The Chicago Blackhawks have made many high draft picks during Kyle Davidson’s tenure as general manager. He came in wanting to tear things down and force a proper rebuild that would lead to long-term success. That process involves a lot of losing to achieve that level of draft capital.
For this to be successful, you need to get good play out of those first-round picks. Connor Bedard is a star first overall pick, but they need guys like Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, and Kevin Korchinski, among others, to contribute.
In addition to those high-end first-round prospects, there needs to be some luck within the draft process. Finding diamonds in the rough is a major key to a rebuild working. You saw it with the dynasty in the early 2010s, as plenty of late-round picks made their impact.
Right now, Nick Lardis is looking like one of those hits for Davidson. Lardis was selected with a third-round pick (67th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Since then, he has become one of Chicago’s most important pieces.
Lardis, a 21-year-old winger, is a star goal scorer in the making. He has one of the best shots in the entire organization, and the hockey IQ he possesses allows him to take full advantage of that gift.
Being a 3rd-round pick is nothing to sneeze at, but Lardis showed he probably should have been selected higher during the 2024-25 season. As a member of the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, Lardis scored a remarkable 71 goals in 65 games played.
That’s a lot, even for major junior. By the end of that season, he was on the Hawks’ radar as a potential candidate to be on the team a year later. That was way ahead of schedule, as most would have thought he’d need a lot more marinating before becoming a full-time NHL player.
They did have Lardis start in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs in 2025-26, and he continued to fill the net. He scored 18 goals in 35 games played with Rockford in a league that is incredibly difficult to score. It was only a matter of time before he reached his dream of playing in the NHL.
When Connor Bedard went down with a shoulder injury in early December, Lardis was the player called up to play forward in his absence. When Bedard came back, he had another short stint in the AHL, but when he came back, he came back for good.
In 41 NHL games during the same season, he scored 10 goals. That’s a 20-goal pace over a full year’s slate of games. It is impressive when veterans can reach 20 goals in limited minutes, let alone a 20-year-old rookie who started in the minors. If he is already scoring at that pace now, what heights can he eventually reach?
"I try to go game by game, week by week, summer by summer," Lardis said about reaching certain goal-scoring totals. "This summer, I wanted to take big strides with my speed - show that more consistently. [I want to] put on more strength, win more battles, and improve my two-way game. I think if I can improve on that, every game, every practice, those totals will go up."
Lardis is exactly right. If you play the game the right way in the NHL, certain players with certain gifts will have a much easier time finding ways to use those gifts.
In Monday's preseason tilt against the Minnesota Wild, Lardis scored one of Chicago's four goals. He scored it by coming out of the penalty box (he was serving the team's too many men on the ice penalty), stripping a Minnesota player of the puck from behind, and creating a breakaway for himself.
Lardis was also tripped up on the breakaway, but he got up in stride and still found a way to fire it home. A delayed penalty was coming, but it wasn't needed as a result of the goal.
With it being a preseason game, it won't count toward his record, but the work he put in when it comes to speed and strength was on display. If that's the norm for him going forward, the goal totals will skyrocket. The fact that he's just 21 and has plenty of time to continue improving is perfect for the Blackhawks.
"I definitely see a lot more confidence in Nick Lardis," head coach Jeff Blashill said after the preseason game that Lardis scored in. "He's skating better with and without the puck; he has good speed, and he can move and create some separation. He just seems a little bit stronger, a little bit more confident; he's put himself in positions to score."
Lardis was on pace for 20 last year, but it can't be assumed until he actually does it. However, he may be able to go well past 20 if he stays healthy. He is taking it day by day, which is wise, but there is a lot of talent and a desire to get better, which can only lead to big totals for him.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Tyler Nickel #55 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks have yet to sign rookie Tyler Nickel, but the expectation around the league is that the two sides will ultimately reach an agreement.
Nickel joined the Knicks organization after New York used the No. 47 overall pick on the former Vanderbilt standout, but there were questions about whether or not the sharpshooter would eventually join the NBA roster.
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III reported that while Nickel’s status remains unresolved ahead of training camp, it’s likely he ends up sitting on the Knicks’ bench and getting minutes this season after eventually inking a deal in the next few days or weeks.
“From everything I’ve heard from talking to people throughout the league, Nickel and the Knicks are expected to reach some kind of contract agreement,” Edwards wrote.
New York Knicks training camp starts this time next week.
Here is my preseason preview with storylines I’m watching, roster thoughts and more:https://t.co/7OvHa95Eh2
What kind of contract Nickel receives, however, is less certain. Edwards noted that Nickel could make more through NIL by returning to college than on a two-way contract with New York, with early-summer reports of a possible $1-to-$1.4 million NIL deal waiting for him if he returns. A federal court ruling granted Nickel and a few other young men a fifth year of eligibility, so that door is wide open.
The situation could potentially explain New York’s roster construction to date, with open spots and a bunch of players in tryout deals heading into preseason. All we know is that New York is expected to add one more player on a standard contract before the season while surely avoiding the second apron.
“Could the Knicks be trying to make a trade to open up a roster spot to give Nickel a standard deal?” Edwards wrote. “The way this situation has played out, it sort of feels that way.”
Edwards identified Pacôme Dadiet and Miles McBride as logical trade possibilities if New York chooses that route, although he is skeptical McBride would be moved before the season.
While Nickel remains unsigned, Edwards’ reporting makes it very clear the expectation is that the Knicks and their second-round pick eventually reach an agreement. For now, we wait.
The Buffalo Sabres are set to try and build on their mostly-excellent 2025-26 season, in which they won the highly-competitive Atlantic Division in the regular-season, beat the Boston Bruins in Round 1 of their Stanley Cup playoff series before losing to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round..
And here at TheHockeyNews.com, we’re breaking down the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an online series we call “Know Your Enemy”. In this series, we’re breaking down how Buffalo played against every East team, and how they’re likely to fare against each team in the East this season. And in this file, we’re focusing on the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers are still in the midst of a full roster rebuild, but they took a major step forward last season by finishing third in the Metropolitan Division and winning their first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Here’s this columnist’s view on how the Sabres should fare against the Flyers this season:
BUFFALO SABRES VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
NEW FLYERS PLAYERS: Joseph Woll (G), Noel Acciari (RW), Simon Benoit (D)
2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 2-1-0, Flyers 1-2-0
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: October 21 at Buffalo; November 17 at Philadelphia; February 24 at Philadelphia
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? There’s always been a healthy level of dislike between the Sabres and Flyers, but last season, Buffalo took two out of three games against Philadelphia, and there’s really no reason why the Sabres should lose the season series to Philly this season.
Now, it’s true the Flyers have improved this summer with the addition of goalie Woll from the Toronto Maple Leafs. If Woll is healthy – and that’s a very big ‘if’ – he can give his team a chance to win every night. But the Woll/Dan Vladar tandem won’t be regarded as one of the better duos in the game until both of them prove they can handle the rigors, mentally and physically, on a consistent basis.
The other thing the Flyers have going for them is the coaching of Rick Tocchet, who always finds ways to motivate his charges. And he’s also got a nice veteran addition in Acciari, who is a solid complementary piece and will make Philadelphia tougher to play against.
But make no mistake – this Flyers team is still transitioning to a new era, and they’re the kind of young, unproven team the Sabres had been until they took that next competitive step forward in 2025-26. So while Buffalo is going to have its hands full in their three regular-season games, the Sabres absolutely should take at least two of their three games against Philly this season.
The Sabres could wind up playing the Flyers in the playoffs next spring, so sending a message and setting the tone in their two early-season games will be important for Buffalo. Both teams could be significantly different between their second showdown in November and their final tilt in February, but to start the season, the Sabres need to hunker down and show the Flyers how far they have to go before they’re on the same level as Buffalo.
A year after making the jump from the NHL blue line to the broadcast booth, Erik Johnson has extended his stay in television.
ESPN has signed the former Colorado Avalanche defenseman to a multi-year contract extension, keeping one of the franchise's most beloved players around the game he spent 18 seasons playing.
"Back on your screens for more!" Johnson exclaimed Tuesday morning on Instagram. "I am excited to announce I have signed a multi-year deal with ESPN to continue to work as an NHL analyst for games and in studio."
Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood was among the first to congratulate Johnson, adding a playful jab in the comments: “Congrats! Hopefully you don't have to read the teleprompter.”
The first overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, Johnson spent 14 of his 17 seasons with Colorado across two separate stints. He arrived in Denver in February 2011 after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues and quickly became a fixture on the Avalanche blue line.
Johnson appeared in 731 games for Colorado, the second-most among defensemen in franchise history behind only Adam Foote. He finished his time with the Avalanche with 69 goals, 179 assists and 248 points.
After years of playoff heartbreak, injuries and difficult seasons, Johnson finally reached the top of the hockey world in 2022. He played all 20 postseason games that year, helping Colorado defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to win its first Stanley Cup since 2001 and the third championship in franchise history.
Johnson left Colorado following the 2022-23 season, signing with the Buffalo Sabres before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2023-24 campaign. The Avalanche brought him back at the 2025 trade deadline, giving him one final opportunity to wear the Burgundy and Blue.
Johnson in his final game in an Avalanche sweater. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images
He played his final NHL game on April 21, 2025, against the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Johnson finished his career with 1,023 regular-season games across four NHL teams, recording 95 goals and 253 assists for 348 points. He added five goals and eight assists in 57 playoff games.
In Colorado, Johnson left his mark in some of the less glamorous areas of the game, finishing as the franchise leader in blocked shots among defensemen with 1,373. His 1,288 hits also ranked first among Avalanche blueliners.
His longevity put him in rare company. Johnson became just the sixth defenseman selected first overall in the NHL Draft to play at least 1,000 games and one of only two American-born defensemen ever selected No. 1 overall, joining Bryan Berard.
The Bloomington, Minnesota, native reached the 1,000-game milestone with Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 2024, against Buffalo. Two days later, the Flyers held a pregame ceremony to celebrate the accomplishment, with Johnson sharing the moment against his former Avalanche teammates.
Johnson also represented Team USA throughout his career, winning a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics and bronze medals at the 2007 World Junior Championship and 2013 IIHF World Championship. He also played in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
After nearly two decades of playing professional hockey, Johnson has now found a new place in the game — one where he can share his experience rather than lace up the skates himself.
One of the more memorable moments of his first season in the broadcast booth came during an interview with his former teammate Nathan MacKinnon. After Johnson asked MacKinnon about the importance of Colorado's 5-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings, MacKinnon couldn't resist taking a shot at his former teammate's new television look.
“About as big as that spray tan you got there,” MacKinnon joked.
Johnson laughed it off, implying it was simply TV makeup. The exchange was a perfect reminder that while Johnson may have traded his helmet and skates for a microphone and a new set of teeth, the chemistry between the former teammates never changed.
Now, Johnson is back for a second season with ESPN, continuing to build what could become a long-term career in broadcasting. After 18 seasons on the ice, he has plenty of stories, experience and relationships to bring to the booth — and Avalanche fans get to keep seeing one of their most familiar faces around the game.
Forward Adam Sykora will miss the next four-to-five months with a lower-body injury after exiting Monday’s game against the Devils. Defenseman Vincent Iorio, who also left the preseason opener early, is day-to-day.
Sykora’s injury serves as a crushing injury blow to one of the Blueshirts’ promising prospects, who received his first taste of the NHL at the end of last season and produced three goals and four points across 11 games.
He was skating with the Rangers’ AHL group throughout the start of training camp, but Sykora had positioned himself as a call-up option for the Blueshirts if injuries arose during the season.
Adam Sykora (38) of the Rangers is injured during the first period of a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center, Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey. Getty Images
But that outlook changed, at least for the first portion of the season, when the 22-year-old skated around the corner and absorbed a crushing hit from Devils defenseman Mikael Diotte.
Sykora, a second-round pick in 2023, fell awkwardly into the boards and ended up hobbling off the ice with help from Anton Blidh, Liam Greentree and a trainer after initially trying to crawl his way over.
Rangers’ Adam Sykora (38) skates back to the bench after being injured in the first period of a Rangers-Devils pre-season hockey game in Newark, N.J., Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Bill Kostroun for NY Post
In addition to his four points at the NHL level, he also collected 12 goals and 29 points in 62 games last season with AHL Hartford.
Jan 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks court side prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Brian Lewis takes a stab at who on the Brooklyn Nets roster — and in the front office — has the most to prove as 2026-27 approaches. As you’d imagine with a team so young and so inexperienced, the list is long.
Things will get going soon. Sean Marks & co. have until October 31 to make decisions on the future of the Flatbush 5. The Nets must decide by then whether to extend all of them for a third year on their four-year deals, the first two years being guaranteed. Egor Demin is a n0-brainer. He had a solid rookie year and looked even better in Summer League. The four others taken at Nos. 19, 22, 26 and 27 are highly likely to get another year, but as Lewis points out, it is the NBA and nothing is truly guaranteed.
[Nolan] Traoré was the next-highest drafted of the lot behind Dëmin, but missed this year’s summer league due to injury. He has bulked up, but must stay healthy and learn to finish. [Drake] Powell struggled mightily in both Sacramento and Las Vegas, shooting horribly. [Ben] Saraf and [Danny] Wolf also need to space the floor better.
It seems unlikely that any of that quartet — even Powell — wouldn’t get their options picked up. But it should be pointed out that two years ago, the Nets exercised their third-year option on 2023 first-round pick Dariq Whitehead, but after a poor season, he was waived the next October…
To paraphrase a great Yankee, it gets late early in the NBA.
The player taken before Whitehead in the 2023 NBA Draft also has a deadline. The Nets have until October 19 to decide on whether to give Noah Clowney a multi-year extension which at this point seems unlikely meaning the 22-year-old will become a restricted free agent next July. Clowney didn’t have bad season last year, averaging 12.3 points on 40/33/80 shooting to go along with 4.1 rebounds in 66 games, 60 of them starts. Clowney has down flashes of his potential, recording games of seven 3-pointers and seven blocks in the past two seasons and getting to the line more often too, but the team would like to have seen more progress. Now, he’ll have competition.
With the arrival of [Julius] Randle, Clowney is almost certainly going to lose his starting power forward job. But he stands to lose far more — a chance at a big restricted free-agent payday — if he doesn’t show growth as a rebounder, shooter or shot-blocker, three areas where the Nets in dire need.
It’s entirely possible that with improved 3-point shooting and rim protection, he could get opportunities at all three front court positions. On the other hand, if he doesn’t, he’ll not only have competition for minutes from Randle who is an ironman, having played 79 games last season, but also Josh Minott who’s similarly versatile and only 16 months older.
Michael Porter Jr. and Randle are, of course, not among the 10 players under 25 on the roster. MPJ is 28 and in his eighth year, Randle nearly 32 and in his 13th. They also have a list of NBA accomplishments. As Lewis notes,
The Nets’ best players — veterans Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle — have one championship ring, three All-Stars berths, two All-NBA selections and about $350 million in career earnings between them. They’re both essentially guaranteed of being on huge contracts next season — but just how huge? And where?
Both are likely playing for the future whether with Brooklyn or elsewhere. Porter Jr. of course is on a $40.8 million expiring deal and is looking for an extension. Randle is making $35.8 million and has a player option for 2027-28 which likely means he’ll be looking for an extension himself come next July. Both seem happy to be in New York and both have predicted big things from their young teammates, MPJ suggesting 50 wins, Randle saying the team could “shock the world.” However, do they fit the Nets time-line, particularly Randle?
A hot start will be both expected and needed in Brooklyn. It remains to be seen whether the Nets will look to flip him at the trade deadline. If so, Randle would benefit by changing the narrative of his exit from Minnesota and exhibiting leadership to go along with his scoring and bullyball game.
Indeed, they have all the motivation in the world to have big years … something that seems lost on most pundits predicting doom-and-gloom.
Could Marks flip one or even both? They may carry baggage, but both are bucket-getters and contending teams could use one or the other after the February deadline. Moreover, if the Nets don’t see them as long-term pieces on bit deals, they’d better get something for them before they hit the open market at the end of this season. What might the Nets want? More picks? They already lead the league in total picks, first rounders and second rounders over the next seven years. Younger players?
Lewis also includes the man who will make the decision on both in his assessments: GM Sean Marks.
How the youngsters — Dëmin, rookie lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. and even newly promoted starter Day’Ron Sharpe — develop will be key.
But preserving assets for the next star that becomes available — along with the patience that Nets owner Joe Tsai has shown in him — means Marks will be under the microscope.
At Media Day, Marks will have a chance to lay out what the team will be looking for this season, How much will he and Jordi Fernandez expect? Joe Tsai doesn’t make an appearance at Media Day but he’s been resolute in pursuing the team’s long-term plan. He recently told author Michael Rubenstein that while the Nets need to “win championships”, he also said he believes in a “multi-year rebuilding process” and “build through the draft.” So, Tsai too knows he needs to prove something.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 11: Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Friday, September 11, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With the season about to wrap up, the Washington Nationals have decided to shut down Cade Cavalli for the season. He only had one more scheduled start, but the Nats are going to close the book on their ace. It is a decision I understand even though I don’t love it and think it is a bummer for the fans.
Cade Cavalli is done for the year. He is healthy, to be clear, but the Nats are shutting him down given all the innings and where they are at in the standings.
Even though the fight to avoid last place this weekend is something to watch, there is not a ton to play for this season. We all know Cavalli’s injury history, so I understand proceeding with caution. He has thrown way more innings than he ever has before in 2026.
This season Cavalli has thrown 169.2 innings. That is a major leap from the 122.2 innings he threw last year. Cavalli’s career high before this season was the 123.1 inning he threw all the way back in 2021. The logic behind this decision is quite clear, but it is still a bummer.
I know that I wanted to see Cavalli take the ball one more time at Nationals Park. Even if he only threw 4 or 5 innings, I would have loved to see him take the ball. It would have sent a nice message to Nats fans that want to see their newly extended pitcher in action one more time.
My dad has complained about how the Nats are constantly waiting for tomorrow instead of battling today. The trade deadline was an example of this and so is the Cavalli shutdown. Personally, I am more understanding of the bigger picture, but I get where he is coming from.
Cavalli has made it this far, would one more start really put him over the edge? While there is not a ton at stake for the team, there were still some individual goals out there for Cavalli. If he tossed 1.2 more scoreless innings or threw 5 innings of one run ball, he would have finished his season with an ERA under 3. That would have been quite the milestone for the right hander.
He also had the chance to reach 175 innings if he threw 5.1 more innings. That will not happen now. Hopefully he can achieve those goals next year. The book is now closed on Cavalli’s season and the numbers are very impressive. Cavalli finished the year with a 13-5 record and 3.02 ERA in 169.2 innings.
If you want more advanced stats, Cavalli had a 3.25 FIP, a 3.13 xFIP and 3.9 fWAR. The 28 year old struck out 28.3% of hitters while only walking 6.8%. Whatever way you slice it, Cade Cavalli had an elite season in his first full big league campaign.
Despite falling short of a few milestones, there is one big one that he did hit. In his last start against the Cardinals, Cavalli got his 200th strikeout of the season. Only 9 pitchers have hit that mark this season at this point. Cade is the first Nat to strike out 200 hitters since 2019.
Good day to be Cade Cavalli.
Got an extension this afternoon. Reached 200 strikeouts on the season in a scoreless start tonight. pic.twitter.com/h7stZ7qWnG
Overall, this was a phenomenal year for Cade Cavalli. He established himself as the Nats ace and got rewarded with a contract extension. It is a bummer that we will not see him one more time. However, that is just the way modern baseball works I suppose. Shutdowns have become normal, and the Nats played a big role in popularizing that with the Strasburg situation back in the day.
As we move forward, I hope Cade Cavalli can make meaningful starts in September and into October. He has shown an ability to get stronger as the year goes on, with a sub-2 ERA after the All-Star Break. There will be no more Cade days in 2026, but hopefully we can see Cavalli starts in October in 2027 and beyond.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 18: Rain covers the stands at Fenway Park prior to a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on July 18, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Monday, OTM weather guru Matt Gross warned us all about the scheduling chaos that could be headed our way if Boston gets hit by a nasty ol’ nor’easter this weekend. As Matt’s piece flew around the internet, it immediately led to speculation that MLB might move the games in an attempt to avoid what would be a meaningless-to-the-Sox and necessary-but-annoying-to-the-Cubs doubleheader on Monday, the day before the playoffs start. But, according to a league source, MLB has no intention of moving the series, though a Friday double-header is possible. “Everybody is well aware that the weather could get bad. I know it also could miss and not be bad,” Chad Tracy said. “It’s very much on everybody’s radar through each organization plus Major League Baseball.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Update, 2:30 PM: It is now official. There will be a doubleheader on Friday.
Source: Red Sox and Cubs planning to play doubleheader Friday ahead of rainy weekend: https://t.co/H74lx3joh5
Garrett Crochet was never planning on pitching in a regular season game before the playoffs, so this weekend’s storm won’t impact him. But he continues to make progress, having faced a live hitter for the first time in his recovery process yesterday. Crochet faced Ceddanne Rafaela, threw 16 pitches, and got his fastball up to the 94-96 MPH range. “I would say the way that live just went, that I could go get outs,” Crochet said. “It depends obviously what role they want me in. It’s not really for me to say. I know myself, and I know my body, and the biggest thing was that I felt good out there. Felt like I was able to ramp up intensity to a place that I haven’t gone yet.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
That the Sox pitching has held so steady without Crochet is a testement to the staff’s overall depth, and to the way Payton Tolle in particular has stepped up this season. Last night, the fans let him know he’s appreciated. “Yeah, I think he’s won them over pretty significantly,” said Chad Tracy. “Obviously, he’s been awesome this year.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
Tolle has won over the fans first by pitching really, really well, and second by appearing to be an all-around great dude, as when he hugs opposing players on the baseline. But, as it turns out, hugging players on the field isn’t new for him, as we can see in his highlight video of his high school basketball days:
The Sox bullpen sure could use an arm of Crochet’s caliber, particularly given the recent performance of Erik Miller. Miller is seriously struggling to throw strikes and is working on his mechanics behind the scenes to fix the issue. “I would like to kind of have been through this by now and kind of be over it,” Miller said. “But all I can do is just keep taking the ball and try to get through it. There’s no way I can kind of feel better and work through without throwing in a game, so that’s kind of just how it’s going to have to be: Just keep throwing to get through it.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
It’ll be difficult for Chad Tracy to navigate Miller and the rest of the bullpen as the Sox head down the stretch, but that’s why he’s getting paid the big bucks — for at least three more years. Tracy was made the permanent manager yesterday and isn’t hiding from his emotions. “I choked up a little bit,” Tracy said. “Choked up because you stand there in the moment and think about the journey. And you also look around at the faces of guys that I’ve had — quite a few for five years. Some of them I’ve had in my life for parts of the last five years of being here. So to look around at the players in the room and being able to have that announcement with some players that I’ve grown very, very close with was a cool moment.” (Christopher Smith, Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 29: Gary Trent Jr. #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Per The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, the NBA’s investigation into a potential cap-circumvention violation by the Bucks and Gary Trent Jr.—who signed a four-year, $64m deal this offseason—remains ongoing. Per Vardon, the league hired national investigations law firm Hecker Fink to conduct the probe.
An NBA spokesman said the league’s investigation into Trent’s contract is ongoing and declined to answer further questions. The Bucks and Klutch Sports Group—Trent’s representing agency—have declined comment, but two sources with direct knowledge of the interviews taking place as part of the investigation said both the Bucks and Klutch are cooperating.
Most of you know the circumstances behind why the deal is fishy by now, but for those who don’t, Trent inked consecutive (basically) minimum deals with the Bucks over the last two offseasons—even though he presumably would have had the chance to earn more elsewhere—which allowed him to accrue early Bird rights and be eligible for a massive payday this offseason. He then cashed in a four-year deal worth $64m, which raised eyebrows, given that GT had just come off what was probably the worst season of his career.
The NBA needs to learn if the Bucks and Trent purposefully agreed to enter into smaller, cheaper contracts with a plan to reward Trent in a future deal–which is a violation of the league’s salary rules.
Now, when comparing this situation to the recent Kawhi Leonard saga or even the infamous Joe Smith deal 27 years ago—where, almost identical to Trent and the Bucks (allegedly), Minnesota player Joe Smith and the Wolves front office agreed that Smith would sign consecutive minimum deals to obtain Bird rights and then ink a massive contract down the line—the key difference is that incriminating documentary evidence was found in both of those cases. At least so far, no such evidence appears to exist in the Trent case, and reportedly, the Bucks have not deviated from their story that they acted properly and within the rules.
The Bucks, meanwhile, have maintained to their rivals that they believed Trent’s market value to be the contract they ultimately awarded him, and those same rival executives said Milwaukee maintained projections of likely free-agent contracts that prove it always believed Trent would be a $15 million-per-year player on the open market.
As I mentioned in Trent’s Ranking the Roster piece, the league doesn’t actually need “documentary evidence” that the Bucks and Trent agreed to an illegal deal to issue a punishment. All they need is to deduce that no other reasonable explanation exists for the Bucks signing Trent to the contract besides agreeing to an illegal deal.
We shall see how far the word “reasonable” can be stretched by Horst and Co.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 24: General manager Jon Horst of the Milwaukee Bucks speaks to the media about the dismissal of head coach Adrian Griffin prior to a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum on January 24, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Having a good feel for each player’s value on the trade market is an exercise NBA front offices would routinely perform. For this week’s Reacts, we wanted to see where the Brew Hoop community landed on who leads the team in trade value. In this article, I expanded on that exercise by ranking the entire team and even separating the players into tiers. Tiers mean you can make a reasonable case for any player within a tier to be ranked above or below another player within that same tier.
Crucially, these rankings are completely subjective and—unlike Rick Berry’s DOPE Index—I wasn’t working off some quantitative formula. However, I did find myself considering four main factors when constructing these rankings, and they were:
Raw ability
Age
Contract size (how much money do they make annually?)
Contract status (what is the length of their contract, and where are they in that contract?)
Remember, this is all relative to each player. For example, just because a player doesn’t have the potential to yield a first-round pick, that doesn’t mean that guy must be ranked below another player who does. Also, none of this means that the Bucks will or should trade any player; it’s merely a thought exercise. Anyway, without further ado, here’s how I ranked the squad.
Tier 1
1. Ryan Rollins
At first, I thought the top spot was close between Rollins and Burries, but after thinking it through, Rollins clearly takes that spot. The 24-year-old has blossomed into a legit two-way lead guard—who helps you win basketball games in so many ways—on a $4m (!) contract. You rarely find guys that impactful to winning while making that little money. If the Bucks put Rollins on the trade block right now, they would undoubtedly get a good first-round pick, and maybe even two “bad” first-round picks. Now, I feel quite confident that if the Bucks pay up to retain Rollins next summer, he will be displaced from the top spot (almost regardless of how he plays). For now, though, this is a no-brainer selection at one.
2. Brayden Burries
That leaves Brayden Burries at two, an easy choice. Right this second, coming off an All-Summer League First Team performance, Brayden Burries’ value is through the roof. Now, no team would entertain trading their lottery pick—having not yet registered a single NBA minute—regardless of how they played in Summer League, but yes, for this exercise, Burries has the second-most trade value on the Bucks.
Tier 2
3. Kel’el Ware
Kel’el Ware being in this spot is interesting because he benefits from what I like to call the “mystery box bump.” Ware is only entering the third year of his rookie deal, and there is still major intrigue as to what his ceiling is. He could develop into a unicorn-like centre who’s a matchup nightmare for opposing bigs, or he could completely peter out into an empty-calories guy with attitudinal problems. Ware is a mystery box, but right at this moment, he would fetch a decent first-round pick if traded. A team would bet on the raw talent, for sure. He may be worth two first-round picks in a year, or he may only be worth some seconds.
Tier 3
4. Kasparas Jakucionis
Another player who falls somewhat into the aforementioned mystery box bump group, Kasparas Jakucionis edges out Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez by the slimmest of margins because he benefits from being largely untested. He’s coming off a rookie year with the Heat in which he played decently in the opportunities he got, but those were few and far between. So on the one hand, he’s got runs on the board as a 19-year-old rookie in the NBA—which puts him above Nate Ament, for example—but on the other hand, he hasn’t necessarily wowed in those chances. Additionally, Jakucionis is entering the second year of his rookie contract, which naturally gives him high trade value. Granted, KJ’s trade value definitely took a hit following his disappointing Summer League performance, but you can rationalise that by him having played for Lithuania just a week prior, having to deal with the chaos of being traded, etc.
5. Tyler Herro
Next is Tyler Herro. Obviously, Herro is the most accomplished player on this list and would be the most “sure thing” in a trade (maybe except for Rollins). If a team were to trade for Herro, they’d know what they are getting; it’s way less of a stab in the dark than it would be going for Ware or Jakucionis. Herro is a good NBA player. Sure, he’s bad on defence and has some quirks that rub people the wrong way, but this is a career 20-PPG scorer who shoots nearly 40% from three on volume. His contract is palatable right now at about $30m per season, but of course, he’s in the final year of that deal and will want a contract that will probably age poorly, which naturally makes it hard to have him much higher than fifth.
6. Jaime Jaquez Jr.
I was very close to putting Jaime Jaquez Jr. above Tyler Herro, but at the end of the day, he just doesn’t have the runs on the board as Herro does. Coming into the league as an older rookie after spending four years at UCLA, Jaquez has much less mystery box appeal. However, it’s inarguable that he’s reached a level where you’re almost certain that he’ll be a solid NBA player at the very least. I should note that Jaquez is in the last year of his rookie deal, so any team trading for him would need to be prepared to pay him next summer. This feels like the right spot.
7. Nate Ament
Nate Ament is another player who benefits from the mystery box bump. Being a “boom-or-bust prospect,” Ament has an extremely wide range of outcomes. At this point, that puts him right about here on the rankings. Like Ware, we could re-rank this in two years, and Ament could be way down the bottom or way up the top. For now, coming off a so-so Summer League but considering the bigger picture, seventh feels about right. I am confident that even after Vegas, a rival team would give up something of relatively high value to get the Virginia native if the Bucks explored trading him.
Tier 4
8. Ousmane Dieng
OK, so relative to the value Dieng held when the Bucks picked him up, his stock has increased significantly. Ous has a lot going for him. First, he’s a former lottery pick and still just 23; teams love taking chances on young guys with pedigree. Second, he just put together a solid season in the first real chance he got to actually play consistently, which, at the very least, is enticing. And finally, his contract is solid at just under $6m per year for three years with a team option for the final season. I reckon a good number of rebuilding teams would happily part with some decent assets to get a longer look at Dieng on that deal. Props, Jon Horst.
9. AJ Green
Green has become a solid NBA role player who will check into the game and do his job: nail three-pointers—both off the catch and on the move—and be passable on defence. There isn’t much more upward mobility other than that, but lots of NBA teams need guys with this skill set. You can see how Green’s dynamism as a shooter separates him from a guy like Taurean Prince, who can really only shoot while stationary. On top of that, Green is on a totally palatable contract with an average annual salary of a tick over $11m.
10. Myles Turner
Here we get to Myles Turner. Look, this contract didn’t look great after last season—and it still doesn’t look all that good—but considering what some centres got paid in free agency this summer, ~$27m AAV doesn’t look as bad as it once did. Still, ESPN’s Ben Golliver recently reported that the Bucks have been trying to shop Turner this summer but haven’t found a suitor willing to take on his contract, validating his spot at 10 (for now). Crucially, I want to make clear that if MT performs at the level he is capable of in a new system, I could see him yielding a late first-round pick at the deadline. I don’t see AJ or Ous having that potential, but I also don’t consider either of their contracts to have negative value like I do Turner’s right now—still three years left to run.
Tier 5
11. Jericho Sims
It might come as a shock that I have Jericho Sims this high—and I realise that I’m probably an outlier—but I reckon that if Sims starts the season well, he’ll have positive trade value at the deadline. In contrast, the two blokes below, in my mind, would have even or negative value. This means I think a team might trade a second-round pick in the, say, 35-45 range for Sims in exchange for half a season with him making the minimum. Crucially, Sims on the minimum makes trading for him much easier than trading for Kuzma or LeVert, increasing his value. Our friends over at the Silver Screen and Roll wrote about reports of the LA Lakers’ potential interest in the 27-year-old.
Tier 6
12. Caris LeVert
The case for LeVert over Kuzma in this spot is simple: they’re both wings on expiring contracts and not in the Bucks’ plans, but LeVert makes about $5m less ($14.5m compared to $19.4m). There’s not a whole lot more you need to say, really. Neither player will be highly coveted by the team trading for them, but LeVert is easier to deal.
13. Kyle Kuzma
Read above, LOL. No, well, you could make the case that Kuzma has more trade value than LeVert because if the Bucks need to get up to a certain number to make a trade legal, Kuz’s contract is obviously more useful. In general, though, a ~$15m contract is more tradeable.
14. Kevin Porter Jr.
Eh, while Porter can certainly help the Bucks win games—if that is all they care about this season—he’s probably not in their long-term plans, considering the slew of guards acquired over the offseason. Other teams will know this and hold leverage over the Bucks, which will lower his trade value. Of course, something else that will lower that value is KPJ’s off-court history, like it or not. Look, Porter might fetch you a second-round pick if an experienced team needs a guy who can come in and immediately offer them some juice, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Tier 7
15. Bogoljub Markovic
Maybe you can convince yourself Bogi has some trade value if you rely on priors, since many draft analysts ranked him higher than where he ended up being taken—including our very own Finn Kuehl. Ultimately, though, he’s proven nothing of substance yet at the NBA level (and obviously it’s very early). If anything, Bogi’s stock has decreased since he was drafted. Now, I’m not saying the Bucks would even be interested in trading Markovic at just 21 years old, but if they were, they wouldn’t get much at this moment in time.
16. Pete Nance
Look, Pete Nance is a good player—and he happens to possess a skill set that has been sorely needed on this Bucks team—but at the end of the day, he’s a 26-year-old journeyman. I don’t doubt Nance is an NBA player, and teams would jump at the chance to sign him if the Bucks cut ties, but no franchise is going to give up assets for Nance. But hey, maybe that changes a year from now if he can really cement himself in Milwaukee’s rotation. I personally don’t see where the minutes are, but it’s not implausible.
Tier 8
17. Gary Trent Jr.
Self-explanatory. This contract became one of the league’s worst the moment the ink dried, and absolutely everyone—including Jon Horst—knew it would be. We all understand what happened here; there’s no point belabouring it. Anyway, the Bucks might need to attach Brayden Burries and one of those Heat picks to incentivise another team to take this contract (I’m kidding… I think). Gary, get used to those Milwaukee winters, brother; you’ll be here a while… if your contract isn’t voided, that is.
Alright, now that I’ve done my rankings, give me yours. Or just let me know where you agree or disagree. The players I was most unsure of were Jericho Sims, Kevin Porter Jr., Ousmane Dieng, and Myles Turner. I might make this an annual thing—we’ll see.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 17: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers looks on against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on September 17, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Detroit Tigers’ rookie Kevin McGonigle has put together a pretty incredible campaign in his first season of major league baseball. He hasn’t just led the rookie class in the maor leagues all year long, he’s done things few players his age have ever accomplished. Even so, the fact that he just turned 22 years old doesn’t really enter into the picture unless voters decide to put some weight on his age as a tiebreaker. McGonigle appears to have the award locked up, but Cleveland Guardians rookie left-hander Parker Messick also deserves some serious consideration, and he remains McGonigle’s top competition for the award in the final week of the regular season.
Right now, the oddsmakers don’t see this as a contest at all. Bet MGM has McGonigle at -3000 to win the AL Rookie of the Year award, while Messick is at +1500 to win. ESPN and several other sites agree with that assessment.
McGonigle entered the season as the Tigers’ top prospect and more than lived up to the billing. He hit the ground running in late March and April and really never stopped hitting. He slumped somewhat in May and again in August, but even his slumps were instructive, as McGonigle at his worst never went into a real funk for long. Even better, his work with Tigers’ Hall of Fame shortstop, Alan Trammell, in the 2025 Arizona Fall League paid dividends in the field. One of the few questions about him as a prospect was whether he could hold down the shortstop position, or whether he’d need to shift to second or third base. Instead, McGonigle improved his footwork and overall efficiency on defense, and did a nice job playing an even mix of shortstop and third base throughout his rookie season.
The standout number for McGonigle is his outstanding .376 on-base percentage, but just as impressive is his 13.5 percent strikeout rate, compared to his 13.7 percent walk rate. He’s hit for just average power, with 17 home runs and a .149 isolated power mark, but the long, pesky at-bats with minimal strikeouts, and his constant presence on the bases, have made him a true headache for opposing teams to deal with all season long. McGonigle holds a stellar 128 wRC+ overall, and a 121 wRC+ while playing shortstop, placing him fourth amongst all major league players with a 100 plate appearances as a shortstop. Of the three shortstops currently ahead of him in wRC+, only Elly De La Cruz graded out better than McGonigle defensively.
Meanwhile, McGonigle has played 601 innings as a third baseman as of this writing. He’s racked up 7 defensive runs saved (DRS) per Sports Info Solutions, while Statcast has him at -2 outs above average (OAA). He’s played 675.2 innings at shortstop, compiling a +2 DRS with a -1 OAA mark. Those differences in marks from different systems aren’t very far apart, and it’s fair to say that McGonigle has been roughly an average defender at both positions.
For a hitter this talented to be solid at both of the two most difficult spots on the infield, and to be able to comfortably flex between them as a rookie in his age 21 season is extremely impressive. At no point has McGonigle really felt like a rookie. Instead, he immediately stepped into the major leagues as a foundational piece, able to thrive in all facets of the game and even making things easier for his manager by tackling both shortstop and third base as needed. With four games remaining, he’s basically a lock to top Harvey Kuehn’s 1953 franchise record for reaching base in a rookie season.
All tallied up, McGonigle has been worth 6.7 rWAR from Baseball Reference as a rookie in one of the all-time great rookie campaigns in MLB history, particularly for such a rookie who was 21 years old for most of the season. By FanGraphs, McGonigle is at 5.1 fWAR prior to Tuesday’s matchup with the Washington Nationals.
By contrast, the 25-year-old Messick has been worth 5.8 rWAR, with one start left in his rookie regular season. Yes, the Guardians pitching factory has done it again. He’s also at 4.6 fWAR, though his solid five inning start with one earned run on Tuesday will give these numbers a little boost.
Messick has 178.1 innings across 30 starts with a 12-9 record and a 2.57 ERA/3.11 FIP combination. His 26.2 percent strikeout rate is good rather than great, but still ranks him 15th best among qualified starters. Even better, he’s done it while walking just 6.6 percent of hitters and keeping a well below average home run rate of 0.86 home runs per nine innings (HR/9). Dylan Cease of the Blue Jays and Cam Schlitter of the Yankees are probably in a two-man race for the AL Cy Young, but Messick, as well as a resurgent season from the Rangers’ Jacob deGrom, aren’t too far behind.
Messick is certainly the best rookie pitcher in the American League. I think the contest between the two is closer than their WAR totals say, and the odds should probably not be quite so far apart, but even so he’s been outpaced by McGonigle’s steady production in all phases of the game. If there’s one additional argument Messick lobbyists will point to, it’s the fact that Messick has helped the Guardians get to the postseason, while McGonigle’s brilliant debut has been for naught in that regard. Still, this isn’t a team award, and typically that sort of thing doesn’t play into the equation.
Even so, it’s important to note that Messick is having a pretty historic rookie season of his own. As pointed out by MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince on Tuesday, the last rookie pitcher to make 30 starts with a 2.60 ERA or lower was Dwight Gooden back in 1984. Maybe he goes on to have a great postseason as well, but the votes are placed before the postseason begins, so that won’t be a factor.
Kevin McGonigle was the top ranked prospect in baseball who debuted this season in the American League, and second only to the Pirates’ Konnor Griffin, who didn’t do a whole lot and missed a big chunk of the season to injury. McGonigle had all the hype and all the pressure on him coming into Opening Day. He’s done nothing but live up to every bit of it while conducting himself like a seasoned professional since arriving in camp back in Februrary. We’ve witnessed one of the all-time great seasons for a player his age, and he’s stood out above the pack against fellow rookies who are anywhere from 2-4 years older. Even better, the eight-year extension signed in April means Tigers fans will be rooting for McGonigle well into the mid 2030’s, at least.
Should this turn out as expected and McGonigle wins AL ROY, the Tigers will get a prospect promotion incentive pick for promoting McGonigle to the major leagues for the whole season, so this has implications for the whole team as well. The Tigers will then have a first round pick in the lottery pool, and two picks in the competitive balance round A, setting themselves up for a potentially monstrous draft. Certainly it’s not guaranteed that McGonigle is going to win, but he’s clearly the front runner and there really isn’t anything Messick can do to close the gap.
Rookie of the Year voting consists of 60 writers in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, with two from each franchise’s coverage. Voting occurs before the start of the postseason. So votes will be locked in by early next week, but we’ll have to wait until November to find out the results.
Sep 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Nathaniel Lowe (46) is congratulated after scoring against the Boston Red Sox in the ninth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After taking some dumb losses last week, the Yankees came into this week with absolutely no breathing room left in the AL East race. The Rays magic number was down to two, meaning any Tampa Bay victory in the four-game series this week would see them clinch the division in the Bronx.
Looking to at least prevent that, the Yankees took the opener of Tuesday’s doubleheader thanks to a dominant outing from Carlos Rodón. Unfortunately, they did not put in the best of performances in the second game, and a Rays victory ended the AL East race.
The win in the opener did clinch the top AL Wild Card spot at the very least, so there will be at least two games at Yankee Stadium in October. However, that means the Yankees are now locked into the #4 seed no matter what happens to them or other teams the rest of the season. While the Yankees’ don’t have much left to play for in the regular season, that’s not accurate around the rest of the AL. Let’s check in on what happened in those races in today’s Rivalry Roundup.
Cleveland Guardians (82-75) 3, Boston Red Sox (84-73) 2
Nathaniel Lowe’s go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth gave the Guardians another crucial victory in the AL Central race.
Cleveland jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in this one. In the second inning, David Fry hit an RBI single, while the Guardians scored another run on a double play with a runner at third. The Red Sox got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame as Andruw Monasterio hit into a run-scoring ground out.
That lead stood up for quite a while for Cleveland, as Parker Messick put in five solid innings, followed by a couple scoreless innings from their bullpen. However in the eighth, Mickey Gasper hit a pinch hit homer to tie things up with Boston down to their last couple outs.
Despite their newfound life, the Red Sox had the wheels come off in the ninth. Reliever Erik Miller hit Chase DeLauter with a pitch and then gave up a single to Jo Adell, putting runners at the corners. Lowe then hit his sac fly, but Cleveland left two runners on after that, missing a chance at a bigger lead. That didn’t end up costing them, though as Cade Smith worked around a walk to finish things off.
Other Games
Chicago White Sox (81-76) 14, Kansas City Royals (69-90) 11: Cleveland’s win ended up allowing them to maintain a one-game lead in the Central, as the White Sox won a wild one in Kansas City. Chase Meidroth led the way for Chicago with a five-RBI, three-hit game that allowed the White Sox to open up a 14-4 lead. However, things got unexpectedly tight down the stretch, as the Royals scored three runs in the eighth and four in the ninth. Chicago got the final outs after that to prevent any more danger, keeping them a game back in the Central.
New York Mets (72-85) 6, Texas Rangers (78-79) 3: Meanwhile over in the AL West, the entire division is back below .500 as the first place Rangers dropped one to the Mets. While Texas led 3-2 going into the sixth, the Mets put up three runs, taking the lead on a two-run Francisco Alvarez double. The Rangers had no answer after that as just one Texas batter reached base after the Mets took the lead.
Houston Astros (78-79) 8, Seattle Mariners (73-84) 0: The Astros were able to take advantage of Texas’ loss, crushing the Mariners to draw even atop the West. Houston took the lead before an out had even been recorded, thanks to Yordan Alvarez, and they only kept adding on from there. Christian Walker hit a three-run homer in the third, while Alvarez added one of his own later.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 15: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game between the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Ritter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning folks!
The Mariners dropped another massive stinker in yesterday’s 7-0 loss to the Astros. The good news is that we’re less than a week from the end of this disappointing season.
Paul Skenes blamed the World Baseball Classic for his declining velocity in 2026. As long as players continue to participate in the tournament I’m going to remain skeptical that they sincerely believe any of this.
Sep 22, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics right fielder Carlos Cortes (26) celebrates with shortstop Alika Williams (12) after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning A’s fans!
Last night, the Athletics erased the bad taste of their winless road trip with a wild late-game comeback, overcoming a six-run deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of their season-ending homestand. With just five games remaining in the regular season, time is running out for A’s players to leave positive final impressions before the long offseason ahead.
Due to the rash of injuries the team’s starting position players suffered, the A’s were not able to obtain much of a glimpse of the full-strength squad’s potential. Brent Rooker’s knee injury resulted in a lost season for the slugger, while maladies also caused fellow starters Shea Langeliers, Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz to miss a large chunk of time.
As a result, the team’s offense struggled to score enough runs to make up for its league-worst pitching staff, particularly a bullpen largely comprising spare parts discarded from other organizations.
Several position-players stepped up into the void created by the team’s numerous injuries. While Zack Gelof, Henry Bolte, Alika Williams and Donovan Walton made positive impressions, others such as Max Muncy, Tommy White and Jonah Heim failed to fully make the most of extended playing time. Those three are long shots to begin next season with the A’s. Heim’s pathway is the likeliest, but only if the upcoming free agent re-signs to continue being the backup catcher.
Given the numerous position-player options the Athletics have at their disposal, the club should invest the majority of its resources this offseason into reinforcing its pitching staff. Whether that means spending money to lure free-agent arms or using its surplus of major-league ready hitters to acquire a pitcher via trade, the Green and Gold cannot afford to sit on the sidelines for a second consecutive offseason.
It will be interesting to see who the Athletics hire as their next general manager and the direction he/she chooses to take. With a few quality pitching additions and better injury luck, the franchise could quickly find itself back in playoff contention next summer. That is if this winter’s CBA lockout does not completely wipe out the 2027 season.
How should the Athletics approach this upcoming offseason? What are you hoping to see from the team over these last few games of 2026?
