The team has agreed to terms with Kevon Looney on a one-year deal for a veteran minimum’s salary of $3.9 million, his agent Life Sports Agency CEO Todd Ramasar confirmed to the California Post on Tuesday.
ESPN first reported the deal.
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with three time champion Kevon Looney in NBA free agency. Getty Images
Looney will join the Lakers with the opportunity to be the primary backup center behind Kessler, who the Lakers will sign to a four-year, $130 million deal after acquiring Kessler from the Jazz in a sign and trade.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, who agreed to join the Lakers on a four-year, $52 million contract, is also expected to factor into the Lakers’ big man rotation.
An 11-year veteran, Looney got his start in the league when the Warriors drafted him out of UCLA with the 30th overall pick in 2015.
After playing sparingly as a rookie, Looney saw his minutes increase beginning his second year when he became a valuable member of Steve Kerr’s rotation as a backup big man who started occasionally.
He became a full-time starter for the Warriors in his seventh season, averaging a then career-high 21.1 minutes in 82 games (80 starts). Looney recorded 6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2 assists per game during the Warriors’ 2021-22 championship season.
Looney remained a full-time starter during the 2022-23 season, averaging career-highs of 7 points, 9.3 rebounds (3.3 offensive boards) 2.5 assists and 23.9 minutes in 82 games (70 starts), before moving into a backup role for his final two seasons with the Warriors.
After 10 seasons with the Warriors, Looney played for a team based outside of The Golden State for the first time since high school when he joined the Pelicans on a two-year, $16 million deal that had a team option on the second season.
Looney sparingly played for the Pelicans, who had young big men Derik Queen and Yves Missi on the roster in addition to veteran center DeAndre Jordan, appearing in just 21 regular season games (14.7 minutes).
Even at a more advanced stage of his career entering his 12th NBA season, Looney remains a positive contributor with defensive rebounding, offensive rebounding, rim protection and screening.
And after a decade of being a complementary piece who made the game easier for perimeter stars such as Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, Looney will have the opportunity to do similar playing alongside Lakers stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
For the first time since April 14, Jorge Polanco is back with the Mets.
The team made a number of roster moves on Tuesday prior to its series opening game against the Kansas City Royals, including returning Polanco from his rehab assignment and reinstating him from the 60-day injured list.
Polanco has been sidelined for most of the season due to left Achilles bursitis and a wrist contusion, but has been working his way back to the majors since the end of May. He played in 11 minor league games during his rehab assignment over the past month-plus with Double-A Binghamton (three games) and Triple-A Syracuse (eight games), hitting .148 with three home runs over 27 at-bats across both levels.
The team has said throughout Polanco's rehab that he will likely return in a DH role, something he played in 12 of the 14 games he was active for at the beginning of the season. He owned a .179 batting average with one home run and two RBI in 56 at-bats prior to his injury.
In corresponding moves, New York optioned infielder Ronny Mauricio to Triple-A, selected RHP Matt Seelinger to the major league roster, and designated both RHP Guillermo Zuniga and RHP Alex Carrillo for assignment.
Mauricio got the start at shortstop and went 1-for-4 in Monday's win over the Braves, but is just 9-for-50 (.180) in 17 games this season.
Seelinger, 31, was acquired from the Detroit Tigers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations. The right-hander is a career minor leaguer with a 3.89 ERA at Triple-A in 2026.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won a thriller over the Colorado Rockies last night and now look to secure the series on Tuesday.
My Rockies vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks back the home side to keep rolling, with Los Angeles covering the run line behind a favorable matchup against struggling right-hander Michael Lorenzen.
Who will win Rockies vs Dodgers today: Dodgers -1.5 (-137)
That's because Lorenzen is getting tagged hard by left-handed hitters. On the season, lefties are slashing .365/.423/.640 against him while posting a 1.94 HR/9 rate.
Lorenzen owns a 5.07 xFIP versus left-handed hitters over the past month, but that number could be even worse. He's surrendered a HR/FB rate of only 4.8% despite allowing a 37.5% fly-ball rate.
The Dodgers' left-handed bats should do plenty of damage as Los Angeles covers the run line.
I'm betting this to -150 as my best bet.
COVERS INTEL: Lorenzen's hard-hit rate of 51.8% vs. left-handed hitters over the past month is the second-highest mark among starting pitchers who have faced at least 30 left-handed batters.
Rockies vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (-103)
Lorenzen will get us close to the total, but two overworked bullpens should carry this game Over.
Last night's 11-inning contest further taxed a Colorado Rockies bullpen that's thrown the fifth-most innings (32 2/3) of any club over the past week.
During that stretch, the Rockies own the lowest strikeout rate (14.4%) in baseball. An inability to miss bats against the Dodgers is never a recipe for success.
Colorado's .566 slugging percentage leads the majors over the past month, and the Rockies should tack on a few runs after Justin Wrobleski exits against a Dodgers bullpen that has logged the same number of innings over the past week as Colorado.
I'm playing this to -115.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 10-14, -4.90 units
Over/Under bets: 14-10, +3.28 units
Rockies vs Dodgers weather
Expect ideal hitting conditions at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night. Clear skies, temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s at first pitch, and little to no wind mean weather should have virtually no impact on the game.
Rockies vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Rockies +261 | Dodgers -266
Run line: Rockies +1.5 (+127) | Dodgers -1.5 (-138)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+100) | Under 9.5 (-104)
Rockies vs Dodgers trend
The Colorado Rockies have hit the game total Over in eight of their last 12 games (+4.70 units, 35% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rockies vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Rockies vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
Rockies.TV, SNLA
Rockies starting pitcher
Michael Lorenzen (3-9, 6.91 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski (10-2, 2.80 ERA)
Rockies vs Dodgers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
STREAKING THE WRONG WAY: Surprise! The Cubs are mired in another 10-game losing streak. They have lost the first game of each of their last 10 series. The Cubs started the season by winning the opener of their first 11 series. Then they lost six in a row and won two, May 4 at New York vs. the Mets and May 8 at home vs. the Padres, before beginning their current double-digit streak on June 12 at Pittsburgh. They Cubs are 13-16 in all first games. They are 15-14 in second games, 18-10 in third games and 4-0 in fourth games. They are 13-14-2 in winning, losing and splitting series. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
AGAINST SUB-.500 TEAMS: The Cubs are 26-19 against teams that had a losing record on the day of games they played them. They are 24-21 vs. teams that were at .500 or had winning records. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
POWER OUTAGE: Last Wednesday, the Cubs hit eight home runs at home against the Padres, tying their team record, in a span of 45 plate appearances. They have hit none in their last 109. Three straight games without a homer is their second-longest streak of the season, after four in a row, March 31-April 5. They have had back-to-back homerless games five other times. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs trail the Nationals 8-0 at Washington entering the sixth inning. They score 10 runs over the next four innings, including home runs by Blake DeWitt and Carlos Pena, and win 10-9. It happened 15 years ago today, Thursday, July 7, 2011.
In two starts since returning from the injured list, Matthew Boyd has allowed 12 hits and three runs in 9.2 innings, with four walks and six strikeouts.
If you squint you can see the form of last year’s Boyd struggling to get out. Hopefully he finds it in Baltimore.
Boyd hasn’t faced the Orioles since 2023 so many of the current O’s weren’t on the team then. Current Orioles are a small sample size 7-for-33 (.212) against Boyd with no home runs and 13 strikeouts.
Shane Baz was supposed to be the Orioles’ big starting pitcher acquisition this year and he’s been decidedly average, posting 0.8 bWAR with a 4.19 ERA.
He was a first-round pick (12th overall) in 2017 out of high school in Texas by the Pirates, who traded him to the Rays in the Chris Archer deal in 2018 (now there’s a blast from the past!).
Baz started against the Cubs for the Rays Sept. 12, 2025 at Wrigley Field and they hit him hard — six hits and five runs in 2.1 innings. Alex Bregman is 5-for-9 lifetime against Baz with a home run.
As you can see below, Baz throws hard, but his K rate is down from last year.
Please visit our SB Nation Orioles site Camden Chat. If you do go there to interact with Orioles fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 30: Derek Hill #49 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
One of the bigger questions looming on the trade deadline horizon for the Phillies whether or not they can get another bat. They have been riding out a platoon of Gabriel Rincones, Jr. and Derek Hill, with Hill filling in at time for Justin Crawford and Edmundo Sosa taking some reps in left field against left handed pitching, options that are probably more appealing in theory than they are in practicality. The more urgent need, if there was one, was finding a more permanent solution to the right field platoon. Rincones has had a decent few games lately, but has generally looked as though more seasoning in the minor leagues was in order rather getting regular time in the majors. Hill is fine as a fourth/fifth outfielder or platoon option, but for a team that is looking to win a World Series, an upgrade is probably best for all.
As we know though, it takes two to tango on the trade front and finding acceptable solutions is going to be tricky. Getting that player on the Phillies will require them to make a deal for someone that is an upgrade over what they currently have, something they may not have the trade capital to do. If not, then the platoon will remain.
In that case:
Who knows what will happen, but we do know the fallback is the current iteration of the roster as is.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phillies fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: The sneakers worn by Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 05: Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) makes diving backhand catch on a hit behind third base during the Pittsburgh Pirates versus Washington Nationals Major League Baseball (MLB) game on June 5, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What began as a promising rookie season for baseball’s No. 1 prospect has taken another turn for the worse.
Pirates star shortstop Konnor Griffin is going to be out for likely the next two months with a torn tendon in his left ring finger, according to multiple reports.
Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Tom Tomczyk told the media that Griffin’s finger will be in a splint for six weeks.
Griffin’s estimated return is in 8-10 weeks, lining him up to miss considerable time in the Pirates’ race to the playoffs.
Griffin suffered the injury against the Washington Nationals on Sunday in our nation’s capital. Griffin made two diving catches into shallow left field for highlight-reel plays, but appeared to injure his left hand on one of the plays.
Here’s the diving catch and Griffin’s reaction after
He was seen in the dugout getting his fingers checked out by the training staff. Griffin also appeared to be stepped on by Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams while stealing second base in the fourth inning and could be a contributing reason for the injury, which feels like a snowball effect of multiple causes.
It’s a crushing blow for the 20-year-old face-of-the-franchise, who just returned from an elbow injury that kept him out a month.
Griffin hit .306 in eight starts back off the IL with four multi-hit games and the game-winning hit on Sunday.
In 59 games during his rookie year, Griffin is slashing .276/.332/.404 with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 25 RBIs. Griffin homered in his first at-bat against the Reds on June 26.
Already missing center fielder Oneil Cruz and first baseman Spencer Horwitz until after the All-Star break, the Pirates will need to survive another injury to an impactful player for their offense and defense.
Pittsburgh hosts the Braves and Brewers to close the unofficial first half of the season. The Pirates are 46-45 and three games back of the Marlins for the final wild card spot. Buckle up, everyone.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 30: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 30, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for July 7, 2026 against the Anaheim Angels: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Jose Soriano for the Angels.
Texas looks to rebound after losing the home series against the Tigers. Hopefully they are more Dennis Rodman than Doug Smith. Josh Jung, dealing with a sore knee, is sitting again.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Smith — 2B
Burger — 1B
Nimmo — RF
Duran — 3B
Carter — CF
Osuna — LF
Diaz — C
Lopez — SS
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -164 favorites.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 13: Major League Baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces Kade Anderson as the third overall pick, by the Seattle Mariners, in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft at Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the MLB draft quickly approaching, we at LL conclude our draft profiles with a culmination of “everybody else”. Many of these players will be drafted before the Mariners pick, many will be drafted after, and hopefully one of them will wind up putting pen to paper with M’s by the end of next week. In case you missed our prior coverage, check out our other writeups here.
Mason Edwards – LHP, USC
The strikeout king of college baseball this past season (by a wide margin), Edwards brings some incredibly loud stuff on the mound despite rather mundane velocity. The lefthander uses a very high arm slot to get massive ride on his fastball, and both his breaker and changeup each possess some unique shapes that have gotten a ton of whiff throughout his college career. The walks ticked up slightly this season, but he is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in this class.
A high-contact corner outfielder at present, Rose was actually a catcher in high school despite possessing plus speed and an average arm. Rose has shown a propensity to barrel the ball and rarely strikes out, though some evaluators have questioned whether his top-end power will be enough to play in a corner spot as it’s closer to average than plus. His speed on the bases absolutely plays and he’ll be a stolen base threat that lashes line drives at the professional level, but elevating the ball with authority (which could come through a change in approach) should be an emphasis for him early in his career. It’s not terribly dissimilar from a young version of Michael Arroyo, though Arroyo was just promoted to Triple-A at the same age that Rose will be drafted.
Daniel Jackson – C, Georgia
A highly athletic catcher that burst on to the scene in 2026, Jackson is a Golden Spikes finalist and is a popular name in the back half of the first round. Posting 32 homers and 26 stolen bases, Jackson’s power-speed combination made him the first SEC player to post a 30-25 season and the first ever catcher to do so at the DI level. There’s legitimate whiff concerns, but the M’s just took a big-school catcher with essentially the same exact offensive profile last season in Luke Stevenson, potentially making him an attractive option based on their internal evaluations.
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) June 7, 2026
Sawyer Strosnider – CF, TCU
Strosnider tests extremely well athletically and possesses perhaps the best power-speed combination in this class. A twitchy left-handed swing produces tremendous raw exit velocities, but Strosnider’s zone judgement is subpar at present and he’s prone to swing and miss. It’s a clean swing that produced in each of his college seasons, and in all honesty, he’d need to slide quite a bit in order to get to the M’s first pick at 24. He’s been a buzzy name for a while now and could potentially sneak his way into the top ten, but if he gets to the Mariners, he’d be a very fun player to dream on.
AJ Gracia – CF, Virginia
Probably the bat the M’s want to fall to them most and subsequently the least likely of anyone on today’s list to actually be available, Gracia was a candidate for the 1.1 preseason, but a minor injury sidelined him for a few weeks and his numbers didn’t pop quite as much as evaluators were hoping for. Arguably the bat with the highest chance to possess both plus contact and plus power, Gracia, a centerfielder at present, is more of a left fielder long term and should be a capable defender in that spot. He doesn’t have the top end speed you like to see from someone playing up the middle and his arm is average at best, but every other facet of his game is so polished it’s likely he’ll be gone by the middle of the first round. A tall, athletic outfielder with as safe of an offensive profile as there is is hard to argue with, and if he somehow found his way to 24, the M’s should absolutely jump at the opportunity to make him a Mariner.
This 110 mph double is the hardest-hit ball by AJ Gracia this year. Frozen rope. Top spin kept it in the yard. pic.twitter.com/yEw9pQXNHL
Yet another name that’s gotten a ton of love over the past few weeks, Condon is one of the few prep players that could profile into the range the M’s select at and possesses incredibly loud tools. One of the fastest players in the class that mans centerfield masterfully, Condon’s bat-to-ball approach with sound pitch selection should make him an ideal table-setter atop any lineup. Teams love prep bats in the first round, and this year’s relative lack of them likely gets Condon selected before the M’s will have a chance to, but he’s reportedly a popular option in-house and could easily be the guy if he’s still available.
Hunter Dietz – LHP, Arkansas
A physically imposing lefthander that can pump triple digit heat, Dietz pitched his first full season this year after dealing with injuries in years prior, making him a relatively fresh arm on a total innings basis. The Razorback throws four pitches as of now, though the heater and breakingball have done most of the heavy lifting to this point. Dietz has some effort in his delivery and carries some relief risk because of it, though a high octane lefty with massive strikeout numbers ultimately give him a relatively safe floor if a move to the ‘pen does ultimately happen. He’s typically mocked anywhere from 15-30 and should fit nicely into the Mariners’ draft pocket.
Taylor Rabe – RHP, Ole Miss
A recent riser on draft boards, Taylor Rabe was rotationmates with another potential first rounder covered previously on the site and carries a complete four-pitch mix that’s headlined by a fastball that touches 99 mph. The calling card for Rabe is his command; one of the best strikethrowers in the country, Rabe finished fourth in the nation with a 7.00 K/BB ratio, and his high octane heater to pair with it has scouts bullish on his future. His shapes are rather mundane and his feel for spin isn’t great, but if a pitching lab can unlock some improved results on the secondaries, Rabe could be an incredibly compelling arm.
Chase Brunson – CF, Chase Brunson
One of the most well-rounded bats in this draft, Brunson represents something of a “safe” option in the sense that he does everything well, but fails to separate any one tool as exceptional. A solid centerfield defender that could easily transition to right if need be, Brunson has above average power and average contact ability that should make him a consistent 20-homer threat long term. He’s not the most adjustable at the plate, but the overall athlete and traits should have him selected in the first 30 picks or so. He’s a very talented player.
A popular name up and down the first round right now, nailing down where Ace Reese will wind up being selected is a challenging endeavor for evaluators right now. On one hand, Reese is one of the more polished hitters in college baseball; he’s shown the ability to hit for both contact and power consistently in the past. That said, his contact rates took a hit this season and his overall approach got more passive, drastically spiking his walk rates but presumably playing into his increase in whiff. It’s a fringy defensive profile that lacks a definitive home, but if his bat returns to 2025 levels (a bet that seems rather reasonable), it’s a bat worthy of a pick significantly higher than 24th overall.
Taj Marchand – SS, James Island Highschool
The only other high schooler covered in today’s roundup, Marchand is somewhat of a polarizing player in this year’s class. Having posted some amazing numbers against premium competition for the past calendar year, Marchand’s ultra-aggressive approach and unorthodox swing have left evaluators unsure of how his game will play at the next level. He’s got a lot of moving parts that will likely have to be cleaned up as he goes through the lower ranks of the minors, but should the swing sort itself out, there’s a ton to like in this profile. Great projection, innate power, and good speed at a premium position is tough to find when picking in the back half of the first round, and given how often he’s made contact in the past, the numbers suggest the M’s should be all over this player at this pick. Whether their internal scouts and player development believe in the swing and projection enough is yet to be seen, but should he be the pick, he’d fit right into a loaded crop of young infield talent.
Closing out with a hyper-funky starting pitcher that posted some of the best numbers in the country, Blair throws from an ultra-low slot and has a herky jerky motion on the mound, though he repeats it well and gets deep into starts frequently. There’s inarguably some massive relief risk here as the delivery is atypical for that of a starter, but his results have undeniably been excellent, and his combination of stuff, size, and command is hard to compete with. Just behind Rabe in terms of K/BB ratio, if the M’s think he’ll be a starter at the next level, it’s possible they could cut a deal with Blair and see if they could take a few major swings on prep talent in the ensuing rounds.
As Australia dusts out the cabinet, rearranges the 13 World Cup trophies there to make room for the latest acquisition, there’s reason to pause and reflect on just how special this 2026 T20 World Cup victory is.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 15: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Mets pitches during the game against the New York Yankees at Citi Field on May 15, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are some under the radar trade targets for the Houston Astros:
OF Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals (28): Nootbaar is a solid OBP corner outfielder whose season only started June 5 due to offseason surgery on both of his heels, which has impacted his ability to run the past couple of seasons. When healthy, as he appears to be, Nootbaar is a good defender as well.
Nootbaar is a heavy side of the platoon player as a lefthanded bat with some pop. Nootbaar is currently batting .270 with a .353 OBP and .769 OPS in 26 games.
Nootbaar is on a 1 year, $5.25M contract and has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
OF Trevor Larnach, Twins (29): Larnach is currently having his best season as a pro. His .292 AVG, .387 OBP and .833 OPS would all be career highs. He is currently pacing for career bests in runs scored and doubles as well.
Larnach is not a fast runner, so left field is his best outfield position, and his range is well below average. He makes up for it with an accurate throwing arm.
Larnach is patient at the plate. Minnesota has a logjam of lefthanded hitting outfielders and is in need of bullpen help.
Larnach is on a 1 year, $4.475M contract and has more year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
SP Clay Holmes, Mets (33): Holmes has reinvented himself as a starting pitcher the last 2 seasons after spending his first 7 years coming out of the pen. In 9 starts this season, Holmes was 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.10 WHIP before a line drive comebacker struck him in the leg and landed him on IL with a fracture.
Holmes was putting up career best numbers before the injury. He is currently expected to face live batters in about a week and go on a rehab assignment later this month with an expectation of an early August return.
Holmes is in the 2nd year of a 3 year, $38M contract in which he makes $13M this season and has a player option for $12M next year that he is a virtual lock to opt out of, making him a rental type player (and a cost of acquisition to reflect that).
RP Luke Weaver, Mets (32): Weaver has been absolute nails out of the pen for the Mets this season, with a 2-1 record with 1 Save in 36 appearances. Weaver has a miniscule 1.89 ERA and terrific 0.84 WHIP, with 42K in 38 IP.
Weaver is exactly the kind of high-leverage righthanded pen arm the Astros need, especially with Bryan Abreu’s issues this season. Adding Weaver to Hader/King/Okert would give the Astros pen more depth and balance, and help them truly shorten games in which they have a lead.
As a member of the Yankees pen the past 2 seasons, he is well versed in pennant race pressure.
Weaver is in the first year of a 2 year, $22M contract. He is making $9.5M this season and is scheduled to make $12.5M next season.
SP Michael Wacha, Royals (35): Wacha has been the leading workhorse in the AL this season, with a junior circuit-high 114.2 IP. Not only is he eating innings, he’s pitching well, reflected in his 5-6 record, 3.45 ERA and 1.16 WHIP on a weak Royals squad.
Wacha is not a strikeout pitcher, and he has an average groundball rate. He succeeds with a six-pitch arsenal that keeps hitters off balance.
Wacha is in the 2nd year of a 3 year, $51M deal. He is making $18M this season, $14M next season, and has a club option for $14M in 2028 with a $1M buyout.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 03: Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during the game between the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 3, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Thank goodness the World Cup is in full swing, because the Yankees are trying their hardest to make this a miserable summer for sports fans of a pinstriped persuasion. Even after winning on Monday, they have lost 12 of their last 16, subjecting us to one of their worst summer swoons in an era defined by their summer swoons. If it was just one problem area that would be palatable, but at the moment it’s all parts of the roster that are deficient. As such, we have just one game from which to select our At-Bat of the Week – Trent Grisham’s leadoff home run in a rare Yankees win – the 5-2 victory over the Twins last Friday.
We join Grisham to lead off the bottom of the first, the Yankees already facing a 1-0 deficit after Gerrit Cole gave up a solo home run to Kody Clemens with two outs in the top-half. Grisham is taking his first AB since being activated off the IL earlier that day, a right hamstring strain sidelining the center fielder since June 12th. He’s facing rookie righty Mike Paredes, making just his seventh major league start.
Through his first handful of big league starts, Paredes has typically attacked lefties with four-seamers up and changeups down and away. He starts this encounter with an elevated four-seamer at 95 mph.
This pitch doesn’t land too far away from the zone, but Grisham’s plate discipline is so advanced that he doesn’t even think about offering at this pitch, almost immediately recognizing it as a ball out of Paredes’ hand.
Paredes sticks with the express after missing the zone by a slim margin, again targeting the top of the zone with a 95 mph heater.
This time, he nails his spot, dotting the corner up and in with this four-seamer. Grisham recognizes it as a strike, but the combination of the perfect location with the elite amount of induced vertical break Paredes achieves with the pitch makes it pretty much impossible to put into play. The heater stays on plane above the barrel of Grisham’s bat and he can only manage to foul it back over the screen.
After two straight elevated fastballs, the second eliciting a swing from Grisham, it’s a good time for Paredes to change speeds and eye level with a low changeup.
Oh man, Grisham misses a good pitch to hit here. Paredes isn’t able to command it to his spot on the corner down and away, and it hangs pretty much down the middle. The change of speeds gets Grisham out in front, however, and he hits it just off the end of the bat foul to the left. You’d love to be able to punish a mistake like that, and now he has to hope he can do damage if Paredes makes a similar mistake.
The count is now 1-2 but there is no panic in Grisham’s approach facing another changeup.
Paredes executes this one much better than the last, making it look like a strike out of the hand and allowing the sinking and fading movement to carry it below the zone. However, Grisham’s pitch recognition and strike zone knowledge kicks in again, and he manages an excellent take against this pitcher’s pitch.
Despite failing to get Grisham to chase that changeup, Paredes opts to throw a third straight one. This tends to be a risky strategy with off-speed pitches as each one needs to be a little better than the one that preceded it.
That is not the case with this changeup, Paredes throwing this one closer to the zone and with less downward break than the last one. It’s clear Grisham is getting a good sense of the velocity and movement profile of the pitch as he’s able to pull this pitch with some power just foul on the wrong side of the right field foul line.
Perhaps Paredes senses that Grisham is growing wise to the low changeup, because he looks to speed things up and reset the eye level again going back to the elevated heater.
This pitch is not close enough to the zone to achieve the goal Paredes wants, sailing up and in and causing Grisham to recoil out of the way. Just your classic waste pitch that doesn’t do much to set up future offerings.
Grisham has fought back to work the count full, and after watching the poor execution of the four-seamer Paredes just threw, I wonder if he allows himself to sit on the changeup here.
Whatever the case, Grisham is absolutely ready to hit the off-speed. Even though he is a little out in front of this pitch, he is able to sink to one knee to dig out this ball and lift it into the second deck in right for the game-tying home run. After missing the first mistake changeup earlier in the count, the worry is that that might’ve been the one good pitch to hit this AB. However, Grisham made sure not to miss when he got a second meatball to hit.
Here’s the full AB:
Grisham was in the midst of a searing hot streak at the time of his injury, his loss from the top of the lineup a huge blow with the team already missing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. It was incredibly encouraging to see that he did not miss a single beat in his three weeks on the shelf, making an immediate impact in his first AB back from injury. The Yankees offense needs its regular starters back to turn this summer around, and Grisham’s return to the leadoff spot is a huge step in that direction.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 08: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a call during the first half of a game against the LA Clippers at Delta Center on December 08, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Lakers certainly aren’t running last year’s team back.
This massive exodus wasn’t a surprise. The Lakers set themselves up with a ton of cap space and open roster spots to surround Luka Dončić with everything he needs to succeed.
With so many new additions, there are a ton of Lakers to get acquainted with. For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we are asking fans which new player they are most excited to watch.
Kessler is probably the easy choice.
He is a max player and the center this franchise has been searching for throughout the 2020s. With Kessler being sold as the missing piece Luka needs, all eyes will be on him to deliver.
Sexton is a bucket-getter. As the backup scoring guard, he should be an offensive injection for the Lakers. Similar to Kessler, this will be the first time he’s on a team with big expectations, and he will certainly deliver some highlights that get fans excited.
Grimes is also an offensive player and can score in bunches. With the Lakers, the hope is that he can return to his 2024-25 form, where he shot over 38% from deep. If he can do that, he’ll become a fan favorite just like Hachimura was.
Will Mamu be a starter for the Lakers? Is he going to have a bigger role here than he had with the Raptors? Will his personality shine in Los Angeles? Mamu is certainly an intriguing player, and not knowing about his role and impact could make him the most exciting addition.
Let us know who you are most excited about by participating in the poll and discussing it in the comment section.
Around the NHL, the Philadelphia Flyers will be public enemy No. 1 after their ambitious Leo Carlsson offer sheet in an attempt to steal the player from under the noses of the Anaheim Ducks organization.
The Ducks, and the other 30 NHL teams, will be looking to get back at the Flyers and general manager Danny Briere at some point, which means the Flyers will have to set up their defenses and defend themselves in the future.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman compared the Flyers to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Metropolitan Division rival that knocked them out of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and won the Stanley Cup by deploying the same stratgey.
The Montreal Canadiens once signed Sebastian Aho with an offer sheet, the Hurricanes got the Canadiens back by swiping Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and then the Hurricanes tried to bully Edmonton out of Evan Bouchard before eventually getting K'Andre Miller from the New York Rangers.
That worked out well for them.
"Briere had a lot of his business lined up. Briere now will know he'll be a target. If you look at Carolina, they did an offer sheet with Kotkaniemi that was revenge for the Aho one. They threatened Bouchard, and they threatened K'Andre Miller and they got the player," Friedman mused on his latest episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast.
"What has Carolina done? They've made sure they're not vulnerable. They've gotten their guys signed. [Alexander Nikishin] is not eligible for [an offer sheet]. They know that one day, someone's coming after them and they'll have to defend themselves. Philly will have to do the same thing. They will have to make sure, with guys they really like, they are protected.
"Right now, because [Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras] have filed for arbitration, you can't offer sheet them, so that's sorted out."
On top of Drysdale and Zegras going to arbitration, the Flyers have gotten Owen Tippett, Cam York, and Tyson Foerster locked down in recent years, and Matvei Michkov, who became eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1, will have to be next heading into a contract year.
The Flyers have set themselves up nicely for future success, but they'll need to land Carlsson from the Ducks to make it count, then keep their foot on the gas in future negotiations to stay ahead of the game with other NHL front offices.
The Atlanta Braves are headed to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates and they appear to finally be hitting again. After ranking dead last in MLB in runs score in the month of June, the first week July has seen the Braves score the fifth most runs in MLB.
A lot of that is thanks to Michael Harris with a 205 wRC+, Matt Olson with a 176 wRC+, and Mauricio Dubón with a 165 wRC+ leading the way. It really is a shame that Harris did not get an All-Star nod. There is always the chance that he could be an injury replacement should that be necessary.
The Braves are slotted to face Paul Skenes who has struggled mightily in his last two starts. He has only pitched a total of 9.0 innings in those two starts and gave up eleven runs. The Pirates have lost the last nine games that Skenes has pitched in, despite them having scored the fourth most runs in MLB since the start of June.
Only five players currently on the Braves’ active roster has faced Skenes before and none of them have more than three at-bats. Austin Riley has one hit in three at-bats and Ozzie Albies has one hit in two at-bats. Olson, Smith, and Yastrzemski are all hitless against him in their limited appearences.
One could assume based on injuries and Skenes being a righty, that the Braves would have a lineup very similar to the one they has last night against the Mets, but you never know for certain until you see the lineup card. Smith did have a single last night but has largely struggled as of late, while Joey Bart has a 172 wRC+ in his last eight at-bats.
As most probably predicted, the Braves are going with the exact same lineup as last night since it mostly seems to be working right now.
The Pirates have been steadily good on offense. Not only have they scored the fourth most runs in MLB since the start of July, they have also score the fourth most since the start of June. Hurston Waldrep will have his hands full against a lineup that he has seen only one player before. Brandon Lowe hit a solo shot against Waldrep in his lone at-bat against him.
It was announced earlier in the day that Konnor Griffin has a torn tendon in his left ring finger, so he is not in the lineup this evening. Jared Triolo will be getting the start at shortstop for the pirates. Old friend Marcell Ozuna will not be getting the start as Brandon Lowe will be getting the DH duties this evening.
COVERS INTEL: Lorenzen's hard-hit rate of 
