The Raptors announced Thursday that the trade will not be finalized until the NBA’s probe into Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers is finished.
The NBA has been investigating Leonard and the Clippers for the past 10 months after reports that he received a multi-million endorsement deal with sustainability services company Aspiration in an alleged effort to circumvent league salary cap rules.
Toronto and Los Angeles agreed to a deal involving Leonard last month, with the Raptors receiving Leonard and the Clippers getting Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and several draft picks.
“On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors,” the Clippers said in a statement. “We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.
“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
“We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues. We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.”
Despite the holdup, Toronto said it is still committed to completing the trade after the investigation is over.
“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization and our fans,” the team said in a statement.
Leonard, 35, spent the last seven seasons with the Clippers after signing as a free agent in 2019. He played the 2018-19 season with the Raptors before joining the Clippers, leading the team to 58 wins and a championship.
The Tampa Bay Rays are firm -155 moneyline favorites against the New York Yankees today, and my Yankees vs. Rays predictionsare backing them in the series finale.
Drew Rasmussen gives Tampa Bay the clear starting-pitching edge, while New York’s bullpen-game setup asks too much from a staff patching innings together.
My MLB picks for July 9 are also taking the Under behind two run-prevention profiles that limit loud contact.
Who will win Yankees vs Rays today: Rays moneyline (-155)
I’m fading the New York Yankees again, and would play the Tampa Bay Rays moneyline to -165, with a smaller -1.5 play to +122 (bigger edge on the moneyline).
New York is on a bullpen day. The focus is Ryan Yarbrough, and whether he opens or works bulk, the former Ray should play a part.
He has not pitched since July 4 and can cover length, but his 18% strikeout rate meets a Rays lineup with an 86% zone-contact rate. That has been a series-long problem.
Drew Rasmussen adds the cleaner edge with just a 4.5% walk rate against a Yankees lineup needing free traffic.
COVERS INTEL:Rasmussen has allowed only a 6.9% barrel rate, a key matchup point against a Yankees offense leaning on its 10.0% team barrel rate.
Yankees vs Rays Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-103)
I’m taking the Under and would play it to -115.
Rasmussen fits this matchup because of his reliability and contact control. He ranks in the 80th percentile in hard-hit rate and 75th percentile in ground-ball rate, the right mix against a Yankees offense still trying to score through lift and isolated power.
New York’s bullpen day is also set up better than it looks. Several rested arms induce soft contact, which should play against a Tampa Bay lineup with the third-highest ground-ball mark in baseball.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 37-32, +7.77 units
Over/Under bets: 42-29, +17.09 units
Yankees vs Rays weather
Dome.
Yankees vs Rays odds
Moneyline: Yankees +140 | Rays -155
Run line: Yankees +1.5 | Rays -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Yankees vs Rays trend
The Rays have hit the moneyline in 35 of their last 50 games at home (+15.65 Units / 24% ROI).
How to watch Yankees vs Rays and game info
Location
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Date
Thursday, July 9, 2026
First pitch
1:10 p.m. ET
TV
YES, Rays.TV
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Yarbrough (bulk) (0-0, 4.29 ERA)
Rays starting pitcher
Drew Rasmussen (7-4, 2.78 ERA)
Yankees vs Rays latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 5: Pitcher Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 5, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are four games left before the All-Star break next week, and the Red Sox are both riding high winning ten of their last twelve contests, and also kind of desperate to get into the annual summertime stoppage.
For the next two games, the starting rotation is simple. Patrick Sandoval will make his Red Sox debut this afternoon in the finale against the White Sox as the Red Sox go for a sweep, and Sonny Gray is set to go on Friday as he tries to extend his American League lead in pitching wins. After that? Things get dicey.
The issues stem from Connelly Early going on the IL with left elbow discomfort (we’re still waiting for additional clarity there as he’s schedule to see a doctor sometime this week), and Ranger Suarez leaving his last start on Saturday with a groin injury where the severity is uncertain. The good news is Suarez still hasn’t gone on the IL and may be able to go on Saturday, but given how import he is to the rotation both now and going forward with his contract, it also kind of makes sense to just shut him down until the other side of the All-Star break to give him additional time to recover.
If that happens, the Red Sox are left without a starter for Saturday and then have Payton Tolle going on regular rest on Sunday. The Tolle piece of this is also fascinating because ideally you want to keep his innings down this year given he’s never thrown 120 innings in a season and already is beyond 80 this year. Despite pitching on an extra day of rest in Tuesday’s game against Chicago, they actually bumped him up a slot in the rotation to Connelly Early’s spot using the double off days surrounding the Angels series on Thursday and Monday to their advantage. The problem with that is they essentially created an additional Tolle start for the season because that space in the rotation is now slated to land on Sunday instead of falling into the All-Star break.
So on one hand, the Red Sox don’t appear to have anybody that can really go deep on Saturday or Sunday, but on the other hand, they have a really rested bullpen with two recent off days and the rotation pitching extremely well of late. With guaranteed addition rest on the horizon, do the Sox just piggyback everybody in the bullpen in those last two games to try and get to the checkpoint? Does it depend on how deep Sandoval goes today? Do they dare call up Brayan Bello to make a start in a pinch? (Shivers went down my spine as I typed that.) Regardless of how they choose to navigate this chokepoint, they’ve got some pretty compelling decisions coming up in the next 48 to 72 hours.
The good news? Their next opponent is the Mets who are having the season from hell (even for them), so the Sox might be able to get away with a weird pitching arrangement for this series. After that, even more fascinating decisions will come on the other side of the All-Star break when we get a better idea of injury timelines.
Talk about this and whatever else you’d like, and as always, be good to one another.
Jul 8, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty (7) reacts after scoring in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets rallied for five runs with two outs in the eighth inning to win 6-2 against the Royals. Brett Baty delivered the big hit with the bases loaded to drive in two to extend the Mets’ lead. Unlike in the previous game, the team managed to hold on to the lead and get the victory.
UNITED STATES - CIRCA 2001: Former New York Yankees' greats Bill (Moose) Skowron, Tex Clevenger, Tom Tresh and Joe DeMaestri (l. to r.) are on hand for annual Old Timer's Day festivities at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees later lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3. (Photo by Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) | NY Daily News via Getty Images
When records are being broken, all eyes are on those who break them. But it’s important to remember that in those moments, there are others around witnessing history that have stories to tell. Teammates of Aaron Judge will remember the 2022 season in which he broke Roger Maris’ franchise and AL home run record. No matter how many games they played in a Yankees uniform, they’ll be able to say they saw one of the greats do what he did best day in and day out.
Tex Clevenger was one of those teammates of Maris and Mickey Mantle, who could tell stories from his days playing alongside legends.
Truman “Tex” Eugene Clevenger Born: July 9, 1932 (Visalia, CA) Died: August 24, 2019 (Visalia, CA) Yankees Tenure: 1961-1962
Truman was born in Visalia, California, attended Visalia High School, and then spent three and a half years at Cal State Fresno. He began high school standing 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighing only 86 pounds. He did not play his first year due to the coaching staff’s concern about his stature, but a new coach – Hank Viden – came on in his sophomore year and said that anyone who wanted to play baseball would be allowed to play. Clevenger was initially playing in the outfield, but when Viden came to the team and asked if anyone wanted to volunteer to pitch, Clevenger raised his hand and was given his start on the mound.
He was signed by the Boston Red Sox on June 9, 1953, after a scout named Tom Downey saw him throw his second no-hitter for the Fresno Bulldogs against the College of the Pacific. In the game, he struck out 20 hitters and went 6-for-6 at the plate with three triples, two singles, and a double.
When the Red Sox signed him, other teams made their own bids, and three reportedly offered more money. But Clevenger saw an opportunity not just to make the major leagues down the line, but also to work on his arsenal, specifically his curveball. He knew that to make it in Major League Baseball one day, he would need to develop a major weapon in his pitch mix. Clevenger got his wish and began his pro career with the Red Sox organization in 1953, he went 16–2 with a 1.51 ERA and 157 strikeouts over 155.0 innings. As a result, the 1953 California League MVP Award.
After his almost-perfect minor league season, Clevenger trained with the Red Sox in Sarasota, Florida, in the spring of 1954. He was sent to the Triple-A Louisville Colonels to begin the year. He was called up just a week later, before the season began, receiving praise from the Red Sox coaching staff as an excellent prospect. However, they were hesitant to rush him in the major leagues, fearing it might stunt his development.
It was clear that Clevenger was close to being ready, but he wasn’t quite there just yet. In 23 games pitched in 1954 (eight started), he finished the season with a 2-4 record and 4.79 ERA in 67.2 innings. His first major league game came against the Philadelphia Athletics on April 18, 1954. He pitched an inning without allowing a hit or a walk.
Clevenger was sent back down to Louisville and received more playing time there, spending the entire 1955 season with the Colonels. He started 21 games and pitched 39 total, finishing with a 9-13 record and a 3.77 ERA, including nine complete games.
The same happened in 1956 after Clevenger was traded to the Washington Senators. The Red Sox pulled the trigger on a nine-player deal that sent him to Washington, and he initially started the season with the major league club, taking the mound in 20 games, of which only one was a start. His time in the majors was, once again, nothing to write home about. In those 20 appearances, he pitched 31.1 innings and posted a 5.40 ERA before being sent back to Louisville, which had become the Senators’ Triple-A team after their time with the Red Sox. He posted a 5.94 ERA and a 2-11 record over 103.0 innings, including a nine-game losing streak individually at one point.
The 1956 season would not be the last that he saw in the minor leagues, but it would be for a handful of years. In 1957, Clevenger pitched the most innings of his major league career (139.2), added another two complete games to his major league resume, and saw a significant decrease in his ERA (4.19). And in 1958, his ERA ticked up to 4.35, but he actually led the AL in appearances that season with 55.
Clevenger would remain primarily a reliever for the Senators in 1959 and 1960, where over 246.0 innings pitched, he posted a 4.06 ERA (including the first and only ERA under 4.00 and ERA+ over 100 in his entire major league career in a season where he pitched over 50.0 innings), an ERA+ of 98, and a FIP of 3.79. But 1960 would be his last in a Senators uniform, as an upcoming expansion draft would require Washington to make some hard roster decisions. Clevenger was not one of the players protected, and the newly introduced Los Angeles Angels selected him with the seventh overall pick.
However, his time in the City of Angels was short-lived, as he appeared in only 12 games before being traded to the Yankees in early May, despite not allowing an earned run in his first seven outings and maintaining a 1.69 ERA at the time of the trade. The Angels believed they could get more out of who they received, particularly right-hander Ryne Duren (who we profiled back in February).
The Yankees, according to reports of the time, had been looking to acquire Clevenger for some time while he was with the Senators, but they never made the move until he was with the Angels.
So, in 1961, when Mantle and Maris were setting their own records of 54 and 61 home runs, Clevenger was in the bullpen for it all. He pitched in 21 games, finished with a 1-1 record and a 4.83 ERA over 31.2 innings, putting his season total at a 3.78 ERA over just 47.2 innings pitched. The Yankees won the pennant and advanced to the World Series to face the Cincinnati Reds, but Clevenger did not see any playing time in the five-game series, which the Yankees won.
The 1962 season was a different year, same story. Manager Ralph Houk expressed faith in Clevenger, but he threw him out on the mound for only 21 games, and that was after the right-hander started the year with the Triple-A Richmond Virginians. After closer Luis Arroyo was put on the DL due to elbow inflammation, Clevenger had the chance to show his stuff. But it was to no avail, as despite the best ERA of his career (2.84) in 38.0 innings, he did not see action in a World Series that went seven games against the San Francisco Giants.
Overall in his career, Clevenger compiled a 36–37 record with a 4.18 ERA, 298 walks and 361 strikeouts. Oddly enough, perhaps his best season was his last those 21 games with the 1962 Yankees.
Clevenger was sent back to Richmond for the 1963 season and pitched well. He thought it was well enough to find a spot on another major league team, but no one came calling, and after another season in the minors, he looked ahead to 1964, which would have been more of the same. After that, Clevenger decided it was time to call it quits, and he became an insurance underwriter for Mutual of New York back home in Visalia until 1964, when he purchased a car dealership, which he owned until it was sold in 1995.
After being inducted into the Fresno State Athletics Hall of Fame and having his number retired, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2008 and died due to the disease in August 24, 2019.
An excellent collegiate player who struggled to stick in the majors but witnessed some of the best moments in Yankees history, Clevenger may not be the most recognizable name. Still, it’s players like him that helped contribute on the side while the likes of Maris, Mantle, and Berra plied their trade. Happy birthday, Tex!
The Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Seattle Kraken’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, announced on Wednesday that the team had re-signed forward Mitchell Stephens to a two-year contract, keeping him with the club through the 2027-28 season.
The 29-year-old was drafted 33rd overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In five NHL seasons, Stephens has played 123 games across four teams.
He made his debut on Dec. 9, 2019, with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and in two seasons and 45 games, Stephens recorded seven points.
On July 30, 2021, he was traded by Tampa Bay to Detroit for a 6th-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Stephens recorded six points in 27 games with the Detroit Red Wings before signing as a free agent on July 13, 2022, with the Montreal Canadiens, where he recorded three points in 23 games in the 2023-24 season.
On July 1, 2024, Stephens signed with the Kraken as a free agent. He appeared in 28 games with the Kraken during the 2024-25 season, tallying three points.
He also appeared in 35 games with the AHL Coachella Firebirds that same year, recording 13 points.
Last season, the five-foot-11, 190-pound forward played 69 games with the Firebirds and recorded 12 goals and 15 assists.
The new deal locks Stephens in with the Firebirds through the 2027-28 season.
Firebirds General Manager Troy Bodie shared his excitement about keeping Stephens on the roster.
“We’re thrilled to have Mitchell back with the Firebirds. He brings invaluable NHL and championship experience, but just as importantly, he’s a leader our players look up to”, said Bodie. “His professionalism, character, and commitment to winning help set the standard for our group every day.”
The Firebirds will kick off their season on October 2.
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The Leo Carlsson hype in Philadelphia ended with a thud Thursday.
The Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet to the restricted free agent was matched by the Ducks. So Carlsson will stay in Anaheim as the NHL’s highest-paid player with an $18 million average annual value.
Danny Briere, who took a serious swing for Carlsson last Friday, will keep his four first-round picks. That is what the Flyers would have given up had the Ducks not matched their loaded offer for the 21-year-old center.
The Flyers’ general manager went the bold and aggressive route in an attempt to net his club much-needed talent down the middle of the ice. He put Anaheim in a bind with its salary cap, but Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek refused to lose his franchise piece.
“We are very happy to have Leo under contract for five years,” Verbeek said in a statement released by the team. “We have viewed Leo as a franchise player since the moment we met him prior to the 2023 draft. He’s a character person on and off the ice. Leo is viewed as a top player in this league, and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet.”
Carlsson, who was the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, racked up 29 goals and 67 points in 70 games last season. He added 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 12 playoff games.
The 6-foot-3, 208-pounder is one of the top young centers in the NHL. The Flyers were ready to severely overpay for a player who hasn’t hit 30 goals or 70 points in a season yet because that’s the gist of an offer sheet. The Flyers had to be audacious enough to make Anaheim think twice.
Coming up empty on Carlsson is a disappointment for the Flyers. He’s an all-situation player who would have given them the upside of a first-line center, something they’ve desperately needed in their rebuild.
So how will the Flyers pivot? It might not come before this season. With no Carlsson, the Flyers have plenty of cap space to re-sign their four restricted free agents. Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale are the most notable ones.
The Flyers could hold onto that extra cap space and use it next offseason, when perhaps they’re in a better position to strike. They could also use it at some point this season if they want to have room for a trade addition.
“It’s about making the right moves,” Briere said a little under two weeks ago. “But also, you’ve got to be patient. I’m not going to make a move just to make a move. I know there are some people out there complaining that we’re not making the big move yet. But it has got to be the right thing to do.”
The Flyers have a young team, and they wouldn’t mind giving it more opportunity. Briere addressed the backup goaltending position by acquiring Joseph Woll in a trade with the Maple Leafs. In the deal, the Flyers added a physical, 6-foot-4 defenseman with Simon Benoit. On Day 1 of free agency, Briere signed bottom-six forward Noel Acciari, a hard-to-play-against type who can win faceoffs.
“It’s a fine line,” the Flyers’ GM said last Wednesday. “We’ve preached patience from the start of this, like three years ago. And that’s the fine line that we’re trying to stay on where we’re giving our young guys the chance to get better. It paid off last year. But we want to try to help them. That’s where Woll, Benoit, Acciari, that’s where they come into play, you try to help with small steps here and there. If we have the chance to take a big leap, we will jump on it.”
Fangraphs has a number of interesting and informative stats that we rely on in the industry for our commentary. One of those is an ongoing calculation of playoff odds. Playoffs odds are much like the stock market. We can forecast stocks in general with given information but those calculations will always change given the facts on the ground. The playoffs odds for the Astros sit here as of July 7th.
These projections are based on their actual record, the state of their roster counting injuries and expected performance, and their remaining schedule. The Mariners are projected to finish 86-76 and the Rangers are projected to finish 82-80. The Yankees or the Rays will clearly be the first wild card team. The Rangers are the only other wild card representative currently projected over 80 wins.
Now comes the hard part. How much do you want to lean into slipping in as the second or third wild card in the American League? I think we can safely say that the Astros are not likely to win 87 games so either the Mariners must underperform or the Astros have to significantly surpass expectations. Is that possible? Sure. Anything is possible and when you consider guys like Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski coming back from injury you could definitely foresee a scenario where the Astros finish above .500 through sheer inertia.
Baseball operates differently than the NFL and NBA. A 42 win team in the NBA does not have realistic title aspirations. A 9-8 team in the NFL hardly ever makes any noise in the playoffs. However, there have been teams in baseball history in the new playoff format that have gone from wild card to pennant winner. It is not even particularly rare. Do the Astros have the roster to get through multiple playoff series?
The good news is that they have a three man playoff rotation that looks like it should be competitive at least. Moving Mike Burrows and Tatsuya Imai to the taxi squad would make this team look a lot better. They have a group of four or five relievers that are reasonably reliable. Teams have made it through October with far less. The bad news is that the offense has three or four solid hitters, one spectacular hitter, and a bunch of filler after that. Playoff pitchers have shown they can lock down lineups like that.
So, the deadline question is really two deadline questions. The first one is one we have already raised here at Crawfish: would you rather have another bat or another arm? That’s a legitimate question and not an easy one to answer. The second question is more important: do you go big or go small? It seems like an easy answer for the general fan, but there are some caveats and pitfalls to both approaches.
The primary pitfall is the current state of the farm system. Most experts rate the current Astros system in the bottom five of baseball. There aren’t many can’t miss gems there and you don’t want to give one up for a slight improvement. It also is troubling from a competitive standpoint. It is fine and dandy to say I want Tarik Skubal, but so do about twelve to fifteen other teams. There are probably five or six that could make compelling and competitive offers. Even if you were willing to give up an Xavier Neyens or Kevin Alvarez, would the Tigers see that as enough?
The second consideration is the tax threshold. The current tax threshold is at 244 million. The Astros have a payroll between 218 and 233 million depending on how you interpret that and the source you go to. Is Jim Crane willing to surpass it? That’s hard to say. It isn’t our money and there are other procedural and competitive disadvantages that come with surpassing it again.
So, the Astros could comfortably add a player or two that would come out to ten million dollars added. Keep in mind, that would be prorated to past the halfway point. So, adding ten million in real dollars would be the equivalent of adding 25 million depending on when the deal is struck. Everything is a gamble and it involves some projection.
The same prorating concept on salary also is tied to performance. A three win player really only adds about a win given that we are closing in on the two thirds point of the season as we approach the deadline. If you go from 79.3 wins to say 80.5 or 81 wins then how much do your playoff odds increase? How many wins are your competitors adding? Keep in mind the Fangraphs model might not be accounting for Blanco or Wesneski on the mound. Would adding those two and another outfielder vault you into a winning projection?
I know the conventional wisdom is to go big or go home, but I disagree with that assertion. A couple of targeted moves could elevate you to over 50 percent odds of making the postseason and give you a puncher’s chance of advancing once you are there. However, those targeted moves would keep your best prospects in house and would keep you under the tax apron. We want to take advantage of whatever good baseball players like Jose Altuve have left, but we also have to acknowledge that this current iteration of the Astros is in transition. Saving money and keeping those good prospects in house guarantee that the transition won’t be like the dead period between 2009 and 2014. We can’t and shouldn’t handle five years of bad baseball in exchange for guaranteeing a spot in the dance. We can both increase our odds and keep the future intact at the same time and that is exactly what we should do.
Carson Benge has reached base safely in 19 of his last 20 games, and is hitting .310/.370/.512 (.881 OPS) with four homers during that span
A.J. Ewing is hitting .316/.400/.608 (1.008 OPS) with six homers, five doubles, 13 runs scored, and 17 RBI in 90 plate appearances over his last 23 games
Juan Soto is leading the National League in OBP (.410), OPS (.978), and OPS+ (168)
Bo Bichette is a career .438 hitter with a homer in 16 at-bats against Royals starter Michael Wacha
Today's Lineups
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: (EDITORS NOTE: double exposure photo) Justin Wrobleski #70 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
On a team with, when healthy, an entire rotation of All-Star worthy pitchers, one name might not have come to mind at the beginning of the season – Justin Wrobleski.
Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were both selected this season. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell have been selected in years previously. Wrobleski, while making an incredible case for himself this season, was not.
“You want to be an All-Star,” Wrobleski said. “It’s something that, regardless of the year, whenever, it’s always a big deal. It’s something I wanted to do. It’s frustrating to not get that nod.”
Wrobleski pitched seven innings of one-run ball on Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies. He lowered his ERA to 2.69 and sits at 10-2 with 73 strikeouts and 1.02 WHIP.
The lefty has come a long way since being back in the minors last season to work on his craft. He has focused on attacking batters from the get-go, and it shows. In Tuesday night’s game, he had a first pitch strike to 23 of 28 batters. He leaned heavily on Clayton Kershaw last season for advice, and has changed his mind set to much improved results.
“I just don’t want him to get dinged for not making a couple more starts that he potentially could have had,” Roberts said. “He’s won 10 games for us — to be able to get pitching decisions, you’ve got to go deeper in games — the ERA. It’s about winning, the ERA is stellar, innings per outing, and so I just think that he’s performed enough to earn that opportunity.”
There is still a chance that Wrobo could be selected – Yamamoto is not expected to pitch in the All-Star Game, and Wrobleski could be chosen to replace him.
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic has more details here, including what he’s been able to do on the mound this season.
Baseball player turned analyst Pedro Martinez has nicknamed Wrobleski “The Shark”, and the team and Dieter Ruhle have been having fun with it. After finishing his outing in Tuesday night’s game, while he was pacing the dugout, catcher Dalton Rushing put his hand to his head to make a shark fin. Ruhle, the Dodgers organist, played the “Jaws” theme after each strikeout and when he walked off the mound after the seventh inning.
“If it happens, great,” Wrobleski said. “If it doesn’t happen, some time off and just chill for a couple days. Either way, I’m all good.”
Maddie Lee of the L.A. Times has some more details as well as covering some about Shohei Ohtani’s 300th homer here.
Welcome to the 2025–26 installment ofThe Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks’ Player Report Card Series. Throughout the off-season, THN will conduct a deep dive into how each member of the Canucks performed throughout the 2025–26 season. Today’s article will focus on defenceman Zeev Buium.
Buium's 2025–26 Season Review
Buium was arguably the main piece coming back to Vancouver in the Quinn Hughes trade. The 20-year-old is considered one of the NHL's top up-and-coming defenders and has a long track record of winning at every level. Before joining the Canucks, Buium recorded 13 points in 41 games for the Minnesota Wild while averaging 18:28 of ice time.
As for the second half of his rookie season, Buium recorded 12 points in 45 games with the Canucks. He saw a slight bump in ice time to 20:21 per night and recorded his first career game-winning goal. Buium also received votes for the NHL's All-Rookie team, finishing third among defencemen.
Buium's season in Vancouver had its ups and downs. He scored in his debut with the team on December 14, but was a healthy scratch for a game a month later. Buium also suffered a facial injury at the end of January, which caused him to miss five games.
The good news for Buium is that he appeared to find his game once the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline passed. He looked more confident on the ice and developed some chemistry with Filip Hronek. While there were still some learning moments in the defensive zone, Buium's offensive skill set was on full display as he offered a glimpse into why he is still considered a top defensive prospect in the league.
The big question regarding Buium is how much Adam Foote's system affected him. It was clear that last year's defensive system was a mess, with players constantly out of position. If the Canucks can fix their defensive structural flaws next year, it should help Buium continue to develop into a strong two-way defender.
Getting traded at 20 years old is never easy, especially for a player like Buium. As mentioned, it took him some time to adjust after the trade, but he had a strong showing to end the campaign. While he has some room to grow before becoming a bona fide number one defenceman, Buium showed this year that he has a bright future in the NHL.
Ultimately, Buium receives an B grade for the 2025-26 season.
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (24) handles the puck against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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DENVER , CO - MAY 18: Willi Castro (3) of the Colorado Rockies gets the putout on a ball hit by Brandon Nimmo (24) of the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Monday, May 18, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The first thing people learn about Willi Castro the baseball player is usually that he can play practically anywhere on the field. When asked back in April how many different gloves he has Castro said, “I have plenty with me. I think I probably have, like, 10 of them right now, and I’ve got way more back at home. But I’ll be prepared. I’ll be prepared for anything.”
As it turns out, he’s needed to use most of those gloves.
In his half season for the Rockies, Castro has played six(!) different positions. The only spots he hasn’t yet played in a game in 2026 are right field, catcher, and pitcher.
Between all of the positions he’s played, he’s accrued -2 Defensive Runs Saved and an identical -2 Outs Above Average this season. That’s not horrible, but on its face, that makes him a below-average defender.
It’s possible that if Castro were asked to dedicate his time all to one position, his trackable defensive performance would increase. Does that mean he’d be more valuable to the team sticking to his primary position of second base? Warren Schaeffer doesn’t seem to think so.
“It’s hard to put into words how helpful he’s been to this team,” Schaeffer said, “just the ability to in game make matchup moves to better our chances to win because you can put him somewhere else in the field defensively, and himself just being the switch hitter, and what he actually does defensively and offensively, it’s been incredible.”
Castro will move anywhere he’s asked to go, as a result he has been asked to move around a ton.
In total, Schaeffer has tasked Castro with changing positions mid-game 37 times so far this season. The value of that flexibility is hard to pin down. It’s likely not a significant difference in terms of wins, but at the same time, it’s probably not inconsequential.
Using the eye test, it’s easy to see what the defensive metrics are indicating about Castro’s glovework. No matter where he is on the field, Castro does not make fielding look particularly smooth.
Castro takes a slightly odd route to the ball and then hesitates when he reaches the warning track while deciding how to play the wall. Even after taking that moment to plan, he proceeds to bobble the ball off the bounce… only to recover quickly with a grab and a nice throw.
Most dedicated left fielders would have gotten the same end result as Castro, he just took different steps to reach that result than they would have.
Most of the time, his athleticism and instincts make up for a lack of consistent repetitions at any given position. Nothing exemplifies this more than this play against the Texas Rangers from May 20th:
A dedicated second baseman perhaps would not have ventured as far into the outfield as Castro did because they’d have had a better sense of where their realistic range would extend to. Additionally, being distracted while figuring out where he was on the field in relation to the runners was enough to, again, cause him to bobble the pickup of the ball. Despite all of the mishaps to start the play, Castro was able to rely on a combination of audacity and tools to gun down Jake Burger attempting to advance to second.
That’s the sort of play that you just don’t see from most other players. With Castro on the field — anywhere on the field — you get to see slightly unorthodox “out of position” type plays most nights.
Of all the spots Castro has been asked to play this season, none are more unfamiliar to him than first base. According to Castro back in April, “It was in spring training when I started playing. (It was) my first time playing first base in the game.” With this inexperience, he doesn’t always present the typical statuesque target for other infielders to toss to. Sometimes he’ll misread an incoming throw and make a catch look much harder than someone like TJ Rumfield would have.
On the flipside, he throws himself at every batted ball in a way that most regular first baseman simply aren’t capable of.
That’s not the sort of quick reaction leaping grab that the typical power-hitting first baseman comes close to achieving. Some probably don’t even attempt it. Castro, on the other hand, flung his body with wild abandon at the ball, just like he would have anywhere else on the field.
For good measure let’s also look at a play that combines all the things that make Castro so memorable on defense:
That should have been a double. Castro had a quick reaction to get himself into a slightly awkward catching position, then managed to adjust and put himself in a weird crouched position before scuttling back onto his feet and getting the out with his 79th percentile arm strength.
That’s the ideal version of what he does literally anywhere Shaeffer puts him all wrapped up in one play.
What all of this comes down to is that while Castro is probably not anyone’s first choice to play any specific position — because he has a knack for making plays look more complicated than they needed to be — he is perhaps, the second choice to play everywhere.
That’s exactly why the Rockies signed him and he has delivered in stride. That stride may look a little wonky or cause his helmet to fly off, but he’s proven in his short time on this team that he will make it work. When asked last week whether he had a favorite position to play, Castro summed up everything he brings to this ballclub better than I ever could: “I just like to be in the field. I just like to play. Wherever they’re gonna put me, I will get the job done.”
It’s very possible Castro’s time in purple will come to an end by the trade deadline at the start of August. His two-year deal indicates that the front office should be shopping his services around the league. That being said, keeping him would make the looming roster puzzle of filling easier as he could fill in for almost anyone who is traded. The combination of that versatility and his below average surface stats could mean the Rockies see more value in him than other teams will.
However long Castro remains with the team it’s worth appreciating the spectacle he brings to each and every game.
This was what qualifies as a pitchers duel in the PCL. For the Isotopes Jake Brooks took the ball and threw six innings, allowed only six hits, and struck out six. That resulted in only three runs which was enough to earn him the loss even before Jeff Criswell relieved him in the seventh and allowed an additional two runs (one earned).
At the plate the Isotopes were stymied by good Space Cowboy pitching performances. Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) worked a couple walks but was the only player in the lineup to be on base more than once. Jordan Beck’s homer in the seventh drove in the only two runs of the game for Albuquerque.
Connor Staine pitched pretty well to start this game with five innings of one-run ball, and the lineup as a whole was very successful (they had twenty one hits), but it would be a disservice to focus on anything other than Jose Torres.
Torres got the start at third base batting ninth. He then proceeded to reach base all five times he came to the plate on two walks and three hits. That’s not all! A couple of those hits were home runs. All told Torres scored three runs and drove in four to lead the Yard Goats to a convincing victory.
Everett Catlett did not have a good night on the mound and Spokane never had a chance to catch up from that poor start. In the end, Catlett allowed eight runs, all earned, on ten hits and three walks over only four innings of work. In the remaining four innings, the bullpen only allowed another two runs but the damage was already done.
The lineup showed a bit more life with a combined eight hits and eight walks. Of particular note were Roynier Hernandez and Jacob Hinderleider who each reached base three times. Easily the best performance of the night for the Indians, however, was Tanner Thach who walked, doubled, and hit a solo home run.
In a strikingly similar line to Catlett for Spokane, Ethan Cole started the game for Fresno by allowing eight runs over four and two thirds innings. The Grizzlies, however, were able to fight back and go into the top of the ninth having tied the game up eight to eight thanks to three and a third scoreless innings from Manuel Olivares and Seth Clausen keeping the score where it was.
After finding themselves in that early deficit, the Grizzlies clawed back by scoring in four separate innings. Leading the way in the lineup were Jesus Freitez and Derek Bernard with two doubles apiece, Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP) with four hits (including a double), and Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP) with a pair of hits and stolen bases.
Ultimately, despite the heroics, it wasn’t enough as the Ports would walk it off on a sacrifice fly from Cesar Gonzalez in the bottom of the ninth.
The final score hides how well the DSL Colorado starting pitcher Juan Villamizar performed. In five innings, Villamizar allowed two runs on only five hits (including a home run) and no walks. The Colorado bullpen did not fair nearly as well, which led to a deluge of runs for the DSL Nationals, but five of those runs were unearned as a result of a throwing error by Jendry Guaraco.
Luckily, the offense was not one-sided as DSL Colorado managed nine runs on ten hits and three walks. Of particular note were leadoff hitter Larry Suero and cleanup leftfielder Luis Morejon who each were on base three times and each had a double.
Mark Knudson offers his take on where the Rockies priorities should be heading into the trade deadline on August 3. Knudson posits that the Rockies should not be swayed into short-term thinking by a hot June and should remain focused on the long-term vision for the organization. For him that means identifying a winning core and swapping everyone else for higher upside young talent.
With the first draft for the Rockies under the Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrne regime set to start this weekend, Thomas Harding takes a look at their priorities and methodology. The influx of new front office personnel hope to bring a more consistent success rate to their drafting track record. They aren’t, however, ready to fully reveal exactly what they are looking for in players just yet.
There has been hum of talk around the league for the past few weeks about the spike in offense that began around the start of June. There has been speculation that changes to the baseball are to blame. Bradley Woodrum of Baseball Prospectus does not refute the possibility of that being a factor, but he dives into how the overall picture is complicated by the record heatwave gripping much of the country.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JULY 8: Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts to a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Target Field on July 8, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Guardians and the Minnesota Twins had a back and forth battle that carried a tie into the ninth inning. Slade didn’t go deep in the game, resulting in the bullpen to be nearly emptied. It was compounded with the pitching staff giving up eight walks and Tim Herrin being hit on the back of his throwing elbow.
Zack Meisel did report that Herrin’s x-ray is negative, but it was very obvious that Herrin was in a lot of pain when he was leaving the game.
The Guardians ultimately lost as the Twins walked it off. The full recap is available on the front page.
Somehow, despite not having played in weeks, José Ramírez is still leading in Outs Above Average. But, quickly climbing the leaderboard is one Daniel Schneemann.
Quincy took a look at Kyle Manzardo and the situation he currently is in as a hitter.
Matt Dallas gave a quick scout on the top pitchers available in the upcoming draft.
Lets Go Former Guards
Will Benson cleared waivers and was outrighted to Louisville.
Stuart Fairchild was picked up by the Mariners on a minor league deal.
Two familiar names will be joining the Mets. Xzavion Curry and Tobias Myers have been promoted to the Mets’ major league roster.
Around the League (And Beyond)
Justin Verlander has announced that he will be retiring after this season. This announcement came out shortly after it was announced that Verlander would be the Legend Pick for this year’s All-Star Game.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 06: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals hits an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Kontras/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, Royals 1st baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone announced he will partake in the Home Run Derby next week.
One of the best young sluggers in the game is taking his powerful left-handed swing to Citizen Bank Park next week.
Jac Caglianone on Wednesday announced his decision to participate in Monday’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby in Philadelphia, airing live on Netflix.
Caglianone will be participating in his first Home Run Derby, and will be the Royals’ first participant since Bobby Witt Jr. blasted 50 homers as the 2024 Derby runner-up in Texas. Witt was named the American League’s starting shortstop for the All-Star Game this year and will be in Philly along with right-hander Michael Wacha to cheer on Caglianone — who will have his father, Jeff, pitch to him. Jeff told his son that his arm is ready to go.
The Royals fell apart in the 8th last night, losing 6-2 in Queens, after Alex Lange refused to get the last out of the inning
“It was a totally different game than yesterday and the pitching was dominating,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.
Bobby Witt Jr. was picked as the team’s best draft pick in the last decade.
Seven years after he went second overall to Kansas City, Witt has become the no-doubt face of the franchise and will remain so for a long time after signing an 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension in February 2024. (The deal could push to 14 years with options.) After early inconsistencies on both sides of the game, the shortstop has become one of baseball’s best five-tool talents and particularly stands out for his power and speed with exit velocities and sprint speeds that rank among the best in the Majors. He should be in the AL MVP discussion for a long time to come.
The Royals have relocated where their draft room is.
Here are the Royals latest transactions and injury updates.
Tyler Tolbert just made MLB history, but should he get more opportunities going forward? Kevin O’Brien gives his thoughts
Noah Cameron has a great curveball, but he needs to find another pitch to get hitters out.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is unbelievably hot at the plate currently
Dylan Cease was three outs from a no-hitter yesterday
The Miami Marlins are the hottest team in baseball currently
Mike Trout came back from the IL and promptly homered
Justin Verlander named All-Star, via legends pick, will retire after this season
Today’s song of the day is Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue
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