CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 20: Will Benson #30 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after hitting an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on September 20, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the signing of Eugenio Suarez, the roster of the Cincinnati Reds seems just about wrapped up with spring training in Goodyear, Arizona looming just over one week away. There may still be a utility glove added, there could be a reliever tucked into the back of the roster somehow, but the bulk of what we expect to see in the dugout and on the field in 2026 seems as if it’s already now in-house.
The question now, though, is what’s left to shake out once they get there?
What spot on the roster is the most up-for-grabs at the moment? Is it the pecking order of left-handed bats in the outfield now that Gavin Lux has been dealt away, with former 1st round draftees Will Benson and JJ Bleday vying for who gets regular PA in LF? Is it whether one of Michael Chavis or Garrett Hampson can wiggle their way onto the active roster come Opening Day?
Or, is it the battle for the fifth starter role? With talented options (and high draftees) in Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Brandon Williamson, the club has ample options, but how they manage them both at the end of March and the end of September will be of equal importance.
The 26-man seems to be just about cobbled together, but how it stacks up still remains to be seen. What say you about what’s left to be decided?
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: Carlos Santana #41 of the Chicago Cubs takes batting practice prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rayni Shiring/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks Sign Carlos Santana The deal is a 1-yr/$2 million pact for the switch-hitting veteran to platoon with Pavin Smith at first base. Meh.
Jim Bowden Rips Arizona Hanging Arizona with a grade of D+ for the offseason pretty much sums things up succinctly, but there are reasonings for those interested.
Prospects Who Could Break Out in 2026 The calls to see Ryan Waldschmidt are only going to increase until he makes his debut, even though he is likely most of a season away from being ready. Tommy Troy needs to make some noise. Kohl Drake may be the best pitching prospect they have had in some time.
Kiley McDaniel’s Top-30 Prospects for Each Team “The D-backs ranked 21st in the farm ranking largely because they didn’t have any players in the top 50 prospects in baseball and only one in the top 100 at all.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks to the fans during Dodger Fest at Dodger Stadium on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in baseball history at the time in December 2023, and in his first two years in Los Angeles has won two championships, won two MVP awards, and set two Dodgers single-season home run records.
Ohtani’s 54 home runs in 2024 were five more than Shawn Green’s previous franchise mark set 22 years prior. Then in 2025, Ohtani added one more to his total, to date the only player in MLB history to hit exactly 55 home runs in a season.
That brings us to another Dodgers record that is well within reach for Ohtani in 2026.
Most home runs in a 3-year span, Dodgers
Duke Snider (1954-56) 125
Duke Snider (1955-57) 125
Duke Snider (1953-55) 124
Shawn Green (2000-02) 115
Gary Sheffield (1999-2001) 113
Cody Bellinger (2017-19) 111
Shawn Green (2001-03) 110
Shohei Ohtani (2024-25) 109
Only four Dodgers — covering seven total spans — have hit more home runs in a three-year span than Ohtani hit in his first two seasons.
He’s already 31st in Dodgers history with his 109 home runs, and he’s only played two years for them.
Ohtani needs only 17 home runs in 2026 to set a Dodgers records for most homers in a three-year span. If he has another year anywhere close to his last two seasons, more rarefied air is in play.
Six Dodgers have three or more consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs: Gil Hodges five years (1950-54), Duke Snider five years (1953-57), Mike Piazza (1995-97), Eric Karros (1995-97), Raúl Mondesi (1997-99), and Gary Sheffield (1999-2001).
Snider, who hit at least 40 home runs in five straight years from 1953-57, is the only Dodger with more than two seasons of 40 home runs.
Ohtani hit 46, 34, and 44 home runs in his final three years with the Angels, giving him 233 home runs over the last five seasons, an average of just shy of 47 per year. His projections for this season are in that same area:
TEMPE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 31: James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers (L) and former Arizona State Sun Devils football player Jordyn Tyson attend the game between the Arizona State and the Arizona Wildcats at Desert Financial Arena on January 31, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The conventional wisdom was that this trade deadline would likely to be meh with the bigger moves expected around the NBA Draft come June. But the James Harden-for-Darius Garland deal, along with Tuesday’s flurry of deals big and small, seems to have changed things.
However, the original narrative still applies to the Brooklyn Nets who not only made no moves on Tuesday, but weren’t even mentioned in any rumors, unless you count the recurring reports of league interest in Day’Ron Sharpe, which now reportedly extends to the Lakers who saw him go for 19 and 14 Tuesday night or the Nets willingness to facilitate bigger deals for other clubs..
They don’t seem to be that interested, at least for now, in Giannis Antetokounmpo which as Brian Lewis noted used to be their “white whale.” Nor do they seem willing to move Michael Porter Jr., who has publicly expressed a desire to stay in Brooklyn, interested in the franchise’s “trajectory” back to contention.
The Harden deal will send him to his fourth team in the past five years after the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Clippers and now the Cleveland Cavaliers. Before that, he left the OKC Thunder, in case you forgot. None of his departures seemed too happy. (If you add up all the teams the Big Three have played for over their careers, the number is now 14, five each for Harden and Kevin Durant, and four for Kyrie Irving. So much for loyalty.)
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards. pic.twitter.com/IHhhhabJnX
The Harden news and Tuesday’s other trades had some implications for the Nets.
Harden should give new life to the Cavaliers chances of making a deep run in the playoffs (although his talent is his talent, his record is his record as well and he’s been criticized for not leading any of his teams to the promised land.) Another failure this spring could have a deleterious effect on the Cavs. With Donovan Mitchell staring at an off-season extension next year, he may want to move on and we know that at the very least, the Nets were interested in the now 29-year-old. “The key here is that the Cavs are moving away from believing in the Core 4,” Brian Windhorst told ESPN Cleveland. “And I think the genesis of this is because they’re worried that Donovan is not going to re-sign this summer.”
Yesterday’s other two moves, the Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics blockbusters could have an effect on the Nets desire to have a facilitator role. Both of those deals created big exceptions, $28.8 million for the Grizz — the biggest in NBA history — and $27.7 million for the Celtics. Those two and another one of $18 million created by the Bulls in the three-team deal involving them, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons are all larger than the $15.3 million salary cap space the Nets retain. Cap space is better than TPEs, but the differences are not so big in the short term. The three exceptions will be available once the trades are official, which no doubt will be prior to Thursday’s 3:00 p.m. ET deadline.
Specifics on the latest Sharpe rumor came post-game in Brooklyn with Dan Woike of The Athletic extolling on how much the Lakers like the 6’10” 24-year-old who is currently the NBA’s all-time leader in offensive rebound percentage (18.3%).
Sources inside the Lakers locker room are fans of Brooklyn center Day’Ron Sharpe, who had 19 points and 14 rebounds in the Nets’ loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night. The Giannis trade chase could create ripples beneficial to the Lakers. As teams maneuver for financial flexibility, the Lakers’ expiring deals and future first-round pick could get them in conversations for high-end role players…
Meanwhile, MPJ is counting the hours to the deadline. Despite the horrors of the last several weeks, he seems happy in his role with the Brooklyns, as Brian Lewis reported.
“Yeah, I’ve stated that I’m enjoying my time here, and I do see that the light at the end of the tunnel, and I do see the path that we’re trying to take,” said Porter, who returned from a personal leave for Tuesday’s 125-109 home blowout loss against the Lakers. “That’s something that’s out of my control. And wherever the wind blows, whatever the guys who run the organization want, then I’m down for.
“I know that every situation has its blessings and things to take away from,” said Porter, who scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss. “So I’ve stated that I enjoy my time here. And two more days, if I make it through two or three more days, I’ll be here. So, we’ll see. We’ll see what happens.”
As for the others rumored to be of interest to NBA clubs — or not — nothing much new. Yes, teams do still appear to be interest in Nic Claxton, not so much in Cam Thomas.
The deadline could have other roster implications. Haywood Highsmith, if healthy, likely would have yielded a second rounder, but he’s not. As an expiring — $5.6 million contract — but injured, he’s likely to be done with the Nets no matter what. That could open a standard deal for one of the Nets two-ways, likely E.J. Liddell, who’s spent some time of late with the big club, or Tyson Etienne, Long Island’s new all-time leading scorer. In turn, that could open a two-way spot for Grant Nelson, the 7-foot rookie who has been playing well despite minutes restrictions — per 36 numbers in excess of 20 and 10 in eight starts.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 9: Brandon Drury #23 of the Los Angeles Angels runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Target Field on September 9, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals announced they have signed infielder Brandon Drury to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Drury did not appear in the big leagues last year, but hit 26 home runs in 2023 and was a Silver Slugger winner in 2022.
Drury was drafted by the Braves in 2010, when Royals scouting director Brian Bridges was a scout with the club. He was traded to the Diamondbacks in the Justin Upton deal and made his debut with Arizona in 2015. He bounced around to the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Mets before having a breakout season in 2022 with the Reds. He hit .263/.320/.492 with 28 home runs, earning a Silver Slugger Award.
Drury signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Angels and hit 26 home runs in his first season with them. But he fell off drastically in 2024, hitting just .169 with four home runs in 97 games. He joined the White Sox organization last year, but he was released in the summer without appearing for the big league team, and he spent the rest of the season in the Angels organization.
The 33-year-old Oregon native is a right-handed bat that can play first, second, or third base, and has some experience in the outfield.
Drury will compete for a reserve infield role with Michael Massey, Nick Loftin, and Tyler Tolbert, and other MLB veteran non-roster invitees, Connor Kasier, Kevin Newman, Josh Rojas, and Abraham Toro.
The Vancouver Canucks continue their road swing this evening as they head to Sin City to face the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena tonight.
Teddy Blueger has come alive as a goalscorer lately, and my Canucks vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks are eyeing him to score against his former team.
Canucks vs Golden Knights prediction
Canucks vs Golden Knights best bet: Teddy Blueger anytime goalscorer (+450)
Teddy Blueger isn’t exactly a household name in the NHL, but he’s been impressive for the Vancouver Canucks lately. After missing a lot of the campaign due to injury, the Latvian returned last month on January 21, and he’s scored in four of seven appearances since then.
Blueger scored one of Vancouver’s two goals in a loss to the Mammoth on Monday, and he also found the back of the net last Thursday against the Ducks. The 31-year-old has two goals in three road games this season.
He did play for the Vegas Golden Knights for part of the 2022-23 campaign, and he scored in one of the four meetings against them last season.
Canucks vs Golden Knights same-game parlay
Jake DeBrusk is averaging 2.80 shots on goal per game this season, and he’s cashed the Over in three of his last five appearances. In fact, he has 10 shots on target across his previous three games alone.
Evander Kane hasn’t exactly been living up to expectations for the Canucks, compiling just 25 points. However, his shot total sits at just 1.5 tonight, and he’s hit the Over in three straight contests.
He put five pucks on net against the Mammoth, and he had another two SOG against the Leafs on Saturday.
Canucks vs Golden Knights SGP
Teddy Blueger anytime goalscorer
Jake DeBrusk Over 2.5 shots
Evander Kane Over 1.5 shots
Canucks vs Golden Knights odds
Moneyline: Canucks +240 | Golden Knights -300
Puck Line: Canucks +1.5 (+100) | Golden Knights -1.5 (-115)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5
Canucks vs Golden Knights trend
The Canucks have cashed the Under in 10 of their last 15 road games for +4.45 units and a 26% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Canucks vs Golden Knights
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Date
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet Pacific
Canucks vs Golden Knights latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Jacob Wilson #5 and Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics high five before a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park on September 12, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Wednesday A’s Fans.
The 2026 season will be year two of the Athletics planned three-year Sacramento sojourn while the organization waits for construction to finish on its new ballpark in Las Vegas.
For some fans, one of the highlights of going to a baseball game is the giveaway item they get whether it is a bobblehead, hat or something else. Yesterday, the A’s announced their 2026 promotional calendar full of goodies the team will be giving fans at Sutter Health Park this season. The release is part of the team’s push to get fans to buy tickets as single-game tickets go on sale today.
The giveaways start immediately. Fans attending the A’s home opener against the Houston Astros on April 3rd will take home a magnet schedule and then get to watch postgame fireworks. The team is giving out Sacramento gold jerseys and then gloves for the latter two games of that series.
A’s fans who love to collect bobbleheads will be in for a treat this spring and summer. Those who attend the April 17 game against the White Sox will receive a Nick Kurtz bobblehead. The fact that the reigning American League Rookie of the Year is getting a bobblehead so early in his career reflects the impact Kurtz has already had on this franchise.
If you want a bobblehead, but miss out on obtaining Kurtz, no need to fret. Jacob Wilson’s bobblehead day is June 20, Shea Langeliers’ is Aug. 15 and Mark Kotsay’s bobblehead is the scheduled giveaway on Aug. 28.
A couple other cool giveaways this year are the always popular Star Wars Grogu (March 12) and the buildable Tower Bridge (Aug 2). Based on the Bridge and Sacramento jersey, it appears that as far as giveaways are concerned, the A’s seem to be embracing playing in the state capital a bit more this year.
Let’s hope the team lives up to its potential to attract fans regardless of the giveaways!
Following in Osvaldo Bido's footsteps, former A's LHP Ken Waldichuk has been designated for assignment for the third time in the last month and a half, this time by the Rays.
Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein, president of baseball operations Mike Elias and agent Scott Boras introduce new first baseman Pete Alonso at a news conference at Camden Yards on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Baltimore. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
After a disappointing 2025, Orioles GM Mike Elias certainly has not been sitting around doing nothing this offseason, hoping that the problems will solve themselves with much of the same core of the roster returning. He’s gone out and made three big moves that to me were unthinkable when I sat around four months ago and considered what was possible. Signing Pete Alonso, trading for Shane Baz, and trading Grayson Rodriguez are all moves that in their own way show that Elias was not content to just let it ride another year without changes.
The big moves on the roster aren’t the only things going on, either. There are coming changes that have nothing to do with the players at all. Given how hard the offense flopped last year, it’s a relief to know there is going to be a new set of hitting coaches. Oriole Park at Camden Yards is getting long-needed upgrades to its audio and visual capabilities. And, you know, if they haven’t beaten the optimism out of you, you can try to feel good about things like “maybe Gunnar Henderson and Colton Cowser will be healed of the secret injuries they said plagued them for a lot of 2025.”
What’s got you excited about the coming Orioles season? Be honest, I know there’s something. Even a jaded pessimist like me is ready to see the Polar Bear hit some big ol’ dingers. Drop into the comments and tell us what you’re looking forward to from this year.
A closing plea: If you’re going to post about what you’re worried about with the Orioles and the coming season, save that for tomorrow.
Aug 19, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Hello and good morning everyone! As we roll on with the week, we’ve got some baseball news and analysis to provide.
In Mariners news…
The M’s announced their 2026 MLB high performance staff, minor league instructors and roving coordinators.
Ben Clemens at Fangraphs provided his take on the Donovan trade. If you’re crashing out over what the M’s gave up in the deal, Ben’s level-headed analysis should help you feel better about it.
A Redditor told a lovely story about his unlikely journey to Mariners fandom and his even unlikelier connection with Marilyn Niehaus.
Around the league…
The Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year, $2M deal with veteran first baseman Carlos Santana.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joined Major League Baseball in support of a new stadium for the Rays in Tampa Bay, increasing their odds of staying in town.
Hall of Fame inductee Carlos Beltrán will wear a Mets cap on his museum plaque.
Elizabeth Strom of DRaysBay wrote about how Ben Williamson has adjusted (physically, mentally, and emotionally) since his first taste of MLB action, with some quotes from him at Mariners FanFest courtesy of our own Kate Preusser.
Dan Szymborski at Fangraphs played a fun game with his projection tools, figuring out how many bad teams you need to mash together to get a squad projected to beat the Dodgers.
Baseball Season has kind of unofficially started, with backfield videos of Mets starters Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong emerging from Port St. Lucie. Davy Andrews at Fangraphs has the latest.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 03: Welinton Herrera of the Salt River Rafters poses for a photo during the 2025 Arizona Fall League media day at Scottsdale Stadium on Friday, October 3, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Rebhan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Herrera is probably the Rockies’ top relief prospect — among pure relievers in PuRPs voting, it was between him and Rule 5 pick RJ Petit (No. 23 PuRP). He’s also the highest ranked of the three players named Herrera in the system to receive votes. The 21-year-old 6’0” Dominican lefty reliever boasts a plus to plus-plus mid-90s fastball coming from an uphill angle and was added to the 40 man roster this off-season. He was a pop-up arm in 2024 in his first taste of full season ball. Herrera, who spent two years in the DSL after signing in January 2021 for $200k and a season in the ACL in 2023, was a bit wild but showed bat-missing stuff.
Mid-season 2025 Rank: 21
High Ballot: 7
Mode Ballot: 18
Future Value: 40+, set-up reliever
Contract Status: 2021 International Free Agent, Dominican Republic, 40 Man Roster, three options remaining
MLB ETA: 2026
That was enough to get Herrera assigned to Low-A Fresno to start 2024. Herrera, employing a low arm slot from the left side and mid-90s velocity, was immediately dominant. He struck out an absurd 62 hitters (against only nine walks) in just 34 innings (16.4 K/9 rate) with a 2.38 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 23 appearances at Fresno. Jack Etkin wrote in August 2024 about Herrera’s strong start in Fresno, in case you’d like to read more about his arsenal and Rockies personnel’s quotes about him.
Herrera was promoted to High-A Spokane in late June, where he was 3.1 years younger than league average. Against higher-level opposition, Herrera’s rate stats were less strong (4.76 ERA, 3.75 xFIP, 1.41 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 4.4 BB/9) in 23 appearances totaling 28 1⁄3 innings, but the fact he was doing it in High-A as a 20-year-old was quite impressive. He was also quite good in the Dominican Winter League (10 IP, 1.80 ERA, 13 K, 6 BB, 7 H) against players who were on average over 10 years older.
In 2025, Herrera went back to Spokane, where he quickly showed he had mastered the level. In 15 appearances and 18 1/3 innings, Herrera collected 10 saves with a sparkly 0.49 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 14.2 K/9 rate, and 2.9 BB/9 rate. The Rockies promoted him to Double-A Hartford in mid-May, where he was 3.7 years younger than league average. In 37 appearances totaling 46 1/3 innings with Hartford, Herrera added seven more saves with a 3.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 13.6 K/9 rate, and 3.7 BB/9 rate against upper minors hitters. He also represented the Rockies at the prestigious Futures Game in July, where he got the final out to record the save for the NL squad.
Herrera finished his 2025 with a strong stint in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. He pitched in nine games, throwing nine innings while allowing two runs on nine hits and eights walks with 14 strikeouts and one save. In other words, Herrera pitched around a lot of traffic of his own making and was probably fortunate to leave with a 2.00 ERA.
Here’s some video of Herrera courtesy of FanGraphs during fall instructs in 2024:
Herrera’s fastball is 97-100 and he lived off the pitch in High A until the Rockies told him he had to throw his slider more, after which he was a little more balanced and dominated through the rest of the year in Double A. His profile is straight relief, probably the one-inning variety only, but he throws plenty of strikes and it’s a pretty easy delivery for that velocity. He could easily help the Rockies this year.
A slender, 6-foot tall pure reliever, Herrera spent three years in rookie ball and then exploded in 2024 as he split his season between both A-ball levels, totaling 62.1 innings in 46 games while striking out 92 and allowing just 80 baserunners. His fastball averaged about 94.5 mph during the regular season, but was 95-98 for me during Instructional League and 94-97 in the Dominican Winter League with Aguilas.
Herrera’s drop-and-drive delivery and three-quarters slot combine to create uphill angle on his fastball, making it very tough for hitters to get on top of it when he’s sitting 96-plus; that pitch had an absurd 42% miss rate in 2024. In order to hit his ceiling as a set-up man or closer, Herrera will need to improve at least one of his secondary pitches. His slider was in the 82-84 mph range during the 2024 season and instructs, but has been up in the 86-88 mph range in LIDOM, where it still lacks the finish and depth of a great slider. His changeup, often in the 87-90 mph range, tends to cut on him and finishes in vulnerable locations. Herrera’s long arm swing makes it tough to project a ton on his changeup, but even if his fastball ends up being his only impact offering, it’s going to be good enough for Herrera to be more than just a generic middle reliever. He’s a candidate for quick promotion in 2025 and is likely to be put on the 40-man after the season.
Used only as a reliever, Herrera relies largely on his fastball-slider combination to go right after hitters. His fastball sits around 95 mph and touches 97 and it comes from a low three-quarters arm slot, an upshoot heater that has carry above the barrel that gets a lot of swing-and-miss. He can get too fastball-reliant and will have to keep learning to trust his 84 mph slider. It’s a pitch he has improved by more consistently staying on top of; it flashes better than average while dropping below barrels. He actually has feel for a changeup with depth, but he doesn’t throw it much.
Herrera pounded the strike zone during his time with Fresno, but he wasn’t as sharp with Spokane. He’s made adjustments before, so there’s confidence he’ll be able to become another legitimate big league bullpen piece for the Rockies.
The overall value that can be added by a relief arm is limited, but Herrera certainly seems like a potential late inning reliever (and he’s a lefty to boot), especially given his performance against upper minors hitters in 2025 in Hartford. That performance is why I ranked him 15th on my list at the bottom of my 40+ FV tier. Herrera will probably begin 2026 in the upper minors at either Hartford or Albuquerque, but I expect him to make his big league debut sometime during the season if he remains healthy.
KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 30: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals hits the game winning RBI single in the 12th inning against the Oakland Athletics during the American League Wild Card game at Kauffman Stadium on September 30, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is the second part of a series about the notable baseball milestones that happened in our city. You can read part one here.
The Royals moved into state-of-the-art Royals Stadium for the 1973 season. It didn’t take long for the highlights to happen. On May 15, 1973, Nolan Ryan threw his first career no-hitter for the California Angels against the Royals at the stadium. By 1973, Ryan—just 26 years old—was already in his seventh big league season, having appeared in 144 games.
He established himself as an ace in 1972, going 19–16 and leading all of baseball with 329 strikeouts. On this unseasonably warm night, the Angels got all the runs Ryan would need in the first inning on a run-scoring single by former Royal Bob Oliver. Oliver added a solo home run in the sixth for the final margin. Ryan was masterful, striking out 12 while throwing 132 pitches. He did walk three, including Steve Hovley, who stole second, giving the Royals their only real scoring opportunity of the evening.
The Royals had a couple of chances to break through. In the eighth, Gail Hopkins hit a two-out blooper into short left-center field. Shortstop Rudy Meoli made a terrific over-the-shoulder catch to save the no-hitter and end the inning. With two outs in the ninth, Amos Otis hit a ball that looked like it might carry to the right-field wall. Angels right fielder Ken Berry turned the wrong way, righted himself, then made the catch on the warning track to end the game.
Jeff Torborg, who had caught Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965, was Ryan’s catcher. After the game, Ryan said, “In the bullpen warming up, I was terrible.” The no-hitter was the first of Ryan’s career. Two months later, he would throw his second. He would eventually throw a major league record seven no-hitters. How dominant was Ryan? He holds the record for the most career one-hitters (12) and the most two-hitters (18). He beat the Royals 24 times in his career, the most wins he had against any team. It could have been worse, but Ryan played 14 of his 27 seasons in the National League.
A little more than two months later, on July 24, 1973, Royals Stadium hosted the 44th annual Major League All-Star Game. Amos Otis, John Mayberry, and Cookie Rojas made the American League squad, with Otis and Mayberry getting the start. Otis put the Americans on the board in the second with an RBI single.
The highlight of the game came in the fourth when Johnny Bench hit a massive solo home run off Bill Singer. The blast, which landed in the upper reaches of the left-field stands, remains one of the longest ever hit in the stadium. The game itself was pretty boring, as the National League pummeled seven different AL pitchers on its way to an easy 7–1 victory.
The win was part of an amazing streak of National League dominance. Between 1963 and 1985, the NL won 21 of 23 All-Star Games. Bobby Bonds of the San Francisco Giants was named MVP of the game, which featured 18 future Hall of Famers.
Steve Busby threw the first two no-hitters in team history, but both came on the road. On the evening of May 14, 1977, Jim Colborn took the mound behind an eclectic lineup. Hal McRae started in left, Tom Poquette in right, and Al Cowens manned center (Amos Otis was out with an injury). John Mayberry had the night off, which put Pete LaCock at first. George Brett was also injured, so 38-year-old Cookie Rojas played third.
Colborn retired the first 14 Texas Rangers before hitting Toby Harrah with a pitch. Poquette made two sparkling plays in right field, robbing Mike Hargrove and Willie Horton of potential hits. Cowens also made two fine plays, taking hits away from Bert Campaneris and Tom Grieve.
Colborn got stronger as the game progressed, retiring the last 11 Rangers he faced. When the final out was recorded, Colborn had thrown the first no-hitter by a Royals pitcher in Royals Stadium. He was terrific in 1977, going 18–14 while throwing 239 innings. Whitey Herzog didn’t pitch him in the 1977 ALCS for reasons still unknown, instead watching Larry Gura and Andy Hassler get lacerated by the Yankees (eight runs on 12 hits in just 7⅔ combined innings). After eight early-season appearances in 1978, the Royals traded Colborn to Seattle for Steve Braun.
Game 7 of the 1985 World Series, played at Royals Stadium on October 27, 1985, clinched the team’s first World Championship. It was a historic game, but not the one everyone talks about. That would be Game 6—the Denkinger game—the one Cardinals fans still complain about. Game 6 remains one of the most exciting games in team history, while Game 7 felt like a foregone conclusion.
After Daryl Motley cranked a two-run home run in the second inning, it was over. Sure, there were still seven innings to play, but we knew it was over. The Cardinals were still steaming about the previous night. St. Louis finally came unglued in the bottom of the fifth, when former skipper Whitey Herzog burned through five pitchers as the Royals sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring six runs to go up 11–0. Joaquin Andújar and Herzog both earned ejections from Don Denkinger in the inning.
It was a shame to see the Series end that way. I loved Whitey when he managed the Royals and felt bad for the guy, but man, that game was a celebration. New father Bret Saberhagen was masterful, scattering five hits over nine innings to give the Royals their first title.
Saberhagen delivered the next signature moment in stadium history. On August 26, 1991, he had it going. His fastball was popping and his breaking pitches were biting. Sabes cruised through the first four innings, issuing just one walk.
The wheels almost came off in the fifth. With one out, Dan Pasqua hit a line drive deep to left. Kirk Gibson gave chase, and the ball ticked off his glove and off the wall. It was initially ruled a hit, but after the official scorer reviewed the replay, it was changed to an error. Looking at it again, was it a hit or an error? I’d probably have ruled it a hit. Pasqua smoked that ball, and at that stage of his career, Gibson’s defensive limitations showed.
Saberhagen retired 14 of the next 15 batters, the lone hiccup an eighth-inning walk to Pasqua. He got Frank Thomas on a grounder to second to complete the last no-hitter in Royals history.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 35 years since the Royals have thrown a no-hitter. Saberhagen needed 114 pitches that night, striking out eight.
The only player to collect his 3,000th career hit in Kansas City was Paul Molitor, who did it on September 16, 1996. Facing José Rosado, the 40-year-old Molitor stroked a fifth-inning triple into the right-center gap. The ball landed between center fielder Rod Myers and right fielder Jon Nunnally, neither of whom seemed too anxious to retrieve it.
As the outfielders took their time, Molitor motored to third. His family celebrated in the stands, and the crowd gave him a prolonged standing ovation. Fireworks went off behind the scoreboard, and the game was delayed for several minutes while a montage of Molitor’s career played on the video board.
Molitor did it with flair. He singled in his first at-bat for hit No. 2,999. His triple in the fifth gave him No. 3,000. He added another single in the seventh for hit No. 3,001. He remains the only player to reach 3,000 hits with a triple and finished his Hall of Fame career with 3,319 hits.
Kansas City hosted its third All-Star Game on July 10, 2012. The stadium had just undergone a $250 million renovation and looked spiffy. It had cost only $70 million to build the original park, which opened in 1973. Inflation’s a bitch.
The game itself was forgettable—an 8–0 National League win. The MVP was Melky Cabrera, whom the Royals had traded to San Francisco over the winter for pitcher Jonathan Sánchez. The deal was one of the worst of Dayton Moore’s career, which is saying something. Sánchez wasn’t just a stiff; he was a Franky Carbone stiff.
Melky hit .346 for the Giants in 2012, adding to Royals fans’ angst. Moore gained some redemption by flipping Sánchez to the Rockies for Jeremy Guthrie in one of his better deals. Mike Trout and Bryce Harper both made their All-Star debuts in this game, but the real action happened the night before.
Everyone loves the Home Run Derby, right? It’s baseball’s version of the slam dunk contest. American League captain Robinson Canó said he’d include a Royal, which seemed to point to Billy Butler, who had 16 homers at the break. It made sense—keep the home crowd happy. Instead, Canó stiffed the Royals and left Country Breakfast off the roster.
Kansas City fans may not be known as “the best fans in baseball,” like our neighbors to the east, but we take pride in our city, our team, and our players. Canó basically gave the city the middle finger, and when the contest started, fans let him know exactly how they felt.
When Canó stepped to the plate—with his father pitching—the boos were deafening. I’ve never heard that kind of anger from Kansas City fans before or since. It visibly rattled both Canó and his dad. He didn’t hit a single home run, and with every ball that fell short, the jeering grew louder and meaner. It was a shame, really—the Derby is usually a love fest.
But Canó earned it. He was tone-deaf to the long, strained history between Kansas City and New York. Don’t promise to include a hometown player and then change your mind. That’s just stupid.
The onslaught continued the next night. When Canó came to the plate, the chanting resumed: Rob-bie Can-o. Rob-bie Can-o. Rob-bie Can-o. It was wonderful to see Royals fans show some passion.
Canó fouled out to third in his first plate appearance, and it was ugly. He later dribbled a single up the middle off Stephen Strasburg before being removed from the game, tail between his legs.
Kansas City had found a new villain. Canó joined a long line of Yankee heels—Billy Martin, Goose Gossage, Graig Nettles, Reggie Jackson. I’ve long since moved past my feelings about those guys, but Canó? I’ll never forgive that.
Before you decide Royals fans are cretins, consider Miguel Cabrera. In 2012, Cabrera was in the midst of a glorious career. Always a great hitter, he put everything together in his age-29 season. He hit .330 to lead the league, clubbed 44 home runs, and drove in 139.
Entering the final series, Cabrera was locked in a tight battle with Josh Hamilton and Curtis Granderson for the home run lead, and neck and neck with Mike Trout for the batting title. In the first game, he went 4-for-5 with a home run off Bruce Chen. In the second, he went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
On October 3, the finale, Cabrera went hitless in two at-bats but clinched the Triple Crown—the first in the American League since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. When he was removed after the fourth inning, the 30,383 fans in attendance gave him one of the most touching standing ovations I’ve ever witnessed.
Cabrera was visibly moved, emerging from the dugout multiple times to tip his cap. Even though the Royals finished 72–90, it was a moment that made me proud to be a Royals fan. Miggy will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028 and will be a slam-dunk first-ballot choice.
Mention September 30, 2014, and any Royals fan worth their salt knows what happened. Some of you were there and will remember it forever. For the rest of us watching on television, it was near the top of the list of most exciting games we’ve ever seen.
A sellout crowd of 40,502 packed Kauffman Stadium for a winner-take-all showdown. People who were there swear they’ve never heard the place louder. The Royals hadn’t made the playoffs in 29 years—an entire generation had known nothing but losing.
When the Royals trailed 7–3 in the eighth, their odds couldn’t have been much higher than 10 percent. Future Royal Brandon Moss had nearly carried Oakland to victory with two towering home runs.
You know the rest. The Royals chipped away in the eighth, tied it in the ninth, fell behind again in the 12th, then finally rallied with two decisive runs. Everyone contributed—Nori Aoki, Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar, Billy Butler, Christian Colón, Jarrod Dyson, Lorenzo Cain, Brandon Finnegan. Salvador Perez delivered the winner, reaching across the plate and pulling an outside pitch down the left-field line. He isn’t always pretty, but he gets the job done. The Royals stole a record seven bases, every one of them enormous.
That win ignited something. The Royals swept the Angels, then the Orioles, and took the Giants to the final out of Game 7 before running out of gas.
They laid the groundwork for the 2015 team—a team that played like it knew it would win the World Series from the very first pitch. It was beautiful to watch.
Jul 13, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott (45) pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Christian Scott was the first of the Mets’ current crop of young minor league starters to make his MLB debut back in the summer of 2024. It says a lot about the strength of the Mets’ farm system that despite Scott getting Tommy John Surgery late in that year, as well as trading away three of their top starting pitching prospects in the interim, the Mets are still rich with young starting pitching. They’re so rich with starters that, despite being healthy, Scott is likely not to break club with the team this year, and may not even be the first up from the farm this season.
This is no knock on Scott, who entered 2024 as the Mets’ #5 prospect who had a rocky, though promising, start to his big league career. Injuries can happen at bad times and send folks back down the line a bit.
That’s exactly what happened with Scott. A University of Florida product, Scott was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. His professional career was unremarkable until the spring of 2023 when in Brooklyn, Scott switched to starting and started (pardon the pun) to put it all together. In six starts for the Cyclones, Scott put up a 2.28 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 23.2 innings, while walking just four.
He was promoted to Binghamton later that year and continued to dominate. His 2.47 ERA in 12 starts complemented an 11.2 K/9 rate and just eight walks in 62 innings pitched. He began 2024 in Syracuse and in six starts looked strong, striking out 36 and walking just six.
A lot of Scott’s success came from his fastball(s), as described by our Steve Sypa:
Scott worked on his four-seam fastball during the Arizona Fall League and over the winter of 2022, and its emergence may be one of the reasons the right-hander was so good in 2023. Sitting in the mid-90s and topping out in the high-90s, the pitch is difficult for batters to square up on thanks to its speed and rising action. Additionally, Scott’s two-seam fastball was a solid pitch in its own right. Sitting in the mid-90s, the pitch has a lot of arm-side and sinking movement, making it difficult for batters to square up on. In and of itself, it is not so much a a swing-and-miss, bat-missing strikeout pitch as it is a weak contact pitch, eliciting weak fly balls as batters swing under it and ground balls as batters swing over it.
Scott made his MLB debut on May 4, tossing six and two-thirds innings against the Rays. It was Scott’s best start of the season in terms of length, run prevention, and walks allowed. His six strikeouts were his second best of the season, as well.
Scott didn’t pick up a win in his nine starts for the team despite a few quality starts for the club. But both in Triple-A and in the bigs in 2024, home runs were an issue. In 18 starts across the two levels, he gave up 18 home runs. For context, he only walked 24 batters in that same span. But before too much work could be done to limit his fly balls, Scott was placed on the IL in July and eventually had Tommy John, putting him out for the back half of 2024 and all of 2025.
None of that changes the hope that the Mets have for Scott, nor does the emergence of Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong. Our Lukas Vlahos summed up Scott nicely in his season preview for 2024:
As the first real development success of the Cohen era, Scott is something of an avatar for the Mets’ pitching development pipeline writ large, a product of the improved processes the team has spun up as they play catch up with the powerhouses of the sport. Scott succeeding won’t herald in a new age of Dodgers- or Rays-like pitching wealth on its own, but it would be a strong sign that the organization is moving in the right direction and that brighter days are ahead.
[Scott’s fastball] pitch 94, touches 98, has some of the best shape in the minors, and is further improved by Scott’s elite command of the pitch, a combination that arguably makes it the best heater in the minors. He lacks both the track record and the true standout secondary to stand among the elite pitching prospects on stuff alone (Paul Skene’s slider, Drew Thorpe’s changeup, Hurston Waldrep’s splitter, Jackson Jobe’s slider/changeup), but a conservative projection still has him as a near MLB-ready mid-rotation starter. Squeeze another jump out of one of the secondaries and you’re looking at a legitimate #2 rotation option.
If Scott can come back healthy with the same control and fastball that he had in 2024, he’s going to be a part of the Mets’ plans for 2026 and beyond. If he can limit the long ball, he’s going to be a major part of them. And if he doesn’t, the way the team is constructed and the farm system operating, it won’t be the end of the world. That is a fantastic place for Scott to be in, without too much pressure weighing on him and a fantastic place for the club to be, without the need to push Scott before he’s ready and fully healed.
This year’s Cubs schedule begins with a six-game homestand at Wrigley Field. Opening Day is Thursday, March 26, so that’s five games in March, concluding on April 1.
The rest of the Cubs’ April schedule is pretty reasonable. They head out for a six-game road trip after that, bookended by off days, so after April 1 they don’t return to Wrigley until April 10, and then just for a three-game series against the Pirates. That’s followed by a quick one-city trip to Philadelphia and another off day before a seven-game homestand starting April 17.
The latter 10 dates are reasonable. The first six… are not, especially because they are against two teams that come to Wrigley only once, the Nationals and Angels.
This is not smart scheduling, Major League Baseball messed this up, especially with the Angels, a West Coast team, coming to town for its only visit during this first homestand. Postponements during that series are problematic, as they could involve significant travel disruptions. The Nats and Angels do come back to Chicago to play the White Sox… at the end of April.
Look, I understand that the warm-weather and dome teams don’t want these early April games either. Kids are in school, people aren’t on vacation, etc. But if MLB is insistent on playing nearly a week of games at the end of March, those teams really need to suck it up and host those games, in my view.
Let’s look at what MLB has done with the rest of the early-season schedule. The following teams are home for the first weekend of games, in addition to the Cubs:
That’s five dome teams, four warm-weather teams, three cities where the weather can be at least decent at that time of year (St. Louis, Cincinnati, Baltimore) and two places where it could be as cold as Chicago (New York, Philadelphia).
That’s … not terrible, though I will note that the Athletics are at Toronto, the Rangers are at Philadelphia, the Angels are at Houston and the Diamondbacks visit the Dodgers. That’s four other teams that really should be hosting games this early in the season.
I am of two minds here regarding that six-game homestand at Wrigley Field beginning March 26. On the one hand — maybe we’ll get some unseasonable warmth and they’ll be able to play baseball in decent conditions. It can, occasionally, be freakishly warm in Chicago in March. In March 2012 Chicago had nine straight days with highs of 78 or above, eight of them over 80. At Cubs Spring Training games, PA announcer Tim Sheridan always gives the temp in Mesa and the temp in Chicago after the first inning. One day during that spell, he said, “In sunny Mesa, it’s 81 degrees and in Chicago… (pause)… it’s 85.” There was an audible gasp from the crowd.
But as I said, that’s a freak. And if it happens, the lesson MLB will learn is, “Hey, we can do this!” And of course, the next time they try it, the weather will be awful.
Which is the more likely outcome here. The average high temperature in Chicago on March 26 is 50. Which wouldn’t be terrible baseball weather, but that’s an average — the record low for that date is 7. For the last 10 years, the high temperatures on March 26 have been 54, 58, 48, 36, 42, 52, 46, 55, 62 and 55.
So about half the time, it appears, the temp is above 50 on that date, about half below. And that doesn’t take into account the possibility of rain delaying, interrupting, or postponing a game. Or snow — as you surely know, it’s snowed in Chicago that late in the spring, and in fact, April 2018 was just horrifically cold and snowy in Chicago, causing multiple postponements that could have been a cause of the Cubs collapsing down the stretch that year when they had to play 42 games in 43 days.
So the other part of me says, “Bring on rain and snow and multiple postponements against the Nats and Angels,” because the logistical issues that would cause maybe, just maybe would teach MLB the lesson, “Hey, maybe we shouldn’t do this anymore.”
Be prepared to dress warm in multiple layers if you’re going to the home opener at Wrigley Field this year. It’s only 50 days away.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 01: Fernando Cruz #63 of the New York Yankees reacts after forcing a fly out to end the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on October 01, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees’ roster might not be a finished product. They are openly looking for a right-handed bat from the bench, and one or two bullpen additions surely wouldn’t hurt. They have, apparently, decided to open the season with their current group of starters, knowing that an injury or two in spring training could mean trouble when they’re already going to be down Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt on Opening Day.
Still, many fans are more concerned about the current state of the bullpen, and it’s very much understandable. The unit lost Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, among other arms, and didn’t really do much aside from running it back with Tim Hill, Paul Blackburn, and Ryan Yarbrough, claiming Cade Winquest from St. Louis in the Rule 5 Draft, and trading for erstwhile Rockies righty Angel Chivilli.
However, if we judge the unit strictly on upside and on upside alone, you can make the case that there’s plenty of it in the Yankees organization when it comes to the relief corps.
The Yanks have two elite swing-and-miss artists in Fernando Cruz and David Bednar, who finished fifth and 11th in strikeout rate last year, respectively, among pitchers with at least 40 innings. Bednar is unquestionably the safer bet to thrive in 2026 given how sharp he looked for the majority of last year at closer, especially after coming over from Pittsburgh at the Trade Deadline. Cruz can’t be overlooked after a healthy offseason however; his command never looked quite right down the stretch in wake of his oblique injury. If his splitter’s thriving the way it did earlier in 2025, then that’s a definite weapon.
Although Camilo Doval had his fair share of struggles upon landing in the Bronx in the middle of last year, he closed out his season strong with five scoreless innings in his final six outings of the regular season, accumulating eight strikeouts prior to a 2.70 ERA in the ALDS against Toronto. Doval has closer pedigree and has shown he can make adjustments, and his arrow is trending up for the 2026 campaign. His stuff is dynamic.
Hill might not miss too many bats, but the lefty has been as steady as they come since joining the Yankees from the wasteland of the 2024 White Sox in June of that year. His 2.68 ERA in 111 innings across the last year and a half is just a hair behind intimidating Phillies closer Jhoan Duran. Their styles couldn’t be more different, but the results are the results; that’s not too shabby. Additionally, the Bombers have two exciting bounce-back candidates in Chivilli and Jake Bird. Both former Rockies are one or two adjustments away from being excellent options to face righty-heavy batting orders. Winquest has an exciting profile, and Yarbrough and Blackburn contribute cheap innings and role versatility.
If the Yankees’ rotation stays relatively healthy and Cole or Rodón can return in May, one of the starters could be bumped to the bullpen (or the minors, depending on many circumstances) if needed, too. Also in the picture is Brent Headrick, who gets high marks from the organization, and Yerry De Los Santos is around as well. The former, in particular, showed significant upside last year, striking out 32.6 percent of the batters he faced and putting up a 3.13 ERA.
It’s also important to point out that top pitching prospects Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodríguez are candidates to pitch in MLB at some point this year, and the bullpen could be their 2026 home if health is on the Yankees’ side. The Yankees have the luxury of employing one of the best pitching coaches in the game, Matt Blake, so every pitcher with raw tools, a big arm, and the willingness and brains to learn has a chance to develop into a contributor.
Of course, the Yankees’ bullpen would be better if they managed to add a solid, proven, and effective reliever from free agency or the trade market. I, personally, want that to happen. I won’t deny that another pitcher capable of consistently missing bats would be magnificent. However, this unit is not the disaster some believe it is, and it’s not as though the league is overflowing with dominant ’pens (and sometimes, bullpens built to dominate like the 2025 Dodgers go through nightmare stretches anyway).
We are not saying the Yankees’ relief corps is in the top five in MLB at the moment because that’s far from the case. Almost every bullpen in baseball could be a powerhouse if they hit Yahtzee and everything broke right; that’s not particularly realistic. We are simply saying that although there is risk, this could potentially be a general team strength if just a few relief developments go the Yankees’ way.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 24: Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Guerschon Yabusele arrived in New York this summer and had all of us kinda excited as one of only two free-agent additions made by the Knicks, along with microwave-scorer-turned-ice-cube Jordan Clarkson.
Then, Yabu started to play a decreasing number of minutes and to have a lesser impact each passing day since training camp.
On Tuesday, Yabusele didn’t even grace the court, earning a solid DPN-CD in the Knicks’ 132–101 trouncing of the Washington Wizards, but he still found a way to catch attention.
It happened after the game was over, however, as Yabu was asked and opened up on his questionable future in New York with the trade deadline right around the corner.
Yabusele has appeared in 41 games this season, averaging just 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in under nine minutes per game.
Following the win, Yabusele addressed multiple reports linking him to EuroLeague clubs, including Panathinaikos, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Real Madrid.
Guerschon Yabusele on report of team in Israel pushing to sign him:
“I ain’t closing no door on nothing. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to be. So right now I can tell you nothing has been discussed or signed or anything like that. I’m a…
“I ain’t closing no door on nothing. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to be,” Yabusele said. “So right now, I can tell you nothing has been discussed or signed or anything like that. I’m a Knicks player at the end of the day.”
SDNA’s Sotiris Vetakis has reported that Panathinaikos is in advanced discussions with Yabusele’s camp. The Athens-based club is seemingly just waiting on developments from New York before finalizing any deal, perhaps just in case an actual NBA trade emerges before Thursday’s deadline.
“There’s been teams calling,” Yabusele said on Tuesday. “I feel like the report was just them saying they want me, and then everybody thought that I signed something already. No, nothing like that. But there’s some teams out there that we heard are getting ready to sign me if I go back that way. We’ll see what happens.”
Sport5, meanwhile, reported that Israel-side Hapoel Tel Aviv is in direct talks with Yabusele’s representatives, with a move there requiring the Knicks to buy him out.
🔙 Yabusele, on a possible return to Europe. He has contract in the NBA through 2027 pic.twitter.com/LA4JRiuZ5A
Yabusele himself acknowledged Real Madrid would be among the first teams he’d speak to if he returned overseas.
“It was hard to come back to the NBA [but once I was here], my mind definitely wanted to stay there, but we’ll see when the opportunity presents itself. It’s definitely going to be a conversation to have and see what the options are in Europe. We’ll see how it goes. I will never say never to anything,” Yabusele said. “Madrid is going to be, to be honest, one of the first teams that we’re going to have the conversation first. I’m not closing my door on anything else, but you know, my house is in Madrid.”
The 30-year-old signed a two-year, $11.3 million deal with the Knicks last summer and holds a $5.8 million player option for the 2026–27 season.
According to Marc Stein and Ian Begley, New York is actively exploring smaller trades involving Yabusele’s expiring salary to clear long-term cap flexibility, with a major move—read: trading for Giannis—not expected to happen this deadline.
The Knicks have reportedly engaged with the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans (both per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto) and Phoenix Suns (per Forbes’ Evan Sidery) on potential trade packages that could offload Yabusele.
