While some outgoing coaching staffs are sticking around to guide their teams through the playoffs, incoming coaches are awkwardly working in the background.
The Knicks have a trophy and Wembanyama has a chip on his shoulder: Five NBA Cup takeaways
The Knicks are the East’s team to beat
Related: In-form Knicks surge past Spurs to win NBA Cup for first trophy since 1973
After toppling the defending champion Boston Celtics in a shocking upset in the Eastern Conference semi-finals this spring, The New York Knicks immediately became the favorites to represent the conference in the NBA Finals. The Indiana Pacers, a team that will no doubt go down as having one of the most compelling Cinderella stories in modern NBA history, had other plans.
But this year, the East is more open than ever (though Knicks guard Jalen Brunson insists he’s “not a fan” of the narrative of a wide open conference). The Detroit Pistons have made a remarkable turnaround from being at the bottom of the East standings a few years ago to the top of them, but the Knicks’ showing in Cup play, ultimately hoisting the trophy in the third year of the contest, has shown what many believed heading into this season: they’re the team to beat.
Brunson continues to be every bit the superstar his franchise needs, Mikal Bridges is having a fantastic season, and (knocks on wood) they’re as healthy as they’ve been in ages. New head coach Mike Brown appears to be just the breath of fresh air the doctor ordered after things had gotten stale with Tom Thibodeau, getting more creative with the offense and going deeper with rotations, and the NBA Cup champion Knicks will certainly be heard from come April.
F your dynasty
The stage was set for Oklahoma City this weekend: on a tear, bulldozing every team in the league, and practically yawning their way to a 24-1 record, they were poised to make that 25-1 on Saturday night in the NBA Cup semif-inals.
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs had other plans. Wembanyama, the 7ft 5in french wunderkind who possesses an all too rare combination of zenmaster off-court tendencies with a healthy dose of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan-esque psycho on the hardwood, clearly took being a heavy underdog personally heading into Saturday’s semi-final matchup. The game marked his first appearance in several weeks due to a calf strain, and the Spurs, presumably due to Wembanyama’s minutes restriction, sat him out the entire first quarter.
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The difference in the entire Spurs team as soon as Wembanyama checked into the game was staggering: it wasn’t just the renewed clarity of the offense, his unmatched defensive skill set, or his looming presence in the paint, which clearly spooked any Oklahoma player who dared to venture beyond the free throw line. It was the confidence: palpable, notable, and coursing throughout the entire Spurs roster. I remarked to the colleague sitting next to me during the contest that it felt like someone’s older brother had shown up to a fight at recess: suddenly chests were puffed out.
There was a moment in the second quarter of the Cup Championship where Wembanyama blocked four or five Knicks shot attempts at the rim in a row, and didn’t appear to even really break a sweat in the process. It’s hard to put a finger on what it is when it comes to the next face of the league, the next NBA superstar to carry the sport into the future. But whatever itis, Wembanyama has it in spades. It’s hard not to think about “greatest of all time” potential for the Frenchman if his body can cooperate, potential south-of-the-Mason-Dixon-line dynasties be damned.
The rise of the Cup
Although it has been met with mixed reactions from fans and NBA players alike (and evoked plenty of confusion from both), the NBA Cup is clearly starting to find its stride. I mentioned in my takeaways from this event last year that it inevitably takes time for something like this to matter. Gravity doesn’t form overnight, and while the merits of throwing a wrench into the rhythm of the NBA regular season are debatable, the event is clearly starting to carry some level of gravitas and cache: the proof is in the highly competitive games all weekend long. There were bodies colliding while diving for loose balls, roughly a million offensive rebounds, and nary a blowout. It took a couple of years (and a hefty investment from Amazon) but the cup is here to stay.
The Oklahoma City avalanche
While the formidable freight train that is the 2025-2026 Oklahoma City Thunder was eliminated in a nailbiter against l’étranger and company in the Cup semi-finals, the loss only sent them to a still-staggering 24-2 on the season: and much of that record was accomplished with their second option, Jalen Williams, cheering on the bench with a wrist injury.
There were plenty of flashes throughout the game that showed why they are still, NBA Cup champion-lessness notwithstanding, in a class completely their own in the league. For starters, the nearly un-guardable Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seems to be well on his way to a second consecutive league MVP award (and, potentially, a second consecutive Finals MVP, too). His whole offensive skill set was on full display in the Cup semi, from the gasp-inducing craftiness and control, to the slinky smooth footwork, to, yes, the foul grifting (one can hardly blame him when he’s so damned effective at it).
Related: Cooper Flagg sets NBA record for points by an 18-year-old, besting LeBron James
But the Thunder’s most impressive characteristic was their defense. It was, as always, swarming and overwhelming, tireless. I can’t imagine how demoralizing it must be to be on the receiving end of a flurry of steals and forced turnovers, looking up at a scoreboard that broadcasted a single digit deficit mere moments before, only to watch it swell to 12 or 13 in the blink of an eye. Oklahoma City is relentless: they keep coming, and they come in tidal waves. Just when you think it’s safe to go back in the water … the tenacious Thunder prove why you simply cannot catch your breath around them. Wembanyama and the Spurs certainly pulled off an impressive upset on Saturday night, but make no mistake: the Thunder should still strike the fear of God in every team.
Honorable mention: Keep an eye on the Magic
I couldn’t wrap up the weekend in Vegas without a quick shout out to the Orlando Magic, who are starting to really round into form as a formidable Eastern Conference dark horse. They had a gritty, impressive showing in the Cup semis, and Desmond Bane is finally starting to look worth the haul of draft picks he commanded.
NHL Rumors: Flyers Center Makes New Trade Board
Philadelphia Flyers forward Christian Dvorak was among the 32 players featured on NHL insider Chris Johnston's latest trade board for The Athletic.
The Flyers center was given the No. 29 spot on Johnston's list.
"Dvorak has had a nice start to his tenure in Philadelphia, where he signed a one-year contract as a free agent in July. That makes him a deadline asset for the Flyers to flip if they again become sellers," Johnston wrote.
There is no question that Dvorak has proven to be a solid pickup for the Flyers early. In 32 games so far this season, he has recorded seven goals, 16 assists, 23 points, and a plus-10 rating. With numbers like these, he has found himself a spot in the Flyers' top six.
If the Flyers were to shop Dvorak this season, there would likely be a good amount of interest in him given how good he has played this season. This is especially so with the trade market for centers not being the strongest right now.
Yet, for the Flyers to actually end up being sellers and trade Dvorak, a lot would need to go wrong with their season from here. Right now, the Flyers have been one of the NHL's biggest surprises, as they have a 17-9-6 record and are third in the Metropolitan Division standings. If they continue to play this well as the season rolls on, they will very likely keep Dvorak around for the playoffs.
Furthermore, given how well Dvorak has fit in, the possibility of him getting a contract extension later this season should not be ruled out. With Dvorak signing a one-year contract this summer with the Flyers, he is not eligible to sign an extension with Philadelphia until January. Once the new month is here, that could be something to keep an eye on.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what happens between the Flyers and Dvorak from here.
Hun School sophomore Lukas Prock a ALL-USA Football Team QB finalist
Lukas Prock is only a sophomore at Hun School, but he had a great season against stiff competition and is an ALL-USA Football Team finalist.
Steve Kerr reveals why standout rookie Will Richard isn't in Warriors' rotation
Steve Kerr reveals why standout rookie Will Richard isn't in Warriors' rotation originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors’ rotation has been erratic in the first half of the 2025-26 NBA season, and a 13-14 record only brings more questions to how coach Steve Kerr is using his players.
Draymond Green was back in Golden State’s starting lineup for its 136-131 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday after a foot injury/excused absence, but his return was overshadowed by Stephen Curry’s historic 48-point performance. Will Richard, Jonathan Kuminga, and Seth Curry did not see any action on the court.
It was Richard’s second consecutive game without any minutes, and Kerr on Tuesday explained his decision to keep the rookie guard out of the rotation on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” show.
“Right now, frankly, he’s sitting because he’s a rookie and I’m honoring what the older guys have done over the years,” Kerr said. “I think that’s good for chemistry, I think this is kind of how it goes.”
The 22-year-old has averaged 8.0 points per game in 23 of 27 contests played so far and brings a youthful burst of energy to an otherwise aging core.
“It’s been tough not playing him because I’m a huge fan and a believer,” Kerr said. “He offers us stability and decision-making, good shooting, so he’s just got to stay with it.”
Kerr emphasized relying on veteran expertise now that the team has fallen below .500 and acknowledged that Richard has what it takes to be a starter possibly later in the season.
“Guys have to earn their stripes,” he noted. “You give everybody a fair look, and you continue on through the season so he could very easily find himself back in the rotation. He’s obviously a good-enough player.”
Kerr mentioned how he relayed that to Richard during Wednesday’s press conference at Chase Center.
Richard started four of the five games Curry missed with a quad injury and averaged 5.2 points in 22.0 minutes per game in that span. Since Curry returned to action on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kerr reiterated he only can shape so many lineup combinations around the 37-year-old star point guard.
“There are times where you can only play 10 or 11, three or four guys are out of the loop, right now it’s Jonathan, it’s Will, Gary Payton’s barely played the last couple games,” Kerr concluded.
The Warriors are set to face the Phoenix Suns twice in three days starting Thursday night at Chase Center. Yet, the question looms whether Kerr will have the same players start for each matchup.
NHL Rumors: 2 Blackhawks On New Trade Board
NHL insider Chris Johnston has made his latest trade board for The Athletic, and it featured two Chicago Blackhawks: defenseman Connor Murphy and goaltender Laurent Brossoit.
Seeing Murphy make Johnston's trade board is not necessarily surprising. The veteran blueliner is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Blackhawks have a ton of young promising defensemen in their system. Due to this, it certainly is possible that the Blackhawks could shop Murphy as we inch closer to the trade deadline.
Murphy should generate interest from contenders, as he is a big right-shot defenseman with who is reliable and has plenty of experience. In 33 games this season, Murphy has posted three assists, 29 hits, and 46 blocks.
As for Brossoit, it is no secret that the Blackhawks have been working to find him a new home. The veteran goaltender recently cleared waivers, but Johnston noted that Brossoit still could generate trade interest, especially if the Blackhawks are willing to retain some of his $3.3 million salary. In three games this season with the Rockford IceHogs, he has posted a 2-1-0 record, a .900 save percentage, and a 3.39 goals-against average.
Brossoit could be a nice pickup for a team that needs help at the backup position if he stays healthy.
Draymond Green addresses owner Joe Lacob's email to disgruntled Warriors fan
Draymond Green addresses owner Joe Lacob's email to disgruntled Warriors fan originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Joe Lacob’s viral email response to a Warriors fan has become a momentous part of the team’s lackluster season so far.
Will it spark a big personnel change? Should anyone in the organization be concerned?
Draymond Green is not; he explained on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show.” The strong response from Golden State’s owner is nothing out of the ordinary to Green.
“Joe is passionate as hell. You’re either going to love his passion or hate it,” Green noted. “Whether you love his passion or whether you hate it, the one thing you do know is the most important thing to Joe — and you’ll understand that at every step of the way — is winning…
“… If you’re not winning, he’s pissed, and that’s just how Joe rolls.”
Green chalks up the seemingly angry and earth-shattering response to Lacob’s passion. That same passion has fueled the Warriors’ success during his ownership, according to Green.
“That’s who he is. That’s a large part of the reason this organization became winners; because you’re run by a winner,” Green explained. “So, it is what it is. No one from our organization is cracking from it.
Just as coach Steve Kerr told reporters Tuesday, Green does not see Lacob’s response as a big deal.
“When you’ve worked so long with someone, you know how they are; you know what makes them tick; you know what pisses them off,” Green said. “I don’t think any of us are sitting there like, ‘Oh, Joe said this.’ Like, quite honestly, Joe will say these things to your face, and that’s just who he is.”
If what Green says is true, the locker room probably already has heard, in-person, some variation of what Lacob wrote in that e-mail.
Kerr agreed in his press conference Tuesday that he shared Lacob’s frustration. Green acknowledged that as well.
“[Lacob] should be frustrated; We’ve f—king sucked so far,” Green said. “It is frustrating, and we’ve got to figure it out and we will figure it out, I have zero doubts about that.”
Sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference standings through 27 games, the Warriors have yet to figure it out.
Lacob, Kerr and the rest of the Warriors have 55 more regular season games to do so.
Kirill Kaprizov Sets Minnesota Wild Franchise Power Play Scoring Record
ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild (20-9-5) returned to the ice on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals (18-11-4).
There was a record that was broken in that game.
Kirill Kaprizov has now set a Wild franchise record in the win over the Capitals. He entered the game with zero goals and zero career points in five games against the Capitals but walked out with a record.
With his power-play goal in the second period, Kaprizov now has 70 career power-play goals. It was his 21st goal of the year and his eighth power-play goal this season.
Kirill Kaprizov is the new @mnwild franchise leader in power-play goals! 💚 pic.twitter.com/5QgelsZKSQ
— NHL (@NHL) December 17, 2025
Since entering the NHL in 2020-21, Kaprizov and Alex Ovechkin were tied for the most goals by a Russian skater. Kaprizov broke that tie in a game against Ovechkin.
Kaprizov: 206 goals in 353 games
Ovechkin: 205 goals in 372 games
Since it was his 206th career goal, Kaprizov passed Mikko Koivu (205) for the second most in franchise history. He sits 13 back of Marian Gaborik (219) for the franchise record.
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Steve Kerr hints Jonathan Kuminga is set to rejoin Warriors' rotation
Steve Kerr hints Jonathan Kuminga is set to rejoin Warriors' rotation originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – The next episode of the long-running soap opera depicting the estrangements and reconciliations of Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors was promoted Wednesday and is titled “Another Chance, Part XX.”
After three consecutive games in which Kuminga was healthy but reduced to spectating from the bench, coach Steve Kerr indicated after practice that the young forward will return to the floor Thursday night when the Warriors face the Suns in Phoenix.
“You definitely want to see how guys respond in practice,” Kerr said. “And I can tell you, JK, has been great this last week as he’s been out of the rotation. He’s working really hard, and I’m going to reward that.”
Kerr did not say whether Kuminga would start or come off the bench, but the latter seems more likely. The coach on Tuesday expressed a willingness to stay with a starting lineup featuring Stephen Curry, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler III, Draymond Green and Quinten Post.
The Warriors (13-14, eighth in the Western Conference) are coming off back-to-back losses in which they could not hold fourth-quarter leads, the most recent a 136-131 loss to the Trail Blazers on Sunday in Portland. One startling element of that game was the Blazers’ decisive advantage in athleticism and quickness, which surely stood out in the team’s video review.
Kuminga, 23, is the most athletic player on Golden State’s roster.
After starting the first 12 games of the season, Kuminga was sidelined with bilateral knee tendinitis and missed the next seven games. Upon his return Dec. 2, he came off the bench for two games but was ineffective, scoring 17 points on 7-of-22 shooting from the field, with 13 rebounds, three assists and five turnovers.
Reinstalled into the starting lineup Dec. 6 at Cleveland, Kuminga sputtered. He snagged seven rebounds but scored only four points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field and dropped out of Golden State’s rotation for the next three games.
The Warriors lost two of the three games.
“He needs to be back out there,” Kerr said.
Though Kuminga remains very much in potential trade scenarios – he can’t be moved before Jan. 15 – the Warriors for now hope to get a return on their investment, as he signed a two-year contract worth $48.5 million during training camp.
Phillies ink two-year deal with Brad Keller to bolster bullpen
Phillies ink two-year deal with Brad Keller to bolster bullpen originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Middle relief was a clear area of need for the Phillies in 2025.
From innings six through eight during the regular season, Phillies relievers posted a 4.50 ERA — the fourth-highest mark in the National League.
On Wednesday, they addressed that need. Robert Murray of FanSided reported that the Phillies have signed right-hander Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal, with details first reported by Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
Keller, 30, broke into the majors in 2018 as a starter with Kansas City. Over his first three big-league seasons, he was steady, posting a 3.50 ERA across 360 1/3 innings. The next four years, however, marked a downturn. Between 2021–24, he recorded a 5.18 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP over 88 appearances (57 starts).
That trajectory changed last season.
In January, Keller signed a minor league deal with the Cubs, made the Opening Day roster, and quickly became one of Craig Counsell’s most reliable arms. In 2025, he was excellent, logging a 2.07 ERA across 69 2/3 innings with 75 strikeouts and 22 walks.
He was dominant in October for Chicago, making five postseason appearances with a 1.59 ERA and two saves.
The breakout was driven by improvements to his five-pitch mix. Keller leaned heavily on a sweeper–sinker–changeup combination, throwing the trio more than 40 percent of the time. Opponents hit under .190 against each pitch, and his sweeper emerged as a true weapon — batters hit just .067 with a .133 slugging percentage against it.
As expected, the performance was backed by the metrics. Keller ranked in the 86th percentile or higher in seven Baseball Savant categories, highlighted by a 30.6 percent hard-hit rate that placed him in the top two percent of the league.
The Phillies are betting that the improvement is real, particularly given his effectiveness against right-handed hitters, who posted just a .466 OPS against him.
Whether Keller settles in as a primary middle-relief option — he recorded a 1.59 ERA in seven appearances in the sixth inning — or slides into a higher-leverage role behind Jhoan Duran in the eighth (six earned runs allowed across 38 outings), he fits cleanly into Philadelphia’s bullpen plans.
With starting experience, swing-and-miss stuff and recent success in leverage spots, Keller profiles as a strong, under-the-radar addition.
Athletics reportedly made strong Ha-Seong Kim offer before he signed with Braves
Athletics reportedly made strong Ha-Seong Kim offer before he signed with Braves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Athletics took a big swing but couldn’t quite make contact.
Per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the A’s offered free-agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim a four-year, $48 million contract before the 30-year-old opted to sign with the Atlanta Braves.
As reported, the A’s deal would have represented the franchise’s second-largest commitment to a free agent, surpassed only by pitcher Luis Severino’s$67 million deal from last offseason. Per Rosenthal, the green and gold even were willing to increase that offer to land their man.
Instead, Kim — who split last season between the Braves and Tampa Bay Rays — chose to return to Atlanta on a one-year, $20 million deal that allows him to test the market again next offseason.
For the A’s, it’s a free-agency miss that leaves them still searching for infield help as the new year approaches. Per Rosenthal, the team’s plan was for Kim to spend most of his playing time at second base and occasionally spell Jacob Wilson at shortstop.
Now, however, options on the open market are limited. The top remaining free-agent infielders, such as Bo Bichette, are likely to command more money than the Athletics can spend. With Kim locked up elsewhere, the A’s might have to turn to trades to bolster their roster.
Kim, who received the National League Gold Glove Award for utility players in 2023, is a career .242 hitter with 52 home runs in five MLB seasons. He played just 48 games in 2025, missing most of the season with shoulder and back injuries.
Canadiens: Pay Cash For Their Mistakes In 4-1 Loss To Philadelphia
The big story of the day in town on Tuesday was the Montreal Canadiens’ decision to send Samuel Montembeault down to the Laval Rocket on a conditioning stint, which was no doubt prompted by the fact that Jacob Fowler has shown he can already do the job with the Habs. As a result, the 21-year-old netminder got his first home start against the Philadelphia Flyers.
That development took some of the spotlight away from the fact that Mike Matheson would be missing the game with an upper-body injury, but that came back to the forefront when Jayden Struble was slotted in to play on the top pairing alongside Noah Dobson.
Canadiens: Montembeault Sent Down To Laval For Conditioning Purposes
Canadiens Important Defenseman Out vs. Flyers
Canadiens: Big Decision Ahead
A Golden Opportunity
As is always the case in pro sports, one man’s injury is another one’s opportunity. With Matheson sidelined, Arber Xhekaj was back in the lineup, joining Struble and Adam Engstrom. That was an opportunity for the three defensemen to show that they deserve to be in the lineup when the injured players return, but not everyone seized it.
Xhekaj looked nervous on the ice, and 12 minutes into the first frame, he made an ill-advised pass, which turned into a giveaway. Nothing came of it, but it didn’t go unnoticed. On his next shift, he was unable to handle a routine pass, and it turned out to be his last shift of the period. Every other defenseman saw some ice time on the penalty kill, but not Xhekaj.
While he does bring something special to the lineup with his grit and physicality, he cannot rely solely on that to ensure his presence in the lineup. He really needs to clean up those mistakes that keep happening too often. Since being called up, Engstrom has played a cleaner game than the young veteran, and with 2:49 left in the first frame, he got to play a first shift with Lane Hutson. It might have been because Xhekaj was sitting, but it does show that the coach appreciates his work.
That being said, I don’t believe Struble is having a better season than Xhekaj; his mistakes are not as obvious or frequent.
Late Goals Are Gut Punches
Whoever is in net, one thing that never helps a team is to let in late goals. Through 40 minutes, the Flyers were leading 3-1, and two of their goals came with less than a minute left in the first two frames. That’s a momentum killer if there ever was one, especially when it comes 40 seconds after taking the lead. That Carl Grundstrom goal was the result of yet another defensive snafu, though, so it’s not entirely on Fowler, but the goaltender is there to stop the pucks and to fix mistakes as well.
As for the goal that made it 3-1, that one was on Fowler; he came out of his net to handle the puck behind the goal line and just left it, thinking his defenseman would collect it, but he hadn’t seen Matvei Michkov coming. The Russian fed Bobby Brink in front of the net, and just like that, the Habs were down 3-1. Of course, one could say there was a breakdown in communication between the goaltender and his defensemen, but still, Fowler cannot do that. That’s a mistake he’s not likely to repeat anytime soon.
Lil rookie mistake by Fowler leads to a Flyers goal 😅 pic.twitter.com/DaEqdndSdH
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 17, 2025
Not The Same Without Matheson
The Canadiens better hope that the veteran blueliner isn’t out long-term, because they missed him greatly tonight. Lane Hutson had to shoulder much of the load and spent over 27 minutes on the ice, which is a lot even by his standards. However, in his post-game press availability, coach Martin St-Louis explained he felt his team’s attack struggled tonight because it didn’t use its blueliners enough:
I felt like we died with the puck in the offensive zone because we weren’t using our defensemen. It’s a team that plays really tight in front of the net, and if you don’t use your blueliners, you’re playing three-on-five. It’s something we talked about before the game as well; we had trouble sending the puck up the zone. When you do that, you force those teams that are compact in front of the net to deploy themselves, and then you can attack more on the inside.
That’s a fair point, and it may go some way toward explaining the lack of shots in the first two periods, but this has now become a trend. You’re rarely going to win a game when you’ve had a total of 10 shots on net after 40 minutes.
Asked for his thoughts on Adam Engstrom, whom he’s now seen in a few games, the bench boss said:
Obviously, he’s a great skater. I just think he plays the game that’s in front of him. I don’t think he’s intimidated by the NHL; he just plays the game. I think he’s a confident kid, and he can do a lot on the ice. He doesn’t seem too worried out there, so not only has he got a lot of tools, but he’s also got the confidence behind the tools.
The pilot was very pleased with his ability to make reads at high speed, which bodes well for the young man’s future.
The Canadiens will practice in Brossard at 11:30 on Wednesday before leaving for their traditional children’s Christmas hospital visit at 1:30 PM. They'll play their next game on Thursday night at home against the Chicago Blackhawks, who will be without injured star Connor Bedard.
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Bowl game schedule today: Breaking down college football bowl games on Dec. 17
The first day of the college football postseason with multiple bowl game features the Cure Bowl and 68 Ventures Bowl. We break down the matchups.
Could the Phillies' next move shake up their infield?
Could the Phillies' next move shake up their infield? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Yesterday at the press conference to introduce Adolis Garcia, PBO Dave Dombrowski said the team’s outfield is “pretty much set.” But there may be a way to upgrade the infield, without overspending.
The Phillies are big spenders. That results in a very talented roster, but very little ability for Dombrowski to make major moves without getting creative when the opportunity presents itself.
An opportunity could be popping up – a holiday miracle at that – from out west.
According to multiple reports, the Arizona Diamondbacks are suddenly interested in third baseman Alex Bregman, widely regarded as the biggest fish in the free agent pond. Signing Bregman will be expensive, meaning the team would have to part with at least one significant contract.
This is where the Phillies come in.
The player mentioned by MLB pundits as potentially expendable by Arizona is switch-hitting second baseman Ketel Marte. If the Phillies truly want to improve their offense, this is where you strike. You may remember Marte as the pest who had 12 hits in the 2023 NLCS against the Phillies, on the way to winning series MVP.
The 32-year-old is the two-time defending NL Silver Slugger at second base, and appears to be firmly in his prime as a hitter. Over the past three seasons, he has hit 89 home runs, most among MLB second basemen by 15, and his .887 OPS over that span ranks ninth among all players. He also hits for average; his .283 mark over the past 3 seasons ranks 17th in MLB.
Marte has batted first or second in recent years, but his value would be in the much-needed protection in the lineup he would provide behind Bryce Harper, which would force teams to pitch Harper honestly, or face Marte with Harper on base.
This is the kind of move that could not only bolster the Phillies’ lineup, but also give it the versatility it sorely lacks in spots.
Marte has five years and $91 million remaining on his contract, with a player option for 2031 at $11.5 million. That’s rich, but not so rich that it should scare Dombrowski off.
He will become a 10-and-5 player early next season, meaning Marte can veto any trade, but according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Marte’s current no-trade list has just five teams on it: the Athletics, the Yankees, Pirates, Giants, and Cardinals.
A Marte trade will likely require the Phillies parting with incumbent second baseman Bryson Stott, who has never lived up to the pure hitter reputation that led to the Phils selecting him 14th overall six years ago. In addition, one or two prospects would need to be included, but not at the tier of Andrew Painter or Aidan Miller. After all, Arizona doesn’t have that kind of leverage in this case.
The Phillies’ No. 5 prospect, infielder Aroon Escobar, is a righty bat with pop that the Diamondbacks need. They are also looking for depth in their rotation, so they could include No. 11 prospect Jean Cabrera, who impressed at AA Reading last season.
This is the kind of move that could pay very big dividends for the Phillies, especially in October, when they need them most.
What's next for the Giants after filling a couple of key roster holes?
What's next for the Giants after filling a couple of key roster holes? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ announcement on Tuesday that they had signed right-handed reliever Jason Foley included an important update on the health of his shoulder and plenty of information to show why this could end up being a very savvy move. But what was missing from the announcement also was notable.
The Giants came home from the Winter Meetings in Orlando with a full 40-man roster, and while Foley will almost certainly start the season on the 60-day IL, that move can’t be made until the spring, means they soon will need to announce who is being taken off the roster for Foley. The same will be true once the ink is dry on the two-year deal they have agreed to with right-handed starter Adrian Houser.
For a team that’s most interesting offseason move coming into Tuesday had been DFA’ing former top prospect Marco Luciano, cutting two more players loose is no small thing, and that’s part of what stood out from the busiest day of the Giants’ offseason so far. Foley and Houser fill important holes for the 2026 roster, but right now, the biggest question is: What’s next?
Will a big-name starting pitcher be added in the weeks ahead, pushing Houser to the No. 5 spot in the rotation? Will the front office complement Foley with another free-agent right-hander with closing experience, one who will actually be available on Opening Day? Will the additions to the 40-man lead to a big trade this week?
The Giants have added a solid collection of big leaguers to their roster this offseason, but the fan base is waiting for the splash, and the roster still needs it.
Houser is coming off the best year of his career, having posted a 3.31 ERA and 3.81 FIP across 21 starts for the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. He was so good in Chicago early in the year that he was on the radar as a sensible trade deadline addition for the Giants before they went in the tank in July and ended up selling.
Houser’s velocity was up nearly two ticks last season, and while he turns 33 in February, there aren’t that many miles on his arm. At $11 million per year, he’s a reasonable option for the back end of the rotation, and the Giants needed another veteran to throw ahead of their collection of young starters, many of whom looked not quite ready for prime time last summer. Houser also has plenty of relief experience, including as recently as 2024, so there’s a fallback option.
Right now, though, he’s right there with Landen Roupp in the middle of the rotation, and the Giants would feel a lot better about their chances if those two lined up as four and five in some order instead of three and four. They have signaled that they don’t want to give out a nine-figure deal to a starting pitcher, and their preference would be to sign a player without a qualifying offer attached, but given how little they’ve spent so far — less than $15 million has been added to the 2026 roster — they still have the flexibility to add another frontline arm.
When it comes to bullpen spending, you don’t even have to read between any lines. Every time team officials have been asked about rebuilding the bullpen this offseason, they have gone straight to minor-league free agents, non-roster invitees, and high-upside projects like Foley and right-hander Gregory Santos, who reportedly is returning on a minor-league deal.
The 30-year-old Foley missed all of last season after having right shoulder surgery and the Giants don’t expect him back on the mound until the middle of the 2026 season. If he comes back healthy, though, Foley could be a serious weapon for new manager Tony Vitello.
Foley has a 3.16 ERA in the big leagues and saved 28 games for the Detroit Tigers in 2024. He has a groundball rate of 54 percent, which is three percent below Logan Webb’s career rate, but Foley gets all those balls on the dirt with a sinker that has touched 100 mph.
On the surface, this was a move right out of the Farhan Zaidi playbook, except that ignores the fact that assistant general manager Jeremy Shelley has been successful with these kinds of bets for years. With two years of club control after 2026, the Foley deal could end up being one of the steals of the offseason if he comes back healthy.
That last part is the key, though. The roster doesn’t have an obvious closer for Opening Day, and with Luke Weaver reportedly agreeing to a deal with the New York Mets on Wednesday morning, the list of available relievers with closing experience has gotten very, very short.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Foley closing games for the Giants at some point next year, but right now, he’s on the mend. Sam Hentges, signed earlier this offseason, also is recovering from shoulder surgery, although he should be cleared by the time pitchers and catchers report to camp.
The Giants have added talent to their bullpen, but much more is needed. They have added some depth to their rotation, but more is needed there, too. Tuesday was a step in the right direction and they’re certainly better than they were a week ago, but as the holidays approach, they still have a simple question to answer. What’s next?