Sep 28, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants outfielder Grant McCray (58) hits an infield single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Good morning friends and happy Friday!
The offseason is now one day old. Let’s catch you up on everything that’s happening as teams prepare for the long winter ahead.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 28: Majority owner John Sherman of the Kansas City Royals looks on prior to the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Royals need a lot of work after losing 93 games last year. There will likely be a flurry of action this month before the labor deal expires in December. What would you do if you were running the Royals this offseason?
The Royals currently have 35 players on the 40-man roster.
Catchers (2): Carter Jensen, Salvador Perez
Infielders (6): Maikel Garcia, Nick Loftin, Michael Massey, Vinnie Pasquantino, Tyler Tolbert, Bobby Witt Jr.
Outfielders (5): Jac Caglianone, Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel, Matthew Lugo, John Rave
Pitchers (22): Ryan Bergert, Spencer Bivens, Noah Cameron, Steven Cruz, Jose Cuas, Randy Dobnak, Carlos Estévez, Carlos Durán, Lucas Erceg, Tony Gonsolin, Anthony Gose, Nolan Hoffman, Ben Kudrna, Seth Lugo, Daniel Lynch IV, James McArthur, Nate Pearson, Mitch Spence, Connor Thomas, Michael Wacha, Beck Way, Steven Zobac
Luinder Avila, Stephen Kolek, Nick Mears, and Cole Ragans will be activated from the 60-day Injured List and will join the 40-man roster soon. Carson Roccaforte and Lucas Braun need to be added to the 40-man roster, and you may want to add Brett Squires, Gavin Cross, Felix Arronde, and/or Daniel Vazquez, among other players. Do you add any of them and who do you remove?
The Royals have a $13 million club option on closer Carlos Estévez with a $2 million buyout, and a $2.5 million club option on Tony Gonsolin. Do you exercise either of those?
The Royals have seven players under contract for next year.
Seth Lugo $21.5 million
Bobby Witt Jr. $20.111 million
Michael Wacha $14 million
Cole Ragans $7.583 million
Maikel Garcia $7.26 million
Vinnie Pasquantino $6.9 million
Salvador Perez $6.5 million
Those salaries total just over $83 million. Combine them with your arbitration-eligible salaries, any buyouts, and the salaries of pre-arbitration players. Owner John Sherman projects around $30 million for the team to spend this offseason. Here is a list of eligible free agents. Who do you pursue?
Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris, center and his father Rob Harris watch practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.
We have a new World Series champion, and the frightening thing is that the Milwaukee Brewers still have a strong farm system. You thought being dominated by the Los Angeles Dodgers was no fun? Just wait, because this could go on quite a while. The total dismantling of a deep Tampa Bay Rays club served a little added notice that the Brewers have broken through and may be here to stay at the top of the game for a while.
Turns out they didn’t need Tarik Skubal at all. We’ll see who feels like they do really need the former Tigers ace this offseason, but the wait could be a while. In the meantime, let’s line up the offseason with all the key dates, and key decisions for the Detroit Tigers.
As of 9:00 a.m. ET on Thursday morning, pending free agents were eligible to decide on player options and file for free agency. Pending free agents can only talk with their current club until Monday. The trading desk is now open as well, and a few deals and decisions have already gone through.
Dustin May declined his mutual option with the Brewers and is a free agent
Point being, you can expect that the Tigers have most of their decisions in the chute already so we’ll hear from them shortly.
Gold Glove winners will be announced on Sunday, November 1. Dillon Dingler is probably a lock to take home the award for top defensive catcher in the American League, while Zach McKinstry has a pretty good shot at the utilityman Gold Glove.
On Monday, November 2nd, the Contemporary Baseball Era Hall of Fame ballot will be announced. Silver Slugger Award finalists will also be released.
Free agency begins five days after the World Series ends on Monday, November 2nd, at 5:00 p.m. ET. This is also the last day for qualifying offer decisions. The Tigers don’t have anyone to use a qualifying offer on this offseason. The biggest news on this day will come as the Tigers will have to reinstate players off the 60-day injured list, and decide on club option decisions.
The Tigers have eight players to reinstate off the 60-day injured list.
LHP Bailey Horn
RHP Reese Olson
RHP Will Vest
SS Trey Sweeney
OF Kerry Carpenter
OF Parker Meadows
OF Wenceel Pérez
OF Matt Vierling
The Tigers can release minor league outfielder Corey Julks easily to free up one spot. Gleyber Torres and Jack Flaherty are both free agents, as are RHP Burch Smith, RHP Tyler Kinley, and RHP Jacob Waguespack. The Tigers have a $12 million option on RHP Kenley Jansen that they can exercise or buy out for $2 million. They hold a $10 million club option for RHP Drew Anderson. That one is, I think, sure to be exercised, as we wrote about this week.
Currently, leaving aside Jansen and Anderson, the Tigers have 33 players on the 40-man roster before the 60-day IL players are added back. Should they keep both relievers on their options, they’ll have 35 players on the 40-man, with the list of eight players above to be added.
Beyond Julks, there are some cuts they could make that wouldn’t be too painful. RHP Brenan Hanifee is useful here and there but not terribly necessary, though the Tigers need right-handed relief help of all sorts. Keeping Jace Jung just seems a bit cruel since he has no real chance to crack the major league roster. Lefty Jake Miller will probably be kept for his potential, but two years of injury trouble may have changed some minds. Easier to release perhaps is Sawyer Gipson-Long, who wasn’t able to get it going in his first full season post-Tommy John. Horn underwent Tommy John this summer, so there’s a possibility as well.
I would bet that the Tigers keep Sweeney one more year and try to sort out his bat for infield depth, but that ship may be sailing. Kerry Carpenter is pretty much guaranteed to be kept, if only to see if the oft-injured outfielder can get back to form next spring. Probably the same is true for Parker Meadows, whose fluke injury this year cost him nearly the whole season. He’s talented enough that the Tigers will give it one more go. Wenceel Pérez and Matt Vierling are in greater danger to be DFA’d, in my opinion. Would the Tigers make a bigger move, trading Spencer Torkelson or one of their injured outfielders? Eh, it’s possible but does not feel Scott Harris-ish.
From November 9-12 will be the big award announcements. Rookies of the Year, namely our own Kevin McGonigle, will be announced on Monday, November 9. Managers of the Year will be announced on the 10th, the Cy Young awards are announced on Tuesday the 11th, and the MLB awards will be out on Thursday the 12th. All those announcements are set for 7:00 p.m. ET on MLB Network.
The GM meetings are scheduled in Las Vegas from November 10-12. Typically discussions are more about procedural and rule issues, but with the impending CBA negotiations, perhaps there will be a little more news than normal.
Players who have a qualifying offer extended to them have to decide on that by November 17th. This year the qualifying offer is $23.15 million for one year, with a no-trade clause included that lasts until June 15th of the next season.
November 17th is also the date for teams to finalize their 40-man rosters and protect prospects from the Rule 5 draft. The big ones for the Tigers this year are OF Zyhir Hope and INF Max Anderson, who will both be added. That’s another layer of complication on the 40-man roster decisions discussed earlier.
November 20th is the non-tender deadline, by which time teams must offer contacts to pre-arbitration and arbitration eligible players for 2027. Players don’t have to accept at that point, and eligible players may wait for arbitration, but that will bring a new CBA and new rules into play as well.
December 1st is the big day when the collective bargaining agreement expires, and at that point the owners will lockout players, and that battle will begin. The league has already sent out guidelines for team conduct during the lockout. Last time, teams took down all player likenesses and a few other amusing and petty moves, but more importantly, teams and players cease communication at that point, except for private matters.
The Winter Meetings are set to begin on December 7 in San Diego, but they were cancelled during the last lockout and presumably will be again. That will also delay the draft lottery, currently set for December 8th, as well as the Rule 5 draft, currently set for December 9th. Last time the Rule 5 major league portion was cancelled, though the minor league phase was completed, involving only non 40-man roster players.
So, that’s the landscape, but obviously the smart money says that very little will happen until the CBA is complete. The Tigers will have plenty of roster decisions to make, but beyond that we’ll have to see if much in the way of free agency or trading goes on. It should be interesting to see, because early moves could signal to a degree which way teams believe the CBA negotiations are going to blow. If there’s a real possibility of a salary cap actually being put into place, one of the chief indicators could be Scott Boras, who knows which way things are going to blow as well as anyone, deciding to lean in and get Tarik Skubal signed to a new team before the rules change. I don’t expect that to happen, but everyone will be grasping for signs and portents this winter either way.
Aug 2, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Robert Stock (89) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
36-year-old Robert Stock had last pitched for the Mets on July 20, 2021, in Cincinnati. James McCann was behind the plate, calling the signs in a pre-pitchcom world. The left side of the infield was populated by Jonathan Villar and J.D. Davis. Pete Alonso hit the 88th home run of his career in the top of the first inning. Not a single other player to appear in that game for the Mets was still on their 2026 team, and only two players on the Reds (Tyler Stephenson and Eugenio Suárez) were still on their 2026 roster. But somehow, against all odds, Robert Stock — after three years without major league action, two stints in international leagues, and a pair of appearances in 2025 with the Red Sox — found his way back to the Mets on August 2, 2026.
That 2021 Mets team was on the brink of a late-season collapse when Stock made his two appearances for the team. By the time Stock joined the 2026 Mets, there was nothing left to collapse. No division lead to be blown. The Mets were simply hoping to hold the raft together and find signs of life in the midst of an extraordinarily disappointing campaign. Stock and Sean Manaea were the two veterans in a rotation otherwise filled with energetic young prospects looking to prove themselves — but Stock’s story almost made him fit better with the latter group than the former. There were no guarantees. With each outing, he was pitching for the chance to earn one more day in the big leagues.
Stock was first promoted for a spot start against the Marlins. He leveraged that glimmer of an opportunity into seven starts, one relief appearance, and 30.1 innings of work over the season’s final two months before finger numbness sidelined him. There were some gems in there, too. On August 14, he allowed just one unearned run over 4.1 innings against the Nationals (who scored the third-most runs in MLB this year). On August 19, he allowed a run over 4.1 innings while striking out six against the Padres, arguably the hottest team in the National League at the time. And on August 31, he fired 5.1 shutout innings against the American League pennant winners at Tropicana Field, striking out four Rays batters while walking none.
Stock’s less-than-glamorous 5.93 ERA paints an incomplete picture of his performance. His 3.92 FIP indicates bad batted-ball luck, likely assisted by the Mets’ subpar defense. He struck out just 29 batters in 30.1 innings, a relatively inconspicuous number in today’s fireballing times, but he walked just 15 and allowed just two homers. He also suffered from a pair of disastrous outings, allowing eight runs in Pittsburgh and seven runs in Milwaukee, which inflated his ERA. He allowed one or zero runs in four of his five other starts.
So the question looms: Will Stock be a part of the Mets’ 2027 plans? The case against him is a perfectly reasonable one. He’ll be 37 years old, meaning his 59th-percentile fastball velocity (95.0 mph) will likely only go down from here. His underlying metrics were nothing to write home about, with relatively low chase and whiff rates despite a low hard-hit rate on the positive side. The Mets also have five clear starting options heading into Spring Training, with youngsters Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton, and Jonah Tong to go along with the veteran lefty Manaea. Stock’s position would likely be that of a reliever or swingman, and he doesn’t quite have the wipeout stuff the Mets might look for in a two-inning bullpen arm to serve that role.
The case for Stock? It takes guts to make it back to the majors after years away. It takes guts to perform under pressure with each outing potentially being the last of your career. And it takes good enough stuff and good enough command to show the glimpses of success that Stock did in August and September.
Injuries will always strike. Severe underperformance is always possible. (The current Mets brass should know those two principles better than anyone). If by May 2027, the Mets are already in emergency need of a spot starter or even a full-on rotation replacement, Stock is certainly a more attractive option than someone with zero command, zero experience, or zero ability to meet the moment.
Plus, his twitter account makes for quite an entertaining follow. And if nothing else, Mets fans can always use a bit of humor in their oft-torturous summers.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Eduardo Quintero #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers swings the bat during a game between the Salt River Rafters and the Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch on October 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Desert Dogs have played four games this week, and in three of them they’ve scored at least nine runs; in the other one they’ve scored just one. They’re 0-3 when scoring nine or more, and they’ve won that game in which they managed to put a single run across. The latest of these high-scoring losses came on Thursday against Peoria with just a single Dodger in the batting lineup, Eduardo Quintero.
Out of the leadoff spot he occupied in previous games, Quintero was batting third despite his underwhelming numbers in the AFL. Much like the rest of the Desert Dogs offense, he had a productive performance, reaching base in three of his five plate appearances, including two walks and a hit. Once again, it was the same reliable aspects of Quintero’s game that shone here, with the two walks and a stolen base, his sixth in as many attempts.
Touching on how the Desert Dogs blew this game in which they led 10-6 at one point, it was partially the responsibility of a Dodger pitcher, the only one who took the mound in this affair. Williams Salazar got the ball in the seventh and proceeded to walk three and give up a hit, recording just a single out, taking not only the blown save but also the loss in this one.
The Dodgers’ left-hander Luke Fox will be the starter for the Desert Dogs on this Friday afternoon as they hope to avoid a third straight defeat, facing the Salt River Rafters. The game starts at 1:30 p.m. (PT).
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 10: Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo before game 4 of the ALDS between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals on October 10, 2024 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are your 2026 World Series Champions. Neat! But whenever the World Series wraps up, there’s only so much time that you can take thinking about the Fall Classic before the Major League Baseball offseason picks up.
Normally, there is a very standardized cadence to this whole thing. In most years, there is some activity that takes place pretty soon after the World Series. In December, the Winter Meetings happen, which is where a lot of wheelin’ and dealin’ gets done and where setups for future wheelin’ and dealin’ happen. During the month afterwards, most moves happen, with some inevitable stragglers in January and February.
This, ah, is not most years. In December, the most recent Competitive Bargaining Agreement between the MLB Player’s Union and the owners will expire. That will almost inevitably lead to a lockout on December 1, and everything will be at a stalemate until parties can agree on a deal.
That’s quite a bit of uncertainty. And if you thought that this uncertainty would likely mean that teams would hesitate to spend money in the short period before a potential lockout, you would be incorrect: expect a fast and furious month of November.
We know this is likely to happen for a few reasons. The first reason is that, the last time the CBA expired, the league spent cash like it was Monopoly money. In the month of November, teams spent a combined $1.7 billion in free agency. Six players—Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Max Scherzer, Robbie Ray, Kevin Gausman, and Javier Baez—signed contracts at $100 million or more prior to the lockout on December 2. Prior to 2021, only four players in the history of free agency had signed a nine-figure deal in November. It wasn’t just prominent free agent signings, either; we got trades, we got extensions, we got all sorts of stuff. The Boston Globe called it a “lockout frenzy.”
It’s likely that this year plays out the same way industry-wide because the scenario is really similar. The CBA ends one day earlier, but that’s about it. And if that’s the case, we could see a huge portion of players signed and traded.
The other reason why a fast November is probable for Kansas City is that the Royals are themselves chomping at the bit to get stuff in. General manager JJ Picollo held his standard press conference on the first game of the final homestand of the year, and I was there to hear his thoughts. Sure enough, he was asked about the offseason plan. And sure enough, his statement seemed to indicate that a fast-paced month is ready (emphasis mine):
November is the month where you have to get some work done. I am anxious to see how fast the industry works, but I know our plan is to push the envelope as much as we can because wewould much rather have some potential pieces to the puzzle in place before a potential lockout.
To Picollo’s credit, it will depend on how the league reacts. But I’m sure that the Royals aren’t the only ones thinking this way. And if they aren’t, buckle up.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Nate Eaton #18 of the Boston Red Sox looks on against the New York Yankees during the third inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Friday everyone!
Today, the Milwaukee Brewers will hold their first World Series championship parade and celebration in downtown Milwaukee. After winning more games than any other team during the regular season, the Brewers stormed through the playoffs, losing just two games en route to a historic title.
Meanwhile, the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays fell short of winning their first World Series title in their third appearance this century. The Rays’ lineup lacked sufficient firepower, while the team’s bullpen faltered at the worst possible time.
With the postseason over, attention turns to the offseason. Left-hander Tarik Skubal headlines this winter’s free-agent class, while teams will look to make trades to bolster their rosters or reduce payroll. Much of the player movement could take place in November before the potential owner-imposed lockout begins on Dec. 1.
The Athletics kicked off the offseason transaction period, as new president of baseball operations Taylor Smith got right to work. Unsurprisingly, he made his first trade with his former employer.
The A's have acquired OF Nate Eaton from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league RHP Jareth Rayo.
The Boston Red Sox traded 29-year-old outfielder Nate Eaton to the A’s in exchange for 18-year-old Nicaraguan pitcher Jareth Rayo, who appeared in the Dominican Summer League this year. Eaton, who can play all three outfield spots as well as third base, hit .160 with a .560 OPS, one home run, two doubles and six RBIs in 24 games this season.
The jury is still out on his bat, but his 96th percentile sprint speed and 97th percentile arm strength could give him a leg up when competing for a reserve outfield spot. Because Eaton is out of options, either offensively challenged center fielder Denzel Clarke or defensively challenged Carlos Cortes may begin next season in Triple-A, depending on how the A’s roster shakes out.
Let’s welcome Eaton to the Athletics. If today was any indication, the next few weeks have the potential to be busy as Smith works to reshape the roster into one built to contend for the playoffs. What trade or free-agent signing would you like to see Smith make next?
This is not a good look. Hopefully, Henry Baez and fellow right-hander Braden Nett deliver bounce-back seasons next year. Baez is the most intriguing prospect in this list, while right-hander Geoff Hartlieb and catcher Brian Serven saw the most major league playing time this past season.
2 of the 4 players A’s got for Mason Miller are already off the roster https://t.co/RukylTtB3b
European football has stretched resources but the manager insists busy schedule is not something to complain about
Twenty seconds of stoppage time remained when Enzo Le Fée picked up the ball and kissed it before taking a corner. As intended, the Frenchman’s perfect, right-footed delivery dropped into the corridor of uncertainty that leaves goalkeepers torn between leaving their line or standing firm.
It also dipped at the right moment for Dan Ballard to power a header in off the crossbar. Extra time in the 2025 Championship playoff semi-final second leg was almost over and Sunderland had secured a 1-1 draw that consigned Coventry to a 3-2 aggregate defeat.
The Kings fell to 0-5 to start the 2026-27 NBA season after a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and have found themselves in a deep hole. Despite the rough start, though, it appears that coach Doug Christie’s job is safe.
The winless start created rumblings that Christie is on the hot seat, but according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the franchise has no plans to make any changes, at least in the immediate future.
“Even before Thursday night’s game in New Orleans, a 132-120 loss against the previously 0-4 Pelicans that dropped the Kings to 0-5, there was a growing sense around the league that Christie might already be on the hot seat,” Amick wrote. “Especially if the Kings didn’t find a way to win on this four-game road trip that still includes games against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Yet according to a team source with knowledge of the Kings’ plans, that’s not the case.
“Per the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because these matters aren’t typically discussed publicly, there is an internal belief that Christie deserves a fair chance to be evaluated with a team that is much healthier than this current Kings lot. From Ben Simmons (torn right Achilles tendon, out for the season) to Keegan Murray (left ankle), Maxime Raynaud (right knee) and Dylan Cardwell (left calf), the Kings have been without several players who were expected to play pivotal parts in Christie’s rotation.”
Christie is in his second full season as the Kings’ coach and was tasked with overseeing a rebuild. The Kings have one playoff appearance over the last 20 seasons and came into this season with a young roster. Headlined by rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr., second-year big man Maxime Raynaud and veteran big man Domantas Sabonis, the team is still trying to establish a consistent core.
It doesn’t help that the team is dealing with several injuries, with Raynaud sidelined due to a knee injury he sustained in the preseason and guard Ben Simmons out for the season with a torn Achilles. Christie’s leadership has been vital for player development, and the expectation is that when the team gets some guys back, they will find their footing.
Acuff Jr. in particular has shown promise, averaging 24 points, 6.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds through five games. He is coming off his best game of the season to date, scoring 34 points and registering 14 assists in the 132-120 loss to the Pelicans.
The Kings are desperate for a win and hope that their first one comes in their next game against the 5-0 Memphis Grizzlies. Traveling to Memphis, tip-off is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 28: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles against Jordan Hawkins #15 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on October 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jessie Alcheh/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2026 has been the year of Jalen Brunson. Shooting Stars champions, Conference Finals MVP, championship, Finals MVP, multiple ESPYs, and numerous media appearances, including Saturday Night Live and an upcoming appearance on his favorite show, Law and Order. But he’s not done yet. On Friday morning, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported that the point guard had been named the Professional Athlete of the Year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.
Jalen Brunson has been named athlete of the year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association pic.twitter.com/3ifUNTyFkH
The press release released by the association, which consists of 17 members, highlights his incredible performance, ability to deliver in the clutch, and his leadership.
“His skill, his leadership, and his connection to the Philadelphia basketball community all make him a deserving recipient of this honor. He plays his best when the stakes are the highest and has led his teams to championships at every level.” Mike Shute, president of the PSWA, said. “We are pleased to present him with this honor, as he joins a list of past winners such as Carl Lewis, Muhammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain and Mike Schmidt.”
Brunson, who famously played at Villanova, will be honored at the 122nd Annual PSWA Awards Banquet next year on January 11th at the University of Pennsylvania. Funnily enough, the announcement also comes just hours before the Knicks take on the 76ers to kick off the 2026 NBA Cup.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 28: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 28, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After handily defeating a shorthanded Magic team, the Raptors are gearing up to square off for the second game of the season series, with more on the line than before.
After mutilating Orlando by 30 points, Toronto should feel confident with them as their first opponent of Group Play, which decides who’s able to enter the seeding of the tournament bracket. The Raptors made the Knockout Round last year, but were defeated in the quarter-finals by the eventual champions, the New York Knicks.
If the Raptors’ last game was any indication, getting back to the Knockout Round looks to be extremely likely this year, as their lineups of opponents will be the Orlando Magic, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Detroit Pistons, and finally, the Brooklyn Nets.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 16: John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons goes up for a dunk against Alijah Martin #55 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter of a game at Little Caesars Arena on October 16, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The only team in the group that appears to be near the calibre of Toronto in this group is the Detroit Pistons, who have the potential to give the Raptors a lot of trouble with their centre play. Other than that, the Raptors should steamroll the other three matchiups, even without Kawhi Leonard.
Toronto has only two players missing tonight’s game, those being Leonard, and centre Nate Bittle. Bittle is a rookie who has not yet seen NBA playing time, and seeing how he’ll slot into the Raptors’ rotation will be interesting, as Rajaković has noted that “everything is on the table” for players at that position.
Orlando’s injury situation is quite another story. They’re without five players, a number of them starters, most notably Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs. Jonathan Isaac is also sidelined, as well as forwards Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson.
While victory is never guaranteed, the Raptors should take this game as an opportunity to bolster their new lineup with Ja’Kobe Walter starting, giving the players more reps with the shooter now that he’s playing an even larger role on the team. As well, this game will hopefully be the one in which Jakob Poeltl is able to demonstrate his capabilities.
His coach has done a lot to stand beside Poeltl throughout a very difficult start to the season for the big man, whose offensive production has plummeted, in large part as a result of his attempting less than two field goals per game this season. Evidently, the team is sticking by their guy, but this means that whatever the reason for Poeltl not taking more shots — coaching schemes, anxiety, or otherwise — needs to be overcome.
Outside of the horrific zero-point showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Scottie Barnes has looked like an All-Star this season, averaging more than 20 points and already having notched his first double-double of the season against the Washington Wizards.
His massive 360 dunk last game has gone viral, with more than 300,000 views on the NBA’s Twitter page alone, and it’s brief moments like these that remind you that Barnes is 25, a two-time All-Star, and in year six of his NBA career. The Raptors have a *guy* that’s not named Kawhi Leonard, who is (excluding the Wolves game) putting together an impressive start to the season.
The Magic game tonight gives the Raptors the opportunity to tighten up their new lineup ahead of a three game road trip mostly in the Western Conference, where the Raps will get their first look at this year’s Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and LA Clippers. Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder made the show “The Rehearsal” before the film “You Can See Everything,” and much like him, the Toronto Raptors will have an opportunity to rehearse before they have to see everything California and Colorado has in store for them.
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 6: Grant Nelson #16 and Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the Brooklyn Nets look on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 6, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets have no shortage of young players to develop this season.
Between the Flatbush 5, now in their second season, and their three rookies from June’s NBA draft, Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson, and Tyler Bilodeau, the organization has drafted eight players over the past two years, including seven first-round picks.
Eight of their 15 players on standard NBA contracts remain on their rookie deal. Bilodeau, the second-round rookie, is on a two-way deal, while 2023 first-rounder Noah Clowney, in a prove-it season, is Brooklyn’s eighth NBA player on a rookie contract. (Clowney is younger than Jefferson, Bilodeau and Danny Wolf.)
For the second straight year, the Nets are the NBA’s youngest team with a median age of 24.3 years, and the only team younger than their current squad over the past 25 years was Brooklyn’s group last season.
That youth movement extends beyond the organization’s regular-season roster. About 25 miles east of the Barclays Center, the Nets have another group of young players on Long Island, looking to develop their games and eventually land a consistent role in the NBA.
Bilodeau is a part of that pod alongside fellow two-way player Grant Nelson, who returns for his second season with the organization after patellar tendinitis cut short his 2025-26 campaign. He didn’t even have the opportunity to fully prove his value, as he found himself on a minutes restriction even when he was on the floor.
At Long Island’s Media Day on Thursday ahead of their November 6 opener, both Bilodeau and Nelson spoke with NetsDaily about their development and what it will take to eventually establish themselves as contributors with Brooklyn. As two-way players, Nelson and Bilodeau can each play up to 50 NBA games.
Bilodeau told us that he’s already seen growth since Summer League, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
“I feel like I’ve improved so much since Summer League,” the second-round rookie said. “I think a big improvement of mine has been defensively, trusting myself a little more, and getting used to guarding the perimeter. I didn’t do much of that last year.”
That’s encouraging, because the biggest concern regarding Bilodeau’s game entering the draft was his defense. At 6’9” and 230 pounds, he certainly has the frame to be a serviceable option on that end of the floor, but as he alluded to, there wasn’t much of an emphasis on him guarding the perimeter during his final year at UCLA.
The shooting ability is there. During his final NCAA season with the Bruins, he shot a whopping 46.4% from deep, topping this year’s draft class and leading all Big 10 players. His defense, though, was the main reason he fell to Brooklyn with the No. 43 overall pick.
More importantly, though, the Nets already have enough young players who need the ball in their hands, and that’s not the best path for a second-rounder to find minutes, especially on Brooklyn’s current squad.
Much of his attention seems to be going towards improving as an all-around player.
“Really, I feel like just improving on all aspects of my game,” he said.
Bilodeau also acknowledged that the transition from college basketball to the professional level will come with some adjustments to his play style.
“It’s a different game,” the UCLA product said. “The NBA is a different game, so I think making that transition from college to this level means just working on all those things.
While he’s with Long Island, Bilodeau should have plenty of opportunites to work through those adjustments and become a more well-rounded player. Long Island and Brooklyn operate with an eerily similar system and terminology, making it much easier for players to transition from the NBA to the G League. That’s especially valuable for a young player like Bilodeau.
“We’re one group. We’re one organization. Jordi [Fernández] preaches it all the time. We’re a club. We have a club system here, basically,” Long Island’s first-year head coach Shawn Swords told ND on Thursday.
The same goes for Nelson. While he is in a different spot, having already spent a year with the organization, their goals remain the same: eventually prove their worth on the NBA floor.
While injuries hampered Nelson last year, he spent much of his rehabilitation working on his shooting mechanics, in particular, which he discussed at Brooklyn’s Media Day last month.
Speaking with ND at Long Island’s Media Day, the Alabama product explained why he emphasized growing that facet of his game.
“I think it’s extremely important with the direction that the game has been going in,” he said. “I mean, I think it’s just adding another part to my game, being versatile in that way. Most bigs can shoot now. So being able to do that, I think it will definitely help me out in my career.”
At 7’0”, Nelson is a fascinating player, largely because of his size and athleticism. Now, his shooting could become an asset, too.
Up in Brooklyn, the Nets lack an established rim protector and established interior defense. Nelson has an opportunity to make an impression in those areas, especially with his size and mobility. His mindset, though, remains to continue developing on Long Island. The goal, however, is NBA minutes.
“Obviously, I’m trying to do what I can here in Long Island to become the best player I can be. And hopefully get some minutes with Brooklyn,” The 24-year-old Nelson told ND.
Nelson still knows that there’s room for improvement. At the end of the day, he’s on a two-way deal for a reason: to keep growing and blossoming as a player.
“I’m not the player that I want to be yet,” he said.
That’s also the mentality Long Island’s general manager Matt MacDonald and the organization are looking for in their players, whether they’re on assignments, two-way guys, or standard G League players.
“We work hard here; we want good people,” he said on Thursday. “We want guys that are talented and have a chance to get to the next level.”
There’s plenty of basketball ahead for both Nelson and Bilodeau, but they also have plenty to prove. As the Nets continue building toward the future, discovering diamonds in the rough like these players highlights the true value of an organization’s development system, and Brooklyn has a strong reputation for theirs.
Long Island opens its season on November 6 in Greensboro before its home opener on the 13th vs. the College Paek Skyhawks.
Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger was free to sign with any team for a large portion of the 2025-26 offseason, until he inked a five-year, $162.5-million deal with a full no-trade clause and opt-outs after the 2027 and ’28 seasons.
Despite missing about a month in the summer with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Bellinger gave his team a solid, steady season even without some of the thunder he provided in his debut campaign in the Bronx in 2025.
Bellinger posted a solid 3.5 fWAR in 132 games, but his home run tally went from 29 to 17 from 2025 to 2026, and his slugging percentage fell from .480 to .429. Still, he was good enough to help the Bombers make the postseason in a frustrating year for the offense.
2027 Contract Status: Under contract (five years, $162.5 million from 2026 to 2030)
Bellinger might have struggled to leave his mark in the power department this year, but he offered one of the most well-rounded lines you will see in a season in which the Yankees finished in the middle of the pack with a 101 wRC+, ranked 14th. That is very valuable, even if it might seem boring to some. Still, we know Bellinger is capable of much more, which is why he didn’t quite get an A in our report cards.
The good news for the Yankees is that even if he slipped a bit in comparison to his excellent 2023 and 2025 campaigns (the former in Chicago as a member of the Cubs, the latter in the Bronx), he seems to have settled on a much higher floor than his forgettable 2021-22 stretch in LA. That’s promising for a team that just made a sizable investment on the player.
Acting as the Yankees’ left fielder most of the time, Bellinger scored and drove in 73 runs, doubled 25 times, and even pitched in with 12 steals, besides the 17 round-trippers. He racked up most of his value on the field, though. Bellinger impressed defensively in 2026, which earned him a Gold Glove nomination. If he wins, it would be his second award after the one he obtained in 2019.
The 31-year-old didn’t show any signs of slowing down as a defender and led all MLB left fielders with +21 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), showcased some impressive range (+6 OAA), and uncorked throws at an average speed of 93.3 mph, ranking in the 94th percentile of the league. It was probably Bellinger’s most impressive campaign with the glove, which is certainly noteworthy.
To sum up, the Yankees had an above-average hitter and an elite fielder in Bellinger, and there are reasons to believe his offense could bounce back next year. While his 21st percentile bat speed left a lot to be desired, he squares up the ball in the most ideal angles, as his 88th percentile LA Sweet-Spot% of 38.2 indicates. He was also significantly above-average in other metrics such as squared-up percentage (91st percentile), expected xwOBA (70th percentile), and expected batting average (82nd percentile), among others.
Bellinger is no longer the star he was in 2017-19. That player is long gone. However, he has found ways to keep contributing and remains a solid player as he heads into his early and mid-thirties.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 04: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres is taken out of the game by manager Craig Stammen of the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning in game two of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was disappointing news for San Diego Padres fans, but it was expected. It was announced on Thursday that starter Michael King declined his player option and will become a free agent for the second consecutive season. The right-hander had a solid bounce back season after his 2025 season was hampered by injury. There was thought that the injury concerns as well as his draft pick compensation by way of the qualifying offer limited his earning potential on the open market.
While King’s decision would not be considered a surprise in any regard, it still caused concern for the Friar Faithful because he is now arguably the second best starting option on the market behind only Tarik Skubal. That means he will receive a pay raise of some sort, but it seems like the length of the contract is what will be important to the 32-year-old. King had two years and $53 million left on his former contract with the Padres had he opted in to that deal. He would have had another chance to opt out following the 2027 season, so it does not appear the dollar amount was the deciding factor in his case.
The ball now lies squarely in the court of new San Diego owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. They have said since their opening press conference they are committed to bringing a World Series title to San Diego and with King opting out they now have a chance to literally put their money where the mouths are. There is the unknown of the new ownership, which creates an uneasy feeling among the Friar Faithful. Will Feliciano and Jones spend? If they do spend, to what level? The Padres have an exclusive five day window to negotiate with King before he can talk with the remaining MLB teams. It would be quite the statement if he never gets the chance to do so.
San Diego has seen its fair share of bad contracts with long years and big money, but King has shown what he can do and more important what he is willing to do. He started playoff games in 2026 and earned a playoff save with two innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Championship. King has said he wants to be in San Diego, so the two have mutual interest. How authentic that is will be seen in the coming days and potentially weeks or months.
Padres News:
Kyle Hart had some bright spots in 2026, but he was not as consistent as he or the team would have liked. How did Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball grade his season? Read his breakdown here.
Xander Bogaerts has shown to be the warning for long-term, big money contracts as he failed to live up to that commitment once again in San Diego. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball looks at what the Friar Faithful should expect from Bogaerts going forward.
So the Milwaukee Brewers are World Series champions and it will be fascinating to see if their contact-hitting, hustling, fundamentally sound style of play influences other teams this offseason, especially with a free agent class that is largely lacking in star power.
The more pressing question, of course, is when we’ll see baseball again.
A lockout on Dec. 1 is a virtual certainty, and the owners' rabid desire for a salary cap is expected to make for a long standoff in collective bargaining negotiations that could stretch into February, March, April…who knows how long.
All of which could also make for a busy November, with at least some teams likely to sign free agents before the lockout and before any potential changes that could make it more penal to add payroll.
Super-agent Scott Boras is already pushing that narrative publicly, and will be trying hard to get a deal done with Tarik Skubal before the sport goes dark.
So with that, here are my predictions for where 10 of the top free agents (actually 11, thanks to a bonus double-entry for the Mets) will sign.
10. ADRIAN MOREJON: PHILLIES
The Phillies have been trying for years, with little success, to build a bullpen that won’t fall apart in the biggest moments, most notably the postseason.
They have a dominant closer now in Jhoan Duran, but need another big piece like Morejon, one of the best left-handed relievers in the game in recent years with the Padres.
Morejon has nasty stuff. He averaged 99.4 mph with his fastball last season, struck out 106 hitters in 86 innings, and ranked in the 99th percentile of MLB pitchers, via Statcast, in chase percentage and soft contact. He’s only 27, turning 28 in February.
9. SEIYA SUZUKI: BLUE JAYS
In a free agent class short on impact hitters, Suzuki could be the best value on the board. He consistently put up good numbers with the Chicago Cubs the last five years, hitting 26 home runs in 2026 with 31 doubles, a .270 batting average and an .841 OPS, and he plays solid defense in right field featuring a very strong arm.
The Jays, meanwhile, need to make some type of splash after falling off badly following their 2025 World Series season. Suzuki would fit in nicely in right field and perhaps offer lineup protection for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming off his subpar season.
/ Imagn Images via Reuters Connect/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
8. JAZZ CHISHOLM JR.: PHILLIES
After getting outbid for Luis Arraez -- more on that later -- their trade pickup last August, I think the Phillies will convince themselves that a team with an aging core could benefit from the athleticism and speed Chisholm would provide at second base.
And maybe they would be right, as Chisholm's ability remains enticing at least on the surface. Even in a down year with the Yankees, he stole 41 bases and hit 19 home runs, admittedly a long way from the 50-50-year he predicted back in February, but still productive.
On the other hand, signing Chisholm might be a mistake if he plays with the same lack of awareness he did with the Yanks last season, whether it be making that ill-advised throw on a DP turn in the postseason or playing second base with a lollipop in his mouth.
In any case, the dichotomy between talent and awareness will make it fascinating to see just what Chisholm's market is in the coming weeks. The only near-certainty is the Yankees won’t re-sign him.
7. BRANDON LOWE: RED SOX
Lowe is one of the more underrated players in the game, coming off a very good season as the second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he mashed to the tune of 35 home runs and 29 doubles, and hit .260 with a .493 slugging percentage and an .824 OPS.
Lowe was good defensively as well, ranking in the 96th percentile in defensive run value, via Statcast.
The Red Sox are at least one impact bat away from getting over the hump in the postseason, as demonstrated against the Yankees in the Wild Card Series. Lowe could be that guy for them.
6. FREDDY PERALTA: PADRES
It might be tempting for the Mets to take another shot with Peralta, after he rediscovered his dominance with the Tampa Bay Rays post-trade deadline, but that’s way too much of a gamble.
It didn’t work with the Mets for a reason, whether it was a failure on the part of the coaches to figure out his mechanics or Peralta underperforming under high expectations in New York, or some combination of those factors.
But I do believe he’ll be pursued heavily, and the Padres desperately need more quality pitching if they’re ever going to get through the postseason and win a championship -- especially if Michael King leaves as a free agent this time.
May 17, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Ryan Jeffers (27) celebrates his solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fifth inning at Target Field. / Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
5. RYAN JEFFERS: YANKEES
Here’s another chance for the Yankees to make themselves a more well-rounded team, adding one of the better offensive catchers in the game.
Jeffers, who turns 30 next June, has put up above-average OPS+ numbers for the last four seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Injuries limited him to 92 games in 2026, but he had his best offensive season, hitting .256 with a .416 slugging percentage and an .814 OPS.
Scouts consider him to be slightly below-average defensively but not a butcher behind the plate. He hits right-handed, so the Yanks could still give Austin Wells a decent number of at-bats against right-handed pitching.
4. LUIS ARRAEZ: YANKEES
This feels like a move the Yanks really need to make. For a team that strikes out too much and never seems to get enough timely hitting in the postseason, Arraez offers an obvious solution as perhaps the best pure contact hitter in the majors.
And he improved his defense dramatically last season, ranking high in various defensive metrics as a second baseman. That, plus his bat, makes him a better option at the position than Anthony Volpe.
Arraez, who sports a .316 career batting average, also added some slug to his contact bat, with a career-high .419 slugging percentage to go with hitting .310 last season. And he only struck out 28 times in 655 plate appearances, putting him in the 100th percentile among all major leaguers in strikeout and swing-and-miss percentage.
The Yankees seemingly have to try something different in October to win their first championship since 2009. Arraez, who turns 30 in April, is an intriguing option.
Teruaki Sato / Imagn Images via Reuters Connect/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
3. TERUAKI SATO: METS
Sato is a bit of a gamble, with his high strikeout total, but he was the Triple Crown winner in Japan this year, making enough contact to hit .307 with big power, and offers the most potential impact of any position player on the market.
David Stearns scouted him in person, as he did Munetaka Murakami last year. He was scared off, as was just about every MLB team, by Murakami’s strikeouts, but may be more convinced to sign Sato after Murakami put up big power numbers with the Chicago White Sox.
Sato has mostly been a third baseman who would presumably be asked to move to first base, and after all the problems the Mets had playing non-first basemen at the position last year, it's not a perfect fit. But his bat is worth the gamble, with a safety net of sorts in the possibility of Bo Bichette moving to first if necessary.
2. MICHAEL KING AND CLAY HOLMES: METS
We know Stearns is all about value. I believe he’ll convince Steve Cohen there is more value in signing two front-of-the-rotation starters such as King and Holmes than paying for Tarik Skubal alone.
And certainly there is an argument to be made for that. Holmes was outstanding for the Mets last season before a line drive broke his fibula before he was eventually traded at the deadline, while King showed both dominance and durability in pitching a career-high 185 innings with the Padres.
The counter to that is neither is as good as Skubal at his best -- yet they’re good enough to win a championship with the right pieces around them. And neither is likely to command the type of long-term deal it will take to sign Skubal.
If you say the best plan is for the Mets to sign Skubal plus either King or Holmes, well, yes, absolutely. But realistically that may be too much even for Cohen, especially if the Mets intend to add to their bullpen and position player group.
Also notable is that because King was given a qualifying offer last winter before re-signing with the Padres, and Holmes was traded this season, neither can be given a qualifying offer, meaning that signing them wouldn’t cost the Mets any draft picks.
Finally, I think Stearns likes the idea of bringing Holmes back after trading him for Jefferson Rojas, an enticing prospect. It’s making the most of an asset, a good look for a president of baseball operations who is all too aware about the need to win over disenchanted Mets fans.
1. TARIK SKUBAL: CUBS
After a quick exit in the postseason, the Cubs have more than $100 million coming off their payroll, a glaring need for an ace, and the added incentive of knowing their neighbors to the north, the rival Brewers, just won the World Series.
All of which I believe will add up to them outbidding the Mets, the Dodgers, and anybody else who pursues Skubal, even if it means going to eight years at $45 million or so per season.
Cohen, of course, will only be outbid if he chooses to draw a line on what he’ll pay, but I believe Stearns will convince him to do just that.
