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When the Rangers best defenseman Adam Fox was crushed by Brandon Hagel during the Tampa Bay victory over New York, no member of the home team went after Hagel.

Veteran hockey writer Al Greenberg – watching from The Garden press box – told me that he was disappointed that not a single revengeful move was made.

It was interpreted by Greenberg – and many others – that the non-reaction was a signal that the Rangers lack toughness. But upon further review, no retaliation was in order because the Hagel hit is the kind sanctioned by the National Hockey League.

Because it was completely and eminently legal; a perfect hit, as a matter of fact.

It was the kind of clean bodycheck that historic Rangers defensemen such as Bill Juzda, Bill 

Moe, and Bill Gadsby – right up to Ryan Lindgren and Jacob Trouba – have delivered.

How can anyone take issue with Hagel?

1. His stick was down.

2. He made contact with good posture. 

3. He finished through the hands and arms.

4. It was well-executed just as you'd find in a reputable hockey manual.

5. If a hit is to be finished; Hagel showed how.

Too often, clean hits that do damage to a foe inspire retaliation no matter what because of emotion not reason. One veteran Rangers fan I know insisted that – in his eyes – legal hit or not, didn't matter to him. "Get back at Hagel" was his theme.

Are The Rangers Really Trying Hard Enough For Coach Sullivan?How does one explain the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> frustratingly listless effort in a big game against the formidable Tampa Bay Lightning?

As for those who claim the Rangers are too soft, Sam Carrick has proven otherwise as well as Will Cuylle – plus Matt Rempe when he eventually returns. 

Super scout Jess Rubenstein studies the Rangers as intensely as anyone I know. When The Maven asks him if the Rangers lack toughness, his response intrigues me.

"It's not a lack of toughness," says Rubenstein, "they are emotionally fragile!"

Cole Ragans to Red Sox? Royals ace should be among top trade targets originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox may not be done bolstering their starting rotation after trading for veteran right-hander Sonny Gray.

According to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox could shift their attention to Cole Ragans this offseason if the Kansas City Royals opt to move their All-Star left-hander for outfield help. Jarren Duran, who’s widely expected to be moved this winter, could headline the lucrative package going to Kansas City in such a deal.

“For teams that are in the market for high-end starting pitching and willing to deal big league talent to get it, the Royals represent one of the most interesting potential trade partners of the offseason,” Speier wrote. “Kansas City isn’t hiding its willingness to deal a rotation member for an outfielder. ‘Our starting pitching, we have some depth there,’ said Royals general manager J.J. Piccolo. ‘A lot of teams are looking for starting pitching, so if we have what they may be interested in, and they have an outfielder that would be of interest, then there’s potentially the opportunity to make a deal.’

“Is anyone, including left-hander Cole Ragans, off limits? ‘I wouldn’t say off limits,’ said Piccolo, who noted that the Royals were reluctant to deal either Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha after the two veteran right-handers committed to them via free agency. ‘There would have to be a really big return for one (starter) in particular.’

“That starter, of course, is Ragans. Though the Royals would prefer a right-handed-hitting outfielder, they won’t be tethered to the notion — making their considerable interest in Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran at the trade deadline notable.”

While it’s up for debate whether the 36-year-old Gray could be Boston’s No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet, Ragans has ace upside. The soon-to-be 28-year-old placed fourth in the 2024 American League Cy Young vote, finishing with a 3.14 ERA and an AL-best 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s under team control through 2028 after signing a bargain $13.25 million contract extension last year.

That said, there are injury concerns. Ragans missed time last season with groin and rotator cuff ailments, limiting him to only 13 starts (61.1 innings pitched). He posted a 4.67 ERA, though his 2.50 FIP and 14.3 K/9 suggest he still had his Cy Young-caliber stuff.

A first-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in 2016, Ragans has undergone two Tommy John surgeries — the first in March 2018 and the second in May 2019. His 2024 All-Star campaign marked the only full season in his four-year MLB career.

It would almost certainly take more than just Duran to pry Ragans from the Royals. Similar to last offseason’s Garrett Crochet blockbuster, multiple top prospects would likely have to be involved. Slugging outfielder Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia, left-hander Connelly Early, and southpaw Payton Tolle are among the Red Sox prospects who could entice Kansas City.

With the Crochet and Gray deals, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has proven willing to part ways with promising prospects in exchange for a “win-now” arm. If Ragans is truly on the trade block, Breslow shouldn’t shy away from making another big splash to upgrade Boston’s rotation from good to great.

With Ragans in the mix, the Red Sox’ rotation would look something like this:

1. Garrett Crochet, LHP
2. Cole Ragans, LHP
3. Sonny Gray, RHP
4. Brayan Bello, RHP
5. Kutter Crawford, RHP

Other possible contributors include Connelly Early, Patrick Sandoval, Payton Tolle, and Hunter Dobbins.

That’s a potentially elite rotation, especially if Bello can build off the best season of his young career. The No. 5 spot would remain a question mark, but that 1-4 could match up against most starting staffs in MLB.

Ragans should be a top trade target for Breslow and the Red Sox. The free-agent market for starting pitching is underwhelming — even more so now that Dylan Cease signed a mega deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Adding Ragans to the mix and signing a slugger or two would point Boston toward contention again in 2026.

New Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray has good reason to lean into Yankees hatred originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If Sonny Gray is trying to win over Boston Red Sox fans, he certainly played the right card Tuesday.

Gray spoke with reporters for the first time since the Red Sox acquired him in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals last week. And right off the bat, the veteran right-hander reminded everyone he needs no introduction to Boston’s fiercest rivalry.

“It feels good to me to go to a place now where, you know what, it’s easy to hate the Yankees, right?” Gray said. “It’s easy to go out and have that rivalry and go in it with full force, full steam ahead.”

As you might expect, there’s context here. The Oakland Athletics dealt Gray to New York at the 2017 MLB trade deadline, and he never really adjusted to the move. While Gray posted a respectable 3.72 ERA (albeit with a 1.255 WHIP) in 11 starts down the stretch of the 2017 season with the Yankees, he regressed significantly in 2018 to the tune of a 4.90 ERA and 1.496 ERA in 30 appearances.

In fact, Gray struggled so much in pinstripes that New York demoted him to the bullpen in August of 2018 while giving his rotation spot to Lance Lynn. Five months later, the Yankees traded Gray to Cincinnati, where he immediately rebounded and became an All-Star for the Reds in 2019.

“It just wasn’t a good situation for me,” Gray said of playing for the Yankees. “It wasn’t a great setup for me and my family. I never wanted to go there in the first place.

“When that was happening, and we were in Oakland and getting traded — that was a long time ago — I never wanted to go there. So then I was there, and it just didn’t really work for who I am.

” … I just wasn’t myself. I just didn’t feel like I was allowed to go out there and be Sonny.”

Now, Gray finds himself on the other side of the rivalry, where he’ll face New York 13 times this upcoming season as a member of the rival Red Sox. And considering Gray’s rough stats at Yankee Stadium — he owns a 6.06 ERA and 1.644 WHIP over 101 career innings in New York — it’s fair to wonder how he’ll fare in the pressure cooker that is the Bronx.

But Gray says he’s stronger now after that rough stint in New York.

“I do appreciate my time there, because … I do feel like the last seven years of my career, my life and everything has been better,” Gray said. “I’ve been a better baseball player, husband, everything from having that experience and going through that.

” … I like the challenge, I appreciate the challenge, I accept the challenge. But this time around, it’s just go out and be yourself.”

The Red Sox’ first series against the Yankees in 2026 begins on April 21, and here’s hoping Gray takes the hill so he can play the villain role vs. New York.

There are generally two trains of thought that have emerged since the Mets traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers last month.

The first is that with a corner outfield spot now open, New York is suddenly in position to pursue one of the biggest outfielders available -- whether they do it via free agency or trade.

The second is that since the Mets just created flexibility, they won't necessarily be in a rush to add another potentially big contract right back on the books in the same position -- especially with Carson Benge almost ready for the majors. 

The reality is more nuanced.

Yes, it's fair to wonder if the Mets will go full bore after someone like Kyle Tucker so soon after trading Nimmo.

But it's also reasonable to believe the Mets didn't move on from Nimmo because they didn't want a long deal for any left fielder on their books. They moved on from Nimmo because they didn't believe he was the right fit anymore as he approaches his age-33 season. 

Nimmo's defense had regressed to the point where an issue was developing with New York's overall outfield defense -- which has Juan Sotoin the other outfield corner. And Nimmo's offense, while still above average, has also regressed.

Could the Mets go internal with Benge in left field and Tyrone Taylor in center field? Sure. 

But they could also dive head first into the outfield market. 

Here are the free agent outfielders they should be targeting, ranked...

5. Harrison Bader

Bader had a very good year at the plate for the Twins and Phillies in 2025, hitting .277/.347/.449 with 17 home runs and 24 doubles in 146 games.

He was especially strong for Philadelphia down the stretch after being acquired at the trade deadline, posting an .824 OPS in 50 games. 

Bader was also elite defensively, worth seven Outs Above Average (in the 92nd percentile).

For the Mets, a reunion with Bader would give them a center fielder with pop and likely result in Taylor being a fourth outfielder -- a role he's better suited for than starting. 

4. Adolis Garcia

The free agent crop of outfielders is not deep, nor is it very impressive beyond the top two. That's one of the reasons Garcia, who has struggled badly the last two seasons, is on this list. And he's only available because he was recently non-tendered by the Rangers. 

Offensively, Garcia still hits the ball very hard -- his average exit velocity was in the 89th percentile this past season. But his other advanced offensive metrics were ugly. 

He provides serious value elsewhere, though.

Garcia is a strong base runner, is an above average outfielder when it comes to range, and has one of the best arms in baseball.

If the Mets think Garcia's bat can bounce back, he could make sense as a low-risk. high-reward move. 

3. Rob Refsnyder

SNY contributor Joe DeMayo recently mentioned Refsnyder as one of the better under-the-radar options for the Mets this offseason.

And if he's paired with a left-handed hitting platoon partner, Refsnyder could be a nice fit.

For the Red Sox this past season, Refsnyder mashed left-handed pitching, slashing .302/.399/.560 in 138 plate appearances.

Defensively, Refsnyder's range was a tick below average, but his arm continued to be a strength. 

Now, a caveat: In a world where the Mets sign Garcia, Bader, or Refsnyder as a main outfield move, it would have to be in conjunction with big swings elsewhere on the roster -- at first base, designated hitter, and/or third base. 

2. Kyle Tucker

The most impactful offensive player available via free agency this offseason, Tucker is expected to get a deal worth more than $300 million.

A relatively young star (he'll be entering his age-29 season in 2026) who controls the strike zone at an elite level and whose Baseball Savant page lights up red, Tucker is coming off an uneven season with the Cubs that was interrupted by a fractured hand.

But even in a relatively down year, Tucker posted an OPS+ of 143.

Inking Tucker would add a third megadeal to New York's books to go along with the ones given to Soto and Francisco Lindor. But Tucker is a special offensive player still in his prime whose addition would take New York's lineup to another level.

Tucker hasn't played left field since 2020, so the Mets would need him or Soto to shift to left field in the event a deal is struck.

1. Cody Bellinger

Numerous reports have linked the Mets to Bellinger, a versatile player the Yankees have spoken about wanting to retain.

For the Mets, Bellinger could fit snugly in left field, where he spent the majority of his time last season.

An elite defender, Bellinger can also play right field (if the Mets explored a move of Soto to left) and first base.

Offensively, Bellinger has put his poor 2021 and 2022 campaigns behind him, settling in as an above average performer -- though he hasn't come close to the height he reached for the Dodgers during his 2019 MVP campaign. Still, what Bellinger provides on both sides of the ball has immense value.

Over the last three seasons for the Cubs and Yanks, Bellinger has slashed .281/.338/.477 (.815 OPS). He's also been reliable, playing 130 games or more in every full season of his nine-year career except one.