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Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso combine for three homers and nine RBI as Mets slam Yankees

The Mets put on a power show at Citi Field on Saturday, hitting three home runs, two by Pete Alonso and a grand slam by Brandon Nimmo to rout the Yankees, 12-6, and win a second straight Subway Series game. 

As a result, the Mets assured themselves of winning this three-game series and have now won three of the five Subway Series games this season.

It was also their fourth straight win overall and the Yankees’ sixth straight loss.

Here are the takeaways...

- For the second time in this four-game winning streak, Nimmo ignited the Mets’ offense with a grand slam as he took Carlos Rodón deep in the first inning for an early 4-0 lead. 

- The Mets tacked on runs from there, thanks mostly to Alonso’s two home runs. He hit a two-run opposite-field shot in the fifth inning, giving the Mets a 7-2 lead, and then essentially put the game on ice with a three-run shot to left off reliever Jayvien Sandridge who was making his MLB debut.

The two home runs give Alonso 20 for the season and 246 for his career, six behind Darryl Strawberry’s club record of 252.

- Frankie Montas gave the Mets a solid start and actually pitched better than his final line showed, thanks mostly to a couple of soft-contact hits in the sixth inning that cost him two runs. He wound up going 5.2 innings, giving up four runs on five hits, no walks, and two strikeouts. Montas gave up solo home runs to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells. 

The right-hander was leading 7-2 after five innings before giving up two in the sixth, thanks in part to a bloop single by Trent Grisham and a well-placed fly-ball double to left-center by Cody Bellinger. 

All in all, it was a much better start than last time out in Pittsburgh where he gave up five first-inning runs. In the days afterward, Montas said he believed he was ambushed early that day because he was tipping pitches. His performance on Saturday made the case that he may have been right.

- With the Mets’ bullpen thinned out by injury and illness, they got four outs from Richard Lovelady and Chris Devenski, which got them to the eighth inning and Ryne Stanek. 

Devenski got a very important out in the seventh inning. With two runners on, two outs, the Mets leading 7-5, and Aaron Judge on deck, Devenski fooled Trent Grisham with a change-up and got a weak comebacker to escape the inning. 

Stanek was shaky but got through the eighth, allowing one run, and even with a six-run lead manager Carlos Mendoza brought in Edwin Diaz to close it out.

- On the Yankees’ side, it was a very disappointing start for Rodón. He came in with a 2.95 ERA, having a strong first half, but fell behind early on Saturday thanks to a first-inning grand slam by Nimmo and wound up giving up seven runs in five innings, including another home run to Alonso and a ton of hard-hit balls. 

As a result, Rodon’s ERA jumped to 3.30. With Saturday’s news that Clarke Schmidt will likely need Tommy John surgery, Rodón looms as crucial to the Yankees' hopes in the second half. 

- The Yankees hit three solo home runs, by Chisholm, Wells, and Anthony Volpe.

Game MVP: Pete Alonso

Nimmo’s grand slam set the tone but with the Yankees chipping away at the early lead, Alonso’s home runs proved decisive, accounting for five runs. 

With five RBI, Alonso has 73 for the season, tied for third in the majors, pending other action on Saturday. 

Highlights

What's next

The crosstown rivals will play their Subway Series finale on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 p.m. on SNY.

The Mets have yet to announce their starter, while ace Max Fried (10-2, 2.13 ERA) is slated to take the mound for the Yanks.

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Rockets agree to trade Cam Whitmore to Wizards for two second-round picks

Cam Whitmore is going to get his chance.

Whitmore was frustrated in Houston with his lack of minutes. Part of that was that Whitmore was stuck in a logjam at the forward spot in Houston, and the addition this offseason of Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney-Smith was not going to help matters. Some around the league also said he struggled to break through because Ime Udoka was frustrated with Whitmore's levels of effort and team play. It was time for both sides to move on.

The Wizards are willing to give him a chance. That's why Houston has agreed to trade Whitmore to Washington in exchange for two second-round picks, a trade first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic and subsequently confirmed by other sources.

Whitmore, who turns 21 on July 8, is a very athletic 6'7" forward who can play the three or the four, and that athleticism would lead to some big nights and jaw-dropping highlights.

However, the Rockets were a defense-first team, and Whitmore's efforts on that end, along with his willingness to play team-first basketball, led Ime Udoka to limit his minutes.

The runway is open in Washington, but Whitmore has to prove himself. He fell to 20th in the 2023 draft, and now, after two seasons, the team that took him is ready to move on. The Wizards are trying to build a culture, a defense-first mindset and use his switchability on that end. The effort needs to be there every night. Whitmore will get his chance but he's going to have to earn it.

For the Wizards, this is a good roll of the dice for a very low price.

For the Rockets, this is about the money — Houston is hard-capped at the first luxury tax apron (due to the Finney-Smith signing) and getting off Whitmore's $3.5 million gets it below that line. The Rockets have one more roster spot to fill but can do so with a veteran minimum contract.

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2-Time Olympic Champion Backs Egor Zamula to Revive Flyers Career

Egor Zamula has the inside track for an NHL roster spot this season... for now. (Photo: Robert Edwards, Imagn Images)

Egor Zamula will be one of multiple Philadelphia Flyers battling for a roster spot come training camp and preseason.

Injuries to other defensemen saw an early season surge from Emil Andrae, who supplanted Zamula in the Flyers' lineup for parts of the season.

Zamula, 25, played 66 games last season and 63 games this past season, coming in and out of John Tortorella's gameday squad due to inconsistencies and, sometimes, struggling with the pace of play.

With new head coach Rick Tocchet coming to town, the 2025-26 season will be a fresh start for Zamula, who now faces competition for a roster spot in the form of Andrae, as well as Helge Grans, Adam Ginning, Hunter McDonald, and newcomers Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert.

Two-time Olympic Gold medalist Igor Kravchuk, a former NHL defenseman and current KHL assistant coach, believes the book is not closed on Zamula in Philadelphia.

Kravchuk noted that Zamula and Alexander Romanov, who just signed a massive eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the New York Islanders, were both standouts on the same Russian U18 and U20 national teams, but their careers have since gone in opposite directions. 

Aleksei Kolosov Must Change Attitude Towards NHL, Legendary Coach SaysAleksei Kolosov Must Change Attitude Towards NHL, Legendary Coach SaysThe Philadelphia Flyers haven't fully given up on Aleksei Kolosov yet, but has Aleksei Kolosov given up on the Flyers?

"By the way, Romanov was a leader of the defense in the Russian youth team, along with Egor Zamula. Unfortunately, Zamula’s career is not going as well as Romanov’s," Kravchuk told Russia-Hockey.ru in a recent interview. "The current Philadelphia is a peculiar team. There are problems with the balance of the roster, with the entertainment. Zamula is a little lost in it, but there is still time to return his career to the right trajectory. Especially since the coach has changed in the club."

Heading into the crucial third full season of his NHL career, Zamula has already played for Alain Vigneault, Mike Yeo, John Tortorella, and Brad Shaw in parts of five seasons.

Next up will be Tocchet, who's previously coaxed career years out of Jakob Chychrun, Filip Hronek, and Quinn Hughes during his time working with those players.

Assistant coach Todd Reirden, tasked by Tocchet with running the penalty kill and defense, has previously worked with John Marino, Marcus Pettersson, Mike Matheson, Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang, Matt Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov, John Carlson, Karl Alzner, and Nate Schmidt when those players were in their early and mid-20s, too.

Zamula was quietly excellent last season, according to Evolving-Hockey's model. (Evolving-Hockey)

Whether or not the previously undrafted Russian can follow in their footsteps remain to be seen, but the potential is there.

Zamula, at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, has the size the Flyers need and want on their defense, even if he seldom uses it to his advantage.

The left-shot defender also has a penchant for sneaking shots through traffic, and has a better shot in general than most would give him credit for.

That's something that led to Tortorella and Co. icing him for power play minutes, even though Zamula is not particularly agile and one of the slowest skating defenders in the NHL.

But, for a guy who played even strength minutes almost exclusively this season, Zamula's underlying analytics looked amazing, as noted in the image above.

He cut his penalty minutes from 32 to six from 2023-24 to 2024-25, and those can be a good indicator of whether or not a young, non-physical, non-fighter player is struggling to keep up with his competition.

Don't Discount Nikita Grebenkin in Battle for Flyers Roster SpotDon't Discount Nikita Grebenkin in Battle for Flyers Roster SpotWith an open battle brewing amongst wingers for an NHL roster spot with the Philadelphia Flyers, don't discount Nikita Grebenkin.

And yes, Zamula scored only three goals, 12 assists, and 15 points in 63 games this season, but he only registered 37 shots on goal. Zamula's 8.1% shooting percentage actually impressively ranked in the 85th percentile amongst his defensemen peers, according to NHL EDGE.

The big flaw, as previously referenced, will be Zamula's skating. His top speed, 22+ MPH bursts, 20-22 MPH bursts, and 18-20 MPH bursts all ranked below the 50th percentile.

The 6-foot-3 defender will now need to shift his focus towards building trust with a new coaching staff with his in-zone defending and play with the puck; managing the puck effectively will be crucial to Zamula's success, given his weaknesses with mobility and turnovers.

Heading into the last year of his contract, Zamula's Flyers future is entirely in his hands.

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Yankees sign INF Jeimer Candelario to minor-league deal

The Yankees have signed veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario to a minor-league deal, the team's Triple-A affiliate has announced.

Candelario was released by the Cincinnati Reds on June 29 after a rough season that included a lumbar spine strain that forced him on the IL. In 22 games, the 32-year-old slashed .113/.198/.213 with two home runs and 10 RBI.

However, the switch-hitter is just one year removed from hitting 20 homers in 112 games for Cincinnati and is a career .237 hitter with 110 home runs and a .726 OPS.

Candelario's best seasons came when he played for the Detroit Tigers from 2017-2022, but he's also played for the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals.

Mostly a third baseman in his career, Candelario has also played first base.

He will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will act as infield depth for New York.

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Is There Anything Left For Sabres To Pick Up In Free Agency?

Victor Olofsson (Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL's free-agent frenzy has colmed down considerably, with most of the available talent now off the market. And the Buffalo Sabres still have approximately $13.6 million in salary cap space to utilize. So, is there anything left for Buffalo to spend on the open market, or is the only road to improvement via trades?

From this writer's perspective, it's a no-brainer -- there's next-to-nothing left in free agency. Sure, the Sabres can take a run at center Jack Roslovic, who posted 22 goals for the Carolina Hurricanes this past season. Or perhaps Buffalo can offer former Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson a second stint with the Sabres; Olofsson had 15 goals and 29 points with Vegas last season, and who knows -- he might get back to the 28-goal form he had with Buffalo in 2022-23. 

Otherwise, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is looking at a whole lot of slim pickings in free-agency. And that means it's almost certainly going to be trades Adams makes that remodels Buffalo's lineup for next season.

Of course, everyone and their know-it-all neighbor is expecting the Sabres to trade RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. Adams came out after free-agency began and stated plainly that he's going to match any offer sheet a team would present to Byram, but let's remember that GMs are always playing a long game of chicken with their counterparts. We're not suggesting Buffalo won't match a Byram offer sheet, but we are saying Byram is the biggest trade chip Adams is likely to use in the coming days and weeks, and that's not going to change anytime soon.

Personally, it's our opinion that Adams should be prepared to trade other Sabres veterans, but for argument's sake, let's presume that Buffalo trading Byram is the Sabres' biggest move before training camp begins in the fall. You'd better believe that Adams has to hit a home run with a Byram trade -- we're talking an experienced forward who can contribute meaningfully right away next year -- to justify parting ways with Byram.

Olofsson Another Former Sabre Still Unsigned Olofsson Another Former Sabre Still Unsigned The signings by NHL clubs have ground to a halt five days into free agency, with the most sought-after players locked up on Day 1 and the biggest fish in Nikolai Ehlers finally signing with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. A pair of former Buffalo Sabres are among the most prominent players still not signed. Jeff Skinner had 16 goals last season with Edmonton, but played sparingly in the playoffs, while Victor Oloffson had a solid injury-shortened season with the Vegas Golden Knights.   

If Adams doesn't come away with a major trade in the coming days and weeks, a sense of despair will wash over Sabres fans. They're not naive enough to imagine that Buffalo's lineup as-is can somehow vault over most teams in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division and end their 14-year streak without Stanley Cup playoff hockey. They know it's going to be a long season if they're at that point.

Adams can pretend all he wants he's going to retain Byram's services. But if Byram returns, the Sabres are going to be top-heavy with defensemen, and light on the type of high-end forwards Buffalo needs to be a true playoff contender. So it's up to Adams to find a team that is (a) in need of Byram's skills, and (b) prepared and stocked to give the Sabres the high-impact forward they're looking for in return.

That said, nobody is going to be doing the Sabres any favors as they make alterations to their lineup. So Adams has to drive a hard bargain on the trade front. He can't pretend he's happy with the roster as it's currently constructed. He's really only added role players thus far, and that can't be the final result he's looking for.

Are The Sharks Hunting For Byram?Are The Sharks Hunting For Byram?Most of the speculation surrounding the Buffalo Sabres continues to be on restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram. Earlier this week, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that interested clubs were contemplating an offer sheet and that could still be the case if Byram does not opt for salary arbitration by 5 pm Saturday. The St. Louis Blues according to Jeremy Rutherford of the Athletic are in hot pursuit of the blueliner, but the Blues may have company.

If we're still waiting for a Byram trade a month from now, something seriously wrong has taken place in Buffalo. Whether it's trade paralysis on Adams' behalf, a directive from ownership to keep the payroll well below the salary cap limit, or both, there's going to be a clear issue in the front office, and Sabres fans will see right through it.

You can't say Adams is on the clock in terms of making a trade or two in the next day or so. But every day that passes without a major trade only builds pressure on him to do something of consequence.

Adams has to come up with something he can show Sabres fans and give them something to invest in, financially and emotionally. Otherwise, the backlash against Adams will be heavy, prolonged and justified.

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Why A Nazem Kadri For Morgan Rielly Swap Could Be A Great Move For The Maple Leafs

After a start to the NHL’s 2025 free agency period saw the Toronto Maple Leafs trade away star right winger Mitch Marner, Leafs GM Brad Treliving hinted at more moves to come from his team. 

“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said after Marner was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday. “That’s really where our focus is.”

We’re taking Treliving at his word, and we don’t expect him to make any more notable moves in free agency. So, trades are going to be the route the Maple Leafs make to fill that need, and one trade in particular makes a lot of sense for Toronto, is acquiring veteran center Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames in return for defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Now, before we go any further, let’s be clear – both Kadri and Rielly would have to sign off on this deal to make it happen. Each of them has a no-trade clause, and in Rielly’s case in particular, Flames GM Craig Conroy would have to sell Rielly on coming to Calgary – at least, in the short term.

Why is that? Well, because the smart thing Conroy could do would be flipping Rielly to a playoff-bound team in need of an experienced blueliner who can contribute on offense and eat up 20 minutes a night. That’s probably not the Flames right now, especially after they do what many think they’ll do by trading veteran blueliner Rasmus Andersson. But if Rielly agreed to be moved to Calgary for the time being, with the knowledge that he can direct Conroy as to where to flip him, the deal definitely makes sense for both sides.

Certainly, the money involved in a Kadri/Rielly trade is almost a perfect match. Kadri is signed at $7-million per season for the next four years, while Rielly is signed at $7.5- million per season for the next five years. If the Flames are taking on that extra year of Rielly’s salary, Treliving may have to add another asset to make a deal work for the Flames – something like a second-round draft pick, which the Maple Leafs have in the 2027 and 2028 drafts.

But if that deal goes down, the Leafs change their DNA and add a second-line center, probably moving freshly re-signed pivot John Tavares to the wing. And all of a sudden, the Leafs would have a plethora of centers – Auston Matthews, Kadri, Tavares, new Leaf Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton and David Kampf. That’s more than Toronto needs down the middle, but at that point, Treliving could trade or buy out Kampf, freeing up more money to spend on wingers, or perhaps, on a depth defenseman.

It won’t be easy for the Leafs to turn a position of need into a position of strength, but one trade – albeit a big trade – could do the trick for them in that regard. A reunion with Kadri surely would be welcomed by the former Leaf, and his growth as a competitor and his Cup championship pedigree from his time with the Colorado Avalanche would only help the Buds become a significantly harder team to play against.

Nazem Kadri (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

Saying goodbye to Rielly – a cornerstone component in Toronto and a terrific human being – would be tough for the Leafs. But the time to act and move on from Rielly is now, and if the Leafs and Calgary can work together on finding him a better work situation, Rielly would be erring if he didn’t accept a trade and get a new lease on life on the ice, the same way Marner has. 

If Treliving is able to pull off this deal, don’t say you didn’t see it coming. The fit on Toronto’s end is just about perfect, and the Leafs’ desire to change their makeup would be fulfilled by bringing Kadri back to a place he still considers home.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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What we learned as Willy Adames' big night powers Giants' win over Athletics

What we learned as Willy Adames' big night powers Giants' win over Athletics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

WEST SACRAMENTO – What a difference a day makes.

Twenty-four hours after Justin Verlander absorbed another loss and received very little help on the offensive side during the Giants most lopsided loss of the season, San Francisco flipped the script on both ends and beat the Athletics 7-2 on Saturday to even the series with their former Bay Bridge rivals.

Logan Webb led the charge with another yeoman work effort on the mound while pitching about 30 minutes away from where he grew up. The right-hander scattered seven hits and two runs over 6 2/3 mostly solid innings, striking out six and walking three to get his third win in his last seven starts.

For the third consecutive day, manager Bob Melvin didn’t have to reach too deep into his bullpen.

That’s nothing new when Webb starts.

Randy Rodriguez replaced Webb and retired one batter. Tyler Rogers set down three, and Spencer Bivens worked the ninth to complete the game.

The Giants also showed signs of breaking out of their collective offensive funk in third baseman Matt Chapman’s return from the Injured List.

Heliot Ramos hit his 14th home run of the season, Willy Adames had three hits and drove in four runs and Brett Wisely added a pair of hits ad two RBIs. Rafel Devers reached base four times.

Here are the takeaways from Saturday’s win:

CHAPMAN’S RETURN

Before the game Melvin insisted Chapman’s return to the lineup was advantageous in multiple ways, and the third baseman certainly made things happen Saturday.

Batting in the clean-up spot behind Rafael Devers, Chappy was hit by a pitch and scored on an Adames single in the first inning. In the third Chapman beat out an infield single then took third on Jung Hoo Lee’s single to center and scored on another Adames’ two-out hit.

Chapman reached on a fielder’s choice in the fifth, flew out to center in the sixth then drew a six-pitch walk in the ninth.

More importantly as far as Melvin is concerned, having Chapman back in the lineup adds another experienced veteran voice in the clubhouse. That, as much as his glove and bat, is exactly what the Giants at this juncture.

ADAMES SHINES IN THE 6 HOLE

Chapman’s return enabled manager Bob Melvin to juggle his lineup a little more, including dropping Adames down to No. 6 in the batting order. That’s a spot where Adames has had some of his best production this season, and he kept that roll going against the A’s.

Just when it looked like the Giants were going to waste a huge opportunity in the first inning, Adames laced a two-out, two-run single up the middle to give Webb some early run support.

Adames came through with another two-out hit in the third that knocked in two more runs.

Adames, who has been San Francisco’s No. 2 hitter most of the season, has driven in 22 of his 42 RBIs while batting No. 6.

RAMOS REGAINS POWER STROKE

Ramos ended his second-longest power outage with his solo home run off Severino leading off the fifth. It was Ramos’ team-leading 18th homer and first since June 21, a span of 13 games.

Ramos had been ill for the final two games in Arizona and was in a 5-for-34 rut before crushing Luis Severino’s first pitch in the fifth for a 416-foot home run.

The Giants slugger, who came short of a second home run when he doubled to center in the eighth. was hit by a pitch, grounded out in his other at-bats.

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Three New Potential NHL Duos Formed Through Trades And Free-Agency Signings

Multiple high-profile players have been on the move during this off-season, and with these moves, there is the possibility of seeing new partnerships and dynamic duos come into fruition. 

Several teams across the NHL have two players who share undeniable chemistry with each other. A great example of that is with the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who always complement each other on the ice with their elite abilities.

Here are three pairs of players who have never played together before, but could dominate once they get a chance to share the ice.

Mitch Marner And Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights were the winners of the Mitch Marner sweepstakes before he was able to officially enter free agency. GM Kelly McCrimmon acquired the right winger from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade in exchange for center Nicolas Roy.

Marner is one of the league’s best playmakers. He finished the season as the fifth-best scorer in the league with 102 points. Marner ranked three spots above new teammate Jack Eichel, who scored 94 points last year.

Marner and Eichel are similar in a lot of ways in how they play the game. They’re premier playmakers who recorded a combined 141 assists, 74 of those being primary helpers. In addition to their offensive skill, they take pride in the other side of the ice as they both finished top 10 in Selke Trophy voting.

Noah Dobson And Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens made a huge splash in acquiring 25-year-old Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. The defenseman was traded to the Habs for left winger Emil Heineman, as well as two first-round picks from the 2025 draft.

Dobson is coming off a down year with the Islanders, but is more than capable of taking over a game from the blueline. Two seasons ago, he recorded a 70-point campaign that saw him receive a top-10 ranking for the Norris Trophy.

There is a prime opportunity for Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis to pair Dobson with reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. The two D-men complement each other with their contrast in size and could be a successful pairing for years to come.

Trevor Zegras And Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia Flyers

Trevor Zegras’ time with the Anaheim Ducks has come to an end after five seasons with the club. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Ryan Poehling, a second-round pick in the 2025 draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft. 

Zegras is known for his creativity, soft hands with the puck and his playmaking ability. New Flyers coach Rick Tocchet hinted at pairing Zegras and his playmaking with right winger Matvei Michkov when he spoke to The Athletic following the trade.

“We’d be idiots not to explore it and talk about it, and try to manifest it where it can work,” Tocchet said after Philadelphia acquired Zegras. 

Trevor Zegras (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

The 24-year-old has played left wing and center with the Ducks, but because of his size, there’s a risk putting Zegras in the middle. “I definitely think it’s our obligation to see if he can play centre,” Tocchet said. “He really wants to give it a shot.”

Michkov and Zegras have shown they are confident in how skilled they are, attempting multiple ‘Michigan’ moves between them in their short careers. It could be breathtaking to see what they could potentially do together if they shared a line.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Maple Leafs Forward Nick Robertson Files For Salary Arbitration, Timeline, Reasons And What’s Next?

For the first time in his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nick Robertson has leverage. The forward filed for salary arbitration on Saturday, which allows a third party to decide his compensation for the upcoming season.

The 23-year-old Robertson scored a career-high 15 goals and added seven assists last season. He played in 69 games with the Leafs last season, a positive sign that the player’s history of injury is indeed in the past. However, the forward was limited to playing in just three of Toronto’s 13 playoff games this past spring, due to decision-making from Leafs head coach Craig Berube.

Robertson has been in the Leafs organization since he was drafted in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Expectations were high for him to replicate his elite goal-scoring at the Ontario Hockey League level, especially when the player was fast-tracked to an NHL debut by suiting up for the club during the 2020 NHL playoffs. However, a combination of injuries and underperformance, coupled with the back-and-forth he experienced in the 2023-24 season between the Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies (AHL) as the club managed its salary cap, has stunted the player’s growth.

'I Understand It But I'm Not Going To Sit Here And Say That I'm Happy': Maple Leafs' Roster Shuffle Tests Nick Robertson's Patience Upon His Return to the Team'I Understand It But I'm Not Going To Sit Here And Say That I'm Happy': Maple Leafs' Roster Shuffle Tests Nick Robertson's Patience Upon His Return to the TeamRobertson was called up to the Maple Leafs after being sent down to help the team open up some salary cap space.

Last year, Robertson began the summer by requesting a trade away from Toronto. Instead of getting his wish, however, he signed a one-year, $875,000 deal to remain with the team. This past week, the Leafs tendered a $919,000 qualifying offer to Robertson in order to retain the forward’s rights.

Report: Maple Leafs Restricted Free Agent Nick Robertson 'Still Would Prefer A Change Of Address'Report: Maple Leafs Restricted Free Agent Nick Robertson 'Still Would Prefer A Change Of Address'Robertson reportedly requested a trade away from the Maple Leafs back in June and hasn't changed his stance.

With the departure of Mitch Marner this offseason, players like Robertson will be counted on to pick up the slack in the scoring department. This makes assessing his fair value an interesting exercise if the team and player are unable to come to an agreement beforehand.

The Maple Leafs and Robertson can continue negotiating up until their scheduled hearing begins. Once that happens, both sides will make their case based on prepared comparables (i.e., other players with similar stats, age, and roles) before a third party rules on final compensation.

'The Puzzle Has Got To Come Into Play': Maple Leafs Not Rushing Contracts Of RFAs Nick Robertson And Pontus Holmberg'The Puzzle Has Got To Come Into Play': Maple Leafs Not Rushing Contracts Of RFAs Nick Robertson And Pontus HolmbergWhile the talk of the town might be whether the Toronto Maple Leafs can sign John Tavares before July 1 rolls around, you cannot forget about their younger restricted free agents.

The “walkaway” number in the collective bargaining agreement is $4.85 million, according to Puckpedia.com. Any award exceeding that number would allow the Leafs not to be obligated to sign the California-born forward, and he would then become an unrestricted free agent.

Robertson currently has 32 goals and 24 assists in 156 NHL games. Given the history, it's not a surprise at all that the player would exercise his right to leverage for the first time in his NHL career. Finding the right value on the player will be interesting.

An arbitrator can only award a one or two-year contract for Robertson. Hearings for all 11 players announced for arbitration will run from July 20 to August 4. 

(Photo Credit, Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

'He Always Wants To Be The Best': Why Tinus Luc Koblar Could Be Maple Leafs' Biggest Steal Of The 2025 NHL Draft'He Always Wants To Be The Best': Why Tinus Luc Koblar Could Be Maple Leafs' Biggest Steal Of The 2025 NHL DraftA few weeks after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tinus Luc Koblar is soaking up his time in the city. Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz Spotted Back On Ice In New Training Video Shared by Offseason Coach George BosakMaple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz Spotted Back On Ice In New Training Video Shared by Offseason Coach George BosakToronto Maple Leafs fans breathed a sigh of relief when Anthony Stolarz unexpectedly took the ice as Joseph Woll’s backup goaltender in their Game 7 defeat against the Florida Panthers in May, especially as the goaltender later confirmed he was fully cleared from the concussion he sustained from an incident with Panthers forward Sam Bennett in Game 1 of their second-round series. A further positive sign was seeing the goaltender take the ice in full gear with his off-season goaltending coach George Bosak, a moment shared on the coach’s Instagram account on Friday. 'What's This Horse About?': Maple Leafs Prospects React To Having Wild Colt At Development Camp'What's This Horse About?': Maple Leafs Prospects React To Having Wild Colt At Development CampThe Toronto Maple Leafs prospects didn't know what they were getting themselves into when they rolled into Exhibition Place on Friday morning.
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Notes about the Mets rotation: Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, Luis Severino and Mitch Keller

If the Mets can survive the next week with a patched-together pitching staff, they might find their way back to relative stability before the All-Star break.

Here is reporting on current and possible future members of the Mets rotation. Information is from league sources.

-- If all goes well, Sean Manaea could make his season debut next Sunday in Kansas City, the day before the All-Star break.

Manaea has so far responded well to the cortisone shot intended to treat the discomfort caused by a bone fragment, or “loose body,” in his left elbow. He is scheduled to make a final rehab start on Tuesday for Triple-A Syracuse. The team will then decide whether to start him on Sunday or wait until after the break. The prediction here is that Manaea will close out the first half.

Kodai Senga is also a solid possibility to return from the IL next weekend in Kansas City.

-- The Mets are actively scouring the trade market for pitching. But they are unlikely to land an impact starter much before the trade deadline, because -- like all buying teams -- the Mets are at the mercy of the market. David Stearns could choose to get ripped off today, or he could wait until late July for prices to settle at their actual level.

-- The Mets have a better chance of trading for a reliever earlier in the month. Those can occasionally become more readily available than starters in mid-July. The Mets acquired Phil Maton last year on July 10.

-- As first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Mets have expressed interest in starter Mitch Keller. The context for that is that the Mets have made a call on just about every potentially available starter. Nothing is close on any front.

Keller is making $15 million this season and $52.5 million from 2026-2028. Because of that hefty price tag, he is not expected to fetch a top prospect/young position player with years of club control, like Ronny Mauricio.

-- A reunion between the Mets and Luis Severino has to be considered unlikely -- but we wouldn’t call it impossible.

Severino left the Mets because the Mets -- even though they liked the player and person -- didn’t consider the three-year, $67 million contract he signed with the Athletics to be a reasonable deal for him. It made a bit more sense for the A’s, who had to overpay a free agent in order to convince him to play in their minor league ballpark in Sacramento.

But Severino has publicly complained about that ballpark, leading to an industry belief that the A’s would eat money to trade him. If the team absorbs enough of the contract, or takes on a bad contract in return, he could appeal to the Mets. Again, New York liked Severino and would gladly have retained him at a lower price point.

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Yankees to call up prospect Cam Schlittler for MLB debut after losing Clarke Schmidt to injury: report

The Yankees are reportedly calling on one of their young talents after losing Clarke Schmidt to an injury.

New York is planning on promoting young right-hander Cam Schlittler to make his MLB debut on Tuesday or Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners, according to Joel Sherman of the NY Post.

Schmidt left his start this week after just three innings due to elbow tightness, and after undergoing an MRI, he is expected to have season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Aaron Boone said pregame Saturday that they are still sorting through their replacement options for the rotation, but it appears they've settled on the hard-throwing 24-year-old.

Schlittler was roughed up his last time out, but he's enjoyed a ton of success this season, posting a 2.82 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 15 appearances between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

He's done a good job of consistently keeping the ball on the ground, recording a 47.8 percent groundball rate over his minor league career.

The Massachusetts native can touch 97 mph on his fastball and he's been developing a sweeper.

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Jackson Rowe fuels Warriors' summer league win in absence of 2025 draft picks

Jackson Rowe fuels Warriors' summer league win in absence of 2025 draft picks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors fans will have to wait to watch the team’s two picks from last month’s NBA draft in action for the first time. 

Alex Toohey and Will Richard did not play in Saturday’s California Classic summer league game at Chase Center against the Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, they couldn’t. 

The Warriors went into the second round of the draft with one pick at No. 41 overall. Before the round even began, they traded the pick to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 52 and No. 59 overall picks. Toohey was taken at No. 52, but the Warriors weren’t done wheeling and dealing. They then moved up from No. 59 to No. 56 in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies to select Richard. 

Neither trade has been made official, which is why Toohey and Richard couldn’t suit up Saturday, NBC Sports Bay Area was told. Sunday at 9 a.m. PT marks the first day of the new league year. The hope is that Toohey and Richard can play Sunday, if the trade is made official before the Warriors’ 3:30 p.m. PT tipoff against the San Antonio Spurs. 

In their absence, the Warriors started off slow and sloppy but came out roaring in the second half under Lainn Wilson in his head coaching debut to beat the Lakers, 89-84. 

“Our intensity level as a team really raised up after halftime,” Wilson said. “Their pressure, I think, threw us off a little bit in that first period. We struggled to make some open shots, but they did a really good job of speeding us up. They were a really physical team, so our guys after halftime really took it up a notch with their intensity as well and kind of exceeding that and broke the game open.” 

The Warriors trailed 19-11 after the first quarter as the Lakers pressured them all over the court. Slowly but surely, adjustments were made. Upping the ante themselves, the Warriors outscored the Lakers 28-24 in the second quarter to go into halftime down 43-39. 

At the half, the Lakers were whistled for 14 fouls while the Warriors totaled nine. The way the Lakers were hounding the Warriors defensively, however, led to eight turnovers – five in the first quarter and three in the second. 

Wilson’s halftime message was to not back down and use spacing to their advantage. Message received. 

“I think we were getting used to the 10-foul rule,” Jackson Rowe said. “Everybody kind of didn’t want to get fouled, and then we realized we got 10 to give.” 

Summer league rules are different from standard NBA rules, including how many fouls a player can have and remain in the game. Instead of fouling out at six fouls, players are can hack away until they’re called for 10 fouls, resulting in a different product much of the time. 

After adjusting to the style of play, the Warriors needed only one minute in the third quarter to regain their first lead since it was 2-0 in their favor. The Warriors outscored the Lakers 30-17 in the third quarter and held on in the fourth to come out with a win. Rowe was a major reason why. 

As the most experienced player on the Warriors’ summer league roster, Rowe is taking on a leadership role and put the team on his back down the stretch. He led the Warriors in points (13), rebounds (eight) and blocked shots (two), also adding two assists and two steals as a game-high plus-13. Rowe scored nine points in the second half, including six in the fourth quarter. 

He proved to be a big-time scorer in the G League last season for the Santa Cruz Warriors, twice scoring at least 30 points, and exceeding 20 points seven times. It was the other side of the ball he was most proud of Saturday. 

“My favorite plays were the defensive plays,” Rowe said. “Getting some blocks and trying to change the momentum of the game.” 

The Warriors signed Rowe, 28, to a two-way contract on Jan. 28. He remains two-way eligible this season, and is well aware his calling card isn’t going to be trying to take over offensively. Rowe says he has gained 15 pounds of muscle already this offseason with an emphasis on getting his body right to be relied on more defensively as someone who can do all the dirty work for Golden State. 

Like Juan Toscano-Anderson years ago, Rowe’s journey with the Warriors began at a tryout. Rowe even admitted he never expected to be in the position he is today. The Warriors saw his talent, and as his game has grown, so has his mindset. 

“If you want to make the NBA, oftentimes you’re not going to be the guy taking 30 shots a game,” Rowe explained. “You’re going to be the guy getting rebounds, playing defense and helping those main guys score. If you just watch what I’m doing, I think it’s a good example of how you can play in the NBA, or at least get as close as possible.” 

After earning his two-way contract last season, Rowe played six games for the Warriors, seeing the floor for a total of 52 minutes. He tallied 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals in that span. Though he wasn’t on the active roster for the playoffs, he remained with the team and continued to absorb every ounce of knowledge. 

Now, he’s the one encouraging summer league teammates for boxing out strong, running the floor and making the extra pass. Of course he’d love to drop 30 like he’s in Santa Cruz. He’d love to start the season with at least one of the Warriors’ three two-way contracts even more. 

“You’re not going to replace Stephen Curry,” Rowe said. “It’s like, big surprise, you’re not going to fill that guy’s shoes ever. You gotta think, how can you impact the game in other ways? They’ve taught me how to do that.” 

Playing and leading like Rowe did to open his summer league campaign will earn him the right to have plenty of space for his own shoes inside the Warriors’ locker room next season.

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Mets Notes: Brandon Sproat ‘turning the corner’ in Syracuse, the plan for Brooks Raley

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided some updates prior to Saturday’s game against the Yankees…

The plan for Brooks Raley

Raley took the next step in his rehab assignment on Friday night. 

The southpaw jumped up to Triple-A and put together another strong outing, taking home the victory after working around a hit and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings. 

He has now punched out 11 batters and is yet to allow a run over six appearances (6.2 innings). 

Things continue to go well, but it will be a bit longer before we see the veteran back on the big-league mound. 

“We still want to see back-to-back, two out of three,” the skipper said. “So most likely it won’t be until after the break. But he’s putting himself in a good position, bouncing back well. Now it’s just preparing him for scenarios how we’ll use him.

"We don’t want the first time he’s going back-to-back to be at the big-league level, especially after what he’s been through.”

Brandon Sproat finding his groove

The young right-hander had a bit of a rough start to the season, but of late, he’s begun to find a groove down in Syracuse. 

Sproat put together his second consecutive strong outing on Friday night, allowing just two singles and a walk while striking out eight over five scoreless innings. 

He’s now gone 11 consecutive frames without giving up a run. 

“It’s really good to see,” Mendoza said. “We’re keeping an eye on all of those guys. I was talking to Dickey Scott before the outing yesterday, not only the life on the fastball but the conviction of the way he’s throwing the baseball. It looks like he’s turning the corner here. 

“Reading his report from last night it’s the same thing -- just attacking, life on his pitches, using all of his pitches, the changeup was better. That’s what we want to see out of these kids. They continue to put themselves in a position and we’ll watch them.”

David Stearns said earlier this week that the team would prefer to not bring up one of their talented young arms in a spot start situation.

Sproat certainly has been building his case, though, lowering his ERA to 5.05 on the year.

New addition to the roster

New bullpen addition Zach Pop officially joined the roster prior to Saturday’s Subway Series matchup. 

Pop is active and will be available out of the bullpen for the contest. 

In a corresponding move, Austin Warren was sent back down to Triple-A. 

Reliever Tyler Zuber was designated for assignment to make room for Pop on the roster. 

Zuber was acquired from the Rays ahead of last year’s trade deadline in exchange for relief prospect Paul Gervase, who made his big-league debut this year.