INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jaloni Cambridge had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Chance Gray added 18 points, and No. 11 Ohio State eased past Indiana 83-59 on Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Ohio State (25-6), a No. 5 seed, advances to play 19th-ranked Minnesota in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Buckeyes secured their fifth straight season with 25-plus wins.
Cambridge and Gray combined for 10 of Ohio State's points during a 12-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14. The Buckeyes' lead did not drop below eight points the rest of the half and Gray's 3-pointer with 20 seconds left made it 36-24 at the break.
Ohio State added a 10-0 run early in the third quarter for a 17-point advantage. The Buckeyes led by as many as 30 points, 81-51, with three minutes remaining in the game.
Kennedy Cambridge had 14 points and Elsa Lemmilä grabbed 13 rebounds to go with six points, five assists and three blocks for Ohio State. Gray made four of Ohio State’s 10 3-pointers — a game after the Buckeyes sank a program-record 18 3s in an 87-68 win against then-No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday.
Maya Makalusky led Indiana (18-14) with 21 points and five 3-pointers. Shay Ciezki added 12 points and Nevaeh Caffey scored 10.
Up next
Ohio State: Looks to even the season series with Minnesota after a 74-61 loss on Feb. 18.
Indiana finished the regular season with a 6-12 record in Big Ten play.
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SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Aaron Zavala #79 of the Texas Rangers bats during a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Brazil at Surprise Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for March 5, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals.
We have the Battle of Surprise today, with the Rangers and Royals facing off. MacKenzie Gore is pitching for the Rangers.
FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen watches his RBI double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 22, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt...
Andrew McCutchen’s second tour of duty with the Pirates is over.
The 2013 National League Most Valuable Player has agreed to a minor league deal with the Rangers, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
McCutchen’s deal, first reported by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, is worth $1.25 million if he makes the major league squad, and can max out at $2.5 million if he reaches all of his incentives.
Andrew McCutchen spent the past three seasons in Pittsburgh. AP
He wasted no time embracing his new team, donning a cowboy hat in a brief X video posted hours after news of the deal broke.
The 39-year-old returned to Pittsburgh ahead of the 2023 season for what appeared to be a fitting late-career swan song after spending his first nine seasons with the organization.
While his performance was a far cry from his MVP peak, McCutchen still offered pop as a veteran right-handed hitter, averaging 15 home runs and 50 RBIs the past three campaigns.
In 135 games last season, McCutchen slashed .239/.333/.367 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs (95 wRC+).
Primarily a designated hitter at this juncture, the former Yankee maintained he wanted to continue his career in 2026 — but the Pirates did not commit to a reunion.
Ozuna, O’Hearn and incumbent first baseman Spencer Horowitz are expected to assume a majority of DH duties — but general manager Ben Cherington said the team would “continue to communicate” with McCutchen about a possible reunion.
McCutchen voiced displeasure in not being invited to the Pirates’ annual offseason fan fest in January. AP
“Andrew has meant a ton to the team,” Cherington said in late January, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He’s had an incredible run at two different times. Certainly, his legacy as a Pirate is secure. Everybody with the Pirates, it’s our desire to maintain a really good relationship with Andrew well into the future. Then we come back to our team. What is the job? The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance to win games when you’re at the ballpark in June and July.
“Our approach this offseason has been laser-focused on what gives us the best chance to win more baseball games in Pittsburgh than we have in the past seasons. That’s gonna continue to guide our decisions.”
McCutchen — despite being unsigned — also voiced his displeasure at not being invited to the team’s annual preseason fan fest in late January.
Andrew McCutchen casually dropped one of the colder hype videos you may see in a while
“I wonder, did the Cards do this [to Adam] Wainwright/ [Albert] Pujols/Yadi [Yadier Molina]?” the five-time All-Star fumed in a since-deleted X post. “Dodgers to [Clayton] Kershaw? Tigers to Miggy [Miguel Cabrera]? The list goes on and on.
“If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player. Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that little kid’s hand or hug the fan that’s been a fan since [Roberto] Clemente. You see, this is bigger than baseball! Bigger than looking at a 40-man roster and cherry picking numbers that fit your agenda or prove why your opinion matters.
“The fans deserved at the very least to get that opportunity.”
He doubled down on his desire to play with a hype video posted to his Instagram story, which showed him taking practice swings with an overlay of negative social media comments about his ability.
“You can’t do it anymore Cutch,” a series of text in the video said. “You can’t get better at 39.”
For his career, he sports a .271/.365/.447 slash line with 332 homers, 1,152 RBIs and 2,266 hits with the Pirates, Giants, Yankees, Phillies and Brewers.
McCutchen will now fight for a spot on the Rangers’ bench as he seeks to play in an 18th major league campaign.
The whisper spreading around the ‘Gong about the blonde pocket rocket behind the stumps with reflexes like a cat had become a roar by the time it reached Ellyse Perry’s ears.
Murakami signed a two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox in the offseason after a record-breaking run in the Nippon Professional Baseball, the top league in Japan. He hit an NPB-record 56 home runs for a Japanese-born player in 2022 and hit 36 home runs as a 19-year-old in the league.
Murakami has been a hyped future MLB addition for years, with numerous teams awaiting him being posted by the NPB. His value has taken a hit recently, though, due to his swing-and-miss concerns.
Murakami's power is elite, but he struck out more than 28% of the time in each of his last three seasons. It'll be interesting to see how he transitions to the major leagues, as he has the potential to be among the best power hitters in the sport, especially if he can keep the strikeouts from ballooning out of control.
Here's everything to know of Murakami, one of Japan's top stars:
Munetaka Murakami contract
Murakami singed a two-year deal worth $34 million total with the White Sox during the offseason. Murakami, still 26 years old, opted for the short-term deal to prove himself before potentially testing free agency again after the 2027 season.
Signing Murakami cost the White Sox $40.575 million total, as they paid his former team, the Yakult Swallows, a $6.575 million transfer fee for his services.
He signed on Sunday, Dec. 21, a day before the deadline for him to sign with an MLB team. The market for his services was lower than what many projected a few years ago, due to his swing-and-miss tendencies and defensive concerns.
Still, hitting cures all wounds. And if Murakami can settle to MLB pitching, he'll be due a huge deal in 2027.
Munetaka Murakami stats
Here's a look at Murakami's year-by-year slash lines in NPB, where he played eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows:
2018: 18 home runs with 72 RBIs in 377 at-bats (.281 BA/.383 OBP/.485 SLG)
2019: 36 home runs with 95 RBIs in 511 at-bats (.231/.332/.481)
2020: 28 home runs with 86 RBIs in 424 at-bats (.307/.427/.585)
2021: 39 home runs with 112 RBIs in 500 at-bats (.278/.408/.566)
2022: 56 home runs with 134 RBIs in 487 at-bats (.318/.458/.710)
2023: 31 home runs with 84 RBIs in 496 at-bats (.256/.375/.500)
2024: 33 home runs with 86 RBIs in 500 at-bats (.244/.379/.472)
2025: 24 home runs with 52 RBIs in 220 at-bats (.286/.392/.659)
Munetaka Murakami age
Murakami is 26 years old, which is much younger than when most NPB players are available to MLB teams. Murakami was a year short of the required nine years of professional experience to gain international free agency, meaning he had to request to be posted by NPB.
He'll still be 27 years old when he becomes a free agent again in 2027.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns controls a rebound during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Blazers defeated the Suns 92-77. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (35-26) vs. Chicago Bulls (25-37)
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona’s Family
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns return home tonight looking to keep the momentum rolling after their recent win over the Sacramento Kings.
The Bulls, meanwhile, are limping into the finish line this season. They just had an 11-game losing streak snapped recently, and have lost 12 of their last 13 games. Key injuries, along with shipping out several starters and overhauling the team’s outlook, have them looking towards the future. They did just play the Thunder competitively in their last game, only losing by eight points, but of course, SGA did not suit up in that one.
For the Suns, the story of the past few weeks has been resilience. Phoenix has managed to stay in the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture despite a wave of injuries that has forced head coach Jordan Ott to rely on depth, creativity, and a constantly shifting rotation.
Phoenix enters as 10.5-point favorites in this one as they aim for their third straight victory and 36th win of the season.
This Suns team will continue to let it fly from deep. Devin Booker’s return will help with spacing, so it’s no surprise to see that immediate benefit for Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie, and even Jalen Green the other night in the win vs. Sacramento.
Khaman, Man!
It’s time to unleash Man Man. With Mark Williams out tonight, this will serve as a perfect opportunity for the Suns’ rookie big man to play in meaningful minutes. It’s fitting that it will come against his former teammate Nick Richards, who is now on the Bulls.
Oso Ighodaro on Suns rookie Khaman Maluach playing tonight vs. Bulls with Mark Williams (foot) being OUT: "He'll be ready. I told him when he got drafted, that somehow, someway, there's always an opportunity during the year. His came 60 games in, but he's been working every… https://t.co/CAqXdvSo64pic.twitter.com/R9nm9TFmsX
Small ball will be the theme from the Chicago side, as the Bulls don’t have a traditional center playing heavy minutes outside of Nick Richards and a bit of Leonard Miller. This feels like the perfect Oso game.
The Suns will wait on the injury report, but if Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis are both available, that’s where most of Phoenix’s defense focus should be. Containing those two will be the key to avoiding an upset.
Key to a Suns Win
SHOW UP!
Do not take anything for granted. The NBA can humble you quickly. Despite being the heavy favorites and the Bulls limping into this one, Phoenix needs to take care of business and not take Chicago lightly. The Suns have done a great job of playing hard, no matter the opponent, so this shouldn’t be an issue.
Offensive Flow
The Suns need quality reps with Devin Booker and Jalen Green playing side-by-side. In the last contest vs. the Kings, they combined for 37 points on 35 shots. That has to improve. Efficiency and playing off one another come with reps and building chemistry, something they haven’t had a ton of time to do. I’d like to see 45+ points combined in a much more efficient manner while cutting the turnovers down.
Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen looked sharp last game, scoring 35 points on 25 shots. When this entire group of guards can all click in the same game, it’s going to be a scary sight. Heck, even if three of them shoot well, it’s going to be difficult to beat this team.
Bench Production
For the Bulls, Collin Sexton and Nick Richards have become significant pieces for them of late, along with Rob Dillingham. We’ll see how the injury report potentially shuffles things, but the Suns have Grayson Allen leading the second unit. The question is, who else will step up? Being down Mark Williams, Dillon Brooks, and Jordan Goodwin tests the Suns’ depth. The rookies will look to put their stamp on this one, as we’re likely to see double-figure minutes from both Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach in this one.
"I know how well I'm playing off how I'm playing defense."
Suns rookie Rasheer Fleming coming off matching career highs in points (8) and rebounds (6) in Tuesday's win at Sacramento.
On Devin Booker and Jalen Green praising him after the game: "They instill confidence in me… pic.twitter.com/HFXwLL7ukQ
What more can you ask for? A nice sunny day in CoolToday Park, a solid pitching performance from the Atlanta Braves’ two aces, and oh yeah…an appearance from Chipper Jones and Dale Murphy to speak with the team’s hitters before today’s game.
In an interview with Jones from MLB Braves insider Mark Bowman, he explained how he wanted to make the discussion more interactive for the players when discussing strategies and answering questions about the approaches they took during their playing days.
“It’s one thing for us to stand up and give our testimony, but we don’t actually talk about what the players want to hear,” Jones remarked in the interview.
Chipper Jones talks about joining Dale Murphy to talk to Braves hitters before today’s game pic.twitter.com/cX63U6yFMn
He also explained that the main idea was to adopt a universal approach when taking pitches and to always have a plan set up before they go up to bat.
A great way to start the day before taking on the Blue Jays.
Starting with pitching, Chris Sale went through three innings, giving up five hits and one earned run before retiring his outing with two strikeouts and tagging in Spencer Strider (2.1 IP/ 2 ER/ 2 H/ 1 BB/ 4 K) in the top of the fourth.
Making his presence known to start with a 1-2-3 inning once he entered, fans were impressed with Strider’s 95-96 mph ranged fastball and 41.7% whiff rated slider that appeared to reach its target consistently.
Though giving up a two-run double in the fifth from Blue Jays’ Addison Barger, the “stuff” was there and gained talk amongst Braves Country to encourage a height in their expectations on what’s to come from the ace.
Getting relieved and then returning shortly after in the sixth, he reached 48 pitches before getting relieved by Blyne Enlow.
Moving over to offense, a sac-fly from Austin Riley first put the Braves on the board to tie (1-1) with their opponent. Also noting the two-run homer (his first of the spring) from Dominic Smith to bring Eli White in and take the lead (3-1) early in the game.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the sixth that the team would see the lead again after an RBI double from Mauricio Andre Dubón and, soon after, a two-run single from Drake Baldwin (6-3).
Minor league outfielder Tristin English would later go on to extend their lead with a three-run double to secure the win (9-5).
Tomorrow, we’ll be seeing Reynaldo López return as he takes on the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 2: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on MARCH 2, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 02: Brett Baty of the New York Mets looks on before the match between the Los Angeles Golf Club and New York Golf Club at SoFi Center on March 02, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images) | TGL Golf via Getty Images
The Mets dropped their exhibition road game against the Nationals this afternoon by a 7-4 score, as Mets relieer Anderson Severino had a rough go of it, surrendering four runs in just two-thirds of an inning to give Washington the lead in what he previously been a tie game.
Jorge Polanco made his spring training debut at first base and made two plate appearances before being replaced by Jacob Reimer, who took over at third while 2024 Mets draftee Corey Collins took over at first. It was an uneventful day in the field for Polanco, which is good news for now. Three weeks to the day from Opening Day, he’s gotten his first in-game action at the position.
Bo Bichette went 2-for-3 with a run batted in and a run scored.
Brett Baty went deep with a two-run home run off Nationals starter Miles Mikolas in the top of the first.
Justin Hagenman went three innings, struck out four, and didn’t walk anybody. But he gave up a two-run home run along the way.
Of the other five pitchers who appeared for the Mets, only Austin Warren surrendered a run.
Mike Tauchman went 1-for-1 with a double and a walk as he continues to look like a player who will break camp with the Mets.
Back at practice on Thursday afternoon at the BELFOR Training Center inside of Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Red Wings welcomed goaltender John Gibson back to the ice for the first time since his injury on Monday afternoon against the Nashville Predators.
Gibson, who suffered a "stinger" on the arm, wasn't able to dress for Wednesday evening's tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights, necessitating a call-up of 2021 first-round pick (15th overall) Sebastian Cossa from the surging Grand Rapids Griffins.
While Cossa was on the ice working with goaltending coach Michael Leighton on Thursday, he was later reassigned to the Griffins.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 5, 2026
"I haven't gone into the trainer's room, but he looked really good in practice," head coach Todd McLellan said of Gibson. "There were a number of times when I went by, and he said, 'I feel great', so I'm assuming he's ready to go."
Late in regulation of Wednesday's tilt, which ultimately resulted in a 4-3 Golden Knights overtime win, team captain Dylan Larkin took a vicious cross-check from Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb and collapsed to the ice.
He was down for several seconds before eventually making his way back to the bench, albeit very slowly and hunched over. While he immediately went to the dressing room, he was able to return for a shift during overtime.
Neither Larkin nor fellow center Andrew Copp was present at practice, but according to McLellan, both players were off due to maintenance days and will play on Friday.
"He's doing good, getting a maintenance day, both him and Copper," McLellan said of Larkin. "Both have maintenance days; it's that time of year. Bumps and bruises all over the place, he'll be ready to play tomorrow."
Thankfully, there are no lingering effects of the cross-check to his back from Wednesday's game.
"He's sore, but there's no damage or anything like that," McLellan said. "He should be good."
Larkin has suffered numerous injuries over the years as opposing players have taken liberties against him. In April 2021, he sustained a season-ending injury after being cross-checked from behind in the neck by Jamie Benn, the captain of the Dallas Stars. The injury required him to wear a cervical hard collar for eight weeks.
In December 2023, Larkin was cross-checked in the back of the head and neck by Mathieu Joseph of the Ottawa Senators, the same player who sent him crashing into the boards from behind in October 2021 while with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Larkin lay motionless on the ice for several minutes in what was nothing short of a frightening scene.
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After 11 excellent seasons playing professionally in Japan, Kazuma Okamoto is about to get a far broader exposure to global baseball fans.
Okamoto will make his second appearance for Japan’s World Baseball Classic squad, expected to start on the infield three years after he drove in seven runs in seven games of their 2023 run to the championship.
This time, though, far more eyes will be trained upon him now that he’s a member of the defending American League champion Toronto Blue Jays.
Fair or not, there’s a greater scrutiny for international players once a major league team and salary figure have been assigned. And as Okamoto’s arrival unfolds this March, here’s a closer look at him:
Kazuma Okamoto contract
Okamoto signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Blue Jays Jan. 4, one day before his posting window to join a major league team expired. He received a $5 million signing bonus and $6 million this season, before earning $16 million the final three years of the deal.
Relative to superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the market for Japanese talent wasn’t red-hot this year. Yet Okamoto did secure a far larger guarantee than the two-year, $34 million commitment infielder Munetaka Murakami received from the Chicago White Sox, and similar to the three-year, $54 million pact pitcher Tatsuya Imai struck with Houston.
Kazuma Okamoto statistics
Okamoto turns 30 in June and has already produced a distinguished career in the NPB. He debuted with the Yomiuri Giants in 2015, when he was 19 years old, and hit 248 homers over 11 seasons. His best all-around season came in 2023, when he hit 41 homers and produced a .958 OPS for Yomiuri, banging out 140 hits in 140 games. He led the NPB in home runs three times and is a six-time All-Star.
Okamoto, a right-handed hitter, had a career .355 OBP and .882 OPS in the NPB.
Kazuma Okamoto scouting report
While his Grapefruit League spring sample is small and should be properly contextualized, five of Okamoto’s seven batted balls have exceeded 95 mph exit velocity, including a 103.4 mph homer hit off New York Mets starter Clay Holmes that traveled 431 feet. He also hit a 104.9 mph double off Marlins lefty Thomas White before departing Florida to join Japan at the WBC.
At 6 feet and 212 pounds, Okamoto brings a physical presence to the batter’s box, combining broad shoulders and quick hands. Like many hitters, he punishes fastballs and may face an initial adjustment period against the more exotic offerings of polished major league pitchers.
Still, his on-base skills and general discipline at the plate should travel well and he’s young and athletic enough to adeptly handle defensive duties at third.
What’s Kazuma Okamoto’s role with the Blue Jays?
Okamoto will be the Blue Jays’ starting third baseman, essentially replacing Bo Bichette, the All-Star who accepted a $42 million annual salary with the Mets. Okamoto’s presence will likely bump Ernie Clement to second base – paired across from shortstop Andrés Giménez – and Addison Barger into right field.
The Okamoto-Bichette swap will certainly affect the Blue Jays’ lineup composition, as Bichette largely batted leadoff or occasionally cleanup. Okamoto’s right-handed bat enables the Jays to keep a right-left-right cadence one through nine in most lineups, as he figures to bat seventh, sandwiched between left fielder Jesus Sanchez and Giménez.
Mar 5, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Minnesota Twins right fielder Matt Wallner (38) reacts to center fielder James Outman (30) two-run home run against the New York Yankees in the fifth inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
All good things must come to an end, and a nine-game winning streak in Grapefruit League/exhibition play only really registers so much as “good.” The Yankees lost a fake baseball game for the first time since February 22nd, and they did so with a starting pitcher who will probably not be a starter for them in 2026 unless there’s an emergency. The Twins won this one before the rains came in Tampa to cut it short at 15-0 in the seventh.
We’ll get the offense out of the way in a hurry. There were two measly Yankees hits, with the top four names in the lineup—Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton—combining to go 1-for-7 with a single (Domínguez) and a walk (Bellinger). The lone other knock came on a Ryan McMahon double. Spencer Jones worked a walk in his only plate appearance, entering in center upon Grisham’s expected departure. Taj Bradley quieted the Yankees lineup through four, and the wonderfully-named duo of Kody Funderburk and Eric Orze did the same for their final two frames.
Paul Blackburn got the ball for the Yankees this afternoon and worked a perfect first before running into trouble in the second. Matt Wallner worked a leadoff walk, erstwhile Dodgers up-and-comer James Outman singled him to third, and after Wallner was retired at home on a comebacker to Blackburn from former Baby Bomber Eric Wagaman, second baseman Tristan Gray did damage with a double. Outman crossed home plate and Minnesota was on the board, 1-0. Blackburn fanned Ryan Kreidler (career OPS+ of 11) and Noah Cardenas (39 career games above Double-A, none in the majors) to strand a pair in scoring position.
Blackburn was victimized again in the third by one of the few true threats in the Twins’ lineup. Luke Keaschall had a 128 OPS+ in 49 games for Minnesota last year, enough to earn down-ballot Rookie of the Year support despite the limited sample. He continued to show his potential on Thursday by smacking a 395-foot solo shot on a fat sweeper that might as well have been on a tee:
Blackburn then walked Trevor Larnach and at 56 pitches, that was the end of his day. Three of his seven outs were K’s, and he might well indeed be a useful reliever for the 2026 Yankees. It’s just advisable to keep him away from the rotation.
Two other Yankees competing for bullpen spots didn’t have their most inspiring days either. Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest entered in the fourth and quickly put Gray on second with a walk and a wild pitch. That was his own doing, but he had some bad luck when Kreidler reached on a 65.7-mph infield single that third baseman Zack Short deflected and after nearly getting out of the first-and-third/no-out jam, Keaschall hit a slow roller to the left side that not even Ozzie Smith could’ve made a play on at shortstop. A run was going to score regardless, but McMahon—filling in at the six to see if he can moonlight as a backup to José Caballero with Anthony Volpe out—made the poor decision to throw it to first anyway. A second run scored and it was 4-0.
One can charitably give Winquest a pass for that inning, bumpy start notwithstanding. The only charity that could be offered to Rockies trade acquisition Angel Chivilli is that this is spring training and he could’ve been just been working on something in a meaningless game that didn’t really pan out. It’s just unfortunate for him since he’s trying to win one of the last spots in the bullpen and is probably best served refining his solid stuff at Triple-A to start 2026. Wallner started it in the fifth against Chivilli with a sharp hit to left that maybe still should’ve been a single but turned into a sure double because Domínguez didn’t get to it fast enough. Outman then obliterated a fastball for a two-run homer.
Chivilli sandwiched a strikeout of Gray between an infield hit from Wagaman and a walk to Kreidler before Cardenas ended his day with an RBI single to left. Minor leaguer Cole Zaffiro didn’t help his line, as another Keaschall hit made it 9-0, Twins, and a five-run day for Chivilli. Under spring training re-entry rules, he was able to return in the sixth for a little more work. Although he allowed a second-pitch double to Triple-A outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez, he at least departed on a high note by striking out a more well-regarded current prospect, Emmanuel Rodriguez.
The scoreboard got truly silly in the sixth, as the Twins tallied six runs against Michael Arias, who will not be sniffing the Opening Day roster. The inning only ended on an out at the plate following a Gonzalez double. It was downright silly. Only the rain provided an end to the madness, as two outs into the seventh, the tarp came on and never left. At least 2025 fourth-round pick Pico Kohn got to have a nice pitching moment for the Yanks in his debut outing.
The Yankees will be back at it again tomorrow night under the lights at George M. Steinbrenner Field. They’ll host their 2025 regular season tenant Rays, with Cam Schlittler taking the mound against fellow righty Joe Boyle for the first time this spring after back inflammation delayed the playoff hero’s start to Grapefruit League play. Utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera says that he’ll be ready for his first game action as well following recovery from his gruesome injury early last year in Seattle. First pitch is at 6:35pm ET on YES.
It will be just the second game between the two Western Conference teams, but the game will carry significant weight. A win for the Lakers would move them ahead of the Nuggets for the fifth seed in the conference standings.
The Lakers enter the game in sixth place with a 37-24 overall record. Doncic had 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in L.A.'s 110-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, March 3. LeBron James added 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers.
The Nuggets have a 38-24 record on the season after finishing 5-5 in their past five games. Jokic had 22 points and 12 rebounds in Denver's 128-125 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday, March 2. Jamal Murray had a huge impact, scoring 46 points and dishing out eight assists.
The Vancouver Canucks have made their second trade involving a defenceman in the past day, moving Jett Woo to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for fellow right-shot defender Jack Thompson. This move comes only a day after Vancouver traded Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars.
Woo has been with the Canucks organization since he was drafted 37th overall in 2018. He has spent the entirety of the Abbotsford Canucks' franchise history with the team and helped them with the Calder Cup back in June. Despite missing the start of this season due to injury, Woo put up a goal and seven assists with Abbotsford in 26 games.
“Jett was a key part of our AHL championship winning team and we would like to thank him for all that he has done for the Canucks organization,” Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin said in a press-release. “Bringing in Jack will add to our organizational depth on the blueline, and we look forward to working with him in Abbotsford.”
Thompson, 23, was drafted in the third-round by the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2020. San Jose acquired him via trade back in 2024. Last season, he skated in 31 games with the Sharks and scored four goals and six assists. He has spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL thus far and has put up three goals and nine assists in 42 games with the San Jose Barracuda.
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline takes place on Friday, March 6, at 12:00 pm PT.
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The Buffalo Sabres deal with the St. Louis Blues, which reportedly would have brought defenseman Colton Parayko to Buffalo fell apart on Thursday. The two clubs agreed on a trade Wednesday that would have sent 2025 first-rounder Radim Mrtka and a future first rounder to the Blues, but the Stanley Cup winning blueliner declined to waive his no-trade clause.
The 32-year-old just returned from Italy after winning a silver medal as a member of Team Canada at the Winter Olympics, but is having a subpar season (1 goal, 13 assists) in 58 games with the struggling Blues. The deal may have been understandable from the Sabres perspective – adding a big veteran right-handed blueliner to a predominantly left-handed defensive corps, but would have represented a risk for new GM Jarmo Kekalainen, making his first move for the aging defenseman.
The optics of a player refusing to come to Buffalo, in spite of the Sabres having the best record in the NHL since early December, is another black eye to the franchise. The comments of former GM Kevyn Adams regarding no palm trees and high taxes has been hard to shake, but the success of the club over the last two months has done wonders to revitalize the pride in the organization.
The fault on this situation lies at the feet of Kekalainen, who over the last 48 hours has been connected to a pair of blockbuster acquisitions; Blues center Robert Thomas and Parayko. The Sabres GM should have been able with St. Louis’s permission to suss out whether Parayko was willing to come to Buffalo before the news got out that a deal in principle had been agreed upon. Like his previous stint in Columbus, the Sabres are on many player’s no-trade lists, so finding out their willingness to come to Buffalo or finding players that have no-trade protection should be something he is used to.
Buffalo now has less than 24 hours before the deadline to make another move, and based on his rumored trade targets this week, Kekalainen is looking to take a big swing.
