with his force and competitiveness, and we trusted each other late. Those are the kinds of wins that build you — especially on the road,” said head coach Quinn Snyder.

Whenever Memphis threatened to seize control, Johnson answered whether with a strong finish at the rim or a timely defensive play that swung momentum back Atlanta’s way. His clutch drive late in the fourth quarter ultimately sealed the victory.

The Hawks didn’t rely on just one option. Nickeil – Alexander- Walker orchestrated the offense and made key plays down the stretch, while Atlanta’s supporting cast chipped in with timely shooting and interior toughness. The Hawks consistently punished Memphis on second-chance opportunities and executed with greater composure in late-clock situations.

Inside, Atlanta’s bigs held their ground, limiting easy looks and forcing Memphis into contested finishes a subtle but decisive factor in a game decided by just two points. Onyeka Okongwu delivered 18 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, while Luke Kennard spaced the floor with 18 points, including four three-pointers.

Memphis countered with strong production from Ja Morant, who pressured Atlanta’s defense all night with his speed and playmaking. Morant finished with 23 points and 12 assists as the Grizzlies surged in the third quarter and carried momentum into the fourth.

But late missed opportunities and Atlanta’s calm execution at the free-throw line proved costly. Memphis even held a slim lead late in the final period, yet a desperation three from Morant at the buzzer rimmed out, sealing the Hawks’ hard-earned victory.

Atlanta is 21-25 on the season as they are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

January 22, 2026

Raptors willing to part with several starters in trades

A few days ago, we talked about what the Toronto Raptors could do at the deadline. Knowing Bobby Webster, but actually knowing his mentor Masai Ujiri, tells us that it’s a real possibility for the Raptors to not do anything spectacular at the deadline. Instead, they could wait for the summer to make moves. Yet, there is that little possibility that Webster starts his tenure as leader of the Raptors with a bang and makes a big trade before Feb. 5th’s deadline.

As Josh Lewenberg of TSN reports, the Raptors seem willing to part with more than one of their starters. Webster has apparently been on the phone with several other teams, tossing around possibilities, and doing what Lewenberg calls his “due diligence” on checking in on several targets around the NBA. This is definitely a move reflective of Masai’s tactics — staying extremely informed but not necessarily doing anything. It’s why the Raptors usually end in a ton of trade reports this time of year, because the Masai-now-Bobby method usually involves picking up the phone and having a chat about literally every player whose name is floating around. It’s less about wanting to make a move and more just knowing what options are out there in case you decide you might want to make a move. Something Lewenberg details in his reports as well. We all know the deal in this front office by now.

Can you see why I hate the trade deadline now?

Another good point Josh makes above is that sometimes these little check-ins turn into something more — take Brandon Ingram a year ago. I would have been one to tell you there’s no way the Raptors pull the trigger on that one, and they did. Mind you, the price ended up being lower than expected, which was nice. Another thing about Masai and Bobby — they know how to negotiate.

Now, another thing Lewenberg says is that if the Raptors don’t make a move at the deadline, its more because their “hands are tied” than anything. Makes sense, given their maybe most valuable asset is an injured Jakob Poeltl. The new-ish part in Lewenberg’s reporting is that the Raptors seem to be willing to part with any or all of Poeltl, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. Take this with a grain of salt, though, as the Raptors aren’t ones to leak themselves, and these speculations are more coming from other teams’ sources. As we all know, it’s these players (well, their salaries) that are the most valuable in trades for Toronto, and also prevent the Raptors from making any big signings now or in the summer.

If I had to make an educated guess, I would say Quickley was the most likely to be moved at the deadline, if anyone does get dealt. I would say Poeltl, yet his precarious injury situation doesn’t make me as confident that teams will bite. With Barrett, I’m sure it’s not off the table to include him in the deal, but it would have to be the right deal. If Barrett is traded this season, it’s because it’s the only way the Raptors get their top choice guy, in my opinion. He also still has a year left on his contract, so it’s a big undertaking for any team trading for him.

The Raptors are reportedly willing to part with RJ Barrett, per @JLew1050

“TSN can confirm that Toronto appears willing to part with some combination of Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett, or at least that’s the impression that rival teams have gleaned from… pic.twitter.com/7rrchjY0Ny
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 22, 2026

As I mentioned in last week’s update, most of the players that maybe would have been Toronto’s big targets (Young, Davis, Sabonis) are either gone, too expensive, or hurt. Or multiple of those options. We’ll have to see if anything comes up in the next few weeks as teams head into the final days before the deadline.

January 22, 2026

Bulls vs Timberwolves Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

A three-game losing streak can knock you from thinking about the No. 2 seed to worrying about the Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference. The Minnesota Timberwolves cannot let this slide continue, but fortunately, hosting the Chicago Bulls is a ripe chance to right things.

My Bulls vs. Timberwolves predictions and NBA picks recognize the value presented by a possible Minnesota injury.

Bulls vs Timberwolves prediction

Bulls vs Timberwolves best bet: Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points (+100)

With Julius Randle questionable tonight due to left foot soreness, the quick question becomes who will handle the ball more if Randle is out of this Minnesota Timberwolves lineup. The first instinct is Naz Reid, as he could slide into the starting lineup if Randle is indeed ruled out.

Howeve, Reid banged up his shoulder on Saturday, and his 5-for-15 shooting on Tuesday did not ease those worries.

Then look to Jaden McDaniels. The wing has already been handling the ball more often for Minnesota, often initiating the offense as Mike Conley continues to struggle and Donte DiVincenzo seems to play best in an off-ball role. Randle often initiates the offense, as well, but if he is indeed ruled out, that work should land more on McDaniels’ shoulders.

He has already cleared this prop in five of his last eight games. That trend should continue with or without Randle, but particularly if the Timberwolves are without him tonight.

Bulls vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Jaden McDaniels is not much of a pull-up shooter from deep. His threes usually come on catch-and-shoot chances, and with the thought that Randle may be sidelined, those chances will be fewer. Furthermore, McDaniels has cleared this scoring prop while not hitting multiple 3-pointers four times since Christmas.

Bulls vs Timberwolves SGP

Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points
Jaden McDaniels Under 1.5 threes
Timberwolves moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wolf pack of props

This is not doubt in Reid. This is seeing value in an Under if his shoulder is indeed bothering him, and Tuesday’s 5-for-15 shooting was his worst showing of January, a decent indication his shoulder is indeed bothering him.

Bulls vs Timberwolves SGP

Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points
Jaden McDaniels Under 1.5 threes
Timberwolves moneyline
Naz Reid Under 15.5 points

Bulls vs Timberwolves odds

Spread: Bulls +8.5 | Timberwolves -8.5
Moneyline: Bulls +270 | Timberwolves -340
Over/Under: Over 238 | Under 238

Bulls vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Timberwolves are 3-0 ATS against the Bulls in the last two seasons, all of those coming as at least a three-bucket favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Bulls vs Timberwolves

Location	Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date	Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	FDSN-North, CHSN

Bulls vs Timberwolves latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

January 22, 2026

Derrick White is an All-Star — but don’t take it from me

BOSTON — Before the Celtics’ win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, head coach Rick Carlisle was asked about what he expected from this year’s Celtics team. And Carlisle, who has been coaching against the Joe Mazzulla Celtics for years, made clear he was far from surprised at the Celtics’ success this season. Before even being prodded further, the longtime NBA coach explained why.

“Derrick White is an All-Star,” Carlisle said. “He’s an All-Star player. I mean, the guy is 8th in the league in blocked shots.”

White is not the only reason Carlisle cited for his preseason confidence in the Celtics: he touched on Jaylen Brown’s greatness, Payton Pritchard’s growth, Sam Hauser’s shotmaking, and Mazzulla’s offensive creativity.

But the unprompted proclamation about White is what stood out most about Carlisle’s answer — in large part because there hasn’t been a ton of chatter about the Celtics guard being an All-Star this season, or at least not as much as many expected going into the year.

The reason for that is simple: his offensive efficiency is down. The 31-year-old is averaging 17.7 points and 5.4 assists — both career-highs — but he’s doing so while shooting 39.1% from the field (the lowest of his NBA career) and 32.4% from three (the second-lowest of his NBA career).

Still, Carlisle was adamant: “He’s such an important part of their team.”

Jaylen Brown, who on Monday was announced as an All-Star starter for the first time in his career, was equally decisive in his proclamation.

“D-White has been a two-way player all year,” Brown said. “And I know we live in an era where that doesn’t get as much praise or respect, but that contributes to winning a lot. Derrick White has been playing at an All-Star level because he plays both sides of the ball. And that’s no disrespect to some of those other guys that are maybe in All-Star contention — but it’s a clear difference.”

Asked Jaylen Brown about Derrick White’s defense — and he said he could see D-White being Defensive Player of the Year:

“I think Derrick White has been playing at an All-Star level l, because he plays both sides of the ball. And that's no disrespect to some of those other guys… https://t.co/TFWbYOn7OB pic.twitter.com/vUqsyydJav
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) January 22, 2026

White has been in a particular offensive slump as of late; he is averaging just 10 points on 30.2% shooting in his last 5 games. Still, the Celtics have outscored opponents by 76 points with him on the floor in that span.

That doesn’t surprise those who know his game best, such as his longtime head coach.

“He’s not defined by shooting efficiency,” Mazzulla said. “To me, that’s a bonus.”

After Wednesday’s 119-104 win over the Pacers, Mazzulla pointed out White’s expansive list of more intangible contributions for the Celtics: his role as one of the Celtics’ lead pick-and-roll ball handlers, his ability to make 2-on-1 reads, his defensive versatility, his penchant for getting backtips and stopping fast breaks, and proclivity for doing all of the things that have made him one of the most valuable role players in the league.

As a result, even amid an uncharacteristic shooting slump, White has the highest +/- rating on the team, a +275 on the year

“I just think it’s hard to recognize all the other stuff, and it’s just easy to notice the shooting efficiency because it’s right there,” Mazzulla said.

Carlisle and Mazzulla are far from the only two NBA coaches to gush about White this season; it’s become a regular occurrence.

“I think he is the most underrated player in the league,” Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said last month. “The guy is an absolute winner.”

Asked Erik Spoelstra about Derrick White:

“I think he is the most underrated player in the league. The guy is an absolute winner, whatever role you put him in … He just does so many things … He's the best shot-blocking guard in the league.” pic.twitter.com/AtAYDWBy6I
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) December 20, 2025

Derrick White for Defensive Player of the Year?

Jaylen Brown went so far as to say he feels like White is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. And, there’s a real case to be made; White is fourth in the NBA in stocks (steals and blocks), and he’s averaging career-highs in both categories (1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game).

Among NBA players who average at least 30 minutes per game, White has the second-highest Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus (+2.1), a metric that assesses a player’s defensive impact per 100 possessions (he trails only four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert).

And, he is as durable as they come — White has only missed one game this season — and he’s the best shot-blocking guard in the NBA.

“I think Derrick is a first-team All-Defense type of ballot, or maybe even Defensive Player of the Year,” Brown said. “But on top of that, he contributes on offense, and that takes a lot more energy, a lot more effort to do night-to-night. And he’s healthy, he’s available.”

Neemias Queta, who oftentimes has the clearest view of White’s defensive accument, praised his savviness as a defender.

“He’s always got a good chance of getting a stop, no matter who he’s guarding, or even off the ball, too,” Queta said. “He’s really communicative, too. He’s a Swiss Army knife, and he can do a little bit of everything on both sides of the floor. But defensively, especially, I feel like he holds his own in pretty much all types of matchups.“

Brown pointed out that White is doing all that while also shouldering significant offensive responsibilities; he’s the team’s second-leading scorer behind Brown and has the second-highest usage rate on the Celtics (23%). No other defensive player of his caliber concurrently carries such a heavy load on the other side of the ball.

“You’ve got to give that respect to Derrick,” Brown said. “It’s not an easy job to do and play both ends of the ball at a high level for the duration of the season — and be available for a majority of the games. That’s extremely difficult. He’s been doing that for us all [season], and that has helped us be a second seed.”

White probably won’t be named an All-Star, though reserves — selected by coaches — will be announced on February 1st. And, it’s too early for a real Defensive Player of the Year campaign, though White will certainly be in the mix when those conversations begin.

But those who know White’s game best— and basketball best — know that his impact is inherently not captured on the stat sheet.

And, it probably won’t ever get the recognition it deserves; that’s why NBA coaches go out of their way to give him his flowers.

“Regardless of what the stats look like,” Brown said, “Derrick White is an All-Star.”

January 22, 2026

NBA 2025-26 midseason Sixth Man of the Year: Naz Reid is man to beat, plus betting tips on race

We've reached the midpoint of an NBA season that has been filled with surprises — Detroit and Boston lead the East, San Antonio is second in the West — and also far too many injuries to stars. It's also given us jaw-dropping moments, and not just the ones Victor Wembanyama seems to deliver us on a nightly basis.

The midpoint also means it's time to take stock of the NBA postseason awards. All week long, I will make my picks for some of the NBA's top awards at this point in the season, plus get betting angles from NBC Sports experts. Today: Sixth Man of the Year.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year: Naz Reid

2. Jaime Jaquez Jr.
3. Ajay Mitchell

Analysis of Sixth Man of the Year race

Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year two years ago with stats that are not as good as the ones he is putting up for the Timberwolves this season, including a career-high 14.5 points per game. He is also someone coach Chris Finch leans on in clutch minutes (depending on the matchup) because of his versatility and ability to play both ends of the floor (he is a plus defender and a big shooting 38.8% from 3-point range).

Usually, the Sixth Man of the Year race sees a lot of movement in the second half of the season, but it feels like someone else is going to win the award this year, they are going to have to prove themselves better than Reid. Good luck with that.

Miami's Jamie Jaquez Jr. — who has carried the Heat offense for stretches — might be the guy to pull that off, although he needs to be a little more efficient with his scoring to win this. Ajay Mitchell has been a revelation off the bench in Oklahoma City in his second season, and the fact that he tends to be on the court with a stacked roster — have you seen the Thunder bench? — shouldn't be held against him. Mitchell has been fantastic.

Three other names to watch in this race are Reed Sheppard in Houston, Keldon Johnson in San Antonio, and the hot Anfernee Simons in Boston. Any of them could climb into the top three — or the top spot itself — with a strong second half of the season.

Orlando's Anthony Black, Atlanta's Nickiel Alexander-Walker and Phoenix's Collin Gilespi are not on this list because all three have become regular starters and have started more than half of their team's games to this point.

Betting Sixth Man Race

We reached out to the NBC Sports betting experts for their thoughts on the Rookie of the Year race and how they might bet it.

Drew Dinsick, NBC Sports Betting Analyst

The rubric for this award is the most productive bench player in terms of raw scoring for a Top 3 seed in either conference. We've seen a rotating cast of favorites for this award throughout the season at this point but the man coming on strong at the moment is clearly Anfernee Simons of the Boston Celtics. His price at 14/1 does not capture the recent surge which find him Top 3 in points scored off the bench, slightly behind Naz Reid and Jaime Jaquez Jr. It seems likely he will lead bench scoring by the All-Star break for the 2-seed Celtics which will likely mean he will be the market favorite and the best awards bet on the board at this time.

January 22, 2026March 14, 2026

2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300: Jarren Duran, Matt McLain climbing the rankings

With two weeks to go before Opening Day, here's the latest update to the Top 300. Players are ranked for 5x5 mixed leagues using a one-catcher format. I include the mixed-league disclaimer because I do reward upside, particularly past the top 200 or so.

⚾️ Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300 overall ranks

**Updated March 13**

2026	Top 300	Team	Pos	Pos Rk	Mar 9
1	Aaron Judge	Yankees	OF	1	1
2	Shohei Ohtani	Dodgers	DH	1	2
3	Bobby Witt Jr.	Royals	SS	1	3
4	Ronald Acuna Jr.	Braves	OF	2	4
5	Juan Soto	Mets	OF	3	5
6	Jose Ramirez	Guardians	3B	1	6
7	Tarik Skubal	Tigers	SP	1	7
8	Julio Rodriguez	Mariners	OF	4	8
9	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	Blue Jays	1B	1	9
10	Kyle Tucker	Dodgers	OF	5	10
11	Paul Skenes	Pirates	SP	2	11
12	Gunnar Henderson	Orioles	SS	2	12
13	Elly De La Cruz	Reds	SS	3	13
14	Corbin Carroll	Diamondbacks	OF	6	19
15	Fernando Tatis Jr.	Padres	OF	7	14
16	Nick Kurtz	Athletics	1B	2	15
17	Pete Alonso	Orioles	1B	3	16
18	Zach Neto	Angels	SS	4	17
19	Garrett Crochet	Red Sox	SP	3	18
20	Jackson Chourio	Brewers	OF	8	20
21	Kyle Schwarber	Phillies	DH	2	21
22	Junior Caminero	Rays	3B	2	23
23	Logan Gilbert	Mariners	SP	4	22
24	Trea Turner	Phillies	SS	5	24
25	Francisco Lindor	Mets	SS	6	25
26	Yordan Alvarez	Astros	OF	9	26
27	Cristopher Sanchez	Phillies	SP	5	27
28	James Wood	Nationals	OF	10	28
29	Ketel Marte	Diamondbacks	2B	1	29
30	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	Dodgers	SP	6	31
31	Austin Riley	Braves	3B	3	33
32	CJ Abrams	Nationals	SS	7	30
33	Michael Harris II	Braves	OF	11	32
34	Pete Crow-Armstrong	Cubs	OF	12	34
35	Cal Raleigh	Mariners	C	1	35
36	Bryan Woo	Mariners	SP	7	36
37	Freddie Freeman	Dodgers	1B	4	37
38	Bryce Harper	Phillies	1B	5	38
39	Jarren Duran	Red Sox	OF	13	48
40	Jazz Chisholm Jr.	Yankees	2B	2	39
41	Mason Miller	Padres	RP	1	40
42	Max Fried	Yankees	SP	8	42
43	Brent Rooker	Athletics	OF	14	41
44	Maikel Garcia	Royals	3B	4	43
45	Manny Machado	Padres	3B	5	44
46	George Kirby	Mariners	SP	9	45
47	Wyatt Langford	Rangers	OF	15	51
48	Roman Anthony	Red Sox	OF	16	46
49	Edwin Diaz	Dodgers	RP	2	49
50	Jackson Merrill	Padres	OF	17	47
51	Cody Bellinger	Yankees	OF	18	50
52	George Springer	Blue Jays	OF	19	52
53	Jacob deGrom	Rangers	SP	10	54
55	Brice Turang	Brewers	2B	3	53
55	Cade Smith	Guardians	RP	3	55
56	Chris Sale	Braves	SP	11	56
57	Sal Stewart	Reds	1B	6	57
58	Geraldo Perdomo	Diamondbacks	SS	8	58
59	Shohei Ohtani	Dodgers	SP	12	59
60	Aroldis Chapman	Red Sox	RP	4	60
61	Vinnie Pasquantino	Royals	1B	7	62
62	Framber Valdez	Tigers	SP	13	61
63	Bo Bichette	Mets	SS	9	64
64	Hunter Brown	Astros	SP	14	63
65	Jhoan Duran	Phillies	RP	5	65
66	Joe Ryan	Twins	SP	15	67
67	Dylan Crews	Nationals	OF	20	69
68	Logan Webb	Giants	SP	16	68
69	Dylan Cease	Blue Jays	SP	17	70
70	Devin Williams	Mets	RP	6	71
71	Luis Robert Jr.	Mets	OF	21	73
72	Cole Ragans	Royals	SP	18	72
73	Tyler Soderstrom	Athletics	1B	8	75
74	Oneil Cruz	Pirates	OF	22	76
75	Matt Olson	Braves	1B	9	77
76	Corey Seager	Rangers	SS	10	82
77	Andres Munoz	Mariners	RP	7	79
78	Josh Naylor	Mariners	1B	10	80
79	Seiya Suzuki	Cubs	OF	23	81
80	Jeremy Pena	Astros	SS	11	66
81	Jacob Misiorowski	Brewers	SP	19	84
82	Mookie Betts	Dodgers	SS	12	83
83	Zack Wheeler	Phillies	SP	20	87
84	Luke Keaschall	Twins	2B	4	85
85	Kyle Stowers	Marlins	OF	24	88
86	Ben Rice	Yankees	C	2	89
87	David Bednar	Yankees	RP	8	94
88	Sonny Gray	Red Sox	SP	21	91
89	Jose Altuve	Astros	2B	5	90
90	Rafael Devers	Giants	1B	11	92
91	Byron Buxton	Twins	OF	25	93
92	Kyle Bradish	Orioles	SP	22	95
93	Riley Greene	Tigers	OF	26	96
94	Daniel Palencia	Cubs	RP	9	100
95	Drew Rasmussen	Rays	SP	23	97
96	Noelvi Marte	Reds	3B	6	98
97	Christian Yelich	Brewers	OF	27	99
98	Xavier Edwards	Marlins	SS	13	102
99	Josh Hader	Astros	RP	10	86
100	Eugenio Suarez	Reds	3B	7	103
101	Blake Snell	Dodgers	SP	24	78
102	Eury Perez	Marlins	SP	25	104
103	Mike Trout	Angels	OF	28	124
104	Jeff Hoffman	Blue Jays	RP	11	108
105	Salvador Perez	Royals	C	3	105
106	Jesus Luzardo	Phillies	SP	26	107
107	Bryan Reynolds	Pirates	OF	29	109
108	Matt McLain	Reds	2B	6	141
109	Jo Adell	Angels	OF	30	110
110	Nolan McLean	Mets	SP	27	116
111	Brandon Nimmo	Rangers	OF	31	111
112	Ivan Herrera	Cardinals	DH	3	113
113	Griffin Jax	Rays	RP	12	112
114	Shea Langeliers	Athletics	C	4	125
115	Alec Burleson	Cardinals	1B	12	118
116	Teoscar Hernandez	Dodgers	OF	32	119
117	Willson Contreras	Red Sox	1B	13	120
118	Ryan Helsley	Orioles	RP	13	117
119	Daylen Lile	Nationals	OF	33	101
120	Alec Bohm	Phillies	3B	8	121
121	Gerrit Cole	Yankees	SP	28	122
122	Ceddanne Rafaela	Red Sox	2B	7	123
123	Nico Hoerner	Cubs	2B	8	127
124	William Contreras	Brewers	C	5	115
125	Raisel Iglesias	Braves	RP	14	126
126	Michael Busch	Cubs	1B	14	128
127	Tanner Bibee	Guardians	SP	29	129
128	Jacob Wilson	Athletics	SS	14	106
129	Nick Pivetta	Padres	SP	30	133
130	Ranger Suarez	Red Sox	SP	31	136
131	Brenton Doyle	Rockies	OF	34	130
132	Trevor Story	Red Sox	SS	15	131
133	Trevor Megill	Brewers	RP	15	132
134	MacKenzie Gore	Rangers	SP	32	137
135	Jorge Polanco	Mets	2B	9	134
136	Alex Bregman	Cubs	3B	9	135
137	Freddy Peralta	Mets	SP	33	139
138	Andy Pages	Dodgers	OF	35	138
139	Jakob Marsee	Marlins	OF	36	143
140	Yandy Diaz	Rays	1B	15	144
141	Kevin Gausman	Blue Jays	SP	34	142
142	Emilio Pagan	Reds	RP	16	140
143	Hunter Goodman	Rockies	C	6	145
144	Kenley Jansen	Tigers	RP	17	146
145	Agustin Ramirez	Marlins	C	7	148
146	Ezequiel Tovar	Rockies	SS	16	149
147	Shota Imanaga	Cubs	SP	35	179
148	Willy Adames	Giants	SS	17	152
149	Chase Burns	Reds	SP	36	166
150	Ian Happ	Cubs	OF	37	153
151	Pete Fairbanks	Marlins	RP	18	151
152	Xander Bogaerts	Padres	SS	18	154
153	Drake Baldwin	Braves	C	8	188
154	Daulton Varsho	Blue Jays	OF	38	182
155	Joe Musgrove	Padres	SP	37	114
156	Tyler Glasnow	Dodgers	SP	38	147
157	Andrew Vaughn	Brewers	1B	16	159
158	Bryson Stott	Phillies	2B	10	160
159	Ryan Walker	Giants	RP	19	162
160	Caleb Durbin	Red Sox	3B	10	164
161	Shane McClanahan	Rays	SP	39	161
162	Brandon Woodruff	Brewers	SP	40	155
163	Tommy Edman	Dodgers	2B	11	167
164	Steven Kwan	Guardians	OF	39	168
165	Dansby Swanson	Cubs	SS	19	170
166	Seranthony Dominguez	White Sox	RP	20	169
167	Matthew Boyd	Cubs	SP	41	157
168	Jackson Holliday	Orioles	2B	12	172
169	Kerry Carpenter	Tigers	OF	40	175
170	Cade Horton	Cubs	SP	42	158
171	Wilyer Abreu	Red Sox	OF	41	176
172	Adolis Garcia	Phillies	OF	42	178
173	Isaac Paredes	Astros	3B	11	150
174	Emmet Sheehan	Dodgers	SP	43	163
175	Colson Montgomery	White Sox	SS	20	180
176	Edward Cabrera	Cubs	SP	44	165
177	Munetaka Murakami	White Sox	3B	12	183
178	Randy Arozarena	Mariners	OF	43	185
179	Nathan Eovaldi	Rangers	SP	45	173
180	Luis Garcia Jr.	Nationals	2B	13	187
181	Michael King	Padres	SP	46	174
182	Addison Barger	Blue Jays	3B	13	191
183	Gleyber Torres	Tigers	2B	14	192
184	Konnor Griffin	Pirates	SS	21	195
185	Cam Schlittler	Yankees	SP	47	230
186	Brendan Donovan	Mariners	2B	15	194
187	Nick Lodolo	Reds	SP	48	177
188	Josh Lowe	Angels	OF	44	197
189	Jung Hoo Lee	Giants	OF	45	199
190	Abner Uribe	Brewers	RP	21	189
191	Brett Baty	Mets	2B	16	200
192	Bryce Miller	Mariners	SP	49	171
193	Trey Yesavage	Blue Jays	SP	50	181
194	Bryan Abreu	Astros	RP	22	193
195	Taylor Ward	Orioles	OF	46	202
196	Otto Lopez	Marlins	SS	22	203
197	Sandy Alcantara	Marlins	SP	51	184
198	Jordan Beck	Rockies	OF	47	156
199	Dennis Santana	Pirates	RP	23	198
200	Matt Chapman	Giants	3B	14	204
201	Ryan Pepiot	Rays	SP	52	186
202	Marcell Ozuna	Pirates	DH	4	206
203	Trent Grisham	Yankees	OF	48	207
204	Will Smith	Dodgers	C	9	208
205	Kodai Senga	Mets	SP	53	257
206	Jordan Lawlar	Diamondbacks	3B	15	222
207	Carlos Rodon	Yankees	SP	55	190
208	Max Muncy	Dodgers	3B	16	211
209	Carlos Estevez	Royals	RP	24	210
210	Brandon Lowe	Pirates	2B	17	212
211	Heliot Ramos	Giants	OF	49	213
212	Kazuma Okamoto	Blue Jays	3B	17	215
213	Miguel Vargas	White Sox	3B	18	218
214	Hunter Greene	Reds	SP	55	74
215	Spencer Torkelson	Tigers	1B	17	219
216	Bubba Chandler	Pirates	SP	56	196
217	Luis Arraez	Giants	1B	18	220
218	Jonathan Aranda	Rays	1B	19	223
219	Robert Garcia	Rangers	RP	25	224
220	Spencer Schwellenbach	Braves	SP	57	201
221	Nolan Schanuel	Angels	1B	20	225
222	Matt Wallner	Twins	OF	50	228
223	Chandler Simpson	Rays	OF	51	229
224	Masyn Winn	Cardinals	SS	23	231
225	Jameson Taillon	Cubs	SP	58	209
226	Jordan Westburg	Orioles	3B	19	232
227	Colt Keith	Tigers	2B	18	233
228	Ramon Laureano	Padres	OF	52	234
229	JJ Wetherholt	Cardinals	SS	24	264
230	Spencer Strider	Braves	SP	59	205
231	Gavin Williams	Guardians	SP	60	214
232	Josh Bell	Twins	1B	21	237
233	Gabriel Moreno	Diamondbacks	C	10	238
234	Marcus Semien	Mets	2B	19	239
235	Justin Steele	Cubs	SP	61	221
236	Yainer Diaz	Astros	C	11	240
237	Kris Bubic	Royals	SP	62	226
238	Anthony Volpe	Yankees	SS	25	242
239	Mickey Moniak	Rockies	OF	53	243
240	Logan Henderson	Brewers	SP	63	216
241	Royce Lewis	Twins	3B	20	244
242	Kevin McGonigle	Tigers	SS	26	260
243	Andres Gimenez	Blue Jays	2B	20	248
244	Cody Ponce	Blue Jays	SP	64	227
245	Tyler O’Neill	Orioles	OF	55	247
246	Lawrence Butler	Athletics	OF	55	249
247	Riley O’Brien	Cardinals	RP	26	217
248	Jorge Soler	Angels	OF	56	281
249	Nick Martinez	Rays	SP	65	235
250	Lenyn Sosa	White Sox	2B	21	252
251	Josh Jung	Rangers	3B	21	250
252	Shane Bieber	Blue Jays	SP	66	241
253	Brandon Marsh	Phillies	OF	57	253
254	Ernie Clement	Blue Jays	SS	27	256
255	Christopher Morel	Marlins	OF	58	259
256	Aaron Nola	Phillies	SP	67	NR
257	Jake Burger	Rangers	1B	22	287
258	Evan Carter	Rangers	OF	59	258
259	Reid Detmers	Angels	SP	68	251
260	Willi Castro	Rockies	2B	22	236
261	Kirby Yates	Angels	RP	27	275
262	Shane Baz	Orioles	SP	69	254
263	Sal Frelick	Brewers	OF	60	261
264	Adley Rutschman	Orioles	C	12	262
265	Ozzie Albies	Braves	2B	23	266
266	Parker Messick	Guardians	SP	70	270
267	Christian Walker	Astros	1B	23	263
268	Reynaldo Lopez	Braves	SP	71	246
269	Giancarlo Stanton	Yankees	OF	61	265
270	Jake McCarthy	Rockies	OF	62	300
271	Brooks Baldwin	White Sox	OF	63	269
272	Clay Holmes	Mets	SP	72	267
273	Jonathan India	Royals	2B	24	268
274	Luis Castillo	Mariners	SP	73	272
275	Lucas Erceg	Royals	RP	28	282
276	Spencer Steer	Reds	1B	24	271
277	Jeff McNeil	Athletics	2B	25	273
278	Carlos Correa	Astros	SS	28	274
279	Braxton Ashcraft	Pirates	SP	74	276
280	TJ Friedl	Reds	OF	64	278
281	Chad Patrick	Brewers	SP	75	292
282	Colton Cowser	Orioles	OF	65	279
283	Robert Suarez	Braves	RP	29	299
284	Merrill Kelly	Diamondbacks	SP	76	283
285	Lars Nootbaar	Cardinals	OF	66	280
286	Victor Scott II	Cardinals	OF	67	285
287	Aaron Ashby	Brewers	SP	77	NR
288	Dylan Beavers	Orioles	OF	68	286
289	Ryan Weathers	Yankees	SP	78	284
290	Justin Crawford	Phillies	OF	69	289
291	Kyle Manzardo	Guardians	1B	25	290
292	Max Meyer	Marlins	SP	79	NR
293	Jesus Sanchez	Blue Jays	OF	70	291
294	J.T. Realmuto	Phillies	C	13	293
295	Zebby Matthews	Twins	SP	80	245
296	Ryan O’Hearn	Pirates	1B	26	294
297	Mark Leiter Jr.	Athletics	RP	30	255
298	Jose Caballero	Yankees	SS	29	296
299	Nolan Arenado	Diamondbacks	3B	22	297
300	Noah Cameron	Royals	SP	81	288

March 13 Notes

- Falling off: Sean Manaea (277th), Brandon Pfaadt (295th), Ryne Nelson (298th)

- Sorry, no notes right now. Working on my annual "undervalued players" column. Expect another update here early in the week.

March 9 Notes

- Falling off: Jurickson Profar (239th), Jordan Walker (299th), Dominic Canzone (300th)

- Aside from Profar's 162-game PED ban, it was a pretty quiet week. Profar's exit from the heart of Atlanta's lineup moved up a couple of the players who were due to hit behind him. Mike Yastrzemski still didn't crack the list, though; he's a nice player, but not one with a lot of fantasy potential.

- Hunter Greene's elbow problem has dropped him some while waiting for the official word about the source of his stiffness. He said his UCL is just fine, and if that's the case, he hopefully won't be looking at any sort of lengthy absence. He's tumbled from 49th to 74th for now.

- Pitching for his country did nothing for Carlos Estévez's velocity woes Monday, as his fastball was still down five mph from last year's norm. Maybe he gets it back, but he was far from one of my favorite relievers in the first place. He drops to No. 210 for now, and Lucas Erceg joins the top 300 at No. 282.

- Kevin McGonigle is another debut this week, as Detroit's No. 1 prospect comes in at No. 260. As of this point, I still think he's a little bit of a long shot to make the team; he'd be a defensive downgrade at short, and the Tigers entered the spring pretty well set with their 13 position players. But he might well be one of the club's better hitters already. When it comes to fantasy potential, I'm not sure he's ready to hit more than 20 homers yet, and he probably wouldn't be a big factor in steals (he was 10-for-17 stealing base in 88 minor league games last year after going 22-for-24 in A ball in 2024). He'd be a mixed-league guy playing regularly, but I don't think he'd offer top-100 potential as a rookie.

March 2 Notes

- Falling off: Pablo López (205th), Zac Gallen (244th), Jake McCarthy (297th), Max Scherzer (299th), Jac Caglianone (300th)

- This was longer between updates than I wanted to go, but things will definitely be better this month. One big change this update is that relievers have been pushed up. There's just aren't as many good bets for saves as usual this year, and the third- and fourth-tier closers are going earlier as a result. So, Kenley Jansen, for instance, jumping from No. 174 to No. 146 isn't the result of a projections change. It's just more the price that needs to be paid to get a mid-range closer.

- Many of the position player changes are a result of new lineup projections. Jo Adell was hit particularly hard there; I had him as the Angels' likely cleanup hitter entering the spring, but it's starting to look like he'll hit sixth behind Yoán Moncada and Jorge Soler. I had already dropped the Reds' Noelvi Marte some because of doubts over whether he'd continue to bat second, but now it looks like he might hit as low as eighth initially. On the other hand, Matt McLain has moved up some, since he's the likeliest choice to replace Marte.

- That Kyle Tucker is likely to bat second for the Dodgers moved him up from 13th to 10th. Fernando Tatis Jr. lost a little ground with the Padres seemingly dropping him from the leadoff spot, but not quite enough to push him below Nick Kurtz in the rankings, since there was a significant gap there initially.

- Yordan Alvarez is down a few spots because the Astros' self-inflicted logjam will put him back into the outfield at least occasionally. I was really hoping for 150 games from him as a DH this year. It's now pretty clear that neither Christian Walker nor Isaac Paredes is getting traded prior to Opening Day, so Paredes is down to No. 171 and Walker fell about 30 spots to No. 261. Paredes would be about 40 spots higher if assured regular playing time, and he really ought to be, given that he's probably Houston's second-best hitter.

- Konnor Griffin's three early homers helped get him a 20-spot bump in the rankings to No. 193, but I'm still projecting him to open up in the minors. If the Pirates announced tomorrow that he'd be their starting shortstop, I'd have him around 110th or so. He'd probably be good for 30-40 steals, but his ability to hit for average would be in some question, and while he already has above average major league power, he'll be playing half of his games in a ballpark that's as tough for right-handers to homer in as any in the league.

- The Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt is looking increasingly likely to land a starting job at second base. I'm not quite sure that would make him an asset in shallow leagues, in part because the Cardinals just don't have a very good lineup. He might make a run at 15 homers and 15 steals, but the run and RBI numbers probably won't be there, especially if he's batting in the bottom half of the order early on. He checks in at No. 264 for now.

Feb. 12 Notes

- Falling off: Reese Olson (237th), Anthony Santander (270th), Ryan Mountcastle (272nd), Romy Gonzalez (283rd)

- It's been a week full of bad news, with Spencer Schwellenbach, Shane Bieber, Josh Hader and the hamate trio of Corbin Carroll, Francisco Lindor and Jackson Holliday all tumbling in the rankings as a result. Schwellenbach's setback especially hurts, though it wasn't particularly surprising from someone who fractured his elbow while pitching. I had Schwellenbach projected with the eighth lowest ERA among starting pitchers and ranked him 19th previously despite the injury risk. He's 48th now after landing on the 60-day IL.

- Signing with the Tigers moved Framber Valdez from 21st to 15th among starters. I don't think Detroit's offense will be quite as successful as it was last year, but that's still a nice defense and a strong bullpen, making it a better-than-average situation for pitchers. And perhaps there's still a chance they'll trade from their young pitching depth to upgrade somewhere. Wenceel Pérez should not be an obstacle.

- Nick Martinez was my No. 101 SP as a free agent, but he's up to No. 65 now after signing with the Rays. The return to the Trop makes all of Tampa Bay's pitchers better bets, and Martinez in particular will appreciate the Rays' dedication to defense. As a probable asset when it comes to WHIP, he's a sneaky pick in deeper leagues.

- With Mark Leiter joining the rankings, we're up to 27 relievers representing 25 teams in the top 300 (the Astros and Brewers both have two). Here are the teams not represented and where I have their No. 1 reliever placed in my rankings.

D-backs: Kevin Ginkel - No. 33
Rangers: Robert García - No. 34
Nationals: Clayton Beeter - No. 41
Twins: Cole Sands - No. 43
Rockies: Victor Vodnik - No. 48

- While the Yankees certainly suggested that Ben Rice was going to get a chance to play every day, it's hard to blame them for bringing back Paul Goldschmidt after all of his success against lefties last season. I was optimistic enough about Rice this year that I actually had him projected closer to Cal Raleigh than to my No. 3 catcher William Contreras, but while he's still No. 2 now, he has tumbled 23 spots in the rankings. It's a positive that the Yankees are talking about letting him do some catching against lefties, though that does increase his injury risk.

- Eugenio Suárez landed in the absolutely perfect spot for his fantasy value and climbed 90 spots as result, and since he'll occupy the cleanup spot in the Reds lineup, he's one of seven hitters I have projected to finish with 100 RBI. Still, as a two-category liability, he's a tad outside of the top 100 here.

- I came away more impressed with Caleb Durbin's rookie season than I thought I would after digging in for his projection and had him ranked 16th among third baseman before the trade to Boston. It's a move than came with an obvious ballpark upgrade, and he'll probably hit a little higher in the Red Sox lineup than he was going to in Milwaukee. Really, he ought to hit second for the Red Sox, but Trevor Story figures to get that assignment initially (as a result, he also moves up the rankings some). Durbin will likely hit sixth, and he's up to 12th in the third base rankings now.

January 22, 2026

From 1-129 to doom: England’s stunning ODI batting collapse in Sri Lanka spin nightmare

Sri Lanka’s spinners turned the screws to script a hard-fought 19-run victory over England in the opening one-day international at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday (all times local).

January 22, 2026

How Kyle Tucker fits in the Dodgers lineup

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers outfield production in 2025 was lacking, making it a clear need this offseason. They compensated for that by adding Kyle Tucker, who was the consensus top free agent available, rated the No. 1 free agent at the beginning of the offseason by ESPN, FanGraphs, The Athletic, MLB Trade Rumors, Baseball Prospectus, Yahoo Sports, MLB.com, and CBS Sports.

The cost was heavy, guaranteeing $240 million on a four-year contract, and even adding two chances for Tucker to opt out of the deal, such was the demand for his services on the market. But the Dodgers have the money, and they’ve been more than willing to spend it, with record-setting competitive balance tax payments the last two seasons. They also have the prospect depth to absorb the loss of draft picks for signing Tucker (and for signing Edwin Díaz, too).

They thought Tucker was worth that kind of investment.

“Anytime you can add a guy to your lineup that is arguably better against same-side pitching — there’s really no holes in what he does offensively. Really balanced splits, versus right, versus left, incredible decision making, really good bat-to-ball skills,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday. “Just the way that will kind of complement and help further round out our offense, something we thought that would be significant in terms of the odds increasing on our championship quest.”

Dodgers outfielders as a group in 2025 hit .240/.299/.415, with a 98 wRC+ that ranked 17th among 30 MLB teams. Tucker is a career .273/.358/.507 hitter with a 138 wRC+, and has posted a 130 wRC+ or better in each of the last five seasons. Dodgers outfielders last year totaled 4.3 fWAR as a group (Andy Pages accounted for 4.1 fWAR himself), while Tucker has tallied 4.2 fWAR or higher five years in a row, averaging 4.7.

Since the start of 2021, Tucker is one of only four major league hitters with an isolated power — slugging percentage minus batting average — .200 or above combined with a strikeout rate of 16 percent or lower, along with fellow star players Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and José Ramírez.

The Dodgers in 2025 had a 21.9-percent strikeout rate as a team, 12th-lowest in the majors. Adding Tucker should help that.

But where does he fit in the Dodgers lineup? Last week, I asked this question on The Feed here at True Blue LA, and got various responses, ranging between Tucker batting as high as second or as low as fifth. But either way, he’ll be in a prime spot in a suddenly more-loaded lineup with him on board.

“I was talking with Gomer [general manager Brandon Gomes] and Andrew [Friedman] recently, and it’s just fun to think about where Kyle is going to hit in the lineup,” manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday. “He’ll be in the top third. I don’t want you guys to hold me to it right now, but [hitting] second or third seems to make sense.”

It’s still only January 22, still a month from spring training games starting and nine weeks from opening day. A lot can happen between now and then. But let’s unpack what Roberts said on Wednesday.

For the last two seasons, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman have been the Dodgers’ big three atop the lineup. If Tucker hits second or third, one of those other three is moving. It won’t be Ohtani, who seems entrenched in the leadoff spot. Betts is coming off his worst offensive season, but the Dodgers have been loath to move him down in the lineup. It took until Game 5 of the World Series for Betts to shift down in the lineup to third, his first start outside of the top two since 2021. Betts hit third in Games 5 and 6, and hit fourth in Game 7.

Freeman in four years with the Dodgers has hit mostly second or third. He batted cleanup four times in September 2024, but those were only against left-handed pitchers to help split up the left-handed hitters in the lineup. That continued into 2025, but Freeman also hit cleanup sometimes against right-handed pitchers, and hit fourth a total of 47 times in the regular season, and batted cleanup eight times in 17 postseason games.

I think Freeman is the most likely of the Big Three to move down in the lineup. Putting Tucker second or third would mean at least two of the Dodgers’ first three hitters batting lefty, but they happen to be two of the best lefty-on-lefty hitters in the game.

Over the last five seasons Tucker hit .270/.340/.511 against southpaws, with his 136 wRC+ against same-handed pitchers third-best in the majors among batters with at least 300 such plate appearances, trailing only Yordan Alvarez (166 wRC+) and Ohtani (140).

Freeman hitting cleanup would mean three lefties in the first four hitters, which is generally fine, but can cause problems later in the game, either with an opposing manager bringing in a left-handed pitcher to handle a run of lefty batters or if trying to extend a southpaw starting pitcher a little bit deeper into the game. Last year the Dodgers occasionally countered the latter by inserting a right-handed batter before Freeman, usually Teoscar Hernández or Will Smith.

Roberts before last year’s opener mentioned making a lefty pitcher pay the “Teoscar tax” to get through that portion of the lineup, which worked out swimmingly when Hernández hit a game-winning three-run home run off Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to turn the game around.

But whether Freeman bats fourth or fifth still highlights the depth of the Dodgers lineup now with Tucker on board. After Freeman, there will be one or both of Smith or Hernández, and that’s before considering Max Muncy, Tommy Edman, and Andy Pages.

No matter how you slice it, that’s a formidable lineup top to bottom.

January 22, 2026

What now for Yankees after Cody Bellinger? Three ways Bombers can improve

NEW YORK – By agreeing with Cody Bellinger on a new contract Wednesday, the Yankees’ top offseason task was completed.

But that doesn’t end the winter work for GM Brian Cashman and company.

Three weeks away from the start of spring training, the Yankees are still exploring upgrades to the pitching staff, along with right-handed hitting depth.

And the potential for a significant trade exists, now that Bellinger is secured on a five-year, $162.5 million free agent deal that includes opt-outs after years two and three.

This is now a crowded outfield, with Bellinger in left field, Trent Grisham in center and Aaron Judge in right, which impacts the playing time of switch-hitter Jasson Dominguez and lefty-hitting prospect Spencer Jones.

Let’s examine where the Yankees might be exploring additional options for 2026:

Yankees' potential rotation targets

Current rotation: LHP Max Fried, RHP Cam Schlittler, RHP Luis Gil, RHP Will Warren, LHP Ryan Weathers.

On the injured list: RHP Gerrit Cole (June ETA), LHP Carlos Rodon (May), RHP Clarke Schmidt (September).

Current depth: RHP Paul Blackburn, LHP Ryan Yarbrough.

Summary: Several contenders, including the Yanks, had been tied to interest in Milwaukee Brewers’ right-hander Freddy Peralta, the subject of trade discussion for months.

But late Wednesday night, as first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Mets closed out a stunning deal to land Peralta, earning a relative-bargain $8 million in 2026, his free agent walk year.

Washington Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore is under team control through the 2028 season, but he’s already set to earn $5.6 million this season with some expensive arbitration years ahead.

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds have some notable starting depth including right-hander Brady Singer, though he’s earning $12.75 million in 2026, his free agent walk year.

The current Grand Canyon-sized arbitration gap between Tarik Skubal and the Tigers makes things interesting, but you’d anticipate Detroit going into 2026 with the game’s best starter and re-evaluating at the trade deadline.

Though the Yanks are questionable to add a pricey free agent starter at this point, even on a one-year deal, the versatile Nick Martinez and Cooperstown-bound veterans Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are intriguing options.

Yankees' potential bullpen targets

Sep 22, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero (59) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Current bullpen: LHPs Tim Hill, Brent Headrick; RHPs David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, Kaleb Ort, Cade Winquest.

Current depth: RHPs Jake Bird, Yerry de los Santos, Paul Blackburn; LHP Ryan Yarbrough.

Summary: St. Louis lefty JoJo Romero was linked to Yankees’ interest earlier this winter, with the re-tooling Cardinals likely to remain active on the trade front.

Entering his free agent walk year, Romero posted a 200 ERA-plus last season and is due to earn $4.26 million in 2026.

Though the Yanks aren't heavily into this free agent market, a patient strategy might get them to take an inexpensive flyer here, with some interesting names such as right-hander Michael Kopech and lefty Danny Coulombe available.

In recent years, the Yankees have been adept at making under-the-radar deals for relievers - especially power right-handers with swing-and-miss ability that have yet to reach their potential.

And if the Yanks are seeking to move payroll here in a bigger trade, Doval is making over $6 million this season.

Yankees' potential right-handed hitting targets

Jun 28, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first base Paul Goldschmidt (48) singles during the sixth inning against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Current position players: 1B/C Ben Rice, 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B Ryan McMahon, IF Jose Caballero, Amed Rosario, Oswaldo Cabrera; OF Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, Jasson Dominguez; DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton; C Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra.

On the injured list: SS Anthony Volpe (ETA May).

Current depth: IF Paul DeJong, Braden Shewmake, Jorbit Vivas; OF Seth Brown, Spencer Jones; C Ben Rice.

Summary: There's room to add a right-handed hitting first baseman, a corner outfielder and possibly a catcher (to better complement the lefty-hitting Wells).

Free agent outfielders Austin Hays and Harrison Bader could see their markets accelerating now that the major free agents are off the board and Luis Robert Jr. is a Met, traded by the White Sox this week.

Paul Goldschmidt has designs on playing in 2026 and the 2025 Yankee remains in free agency, as does veteran Rhys Hoskins, whose career since 2023 has been hampered by injuries.

With their recent free agent signing of Victor Caratini, the Minnesota Twins might have a catching surplus.

Switch-hitting former All-Star catcher Jonah Heim remains in free agency, as does catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielder Miguel Andujar (who mashes lefty pitching) though the defensive shortcomings of both ex-Yankees is notable.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Yankees MLB trade rumors after Cody Bellinger contract