Mackenzie Blackwood has emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the NHL.
The 28-year-old earned that respect from NHL insider and former goaltender Kevin Weekes, who praised him Monday on NHL Tonight.
Blackwood was selected 42nd overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, where he spent four seasons. His standout campaign came during the shortened 2019–20 season, posting a 22-14-8 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. On the show, Weekes elaborated on why he has long admired Blackwood’s game.
“I think Mackenzie Blackwood going back to his time in (Juniors) always had the goods,” he stated. “He has the size; he has the skillset. I liked him a lot when he was with the Devils (Weekes’ former team), but he was a young goalie...but he’s really found his footing since going out West.”
On June 27, 2023, as a pending restricted free agent, Blackwood was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick. He promptly signed a two-year contract with San Jose. Blackwood made his Sharks debut early in the 2023–24 season on October 14, recording 51 saves in a 2–1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche—ironically, the team that would acquire him the following season.
That move, however, is what Weekes said allowed Blackwood to truly hone his skills and demonstrate that he has what it takes to perform under pressure.
“And first going to San Jose and proving he can play under duress and then coming to Colorado, he’s been fantastic,” Weekes continued.
“But (against the Philadelphia Flyers) specifically and (the New York Rangers), he was absolutely outstanding. But again, keep in mind, the fact that just up the street from here, he played in New Jersey. He’s familiar with these buildings, so maybe that had something to do with it.”
Blackwood Started Season Nursing Injury
The start of the season did not unfold as Blackwood had hoped. He underwent offseason surgery to address a persistent lower-body injury, and his recovery progressed more slowly than anticipated. Having missed both training camp and the preseason, he only began taking reps once the regular season commenced, leaving it evident that he still had significant ground to make up.
After a somewhat shaky start, Blackwood has not only regained his footing but appears to be performing at the peak of his career. He currently holds an 8-1-1 record, boasting a career-low 2.21 goals-against average and a career-high .920 save percentage. While some might attribute his success to playing on a strong team, that perspective overlooks his individual contributions—most notably on Sunday, when the Avalanche defeated the Flyers 3-2 and Blackwood made several critical saves to preserve the one-goal margin. He deserves all of the credit.
Blackwood Is Elite
“I think he’s become a really complete goalie,” Weekes said. “I’m a big fan of his. What I would also say about Mackenzie Blackwood is like a lot of young people and young goalie players, he’s matured a lot, too.
“He knows Colorado is an elite team, but to me, the way he played...he played back-to-back. And I love that he played back-to-back because it’s kind of a rare thing nowadays, but I love seeing it, so good on him for the back-to-back performances.”
Blackwood recorded 25 saves against the Rangers on Saturday, helping secure a 3-2 overtime victory capped by Nathan MacKinnon’s deft backhand that eluded Igor Shesterkin. The following day, he added 23 more saves—including several highlight-reel stops—to propel the Avalanche to a second 3-2 triumph, this time in regulation.
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David Stearns said Monday at the Winter Meetings that rehabbing Mets pitchers Christian Scott and A.J. Minter have been progressing well this offseason.
Scott is wrapping up his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the entirety of last season, and he’s in line to be a full participant by the time spring training comes.
That’s certainly encouraging news for the Mets’ pitching depth.
The 25-year-old was the first of New York’s influx of young talent to crack the majors, and he showed some of his high upside before going down to injury.
Scott pitched to a 4.56 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over his first nine big-league outings.
Minter, meanwhile, remains a bit less certain for the beginning of the season.
The veteran left-hander continues recovering from a lat injury that sidelined him for the season in late May, but if he does miss time, it is only expected to be brief.
Minter looked strong in his 13 appearances prior to the injury, and he is expected to play a key role in New York’s bullpen again after picking up his $11 million player option.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answers questions during a news conference at the MLB winter meetings in Orlando on Monday. (John Raoux / Associated Press)
It’s been an offseason of few acquisitions thus far for the Dodgers.
So much so that, on the first day of MLB’s annual winter meetings at the Signia by Hilton Orlando on Monday, the most intriguing rumor surrounding the team had to do with a potential subtraction from their big-league roster.
According to multiple reports, Teoscar Hernández has come up in the Dodgers’ trade talks with other teams this winter. USA Today went as far as saying the club was “shopping” the two-time All-Star, who is entering the second season of the three-year, $66-million deal he signed last offseason.
Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández hits a sacrifice fly to score Dodgers' Will Smith during the Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 1. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
“Teo certainly fits [our roster still],” Roberts said. “He’s helped us win two championships. He’s one of my favorites.”
“That doesn't feel likely,” Gomes added of the possibility of trading Hernández. “Obviously, you can never say never on those types of things. I know that's come up [in reports]. But that's not something we anticipate at all."
The idea of the Dodgers trading Hernández has felt like a long shot from the start. Though the 33-year-old slugger suffered an inconsistent and injury-plagued regular season in 2025 — both at the plate, where he had 25 home runs but hit only .247, and especially defensively, where he had several notable lapses after moving to right field — the 10-year veteran has made crucial contributions in each of the Dodgers’ two World Series runs the last couple years, and has served in a mentor role to young players in the clubhouse; none more so than Andy Pages.
Granted, moving Hernández could help the Dodgers get younger, which has been a goal for the front office this offseason as they try to navigate their aging and expensive roster. And his salary could be repurposed if the team were to make a splashier free-agent signing.
But for now, the Dodgers continue to express belief in their current core, with Roberts noting Monday that “we're very confident with where the roster is right now” and that “there's really no big splash we feel needs to be made.”
Plus, moving Hernández would also only further exacerbate the team’s pre-existing need for outfield help, as the club continues to evaluate both the free agent market (where players such as Cody Bellinger or Harrison Bader figure to be better, and more affordable, fits than a likely $400-million signing of top free-agent option Kyle Tucker) and trade possibilities (such as Brendan Donovan or Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals, Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox or — in a less likely scenario — Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians).
Roberts did leave the door open to potentially moving Hernández back to left field, where he spent the majority of 2024 for the Dodgers before shifting over to his more natural right field position last year.
Still, in Roberts’ eyes, Hernández’s defense was “at least average” in right after an August series in Colorado when he made a couple particularly glaring mistakes on fly balls. His career-long defensive metrics have also been stronger in right field than left.
“I do think that with the versatility [of our roster] and how we potentially shape this roster, there's some options,” Roberts said. “But right now, he's our right fielder.”
Dodgers continue to assess bullpen options
Padres relief pitcher Robert Suárez celebrates after San Diego defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 27. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
One area the Dodgers do still seem more eager to make an addition this offseason is in the bullpen, even as they voice confidence in improved performances from the returning members of last year’s disappointing group.
“Getting a high-leverage reliever,” Roberts said, “is never a bad thing.”
The Dodgers have attempted to sign some big-name, back-end relievers already this winter, from Raisel Iglesias (who ultimately returned to the Atlanta Braves on a one-year, $16-million deal, despite the Dodgers reportedly making a similar offer to the veteran right-hander) to Devin Williams (who went to the New York Mets on a three-year, $5- million deal, despite the Dodgers’ interest in him dating back to last offseason).
The team had strong interest in Williams, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, even as his bidding reached the level of multi-year offers.
That could offer some insight into the club's pursuit of another current relief target: Former San Diego Padres closer Robert Suárez.
The Dodgers have expressed interest in Suárez, as the Athletic first reported. And, with the hard-throwing right-hander set to turn 35 next March, he has only been projected to sign a two- or three-year contract. Time will tell if that’s out of the Dodgers’ comfort zone.
If the team strikes out at the top of the market — Edwin Díaz still looms as the biggest free-agent closer, but is expected to be out of the Dodgers’ preferred price range — there could be other alternatives.
Pete Fairbanks, the former Tampa Bay Rays closer whom the Dodgers inquired about at last year’s deadline, remains a potential option, although the team has not yet targeted him aggressively. The Dodgers have also expressed interest in re-signing Evan Phillips, despite not tendering him a contract as he recovers from a Tommy John surgery.
Familiar face Michael Kopech could also be a fallback alternative after spending the last year and a half in Los Angeles, though he was unable to pitch in this past postseason because of injuries.
Faith in Tanner Scott, Mookie Betts rebounds
Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott throws from the mound and surrenders a lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 31 at Dodger Stadium. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
One constant message the Dodgers have reiterated when discussing their bullpen this offseason has been their continued faith in Scott, despite his 4.74 ERA and woeful 23 of 33 mark in save opportunities last year.
Both Roberts and Gomes noted on Monday that Scott was potentially hampered by injuries last year.
“I think there were just some things he kept under wraps about his body,” Roberts said of the 31-year-old left-hander, who missed a month in the second half of the season with forearm inflammation. “Some stuff that he just, honestly, he never felt right all year.”
“I think when he went down with the elbow injury, my sense is Tanner is a tough guy and wants the ball, but that was bothering him for a while,” Gomes added, while also noting that “there was a lot of batted ball luck and things that would be very hard to repeat again” that contributed to his disappointing debut season.
“We’ve seen it happen with elite relievers before,” Gomes continued. “So I’m very confident that Tanner is gonna come back and have a great season for us and be a big part of our success.”
Another player the Dodgers are banking on improvements from is Mookie Betts, who was a Gold Glove finalist defensively after switching to shortstop last season but suffered a career-worst campaign at the plate (.258 average, .732 OPS and only 20 home runs in 150 games).
“He had a tough, tough offensive year,” Roberts said. “He did. He's human, but it's easy to bet on a bounce-back year for Mookie on the offensive side for sure.”
A big reason why: Betts figures to be able to spend more time this offseason working on his swing and rebuilding the strength he lost following a bout with a serious stomach virus at the start of last season. Last winter, Betts spent the majority of his offseason work preparing for his full-time move to shortstop — a position Roberts confirmed he will play again in 2026.
“I'm sure in some way, he now knows that he is a double-plus shortstop,” Gomes said. “He will put in the work to maintain that. He now probably just has a little more bandwidth to balance it all out.”
Etc.
Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman forces out Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at second base during Game 4 of the World Series on Oct. 29. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
— Gomes said utilityman Tommy Edman’s recent ankle surgery was a debridement procedure to address the injury that nagged him during the second half of last season. Edman’s recovery will likely leave him limited at the start of spring training, but the team does not “expect it to affect a meaningful part of the season,” Gomes added. Edman is also expected to be able to play both the infield and outfield next season, after his injury limited him to mostly infield duties last year.
— Brusdar Graterol is expected to be “full go” next spring, Gomes said, after the reliever missed all of last year recovering from a shoulder surgery. Fellow reliever Brock Stewart “will be a little delayed” after missing the end of last year with his own shoulder surgery, Gomes said, “but we don’t think it’s going to be anything [that lingers] too deep into the season at all.”
— Shohei Ohtani is expected to be making full-length pitching starts from the beginning of next season, but Roberts noted the club could be strategic in giving him extra days off between his pitching outings: “I do feel that giving him six, seven, eight days off to kind of allow him to continue to stay rested and build up, I think that's in our process. But again, we have a long way to go [before making final decisions].”
The Philadelphia Flyers have made another minor trade.
The Flyers have announced that they have acquired defenseman Roman Schmidt from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for blueliner Ethan Samson.
With this move, the Flyers have added a new defenseman with size to their system in Schmidt. The 6-foot-5, right-shot defenseman was selected by the Lightning with the 96th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has spent his entire professional career so far at the AHL level.
In 13 games this season with the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, he recorded one assist and 38 penalty minutes. This was after he had three goals, five points, 79 penalty minutes, and a plus-7 rating in 49 games last season for the Crunch.
As for Samson, the Flyers selected the right-shot defenseman with the 174th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In 10 games this season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before this trade, he posted four assists and a plus-4 rating. This was after he had 12 goals and 24 points in 69 games for the Phantoms this past season.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza discussed a number of topics on Monday at the Winter Meetings…
Nimmo trade, Semien addition
Like everyone else, Mendoza was caught off guard by the Brandon Nimmo trade.
While he only managed the outfielder for the past two seasons, he had to sit back and pause for a moment after David Stearns revealed the deal was completed with the Rangers.
While losing Nimmo is a tough blow, he is excited to add Marcus Semien to the mix.
“I wasn’t an easy decision,” he said. “Because of how much Brandon represented and what he meant to the team. At the same time, when you’re talking a guy coming back like Marcus Semien, there’s a lot of the same traits there.
“The qualities, makeup, he’s a proven winner, and also gives us the ability to improve on the right side of the infield. But it was a tough one, wishing Brandon nothing but the best, because as a manager, he represented everything.”
Williams added to the ‘pen
Mendoza is also excited about the Mets’ other big addition, this one in the bullpen.
While they are still trying to retain All-Star closer Edwin Diaz in free agency, Devin Williams brings experience and a significant boost to the backend of New York’s ‘pen.
“We’re talking about one of the best relievers for the past few years,” Mendoza said. “He’s a guy that is used to pitching in high-leverage and has closing experience -- we’re looking for help there, and the fact that we got one, I was excited.”
Carson Benge’s development
Some of the work the Mets still have in front of them this winter is in the outfield.
They now have openings in left and center after moving on from Nimmo.
Stearns indicated on Monday in Orlando that, as things stand, Jeff McNeil would likely see a majority of the reps in left, but Benge would also be in the mix.
Benge is coming off a strong first full campaign in the organization, in which he hit his way up to Triple-A before season's end.
He finished the year hitting .281 with 15 homers, 73 RBI, and a .857 OPS.
“He’s an exciting player,” Mendoza said. “He’s a guy who can impact the baseball, controls the strike zone, a pretty good defender, has the makeup -- there’s just a lot to like about this kid. I keep hearing his name since we drafted him, now here he is putting himself in a position where he’s going to show up ready to compete for a spot on our roster.”
Changes to the coaching staff
Monday presented Mendoza with the first opportunity to address the numerous changes to the coaching staff.
Hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh, first-base coach Antoan Richardson, and bench coach John Gibbons are some of the most notable ones to go.
They've been replaced by a whole new group, including four promotions from within the organization.
"Not a lot of easy decisions," Mendoza said. "Especially with the chair I'm sitting in as the manager, you develop so many relationships with these guys, but at the same time, I'm excited about the guys we were able to bring on board.
"You're talking about continuity and team chemistry, we brought up four guys from player development. Guys who are used to our players, our processes, our system, the relationship with players. I was very proud of the fact that we're not only promoting players, but also giving a chance to some of the coaches that are grinding in the minor leagues."
The Buffalo Sabres may be having a tough 2025-26 season, but former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jason Zucker has been impactful for them. In 20 games so far this season with the Sabres, Zucker has recorded nine goals, seven assists, and 16 points. This is after he had 21 goals, 32 assists, and 53 points in 73 games during his first season with the Sabres in 2024-25.
Zucker is also continuing to perform well for the Sabres as the season carries on, as he is playing some strong hockey right now for the Atlantic Division club. The truth can be seen with his recent stats.
Zucker has scored a goal in each of the Sabres' last three games, so there is no question that he is heating up big time for Buffalo. With the Sabres looking to climb up the standings, it is certainly good for them that Zucker is producing offensively right now. The former Penguin will now be looking to build on his hot streak for the Sabres from here.
In four seasons with the Penguins from 2019-20 to 2022-23, Zucker recorded 50 goals, 45 assists, 95 points, and 457 hits.
Center Michael Misa and goaltender Josh Ravensbergen were among the 27 players named Monday to Canada’s National Junior Team training camp roster—giving the San Jose Sharks two more prospects with a strong chance to represent their country at next month’s IIHF World Junior Championship.
Misa, 18, the second overall pick in June’s NHL Draft, is one of 15 forwards invited to the camp, set for Dec. 12–22 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Ravensbergen, selected 30th overall and who turned 19 in November, is one of three goaltenders vying for a roster spot.
Assuming no injuries or last-minute changes, both players are projected to be on Canada’s roster when the tournament opens Dec. 26 in Minnesota. Each nation may carry 22 skaters—typically 14 forwards and eight defensemen—along with three goalies.
Misa scored his first career NHL goal on October 26 en route to a 6-5 win over Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild.
The Future Is Here
Misa, a native of Oakville, Ontario, recorded three points in seven games with the Sharks before suffering a right ankle sprain during a Nov. 5 morning skate in Seattle. After steady progress in his recovery, he was placed on long-term injured reserve last week and assigned to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda for conditioning.
He notched an assist in the Barracuda’s 4–3 overtime win over Tucson on Friday and was held off the scoresheet in Saturday’s 6–2 loss in the rematch.
Ravensbergen, a North Vancouver, B.C. native, was named the WHL Goalie of the Month for November after an outstanding stretch in which he won eight of 10 starts and posted a .940 save percentage with the Prince George Cougars. He currently leads the league with 16 wins and ranks fourth overall with a .921 save percentage.
Although Ravensbergen didn’t appear in any preseason games for the Sharks, he made a strong impression at the organization’s development camp in July and again during rookie camp in September, reinforcing his status as one of San Jose’s most promising young goaltenders.
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Former San Jose Sharks star Tomas Hertl has had a solid start to the 2025-26 season with the Vegas Golden Knights. In 28 games so far this campaign, the 32-year-old forward has recorded 13 goals, nine assists, and 22 points. With this, he has certainly been one of the Golden Knights' top offensive contributors early on this season.
Hertl is only continuing to make a big impact for the Golden Knights as the season carries on, too. The former Sharks forward is red-hot right now for Vegas, as he has scored four goals in his last four games. This, of course, included him scoring two goals against the Sharks on Nov. 29.
Seeing Hertl putting up good numbers for the Golden Knights is not surprising in the slightest, as he certainly did just that during his days with the Sharks. He also had a strong season for the Golden Knights this past campaign, as he recorded 32 goals, 29 assists, and 61 points in 73 games with the Pacific Division club.
It will now be interesting to see how Hertl builds on his hot streak with the Golden Knights. Clearly, the former Shark is feeling it right now.
The Knicks will be without guard Miles McBride on Tuesday night in Toronto due to a left ankle sprain, the team announced.
McBride left Sunday’s win over the Orlando Magic, and while initial X-rays were negative, the injury is significant enough to keep him sidelined for New York's NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup with the Raptors.
No timetable for a return to the lineup has yet been revealed.
Playing in his fifth NBA season, McBride has been outstanding for the Knicks this year, averaging a career-best 11.6 points per game while shooting 44.4 percent from three-point range.
The West Virginia product has thrived as both a starter and a bench player this season, averaging a career-high 27.0 minutes per game under head coach Mike Brown.
Paceman has struggled with hamstring and achilles issues
‘It’s really flat for him,’ says Australia coach Andrew McDonald
Australian fast-bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series amid hamstring and achilles tendon injuries.
Injuries have thwarted the reliable right-arm quick in recent years and had forced him to watch from afar as Australia took a 2-0 series lead at the Gabba last week.
Juan Soto will likely have to move to DH at some point during his 15-year deal with the Mets, but don’t expect it in 2026.
Carlos Mendoza indicated on Monday at the Winter Meetings that he will continue to use Soto consistently in right field this season.
“He doesn’t like DHing,” the skipper said. “He takes pride in being a good defender, and he will continue to do so. The schedule will dictate sometimes dealing with physical stuff and you’re trying to keep his bat in the lineup, the DH may come in to play, but if he’s feeling good enough, he’s going to be out there in right field.”
Soto appeared in just three games as the DH during his first season in Queens.
He worked hard with outfield coach Antoan Richardson on improving defensively during spring training, but still finished with a minus-13 Fielding Run Value and minus-12 Outs Above Average during his first season in Queens.
Still, David Stearns indicated earlier this offseason that the team believes he can turn things around with the glove.
"Juan is one of our players we believe can perform better defensively than he did last year," he told Mike Puma of the NY Post. "I think he believes that he’s going to work hard on it this offseason -- he’s motivated to do that, and he’s proven at previous times in his career that he can perform better in right field."
Keeping Soto regularly in right leaves the DH spot open for a potential Kyle Schwarber addition in free agency.
Pete Alonso could also be in the mix for more DH at-bats if he were to return to the club.
A few years ago, Cody Bellinger's once-promising career – the NL Rookie of the Year in 2017 and MVP in 2019 – looked to be over after batting .193 with a .611 OPS in his final 239 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But after two solid years on Chicago's Northside and a terrific year in The Bronx, he enters free agency as one of baseball’s hot commodities.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone says there’s a lot to love about the 30-year-old outfielder’s game.
“Who he was in the room, his performance between the lines on both sides of the ball, his athleticism, his versatility,” the manager said Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings. “Who wouldn't want a player like that?”
During his (so far) lone season in pinstripes, Bellinger's on-field contributions totaled 29 home runs, 98 RBI, with a .272/.334/.480 slash line for an .813 OPS (125 OPS+ and wRC+) while ranking in the 93rd percentile in outs above average (seven) and with 12 defensive runs saved.
But with free agency, the power and decision of where he plays next is up to him for the second time in his career, something Boone is content with waiting to see how it plays out.
“He's earned the right now to get to this point of his career of free agency as still a relatively young man,” Boone said. “We’ll see what happens, we’ll see how it shakes out. As far as the player and the person, he’s a good one."
Boone said he hasn’t been part of the recruitment process, adding he doesn’t typically do that with players who have been with the club previously.
“They know who we are, they know what we’re about,” the skipper said. “Certainly, if there comes a point where – and this isn’t just for Cody, this is with anyone – when it gets to a point where we’re starting to get down the road, or being in conversations, I’ll certainly have conversations with guys where I see it fit.”
Out in left field
Part of the conversation around bringing back Bellinger would be: What does that mean for Jasson Dominguez’s opportunity to play more in left field?
“We’re back into the hypothetical again,” Boone said with a smile when asked about Dominguez’s opportunities. “Right now, reality is JD is a young, talented player that got real experience at the big-league level last year. Had a lot of success, had some struggles along the way with it, but I think we all see a really talented player there.”
Of course, while the situation is hypothetical now, reality could come calling at some point in the not-too-distant future.
“If the situation presents itself down the road where you end up having a lot of good players for not enough spots,” Boone said, “you figure it out. You work it out. And then competition plays a big role, too. Those things kinda work themselves out.”
New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Domínguez (24) gestures after hitting a three run double in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
He added: “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, if and when something like that comes up.”
Dominguez returned to the Dominican to “get more at-bats” playing winter ball, which Boone called something that will be “very valuable” to the 22-year-old.
“Just going down there and playing in that environment and getting some at-bats and continuing to play,” he said, noting that while Dominguez reached 429 plate appearances on the year, that down the stretch he “didn’t play much obviously.”
One area that the Yanks hope to see Dominguez improve is batting from the right side. The switch-hitter posted a .274 average and .768 OPS as a lefty and just a .204 average and .569 OPS as a righty. The manager pointed toward limited at-bats as a reason for that disparity – 325 plate appearances as a lefty to 104 as a righty.
“We’re talking about a very, very young player that didn’t play a ton of minor league baseball, and what suffers from that? The side you don’t hit from as much,” Boone said. “I still think it's a natural side for him, he’s a natural right-handed hitter. I don’t think it’s out of the question that at some point that right hand catches up to the left side, but we’ll see.”
The bigger question regarding Dominguez’s chances is his defense in left field, which was a real liability: He was in the 2nd percintile for outs above average (minus-10).
“Overall, real improvement, but there’s still a long ways to go in that improvement,” Boone said of his defense. “The difference of him February compared to April compared to June, I think there was really big strides. But still a ways to go just in learning the nuances of the position.
“He’s athleticism is a real calling card for him as far as speed and arm strength, and you hope that continues to win the day and eventually gets him to that point where ‘man, now he’s really good out there.’ Still has a lot of development to do in that regard.”
First base for Ben Rice
Rice's bat was the biggest boost for the Yankees last season as he slugged 26 home runs and posted an .836 OPS, but his versatility playing first base and catching helped solve several lineup headaches for the manager. Entering the 2026 season, the club is leaving the option to see him work behind the plate open, while pointing the 26-year-old toward first.
"Right now he's our first baseman," Boone said. "The catching stuff is still very much in play, and then we'll see. We'll see how the offseason unfolds with how we are roster-wise going into spring training, and how much catching that means, or if it is all first base. But definitely see him as our first baseman."
Boone said that he didn't think Rice got "shorted" from working on his defense at first base by working at both spots, and that they will continue to give him time at catcher: "It's an important skill that he possesses that you don't want it to go away, because he's capable back there."
In early November, general manager Brian Cashman told reporters that "more likely than not" he sees Rice at first "without a doubt."
"I view Ben Rice as having an everyday role in the big leagues for us next year, whether it's at first... right now the lane is first base, I have no doubt teams will continue to come after our players, Rice included, for trade conversations," Cashman said at the time. "But as of right now, yeah, he's in our lineup, and the more likely spot would be first base."
It appears that at least two prospects from the Pittsburgh Penguins could be headed to the World Junior Championship (WJC).
Last week, forward Will Horcoff was named to Team USA's prelimary roster for the WJC, and Monday, it was defenseman Harrison Brunicke's turn. Brunicke, 19, was officially named to the WJC training camp roster for Team Canada along with 26 other players, and - assuming he is a lock for the roster - it will be his second time representing his country, as he won gold with the U18 team for the WJC back in 2024.
However, this will likely be his first time representing at the highest level of junior hockey, as he broke his hand last season prior to the tournament and was unable to participate despite getting the invite to camp.
The 6-foot-3, 201-pound blueliner - selected 44th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft with the second-round pick acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Jake Guentzel trade - made the Penguins' NHL roster out of training camp. Despite registering a goal in his second NHL game and starting off the season well, his play declined in the latter part of his nine-game trial run, and he found himself a frequent healthy scratch.
As such, he was loaned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins on conditioning for the team's last five games, and he put up three points in five games and was a plus-2 with 13 shots on goal. Brunicke has yet to play in his 10th NHL game this season to activate his entry-level contract, and the Penguins will have until Jan. 3 - their 40th game of the season - to determine whether or not he will stick around, as that is the day they lose a year of restricted free agency at the end of his current deal.
Therefore, a loan to Team Canada for the WJC - which is expected to be made official at some point this week by the Penguins - could be good for the young, talented blueliner. He figures to log significant minutes, should his roster spot be finalized, on the right side in a top-four role, and he may be in the mix for the country's leadership group, too.
Brunicke would join fellow NHLers in San Jose Sharks forward Michael Misa and Calgary Flames defenseman Zayne Parekh on the squad as well as forwards Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone. Those five figure to fill some of the biggest roles on the team, assuming they are all on the final roster.
The Mets have a number of openings to fill this offseason, but it appears you can officially scratch one off the list.
Carlos Mendoza said Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings that as things stand, Brett Baty will see the majority of the playing time at third base come spring training.
The hot corner was a huge question mark for New York coming into last season, but Baty truly took his game to another level and secured his hold on the everyday job.
“Brett took that step forward,” the skipper said. “It felt like we had a tryout there and Baty just got comfortable and played really well from both sides of the field -- we’ll see what happens, but as of right now Brett will get a lot of the opportunities.”
As for Mark Vientos, Mendoza says the team is preparing the young slugger for all scenarios.
The 25-year-old has been taking reps at both first and third over the winter.
“We aren’t throwing third out the window, and he’s working a lot at first,” he said. “But again, a lot can happen. So the one thing I told him is control the things you can control -- just put yourself in the best position and show up to camp ready to compete.”
Ronny Mauricio also finds himself in a similar position coming off an up-and-down first full pro season.
The biggest thing for him, though, is just staying healthy and ready to go.
“It’s good to see him playing Winter Ball and playing well,” Mendoza said. “He looks good and is in a very good place. He has to come in and compete for a spot on the roster -- there’s flexibility there, but I think the biggest thing is for him to be healthy.
“If we get a healthy-version of Ronny Mauricio, he is an impactful player.”
