Happy Friday, everyone. In arbitration news, two-time Cy Young-winning pitcher Tarik Skubal proved why it’s worth it to know your value. He and the Detroit Tigers did not see eye-to-eye when arbitration came around, with the team offering him only $19 million to the $32 million he estimated he was worth.
The Tigers notoriously do not bargain with players and let most arbitration disputes go to a hearing, but in this instance, it didn’t look great for the team to not pay the best player in the American League what he thought he was worth. Skubal had plenty of evidence and precedent to back up his perceived value, and it looks like the hearing went his way, as he was awarded a new record-breaking arbitration salary of $32M for the 2026 season. It certainly previews the whopping payday Skubal is likely to receive when he hits free agency this coming offseason.
There’s plenty more to dive into in today’s links, so let’s not waste any time, and just jump right into it!
Things just keep looking worse and worse for Emmanuel Clase.
Indicted Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase is accused of throwing suspect pitches to benefit bettors in at least 48 games over two years, significantly more than was initially revealed by federal prosecutors, according to a court document filed Thursday.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 04: Victor Vodnik #38 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Athletics and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Friday, April 4, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
THIS IS A GUEST ROCKPILE BY ANTHONY DEPNER
While the 2025 Colorado Rockies will mainly be remembered negatively, two players who stood out as bright spots were Victor Vodnik and Jordan Beck.
Both players took a step forward in 2025 and found success in their respective roles. However, each still has areas of growth that need to be improved upon if they are to continue to provide value at the big-league level.
Identifying their strengths and weaknesses will provide a better look into what they must address heading into 2026.
Victor Vodnik
For a bullpen that cycled through injuries and instability, Victor Vodnik emerged as one of the Rockies’ most reliable arms. Across 50 2/3 innings in 2025, he posted a 3.02 ERA with 49 strikeouts. His fastball averaged 98.7 mph, possessed a 54.3% groundball rate, and owned a changeup that opponents slugged a paltry .130 against. He was primarily a setup man, though he did end up with 10 saves filling in for an injured Seth Halvorsen. Surprisingly, he was better at home, having a 1.33 ERA compared to 4.94 ERA on the road.
He struggled to find control, posting a 12.1% walk rate and ranked in the second percentile in chase rate (22.7%), leading to him pitching behind in counts. This in turn led to him needing to pitch in the zone while being behind, leading to a 48.6% hard-hit rate and a .308 weighted On-Base Average (wOBA). Left-handed batters also proved to be an issue, hitting .260 with a .789 OPS against him.
Looking ahead into 2026, Vodnik will need to reduce his walk rate and generate more soft contact. This could be done by improving his command, increasing swing-and-miss, or adding some additional movement to his fastball.
His four-seam fastball averaged -1.2 inches vertical drop and -2.9 inches horizontal break compared to the average fastball in 2025. Even marginal gains could help his fastball turn hard contact into fly ball outs or soft ground balls. With new pitching coaches in 2026 bringing innovative ideas, Vodnik’s potential could be unlocked further and cement him as the Rockies’ primary late-inning option.
Jordan Beck
Jordan Beck’s athleticism and power/speed dynamic is reminiscent of a young Trevor Story in the outfield, and he reached the big leagues just two years after being drafted out of the University of Tennessee. After an injury-riddled rookie season, Beck settled in as the everyday left fielder in 2025 and produced a solid sophomore campaign, slashing .258/.317/.416 with 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases across 588 plate appearances.
While strikeouts remained an issue (29.6 K%), he improved his walk rate, up from 6.5% to 7.3%. Beck also increased his launch angle sweet-spot rate to 36.9% (74th percentile), leading to a higher line drive rate (21.7% up to 26.2%). However, breaking balls exposed him, as he whiffed at a 40.2% rate – a trend that followed him from 2024. And like many Rockies hitters, he suffered from the “Coors Field Hangover,” posting a .635 OPS on the road compared to his .814 OPS at home, though he did have eight home runs in both environments.
On the basepaths, Beck stole more bases overall in 2025 (19), but his success rate on attempts was only 70.4% compared to 87.5% the year prior. Defensively, he paired an above-average arm – leading the National League in assists (12) – with below-average range, finishing with -2 Outs Above Average.
For Beck to take another step in 2026, refinement is key.
Improving his approach against breaking pitches, specifically by laying off sliders and curveballs below the zone, would help him better hunt fastballs, which he handles well. Increased selectivity running the bases could help provide more base-running value, as he finished with a 48.9% extra base taken rate.
Finally, finding greater consistency in his power output is crucial, as averaging 33.7 AB/HR limits his overall impact. If Beck can address these areas, he can further emerge as a cornerstone of the Rockies’ outfield.
Conclusion
While the 2026 Colorado Rockies may suffer many more losses than wins, this season is more about wins in player development and increased productivity from the roster. Both Victor Vodnik and Jordan Beck taking another step toward would help lay the foundation for a more competitive future and give Rockies fans reason to believe in this new front office to usher in a new, hopefully more successful, era of Major League Baseball in Denver.
Danny Davis talks about the Texas Longhorns alumni game that was played last weekend, where the Rockies had roots running through it. Max Belyeu, Skyler Messinger, and Jack O’Dowd played in the game while OF Jared Thomas was watching the game from the dugout as he recovers from hand surgery. Danny goes more in depth on each player’s comments on last season and their relationships with each other as they have all gotten to pro ball.
This piece by Rockies beat reporter Thomas Harding goes over everything Rockies fans need to know heading into spring training. He goes over the schedule for spring training for the Rockies for both TV and radio stations, as well as the new faces on the team that fans will be seeing. He also mentions the top minor league prospects that will be invited but does make note that the non-roster invitees have not been officially announced.
The Colorado Rockies were busy this offseason, bringing in an entirely new pitching coach staff to help what was the worst rotation in baseball last season. Laura Lambert outlines the fresh set of eyes that Alon Leichman, Gabe Ribas, and Matt Buschmann can bring for this Rockies pitching staff that needs to increase strikeouts and lower earned runs allowed. She includes notes of the new pitchers that the Rockies have acquired this offseason and how their inclusion will be important as well.
When something transcends its own arena, gauging its greatness becomes a very difficult thing.
As a film lover, I have found it difficult to assess something like The Godfather fairly — it has almost become its own island within the artform, people joke about it without having seen it, and it is held on a pedestal that can easily block out the light of the truth. And the most difficult part about a situation like this, is that sort of status is sometimes reasonable, given something’s greatness, if not warranted.
The February 6th entry into the Yankees birthday series is none other than Babe Ruth, a man whose legacy often suffers a similar fate. It would be redundant, with regard to the oral and written history of baseball, to follow the same general formatting for the Babe’s birthday post. If you’re looking for something along those lines, I’d direct you to my colleague Josh’s entry for the Great Bambino at No. 1 (where else?) on our Top 100 Yankees feature from a few years ago.
Today, however, we will honor him with a more stream-of-consciousness piece about becoming a mythical figure, written by someone born over a century later than Ruth.
George Herman (Babe) Ruth Born: February 6, 1895 (Baltimore, MD) Died: August 16, 1948 (New York, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1920-34
In all fairness, it wouldn’t be right to completely disregard the basics for Babe Ruth, either. After being spotted clowning the International League as a 19-year-old with the Baltimore kid’s local Orioles (a minors club back then), Ruth was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1914 and debuted that same season, beginning what was a transcendent 22-year career in Major League Baseball. He spent the first six seasons of that span with Boston, primarily as a pitcher, and a very good one at that as the Red Sox won multiple championships. He began to play primarily as a position player over his final two years with the Sox, giving a preview of what was to come — though something like this couldn’t be predicted.
The Sultan of Swat’s services were famously sold to the Yankees before the 1920 season, cursing his former team in the process, kicking off the stretch of Ruth’s career that defined him. As we all know, from there, Ruth went on to out-homer entire other teams, become the first player ever to hit 50 home runs in a season, and then the first to hit 60 seven years later — a record that stood for multiple generations.
It was his 15 years with the Yankees that helped him build on his mind-boggling 162.2 bWAR, his 10 seasons leading the league in OBP, and 13 leading in slugging percentage. With New York, he hit 659 of his near-universally known 714 career home runs, a phenomenon that points to the significance of what Ruth did for the history of the Yankees and baseball on the whole.
With little doubt, Babe Ruth is the most famous name in the history of this game. This is due mostly, of course, to his decades-long scourge of opposing pitchers, but also because of the era during which he played. Before every game was filmed, and every opinion and recollection was recorded and shared in one way or another, Ruth was out there playing the game to a degree that had simply never been seen before.
How exactly, can we compare someone of this stature to a modern player? To do so would be impossible, not to mention mostly useless. I am willing to admit that a lot of contemporary players could probably match Ruth’s skills if they were given his circumstances with their own ability and knowledge, but that’s not how this works. What Ruth did really happened, and it was so hard to believe that Ruth himself is for more akin to a ghost or a Paul Bunyan/John Henry-esque folk hero than a former All-Star and MVP.
There is a famous line from a certain beloved movie, which came out nearly a half-century after his death, in which his laundry list of nicknames is recited (the Yankees themselves reenacted this in a commercial a decade ago). The Sandlot’s premise of course, surrounds a lost baseball bearing the Babe’s autograph. It’s not uncommon for someone to be referred to as “the Babe Ruth of X” — standing in as a descriptor of an undisputed pillar of one’s craft. Ruth’s most famous moment, when he allegedly called his shot during a World Series game, can not even be proven to have happened, because the only evidence is a grainy photograph and old-timey paintings of the event.
The “called shot” is not unique in the story of Babe Ruth, as his career and life contained many myths, the validity of which can vary greatly. I don’t personally care to figure out what the truth is with many of them, I’m just glad that baseball’s rich history provides a character like this: a player whose stat sheet looks like (and is) a ledger of all-time records, doing so in a way and during a time where his mythical status was still a possibility.
There are photographs and videos of Babe Ruth, but it’s almost hard to imagine that he was playing in the same world as us, let alone in a league and with a team that is still thriving. It’s not dissimilar from acknowledging some kind of historical site that now holds homes of people using smartphones.
With all of this in mind, and constantly referred to in the baseball canon, it can be hard to proportionately appreciate what Ruth did on the baseball field. One of the great virtues of Major League Baseball is the overwhelming degree of record-keeping, something that thankfully preserves what Ruth did. He really did hit that many home runs, he really did outpace entire lineups, he really was good enough to make his name nearly synonymous with the sport he played.
In another entry to this series, one about Johnny Sturm, I mentioned how baseball can be a microcosm for the world and the time it inhabits, and how Sturm’s career was an interesting reminder of a time that was done and gone. That aspect of Sturm’s story, a largely unknown one-year player from the ’40s, is not all that different from Ruth’s, a ubiquitous character in American history.
In a way, Ruth’s status as a pillar of baseball history, one that comes with overwhelming statistical greatness, historical significance, and a satisfying level of intrigue and uncertainty, has become his defining factor.
Happy 131st to the Babe! They say it’s the new 30.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Mar 15, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Puerto Rico second baseman Francisco Lindor (12) reacts from first base after an RBI single during the third inning against Dominican Republic at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
With pitchers and catchers set to report next week and spring training games to follow not too long after that, Abbey Mastracco took a look at which Mets players will be competing for Opening Day roster spots.
David Adler focuses on three Statcast metrics that illustrate the potential of new Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
Francisco Lindor isn’t the only prominent player who will not be able to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, as former Met Javier Báez and one time almost-Met Carlos Correa have also been denied the opportunity.
Dickie Thon, who played for the Astros and several other teams over the course of a fifteen-year career, donated one of his kidneys to his son to save his life.
With the Mets having traded away two of the prospects who ranked within the top five of our 2026 list, Steve Sypa presented the first of two bonus prospects: Marco Vargas, who finished 26th in our rankings before the Freddy Peralta trade.
Speaking of prospects, our daily question asked which prospect you thought would take the biggest step forward in 2026.
AUSTIN, TX - JUNE 01: Texas outfielder Max Belyeu (44) holds Horns Up toward the crowd after hitting a two run home run during the NCAA Division I Regional game between Texas Longhorns and Kansas St. Wildcats on June 1, 2025, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Belyeu (pronounced like the bear in The Jungle Book) was Colorado’s third pick of the 2025 draft, going 74th overall and signing for a slot bonus of $1.11 million. Rockies fans will naturally make comparisons between Belyeu and fellow Texas hit-over-power outfielder, Rockies draftee (in 2024’s second round), and PuRP Jared Thomas.
Mid-season 2025 Rank: 15
High Ballot: 8
Mode Ballot: 9
Future Value: 40, reserve outfielder
Contract Status: 2025 Second Round, University of Texas, Rule 5 Eligible After 2028, three options remaining
MLB ETA: 2028
The 6’2” 22-year-old lefty hitting, righty throwing Belyeu handled right field for Texas in 2024 while Thomas (who is only five months older than Belyeu but was old enough to be a draft eligible sophomore) took first base and center field. At Texas, Belyeu didn’t play much as a freshman (only 21 PA) but he broke out in a big way (along with Thomas) in 2024, winning the Big 12 Player of the Year award. That was on the back of a .329/.423/.667 batting line in 249 plate appearances which included 18 homers among his 34 extra-base hits (142 wRC+). Belyeu followed that up with a relatively punch-less .222/.306/.352 summer line in 63 PA in the Cape Cod League while striking out in a third of his plate appearances.
In 2025, Belyeu moved along with Texas to the tougher SEC as a potential first-round draft pick. He started the season pretty well, but suffered a fractured left thumb in March while diving for a ball in the outfield that limited him to only 156 plate appearances and likely impacted his power output. Belyeu’s .303/.410/.576 line with nine homers among his 17 extra-base hits was still good for a 117 wRC+, but he also struck out over a quarter of the time (up from 17% in 2024) and struggled with chasing out of the zone and spin. Those warts were enough to make him available for the Rockies between the second and third rounds of the draft.
The Rockies assigned Belyeu straight to High-A Spokane, where he was 1.3 years younger than league average age. Belyeu started strong (.318/.423/.727 with three homers in his first 26 plate appearances) but he went cold down the stretch, including a 1-20 mark with nine strikeouts in September. In 21 total games, Belyeu hit just .150/.244/.300 with four homers and three steals (42 wRC+) while striking out in 36% of plate appearances (and walking in 10% of them). He split time defensively between right and center field with three outfield assists and one error in 20 games. To read more about Belyeu’s first professional season, Evan Lang wrote about it in August.
And here are some highlights from Belyeu’s draft year with Texas:
Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline were higher on Belyeu than every person in the PuRPs electorate.
Belyeu is a strong, physically developed 6-foot-2, 215-pound lefthanded hitter with a compact swing and quick hands. He has an aggressive approach at the plate and is prone to chasing pitches. Belyeu’s plate discipline showed steady improvement throughout his college career but it regressed dramatically in his pro debut. He possesses above-average raw power and projects to hit 20–25 home runs with further refinement.
Belyeu’s routes in the outfield can get scenic at times, but with reps he has a chance to be an above-average defender in an outfield corner. His arm is his loudest tool and is a plus weapon with great carry and accuracy that should leave baserunners questioning themselves when taking an extra bag.
One of the best all-around offensive players in the college crop, Belyeu can hit for average and power while controlling the strike zone, though he was more aggressive than usual in 2025. He has a quick left-handed swing geared for hard contact, showing the ability to pull pitches for home runs or backspin them out of the park to the opposite field. His ability to put the bat on the ball cuts into his walk totals a bit, and he struggled against non-fastballs with the U.S. collegiate national team, in the Cape Cod League last summer and again with the Longhorns this spring.
Belyeu is a good athlete with average-to-solid speed but doesn’t stand out with his instincts on the bases or in the outfield. He’s inconsistent with his reads and routes, which precludes him from playing center field. His arm is both strong and accurate, so he fits nicely in right.
Belyeu got a boost with the Rockies when one of his college coaches, a guy named Troy Tulowitzki, went to bat for him (pun intended), leading Colorado to take him in the second round in last year’s draft. He offers 25+ homer upside with the potential for plus defense in an outfield corner, but his approach is really suspect with a lot of chase and whiff, including too much of a tendency to give away at-bats entirely. He missed about 20 games of his college season with a thumb injury, and then missed fall instructional league with a hamstring injury. It’s a lot to ask of a player to overhaul his swing decisions, making Belyeu a very high-risk/high-reward prospect.
Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs is less sanguine on Belyeu, grading him as a 40 FV and ranking him 28th in the system (he was 117th in the draft rankings) with a 60 raw power and 55 bat control grade:
Big 12 Player of the Year as a sophomore with .329/.423/.667 line. Had a spike in strikeouts as a junior. Missed half the year recovering from surgery to repair a fractured thumb, but most of his K’s came prior to the injury. Tough to reconcile 18% K% as soph and 25% as a junior. Didn’t perform on the Cape, so that looms, too. Swing has natural uppercut. Has some pronounced swing-and-miss against heaters elevated away from him. Chases spin.
I think it’s not too unreasonable to compare Thomas and Belyeu as prospects given the similarity in their provenance, age, and position. Thomas is faster, makes better swing decisions that gets his raw power into games more, and can play both center field and first base. Meanwhile, Belyeu has a better contact tool (though he didn’t display it in High-A), raw power, and outfield arm that is well suited for right field.
I prefer Thomas as a prospect because the profile has already worked against Double-A pitching and Belyeu’s issues with spin are concerning, but Belyeu is comfortably a 40 FV player who I ranked 22nd on my ballot. Scouts seem to be higher on Belyeu than the electorate, so hopefully he will show why in a bigger professional sample size this year. The Rockies will likely send Belyeu back to High-A to start the season, but like Thomas did in 2025, Belyeu could end the year at Double-A with good performance.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 12: A view of Oracle Park and Mission Bay in San Francisco, California, United States on July 12, 2025. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
As we approach Spring Training and the beginning of the season, we’re going to be doing some questions for y’all about your thoughts about the San Francisco Giants and baseball in general!
Today’s question is what would a successful 2026 Giants season look like for you?
Personally, I’d take a winning record with meaningful baseball played until September. Meaning I’d like to see them in the hunt for a playoff spot late into the season. And I mean actually in the hunt, not a delusional belief that they could possibly, maybe, miraculously make something happen if every single thing goes right (but really they’re five teams back from a Wild Card slot.)
And the winning record, well, it’d just be nice to see the right side of .500 for a change. I’ve covered this team for a decade and they’ve managed a winning record just twice in that time. And those (2021 and 2016) were seasons where I came onboard towards the end of the year, so I don’t feel like that counts.
I’d also like to see Jung Hoo Lee have a full breakout season; Rafael Devers hit 34 home runs; and heck, let’s shoot for the moon and say I’d like to also see Logan Webb actually get the Cy Young Award he’s been flirting with for a half-decade. But those would just be bonuses/concessions.
What would a successful 2026 Giants season look like for you?
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 27: Ivica Zubac #40 of the Los Angeles Clippers looks on during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on January 27, 2026 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
The 2026 NBA trade deadline didn’t have a superstar deal on the level of last year’s Luka Doncic-to-the-Lakers blockbuster, but there was still a major flurry of deals with some big names and fantastic role players on the move. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains with the Milwaukee Bucks for now, but Anthony Davis, James Harden, Darius Garland, and Ivica Zubac were just some of the players sent packing.
Contenders in both conferences got stronger, with the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks making minor moves around the edges to improve their bench, while the Oklahoma City Thunder finally cashed in a future first-round pick for a shooter, and the Minnesota Timberwolves added one of the game’s best reserve guards for absolutely nothing.
The Clippers don’t control their first-round pick until 2030, but they made a bold move to add future draft capital from another team at the cost of their most reliable player. Los Angeles made the painful decision to trade Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, but they got an absolutely massive haul for him. The Clippers landed the Pacers’ unprotected 2029 pick, and their top-4 protected 2026 first-round pick, which has about a 50 percent chance of conveying. If the Pacers keep the 2026 pick, it turns into an unprotected 2031 first-rounder going to LA. It’s a phenomenal deal for the Clippers either way. Tyrese Haliburton is coming off an Achilles tear, so there’s no guarantee he’ll return to his previous form. Zubac had two more years left on an affordable contract, but by trading him now they extracted maximum value.
The Clippers also traded James Harden for Darius Garland, and got 10 years younger in the process. Garland has battled a nagging big toe injury, and it’s a scary sign that the Cavs were willing to move him. Still, the Clippers weren’t going anywhere with Harden this season, and Garland’s youth gives them an extended timeline to figure out their next move. The Clippers seemed to have a dark future before this week. Not anymore. Those Pacers picks are super high upside, and Garland has a chance to be really good for a long time if he can get healthy. The trade could absolutely still work out for Indiana if they land Cameron Boozer or Darryn Peterson in the draft (or A.J. Dybantsa or Caleb Wilson) and Haliburton comes back at full strength, but it’s a great value play for the Clippers either way.
Loser: Chicago Bulls
The Bulls were the most active team at the deadline, trading away half their roster including core players Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Nikola Vucevic for a haul of second-round picks. All of the Bulls’ moves were defensible in a vacuum, but the big picture shows just how mismanaged Chicago has been under lead executive Arturas Karnisovas. Chicago has made the playoffs just once with one playoff win since Karnisovas was hired. He could have returned a much greater package of assets if he made similar moves the last two years, but instead Chicago doomed itself to mediocrity. The Bulls probably already have too many wins to tank for 2026, and the 2027 and 2028 drafts both look weak for now. Chicago hasn’t won a playoff series since 2015, and they’re not going to win another one anytime soon. Owners Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf need to clean house with Karnisovas and head coach Billy Donovan and start fresh. At least the Bulls have all their draft picks moving forward and only one bad contract currently on the books (Patrick Williams’ $18 million annual deal for the next three seasons after this one), but there’s no way AK should be trusted to build this thing from the ground up.
Loser: Giannis Antetokounmpo
If Dwight Howard sent out this tweet during his prime, the Internet would still be making fun of him for it.
I like Giannis a lot, and part of me thinks it’s admirable that he ideally wants to stay in Milwaukee forever. If that’s the case though, why not send this tweet before the trade deadline? I predict the Bucks and Giannis will fight over his return to the court this season: the Bucks will want to tank because they can still pick as high as No. 2 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, and of course Giannis will want to get into the play-in tournament as the best player in the East. Maybe Giannis will use that battle as his reason for asking out again this summer. I just think this is lame by Giannis. He knows he can’t win in Milwaukee, and he’s wasting the last years of prime hoping the Bucks can pull off a miracle. Will Giannis sign an extension with the Bucks this summer? I doubt it. If he doesn’t, please remember this tweet.
Winner: Boston Celtics
The Celtics swapped Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic, which adds another big body to their front court for the playoff run. Even more importantly, they got out of the repeater tax without giving away a premium asset to do it. This is masterful work by Brad Stevens, and his bosses should love him forever for it.
I know that I shouldn’t be celebrating saving a billionaire some money, but the current CBA puts real team-building constraints on franchises that repeatedly pay the tax. The Celtics got out in a year where they are still really good without Jayson Tatum. When Tatum comes back, they will now have more flexibility to build a great team in the future. And hey, they still might win the East anyway.
Winner: Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves’ bold bet on Rob Dillingham in the 2024 NBA Draft went bust. That’s a massive organizational failure, but at least Minnesota recouped some value for this upcoming playoff run by nabbing Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls. Dosunmu is one of the best sixth men in the league, and he’s been having a special season in Chicago. The 26-year-old is shooting 45 percent from three, playing tough on-ball defense, and routinely hitting opposing defenses with sneak attacks to the rim. He’s a wonderful guard to pair with Anthony Edwards this season, and he could be a long-term keeper if the two sides can agree to a contract in free agency. Dillingham was never going to move the needle for a contender, but Dosunmu could.
Winner: Washington Wizards
I liked what the Wizards did buying very low on Trae Young and Anthony Davis this season. Young and AD make a ton of money, but that’s about the only thing the Wizards gave up to get them. Washington will still hope to hit the lottery for Boozer or Peterson this year, and if they do, suddenly they will have a nice core with Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, and Kyshawn George already in place. You can’t tank forever in the NBA, and the Wizards have done enough tanking already. With weaker 2027 and 2028 draft classes coming, Washington nabbed some stars on the cheap to help their young core develop. With Boozer or Peterson, this could be a feisty team in the Eastern Conference playoff race as soon as next season.
Loser: Sacramento Kings
The Kings weren’t trying to tank this year, they just ended up doing it on accident. Sacramento paid the price for trying to recreate the 2021-2024 Chicago Bulls in the Western Conference, and shockingly it was a spectacular failure. The Kings had to do something to get off Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, or Domantas Sabonis at the deadline, and yet all still remain on the roster after it passed. The only move the Kings made was a bad one, taking on De’Andre Hunter for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis. The Kings are just hopeless. Like Chicago, this fanbase deserves so much better.
There were the financial implications of those four deals — Boston dipped just below the NBA’s luxury tax as a result of Thursday’s trades — as well as the roster implications; the Celtics now have two open roster spots and could look to the buyout market to fill at least one of them.
And then, of course, there’s Jayson Tatum, who recently admitted he has yet to decide if he’ll return this season as he approaches the nine-month mark of his rehab from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Stevens addressed all of those topics and more Friday during a 30-minute press conference at the Celtics’ practice facility. Here are the most notable takeaways:
Adding a big man was a top priority.
Stevens was very clear on this point: He wanted to add at least one big man to the roster before Thursday’s deadline.
“At the end of the day, when you look at who you have to go through, the paths you have to take, you just can’t get worn down physically,” Stevens said. “We were going to be much smaller, and now we at least have big options.
“We just thought that redistributing our positional needs was probably the most important thing.”
Neemias Queta and Luka Garza have both exceeded expectations this season, and Amari Williams has shown promise in the G League. But Vucevic gives the Celtics a legitimate paint presence who can rebound in bunches (10.4 boards per game over a 15-year NBA career) and go toe-to-toe with elite Eastern Conference big men like Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Jalen Duren.
“When Vooch walks into the room, it looks different,” Stevens said. “He’s big and long and strong and can be standing next to anybody in this league and not look small.”
Stevens insisted there was no “directive” from new owner Bill Chisholm to get out of the luxury tax entirely.
“The directive was more, how can we best position ourselves to win now and then win later?” Stevens said.
But after trading Simons for Vucevic on Tuesday — a move that brought Boston below the first apron — Stevens and the front office saw a pathway toward getting under the luxury tax while preserving the core of a team that’s positioned to contend in the East.
“There was an opportunity two days before the deadline that we didn’t think would be there,” Stevens said of getting under the luxury tax.
Stevens added that these tax savings might be temporary, and if there’s an opportunity to spend big and improve the team in the offseason, “we’re going to try to take advantage of it.”
Boston wants to add a ball-handler.
How will the Celtics fill their two open roster spots? Ron Harper Jr. looks like a strong candidate for one of those spots, as Stevens raved about Boston’s two-way guard.
“We all think Ron is one of the best players in the G-League,” Stevens said. “… He’s a stud.”
The other spot could be filled on the buyout market, where teams can sign players who were waived at Thursday’s deadline. And Stevens has a position in mind.
“We’ll ultimately fill the roster spot with at least one more ball-handler, and then see how the rest our needs play themselves out,” Stevens said.
Stevens didn’t mention any players by name, but noted whoever signs with Boston likely wouldn’t be a part of the regular rotation — and would have to accept that.
“Sometimes that eliminates guys with bigger reputations,” Stevens added.
Stevens didn’t offer specifics about how Tatum is progressing, but if you’re expecting the Celtics star to return before next week’s All-Star break, don’t get your hopes up.
“He’s hit a lot of the thresholds, he’s doing more and more and will continue to do more and more,” Stevens said of Tatum. “He’s still got a ways to go.”
Stevens admitted he didn’t watch Tatum’s full interview on The Pivot podcast in which Tatum expressed reservations about how he’d re-integrate with the team upon returning. But Stevens noted Tatum’s doubts are “totally normal” for a player going through such a long rehab and won’t change how the Celtics view his situation.
“The best for Jayson Tatum to come back is when he’s 110 percent healthy, he’s fully cleared by everybody that matters in that decision, and he’s got great peace of mind and (is) ready to do it. That’s it,” Stevens said.
Ultimately, Stevens said, Tatum’s return will be a group decision that won’t be influenced by the Celtics in either direction.
“When it’s right, then we’ll all sit down and talk about it,” Stevens added. “But there’s still no force from us, no pressure from us, but there’s also not going to be any one of us saying, ‘Why don’t you just take another week?’ When he’s ready, he’s ready.”
Watch Chris Forsberg’s 1-on-1 interview with Stevens and Stevens’ full press conference below:
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick (77) catches the baseball during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians on September 25, 2025, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This will, apparently, be a year for a youth movement in Cleveland. Which rookie do you believe will make the biggest impact?
-Chase DeLauter, LHH OF
-George Valera, LHH OF
-Juan Brito, SH IF/OF
-Parker Messick, LHP
-Travis Bazzana, LHH 2B
-Kahlil Watson, LHH CF
-Petey Halpin, LHH CF
-Khal Stephen, RHP
-Daniel Espino, RHP
-Cooper Ingle, LHH C
-Andrew Walters, RHP
-Franco Aleman, RHP
Or, do you see a darkhorse in the system? Let us know in the comments below!
England have suffered a major setback on the eve of their Six Nations opener against Wales with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso ruled out with a hamstring injury, prompting a surprise recall for Tom Roebuck.
Roebuck is the beneficiary of Feyi-Waboso’s injury, called into the side to make a first appearance since picking up a toe injury in England’s November victory over the All Blacks. England are still investigating the extent of Feyi-Waboso’s injury - sustained in training on Thursday - and it remains to be seen if he will feature at all in the Six Nations.
This post is part of a series of daily questions that we’ll ask the community here at Amazin’ Avenue throughout the month of February. We hope you find the questions engaging and that our prompts can spark some fun conversations in the comments.
What grade would you give David Stearns for the Mets’ 2025-26 offseason?
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 03: Derrick White #9 and head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics look on during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on February 03, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Joe Mazzulla is never one to accept praise, often deflecting it toward his staff and players. He famously told Derrick White “nobody cares” after being congratulated for winning Coach of the Month. He’d probably even call this piece a waste of time, but I’m here to say it’s time for him to get his credit.
Fans and award voters have discredited Mazzulla’s success as a product of loaded rosters, ignoring his part in elevating those units. Sure, he inherited a contender. But it was days before training camp, and he was stuck with another coach’s staff. Managing 57 wins as a rookie under those circumstances was a massive success, but still only good for a 3rd place finish in Coach of the Year voting.
A dominant 64-win Championship season somehow moved him back a spot, and a 61-win follow-up through injury and fatigue took him out of the race altogether.
Mar 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watch from the sideline at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
The narrative was that they should be that good, so he can’t be rewarded for meeting expectations. Sustained success isn’t as cool as the shiny new playoff team, or the overachiever. But now, Boston is on the other side of that spectrum, and his group is doing far more than anyone expected.
Mazzulla had his championship roster completely gutted at the top. In a flash, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and his top three centers were all out of the picture. They went from the top of the league to a projected Play-In team, or worse.
There weren’t many believers. Their preseason win total was set at 41.5.
Boston is currently 33-18. They would have to go 9-22 the rest of the way to beat that total.
They are the 2nd seed in the East and finding answers every single night. Mazzulla has pushed all the right buttons in terms of lineup combinations and game-planning. The roster has carryover from previous years, but he’s getting the absolute most while toggling through a variety of unproven bench pieces.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 16: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on from the bench during the second half against the LA Clippers at TD Garden on November 16, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Clippers 121-118. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They have the highest Offensive Rating in the league, and their 8.0 Net Rating is down just -1.4 from last season despite the considerable changes. You can see that sustainability most clearly when Jaylen Brown is off the floor, as those lineups are still steamrolling teams with a +12.8 net rating and a 121.6 offensive rating.
Their defense, which could’ve fallen off a cliff, is quickly climbing and sits just outside the top-10.
Losing Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet was supposed to be catastrophic for this team. Mazzulla has empowered Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, and played to their strengths so effectively that you’re not left each night thinking about what they lost.
There are other coaches doing great work this season, but nobody is crushing expectations at a level this extreme. No team has faced this much roster turnover, and hardly missed a beat.
The sportsbooks are telling a different story, with J.B. Bickerstaff sitting as a heavy favorite to take home the Red Auerbach Trophy. And look, the Pistons’ breakout is great and Bickerstaff is a worthy contender, but there was an expectation they could take a step forward. Boston was supposed to take several steps back, yet Mazzulla’s group has the better Net Rating.
He is not solely responsible for the Celtics’ success, though it should be unmistakably clear how effective his principles and system are.
Their latest win in Houston is one of the finest examples. Without Jaylen Brown, they still absolutely squashed the Rockets. Mazzulla went an unconventional route and gave Ron Harper Jr. his first career start. Few would think to call on a two-way player, let alone throw them at Kevin Durant, but it turned out to be a stroke of brilliance. His defense combined with their efforts to shrink the floor, held Durant and their #5 offense to 93 points.
It’s moments like these, where he’s tweaking the rotation, and building players confidence, while still maintaining their style that you can see how effective he is.
Managing great teams is not easy — we’ve seen enough implode to know that’s true. But this season has revealed without a doubt that he adapts to his group, and knows how to extract the most value from them.
With massively talented teams of the past, he understood that they’d benefit from the freedom to make plays without frequent intervention. For a squad like this current one, his fingerprints are all over the game. This is something that was mistaken as a dependency, when it’s far more about awareness.
For the critics who thought he was only as good as his roster, this season is a big green slap in the face. For award voters, the evidence is undeniable. It’s time to leave the goalposts where they belong, and award Coach of the Year to Joe Mazzulla.
Not even 24 hours after the Toronto Maple Leafs broke for the Olympic break, Cowan was in London, Ontario, at the Canada Life Place watching his former team, the London Knights, face the Kitchener Rangers.
Former Knight — and teammate to Cowan for a couple of seasons — Sam O'Reilly had two goals, including the game-winner, as the Rangers defeated the Knights on Wednesday night in overtime.
Cowan spent parts of four seasons with the Knights, from 2022 to 2025. While with the club, London won back-to-back OHL Championships, plus a Memorial Cup last spring, in which Cowan was the MVP.
He was tied with London teammate Denver Barkey for the tournament lead in points, with seven in five games. Not only that, but Cowan also holds the Knights' record for most playoff points, scoring 96 points in 60 postseason games.
The 20-year-old is currently in his first NHL season with the Maple Leafs. It's gone just as you'd expect it would for a rookie; Cowan's gone through a lot of ups and downs.
The forward has played on every line and has spent time on both of the Maple Leafs' power play units throughout this season. Thus far, Cowan has tallied seven goals and 17 points in 43 games, while averaging 13:31 in ice time over that stretch.
Recently, however, the rookie has been a healthy scratch for Toronto, as head coach Craig Berube opts for other players in the lineup. He's been on the outside looking in since William Nylander returned to the lineup three games ago.
"As we talked about, he needed a little bit of a reset. I think the break will do him well. Nothing changes there," said Berube on Tuesday ahead of Toronto's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
"There are young guys in the league who don't play all the time. There are times they do, but there are times when they don't, and they have little breaks here and there. They benefit from it."
The Maple Leafs will be off for a few weeks before getting into practices again and playing in their first game post-Olympic break on Feb. 25 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
We'll see if Cowan, who's eligible to be sent to the AHL's Toronto Marlies, will get into some games there before the Maple Leafs reconvene later this month.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 24: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at BayCare Ballpark on March 24, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, baseball is coming soon. How soon? Depends on what you mean by baseball. Do you mean pitchers and catchers reporting? Or does baseball start when the whole team reports? Or is it when the games start? When the games that mean something start? And if it’s the games that mean something, do you count the World Baseball Classic, or just the games that count for the MLB standings?
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.
Happy Birthday, Dale Long*, who held a significant record while he was a Pirate,and other stories.10,000 BCB points if you can identify that record.
Today in baseball history:
1887 – At Hot Springs, Arkansas, Albert Spalding meets with the Chicago White Stockings players and exacts from each man a pledge of total abstinence from drinking during the coming season. With the entire outfield gone from last year’s team and pitcher Jim McCormick holding out at home in New Jersey, the champion White Stockings will have to rely on young players. (2)
1958 – Ted Williams signs with the Red Sox for $135,000, making him the highest-paid player in major-league history at the time. (1,2)
1995 – US President Bill Clinton‘s deadline for a resolution to the baseball strike passes without a resolution. On January 26th, Clinton had told the players and owners to resume bargaining and reach an agreement by today. The strike will continue for nearly two more months. (2)
1508 – Maximilian I proclaimed Holy Roman Emperor, 1st Emperor in centuries not to be crowned by the Pope.
1778 – Britain declares war on France. France recognizes USA, signs Treaty of Alliance in Paris, 1st US treaty.
1867 – American financier and philanthropist George Peabody establishes the Peabody Education Fund to provide improvements to existing schools in poor areas of the southern USA.
1951 – Radio commentator Paul Harvey arrested for trying to sneak into Argonne National Laboratory, a nuclear test site located 20 miles (32 km) west of Chicago.
2020 – Date of the first COVID-19 related death in the US (confirmed by the CDC April 21).
Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.
