Hopefully you all follow along and have seen the Game 162 Heroes and Goats and you already knew how the final standings ended up, at least at the top and bottom. Kudos to you if you knew by the end of the first inning on Sunday that Alex Bregman had likely secured the Rizzo. In reality, it was probably the second homer that did it. But either way, Bregman wins the closest finish in the 13-year history of the award.
For a reminder of that history of this award, here are the previous 12 years of Rizzo Award finalists. Alternatively titled: “Tom doesn’t make clearly readable/decipherable charts.”
And with that, here are the final H&G standings for 2026. Bottom to top, the way it should be done.
Heroes and Goats: (full/final standings)
Nico Hoerner -18
Caleb Thielbar -17.5
Dansby Swanson -17
Seiya Suzuki -17
Jameson Taillon -13
Edward Cabrera -12.5
Phil Maton -10
Ryan Zeferjahn -8.5
Jacob Webb -8
Ethan Roberts -8
Pedro Ramirez -8
Ryan Rolison -7
Corbin Martin -5
Michael Busch -4
Jordan Wicks -3
Jake Woodford -3
Justin Dean -2.5
Matt Shaw -2
B.J. Murray -2
Antoine Kelly -2
Hunter Harvey -2
Hobie Milner -1.5
Colin Rea -1
Miguel Amaya -1
Gabriel Arias -1
Drew Pomeranz -1
Scott Kingery -1
Tyler Ferguson -1
Moises Ballesteros -0.5
Clay Holmes 0
James Triantos +0.5
Ty Blach +1
Braxton Garrett +2
Bryse Wilson +2
Cade Horton +2
Gavin Hollowell +2
Daniel Palencia +3
Kevin Alcantara +3
David Peterson +4
Matthew Boyd +5.5
Tyrone Taylor +8
Ian Happ +8.5
Trent Thornton +10
Aaron Civale +10
Michael Conforto +10
Javier Assad +11
Carson Kelly +11.5
Ben Brown +13.5
Shōta Imanaga +15
Pete Crow-Armstrong +25.5
Alex Bregman +26
At a quick glance here, Alex Bregman was obviously able to make the most impact among free agents, Pete Crow-Armstrong among returning players, Ben Brown was the most unfortunate of the injuries, Javier Assad the most impact of the Iowa shuttle players, Aaron Civale the most impact of the in-season acquisitions, Tyrone Taylor of the deadline day acquisitions, Bryse Wilson the most of the in season waiver wire pickups (and eligible to be on the Milwaukee Brewers postseason roster).
So there you have it. It was a thrilling chapter to add to Heroes and Goats. We’ve had a few boring finishes, but 2026 becomes the year of the last game being decisive and the smallest ever margin of victory. It is fitting and enjoyable to me that the two men most responsible for the on field performance of this team finished number one and two. That doesn’t mean it is homogenous. There are a number of players near the bottom of the standings who I think are largely irreplaceable on this team. And if you go back up and browse history, some amazing Cubs have graced the bottom three in the past.
It feels safe to say that PCA will emerge once again as the favorite to capture this award in 2027, but here’s to hoping that Bregman keeps him honest again and that a few pitchers get more actively into the race.
Thank you everyone for reading. Thank you everyone who took the time to comment. We tend to have a very insightful group here and I appreciate that.
The AL East takes center stage as the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays face off in the American League Division Series.
For all the familiarity the Rays and Yankees have during the regular season, this is only the second time they have faced off in the postseason. The first time being in the 2020 ALDS, but the major caveat to that matchup was that all the games were played at Petco Park in San Diego as part of MLB's pandemic-era neutral-site postseason. It's going to be a totally different atmosphere in front of home crowds in Tampa Bay and New York.
Here's everything you need to know about the series:
When is the Yankees vs. Rays 2026 MLB Division Series?
The Yankees and Rays begin a best-of-five series on Saturday, October 3.
How to watch Yankees vs. Rays: TV channel, live stream
The entire 2026 Yankees-Rays ALDS will be nationally televised on TBS and truTV, with HBO Max providing the live stream. Spanish-language coverage is available on UniMás.
Yankees vs. Rays 2026 MLB Division Series full schedule
Game
Date
Location
Time
Game 1
Sat., Oct. 3
at Tampa Bay
6:30 PM
Game 2
Mon., Oct. 5
at Tampa Bay
8:00 PM
Game 3
Wed., Oct. 7
Yankee Stadium
8:00 PM
Game 4*
Thu., Oct. 8
Yankee Stadium
8:00 PM
Game 5*
Sat., Oct. 10
at Tampa Bay
8:00 PM
Where will the Yankees vs. Rays Division Series be played?
The 2026 Yankees vs. Rays AL Division Series will be played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida for Games 1, 2, and 5 (if necessary), and Yankee Stadium in the Bronx for Games 3, 4 (if neccesary). Tampa Bay has home-field advantage.
Yankees vs. Rays probable starting pitchers
The only confirmed probable starters are for Game 1. That will be Yankees' Gerrit Cole facing off against Rays' Drew Rasmussen.
The Yankees are expected to throw Cy Young-favorite Cam Schlittler in Game 2, but the Rays' starter is still TBD.
Yankees vs. Rays 2026 season series results
The Rays won the 2026 regular-season series against the Yankees, 7–6, but New York finished strong, winning four of the final five meetings.
Yankees vs. Rays playoff history
The 2026 ALDS is only the second postseason series ever between the Yankees and Rays. Tampa Bay won their only previous meeting, so the Rays enter this series with a 1–0 postseason series advantage over New York.
How does the MLB Division Series format work?
There are four Division Series—two in each league. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds receive byes through the Wild Card Series, while the winners of the two best-of-three Wild Card Series advance to face them in the Division Series.
For Yankees-Rays in 2026, that means Tampa Bay, as the higher seed, hosts Games 1 and 2, New York hosts Games 3 and 4 (if necessary), and the series returns to Tampa Bay for Game 5 (if necessary).
There is no reseeding after the Wild Card round; the postseason bracket determines which Wild Card winner faces each division winner.
On Friday, the Winnipeg Jets square off with the Boston Bruins in their season opener, and a newcomer in the lineup is drawing nearly all of the attention. Viggo Björck, the eighth overall pick in this year's draft, has accomplished the rare feat of making his NHL club's opening night roster just months after being selected.
It is a feat usually reserved for the very top picks, but Björck is not only set to make his NHL debut, he is expected to do so as a top-six forward, centering Winnipeg's second line between Gabe Vilardi, who came close to 70 points a season ago, and Isak Rosen, the 14th overall pick in 2021.
The unit will be one of the most interesting looks of the night, as the Jets have opted to break up the lethal top line that carried much of their offense last season. Vilardi will move away from Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, who will instead play with Cole Perfetti in the opener, while Björck gets a steady, battle-tested presence in Vilardi who can hopefully help him adjust to the pro level quickly.
It is an extremely bold move for Winnipeg to throw an 18-year-old, five-foot-nine center into the fire of the NHL right away, especially against a physical team like the Bruins, and it should make for one of the most compelling games in recent Jets history. Many are already touting Björck as one of the best prospects the franchise has ever had, and his journey begins far sooner than almost anyone expected.
Björck comes off a season in the Swedish Hockey League, a defensive, low-scoring circuit where he faced older competition and still finished with 15 points in 42 games. He will now look to translate his offensive skill set from the bigger international ice surface to an NHL-sized rink against real NHL pros.
Björck will not be the only Jet making his debut Friday as defenseman Tyrel Bauer will also play his first NHL game, bringing a physical, defense-first style that produced 100 or more penalty minutes in three of his four pro seasons with the Manitoba Moose. With two new faces taking the ice for the first time, Friday's showdown has the makings of must-see television.
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As
much as the St. Louis Blues, who open their 2026-27 season on Friday
against the Dallas Stars (8 p.m.; TNT, ESPN 101.1-FM) to begin a
three-game, Central Division road trip, it’s not going to be easy
out of the chute.
Not
only do the Blues open against one divisional favorite but then pack
up and head to Denver where they’ll take on the Colorado Avalanche,
who just dusted the Los Angeles Kings 8-4 on Wednesday, on Saturday
before returning home, then jetting off for a quick one-game trip up
to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Daunting
start to a season? Yes. But imagine taking four of six points or five
or all six, or even taking three of six. Taking anything away from a
challenging start would exude good vibes for a team that will come
into this season with 11 new faces on its opening night roster from
last season, including Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael, Brandon
Carlo and
Ross Johnston as
the three acquisitions.
“I
look at that as an opportunity,” Blues
coach Jim Montgomery said.
“Opportunity to go into Dallas, show them what we have, how hard
we’re going to play against and then fly to Colorado and show the
Avalanche. It’s an opportunity to make your mark right away.”
So
easy to say, so difficult to accomplish, but the Blues feel with the
abbreviated camp – despite going just 1-3-0 in four preseason games
– they were able to get the maximum effort and competitiveness out
of it to head into the season with a focused mind and clear
objective.
With
camp battles for job at a premium, tough decisions were made and
those that stuck around earned their keep. As a result, guys like
Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker and Jack Finley are in Springfield of
the American Hockey League as a result.
“The
depth that we’ve had in this organization and in this camp is
really good, probably amongst some of the best in the league,”
Blues forward Jake Neighbours said. “I think it’s hard to say.
All those guys have fought their fights and given coaches and
management a tough decision on who’s going to be sticking around.
Unfortunately for us as players, it’s the hard part of the
business. I think if we can take all five of those guys fighting for
those last couple spots, we would, but that’s obviously not the
rules. That’s the hard part of the business. There’s going to be
some guys that won’t be around. That’s a credit to the guys that
stick around, they played well.”
Guys
like Dillon Dube, who earned a one-year, one-way contract as a result
of his strong play with the Thunderbirds last season and winning out
a job, and Zach Dean, who has had his share of trials and
tribulations with personal challenges and injuries to make his first
NHL opening night roster.
“He's
missed some hockey over the past couple of years and even watching
him last year, it felt like he grew and he grew,” Blues
general manager Alex Steen said of Dean.
“We've always known the things that stick out in his game, that
make you excited about the player ... I think going into the playoffs
(in
Springfield),
he played a big role for them down there last year and he came into
camp ready, there's no question. His skating ability, he's on the
inside, he doesn't shy away from inside ice. He's a centerman.
“I
thought an impressive thing is when you're moved around between
different linemates and some are veterans and some are younger
players, but he seemed to just bring his own game and contribute what
his strengths are. I'm excited that he's got the opportunity now to
keep building off that.”
As
for Dube?
“Very
similar to ‘Deaner,’” Steen said. “I thought he came in and
he was very prepared, very ready to go, skating ability, inside ice.
He's a tenacious, dog-on-a-bone type player. What he did last year,
the second half going into the playoffs, the contributions he was
making for that team, he was one of the guys I thought in practice,
with how short the camp is, we feel that the process is the biggest
part of what we're doing right now and his intensity and urgency in
everyday work was getting infectious. He's had a very good camp.”
Neither
is projected to be in the lineup on Friday, but Montgomery said he
expects to see them at some point on the trip.
“I
expect to see every forward play a game on this road trip, but that
again, it’s good to say in your mind, but then we win Friday night
and everybody plays well, how do you make a change, right,”
Montgomery
said. “Welcome
to my world.”
-
- -
Defenseman
Adam Jiricek will make his debut Friday after initially being sent
down, then recalled from Springfield due to injuries and subsequent
surgeries to Tyler Tucker (knee) and Logan Mailloux (hand) that will
keep those defensemen out a minimum of six and eight weeks,
respectively.
But
Montgomery said he won’t make the mistake of putting two young
defensemen together like he did last season with Tucker and Mailloux,
which means don’t expect to see Jiricek and Theo Lindstein on the ice
together.
“We
switched it going into game three in Vancouver (last
season),” Montgomery said.
“Unfortunately, it was part, the whole thing. Switching, the
starting, the pairs contributed to our poor start last year.”
Look
for Jiricek to play lots with Philip Broberg and if need be, Carlo
too, someone with veteran experience.
“He’s
a very good player, very good with the puck, good shot, good mobility
with his skates out there,” Broberg
said of Jiricek.
“He makes plays. He’s a good player. If I play with him, I think
I will try and help him out and we’ll try to help each other out
too.”
But
Broberg is prepared to play with whoever since his partner to end
last season (Mailloux) will miss some extended time.
“Yeah,
obviously you have to,” Broberg said. “You just try to help the
team any way you can.”
-
- -
Blues
Projected Lineup:
Dylan
Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud
Pavel
Buchnevich-Mason McTavish-Connor McMichael
Jake
Neighbours-Dalibor Dvorsky-Jonatan Berggren
Alexey
Toropchenko-Pius Suter-Ross Johnston
Philip
Broberg-Adam Jiricek
Theo
Lindstein-Colton Parayko
Cam
Fowler-Brandon Carlo
Joel
Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.
Healthy
scratches include Dillon Dube, Zach Dean and Justin Barron. Tyler
Tucker (knee) will be re-evaluated in six weeks, and Logan Mailloux
(hand) will be re-evaluated in eight weeks; each is on
injured-reserve.
-
- -
Stars
Projected Lineup:
Justin
Hryckowian-Wyatt
Johnston-Mikko
Rantanen
Jason
Robertson-Roope
Hintz-Tyler
Seguin
Sam
Steel-Artu
Hyry-Jamie
Benn
Oskar
Back-Radek
Faksa-Joel
Kiviranta
Thomas
Harley-Miro
Heiskanen
Esa
Lindell-Nils
Lundkvist
Lian
Bichsel-Tyler
Myers
Jake
Oettinger
will
start in goal; Casey DeSmith
will
be the backup.
Healthy
scratches include Colin Blackwell
and
Kyle Capobianco.
Matt
Duchene (lower body) is out on long-term injured reserve.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
NBA Champions — like the Knicks heading into this season — preach continuity.
Continuity is boring. At least to many NBA fans it is — player movement is the lifeblood of the sport for many, especially on social media. The more, the better. It's what drives ratings and draws eyeballs. This offseason saw a host of name players switch teams, but which of those moves will matter? Who are the players who changed teams and will have the biggest impact? Here are seven names to watch.
Jaylen Brown/LeBron James (76ers)
While these were separate moves — with the 76ers trade for Brown influencing LeBron's decision to sign there as a free agent — we're grouping them here, and their combined impact has them at the top of this ranking.
Landing Jaylen Brown was a coup for new head of basketball operations Mike Gansey. This is the 2024 Finals MVP coming off his best season as a pro — 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game — and he steps right into the rotation next to Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid. Brown brings more shot creation, defense and leadership — Brown has won a ring. He has been where the 76ers want to go.
So has LeBron James, who at age 41 last season showed he knows how to fit into a team, be the glue that binds different stars together, and take over when needed. LeBron steps in at four and will be asked to body up some bigger bodies on defense while also serving as a facilitator on offense, picking and choosing his spots to score. At this point in his career, this role is a great fit for LeBron on the court.
The question in Philadelphia isn't talent (although there are legitimate defensive questions), and it's not even all about health (even though they obviously need LeBron and Joel Embiid on the court in the postseason). Rather, the question is whether everyone makes the sacrifices to their own games needed to make this all work. LeBron and Brown have done that before and will lead the way.
"In order for us to be great, we have to do things that are just not comfortable. We have to be comfortable being uncomfortable," LeBron said at media day. "That is the best way to expedite being great. You have to fall in love with doing things that's uncomfortable, and if we can do that, then we can be a great team. If we don't do that, then we be like, oh man, it was a great team on paper... I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round. I know that for sure."
One other thing worth monitoring: Playing with LeBron means playing in his shadow. He is the biggest NBA brand, a national and international superstar who draws massive amounts of attention, and his presence changes a team beyond the court. Embiid is used to being the face of the 76ers. Brown savored being the star — and the No. 1 option — in Boston last season. Maxey is a rising star who should have the ball and the postgame mic in his hands a lot. All of those stars are going to have to sacrifice, and not just in touches on the court.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Heat)
This simple fact has gotten overlooked: Giannis Antetokounmpo was the best player to change teams this offseason.
While he battled injuries last season (and health is a concern in Miami), Antetokounmpo remains a force of nature on the court, an NBA champion and two-time MVP who averaged 27.6 points and 9.8 rebounds a game last season in the 36 games he did play. Pairing him with Bam Adebayo gives Miami a foundation to build on and a path to contention in the East.
That's the bar for Antetokounmpo in Miami. LeBron came there and won rings. More recently, Jimmy Butler came to South Beach and got the Heat into two NBA Finals. That's the expectation over the next four years, and the pressure will start this season, even though most pundits don't see this Heat team on that level yet (*nods in assent*). The front office has work to do. However, just landing Antetokounmpo puts the Heat on a road to being a contender after a couple of seasons spinning their wheels. Antetokounmpo changes everything in Miami.
LaMelo Ball (Timberwolves)
Better players switched teams this summer, but no team made a bigger bet on a player than the Minnesota Timberwolves did on LaMelo Ball.
The Timberwolves surveyed the West landscape and realized they needed to shake things up, and they needed to find another playmaker to take some of the load off Anthony Edwards. They found what they wanted in LaMelo's dynamic passing and playmaking, but it came at a steep cost, and that is one of the challenges — gone are the rock-solid Julius Randle and the valuable Naz Reid. Reid's floor spacing in particular will be missed and filling in for the former Sixth Man of the Year will be challenging.
Ball also is untested on the league's biggest stages, and his style of play could lead to turnovers as defenses clamp down. Does coach Chris Finch try to rein him in a little, or are they all in for the full Ball experience? Also, his lack of defense could be an issue (even with quality defenders around him and Rudy Gobert back in the paint) when facing the best, deepest teams.
It's a radical shift in playing styles and a complete gamble by Minnesota, making them one of the more interesting teams to watch this season.
Kawhi Leonard (Raptors)
Kawhi Leonard got everything he wanted this summer. Get away from the imploding Clippers? Check. Get to a city and fan base that adores him, minimizing the impact of the Los Angeles scandal? Check. Get a massive new extension in Toronto that he wasn't going to get in LA? Check, to the tune of two years, $115 million.
He also comes to a Toronto roster that has quietly become a team to watch in the East, a plug-and-play addition. Toronto was the No. 5 seed in the East last season and pushed the Cavaliers to seven games, and now adds Leonard coming off an All-NBA season where he averaged 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds a game and played elite defense. Leonard next to Scottie Barnes — who played at an All-NBA level but just missed the team — plus Jamal Shead form the basis of what could be an elite defense, and then they have quality players around them like RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles.
We won't see them much on national television, but if Leonard is healthy, he could have as big an impact on winning as any player switching teams this summer.
Tobias Harris (Spurs)
If you watched the Spurs in the playoffs and thought, "all they need is a little more maturity and a little more shot creation as an outlet," it's time you met Tobias Harris. The veteran jumps over from Detroit, where he played the same role as a rock-solid four who averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds a game. Come the playoffs, when defenses focused on Cade Cunningham and made his life difficult, Harris had more scoring responsibility and averaged 18.1 points a game.
He won't be asked to take on that kind of role with a team coming off an NBA Finals appearance and featuring Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. If he's just himself, the threat of his scoring, cutting out of the corner, and some shot creation are exactly what the Spurs need, and Harris is a proven playoff performer. San Antonio got better this summer, and that should scare the rest of the league.
Walker Kessler (Lakers)
One way or another, Walker Kessler is going to have a massive impact on the Lakers this season.
The Lakers paid a steep price to pry Kessler out of Utah, believing he can be the big pick-setting, rim-rolling, alley-oop finishing, and shot-blocking force in the paint Los Angeles needs to maximize Luka Doncic's skill set. Kessler has done all those things — for stretches. The Lakers are betting that the guy who has played in 63 games total over the past two seasons can stay healthy, and that a player untested in meaningful games while in Utah can rise up on the biggest stages. On paper, Kessler is exactly the kind of big the Lakers need, he just needs to show he can do that on the court consistently and under pressure.
If he does, the Lakers become threatening in the West. If he doesn't… they don't have the players or picks left to easily pivot. There is a lot on his young shoulders.
The Detroit Red Wings officially open the 2026-27 NHL season on Friday evening against the visiting New York Rangers at Little Caesars Arena, and continue to face more questions than answers.
Former captain Dylan Larkin hasn't rescinded his trade request (at least, not publicly) and defenseman Simon Edvinsson returned to Sweden while his representation tries to hammer out a deal with interim GM Shawn Horcoff.
Additionally, the Red Wings lost a key source of offense during the summer with the departure of Patrick Kane, and also remain in a holding pattern with regard to who will permanently fill the role vacated by Steve Yzerman in mid-July.
In this piece, we answer the questions submitted over the last few weeks, looking ahead to the club's 101st NHL season.
Q: When will the DRW announce who the new GM is?
A: Right now, that's still completely up in the air. The role currently belongs to Shawn Horcoff on an interim basis, and the organization indicated that he'll have a chance to essentially audition for the full-time role.
Right now, I don't realistically see a permanent GM being hired by the club until after the 2026-27 campaign, and I'd expect Horcoff to carry the interim tag for the duration of the campaign.
Q: Will this year be another close but no cigar year? Or will they be the worst team in the East?
A: It goes without saying that the Red Wings play in hockey's toughest division. The Atlantic is a gauntlet. The Canadiens are on the rise, the Maple Leafs made significant upgrades during the summer, the Panthers are far healthier than last season, and the Lightning still have no shortage of star power.
Right now, it remains to be seen whether clubs like the Bruins, Sabres and Senators can remain consistent enough to make a return trip to the postseason.
For the Red Wings to have a realistic shot at ending their playoff drought, a lot is going to have to go right.
They can't afford another slow start from goaltender John Gibson. Viktor Arvidsson will need to provide an offensive boost to help offset the loss of Kane, while the defense will have to tighten up.
Not having Larkin for the first two games or Edvinsson due to his contract stalemate are both considerable setbacks. However, seven of Detroit's first eight games are at home. If the Red Wings can get off to a strong start, the club—which didn't experience any major roster turnover over the summer—could potentially resemble the team that held a playoff spot for most of last season.
Naturally, it will all come down to how they perform when the going gets tough in the spring.
Q: Will Larkin be a DRW all season long, or a trade candidate at the deadline?
A: This remains to be seen. During his press conference in September on the opening day of Training Camp, Larkin declined to answer whether his trade request was still in effect.
He also suffered an off-ice training injury before Camp, limiting his availability; he's already confirmed as being unavailable for at least the first two games of the season.
Larkin will not be paid by the club if he refuses to practice or play, the situation that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck finds himself in.
The Red Wings won't trade Larkin for pennies on the dollar, or simply just for the sake of moving on from him. He could very well be with the club for the entire season, but it's also conceivable that he could be on the block at the Trade Deadline, especially if reports that he's expanded his trade list prove true.
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\n\n\n\tATLANTA, GA - JULY 12: Sebastian Walcott #1 of the Texas Rangers looks on prior to the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on Saturday, July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images\t\n\n
The 2026 Arizona Fall League schedule kicks off tomorrow, October 3. There are six teams involved in AFL play, and all three teams will be playing on Saturday. The Surprise Saguaros — the team that the Texas Rangers’ prospects will be playing for — play their first game at 5:30 p.m. Central against Scottsdale in the middle game of the tripleheader.
\n
You can see the full Surprise roster here. We did a write up back in mid-September when the initial rosters were announced, and the Rangers contingent that was announced at the time was fairly underwhelming. The best prospect out of the eight members of the organization announced at the time was either pitcher Jacob Johnson, pitcher Mason McConnaughey, or outfielder Paxton Kling.
Walcott was briefly part of the 2025 Surprise Saguaros squad, but appeared in just one game before being sidelined with an elbow injury. He ultimately ended up undergoing elbow surgery in February, which put him on the injured list for the majority of 2026, and limited him to DH duties for most of the year. Having just logged 187 plate appearances in the minors in 2026 (with a .325/.401/.590), primarily at AA Frisco, this gives Walcott the opportunity to make up some of the reps that he missed.
\n
Something to keep an eye on is where in the field Walcott plays for Surprise. Walcott has primarily played shortstop in the minors, with some games at third base, though he played just two of his 41 games this past season at DH, with two appearances at shortstop.
\n
Walcott could be ready to be a major league regular at the start of the 2027 season, in which case, the Rangers will have to decide where in the field he would play. Corey Seager is the team’s shortstop, and is still quite capable there, so Walcott would presumably not be an option at shortstop unless Seager is trade this offseason (which I sadly acknowledge is not out of the question). Third base and right field, however, are viewed as Walcott’s most likely long-term home in the majors.
\n
The Rangers have Josh Jung at third base, though his defensively metrics have not been good at the position, particularly in 2026. Putting Jung at first base, with Walcott taking over at third, would seem to be the most viable solution. The Rangers could then decide if they wanted to keep Jake Burger around in a DH role or as depth — and given Jung’s injury history, it isn’t unreasonable to think that they need a quality Plan B behind Jung, regardless of what position he plays.
\n
Alternatively, the Rangers could look at putting Walcott in right field, where Brandon Nimmo played in 2026. That would allow them to either have Nimmo get the bulk of his plate appearances at DH, while also picking up some playing time in the outfield when one of the regular outfielders sits or gets a DH day, or put Nimmo in left field, with Wyatt Langford moving to center field.
\n
Where Walcott gets his playing time won’t necessarily tip the Rangers’ hand in regards to their 2027 plans with Walcott — shortstop is the most challenging defensive position (other than catcher) in the field, and moving from there to another position farther down the defensive spectrum is easier than the other way around. If Walcott gets most of his reps there, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Seager is gone, or that Walcott is destined to start the 2027 season at Round Rock.
\n
However, if we see Walcott getting a bunch of starts at third base or right field, it would potentially hint at where the Rangers view him most likely contributing in 2027.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 28: Bub Carrington #7 of the Washington Wizards poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are in the middle of training camp, where fans were in long lines to attend an open practice at Capital One Arena yesterday. Before that practice, Bub Carrington was interviewed on WUSA-TV where he said that the Wizards were “held back because [they] were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret.”
Watch the video below.
Bub Carrington says the Wizards held back to try to draft AJ Dybantsa 👀👀
"We haven't been told to be the best version of ourselves. We were held back because we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That's no secret" pic.twitter.com/yASjsgnUWD
Given the vision of Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger, I’m not surprised the Wizards prioritized youth over a competitive record. From that standpoint, the Wizards are held back. But of course, it’s not like Winger or General Manager Will Dawkins will tell the Wizards players explicitly to lose games.
The Wizards have less incentive to lose games this season because they have Dybantsa now as their presumptive franchise player. A new lottery system that takes effect for next year’s draft penalizes the bottom three teams in the standings.
Do I think Carrington had to say this out loud? No. That’s simply because the Wizards’ actions indicated their direction quite clearly over the last several seasons.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals scores a run in the third inning during the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Dylan Crews’ first two seasons with the Nationals fell short of the expectations that followed him into professional baseball. He hit .218 with three home runs in 31 games after his 2024 debut, then posted a .208/.280/.352 line with 10 home runs in 85 games in 2025. There were flashes of power and speed, but little sustained production from a player expected to become a cornerstone of the rebuild.
There were circumstances worth considering. His 2024 season was a brief introduction to major league pitching, while a left oblique strain cost him nearly three months in 2025. Those interruptions made development difficult, but they did not erase the concerns surrounding his bat.
Entering his third major league season, 2026 offered a fresh start. Blake Butera took over as manager, and a new hitting staff led by Matt Borgschulte, with Andrew Aydt and Shawn O’Malley, brought different perspectives to a young lineup. Crews seemed like an obvious candidate to benefit from the new perspective of the analytically minded coaching staff.
The preseason optimism made sense. A healthy season and new coaches offered hope that the former second overall pick could begin translating his talent into consistent production. After two disappointing years, a breakout would have helped establish his place alongside the Nationals’ emerging core.
It was clear from the beginning that a Dylan Crews breakout wasn’t going to occur right away, as on March 20, the Nats optioned Crews to Triple-A Rochester after he hit .103 through his first 12 spring games. A season that was supposed to establish him in the majors would begin with him trying to earn his way back. The decision was controversial, but the fact of the matter was Crews had areas he needed to improve if he was going to have consistent success as a big league hitter.
His time in Rochester eventually produced encouraging results. Crews hit .258/.345/.432 with five home runs in 41 games. Over his final 17 games there, he hit .308 and slugged .585 while lowering his strikeout rate to 22.5 percent. He earned himself another opportunity in the bigs, getting called back up in mid-May.
Through his first 25 games back with the Nationals, Crews hit .189 with a .567 OPS. The return to the majors did not immediately bring the breakthrough fans had hoped for, and his offensive struggles continued. He was hitting the ball harder than ever, but also swinging and missing at a career-high clip.
July finally offered a glimpse of a more complete hitter. Crews drew 14 walks and finished the month with a .372 on-base percentage and an .801 OPS. The improved patience was significant. He was finding ways to contribute beyond hits, giving himself better opportunities to reach base and do damage.
Then August brought another reversal. His OPS dropped to .558, and he hit one home run in 28 games. Just when his approach appeared to be coming together, the production disappeared again.
September supplied some renewed encouragement. By September 9, six of his previous seven hits had gone for extra bases, including five doubles. He also homered and scored three runs in the Nats’ September 25 win over the Mets.
Crews finished with a .223 average, 13 home runs, 44 RBI, 12 stolen bases and a .663 OPS. It was a slight improvement over his 2024 and 2025 numbers, but nowhere near close enough to guarantee Crews a starting spot on the 2027 Nationals, a team that in all likelihood will be aiming to compete for a playoff spot.
So where do the Nationals go from here with Dylan Crews? The draft pedigree and the flashes of success make him a tantalizing player that you want to give regular playing time to see if he’ll break out, but the struggles, especially against right-handed pitching, make it difficult to play him every day when better options may be available.
The Nationals coaching staff showed a lot of faith in Crews in the back half of 2026, hitting him near the top of the lineup even against righties, who he struggles mightily against. Paul Toboni has also said they view Crews as a key piece of their competitive rosters in the future. But through 225 big league games over the course of 3 seasons, Crews is not growing at a rate that suggests he can flip a switch and be an above-average regular one day, and he is creeping closer and closer to reaching arbitration, where he will receive a sizeable pay increase compared to his current salary.
I’d like to see the Nats give Crews one more shot to prove himself as a big league regular in 2027, but if they were to consider other options, such as a trade this offseason or turning him into a platoon hitter only against lefties midseason, I wouldn’t be opposed. If the Nats plan on taking another leap in 2027 into contention, they need to be maximizing value everywhere they can on the roster, and that starts with Dylan Crews proving he’s worth giving everyday at bats.
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks speaks to the media during New York Knicks Media Day at the Knicks Training Facility on September 28, 2026 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
My brain melted yesterday, thought it was Sunday, not Thursday.
Anyway, today’s Friday. I guess.
Here’s the latest from Tarrytown as we keep hearing from different Knicks.
Mike Brown tells a story from over the summer about how he was riding his motorcycle and was recognized by a family of Knicks fans that followed him home pic.twitter.com/xSfvK355ok
On Josh Hart’s injured finger and the toughness it reflects:
“Josh, he’s a handsome young man. But that finger is ugly. So, I don’t look at it. But it adds to his toughness. Josh is a tough son of a gun, man. I can’t even watch when he [shakes his hand], because I’m just like, oh, my gosh I can’t imagine having a finger like that.
“But it just shows who he is. He’s tough but, more importantly, there’s dedication there to wanting to be a great shooter, and you’ve got to put it into work. And he puts in the work, even though his finger’s bothering him. And even though it’s a little crooked, he’s putting in the work to get it right. [Shooting coach] Pete [Patton] and the rest of the coaches are helping him out, and it shows that he can shoot at a high level with the dedication he has in the first place.”
On OG Anunoby’s playoff performance boosting his All-Star case:
“It should help him a ton because guys that are quiet naturally, they have a hard time getting the necessary publicity and promotion toward being an All-Star, unless you’re doing something extraordinary and people start talking about it — like OG in the playoffs. So doing it in the playoffs and having people talk about it should have carryover, in my opinion, since he helped us win the championship.
“And he was in the conversation for [NBA] Finals MVP. That should definitely help create calls for him to have a case to be an All-Star this year. He’s still got to go earn it, but he should be in everybody’s conversation from the beginning.”
On Anunoby’s shooting ability:
“He’s not [at Stephen Curry] or [Klay Thompson’s] level but the next tier. He’s way better than I thought.”
On Anunoby’s confidence, shooting and the Knicks’ spacing:
“His confidence is really high. And I thought during the playoffs we did a really good job of touching the paint and taking the right 3s. With OG being 6-foot-7 with long arms, if you’re closing to him with a smaller guy or a guard, it’s going to be good for us because they try to put their best player on Jalen, and sometimes, their best player is a bigger perimeter defender.
“So that means OG may have a smaller guy [defending him]. That’s not impacting him when he shoots the basketball.
“So I think first starts off with him, yes; he’s way better than what I thought. I would categorize him as a great shooter. But more importantly, I thought our spacing and our ability to touch the paint and spray it helped out a lot.”
On his plans for the preseason games:
“We’ll try to ease them in. The last game is always a dress rehearsal, but we’ll try to build them up leading to that game.”
On the Knicks’ conditioning entering camp after a short summer:
“All the guys look like they’re in pretty good shape, especially for a short summer. We have a conditioning test that we did last year and this year that the guys have to pass to get into camp and they all passed it.”
On James Wiseman’s presence at training camp:
“Fantastic human being, fantastic young man…. Good to see him in the gym. When you’re that long and that athletic, with skill – he has skill – there’s a place for you in this league. Sometimes it takes the right moment, the right team, the right situation, all that stuff, to be able to fit someplace and grow. We have a lot of great guys in camp that have potential of impacting us in a lot of different ways throughout the course of the year. He’s definitely one of the many guys that we have that we’re excited about.”
On Tony Bradley after his training camp signing:
“We’re looking for bigs. Tony’s a veteran guy that’s still in his prime and has a good feel for the game, knows how to play the game the right way and he’s hurt us in the past. To be honest, when a guy hurts you in the past, you tend to remember him more than others. So to be able to add him to camp was a positive for us because again, I said this last year, (Karl-Anthony Towns) has one of the most (challenging positions) out of everybody because I want to move him around when I play him at center. I want to play him at power forward; (when he’s at) power forward 1-4 is interchangeable. Same with OG (Anunoby). OG we put him at the 5 last year. We probably will do it a little bit more this year as well.
“But to be able to do that, you’ve gotta have enough centers around on the team, so having Tony here with his skill set and feel is definitely a blessing because we’re looking at that position heavily.”
Question for Josh Hart on Jalen Brunson: "Was there a moment this summer where you were like, 'Holy crap, my best friend from college is so freakin' famous now?'"
“The only option for my finger at this point, because of how damaged it is, is a full joint replacement. With a joint replacement, you can’t have the banging, grabbing a rebound, palming it, shooting, catching the ball, doing all that. You can’t do that. So if I did a joint replacement, then I wouldn’t be able to play. So I guess it’s either wrap it until I retire or cut it off. I guess that’s the other option. That’s really the only alternative: either joint replacement, let it go, or, I guess, amputation.
“I mean, there was a lot of stuff that I had to get checked, and that was one of them. It was just with how it deteriorated, the joint and the bone and everything, that’s what it’ll be. So I’ll do that probably when I retire. Hopefully, they can make it straight. You know, it’s a little off center if y’all didn’t realize. So I’m hoping after that joint replacement it can kind of get a little straighter.”
On how the pain in his finger varies from day to day:
“Some days, it’ll be good. Some days it’ll hurt to catch the ball. It varies. I wish I could tell you when I wake up what’s gonna be good, what’s gonna be bad. Somedays it’s good, like a regular functioning finger. And other days it hurts to just close my hand, to make a fist.”
On why a joint replacement would prevent him from playing basketball:
“You can’t have the banging, you know, repetitive, grabbing a rebound, palming it, shooting, catching the ball, doing all that; you can’t do that. It was just with how it deteriorated — the joint and the bone and everything — that’s what it’ll be. So I’ll do that probably when I retire. Hopefully they can make it straight. You know, it’s a little off center if you know y’all didn’t realize.”
On the appearance and functionality of his injured finger:
“I mean, it’s it’s not the prettiest to look at. I would love to have a straight finger, but you know, it works.”
On the physical toll of an NBA career and what fans don’t get:
“I think people think money is everything, and for me, obviously, you want to be compensated fairly for your performance and all that. But at the end of the day, just because you get paid, be blessed in a position to get paid well and take care of our families, [it’s not like] we’re not humans at the same time. I’m sitting here thinking, my knees are aching a little bit, but I want to leave the game and be able to run around and play with my kids when they’re you know 10, 11,12-plus. So that wear and tear, it’s significant to a certain point. If you’re in this league for 14, 15, 16 years, and you see some of these guys that are older, they they got limps, knees are barking, those kind of things. So I think that definitely gets overlooked. But that’s also why I don’t think I’ll play till I’m 40.”
On OG Anunoby’s increased recognition helping his All-Star chances:
“It’s extremely impactful. Obviously, you have to be a gifted and good player to make an All-Star team, but also you have to have the press and all that kind of behind you, bolstering it. So it’s good for people to see how talented he is, how impactful he is on both sides of the ball in the game. So hopefully that recognition will continue throughout this year, and hopefully we’ll be able to get him in.”
On Jalen Brunson’s increased fame following the Knicks title:
“He’s not LeBron, let’s relax.”
On planning to attend Yankees Game 3:
“I think I’m going to be able to get to Game 3. We have a preseason game the next day. So I’m excited, man. I’m excited for New York. Excited for that team.”
"I learned on the fly. When I watched the video after, they said you can leave the ball in the backcourt but your body can be in the frontcourt – I didn't know it was a thing until then. I'm glad it worked out."
On OG Anunoby’s playoff success boosting his confidence:
“That’s definitely a boost of confidence going into this year. OG knows how good he is, and we know how good he is. So he’s gonna continue doing what he does.”
On learning the backcourt rule during his late Game 4 possession:
“I learned on the fly. When I watched the video after, they said you can leave the ball in the backcourt but your body can be in the frontcourt – I didn’t know it was a thing until then. I’m glad it worked out.”
On what has allowed the Knicks to embrace their roles:
“We care for each other, we compete, we want to get each other better”
On whether he always planned to return to the Knicks before signing his extension:
“In my mind, yeah. ‘I want to stay here, I want to stay home.’ We had a chance to do that, and we did it.”
TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 27: Max Scherzer #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays salutes the crowd before pitching against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning in their MLB game at Rogers Centre on September 27, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is a slow time of year for baseball news, if your team isn’t in the playoffs. MLB doesn’t like teams to make news during the playoffs, because they want the focus to be on the playoff teams, which is fair.
Jameson Taillon is going to have elbow surgery next week. He’s had Tommy John twice but says ‘there is a good chance’ he can get by with the internal brace this time. He’ll be a free agent this off-season, and likely won’t be getting the $18 million he got last year.
And Ross Atkins talked to the press the other day. I used to be interested in the ‘end of season’ questions and answers thing, but I’ve come to realize that they don’t tell you anything. I used to make fun of Alex Anthopoulos talking a lot and saying nothing. I figured he knew the longer he talked the fewer questions he would have to take.
But Ross said all the things you have to say, Ernie Clement isn’t guaranteed the second base job. They are putting together a plan for Vlad. They need to find some power. And they need to find some starting pitchers who can make 30 starts a year. And “everything needs to be assessed”.
Anyway, use the thread to talk about the Wild Card round or the Jays off-season or anything you’d like.
Eight teams remain in the hunt for a World Series title after the conclusion of the wild-card round, with best-of-five matchups on tap to determine which teams make the American and National League Championship Series later this month.
There’s no denying the blockbuster that rocked the NHL on the eve of the season start has impacted both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets. On Tuesday, Kirill Marchenko seemed to be everywhere against the Montreal Canadiens, and he got an assist. On Thursday night, in his first game as a Blue Jacket, Matthew Knies scored two goals, added an assist, and was named the first star of the game.
Unsurprisingly, the blockbuster was discussed at length on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast by Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas. The NHL insider confirmed that Habs GM Kent Hughes tried everything to land Marchenko:
I tried to figure out what Montreal did at the end; I heard that Montreal was trying to be really creative. I think they were trying to involve other teams. I’m not 100% sure whether they were trying to get other teams to get one of these extra Columbus guys, or whether they were trying to take a player from another team and put them in Columbus. Because I just always heard that Columbus wasn’t crazy about what Montreal offered. There were some good players in there, some futures; Columbus didn’t really want futures, and they just never had anything close to Knies. Like, I heard there was another player they were trying to get to Columbus from another team. I thought I knew who that guy was, but the other team has denied it, so I’m still working, Kyle, on who that guy was or who the guys were.
At this stage, this shouldn’t surprise anyone. Hughes said he was very active this summer but didn't manage to close the deal on his main target. Of course, the Canadiens’ GM didn’t confirm who his target was, but with multiple reports identifying Marchenko as the target, it makes sense.
As we mentioned in the hours following the trade, Hughes didn’t come away with the big prize despite trying; Friedman confirmed it came down to the Jackets not wanting what they had to offer. What’s new, however, is that they tried hard to involve other teams to get the Jackets what they wanted, even if it wasn’t from the Habs themselves, but it didn’t work. Still, the insider also confirms that Montreal was one of the most active teams this summer:
Montreal, no question, had been the most serious pursuer all summer. From the moment that Marchenko was potentially available. He’d let the Blue Jackets know he wasn’t going to re-sign there. They were the team that chased the hardest. And word behind the scenes was that he was more than happy to go there. I think that’s one of the most interesting storylines about this whole thing, Kyle: is that word early in July was that he was willing to go to Montreal, but he wasn’t so crazy about Toronto. Somewhere over the summer, that changed.
- Friedman on Marchenko wanting to come to Montreal
That might be a consolation for Habs fans; it's further proof, after Noah Dobson and Chris Kreider, that players want to come to Montreal now. If Marchenko had been free to choose his destination, the Canadiens would likely have been his choice. However, the Blue Jackets were in the driver’s seat, and they handled a difficult situation very well.
Hughes’s back to the drawing board if he wants an impact player, but that may have to wait until the offseason; who knows. With the salary cap rising, though, if a star player becomes an unrestricted free agent, it wouldn’t be a shock if they chose Montreal as a landing spot. The Canadiens have the money, the cap space, and a coach the players love. Until then, the players must do their part: keep winning, because at the end of the day, that’s what will make players chasing a Stanley Cup choose this team. Jason Robertson from the Dallas Stars will be a UFA this summer, and the summer after that, it will be Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers have allowed 13 goals through two games; their goaltending still isn’t sorted out, and neither is their defense. Whether they want it or not, they are slowly but surely pushing McDavid toward the exit.
MESA, AZ - MARCH 23: Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics bats during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on Monday, March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The long offseason is upon us. The A’s have lots to do this offseason. First things first, the team needs to decide on a new General Manager, one that’ll lead the team into Las Vegas and hopefully build a winning playoff team before long. Whoever gets the job will be given the bones of a quality position player group, but with lots to fix on the pitching side of things. It won’t be an overnight fix and the new voice will want to build the team in his or her imagine, but the sooner we pick a person to lead us the better.
Turning to the schedule this offseason, there’s a few critical dates that we should all have on our calendars. A lot of this will obviously depend on the possibility of an impending lockout. If the owners and players can’t agree to a new deal before December 1st (which seems likely), then that’ll throw a huge wrench in the plans of every team in the league, including the A’s. Nothing we can do about that though.
End of the World Series
The day after the Fall Classic is over, the rest of baseball is technically able to begin trades and sign their own players to contracts or extensions. There isn’t usually any big moves or news during this time but it’s always a possibility. Teams and agents can talk to each other during this time, but only the previous team can come to terms with an official contract.
During this time teams and players also need to decide on their options for next season. This year the A’s have a couple decisions to make, both of which should be easy. Jeffrey Springs and Jeff McNeil will both see their options for next year declined, sending them to free agency. On the other side of the coin starter Luis Severino is almost certain to pick up his $22 million option for next year, rejoining the club for a third year.
Five Days After The World Series: Free Agency Begins
Once the shock of the World Series subsides, the rest of the league can begin turning their attention back to their own organizations. Free agents are now able to sign with whoever they want but unlike in other sports there’s not usually a sudden rush of signings. Still, this is the day where any big contract announcement can come at any moment the rest of the winter.
Mid-November: Award Season
Once baseball is over it’s time to start handing out the end-of-year awards. The A’s won’t have anyone take home any trophies this offseason but there might be some honors. Langeliers could win the Silver Slugger for AL catcher even with the missed time. And while he won’t win the award, it’ll be interesting to see where Henry Bolte finishes in Rookie of the Year voting.
Friday, November 20th: Non-tender Deadline
This is a big date for the Athletics this offseason. The team will need to decide which players they want to keep paying, and which they’re comfortable cutting and letting hit the free agent market. Cornerstone guys like Shea Langeliers and Zack Gelof are clearly not going to be non-tendered, but there are players under the knife. Is it time for the A’s to move on from guys like Darell Hernaiz and Joey Estes instead of giving them raises? Lots of decisions to make before this date.
Second Week of December: Winter Meetings
If there is a deal in place, this year’s Winter Meetings would likely take place between December 7th and 10th. During this time there’s lots of deals and trades being made, as well as plenty of groundwork for later deals and trades that come later on. The A’s haven’t been especially active at these meetings and that’d be unlikely to change with a the new GM still likely getting their sea legs under them.
Another event that usually happens during the Winter Meetings is the Draft Lottery. The A’s are tied with the Rockies and Angels for the best odds to win the top pick at 16.5%. The lottery hasn’t gone the Athletics’ way in recent years but they’ve made it work (Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz, Jamie Arnold). One way or another there’ll be a lottery, it just may be delayed if there’s no deal.
Last Day of Winter Meetings: Rule 5 Draft
Again, this could be one of the first casualties of a lockout. The 2022 lockout didn’t cost games but delayed the season and the Rule 5 draft was cancelled altogether. That’s an entirely possible outcome again this time around, which is especially disappointing for the teams at the bottom like the A’s. Since we ended the year with one of the worst records the Athletics would have one of the top picks. No guarantee of getting a good player, but the A’s need all the opportunities to add talent and the Rule 5 draft being cancelled would deprive them of one more path to adding a potential piece.
January 15th: International Signing Period Begins
The A’s have always dipped their toes into the international market but have yet to have much success on that front. Lots of teams and players have already come to handshake agreements for contracts but this would be the date they put pen to paper. The A’s will likely have around $7-8 million to spend on a lottery ticket so to speak.
Arbitration deadline: Mid-January
Assuming all goes normally this offseason (a massive hypothetical), the deadline for arbitration-eligible players and teams to file their proposed salary figures is roughly around this time. The A’s have a small arbitration class this year headlined by Langeliers. The other four are Zack Gelof, lefty Hogan Harris, and righty Luis Medina. The A’s should be able to wrap those four contracts up without the need to go to a hearing.
February 9th/10th: Pitchers & Catcher Report
While it hasn’t technically been announced, pitchers and catchers generally arrive to camp 10 days before the first spring training game. That’d mean we’re looking at around February 9th or 10th for when the first players arrive to camp.
February 14th/15th: First full squad workout
Five days later the position players will arrive to camp and the full team will be together for the first time. They’ll be with these guys for the better part of the next seven months.
February 19th: First Spring Training Game
And then we finally get our first game action on the 19th, a Friday afternoon matchup against the Chicago Cubs. Only 140 days to go!
Title rivals bring upgrades to first Grand Prix in Malaysia since 2017 on a demanding but well liked circuit
While the byzantine nomenclature of this weekend’s “Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia” will have Formula One’s statisticians muttering darkly under their breath for years to come, the import of the sport’s return to the Sepang circuit remains all too straightforward at the sharp end. Complicated only perhaps by a Red Bull resurgence and an enthused Max Verstappen, determined to make his mark on the championship run-in.
The return to Malaysia for its first race since 2017 has been welcomed in F1. It is a much-liked circuit among drivers, albeit the high temperatures and humidity make for an enormous physical challenge.
Eric Samulski
