May 25, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker (25) walks to the dugout after striking out during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
Good morning everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your Mariners off-day yesterday. The squad is back in action this afternoon against the Angels.
The holiday weekend is now just around the corner! What plans do you have on this Fourth of July? Do you enjoy watching fireworks, or has the novelty of it been lost for you?
Commenter BearInTheRiver introduced a new baseball game called The Four Seamer. Check it out!
Around the league…
Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli issued an apology for his comments towards Willson Contreras during Tuesday night’s game which many perceived as racially charged.
Astros right-hander Christian Javier is set to return from the injured list with his shoulder strain healed — but he will do so in a bullpen role.
The MLBPA’s latest proposal to the league included an earlier trade deadline and limits on player demotions, among other things. Evan Drellich at The Athletic has the report. ($)
Despite the Mets’ continued struggles, owner Steve Cohen assured fans that president of baseball operations David Stearns is safe — for now.
The Chicago Cubs seem to always be portrayed as the “loveable losers.” Northwestern professor and longtime Cubs fan Bill Savage explored this running theme for the Cubbies in modern pop culture.
NORTH PORT, FL - MARCH 16: Eric Hartman #64 of the Atlanta Braves singles in the seventh inning during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park on Sunday, March 16, 2025 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Eric Hartman will get most of the headlines for his historic achievement — seeing as though we’re not even at the break yet — and rightfully so. But the pitching down on the farm was downright excellent as well on Wednesday. So, without further ado, let’s break down what happened.
Owen Murphy continues to make his case as the next arm to be called up to the big league roster as the 22-year-old spun a gem to lead Gwinnett to a win.
In six innings of work, Murphy allowed just three baserunners — two via hit and one via walk — while striking out seven in the process. With his start, Murphy lowered his season ERA to 3.88 on the year. To date, it is Murphy’s best start with Gwinnett as he appears to finally have gotten his footing underneath him.
Murphy’s fastball averaged 92.6 MPH with a solid chase rate of 31.8%. He’s clearly ready for the big leagues, but with the trade deadline looming, perhaps the Braves keep him in triple-A to boost his value with more solid starts in the event they use him as a trade chip. Either way, Murphy is on the right track and if he is still with the team after the deadline, he will be in Atlanta soon thereafter.
OWEN MURPHY GEM. TEAM USA UP. WHO HAS IT BETTER THAN US??
While Murphy was dealing, his offense provided him with a solid night at the plate as well.
The Stripers wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard, scoring three times in the top of the first. Brewer Hicklen plated the first run of the game courtesy of an RBI-single to score DaShawn Kiersey Jr. Aaron Schunk followed that up with an RBI-double as well to score Brett Wisely, while Hicklen later came around to score on an RBI-groundout off the bat of Jose Azocar.
As for Hicklen, his good approach at the plate continues and he’s been rewarded as he is hitting .306 with an OPS of .884, which leads Gwinnett among qualified hitters.
Cedric De Grandpre and Owen Murphy must have had a competition going to see who could have the best outing between them on Wednesday. As fate would have it, the two righthanders posted the exact same line of six innings pitched, two hits allowed, one walk issued and seven strikeouts.
In the two starts since his disastrous outing on June 19 in which he allowed seven runs in just 1.1 innings of work, De Grandpre has bounced back quite nicely. Across 11.2 innings, has allowed just two runs while striking out a combined 14 batters in those two outings. Hopefully he is fully adjusted, or at least getting there, to the double-A level.
At the plate, the Clingstones offense came to play as Columbus registered eight runs on 10 hits in the win.
The Clingstones scored one run in each of the first and third innings to jump out to a 2-0 lead over Tennessee. While the Smokies cut that lead in half in the bottom of the seventh, Columbus responded in a huge way in their final trip to the dish.
Patrick Clohisy — who doubled earlier in the game — got the rally started with an RBI-triple to score Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. and make it a 3-1 game. Clohisy later scored on a Kyle Farmer single before Drew Compton posted the biggest swing of the night — a bases-clearing triple to extend the Columbus lead to 7-1 on the night.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) July 2, 2026
Tennessee managed to get two of those runs back in the home half of the ninth, but Owen Hackman locked in and closed out the game to cap off the win.
Speaking of relievers, Blake Burkhalter tossed another scoreless outing with a pair of strikeouts to his credit. Since joining Columbus on June 17, Burkhalter has tossed 6.1 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and only one walk issued thus far. It will be interesting to see how long the front office keeps Burkhalter in double-A before they bump him up to Gwinnett to see if he continues his success.
(37-38) Rome Emperors 8, (28-48) Jersey Shore BlueClaws 1
On the same day he was named a top-25 prospect in the sport by Baseball America, Hartman capped off his banner day by joining a prestigious club — doing so in historic fashion.
Needing just one home run to join the 20/30 club and become the first player both this season and in Rome’s history to post a season with that statline. What makes it even more impressive is the fact he was able to do it in just 71 games.
Hartman got his historic swing in the top of the fourth, taking 1-1, center-cut fastball from a lefty and pulled it over the right center field wall for an absolute rocket which also extended the Emperors’ lead to 2-0.
HE’S DONE IT!
Eric Hartman becomes the first player in Rome franchise history to record 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season!#RuleTheLand 🐧 pic.twitter.com/zZVlcRTGdh
It’s been an absolutely meteoric rise for Hartman who came into this season relatively unknown outside of Braves prospects circles. It’s not very often you get significant value out of a 20th-round pick, let alone a top-25 talent. But it appears as though Atlanta hit an absolute gold mine in Hartman. The only question is: when will he get to Atlanta?
There’s absolutely no reason to rush the 20-year-old, despite how poorly the big league offense is performing at the moment. However, the Braves have been one of the most aggressive teams in all of baseball when it comes to promoting their top guys and it would not surprise me if Hartman is next on that list.
Mid-2027 is still the most realistic timeline for Hartman to get the call, but you never can confidently rule out any options when it comes to Alex Anthopolous and company.
Back to Wednesday’s action, Dixon Williams had a huge night offensively as well, homering — his ninth of the year — while driving in three of Rome’s eight total runs on the night. Dallas Macias also got in on the long ball fun, homering in the top of the third to get the scoring started for the Emperors.
Keeping with the trend of solid pitching across the system, Ethan Bagwell was spectacular in his first start for Rome. In six innings, Bagwell held Jersey Shore scoreless while limiting the opposition to just five hits and one walk. He also struck out six in the process. It was quite the high-A debut for the righty and his progress, albeit slowed by injuries to start his pro career, could be a sneaky good one. So keep an eye on Bagwell moving forward and don’t be surprised if he continues to succeed and rocket up the prospect rankings himself.
(44-33) Augusta GreenJackets 1, (29-47) Salem RidgeYaks 0
The GreenJackets might have only scored one run and tallied just two hits on the night, but that was more than enough to get the win thanks in large part to Derek Vartanian’s stellar start.
In what was his best start to date, Vartanian spun seven innings of scoreless ball, holding Salem to three hits and striking out eight in the process. Across 12 starts thus far, Vartanian carries an ERA of 3.41 while tossing 71.1 innings and striking out 71 batters over that span. While he is older for the low-A level as he’s 22, Vartanian could be a candidate to make the move up to Rome, especially when the new slate of draftees join the club later this month or in August.
Following Vartanian on the mound, Logan Forsythe and Lewis Sifontes combined to close out this one by tossing one scoreless inning apiece to preserve the shutout.
As mentioned, there wasn’t much to write home about on Wednesday with regards to the Augusta offense. However, the one run proved to be the difference maker as Cody Miller singled home Conor Essenburg in the third inning to tally the game’s lone RBI.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics embrace after the 76ers defeated the Celtics 109-100 in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey didn’t take long to make a big splash, huh?
On July 1, he agreed to trade Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown. He wasn’t done there, though. Three weeks later, the Sixers signed LeBron James (!) to a two-year, $7.9 million veteran-minimum contract (!!!).
The Sixers also split their non-taxpayer mid-level exception between Dean Wade ($9 million) and Anfernee Simons ($6 million), and they used a portion of their bi-annual exception to sign Ariel Hukporti to a one-year, $3.4 million deal. As a result, the Sixers are now hard-capped at the $209 million first apron, which means their payroll cannot exceed that threshold from now through June 30, 2027.
Since LeBron signed a two-year contract instead of a one-year deal, his contract will not be prorated. His full $3.9 million salary will go on the Sixers’ cap sheet rather than the standard $2.45 million two-year veteran-minimum.
That means another shoe had to drop before the Sixers officially signed LeBron. They were only $3.4 million below the first apron prior to his arrival. Adding him to their cap sheet would have pushed them roughly $460,000 above the hard cap, which is a no-go.
Luckily, they had a few options to clear that space. Dalen Terry’s $2.6 million contract was fully non-guaranteed, while only $250,000 of Jabari Walker’s $2.6 million deal is guaranteed. They wound up waiving Terry to make room for LeBron, but they weren’t done there.
Shortly after LeBron made his decision, longtime NBA reporter Chris Haynes broke the news that the Memphis Grizzlies were planning to waive Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and that KCP was expected to sign with the Sixers on a one-year, $3.9 million veteran-minimum deal. Since it’s only a one-year contract, it does get prorated down to roughly $2.4 million.
However, the Sixers once again didn’t have enough room under the first apron to fit him in. They were only $2.1 million below the hard cap after signing LeBron. To create enough space for KCP, they wound up trading Johni Broome and a 2027 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for cash considerations. (Yes, this is their first acceptable salary dump in years.
With both LeBron and KCP in the fold, here’s where the Sixers now stand financially:
Player
2026-27
Joel Embiid
$57,985,752
Jaylen Brown
$57,736,350
Tyrese Maxey
$40,770,520
VJ Edgecombe
$11,663,880
Dean Wade
$9,000,000
Anfernee Simons
$6,000,000
LeBron James (!!)
$3,876,529
Labaron Philon Jr.
$3,597,120
Dominick Barlow
$3,415,000
Ariel Hukporti
$3,400,000
Jabari Walker
$2,584,539
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
$2,449,421
Justin Edwards
$2,411,090
Adem Bona
$2,296,271
TOTAL
$207,186,472
SALARY CAP
$164,961,000
CAP ROOM
-$42,225,472
LUXURY TAX
$200,428,000
TAX ROOM
-$6,758,472
1ST APRON
$209,015,000
1ST APRON ROOM
$1,828,528
2ND APRON
$221,686,000
2ND APRON ROOM
$14,499,528
With 14 players under contract, the Sixers are now roughly $1.8 million below the first apron. They do not have enough room under the hard cap to sign anyone else, even to a minimum contract, unless it’s an undrafted free agent ($1.4 million) or a two-way deal (doesn’t count against the aprons).
The Sixers figure to go into the season with that roster spot open. Veteran-minimum contracts begin to prorate downward on a daily basis once the regular season begins, so they could look to sign someone in-season once the value of the vet-min deal decreases enough to fit under the hard cap. That should be as early as December, although they might prefer to keep it open until the trade deadline to see which ring-chasers shake loose.
If the Sixers want additional flexibility to shuffle around their end-of-the-bench pieces this offseason, they could choose to waive Walker. However, waiving him and signing a player to a minimum contract in his place would cost about $115,000 more than just keeping him around.
That might sound relatively inconsequential when we’re talking about a $200-plus million budget, but teams have gotten aggressive about pushing boundaries with their hard caps. The reigning champion New York Knicks finished less than $240,000 below their second-apron hard cap this past season, while the Los Angeles Lakers were less than $620,000 below their first-apron hard cap. In 2024-25, the Knicks finished exactly $53,349 below their second-apron hard cap. (Walker is also a Klutch client, so he’s not going anywhere.)
Either way, the Sixers are now poised to enter the season nearly $6.8 million over the luxury-tax line. And if they aren’t willing to pay the tax for a roster with LeBron James on it, fire Josh Harris and Co. directly into the sun.
LOS ANGELES, CA - May 08: Jim Jarvis #74 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 8, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | Getty Images
After last night’s victory, the Braves are shuffling their bench once again. Or, maybe, their not-quite-bench:
The #Braves today recalled INF Jim Jarvis to Atlanta and designated INF Rowdy Tellez for assignment.
This will be Jim Jarvis’ second stint in Atlanta. The 25-year-old infielder made his MLB debut on the Braves’ West Coast trip to Seattle and Los Angeles earlier this season, where he made two starts and collected a single to go with two strikeouts in five PAs. Jarvis has a pretty silly 133 wRC+ at Triple-A Gwinnett this year, but if you put any stock in minor league xStats (not sure if I do or not, truly), he’s way outhitting his xwOBA down there.
It’s unclear whether Jarvis will simply hang around for left-handed depth, or whether things will get more complicated. Ha-Seong Kim is pacing himself for a historically awful season, though he’ll probably improve or just flat-out stop getting playing time if it keeps up. Jorge Mateo was a fun story earlier, but has cratered while trying to play through a mild injury over the last few weeks. Mauricio Dubon, the only Brave to have an unequivocally good June offensively, would be a solution, except that he’s been needed to patch up the Braves’ outfield issues. And then there’s Austin Riley, who appears to be auditioning for a role in a local stage production of Frozen 2 (if you know, you know) moreso than effectively hitting baseballs, so there’s another infield question mark that perhaps Jarvis will be called upon to address in some way.
The roster casualty of Jarvis’ promotion is Rowdy Tellez, who ends this round of his Braves tenure with 11 PAs in which he singled, homered, and walked in 11 PAs. He actually put up a .500+ xwOBA in those 11 PAs, so hard to say he didn’t do his job, but the Braves don’t need two no-field DH guys who probably won’t hit better than league average on the roster.
Jarvis will presumably be around and in uniform as the Braves play a rubber game against the Redbirds later tonight. Will he grab a start somewhere? Stay tuned.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 1: Samad Taylor #0 of the San Diego Padres slides but misses a catch during the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 1, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Walker Buehler had been the most consistent starter in the San Diego Padres rotation, but that image took a critical hit when the right-hander allowed nine runs over the first three innings to the Chicago Cubs, and the Padres suffered an embarrassing 23-3 loss to cap a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
Buehler was atrocious from the start of the game. He allowed a leadoff single to Pete Crow-Armstrong who stole second and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Alex Bregman followed with a walk before Buehler recorded a strikeout against Michael Busch for the first out of the inning. Buehler’s success was short-lived because he then allowed a three-run home run to Seiya Suzuki and that set the stage for the rest of the game.
Buehler then allowed a solo home run to Dansby Swanson in the bottom of the second inning and followed that with a two-out two run single and a two-out three-run homer – again to Swanson – in the bottom of the third inning that gave the Cubs a commanding 9-0 lead over the Padres. It was the fourth home run San Diego pitching has allowed to Swanson in the past two games.
The lone bright spot for the Padres came in the top of the fifth inning when Sung-Mun Song hit his first MLB home run. San Diego added a second run in the inning on back-to-back doubles by Manny Machado and Ty France that cut the deficit to 9-2. That deficit, like Buehler’s success in the first inning, was short-lived. Kyle Hart came into pitch in the fifth inning and allowed a solo home run and then a three-run home run that extended the Chicago lead to 13-2 over San Diego. Hart was still on the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning when Michael Conforto connected on a two-run home run to make the score, 15-2.
The Padres added a meaningless run in the top of the eighth inning when Miguel Andujar singled through the right side of the infield to score Samad Tayor from third base. That capped the scoring for San Diego, but Chicago added another eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning off position player pitcher Rodolfo Duran. Four of those runs came on a grand slam by Swanson, his third home run of the game, and the final run for the Cubs came on a solo home run from Busch, which brought the score to 23-3. It was a fitting end to an embarrassing game that capped a miserable series in Chicago.
San Diego heads to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium today at 7:10 p.m.
The Knicks already took their first steps toward repeating the success of their 2026 championship, locking up their bench backcourt to new deals. Unfortunately, they lost a key ingredient to their run as well, with Mitchell Robinson heading to Boston for three years and $47.4 million.
This was a contract value the front office couldn’t match without going into the second apron, a hard line for this offseason.
With Robinson gone, the Knicks need to fill the hole left at their center position — here are some ways they can do it:
Kevon Looney
Looney is an unrestricted free agent after playing only 21 games for New Orleans last season. He has championship mettle from his 10 years in Golden State, including time spent under Knicks head coach Mike Brown.
He’s a bit undersized at 6-foot-9 and is now 30 years old, but is a smart defender and offensive rebounder who sets good screens and can make a couple plays in the halfcourt offense. He won’t wholly replace Robinson -- no bench big can -- but he’d be a solid veteran pickup who can easily slide to third string if a better option rises up.
Nick Richards
Richards is a free agent who’s closer to the Robinson mold at 6-foot-11 and sporting strong athleticism and rim-running. He’s only 28 and is a New York local who averaged 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds on 52.3 percent shooting from the field in his last 20 games with Chicago last season.
The Bulls were his third team in two seasons after the Hornets and Suns both traded him. That's not a shining endorsement, but the right structure could help him find his footing. He’s been linked to the Knicks in the past so it wouldn’t be surprising if they came back around to seal the deal this time.
Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) reacts to his score against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Andre Drummond
Drummond is a veteran of 14 seasons, spending his last two in Philadelphia having to play almost 20 minutes per game as Joel Embiid’s backup and stand-in. He would be comfortable in a potential role in New York behind Karl-Anthony Towns and bring high-level offensive rebounding, plus a newly developed three-point shot to the table.
His defense isn’t great and he’ll be 33 before the start of next season, but Drummond combined with one of the names above or below could help strengthen New York's frontcourt depth.
Moussa Diabate
This will depend on Charlotte and New York’s appetite for a trade, but a salary match of Miles McBride or a couple of the Knicks prospects could net them a young promising big via the trade market. The Hornets may play ball given they also employ Ryan Kalkbrenner, Naz Reid and newly drafted Hannes Steinbach.
New York would net a freakish athlete at just 24 years old who averaged 7.9 points and 8.7 rebounds on 63.1 percent shooting in 73 games and 47 starts last season. They’d have to pay him after this season, which could be a risk, but if possible this is their highest upside means of filling the role.
Drew Eubanks
Not the hottest name, Eubanks has spent the last five seasons on six different squads, culminating in a quiet season in Sacramento. He’s not the strongest rebounder but can defend and finish nicely, bringing toughness to the frontline.
Eubanks hasn’t been brought up as much as these other names, but could be as effective if not more in making up for some of Robinson’s lost production.
More baseball across the Majors means more value in my same-game parlay predictions.
Jacob Misiorowski will dominate once again this afternoon, while Davis Martin is also in line for another quality showing. Read more in my MLB picks for Thursday, July 2.
Jacob Misiorowski takes the hill today for the Milwaukee Brewers, and he continues to dominate. The right-hander owns a 1.74 xERA across his last four outings, giving up just 0.32 HR/9 during that span.
Misiorowski has consistently limited loud contact with his elite fastball-slider combination, making this a difficult matchup for a Cincinnati Reds lineup that has struggled to square up pitching recently.
He's also hit the Under in hits allowed in two of his previous three outings, and Misiorowski comes up against a struggling Reds offense that has an xBA of .229 over the last week.
The Brewers' .208 ISO over their last six games is a reason to believe they can score some runs off Chase Burns, who is home run-prone lately. Cincinnati's bullpen also sports an 8.14 FIP over its last 19 2/3 innings of work.
Chicago White Sox rookie Jacob Gonzalez is hitting .409 over his last six contests with an impressive 50% hard-hit rate. He's posted four multi-hit games in his last seven as well, and Gonzalez just smacked five hits in a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles. He'll face Slade Cecconi tonight, who has allowed a 39.5% hard-hit rate across the last month.
White Sox ace Davis Martin owns a stellar 2.51 xERA across his previous two appearances, limiting opponents to a 33.3% hard-hit rate. The Cleveland Guardians are ice cold, with just 78 wRC+ in their last six games. This is a clear opportunity for Martin to toss another gem.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CSN, Guardians.TV
Tigers at Rangers SGP: Eovaldi racks up the Ks
Nathan Eovaldi has been a strikeout machine this season for the Texas Rangers, racking up 101 Ks in 100 1/3 innings of work. He's struck out nine hitters in back-to-back outings, and he's averaging 9.06 K/9 at home. The Detroit Tigers have averaged nine punchouts per game across their last three.
Kerry Carpenter has recorded a hit in six straight contests, and he's batting .320 over his last seven games with an impressive 52.4% hard-hit rate. Justin Foscue is also swinging it well, finishing with five hits across his previous four games. He's whacked lefties this season with a .357 average, and he'll face Framber Valdez tonight. It's a favorable matchup for Foscue.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DSN, RSN
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
SGP picks: 0-8, -8.00
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.
Australian No 1 dismisses French veteran 6-3 6-2 6-2
‘I just love it here,’ says No 5 seed
Alex de Minaur was not at his best against French veteran Adrian Mannarino as Wimbledon’s fourth day opened with the sun out and mercury rising, but he was good enough.
The Australian No 1 saw off his potentially troublesome left-handed opponent 6-3 6-2 6-2 in one hour 49 minutes on Thursday.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: Andrei Kuzmenko #96 of the Los Angeles Kings and Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battle for a loose puck during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on October 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NHL teams can give out up to 50 contracts per season. After the dust from an active day one of free agency settles in, let’s check on how the Penguins are looking this year towards that metric.
Departed from 2025-26
The following players left the organization officially yesterday via free agency, their new organizations noted if they found one already.
Noel Acciari (PHI), Sebastian Aho (Sweden), Connor Clifton (BOS), Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Kevin Hayes, Boko Imama (FLA), Joona Koppanen (Sweden), Anthony Mantha, Ryan Shea (EDM) and Stuart Skinner (WIN).
Add Alexander Alexeyev to the list of players coming off the 50 organizational contracts. Pittsburgh will retain his NHL rights though the defender has signed with the KHL to play for the next two seasons and won’t be a part of the organization in the near-future (if ever again).
Parker Wotherspoon, Emil Pieniniemi and Jack St. Ivany join the outgoing rush of NHL contracts that were on the books in 2025-26 that won’t be moving forward due to offseason trades in their cases.
All in all there were six forwards, seven defensemen and one goalie who were the positional splits of NHL contracts last year that have left in 2026-27. That raw count encompasses a wide range of impacts, from the NHL team leader in goals (Mantha) and important figures in the lineup (Shea, Skinner, Acciari) to depth part-time players (Clifton, Hayes) down to players that helped at the AHL level made little to no NHL impact last season (Aho, Alexeyev, Harvey-Pinard, Imama, Koppanen).
Added for 2026-27
Pittsburgh has added the following new contracts to the books for 2026-27. This includes an old face in Atley Calvert who graduated from an AHL contract to signing a two-year NHL deal with the Penguins.
Andrei Kuzmenko, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Declan Carlile were signed as free agents yesterday. So too, technically was Calvert getting his first NHL contract. (Goalie Taylor Gauthier was signed late in 2025-26 to an NHL deal, so for this purpose neither he – nor Jake Livanavage – are considered as ‘new’ in 2026-27).
For incoming traded players: Kaeden Korczak, Oliver Okuliar and David Gustafsson join the organization. Hendrix Lapierre and Nick Robertson as restricted free agents to be signed before the season ought to be considered in this category as well.
2026-27 will be the first year entry level contracts officially start for Harrison Brunicke, Gabriel D’Aigle, Bill Zonnon and Melvin Fernstrom (the latter whose contract still slid due to his age and lack of NHL games last season). So that represents another area of change to add those players to the mix. We’re not accounting for Peyton Kettles, who is signed to his ELC, but will have his contract slide and not start until 2027-28 if he doesn’t play 10+ NHL games this season (sounds like a safe assumption). There’s a chance the Penguins sign additional drafted players, though they would toll and start after 2026-27 and not be a consideration for taking one of the 50 contracts for this upcoming year.
Add that up and we see seven forwards, four defensemen and one goalie added to the organization’s 50 contracts so far as of the morning of July 2nd.
—
To split things out from the NHL perspective, the Penguins lost three roster forwards from the end of the season (Acciari, Mantha, K. Hayes) and have added three NHL-caliber forwards to the organization in their places already (Kuzmenko, Robertson, Lapierre).
Pittsburgh waved goodbye to three NHL defensemen (Wotherspoon, Shea, Clifton) and replaced them in numbers with three incoming options (van Riemsdyk, Korczak, Carlile).
The goaltending position shows the results of a youth movement, losing an NHLer (Skinner) and adding a younger minor leaguer to help backfill the organization in a period of transition as an AHL goalie from 2025-26 moves up the ladder to the NHL for 2026-27.
Overall for the organization, compared to last year it might appear running a little heavy on forwards compared to the split of defensemen — a result of exchanging two depth defensemen (St. Ivany and Pieniniemi) for depth forwards (Gustafsson and Okuliar). While that seems like an imbalance, that’s likely insignificant for the future in the org’s balance/depth that exists.
Add in the likes of Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones and Ilya Solovyov and Pittsburgh has more swing NHL/AHL options than they can fit on the NHL roster. The core of the AHL is already stocked with developing prospects like Brunicke, Livanavage, Owen Pickering, Finn Harding and Chase Pietila next season. (And we haven’t even gotten to WBS captain Phil Kemp, Daniel Laatsch and the players on AHL contracts that will serve as further depth for Wilkes). That accounting of bodies shows the recent movement has been a course correction to balance out a blueline that was overstocked on the organizational level more than a current need for further organizational depth.
As it stands today, Pittsburgh sits at 39 contracts per PuckPedia, though it’s worth noting the true number could be considered 42 at the moment. We come to that figure by subtracting Kettles, who will likely slide and not count this year, while adding in RFA’s Lapierre, Robertson, Egor Chinakhov and Arturs Silovs, that will eventually be taking a spot in the 50. For future flexibility a team usually likes to carry in the 46-49 range when possible, so based on that the Penguins still have the ability to add a few more players via trades or free agency. Grabbing another AHLer or two could well be in the cards to stack WBS up again.
One can always bicker about the particular if the specific moves made in the past few days and weeks will end up being helpful, improvements or how they will fit together in the bigger picture, but this outlook gives a general scope of the players coming and going. The Pens haven’t overloaded on bodies during this very active time, more or less they look balanced fairly similar to how they stacked up last year, just in different ways. That’s always subject to change if a massive transaction gets made to greatly shake the picture up and the season is still a long ways away.
Who will win Reds vs Brewers today: Brewers -1.5 (+119)
Cincinnati Reds ace Chase Burns has pitched better than his recent results suggest, posting a 2.98 xERA over his last two starts despite a 4.91 ERA.
However, he's still allowed 1.64 home runs per nine innings during that span, and the Milwaukee Brewers' recent power surge makes this a tough matchup. They've posted a .208 ISO over their last seven games.
The righty owns a mind-boggling 1.82 FIP over the last month, giving up just 0.32 HR/9 and holding opponents to a mere 1.8% barrel rate. The Brewers have frequently backed Misiorowski with plenty of offense this season.
I don't expect Burns to get lit up, but there's an opportunity for the Brewers to muster up some offense against him and a dreadful Reds bullpen, while Misiorowski is in line for another gem.
I wouldn't usually be looking at the Over with these two on the hill, but a 6.5 total is incredibly low.
It's also important to note that Cincinnati's bullpen has an FIP over 8.00 across the last week while allowing 2.75 HR/9. Even if Burns holds his own, this profiles to be a game where the Brew Crew's power does damage.
The Brewers' relief corps has been better, compiling a 4.22 FIP across the last week. But Milwaukee's ability to score runs means Cincinnati won't be required to score much to help cash the Over here, and the Brewers' pen hasn't been completely dominant.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 32-29, +1.96 units
Over/Under bets: 34-27, +2.40 units
Reds vs Brewers weather
Conditions at American Family Field should provide a slight boost to offense this afternoon. Temperatures are expected to sit around 91-92°F for much of the game, with steady 13-14 mph winds and only a small chance of rain. The warm air could help well-hit balls carry a bit farther, creating a mildly hitter-friendly environment, though the starting pitching will still be the biggest factor in determining the outcome.
Reds vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Reds +186 | Brewers -194
Run line: Reds +1.5 (-133) | Brewers -1.5 (+127)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-108) | Under 6.5 (+104)
Reds vs Brewers trend
The Brewers have covered the Run Line in 30 of their last 50 games at home (+15.40 Units / 27% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Brewers.
How to watch Reds vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Thursday, July 2, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
Reds.TV, Brewers.TV
Reds starting pitcher
Chase Burns (9-1, 2.36 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Jacob Misiorowski (9-3, 1.46 ERA)
Reds vs Brewers 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.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a player who’s returned to the Vancouver Canucks organization on two separate occasions.
Somehow, that’s exactly what the Canucks got on July 1 when they signed defenceman Luke Schenn to a one-year contract in free agency.
Schenn, of course, is notably joining the Canucks for the third time throughout his long-tenured NHL career. The organization has found itself in vastly different positions through each of the defenceman’s stints with Vancouver.
In 2018–19, when he was traded to Vancouver for Michael Del Zotto, the Canucks looked to be a team on the rise, gunning for trips to the playoffs in the following seasons.
When he signed with the Canucks in free-agency in 2021, after winning two consecutive Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver wound up in an in-betweener role — still playoff-hopeful but clearly in need of a piece or two before they could fully contend.
Now, as Schenn prepares to make his third stop in Vancouver, the Canucks have clearly dropped off compared to the past. Officially in rebuild-mode, it’s going to take some time before Vancouver becomes a true playoff-contender.
Contributing to the organization’s eventual greatness is something Schenn doesn’t take lightly.
“Vancouver, to me, isn’t just a place where you’re going to just put another year in worth in the NHL,” he told reporters shortly after signing his one-year deal with the team. “Obviously, you know what they’re doing right now in terms of the rebuild and where they’re going, and I want to be a part of that. And I’m looking forward to it, obviously. I know where they’re at in terms of where they are in the organization and what the plan is. But, like I said, I care, and want to make things better and help out in the room, and on the ice, and help be a part of it, so I’m excited.”
This time around, however, Schenn knows his role will be different. The number of minutes he plays or stats he puts up won’t be the big thing discussed — it’ll be the kind of experience he can impart on the team.
“I think that actually excites me to pass on some of my experience, and I think there’s not much in my NHL career that I haven’t really gone through, whether it’s being a high draft pick, like some of the kids are on the team — or guys, I should say — are on the team. I’ve been traded, I’ve been in the American League, I’ve been in the press box, I’ve won the cup, and I’ve been on winning teams, and I’ve been on rebuilding teams. I think there’s a lot that I can share and experience.”
Schenn adds to the hint of familiarity embedded in a Canucks locker room that has undergone massive turnover since the start of the 2025–26 season, never mind the changes that have occurred throughout the years prior. Many of Vancouver’s new management and coaching staff were still within the organization during both of Schenn’s two other tenures with the Canucks.
One specific connection representing a near full-circle movement is Schenn’s link to new-Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson, who the defenceman credits with helping him ‘revive’ his NHL career.
“RJ was a huge part of why I’m even maybe back in the NHL, when I got traded from Anaheim and had to start in Utica,” he said. “RJ was incredible. He was in my corner, trying to help get me back and push to get me back into the NHL and communicate with me.”
Nov 27, 2022; San Jose, California, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn (2) before the start of the second period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Returning to Vancouver means a reunion with not just familiar people on staff, but also with former teammates in Thatcher Demko, Brock Boeser, and Elias Pettersson. The bulk of Schenn’s new teammates will, however, be new — especially on the team’s young blueline.
In 2018–19, Schenn was the first NHL defenceman that Quinn Hughes was partnered with when the ex-Canucks captain made his debut back on March 28. Now, seven years later, Schenn may be tasked with a similar situation with budding young defenceman Zeev Buium on the rise. Having heard things about Buium from ex-Tampa Bay teammate Zach Bogosian, who played with Buium on the Minnesota Wild, Schenn’s done the pre-scout on the young defenceman and knows what could be expected of him.
“Obviously said he’s a great personality, great character, and obviously a super high upside too. Maybe it’s similar for me when I played with Quinn, in terms of a guy who’s young and can skate and move the puck, and you’ve gotta just help him out along the way.”
Additions to the team like Schenn and Brendan Gallagher are big for a Canucks locker room that has specified time and time again that they’re looking to improve their culture. Both players have expressed how excited they are about that prospect, both in public as well as amongst themselves.
“He’s already been texting me here since the news came out, and we’re both really excited to come and join the Canucks,” Schenn said of newly-acquired forward Gallagher, who Vancouver traded for on Monday. “Obviously we’re experienced guys, and feel like we can definitely help out in different areas, but obviously the big word is, with culture, that’s obviously what we really would like to help out [with], and any which way we can with that, and obviously on the ice, and work, and compete, and all those little things.”
Culture is the big task the Canucks are looking to tackle. Over seven years after he first joined the organization, Schenn will be one of the guys to help them get there.
“It’s not one thing, it’s different. It starts with probably the little habits, which are big habits [...] practice habits, like every day, simple things, doing it correctly, putting the pass on the tape, battling in practice, not taking shortcuts off the ice in the gym, in a game, doing the correct thing shift after shift, no matter what the circumstances, and continuing to work towards whatever you’re trying to achieve.”
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Apr 9, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Gleyber Torres (25) hits a sacrifice fly against the Minnesota Twins in the seventh inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Almost no matter how you slice it, the Detroit Tigers have been pretty bad this year. Their overall record of 37-49 has them 12th in the American League, ahead of only the Kansas City Royals and LA Angels, facing down a likely selling role at the Trade Deadline. But they’re only 6 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the final AL Wild Card slot, which gives a faint glimmer of hope.
In a typical year, that third Wild Card team would post about an 86- to 88-win season. The lowest it has been is the 83-win Cincinnati Reds from 2025. Given the overall weakness in the AL field this year, that lower end seems a reasonable target, which means chasing down something like an 85-win season should keep the Tigers thoroughly in the mix. That would be a .631 win rate for the final 76 games of the season, which is high but hardly impossible.
The big question: how do they get there?
Instead of answering this seriously – trade for a new bullpen, call up every Max in AAA, and reduce playing time for Matt Vierling, Jahmai Jones, and most of their relievers as much as possible, for a start – I decided to have a little fun with the extreme nature of Detroit’s season. Meaning I looked at all their ridiculous splits throughout a ridiculous season and found what situations favor Detroit the most. If they’re going to chase down the Mariners, or even more improbably the Guardians, they’ll have to play to their win conditions.
All stats are taken prior to the victory over the Yankees on July 1, 2026.
Environmental Factors
What time the Tigers play is, unfortunately, out of their control. However, if it were in their power, the Tigers should only play day games. The earlier the start time, the better. With the sun at their backs, the Tigers are a competitive 17-16. At night, they’ve sleepwalked their way to a 20-33 record. That won’t do the trick.
Where Detroit plays is also predetermined, and so is the result, seemingly. In the friendly confines of Comerica Park – not the Friendly Confines themselves, where Detroit has yet to visit – the Tigers are a respectable 23-21. When they pack their bags and travel, though, they’re a woeful 14-28. Ouch.
Opponent’s Factors
When it comes to opponents, the Tigers have a few clear preferences. Whether it’s a bugaboo about the Believeland Guardians or an overall talent issue, the Tigers are a brutal 9-16 against the rest of the AL Central. If you’re looking for a reason the team is at the back of the Central pack, that’s as good a place to start. They’re a slightly better team when you look at the AL as a whole (26-36) or versus their National League foes (11-13). None of those light the world on fire, but they’re at least an improvement.
A weird one for you: the Tigers have been significantly better against good teams than bad ones. No, seriously, this doesn’t make any sense. How are the Tigers 23-21 when they play teams above .500, but 14-28 against everyone else? Do they just imitate whoever they face on any given day, rising to the occasion against the Yankees but floundering against the Twins and Angels? Utterly bizarre. Common sense says a playoff contender needs to take care of business against bad teams. Low-hanging fruit and all that.
There’s one final split here that might actually be meaningful. The starting pitcher the Tigers face seems to greatly impact their odds of winning a game. Shocking, I know. Against a lefty starter, the Tigers are a mere 10-17; versus a righty, they’re a way-less-bad 27-32. Can anyone here figure out why they struggle against left-handed starters? Anyone? I hate to pin it all on one guy, but we’re all thinking about the same guy, right?
Tiger’s Factors
OK, finally, the series of things Detroit can actually control. If Detroit’s going to take their season by the horns and claw their way back, this is a place to start.
For starters: keep Jake Rogers out of as many games as possible. The lineup is not deep enough to hide him at the bottom routinely, because hiding him at the bottom routinely means Outman, McKinstry, and Vierling can’t all hide at the bottom. They’ve got to keep Dillon Dingler healthy, but a 9-18 record with Rogers and a 28-31 record without him speaks volumes. Upgrade the backup catcher role next year if possible, and then Dingler can DH more and stay fresh throughout the season.
Another big one: get Gleyber Torres back in the lineup! He might not be their best hitter, but he sure seems to stabilize their lineup. A grind-it-out, depth-heavy lineup sure looks better when there’s another guy with a .400 OBP in it. Case in point: 23-20 with him, and 14-29 without him. Get healthy, Gleyber. We need you. Although Hao-Yu Lee is doing a really nice job in this second go-around on both sides of the ball. Pretty impressive step in development going on there seemingly.
This last one comes down largely to “play better, win more”, but the sheer volume of games is what I’d like to call attention to. In games in which the Tigers hit multiple home runs, they’re 15-7, a whopping .682 pace that clears the .631 win rate I threw out earlier. In all other games, they’re 22-42. What stands out here is not the conclusion drawn – hitting home runs and winning have a large correlation for a reason – but the fact they’ve only hit multiple home runs 22 times seems problematic to me. Good teams tend to hit home runs in bunches, and the Tigers really haven’t done that. They should probably work on that.
There you have it, folks. If the Tigers want to make the playoffs, they should be sure to face National League playoff contenders, at Comerica, during the day, against right-handed pitchers, and get Gleyber Torres into (and Jake Rogers out of) the lineup as much as possible. Oh, and hit a ton of home runs. And get a new high-leverage relief corps…Keider Montero may be the start of that process, at least for this season.
They’re also 8-5 on Sunday, so maybe shift as many games as possible to Sunday.
There’s a good chance that you are a Knicks fan reading this. A good portion will naturally see this and immediately go to the comments and say how much you don’t want this to happen. That is fine. I am not fully advocating for it either.
Weighing the pros and cons of LeBron James as a Knick in 2026 is a legitimate thought exercise that we’d be able to do if it was something that felt near-inevitable, rather than a fun thought.
So consider this a pitch, rather, to the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer on why he should want to be here. Whether the front office wants him or not is a story for another time.
So, Mr. James, if anyone in your circle just happened to see this article, let me state our case.
The video above is from well-known unlicensed sports investigator Pablo Torre, who’s found a lot of interesting stuff in and around the NBA over the past few years.
There’s been funny stuff, like what you see above with the unearthed 2010 pitch to a much younger LeBron that was ultimately regarded as historically bad (thanks, Jim). There’s also been super serious stuff, like the Clippers’ Aspiration scandal and Dolan’s weird surveillance thing to keep people he doesn’t like out of MSG.
However you feel about Torre, who also threatened to look into Jalen Brunson’s pay cut last year before finding absolutely nothing, he gave us an absolute gem with that video being finally revealed. The centerpiece to the failed pursuit of one of the greatest players ever was able to be seen.
You know, I kinda get why he saw that and went to Miami.
Nevertheless, I’ll start the pitch here. Consider what you saw in that clip.
There’s so much here that shows the world of differences between the Knicks of then and the Knicks of now.
They relied on star power, past glory, and the allure of New York City to pitch him. They had all sorts of guys who would go on to be super problematic try to pitch him. Hell, they played a damn Jay-Z song at the beginning when he just got done pitching LeBron to join the Nets that same week.
It didn’t feel personalized, they even sent carbon copies to his buddies Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, acting like they weren’t all going to say “Did you seriously get the exact same pitch that I did?”
All reports indicate that, with or without that video, the 2010 pitch was a disaster. Some of those reports, though, say that New York was actually an appealing place for LeBron, but the pitch and direction were so disastrously bad that he walked out and never came back.
Well, 16 years later, the only person in the entire organization who’s still here is… well, Dolan. But he’s mostly not involved with basketball operations, only getting involved when he says how much he’ll pay to keep a contender toge- moving along.
In 2010, the Knicks were a mess. They hadn’t won 40 games in a season since 2001. They were perennial bottom-feeders run by buffoons who gave bloated deals to Jerome James and traded their future for Eddy Curry. The fact that a good pitch with a promising vision could’ve been enough for a guy who, at the time, had never had a good supporting cast in his life is insane.
But now, as he nears the end of his career, the vision is clear. The Knicks are the reigning champions, regardless of what anyone wants to say about their players, what they won analytically, or whatever Wemby thinks about how the NBA Finals went.
For a guy who cares so much about his legacy, he will almost certainly be looking for a place where he can win his fifth championship before he rides off into the sunset. Well, going to a team returning all but one key piece of the most dominant playoff run in playoff history would be a good way to do that.
You know who LeBron’s first agent was? Leon Rose. When they split in 2012, it was with no ill will, just a separation of ways due to his good friend, Rich Paul, founding Klutch Sports. We don’t know if LeBron is still on good terms with his former agent 14 years later, but considering he’s the one who took him through the first Decision, I’m sure there are no issues.
He’d also be entering a situation with shockingly little pressure on him, if you can believe it. The biggest reason that any star might not have wanted to join the Knicks during the dark years was the victim complex that the franchise had become.
They needed someone to save them, but while you could be the knight in shining armor, you could also be the latest victim of the pit of alligators known as New York media pressure. Why do you think KD and Kyrie decided to go to the B-team across town that would never get as much coverage as whatever went on in Manhattan?
With the championship won and the need for a savior completely off the table, that victim complex is gone. If LeBron wants, he can hitch a ride to a very successful team as a complementary piece, rather than the knight in shining armor to save a destitute franchise.
Let’s talk roster construction.
The Knicks are operating under some very tight financial circumstances, so I would think only a veteran minimum is on the table, but that shouldn’t be an issue for a billionaire. If he wanted maximum money, he would’ve accepted his player option and requested a trade.
The Knicks, as constructed, are pretty deep everywhere but the center position. Adding LeBron into the mix would add yet another tool in Mike Brown’s toolbox.
At age 41, whatever team LeBron goes to will know he cannot be relied on for 82 games of high-end performance. It’s not 2018 (or 2012, or 2008, etc) anymore. This means that the deeper a team is, the easier it can stomach his bouts with Father Time creeping in and keeping him sidelined with whatever ailment he has.
The currently constructed Knicks are co-favorites to come out of the East, even without adding LeBron. With him? They’d be able to move Josh Hart to the bench and have ultimate flexibility at as many as four positions. Sporadic injuries wouldn’t hurt the rest of the team nearly as much.
When you want to go to a team to win a championship, you want to go somewhere that won’t collapse with one injury. While the Knicks are probably in that boat with Jalen Brunson and probably Karl-Anthony Towns, they’re well-equipped for absences for… anyone else.
Lastly, I want to pitch the personal aspect. It’s about righting wrongs, legacy, and personal objectives.
If Bill Simmons and multiple others are to be believed, LeBron wanted to play in New York when he hit free agency. The Knicks were just so wildly incompetent that a guy who had never been surrounded by a roster even capable of winning a title couldn’t see any path to winning one here.
In the years since, all he’s done is wax poetic about New York as a basketball city and the World’s Most Famous Arena. In 2018, when he faced his good pal Wade for the final time at Staples Center, he said that this game could’ve only happened “here or the Garden”.
He’s always admired the market, even if fate had never taken him to the bright lights of New York City. In another life, the Knicks could’ve been competently run, and he could’ve been the one to end the title drought as the savior everyone was begging for.
But now, as he reaches the end of his incredible career, he’s in a perfect spot to ride into the sunset playing for one of the league’s most iconic franchises, in the most famous arena in the world, and completing a dream he’s seemed to have for a long time now, all without the pressure of being the “savior” and being able to just be a complimentary piece on the reigning NBA champions.
The ball’s in your court, King. Follow your heart.
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 1: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws chalk in the air before the game against the New York Knicks on February 1, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 8: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 8, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Following a playoff performance that, it is fair to say, was pretty disappointing after finishing atop the Eastern Conference in the regular season, the Detroit Pistons clearly set out this offseason to rectify the main issue that prevented them from thriving in the playoffs: half-court offence (and lack of shooting in general). Put simply, they needed another guard who can get buckets at a high level to take some weight off Cade Cunningham.
Per reporting from a range of credible insiders, the Pistons pursued Austin Reaves as their top priority in free agency, who re-signed in LA on a max deal. They then turned their attention to Coby White, who swiftly re-upped on a deal with the Hornets following the LaMelo Ball blockbuster trade to Minnesota. Detroit was also rumoured to be interested in Norman Powell, who just inked a deal with the Bulls. See where I’m going with this?
As these names who can credibly help the Pistons continue to decrease, Tyler Herro’s value as a trade chip for the Bucks increases. You know, supply and demand. It’s worth noting that Detroit has remained interested in Herro since the Bucks acquired him, per reports, but, for a range of reasons, I could see why he wouldn’t have been their first priority. It’s not as if Herro is some sad consolation prize, though; I mean, he’s an All-Star! Say what you want about his defensive shortcomings or availability issues, but you can’t deny that he fits that team like a glove.
Herro commands attention all over the court. His gravity as a shooter—both off the catch and off the dribble—means primary defenders must guard him closely, and secondary defenders must be be right there once the primary gets beaten. Don’t get me wrong, he’s no Dame or Steph in terms of gravity, but he’s got the ability to hurt you in similar ways. Conceptually, the tandem of Herro and Cunningham playing off each other seems as if it would work brilliantly, while both can command units when the other is on the bench.
And then you get to the other end, where the fit makes even more sense. The main issue Miami had with Herro was that they felt they couldn’t play him alongside another poor defender, which limited lineup flexibility. But in Motown, Herro would be insulated by uber-talented defenders in Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren (who I am assuming ends up back on the team). Cade is not some plus defender, but he’s passable and has size. John Collins, whom they just signed, is solid on that end too.
As for why Milwaukee wouldn’t keep Herro, the main issue is that he feels like the wrong player to invest in at this point in their journey. If he were 22 years old, maybe, but at 26, is he really the guy you want to spearhead your rebuild and pay a massive contract after this season? To me, he feels much more like a finishing piece to add to a team that needs what he can provide than he does a cornerstone for a franchise in the opening years of a rebuild. That said, it’s not like I’d throw a fit if Jon Horst wasn’t happy with the offers and wanted to keep a hometown guy who can sell tickets.
The fit is good in Detroit, and I think Trajan Langdon knows it. Now they just have to come and get him.
Feb 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers infielder Jesus Made sits in the dugout against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
For the second straight year, the Brewers will have one of baseball’s premier prospects on the Futures Game stage. This time, he’ll have company.
Baseball’s consensus top prospect, shortstop Jesús Made, will represent the Brewers for the second straight year at the annual prospect showcase. Made has backed up the hype this season, slashing .289/.359/.448 (.807 OPS) with seven home runs and 25 total extra-base hits while helping lead the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers to the first-half Southern League title. MLB Pipeline gives Made 60-grade hit, power, and arm tools, making him one of the most well-rounded prospects in baseball.
Joining Made in Philadelphia will be Luis Peña, the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 18 overall prospect. Peña has missed a lot of time this year — he was hospitalized after overheating in the dugout during a game with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in April, then missed another two and a half weeks following a separate health scare.
When he’s played, Peña has been as electric as expected, slashing .318/.431/.432 (.863 OPS) through 88 at-bats. The 19-year-old infielder carries a 60 future value from MLB Pipeline, including an impressive 70-grade speed tool, and he posted an .844 OPS in Single-A before earning a promotion to High-A earlier this season. If Peña can stay healthy, he has just as much upside as Made.
Brewers fans hoping to catch Made and Peña on the national stage can tune into the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 12. First pitch from Citizens Bank Park is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT, airing exclusively on NBC.
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COVERS INTEL: The Reds' offense has a poor 
