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Bucks Taurean Prince has herniated disk in his neck, is out "indefinitely"

Milwaukee forward Taurean Prince is out indefinitely and is expected to miss significant time after an MRI revealed a herniated disc in his neck, the team announced Monday.

Prince came off the bench for 21 minutes a night across Milwaukee's first eight games, averaging 6.1 points a night, but sat out the last two games due to an injury. Prince started 73 games for the Bucks last season, averaging 8.1 points per night, although his primary skill has been his defense and switchability on that end of the court.

With Prince out, look for Kyle Kuzma and Amir Coffey to get more run behind starters A.J. Green and Gary Trent Jr.

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Mets free agency and trade buzz: Giants 'not inclined' to pursue possible target Tatsuya Imai

Here's the latest Mets free agency and trade buzz during the 2025-26 MLB offseason...

Dec. 1, 7:05 p.m.

Tatsuya Imai, the 27-year-old Japanese right-hander, has reportedly lost at least one potential suitor.

The San Francisco Giants "do not anticipate making the nine-figure investment" required to sign the free-agent pitcher, according to a report Monday from The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly. 

The NL West club, which made big-money commitments to shortstop Willy Adames last year and took on the big contract of Rafael Devers in a June trade, is going to pass over getting involved in the market for big-money starters because of a "number of financial considerations" as they look at more "modestly priced alternatives," Baggarly reported.

Imai, who was posted by his club (the Seibu Lions) in November, is seen as perhaps having the highest ceiling of the free-agent starters on the market. However, despite his fine season last year (1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 178 strikeouts in 163.2 innings over 24 starts), he isn't seen as the same kind of can't-miss prospect as Yoshinobu Yamamaoto was a few years back.

SNY's MLB Insider Andy Martino reported on Nov. 10 that the Mets "will be in on" the starter, but did not expect it to be a "full-tilt pursuit" as was the case with Yamamoto. 

"Why? Evaluators like Imai but suggest that he is no sure thing to succeed as an MLB starter. His mid-to-high ‘90s fastball might or might not play here; industry opinion on that is mixed," Martino wrote at the time. "Imai is an interesting option and should prompt conversations with any club in search of pitching, the Mets included."

Nov. 30, 2:44 p.m.

Kodai Senga, who has had his name come up in trade talks this offseason, has recently informed the Mets that he would prefer to stay with the ballclub, according to a report Sunday from The Athletic's Will Sammon.

Earlier in November, SNY's MLB Insider Andy Martino said there was "interest" in the right-hander "around the league right now because of his upside and because of what we've seen when he's at his best." 

"There's certainly a rational line of thinking that would point to a change of scenery after the last two years being the best for player and team," Martino said on Mets Hot Stove on Nov. 19. "It is not a definite he's going to be traded, but there's going to be so many moving parts coming into the Mets' rotation, they hope and they plan, that Kodai Senga leaving could be a part of the overall overhaul, and I don't think there's going to be a problem finding a trade."

Senga is coming off an uneven season with the Mets, pitching to a 1.39 ERA in his first 14 outings over 77.2 innings, with 74 strikeouts to 33 walks, only to post a 6.56 ERA in his next eight outings over 35.2 innings with 35 strikeouts to 22 walks. That second-half swoon, which came after missing time with a hamstring strain, saw him demoted to Triple-A for the season's final weeks.

Nov. 29, 11:30 p.m.

The Phillies certainly would love to retain Kyle Schwarber in free agency this offseason; however, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com the two sides are currently not close on a deal. 

Unsurprisingly, Zolecki notes that Schwarber's agents are looking to capitalize on his stellar campaign in which he only finished behind Shohei Ohtani in NL MVP voting. 

The expectation is that the 32-year-old will ultimately land back in the City of Brotherly Love, but we'll see how things play out. 

The Pirates, Reds, and Red Sox are among the teams that have reportedly shown interest in Schwarber. 

Nov. 29, 3:30 p.m.

Former Mets reliever Ryan Helsley and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a two-year contract, pending a physical, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. The deal has an opt-out after the first season.

Helsley will be the Orioles' ninth-inning option despite the right-hander fielding interest from numerous teams this offseason to be converted into a starter.

After six and a half seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, the 31-year-old was traded to New York at last season's trade deadline to help fortify the Mets' bullpen. A closer for the Cards who got to New York with a 3.00 ERA and 21 saves, Helsley was slotted as the Mets' setup man in front of Edwin Diaz.

However, his time in New York did not go well, pitching to a 7.20 ERA in 22 games and ultimately losing the eighth-inning job.

Still, in 297 career games, Helsley owns a 2.96 ERA and 105 saves.

Nov. 26, 7:45 p.m.

While the Mets look to re-sign Edwin Diaz this winter, the team is reportedly checking in on other back-end bullpen pieces.

According to the NY Post, the Mets have talked with representatives for Robert Suarez and Pete Fairbanks.

Suarez, of course, was the Padres' closer the last two seasons, including a 40-save effort in 2025. He's a back-to-back All-Star and pitched to a 2.97 ERA across 70 appearances this past season.

Fairbanks pitched to a 2.83 ERA and converted 27 saves in 61 games with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025.

Nov. 26, 6:25 p.m.

The Mets have one less potential starting pitching target on the board after Dylan Cease signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to multiple reports.

Cease is coming off a relatively down year, pitching to an 8-12 record and a 4.55 ERA across 32 starts. His strikeout rate was still very high (11.5) but the right-hander will look to help Toronto get back to the World Series.

As for the Mets, there are still plenty of free agent and trade targets for the team to target. While Framber Valdez doesn't seem to be on their radar, Michael King, Ranger Suarez and Japanese star Tatsuya Imai are still available. 

Nov. 20, 5:53 p.m.

While the Mets are undoubtedly looking to rebuild their starting rotation, it doesn't seem like free agent Framber Valdez is near the top of their wish list.

Appearing on Wednesday's Mets Hot Stove, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported that the Mets were not among the teams that met with the southpaw at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas.

Martino notes that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns prefers to develop his own ace-level pitchers in-house and does not typically spend huge money for top-of-the-rotation starters, though Stearns could be flexible on that point. At 32, Valdez is likely looking for a lucrative multiyear contract.

Valdez is a two-time All-Star with the Astros and has pitched to a career 3.36 ERA, but he also seemed to intentionally cross up his catcher in September to hit him with a pitch, which raised some red flags.

Nov. 10, 4:26 p.m.

While the Mets are expected to be aggressive in their pursuit of starting pitching this offseason, one of their current rotation arms is already receiving some outside interest.

According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, right-hander Kodai Senga is considered a buy-low trade target among some teams, although it's unclear if the Mets are legitimately open to moving him. 

The report also notes that Senga's contract no longer includes a full no-trade clause -- he can now block deals to only 10 clubs.

The 2025 season was a confounding tale of two halves for Senga, who resembled an ace for the Mets through June and ultimately lost a big-league roster spot by September. In between his peaks and valleys was a summer hamstring injury that required rehab starts and caused mechanical headaches. 

Still, he posted a solid 3.02 ERA with 109 strikeouts across 22 outings (113.1 innings).

There's reason to believe that Senga can re-channel that Cy Young-caliber version of himself, and his contract is by no means an albatross to the reported suitors. The 32-year-old is set to make just $28 million combined over the next two seasons, with a club option for 2028.

Since joining the majors from Japan in 2023, Senga owns a career 3.00 ERA with 209 strikeouts over 52 starts (285 innings). He also placed top 10 in NL Cy Young voting as a Rookie of the Year runner-up.

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Bruce Bochy returns to San Francisco Giants in advisory role

Bruce Bochy and the San Francisco Giants are reuniting after all, with the club’s beloved former manager taking on a special advisor role on both the baseball and business sides following 28 seasons on the dugout’s top step.

President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey is turning to his old skipper to help guide a new regime and direction for the club following a fourth straight season without a playoff berth. The club announced Bochy’s hiring.

Posey hired Tennessee coach Tony Vitello for his first job in professional baseball. Bochy should provide a strong sounding board for the first-time manager.

The 70-year-old Bochy guided the Giants to World Series championships in 2010 — the franchise’s first title since moving West in 1958 — ‘12 and ’14. He recently parted with the Texas Rangers following three seasons as manager, including their first championship in 2023.

“I couldn’t be more excited to reconnect with the Giants organization and so many familiar faces,” Bochy said. “This organization and city mean a lot to me and my family, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute in any way I can.”

From the beginning, Posey ruled out Bochy as a candidate to become San Francisco’s manager to replace Bob Melvin. The Giants fired Melvin after two seasons.

“Having Boch back in the organization means a great deal to all of us,” Posey said in a statement. “His experience, leadership, and feel for the game are unmatched, and his perspective will be invaluable as we continue building towards sustained success.”

Bochy left the rival San Diego Padres to become Giants manager in 2007, the year home run king Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s all-time record, and stayed with the club through 2019. He then worked as a special advisor for the Giants from 2020-2022 before taking the Rangers job.

This past season, the Giants finished 81-81 for one more victory than in Melvin’s first year. They haven’t reached the postseason since winning the NL West with a franchise-record 107 victories to edge the rival Dodgers by one game in 2021 under then-skipper Gabe Kapler.

Bochy’s 2,252 career managerial wins rank sixth in baseball history, while his 4,518 games managed put him at fourth. He notched 951 victories with San Diego and another 1,052 for the Giants, second-most by a Giants manager behind Hall of Famer John McGraw. Those totals make him the only manager in MLB history with 900 or more wins with multiple franchises.

“We are thrilled to welcome Boch back to the Giants family as a Special Advisor to Baseball Operations,” Giants President and CEO Larry Baer said. “Few people in baseball have his depth of knowledge, insight, and lived experience of the game. He shares a rich history with our organization and fans, and it’s special to have him back in orange and black.”

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It is simply too early to know if Mets will re-sign Pete Alonso

LAS VEGAS — If you are a Mets fan, wherever you stand on the notion of a new contract for Pete Alonso, you almost certainly find yourself wondering if the Polar Bear has indeed played his final home game in Queens.

Guess what? You have company.

Here are two other parties who have no idea how this will play out: The team and the player.

In the early days of the offseason, a perception has seemed to congeal that Alonso is a goner, and that Mets president of baseball operation David Stearns does not want him.

The former is inaccurate because it is way premature. The latter is inaccurate because … well, it just is.

There seems to be, among many fans, a perception of Stearns as a cold technocrat who can’t understand the emotional connection fans feel toward a player. That is not true. This same supposed technocrat spent his childhood sneaking a radio into his bed to listen to Gary Cohen and Bob Murphy on school nights.

In terms of attachment to the Mets, Stearns is one of you. And like you, he knows Alonso delivered an outstanding offensive season in 2025, and a subpar defensive campaign. Unlike you, Stearns’ job — an element of his dream job, by the way —  is to decide how many years and dollars that is worth to the franchise, and to avoid a contract that will end up hurting the team he loves.

Another oft-repeated inaccuracy is that Stearns did not want to sign Alonso last winter, and that Steve Cohen did. My information was always that the two were aligned on wanting the player but fearing the downside of a long commitment.

They were both happy to have Alonso on team in 2025 — which, in fairness, he almost certainly would not have been had any other club offered a four- or five-year contract. Alonso re-signed with the Mets on a two-year deal that included an inevitable opt-out after year one.

My hunch is that both Stearns and Cohen would be happy to welcome Alonso back in 2026, albeit with a significant increase in at-bats as designated hitter. They like the person and the ballplayer.

The complications begin when we talk about the term. It’s hard to imagine an increased willingness to offer Alonso four or five years, now that he is 12 months older.

But it’s also hard — no, it’s impossible — to predict how Alonso’s second shot at free agency will proceed. And therefore it is simply too early to say with any confidence or accuracy that a Boston or a Tampa Bay or whoever else will offer five years, and that Alonso will leave town.

Interest in Imai, but how much?

The Mets will be in on free agent pitcher Tatsuya Imai, whose NPB team, the Seibu Lions, will post this offseason. But I don’t expect the team to mount a Yoshinobu Yamamoto-style, full-tilt pursuit.

Why? Evaluators like Imai but suggest that he is no sure thing to succeed as an MLB starter. His mid-to-high ‘90s fastball might or might not play here; industry opinion on that is mixed.

Imai is an interesting option and should prompt conversations with any club in search of pitching, the Mets included. But the early word at the GM Meetings is that he will not captivate the industry on quite the same level that Yamamoto did two winters ago, when he spurned the Mets and Yankees to sign a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers.

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Todd McLellan Hints At Additional Changes For Red Wings After Three-Game Slide

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It's been three games and three losses for the Detroit Red Wings, who disappointed on Sunday afternoon in front of a sold-out Little Caesars Arena crowd against the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Not only did the Red Wings once again not convert on multiple scoring opportunities, but they badly lost the special teams battle. The Blackhawks scored on all three power-play opportunities, while the Red Wings failed to do so on all five of their chances. 

Perhaps the biggest turning point of the afternoon was when the Red Wings barely generated any sustained offensive zone pressure during a four-minute power-play chance near the end of the game's middle frame. 

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Not only has Detroit's power-play slipped to the middle of the pack in the NHL, but their penalty killing, which had been vastly improved in the early goings of the campaign, has now also begun to sputter. 

"A game ago, we got scored on once and it was a back-check and a sort out," head coach Todd McLellan said about the goals Detroit surrendered while shorthandedl. "That can't happen.  The first goal, we had a clearing opportunity with a two-on-one, and we didn't get it out." 

"The third power-play goal, a walkout from below the goal line, we have the tools to take care of that and we just didn't get it done," he continued. "Much like our game right now where our power-play is scrambling, our penalty kill needs a polish up." 

The Red Wings have now scored just two goals in their last three combined games, which included a shutout loss against the powerful Vegas Golden Knights in Sin City.

They had no shortage of opportunities on Sunday with a total of 45 shots, but many of them were from distance and unscreened that goaltender Arvid Soderblom had no trouble with. 

Is putting an emphasis on scoring the greasy, garbage-style goals in close proximity to the net the cure for what ails Detroit right now? 

"You'd like to think so, but it has to happen first and then we'll see," McLellan said. "We’ve always been a pretty good entry team, make the plays and score off them. Those chances we can create. It’s the grind time, it’s the cycle time, it’s the grunt time, if you want to put it that way, where you really gotta dig in. We need to be better in those areas.”

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One notable lineup switch that the Red Wings made before Sunday's game was the NHL debut of 2023 first-round draft pick Nate Danielson, who likely would have made the roster out of Training Camp had it not been for an injury. 

Lineup Shuffles Fail To Spark Red Wings, Offense Scores Just Six Goals in Last Five GamesLineup Shuffles Fail To Spark Red Wings, Offense Scores Just Six Goals in Last Five GamesLineup shuffles can't solve Red Wings' scoring drought. Injuries and slumps plague the offense, leaving fans searching for answers beyond Dylan Larkin.

Will there be additional changes prior to Thursday's contest? Don't be surprised, according to McLellan. 

“There will be a lot of discussions over the next few days of what we do with the units,” McLellan said.

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'I’m Just Going To Wait On That Call To Get The Nod To Go In And If I Do' — If Skinner Gets Shot With Blues, It Would Be His NHL Debut

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Hunter Skinner had some trials and tribulations on Sunday treking his way to St. Louis from Springfield, Mass. with plane delays, but now that the defenseman is here, the focus came along with it.

Skinner was called up from Springfield of the American Hockey League when the St. Louis Blues assigned Logan Mailloux to the Thunderbirds. The 24-year-old will be the seventh defenseman – for the time being – and just fit in any way he can after an extended training camp here in September.

“I feel good today, ready to go,” Skinner said. “Just come up here, put a smile on my face, work hard. Like I said before in camp, work hard, show them what I have, bring them what I can do to the table.”

Skinner, acquired from the New York Rangers with Sammy Blais in the trade that sent Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to New York on Feb. 9, 2023, has 203 games’ worth of AHL experience, including 157 the past three-plus seasons with the Thunderbirds, will do whatever is necessary and asked of him.

“I’m just going to wait on that call to get the nod to go in and if I do, make the best of my opportunity,” Skinner said. “Energy, physicality, I want to bring that to the best of my ability, honestly. Hopefully that can help turn some tides.”

Skinner, who mentioned in training camp he grew up as a forward, had career-highs in goals (eight), assists (15) and points (23) with Springfield last season and certainly grew on the coaching staff, which recognized the “energy, physicality, attitude,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Plus he has a lot of confidence and poise with the puck. I don’t think people would describe him that way.”

* Is Sundqvist coming in, Bjugstad going out? – Monday’s practice lines had Oskar Sundqvist centering the Blues’ fourth line flanked by Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker. That spot had been occupied of late by Nick Bjugstad, who was the extra with Alexandre Texier.

Sundqvist has been a healthy scratch the past two games and could be a case of getting him back in the mix somewhere. But could it be at the expense of Bjugstad, who has been solid with the Blues since signing this past simmer?

“It’s more about getting Sunny into the lineup. It’s not dead set that that’s the lineup for tomorrow,” Montgomery said of a matchup with the Calgary Flames. “Bjugstad, what I love is he’s a great pro. He’s done really good things, and he was really good in practice today. He’s going to be hard to take out.”

* Dvorsky gets shot with Kyrou, Holloway – It was the line that galvanized the Blues’ season down the stretch last season with Brayden Schenn between Dylan Holloway on the left and Jordan Kyrou on the right.

And while that combination hasn’t been used often – yet – this season, it will be Dalibor Dvorsky’s turn there on Tuesday.

“They’re going to have to take care of Dvorsky,” Montgomery said of Kyrou and Holloway. “Schenn was taking care of them last year. Now it’s on them to be leaders and take a young guy under their wing who’s got incredible potential who’s played really good hockey for us. You want to see if there’s a spark there, if there’s some chemistry.”

In the meantime, Schenn once again has altered a role that best suits a team. And playing on the wing.

“I thought he’s played really well outside of the Washington game, but that was the whole team laying an egg in Washington,” Montgomery said of Schenn. “I think he’s been getting more opportunities offensively, and defensively he’s done a good job as a winger.”

* Joseph takes tumble in practice – Mathieu Joseph was able to finish practice on Tuesday but not without a bit of pain.

The forward collided and fell along the boards during a drill, compromising something with his lower body that needed some rest and attention by the Blues’ training staff on the bench.

Joseph, who’s off to a real solid start to the season, was able to finish the practice and seemed fine in the locker room afterwards.

“I didn’t check with the trainers to see where he’s at,” Montgomery said. “We’ll have an update tomorrow.”

St. Louis Blues Prospect Report (Nov. 9, 2025)St. Louis Blues Prospect Report (Nov. 9, 2025)Tomas Mrsic starting to feel the scoring after adjustment at Colorado College; Adam Jiricek's offense highlighting his season at Brantford; Matvei Korotky injured in RussiaLogan Mailloux Can Always Lean On Blues Teammate Who Knows What It's Like To Break Into NHLLogan Mailloux Can Always Lean On Blues Teammate Who Knows What It's Like To Break Into NHLTyler Tucker knows pipeline between Springfield, St. Louis in efforts to crack NHL lineup, finally doing it last year after almost three years of ups, downsBlues Already Moved Past Saturday's ControversyBlues Already Moved Past Saturday's ControversyGoalie interference call that wasn't made allowed Seattle to tie it late, win in OT; Sunday's practice was more geared towards pushing each other to be better, end with bag skateBlues Assign Mailloux To Springfield, Recall SkinnerBlues Assign Mailloux To Springfield, Recall SkinnerDefenseman acquired from Canadiens for Zack Bolduc will go down to AHL, play big minutes, variety of roles and get a "reset," GM saidImage

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Edwin Díaz Free Agent Profile: Contract prediction, best fits, stats

We covered Pete Alonso’s free agent situation last week, but now it’s time look at the Mets’ other big-name free agent in Edwin Díaz.

The three-time All-Star closer is coming off another excellent season, but what sort of long-term commitment will teams be willing to give to a relief pitcher who turns 32 before Opening Day? Can anyone outbid the Mets for his services?

MLB: Wildcard-San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs
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Stars like Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, and Cody Bellinger join headliners Kyle Tucker, Dylan Cease, and Bo Bichette in a 2025–26 MLB free agent class loaded with impact bats and arms.

Don’t forget: Check out theRotoworld player news feed for all the latest news, rumors, and transactions as MLB’s Hot Stove gets underway!

Díaz in Review

Díaz signed a record-breaking five-year, $102 million extension with the Mets in November of 2022 before tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating a win for Puerto Rico during the World Baseball Classic in March of 2023. While he navigated an up-and-down year upon his return in 2024, he regained his top-tier closer form this past season while posing a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves.

2025 (ranks among all pitchers min. 60 IP)

ERA1.632nd
BAA.1625th (tied)
K%38%3rd
SwStr%18%4th

Diaz was hurt by the home run ball at times in 2024, surrendering seven of them in just 53 2/3 innings, but he gave up just four homers in 66 1/3 innings in 2025. A big key was getting opposing batters to put the ball on the ground more often. His ground ball rate of 48.4 percent was the highest of his career, surpassing the 46.9 percent mark he posted during his otherworldly season in 2022.

It’s no slight on the current version of Díaz to say that the aforementioned 2022 season is likely to be the peak of his career. Striking out half of the batters you face is an incredibly difficult feat to replicate. Still, Diaz has proven himself as an elite closer, with no clear signs of slowing down.

Market Outlook

Díaz recently opted out of the final two years and $38 million in his contract with the Mets in order to try his luck in free agency. Not surprisingly, the Mets extended him a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, which will secure them draft pick compensation if Díaz decides to sign with another team.

This was an opportune time for Díaz to utilize his opt-out, as he’s the clear top closer during an offseason where a number of high-spending teams have questions in the role. Even if Díaz ends up staying put, his favorable position in this market will force the Mets to pay up.

In looking at contracts to relievers since Diaz’s five-year, $102 million deal in November of 2022, Josh Hader signed a five-year, $95 million contract ($19M AAV) with the Astros in January of 2024 before Tanner Scott landed a four-year, $72 million contract ($18M AAV) with the Dodgers last January.

It’s unlikely that Díaz will get another five-year contract, but four years with superior AAVs to Hader and Scott sounds like a reasonable expectation.

As for alternatives in the market, Pete Fairbanks hit free agency last week after the Rays declined a very reasonable $11 million club option on him for 2026. He joins a group of free agent closers which also includes Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, Robert Suarez, Raisel Iglesias, Kenley Jansen, and Kyle Finnegan.

Best Fits

Mets: The bidding will probably go higher than the Mets would like, but look for them to do everything they can to retain Díaz. They are going to have to do a lot more than re-sign Díaz to improve upon a disappointing 2025 season, but he was the least of their problems this year. No need to mess with what’s working.

Dodgers: Can the rich keep getting richer? Díaz is a logical fit for a team who didn’t get quite what they were hoping for in Tanner Scott, but would they really make major financial commitments to relievers in back-to-back offseasons?

Blue Jays: The chatter has already begun about Jeff Hoffman’s place as the Blue Jays’ closer, so exploring Díaz makes a lot of sense. Of course, the club has other priorities, including their efforts to retain their homegrown shortstop.

Cubs: The Cubs might not be able to hang around in the bidding for Kyle Tucker, so they could pivot to address multiple areas of need. The hard-throwing Daniel Palencia established himself as a late-inning weapon for Chicago this past season, but adding Díaz would make this a dynamic and dominant duo to finish off games.

Yankees:Devin Williams wasn’t the lockdown closer the Yankees expected this past season, but their acquisition of David Bednar was an unquestioned success, as he posted a 2.19 ERA with 10 saves in 22 regular season appearances before notching two more saves with a 1.50 ERA over five postseason appearances. Bednar remains under team control for 2026. Outbidding the crosstown Mets would be a bonus, but a potential pursuit of Díaz could be more of a luxury.

Giants: The Giants traded Camilo Doval to the Yankees at the deadline this year and 2025 breakout Randy Rodriguez underwent Tommy John surgery in September, leaving Ryan Walker at the top of the depth chart. How do Buster Posey and company feel about that after Walker saw declines across the board this past season?

Contract Prediction

As stated above, five years could be a stretch for Díaz given his age. If he gets that sort of offer, he’ll likely jump at it, whether it’s with the Mets or someone else. The most logical scenario, though, is that he’ll get two years tacked on to the two years he opted out on with the Mets. He should also beat the $20.4 million AAV from his previous deal. As opposed to the Alonso situation, it’s hard to believe the deep-pocketed Mets will let Díaz get away.

Mets: Four years, $82 million

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Are The Boston Bruins For Real?

The Boston Bruins have the hockey world wondering if the B’s are officially back. After stringing together five consecutive wins, Boston has climbed to second place in the Atlantic Division, trailing only the Montreal Canadiens. Oddsmakers seem confident in Montreal’s strong start, giving the Habs -277 odds to make the playoffs but what about Boston’s chances?

The Bruins didn’t just miss the playoffs last season; they were among the league’s bottom teams, finishing with a rough 33-39-10 record. This year, Boston’s resurgent start to the season has not done much to shift perceptions. The Bruins now hold +425 odds to make the postseason, thanks largely to their hot start and standout performances from their top players.

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Superstar winger David Pastrnak has led the charge with eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 17 games, reminding fans why he’s considered one of the NHL’s elite scorers. His new linemate, 27-year-old Morgan Geekie, has been a revelation. Following a breakout 57-point campaign last year, Geekie has picked up where he left off, tallying 11 goals, which is tied for third in the league, along with four assists for 15 points through 17 games.

Offseason addition Viktor Arvidsson is also making his mark. After being traded away by Edmonton for next to nothing following a disappointing 27-point season, Arvidsson is finding new life in Boston’s top six. With eight points in 17 games, he’s on pace for just under 40 points, his best projection since posting 59 with the Kings two years ago.

Center Pavel Zacha has quietly been a consistent producer as well, registering four goals and ten assists for 14 points while anchoring the second line alongside Arvidsson. On the back end, Charlie McAvoy has been thriving offensively, racking up 12 assists in 16 games, his best pace in recent memory.

Still, Boston’s turnaround hasn’t been without questions. While their five-game winning streak has sparked excitement, it hasn’t come against the stiffest competition. Three of those victories came in overtime against the Sabres, Senators, and Islanders, and their win over the injury-depleted Maple Leafs raised some eyebrows. Their most impressive outing was a 2–1 triumph over the Eastern Conference favorite Hurricanes, where goaltender Jeremy Swayman stole the show with 28 saves on 29 shots.

The coming weeks will be crucial as Boston faces several of the same teams it narrowly edged out, including Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Carolina, before embarking on a California road trip. That stretch could prove tricky, as even strong teams like the Jets have stumbled against the improving Sharks, Ducks, and Kings.

If the Bruins drop a few games but maintain the strong fundamentals that fueled their win streak, the narrative around them could continue to shift. For now, though, it’s fair to question whether Boston’s hot streak is truly sustainable or just a temporary spark. 

Jack Eichel’s MVP Case Strengthens Amid Golden Knights’ Dominant StartJack Eichel’s MVP Case Strengthens Amid Golden Knights’ Dominant StartEichel's offensive explosion fuels the Golden Knights' hot streak. Can this star-studded lineup carry him to MVP glory?

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

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The Hockey News Big Show: What Are The Oilers Missing Right Now?

The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond

What Are The Oilers Missing Right Now? by The Big ShowWhat Are The Oilers Missing Right Now? by The Big Show

Here’s what Ryan Kennedy, Michael Traikos and Ken Campbell discussed in this episode:

0:40: What's wrong with the Edmonton Oilers, and what can be done to fix it?

3:52: Are the Oilers really missing Corey Perry right now? 

5:55: Do the Toronto Maple Leafs have a goaltending problem or does most of their struggles fall on the defense? 

9:18: How do you think Joseph Woll’s return will affect Anthony Stolarz’s performance? 

11:18: Did people get concerned about Connor Bedard too early?

16:48: How important is Year 3 in a career for Bedard and NHL players in general?

18:37: Name a player you think has jumped into the superstar category this season.

22:30: Hockey Hall of Fame talk: where does Zdeno Chara rank all-time among NHL defensemen? Is he up there with Bobby Orr and Nicklas Lidstrom?

28:50: Boston University icon Jack Parker coached the Terriers for 40 years, even when he had NHL offers. With how often NHL coaches get fired, did he have it right? 

32:36: Could we see David Carle as an NHL coach in a couple of years? 

34:00: Ken Campbell spent some time in Czechia recently and interviewed Dominik Hasek. He discusses that and whether Prague is still incredibly underrated as a city.

38:54: Who will get inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame next year? Candidates include Carey Price, Ryan Getzlaf, Patrice Bergeron, Phil Kessel and Eric Staal?

43:04: Should the NHL retire Alexander Ovechkin's number?

43:58: Who's your Hart Trophy front-runner?

Watch the full episode here

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