HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 22: Clint Capela #30 of the Houston Rockets poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 22, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you happen to have spent a certain amount of you life as foolishly as I have, writing about the Rockets, you, too, might have a sense that certain Rockets players are “yours” in a sense. It’s silly, I know, but the sense of it is very present. One of those players is Clint Capela. I liked him from the start, and I think he’ll probably never get the correct assessment of his career, which to me is “a star in his role”.
He’s also one of several Rockets non American bigs who looked absolutely fantastic in terms of his stats and advanced measures, but seemed to garner little general draft interest (joining Alperen Sengun in that). Leading to one of my rules of drafting, which is, if a foreign big has amazing predictive stats, and will come cheap in a draft, just draft him. The other is, the rule for guards is “spray and pray” or, rather, draft a lot of them, you never know which one really can do things at the NBA level. Even just a decent guard, cheap, is a very valuable player in the NBA.
Anyhow, to Clint Capela. It seems like the comings and goings of Capela have marked significant milestones for the Rockets. The drafting of Capela back in 2014, was a decisive moment for the Rockets, even if nobody much knew it at the time. He’d be the perfect center partner for James Harden (find me one in all Harden’s wanderings he’s done better with) and also a very fine defensive center, and especially, rebounder. When Capela became the starter, the Harden Rockets really took off.
The trade of Capela, to Atlanta, in the 2020-21 season really marked the end of the Rockets ambitions as a serious title contender. There are intellectual reasons for the move, I suppose, but doubling down on Russell Westbrook never really worked for any team.
The return of Capela, through no fault of Clint’s, marked another watershed, in my mind, as it exposed flaws in both the front office and coaching. Hard capping a team in the summer is, well, a smug lawyerly thing to do. Let me explain. Law types are most often not the “adjust on the fly, finger tip feel for the moment” types. They are bad at improv for the most part. At their best, they’re thoughtful, and try to plan for contingencies. So contracts lawyer Rafael Stone had a lovely team in the off season of 2025. All tidy and ready to go. Then Fred VanVleet got hurt and Stone…froze? Chose to give up? Was hard capped by his “perfect lawyerly construction” of a team in the off season?
Then there’s Ime Udoka. Stone thoughtfully provided the Rockets with three playable centers, two of whom, Capela and Adams are in the top ten, ALL TIME, in offensive rebounding rates. When one center, Adams, completely unshockingly, got hurt early the season, you’d think the move would be just slot in Clint Capela. That’s exactly what Ime Udoka didn’t do. This despite the metrics of Capela in the few minutes he played (926) holding up well, career wise.
But you know, the vibes were wrong. Capela was heavier than his usual playing weight, and couldn’t move like the Baby Deer of old. If you’re a Vibes Coach, who just does stuff like not play shooters when the team absolutely needs a three, because of the vibes, then that means Capela is just bad. Play his way into shape? Figure out who he needs to play with to be effective, because he’s still grabbing boards like a demon? Nope. Absolutely not, unless forced to do so.
Capela said at Media Day that he’d dropped 4% off his total body fat number. That means he probably looks better in a uniform and can move better. So he’ll probably play more, right? Who knows? I certainly don’t. If Clint does play, expect roughly a repeat of last season (per36): 11pts/13rbs (6.2 offensive)/2ast/1.4blk/2.4stl if not a shade better, due to better conditioning than Clint had in Atlanta.
That looks like a great stat line for a backup center to me, but vibes, bro, vibes.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 19: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during sixth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 19, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Post | Greg Joyce: The Yankees will hand the ball to Cam Schlittler in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, the team announced Sunday. After reportedly considering opening their playoff run with Max Fried on the hill, they instead chose their presumptive Cy Young Award winner. “He wants the ball, and he’s ready to go,” manager Aaron Boone said simply. Fried is now lined up to start Game 2, with Gerrit Cole in wait should a Game 3 be needed.
Daily News | Gary Phillips: ($) Despite his hopes of returning for this week’s Wild Card Series, Aaron Judge has not engaged in baseball activities since injuring his calf on September 16th. “I know he was on the treadmill a little bit yesterday, so not a whole lot yet,” said Boone of his star’s progress. Judge and his manager did not see eye to eye when discussing his injury last week, with the Yankees captain pushing back on the idea that he would not be ready for the first round.
Associated Press: The Yankees’ season ended at Game 161, with a rainout Sunday that will not be made up. This weekend’s nor’easter caused Saturday’s game to be rescheduled to Friday, but with the playoffs looming there was no time to reschedule Sunday’s affair. With a win in that game, they would have been the first franchise in history to finish with the same record (94-67) in three straight seasons. The Yankees had played 162 games in all non-shortened seasons since 2002.
Playbill | Meg Masseron: A revival of Damn Yankees is coming to Broadway, with Neil Patrick Harris set to star. Previews will begin on March 24, 2027, the day before the Yankees are set to start their season. The production was announced Sunday at a press conference at Yankee Stadium.
The B’s gave up two first-round picks to get the speedy German forward.
It sounds like Peterka wasn’t the only talented young forward the Bruins had interest in over the offseason.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported last week on his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Bruins made a trade offer for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko. Friedman didn’t specify when the offer was made or which trade assets were involved.
“Montreal, everybody knows about, the Islanders I mentioned a couple pods ago,” Friedman said. “Toronto I think has really tried to keep their interest secret, but it’s kind of seeped out. I think Winnipeg at one point kind of looked into it.
“I heard Boston made an offer at one point. I had some people say Vegas, I had some other people say they weren’t sure it was Vegas. I have to think Seattle is around this. They’ve really been looking at trying to grab a top-end player and they could make this deal.”
Marchenko is 26 years old and will be a restricted free agent when his current contract expires after the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Marchenko and the Blue Jackets haven’t been able to reach an extension, and when recently asked about his future in Columbus, the veteran forward was non-committal.
Kirill Marchenko was asked if he wants to play hockey in Columbus.
“I want to play hockey. It’s all I can say right now.”
Should the Bruins pursue Marchenko via trade? He would be a good fit offensively.
It should be noted that we don’t know if the Bruins made this reported Marchenko offer before or after the Peterka trade with Utah. It’s possible they wouldn’t want to part with the assets needed to get Marchenko after giving up two first-rounders for Peterka.
But the B’s still need additional top-six forwards. Marchenko remains in the early stages of his prime, so he could help the team contend with its current veteran core (David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, etc.) and what could be the next core (James Hagens, Fraser Minten, Peterka, etc.).
Marchenko is an impressive offensive player. He has scored 21-plus goals in each of his four NHL seasons. He posted career highs in goals (31) and assists (47) in 79 games during the 2024-25 campaign. He scored 27 goals with 40 assists in 76 games last season. He has not been surrounded with a lot of high-end talent in Columbus, so it would be fair to assume that on a better team, such as the Bruins, he could score 30-plus goals and post 70-plus points pretty consistently.
In addition to his scoring prowess, Marchenko has very good size at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.
The cost to get Marchenko would likely be massive, especially if a bunch of teams have interest. The B’s still have all of their own first-round picks in upcoming drafts, plus an unprotected Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounder in 2027 or 2028. Boston’s prospect pool was ranked 19th in the league by The Athletic in March, and young players such as Matt Poitras and Mason Lohrei still have upside. Would Columbus have interest in Pavel Zacha? He’s entering the final year of his contract and can become a UFA next summer.
What kind of assets would the Blue Jackets be looking for?
“We don’t want draft picks and prospects,” Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell told The Athletic. “We want the best player possible to replace him.”
Marchenko is not a center, and you could certainly argue that if the Bruins are going to spend their remaining premium trade assets on an impact player, then it should be for a No. 1 or No. 2 center, or perhaps a top-four defenseman. If a team does trade for Marchenko, signing him to an extension wouldn’t be cheap, either. But the salary cap is expected to rise quite a bit in future seasons, and the B’s don’t really have any burdensome contracts on their books (aside from Elias Lindholm’s deal).
Hagens or Minten could eventually slide into a top-six center role some point soon. In fact, Minten might be a top-six center on Opening Night depending on how the lineup shakes out.
The bottom line is the Bruins desperately need more high-end offensive players to take some of the scoring burden off Pastrnak. Marchenko can score goals and play a physical brand of hockey. He’s also just 26. He’s the type of player worth taking a chance on. The Bruins need to be aggressive to maximize the Pastrnak/McAvoy/Swayman core’s window to win.
After meeting their media obligations Monday morning, the Warriors will depart for the airport for a flight to Hawaii. They will stay on Oahu for six days. It is not a vacation. Rather, this is the first chance for the Warriors to study their reality and instill belief that they can regain NBA relevancy. Though they’re not expected to reach their once-exalted status, training camp should provide a glimpse of their path to escape mediocrity.
Golden State is a team of many questions, its fortunes largely conditional, to be dictated by the answers.
Steve Kerr took nearly a full year to decide if he wanted to remain head coach. Resident superstar Stephen Curry, confronting down Father Time, has signed a contract extension but continues to surveil the organization’s activity for upcoming developments. Kerr and Curry will be tuned into the training-camp vibes and seeking preliminary clues.
As Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody rehab on the sideline, dreaming of returning to a team with more wins than losses, here are five defining questions looming above the 2026-27 Warriors:
5) Will Draymond Green make the adjustment rightfully requested by Kerr?
Green began last season by saying he felt healthy and, at 35, believed he still could make the impact he did earlier in his career. Then came the season. He committed at least four turnovers in the first half, including a season-high eight in a loss at Portland. His decision-making improved in the second half, with assist totals remaining constant while turnovers decreased.
Kerr during the season pulled away some of Green’s playmaking duties, and is seeking a further reduction for this season. He wants Draymond to rediscover his 3-point shooting stroke. He shot 32.6 percent from deep last season, 32.5 percent the year before.
Green in 2023-24 shot a career-high 39.5 percent from deep, and that accuracy and greatly please the head coach and benefit Golden State’s offense.
All indications are that Green is willing to alter his game. To shoot and make more triples. He believes he can do it; he shot 45 percent from the right corner last season.
4) Can De’Anthony Melton be the best Curry sidekick since prime Klay Thompson?
Thompson’s ability as a scorer and defender made him the perfect backcourt partner for Curry. Klay’s departure after the 2023-24 season left the Warriors seeking someone who could replicate their synergy.
Which led them to the Buddy Hield/De’Anthony Melton combo as free agents.
Hield was a Sixth Man option, and the Warriors liked Melton’s two-way ability. It was a risky signing, as Melton was coming off a season in which he missed 44 games, mostly with lower back problems. He played only six games with Golden State in 2024-25 before sustaining a torn left ACL.
Melton spent the summer of 2024 rehabbing his back and the summer of 2025 rehabbing his knee. The summer of 2026 was his healthiest since the summer 2023.
The absence of rehab should lead to an impressive camp for Melton. With Curry in his corner, he might be able to give the Warriors something close to what they once had.
3) Can Yaxel Lendeborg make the kind of impact that puts minds at ease?
With Butler out for much of the season, the Warriors could use a wing who can score, create, pass and attack the rim. Enter Lendeborg, the 6-foot-9 forward who possesses skills in all four areas.
Yes, he’s a rookie. Yes, he’s built more like a power forward. Yes, his impressive showing in Summer League was, well, Summer League.The Warriors believe much of what they saw in Summer League can be carried into the NBA regular season. Lendeborg is no typical rookie. He has 190 games of junior college and Division I experience, turns 24 on Wednesday and exhibits promising positional versatility.
While it’s unlikely that Lendeborg will be a lockdown defender, Golden State certainly needs his offense. Kerr has indicated that the rookie will get a chance to start, and one look at the roster explains why. He’s the most natural fit to join Green at forward.
Lendeborg will have an opportunity to plant his flag in camp.
2) Will Kristaps Porziņģis look and feel healthy enough to inspire confidence he can play two-thirds of an 82-game schedule?
The Warriors were thrilled that Porziņģis, after what amounted to a 10-week audition for both sides, scanned unrestricted free agency and decided to return. His contract basically extends the two-way audition for a full season.
The term “full season” is utterly conditional regarding Porziņģis. He missed 50 games last season, 40 the season before that. The causes or his absences are sometimes mysterious due to contradictory explanations. Porzingis late last season expressed full faith in Dr. Rick Celebrini, the team’s vice president of player health and performance. If Celebrini and his crew can squeeze more than 50 games out of Porzingis, give the doc a bonus. Sixty games would be amazing.
Porzingis was acquired after Butler sustained his season-ending injury and played scant minutes alongside Curry. Steph and KP, will be the primary determinants for at least the first quarter of the season. If they’re good together, it should translate to victories.
1) Will Curry look good enough for everyone to exhale?
After missing nine weeks last season with runner’s knee, there have been adjustments to Curry’s fabled conditioning program. The changes are an attempt to minimize the likelihood of recurrence while maintaining optimal fitness. There is lingering concern, though, because runner’s knee can become chronic.
As often as Celebrini’s eyes glance toward Porziņģis during and after practice, they also will study Curry’s gait. There will be no less scrutiny among his teammates, the coaching staff and the front office.
Curry has expressed confidence that his revamped conditioning program will allow him to play at a high level on a regular basis. It’s a given that he will have occasional rest nights, as will the other vets on the roster.
The mere thought of Curry missing significant time puts a knot in the team’s collective gut. He’s the team’s touchstone, the essence of the offense and the root of all confidence. His presence on the court allows everyone to breathe.
Sep 24, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka speaks to a media after a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
While the Lakers have spoken about expanding the front office, only announcing the major moves leaves it unclear how much is happening behind the scenes.
President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka offered a peek behind the curtain of the hirings the franchise has made this offseason while speaking to the media on Thursday.
“Super appreciative of the support of Jeanie [Buss] and ownership to build out and we’ve added over 15 people in the front office to various positions,” Pelinka said. “[We’ve] really built out our strategy and analytics department, have hired two assistant general managers. [We] have more to do and we’re actually continuing to do that.
“Then in terms of player services, as JJ said, we’ve really rebuilt our entire sort of player experience and player development arm. And with that comes new equipment and new recovery and modalities, and we’ve worked with our training department to do that.”
The franchise also hired Rohan Ramadas and Eric Amsler as new assistant general managers. The former will focus on the analytics and strategy side, which Pelinka alluded to, while Amsler comes over from the Heat after being the vice president of player personnel in Miami.
After clearing house of its scouting department last year, the Lakers are planning on building it out more now under Amsler’s guidance.
“I think you guys saw we hired Eric Amsler, who was two decades with the Heat, to kind of see over our player personnel, our draft scouting, our G-League scouting, and NBA scouting,” Pelinka said. “So, we’re going to be adding more scouts in those departments. That’s just one example of a sort of a vertical that will continue to build.”
The catch is that it’s unlikely any of these hirings will be made public. So, again, we’ll have to assume the Lakers are doing the work and, hopefully, see the results in improved scouting in the months to come.
FRISCO, TX - SEPTEMBER 06: David Hagaman #31 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles looks on during the game between the Amarillo Sod Poodles and the Frisco RoughRiders at Riders Field on Sunday, September 6, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Charisma Jones/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Introduction
With the regular season now over for both Major League and Minor League Baseball, I think now would a be good time take a look at the best individual performance at each position in the Diamondbacks farm system. For the sake of the reader and my own sanity, we’re going to look at just the starting battery and infield corner positions today, otherwise this would be a very long read.
Before I do that, I want to congratulate the D’Backs Double-A affiliate, the Amarillo Sod Poodles, on winning the Texas League Championship. Winning a championship is great for the development of the younger players on the team, especially those who might not have had the best individual season this year. That said, about half the players mentioned in the next few articles will be players on that team.
Starting Pitcher
David Hagaman is the clear and obvious answer for the best starting pitcher in the Diamondbacks farm system in 2026, and the pitcher most likely to actually be named the Dbacks MILB pitcher of the year. There really isn’t much competition, especially knowing the context behind the numbers.
Hagaman, who was acquired in last summer’s Merrill Kelly trade, started the year assigned to high-A Hillsboro in the pitcher friendly confines of the Northwestern League. Across 15 games, Hagaman put up 71⅓ innings with a 3.03 ERA, 4.10 FIP, and 4.15 xFIP. Adjusted for the League that works out to a very impressive 61 ERA- and a slightly less impressive 84 FIP-. His 10.85 strikeouts per nine innings and 28% strikeout percentage are very impressive as well. That alone might not be enough to make him pitcher of the year, but what he did after being promoted to Double-A Amarillo, in the much more hitter friendly Texas League that cemented him as the organization’s pitcher of the year.
Hagaman started seven games, putting up 35 ⅓ innings with a 2.55 ERA, a 3.22 FIP, and a 3.79 xFIP. His strikeout percentage went up to 32.4% and 11.72 strikeouts per nine innings. He also walked less batters, going from 10.7% to 8.5%. In the hitter friendly Texas league, that translates to a 43 ERA- and a 75 ERA-. Hagaman did struggle with walks though in his post season outing in the Texas League division series and the championship to a lesser extent. It’ll be interesting to see if he returns to Double-A next season, gets promoted to Triple-A Reno, or possibly even has a chance at making his MLB debut with a strong showing in spring training. My first article going in depth on Dbacks pitching prospects has a scouting report if you’re interested in reading more about him, which you can read here.
Catcher
Gabriel Moreno has won the NL batting title, which I’m pointing out now because it really helps show just how strong the Diamondbacks organization is right now at the catching position from top to bottom, and how many of them had very good seasons this year, which is how this turned into another multi part series.
The Dbacks reinforced that position of strength after using their first round pick on a well regarded college catcher, Ryder Helfrick, who went on to have a solid professional debut in the Low A level California League. Despite putting up a solid triple slash line of .245/.327/.521 with a 104 wRC+ in just 24 games, that’s just 24 games, so he’s not the All Star here.
Jhosep Villarroel put up eye popping numbers in his 47 games this summer, but he’s also a 17 year old in the Dominican Summmer League, so you have to take these number with a massive grain of salt, which is why he’s not my All-Star but another honorable mention. That said his numbers are REALLY good, it’s just a small sample size and he’s very young. Combined between the two Dbacks DSL teams he hit .303/.500/.485 with a .493 wOBA and a 148 OPS+. Villarroel will almost certainly make his stateside debut with either the ACL Dbacks or Visalia Rawhide next season, which will give us a much better chance to evaluate him as a prospect.
It’s also not Alberto Barriga, who tore up the pitcher friendly Northwestern League for 40 games, hitting 259/.345/.490 with a 113 wRC+. The reason he’s not is that he struggled in the extremely hitter friendly Texas League after being being promoted, hittng just 237/301/362 with .302 wOBA and 55 wRC+ in 57 Games. He’s one of the players mentioned in the intro who I think will benefit a lot from the experience gained in Amarillo’s championship run. Barriga’s probably the most unique of the catching prospects here, so I am really looking forward to seeing how he adjust next season.
Ivan Luciano has a very solid argument based on his above average play in 2026. Luciano spent the majority (85 games) of the season in Visalia, where he hit 264/.375/.441 with .372 wOBA and a 109 wRC+. In the 12 games in Hillsboro after being promoted, he hit .279/.380/.465 with a .383 wOBA and 122 WRC+. Combined across the two levels, Luciano put up a solidly above average tripleslash of .266/.376/.444 with a .374 wOBA and 111 wRC+. One of his teammates (at the beginning of the season) has a much stronger argument based on his numbers, and that’s Carlos Virahonda.
Carlos Virahonda started the year with 48 games in Visalia in which he hit .273/.359 /.508 .383 wOBA and 115 wRC+. He was then promoted to High A Hillsboro and in 50 games, and a in much more pitcher friendly league, where he’d hit .272/.393/.468 with a .391 wOBA and a 127 wRC+. He’d then finish his season playing in four games with Double A Amarillo, where he’d go 4 for 15 with a pair of doubles and a homerun, while getting plunked three times to give him a .267/.389/.600 and a 134 wC+. In 108 games combined across all three levels, Virahonda hit .272/.377/.493 with 18 HRS, a .388 wOBA and a 122 wRC+. To cap it all off, he also had a fantastic post season with Amarillo, playing a key role offensively.
If you’d like to read a more in depth look at the catchers, check out this article from earlier this season.
Third Base
Danny Serretti could have easily been an all-star at second base, but he had slightly more innings as a third baseman. There also really aren’t any other obvious candidates at the position, unlike second base which is just as stacked as catcher, so we’re sticking Serretti here. I had an article focused on Serretti’s background prior to this season, which you can read here if you are so interested.
Serreti spent a lot of time going back and forth between Amarillo and Reno, even coming back to play a key role in Amarillo’s championship. In 74 games in Amarillo he hit 272/.418/.510 with a .413 wOBA and a 124 WRC+. In 35 games in Reno, he hit .316/.421/.513 with a .419 wOBA a .357 xWOBA, and a 129 wRC+. His walk percentage fell slightly from 17.8% to 14.9%, but I’d attribute that to the higher batting average, which is backed up by his strikeout percentage staying within .3% of each other, with Serretti striking out 22.4% in Amarillo and 22.7% in Reno. As a whole, Serretti finished his season hitting 287/419/.511 with 19 homeruns, 11 stolen bases, a .415 wOBA and a 126 wRC+ in 109 games.
The only other third baseman in the same ballpark (at times literally) was LuJames Groover, who was above average in Reno but struggled at the MLB level in 2026.
First Base
Finally, at least for this week, we have another position with a single clear and obvious choice.
Manuel Pena broke out in a big way in 2026, hitting 26 homeruns in 61 games with Amarillo, while also putting up a triple slash line of .311/354/.673 with a robust .428 wOBA and 134 wRC+ in the first half of the season . After being promoted to Reno he’d cool down significantly, but overall in 112 games he would hit .305/.345/.555 with a 108 wRC+ with 31 HRs. The only other first baseman who had better numbers in the Dbacks farm system were Pavin Smith and Tyler Locklear and I don’t think anyone reading this wants to hear more about either player.
That’s it for now! Next time, I’ll look at the middle infield and outfielders.
Today’s guest columnist is Chris Koras, partner and head of sports at Working Capital Partners.
In December 2022, I flew to the Dominican Republic to break a year-long contract stalemate. Our firm represented Rafael Devers. The Boston Red Sox had sent ownership and front-office executives to settle the negotiation directly with the player, hoping relationship leverage would carry the economics. It moved nothing.
We ended the negotiation in writing. Devers would play the season and enter free agency. Days later, facing the credible threat of losing a third consecutive star on the eve of ticket sales opening, Boston moved, agreeing to a record $331 million deal. It worked for one reason: Devers could afford the outcome he was threatening, and the Red Sox could not. Resolve is credible only when you can survive your own threat.
While an individual superstar can force a club’s hand in an isolated free-agency window, the landscape for league-wide labor disputes has fundamentally shifted. Over the past three years, ownership has built a systemic financial wall designed specifically to neutralize that exact leverage across an entire union.
Every negotiation ends at someone’s limit. MLB players are about to go looking for ownership’s, but the ground beneath that search has moved. Ownership wants a salary cap to give clubs long-term certainty over their largest cost. Buyers underwrite predictable margins at higher multiples than volatile ones. The cap is the prize.
Franchise valuations track those long-term economics over on-field performance. Stan Kroenke agreed to buy a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Angels at a record $4 billion valuation—a price that held despite a decade of losing seasons. In modern baseball, parity is a public position; valuation is a fiduciary commitment.
The institutional capital driving those valuations has arrived faster than the market realizes, operating on two distinct fronts: asset equity and debt insulation. Since MLB admitted private equity in 2019, firms including Arctos Partners, Sixth Street and Sportsology have taken minority stakes across 18 of the 30 teams.
Crucially, structures have matured past equity into standing credit facilities. Ares Management lent directly to the San Diego Padres, while Yankee Global Enterprises recently completed a $2.6 billion financing agreement with Apollo Sports Capital to refinance debt and buy out limited partners—all with the December labor expiration and cap proposals already public.
Institutional buyers price a work stoppage as a routine discount rather than a reason to walk away. When a lockout hits, a team’s operating cash flow goes dark, but an owner’s liquidity remains intact through standing institutional bids and private debt.
This insulation changes how ownership calculates risk. A lost or shortened season is a one-time expense, absorbed once. A structural salary cap recurs annually and is capitalized permanently into franchise value at a high multiple. The MLB Players Association estimates the league’s proposed cap changes would cost players over $500 million annually. Applied across 30 franchises trading at revenue multiples, the resulting equity appreciation runs into the tens of billions.
Trading a temporary delay in multibillion-dollar media rights for a permanent reduction in labor costs is a straightforward corporate calculation. The downside got cheaper because it is temporary; the upside got larger because it is permanent.
The players approach this lockout with far less financial architecture. While the MLBPA’s $415 million reserve is impressive compared with the $171 million held prior to the last labor fight, the distinction between the two sides remains structural. A union reserve is a savings account that amortizes—drawn down by legal fees, operations and support for members until it is gone. Ownership’s capital position revolves. It is a bank.
To weaponize this advantage, the 30 clubs have withheld roughly $75 million each in central-fund distributions, amassing a $2 billion liquidity holdback. Conversely, the players’ obligations remain individual, unfinanced and absorbed across 1,200 separate household clocks. A mortgage or tuition payment due in January is paid by an individual household, whether the stadium gates are open or locked.
When traditional lenders decline a career without conventional collateral, alternative capital fills the void—often on terms heavily stacked against young players. Fernando Tatis Jr. took $2 million from Big League Advance as a teenage minor leaguer in exchange for 10% of his future major league earnings, a stake worth $34 million after his contract extension. A judge recently upheld that agreement. When the vast majority of minor leaguers never reach the majors, the arithmetic clears only when the terms on the few who do are punitive enough to fund the rest. Through a long winter, more young players will be forced to sell off pieces of their future just to stay afloat.
Ownership is bringing an institutional balance sheet to a labor fight. Sixty years of union solidarity will be tested by an opponent that no longer needs a baseball season to survive its own demands.
Labor must modernize its financial architecture to counteract this evolution. Relying purely on cash reserves is no longer viable when ownership utilizes revolving institutional liquidity. To retain leverage at the bargaining table, players must establish contemporary financial counterweights, such as union-backed credit lines secured by collective IP and licensing rights, player-driven liquidity funds offering non-dilutive capital to protect younger players from predatory arrangements, and syndicated loan structures to help players maintain household finances through extended work stoppages.
Baseball’s labor pool cannot meet modern Wall Street tactics with a 1970s financial strategy; creating institutional liquidity is essential to preserving player leverage.
Chris Koras is partner and head of sports at Working Capital Partners. He was previously head of baseball at Klutch Sports and an executive at REP1, where he represented the firm’s capital partner, led the baseball division and oversaw its player negotiation operations. During his tenure, REP1 negotiated billions in player contracts and completed a successful sale of the firm.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) is congratulated by left fielder Juan Soto (22) after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. The home run was Lindor's 300th career home run.
WASHINGTON — Francisco Lindor wanted to get it over with before this season concluded.
Hitters seldom go to the plate trying to hit home runs, but Lindor was in that mode Sunday and succeeded. His second-inning blast served as career homer No. 300 in the Mets’ 6-4 loss to the Nationals.
“I wasn’t trying [to homer] the past couple of days, I was just trying to have good at-bats,” Lindor said. “And then today I said, ‘I am going to try to hit a home run.’ It doesn’t work out that way all the time, but today it did. Some way it worked out, so it’s not something I am going to take into next year.”
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) is congratulated by left fielder Juan Soto (22) after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. The home run was Lindor’s 300th career home run. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Lindor, who missed two months with a calf strain, finished his season with 21 homers and a .732 OPS.
“To hit 300 [homers] you have got to be healthy for a long time,” Lindor said. “The trainers here, in Cleveland, my people, have helped me a lot to stay on the field. It seems like it’s a day for me, but it’s for all these people that wish me to be better day in and day out that made me better.”
Sean Manaea allowed five earned runs on seven hits and one walk over six innings to conclude his season with a 4.78 ERA.
The lefty said his focus this offseason will be building up velocity. Manaea struggled this season to maintain consistency with his fastball.
“At least having that for spring training, at least from the [start] and then my breaking ball,” Manaea said.
Manaea appeared on the right track at midseason — he had a brutal three months to begin the season — but concluded with a 6.35 ERA over his final seven starts.
“I would say [this season] was a disappointment — we didn’t as a team do what we needed to do,” Manaea said. “I personally didn’t need to do what I needed to do. There were flashes of some really good times. There was also a lot of negative things. Overall, I would say it was a disappointment.”
Carson Benge went 3-for-5 for a third straight multihit game. He batted .462 over his final 10 games this season.
Ronny Mauricio finished his season with a bang: He blasted his third homer in two days.
If that was the end for Max Scherzer, he went out exactly how you’d expect.
The 42-year-old three-time Cy Young winner emptied the tank in what could have been the final start of his Hall of Fame career Sunday, throwing 114 pitches over seven innings in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
And he did it on just three days’ rest.
The eight-time All-Star allowed just one earned run on six hits, walked one and struck out seven in his final appearance of the 2026 season.
“That was amazing,” Scherzer told reporters postgame. “The adrenaline starts kicking in, the fans start getting in, and that’s when I could start feeding off of the crowd here at the Rogers Centre. I really could just reach back and just felt like I was unlimited.”
The game also prompted one memorable scene for the final chapter of Scherzer’s career.
While already at over 100 pitches on the afternoon, Blue Jays manager John Schneider walked toward the mound as if he were finally coming to take the ball.
Scherzer quickly turned him away, which popped the audience at the Rogers Centre.
Schneider instead turned around as the former ace powered through the rest of inning.
“If that doesn’t sum up Max Scherzer, I don’t know what does,” Schneider said afterward.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) exchanges words with manager John Schneider (14) during the seventh inning of an MLB game against the Cincinnati Reds at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Classic Mad Max.
He finished the inning and walked off the mound to a standing ovation, tipping his cap as teammates waited for him outside the dugout.
It looked like a farewell, and it might have been, though nothing is yet official.
Max Scherzer gestures to fans during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday, September 27, 2026. MLB Photos via Getty Images
Scherzer has not announced his retirement and said Saturday that he will wait until the offseason before deciding whether to return for a 20th major-league campaign.
“I’ve talked to everybody in my inner circle, and we all kind of feel the same way,” Scherzer said. “We don’t need to make a decision today. Get to the offseason and just see how things unfold.”
He also noted MLB’s forthcoming contentious labor negotiations between the league and the Players’ Association, which has left many predicting a lockout at least to begin the 2027 season.
“We’ve also got a lot of uncertainty next year with all the labor issues,” Scherzer said, “so you just don’t know how the season’s going to happen or unfold, or what opportunity is going to be in front of me.”
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) hugs first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) after being relieved during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) is separated from New Jersey Devils defenseman Topias Vilen (38) during the first period of a game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
After entering training camp on the bubble, Matt Rempe — the 6-foot-9 forward known for his crushing hits and fights — found a way to stick on the Rangers’ opening night roster.
That became clear Sunday when the Rangers placed Taylor Raddysh on waivers, clearing the way for Rempe (who isn’t waiver-exempt) and Jaroslav Chmelar (who is) to make the initial 23-man group that’ll break training camp and head to Boston for Tuesday’s opener.
Rempe, who was limited to just 26 games last season after undergoing a pair of procedures on his left thumb, knew he entered training camp with a lot to prove to the coaching staff. And he seemingly did just that, carving out a space with the Blueshirts to start the year.
New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) is separated from New Jersey Devils defenseman Topias Vilen (38) during the first period of a game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
At the Rangers’ first preseason sessions, though, Rempe was just a forward rotating in. He didn’t log the first reps with the fourth line initially. He strung together 14 hits, a pair of assists and two blocked shots during his three preseason appearances.
Friday against the Islanders, when the Rangers treated it like a dress rehearsal, Rempe — who has logged 96 games across the regular season and playoffs, picking up 12 points and 10 fights — skated alongside Tye Kartye and Joe Veleno on the fourth line.
It all marked a return of the healthy version of Rempe, who struggled with shooting and handling pucks in 17 games after the first thumb procedure last season. Before the Rangers’ first exhibition, he last skated in an NHL game Feb. 5.
New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe skates on the ice against the New Jersey Devils in the first period at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
“You have to acknowledge that he’s missed a lot of hockey, so he’s — to a certain extent, he’s trying to recapture all of those things that help players have success,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of Rempe on Friday. “Speed, timing, conditioning, all of those things. … It’s hard to simulate NHL game intensity in a practice, so he played in three games, three out of the four, and that was by design because he’s missed so much.
“Remps has been a big part of this team, and I think the guys really appreciate what he does for the group.”
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson answers reporters' questions before a game against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, September 27, 2026.
A year after Dan Wilson led the Mariners to the American League Championship Series, he is out as manager of the club.
Wilson had announced that he would not be returning to manage the club after the Mariners’ season-finale win over the Angels.
“This season has been very difficult, and of course the results have not been what any of us had expected,” Wilson said. “As a result, it was concluded that today is my last day as manager of the Seattle Mariners.”
The Seattle Times reported that Wilson informed the Mariners he was moving on prior to the start of Sunday’s game.
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson, facing, greets bullpen catcher Fleming Báez (66) after a win over the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game, Sunday, September 27, 2026, in Seattle. AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
The team also confirmed the change in a statement released on Sunday evening, thanking Wilson for his time with the team and saying that after “much discussion” between president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and Wilson, “it was concluded that a new direction is best for 2027 and beyond.”
“I want to thank Dan for his efforts over the past two years and specifically recognize his role in our club advancing to Game 7 of the ALCS in 2025,” Dipoto said in a statement.
“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to lead this team the past two years,” Wilson said in a statement. “While this season has not gone the way any of us expected, I’m proud that the players in the clubhouse showed up each day to try and compete and battle in each game they played. I’m confident that the 2026 season doesn’t accurately reflect the talent, passion and desire of our players and know that bright things are ahead for this group.”
Wilson had been a catcher for the Mariners during his playing career and took the role of manager after Seattle let go of Scott Servais in the midst of the 2024 season.
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson answers reporters’ questions before a game against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, September 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The 57-year-old helped Seattle reach the ALCS while finishing the regular season 90-72 and winning the American League West.
The Mariners did not play to the same level of success in 2026 and missed the playoffs with a 76-86 record. He went 187-171 overall.
Wilson said postgame that the club has some interest in moving him to a different role in the organization and he would discuss it with his family.
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 24: Devin Booker #1, Jalen Green #4 and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during Media Day on September 24, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Suns basketball is finally back…almost. With Media Day tomorrow, it’s the first edition of Bright Side Wonders for the 2026-27 NBA season, a series where YOU get to be the analysts and share with us writers your fiery Phoenix Suns takes. A weekly series, Bright Side Wonders will publish every Monday (outside of this edition) and is your chance to sound off with your Suns takes to the community!
So without further ado, here are the three main questions we want your thoughts on with media day tomorrow:
Who do you want to hear from most?
A summer full of retaining most of the key players from the team’s surprising 2025-2026 campaign, which Sun or member of the organization are you most interested in hearing from on Media Day tomorrow? While we heard from a few of the younger players during summer league and from Brian Gregory and Miles Bridges during the Summer, who are you most looking forward to hearing from with the offseason coming to a close?
Starting lineup clarity
Before Mark Williams went down, it appeared the Suns starting lineup was going to be Devin Booker and Jalen Green at the guard spots, Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges at the forward positions, and Williams at center. With Williams now expected to be out for a majority of the season because of a recent shoulder injury, the door is open for Khaman Maluach, the 20-year-old 2025 lottery pick from Duke, to have a major development opportunity and replace him at the five spot. While he didn’t play much last season, in July he made the All-Summer League Second Team after averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds per game and is considered the team’s best young prospect.
While he’s likely to start with Oso Ighodaro playing as his backup, what would it mean to you and your belief in Maluach if the Suns come out and declare him the team’s starting five tomorrow?
Alignment was last year; what’s this year’s phrase or theme?
Last offseason it became a meme how much the organization talked about having franchise alignment/ Whether it was funny or not, it seemed to work. The team overachieved and added some much-needed continuity after constant roster and coaching turnover in the previous seasons. Now a year removed, what phrase or theme do you want to define the 2026-2027 Phoenix Suns? Continued alignment? Intensity? Grittiness?
On the Suns’ Plate This Week
The team’s media day is tomorrow, Monday, September 28th, where Bright Side will be present and provide live coverage, and then they will begin training camp the following day in preparation for their first preseason game, which will be on October 5th against the Detroit Pistons. Make sure to follow along on Bright Side for the latest updates and sounds from media day tomorrow.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 30: Mickey Moniak #22 of the Colorado Rockies puts on a purple home run jacket after a first inning solo home run against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field on June 30, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Through the ups and downs of a full 162-game season, it’s still hard not to be romantic about baseball.
As this afternoon’s game put a bow on the 2026 Colorado Rockies season, we want to hear about the things — big or small — that are on your mind. With the team marking a 15-game improvement and with several young players emerging as core lineup pieces, there were plenty of fun moments and strong individual or team performances.
As we head into the long offseason and immediately start the countdown to spring training, which 2026 memories are sticking with you?
Is it an overall performance? Like Hunter Goodman’s hot start into the home run race, TJ Rumfield making a name for himself in the Rookie of the Year conversation, or Tomoyuki Sugano mastering Coors Field early in the season and getting up to double-digit wins.
Maybe it’s a specific game or milestone? Back to Goodman, seeing him hit his 40th (and 41st) home run yesterday was big. Jake McCarthy had a day back on August 8th, becoming one of a few players with four hits, two homers, and two stolen bases in a game. Connor Norby notched his first career grand slam in the 13-1 win over the Washington Nationals on August 26th. The Rockies being on the right side of a 20-burger was nice too, when they beat the A’s 23-9 out in Las Vegas on June 14th.
Maybe an overall vibes thing? The emergence of the purple home run jacket was a great time.
Was it a Coors Field memory? Attending both the Larry Walker and Todd Helton statue unveiling games are up there for me, as is getting one last hot dog combo from Diamond Dawgs before Joyl Watkins’ retirement after being a ballpark staple for 31 years.
Let’s dwell on some of the good things from the year. Give us your favorite memories, moments, performances, and players in the comments!
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 27: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers reacts to a 6-4 loss against the Minnesota Twins after the game at Target Field on September 27, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Twins 6, Rangers 4
And that’s that.
I wrote that Saturday’s win against the Twins was a reminder of what the Rangers can look like when they are playing well.
Sunday’s season finale, though, was a reminder of what the Rangers looked like overall in 2026.
The starting pitcher struggling physically, unable to give you innings.
A makeshift bullpen leaned on too heavily, that ultimately couldn’t get the job done.
A starting lineup missing a couple of key bats, that was quiet for much of the game before rallying late, only to see the comeback fall short.
Having a chance until the end against underwhelming opposition, but still not being good enough.
It was a minor miracle the Rangers were still in the race until the end. Not just in the race, but in control of their own destiny with a week left to go.
And they lost two consecutive series against teams playing out the string.
The Rangers never quit. You had guys playing hurt, guys battling to get back, a flawed team that hung in there and didn’t give up.
They just weren’t good enough, even in a division where no one finished above .500.
MacKenzie Gore hit 94.4 mph with his fastball, averaging 93.2 mph. Chase Silseth touched 97.5 mph with his fastball. Robert Garcia’s fastball maxed out at 94.6 mph. Tyler Alexander touched 92.2 mph with his sinker. Jakob Junis’s fastball hit 93.8 mph. Jordan Montgomery reached 92.6 mph with his sinker. Cody Bradford’s fastball maxed out at 90.0 mph.
Brandon Nimmo had a 105.7 mph single. Elias Diaz had a 104.1 mph home run. Corey Seager had a 104.0 mph home run. Ezequiel Duran had a 101.1 mph groundout.
