But deciding which one is the best player of this era of NBA basketball is in the eye of the beholder. Curry and James are all-time greats who have made immense impacts on the game.
“I think all the young stars of our league are starting to come into their own,” Garnett told Paul Pierce on their podcast, “Ticket and The Truth with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce” on Tuesday. “I’ve said this countless times. I think that we’re in the Curry era. He is the GOAT of this era. When we talk about the long ball and the 3 ball, you got to talk about the messiah of that long ball, you understand, and that’s how I look at it.
“So in this era right here, I’m watching [the Thompson] twins, those twins, [Amen and Asaur], we didn’t see them come out of no … you know what I’m saying. We got stars that are just blossoming out of this league. Look at Cade Cunningham. Cade Cunningham, [the Detroit Pistons] are the number one team in the East. We wouldn’t have, you know, but if you watch their trajectory and you watch that Knicks series, you see what you’re seeing, right?”
Kevin Garnett says we are in the Curry era he is the GOAT of this era
“Talking about the long ball and the three ball you got to talk about the messiah of that long ball”
Garnett went on to praise the young crop of players who just entered the NBA and those who will join the league next summer.
“Yeah, man, I’m so excited about what the future is,” Garnett told Pierce. “The rookies that’s coming, that came into the league this year, [Kon Knueppel], f—–g [Cooper] Flagg, [Derik] Queen … and all these guys. Then we got another rookie class coming in [2026]
“We’re gonna look at [Jayson] Tatum. We’re gonna look at [Jaylen] Brown. We’re gonna look at all these certified superstars, and we got all these young hungry wolves just, man, bro, the league is gonna be in a really good place, bro.”
Curry, a two-time NBA MVP, has a legitimate case as the best player of this generation, having led the Warriors to four NBA championships while changing the game with his 3-point shooting.
James, on the other hand, routinely is mentioned along with Michael Jordan as the two greatest NBA players ever.
But Garnett has made it clear he believes this era belongs to Curry, and The Big Ticket won’t find much argument in the Bay Area.
Scott Morrow’s time with the New York Rangers has been a rollercoaster ride this season, but there’s one aspect about his character that you can’t take away.
When the Rangers acquired Morrow from the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the sign-and-trade deal involving K’Andre Miller, they were getting a player who was highly successful in the NCAA and American Hockey League level, largely due to his ability to create offense as a defenseman, but he had yet to etch his mark in the NHL.
Despite failing to make the Rangers’ roster out of training camp, Morrow was called up a couple of times, and once Adam Fox landed on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury, Morrow got the opportunity to step into the lineup and play a prominent role.
When asked about what he wanted to see from Morrow shortly after Fox’s injury, Sullivan gave a blunt answer, a sign that he was simply expecting more out of the young defenseman.
“Assertive play,” Sullivan said about what he wants to see from Morrow. “Making decisions with conviction and not being in between. Eliminating hesitation from his game.”
Since Sullivan’s request for Morrow to play with more assertiveness, he’s been in the lineup for nine games, which has come with its highs and lows.
Even though the 23-year-old defenseman has specialized in the power play at practically every level of hockey, Sullivan decided to utilize a five-forward power-play unit upon Fox’s absence.
At first, Sullivan didn’t fully trust Morrow to quarterback the first power-play unit.
“We don't think that's the strength of their games to this point,” Sullivan said of why Schneider or Morrow are not playing on the first power-play unit. “We're trying to put a power play together that we think gives us the best opportunity to have success. Obviously, Foxy, I think, is an elite power-play defenseman, with how he distributes the puck up there, the way he sees the game. He's got really good instincts. We don't necessarily think that that's the strength of some of the guys you just mentioned.”
Sullivan did emphasize that Morrow was the most equipped defenseman outside of Fox to play on the man advantage.
“We’ve made a decision to go with five forwards at this point, but we know that if we were to use a defensemen, he would be the guy because of the instincts that he has,” Sullivan said.
With the five-forward unit failing to produce offense, Sullivan recently added Morrow to that first power-play unit.
In this role, Morrow has gone through a steep learning curve, committing some costly turnovers in the process, showing that there’s still room for him to grow.
From an overall standpoint, Morrow has been prone to making some defensive mistakes. Specifically on Saturday afternoon in the Rangers’ game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Morrow committed two costly turnovers, the first one coming on the power play, which led to a shorthanded goal, and the next one taking place in overtime, nearly leading to the game-winning goal.
Through the mistakes, Morrow has continued to play an assertive game per request from Sullivan, earning his coach’s admiration.
“What I'll say is, he's an incredible kid, and his ability to shrug off some of the plays and continue to perform out there, I think, speaks volumes for the character of what he's about,” Sullivan said. “He's a young player. He's going to make some mistakes, and let's be honest, we're putting him in some really high-profile positions, whether it be on the power play and overtime, things of that nature. He's playing a significant role here with this group right now, especially with Foxy being out, and so I think he's done a great job with just playing through the ups and the downs.
“I think that's what you get when you deal with young players, especially defensemen. I said this to you guys all the time, I think it's the hardest position to play, but I admire his resilience because that would affect a lot of young players the wrong way. When you watch Scotty play, if he makes a mistake, he shrugs it off, he learns from it. We couldn't be more proud of him for his ability to respond to those situations.”
Sullivan has continued to roll with Morrow on the first power-play unit and give him heavy minutes despite some of his defensive blunders, not trying to punish Morrow for mistakes as he continues to develop.
On Tuesday night in the Rangers’ 7-3 win over the Washington Capitals, Morrow played arguably his best game of the season.
He led all Rangers defenseman with a 2.50 Game Score, an analytical stat used to quantify a player's single-game impact, blending goals, assists, shots, penalties, faceoffs, and 5v5 goal/Corsi differentials (shot attempts) into one number, with higher scores indicating better overall performance in that specific game.
Morrow clearly has the talent to transform into an impactful NHL defenseman. Now it’s about fully adapting to the speed of the NHL game and providing more of a reliable presence for the Rangers, something that should come with time.
It's been almost a week since the Los Angeles Kings traded Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens. Both sides have moved on, and Danault made his season debut for the Canadiens on Tuesday.
Ahead of Danault's return to Montreal, he spoke to the media for the first time since the trade went down.
The 32-year-old veteran did not mince his words when describing his time with the Kings and what ultimately led up to the trade.
"I felt like I had no purpose and that I couldn't bring anything to the team with what I had," Danault said to reporters in French. "I felt helpless and not important. That's how I felt at the end."
This was all before the Habs faced the Boston Bruins. Montreal beat its Atlantic Division rivals 6-2 in Danault's first game back.
In terms of the former Kings' performance, he didn't get his name on the scoresheet.
Danault centered Montreal's third line, with Alexandre Texier on his left wing and Josh Anderson on his right. He finished the contest with 24 shifts and 15:29 of ice time. With Los Angeles earlier this season, he averaged 16:19 of ice time, 50 seconds more than he played on Tuesday.
The Victoriaville, Que., native is still looking for his first goal of the season. He has five assists in 31 appearances this season.
In his five seasons with the Canadiens before joining the Kings as a free agent, he played 360 games, scoring 54 goals and 194 points. He also registered a plus-47 rating and averaged 16:53 of ice time in his first stint with the Habs.
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Sometimes in our modern age, stories gain traction where your first thought turns to, "Is this AI slop?" Then, it turns out to be legit.
Former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons has purchased a controlling stake in a professional sports fishing team, the South Florida Sails Angling Club, the Sports Fishing Championship announced.
NBA free agent Ben Simmons has become the controlling operator of a professional sport fishing team.
Scottie Scheffler, Randy Moss, and Raheem Mostert are also owners of teams in the league. pic.twitter.com/wqNUz9q44T
Simons was born in Australia and grew up in Newcastle, New South Wales, where he developed a love of fishing, he said in a statement.
"I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward," Simmons said in a statement. "Sportfishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is."
The Sports Fishing Championship is a 16-team professional offshore saltwater fishing league with 16 tournaments a year. Simmons is not the only big name to invest in the Championship, with golfer Scottie Scheffler, Las Vegas Raiders running back and kick returner Raheem Mostert, and NASCAR driver Austin Dillon among the other investors.
Simmons, 29, a three-time NBA All-Star, played 51 games between the Nets and Clippers last season and was solid enough on the offensive end in Los Angeles to get looks from a few teams, but no contract was forthcoming. He is still trying to catch on with an NBA team this season or get a chance next season.
The Lakers trailed the Suns by 10 at halftime Tuesday night. When asked what happened that turned a game they were into a blowout Phoenix win, JJ Redick was blunt.
"They scored on the first 13 possessions of the second half," the Lakers coach said of the Suns.
The Lakers went on to lose consecutive games for the first time this season, getting blown out by the Suns 132-108. Los Angeles was without Luka Doncic, but the Lakers have a respectable 116.2 offensive rating when Doncic is off the court this season (which would rank 11th in the league overall). What Redick called out is the Lakers' defense — which is bottom 10 in the league whether Doncic is on the court or not — and particularly the effort on that end of the floor.
"The theme with our team, these young teams that move, we just can't move. It's like we're stuck in mud," Redick said.
When asked if the Lakers had enough players who are inherently good defenders and give a full effort on that end, Redick was blunt.
"No."
He laid the blame for the defensive effort at the players' feet.
"It comes down to just making the choice. It's making the choice," Redick said. "There are shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can't. It's just a choice. And there's a million choices in a game, and you're very likely not going to make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of them correctly? It gives you a chance to win."
Los Angeles' defense will be tested by another young team that can move on Christmas Day when the Lakers host the Rockets. It's a game in the national spotlight because of LeBron James and Kevin Durant, but the winner will come down to which team can defend (the Rockets have struggled on that end of late).
The Yankees are among the teams to check in on Austin Hays. The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Wednesday that the free-agent left fielder "becomes more realistic for them if" the Yankees cannot keep their top target at the position, Cody Bellinger, as they navigate the market.
In 103 games for the Cincinnati Reds this past season, Hays slashed ./266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs and 64 RBI.
The Reds signed Hays to a one-year, $5 million contract this past January with a $12 million mutual option for the 2026 season and entered free agency in November after Cincinnati declined to pick up his tender. As a result, he received a $1 million buyout.
Hays split 2024 between the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies, who swapped him before the season's trade deadline that July. In 85 games across the two teams, he slashed .255/.303/.396 with five home runs and 20 RBI.
A kidney infection limited Hays to 22 games with the Phillies before they non-tendered him that November, beginning his free agency.
Hays was an All-Star for the Orioles in 2023 when he slashed .275/.325/.444 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI. He made his MLB debut Sept. 7, 2017, in the Orioles' 9-1 loss to the Yankees and logged 74 games from 2017-20. In 420 games from 2021-23, Hays slashed .261/.313/.439 with 54 home runs and 198 RBI.
The Orioles selected Hays from Jacksonville University with the No. 91 overall pick in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
Thompson and the Mavericks are in the Bay Area to take on Steph Curry and the Warriors on Christmas Day at Chase Center.
After 13 years and 11 full seasons with the Warriors, Thompson is in his second campaign with the Mavericks, who are 12-19 and floundering after trading superstar Luka Dončić last season.
The 35-year-old Thompson is putting up some of the worst numbers of his career, as his role with the Mavericks has fluctuated.
After starting the first seven games of the season, he has come off the bench in 20 of 21 games he has played in since. In 28 total contests, Thompson is averaging a career low 11.1 points on 36.9 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range.
But none of that will matter on Thursday when Thompson takes on his former team in front of Dub Nation, which adores him.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild (22-10-6) set a franchise record in a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators (16-16-4) for its last game before the Christmas break.
Minnesota scored the first goal of the game but let up the next two goals on the power play to the Preds.
Joel Eriksson Ek was able to tie it up later and the Wild forced an overtime against the Predators. After no shots by the Wild, the Predators came into the attacking zone.
Erik Haula sauced one over the stick of Quinn Hughes and onto the tape of the trailing Steven Stamkos for the game-winning goal in overtime.
It was Stamkos' 17th career overtime goal and moved into a tie for the seventh most in NHL history. But the real history was by the Wild on Tuesday.
With the overtime loss, the Wild recorded their 50th point of the season. They are one of three teams to have 50 points, behind the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche tied the second-fewest games to 60 points in a season in NHL history.
But, it was the first time in franchise history that the Wild entered the Holiday Break with 50 points.
Minnesota has dropped its last two games but has been playing great hockey as of late. The Wild are 19-4-3 since November 1st. They rank third in the NHL in that span with 41 points. The Stars have 42 and the Avalanche have 43 points since then.
“We’re in a good spot," Filip Gustavsson said after the loss. "We just have to keep winning after the break now and we’re going to be fine.”
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LAS VEGAS -- Frolicking in the holiday spirit, with visions of Christmas-themed costumed fans inside T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights extended their point streak against the San Jose Sharks to 12 games with Tuesday night's 7-2 win.
Vegas took a 5-0 lead after one period and never looked back, as six different players found the back of the net before the holiday break.
It marked the first time since Feb. 27, 2025 that Vegas recorded five goals in a period and the third time the team has done it in the first period.
Mitch Marner scored twice, while captain Mark Stone, Colton Sissons, Reilly Smith, Brett Howden and former Shark Tomas Hertl also scored.
Carter Hart continued his impressive start since making his debut with the Knights, stopping 21 shots to improve to 4-1-2.
The Golden Knights also extended their power-play goal streak to six games, as they now rank second in the league since Dec. 11 at 35% with a man advantage.
Vegas' five-goal barrage stretched across the opening stanza, from the 1:46 to the 18:34 marks, with Howden, Marner, Sissons, Hertl and Stone all scoring goals.
San Jose's Macklin Celebrini spoiled Hart's shutout bid midway through the second period, while Collin Graf added a score late in the third to provide the final margin.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov made 12 saves before turning the net over to Alex Nedeljkovic, who made seven saves.
KEY MOMENT
As much as the key moment could have been the moment the Sharks stepped off the team bus, it had to be the game-winner by Sissons, who made it 3-0 a little more than 11 minutes into the first period. Brandon Saad got things started when he grabbed a loose puck in the defensive end and backhanded it down ice to Keegan Kolesar, who skated to the doorstep before sending a pass across the crease for a one-timer tap-in from Sissons.
13 of 20 ... In taking a 5-0 lead after the first period, 13 of Vegas' 20 skaters had at least one point - the most in a single period in franchise history - for a combined 14 points. The previous high was 11, which was reached on three occasions. Dorofeyev registered two points in the period with assists on Marner and Hertl's goals.
Marner extended his point streak to three games and now has three goals in his last two games. It was his second two-goal game since joining the Knights, the first back on Oct. 18 against Calgary.
When it comes to their holiday shopping, the Yankees are much more patient than, say, a kid hankering for the season’s hottest toy. While the Yanks still have much to do this winter, including retaining a key performer, they have slow-played things like a parent saying, “We’ll see” regarding a potential yuletide bauble.
The Yankees will make more additions. Of course they will. Some of their fans might be antsy since the rest of the AL East seemingly opened their gifts early. But there are plenty of targets remaining for what the Yankees need, both in the trade and free agency aisles.
If they need some guidance, we are here for them, like a personal shopper for the holiday hot stove. With that in mind, here’s our wish list for the Yankees for the rest of the offseason.
Re-sign Cody Bellinger
This is an easy one, like when your partner says, “Get me this” for a holiday gift and leads you to it on the shelves. Buy it, wrap it and hand it over on the appropriate date. Don’t overthink it.
Bellinger can play all three outfield positions, plus first base. He’s a lefty who hit very well in Yankee Stadium last year (.909 OPS at home) and looked so comfy it was like he’d been on the Yankees for years. There’s value in knowing that someone can sparkle in New York. Bellinger can.
If Ben Rice struggles defensively at first base, Bellinger can take over. If they need him to start in left or center, no problem, though Trent Grisham accepted the Yanks’ qualifying offer and seems set in center. Re-signing Bellinger also would give the Yankees trade chips in either Jasson Domínguez or slugging prospect Spencer Jones. Or both.
Bellinger is probably the tipping point to the rest of the Yankee offseason.
More pitching
Pitching is like cash gifts at the holidays. Who doesn’t want more of that? The Yanks have, on paper, a powerful rotation. But both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón won’t be ready to start the year, so they might need help beyond Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren. Because of injury last year, Gil only threw 57 innings in the regular season; Schlittler, in his first MLB experience, tossed 73.
While the Blue Jays added big in their rotation with Dylan Cease, there are plenty of pitchers remaining who could help the Yankees, including those still available in free agency, such as Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez. Both are top-of-the-market types, though.
They could investigate import Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old free agent who had a 1.92 ERA in Japan last season. Former Yankee Tyler Austin, who signed with the Cubs after six years playing in Japan, recently lauded Imai, a righty, in an appearance on MLB Network Radio. And Imai probably appeals to fans, considering he talked earlier this offseason about wanting to be part of dethroning the Dodgers.
Or the Yankees could dip into the trade market for MacKenzie Gore, the 26-year-old lefty with the Nationals, or Freddy Peralta of the Brewers.
Or maybe they just need a mid-tier stopgap type. Earlier this winter, we suggested righty Tyler Mahle, who had a 2.18 ERA over 16 starts with the Rangers. He’s only had one full season of starting, when he made 33 starts for the Reds in 2021 and delivered 180 innings. But the Yanks might not need him to pile up frames.
Relief-wise, the Yankees need a rebuild after ranking 23rd in bullpen ERA (4.37) last year and walking too many opposing hitters.
Several of their deadline acquisitions came with control, so closer David Bednar is back, as are Camilo Doval and Jake Bird. They re-signed Tim Hill, which gives them a proper lefty, and Fernando Cruz and his nasty splitter remains in their ‘pen.
But Devin Williams and Luke Weaver signed with the Mets as free agents, so there’s room for more high-leverage arms. In recent years, the Yankees have also been really good at mining relievers from unheralded stock, so it’s possible they find solid set-up help in that fashion again. Or maybe Pete Fairbanks, one of the top relief arms still available, can fit.
Oct 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) forces out Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement (22) and tries to turn a double play during the eighth inning during game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Pick a tune on Jazz
Jazz Chisholm Jr. enjoyed a strong 30-30 season and should be ensconced at second base for at least this year. But he’s also drawn trade interest in his final season before free agency.
Should the Yankees seek an extension with their athletic middle infielder, who brings much-needed verve and swag to the roster, to say nothing of abundant skill? They don’t do extensions often and some recent ones fizzled. Or should they flip Chisholm for a contact-oriented hitter to pair with their power?
Shortstop clarity?
This one might be far-fetched, even on a wish list, something akin to a teen who just got their driver’s license asking for a Corvette with a big bow on the roof as their primary holiday present. Anthony Volpe will not be ready for the start of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery, so anything permanent with this position is likely tabled until he’s ready to compete. José Caballero will fill in and, perhaps, make inroads on the job.
But the Yanks still believe in Volpe, regardless of fan angst over his play, or A-Rod’s cracks about their organizational hitting philosophy. Or at least say they do. They won’t commit to anything until Volpe’s healthy.
It's another edition of Knicks' Mailbag with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the team. Let's get started...
@Kameel888 -- I am wondering, was there any truth to the Knicks being interested in Donte DiVincenzo? Has there been any movement in that regard? Thank you, Ian!
Hey Kameel, I’m sure the Knicks would love to have Donte DiVincenzo on the team. They hated losing him in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and he was part of the fabric of the 2023-24 team. With regards to any movement, I’ve checked around on this for the past few days and haven’t heard about any significant movement. People on all sides of a potential trade see it as highly unlikely. I’m not questioning the ClutchPoints report on DiVincenzo and the Knicks, but I don’t think there is anything happening there.
The Knicks would have to trade either Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson to make a deal work. They aren’t trading Hart. I don’t see how they can trade Robinson; if they did trade him, it wouldn’t make sense to get a non-big in return.
@tru_zoom -- When will Shamet and McBride get reevaluated again?
I think we’ll have an update on Landry Shamet by the end of the month. At the time of the shoulder injury, there was a strong belief/optimism that Shamet could avoid surgery. I believe that is still the case. Shamet continues to rehab the injury but hasn’t needed a surgical procedure. That’s a good sign for a Knick team that leaned on Shamet before he got hurt.
With regards to Miles McBride, he has been working vigorously on the court with Knicks coaches. I don’t know if he is fully sprinting yet, but he has been cleared for contact; he just hasn’t had the chance to take contact in a scrimmage setting because the Knicks haven’t practiced (NBA teams rarely practice during the heart of the regular season). But based on the available information, I would guess that McBride is back before the end of the calendar year.
@AndrewA59778512 -- Ian, for Jalen Brunson, is it more rest for him?
@DylanBackerESM -- Do you think OG’s injury is anything serious, or are they mainly just resting him? Seems like they’re just resting Brunson.
Six games in 10 days for the Knicks, going back to the NBA Cup Final in Las Vegas, plus the early start on Christmas Day. I think this is all in the name of resting Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. I assume this was all about giving Brunson and Anunoby a night off (Tuesday at Minnesota) amid a tough stretch of the season.
The holidays are a mega-busy time, of course, and you don’t have to be Kris Kringle himself to have lots to do.
Take David Stearns, for example.
The Mets’ baseball boss is reshaping the roster this winter, having already waved goodbye to blue-and-orange stalwarts from Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo to Edwin Díaz and Jeff McNeil.
He’s added Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, among others -- but there’s more to do.
So, David, bundle up and head out to the stores -- no, wait, that’s us last-minute holiday shoppers. Stearns does need to make some moves, though, even if it’s without the frenzy of Fifth Avenue or a bedecked mall.
That’s where we come in, as helpful elves. We offer a wish list for the Mets to complete over the rest of the baseball hot stove season. Check it twice, if you like.
An ace
The Mets have a lot of rotation inventory right now, don’t they?
Nolan McLean seems assured of a spot, since he was one of the best pitchers in baseball over his eight starts last season. Clay Holmes was really good in his first season in the rotation, finishing ninth in the NL in ERA, and is a lock, too. David Peterson had a wobble or two, but also was terrific for a long stretch. Can Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea rebound? We’ll see. And then there’s Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat, two very promising prospects.
But there’s no top-of-the-rotation monster.
Yes, we know McLean could become that. But pitching is such a precious commodity and generally needed in such bulk during the slog that is 162 games that it makes sense for the Mets to pursue a No. 1. That could come in free agency or trade.
They’ll be involved if Tarik Skubal or Freddy Peralta become available. Should they explore Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez, both free agents? Maybe their appetite is only whetted if either will sign a short-term deal.
Whatever happens (or doesn’t), it sure feels like the Mets need an ace as a holiday home run. The same way a certain generation of kids needed the original Xbox, right?
A CF fix
There are numerous ways the Mets could cover center field this year, but it’s tricky because of highly-regarded prospect Carson Benge. Benge, who turns 23 next month, is the center fielder of the future, isn’t he? Stearns even said early in the offseason that Benge could push to break spring camp with the Mets in ‘26.
Of course, Benge has only 103 plate appearances as high as Triple-A -- he started last season in Brooklyn and ascended.
If he’s almost ready, they only need a stopgap and maybe they can start Tyrone Taylor for a month or so while Benge gets more seasoning. Or, if they go for a big splash, they could sign Cody Bellinger, use him in center until Benge is ready and then put Bellinger in left. Or use Bellinger at first base. The one drawback is that Bellinger is likely to command a long-term, pricey deal. Stearns has been trimming commitments this winter, at least so far.
Oct 2, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) runs to home plate in the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
But Benge batted .178 with a .583 OPS in Triple-A, so he may need a longer stage of development in the minors. In that case, Bellinger fits nicely in center, maybe for all of 2026. If not him, Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, appears available in trade.
Or perhaps someone like Harrison Bader would serve well, especially with Bader coming off his best bat season (.796 OPS, 17 homers). Bader, as Mets fans doubtless remember, is a sensational defensive outfielder. Run prevention, anyone?
More relief
Not to get Grinchy about this, but the Mets bullpen, even with the work already done, needs more.
Williams will close, Weaver will be the top setup man and the Mets seem to have lefties covered with Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter. Maybe Sproat can morph into a multi-inning relief weapon, the Athletic reported the Mets are examining that idea.
The Mets were 27th in starter innings last season, so their relievers got a lot of work. They had the third-most relief innings in MLB. They were 15th in bullpen ERA -- better than both World Series teams, incidentally -- and had the sixth-highest bullpen WAR, according to FanGraphs. Maybe they were riding on Díaz’s coattails, no? He had a tremendous season.
In any case, another high-leverage arm, whether by trade or free agency, would do more to comfort the Met fan than a fresh egg nog in front of a warm fireplace this time of year.
A second at first?
Polanco figures to play a lot of first, a role he said he began preparing for last season while with the Mariners.
As a former middle infielder, he surely has the hands to make the transition, right? Of course, the Mets have charged a guy with one pitch of game experience at the position with helping them boost their run prevention. There’s risk involved.
So perhaps they’ll look to add at the position.
Paul Goldschmidt, a free agent with a great glove who bats right handed, is available. Yes, that’s yet another former Yankee crossing over, but maybe he fits this niche need.
Here’s another idea: Eugenio Suarez on a short deal would fit their need for righty thump and give them another option at third base. Since they are moving players to first base this winter, perhaps Suarez can get reps there, too. He played there three times last year, which is more than Polanco did.
