With Willson Contreras having emerged to become the face of the franchise, it’s fun to look way back in the archives. Like, remember Triston Casas? Whatever happened to that guy? But seriously, when does Casas ever return to the Sox, even if he somehow miraculously stays healthy? Does he ever?
Meleek Thomas has been one of the best stories of Summer League.
The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ recent second-round pick has been lighting up the scoreboard through three exhibition games. His 28.3 points per game lead all Summer League participants. The impressive part is how efficient it’s been. Thomas is doing this on .500/.458/1.000 shooting splits.
That scoring onslaught was seen on Monday when he dropped 35 points against the Miami Heat. Thomas was simply able to get wherever he wanted on the court, as he found ways to efficiently score at all three levels.
The excitement of Summer League can wear off after the first weekend and three games. The last two contests can be pretty lifeless. Thomas changes that. He’s been must-see TV through three games and should be for a fourth if the Cavs decide to let him play again.
According to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com, the Cavs may be without Thomas. It would make sense if he didn’t play. There’s nothing left for him to prove in Summer League. However, this game is a lot less fun if he doesn’t go.
While Thomas has been impressive, you’d like to see some of his teammates step up more. Two-way player Riley Minix has really struggled to make an impact. He registered no points on 0-5 shooting against Miami and is averaging just six points on .286/.000/.500 shooting splits through three games. We’ll see if he can bounce back tonight.
Wednesday’s outing will be Cleveland’s fourth of five games. The league announced that the Cavs will wrap up their trip to Vegas on Friday when they take on the Chicago Bulls at 7 PM.
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Where: Cox Pavilion – Las Vegas, NV
When: Wed., July 15 at 5:30 PM
TV: Prime Video
Point spread: Cavs -3.5
Cavs notable players: Meleek Thomas, Ernest Udeh Jr., Riley Minix, Tristan Enaruna, Malaki Branham
Pelicans notable players: Jaron Pierre, Hunter Dickinson, Josh Oduro, MIcah Peavy
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Charlotte Knights
Record 3-3 (last week), 7-11 (second half), 49-44 (overall)
Knights Players of the Week
Nolan Jones .364/.375/.818, 22 at-bats
Ryan Galanie .400/.400/.760, 25 at-bats
Andy Weber .381/.458/.619, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 21 at-bats
Edgar Quero .333/.391/.333, 21 at-bats
Dru Baker .375/.444/.375, 3-for-3 stolen bases, 16 at-bats
Korey Lee .545/.615/1.000, 0-for-1 stolen bases, 11 at-bats
Rikuu Nishida .300/.440/.350, 2-for-2 stolen bases, 20 at-bats
Jonathan Cannon 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K
David Sandlin 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 3 K
Mason Adams 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 5 K
Zach Franklin 4 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K
Shane Smith 4 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K
After back-to-back 2-4 series, the Knights took a step in the right direction with a series split against the Sounds (53-40).
Outfielder Nolan Jones, 28, was seeing the ball very well all week. Jones went 8-for-22 with three homers, a double, a walk, and 12 RBIs. The White Sox acquired Jones from Cleveland in exchange for cash considerations on June 11, and so far, Jones is slashing .230/.311/.494 in 25 games with the Knights. Jones has played 349 MLB games, and at the top level, he has slashed .247/.336/.396 (95 wRC+) and has accumulated 2.7 fWAR. Jones played at the top level for the Guardians for most of the 2025 season, but he has not appeared in the majors in 2026. If Jones has more weeks like this, he will have a strong case for a promotion.
2026 Charlotte Knights Players of the Week
Korey Lee (March 27-April 5)
Oliver Dunn (April 6-12)
Shane Smith (April 13-19)
Jarred Kelenic (April 20-26)
Oliver Dunn (April 27-May 3)
LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 4-10)
Jacob Gonzalez(May 11-17)
LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 18-24)
Jacob Gonzalez(May 25-31)
Braden Montgomery(June 1-7)
Ryan Galanie(June 8-14)
Kyle Teel(June 15-21)
Korey Lee(June 22-28)
Caden Connor(June 29-July 5)
Nolan Jones(July 6-12)
Birmingham Barons
Record 1-5 (last week), 6-12 (second half), 32-55 (overall)
Barons Player of the Week
Dylan Campbell .368/.400/.632, 3-for-3 stolen bases, 19 at-bats
Alec Briley .280/.333/.440, 0-for-1 stolen bases, 25 at-bats
Anthony DePino .227/.320/.455, 22 at-bats
Boston Smith .278/.381/.611, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 18 at-bats
Caleb Bonemer .235/.316/.412, 17 at-bats
T.J. McCants .333/.333/.417, 2-for-2 stolen bases, 12 at-bats
Colby Shelton .150/.150/.350, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 20 at-bats
Samuel Zavala .214/.353/.286, 0-for-1 stolen bases, 14 at-bats
Dylan Cumming 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K
Gabe Davis 6 2/3 IP, 8 ER, 10 H, 4 BB, 7 K
Lucas Gordon 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K
Jake Palisch 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 4 K
Jackson Kelley 3 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 7 K
The Barons failed to keep the good vibes rolling after their 4-2 week, going 1-5 against the Clingstones (40-42).
Outfielder Dylan Campbell, 24, was on fire, going 7-for-19 with a homer, two doubles, a walk, and three stolen bases without being caught. The White Sox acquired Campbell from the Phillies in the Derek Hill trade on June 11. Through 24 games in the organization, all with the Barons, Campbell is slashing .233/.347/.372. Campbell got off to a slow start to the season, but he has been gradually trending in the right direction lately, and he could not be stopped this week.
2026 Birmingham Barons Players of the Week
Samuel Zavala (April 6-12)
Braden Montgomery (April 13-19)
Alec Makarewicz (April 20-26)
Wilfred Veras (April 27-May 3)
Jake Palisch(May 4-10)
Wilfred Veras(May 11-17)
Alec Makarewicz(May 18-24)
Drake Logan(May 25-31)
Dylan Cumming(June 1-7)
Anthony DePino(June 8-14)
Grant Magill(June 15-21)
Alec Briley(June 22-28)
Colby Shelton(June 29-July 5)
Dylan Campbell (July 6-12)
Winston-Salem Dash
Record 3-3 (last week), 12-9 (second half), 50-37 (overall)
Dash Player of the Week
Ryan Burrowes .423/.516/.923, 5-for-6 stolen bases, 26 at-bats
Jeral Perez .480/.552/.760, 25 at-bats
George Wolkow .308/.357/.731, 3-for-4 stolen bases, 26 at-bats
James Taussig .304/.407/.609, 23 at-bats
Arxy Hernández .318/.375/.773, 22 at-bats
Jake Curtis 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Grant Umberger 5 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Max Banks 5 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Justin Sinibaldi 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 6 BB, 3 K
Drew McDaniel 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K
The Dash picked up another series split, with this one taking place in Asheville against the Tourists (30-56).
2026 Winston-Salem Dash Players of the Week
Caleb Bonemer (April 6-12)
Colby Shelton (April 13-19)
Colby Shelton (April 20-26)
Caleb Bonemer(April 27-May 3)
Colby Shelton(May 4-10)
Boston Smith(May 11-17)
George Wolkow (May 18-24)
Morris Austin(May 25-31)
Caleb Bonemer(June 1-7)
James Taussig(June 8-14)
Kyle Lodise(June 15-21)
George Wolkow(June 22-28)
Kaleb Freeman(June 29-July 5)
Ryan Burrowes (July 6-12)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
Record 4-2 (last week), 11-10 (second half), 44-43 (overall)
Cannon Ballers Player of the Week
Jaden Fauske .286/.500/.429, 3-for-3 stolen bases, 14 at-bats
Stiven Flores .438/.471/.438, 16 at-bats
Nick McLain .333/.364/.444, 18 at-bats
Alexander Albertus .227/.292/.455, 0-for-1 stolen bases, 22 at-bats
Efren Teran .250/.333/.250, 16 at-bats
Caedmon Parker 5 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Gabe Tanner 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Truman Pauley 7 1/3 IP, 6 R (1 ER), 6 H, 6 BB, 10 K
Alexander Martinez 4 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Gabriel Rodriguez 3 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K
Ryan Schiefer 3 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 5 K
The Cannon Ballers got off to a flaming hot start, winning their first four games of the week. They couldn’t keep it going over the weekend, but they still won the series by taking four of six against Delmarva (31-56).
Outfielder Jaden Fauske, 19, was an on-base machine against the Shorebirds, as he could hardly be retired. Fauske went 4-for-14 with two doubles, six walks, three RBIs, and three steals in as many attempts. So, Fauske reached base 10 times in 20 plate appearances, and after reaching base, he was dangerous. The South Siders drafted Fauske in the second round of the 2025 draft. Like Landon Thome, who the White Sox drafted 34th overall on Saturday, Fauske went to Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park.
2026 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Players of the Week
Stiven Flores (April 6-12)
Abraham Núñez (April 13-19)
Javier Mogollón(April 20-26)
Arxy Hernández(April 27-May 3)
Javier Mogollón(May 4-10)
Max Banks(May 11-17)
Riley Eikhoff(May 18-24)
James Taussig(May 25-31)
James Taussig(June 1-7)
Derek Cerda(June 8-14)
Matthew Boughton(June 15-21)
Ryan Schiefer(June 22-28)
Christian Gonzalez(June 29-July 5)
Jaden Fauske (July 6-12)
ACL White Sox
Record 1-4 (last week), 14-37 (overall)
Complex Sox Player of the Week
Osniel Castillo .667/.667/1.111, 1-for-2 stolen bases, nine at-bats
Yordani Soto .278/.278/.556, 18 at-bats
Landon Hodge .400/.538/.900, 10 at-bats
José M. Mendoza .308/.357/.462, 13 at-bats
Eduardo Herrera .500/.571/.500, six at-bats
Fidel Montero 5 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Orlando Suarez 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Justin Fuson 4 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 4 K
Fabian Ysalla 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K
Jefrank Silva 3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 0 K
Dylan Carmouche 2 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K
I feel like a broken record with this sentence, but the Complex Sox only won one out of five games this week. At least their overall win percentage (.275) still exceeds that of the 2024 White Sox (.253), but it is getting close.
Outfielder Osniel Castillo, 20, was cold in June, but he was fantastic this week. Castillo went 6-for-9 with a homer and a double, as he gave the Complex Sox an enormous spark. Castillo’s season has been topsy-turvy, as he has slashed .300/.391/.400 in May and .121/.147/.121 in June. Let’s hope Castillo can build on his momentum and sustain impressive numbers in July.
2026 Complex Sox Players of the Week
Alexander Albertus(May 4-10)
Eduardo Herrera(May 11-17)
Yordani Soto (May 18-24)
José M. Mendoza(May 25-31)
Yordani Soto(June 1-7)
Landon Hodge(June 8-14)
Tommy Vail(June 15-21)
Yordani Soto(June 22-28)
D’Angelo Tejada(June 29-July 5)
Osniel Castillo (July 6-12)
DSL White Sox
Record 2-3 (last week), 11-18 (overall)
DSL White Sox Player of the Week
Ronald Cardozo .462/.500/1.154, 13 at-bats
Orlando Patiño .571/.563/.786, 14 at-bats
Fernando Graterol .308/.412/.615, 13 at-bats
Hector Hernandez .286/.412/.571, 3-for-4 stolen bases, 14 at-bats
Felix Lebron .273/.500/.364, 11 at-bats
Roderic Ramírez 4 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Ronald Kelly 3 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K
David Colmenares 3 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Yordany Marte 3 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K
After the DSL White Sox’s improbable 4-1 week, they went 2-3, which is in the middle of the road for this squad.
Catcher and first baseman Ronald Cardozo, 17, was on a different level, going 6-for-13 with two homers, a triple, a double, two walks, and 12 RBIs. In Cardozo’s first 27 games of affiliated ball, he is slashing .329/.436/.598 (136 wRC+). The Dominican Summer League has an extremely high run-scoring environment, but even considering that, Cardozo has been terrific.
2026 DSL White Sox Players of the Week
Carlos Vielma(June 1-7)
Sebastian Romero(June 8-14)
Sebastian Romero(June 15-21)
Ronald Kelly(June 22-28)
Orlando Patiño(June 29-July 5)
Ronald Cardozo (July 6-12)
Unfortunately, our latest free poll embed software no longer functions. We will regather and decide what to use going forward, and we will likely still stick polls in this section in the near future.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The MLB draft occurred over the weekend. It was at the same time as the Royals were losing to the Orioles, and Blake Mitchell and Kendry Chourio were having uninteresting (though at least not poor) performances in the MLB Futures Game. Only the first 10 picks were aired on TV, and, apparently, even MLB itself couldn’t be bothered to rent their space long enough or pay their workers enough to allow for their sets to be left up during the entire draft. So you can be forgiven if you aren’t particularly clear on what happened. That said, our own Matthew LaMar broke down the draft across a series of posts over the weekend, all of which can be found under the Kansas City Royals MLB Draft tag on the site.
Keith Law had an exciting breakdown of the Royals first day (the day I would argue is the only one anyone can truly know anything about this early):
The Kansas City Royals played it a little differently this year, but I also loved their draft. They took Louisville outfielder Zion Rose at No. 6, and he will probably come in under slot. He’s one of the best pure hitters in this draft class and a sneaky-good athlete for a former catcher. Then they took right-hander Taylor Rabe, a late-rising starter from Mississippi who could move pretty quickly through the minors. Their third-round pick was left-hander Maxx Yehl, who came back from Tommy John surgery to become the West Virginia Mountaineers’ best starter this year. At worst, he projects as a good reliever.
The money they might save on Rose and Yehl (a redshirt junior) will go to second-round pick Jack Slightom, one of the hottest names in my conversations with scouts the last few weeks. He’s a high school righty with a very fast arm, a big frame and good characteristics on his pitches. High school outfielder Dominic Battista, their fourth-round pick, is a sleeper among scouts who have the Chicago area, as he’s a little undersized, but some folks love the swing and potential for power.
I mentioned on the Royals Rundown podcast that I think a team should be drafting for upside instead of floor in the early rounds and that I hate underslot strategies. That said, the scout consensus I’ve seen is that there is very little difference between players taken in the first round after the first four or five, and that was especially true of college outfielders. And when the reason Zion Rose is considered a safe pick is his hitting ability rather than his fielding acumen, I think the calculus changes. I also really liked the addition of a pitcher who throws strikes but also hits 100 MPH with the supplemental pick, and Jack Slightom was a guy that several outlets think was undervalued for how much he had progressed over the previous season.
But those are just some brief thoughts on a handful of picks the Royals made. None of that tells me what I want to know today, which is: How do you feel about the Royals’ draft?
LeBron James is leaving the Lakers, but the organization does not appear ready to send Bronny James out the door with him.
The team does not view the father and son as an inseparable package now that their historic run together is over in Los Angeles, according to The Athletic.
LeBron’s departure after eight years has not changed how the franchise evaluates Bronny or its investment in his development.
That distinction matters after two seasons in which nearly every conversation about the younger James was tied to his father. The Lakers selected Bronny with the No. 55 pick in 2024, allowing the pair to become the first father and son to appear together in an NBA game. Some speculated that the senior James was the driving force behind the draft decision.
Now Bronny has a chance to establish a future in Los Angeles on his own merits.
The Athletic reported that the 21-year-old is well-liked inside the locker room, respected for his work habits and viewed as a player who has made meaningful progress. He attended the Lakers’ Summer League victory in Las Vegas and joined the veteran minicamp that began Monday, hardly signs of someone disconnected from the team’s plans.
The Lakers also guaranteed his $2.3 million salary for next season before LeBron’s decision became public.
Bronny’s production remains modest at the NBA level. He averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 assists across 42 games last season, but his development became more noticeable late in the year.
Injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves pushed him into the rotation, and he averaged 6.6 points over the final five regular-season games before receiving meaningful playoff minutes against Houston.
His G League numbers offered another encouraging sign. Bronny averaged 15.6 points in 14 games with South Bay while shooting 45.6% from 3-point range and cutting down his turnovers.
Teams pursuing LeBron have reportedly discussed the possibility of acquiring Bronny, but that does not mean the Lakers feel compelled to cooperate. Los Angeles has already invested two years in his development and controls his contract beyond next season.
Bronny will now face a more crowded backcourt featuring Doncic, Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy and rookie Cameron Carr.
But the Lakers’ stance appears straightforward: LeBron’s next destination will not automatically determine Bronny’s.
For the first time in his professional career, the younger James has a chance to make the Lakers’ decision about him entirely about basketball.
The Buffalo Sabres have graduated a number of their young prospects to the NHL, which is one of the reasons that the club snapped the NHL-record 14 season playoff drought, winning the Atlantic Division, and advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
Under former GM Kevyn Adams and current GM Jarmo Kekalainen, the club has continued to add promising young talent into the fold, and in his annual Top 100 Prospects, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler had four Sabres youngsters on the list. Players eligible have to be 22 years old or younger and not fully established with their NHL club.
The top ranked Sabre is 2026 first rounder Daxon Rudolph, who was a bit of a surprise selection at fourth overall, and was listed 12th, behind blueliners Chase Reid, Albert Smits, and Carson Carels, who were selected after Rudolph in the Top 10 of the Draft in Buffalo last month.
Other Sabres Stories
Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss
2024 top pick Konsta Helenius was ranked 42nd overall, after averaging nearly a point-per-game in the American Hockey League and impressing in a brief playoff appearance against Montreal, while 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka was 54th, and 2022 first rounder Noah Ostlund was 55th.
2026 first rounder Ilia Morozov was listed as an honorable mention after being selected 20th overall, but a surprising omission was Sabres prospect Brodie Ziemer, who scored 23 goals for the University of Minnesota and captained Team USA at the World Junior Championships last December.
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Doc Rivers explains why one LeBron James trait is perfect for the Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
LeBron James has proven for decades that he elevates any team that he’s a part of.
Former Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers caught up with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole at the American Century Championship golf tournament last week to discuss why James would fit perfectly with the Warriors.
“Their passing,” Rivers stated. “Obviously, you play through Steph [Curry] all the time. But Steph uses Draymond [Green] a ton.”
The two-man game between Curry and Green has been evident for several years. Since Klay Thompson’s departure and a weaker Warriors roster than in years past, Golden State’s offense has been stagnant when Curry and Green aren’t on the court together.
“When Draymond goes off the floor, you don’t have a passer,” Rivers explained. “Now you have LeBron, so you’re going to always have an elite passer on the floor for 48 minutes of a game. I think it really makes them good.”
It’s fun to imagine what the Warriors would look like with Curry and James as NBA teammates. We saw how successful the duo was together in the 2024 Summer Olympics. But until James makes a decision, all the speculation still is just a yearning desire to see the two superstars together again.
James and Green recently spent some time together and talked about what the former’s future could look like.
Rivers has seen and coached a lot of basketball, so his opinion on roster evaluation carries weight. He was blunt when asked about James fitting in well with Golden State.
“They’re a better basketball team,” Rivers proclaimed.
If James does end up choosing the Warriors, the team’s collective basketball IQ will be through the roof. James reportedly is in no rush to make his decision, so we all will continue to wait and see if Curry and Green are able to recruit the all-time scoring leader to the Bay.
The All-Star game, as these things generally are, was pretty much a bore.
The three Blue Jays each had their moments:
I thought John did a good job of trying get everyone into the game. I think it would suck to be invited to the All-Star game and not play
We get two more days off before the start of the second half, which begins with the, very surprising, Chicago White Sox, visiting Toronto. My son sent me a meme, before the season started, saying the White Sox were already eliminated from making the playoffs. After that it is the Rays. A seven game home stand.
The Jays are 6 games below .500 so would need a sweep to get there, which is unlikely. I’d normally say a 4-3 stand would be good, but 5-2 would be a start in heading in the right direction.
Much short of that, I’d think they would have to start thinking of selling. Only 2.5 games back of a Wild Card spot, makes it hard to think about selling. But there are a lot of teams within reach of a playoff spot, so there will be a lot of teams looking to buy. There might be some good offers out there.
I would imagine that, if they are offered something really good for one of the veterans, they would have to consider it. I’m not sure that Springer has a lot of value, but someone might like some veteran presents (don’t email me, it’s a running joke, but every time I do someone emails me).
I got my England jersey on and I’m going to watch the game in a pub. It would be nice if they won, so I could say I saw them win once.
As always use the thread to discuss anything you would like.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the handful of teams hoping that LeBron James chooses them in free agency. The appeal of Cleveland is understandable for James from an off-court perspective. There’s a certain level of poetry to potentially finishing his career where it started in 2003, for the closest team to his hometown of Akron.
The potential downside to playing in Cleveland could be the roster, at least according to the speculation of some pundits. Particularly, how LeBron would fit next to James Harden.
James’s agent, Rich Paul, stoked these flames during his infamous “whiteboard episode” of the Game Over podcast. In that episode, Paul said that trading Darius Garland for Harden was a minus. It’s worth noting that Paul is also Garland’s agent.
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According to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, some of the concerns about a personal clash between Harden and James are overblown. Robinson reported that Paul told him that he likes Harden. “He’s actually my friend.” And, that there’s no ill will between Klutch and the Cavs for the Garland trade.
Additionally, there is previous reporting that LeBron would be open to sharing the court with Harden. Back in 2024, Dave McMenimin reported that James would be willing to take a pay cut with the Los Angeles Lakers if it meant playing with a “playmaker such as James Harden.” Whether or not that is still true from LeBron’s perspective remains to be seen.
On the other hand, Harden appears willing to play alongside LeBron. It’s been reported that one of his motivations for opting out of his previous deal was to give the Cavs more flexibility to sign a player like James. Additionally, Robinson reported that a source close to Harden said that there’s “no animosity” between James and Harden and that the duo is “cool.”
Paul went on to tell Robinson he rocks with Dan Gilbert, Koby Altman, and Brandon Weems. And, that “LeBron will make his own decision” about where he wants to play next season.
We’ll see what this all means for the Cavs chances of landing LeBron. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to what James is planning on doing or when an announcement will be made.
The Yankees come out of the MLB All-Star break at 54-42 and 3.0 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the division, but with a 3.5-game lead for the top AL Wild Card spot. Let's open up the mailbag and answer some Yankees questions...
Simple answer: I have not heard specific names yet. Like everyone, I have read rumors that the Yankees would pursue Tarik Skubal, but I have not heard that firsthand, and he might not even be traded if the Tigers continue to hang in there. So I’m not sure what to make of those rumors, other than I think if he is available, it is safe to assume the Yankees will inquire about what it would take to get him.
I do think the Yankees’ starting pitching situation has changed dramatically over the last few weeks with Carlos Rodon’s elbow injury, Gerrit Cole’s relative ups and downs as he works back from surgery, and the absence of Max Fried. Whether he was nudged to do so or truly made the decision himself, that Cam Schlittlerrethought his decision to pitch in the All-Star Game indicates some level of organizational concern with their starting depth. And indeed, with Fried still working his way back from injury and no guarantees he will be at his best right away, Schlittler is suddenly one of the more important starting pitchers in baseball when it comes to determining postseason fates.
If they merely need depth, old friend Clay Holmes could be an easy and familiar fit should the Mets decide to trade him. And if the top of the rotation ends up at full strength by October, he is proven out of the bullpen.
But the simple answer here is that until recently, my understanding of the Yankees’ deadline vision – particularly after the injury to Carlos Lagrange – was more focused on catching and bullpen help.
As evidenced by the Brewers’ trade for Lance McCullers earlier Wednesday, I think we will probably start to see the starting pitching market solidify over the next week. And as it does, I bet we will get a better sense of where the Yankees are looking and whether they are worried enough about the arms they have to pursue top-end types – to the extent that those are available.
Reid Detmers seems likely to go under new Angels management. If the Twins decide to sell, Joe Ryan will be coveted. The Marlins are winning, but they seem willing to subtract as well as add, and have a veteran asset in Sandy Alcantara, though Bob Nightengale recently reported that owner Bruce Sherman does not want him traded. The Giants have a sellable veteran in Robbie Ray, though he might not necessarily represent an upgrade from what the Yankees have in the back end of their rotation right now.
All of which is to say, I have not heard specific names in regards to the rotation, but I expect clarity to be coming in that market over the next week, if not over the next few days.
This question was submitted a few weeks ago, but we didn’t get to it. I think it’s an interesting one, particularly because the leadoff spot has been a bit of a revolving door with Trent Grisham's injury and Paul Goldschmidt's slump, etc.
I think you are right that Cody Bellinger could handle the leadoff spot, at least in terms of profile. He is faster than their usual choice, Grisham, and he has a higher career on-base percentage. But what’s fascinating is that in all his years with three competitive, big-market teams, he has started in the leadoff spot just three times – three starts at leadoff, 1,179 starts elsewhere. That lack of experience, in itself, might be reason enough not to test him there: Bellinger has proven himself as an RBI guy, and moving to the leadoff spot might inspire a change of approach that could disrupt that.
But what his lack of time there tells me is that managers of multiple strong lineups see him as too much of an asset in the middle of the order to use at the top. I think part of that is he is nearly as good against left-handed pitching (.801 OPS) as he is against righties (.819), which makes him an ideal lefty for matchup purposes in the middle of the order. He can protect the big hitter without needing to be protected. And without Aaron Judge in the lineup lately, the Yankees have needed him to help fill the run production void.
I don’t necessarily know who the Yankees would identify as a true leadoff hitter in this market. None of the hitters who have been raised in connection with them behind the plate or in the infield necessarily fit there. But I do wonder how the lineup changes if (when) they acquire a proven hitter or two. I still don’t think Bellinger jumps, particularly because Ben Rice has shown he can handle that job if Grisham isn’t the right matchup. Still, super interesting question, and one you’ve inspired me to ask around about more after the break.
According to reports, the Houston Astros are finalizing a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers that would send pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Colton Gordon to Milwaukee.
The deal appears to be a salary dump for Houston, who is reported to be paying down some of the salary owed McCullers Jr., who is in the final year of a 5-year, $85M contract. McCullers Jr. is also waiving his no-trade rights as a 10-and-5 player to facilitate the deal. The deal is designed to free up space for the Astros for potential moves at the trade deadline, and any return of note is not expected.
Prior to the deal, the Astros were listed by Spotrac as having an adjusted payroll of $238,392,177 for tax purposes. The first Competitive Balance Tax line for this season is $244M. The Astros have been very leery of exceeding the tax this season, as they have been taxpayers each of the past 2 seasons, and a 3rd straight season as taxpayers leads to stronger penalties.
McCullers Jr. (32) was one of 3 remaining players from the Astros’ first World Championship team in 2017, along with Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. McCullers was a big part of the team’s first championship, starting Game 7 of the World Series in Dodger Stadium. In that game, McCullers pitched into the 8th inning, earning the series-clinching win.
McCullers was also a part of the Championship team in 2022, returning from injury late in the season to make 8 string starts down the stretch, and pitching through the postseason.
McCullers was once considered an anchor of the Astros rotation, but a plethora of injuries and setbacks derailed a once-promising career. Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon surgery have conspired to steal over three years of his career, and have greatly impacted his velocity and effectiveness on the mound.
After returning last season, McCullers Jr. made 3 additional trips to the IL. he was limited to 16 games and 55.1 IP, posting a 6.51 ERA. His velocity was notably down from his pre-injury levels.
In Spring Training this season, McCullers Jr. was handled with care, but showed velocities he had not shown in years. Unfortunately, he was unable to maintain it with regular work. Shoulder inflammation then landed him on the IL May 19.
This season, McCullers Jr. is 2-3 in 8 starts with a 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP.
Gordon (27) made his MLB debut last season for the Astros, who once again dealt with a rash of pitching injuries. He pitched in 20 games for Houston, including 14 starts, going 6-4 with a 5.34 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. While Gordon wasn’t very effective, he gave the Astros innings they desperately needed. His 86 innings last season were good for 3rd on the team last season, behind aces Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez.
Gordon made just 4 appearances (including 1 start) for Houston this year and struggled badly, posting an 11.57 ERA and 2.57 WHIP in just 9.1 IP. Gordon, who allowed 21 HR in 86 IP last season, allowed 6 HR in just 9.1 IP this season resulting in his demotion to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Gordon has gotten himself together with the Space Cowboys, where he is 6-3 with a 3.69 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 70.2 IP.
A three-year letterman from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California that boasts alumni such as former Mets Tim Foli and Greg Goosen, as well as all-stars Hunter Greene and Mike/Giancarlo Stanton among others, Jacob Madrid’s baseball career started off slowly, hitting .255/.367/.352 in his sophomore season with the Knights in 2023. He was a bit more successful in his junior season, hitting .315/.381/.479, and closed out his career there hitting .276/.448/.736 in his senior year this past spring. All in all, the catcher hit a cumulative .284/.408/.555 in 78 games with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 15 home runs, 2 stolen bases in as many attempts, and drew 42 walks to 59 strikeouts, experiencing a major power surge in his senior year and slugging 12 of his 15 total long balls.
At the plate, the 6’4”, 215-pound Madrid currently stands square, crouching slightly and holding his bat at the eyes, wrapping it behind his head almost parallel to the ground before getting into hitting position. The right-hander swings with minimal load and weight transfer, utilizing a toe tap timing mechanism. In the past, his swing wasn’t very efficient, not utilizing his hips as much, but over the course of his senior season, his swing has improved ergonomically, allowing him to drive the ball with more authority.
The right-hander also has experience on the diamond, possessing a low-to-mid-90s fastball with a high spin rate, a high-70s curveball, and a split-changeup.
Where Madrid shines is behind the plate; defense is his calling card. He moves well behind the plate, keeping the ball in front of him when blocking. He receives the ball well, has a quick release, and a strong and accurate arm, able to throw from his knees.
Madrid initially had a commitment to Long Beach State University, but now has one to University of Oregon after receiving a scholarship offer from the Ducks.
He’s Jahmai Fitzgerald Jones and he comes from suburban Atlanta, which seemingly produces more baseball talent than just about anywhere else in America right now (though the most notable alumn from his prep school is former Pats center David Andrews).
Jones was a second round draft pick back in 2015 and cracked the Baseball Prospectus top-100 prospect list three years in a row from 2017 through 2019. But despite his pedigree, he’s never managed to hold onto a big league starting job and now finds himself in his sixth organization. The Red Sox acquired him yesterday for a player to be named later after he was designated for assignment by the Tigers.
He’s an outfielder but, despite being pretty fast (he ranks in the 84th percentile for sprint speed this year) he’s not a very good one. In fact, with a weak arm and unimpressive range, he’s spent more time at DH than he has in the field. He was mostly a second baseman in the minors, as well, and can occasionally moon light there at the big league level.
He was very good at one specific thing last year: hitting lefties. He slashed a Rob Refsnyderesque .288/.393/.577 against lefties in 2025, with 7 homers in just 104 at-bats, good for an OPS+ of 173. He also tends to do most of his damage in the air and on the pull side, which, at Fenway Park, is deadly for opposing pitchers.
Unfortunately, that small sample size of success he had last year is the only success he’s ever had at the big league level. After recording career-best marks in both strikeout and walk rate in 2025, those numbers are back to his career average in 2026, leading him to put up an ugly .137/.219/.221 line with just 2 homers, with the vast majority of that anti-production coming against lefties.
When he gets a hold of one he can really mash. Here he is sending a ball to Albert Belle territory.
Saying something to Jahmai Webster from across the diamond using the super secret sign language that all Jahmai’s know and won’t tell you about.
Jones seems like a classic example of swing-fix candidate, someone the front office would stick in AAA for a few weeks in hopes of getting him back to where he was last year. But here’s the problem with that: he’s out of minor league options and can’t be sent to Worcester. Any fixing the Sox attempt will have to be done in the majors.
If they can get him to be more productive, he could play a valuable role on this team as a platoon outfielder who can get Jarren Duran’s bat out of the lineup against lefties. But there’s a good chance that that’s just wishful thinking and that he could be DFA’d for the second time this season before you know it.
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With eight NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas today, the slate is loaded with young players hungry to prove themselves, including Liam McNeeley of the Charlotte Hornets.
McNeeley's matchup against the struggling Milwaukee Bucks is among the games headlining our NBA Summer League picks for Wednesday, July 15.
| Pick |  |
|---|---|
 Hornets moneyline | -194 |
 Celtics moneyline | -133 |
 Spurs moneyline | +133 |
| 💰 All three parlayed | +519 |
The Milwaukee Bucks are one of just two teams yet to win an NBA Summer League game in Sin City. It's been a tough go for a young Bucks lineup that's been outscored 304 to 254 across three games.
The Bucks now take on a Charlotte Hornets team that's shown plenty of promise in Las Vegas, thanks to Liam McNeeley (65 points in 81 minutes). Last year's first-round pick has been one of the hottest hands in NBA Summer League, hitting 52.6% from behind the arc.
With McNeeley and rookie first-round pick Christian Anderson Jr. providing sharpshooting on the outside, while Hannes Steinbach and Ryan Kalkbrenner own the paint, Milwaukee is going to struggle to keep up with Charlotte.
The Bucks are shooting just 39.6% from the floor and 64.1% from the free-throw line in Vegas.
The Sacramento Kings have lost their last two NBA Summer League games by 51 points, and it's becoming increasingly clear that if rookie Darius Acuff Jr.'s shot isn't falling, the team is in trouble.
His shot has not been falling lately, with the No. 7 pick shooting 36.5% from the floor and 26.3% from three in Vegas. And since the Kings played last night, there's also a chance Acuff sees limited minutes tonight.
That spells trouble for the Kings, with the Boston Celtics' Summer League lineup featuring so much length and athleticism. Dillon Mitchell (39 points in 79 minutes), Chris Cenac Jr. (32 points in 68 minutes), and Hugo Gonzalez (31 points in 70 minutes) should create problems for Sacramento's frontcourt.
Boston also has steady guard play coming from Milos Uzan (24 points and 15 assists in 85 minutes) and John Tonje (42 points in 74 minutes), something the Kings lack.
Why are the Utah Jazz favorites tonight? It must be because of No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson, who didn't play in Utah's lone win in Las Vegas.
While Peterson's numbers have popped in Vegas (47 points in 56 minutes), his shooting has been unimpressive (33.3% from the floor, 30% from three). That won't cut it against a San Antonio Spurs Summer League roster predominantly made up of high-upside defenders.
San Antonio has allowed just 222 points in three games, thanks in large part to the length and physicality of its lineup, with players like Carter Bryant, Tarris Reed Jr., and Maliq Brown. Those three have helped the Spurs rack up 10 steals and 7.3 blocks per game.
And the speedy guard duo of Ja'Kobi Gillespie (39 points in 74 minutes) and RJ Davis (37 points in 72 minutes) can provide enough offense for the Spurs to secure a third win.
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Livvy Dunne is addressing her animated game-day self while watching boyfriend Paul Skenes pitch.
During the MLB All-Star red carpet in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, the couple stopped to chat with MLB Network for a few minutes and Dunne was asked what it’s like watching the Pirate pitch.
She admitted she gets invested.
“Obviously, I think I got put on blast a few times while watching him,” Dunne said. “I get nervous because I obviously want him to do his best. I love him. He usually pops out, does his thing, does amazing. But I feel every emotion while he’s out there doing his thing.
“It’s completely out of my control, which is really hard because while I was competing, I mean, I was in control of my own destiny. Now I just need to sit back, relax and trust him.”
The answer calls back to a moment in May when Dunne was caught on the broadcast muttering profane language during a game between the Pirates and Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
After a crack of a bat for a homerun that brought Blue Jays fans to their feet, Dunne was seen saying “f-k” twice before leaning back in her seat, frustrated.
The announcers called out the moment at the time.
“Paul Skenes is on the mound today and his girlfriend — the equally famous, maybe more famous — Livvy Dunne is here,” the SportsNet TV commentator said. “She was a gymnast at LSU. They met in college and she has eight zillion on social media right now. I believe she attends almost every single game of his and she is invested.
“She is not just sitting around and looking around. She is into the game. Emotional and occasionally profane. But she is invested in the successes and rare failures of her Cy Young award winning boyfriend Paul Skenes.”
The Pirates went on to lose the game, 5-2.
Later on the All-Star broadcast, Dunne added that she got in the batter’s box to stand in as Skenes pitched to her. It made for a “scary” moment.
“I stood there and I was frozen,” she said.
Dunne and Skenes stunned on the red carpet Tuesday, matching colors with one another.
The former gymnast wore a black dress with light blue detailing in the center while Skenes wore a light blue suit with a black tie and sunglasses.
The two have been together since 2023 after meeting while they both attended LSU.
Currently, Skenes holds a career-high 3.57 ERA following a Cy Young-winning 2025 campaign after a season 1.97 ERA.
He did not pitch in the All-Star game because he pitched for the Pirates on the final Sunday of the first half of the season.