The Mets’ search for instructional help in the hitting department includes a coach with ties to president of baseball operations David Stearns from the Astros.
John Mallee, who has spent the past three seasons as Cubs assistant hitting coach, is among the candidates to join the Mets staff, MLB.com first reported Tuesday.
Mallee spent 2013-14 as Astros hitting coach, overlapping with Stearns’ stint in Houston’s front office.
John Mallee, who has been an assistant hitting coach for the Cubs the past three season, is on the Mets’ radar for a job in their organization. Getty Images
Mallee, in his first stint in Chicago, was hitting coach when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016.
He later was Phillies hitting coach and Angels assistant hitting coach before rejoining the Cubs.
The Mets have a vacancy after director of major league hitting Jeff Albert was fired last week.
Long has a relationship with Juan Soto from their time together in Washington, which included a World Series title in 2019. Long was fired last week by the Phillies.
The Knicks’ famous fans were out in force to see the 2025-26 NBA champions receive their rings and open up the season, with the hopes of successfully defending their title.
Many of the celebs who took in the Knicks’ playoff run last spring returned on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden as Spike Lee showed off his usual flair for the team, sporting an orange-and-blue pinstriped suit, along with “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay, comedian Tracy Morgan and actor Ben Stiller.
Spike Lee looks on from the court prior to the Knicks’ ring ceremony before their season-opener against the 76ers on Oct. 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Getty ImagesEdie Falco and Steve Schirripa pose for a photo before the Knicks’ home opener against the 76ers at the Garden. Getty Images
“I know I’m going to cry tonight,” Morgan told “NBA Showtime” ahead of the game. “Been a long time and then we going to turn the page. It’s time to defend now. .. We going to run it back. … I’m not scared. We not scared of nobody.”
Other celebs on hand included Fat Joe, Edie Falco, Steve Schirripa, John Turturro, Action Bronson and Sam Morril.
Jordyn Woods, who tied the knot with Karl-Anthony Towns in August, was courtside for the game, with a gold bag in honor of ring knight.
Roger Goodell Watching The 76ers-Knicks Season Opener And LeBron James Philadelphia Debut.
The NFL Commissioner Sits Courtside At Madison Square Garden As The Knicks Raise Their Championship Banner Before Tip-Off.
Tracy Morgan and OG Anunoby hug before the Knicks’ home opener against the 76ers at the Garden. NBAE via Getty ImagesActors Ben Stiller and his wife, Christine Taylor, look on before the Knicks’ home opener against the 76ers. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Singer Bon Jovi was courtside for the game, along with NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell.
Mets owner Steve Cohen was seen at the game, and failed presidential candidate Chris Christie was spotted in the stands.
One notable star was not there for the ceremony: “Dune” star Timothée Chalamet.
The important news!! Jordyn Woods just informed us at the Knicks home opener that the lucky bag is in retirement pic.twitter.com/KUsoqyChQN
Chalamet had been one of the Knicks’ biggest A-list fans making trips to New York and various road games during the championship run.
“The Knicks fan base needs to be studied and observed. We move,” Morgan said. “We take over stadiums. We take it over. What the Knicks did doesn’t go down in basketball. That happens in soccer. We pulled four million people together and we got a glimpse of greatness.”
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics and Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons go up for a rebound during the game on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For more than five of the last eight minutes, the Boston Celtics were held scoreless. Jayson Tatum tried to stop the bleeding with a layup off the glass, but missed and fell to the floor. On the other end, the Detroit Pistons rushed five-on-four, as former teammate Javonte Green drained a wide-open 3-pointer.
Tatum, unable to get back in time to contest Green’s three, admits the Celtics have some adjustments to make going forward.
“I think our communication has to be better,” Tatum told reporters after Boston’s 121-113 season-opening loss, per CLNS Media.
Tatum and the Celtics built a cozy 22-point lead as Detroit struggled mightily to muster up any offensive rhythm. Boston rode Paul George’s 38-point outburst and set themselves up for an easy victory line trot. But then the Pistons, eager to avoid embarrassment in front of their home crowd on Opening Night, made the Celtics pay for their plethora of miscues throughout the second half.
The same Boston defense that held Detroit to 45 points on 38.6 percent shooting in the first half allowed a 76-point second half.
The Pistons went on an unreal 23-0 run in the fourth quarter, completing their largest come-from-behind victory over the Celtics in the last 30 seasons, according to ESPN Insights. Detroit flipped the script, shooting 52.4 percent in the third and fourth quarters and knocking down 11 threes, fueled by Green’s five made 3-pointers amid his 19-point second half.
Too often, the Celtics paid the price for their inefficient offense. Detroit, meanwhile, turned Boston’s misses into quick scoring opportunities by pushing the pace in transition.
Time and again, the Celtics failed to get back quickly enough to contest.
“It probably started on defense,” Tatum said. “A couple of times we gave up the offensive rebound, they were scoring, we were fouling. That kind of slows the game down. Obviously, in the first half and early in the third, we were at our best when we were getting stops, and we were able to push the pace.”
Tatum, in particular, struggled to find his offensive spark in the second half, going 1-for-10 from the floor — and 6-for-23 overall.
The Celtics still managed to give themselves one last fighting chance, as George’s seventh 3-pointer cut Detroit’s lead to six at 116-110 with 41 seconds left in regulation. But Boston couldn’t complete the comeback, suffering its first blown 20-point lead of the season.
“We did a lot of good things, and obviously there’s a lot of stuff that we gotta do better,” Derrick White told reporters, per CLNS Media. “So we just gotta continue to grow and learn and see what we did wrong, and we’ll be better at it.”
Boston suffered the consequences of a combination of woes. White hurled a Hail Mary fadeaway 3-pointer with 5:25 left, and George missed badly on a layup with 4:48 left, allowing Detroit to coast amid its game-changing run in the fourth.
DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 20: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics smiles during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics missed 10 consecutive shot attempts at one point.
“You get better shots, that definitely helps,” White said. “Crashing definitely helps. Transition defense. Those two things can kind of set your defense up to get matched up and be able to find their shooters. I think there was a couple of times we didn’t find their shooters and then they would miss and we didn’t get the rebound.”
Bad shot attempts plus an outnumbered defense in transition helped seal Boston’s fate faster than anyone could’ve anticipated.
“It’s kind of all those things that we gotta do better,” White added.
To kick off the season, the tale of two halves caught up to the Celtics. They weren’t the same team coming out of the tunnel after halftime as they were when they entered it with a 58-45 lead. Boston carried its preseason momentum into the regular season for the first two quarters of the opener before letting it slip away, putting itself in a position where it desperately needed to claw back for a chance at redemption in its final few possessions.
The loss gives the team plenty to review before returning home to host the New York Knicks on Friday night at TD Garden.
“We’ll go back and watch, and separate out of the 76 points which came from our offense and which came from our defense,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Some of those things were a byproduct of our lack of offense in that third quarter. So we’ll separate the points of the 76: which ones came from our offense — we have to fix our offense to prevent some of those — and which ones came from our half-court defense.”
Perhaps it’s early-season rust or a new cast still figuring itself out. Regardless, letting a 20-point lead slip away against a Pistons offense that looked just as out of sorts as Boston did remains inexcusable.
While the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers have officially opened a new NBA season on Tuesday night, Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James was catching strays during pregame.
Comedian and actor Tracy Morgan was being interviewed by the NBC Sports broadcast team and called out James on national television.
Tracy Morgan calls out Bronny James ahead of NBA season opener between Knicks and 76ers on Tuesday night. NBAE via Getty Images
“Bronny looks like he’s got JUCO ball written all over him,” Morgan said.
Morgan followed up his statement on James by saying, “I just want to say what I feel. What you want?”
Morgan, 57, who is a well-known, passionate Knicks fan, is watching his team play James’ father, LeBron James, who is currently playing in his first game as a member of the 76ers after he departed from the Lakers over the summer.
Bronny James catches a stray from famous comedian Tracy Morgan ahead of Knicks and 76ers opener NBAE via Getty Images
Before he was talking about Bronny, Morgan was saying that the Knicks are not “Scared of nobody.”
Both came out of the 2024 NBA Draft, when Los Angeles selected Knecht in the first round and then took Bronny James in the second round.
When Knecht first joined the team, he was regularly in the Lakers’ starting rotation, but injuries would shortly accumulate, and he was never the same.
Bronny James catches a stray from Tracy Morgan ahead of Knicks vs 76ers opener. NBAE via Getty Images
Bronny James has spent time back and forth between the G League and the Lakers’ active roster.
Last season, he saw an increase of playing time, by appearing in 42 games and averaging 8.9 minutes per game, 2.9 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
Through the preseason this year, Bronny James’ production has trended downward, scoring only 11 points in five games, while averaging 16.4 minutes per game.
As the Lakers are set to usher in a new era of basketball — playing without LeBron James for the first time in eight years — the 2026-2027 season will be a make-or-break year for Bronny.
The Lakers will open their season against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night when they tip off at 7:00 p.m. PT.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: Jayson Tatum #0 and Head Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics talk during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Paul George’s heat check three with 8:32 to play in the third quarter of Tuesday’s season opener marked his third straight triple. More importantly, it gave the Celtics a commanding 72-50 lead over the Pistons in what was shaping up to be a tone-setting victory.
Detroit closed the game on a 71-41 run. Duncan Robinson exploded for 21 points, with 15 coming in the fourth to help the Pistons cement the largest comeback in Opening Day history (at least since the NBA’s play-by-play era began in 1997).
The Celtics will head back to Boston with absolutely nothing to show for their trip to Little Caesars Arena except for a big fat disappointing loss.
Ironically, they’ve started the 2026-27 campaign the same way that they ended last year’s — with a monumental collapse. Boston’s unwillingness to finish of their commanding 3-1 lead over the 76ers last spring gave the front office the green light (from a general public perspective) to make serious changes.
They obliged and made it #DifferentHere.
As I write this, Jaylen Brown is warming up for his Sixers debut at Madison Square Garden ahead of Knicks Banner Night (Imagine reading that sentance a year ago). Boston moved on from Brown in favor of George, who was not remotely the problem today. He finished with 38 points, five rebounds, five steals, and made seven threes in the process.
Regardless, if the lead eclipsed the 20-point mark is largely irrelevant. Boston led by 12 points early in the fourth quarter of this one. Much like Game 5 against Philadelphia last spring, or Games 1 and 2 against the Knicks in 2025, they failed to do enough to ultimately secure a win.
Detroit got out in transition and created clean looks from deep. Not a single Celtic could do anything to stop the bleeding. There was no calming presence on the floor for Boston — an alarming lack there of really.
Jayson Tatum, who the team fully committed to as their guy this summer, did not give them enough to get across the finish line in this game. He was 1-10 from the field in the second half and didn’t grab a single rebound after the break. This was a game where the Celtics needed all of the rebounding help they could get.
It’d be unfair to pretend like Tatum didn’t do anything well. He managed to get himself in plenty of great positions to score, at least earlier in the game. He just didn’t take advantage.
The good looks stopped in the fourth. Tatum took just five shots, and none of them were “oh, I can’t believe that didn’t go in” shots. It was more of a “why didn’t he do something different?” type of looks. If the Celtics are going to continue to be a staple towards the top of the Eastern Conference, they’re going to need Tatum to level up his consistentcy towards the end of games.
He’s put together undeniable performances throughout his career. Game 6 in Milwaukee in 2022. Game 6 in Philadelphia a year later. Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals. Even Game 3 against the Sixers in the spring featured a tremendous fourth-quarter showing.
Yet, it doesn’t traditionally feel like he’ll will the team to a win when things aren’t going their way late in games. Without Brown to lean on (not to pretend like he wasn’t out there when the aforementioned collpases happened), Boston needs Tatum to become a more reliable closer.
Tuesday was a reminder that he’s not quite there. Whether Jayson Tatum wanted it this way or not, the spotlight is soley on him. Time to shine.
And the 2025-’26 championship banner slowly made its way to the Madison Square Garden rafters. The team that earned it posed in front of it, then simply stared at it in awe. President Leon Rose and coach Mike Brown wrapped their arms around one another and savored the moment.
The title run of a lifetime and a team that stirred New York in a way few ever have were officially cemented in immortality.
This was a moment just over four months in the making, since they clinched the championship June 13. It was a moment 13 years in the making, the last time there was a new banner in the MSG rafters — for the 2012-’13 Atlantic Division title. A moment 53 years in the making, since the team’s last championship.
The banner remained next to the jumbotron — above the court — for the night. It wasn’t until after the game, when fans had exited, that staff placed it among the other banners — where the NBA Cup banner had already been raised ahead of the ceremony.
Karl-Anthony Towns and his Knicks teammates watch their championship banner being raised before their season-opener against the 76ers on Oct. 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks wore white quarter-zips with gold lettering — fitting for the current NBA royalty. Their jerseys underneath had gold lettering and numbers as well. And on the back of the jersey, there was a championship patch that was impossible to miss.
The executives — Rose and William Wesley — and coaches — Brown, Chris Jent, Brendan O’Connor and Rick Brunson — received their rings first. The rest of the executives and assistant coaches were not part of the ceremony.
The players, one by one, collected theirs next from the legendary Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe and the families of Dave DeBusschere and Willis Reed were also involved, giving out the executives’ and coaches’ rings. It was perfectly poetic — the last Knicks championship team bridging the gap to the current one.
The Knicks’ championship banner is set to be raised at the team looks on before their season-opener against the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The starters went last — Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and then, finally, Brunson.
“To celebrate one last time with the fans, it means a lot,” Towns said after the Knicks’ 106-100 loss to the 76ers. “We wanted to give them a better version of ourselves tonight than we did, but it was really special to have that moment here again in New York after 53 years.”
Ariel Hukporti — who joined the 76ers in the offseason but tore his Achilles in the preseason opener — was even there to claim his, scooting across the court with his foot in a cast.
And just like that, the championship was officially behind them. The challenge of repeating began in earnest.
“We’re excited to get this season going,” Brunson said. “We’re ready to turn the page as a team. But one thing I wanted to say — the joy that the city had this summer, we would love to replicate that again.”
Then, a game actually had to be played.
Not just any game — one against a 76ers side, now with LeBron James, most labeled the biggest threat to the Knicks’ chances of repeating. And the 76ers delivered the first punch against a Knicks team that at times looked lethargic and emotionally drained.
“Definitely not your normal game day,” Brunson said afterward. “We can make all the excuses in the world about all that stuff. But if you asked me what would I rather have, to finish that and then not have a regular first game or not, I would do that.”
The Knicks’ championship banner is getting raised to the rafters before their season-opener against the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostThe Knicks players watch as their NBA championship banner is hoisted into the rafters of Madison Square Garden before their home opener against the 76ers. Carlos Toro for NY Post
7:18 p.m. — the time of the opening tip — marked the official end of all the championship celebrations. A dreamlike few months were put in the past.
And a new journey began.
“I’m just happy,” Brunson said, “we can move forward now.”
The 2025 NBA Cup banner is displayed before the start of the first quarter of an NBA basketball game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
Like a thief in the night, the Knicks raised their NBA Cup banner.
“I haven’t seen it yet,” coach Mike Brown said of the NBA Cup banner. “But I think it’s just a recognition of what our journey was like last year. There were obviously a lot of ups and downs throughout the course of the year and our guys rallied and figured out a way to win the NBA Cup. It’s just a recognition to not just our guys, but the fans out there. We got fantastic fans, and to be able to show a little love to them is pretty neat.”
The Knicks’ 2025 NBA Cup banner is displayed before the start of the first quarter of their season-opener against the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Carlos Toro for NY Post
The Knicks beat the Spurs to win the NBA Cup in December, which represented Dolan’s first opportunity to raise a championship banner since the Atlantic Division title in 2013.
But Dolan became the first owner to decline raising the NBA Cup banner, telling WFAN in January, “We want an NBA championship, we don’t want some consolation prize.”
Dolan caused a stir because Silver had been propping up the NBA Cup as a significant tournament. The Knicks then became the first team to win the NBA Cup and the NBA championship.
They raised both banners on the same day, although the NBA Cup’s appeared out of nowhere and was tucked in the corner.
When considering the face of his league to replace LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Silver identified Jalen Brunson.
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts during the second half of a game against the Raptors last season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“It’s hard not to start with Jalen Brunson,” Silver said Tuesday on ESPN. “I’ll be down when they hang the banner tonight for the championship. Here’s a guy who was a second-round pick, was picked up as a free agent from Dallas, and nobody talked about him as the next superstar in the league, but look how he’s led that team to a championship.”
Brunson, 30, certainly wasn’t in the mix before leading the Knicks to the 2026 championship. He is older than some of the other candidates — namely Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama.
But Brunson has the benefit of the most recent title and the NBA’s biggest market.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors drives against Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter of a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 101-89. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, newly extended guard Brandin Podziemski will miss tomorrow’s season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers due to lower back soreness.
Brandin Podziemski is out for the Warriors tomorrow night in Los Angeles. Lower back soreness. He played all 82 games last season but will miss the opener this season against the Lakers.
Steph Curry is probable.
The Golden State Warriors’ guard depth takes an immediate hit as they head into a crucial tilt against Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and their Pacific Division rivals. Expected to step up in Podziemski’s place are veteran De’Anthony Melton and newly signed Brandon Williams.
Known for his health and durability last season — during which Podziemski did not miss a single game — he will now have to watch the Warriors’ tip-off from the sidelines.
And part of him doesn’t feel right not playing alongside him.
Curry appeared as a guest on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Tuesday and told him, “I miss that dude every day.”
Steph Curry on how he feels about Klay Thompson being in Miami and how much he misses him:
“I miss that dude every day. But that’s part of the NBA, and it’s like one of those situations. Once he left, was that three years ago now? Yeah. You know everything’s not going to be the… pic.twitter.com/Z1w5cQ5KiC
Stephen Curry reveals he misses playing alongside Klay Thompson. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
But even without his former partner in crime, Curry knows that’s how life goes in the NBA.
“You know everything’s not going to be the same because we all grew up together,” Curry said. “Me and Draymond [Green], we grew up as adults. We grew up as competitors, as champions.”
Curry went on to say that when he, Thompson and Green decide the day comes that they all retire, he will be looking forward to having “a glass of bourbon, and reminisce on all the things that we were able to accomplish.”
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the Warriors bench as teammates in 2016. Getty Images
For Thompson, he is about to embark on another new chapter after spending the last two years with the Dallas Mavericks.
Over the summer, Thompson was waived by Dallas and immediately signed a 2-year $11.5 million contract with the Miami Heat.
“I’m happy for him in Miami. I know it’s he wants to be in a situation where he can be impactful, have a championship-contending kind of energy going into the season,” Curry said. “… So for him, he deserves an opportunity to play and impact a winning team. I wish it was still with us, but that’s part of the nature of how things evolve in the league.”
Klay Thompson wearing a Golden State Warriors uniform in 2022. Getty Images
Before Thompson packed his bags for Dallas, the Warriors’ iconic trio brought the organization four NBA titles and produced a record-breaking season in 2015 when they broke the record for most wins in a single season, finishing 73-9.
“Nobody’s going to hold that cloud over any of our heads because what we accomplished was so great that we’ll talk about it forever,” Curry said.
Dax Kilby’s tremendous start with the Yankees organization came to a screeching halt this season, as he was limited to just 32 minor league games due to multiple hamstring injuries.
Kilby has been able to remain on the field thus far in Arizona Fall League action, though, and he’s back showing exactly why he’s the top-ranked prospect in New York’s system.
The 19-year-old former first-round pick out of Newnan High School made some changes to his swing in an effort to cut down his ground ball rate, and those appear to be paying off early on.
Kilby reached base safely two more times during Tuesday’s exhibition meeting.
He opened the scoring for the Salt River Rafters right out of the gate, crushing the fourth pitch of the game 107.1 mph to deep right-center for his second homer during Fall League play.
Dax leads it off with a solo jack!
The @Yankees No. 1 prospect hammers his second homer of the Fall 107.1MPH off the bat. Kilby is batting .313 this Fall https://t.co/UMY4rctmUQ
The youngster was retired each of his next three times to the plate, but he ripped an RBI double to center in the top of the ninth, evening things up at 10 runs apiece.
Kilby finished the day 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, bringing his average up to .306 and giving him a Fall League-leading nine extra-base hits through his first nine games.
He’s also swiped a total of four bases and has shown tremendous plate discipline over that span, striking out just four times while drawing a trio of free passes.
Kilby already sits as MLB Pipeline’s 78th overall prospect, and the middle infielder could quickly cruise his way through the Yankees’ system if he keeps this rolling into a healthy season.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout prior to Game Four of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants need pitching. Everybody knows it. While the bullpen will, correctly, draw the most attention, the rotation might actually be more important — again. It seems that every year since Kevin Gausman was kicked to the curb, the Giants have had to resort to free agency to beef up the staff. A far cry from the championship era in that respect. Does this year’s free agent SP market offer a pathway back to relevance for a 65-win team and a franchise that has been second division for most of the last decade?
Oh, and this important note for the rest of the piece: players with options or opt-outs aren’t included.
The Giants could never!
Tarik Skubal
Skubal’s floor is Dylan Cease’s 7-year, $210 million contract, and I might be insulting Skubal by writing that. The 2024 and 2025 AL Cy Young Award winner will turn 30 in November, but based on that track record, and that he’s pitched fewer than 1,000 MLB innings, a more reasonable comp might be something closer to Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million contract — not in years, of course, but definitely in dollars. So, on money alone, the Giants would stay away.
Add to that his left arm has already experienced two long injury stints: 2022-2023 with left arm fatigue, a chunk of this season (2026) for loose bodies in his pitching elbow. He’s too good, too expensive, and too risky for the Giants. And if they did decide to throw in their hat, they’d be viewed as too bad to merit consideration.
But in the latest There R Giants Podcast, Roger Munter interviewed Alex Pavlovic and the two discussed Tyler Mahle and the bullpen project and how the team needed to make smart moves and my tag to the end of that is they need to make smart moves if they’re not going to make big moves like this. The organization does not want to give out long-term contracts to starting pitchers or spend big money on relievers and so it becomes important to acquisition and development to find or create surplus value.
If a rotation is in need of talent and innings, then adding Tarik Skubal sounds like a smart move. But! The Giants don’t believe that’s a plausible or even rational decision, and so we must create this specialty category for him so that the thought can be fully and formally dismissed and we can continue. I think any reporter who asks the front office about a Skubal pursuit will be able to write an article about how quickly the team dismisses the idea. He is the one player they just seem immediately out on.
At the end of the day, one must imagine Buster & Zack to be happy with the idea of bringing in 1-2 pitchers who can provide 100 quality innings. Sort of like the thinking behind the Verlander signing — or even the Mahle and Houser deals. Moving on…
Nah
Robbie Ray, Tyler Mahle, Miles Mikolas, Lance McCullers, Jr., Austin Gomber, Frankie Montas, Luis Garcia
I will allow that it’s no impossible for the Giants to pursue Tarik Skubal, but I think the chances of them landing him if they did decide to do that would be as close to nonzero as it gets. I don’t feel that’s totally the case with this trio. I could be wrong, but I just don’t see the Giants going in this direction.
For another thing, they had Tyler Mahle very recently and did not optimize the experience. Indeed, after his successpost-trade, he’s likely to command more than the $10 million the Giants signed him for this past offseason and he’s likely to get some attention from teams that figure to be better. The Giants might be willing to offer more and think that they can port over his Atlanta success, but I’m going to guess that the Giants won’t come in as the highest bidder for an arm that’s cracked 130 innings just once in the past 5 seasons and he’s unlikely to have interest in the Giants because they’ve been losers for a decade and didn’t help him succeed.
And then there’s Miles Mikolas, who stinks. He certainly would fit in, culturally, and his being bad would fit in with the team’s general performance of the past decade, too, but a 38-year old soft-tossing right who just posted an ERA of 5.82 and a 5+ FIP the past two seasons doesn’t seem like a smart investment.
McCullers Jr. was released by the Brewers 11 days after they traded for him and that was after spending most of 2026 on the IL recovering from right shoulder inflammation and in the 44 MLB innings he did through, he had a 6.55 ERA (4.96 FIP) and a 5.5 BB/9 (a 9.8 K/9, though). Gomber bounced around on MiLB deals and didn’t appear in the majors in 2026. Montas missed all of the year recovering from Tommy John. As curiosities or projects, none of these three are completely bad options (well, except maybe Gomber), but if any are considered as primary targets for improving the rotation… woof. A clear sign of a season that’s going to be punted.
Meanwhile, Garcia spent all of 2026 rehabbing from Tommy John and didn’t appear in any professional games.
35+ crowd (as of Opening Day 2027)
Let’s start with the geezers veterans because we can imagine a scenario where Posey pulls a Verlander and looks for one or two to solidify a shaky group after Logan Webb. I would be surprised if the team came away impressed by Landen Roupp’s season. Maybe relieved more than anything. The odds of him doing that again — just from an innings logged standpoint — seem low. But this age group doesn’t promise 200 innings, either; so, it’s all about finding someone (or someones?) who can provide 100 good to great innings.
Scherzer might’ve thrown his last pitch in the major leagues, but until he announces it (angrily, I’d imagine), I’m keeping him on the list solely because of the Tony Vitello connection — okay, well, and if he truly dislikes Justin Verlander, then coming to San Francisco and having a better go of it might also serve as an additional thumb in the eye. I don’t necessarily see 100 quality innings out of him unless being in the Bay Area alters his lifestyle to the point that his body is revitalized.
He seems like the sneaky Moneyball pick of lower cost and some warts (age, mainly) but with enough upside to make it all worth it, but the Baltimore Orioles had this same thought when they signed him to an $18.5 million deal last offseason. In the prior five seasons (his age 32-36 seasons), he threw 880.1 innings and had a 3.66 ERA (3.89 FIP, +13.4 fWAR), which averages out to 176 IP and about 2.7 wins above replacement. His 2026 strikeout rate plummeted (16.1% — career: 22%) and his walk rate increased year over year (8.3% versus 7.1% in 2025) — a terrible combination. He’s also mulling retirement.
All he seems to do is offer up 100 good innings year after year, and even if the numbers aren’t great, they’re at least not terrible — 3.79 ERA in his last 785 IP (2021-2026) — and as a veteran soft-tossing lefty, maybe there’s room for him to mentor Cesar Perdomo and/or Matt Wilkinson? He’d be a very low-cost option, having signed a 1-year $3.37 million deal last offseason.
It would be funny if they brought back Gausman on a 1-year deal. He has certainly pitched well enough to merit interest from several teams in the offseason. A simple cheat code here: he has sustained success by doing exactly what Tyler Mahle did once he got to Atlanta. To wit:
I’ve bunched the three Rockies starters together because I think this combination of Coors Field experience, age, and in all three cases, innings logged (1,000+ — in Sugano’s case, most in Japan) are enough to write them off. The Giants could probably do better… or, if they’re delving into this trio then things aren’t going well.
The org has already had Jose Quintana. They’ve been linked to Michael Lorenzen before. Sugano’s cutter has been effective in the past and he throws a lot of splitters, so, maybe he could be the Tyler Mahle they envisioned, but at the end of the day — come on. It’s unlikely these are the 100 good innings they (or we) might envision.
Taillon was designated for assignment in July and his season, after catching on with the Blue Jays post-DFA, ended with an elbow injury. Trevor Williams returned from an elbow injury this season, and he’s thrown over 130 innings just once since 2020 (144.1 IP in 2023).
Both were released by the teams they started the season with (Phillies & Padres, respectively), but neither were able to return to the majors after catching on with a second team (Angels & Twins, respectively). If they’re going to be in a major league rotation in 2027, it won’t be because of a team planning for that in the offseason.
Shōta Imanaga (LHP, 1,211.2 IP*)
Back in June 2024, after Imanaga had hit the ground running after coming over from Japan, Farhan Zaidi was asked why the team walked away from him and Zaidi offered a lengthy, detailed explanation. In part:
Our pitch-grade models really liked him,” Zaidi said. “They had plus grades on all three of his pitches — fastball, split and breaking ball. But our scouting reports weren’t as strong, and it’s understandable because what makes his pitches so effective doesn’t jump out to the naked eye.
At the time of publication, Imanaga had a 1.86 / 2.77 FIP in his first 58 MLB innings — but he was just coming off of a 4-inning 7-earned run start. Since then, he’s still been pretty good, but not the next Tarik Skubal (3.67 ERA /4.53 FIP in 434.1 IP). I have doubts that even this front office will be all that interested in him.
Zac Gallen (RHP, 1,112.2 IP)
He certainly feels like the most Giantsy move of the offseason, but it’s important to keep in mind that Gallen was really bad in 2026 (6.07 ERA / 5.34 FIP in 105.1 IP) to the point that he ended the season in the bullpen.
He feels like a perfect example of the 1,000 inning crossroad. His first 6 seasons (2019-2024) sported a 3.29 ERA in 815.1 innings pitched with a 9.8 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 0.9 HR/9. Last season, he had a 4.83 ERA (4.50 FIP) in 192 IP. His K/9 dropped to 8.2, walk rate rose to 3.1 per 9, HR/9 to 1.5. This year, 5.5 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 1.6 HR/9.
When he was successful, his fastballs were in the 15-20% range in terms of Whiff rate. The past two seasons it’s fallen to 6-8%. It’s all about fixing his fastball. The velocity is still mostly there (he’s always been a 93-95 guy).
Freddy Peralta (RHP, 1,100 IP)
After being traded to the Rays, he’s become the belle of the ball this offseason. That probably takes him out of the Giants’ price range and interest level, because he might command an ace or near-ace AAV for a pitcher who looks like a #2 or #3 on paper, even with Tampa Bay’s adjustments. But there’s a lot to like in the profile, including the strikeout stuff. Before the Mets metsed him up in 2026, his 2021-2025 numbers were fantastic: 10.9 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 1.13 HR/9, 3.30 ERA / 3.65 FIP, 14.7 fWAR.
Remarkably, he’s made just one start, had just one appearance at Oracle Park in his career. A 5-inning start last season.
Erick Fedde (RHP, 1,094 IP)
Fedde was able to save his career by the skin of his teeth. After a reinvention in Japan, his 3.4 fWAR 2024 quickly pumpkin’d into a 5.49 ERA/-0.2 fWAR for three teams in 2025. The White Sox sort of Adrian Houser’d him this season where he was a starter but also a bulk guy, but despite the clever deployment and his 3.83 ERA, he sported a 5.01 FIP and 6.3 K/9, that was, essentially, replacement level (-0.1 fWAR).
He missed a month and a half with right flexor inflammation and had just one appearance after July 20th (2 innings on the final day of the regular season). That might be enough of a red flag, but again, if we’re just looking for 100 good innings, then Flaherty might be able to provide them — but he doesn’t fit the profile of a pitcher looking for a 1-year pillow deal and I think the Giants might not be inclined to go multiple years with any free agent starter this offseason.
Brady Singer (RHP, 1,012 IP)
I remember foolishly seeing the next Matt Cain in Singer and instead he wound up the least valuable starting pitcher in MLB this season not named Merrill Kelly. Right behind him? Tomoyuki Sugano and Robbie Ray. The only real value here might be cost. If they could fix one of his fastballs (sinker, four-seamer, cutter) then it’d be a great pairing with his higher whiff slider (30.7 Whiff%) or sweeper (40.9 Whiff%). So, maybe a project, but far from a sure thing. After a terrible development-at-the-major-league-level year, maybe they should be looking for more certainty.
Another potential splitter chucker who nonetheless saw a remarkable dip in fastball velo year over year (from 94.6 mph to 93.3 mph). He has a walk rate among some of the lower in the sport (2.5 BB/9 for career, 2.6 in 2026), but he tends to give up a lot of homers (career 1.3 HR/9) because he doesn’t get many groundballs (around 33%); and, the strikeouts just aren’t there (7.5 K/9 for his career). You can’t draw a straight line from Mahle to Mize, because Mahle has a much higher career K/9 (over 9), but it’s interesting to note the similarity in arsenal and relative fastball velocity. In San Diego, his HR/9 jumped to 2.6 per. Yikes. Still, he looks like a project of sorts who might be worth a multi-year deal just given his age and relative performance.
David Peterson (LHP, 9-8, 4.79 ERA, 148.1 IP, +1.7 fWAR)
Kris Bubic (LHP, 4-2, 3.76 ERA, 55 IP, +1.0 fWAR)
I’m pairing up these lefties even though I think their markets might be a bit different. Both are lefties who’ve at times been relievers and at times starters. They both don’t throw very hard and their secondary stuff is of the slider variety (slider for Peterson, sweeper for Bubic). Bubic has been the more injured of the two but, like Peterson, has had just one 3+ WAR season in his career. Otherwise, both are in the 1-2 WAR type. Peterson’s age might be a ding, but he has a healthier track record than Bubic and he gets way more groundballs (~51% for his career vs. Bubic’s 46%), which might still be a meaningful factor in the Giants’ plans.
Pitchers, man. Remember when the Brewers had that two-headed monster of Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff? Burnes missed most of the past two seasons recovering from Tommy John. Meanwhile, here’s Woodruff’s injury log since 2023:
April 2023 — right shoulder inflammation (transferred to 60-day IL in May)
February 2024 — right shoulder surgery
March 2025 — surgery recovery
made no MLB appearances during this span
June 2025 — continued surgery recovery
September 2025 — right lat strain
May 2026 — right shoulder inflammation (transferred to 60-day IL in July)
There’s a chance he starts a game or appears in the upcoming World Series, but as a free agent target he seems like a very high risk, low-reward fella. I’m including him here because people might not have seen him in so long that they might still imagine he’s as good as his heyday of 2019-2022 or that with the right coaching and ballpark he can be really effective for 100 innings. Doubtful on all accounts, but he’s not so bad that I have to dismiss him.
He’s belle of the ball #2 in that the teams that have no chance/won’t even bother with Tarik Skubal will be gunning for either Peralta or Griffin. He’s another starter who reinvented himself overseas and wound up being a better investment than either of the other two headliners returning from NPB: Cody Ponce and Anthony Kay. And, like, Peralta, since he was traded mid-season, there’s no Qualifying Offer attached to him (assuming that system remains intact in the next CBA). He features seven pitches and is, essentially, a soft-tossing lefty. He would be a nice change of pace from the sinker-slider starters the Giants have been running out there. But Griffin will probably want a multi-year deal, which takes him out of the running, I’d think.
Shane Bieber (5-2, 4.37 ERA, 55.2 IP, +0.1 fWAR)
His season ended because of a right teres major inflammation, which is a risk, but he seems like a Tyler Mahle-type the Giants could target for 100 good innings. Cleveland traded him to Toronto at the 2025 deadline as he was just getting his season underway following Tommy John surgery, but he’s been mostly hurt the past three seasons: a 3.58 ERA (good!) with a 4.33 FIP (ehhh) in 108 IP across 20 starts (whoa! Bad!). In other words, he hasn’t had 100 good innings in four calendar years.
A 29-year old with fewer than 700 MLB innings who’s left-handed and put up 4 WAR this most recent season is likely to command a multi-year, high AAV deal, which should take him off the Giants’ radar.
Jordan Montgomery (LHP, 1-0, 4.15 ERA, 26 IP, +0.1 fWAR)
He finally returned from Tommy John but only pitched out of the bullpen. He still wants to be a starting pitcher, but if you remember the saga of his free agency following the Rangers’ World Series win, one thing that became clear was that geography was a concern to him. Most MLBers don’t seem interested in the Bay Area, either, so, maybe this just isn’t a good fit for both need and interest.
José Urquidy (RHP, 2-2, 4.95 ERA, 36.1 IP, +0.5 fWAR)
He pitched for three teams in 2026, but prior to that, he’s had a heap of arm and shoulder issues. Since 2021, four trips to the IL with forearm or shoulder problems, two of those converting to 60-day stints. He has a really good sweeper, though, so you could imagine why teams continue to have interest. But as a starter who might be able to give the team 100 quality MLB innings? Not sure about that.
Signed to a minor league deal/Spring Training invite because the Padres were out of money but out of starting pitchers, Buehler wound up being the one to stick. He didn’t exactly return to his pre-Tommy John Dodgers form (3.02 ERA in 638.1 IP, 15.2 fWAR, 9.7 K/9, 2.3 BB/9), but he was a major league caliber starting pitcher.
On the other hand, he’s already had two Tommy John surgeries in his career, and his nice season ultimately took a turn for the worse. Through June: 3.81 ERA (3.42 FIP) in 78 IP (16 GS). The rest of the way (16 GS): 5.47 ERA (5.63 FIP).
Cal Quantrill (RHP, 9-5, 2.86 ERA, 110 IP, +1.5 fWAR)
Quantrill was signed to a minor league deal by the Rangers in the offseason and he went from a reliable relief presence to a top 3 starter in the rotation. His season ended on the IL, but not before he ranked as having one of the best fastballs in the sport, per Statcast. We’ve got a bit of a Mahle situation here, too, where his highest whiff rates are on a fastball-splitter combo. He won’t be looking for a long-term deal, necessarily, but a decent 1-year deal seems plausible. He also went to Stanford so, uh, why would he be against a return? It’s the 100 quality innings that seems tricky. A lat injury is what ended his season.
He’s been a recent SABR darling — a 4.7 fWAR in 380.1 IP across 2022-2024 — but recently, his decline has pushed him closer to being replacement-level. In particular, his strikeout rate has declined a lot (8.6 K/9 during that heyday, 7.6 K/9 the past two season). But if you look at the pedigree of the teams that have had him — Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, the two Chicago teams, and the Athletics — there’s a computer-y bent that suggests his profile has some meaningful value in a large performance model. Indeed, he was quite a bit better once he moved out of West Sac (5.37 ERA in 67 IP as a starter) and in with the Cubs who used him as a multi-inning reliever. A Houser-Civale back of the rotation with some of the younger pitchers to survive the upcoming roster purge serving as piggybacks or openers might be a path forward for 2027 until some of the other development elements come into focus.
Patrick Sandoval (LHP 1-7, 5.12 ERA, 70.1 IP, +1.3 fWAR)
Although he didn’t wind up on Boston’s NLDS roster, he looked pretty okay after returning from Tommy John surgery. He had that in June 2024 and endured a long recovery and rehab, which was a bummer for Boston which had signed him to a 2-year deal so he could rehab and return with them. He is primarily a changeup guy, throwing it 28+% of the time and getting around 39% Whiff on it. His fastball runs 93-94. Boston did move him to the bullpen at the end of September, but that had more to do with them making sure they got into the postseason. He doesn’t allow homers, strikes guys out, and has the right pitch mix for the era (as Roger notes in the podcast referenced above, the Giants have gone all in on fastball-changeup types). He seems like the perfect short-term deal to add to a rotation. On the other hand… maybe the competition will be fierce, compelling our puppy dog Giants to tuck tail and whimper away.
Of course, the Giants shouldn’t consider Skubal because they’ll have to spend $500 million on him. But will they spend, say $100 million to land 2-3 more meaningful arms? Even if you forget Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Foster Griffin, and Trevor Rogers (and you should), there are some good options in this group if the Giants are looking for 1-2 guys to provide at least 100 quality innings. And we haven’t even gotten to players with opt-outs or options or those who could be available via trade. Just from this article:
Kevin Gausman
Casey Mize
David Petersen
Jack Flaherty
Cal Quantrill
Patrick Sandoval
But what do you think? None of these are worth the team’s time or do they have a better shot at any of the four I think they have no shot at?
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 9: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 9, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dallas Mavericks basketball is back, and there is no shortage of questions heading into Wednesday night’s season opener against the Houston Rockets. Can Kyrie Irving get back to looking like Kyrie Irving? How quickly will Cooper Flagg take another leap? And can new head coach Dusty May get this group moving in the right direction after last season’s mess? Those are the obvious storylines.
But opening night is a chance to see what else Dallas has on its roster and who could potentially emerge as a solidified third option, behind Flagg and Irving. Of course, one game is just one game, but Dallas has talent – young talent. Three players, in particular, are worth keeping an eye on against Houston. One is a former No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft looking for a fresh start, another is a small guard trying to prove he belongs in the rotation, and the third is a rookie big man who could make a living doing the things that don’t always show up in the box score. Any guesses? Let’s break it down.
Zaccharie Risacher
There is something fascinating about the Risacher situation. Not that long ago, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Now, just two years later, he’s in Dallas trying to figure out how to turn that potential into consistent NBA production. The good news? The Mavericks don’t need him to be a superstar. The bad news? They do need him to be more consistent than in Atlanta.
Risacher’s time in Atlanta didn’t exactly go according to plan, and there’s a reason the Mavericks have an opportunity to take a chance on him. He’s only 21, and a player with his size at 6’8 and athleticism should be given another shot at becoming something. In his two years in Atlanta, he averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Those aren’t typically numbers you want to see from a number one pick.
Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what a young player needs. Other times, it just reveals the same problems in a different uniform. We’ll see which one this is. What makes Dallas an interesting landing spot is that Risacher shouldn’t have to force anything. At minimum, he’ll be the third wheel behind Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. He won’t have to bear the weight of the pressure of being THE guy. My ask of him against the Rockets is just to keep things simple. Knock down open threes. Make cuts and find open space on the floor. Do the little things that get a coach to trust you.
The Mavericks could use another reliable wing, especially one who can contribute on both ends. If Risacher can become that guy, a revival could be in the works.
Marcus Sasser
The Mavericks need shooting. Period. Although he’s a little undersized at 6’1, the 25th pick in the 2023 draft brings skills most other Mavs don’t have at the top of their list – ball handling and shooting. Sasser can create his own shot and give the offense a little juice when things get stagnant. Do you remember that offense last year? Things got stagnant. In his career, he’s averaged 7.0 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 rebounds per game.
If Sasser can come in on Wednesday and create a few good looks, get into the paint and knock down shots, he’ll have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation. Of course, there’s a catch. Scoring a few buckets is nice, but it won’t matter much if the Rockets hunt him on the opposite end. His minutes became limited in Detroit Sasser due to injury and his size defensively. Luckily, the Mavericks have size at all other positions to make up for him.
The Mavericks don’t need Sasser to be a starting-level point guard or some hidden star waiting to explode. They need a dependable bench guard who can keep the offense afloat, make smart decisions, and occasionally provide a scoring burst when the team needs one. Whether Sasser can deliver consistently is another question. His preseason debut against Atlanta was an encouraging step after he missed Dallas’ first three exhibition games with left adductor tightness. Now the real games start. It will be telling to see how Sasser handles pressure and if he’s willing to make the simple play instead of forcing a difficult shot. A strong showing could help him make his case for regular minutes. A rough one could remind everyone why undersized guards have such a narrow margin for error.
Morez Johnson Jr.
There’s a reason the Mavericks took Johnson Jr. over a guard in the 2026 draft. At 6’9, 250 pounds, he’s an athletic juggernaut who plays both sides of the floor. The ninth overall pick is built around doing the uncomfortable stuff. Rebound through traffic. Run the floor. Protect the paint. Finish around the basket. Make opposing big men work for every inch of space. Those things aren’t always going to make the highlight reel, but they can absolutely help a team win games. At Michigan, he averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Again, not eye-popping numbers, but it’s impact that matters.
The Mavericks have enough players who will want the ball in their hands. Johnson doesn’t need to compete with them for touches. He can make himself valuable by dominating the areas where effort and toughness matter most, which is a pretty good way for a rookie to get on the floor. There was an encouraging glimpse of that during the preseason, when Johnson grabbed seven rebounds in just 14 minutes against Atlanta. That’s the kind of activity that gets your attention. It doesn’t mean he’s ready to play 25 minutes a night, but it shows how he can contribute even when the offense isn’t running through him
The challenge is doing it against NBA competition. The Rockets are a massive team. The jump from big men in college to the NBA is substantial. Johnson will also have to avoid the rookie mistakes that can frustrate coaches, particularly unnecessary fouls and defensive breakdowns. But if he can bring energy, crash the glass, and make life difficult for opposing centers, he’ll put himself in the conversation for a regular role sooner than some might expect.
There is something refreshing about a young player whose path to contributing is so straightforward. Oh and by the way, did I mention his new coach is also his former coach in Dusty May? That’s good too.
Bottom line
The Mavericks have bigger questions to answer than whether Risacher, Sasser, or Johnson can have a good opening night. Irving’s health and Flagg’s development will ultimately tell us much more about where this team is headed. But the supporting cast matters, too.
Risacher is the swing-for-the-fences play: a former No. 1 pick who could become a valuable two-way wing if things finally click. Sasser is the intriguing bench option who needs to prove he can make enough plays to stay on the floor. Johnson is the rookie who could carve out a role by doing the dirty work and making life miserable for opposing big men. None of these guys needs to have a career night against Houston. It would be nice to see some confidence from Risacher, creativity from Sasser, and “dirty” stats from Johnson Jr. If Dallas is going to surprise anyone this season, it will take more than its two biggest names. Wednesday night is the first chance for others to step up.
How to watch
The Mavericks and the Rockets tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. The game will be televised locally on both WFAA Channel 8 and KFAA Channel 29 locally, as well as on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ regional viewership area. The game can be streamed on MavsTV or NBA League Pass where available.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 17: Devin Booker #1 and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the preseason wrapped up, the Phoenix Suns get ready for their season opener in Portland. This is a fun game for the Suns, who faced the Trail Blazers last year for the seventh spot in the Play-In tournament. Unfortunately for the Suns, the Blazers snuck up on them and stole the win, but the Suns were lucky enough to make the play-in tournament as the eighth seed. Phoenix will look to get off to a strong start and avenge last postseason by winning on opening night, and a huge reason they can do that is how cohesive this squad is.
As we noted throughout the offseason, the team made minimal roster changes. They shipped Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen to bring in Miles Bridges, then signed Luke Kennard. Beyond the two-way acquisitions, almost everyone (sorry, Haywood Highsmith) is still on this roster, and a bunch of them signed new deals to stay. That shows the Suns had just the tip of the iceberg last year, and they can fully capitalize on this opportunity.
Not to mention, Kennard and Bridges will add the areas the team needs. Kennard comes in to try to replicate Allen’s three-point shooting, while Bridges brings more size to the frontcourt, which lacked a natural power forward last season.
That said, key guys like Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin were brought back because of the role and impact they had last season. With both of them back and locked in as the backcourt duo, their chemistry is only going to grow. Add that Gillespie worked well with Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro last year, getting them both comfortable in that bench unit. That leaves me with no fear that he will do the same with Ighodaro and now Khaman Maluach, who has taken this leap.
With this bench unit mostly intact and a few fun new pieces, I’m confident it will be one of the league’s top bench units. Regardless of who starts at center, a lineup with Gillespie, Goodwin, Kennard, Dunn/Fleming, and Ighodaro/Maluach is set up to be a well-oiled, complementary machine. Most of them can shoot threes, and they make the hustle/winning plays we look for as fans. Of course, there can be some concern about a few pieces, and even if a guy like Koa Peat sees some time, given how deep the roster is, only time will tell.
Looking at the starting lineup, I think a lot will carry over from last season. Obviously, with the Bridges trade and Williams’s injury, the lineup will look different from last season, but not drastically. Devin Booker is still here, and he is the franchise guy who will look to improve as he did last year. We saw the number change, and maybe this unlocks Book to be on one this upcoming season. Three-point shooting is one key area he needs to improve from last year, and with Jalen Green getting some work with Steve Nash this offseason, we could see Book take on more of an off-ball role than in the previous two years.
Green is another intriguing name, as the guard came to Phoenix last year as the centerpiece of the KD trade on paper, but, with injuries, didn’t meet expectations. The former Rockets guard led the team in points per game and brought them to the No. 2 seed in a deep West, only to be traded the following offseason. That takes a mental toll on a player, and for Green, who came into training camp with some injuries, the combination didn’t pan out well. Luckily for him, this year, he said he feels a lot better and healthier coming into camp, and looks to make the most of his redemption arc this year,
As I said above, he worked with Nash in the offseason and stayed in Phoenix over the summer to maximize his opportunities. He knows next year is the final year of his deal; it is a big prove-it year, and he wants to take full advantage of it, not only to secure a nice payday but also to have somewhere to call home in the future. With no injuries to consider, this should be an exciting year to watch Green in this system.
Jalen Green says he's been working on his playmaking and pace with Steve Nash this summer 👀 pic.twitter.com/2Twcc5fGCU
Then comes Villain Dillion Brooks, who looks to keep that floor rising for this team. He was a huge acquisition to help shift the culture in the Valley, and he looks to build on it this season. Adding Bridges, too, I think, eases the pain of having to show up offensively every night, especially when Green was out. Now that Bridges and Brooks are together, they can hopefully share that offensive load, while Brooks can still disrupt the defense.
When you add it all up, the Suns look like a pretty impactful team on both ends and across the roster. The roster has no position needs and isn’t overstocked in any one position as they head into the season with 14 guys under contract. That’s something I enjoy and feel confident about going into this year; they’re deep, and I saw that last night. From watching the final preseason game against the Utah Jazz, you could see this team’s cohesion on the floor.
Green looked for open guys, and he and Book started hot. Then Brooks got into a rhythm and started to hunt down his shots; Bridges also hit some threes and looked more comfortable. Even Maluach, stepping up for Ighodaro, who was out, made some impactful plays on both ends. This team was scrappy last season, and that mentality is still sticking through from 1-14 on the roster, and that is key. Personally, I’m super excited to see them take the floor.
Both the starters and the bench looked like a complete unit, with one player ready for the wide-open shot or the best opportunity, which didn’t always seem the case last season. That truly has me bought in and excited for the season; last year, I was optimistic, but not this high on the whole roster. Ultimately, we will find out whether this cohesion truly makes a difference. I think we will see it show on the bright side this season for the Suns.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 7: Luis Campusano #12 of the San Diego Padres swings and hits the ball in the fourth inning during Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park on October 7, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
The Breakout Backstop
Regardless of his lack of total work this season, Luis Campusano truly broke out this season. Much of that is due to manager Craig Stammen placing his faith in the 28-year-old to back up Freddy Fermin. Eventually, Campusano seemed to actually win the starting catcher job once Fermin’s bat proved anemic. Still, Campusano looked phenomenal behind the dish. It’s a wonder why former manager Mike Shildt ever kept him out of the lineup in 2024-25.
Overall Grade: B+
In 71 games, Campusano hit .265/.363/.433 with a .796 OPS. He hit eight home runs, 20 extra-base hits and 30 RBI. All-in-all, he ended the season with a 122 OPS+ (22 points above league-average hitters). It was by far the most successful season of his career. The only other year when Campusano had more than 200 at-bats came in 2024. He posted -0.7 WAR that season compared to 1.7 WAR in 2026.
His defense also improved. Compared to that 2024 season, his Throwing Value went up from -3 to +3 while his Blocking Value increased from -3 to 0. Framing has continued to be a less valuable facet of Campusano’s game (-4 Framing Value), however with the advent of ABS challenges, framing as an art has dwindled in the game. That said, his ABS challenges haven’t been particularly great (-2 value).
Campusano missed significant time with a fractured toe after fouling a pitch off his foot. He left the team in the first week of May and didn’t return until early July. Still, he helped win the Padres some games in that time. He hit two walk-offs late in the season that won the Friars significant games. If Campusano can build on that in 2027, it’ll be a major improvement for San Diego’s historically subpar catching tandem.
