While the 2026 offseason was, on the whole, a disappointment for the Philadelphia Flyers, they still managed to acquire some intriguing pieces nonetheless.
Specifically, the Flyers do have a logjam on the wings, for example, but they paradoxically had some openings to address as well. What do I mean?
Prospects Denver Barkey and Alex Bump are graduating to the NHL level full-time next season, and veteran tough guy Garnet Hathaway departed Philadelphia via trade earlier this offseason.
Plus, journeymen Rodrigo Abols and Luke Glendening were left behind, Anthony Richard signed overseas, and Bobby Brink was traded for David Jiricek at the NHL deadline.
Quietly, the winger (and center, speaking to the versatility of Abols and Glendening) position underwent a facelift in 2025-26, and that wasn't without consequence for the Flyers.
The AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, who ranked just 23rd in the league with 210 goals and missed the Calder Cup playoffs as a result, badly needed help offensively, and that is especially true now without Bump, Barkey, Richard, and leading scorer Lane Pederson.
While they may have missed out on Leo Carlsson with their aggressive offer sheet attempt, the Flyers did make some beneficial signings still, adding Nolan Foote and Danila Klimovich as organizational depth to help the Phantoms.
Foote, 25, brings some intrigue as a former first-round pick, but Klimovich is the name people need to be talking about more.
Rick Tocchet reunites with former Canucks prospect
Klimovich, 23, is still quite young and comes with the pedigree of being a former second-round pick (41st overall in 2021), but he has yet to make his NHL debut after four full seasons with the Vancouver Canucks organization.
Sure, it is a bit of a head-scratcher that the bottom-feeding Canucks cut the Belarusian winger loose at his age before finding a role for him at the NHL level, considering Klimovich has scored 43 goals for the AHL Abbotsford Canucks over the last two seasons.
At the same time, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet, obviously, came to Philadelphia from Vancouver last year, and he's someone who has had Klimovich at his training camps multiple times over his years there.
The Flyers, with Tocchet's familiarity, went out of their way to sign this player for a reason.
Conceivably, with a big step that never came in Vancouver, Klimovich could carve out a depth role for himself at the NHL level if the Flyers' development staff taps into his potential.
The 6-foot-2 winger's game is built around his hard shot and puck skills, though he has long struggled defensively and isn't that great of a skater.
To make a name for himself, Klimovich will have to continue to learn to impose himself physically while improving defensively; the latter is the hallmark of any successful depth forward in the big leagues.
Fortunately, the Flyers have had some success with this in the past, even with veterans.
Players like Rasmus Ristolainen, Jamie Drysdale, Trevor Zegras, Owen Tippett, and Tyson Foerster all stand out as examples--none of those guys were drafted to play defense, but they all improved considerably in that aspect upon arriving and spending some time in Philadelphia.
With his traits, Klimovich is not dissimilar to Foote, but time is on his side being two years younger.
If absolutely everything goes right, though, Klimovich could find his path in the pros as a Foerster lite: a big-bodied winger who makes up for his lack of pace and playmaking with details, dogged defending, and a powerful shot.
The once-promising Canucks prospect is only under contract with the Flyers for one year, but with so many outgoing players at his position, Klimovich will have all the opportunity in the world to make an impact with the Phantoms, and then, potentially, with the Flyers.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 23: Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks blocks a shot by Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter of game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yes, it’s that point in the offseason where there isn’t much to talk about, but NBA 2K always comes through at the right moment. NBA 2K27 is set to release on Sept. 4 (Aug. 26 early access), and for the entire month leading up to the date, the company always gives tidbits of either new game modes, fresh face scans, and player ratings.
One of the first things that they decided to release this year was attribute ratings, and several Atlanta Hawks players were part of the list. Here are some of the attributes where those players rank top 10 in the game.
Jalen Johnson – No. 2 in driving dunk
In all honesty, this should come as no surprise, as Jalen Johnson is hard to stop when he has a head full of steam. Adding to that, he’s caught a couple of poster dunks throughout the past few years that some people won’t forget, and it’s obvious that NBA 2K didn’t need to be reminded.
Johnson’s driving dunk is rated at a 96 overall, and he’s just behind Anthony Edwards for the No. 1 spot. This is the perfect spot to put Johnson, and he’ll show at times during this upcoming season why he’s rated so high when it comes to throwing the ball down. It might even motivate him to participate in the dunk contest.
Kingston Flemings – No. 10 in speed with ball
Having a rookie in this category is huge, especially when looking around the league and thinking about all the other fast players. Most of the players on this list are point guards, and Flemings fits right in with them after realizing how fast he actually is. One of the things that was mentioned about Flemings coming out of the draft was his speed, and he’s said that he models his game after guards like Derrick Rose and Tyrese Maxey.
Maxey has already found himself on this list at No. 2, and Rose has always been known as one of the more athletic guards to play the game. Flemings’ speed with ball is a 90 overall, and he’ll be blowing past a lot of defenders in real life and on the game.
Dyson Daniels – No. 4 in perimeter defense
This is another rating that shouldn’t be a surprise, but it could almost feel disrespectful in a sense. Dyson Daniels has proved over the past two seasons that he’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, so much that he could be rated higher than fourth on the list.
Ausar Thompson, Derrick White and OG Anunoby are all ranked above him, and it’s well deserved. Daniels’ perimeter defense is a 94 overall in the game, and he’ll continue to be a pest on the floor. It is a little surprising that Lu Dort didn’t make the top 10 in this category, but his former teammate, Cason Wallace, cracked the list.
Dyson Daniels – No. 4 in steals
Daniels may need to be ranked top 10 in all defensive categories, and it is also not a surprise that he’s high on this list. At the same time, he could have a high rating in this category, considering the fact that he averaged the most steals per game last season, which was also tied with Ausar Thompson. Some of the players on the top list in this rating weren’t even top 10 in steals per game last season.
Daniels led the league in steals per game two seasons ago, and he basically followed it up again by doing the same thing. He’s rated a 98 in steals along with Wallace, Thompson and Matisse Thybulle, but it wouldn’t have been a stretch to give him the 99.
Kingston Flemings – No. 8 in rookie rating
This is a fair rating, considering that Flemings was actually drafted with the No. 8 pick. All of the other players above him are rated where they were picked in the draft as well, so it looks like everyone may have gotten a fair rating when it comes to rookies.
Flemings is a 74 overall in NBA 2K, and it will be interesting to see if he can bring that rating higher during the season. It will all depend on what he does with the opportunity when he gets in the game, and how much he actually plays throughout the season.
Fans cheer as Lakers guard Luka Doncic takes the court before a game against the Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on March 10. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
One of Los Angeles’ celebrated professional sports franchises was owned by one local family for more than 45 years. Catering to Hollywood royalty and leaning into its “Showtime” charm, the Lakers became synonymous with the star-studded city. Two quick transactions later, the team now belongs to a New York-based venture capital titan who made his billions in technology and software.
Joshua Kushner, founder of venture capital firm Thrive Capital, and former Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger agreed to buy a majority stake in the Lakers last week. The Buss family’s grip on the NBA’s glamor franchise loosened in 2025 when they relinquished their majority share to Mark Walter. His businesses are under federal investigation for undisclosed insurance loans and Walter flipped the team after just 14 months.
In 1979, Jerry Buss bought the Lakers, the Forum and the Los Angeles Kings for $67.5 million. Now the Lakers alone are worth $12.5 billion.
“It used to be, ‘Hey, I’m in this for the love of the game,’” said Ross Williams, a private-equity attorney and partner at law firm Reed Smith. “Like I measure the success of my investment based on whether we win championships. … And now it’s becoming apparent that these are really, really good financial investments.”
Mark Walter, left, talks with Jeanie Buss while the Lakers play the Bulls at Crypto.com Arena on March 12. Walter sold his majority share in the Lakers, while Buss is fighting to keep her family's minority stake. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
The booming business of sports has attracted a flood of private-equity investment, and even the most notable franchises require the influx of cash to keep up in the arms race.
As of May, more than 74 North American professional teams had some level of private-equity involvement, according to the CFA Institute, an organization providing finance education to investment professionals. Private-equity-backed consolidators have been responsible for 61% of all mergers and acquisition transactions in the sports industry since 2019, according to Oaklins, a global M&A and financial advisory company.
“The real attraction of professional sports is it seems somewhat recession-proof,” said James Adams, director of CFA program curriculum and an adjunct professor at New York University. “It has had a very successful run, a high rate of growth, it’s not as subject to the fluctuations of the business cycle as maybe other things are.”
For private equity — in which investors buy into companies that aren’t available on the public market — sports offers safe harbor. Media deals provide predictable revenue over several years. The NBA’s current deal that stretches to the 2035-36 season is worth $6.9 billion per year. Additional revenue streams with merchandise, sponsorships and ticket sales pile on. Owning an arena, which the Lakers do not, opens the floodgates for concerts and events that add to the revenue.
“Sports is one of those rare instances where you can invest in something cool that also makes money,” Williams said.
The NBA averaged at least 22 million fans during each of the last three seasons, according to Sports Business Journal. Last season’s nationally televised games drew 170 million viewers, the most in 24 years and an 86% increase from the previous year. The NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs were the most-watched Finals since 1998. And the outlook for future profits is strong, if fans’ appetites are any gauge.
The trend is prevalent across many sports. WNBA viewership is at an all-time high. Fox and Telemundo dominated the summer with their FIFA World Cup broadcasts. Of the top 100 TV broadcasts in 2025, 96 were sports, according to Neilsen data, including 48 NFL games and seven World Series games (between the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays).
Investors are clamoring to find the next venture that will hit it big with consumers. Live sports already have a dedicated market and more stability than other ventures constantly affected by technical developments.
“You read a lot about AI and there are a lot of companies that their fundamental existence is being questioned because of AI and what it can do,” Williams said. “We don’t want to watch robots play basketball.”
The NBA adopted its first private-equity ownership framework in 2021. Individual firms can own up to 20% of an NBA team, according to Sports Business Journal, and 30% of a single team can be owned by private-equity firms. Such firms were limited to five teams in 2021, but the number grew to eight in 2025.
Private equity even infiltrated the most exclusive ownership club in 2024 when the NFL was the last major U.S. league to open its doors. The league allowed preapproved firms to own up to 10% of a single team, up to six teams total with each stake being at least 3%.
The permanence of sports franchises were behind the formation of Kushner’s Thrive Eternal venture, a permanent holding company launched under Thrive Capital in April. Although venture-capital firms generally focus on turning profits from the most early stage companies, Thrive Eternal is “concentrated in a small number of assets that we can own and steward over many decades,” the company’s website says.
“These are assets with qualities that cannot be replicated by technology,” the homepage reads. “Iconic franchises and cultural institutions rooted in tradition, identity, and shared experience.”
How Kushner and Iger plan to finance the purchase of the Lakers has yet to be determined. Kushner, already a minority owner in the Miami Heat, must first divest from that team before the Lakers sale can be finalized, and the transaction must be approved by the NBA board of governors.
The board of governors announced last year that Jeanie Buss would remain in charge of the Lakers’ decisions after the Buss family’s sale to Walter. The family’s future is in limbo as Jeanie Buss contests her five siblings’ plans to sell their remaining stake of the team. The family feud over their remaining 17.8% stake is not expected to influence the sale from Walter to Iger and Kushner, a source familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told The Times, although it could affect who would represent the team on the board of governors going forward.
While analyzing the sale transaction, the board could look at where the money is coming from, Williams said: how much money from Kushner and Iger personally, how they are moving assets to provide the billions of dollars, and how much potential private-equity money from Thrive.
Thrive Enternal’s first entry into sports was purchasing a noncontrolling stake in the San Francisco Giants. Four months later, it is set to add the Lakers.
Private-equity firms can have a sliver of a team, but are not to have a controlling voice. Their influence trickles down to fans in other ways. Deep-pocketed new owners can help build stadiums or upgrade existing venues to maximize revenue from luxury suites. Ownership decisions also can lead to signing or retaining star players as teams hope to contend for championships. The influx of cash into sports has helped women’s sports take off with unprecedented investment and growth.
But just as a team’s valuation goes up, so has the price tags for fans. Just getting in the door to Dodger Stadium can cost a family of four nearly $250. In one season under Walter, season-ticket price increases rankled Lakers fans. A second row of courtside seats during the Lakers postseason changed what used to be an exclusive feel to a game.
Yet at each game, the seats were full.
Lakers star LeBron James hugs governor Jeanie Buss after winning the NBA championship on Oct. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Douglas P. DeFelice / Getty Images)
“Passionate sports fans are not as price sensitive,” said Arianna Uhalde, an associate professor of clinical marketing at USC’s Marshall School of Business. “I think not as sensitive to some of these decisions that are getting made by ownership. It doesn’t mean that fans are not going to get upset, but they love their teams. They’re likely to still show up in good times and in bad.”
The business of sports has been great for owners, but isn’t guaranteed to last. A change in state or federal administrations and policies could affect tax laws that are advantageous for team ownership, said Mark Conrad, a director of the sports business concentration and professor of law and ethics at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business. Labor issues such as the one threatening Major League Baseball could put a freeze on valuations. A recession or another global pandemic could tank the economy. Even the NBA Finals ratings during the COVID-19 pandemic were at an all-time low, averaging just 7.45 million viewers for the Lakers’ six-game, bubble series win over the Miami Heat.
Fans have steadily marched back ever since.
“They’re going to pay for it,” Conrad said. “They can. They do. … And if that’s the case, the lords of the sport are going to be mighty happy.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 31: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Rocket Arena on December 31, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Fans haven’t lost faith in the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nearly 90% of Fear the Sword voters said they believe the Cavs will pass their 47.5-win total prediction on FanDuel.
And that was before the Peyton Watson trade was finalized.
This is a roaring seal of approval for Cleveland. The fans aren’t feeling discouraged by whiffing on LeBron James or the widespread improvements made to the Eastern Conference this summer. The Cavs are still operating with a fanbase full of hope.
Passing the 47-win mark won’t be easy. The East has gotten stronger and new lottery reforms mean the teams at the bottom of the conference have fewer incentives to tank games. The schedule won’t get much easier in the dog days of the season as every team will have something to play for.
That puts the Cavs in a tight position. They’ve won more than 47 games in each of the past three seasons. But they’ve never had to face an Eastern Conference that was this loaded.
Still, there’s plenty of reason to think Cleveland will win 48+ games that aren’t rooted in homerism.
For starters, the Cavs have some of the best continuity in the conference. Their star trio of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen has been together for years. James Harden, who arrived last year, has fit right in. That type of chemistry matters, especially in the regular season.
Then there’s the trade for Watson, which gives the Cavaliers a dose of athleticism and three-point shooting on the wing.
Previously, we polled fans on which trade target they would prefer. Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson. A whopping 85% of fans voted in favor of Watson. It seems they got their wish.
Watson should help push the Cavs to more wins in the regular season despite all of the factors working against Cleveland.
In fact, FanDuel has already increased the Cavs win total to 48.5. A small difference, but worth noting nonetheless.
Happy birthday to Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1931 – Babe Ruth becomes the first major leaguer to hit 600 career home runs as the Yankees defeat the Browns, 11-7, and other stories as well.
1971 – For the second time in ten days, Dave Roberts of the Padres and Tom Seaver of the Mets lock up in a pitchers duel, but this time, Seaver comes out on top, 2-1. Cleon Jones ends the game with a walk-off home run with two outs on the bottom of the ninth, only the third hit allowed by Roberts. Seaver and Roberts will finish first and second respectively in the National LeagueERA race.
1972 – Phil Niekro and the Braves beat the Phillies, 2-1, in 11 innings, to snap Steve Carlton‘s 15-game winning streak. After retiring 19 batters in a row, Carlton (20-7) puts two runners on in the 11th, before Mike Lum singles home the winner.
1977 – Tom Seaver makes his first appearance in Shea Stadium as a member of the Reds, and pitches a six-hitter to beat the Mets, 5-1. Tom Terrific strikes out 11, has a double at the plate and scores twice.
1996 – Phils ace Curt Schilling faces 28 batters in a two-hit, 6-0 win over the Dodgers. Schilling strikes out 12. Rookie Scott Rolen hits his first two major league homers, both off Hideo Nomo.
1996 – Cal Ripken is 4 for 5, including a homer, to lead the surging Orioles to a 10-5 win over the Mariners.
2013 – With a 1st-inning single off Toronto’sR.A. Dickey, Ichiro Suzuki gets his 4,000th hit between Japan (1,278) and the United States (2,722). He is only the third player to reach the milestone at such a high level, following Ty Cobb and Pete Rose,
1917 – Now with the Philadelphia Phils, Charles Bender, 34, pitches his third straight shutout, winning 6 0 over the Cubs. In his last active season, Bender will turn in four shutouts and win eight with two losses and a 1.67 ERA.
1975 – The Reuschel brothers of the Cubs join forces to blank the Dodgers, 6-0. Rick goes 6.1 innings and Paul finishes the game for the first (and still the only) combined shutout thrown by siblings.
1888 – American inventor William Seward Burroughs patents the adding machine.
1897 – Oldsmobile is first manufactured by Olds Motor Vehicle Co. in Lansing, Michigan.
1955 – Chicago teenager Emmett Till arrives in Money, Mississippi, to visit relatives, a week before he is murdered.
1959 – Hawaii becomes the 50th state of the United States.
1961 – American country singer Patsy Cline records struggling songwriter Willie Nelson‘s song “Crazy” in Nashville, Tennessee.
1966 – The Beatles headline their second show of the day at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, after playing in the afternoon 341 miles away in Cincinnati, Ohio, following a rainout the night before.
1996 – Netscape Browser 3.0 is released.
2001 – “How You Remind Me” single released by Nickelback.
2025 – A 1642 will at the center of a legal battle over Shakespeare‘s home is found after 150 years in an unlabeled box at the National Archives.
SS Dax Kilby 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB, throwing error DH Paul Gutierrez-Contreras II 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R C Bear Harrison 0-3, 2 BB 1B Luke Pettitte 1-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K — two-run double in the ninth made it interesting LF Luis Puello 2-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 K RF Diego Castellanos 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, throwing error 2B Blake Cyr 0-4, 1 K CF Brando Mayea 2-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB 3B Luis Escudero 2-2, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, fielding error
Edinzo Marquez 3.2 IP, 7 R, 4 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR (loss) Josh Tiedemann 0.1 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 BB — came in to help put out a fire in the fourth and added to it Danny Flatt 2.1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 K Rafael Arias 2.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Florida Complex League Yankees: Season over
Dominican Summer League Yankees:L, 1-7 at DSL Reds (Pool Play Day 1)
CF Isaias Castillo 1-4, 1 2B, 2 K LF Luis Cruz 1-3, 1 BB SS Stiven Marinez 0-4 3B Juan Torres 0-4, 1 K C Juan Martinez 0-4, 1 K RF Alfiery Matos 1-4, 1 3B, 1 R, 1 K, assist 2B Stalen Ramirez 1-4, 1 RBI, throwing error DH Kendry Diaz 0-2, 1 K PH-DH Manuel Aguilar 0-2, 1 K 1B Jose Peralta 2-4, 1 K
Jhosneyker Colina 4 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K (loss) Luis Rodriguez 2 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 K Emanuel Vargas 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H
The Detroit Tigers have been in a bit of a slump of late, having lost five of their last six, which includes a sweep at home at the hands of the Chicago White Sox and dropping two of three on the road to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Just when they were one game from reaching the .500 mark, things once again came unraveled for the Olde English D.
The Motor City Kitties now move on to the second leg of their current road trip with three games against the Kansas Royals — who have won five straight and six of the last seven — at Kauffman Stadium this weekend. Still well within striking distance of a wildcard spot in a weak American League playoff race, AJ Hinch’s squad could really use a strong showing against the division’s bottom dwellers.
First up on the mound for the Tigers is left-hander Framber Valdez, who has had two straight rough outings after posting a pair of quality starts to open up August. Over the 32-year-old’s last 11 1/3 innings, he has put up a 6.35 ERA and 5.47 FIP, allowing 11 hits (one home run) and nine walks while striking out eight, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch.
Valdez has faced Kansas City twice this season — both in Detroit — with varying results. On April 14, he tossed seven frames of one-run ball on four hits and two walks with a strikeout for a no-decision in a 2-1 team win; on July 26, he served up three runs (two earned) on four hits (0ne home run) and three walks with four strikeouts over five frames, also failing to figure in the decision in an eventual 5-4 loss.
For the Royals, fellow southpaw Noah Cameron will take the mound in the series opener coming off the best start of his two-year career. The 27-year-old tossed a complete-game shutout against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing just a single hit and walk while striking out eight in a 3-0 home win.
Cameron has taken on the Tigers twice this season, and like Valdez, produced much different results between the two. On May 10 in Kansas City, he allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over four frames for a no-decision in a 6-3 team loss; on July 24 in Detroit, he threw seven innings of scoreless ball on two hits and three walks while striking out eight also for a no-decision in an eventual 2-1 loss.
Take a look at how the two match up on Friday night below.
Detroit Tigers (61-66) vs. Kansas City Royals (55-74)
Time (ET): 8:10 p.m. Place: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri SB Nation Site:Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 128: RHP Troy Melton (7-1, 1.71 ERA) vs. LHP Noah Cameron (7-8, 4.16 ERA)
JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Leo Bernal #44 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
An oddity began last November when the Cardinals chose to carry an almost unheard of five catchers on the 40-man roster. At the time, Pedro Pages, Ivan Herrera, Jimmy Crooks, Yahel Pozo and Leo Bernal occupied those spots. While five was pretty unusual, some explanation could be found due to the uncertainty of Ivan Herrera, who would undergo off-season elbow surgery and was mired in a deep throwing slump. Still, 12.5% of the roster being dedicated to catching seemed to create pinch points in other areas. How would this resolve? Many advocated for clearing up this apparent roster logjam.
As spring turned to summer, concerns about Herrera’s health dissipated, but the view on his throwing remained a tempest. In spite of the varied opinions, it had become apparent that the Cardinals see Herrera as a legit option at C (to the chagrin of many who looked at the CS rate), catching him regularly on the short end of a 60:40 rotation. Further evolution has led to an additional split, where Jimmy Crooks has taken the primary catching duties with Pedro Pages on the shortest end of a now three catcher rotation. Herrera’s slice is largely unchanged, although he isn’t bolted to the same two pitchers anymore. Meanwhile, Pozo was DFA’ed when roster needs elsewhere became acute, and picked up by Baltimore (who now, interestingly, carry 3 catchers). Perhaps the Cardinals have discovered the new market inefficiency.
Yet even four catchers on the 40-man seems an unusual allocation, particular over a longer period of time. Even more pressing, another one young catcher (if you haven’t heard) by the name of Rainel Rodriguez has played well enough at A+ and then AA that his name enters almost any catching conversation, even though his name does not yet appear on the 40-man roster. He is quite precocious. This isn’t article about Rainel, but if it was, I would be regaling you with statistical accomplishments he has achieved already that compare quite favorably to some of the league’s top hitters over the last generation.
All this leads many pundits and fans to comment that this situation needs resolution. Many expected Pages to be moved at the trade deadline. To think a bit asynchronously, does 4 catchers on the 40-man roster really require resolution? Granted it is unconventional, but does it really require some management intervention? If so, when?
Complicating any future plan is the difficulty in evaluating each of the individual players and more so, figuring out who might be the best fit on a roster that in and of itself is undergoing more churn. For instance, it seems the club preferred Pages defense, but his offense really doesn’t fit well on this weak-hitting roster. If the club had more good hitters, he would be a better fit.
Some look at Crooks as a better blend of offense and possibly even superior defense, but in his second go at MLB really has done little to impress. Some underlying metrics do support the notion of his blend, but how long might it take to emerge?
Bernal, unseen in the MLB, is a mystery, with widely varying views of both his offense and defense. Some evaluators believe Crooks far superior defensively, others with the opposite point of view. Which is it? And how do they tell? As we’ve seen, catching at the MLB level is different than Memphis or elsewhere in the minor league circuit.
Ivan Herrera’s offensive chops are now well established. He is clearly the best hitter of the current group, although Rainel seems destined to challenge that. Ivan’s offense is prolific enough that Oli works very hard to get his bat in the line-up each and every day. His offense is enough that some might argue he is an everyday bat if not an everyday catcher, and this leads to some advocating for a position change.
Rainel seems a bit of a mystery defensively, but it is becoming very clear that his bat has the chance to be very special. Special enough that the arguments around Herrera are extended to RainRod even more emphatically. Many will say a bat like that needs to be in the line-up every day and not subjected to the rigors of MLB catching. I have no good argument for that point of view. Unless he is Pudge Rodriguez or Yadi Molina defensively, they say, catching is not where his greatest value is to be found.
How does all this unfold? Straight up, I don’t know. But based on conversations I’ve had and actions I’ve observed, I’m developing a framework for how it could unfold.
Many people expected Pages to be moved at the deadline and, absent that, to be moved this winter. Possible, but I’m not so sure on the timing. Some believe that this off-season, the Cardinals need to choose a path and that RainRod is going to be the ultimate victor in this positional competition. The goal for them becomes to “sell high” and get prospect returns from some of the others. Again, I’m not so sure. Let’s be clear, I’d suspect if the right deal came along, they’d probably take it. But I’m beginning to suspect that is not their primary plan going forward.
Let’s unpack this individually first, then treat these guys as a group to try and formulate that framework.
Pages will not be eligible for arbitration until the end of the 2027 season. That is an important consideration, in the sense that there really isn’t pressure to move him. He is major league minimum salary for 2027 and there is no alternative that would be cheaper. But, but…wouldn’t they rather have a pitcher using that 40-man spot?
I’m going to publish an update that looks at 40-man issues that might be appearing this fall. You will get the details next week, but it turns out there really isn’t a significant 40-man roster pressure, pitchers or otherwise. The Cardinals have lots of pitchers in the pipeline, but only a few need 40-man protection. They are in zero danger of losing a needed pitcher even if the keep all 4 catchers on the 40-man roster. Unconventional? Certainly. Possible. Yes. Achievable. Definitely. It turns out management has finessed the 40-man roster, as a whole, quite nicely. Read the article next week, in the meantime trust me that the 40-man roster can handle 4 catchers for another year or so. On to the individuals:
Crooks is a runway guy. He has enough scouting data and underlying metric to forecast the potential for better offense and better defense than Pages. So, he gets runway. That runway will run into next year, almost certainly.
Bernal is also a runway guy. He profiles different than Crooks in how he gets there, but he also projects to be better offensively and defensively than Pages (and perhaps Crooks). He will get his shot, in St. Louis, unless someone blows Bloom and Company away with a trade offer.
Herrera is an established top-flight hitter. They’ve played him EVERY day. If that doesn’t speak volumes, I don’t know what will. I don’t know if they view him as cemented in at C, but there is no data to suggest he will be moving on to another team or another position. Moving him to another team would be problematic in that it would leave them with the need to acquire another top-flight hitter when they are short of that talent already. Again, the right offer might dislodge him, but that seems the less likely path.
That leaves RainRod. As each day passes, the confidence that his bat will be special grows. He keeps doing things that only Hall of Fame caliber players have done before him. I’m not projecting HOF status for him (it’s a wee bit soon), but his trajectory is unmistakable. I would think of him as untouchable, so a trade seems unlikely. Given his trajectory, a position switch seems unlikely too. Remarkably, he is too close to MLB already and learning a new position would require they slow down his ascension. That seems counter-productive. He is getting time at 1B, which I find notable if I think some about Alec Burleson’s primary weakness as a hitter (LHP platoon splits).
So, how does all this work?
Let’s introduce the idea I think of as Three-into-Four. Hear me out.
The three is this equation are the catchers: Today, the three are Pages, Crooks, Herrera. By this time next year, good chance the three are Crooks, Herrera and Bernal. Much beyond that horizon comes another name. Rodriguez. That is the three part of 3into4.
To understand the Four, let’s go conventional. Most teams carry 2-3 catchers on their 40-man and carry two catchers on their active roster, right? The Cardinals (today) are clearly not “most teams”. Conventionally, each team has a DH (either a dedicated one or a rotation through), a primary C, and backup C and a primary first baseman. That is the Four I write of.
Now, let’s move off conventional and look at the Cardinals rather unconventional situation, and picture this scenario. They have some challenges:
They have too many catchers (as compared to conventional)
They have a first baseman with a serious LHP platoon split that degrades his value.
They have a bat-first, short-side platoon catcher who needs protection to stay healthy, who by the way, is a really, really good hitter.
How can these be made to work to advantage? Let’s look at next season for starters, and leave RainRod out of the discussion on the assumption that his ETA is really more like 2028. I’m not writing that in stone, but positing that to understand the strawman I think the Cardinals have built around this situation.
Start with the idea that out of 3 catchers, on any given day, one can catch and one can DH, so they can always play 2 of them. Remember that Crooks is a LH batter, Herrera a RH batter and Bernal a switch hitter. Flexibility exists here. The biggest obstacle here isn’t carrying 4 catchers. It is ridding themselves of the notion that DH is a position to rotation various players through. In this strawman, DH will be a spot to rotate a solid hitting catcher into to keep their bat in the line-up while protecting them physically from the rigors of catching.
It looks like this:
When there is an LHP on the mound, in addition to one catching and one DHing, the last one can play first base (likely Bernal, who is working there at AAA). This approach would serve to alleviate the LHP platoon split presented when Alec Burleson plays 1B or DH with an LHP on the mound. This approach requires that Bernal’s bat be MLB ready. When?
When there is an RHP on the mound, Crooks or Bernal catches (depending on matchup and who caught yesterday) and Herrera DHs, with Burleson manning first.
This approach actually results in a 40-30-30 catching ration (with Herrera now on the long side of the platoon, although not catching any more than this year). The allocation of most of the DH spots to catchers on days they aren’t catching ends up with each guy getting into around 120 games, which tends to be on the high side for a catcher. It preserves their body, though, and results in end of the season flexibility to go with a hot hand.
At some point in time, RainRod will be ready and, bluntly, when he is, he dislodges one of the three. It is not only hard to predict exactly when this may happen, but also who he dislodges. Who is dependent on performance we have yet to see as well as any MiLB action RainRod encounters at other positions. Maybe a catcher. Maybe a first baseman. Maybe a third baseman. Hard to say. But until the day RainRod arrives, it strikes me that the current catching carousel can continue without pressure to make a move. This will allow the team to let development and competition settle out who goes and who stays in due time, not under any pressure to “get something done”.
Where does Pages fit in all this? I think he has a spot until they are ready to bring Bernal up, and then, not. Will that be out of 2027 spring training? Who knows? But I can begin to see how they have a plan to let all this organically work itself out without feeling pressure to make a move and try to pick the winner of this derby too early.
For those of you who think the Cardinals need to clear this up this coming off-season, don’t expect it to occur that fast unless a mind-blowing offer accompanies it.
Aug 19, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford (2) runs the bases against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Phillies are about to face an Arch-enemy. Not in the sense of their most loathed foe, but in the sense that their opponent plays under an arch.
Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The Brewers bounced back nicely this week, as they maintained (and even slightly outplayed) the Cubs this week to stay atop the NL Central with just over a month to go.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.
Aug 20, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles infielder Pete Alonso (25) bobbles a foul ball near the dugout in eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Hello, friends.
Just when you thought you were in, they shove you back out. That’s the 2026 Orioles guarantee. Three straight exciting wins against the Rays to start a tough ten-game stretch have now been followed by four straight losses, ground gained by those wins evaporated along with any fan excitement. A 6-1 setback to the Yankees last night sealed a sweep, a lifeless affair by the O’s that saw them allow two more unearned runs to head towards the probable franchise record there. Check out Stacey’s recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.
As far as their lingering wild card hopes, the Orioles are only two games back even after the four-game losing streak. Their problem is going to be more that they have five teams to pass. They’re going to have to be at least a game and as many as three games hotter than all five of those teams from this point forward. They probably won’t be able to do it. There are too many flaws going on with the roster, especially if the starting pitching is losing its edge as the inning totals creep up.
The Rays are next. The Orioles played them pretty well down in the Trop. Maybe they can pull another reversal for us; it wouldn’t be the first time this year that they’ve tempted people to give up on them only to see them find another rally. It’s been a regular feature of the team going back to the start of the season. Always bad enough to inspire disgust, never quite bad enough to completely give up on them.
They are, however, running out of room to make the big move to the front of the pack. Only 34 games remain to them now. The Orioles might need to go 23-11 to do it. That’s asking a lot of a team that hasn’t had that kind of baseball in them for much of the season. We’ve all experienced too much of the stupid stuff that they can pull to believe in things going that way for that length of time.
But, it’s not over til it’s over, as the cliche goes. It’s not over yet for the Orioles. They could keep slim hopes alive for a while longer while also maybe even stoking some hopes for next year if certain players – especially Gunnar Henderson – are able to revive their fortunes between now and the end of the season.
Tonight’s game will air on Apple+ TV and on Apple+ only, so if you don’t have a subscription to that service, you have an easy excuse to take a day off from the Orioles if you want. Trevor Rogers and Freddy Peralta are the scheduled starting pitchers for the 7:15 game.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
The AL Wild Card mess is competitive balance, and it isn’t pretty (FanGraphs) After recent games, the Orioles are increasingly less a part of this mess. It’s even less pretty for us. Jay Jaffe’s focus particularly is on the possibility of a sub-.500 team getting into the postseason in a 162-game season for the first time ever. If that’s in play, then maybe the Orioles only need to go 20-14 – still asking a lot, if not quite as much.
This lefty Orioles prospect could join bullpen for stretch run (Orioles.com) An actual article about something I mentioned yesterday, namely that prospect Luis De León has moved into the bullpen to have him as a possible callup option for September.
Today in 1977, Brooks Robinson retired after 23 major league seasons and 2,896 games played for the Orioles.
In 2001, Tim Raines Sr. and Jr. were opponents in a Triple-A game that involved the Orioles then-Triple-A affiliate Rochester. By the end of the season, they were major league teammates with the Orioles.
There are a pair of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2019-20 outfielder Mason Williams, and 1971 infielder Jerry DaVanon. Today is DaVanon’s 81st birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: jazz pianist Count Basie (1904), basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain (1936), musician Kenny Rogers (1938), System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian (1967), sprinter Usain Bolt (1986), and actress Hayden Panettiere (1989). Panettiere passed away earlier this week.
On this day in history…
In 1791, enslaved people in Saint-Domingue in Haiti attended a “voodoo” ceremony that is now recognized as the beginning of the twelve-year Haitian Revolution, in which the enslaved people of Haiti overthrew their French colonizers and enslavers all at once.
In 1911, an Italian working at the Louvre stole the Mona Lisa with the aim of restoring the painting to Italian control. It was recovered three years later.
In 1959, Hawaii was admitted as the 50th of the United States.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on August 21. Have a safe Friday. Go O’s!
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 25: A general view of the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame display at PPG PAINTS Arena before the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 25, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Penguins have unveiled the second class of individuals who will enter the team’s Hall of Fame this coming fall, highlighted by longtime goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
Fleury, along with Larry Murphy, Jim Rutherford and Jack McGregor will be inducted into the Penguins Hall of Fame this November, joining last year’s inaugural class of inductees.
Having spent 13 of his 21 seasons playing for Pittsburgh, Fleury was a unanimous selection to the Penguins Hall of Fame and won three Stanley Cups with the Penguins.
Larry Murphy, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992.
Responsible for helping build the Pittsburgh roster that won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017, Jim Rutherford will enter the Penguins Hall of Fame in the Builder category. Rutherford’s acquisitions like Phil Kassel, Patric Hornqvist, Nick Bonino, Justin Schultz, Carl Hagelin, and others will forever hold a spot in Penguins lore.
Jack McGregor was a key figure in helping bring an NHL team to Pittsburgh and served as the Penguins’ president from 1967 to 1970.
The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 14 before the Penguins face off against the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena.
A third class of inductees next year will include Tom Barrasso, Jaromir Jagr, Chris Kunitz and Ray Shero.
Every year, The Athletic puts out an article about how much confidence fans have in each NHL front office. Unsurprisingly, the Montreal Canadiens have fared well in those rankings. Last year, Kent Hughes and co. were fifth, but this year, they moved into second place. The article grades each team in six areas: roster building, cap management, draft and development, trading, free agency, and vision.
The Habs grades given by the public are generally better than those given by the Canadiens’ fan base; they’ve always been a demanding bunch, and it’s never been as clear as in this exercise. While the public deservedly gave the Canadiens an A+ for cap management, Montreal fans gave them an A. It’s hard to imagine what Hughes could have done better in that respect. He’s got his young core locked up to lengthy and team-friendly deals that have positioned the Canadiens extremely well to add quality pieces around that core.
So far, four and a half years into his appointment, Hughes has shown that he’s the kind of man who makes a plan and sticks to it. Rather than pouncing on big-name free agents with big contracts (when some were available), he has decided to trust his team’s internal growth, and so far, it has worked; there’s no denying that. Montreal has made the playoffs in the last two years, and they even made the Eastern Conference final this past season, but drafting and developing can only go so far.
It’s impossible to use all of the prospects one’s organization drafts. Eventually, the pipeline gets too crowded because of the contract limit. If you want to have a balanced team, you can’t just keep adding the same kind of players and hope that they will bring you to the promised land (see the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Edmonton Oilers, for instance). At one stage, all that unexploited potential in the pipeline has to be turned into immediate help if you want to get over that hump.
It’s like Dom Luszczyszyn says in his article about the confidence rankings when he discusses the Florida Panthers:
The one downside of trading every pick? Getting a tough grade for drafting and developing. No worries – the Panthers have figured out that when the window is wide-open, talent now is better than talent tomorrow.
- Luszczyszyn on the Panthers' front office's strategy
The Canadiens' draft last year made it clear they were trying to get bigger and grittier. However, prospects need time to develop, and by the time this class comes to maturity and is ready to make an impact, Nick Suzuki’s contract will be nearly done. Furthermore, chemistry takes time; kids don’t tend to perform all that well in their first few years as professionals (though there are exceptions like Lane Hutson or Demidov).
To get over the last few hurdles, the Canadiens will likely need to get some immediate help while sacrificing some of their futures, but that’s easier said than done. When other GMs see how well a team is doing, they’re in no hurry to give them the last few pieces they need to become Stanley Cup champions, and eventually, the GM who has a near-complete puzzle ends up having to bite the bullet and accept that they cannot put too high a value on their assets, making them untradeable.
The other GMs are seeing Hughes coming from miles out now; they know the Canadiens have built a strong foundation, and they will force the Habs to pay dearly for those needle-moving pieces. There comes a time when a GM has to be ready to overpay, and knowing when that time has come isn't always easy. When the finish line is within reach, you have to dig deep to improve your roster.
Hughes won’t be dealing every pick; he’s made it quite clear that he wants to build a perennial contender, but he’ll have to be ready to sacrifice some of them. Such is the reality of a team whose contention window is open. Is the Canadiens’ contention window open? It certainly feels like it is, given that they were one of the last four teams playing hockey this Spring. However, their evisceration by the Carolina Hurricanes shows a few pieces are still missing from their puzzle, and logic dictates those elusive pieces can’t all come from the draft.
Headbanded Randell to Stokes. A healthy crowd watch from the white bucket seats in the permanent-temporary stand. Stokes leaves one that slides across his stumps.
