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Patrick Reed takes the lead in Qatar and tries to wrap up Middle East swing with another win

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Patrick Reed birdied two of his last three holes Friday for a 5-under 67, giving him a one-shot lead in the Qatar Masters as the American tries to wrap up a career-changing month in the Middle East with another victory.

Reed took advantage of late scoring opportunities at Doha Golf Club. He drove just short of the reachable par-4 16th to set up a pitch-and-putt birdie, then chose to lay up from 272 yards on the par-5 18th with water down the left side. Reed hit wedge to 7 feet for birdie.

That put him at 12-under 132, one shot ahead of Joakim Lagergren of Sweden, who had a 66. Daniel Hillier of New Zealand (69) and Richard Sterne of South Africa (66) were another shot back.

Reed came over to the Middle East a month ago while preparing for his fifth season on LIV Golf. But he won the Dubai Desert Classic, revealed he still had not signed a contract with LIV and then couldn't agree on a new deal with the Saudi-funded league.

Reed is playing a European tour schedule this year with an eye toward returning to the PGA Tour. A victory in Qatar would all but lock up one of the 10 tour cards offered to leading European tour players who are not yet PGA Tour members.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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What we learned from the Spurs win over the Mavericks

DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball against Victor Wembanyama #1 and Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at American Airlines Center on February 5, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NBA’s official definition of “clutch time” refers to when a game is within five points or less in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime. It can be exciting for fans who want a thrilling game, but it can also be stressful and may not be for everyone on every night, especially if you’re already tired or stressed and just want a relaxing viewing experience.

The Spurs have not been relaxing to watch lately, and frankly, I’m starting to think they like it that way. I think they like playing in the clutch. They enjoy the thrill and experience that comes with closing out tight games, and as fans may have deduced at this point, they’re good at it. The have the fifth best record in the league in “clutch” games, sitting at 19-10 (65.5%, just slightly under their overall win percentage), and it’s almost like they’re out to increase that number, which they did last night.

Their opponent was an improving Mavericks team that is no longer the deer-in-the-headlights group they encountered in their season opener — led by the then doe-eyed but now scintillating Cooper Flagg — but they have also committed to starting over from the mess former GM Nico Harrison created. They traded away the cornerstone of his shocking and terrible deal that sent Luka Doncic to LA, sending the oft-injured Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards, and I sensed a bit of relief in the air of their arena last night, even from my own couch. That painful page in franchise history is officially turned for good, and now they can move on (even if it will always linger, like the page that a book always opens to first because it’s been open so much lately that the spine has been shaped around it).

Despite being likely destined for the lottery again, the Mavs showed that with the right future moves, they and Flagg could be a force to reconned with again soon, and the Spurs learned that last night. With their propensity to play down to opponents, they failed to build any kind of sizable lead all night but remained ahead and just enough in control to stop any threating Mavs runs. With 5:15 left in the game, Devin Vassell hit one of his reliable midrange jumpers to put them ahead by seven, but wait! We can’t have the Spurs not having any clutch time when they enjoy it so much, so of course they allowed a quick 6-0 Mavs run to get within a point a minute later, and perhaps for the first time all game, there may have been a tad bit of doubt about the outcome.

But then, the Spurs proceeded with what I’ve decided has been their mischievous plan all along considering the repeating pattern: dominate the rest of clutch time by closing on a 15-4 run so they could continue to pad those clutch time stats. Stephon Castle hit a big three to start it off and put back a Victor Webmanyama miss with an emphatic dunk to close things out, and everyone did everything right on both ends in between.

As fun as it may be, I need a break from tight games. Whether that relief will come in the form of a blowout win in the next three games or simply as a part of the All-Star break after that is the ultimate question. Don’t get me wrong: I love a team that knows how to tighten the strings and put things together on both ends when the game is on the line, which will be very important in the playoffs, but I would also happily accept a blowout win here or there, just for my own sanity.

Takeaways

  • Lately, the Spurs path to victory has been more akin to defensive slugfests because of their inconsistency on offense and from their three-point shooters. In this game, the defense was lazy at times, but they made up for it with a balanced offensive attack. Seven players scored in double figures, including all five starters, and overall, they hit 17-41 threes to keep the defense honest. That included Wemby and Harrison Barnes finding their strokes from outside, combining to hit 10-18 with the former hitting his first five (all in the first half) and the latter spreading them out across the game. It was especially noteworthy for Barnes, who has been in an extended shooting slump dating back months, and this was the first time he hit five threes since December 2. His stroke has slowly been returning to form in recent games, and hopefully this is finally the breakthrough performance that returns him to his Uncle Harrison form from earlier in the season. When he’s on, his spacing does wonders for the starting lineup (especially if Julian Champagnie is off, which he was last night with a 2-8 performance from three).
  • The Stephon Castle Viewing Experience continues to be a wild ride. Whether it’s game-to-game, quarter-to-quarter or even play-to-play, you never know whether you’re going to get his frustrating or game-changing version. Last night, he was mostly the latter. He came off the bench for the first time in 11 months after missing the night before to nurse his sore adductor, with the reason reportedly being he’s on a minutes restriction. He was his usual self regardless of role, with 18 points on 8-13 shooting, 7 rebounds 6 assists and 2 steals, plus the aforementioned huge clutch shots, but there was also the frustrating moments, like him driving into traffic and getting stripped on his way to three turnovers.
  • Don’t look now, but despite an up-and-down January when the Spurs barely crossed over the .500 mark with an 8-7 record, they have won three straight to start the month of February (even if they haven’t been pretty). As a result, they are in firm control of the second seed once again as the teams behind them continue to struggle, with a three-game cushion in the loss column on the Nuggets and Rockets. In fact, along with the Lakers, they are the only team in the West with a better record than 6-4 across their last ten games. That doesn’t mean they can relax — the schedule continues to be brutal, and the Rodeo Road Trip begins next week — but even if the Spurs want to give us a heart attack in the process of winning, it’s nice to be able to enjoy standings watching again.
  • Speaking of the Rockets, my Alperen Sengun sports hate has been justified. Thank you. (Not going to embed everything here, but for proof, click here, here and here. Rough 24 hours for the big fella.)
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Weird Islanders: The Podcast! – Episode 80 – Dick Tarnstrom (with guest Dan Hopper)

Along with “Thrill of Defeat” host and Pittsburgh guy Dan Hopper, we remember Dick Tarnstrom, who turned getting waived by the Islanders into a starring role on some bad transitional Penguins teams.

While the Penguins have had some all time great players in their history, the periods between those players were pretty dire. Bankruptcies, empty buildings and lots of losses were not uncommon for one of the NHL’s now-marquee teams. Into one of these eras stepped Dick Tarnstrom, a very late round pick of the Islanders who found himself squeezed out of Long Island during one of their rare fertile periods of the early 2000’s and onto a Penguins team desperate for anyone who could put the puck into a net. Tarnstrom was competent on a bereft squad, which means he got comparisons to Hall of Famers, and Hart and Norris Trophy votes from the win-starved writers covering it. The Penguins’ “X-Generation” might have featured a lot of weird players, but thanks to cheap tickets and EXTREME marketing, it actually succeeded in creating a new wave of fans. To those kids, guys like Dick Tarnstrom felt like superstars of tomorrow.

Dan takes us through the Full Tarnstrom Experience and tells us what it was like watching the Penguins between the Lemieux/Jagr and Crosby/Malkin eras. We learn about the “Ric and Dick Show,” attending Ryan Malone’s hockey camp as a kid, the Woodstock 99 flavor of the “X-Generation” ads and how Tarnstrom was able to capture hearts in the Steel City. We also wonder how we forgot he played for the Oilers during their 2006 Cup final run and why he was put on waivers in the first place (it probably had something to do with being Swedish and having Mike Milbury as a general manager). It’s the deepest dive you’ll find on the man who is surely the last “Dick” in NHL history.

Thanks again to Dan for coming on. His podcast, “Thrill of Defeat” is outstanding and if you’re a fan of Weird Islanders, it will be right up your alley. He’s on a bit of a hiatus now, but there are plenty of episodes to get started on.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL

  • Tarnstrom didn’t score a ton of goals for the Islanders but one of them helped them forge a 6-6 tie (!) with the Panthers in February of 2002.
  • Most people probably didn’t notice Tarnstrom getting picked up off waivers by the Penguins in August of 2002. But he started turning heads early that season (playing with Mario Lemieux might have helped). After a 41-point campaign, he would re-up with them in the summer of 2003 because, basically, they had to sign someone on defense. That investment would pay off in spades for them.
  • Here’s Tarnstrom scoring for the Penguins (includes a couple of classic Mike Lange calls)
  • This incredible article detailed the impact Tarnstrom had on the Penguins in the early rebuild stages. It would read like a satire if it didn’t really happen. Includes a cheap shot at the Islanders for good measure.
  • After playing for the Oilers, on their 2006 Stanley Cup final team, and the Blue Jackets to disappointing results, Tarnstrom returned to his native Sweden and his original club, the Stockholm-based AIK in 2008. The team had been relegated to the SEL’s second division. But with Tarnstrom as captain, they made it back to the top tier in 2010 and went on a couple of long playoff runs.
  • He was forced to retire in 2013 due to a herniated spinal disc. He’s currently the youth hockey manager for the Mälarhöjden/Bredäng Hockey or MB Hockey school. His son Oliver was drafted by the Rangers in 2020 but wasn’t signed and is currently playing in Sweden.

What makes a “Weird Islander?”

We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:

  • Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
  • Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.

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The Good Phight’s Community Prospect list: #11 – Cade Obermueller

Iowa’s Cade Obermueller (33) gets ready to pitch against Oregon during a Big Ten conference baseball game May 15, 2025 at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Finally, a close vote!

Cade Obermueller – 25
Jean Cabrera – 23
Yoniel Curet – 23
Keaton Anthony – 11
Griffin Burkholder – 10
Carson DeMartini – 9
Alex McFarlane – 3
Mavis Graves – 3
Romeli Espinosa – 2
Cody Bowker – 1

It was quite interesting watching the Phillies’ 2025 draft unfold. Once Gage Wood was secured in the first round, the team could have gone any different direction since their player development system was somewhat devoid of top notch prospects. What we saw instead was a refilling of the pitching stockpile the team desperately needed to refill.

Obermueller is one of them. He might reach the majors quickly if the team focused on his becoming a reliever, but there is some time still. They can see what he can do as a starter first, then go from there. His only really throwing two pitches will probably dictate a lot of his path, but this is something the Phillies need to develop: starters and/or relievers that they can promote from within as opposed to having to trade for them all the time.

2025 stats

Did not make professional debut

Fangraphs scouting report

Obermueller has relief risk because he’s smaller, he throws just two pitches, and he doesn’t have great command of either of them. But he’s a special athlete with a beautiful delivery, which arguably allows for mold-breaking command and changeup projection. Obermueller is an incredibly loose, explosive athlete with bendy, whippy limbs and a powerful lower body. His delivery adds deception to his stuff in basically every way. He’s able to hide the ball for a long time because of how far back his arm lays before release. He takes a cross-bodied stride and has a lower arm slot, but he still manages to power down the mound and generate plus extension despite an indirect line to the plate. Plus, Obermueller gets to a more vertical hand position on release than is typical of someone with his arm slot. All of this creates huge uphill angle on his fastball, which averages 91-95 mph. That’s up a tick from his sophomore year, and he’ll peak in the 97-98 mph range.

With each new post, we’ll reveal who won the voting for that particular slot, then post new players for you to vote on, adding another one to the list each time until we get to our final tally of 20. Once we get to 20 top prospects, we’ll do an honorable mention post at the end. If a player gets traded to another team, we’ll just chuck him right on outta here and all the players will move up a spot. If a prospect gets acquired, we’ll ask where he should go on the list.

Probably the most important thing about this whole process – please vote. Give us a few minutes of your time, just click a button and then we can discuss other players and things in the comment section, but don’t forget – VOTE!

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The Framber Valdez signing has the Royals sweating and other news tidbits with Max Rieper

Royals Rundown
Royals Rundown

In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, Jeremy “Hokius” Greco is joined by Royals Review Managing Editor Max Rieper to discuss how worried Royals fans should be about Framber Valdez joining the Tigers, John Wathan entering the Royals Hall of Fame, how fans can watch the team this year, and more!

Will the Brandon Drury signing mean anything for the team? Which historical trades have hurt us the most? And who are the Royals counting on the most to improve in 2026?

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Email Jacob directly at: jm17971047@gmail.com

Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:

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– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com
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Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2026: Peter Kussow (27)

On January 21, 2026, Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat were traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. This list, and their place on it, was compiled back in late-November. For continuity’s sake, I decided upon including Williams and Sproat’s profile, but for all intents and purposes, every player on our list below the pair can be considered to have moved up, with the addition of prospects 26 and 27 effectively becoming 24 and 25.

Hartland, Wisconsin native Peter Kussow attended Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin, a school that up until this point has never produced a major leaguer; infielder Scott Doffek, who was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the late-80s and made it as high as Double-A is the closest the school has to offer. Initially a two-sport baseball and football player, he gave up the gridiron to focus on baseball, and in doing so, changed the trajectory of his life for the better. In 2025, his senior year, the 20-6 Arrowhead Warhawks were rated 10 among Division 1 schools by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association, and Peter Kussow was a big reason why. After growing, putting on some weight, and experiencing a fastball velocity boost, the right-hander posted a 2.03 ERA in 33.1 innings, allowing 22 hits, walking 14, and striking out a team-leading 75 batters, nearly 33% of the entire team’s total. Unsurprisingly as a result, scouts and evaluators considered the big right-hander one of the best draft-eligible high school players in Wisconsin in 2025, and arguably the best pitcher.

Overview

Name: Peter Kussow
Position: RHP
Born: 12/08/2006 (Age 19 season in 2026)
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 205 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2025 MLB Draft, 4th Round (Arrowhead Union High School, Wisconsin)
2025 Stats: DNP

The Mets selected Kussow with their 4th round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the only prep player in the entire state to be selected in 2025. The right-hander had a commitment to play baseball for the University of Louisville but ended up forging it as he signed professionally to play for the Mets. With an MLB-assigned slot value for the 133rd overall pick of $555,800, Kussow and the Mets agreed to an $897,500 signing bonus, $341,700 above slot value. He did not pitch in 2025.

Kussow, who stands 6’5” and is listed at 205-pounds, throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot with a long arm action through the back and wrist hyperflexion. His whippy arm is capable of reaching 97 MPH, though the pitch generally lives in the low-90s. The pitch generally sits around 2400 RPM, generating as much as 18 inches of induced vertical break. In addition to the ride, thanks to his arm slot and his crossfire delivery, the pitch has plenty of arm-side run, and when thrown down in the zone, has steep angle thanks to his height and extension.

His slider is his go-to strikeout pitch, though he also likes to throw it for strikes early in the count as well. The pitch sits in the high-80s and features gyroscopic movement, averaging roughly 2500 RPM of spin, topping out almost 2700 RPM. The pitch possesses late vertical slice without much horizontal movement and the right-hander has consistently been able to command the pitch all throughout his high school career. Kussow rounds out his pitching repertoire with a changeup, which sits in the high-80s and at present is still developing as a pitch but shows promise thanks to the tumble and fade it gets.

The right-hander has displayed inconsistent command of his pitches, partially because of his mechanics and partially because, as a pitcher from a cold weather state, he does not have as much mound experience as many of his peers. Additionally, while he has not displayed them over the course of his high school career, he may eventually develop platoon splits against better competition because of his mechanics. Because of the extremely long arm circle through the back that he utilizes, left-handed hitters have plenty of time to pick up the ball in his hand.

2026 Mets Top 25 Prospect List

1) Nolan McLean
2) Carson Benge
3) Jonah Tong
4) Jett Williams*
5) Brandon Sproat*
6) A.J. Ewing
7) Jacob Reimer
8) Ryan Clifford
9) Will Watson
10) Jack Wenninger
11) Mitch Voit
12) Jonathan Santucci
13) Elian Peña
14) Zach Thornton
15) Nick Morabito
16) R.J. Gordon
17) Chris Suero
18) Dylan Ross
19) Ryan Lambert
20) Antonio Jimenez
21) Edward Lantigua
22) Eli Serrano III
23) Randy Guzman
24) Daiverson Gutierrez
25) Boston Baro
26) Marco Vargas
27) Peter Kussow

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2025 Season in Review: Billy McKinney

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 01: Billy McKinney #23 of the Texas Rangers swings his bat during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Field on July 01, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.

Today we are looking at outfielder Billy McKinney.

Ah, Billy McKinney…Texas native, product of Plano West, first round pick of the Oakland A’s in 2013.

The funny thing about McKinney coming out of high school is that he’s the type of player the 2013 Texas Rangers steered clear of, but that the 2026 Texas Rangers would have high on their draft board. From BA’s writeup of him at the time:

McKinney has one of the sweetest swings in the 2013 draft, and he has hit his way into the first round with a strong spring. He generates excellent bat speed from the left side of the plate, and he barrels balls with ease thanks to his hand-eye coordination and disciplined approach. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder has strength and should grow into solid power. The rest of McKinney’s tools are fringy to average, but his arm and speed play up because he goes all-out all the time. Scouts love his makeup and are confident that he’ll provide the offense required on an outfield corner

Great swing and hit tool, not a lot of current power but projects to power, everything else fringy, great makeup…I expect the Rangers to take a high school hitter in the first few rounds of this year’s draft whose scouting report could be boiled down to that.

Unfortunately, the power never really developed past average, and the hit tool ended up being more okay than great, and when you’ve got nothing else in your box to fall back on, you end up dropping in the prospect rankings and eventually landing in perpetual NRI land.

You can track McKinney’s prospect arc in the myriad of trades he was involved in. A year and a month after being drafted by the A’s, he went to the Cubs as the second prospect (behind Addison Russell) in a deal where the A’s acquired Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, with Dan Straily also going to Chicago. Two years and 20 days after that, he was again sent out as the second prospect in a deadline deal, this time to the Yankees for rental closer Aroldis Chapman, with Gleyber Torres as the headliner, and Adam Warren and Rashad Crawford also going to New York.

Samardzija, incidentally, was traded by Oakland that winter to the White Sox for a package that included Marcus Semien.

Anyway, two years and one day after he was traded to the Yankees, he was once again in a deadline trade, this time wo the Toronto Blue Jays, along with Brandon Drury, in exchange for J.A. Happ, a deal that would indicate that his star had fallen significantly from where it was before. After that, he was claimed on waivers from the Jays by the Brewers in September, 2020, traded by the Brewers to the Mets in May, 2021, for Pedro Quintana, and then traded by the Mets to the Dodgers in July, 2021, for Carlos Rincon. The Rangers purchased him from the Dodgers that November, then non-tendered him a week later.

The transactions log for McKinney in that time paints a picture.

McKinney has spent at least part of every major league season since 2018 in the big leagues, accumulating a whopping 327 games and 964 plate appearances in that time for nine different clubs, one of which is Your Texas Rangers.

You are forgiven if you don’t remember this, but McKinney had two different stints in the bigs with Texas in 2025. Released by the Mets, for whom he was toiling in AAA, in May, he signed at the end of the month with Texas and joined the Express. He was up briefly in July when Evan Carter went on the bereavement list, going 1 for 7 in two games before being DFA’d upon Carter’s return, clearing waivers, opting for free agency, and then re-signing with Texas.

Then, at the end of September, when everyone was hurt, Texas added him to the 40 man and active roster once again, replacing Wyatt Langford, who went on the i.l. He went 3 for 13 in four starts.

McKinney ended the season with a .200/.238/.250 slash line for Texas. Not great, but then, his role was to be a warm body for a handful of games when Texas needed a warm body. The veteran depth in AAA, who can be called up when injuries or other events necessitate a short term plug.

McKinney does not appear to have signed with anyone yet this offseason, but I imagine he will. He’ll get a minor league deal with an NRI, get some plate appearances in camp, probably won’t make the major league roster, will spend the 2026 season at one or more team’s AAA affiliate, and wait to see if he’s needed for a dozen or so plate appearances in the majors for some club needing a short-term patch.

Its a living.

Previously:

Gerson Garabito

Tyler Mahle

Kyle Higashioka

Adolis Garcia

Luis Curvelo

Alejandro Osuna

Blaine Crim

Jake Burger

Jacob Webb

Nick Ahmed

Jon Gray

Carl Edwards Jr.

Josh Jung

Leody Taveras

Dustin Harris

Marc Church

Luke Jackson

Danny Coulombe

Wyatt Langford

Dylan Moore

Michael Helman

Evan Carter

Cole Winn

Rowdy Tellez

Dane Dunning

Marcus Semien

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The LeBron James to Cleveland rumors are heating up

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The fuel on the “LeBron James is coming back to Cleveland” fire is seemingly getting gasoline poured on it from every corner. Noted The Athletic columnist Jason Lloyd spoke on 92.3 The Fan and dumped even more lighter fluid on the rumor (or at this point, league-wide assumption) that James will end his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers and rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last ride.

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“If (LeBron) plays anywhere next year, it’s going to be here,” Lloyd said. “He’s not going back to LA.” Lloyd also went on to give his experience as someone who saw the writing on the wall in Cleveland in 2018 when it became apparent that James was leaving the Cavaliers for the second time. “I’ve seen this movie before.”

James and the Lakers have been at odds seemingly for quite some time, whether that be due to the roster or the head coach. With the acquisition of Luka Doncic, who immediately became the face of the franchise in Los Angeles, it further alienated James — who rarely plays second fiddle to anyone. Even to a top-five player in the league like Doncic.

There are two questions that remain in this fairytale. The first one is if James decides to play again, which is not a given. The 41-year-old is still throwing down reverse dunks and nabbing alley-oops, but there is no guarantee that he will take the court after this season. The second question is how much money he will ask for as an unrestricted free agent playing likely his last year in the NBA.

James is an anomaly, an alien of basketball with a physical fitness level unseen in the league before. This isn’t Paul Pierce signing a deal to retire in a Boston Celtics jersey. The Cavs would be leveled up with James on the roster. But that comes at a price, and it won’t be the league minimum value.

“I don’t think he is going to take a league-minimum from Dan [Gilbert],” Lloyd continued. “Find a way to get to the mid-level [exception], have to get under the [second] apron, there’s other conversations that have to be had.”

The Cavs did good work this past week or so to put themselves in a position to get under the dreaded second apron with the trades of De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball, and they have some expiring salary they can shed. It’s worth noting that they would need to get out of more than just the second apron to get full access to the mid-level exception.

That said, if there is a willingness from both sides to make it work out from a salary perspective, there’s a good chance it will in the end.

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How good is the Red Sox defense?

Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox

In 2025, the Boston Red Sox led all of baseball in errors, a statistical category they’ve been near the top of for several years now.

And yet, most defensive metrics don’t think the Sox are that bad, and some think they are elite. By Statcast’s Fielding Run Value as presented by Baseball Savant, the Red Sox had the fifth-best defense in baseball last year. By Statcast’s Fielding Run Value as presented by FanGraphs (which is apparently a slightly different thing, though I couldn’t tell you how) they were the seventh-best. By Statcast’s Outs Above Average as presented by FanGraphs, they were the tenth-best. By Statcast’s Outs Above Average as presented by Savant (again, somehow different!), they were more middling at number 13. And by Defensive Runs Saved from the Fielding Bible, they were twelfth.

Which of these metrics is the right metric? Well, according to the rules of arguing about baseball on the internet, the right metric is the one that helps you prove whatever point you’ve already decided you want to make. If you want to say that the Sox suck defensively, go ahead and use errors. If you want to say they’re great, go ahead and use Fielding Run Value. If you want to provide a nuanced opinion, choose any of the others, but nobody cares for nuance and everyone will ignore you.

The truth is that defensive metrics are far behind the metrics we use to measure pitching and hitting, and they probably always will be. This is just how the field of statistics works: some things are harder to measure than others.

Complicating the issue in the case of the Red Sox is the fact that roster features players of shockingly disparate defensive quality. Ceddanne Rafaela was arguably the best gloveman in all of baseball last year; Kristian Campbell was arguably the worst. Carlos Narvaez graded out as elite by many metrics; Connor Wong graded out as horrendous. When Wilyer Abreu was healthy, the Sox had one of the best defensive right fielders you could ask for; when Rob Refsnyder was out there, they were below average. You get the picture, and if you don’t here’s a pretty shocking little image:

According to Savant’s OAA, the Red Sox outfield (the table on the left side of the slider) was far and away the best defensive outfield in baseball, with the gap between them and the number two team almost twice as big as the gap between number two and number three. But in the infield (on the right of the slider) they were the second-worst collection of defenders, a whopping 47 runs worse than the league leaders.

We still don’t know what the Red Sox infield will look like, but it probably won’t have Kristian Campbell in it anymore. It will have Willson Contreras, who was the sixth-best first baseman in baseball by Savant’s OAA. Marcelo Mayer should absolutely be a plus-defender, though we don’t yet know exactly how good he’ll be, how much he’ll play, or where he’ll play. Much of the same can be said about Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Trevor Story, David Hamilton, and Romy Gonzalez, though, are pretty bad by most metrics.

And then there’s the issue of the revamped pitching staff. The Red Sox outfield (the strongest part of their defense, remember!) had 1074 total fielding chances in 2025, which was actually pretty low overall. And the outfield may get even fewer chances in 2026, thanks to the additions of Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez, two pitchers who induce grounders at a much higher rate than most starters (just like Garrett Crochet).

So how good will the Red Sox defense be in 2026? Talk about that or whatever else you want, and, as always, be good to one another.

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Thoughts on the Penguins at the Olympic break: Are they contenders?

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins scored one of their most impressive wins of the 2025-26 season on Thursday night when they beat a Buffalo Sabres team that has been one of the hottest in the NHL by an 5-2 margin. It was an impressive win not only because they mostly outplayed the Sabres, but also because they did it without Kris Letang, Rickard Rakell, Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari. They did it with another mostly off night from the Sidney Crosby line. They did it with a couple of rookies (Ben Kindel and Avery Hayes) providing most of the offense.

It has the Penguins in second place in the Metropolitan Division going into the Olympic break, while also having a pretty nice cushion over the non-playoff teams in the Eastern Conference.

It is impressive. It is also far better than anybody anticipated for this season when it began.

It also leads to a question that needs to be asked. Are the Penguins contenders this season? Right now? The knee-jerk reaction instinct is to simply say, no, they are not, because that is not what anybody anticipated at the start and certainly not what the expectations were. But as I wrote on Tuesday, your play changes expectations, and based on the Penguins play and results I am having a hard time arguing why they can not contend for the Eastern Conference this season.

Follow me here.

1. Can the Pittsburgh Penguins be Eastern Conference contenders right now?

Let me just give you some numbers on where the Penguins rank across the board in both the standings and some other major categories.

  • NHL Points Percentage: .625 (7th)
  • Eastern Conference Points Percentage: .625 (4th)
  • NHL Goal Differential: plus-23 (7th)
  • 5-on-5 Goal Share: plus-15 (8th)
  • 5-on-5 Expected Goals Share: 52.2 (7th)
  • 5-on-5 Expected Goals For Per 60 Minutes: 2.92 (4th)
  • 5-on-5 Expected Goals Against Per 60 Minutes: 2.67 (17th)
  • 5-on-5 Scoring Chance Share: 51.6 (9th)
  • 5-on-5 High-Danger Scoring Chance Share: 52.7 (9th)
  • Penalty Kill Success Rate: 84.0 (3rd)
  • Power Play Success Rate: 25.9 (4th)

In just about every standings metric, possession metric, and scoring chance metric they are a top-10 team. In most of them, they are a top-eight team. They are an outstanding 5-on-5 team. Their special teams in both areas are among the best in the NHL. They have four capable forward lines with some depth beyond them (as we have seen with Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen and now Avery Hayes able to make the move from the AHL and contribute). The goaltending has run hot-and-cold at times, but overall it has been good enough.

The only metric where they are not in the top-10 is when it comes to preventing expected goals defensively. They are middle-of-the-pack in that area. But even then they jump up to 12th in the NHL over the past 25 games, indicating some significant improvement in their defensive play.

Against teams currently in a playoff position they are 13-5-6 this season. Against the other top-10 teams in the standings this season they are 8-4-2.

We all know what the preseason expectations were. We all know what the roster looks like on paper and where the perceived shortcomings are.

We also know that we have a 56-game sampling where they have consistently outplayed teams, won games, and won games against other top contenders in the Eastern Conference and the NHL as a whole.

Right now the Tampa Bay Lightning are separating themselves from everybody else in the Eastern Conference and are starting to get healthy. They look like the class of the conference right now and are suddenly giving the Colorado Avalanche a run for their money league wide. They look impressive. Even dominant. Even then, the Penguins have traditionally matched up well with them and played them very well. Including this season. Including recently.

There is still a lot of hockey to be played, obviously, but not THAT much. The March schedule is brutally difficult and I suspect we will learn a lot about the Penguins during that stretch. We have also been saying that quite often this season and each time they keep passing the test. There is a lot to be said for that.

They are an objectively good hockey team right now. It is just a matter of how good and what their potential ceiling might be. My suspicion is it might be higher than even Pittsburgh thinks it is.

2. Sidney Crosby is in a funk and it has not really mattered

The one Penguins line that is not really clicking right now is, oddly enough, the Sidney Crosby line. Part of that was the absence of Bryan Rust for a few games while he served his suspension, and Justin Brazeau not really being a great fit in his place. Part of it has been Crosby going through a rare funk. Both things are contributing.

Crosby especially has been struggling with zero goals, only two assists and a minus-3 rating over his past seven games.

The Penguins record in those six games: 4-1-1

That is a testament to the Penguins forward depth.

That is also another box checked in the “why are they not considered contenders right now?” list.

3. Ben Kindel just keeps getting better

Of all the changes the Penguins made to their roster for this season, the selection of Ben Kindel and his unexpected presence in the lineup has been one of the most significant. An 18-year-old, non-top-five pick, playing at center, and just stepping right into the NHL and being one of the best players on his team (and a good team!) is just outrageously impressive and unexpected work.

He is not only impressive.

He keeps getting better.

Especially now that he has snapped out of the goal-scoring funk that he was stuck in for a few weeks.

He is now up to 14 goals in 53 games (a 22-goal pace over 82 games) and still one of their best all-around players. He had a game this past week where the Penguins expected goal share when he was on the ice was 98 percent. It is the second game this season he was over 94 percent in a game. He is arguably their best possession-driving forward this season. He is finding his scoring touch. He is a relentless puck-hound. He plays with an insane level of confidence for an 18-year-old. He has helped make their lineup significantly deeper in terms of quality. It can not be overstated how significant his presence in the organization has become.

He is not only a big reason why they are a potential playoff team this season, he is setting up to be a significant long-term building block. He is a huge part of the reason why this season has become so exciting for both the short-term and the long-term.

4. Anthony Mantha is having a career year

Kyle Dubas has been on some kind of a run over the past season-and-a-half and the Anthony Mantha signing this past offseason has been one of the more surprisingly productive moves. The plan with him at the time seemed obvious. Sign a guy coming off a down, injury-shortened season the prior year to a low-risk contract, hope to build his value up a little, then flip him at the trade deadline for a second-round pick. He seemed to be this season’s Anthony Beauvilier.

It has worked out significantly better than expected.

Going into the Olympic break Mantha is already up to 20 goals and 42 total points in 56 games, is on pace to set career highs in goals and total points. Prior to this season his high goal-mark was 25 (in only 67 games) during the 2018-19 season with the Detroit Red Wings. He is currently on pace for 29 goals. His career high in total points is 48 in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He is currently on pace for 61 points.

The Penguins could easily trade him for a second-round pick in March. Probably more. But I also do not know how they do that given the way the season is right now. It is not like the Penguins have a pressing need for more draft picks. They already have more of them over the next four years than any team in the NHL, including several picks in the first three rounds.

Should the Penguins re-sign him? That might be going a little too far with it. He has been a great addition and a great story this season. Whether or not he can continue that next season at age 32 on a significantly higher contract is an entirely different question. For now, though, you might just have to ride with it and see where it can take you.

Expectations change. Sometimes when expectations change your plans also have to change.

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Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland Hints At Trading Away Warren Foegele

While the Los Angeles Kings will receive a massive boost in the top six of their forward group with the new addition of left winger Artemi Panarin, there are some consequences to the acquisition.

On the TNT Sports broadcast ahead of Los Angeles' tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Kings GM Ken Holland was asked if he has any more moves up his sleeves.

"We've got a lot of forwards now," Holland said on the broadcast.

The Kings' surplus in forwards has been evident as left winger Warren Foegele has been the odd man out. The 29-year-old has spent the last three games sitting in the press box and hasn't been able to find a rhythm in this lineup all season.

"Warren Foegele had a great year last year," the Kings GM said. "He's been out of the lineup for the last couple of games… got to work the phones here."

Panarin Explains Losing Over $30 Million To Join Kings; Ex-King Gavrikov Had Role In DecisionPanarin Explains Losing Over $30 Million To Join Kings; Ex-King Gavrikov Had Role In DecisionArtemi Panarin explains why he wanted to join the Los Angeles Kings so badly, leaving behind over $30 million in the process. New York Rangers defenseman, and ex-King Vladislav Gavrikov, played a part in helping Panarin decide.

Indeed, Foegele had a solid campaign last year for the Kings. In fact, it was the best season he's had in his NHL career.

He scored 24 goals and 46 points in all 82 games, as well as a team-high plus-36 rating in what was his first year as a member of the Kings.

Warren Foegele (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
Warren Foegele (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

This season hasn't been the same for Foegele, production-wise. In 43 contests, the Markham, Ont., native has six goals and eight points, which is nowhere near what he registered last year.

Part of that is because of a couple of injuries he has suffered this season, and constantly being in and out of the lineup. And when Foegele can get in the lineup, he's seeing fourth-line minutes, which is a role he hasn't endured last year.

With the idea of looking to move Foegele ahead of the NHL trade deadline on March 6, Holland shared his perspective on how he thinks the trade market will pan out with the Olympic break.

Coaching Change Is Unlikely: Kings GM Holland Trusts Hiller To Make The PlayoffsCoaching Change Is Unlikely: Kings GM Holland Trusts Hiller To Make The PlayoffsFollowing Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland's presser, no one should expect a coaching change involving Jim Hiller anytime soon.

"I think it's going to go quiet now for the next 10, 12 days, and then as we get near the end of the Olympic break, the phones will start humming again, so we'll see if there's a fit," Holland said.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman posted a written version of 32 Thoughts following the Panarin trade, revealing some extra details regarding Holland's thought process.

Friedman reported that the Kings were trying to add New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck in addition to Panarin, but it appears Trocheck would like to remain in the Eastern Conference.

Nonetheless, that proves that Los Angeles is still interested in getting a center, as they'll be even thinner down the middle once Anze Kopitar retires at the end of the season. For that, Foegele, among other assets, could be a trade piece to dangle in front of other teams.

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2026 NBA Trade Deadline: Fantasy basketball winners and losers

The 2026 NBA Trade Deadline was full of moves and featured plenty of surprises.

Which players are on the rise, and whose arrow is pointing down following a flurry of transactions?

Here are the biggest fantasy winners and losers of the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline.

For details of every deal that went down, check out: 2026 NBA Trade Deadline Tracker: Live updates, news, rumors, deals, analysis of all the action - NBC Sports

▶ Fantasy Winners

Top-5 Biggest Winners

1. Jalen Smith

2. Santi Aldama

3. Onyeka Okongwu

4. Darius Garland

5. Kristaps Porzingis

Jalen Smith — Chicago Bulls

Smith is the biggest winner of the trade deadline following the trade of Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons. Like a maniacal villain looking to deplete the world’s natural resources, Chicago has stockpiled roughly 80% of the Association’s guards. Smith was starting in double-big lineups alongside Vooch, but his path to increased production has become clear. Smith will get some competition from Nick Richards, but the former has a stranglehold on the starting center job, and he’s a must-add option off the waiver wire.

De’Anthony Melton/Brandin Podziemski — Golden State Warriors

Jimmy Butler is out for the season. Steph Curry is banged up. Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield are gone. Someone’s got to step up for Golden State, and Melton and Podz are the two most likely to answer the call.

Nick Richards — Chicago Bulls

The starting center job is Jalen Smith’s to lose, but there’s no frontcourt depth on this team. Richards emerges from the big man logjam in Phoenix and will have a new opportunity to earn meaningful rotational minutes in Chicago.

Kelly Oubre Jr./Quentin Grimes — Philadelphia 76ers

Jared McCain was beginning to hit his stride before he was traded, and his absence frees up some additional minutes and scoring chances for Oubre Jr. and Grimes.

Walter Clayton Jr. — Memphis Grizzlies

Clayton was stuck behind breakout Keyonte George and stellar backup Isaiah Collier in Utah, but he has a chance to earn some additional run for the Grizzlies down the stretch. Ty Jerome and Cam Spencer have been great, but “silly season” is fast approaching.

Ayo Dosunmu — Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves’ search for a capable backup ball-handler and scorer ended with the deal to acquire Dosunmu, and he should see quality minutes in Minnesota. Moving from a crowded Chicago backcourt is a clear lateral move for Dosunmu’s fantasy value.

Kyshawn George/Bilal Coulibaly — Washington Wizards

Washington was shockingly giving Khris Middleton 24.3 minutes per night despite the team’s terrible record and focus on the future. Middleton’s departure shores up big minutes for George and Coulibaly for the rest of the season.

Darius Garland — Los Angeles Clippers

Garland will move to a team with less depth across the board, and he won’t have to contend for touches with another ball-dominant guard. Expect more scoring and more assists in LA.

Kristaps Porzingis — Golden State Warriors

Availability notwithstanding, KP’s move to Golden State is a good one for his fantasy value. Atlanta’s frontcourt depth features standouts Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson, but Golden State is bereft of talent and size there. Porzingis should see big minutes and usage with his new team.

Baylor Scheierman — Boston Celtics

Scheierman has started two games with Payton Pritchard shifting to a bench role. Pritchard has still seen big minutes and shot opportunities, but Scheierman has some additional runway now that Anfernee Simons is gone. Scheierman is more of a deep-league guy at this point, but he’s worth keeping an eye on in standard leagues.

Marvin Bagley III — Dallas Mavericks

Dallas’ center rotation is Daniel Gafford and Moussa Cisse. Gafford’s injury history is a long and storied one, and Cisse is on a two-way contract. Bagley III should see backup center minutes right away, and spot starts are surely in his future when Gafford inevitably misses time.

Malik Monk — Sacramento Kings

Sacramento dealt Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, freeing up more playing time for Monk moving forward. Monk has flashed big upside throughout his career as a microwave scorer and three-point shooter, and he could see increased run during “silly season.”

Tristan Vukcevic — Washington Wizards

With Bagley III gone, Vukcevic is Alex Sarr’s top backup at center. He’s not worth a look in standard leagues yet, but he has streaming appeal if Sarr misses time.

Brook Lopez/Isaiah Jackson — Los Angeles Clippers

Ivica Zubac’s departure should mean more run for both centers in LA, but it’s yet unknown how the minutes will shake out.

Onyeka Okongwu — Atlanta Hawks

He’s been excellent as Atlanta’s starting center, and he’ll no longer have the spectre of Kristaps Porzingis hanging over him.

Santi Aldama — Memphis Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jock Landale were shipped out of town this week, and Zach Edey is still on the shelf. Memphis’ frontcourt rotation is the thinnest in the Association, so Aldama should see monster minutes once he’s back on the court.

▶ Fantasy Losers

Top-5 Biggest Losers

1. Neemias Queta

2. Jay Huff

3. Jaren Jackson Jr.

4. Dennis Schroder

5. James Harden

Jaren Jackson Jr. — Utah Jazz

JJJ will no longer be the first or even second option on his team, and he’s stuck in a crowded big-man rotation in Utah. He’s still got fantasy value in all formats, but expect a downtick in scoring and rebounding.

Jusuf Nurkic/Kyle Filipowski — Utah Jazz

Both big men will have to relinquish some minutes and production to the newly acquired Jackson Jr. Nurkic is still worth holding, but Filipowski is a drop.

James Harden — Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland’s roster is deeper than LA’s, so Harden won’t be relied on as much for scoring or rebounding. He could see an uptick in assists, but he gets a slight downgrade here.

Neemias Queta/Luka Garza — Boston Celtics

Queta has played some great basketball this season, and he’s been a standard league guy thanks to his rebounding and defense. Garza has soaked up backup minutes and made an impact when inserted into the starting lineup. The arrival of Nikola Vucevic drastically lowers Queta’s value and makes Garza a drop in most formats.

Dennis Schroder/Keon Ellis — Cleveland Cavaliers

They go from playing behind Russell Westbrook to playing behind James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. That won’t be good for Schroder’s or Ellis’ fantasy value.

Jay Huff — Indiana Pacers

Huff has been an elite shot-blocker this season, and he’s provided solid value for fantasy managers who scooped him up. His run as Indiana’s starting center is over, and his fantasy value takes a massive hit with the arrival of Ivica Zubac.

Chicago Bulls Guards

It’s unclear how this rotation is going to shake out, but the team has all of Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, Tre Jones and Collin Sexton on the roster. All of them get a downgrade until we get some clarity on playing time.

▶ Fantasy Neutral

Nikola Vucevic — Boston Celtics

Vooch saw big minutes in Chicago, leading the center rotation on a team thin on depth at the position. That will be the case in Boston, too. Fantasy managers should expect the durable big man to offer up points, rebounds, assists and triples while staying available.

Trayce Jackson-Davis — Toronto Raptors

TJD will be buried in a busy frontcourt behind Collin Murray-Boyles, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jakob Poeltl. There’s nothing to see here.

Luke Kennard — Los Angeles Lakers

Kennard will operate as a spot-up three-point shooter in LA, just as he did in Atlanta. His move to the Lakers doesn’t move the needle on his fantasy value.

Khris Middleton — Dallas Mavericks

Middleton won’t be in Dallas next year, and his usage with the team this season will surely be comparable to what it was in Washington. The Mavs have no incentive to give him meaningful run.

Jock Landale — Atlanta Hawks

Landale had a monster game in his Hawks debut, going for 26/11/5 with four blocks and five triples. He won’t make that kind of impact on a nightly basis, especially once Onyeka Onkongwu returns. Still, Landale could have standalone value if he sees 20 minutes per game off the bench.

Gabe Vincent — Atlanta Hawks

Vincent wasn’t on the fantasy radar with the Lakers, and nothing has changed with his move to the Hawks.

Vince Williams Jr. — Utah Jazz

Not much changes for V-Dub in Utah. He’ll still be competing for rotation minutes, and his usage will be heavily dependent on injuries to players ahead of him on the depth chart.

Bennedict Mathurin — Los Angeles Clippers

Mathurin will go from one of the worst teams in the NBA to a team that’s gaining momentum after a rough start. He’ll be asked to operate as a primary bucket-getter and occasional rebounder for the Clippers, in the same way he was asked to do so for Indiana. New location, same responsibilities.

▶ Teams Stock Up

Charlotte Hornets

They’re riding an eight-game win streak, looking to end a 10-year playoff drought and added a strong backup guard to shore up a rotation that has had trouble staying healthy.

Washington Wizards

A starting lineup of Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr is intriguing to say the least. The Wizards have two superstars surrounded by a young, athletic and defensively-gifted core. This team is going to be fun next season.

Boston Celtics

Brad Stevens’ system and Joe Mazzulla’s coaching have propelled the Jayson Tatum-less Celtics to a top-3 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the C’s traded a backup guard for a reliable, starting center. Big dub.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The rich get richer, as the defending champs add a talented PG in Jared McCain.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The swap of Darius Garland for James Harden should be a good move for the Cavs and the Clippers. Harden is joined by Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis as new additions who shore up Cleveland’s backcourt rotation.

▶ Teams Stock Down

Chicago Bulls

The rebuild is officially in place, but what the heck is this team doing? The guard-heavy Bulls lack an identity, and Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis are the only two guys on the roster around which you can build.

Golden State Warriors

The Dubs are barely treading water, and their season won’t magically turn around by adding a usually-unavailable Kristaps Porzingis.

Sacramento Kings

They’re arguably the worst team in the NBA with no franchise cornerstones, identity or direction. They’re not winning now, and they probably won’t be winning anytime soon.

Miami Heat

They made no moves, and they’ll be lucky to escape the Play-In Tournament.

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Aaron Watson is the #16 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system!

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 07: Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs leans on the dugout wall prior to a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on June 07, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds jumped at the chance to draft 6’5” right-hander Aaron Watson in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and threw him an over-slot $2.7 million signing bonus to persuade him to eschew his commitment to the University of Florida and turn pro for good.

Watson, whom you just voted as the #16 ranked player in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings, was ranked as the #27 overall player in the country coming out of high school last year, as well as the #1 player in the state of Florida by Perfect Game. He reportedly possesses plus command of three pitches already and works in and around the zone with aplomb for a player his size and age, the kind of already-polished pitcher that should, in theory, move quickly through the Reds system should they so choose.

The Jacksonville, FL native still hasn’t thrown an in-game pitch as a pro yet, however, and that mystery is probably the lone reason why he didn’t end up higher on this year’s CPR. Where he begins in 2026 is all that’s left to determine, though I’d be surprised if it’s anywhere other than with Daytona in the Florida State League.

Congrats to Aaron, who took home a pretty easy victory on the biggest, most crowded ballot yet.

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Tigers Topics: How has the Framber Valdez deal altered your outlook on the club’s future beyond 2026?

Detroit Tigers team owner Chris Ilitch, left, talks to president of baseball operation Scott Harris as they watch batting practice during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Well it’s certainly been an eventful few days in Tigertown. After a fairly shocking signing of top free agent starter Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal on Wednesday, Tarik Skubal won his arbitration battle and set a new standard for elite third year arbitration eligible players by securing a $32 million contract for 2026.

I’m not going to look the gift horse in the mouth here. We could wish the Tigers made a bigger move last offseason. You could wish for another bat. Still, the Tigers made a huge move to improve their rotation for 2026, turning it into arguably the best in baseball, and improved the bullpen by pushing presumed starting options into the pen and adding a starter that tends to eat more innings per start than most. There’s a lot to like.

The Tigers are now rocking a well above average $215 million estimated payroll heading into spring camp, blowing the rest of the AL Central out of the water in that regard. As a result, a lot of questions we’ve all had about the Ilitch family’s real interest in trying to win something, and about Scott Harris’ ability to pull off a big deal with some creativity have been answered. By going heavy in average annual value on the deal, complete with a signing bonus, some deferred money, and an opt-out for Valdez after year two, Harris pulled off not just a good deal from a competitive standpoint, but an opportunistic and fairly innovative one by franchise standards.

Of course, he got worked in the arbitration hearing, but that wasn’t much of a surprise and I don’t think anyone is begrudging Skubal getting paid what he’s worth.

My question is whether all this has you feeling differently about the club’s willingness and ability to operate as a contending team for the long haul? Or do you just feel more optimistic about 2026?