Brook Lopez is not the defensive stalwart he once was, and even at his peak, he was not necessarily quick enough to keep up with Jokic. Asking Kawhi Leonard to slow the Serbian would deplete the Clippers’ best offensive threat.
Jokic’s physicality should abuse Los Angeles. He is simply too much of a mismatch against this version of the Clippers’ roster.
Nuggets vs Clippers same-game parlay
With Jokic dominating the Clippers inside and on the glass, he should set a tone that leads to a cover of this modest spread.
Nuggets vs Clippers SGP
Nikola Jokic Over 26.5 points
Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
Nuggets -4.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Turn it up, Kawhi
Kawhi Leonard is playing the best basketball of his Clippers tenure, as seen for a moment in the All-Star Game.
Nuggets vs Clippers SGP
Nikola Jokic Over 26.5 points
Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points
Nuggets -4.5
Nuggets vs Clippers odds
Spread: Nuggets -4.5 | Clippers +4.5
Moneyline: Nuggets -190 | Clippers +160
Over/Under: Over 226 | Under 226
Nuggets vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Nuggets are 2-0 both outright and against the spread against the Clippers this season, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by a combined 25 points in those two games. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Clippers.
How to watch Nuggets vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
ALT, FDSN SC
Nuggets vs Clippers latest injuries
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TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 03: Cameron Payne, #15 of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in action during the EuroLeague Regular Season Round 26 match between Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade at Menora Mivtachim Arena on February 03, 2026 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo by Seffi Magriso/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
It’s no surprise the Sixers were targeting a guard on the open market after the trade deadline.
The team sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies with no NBA players coming back to Philly. With Quentin Grimes missing two games with an illness before the All-Star break, the Sixers’ lack of depth at guard was exposed.
While names like Lonzo Ball and D’Angelo Russell were thrown out there, the Sixers ultimately decided to bring back a familiar face in Cameron Payne. The 31-year-old was playing in Serbia for Partizan when he got word of the Sixers’ interest a few days ago.
His agent warned him things could move quickly from there.
“It actually happened really fast,” Payne said at the Sixers practice facility Wednesday. “[My agent] told me, ‘It’s going to happen pretty fast, so you might want to pack.‘”
Payne is no stranger to these types of twists and turns. He was the 14th overall pick in 2015 out of Murray State by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He struggled with injuries and inconsistency early in his career. He was traded to the Chicago Bulls, spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and even played two games in China in 2019.
He was able to resurrect his career with the Phoenix Suns, helping that team reach the Finals in 2020-21. He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24 and was traded (along with a second-round pick) to the Sixers for Patrick Beverley. He gave the Sixers some solid minutes down the stretch and into the playoffs, parlaying that into a contract with the New York Knicks in 2024-25.
The Knicks moved on and Payne was in camp with the Indiana Pacers ahead of the 2025-26 season. He didn’t make the opening night roster and was waived. Instead of sitting around waiting for his next opportunity, Payne made the decision to go overseas.
As Payne learned, if you’re playing basketball somewhere in the world, the NBA will still have eyes on you.
“I told my agent this morning, I was like, ‘I don’t know how I keep finding a way to get back [the the NBA],‘” Payne said. “But I guess the NBA is still watching. If you still take your game seriously and do the right things, play the right way, they’re still looking.”
Payne enjoyed the experience with Partizan. He said the environment is a little wild — almost college-like. “It was lit, man,” he said. The other thing he got to do there was be the focal point of an offense, something he hadn’t been able to do since college. It was an opportunity and responsibility he didn’t take lightly.
While nobody will be asking that of him with the Sixers, they could certainly use a guard off the bench. Tyrese Maxey leads the NBA in minutes per game by a healthy margin. VJ Edgecombe leads all rookies in minutes — also by a healthy margin. Payne can play alongside either guy while giving the duo some rest during the final 28 games of the season.
Nick Nurse made it known that Payne will get minutes — in part to help his electric backcourt get to the postseason as fresh as possible.
“He can eat into some of those minutes to get those guys off the floor, for sure,” Nurse said. “And I would imagine down the stretch there’ll be games where he’ll play super huge minutes, too, when those two guys …. the workload gets [high] we can throw him in there in certain games, and he’s capable of doing that.”
If nothing else, Payne provides stability. The team knows what he is and what he brings to the table every night, something you couldn’t say about the Sixers’ guards off the bench this season.
“We know him,” Nurse said. “Veteran ball-handler. Guy who’s played in some big games. I think we’ve seen Cam provide some speed, energy, three-point shooting, run some pick-and-roll, get some layups here and there. … He looked like he’s in a really good rhythm. He’s been playing at a pretty high level over there.”
Payne has been in these spots. He knows what it takes to succeed, whether he’s playing big minutes or barely leaving the bench.
“I just always say ‘be you,’” Payne said. “Don’t ever change for anybody. Just be yourself.”
In 31 games for the Sixers back in 2023-24, Payne shot 38.2% from three and averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game. If that’s what the team gets now — on top of the energy he brings to the table — it’ll be a shrewd signing.
Dave Roberts apparently likes to enjoy a cigar while watching people overindulge.
The Dodgers manager popped by a wing-eating competition at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Glendale, Arizona, on Wednesday night, and he was seen puffing on a stogie as he took in all the sights and sounds of engorgement.
Dave Roberts was seen at a wing-eating competition on Wednesday night enjoying a cigar. Instagram/bobbleheadz_805
In a video shot by a spectator, the World Series-winning skipper could be seen savoring some smoke as competitors shoveled chicken into their mouths.
Dave Roberts and the Dodgers are trying to win their third-straight World Series this season. AP
At one point during the festivities, Roberts actually told the Dodgers’ social media team he thinks he’d fare pretty well in a wing-consuming showdown.
He added he’d thrive in a doughnut challenge as well.
Wednesday’s event has become a bit of a spring training tradition for the Dodgers — last season, several Los Angeles superstars, including Shohei Ohtani, made it out to catch the action.
This year, Roberts was joined by Evan Phillips, Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim and Alex Call, and the guys seemed to have a blast — while insisting if they were in tilts to inhale the most sushi, ramen, hot dogs and nachos, they’d be stars.
The number one reason the Athletics suffered a fourth straight losing season last year was run prevention. Both the starting rotation and bullpen struggled, particularly at home in Sacramento. But it wasn’t solely the pitchers’ fault. The A’s finished 2025 with -34 defensive runs saved — the fifth-worst mark in MLB — and committed 88 errors, tied for eighth most in the league.
The team’s young core group of hitters took a major step forward offensively last season, cementing the team’s lineup as one of the most exciting to watch this year. Nevertheless, if the A’s want to return to the playoffs for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, the team must display vastly improved defense to complement its offensive excellence.
In the first couple months of last season, it felt like a circus every time former A’s outfielder JJ Bleday (-19 DRS, -30 career) tried to catch a fly ball or line drive in center field. The year before, Bleday was serviceable playing that tough position, yet last year he regressed in all facets of the game.
Eventually, the A’s had enough of his mishaps and replaced him with top prospect Denzel Clarke, who proceeded to make highlight-reel catches and home run robberies nearly every game he played. Lawrence Butler also showed he can play that position if needed, although he is better suited to right field due to his strong but often inaccurate arm. Tyler Soderstrom has left field locked down for the next several years following his seamless transition last season from first base to left field. Soderstrom became a Gold Glove finalist, a miraculous achievement given that he had never played outfield before in his professional career.
The numbers made it clear that the A’s defensive shortcomings weren’t confined to one position group. The infield additionally contributed to the struggles, as several young regulars continued learning the nuances of their positions.
First baseman Nick Kurtz and shortstop Jacob Wilson finished first and second in the American League Rookie of the Year race because of their offensive performances. Nevertheless, both need to improve defensively. Kurtz trained this offseason on improving his defense, specifically catching pop-ups, while Wilson has room to get better if he can improve his range to convert more balls put in play into outs. Jeff McNeil will be at least average at second base and then the A’s third baseman will be decided in spring training. If the A’s want to prioritize defense, Brett Harris is the best option, whereas Max Muncy is the most dynamic offensive player in the mix.
Will Kurtz or Wilson have a better defensive season this year? Do you think the A’s move Wilson off shortstop when Leo De Vries is ready? If so, is he a better fit at second base or third base? Finally, what teamwide defensive strategies should the A’s employ this season to gain an edge?
The Lakers were relatively quiet at the trade deadline aside from swapping Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard. That’s in part because their proximity to their first-apron hard cap (less than $1.5 million away) limited what they could do.
That shouldn’t be the case this offseason.
The Lakers have long been projected to boast max or near-max cap room and the trade deadline did not change that. Because both Vincent and Kennard are on expiring contracts, that trade had no bearing on the Lakers’ outlook beyond this year.
That was undoubtedly intentional. With LeBron James’ future still very much up in the air, the Lakers are keeping their options open.
That isn’t the case for every team that was initially projected to be a factor in the 2026 free-agent market. The Washington Wizards were initially projected to have $80-plus million in cap space this offseason, but they spent it all in “pre-agency” by acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis ahead of the trade deadline. The Utah Jazz blew through theirs as well by acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. while the L.A. Clippers made a pair of trades that suggests Kawhi Leonard could be next to go this offseason.
Keith Smith of Spotrac now projects only three teams to have significant cap space this offseason, plus/minus the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons. The Lakers are leading the way.
Moves made at the NBA trade deadline vaporized a lot of 2026 potential cap space. Here are the teams I now project to have cap space this offseason:
That seems good. Is that good? (Just don’t spend it all on a 34-year-old Paul George. Take it from a Sixers fan.)
The Lakers’ 2026-27 cap sheet
The Lakers have two major variables to confront this offseason: LeBron’s future and Austin Reaves’ free agency. The good news is that until they re-sign Reaves, their cap sheet is relatively clean at the moment.
Luka Dončić will begin the three-year max extension he signed this past August, which will start at 30% of whatever next year’s salary cap ends up being. Based on the current $166 million cap projection, Dončić’s new deal would start at $49.8 million.
For now, Dončić is the only Lakers player under contract for next season who’s earning more than $15 million. Jarred Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), Jake LaRavia ($6.0 million), Dalton Knecht ($4.2 million) and Adou Thiero ($2.2 million) are the only four other players on guaranteed contracts, while nearly $1.26 million of Bronny James’ $2.3 million salary is guaranteed.
The Lakers will also enter the offseason with a $20.9 million cap hold on their books for Reaves. As we’ve covered before, the Lakers will presumably try to follow the same blueprint the Philadelphia 76ers used with Tyrese Maxey to take advantage of his below-market cap hold. They’ll spend the rest of their cap space first, then re-sign him via Bird rights even though that will push them over the salary cap.
Between Dončić, Vanderbilt, LaRavia, Knecht, Thiero, the guaranteed portion of Bronny’s contract and Reaves’ cap hold, the Lakers will be entering the offseason with $96.7 million in guaranteed salary on their books.
Player
2026-27 Salary
Luka Dončić
$49,800,000
Austin Reaves (cap hold)
$20,906,361
Jarred Vanderbilt
$12,428,571
Jake LaRavia
$6,000,000
Dalton Knecht
$4,201,080
Bronny James
$2,296,271 ($1,258,873 guaranteed)
Adou Thiero
$2,150,917
TOTAL (GUARANTEED)
$96,745,802
That doesn’t mean they’ll have nearly $70 million of cap space to spend, though.
For one, they’ll have an incomplete roster charge of roughly $1.36 million for every open roster spot below 12. Even if they fully guarantee Bronny’s contract, they’d have $6.8 million of incomplete roster charges on their books until they filled those spots.
The bigger swing factors are Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton, who have $5.4 million and $8.1 million player options for next season, respectively. They also have a $2.5 million team option on Kobe Bufkin, which they figure to decline to maximize their financial flexibility.
Assuming the Lakers do decline their team option on Bufkin, here’s how much cap space they’re projected to have depending on what Ayton and Smart do with their respective player options.
Both decline: $61.4 million
Smart picks up, Ayton declines: $57.1 million
Ayton picks up, Smart declines: $54.7 million
Both pick up: $50.3 million
All of those figures would require the Lakers to renounce the rights to all of their free agents other than Reaves, including LeBron and Rui Hachimura. They also don’t factor in whichever first-round pick the Lakers land this summer.
The Lakers’ free-agency outlook
Based on the current $166 million cap projection for 2026-27, a max contract for someone with 0-6 years of NBA experience would start at $41.5 million, someone with 7-9 years of NBA experience (like Luka) would start at $49.8 million and someone with 10 or more years of NBA experience would start at $58.1 million.
That makes James the first domino that must fall for the Lakers. Until they either re-sign him or renounce his free-agent rights, they won’t have any cap space whatsoever.
If the Lakers do clear $50-plus million in space, they’ve already discussed going after Andrew Wiggins, Tari Eason and Peyton Watson, among others, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. He mentioned Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade as other possible candidates who fit the Lakers’ need for more long-range shooters and defenders.
After the trade deadline, general manager Rob Pelinka told reporters that the Lakers had been “aggressive” in conversations, but they decided to prioritize their long-term future.
“I would say we were aggressive,” Pelinka said. “And one form of being aggressive is saying no to moves that come your way that might not be best for the short- and long-term future, that’s like being aggressive even though you end up doing nothing. Because it’s hard to say no sometimes to getting a good player that could be a quick short-term fix but could have implications for the long-term where it doesn’t fit into the overall vision you have for the team.”
If the Lakers look to maximize their financial flexibility, there’s a wide range of possible outcomes this offseason. The NBA has become even more unpredictable in the second-apron era, as teams are more desperate than ever to dump overpaid stars (or former stars) on massive contracts.
The Wizards acquired both Young and Davis for pennies on the dollar ahead of this year’s trade deadline. The Memphis Grizzlies were reportedly eager to offload Ja Morant as well, but they couldn’t find a taker even after trading Jackson to Utah.
Pelinka believes the Lakers might be able to take advantage of other teams this offseason that are looking to dump contracts for whatever reason.
“Knowing that there’s an unintended consequence when a new system comes into place — teams kind of learn their way through it — we felt like creating optionality or having optionality now is really a positive thing for us this coming offseason,” Pelinka told reporters. “Because there’s some teams that maybe have gotten too deep into the aprons. And I think players, we see around the league, that become available when teams get in that position.”
“Whether it’s through free agency, whether it’s keeping our own players, whether it’s looking around the league for players that are really good that maybe teams are trying to get off salary, we feel like there’ll be so many different ways to complete our roster in the offseason.”
The Lakers have a megastar in Dončić and a unique amount of potential cap space for a title hopeful this offseason. This summer will go a long way toward determining how well they can build a championship contender around Luka over the next few years.
The Mets will be hosting their 2026 Grapefruit League opener against the Miami Marlins in just two days, and there have been oodles of storylines worth watching down in Port St. Lucie.
Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza met with the media on Thursday, discussing two key pieces of the starting rotation, a veteran and a prospect who will impact the outfield, and much more.
Here's what Mendoza had to say...
Manaea's Mechanics
Sean Manaea unlocked something midway through the 2024 season, when he switched to more of a cross-body delivery that had hitters looking foolish. As part of that adjustment, Manaea began dropping his arm slot even lower than he typically does, according to Mendoza.
Add in some brutal injury luck, and the lefty had a tough 2025 season (5.64 ERA in 15 games).
But now, Manaea is a "healthy player," and Mendoza says that getting his mechanics right could go a long way towards once again seeing the version of Manaea who took the mound in 2024.
"Last year, that oblique injury was tricky for him, and then he had a setback, I believe, and he was just never himself. It wasn’t easy for him. It was hard. I don’t think he ever got in a rhythm last year, even when he was feeling good," said Mendoza. "Whether it was mechanics, he was just off."
"We felt like he went a little (too low with his arm slot)," Mendoza said, "so we’re trying to get him back to, I’m not going to say normal because he’s always going to have that slot, but those are some of the adjustments that we’re working on."
Robert's Rousing Power Display
Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. has proven that he can be an All-Star talent when healthy, but a host of lower body injuries have caused him to miss a combined 110 games over the past two seasons.
The Mets are taking things slow with their new outfielder, saying he won't play in spring games right away, but that hasn't stopped the veteran from putting on a show during his live BP at-bats.
"It’s pretty incredible. You watch, the sound of it, he’s pretty special," Mendoza said. "Man, I keep telling myself and people here, if this guy stays healthy, we’ve got a pretty good player. We’ve seen it, but that’s our goal. We have to, and I know he’s working really hard, but he’s just very easy. And I think it was 115 (MPH exit velocity), the ball he hit in live BP. It’s pretty impressive."
Benge-Watching
With Juan Soto shifting to left and a healthy Robert locking down center field, the starting right field spot is up for grabs, with top prospect Carson Benge among the options.
But what do the Mets want to see out of the 23-year-old as he attempts to break camp in the majors?
According to Mendoza, it's quality over quantity, saying that how Benge looks at the plate and in the field will be more important that his actual stats.
"I think it’s more the quality of the at-bats … how hard he’s hitting the baseball, how he’s controlling the strike zone, how he’s going to bounce back after a tough game," Mendoza said. "There’s a lot to look for, whether it’s offensively, defensively, and base-running-wise."
"[Benge is] another guy who impacts the baseball to all fields," he added. "I think his ability to control the strike zone—but the one thing I’ve seen the past few days here during live at-bats is his ability to foul off tough pitches, especially when he gets behind in counts. That for me is a really good sign, that he’s able to stay in the fight, and he continues to stay aggressive."
Senga's Strong Showing
Right-hander Kodai Senga saw his 2025 season get off to a phenomenal start, pitching to a minuscule 1.47 ERA over his first 13 starts. But a hamstring strain suffered in June derailed him, and his numbers on the other side of the injury (5.90 ERA in nine starts) suffered as a result.
Senga threw one inning of live batting practice on Thursday, leaving his manager impressed, especially with where his velocity is at this point in camp.
"Really good," Mendoza said of Senga. "I think the biggest thing for me, when you see 96, 97, that’s a really good sign. I thought he threw some really good sweepers, especially for strike one, back door against lefties. He’s just working on all of his pitches, he’s just trying to get the feel. First time out there, the feedback from the hitters is always important, and yeah, I think it all comes down to health. We all know that, and man, it was good to just see him go out there with intensity and throwing the ball the way he did."
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 10: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tonight, the post-All-Star break gauntlet begins. And if it feels like you have heard me use that word before when talking about the Phoenix Suns, you are not imagining things. It always feels this way. For whatever reason, the Suns routinely land in the top ten in remaining strength of schedule, and yes, I went to Tankathon to double-check myself before saying it out loud again.
Checks Tankathon…
Ummm…why aren’t the Suns on anyone’s ‘toughest opponent’ list? What are we? Chopped liver here?!
What’s left is no joke. The final 27 games are stacked with teams that have something at stake. These are not drifting opponents. These are teams fighting for playoff positioning, teams clawing to avoid the Play-In, teams scrapping to get into it. And that is exactly where Phoenix lives right now, right in the middle of the mess, where every night feels like it carries a little extra weight.
The difference now is perception. The Suns are no longer sneaking up on anyone. That part of the season is gone. They have exceeded expectations, changed the tone around the league, and earned a reputation. Teams know what’s coming. They know about the pressure, the physicality, the disruption Phoenix brings possession after possession. Whether opponents can actually execute through that chaos is a different conversation, and one we are going to track in real time as this thing winds down. But the margin is thinner now. The urgency is louder. And this final stretch is going to tell us exactly who the Suns are, even though everyone knows the test is coming.
When you dig into the numbers and look at what remains, a few things jump out that feel worth paying attention to. Of the 27 games left, 14 are against teams currently above the .500 mark. To this point in the season, the Suns are 13–17 against teams over .500. That tells you that they have been good, not great, in those environments. Competitive but not dominant.
Where they have made their money is against lesser competition. Phoenix is 19–6 against teams under .500, and there are still 13 games left on the schedule against that tier of opponent. It reinforces what we already know. This team takes care of business when it should, and that has been a defining characteristic of the season.
So if you take those pre-All-Star break trends, apply the same winning percentages to what lies ahead, and do a little honest math (.433 winning percentage against over .500 teams, .760 winning percentage against sub-.500 teams, divided into the respective remaining totals against teams currently classified as such), the projection lands in a very reasonable place. A 17-12 finish over the final 27 games. That puts the Suns at 49–33. The question is now can that do that?
The feel-good story of the Suns is about to be tested over the remainder of the season, and a big part of that is because the expectations have quietly shifted, at least in the eyes of the fan base. This was a team that most people penciled in for around 31 wins, maybe fewer if things broke the wrong way. They hit 32 before the All-Star break.
When you start there, the natural question becomes how much the organization adjusts its priorities, its internal expectations, and its timelines. If the trade deadline told us anything about how Mat Ishbia and Brian Gregory view this season, it is that they are committed to staying the course. The focus remains on long-term viability and organizational health rather than chasing short-term fixes in a season where a championship run still feels out of reach. There was no panic. No swing for the fences. No attempt to paper over cracks with temporary solutions.
Now the roster is set. This is the team. And the interesting thing is that Phoenix is not alone in that reality. Every team they are chasing, or being chased by, has issues of its own. Oklahoma City does not look like the same juggernaut it was a year ago, and it is dealing with health concerns. Houston is staring down a Kevin Durant-sized cloud, something Suns fans know all too well. Minnesota has struggled to consistently beat quality opponents. The Lakers lack depth. The Warriors are showing the very real effects of age and injuries.
There are no clean paths in this part of the standings. No perfect teams waiting at the top. The Suns are flawed, but so is everyone else, and that is what makes the final stretch of this season so fascinating.
So the question becomes: as we march toward March, how many of the Suns’ deficiencies will actually show themselves and be exploited by opposing teams over the remainder of the schedule? How many wins? How many losses? Where does this ultimately land them in the standings? There are 27 games left, and every one of them feels like a data point in a larger experiment. How much of what we have seen so far is sustainable? How much of it was momentum, surprise, and timing lining up just right?
And maybe the most important question of all: how do you feel about the very real possibility that this team stumbles down the stretch? Because that possibility exists. The reasons are clear. The margin is thin. The league adjusts. The legs get heavy. The film piles up.
But if this team has taught us anything this season, it is to expect the unexpected. To acknowledge all the reasons it should not work, then sit back and enjoy it when it does. This is not a team built through traditional roster construction, clean archetypes, or tidy measurables. They are winning through things you cannot easily chart. Heart. Connectivity. Trust. Talent that keeps outperforming expectations.
So here we go. The final 27. No safety net. No mystery left. It starts tonight against the San Antonio Spurs.
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 18: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees is introduced at a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 18, 2024, in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ve reached the end of our 50 Most Notable Yankees’ Free Agent Signings, and today we’ll wrap up with the most recent within the paramters. Okay, maybe you could argue that the re-signing of Cody Bellinger earlier this winter is technically the most recent biggest one. That one was a touch too recent to show up on our list, and also bringing a non-All-Star back like that is a little different than the big splash the Yankees made when they signed Max Fried last winter.
It’s also one that has worked out swimmingly so far.
Max Fried Signing Date: December 17, 2024 Contract: Eight years, $218 million
At the start of the 2024-25 offseason, the Yankees’ main focus was on brining back Juan Soto. In addition to hitting the home run that sent the Yankees to the 2024 World Series, Soto had an unbelievable season and his combination with Aaron Judge had the potential to be an all-time great one if he stayed in the Bronx.
Unfortunately, we know how that story went. The Mets seemingly weren’t going to be denied in their pursuit of Soto, and they beat the Yankees to the punch. That being said, even without Soto, the Yankees had a roster that had just won the AL pennant. They were still in a, hopefully, “contending” window and needed somewhere to pivot. They decided to do so with one of the best pitchers on the market.
The Los Angeles-area born Max Fried had been a first-round draft pick of the Padres — seventh overall — in 2012 after starring at Harvard-Westlake School alongside fellow future standouts Jack Flaherty and Lucas Giolito. However, San Diego would not be where Fried would make his name. Having worked his way into the top 100 prospect lists, Fried was part of a multi-player deal in 2014 that sent him to the Braves, with Justin Upton the headliner going to the Padres. It was a savvy move that would have major ramifications for Atlanta in just a few years.
The trade went down as Fried was still recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he missed the entire 2015 season. After returning for 2016, Fried got the call-up to the majors in August 2017, debuting out of the bullpen. Fried ended up appearing in nine games — four starts — in 2017, posting a 3.81 ERA in 26 innings. While he returned to the minors for much of the following season, he was again pretty solid when getting his cup of coffee in the bigs in 2018.
Fried got a chance to start 2019 in the majors, albeit in the bullpen. However, he quickly ended up in the rotation and made 30 starts in his first full major-league season that year. The 2020 season was, of course, COVID-shortened, but it was Fried’s breakout campaign, as he posted a 2.25 ERA over his 11 starts, finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting.
The next two years saw Fried fully get on the map. In 2021, he was, by several measures, the Braves’ best starter as they won the 2021 World Series crown. He was the winning pitcher in the series-clinching Game 6 victory, shutting the Astros out for six innings.
In 2022, Fried posted arguably his best year, putting up a career best total in both WARs, recording a 2.48 ERA and a second place Cy Young finish. His 2023 was limited to just 77.2 innings due to injury, but both that year and 2024, he was still very good. That led him to being one of the marquee free agents on the 2024-25 market, and on the short list for the best pitcher available.
The Yankees have a history of employing very good left-handed pitchers, which may have prompted them to pivot to Fried as their big acquisition post-Soto. While they had already met with him while still pursuing Soto, they moved quickly after losing the outfielder, inking Fried to an eight-year deal less than a week after Soto went to Queens. The $218 million deal was the largest ever signed by a left-handed pitcher.
One year into that contract, and it’s hard to have any big complaints. Fried’s debut season in the Bronx saw him post a 2.86 ERA along with a league-leading 19 wins. He got off to a ridiculous start, winning AL Pitcher of the Month for April, and ended up winning that same honor during the season’s home stretch in September. Fried earned All-MLB First Team honors, finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting, and nabbed his fourth career Gold Glove.
Beyond that, with the absence of Gerrit Cole, Fried had to step up as the de facto Yankees’ ace. He was the man who took the mound in Game 1 of the Yankees’ Wild Card Series clash against Boston and threw 6.1 shutout innings. His start against the Blue Jays in the ALDS didn’t go well, but on the whole, Fried came up big in his first year in pinstripes — especially given the increased pressure caused by Cole’s absence.
Fried will be under contract through his age-38 season in 2032. Fingers crossed that he has more greatness ahead this coming season!
Edtior’s note: As Matt wrote at the top, since this series and its selection process began before Cody Bellinger was re-signed a month ago, the Max Fried signing from December 2024 will mark the end of our “50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years” series. Thank you for following along in this walk down Yankees history! If you missed any of the contracts we discussed, check out the full rundown here.
We stand on the eve of spring training. Tomorrow sees the 2026 incarnation of the Arizona Diamondbacks take the field for the first time – albeit in an empty and meaningless contest against their complexmates from Colorado. With the team now apparently close to maxed out on payroll – and, as we’ll see later today, closer to the luxury tax bracket than ever before – it feels largely like the roster we currently have is going to be the one we will have in Dodger Stadium five weeks from today. But if there was something else you got to do, what would it be?
You’re the GM: What’s one trade, signing or extension you’d make right now?
There are certainly ways in which the team could potentially be improved. Indeed, almost every area, be it infield, outfield, rotation or bullpen has a question-mark over some aspect. But if you had to pick a single (and plausible – no trading Carlos Santana for Aaron Judge!) move to improve the team for Opening Day, what would you do? Bear in mind there’s basically no salary room available, so any trade is probably going to be like-for-like. But perhaps you would rather look long term, and sign someone already on the roster to an extension? If so, who would that be and why?
GOODYEAR, AZ - MARCH 21: The Kansas City Royals line up during the national anthem before a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on March 21, 2014 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Sarah Glenn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals have had a full squad working out all week and tomorrow they’ll begin their first exhibition matchups. Spring training performances can be difficult to judge. Many players are working on new pitches, new swings, and with new teammates. The thin, dry air of Arizona is not like the environment players will play in when the season begins in March in the cold spring air of the Midwest.
And yet, players can still impress coaches, teammates, and fans with their spring performance. Maybe they can dazzle everyone enough to make the team, or at least make an impression to be called up at some point to get their opportunity.
Who are you rooting for in Royals spring training to do well? Here’s a reminder of who’s in camp.
*-denotes non-roster invitee
Catchers (9): Jorge Alfaro*, Canyon Brown*, Omar Hernandez*, Carter Jensen, Elih Marrero*, Blake Mitchell*, Salvador Pérez, Ramon Ramirez*, Luca Tresh*
Infielders (13): Brandon Drury*, Maikel Garcia, Jonathan India, Connor Kaiser*, Michael Massey, Kevin Newman*, Vinnie Pasquantino, Josh Rojas*, Tyler Tolbert, Abraham Toro*, Daniel Vazquez*, Peyton Wilson*, Bobby Witt Jr.
Outfielders (11): Dairon Blanco, Jac Caglianone, Gavin Cross*, Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel, Nick Loftin, Kameron Misner, John Rave, Carson Roccaforte*, Lane Thomas, Drew Waters
Pitchers (34): Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert, Mason Black, Kris Bubic, Noah Cameron, Eric Cerantola, Dennis Colleran*, Steven Cruz, Jose Cuas*, Lucas Erceg, Carlos Estévez, Bailey Falter, Stephen Kolek, Ben Kudrna, Alex Lange, Seth Lugo, Daniel Lynch IV, Chazz Martinez*, James McArthur, John Means*, Nick Mears, Eli Morgan*, Frank Mozzicato*, Héctor Neris*, Helcris Olivárez*, Shane Panzini*, Hunter Patteson*, Cole Ragans, Aaron Sanchez*, John Schreiber, Mitch Spence, Matt Strahm, Michael Wacha, Steven Zobac
The Mountain West men’s basketball season is in full swing, but it’s never a bad time to discuss past Mountain West stars and their journeys after being in the conference. It’s time for our annual “Mountain West in the NBA” update, so let’s not waste any more time and dive into it!
Colorado State:
Isaiah Stevens, G/F, Sacramento Kings
After parlaying a strong summer into a two-way contract with the Miami Heat last season, Stevens found a new home in Sacramento. Though he’s spent most of the season in Stockton with the Kings’ G-League affiliate, averaging 14.1 points and 8.3 assists in 27 combined games. Stevens has played six career NBA games up to this point, totaling 10 points with five rebounds, 10 assists and six steals in 49 minutes.
Fresno State:
Orlando Robinson, C, UFA
Robinson was recently released by the Orlando Magic, who he held a two-way contract with. Robinson has been apart of four organizations (Heat, Kings, Raptors, Magic) the last three seasons, averaging 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds across 13.1 minutes per game over that span (84 games; 16 starts).
Nevada:
Cody Martin, F, Indiana Pacers
Martin’s career has largely been affected by injury, playing roughly 37 percent of available games over the last four seasons. He signed a 10-day hardship contract with the beleagured Indiana Pacers in November, and has since played 10 games with the Noblesville Boom (Pacers G-League affiliate), averaging 13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals on 54.9 percent true shooting.
Caleb Martin, F, Dallas Mavericks
Martin was dealt to Dallas in February of 2025 as part of the Quentin Grimes 1-for-1 swap with Philadelphia. Martin, 30, has appeared in 46 games (10 starts) with the Mavericks this season, averaging 3.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 44.5 percent shooting, including 36.8 percent from 3-point range and 62.9 percent from the charity stripe.
Kobe Sanders, G, Los Angeles Clippers
Drafted No. 50 overall in last summer’s draft, Sanders’ emergence with Los Angeles has been one of their brighest spots this season. The Clippers recently converted Sanders into a standard contract, where he’s averaging 6.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 43.6/37.0/80.0 shooting splits.
San Diego State:
Kawhi Leonard, F, Los Angeles Clippers
Leonard has been one of the NBA’s best players for the last 2-3 months. The Aztec alum is leading the NBA in steals (2.1), tallying 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game on 49.1 percent shooting and 61.9 percent true shooting. Notably, Leonard took All-Star weekend by storm, scoring 37 points in three 12-minute games on 13-of-24 shooting and 7-of-12 from distance. The 14-year vet has, once again, reinforced the belief that he’s arguably the league’s best two-way player — when he’s on the court, which has occassionally been a struggle.
UNLV:
Derrick Jones Jr., F, Los Angeles Clippers
Our third Clipper! Jones has been one of their best point-of-attack defenders and 3-point shooters the last two seasons. In 99 games with the Clips, Jones is averaging 10.1 points and 3.2 rebounds on 36.7 percent shooting from 3-point range, where he’s taken nearly 40 percent of his attempts.
Utah State:
Sam Merrill, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Merrill has carved a niche as an elite 3-point shooter. Over the last three seasons, the Aggie alum is shooting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc on 5.8 3-point attempts per game (86.5 3PAr!), including a remarkable 47.2 percent on 7.5 triple tries in 31 games (22 starts) this year. He’s been in-and-out of the team’s lineup due to injury, but he’s been the best shooter on a middle-of-the-pack 3-point shooting team through 55 games.
Neemias Queta, C, Boston Celtics
Amid the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet, Queta, a five-year veteran, has been thrust into a much larger role with the Celtics this year. And he’s played up to expectation, tallying 9.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 65.5 percent true shooting in 51 games (50 starts) this year. Most importantly, he’s shown he can be a starting-level center in the right context, even though he still has plenty of room to grow as a defender.
Wyoming:
Larry Nance Jr., F, Cleveland Cavaliers
Nance, now in his age-33 season, has sparingly played with Cleveland in his second stint there. He’s essentially been an end-of-bench rotation player this time around, averaging 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game across 25 appearances. We are toward the end of the hill with Nance, who has largely battled injuries over his 11-year journey.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 07: A detail shot of the Detroit Tigers city connect jersey is seen prior to the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Detroit Tigers were teasing new alternate jerseys all week on their social media accounts. On Thursday they finally introduced a new navy blue road jersey with orange script, and the bright orange road jerseys with the Olde English D for Friday night home games.
The Tigers spent 18 months researching the idea and conducting fan surveys and focus group testing on many different concepts to come up with the final designs. 28 other clubs have been wearing alternate home/road jerseys for specific games, on top of the City Connect unis that will still be used as well. These all on top of the classic home whites, and road grey, for five different options.
Many of us have clamored for an alternate that resembled the Tigers classic road greys from the ‘68 season, and we’ll have to wait on that. Personally, I’m a fan of the simple navy blue and white spring training uniforms as well. But they wanted something with more color and pop, and they got it.
Staff opinion is mixed, but then we don’t have many jersey hounds. Everyone likes that the orange home alternate jerseys still have the Olde English D front and center, at least. As noted the electric blue City Connects will still be in the rotation as well for select Monday home games. We didn’t have images of the alternates in our Getty or USA Today photo tools just yet, but they have been released on the Tigers site and to all the social media accounts.
Since the 1970s, @tigers have only worn Wilson Varsity numbers on their home and road unis. The new home alt marks the first time they've ever worn block standard numbers. Notice the difference between left and right?This font is worn by many other teams, including BAL, LAD, STL. https://t.co/N3W6Tbg4A4pic.twitter.com/x2STQNnL29
‘We will see huge amount of damage from social media’
England captain’s 100th cap in crunch clash with Ireland
The England captain, Maro Itoje, has warned of the corrosive effect of social media on professional athletes and wider society before the crucial Six Nations encounter with Ireland on Saturday.
Itoje will win his 100th England cap at Twickenham in what has become a must-win game for the hosts after last weekend’s deflating defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield. The buildup has been marred by racist abuse on social media of the Ireland second row Edwin Edogbo, after the 23-year-old made his debut from the replacements’ bench in their win against Italy in round two.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo during Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day at Camelback Ranch on February 19, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Teoscar Hernández was a driving force in the Dodgers lineup in his first year in Los Angeles, in 2024, but last year struggled mightily.
After starting the All-Star Game, winning a Silver Slugger Award, and leading all National League outfielders in home runs (33) and RBI (99) with a 132 wRC+ in his first year with the Dodgers, Hernández in 2025 hit 25 home runs and 102 wRC+.
“I never recovered 100 percent,” he said, adding that he believed his condition affected him both on offense and defense.
Following the World Series, Hernández said he did nothing for two months.
“I knew my body needed rest,” he said.
Hernández played in only 134 games last year after playing in 154 games in his first year with the Dodgers and 160 games in 2023 with the Mariners. Since becoming a regular in 2018 with Toronto, Hernández has played in 86.3 percent of games, averaging 140 games and 134 starts per 162 games over the last eight seasons.
He’s playing left field this year now that Kyle Tucker has signed, but let’s throw this out to the group. What do you expect from Teoscar Hernández in 2026? Let us know his batting line, home runs, games played, or any other thing that comes to mind.
Kansas' Darryn Peterson has been one of the best players in college basketball season — when he has been on the court.
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, that hasn't happened nearly as much as the NCAA Tournament champion hopefuls might have envisioned.
Peterson's inconsistent availability has been head-scratching at times, as he has played in 15 of Kansas' 26 games this season due to a nagging hamstring injury. He also missed a game against top-ranked Arizona with flu-like symptoms. He most recently subbed himself out early in the second half of Kansas' 81-69 win over Oklahoma State on Feb. 18, and didn't sub back in after playing 18 minutes.
Peterson's participation in games has become a national story in recent weeks, and ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on Thursday, Feb. 19, that he wouldn't take Peterson No. 1 overall due to the questions surrounding the talented guard.
"There is no team in (expletive) that should grab Darryn Peterson No. 1," he said on ESPN's "First Take." "You cannot do it. The first ability is availability. And my brother, Darryn Peterson, I hope you're watching because I'm talking directly to him, and whoever — his family members, his inner circle, whatever. What the (expletive) is going on? ... This is business. I can't trust him. You cannot be trusted."
The projected No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft is averaging 20 points per game this season on 48.5% shooting and a 43.1% mark from 3-point range. Kansas coach Bill Self said after the game Peterson left due to "cramping," adding he was disappointed because he thought Peterson was "good to go" pregame.
Former Duke star Jay Williams, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft to the Chicago Bulls, also questioned drafting Peterson at No. 1.
"If I were a general manager, I would be extremely concerned about Darryn Peterson," Williams said on ESPN's "Get Up" on Feb. 19. "I don't question his talent at all. His talent is the No. 1 pick in the draft. But I would take (BYU forward) AJ Dybantsa because I'm not sure about the availability of Darryn Peterson."
ESPN's Scott Van Pelt also questioned Peterson's intangibles on Feb. 18 after Peterson checked himself out of the Oklahoma State game.
“When the presumed No. 1 player sits out a home game against unbeaten, No. 1 Arizona with the flu after having all these questions and managing minutes throughout the season with other issues, it makes people wonder," Van Pelt said, "Not about his talent, but about those intangibles that can’t really be measured."
In a year with multiple high-end NBA draft prospects such as Dybantsa, Duke's Cameron Boozer, Houston's Kingston Flemings and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson, an NBA organization may have second guesses when it comes to Peterson as a prospect given his recent availability. At least, according to some NBA experts around the league.
