LOS ANGELES — We now have some clarity on Shohei Ohtani's offseason plans, and what Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman expects from the two-way superstar going forward.
After the Dodgers were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, Ohtani told reporters he wasn't sure if he would need surgery to address his left knee and right bicep injuries that bogged him down at the plate and took him off the mound entirely. Friedman confirmed Wednesday that surgery is "not on the table" after Ohtani was assessed by a doctor, and that he fully expects Ohtani to pitch in 2027.
As for whether he thinks he'll pitch a full season at 32 years old (he'll turn 33 on July 5), that might be a different story.
"We'll have to figure it out," Friedman said at the Dodgers' end of season press conference. "This is unprecedented what he's doing; we don't have any experience to draw from. ... And not only am I expecting him to pitch, I'm excited about him pitching. So now it's about how do we do that? How do we manage through a long season and have him at his best going into October?
"That's a challenge, and we've got to figure it out together."
Ohtani was one of several Dodgers who struggled down the stretch. He didn't fare much better at the plate as he went homerless for nearly the final three months from Aug. 18 until Game 4 of the NLCS on Oct. 15. In his final 18 games played of the regular season, Ohtani averaged just .157 with a .214 slugging percentage. Those numbers improved only slightly in the postseason as he hit 5-for-26 with a .630 OPS.
Friedman said Ohtani should fully recover with rest and be good to go by spring training.
He added that while they haven't had conversations about what next season looks like on the mound yet, he's already trying to think of different ways to manage the four-time MVP and preserve his rare talent on both sides of the ball for as long as possible. Those talks will likely also continue to evolve as the season goes on.
"Us continuing to put our heads together and understand where things are at any given time I think will just increase our chances of him doing what is incredibly unprecedented," Friedman said. "And the toll that it takes for him to be able to do it, impact our team in the regular season to accomplish our regular season goal and then be in a good position going into October."
The Dodgers just don't know exactly what that will look like as of right now.
Declan Rice struck to earn Arsenal a point after Harry Kane scored from the spot, but Bukayo Saka’s early injury will be a concern
The teams are out! Bayern are in one of their all-red phases, while Arsenal are harking back to the early 90s with a blue version of the famous bruised banana. Vincent Kompany is in the house, by the way, having recovered from a virus that threatened to keep him in bed. And so is Germany boss Jurgen Klopp, in the stands flashing that smile and throwing his arm around the shoulder of another erstwhile Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez. Everyone having a good time, it seems, and looking forward to this big showdown, including Arsenal fan Charles Antaki … well, kind of: “Pretty dismal, the fare served up in the game against Forest. But! Pundits have assured us that because Bayern are going to be on the attack, Arsenal will be free to entertain us with a dazzling display of skill, ambition, irresistible cheeks and above all, goals. Not much to say about that except We Shall See.” We’ll be off in a minute or two.
Mikel Arteta speaks to TNT Sports. “We’re gonna have to play, I expect, three or four different games at different stages … we need everybody ready because we need to change and adapt to that … freshness … very excited … we have talked about our enthusiasm for playing on these big stages … that’s where you want to get tested … play with a lot of courage … a lot of aggression … be decisive … we have prepared for what we have to do.”
Declan Rice struck to earn Arsenal a point after Harry Kane scored from the spot, but Bukayo Saka’s early injury will be a concern
The teams are out! Bayern are in one of their all-red phases, while Arsenal are harking back to the early 90s with a blue version of the famous bruised banana. Vincent Kompany is in the house, by the way, having recovered from a virus that threatened to keep him in bed. And so is Germany boss Jurgen Klopp, in the stands flashing that smile and throwing his arm around the shoulder of another erstwhile Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez. Everyone having a good time, it seems, and looking forward to this big showdown, including Arsenal fan Charles Antaki … well, kind of: “Pretty dismal, the fare served up in the game against Forest. But! Pundits have assured us that because Bayern are going to be on the attack, Arsenal will be free to entertain us with a dazzling display of skill, ambition, irresistible cheeks and above all, goals. Not much to say about that except We Shall See.” We’ll be off in a minute or two.
Mikel Arteta speaks to TNT Sports. “We’re gonna have to play, I expect, three or four different games at different stages … we need everybody ready because we need to change and adapt to that … freshness … very excited … we have talked about our enthusiasm for playing on these big stages … that’s where you want to get tested … play with a lot of courage … a lot of aggression … be decisive … we have prepared for what we have to do.”
Where did the New York Yankees go? They used to make winning look so easy that the entire industry reviled them, wrote rules around them, and chased them.
But these Aarons-era Yankees experience October like a ball of yarn experiences a cat, batted around by injuries or hot teams or other autumn inevitabilities – as if they, like the yarn, do not have the ability to decide where they go.
This generation’s triumvirate -- Aaron Boone, Aaron Judge and Brian Cashman -- has won more games than everyone but the Dodgers since the start of the 2018 season. But postmortem news conferences are the lingering images of all their shared Octobers.
“Every year’s a little bit different. There’s years where I feel like we’ve been, at times throughout the year, the best team or one of the very best teams in baseball,” Boone said Wednesday. “And you get to the finish line and you’re not that same team.”
Fairly or not – and of course it is fair, because these are the Yankees, and winning is what you promise when you sign – where they are at the finish line is all that matters. The fact that their banged-up 2026 group still managed 93 wins in a tough division without their biggest star does not qualify as consolation.
Those credentials do, however, qualify Boone and Cashman for at least one more try. Cashman’s contract expires after this season, but he announced Wednesday that he has agreed to the framework of an extension that will keep him in charge for a 30th season and potentially beyond.
As for Boone, his eighth made postseason in nine chances was enough to persuade Hal Steinbrenner that Boone deserved to keep his job – though he admitted he needed a week of deliberation.
“Every year, I’m going to look at the situation. I don’t think you can pin the season and the unacceptable end to it on Aaron. I don’t think you can pin it on [Cashman] based on the roster he put together,” Steinbrenner said. “Again, the offense – not the pitching, but the offense – had a big part in why, and I don’t mind saying it, why we didn’t get where we strive to get every year.”
So the offense, it seems, will be the problem the Yankees decide to address to avoid this fate next year. Steinbrenner, Cashman, and Boone all said Wednesday they will consider making changes to the coaching staff. Boone and Cashman both said they are always trying to emulate the successful parts of winning teams, so they are enamored with the athleticism of the Rays and Brewers.
Still, they have sort of tried that already: the acquisitions of Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jose Caballero and the promotions of young players like George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones have certainly made them more mobile.
“I feel like we, over the last number of years, have tried to address our athleticism, our defense, our baserunning skillset with, obviously, guys that can take the extra bag or steal a lot of bases,” Cashman said. “So I think we’ve tried to steer in that direction, and we’ll continue to try to steer in that direction.”
But when the Yankees couldn’t get runners on base against the Rays a few weeks ago, it did not matter whether those runners could have stolen a base. And when their defense fell apart in the first inning of Game 2, it did not matter that their position players should have been able to do better. Cashman also mentioned the importance of contact in October success, but he did not seem convinced enough to make a full pivot away from big sluggers, either.
“You don’t lose sight of the team that outhomers the opposing team in each playoff series is the one that moves on. So slug is important, too,” said Cashman, who acknowledged that they are both always trying to emulate the strengths of successful teams but sometimes feel their hand is forced.
“But then, what’s available in the marketplace? What’s available in the trade marketplace? What’s the availability in the free agent marketplace? What’s the flexibility in the payroll when those availabilities do come? What’s coming up through your system that you gotta lean into, you believe can maybe allow you to find the higher ground with a good [controllable] player?” Cashman said.
And indeed, the Yankees’ ability to make significant change offensively is somewhat limited given the runway they will likely give Lombard Jr. at shortstop, the need to preserve designated hitter at-bats for Ben Rice while crossing their fingers Judge is healthy enough to play right field, and the need to find a position for Luis Garcia Jr. if he isn’t.
“You’re always trying to incorporate the best of some teams,” Boone said. “But you also start with a lot of certainties that you have within your club, so a lot of times you’re just trying to improve things around the margins, and hopefully we can do that this winter.”
While the repetitiveness of these October seminars suggests they have not adapted enough by Yankee standards, Boone and Cashman have shown some ability to evolve. Boone arrived around when analytics cemented new strategic norms and evaluation methods. The Yankees did not struggle with these changes and in some cases, were early adopters.
“Evolve or die,” Cashman said Wednesday, though this version of the Yankees is uniquely capable of both.
The trouble, former Yankees like Anthony Rizzo and C.C. Sabathia have suggested in recent weeks, is a decline in clubhouse and franchise standards. Rizzo said Yankees players are too uptight and that the organization repeats too many fixable mistakes. Sabathia said a lack of input from Yankees stars with championship experience is fostering a slip in accountability, though Boone said he encourages former players to spend time around the team.
As for clubhouse standards, Boone was asked whether recent playoff failures leave him thinking he needs to be more publicly vocal about his players’ failings. He does not.
“There is probably a time and place for that, but generally speaking, to me, that’s not leadership,” Boone said. “That’s me giving red meat to people that want to be upset with somebody.
Wednesday, Steinbrenner assured reporters that whatever happens publicly, players hear from him or Cashman or Boone or Judge privately when they do not meet expectations. He sees no reason to start emulating his late father’s media strategy, either.
“I’m not convinced that with this team, in this day in age, that that’s as big a motivator as you think it is,” Steinbrenner said. “Twenty, twenty-five years ago? Different generation, just a different scenario.”
In this scenario, the Yankees will bet on patience. There will be change, but it will not be drastic.
As Steinbrenner explained, he sees the offense as the problem. As Cashman explained, they will continue to add as much talent as they can within realistic limits. As Boone said, he believes they had enough talent to win, but they will try to get better at everything. And they will hope that when another unpredictable baseball autumn is done batting them around, they will end up with a title.
It seems the Octobers when the Yankees knew how to pounce are gone.
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing walks up to first base after getting hit with a pitch during a game against the Cardinals. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing was scheduled to undergo elbow surgery Wednesday, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation who weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
To address a partial UCL tear, he was expected to undergo a hybrid internal brace procedure, which would set him up to return to catching full time in nine months. He would be able to hit well before then.
Rushing had two stints on the injured list with a flexor strain in his right forearm, along with the UCL tear. He said last month that imaging suggested the slight tear in his UCL hadn’t worsened since 2022.
Rushing took on a larger role this season when primary catcher Will Smith was sidelined for three months by a nagging neck injury. By Aug. 1, Rushing had already logged 245 plate appearances, dwarfing his 2025 rookie season’s total in the majors (155).
Though he’d carried high workloads in the minors before, being a major-league starting catcher comes with added responsibility. Rushing went through a learning curve juggling his defensive and offensive responsibilities, and navigating intense online scrutiny of his outbursts on the field and in the dugout.
He’d settled into the role, and owned an .809 OPS, when his elbow injury flared while throwing before a game on Aug. 2. He landed on the IL the next day and returned at the beginning of September in a pinch-hitting role.
Rushing logged just four at-bats (0-for-4) before he aggravated the injury trying to build up in a throwing program. He returned again for the last series of the regular season, firmly in a battle for a postseason roster spot as a bat off the bench, and went hitless in three at-bats.
Rushing had initially been hopeful he’d be able to avoid surgery.
“My main plan moving into playing every day in the future is, make sure that my body can hold whatever stress or whatever is needed for this team — first base, behind the plate, whatever they need,” Rushing told the Times last month. “I want to make sure my body can handle it and do it for 162.”
Oct 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after striking out during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Shohei Ohtani was a diminished version of himself over the final two months of the Dodgers season and postseason, dealing with injuries to his left knee and right biceps. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday that surgery won’t be necessary for Ohtani this offseason for either injury.
“[Surgery] is not on the table. He got assessed, and had a lot of stuff going on,” Friedman told reporters at an end-of season press conference on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, as shown on SportsNet LA. “Knee was bothering him off and on, and it was a little bit of an unfortunate game of whack-a-mole. The knee got to a better spot, and then the bicep area was bothering him. Just a number of different things, some that would calm down for some period, some that would get re-irritated. It was a lot of things to try to contend with at once.”
Ohtani homered in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, snapping a stretch of 155 plate appearances without a home run, dating back to August 18. In eight postseason games, Ohtani had five hits in 26 at-bats with four walks, that home run, a hit by pitch, and a stolen base, hitting .192/.323/.308 with 10 strikeouts.
“It’s hard to tell at this point,” Ohtani said after Game 4 of the NLCS, through interpreter Will Ireton, when asked about potential surgery in the offseason. “It’s something that’s going to be analyzed and discussed over the offseason and see if that’s a viable thing to do.”
Through August 18, when Ohtani hit his last regular season home run, Ohtani was hitting .294/.390/.558 with a 153 wRC+ and 30 home runs, at that time leading the National League in OPS and slugging percentage, and second in on-base percentage and wRC+. Afterward, Ohtani hit .167/.298/.240 with just the one home run in his last 26 games, including the postseason.
“The injury started in early July. Through mid-August he was still, I think, the consensus MVP,” Friedman said. “Us continuing to put our heads together and understand where things are at at any given time, I think will increase our chances of him doing what is completely unprecedented, and the toll that it takes for him to be able to do it, impact our team in the regular season to accomplish our regular season goal, and then be in a good position going into October. Exactly what that looks like, we don’t know right now.”
Even though Ohtani didn’t pitch after July 3, and even with his missing 17 games in September, Ohtani still batted 618 times and faced 340 batters as a pitcher. His 958 total plate appearances in which he was directly involved were still most in the major leagues, 7.2 percent more than Marlins ace pitcher Sandy Alcantara, whose 894 batters faced were most among pitchers.
Ohtani said he plans to pitch again in 2027. Friedman reiterated that on Wednesday, and said he expected Ohtani to be ready for the start of spring training. Ohtani in his 14 starts had a 1.79 ERA and 2.73 xERA with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 85 2/3 innings, and lasted at least six innings in 13 of his 14 starts.
“This is unprecedented what he’s doing,” Friedman said. “I’m not only expecting him to pitch, we’re excited about him pitching. So now it’s about, how do we do that? How do we manage though a long season and have him at his best going into October. That’s a challenge, and we’ve got to figure it out together.”
The team has talked previously about how to manage Ohtani’s workload, but whether that means building in more rest days throughout the season remains to be seen.
“We’re going to have to be very deliberate about it on all sides, because the value is incredible,” Friedman said Wednesday. “Therefore it’s incumbent upon all of us to figure out the best way to do it.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: Ramón Laureano #5 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Petco Park on May 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres made a trade in 2025 to acquire outfielder Ramón Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles. 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn was also acquired in the trade, but he was a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.
Laureano had a second year on his contract after the Padres exercised the option for 2026. He received $6.5 million for the season but was on the injured list from June 2 through the remainder of the season.
Laureano had been playing for several seasons with a partially torn labrum in his right hip but the injury worsened and surgery was required. The recovery is typically 4-5 months and took the outfielder out of the Padres plans for the remainder of the season.
President of baseball operations A.J. Preller joined manager Craig Stammen for the year-end press interviews on Oct. 14. Preller updated Laureano’s status, detailing his rehab progress and stating that he had received daily text messages from Laureano with updates on his status during the postseason. He had committed to being ready if the Padres made it to the championship round and had been working diligently in Arizona to make that happen.
Should Preller re-sign Laureano
The diminutive outfielder (5-foot-9, 203 pounds) is 32 years old and made his debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2018. Over the nine seasons since his debut, Laureano has played for the A’s, the Cleveland Guardians, Atlanta Braves and signed with Baltimore prior to the 2025 season.
After being traded to the Padres, Laureano went on a power surge and ended up hitting 24 home runs with 76 RBI. That success prompted the Padres to pick up the option on his contract for the 2026 season.
Prior to his trip to the injured list, Laureano did not have a good start to the season. He admitted after his injury was revealed that he had been dealing with it for years and should have had it taken care of sooner.
In the 53 games played before his exit, Laureano hit .203 with a .660 OPS. His career batting average is .250 with a .760 OPS. He has a 111 OPS+ for his nine seasons as a major league player.
With many players reaching free agency this offseason and the pending labor disruption, the Padres could benefit from offering Laureano a prove-it contract before Dec. 1.
Ramón Laureano wanted to play in the postseason
After he worked through his rehab under Padres medical staff, they are uniquely qualified to determine his outlook for next season. If he was a candidate to join the roster for the playoffs then he should be fully healthy for next season.
The best that Laureano can hope for after missing most of 2026 is a “prove-it” contract. Should he choose to test the market he would likely only be offered minor league deals with other teams.
A bargain option
A prove-it deal would guarantee a Spring Training inclusion and an opportunity to win the left field job. The other players on the roster that would be competing for that job would be Samad Taylor and Dustin Harris. The player brought up to replace him when he was placed on the IL was Jase Bowen. Bowen is a valuable defensive replacement and pinch runner but hit .146 with a .438 OPS in 96 at-bats. Taylor and Harris are under contracts and the only other outfielder, Austin Hays, is a free agent.
Looking at his performance numbers and injury history, it seems reasonable that Laureano would sign for $1-3 million guaranteed with performance incentives. Any other team would require health verification and would likely not guarantee him anything. As a returning player for 2027, the Padres should be able to work with the outfielder and secure a slightly better-than-league-average player for minimal cost.
On Wednesday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman appeared on the Fan Hockey Show and addressed the latest on Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, whose trade list has reportedly grown to ten teams. Friedman said the Red Wings don't appear to be any closer to a deal than they were before, but the expanded list gives them more options.
The previous version of the list drew heavy scrutiny, with holes poked in many of the destinations. The new group of teams offers more promise that something could get done.
Many of the clubs still lack the cap space, prospects or other assets to land the 30-year-old Michigan native, including the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights. The four remaining teams on the list, however, have some path towards a potential deal.
Carolina Hurricanes
The defending Stanley Cup champions have a surprising $8.67 million in cap space and what they lack in prospects, they could make up for in NHL-ready talent. Carolina likely has little incentive to make this move, since they already have a stable second-line center in Logan Stankoven and may not want to break up a group that has proven it can win.
If the Hurricanes did take a shot at Larkin, they have some options with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who could be part of a package, though Detroit would have to see whether he would sign an extension or not. The best prospects they could offer are new NHLers Felix Unger Sörum and Bradly Nadeau.
Anything more meaningful would likely cost a young forward Carolina considers too valuable, like Seth Jarvis, Jackson Blake or Stankoven. Larkin would fit under the cap, but a deal would likely force the Hurricanes to dismantle their roster elsewhere or offer a futures-heavy package built around draft picks, Unger Sörum and Nadeau.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are looking to get back into the top tier of the league, and a move for Larkin makes sense. They have $3.082 million in cap space and a blue-chip prospect in Sam O'Reilly to offer.
Tampa doesn't need a second-line center with Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, but the team could always use depth. One of its centers could move to the wing, as has happened before in their careers, forming an even more dominant top-six.
They could part with a current roster piece like Ilya Mikheyev or Pontus Holmberg to give Detroit a top-nine player, and they hold first-round picks in two of the next three years. Sending Larkin within the Atlantic Division is something the Red Wings likely don't love, but a compelling enough offer could make it happen.
Utah has started the season red-hot, with seven wins in its first ten games as the Mammoth have a strong mix of young talent and veterans that have them inline for a second straight playoff berth.
Their top six of Clayton Keller, Vincent Trocheck, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther has quietly established itself as one of the league's best, and adding a player of Larkin's caliber would make it better.
Utah could move Schmaltz from center, back to the wing and send Detroit a top-nine option in Lawson Crouse, along with one of their many blue-chip prospects in Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers and Ethan Belchetz. Any of them would likely entice the Red Wings to part with their former captain.
The Mammoth also have the cap space and four first-round picks over the next three seasons, making them a serious contender to land the two-way center.
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin enters the final season of his legendary career, and the goal-scoring legend would love to ride off into the sunset with a second Stanley Cup. General manager Chris Patrick has moved quickly to make Washington a Cup contender once again.
He acquired St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou in exchange for middle-six forward Connor McMichael and made an aggressive free-agent addition in sharpshooting winger Alex Tuch. The Capitals' offense is elite again, and the they still have $3.12 million in cap space.
Washington has NHL players it could part with, as well as marquee prospects like Cole Hutson, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ryan Leonard and Ilya Protas, some already at the NHL level. It also holds all of its first-round picks for the next three seasons. If the Capitals decide the move is right as they push for one more Cup under Ovechkin's leadership, they could get a Larkin deal done.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
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.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates rounds the bases on his two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on September 16, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The current state of the Washington Nationals’ offense, especially after the trade deadline departures of Luis Garcia Jr. and Curtis Mead, is heavily driven by the dynamic duo that is James Wood and CJ Abrams.
The lineup does include a handful of decent complementary pieces, including Keibert Ruiz and Daylen Lile, but is lacking both consistency and depth. Financial frustrations have led to Abrams and Wood’s names being floated in trade discussions, both hypothetical and legitimate, and their long-term futures with the team remain uncertain. Prospects like Eli Willits and Seaver King will look to break into the big leagues and give the MLB roster a boost, but relying on minor leaguers to carry the weight of a lineup that hopes to play in October is far from a sure thing.
The trade market could help, but Washington’s low payroll gives them no excuse not to add offensive pieces in free agency. The roster’s need to bolster the pitching rotation indicates that much of the front office’s offseason focus will be directed toward arms, but President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni could lean on his growing pitching pipeline and be more aggressive with free agent hitters.
If, and that’s a big if, they choose to play ball with some of the bigger bats available, former Pittsburgh Pirate Brandon Lowe is a player that could really intrigue the Nats’ brass.
Lowe is coming off his best statistical season to date based on bWAR, cruising past his previous high of 4.6 with an impressive 5.4 in 2025. The 9-year veteran absolutely raked after being traded to Pittsburgh, appearing in 150 games and putting up a .260/.331/.493/824. slash line and mashing 35 home runs with 96 RBI.
Washington has solid power output if all of their big-time hitters are clicking at the same time, but adding a bat like Lowe could instantly raise both the ceiling and floor of the offense. He’s eclipsed the 30-HR mark in every season he’s played over 110 games in, and has been a 110 OPS+ bat in all but one year. His 3rd percentile Whiff% wouldn’t do much to improve the Nats’ strikeout issues, but he has the pop to out-slug any concerns in that area.
Addressing the position fit with Lowe, the 32-year-old has the ability to play 2B, fill in at 1B, or become the primary DH to maximize his offensive output. If Washington fully moves Abrams off of SS, Lowe could be the primary DH with smaller stints at 1B and 2B to increase the roster’s positional flexibility.
As with just about any above-average free agent in today’s MLB, Lowe will certainly not come with a low price tag. He won’t break the bank, but to secure his services, the Nats will have to commit multiple years and a good chunk of cash.
Spotrac has his market value listed at 4 years, $91,240,000, and it could get even higher with the lack of impact bats available. It will be remarkably difficult for the Nats to reach a contending level without getting things done in free agency, especially if one (or both) of Abrams and Wood leave via trade, and Lowe fits their window perfectly as a bat who can anchor the lineup as their contending window looks to open in the near future.
With the careers of at least three Australians either in the balance or kaput after a dismal day in Gqeberha against South Africa, Australian coach Andrew McDonald conceded the nation’s batting order was far from a perfect one.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have fired manager Kurt Suzuki after he lost 100 games in his only season in charge of the long-struggling club.
Baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak announced Wednesday that the Angels declined the option on Suzuki’s contract and would open a search for a new manager in 2027. Suzuki has been offered the opportunity to stay with the organization as a special assistant.
“Kurt has earned tremendous respect in our clubhouse, and I’ve seen firsthand how much he cares about our players,” Mozeliak said in a statement. “I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his true abilities as a manager.”
Mozeliak indicated he made the decision in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which reached a deal to purchase controlling ownership from Arte Moreno on Sept. 1. The sale is not expected to close until next year, but the sports conglomerate run by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is already making significant changes to its beleaguered baseball team.
The Angels went 62-100 — the first 100-loss season in franchise history — and finished last in the AL West in their only season under Suzuki, who ended his 16-year major league playing career as a catcher for the Angels in 2021-22. Suzuki had never been a manager at any level before he was given the job by general manager Perry Minasian, who had employed Suzuki as his special assistant for the previous three seasons.
Minasian was fired by Moreno last June, and longtime St. Louis Cardinals GM Mozeliak stepped in on a temporary basis to run the front office while leading the search for a permanent GM to replace him. That transition plan has been thrown into flux by Moreno’s decision to sell, and Mozeliak didn’t indicate whether he has a long-term future in his own job, although he said he had been looking “toward 2027 and beyond” while reaching the decision to fire Suzuki.
Mozeliak also indicated that Suzuki’s entire coaching staff is not expected to return in its current positions, but some members had been offered staff positions in the organization.
Mozeliak already fired Suzuki’s pitching coach, Mike Maddux, and two staffers in August because he felt the team wasn’t making sufficient use of the technology and analytics available to its pitchers. Mozeliak promoted Tim Leveque, the Angels’ Double-A pitching coach, to the major league staff at the time.
Suzuki’s replacement will be the seventh manager, including interims, to lead the team in nine seasons since it parted with Mike Scioscia after the 2018 season. The Angels have had 11 consecutive losing seasons and 12 straight non-playoff seasons, both the longest active skids in the major leagues.
The Angels now have MLB’s third current managerial vacancy, all in the AL West. The Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros also parted ways with their managers after the season.
CHICAGO, IL - CIRCA 1990: George Bell #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats against the Chicago White Sox during an Major League Baseball game circa 1990 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. Bell played for the Blue Jays from 1981-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today marks George Bell’s 67th birthday.
Born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, George Bell comes from a baseball family. His brother Juan Bell played seven seasons in the majors as a utility infielder, and two other brothers also played professionally. George signed with the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1978 before the Blue Jays acquired him in the 1980 Rule 5 draft—one of the best Rule 5 acquisitions in history.
Because Rule 5 draft picks must remain on the major league roster or be returned to their original team, George spent the strike-shortened 1981 season with the Blue Jays. Although he was a bit overmatched, appearing in 60 games and hitting .233/.256/.350, he still managed to receive a couple ofRookie of the Year votes.
Believing he had earned a roster spot the following year, George was disappointed when the Jays sent him to Syracuse. It turned out to be a tough season: he contracted mononucleosis in April, injured his left knee in June, and, upon returning, suffered a broken jaw after being hit by a pitch. Perhaps as a result, George became especially sensitive to being hit and charged the mound multiple times. He began 1983 in the minors once more but was called up for good in July.
In 1984, Bell became a full-time player for the Blue Jays. Manager Bobby Cox used a complex platoon system in the outfield: Bell played left field against left-handed pitchers and right field against right-handers, swapping with Jesse Barfield and Davey Collins. As a young outfielder, Bell possessed a decent arm and adequate range, though Barfield’s arm was superior.
That season, George played 159 games and hit .292/.326/.498, tallying 39 doubles, 26 home runs, 87 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. He received MVP votes, finished 8th in the American League in total bases, and 3rd in doubles.
After the season, the Jays traded Dave Collins to Oakland, paving the way for Bell, Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield to play full-time—which became the best outfield in Blue Jays history. They played together until Barfield was traded early in 1989. All three were outstanding offensively and had strong arms; Moesby and Barfield excelled defensively, while Bell’s range declined over time due to knee issues from injuries and playing on Toronto’s hard artificial surface. He also struggled with errors.
In 1985, Bell had another stellar year, hitting .275/.327/.479 with 28 home runs, 95 RBI, and a career-high 21 stolen bases. He won the Silver Slugger Award and finished 8th in MVP voting, just behind Barfield. The Jays reached the postseason for the first time, with many remembering Bell catching the final out to clinch the AL East title and collapsing to his knees in celebration. In the seven-game ALCS, Bell batted .321 with nine hits and three doubles, but the Jays ultimately lost to the Royals.
Bell’s offensive numbers improved further in 1986: he hit .309/.349/.532, with 31 home runs, 108 RBI, 101 runs, and another Silver Slugger Award. He finished 4th in MVP voting—one spot ahead of Barfield—while Roger Clemens took home the award.
Bell’s breakout season came in 1987, when he hit .308/.352/.605 with 47 home runs, 134 RBI, and 111 runs. He won another Silver Slugger Award, made his first All-Star team, and became the first player from a Canadian team to win the league MVP, edging out Alan Trammell of the Tigers. The vote stirred controversy after the Jays suffered a late-season slump, losing their final eight games and allowing the Tigers to capture the AL East. Bell struggled in those final games, hitting just .111, while Lloyd Moseby was the only Jay to avoid a slump.
The next season brought changes for Bell and the Jays. Manager Jimy Williams moved Bell to designated hitter and gave top prospect Sil Campusano a spot in the outfield. The plan quickly unraveled: Bell was vocal about his displeasure with DH duties, and Campusano struggled. Williams’ tenure was short and turbulent, partly due to Bell’s unhappiness. Despite this, Bell became the first major leaguer to hit three home runs on opening day, though his overall numbers declined significantly.
Bell rebounded in 1989, hitting .297/.330/.458 with 18 home runs, 41 doubles, and 104 RBI. He finished fourth in a close MVP race, with Robin Yount taking the award. The Jays returned to the playoffs, but Bell struggled in the five-game series loss to the A’s, batting just .200 with one home run.
1990 marked Bell’s final season with the Blue Jays, and it was a disappointing one—he hit .265/.303/.422 with 21 home runs and 86 RBI. Afterward, he signed with the Cubs as a free agent, enjoyed a solid season, and was then traded to the White Sox for Sammy Sosa—a deal that favored the Cubs. Bell played two seasons with the White Sox before being released in 1993 following critical comments about manager Gene Lamont after being replaced in the playoff lineup by Bo Jackson.
Bell finished his impressive 12-year career with 265 home runs, 1,002 RBI, and a .278 batting average. He was an aggressive hitter who rarely walked, and his defense declined over time—though his arm was underrated. From 1984–1987, only Barfield and Glenn Wilson recorded more outfield assists. Early in his career, Bell was a capable outfielder, but playing on artificial turf took a toll on his knees and reduced his range. He also resisted a move to designated hitter, seeing it as an affront to his pride.
Bell was a fearsome hitter, holding the Jays’ single-season home run record (47) until Jose Bautista hit 54 in 2010. Angels manager Gene Mauch called him “the most intimidating hitter in baseball.” Bell was known for aggressively attacking the first pitch, especially fastballs.
Baseball historian Bill James once ranked Bell as the 62nd-best left fielder of all time, though he may have slipped a few spots since then. Rob Neyer named him the Blue Jays’ best left fielder ever, and Bell is honored on the Rogers Centre’s Level of Excellence.
Bell was also known for his fiery temper. Many recall his flying kick at pitcher Bruce Kison after being hit by a pitch. He was ejected from 13 games and often clashed with the media and managers. Notably, he once invited Canadian fans to “kiss my Dominican ass.” I think the word purple was in there somewhere. While some of his confrontations stemmed from cultural differences, much was attributed to his hotheadedness. His reputation may have shortened his career, but by all accounts, he was a loyal teammate and friend.
Bell later assisted the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic team and developed into a skilled golfer. He is married and has four sons.
Happy birthday, George. Wishing you all the best.
Today marks the 71st birthday of Jerry Garvin, the original left-handed pitcher for the Blue Jays.
Garvin was selected as the Blue Jays’ fourth pick in the 1976 expansion draft, coming over from the Minnesota Twins.
Garvin started the Blue Jays’ third-ever game as a rookie in 1977, delivering eight strong innings in a 3–1 win over the White Sox. He allowed five hits and four walks, striking out two. Pete Vuckovich earned the save, while Canadian Dave McKay drove in two runs and Gary Woods added another.
That year, Garvin started 34 games, finishing with a 10–18 record and a 4.19 ERA. Remarkably, he logged 244.1 innings and completed 12 games as a 21-year-old rookie. For perspective, no Blue Jay has thrown more than 240 innings in a season since David Price in 2014, and Garvin’s total still ranks 17th in franchise history. Unfortunately, arm issues caused him to miss significant time over the next few seasons.
Garvin was renowned for his exceptional pick-off move, famously recording 26 pick-offs at first base in 1977—a feat noted on his Wikipedia page.
In 1978, Garvin appeared in 26 games (22 starts), posting a 4–12 record with a 5.54 ERA across 144.2 innings. His workload diminished in 1979, as he pitched in only eight games.
By 1980, Garvin transitioned to a full-time bullpen role, appearing in 61 relief outings with a 2.28 ERA and eight saves over 82.2 innings.
In 1981, he pitched in 35 games (four starts), posting a 3.40 ERA over 53 innings.
Garvin’s final season came in 1982, when he made 32 appearances (four starts) with a 7.25 ERA in 58.1 innings.
Over six seasons, Garvin compiled a 20–41 record and a 4.43 ERA in 196 games, including 65 starts.
Happy birthday, Jerry.
Today, Danny Barnes celebrates his 37th birthday.
Barnes was selected in the 35th round of the 2010 draft.
He worked his way gradually through the minor league system but broke out in 2016, posting a stellar 0.73 ERA across 61.1 innings between New Hampshire and Buffalo.
Barnes received his first major league call-up in August and returned in September, appearing in 12 games with a 3.95 ERA.
In 2017, Barnes joined the Blue Jays in mid-April and remained with the team all season, pitching in 60 games with a 3.55 ERA, a 3–6 record, and 11 holds.
The 2018 season was more challenging, as Barnes posted a 5.71 ERA over 47 games, though he managed eight holds, most of which came early in the year.
Barnes was designated for assignment and outrighted to Buffalo before the 2019 season, spending much of that year on the injured list.
Happy birthday, Danny.
Today marks Gabe Gross’s 47th birthday.
Gross was the Blue Jays’ first-round pick in the 2001 draft.
He was ranked among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects prior to both the 2002 (#75) and 2004 (#72) seasons.
Gross appeared in 44 games for the Blue Jays in 2004, hitting .209/.311/.310 with three home runs, and 40 games in 2005, hitting .250/.324/.348 with one home run.
Following the 2005 season, he was traded to the Brewers along with Dave Bush and Zach Jackson in exchange for Lyle Overbay and Ty Taubenheim.
Gross spent two and a half seasons with the Brewers, hitting .251/.357/.440 with 16 home runs over 226 games. He was then traded to the Rays, where he played two seasons and hit .235/.333/.396 with 19 home runs in 242 games. He finished his MLB career with a season in Oakland.
In total, Gross played seven MLB seasons and 657 games, compiling a .239/.330/.385 batting line with 40 home runs. While he didn’t quite live up to early prospect expectations, he put together a respectable career.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Would you believe that Kristaps Porzingis graded out as one of the better players in the NBA last season? It’s true. Porzingis ranked No. 50 in the league in Estimated Plus-Minus and nearly cracked the top-25 in LEBRON, which are a pair of metrics that measure a player’s impact with some luck adjustments and player tracking data built in. Every all-in-one stat is going to have blindspots and needs to be taken with a large grain of salt, but both teams Porzingis played for last season — the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors — were much better with him on the court in his 32 total games, and that’s no coincidence.
Porzingis showed the whole world how good he could be on the Boston Celtics’ run to the 2024 NBA championship, when his combination of outside shooting and rim protection made him the rare center who could space the floor to the max without giving much back on defense. Porzingis’ effectiveness hasn’t been much of a question since his career-defining season in Boston, but his availability has been. Unfortunately, Porzingis remains out for the Warriors as they begin the 2026-27 season, and now the team appears ready to move on without him.
The Warriors are exploring trade packages for Porzingis as he deals with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a nervous system disorder that causes dizziness, brain fog, chronic fatigue, and other unwanted symptoms. Porzingis is “contemplating his future in basketball” according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
Speculation on Porzingis’ rampant health problems dating back to the Celtics’ 2024 playoff run had grown so out of control that the 31-year-old felt obligated to put out a pair of statements clarifying that doesn’t have AIDS or HIV last week. Now his NBA career might be over as the Warriors scramble for a backup plan.
Hello people, I'm working with doctors and experts to figure out how to be fully back to good health asap. Honestly, I'm getting better and better. I just have to stay patient, and I believe I'll be feeling great again soon.
It has definitely been frustrating dealing with some…
I appreciate all the internet doctors trying to diagnose and help, but I'm in the best hands. So everyone can relax now 😄🙏🏼 and I don’t have hiv or aids.
The biggest story here is the premature end of Porzingis’ career for health problems entirely out of his control. It’s an incredibly sad development for such a talented player who had so much promise early in his career, and appeared to find renewed value after being dumped to the Washington Wizards in 2022. This is also deeply disappointing news for the Warriors, because it’s going to be tough to find another player who can approximate his skill set without adding the type of valuable future assets Golden State has resisted including in other deals.
What team would trade for a player who might be finished? Porzingis’ contract could still make him valuable around the league depending on a few factors. He only has $3 million guaranteed for next season, but counts for $20 million in a trade. If another team was looking to dump a player they don’t want around anymore with long-term money on the books, they might be incentivized to trade for Porzingis and then just cut him while stomaching the $3 million next season.
Let’s say the Milwaukee Bucks decide that they just want Myles Turner off the books as he enters the second season of a four-year, $109 million deal. The Warriors could take Turner, the Bucks could take Porzingis, and then Milwaukee could waive him to save some money. The Chicago Bulls could build a similar trade around Patrick Williams, who has three years remaining on his contract as this season begins.
The Turner idea in particular could sound good in theory, but it takes two sides to make a deal, and the Warriors don’t have much leverage. Golden State’s only real backup center is Al Horford, who is 40 years old. Charles Bassey is around too, but he’s never been counted on for more than a small role. Losing Quentin Post to the Memphis Grizzlies over the summer in free agency was a tough blow, and now the Warriors seem like they’re totally out of options in the front court unless they want to part with a meaningful asset.
Warriors lead executive Mike Dunleavy is already on the record saying fixing the team’s center problem is “not as simple as hey, let’s go find someone new” with 15 players already on the roster. Golden State is already without Jimmy Butler as he recovers from a torn ACL, and Moses Moody as he tries to come back from a ruptured patellar tendon. That’s $90 million in salary not in the lineup to start the year.
This is no way to build around Stephen Curry in his age-38 season. Rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg looks amazing, but it’s hard to win without a reliable center, and the Warriors are being immediately put in a compromising position.
This is a bummer of a story. Let’s hope Porzingis can find peace after basketball if this really is it for his career.
