OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 21: Cameron Flukey #2 of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers pitches against the LSU Tigers during the first inning during game one of the Division I Baseball Championship held at Charles Schwab Field on June 21, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Detroit Tigers have reportedly come to terms with their first five draft picks in the 2026 amateur draft, as well as few select other picks so far. We’ve been waiting for numbers to be announced so we can begin to get an idea how many of their prep and JUCO picks they might actually be able to land. On Thursday evening, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline announced the first and biggest number on their board. First round selection, right-handed starting pitcher Cameron Flukey has signed with the Tigers for a reported $3.8 million, which is roughly $282,000 under slot for the 22nd overall pick.
The big right-hander out of Coastal Carolina has an overpowering mid to high 90’s fourseam fastball that misses bats, as does his sharp 12-6 curveball in the high 70’s. He also has a good track record of locating both pitches for strikes. Development of his slider and offspeed pitch, along with refining his command a little further, will be keys to turning Flukey into the frontline starter he has the potential to become.
So the Tigers saved $282,000 here, and this is the plan. Hopefully they can trim a hundred thousand here and there from college draft picks’ slot bonuses, while landing a lot of their later college picks further on in the draft for around the league minimum. The savings would then be used to lock up their prep and JUCO picks, who have the option to honor their four-year college commitments should they not get an offer they’ll accept from the Tigers.
The strategy usually results in a few players going back to school, but by locking up as much teenaged talent as possible the Tigers hope to get future first round talents before they get that far and become much more expensive to sign. So far, leaning into that strategy hasn’t done a whole lot for the farm system, but it takes a lot more time to really know how prep players will play out. At the same time, this strategy continues to become tougher as colleges can now offer NIL dollars to their recruits to try and convince them to pass on their draft offers and hope to improve and raise their draft stock signficantly in time for their junior seasons of college, when most top college talent is drafted and signed.
The Tigers entered this draft with $9,165,100 in total bonus pool. Prior to round 11, all money paid as a bonus to draftees counts against that total bonus pool. Beyond the 10th round, teams can pay a player up to $150,000 without it counting against their bonus pools. That $150,000 threshold is often referred to as the minimum bonus, although teams can pay less. The Tigers have done pretty well finding athletic, undervalued college players later in the draft for close to that minimum number in recent years.
The Tigers do have a number of prep and JUCO picks they’ll have to try and find enough money to sign. 8th rounder, 3rd baseman Robert Omidi, a left-handed hitter out of St. Martin Secondary School in Ontario, Canada is the first example. 11th rounder, left-handed hitting first baseman Will Adams, a high schooler out of Hoover HS in Alabama is another one, and Adams has reportedly signed as well, though no number has been reported. He has one of the more raved about swings and overall hit tools in the prep ranks, with developing power that should get to plus or better as he fills out. Those two will be priorites and command well above slot bonuses.
Other picks who have reportedly signed, but not had their bonus number reported include competitive balance round B selection RHP Evan Dempsey, RHP Declan Dahl, the Tigers fifth rounder, and 9th round pick RHP Kenneth “KJ” Ward. Fourth round pick, prep SS Dominic Pellegrin and eight round prep selection 3B Robert Omidi have reportedly agreed to sign, but those haven’t been made official.
JUCO center fielder Tyler West, who has a commitment to transfer to Texas A&M, will be a crucial one to watch. Prep right-hander Dustin Dunwoody, selected in the 15th round out of Royal HS in California, is another big one to land, and he holds a commitment to USC. RHP Jack Byers, from Artesia HS in New Mexico, has a commitment to the University of Arizona. 20th round selection, right-hander Will Zielinksi from Vauxhall HS in Alberta, Canada, rounds out the list of players that will be the trickest for the Tigers to land.
One more relevant rule is that the Tigers could go 5% over their bonus pool, about $450,000, and the penalty would be a 75% tax on the overage. That’s pretty minor, as the Tigers have previously had significantly higher bonus pools the past three drafts and thus spent more money overall anyway. If they go any further, the penalities could included forfeiting future draft picks. No one has tested that limit before, and the Tigers won’t be the first, but spending the extra $450,000 makes plenty of sense and should help them to get most of their tougher signings locked up. Presumably one or two will slip through the cracks as usual.
1st-rder Cameron Flukey signs w/@Tigers for $3.8 million (slot 22 value = $4,082,700). @CoastalBaseball RHP, misses a lot of bats w/mid-90s fastball up to 98 mph, gets lots of chases w/upper-70s curveball, plenty of strikes too. @MLBDraftpic.twitter.com/yERhnnZj9T
Instead, it was the Mets opening the second half of their season with a 4-1 win over the Phillies.
Powered by solo homers from Francisco Alvarez — who had two — and Brett Baty, as well as a strong start by Christian Scott, the reeling Mets avoided falling 18 games under .500 for the first time this year.
After the start of the game was moved up an hour due to air quality concerns caused by Canadian wildfires — which forced both teams to shorten their pregame routines after their truncated All-Star break — the Mets played an unusually solid game.
“I’m not gonna lie: Towards the end, it got a little thick,” Scott said of playing through the smoke. “It felt like breathing in some metal. … A little spoonful of adversity never hurt anybody.”
New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Mets have downed plenty of adversity this season, and there’s little chance of a turnaround, especially as they’re expected to sell at the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
They also have the toughest schedule the rest of the season and start the second half visiting second-place division rival Philadelphia and NL Central leader Milwaukee before hosting the NL West-leading Dodgers and NL East-topping Braves.
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) celebrates his second home run of the game during the seventh inning. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
But they can try to avoid being blown away by what’s ahead of them over the final two-plus months of the season.
“We’re well aware we’re staring down one of the hardest schedules in baseball for the second half,’’ interim manager Andy Green said. “We should relish that, like that and rise up and meet that. I don’t think there’s another attitude to take.”
It’s performances like what they got from Alvarez and Baty at the bottom of the lineup and a promising young starting pitcher like Scott that could boost them.
On Thursday, as the Philadelphia skyline slowly disappeared in the distance due to the worsening conditions, the Mets took the lead in the top of the third on Alvarez’s first homer of the night, a one-out shot to dead center.
Baty added his fifth of the year, leading off against Aaron Nola in the seventh.
New York Mets’ Brett Baty reacts to his home run during the seventh inning. AP Photo/Chris Szagola
Alvarez followed in the next at-bat with his second of the game to end Nola’s night.
On the other side, Scott retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced before Bryce Harper doubled down the right field line with one out in the bottom of the fourth.
Brooks Raley replaced Scott after just 79 pitches to face Harper.
Harper reached on a four-pitch walk, but Raley got Marsh swinging to end the threat.
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The Phillies got to Luke Weaver with two outs in the eighth as Trea Turner took him deep to make it 3-1. It snapped Weaver’s 27-inning streak without allowing a home run.
The Mets got the run back when A.J. Ewing doubled in Jared Young in the ninth to finish off a strange afternoon and evening.
“I didn’t think it was bad till the last couple innings,” Baty said. “My eyes were burning and itching a little bit. [Carson] Benge said it felt like you were sitting by a campfire. … It was fun … but it didn’t feel great playing ball with it.”
The results, though, were pretty good for a change.
Undrafted rookie Jaden Akins gave the Knicks 21 points off the bench, but it wasn't enough as the Warriors defeated New York, 87-77, on Thursday night.
New York is now 1-2 in Summer League action.
But the night was competitive in the first half. Golden State got out to a 26-19 lead after one, but then the offense on both sides took a nose dive. The Knicks won the quarter, 17-10, to get the game tied 36-36 at halftime.
Tyler Nickel led the Knicks at halftime with nine points on 3 of 5 shooting (all from the three-point line).
Pacome Dadiet had six while Liam Robbins posted five points and six rebounds, and Dillon Jones grabbed five points and five rebounds. Jack Kayil struggled, scoring just two points on 1 of 5 shooting, coming down with four rebounds and dishing two assists in his 15 minutes to round out the starting five.
On the other side, LJ Cryer roasted the Knicks, scoring 11 points on 4 of 8 shooting (3-for-7 from three) to lead all scorers at the halfway point.
The third quarter saw the Warriors get out to a lead thanks to a 7-0 run to start, but the Knicks fought back, chipping away. However, Golden State took a 65-57 lead into the final frame. The Warriors would pull away early in the fourth, building a 16-point lead that the Knicks would try to cut into, but whenever New York did -- getting it to 10 points -- Golden State punched back and held on for the 10-point win.
The Knicks starters did not have a great night. Nickel was stuck at nine points in his 31 minutes on the court while Dadiet posted just nine in his 28 minutes. Robbins was the only starter with a positive plus/minus as he dropped 13 points to go along with nine rebounds, four blocks and two assists in his 20 minutes.
Jones finished with five points and Kayil's struggles carried over into the second half. The 2026 draft pick scored just two more points and was 2 of 9 from the field in his 29 minutes. He did come down with five rebounds and dished four assists, but was a minus-9 on the day.
As for Akins, he led the entire Knicks team in scoring. He was 9 of 20 from the field (3 of 8 from three) with two rebounds and one assist. The former Michigan State guard had a better showing than his Summer League debut when he finished with just two points in 21 minutes.
Akins, who was a G-League All-Star a season ago, averaged 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.6 assists in 14 games.
HOOVER, AL - MAY 21: Infielder Justin LeBron #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide readies to turn a double play over infielder Ethan Surowiec #10 of the Florida Gators during the SEC Baseball Tournament Quarterfinals game between Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide on May 21, 2026, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It did not take long for the Cincinnati Reds to come to terms with their 1st round pick from last weekend’s MLB Draft. Justin Lebron, a shortstop out of the University of Alabama, fell to the Reds at pick #18, and Cincinnati was ecstatic that the college player with perhaps the single most upside in the entire draft fell right into their laps.
The Reds have signed Lebron to a reported $5 million bonus, per MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, going slightly over the slot value of $4.6955 million to do so.
The @Reds have signed No. 18 overall pick Justin Lebron to a $5 million signing bonus (slot value = $4,695,500), per Mark Sheldon.
Lebron entered the 2026 season with some folks suggesting he’d be the #1 overall pick in this summer’s draft, but despite all the tools in the world his play slumped a bit against Southeastern Conference pitching after a hot start to the year. Still, his elite combo of light-tower power, 70+ grade speed on the bases, and ability to play plus defense at the infield’s most premium position made those brief struggles an afterthought for Nick Krall & Co. at pick #18, and Lebron’s future became tied to that of the sporting future of the state of Ohio.
Lebron. Contract talks. The state of Ohio. It’s all truly coming together.
Welcome to the Reds, Justin!
Here’s a list of other players with whom the Reds have already reached agreements so far:
There's no midseason international tournament, but the All-Star Game will return and have an international theme.
There will be 84 games, not 82, to create a balanced division schedule, and the season will start on Sept. 29 instead of early October. There will be fewer preseason games, always a plus.
The opening game will be a good one with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes raising the banner before playing the 2024 and 2025 champion Florida Panthers.
Here are some of the winners and losers of the NHL's 2026-27 schedule release:
WINNERS
Washington Capitals fans
The NHL has a nice sense of symmetry this year. The Capitals play their home opener against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins and their home finale against the same team. That's two more times to watch the Alex Ovechkin-Sidney Crosby matchup if Ovechkin doesn't play beyond this season. This is also the final year of Crosby's contract.
The season finale
All 32 teams will play on the season finale on April 10 − the second 16-game day in 2026-27. It's heavily division-oriented, so final playoff spots could be determined during the busy schedule.
European NHL fans
The NHL is increasing the number of Monday afternoon games so they can be watched in prime time in Europe and build the audience there. There will be two games in Finland (Hurricanes vs. Kraken) and Germany (Senators vs. Blackhawks). Finnish fans get to see countrymen Sebastian Aho and Kaapo Kakko, and German fans get to see Tim Stutzle.
Brady Tkachuk
The Florida Panthers offseason acquisition gets a great first test against the Hurricanes on opening night. Does he fight playoff MVP Jordan Staal as he did with the Ottawa Senators at the start of the playoffs? Plus, Tkachuk gets his return to Ottawa out of the way early with an Oct. 21 game.
LOSERS
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks weren't going to be a playoff team and even less so with Connor Bedard out for all of October and into November after shoulder surgery. But the schedule makers did them no favors. They face 12 playoff teams through the first week of November, including two meetings with the Hurricanes. Among the non-playoffs teams are two meetings with the recent champion Panthers.
Winter Classic timing
The Colorado Avalanche visiting the Utah Mammoth, good. Beautiful setting, good. New Year's Eve, meh. At least the game starts at 4 p.m. local time, so the Wasatch mountains will be visible before the 5:09 p.m. sunset.
Calgary Flames fans
Remember the symmetry for Capitals fans? NHL schedule makers didn't do that in Calgary. This is the final season for the Saddledome. The final regular season opponent is the Vancouver Canucks, not the archrival Edmonton Oilers.
NHL shares the spotlight
There wasn't much time to digest the NHL schedule before Major League Baseball said its 2027 season would start on March 24. That assuming, of course, that they get a collective bargaining agreement done in time.
The Mets hit three solo home runs against veteran Aaron Nola to beat the Phillies, 4-1, and win their first game after the All-Star break.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Francisco Alvarez stepped up with his seventh career multi-HR game, hitting two solo home runs to lead the offense.
He gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a solo HR to dead center off of Nola. The homer traveled 416 feet through the smog and was his 10th of the season. The 24-year-old shook off getting hit by a backswing in the third inning and helped deliver clutch insurance runs, hitting back-to-back homers with Brett Baty off Nola in the seventh. The two solo blasts pushed the Mets' lead to 3-0.
-- Christian Scott gave the Citizens Bank Park crowd another show following the All-Star festivities earlier in the week, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
The right-hander retired the first six Phillies he faced, including two strikeouts. He let up his first hit to J.T. Realmuto to lead off the bottom of the third inning before settling back in to get the next three outs, including two more strikeouts. Scott got beat by Bryce Harper with a one-out double in the fourth, but was able to escape the inning with two quick outs.
Scott nearly ruined his impressive performance in the sixth inning. He allowed a double to Kyle Schwarber that was initially thought to be a home run, but it hit the railing in RF and stayed in play. His night then ended before facing more left-handed hitters, throwing 79 pitches (56 strikes) and allowing just three hits.
-- Juan Soto opened his second half of the 2026 season with a first-inning single that bounced off Trea Turner's glove, but New York's hitting struggles with runners on base continued as Bo Bichette grounded into an inning-ending 3-6-3 double play.
Soto walked with two outs in the third inning, although Bichette couldn't come through again and struck out to end the frame.
-- Despite loading the bases with no outs against Nola in the fifth inning, the Mets weren't able to add to their lead. Jared Young lined out to Harper, who was able to touch first base in time for the double play. Bichette got his third big opportunity after Philadelphia intentionally walked Soto, but flied out to right field to end the scoring chance.
-- Brooks Raley was able to get the third out of the sixth inning after Schwarber's near homer, striking out first-time All-Star Brandon Marsh with two on base. Huascar Brazoban kept the Philly bats quiet with a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Luke Weaver's scoreless streak of 25 straight appearances ended in the eighth, letting up a solo home run to Turner as the Phillies trailed, 3-1.
-- A.J. Ewing put the Mets back up three runs in the top of the ninth with a two-out RBI double to left field that ricocheted off the wall in foul territory, driving in Young from first base to go up 4-1. Devin Williams closed things down with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Game MVP: Francisco Alvarez
On a weird night with the poor air quality, Alvarez found a way to lift two home runs and give the offense some life.
The Mets and Phillies will have off on Friday and then resume their three-game series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 4:05 p.m. on SNY.
Sean Manaea (2-4, 4.56 ERA) will face fellow left-hander Jesus Luzardo (8-4, 3.51 ERA).
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 13, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Raptors fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This week’s survey questions the average Raptors fan’s initial reaction to the selection of Allen Graves. After General Manager and Vice-President Bobby Webster used the No. 19 pick on the Santa Clara product, the decision met with a mostly confused reception. Toronto already has Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles in the ‘jumbo wing that hounds defensively and bullies offensively” archetype.
With the Raptors headed into their fourth final Summer League game on Thursday against the Miami Heat, Allen Graves is averaging 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 3.3 stocks (steals and blocks), while shooting 51.4 per cent from the field and 43.7 per cent from three.
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with more Reacts.
Hunter Dietz is pictured during a May 2026 game for Arkansas.
Entering his redshirt sophomore season at Arkansas, Hunter Dietz had thrown just 1 ²/₃ innings in his college career because of a stress fracture in his left elbow.
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“There’s a lot of gears that I can hit in my game going forward,” Dietz said Thursday on a video conference call after signing for a reported below-slot value of $2,497,500. “There’s a lot of potential that I need to unlock. I just feel like this staff is perfect for me, once I start my buildup, just to get ready for next year and the coming outings that I’m going to have. I feel like it’s just perfect for me as a player.”
Hunter Dietz is pictured during a May 2026 game for Arkansas. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Unbeknownst to Dietz, the Yankees have actually been following him since he was in high school at Calvary Christian — not far from their player development complex in Tampa — but then this spring saw him become “what we thought he would be out of high school,” vice president of domestic amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer said this week.
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Dietz pitched to a 3.57 ERA for the Razorbacks while striking out 131 in 85 ²/₃ innings.
“I feel like it just shows who I am as a pitcher, finally getting healthy after the one injury at the end of my freshman year and struggling mechanically my sophomore year,” Dietz said. “Piecing it all together and having a great year, I feel like this year was just kind of the floor for me. I’m just going to keep getting better and better, especially with the Yankees staff by my side.”
Dietz said he has gotten comparisons to current Yankees lefty Carlos Rodón, who he recently got some advice from after meeting him in the club’s Tampa facility a few days ago.
Since 2020, most of the pitchers the Yankees have drafted have spent the rest of that year working out at the player development complex before being sent to an affiliate the following year, which is likely the path Dietz will take.
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“Big, powerful left-handed pitcher,” Oppenheimer said. “He’s big, strong, fits our mold. He’s got a big fastball that’s up to 98, it’s got movement. He’s got a slider that’s basically a wipeout strikeout pitch. And a curveball that we think can be developed. … The control just keeps getting better. Ecstatic that we were able to get this where we picked and have this top end of the rotation ceiling.”
The Yankees will begin the second half with Gerrit Cole starting on Friday (against Roki Sasaki), Ryan Weathers on Saturday (Emmett Sheehan) and Cam Schlittler on Sunday (Yoshinobu Yamamoto) in their showdown with the Dodgers.
If there is actually a 2027 season and it starts on time — with a labor war and likely lockout threatening to disrupt that — the Yankees are scheduled to open the season at home against the Blue Jays on March 25.
The schedule also includes home games on Memorial Day (Royals) and Independence Day (Astros), hosting the Mets on July 16-18 and playing them at Citi Field on May 28-30.
The news sent the basketball world into a frenzy. As teams and players are all making their pitch to James in hopes that he'd join their team, there are some that are wishing he'd wrap this process up.
Most notably, NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Silver spoke at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit in New York and addressed James' decision-making process in an interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin. He expressed his desire for James to make a selection so that the league can continue with its business ahead of the 2026-27 season.
"I guess all politics are local. The way I think about it is, we have to finish up the schedule," Silver said. " And where LeBron plays will affect the schedule. So I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule, because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule. But it will influence how we set the schedule, how we set opening week, Christmas Day, etc. So I need him to make a decision."
Silver: 'No inside information' on James' destination
When it comes to predicting James' next destination, Silver's guess is as good as ours.
"The direct answer is, I have no inside information," Silver said at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit. " I have my own inkling, but it's not based — it's not based on anything that LeBron or Rich have told me. I'm not going to share it with you, but I'm just saying, it's not, it's, I don't know."
Silver is a fan of the game. He's not rooting for James to join one team over another, but rather the best storyline leading into next season and to end his career.
"There's certain stories that I prefer over others, and even on his behalf. But he's going to be 42 this fall. It's amazing what he's done for the sport, for the league, and he deserves exactly what -- the opportunities that were presented to him to be able to make his own decision on what's best for him and his family. So I completely respect that. But, as I said, I think on behalf of the league, I think there are certain storylines that may be better than others, but I don't want to prejudge it. Let's see what he does."
Silver doesn't happen to have any details on James' decision but that's not stopping him imagining different storylines and gauging which would be best, or coolest. He's a fan, too.
Sorkin threw two potential scenarios that James could lean towards: Cleveland and Golden State.
"Let's admit that's a great storyline," Silver said about James potentially going back home to play for the Cavaliers.
When Sorkin asked if Silver liked that storyline, he responded, "among others, yes."
One of those other storylines would be James teaming up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in Golden State, helping the Warriors pursue another championship ring.
"Well, the only part about it is, and, honestly, I mean, he played for Steve Kerr for the Olympic team. He's close to Draymond. Playing with Steph is wonderful. I don't think LeBron at this point in his career – and I think he presumably would say the same thing – he doesn't have to chase a ring. So I don't think ... it would be different," Silver said. "I mean, LeBron's career is complete. I think, on his behalf, whatever that storyline is, I think he should go somewhere he's going to – there's going to be true joy around the game."
He added: "And I think, again, for LeBron, at this point of his career, I think what we want the fans to see, too, is like the genuine joy that they have. And I think, for somebody like LeBron, I mean, he's – he's not coming back for the money. And that's why that, to your point, the latter part of your storyline in terms of the ring, I'm sure he would love to win another championship. But I think, most importantly, I think I would love, and fans would like him to see, where he's playing with a group of players and for a coach that he really wants to be around, and he's going to – and the community's going to get great joy from it, and he's going to get great joy from it."
Major League Baseball has reached the ceremonial halfway point of the 2026 season with the San Diego Padres firmly entrenched as the worst offensive team in baseball with a .500 record.
The record portrays them as a mediocre team, losing and winning the same number of games. The stats tell a story of a team that started strong, with lots of late-game heroics, and then struggled to score runs and pitch effectively since.
With a series win over the Toronto Blue Jays before the All-Star break, the Friars salvaged that record after slipping below .500 with a dismal June and beginning of July. Padres fans don’t need a rehash of everything the team has dealt with over the past two months. Poor performance is the leading culprit, but injuries have also significantly contributed to a team underperforming its expectations.
Offensive doldrums
Of the current active roster, only Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Campusano are close to what should be expected from them, with Campusano on the injured list for the better part of two months.
Infielder Ty France is performing very close to his career norms and is on track to finish on par with his best season in 2022. He has been a welcome bright spot for the Friars.
Third baseman Manny Machado is having his worst season as a hitter but is trending toward matching his season norms for both home runs and RBI. Remarkably, he just achieved a batting average over .200 while hitting 19 homers with 55 RBI.
Worse than expected pitching
The pitching is a whole other level of miserable for the Padres. After having the best bullpen in baseball in 2025, the Padres have leaned heavily on their ‘pen with the starting rotation struggling to get into the fifth inning in many of their starts. The bullpen ERA is 3.68, fifth in baseball. That is still very good considering what has been asked of them.
The starting rotation, which is mostly pieced together by reclamation projects acquired by general manager A.J. Preller during the offseason, has a 4.78 ERA and sits at No. 27 out of 30 teams. Inconsistency has been the downfall of this group. Injuries have also taken a big toll, losing Nick Pivetta early on.
While they have all had encouraging and effective starts, Michael King is the only one with an ERA below 4.71. His 3.41 makes him the ace of the staff while averaging 5.7 innings per start.
Sprinting to the finish
A team must have more than 80 wins to get to any level of the playoffs, 83 wins has been the lowest in recent years. The Padres sit at 48-48 with 66 games left in the season. Assuming 83-87 wins will get to the wild card spot, the Padres must win a minimum of 35 of their next 66 games to hope to get there. Eight games over .500 would be a safer bet and that would be 40 wins out of 66 games .
The current starting rotation does not appear likely to achieve that level of success. With the trade deadline on Aug. 3, the next two-and-a-half weeks will determine the fate of the 2026 season.
Mason Miller gets a batter
Padres closer Mason Miller got a one-batter appearance in the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Philadelphia. National League manager Dave Roberts brought him in at the top of the ninth inning to face AL hitter Munetaka Murakami and Miller struck him out on four pitches. Roberts then removed him and gave the ball to Phillies closer Jhoan Duran for the final two outs.
Injury updates and roster moves
LHP Wandy Peralta was placed on the bereavement list on July 15. He will be replaced on the roster by RHP Jhony Brito, recalled from Triple-A.
RHP Matt Waldron was recalled after Brito made his one appearance on July 7. He covered three innings with no earned runs and two hits after relieving Walker Buehler’s two-inning start against the Blue Jays.
David Morgan was placed on the injured list on June 29 with left knee inflammation. He was sent for a rehab assignment on July 15 (ACL Padres).
RHP Randy Vásquez was placed on the injured list on July 3 with a right ankle contusion after being hit by a batted ball during his start. He was assigned to the ACL team for a rehab stint on July 14.
Outfielder Samad Taylor was placed on the injured list on July 8 with a right oblique strain. There have been no updates on his status. Infielder Luis Rengifo was called up from El Paso to take his roster spot.
Catcher Freddy Fermin is with the El Paso Chihuahuas on a rehab assignment after being placed on the injured list on July 3 with a head contusion.
RHP Nick Pivetta has been throwing bullpens in his effort to return from the right flexor tendon strain that put him on the injured list on April 14. On Aug. 22, Pivetta will hit the 130-day deadline for the injury clause on his contract. The Padres could void the player option of his deal if he is not back with the team by that date.
RHP Joe Musgrove is also advancing in his throwing program and has at least two bullpen sessions under his belt. The latest update, per Kevin Acee’s daily newsletter on July 12, reports that both Musgrove and Pivetta could be throwing to hitters by next week. He reports Musgrove is pain-free with his throwing and hopes to accelerate his throwing progression.
There has been no update on RHP Jason Adam, who was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder strain on July 2.
RHP Jeremiah Estrada is close to a rehab assignment per Kevin Acee’s newsletter. He could be throwing with a minor league team before the end of July. He has been on the injured list since June 5 with right knee inflammation.
RHP Lucas Giolito, placed on the injured list on June 23 with right elbow inflammation, has been working with the training staff to build his strength and stamina while progressing on a throwing program. It was recently reported (Kevin Acee, July 13 newsletter) that he has built up strength and his fastball now sits at 94 mph. He should begin a rehab assignment by the end of July.
There was speculation that LeBron James would use an appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York on Thursday to announce his decision about his next destination.
"Is there a decision that still has to be made?" Haliburton asked...
"We literally talked about this in the back, Rese," James said, reiterating that revealing his next team would not be on the agenda.
"OK, my fault, my fault," Haliburton replied. "I didn't know if you wanted to ... OK, OK, I'll leave it alone."
However, later in the day at the Boardroom Game Plan presented by CNBC Sport (also at Fanatics Fest), LeBron did say a decision is coming sooner rather than later. However, he added this is not easy and there is a lot that goes into it for him, including thinking about spending time with his now former teammate Bronny (who is staying with the Lakers, don't expect a trade), Bryce (playing his second year in college at Arizona), and his daughter, Zhuri, 11, who will stay in Los Angeles with LeBron's wife and her mother, Savannah.
"People are like, 'hurry up and make a damn decision, LeBron.' It's not just about the team," he said. "There's so many other factors that I'm factoring in right now: What best fits me as a player, what best fits me as a person, what best fits me and my happiness and also my family as well. I won't hold you guys up too much longer, but the family portion is huge for me."
LeBron later added, "It's going to be pretty fun wherever I land. I'm going to do what I do best."
The timing is good news for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who stepped on stage at the same Game Plan event and said LeBron is starting to hold up league business.
"We have to finish up the schedule and where LeBron plays affects the schedule..." Silver said. "It will influence how we set the schedule: Opening week, Christmas. So I need him to make a decision."
Final Pitches to LeBron
While LeBron is reportedly still talking to potential future teammates, the pitches to LeBron are pretty much done and everyone is waiting. Donovan Mitchell made his final pitch for LeBron to return to Cleveland.
“I mean it’s home, we’ve done it once, let’s do it again, simple as that,” - Donovan Mitchell on his pitch to LeBron James to return to the Cavs. pic.twitter.com/Y9fuH5on2V
League sources continue to tell NBC Sports that another return to Cleveland is the most likely outcome. However, other reports say Miami and Philadelphia are seriously in the mix. Golden State, and reuniting with Stephen Curry, or signing to play the four at Minnesota reportedly also are under consideration, but the reports suggest LeBron wants to win and realizes what that road looks like in the West, so he is likely headed back to the Eastern Confernece (which has the defending champions and teams that got better, but does not have the Thunder or Spurs powerhouses looming at the top).
Honestly, Pat Riley of the Heat said it best: At this point, everybody is just waiting for LeBron to announce his decision.
Pat Riley on the #Heat being in the LeBron James sweepstakes:
“I don't know….To be transparent about it, we've had discussions over a week ago, maybe a week before that about it, but right now I think we're like everybody else, we're just waiting to see what he does…” pic.twitter.com/f7Dn5n4Coe
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) July 16, 2026
When LeBron does make his decision, a lot of other dominoes are going to fall quickly, as the teams that miss out will pivot to other moves, and there will be a mini-rush of signings. However, most teams have wrapped up their business, and there is not that much left to do. What does remain waits on LeBron.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Ethan Salas #14 of the San Diego Padres bats in the MLB All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minor league baseball entered the All-Star break with multiple members of the San Diego Padres’ prospect list struggling through the 2026 season. The two players from the system named to the All-Star Futures Game, catcher Ethan Salas and LHP Kash Mayfield, are arguably the only two to have a consistently good first half of the season.
There have been some excellent performances by certain individuals, but the overall problem with the season so far is the lack of consistency. Salas and Mayfield have been the only players to be somewhat consistent.
To be fair, RHP Miguel Mendez was very good before injury disrupted his flow, and he hasn’t been the same since his return off the injured list. He is the No. 4 ranked player in the system and was a breakout last year.
Several members of the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm had tremendous starts to their first full professional seasons. So much success that they were promoted to High-A Fort Wayne at the end of the first half of the season. Since those promotions, the players have all battled to find their footing at the next level. This is not necessarily a concerning development; adjustment to new levels can sometimes take a few weeks.
A couple of members of the top ten list, No. 8 OF Kale Fountain and No. 6 C Ty Harvey, have lost all or most of their season to injury as well. Both were off to tremendous starts before those injuries occurred.
Last year’s first-round draft pick, LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, has struggled with command in his first professional season. He has recently gone into the fifth inning in a start for the first time and has had some good performances, which are usually followed by a short start with command issues. It is too soon to determine how the 6-foot-8, 245-pound teenager will develop as he matures.
With the lack of good performances and consistency from the minor league prospects, the Padres farm system remains the lowest-ranked system in MLB. Projection doesn’t count when the players in question don’t perform to confirm those expectations. The organization is approaching the August trade deadline with a decision regarding buying or selling for the major league team. The farm system provides little help beyond Salas and Mayfield if they decide to try to improve the Padres.
Ethan Salas and Kash Mayfield in the Futures Game
Salas started the game as the designated hitter. He was hitting seventh in the lineup and singled in his first at-bat in the second inning. His second appearance, in the fourth inning, resulted in a walk.
LHP Mayfield entered the game in the fifth inning with Salas switching to catcher for his inning of work. Things did not go well for Mayfield or Salas in the inning. Mayfield’s pitches were consistent with his performance with Fort Wayne in that he featured his low to mid-90’s four-seam fastball, a low to mid-90’s sinker, and a slider. Things started fine with a groundout to the first hitter, and then he walked the next batter. After that, it got a little wonky. The defense behind him failed to make some plays, a stolen base got a runner to second, and a single allowed the go-ahead run, which proved to be the winning run.
Both players were out of the game after that, and Mayfield was the losing pitcher in the game.
El Paso Chihuahuas (41-51 record, 4th in the PCL East)
The Chihuahuas have struggled with the constant shuttling of players between Triple-A and the Padres. They lost their best hitters when the injury bug struck the major league team and have lost a good portion of their pitching staff to the Padres. Relievers and starters go back and forth, so there is no consistency for El Paso. Their record and poor performance can’t really be held against them this season.
The latest in that revolving door scenario are RHP Matt Waldron and infielder Luis Rengifo. Both were playing well for El Paso when the parent team again suffered injuries and poor performance, which prompted the Padres to promote both.
Reliever Miguel Cienfuegos, 29, was pressed into service as a starter this past week after fellow reliever Sean Boyle, 29, began serving in the role last month.
The Padres have very little left in Triple-A that can be called up to help the major league team for the rest of this season.
San Antonio Missions (40-47 record, last in Texas League South)
The Missions split their six-game series in the week leading up to the break. Infielder Carson Tucker and catcher Ethan Salas lead the team offensively. Outfielder Tirso Ornelas, who struggled with the Chihuahuas last year and was placed with the Missions this season, leads the team with 12 home runs and 38 RBI.
Outfielder Kai Roberts isn’t hitting for average and doesn’t possess a power stroke but leads the team in stolen bases with 29 out of 31 attempts.
Outfielder Braedon Karpathios, who broke out last season after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, has struggled at this level. He is hitting .234/.333/.375 with eight homers and 33 RBI but has 104 strikeouts in 336 plate appearances while walking 44 times.
Outfielder Jake Cunningham, promoted at midseason from High-A, is hitting .300/.320/.486 with two homers and 13 RBI in 17 games and 75 plate appearances. He has 21 strikeouts and two walks.
LHP Jagger Haynes is their best starter with a 3-3 record and 4.57 ERA in 88.2 innings pitched. He leads the team with 77 strikeouts and has walked 41 hitters. RHP Ian Koenig has a 4.81 ERA in 78.2 innings with 63 strikeouts to 28 walks.
Reliever Johan Moreno has a 3.93 ERA in 36.2 innings of relief with 41 strikeouts to 14 walks.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (36-51 record, 5th in Midwest League East)
Outfielder Kasen Wells, 22, leads the TinCaps in both average and OBP at .287/.384, but is a speed, contact, and defense-first outfielder. He has one home run and 22 RBI. First baseman Luke Cantwell, promoted from Single-A at the break, has struggled with his average in his first nine games and 37 plate appearances. He is hitting .194 but has a .496 slugging percentage with three home runs and seven RBI.
Outfielder Kavares Tears leads the team with 15 home runs and outfielder Alex McCoy has 44 RBI.
RHP Kannon Kemp, who had a three-game rehab assignment in the desert, has had two games and one start for the TinCaps. Rated in the top 20 in the Padres’ prospect rankings, Kemp had an oblique injury in Spring Training.
LHP Kash Mayfield, given a one-start break at midseason, is having his innings managed in his second professional season. The 21-year-old has 13 starts and a 3.33 ERA in 48.2 innings pitched this season after only having 60.2 innings pitched in his first season as a Padres prospect. He missed significant time with a shoulder injury and is being closely monitored. Mayfield has 58 strikeouts and 19 walks using his sinker/slider combo.
RHP Abraham Parra, 20, is unranked among the top prospects in the system. Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2023, Parra came to domestic baseball in 2024 for the rookie league Arizona team and began there again in 2025. A strike-thrower who has occasional command issues, Parra has 61 strikeouts and 40 walks in his 62.1 innings pitched for the TinCaps. His ERA sits at 5.92, but he bears watching as the season goes along.
Lake Elsinore Storm (45-42 record, 2nd in Cal League South)
After losing many of their best players to promotion at the end of the first half, the Storm has struggled to win games since then. They dropped out of first in their division this past week with a 2-4 record.
Catcher Alcides Hernandez leads the team with a .333 average and .463 OBP since he became the primary backstop with the injury to Ty Harvey. Outfielder Qrey Lott, 21, an undrafted free agent signed in 2025, is their best all-around player since the mass promotion that occurred in June. He is hitting .280/.396/.427 with five homers and 24 RBI in 197 plate appearances. Lott plays all outfield positions but has been primarily a corner outfielder for the Storm.
RHP Jesus Castro, 19, an international signee out of Mexico in 2025, played for the DSL Gold team last season and is in his first domestic season as a professional. In 15 games started and 59.2 innings pitched, Castrol has a 3.92 ERA with 65 strikeouts to 20 walks. He has a sinker, changeup, and sweeper combination that induces lots of ground balls and limits home runs. Currently unranked in the system, Castro and Winyer Churio (promoted at the midpoint) contributed significantly to the first-half success for the Storm.
Former two-way player Sean Barnet did not succeed in his attempt to be both a hitter and a pitcher and has since focused just on pitching. He has quietly put together a bounce-back season as a reliever. In 28 games and 31.1 innings pitched, Barnett has a 6.32 ERA but has improved significantly over the past six weeks. In 14.1 innings pitched, he has allowed six earned runs with nine hits for a 3.83 ERA and 21 strikeouts with 13 walks.
ACL Padres (29-24 record, 3rd in ACL West)
The ACL season ends on July 23.
Both RHP Randy Vásquez and David Morgan began their rehab assignments in the desert with the ACL team on July 15. Vasquez went 2.2 innings with a hit and three strikeouts, allowing no runs. Morgan went 0.1 innings with a hit, no runs, and two walks to one strikeout.
The ACL team has benefited from the promotion of outfielder Eddson Martinez from the DSL. He has played in 16 games and leads the team with a .396/.485/.547 batting line with eight RBI. The 18-year-old hasn’t shown any power, with no home runs in his pro career over 107 games. He has 16 strikeouts to 12 walks in 70 plate appearances.
Outfielder Jesmaylin Arias, 19, in his second season with the ACL team, leads the team with seven home runs and has the most RBI with 30.
LHP Adler Cecil, 21, returning from 2025 Tommy John surgery, has made seven starts for the Arizona team. He has 32.2 innings pitched with a 5.23 ERA. His strikeouts sit at 56 for those 32.2 innings with 17 walks. Not considered a high-level prospect, Cecil was drafted by the Padres in 2023 out of Temecula High School and had his surgery at the end of the 2025 Spring Training camp. He could be sent to Lake Elsinore after the ACL season ends.
DSL Padres
The Brown team sits with a 6-25 record, last in the West division)
The Brown squad continues to scuffle with the DSL season at almost the halfway point. Infielder Gabriel Teran was brought over from the Gold team and is hitting .357/.591/.571 after 22 plate appearances. No one on the team has more than one home run and infielder Yonaiker Hernandez leads with 16 RBI.
Of their starters, Yolansky Perez has five games and 19.1 innings pitched with a 4.66 ERA to lead the team. Reliever Aneury Sosa has a 2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings pitched.
DSL Gold
The Gold team has a 24-8 record, 1st in the Northwest division. They have eight hitters with an average of .300 or better. The best slugger is infielder Abraham Bastides with a .667 slug, and he leads the team with three home runs. Shortstop Joniel Hernandez, the Padres’ No. 15 prospect, has the team lead with 35 RBI. Hernandez is hitting .328/.433/.526 and leads the team with 13 doubles, two triples, and he also has two home runs.
None of their starters has an ERA under 5.26, but multiple relievers are having good appearances. RHP Albert Perez has a 3.68 ERA in 22 innings pitched. RHP Albieris Polanco has a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings pitched. Starter Michel Cervantes has a 5.63 ERA in 24 innings, leads the team with 29 strikeouts, and has 25 walks.
The majority of players in the DSL are between 17 and 19 years old.
The NBA hasn’t released its official schedule for the upcoming season — and it’s because of LeBron James.
The four-time NBA champion has kept everyone in the industry on their toes as he makes a decision in free agency, including Commissioner Adam Silver.
Adam Silver weighed in on LeBron James’ free agency at the CNBC Sport and Boardroom Game Plan Summit. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Silver spoke at the 2026 CNBC Sport and Boardroom Game Plan Summit at Fanatics Fest in New York, where he revealed his eagerness for James to pick his next team.
“We have to finish up the schedule and where LeBron plays affects the schedule… It will influence how we set the schedule — opening week, Christmas. So I need him to make a decision,” Silver said.
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Count Adam Silver among those waiting on LeBron James to pick a team, he said at CNBC event.
“We have to finish up the schedule and where LeBron plays affects the schedule… It will influence how we set the schedule — opening week, Christmas. So I need him to make a decision.”
The looming free-agency decision has certainly caused a league-wide frenzy as James could join several teams including the Warriors, Heat, 76ers and Cavaliers. His destination would affect any rival teams as the veteran remains a key contributor on the court.
LeBron James discussed his free-agency decision at Fanatics Fest in New York. Ryan Rolo/Shutterstock
James is coming off a season in which he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists. He shot 51.5% from the field and 31.7% from beyond the 3-point arc. This summer, he informed the Lakers he would not return for the upcoming season.
Now, James is a free agent searching for complete basketball happiness.
LeBron James revealed that he is set to make a decision on his next team soon. Ryan Rolo/Shutterstock
The hysteria surrounding James this summer is warranted, and it appears Silver can relate to basketball fans who are desperate to know where the NBA’s all-time leading scorer will end up next.
According to a report by The Athletic on Thursday, the league “has effectively outlawed the growing practice of using league-provided dugout iPads to access generative artificial intelligence, which some teams had increasingly leaned upon to help shape in-game strategy.”
The Athletic obtained a commissioner’s office memo saying teams were pushing boundaries of technology guidelines by installing custom apps that expanded the use of iPads “beyond their originally intended purpose.”
The memo stated teams were using iPads for recommendations on substitutions, pitch-calling and other in-game decisions usually made by players and coaches.
Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler holds an iPad in the dugout during the second inning against the Orioles at Angel Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
People with knowledge of the technology spoke on the issue candidly and told The Athletic that as much as a third of the league used dugout iPads for one of the aforementioned purposes.
The commissioner’s memo was issued June 11, giving teams a month to adjust their strategy and decision-making before the ban was put in place Wednesday for the second half of the season.
The decision to crack down on iPads has caused frustration by certain front-office members tasked with innovation, with one high-ranking official saying, “It’s caused quite the stir.”
While the tech ban didn’t come with punishment, the growing trend of iPad use became urgent enough for the league to make a mid-season decision to halt the growth of the apps.
“Gotta stop the cheating before there’s cheating now,” one front office executive told The Athletic.
Even though league iPads have been around since 2016, their usage became more tightly-regulated in 2021 after sign-stealing scandals.
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve looks at an iPad before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
“For the first time, we’re going to be allowing players to view live in-game video via an iPad in the dugout or bullpen during the game,” former league executive Chris Marinak said before the 2021 season. “The iPads are issued by MLB and fully controlled so that the players can only use the app that we’ve put on the device.
“They can’t access the internet for browsing or social media or any other kind of functions. The iPads are completely locked down and monitored with the software that we have on there.”
Tigers pitcher Case Mize looks at an iPad during a game against the Astros. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Though in-game video is still available, it’s only around on a delay, typically once an inning ends.
Teams and players have pushed for loosened restrictions on iPad use over time, and Jack Lambert, the director of baseball operations at Driveline Baseball, said he thinks pitch-calling is a benefit of the iPads.
“With someone live-scoring the game, teams could chart pitch type and location to get dynamically updating game plans,” Lambert said. “Those plans could determine if their approach at the plate should change as they face the lineup a second (or) third time in the game, and could also be applied to live pitch-calling.”
LeBron James discussed his free agency at Fanatics Fest in New York. Ryan Rolo/Shutterstock
“If I know Steve as well as I think I do, he was joking,” Green wrote in a post on Instagram Threads.
The reported favorites in the LeBron James sweepstakes are the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers. However, there is speculation that the Warriors are dark horses in the free agency frenzy.
Golden State seemingly lost traction as a favorite for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer after reports revealed the team wasn’t willing to strike a trade for Anthony Davis, James’ former Lakers teammate.
Perhaps the Warriors could explore a possible deal for Davis, which would certainly turn the tide in their favor. But as things stand, the three suitors appear to have an edge over the Warriors in the James sweepstakes.
A video involving Warriors coach Steve Kerr went viral on social media. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
