Posts

Posted on

Astros Reinstate Shewmake, Option Delgado

ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 28: Braden Shewmake #28 of the Houston Astros bats during the game between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Thursday, May 28, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tenley Wright/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Today, the Houston Astros announced they had reinstated IF Braden Shewmake from IL, and optioned IF Ray Delgado to Triple-A Sugar Land

In limited time this year with the Astros, Shewmake is batting .243 with a .260 OBP and .665 OPS. His positional flexibility has endeared him to the team, as he plays all around the infield including shortstop. In 74 AB, Shewmake has 3 HR and 8 RBI.

He is in the lineup tonight, playing shortstop and batting 8th.

Delgado made his MLB debut with the Astros June 14. In 30 AB he is batting .267 with a .313 OBP and .713 OPS. He offers the same positional flexibility as Shewmake, but did take a bad hop ball awkwardly off his right rand last week, resulting in a dislocated pinky. He did appear in the next game as a pinch hitter.

Posted on

Calgary Flames Sign Simon Nemec to Five-Year, $36.25 Million Extension

The Calgary Flames have wasted little time locking up one of the biggest additions of their offseason.

Just weeks after acquiring defenceman Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils, the Flames have signed the 22-year-old to a five-year contract worth $36.25 million. The deal carries an average annual value of $7.25 million and keeps the former second-overall pick under contract through the 2030-31 season.

Nemec was acquired via trade on June 23 and is expected to play a significant role on a retooled Flames blue line.

The Slovak defenceman is coming off the best offensive campaign of his NHL career, finishing the 2025-26 season with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 68 games. 

Selected second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, Nemec has long been viewed as one of the league’s premier young defencemen. At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, the right-shot blueliner combines mobility, vision and poise with the puck, making him a key piece of Calgary’s long-term plans.

Posted on

2 Potential Trade Fits For Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has been the subject of trade speculation for multiple seasons. It has carried over to this off-season, and it makes sense with the big right-shot defenseman entering the final season of his contract in 2026-27.

If the Flyers end up moving Ristolainen, these two teams could be good fits for the veteran blueliner. 

Montreal Canadiens 

The Canadiens were connected to Ristolainen leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. When noting that they could still use a right-shot shutdown defenseman in their top four, it would make sense if they kicked tires on him again this summer. The Habs have yet to make any notable additions this summer, so it would be understandable if they tried to change that by landing Ristolainen. 

Ottawa Senators 

The Senators could be another team to keep an eye on when it comes to Ristolainen. Like the Canadiens, they have been linked to the Flyers blueliner in the past. The Senators' right side has also been in need of a boost for a while now, and acquiring Ristolainen could provide them with just that. He would slot well on their second pairing and would be an obvious option for their penalty kill. 

Posted on

MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers lead the way as All-Star break approaches, Eury Pérez flirts with perfection

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, Junior Caminero willnever stop hitting home runs, the Cubs are a rollercoaster, the Twins pull off the impossible, and we’re left to wonder what might have been with Eury Pérez.

As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook. Before we get started, I wanted to give a huge thanks to my longtime colleague Dave Shovein for filling in last week while I was on vacation. Much appreciated!

Let’s get into it!

▶ Check out Eric Samulski’s SP streamer recommendations for this week!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, July 6

1) Los Angeles Dodgers

Last week: 1

After toiling for nine seasons in the minor leagues, Eliezer Alfonzo Jr. made his major league debut Sunday against the Padres. However, he did so with a heavy heart after learning that his sister, Eliana, and his stepmother, Patricia, died from the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.

Alfonzo and fellow Venezuelan Miguel Rojas each had tributes written on their caps to honor their memory. There are no words for the strength needed to compose yourself to play in your first major league game under these circumstances. Surely he’s made his sister and stepmother proud.

2) Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 2

Brandon Woodruff is back on the injured list with shoulder inflammation and it’s difficult to project what can be expected of him moving forward. The Brewers have a six-game lead in the NL Central, but do they need to acquire another starting pitcher before the deadline?

3) Tampa Bay Rays ⬆️

Last week: 5

Junior Caminero appears to be on a mission going into next week’s Home Run Derby. He’s blasted 11 homers in his last 12 games. That’s more than seven teams have hit in the same timespan.

4) Atlanta Braves ⬇️

Last week: 3

The Braves had the worst offense in baseball in the month of June, but the Mets were happy to wake up their bats over the weekend. They’ve scored 29 runs over their last three games. Another good sign: Ronald Acuña Jr. is on the verge of a minor league rehab assignment.

5) Philadelphia Phillies ⬇️

Last week: 4

The Phillies will be well represented at the All-Star Game for their home park next week, as Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, Cristopher Sanchez, and Jhoan Duran were all named to the roster over the weekend. You could argue that Zack Wheeler deserves it too. Now, we wait to hear if Harper and/or Schwarber will compete in the Home Run Derby. To quote Michael Scott, "Just do it."

6) Chicago Cubs ⬆️

Last week: 7

Nothing sums up the Cubs’ 2026 season more than what we saw on July 2 and 3. After crushing the Padres 23-3, the Cubs got blown out 17-1 by the Cardinals. It’s all quite disorienting, but the Cubs are in a good spot with the first half coming to a close.

7) New York Yankees ⬇️

Last week: 6

It’s one thing to get swept by the Red Sox in a four game series, but losing two out of three to the Twins in Yankee Stadium? Impossible. Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger have gone ice cold, making the absence of Aaron Judge sting just that much more.

8) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 10

Weighing his contributions on offense and defense, JJ Wetherholt has been one of the best players in MLB this season, but he was left off the National League All-Star roster over the weekend. Maybe that changes at some point over the next few days as players drop out due to injury or other reasons, but Wetherholt clearly has plenty of All-Star Games in his future.

9) Miami Marlins ⬇️

Last week: 8

In an alternate universe, Eury Pérez just threw the 25th perfect game in MLB history. Alas, we’re stuck in this one, where Perez got pulled at 94 pitches across seven perfect frames. It’s a bummer, but the Marlins are thinking long-term here, including designs at a potential playoff run this season. It’s not as crazy as it sounds.

10) Chicago White Sox ⬇️

Last week: 9

Here we are with the White Sox as a legitimate contender for a playoff spot and they get to pick No. 1 overall in Saturday’s MLB Draft. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, high school shortstop Grady Emerson, and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey are regarded as the top players available in this year’s class. You can watch the entire first round on NBC this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

11) Seattle Mariners ⬆️

Last week: 12

The Mariners have won 10 out of their last 13 games as they start to assert themselves in the AL West. Getting more consistent offense is the big key, but it would be a shocker if they don’t find their way in the top 10 in most weeks moving forward. Let’s hope Julio Rodriguez feels better soon.

12) Cleveland Guardians ⬇️

Last week: 11

In Travis Bazzana and Parker Messick, the Guardians will have two rookies going to the All-Star Game next week. They are the first rookie teammates to be named as All-Stars since Masahiro Tanaka and Dellin Betances pulled it off with the Yankees in 2014.

13) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬆️

Last week: 18

Are you kidding me, Konnor Griffin?!

The newly-installed leadoff man is hitting .306 (11-for-36) since returning from the injured list.

14) Texas Rangers ⬆️

Last week: 15

In typical Rangers fashion, they are unable to stray far from the .500 mark. It’s one of the laws of the universe. Unfortunately, we can probably say the same thing about Corey Seager going on the injured list.

15) Washington Nationals ⬇️

Last week: 14

CJ Abrams and James Wood are All-Stars, but Luis Garcia Jr. continues to be the hottest hitter in this lineup right now. With his recent power surge, Garcia has already established a new career-high in homers and he’s just six RBI away from tying his career-high.

16) Houston Astros

Last week: 16

Believe it or not, the Astros have a chance to reach the .500 mark this week. They are very much alive in the playoff race. It will be interesting to see how active they are via the trade front in the coming weeks.

17) Arizona Diamondbacks

Last week: 17

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. isn’t really known for his defense, but he pulled in one of the best catches of the year on Friday against the Brewers.

18) San Diego Padres ⬇️

Last week: 13

The Padres finally snapped their eight-game losing streak with a win over the Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball, but it’s hard to feel optimistic here given the state of their rotation.

19) Minnesota Twins ⬆️

Last week: 21

And they said it couldn’t be done. The Twins just won their first series against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium since 2014. They caught them at a good time, to be sure, but the Twins continue to hang around in the periphery of a mediocre American League.

20) Toronto Blue Jays ⬇️

Last week: 19

We keep waiting for the Blue Jays to turn things around, but they’ve lost eight out of 10 and were shut out in back-to-back games to finish their series against the Mariners over the weekend.

21) Baltimore Orioles ⬆️

Last week: 23

The Orioles have had one of the better rotations in baseball over the past month, led by Trevor Rogers’ dramatic turnaround. The southpaw ended May with a 6.84 ERA, but he’s reeled off a 1.77 ERA over his last six outings.

22) Cincinnati Reds

Last week: 22

Hunter Greene had a rough return from the injured list on Saturday against the Orioles, but it’s fun to think about what he and Chase Burns can do at the top of this rotation down the stretch.

23) Athletics ⬇️

Last week: 20

The A’s were 38-38 on June 19. They are 3-11 since then, with an all-around team power outage. It's still very cool that Nick Kurtz will get the start at first base for the All-Star Game after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bowed out due to a back injury. Kurtz is certainly more deserving this year, anyway.

24) Boston Red Sox ⬆️

Last week: 25

The Red Sox are playing their best baseball of the season, but Ranger Suarez’s adductor/groin injury puts a damper on things. On the heels of being selected to the All-Star team, he could end up needing an IL stint.

25) Detroit Tigers ⬆️

Last week: 26

The Tigers actually have the best record in the American League since the start of June, but they still find themselves 7.5 games back in the AL Central. Can they claw their way up any further to avoid trading away Tarik Skubal?

26) San Francisco Giants ⬆️

Last week: 29

Including his two-homer game against the Rockies over the weekend, Rafael Devers is hitting .319 with nine homers and a 1.166 OPS over his last 19 games. With the trade deadline approaching, he’s reminding teams that he’s a potential difference-maker at the plate.

27) New York Mets

Last week: 27

The Mets find ways to be embarrassing even when they win, as they nearly squandered a massive lead in the ninth inning against the Braves as shown on NBC on Sunday. A change has already been made in the dugout and this roster could look very different a month from now.

28) Colorado Rockies ⬆️

Last week: 30

The MLB Futures Game will air this Sunday on NBC and you’ll want to keep an eye on top prospect Charlie Condon. Selected No. 3 overall by the Rockies in the 2024 Draft, the 23-year-old has mashed 20 homers with a .294/.415/.601 batting line in Triple-A. There’s a very good chance he’s up in the majors in the second half.

29) Kansas City Royals ⬇️

Last week: 28

Symbolic of the injury-plagued season that the Royals have endured, Cole Ragans underwent a UCL repair on his left elbow and is expected to miss the next 10-12 months. It's the third UCL surgery of his career.

30) Los Angeles Angels ⬇️

Last week: 24

The Angels have lost six straight and now find themselves with the worst record in the majors. Hey, at least Mike Trout is close to returning in advance of the All-Star Game in his backyard next week. This is Trout's 12th All-Star selection, which places him among a group of Hall of Famers including Wade Boggs, Mike Schmidt, Roberto Clemente, and Frank Robinson, among others.

Posted on

Why This New Blackhawks Forward Should Be Good Addition

The Chicago Blackhawks made a blockbuster trade earlier this off-season when they acquired Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for this year's 4th overall pick, 45th overall pick, and defenseman Louis Crevier. Byram is now expected to be Chicago's No. 1 defenseman, and they made that clear when they signed him to a six-year, $75 million contract extension earlier this month.

While Byram was the big prize for Chicago in their major summer trade with the Sabres, new Blackhawks forward Jordan Greenway should not be ignored. The 29-year-old forward has the potential to be a solid addition to the Blackhawks' roster as they look to take that next step in 2026-27. 

Greenway is coming off a quiet season offensively, as he posted one goal and six points in 40 games for Buffalo. While the veteran winger had a tough year offensively, he provides his most value when it comes to his size and physicality. These elements are what should make him a solid addition to Chicago's bottom six.

The Blackhawks are going to need some tougher players to stand up for their young guns, and Greenway should fill that role nicely. Furthermore, the Blackhawks also need veterans to help mentor their youngsters as they look to take that next step in their rebuild. This is an area that Greenway should be able to help the Blackhawks as well. 

Greenway has also shown in the past that he has the potential to provide decent offense when playing at his best. Just back during the 2023-24 season with the Sabres, he posted 10 goals and 28 points in 67 games. He has also recorded at least 24 points five times in his nine-year career. 

It will be interesting to see how much of an impact Greenway will make for the Blackhawks next season. While he was primarily added to the deal to help the Sabres' salary cap situation, he could end up being a sneaky good pickup for their bottom six. 

Posted on

Braves place Eli White on the paternity list, select José Azócar to active roster

A hearty congratulations to girl dad Eli White. In another set of moves prior to tonight’s series finale versus the Mets, the Braves placed him on the paternity list. Back with the major league club is outfielder José Azócar.

Azócar is on a variation of the Carrasco minor league contract / selection / DFA / free agency / re-sign cycle. He’s been selected to the major league roster twice prior to today and played nine games with the Braves in May with a .333/.375/.842 on the season. His line with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers is .243/.295/.638 in 58 games played.

Catcher Jair Camargo was optioned to Gwinnett on June 18, but has been DFA’d to make room for Azócar on the 40-man. Welcome to the Kyle Farmer backup catcher era, folks.

Posted on

Rays Draft 2026: Mock Draft Round-up for No. 2

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 20: Grady Emerson bats during the MLB Home Run Derby X finals at The Ballpark at America First Square on Saturday, September 20, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Eli Rehmer/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

With the 2026 MLB Draft less than a week away, we’ll take a look at what the Rays are expected to do with their first round picks. We will update this as new versions of mock drafts are published through the day before the draft.

Baseball America

In BA’s latest mock draft, they’ve got the Rays selecting Grady Emerson with their second overall pick.

Emerson is a 6’3 lefty-hitting prep shortstop and arguably the best pure hitter in the class. It’s a comfortably plus hit tool thanks to a smooth swing, advanced approach, and ability to spray the ball to all fields. Emerson projects to grow into above-average power given his size and athleticism. He also features a strong arm and plus instincts that should allow him to stick at shortstop.

There’s the chance that Roch Cholowsky could go to the Rays too, but it’s more about what the White Sox do with the first pick.

Cholowsky is polished 6’2 college shortstop with an impressive track record to match his above-average tools across the board. He’s an advanced hitter who both controls the strike zone and has solid contact skills. He already has plus power from the right side to pair with his strong hit tool. He’s essentially a lock to stick at shortstop given his arm strength, lateral quickness, and soft hands.

Vahn Lackey has a chance to go here too. Lackey is a 6’2 right-handed hitting catcher with plus power. He’s already a solid defender with a plus arm, and his athleticism suggests even more room for growth that could make him one of the better defensive catchers in the league someday. Lackey’s impact on both sides of the ball would more than justify taking him at the top of the draft.

Things get a little more fuzzy at 33, but BA has high school SS Taj Marchand going to the Rays. They’ve been scouting him all spring and are drawn to his ability to impact the baseball from the right side of the plate. He has quick hands in the batter’s box and in the field. His projectable frame at 6’2 suggests more power could be on the way, and his arm strength is plus right now.

MLB Pipeline

Pipeline has the Rays also taking Emerson in their latest mock draft, and like BA, the Rays could also take Cholowsky if the White Sox pass on him. It’ll likely come down to Emerson vs Lackey, but ultimately they’re expecting it to be Emerson.

Pipeline has the Rays selecting high school 3B/C Cole Prosek with the 33rd pick. He’s a left-handed hitter with advanced feel for the barrel and the potential to grow into solid power in his 6’1 frame. A great athlete with a plus arm, Prosek looks like he could stick behind the plate or the left side of the infield.

ESPN

In his latest mock with ESPN, Kiley McDaniel has the Rays picking Emerson. Lackey could also be taken second overall, but McDaniel doesn’t think it would be at enough of a discount to make it worth the while. Interestingly, he mentions there’s some buzz surrounding college RHP Jackson Flora on a significant pay-cut, but it’s unlikely.

An even longer shot is college SS Tyler Bell – who was selected by the Rays in the Comp B round in 2024 but opted to go to the University of Kentucky. Bell is a switch-hitting, 6’1 shortstop with average or better tools across the board. His athletic testing data suggests there could be more power on the way if he can get the ball in the air more frequently. His approach teeters on passive at times, but his contact ability is solid from both sides of the plate. Bell should continue to play a strong shortstop as he advances through pro-ball.

Flora is the top pitcher in this year’s class. He’s a physical, 6’5 righty with multiple above-average pitches. His fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and he can reach back for 100 at times. Flora’s advanced feel for spin allows him to throw a pair of solid breaking balls, and he even features a relatively new kick-change that could end up being his best secondary someday. His combination of stuff and command could allow him to move quickly through any system.

McDaniel has the Rays taking high school SS Archer Horn with pick 33. He’s a plus athlete who could stick at the position thanks to a strong arm. Horn also has solid bat speed from the left side, and that bat speed combined with his 6’2 frame suggests above-average power is on the way despite an unrefined hit tool. Stanford commits typically make it to campus, so a team that really wants Horn may have to go over-slot to land him.

The Athletic

Keith Law of the Athletic has the Rays selecting Lackey with the second overall pick. He’s a pretty safe bet to be at least a solid defensive catcher given his tools and track record. His above average power makes him and patience at the plate could make him a solid offensive contributor as well. Interestingly, Law doesn’t mention Emerson among the other possibilities for the Rays. He instead mentions Cholowsky, Flora, and Bell. He doesn’t take a crack at mocking the 33rd overall pick or any of the Comp A round selections.

FanGraphs

Not yet published!

Of note, The Board at FanGraphs lists Virginia CF A.J. Garcia at No. 2 overall as the highest ranked 50 FV prospect (Cholowsky at No. 1 is the only 55 FV prospect). Garcia is a left handed 6’3” power hitter with a well rounded profile that could stick in center. After Garcia the site ranks Flora, Emerson, and then Lackey as the other 50’s.

We will circle back with an updated mock draft round-up later this week.

Posted on

How has Nick Boyd fared in first summer league games with the Warriors?

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Andrew Rohde (7), guard Nick Boyd (2), and forward Nolan Winter (31) react during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Former Wisconsin Badgers point guard Nick Boyd was signed by the Golden State Warriors as an undrafted free agent after the 2026 NBA Draft, and he’s already in action as summer league began last week.

Boyd, playing on the Warriors Blue team, has started at point guard for Golden State’s first two games, where we’ve seen some mixed results. In his first career action, Boyd had 11 points, good for second on the team, but on 2 of 10 shooting and 1 of 5 from three-point range. He also added three assists, two steals, and two turnovers, while being a -9 in the box score.

But, one day later on Sunday, Boyd fared better in a 91-85 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Playing 27 minutes, which ranked second on the team, the point guard put up 11 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, while turning the ball over three times.

He was the team’s third-leading scorer behind Jacksen Moni (18 points) and RJ Nembhard Jr. (17 points). Boyd was also a -1 in the box score.

Boyd will be back in action in the California Classic one last time on Monday evening, as the Warriors Blue Team faces the Nets. Then, it’s off to Las Vegas for the remainder of Summer League, with the next game coming on Thursday.

Given his high minute count so far, Boyd should get plenty of opportunities as Summer League goes on.

Posted on

Penguins New Defenseman Could Hit A New Level

The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in a few new players this off-season. Among them is defenseman Kaedan Korczak, as the Penguins acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for blueliner Parker Wotherspoon.

The Penguins' decision to trade Wotherspoon was certainly surprising, as the left-shot defenseman just had a breakout year for Pittsburgh in 2025-26. While this is the case, it is also understandable that Pittsburgh has decided to acquire Korczak.

At 25 years old, Korczak is still young enough that he could hit a new level after getting this change of scenery with the Penguins. He should be a nice addition to their bottom pairing at a minimum, but it would also not be surprising if the 2019 second-round pick even competed for a spot in their top four. 

Korczak appeared in a career-high 78 games last season with the Golden Knights, where he recorded three goals, 13 assists, 16 points, 95 blocks, and 102 hits. Overall, the right-shot defenseman showed promise last season with Vegas and was a regular in their lineup because of it. Now, he will be looking to take another step forward after being dealt to Pittsburgh. 

Korczak's contract also adds to his appeal, he has an affordable $3.25 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season. With this, he has the potential to be a key part of the Penguins' blueline for multiple seasons if he breaks out. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact he can make with the Penguins from here. 

Posted on

Michael Harris leads off, Jim Jarvis starts at shortstop vs Mets

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 05: Jim Jarvis #74 of the Atlanta Braves throws in the first inning during the game against the New York Mets at Truist Park on July 5, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Going for a series win behind Reynaldo Lopez, the Braves are shuffling their lineup a bit, swapping Michael Harris up to the leadoff spot and Drake Baldwin down to cleanup. Jim Jarvis gets another start at shortstop, facing the righty Peralta.

Meanwhile, AJ Ewing gets the start at leadoff for the Mets and Francisco Lindor takes a day at DH.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Monday, July 6, 7:15 p.m. ET

Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

TV: BravesVision

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Posted on

Mets’ trade rumors beginning to warm up

Freddy Peralta #51 of the New York Mets pitches during the second inning at Citi Field on June 25, 2026 in New York City.

With a 37-53 record that has them just a half-game ahead of the worst record in the National League, the Mets are set to be sellers at the deadline. And Will Sammon of the Athletic and Chelsea Janes of SNY have provided some insight into the organization’s thinking as the August 3 trade deadline approaches.

Sammon writes that teams will be interested in trading for one of the Mets’ catchers, but he sees a move of either Francisco Alvarez or Luis Torrens as unlikely. He also brings up the question of whether or not the team will trade Luke Weaver, who is under team control through the end of the 2027 season on a $12.5 million salary. And he mentions that the team is expected to trade Brooks Raley and A.J Minter, while noting that it seems very unlikely that Bo Bichette will be dealt given his underwhelming season, massive salary, and no-trade clause.

Janes mentions some of the same names in writing that players on expiring contracts will be available, adding Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, and Tyrone Taylor to the aforementioned pair of left-handed relievers. She says that the Mets will prioritize getting the best players in return—regardless of how close they are to the big leagues or what position they play. She floats the idea of other relievers like Huascar Brazobán and Devin Williams having appeal on the trade market, and she writes that the Mets aren’t in a rush to start making trades, as front offices are heavily focused on the upcoming amateur draft.

Posted on

DeMar DeRozan becomes free agent after Kings cut him

DeMar DeRozan, who was traded by the Toronto Raptors following the 2017-18 NBA season, joined with the Sacramento Kings this summer.
DeMar DeRozan is set to be a top free agent of the summer.

The Sacramento Kings are waiving DeMar DeRozan, a decision made collaboratively by both sides, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.

The Kings explored trade options for DeRozan, but came up empty. The six-time All-Star now emerges as a top free agent this summer.

DeMar DeRozan is set to be a top free agent of the summer. NBAE via Getty Images

The moves free up significant cap space for Sacramento, since the team is stretching and waiving DeRozan’s partially guaranteed $25.74 million salary.

The forward joined the Kings in the summer of 2024 via a three-team sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. The Kings reunited DeRozan and former Bulls teammate Zach LaVine at the trade deadline in 2025.

However, the duo’s tenure in Sacramento was short-lived as the Kings missed the playoffs that season.

DeRozan is now considered a solid option for teams as a fallback plan for teams in pursuit of LeBron James.

Teams that strike out on James are expected to pursue DeRozan. The 36-year-old averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists while shooting 49.7% from the field and 32.0% from three. The forward, who is entering his 18th NBA season, remains a reliable scorer in the league.

DeRozan is also a durable player, appearing in at least 70 games in each of the past five campaigns. He missed just five games last season.

In his career, DeRozan has averaged 21.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists across 47.1% from the field and 30.2% from beyond the arc across 1,264 games.

After two seasons with the Kings, this summer marks the start of a new chapter for DeRozan.

Posted on

Lookout Landing’s who, what, where, and when for the 2026 MLB draft

PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 26: Max Bayles #57 warms up during the 2026 Draft Combine at Chase Field on Friday, June 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

If you feel a breeze, don’t doubt yourself, it’s MLB Draft week once again. Since 2021, the MLB Draft has taken place over the All-Star Break, in an effort to combine the enhance the prestige of the event and turn the week into a baseball bonanza. It’s a move that has been lamented by scouts and front office folks, who note that the experience creates a cartoonishly packed weekend of work, however the fan experience may be more pleasantly what MLB is hoping for. This year, there are some small tweaks to make note of, and here at Lookout Landing we’ll have draft coverage rolling out all week in the leadup to Saturday and Sunday.

The majority of MLB’s All-Star Week this year will be broadcast by NBC, as well as simultaneously livestreamed by their Peacock service/app. However, the first broadcast event is the Historically Black College/University Swingman Classic Game on Friday, July 10th at 4 PM PT/7 PM ET on MLB Network and MLB.com.

When/Where is the MLB Draft, & how do we watch it?

The 2026 MLB Draft will occur Saturday, July 11th and Sunday, July 12th, in Philadelphia, PA as part of the All-Star Week festivities. Coverage will begin on NBC and Peacock at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET on Saturday, with rounds 1-3 being completed on day one. On Sunday, NBC/Peacock will pick things back up at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET again for rounds 4-20. Both days will also have live coverage on MLB Network and MLB.com

The Saturday outset is a tweak from years past, perhaps a slight genuflection to the requests of the clubs, moving the draft’s outset to a day slightly less packed with festivities. The MLB Futures Game will occur on Sunday, starting at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET, also to be broadcast on NBC. While it is a seven inning game, it may overlap with draft coverage, which seems likely to be pushed to MLB Network and MLB.com but is not entirely clear based on MLB’s website.

When do the Seattle Mariners pick?

The Seattle Mariners have the 24th pick in the draft, second-to-last in the “1st round” ahead of only the Milwaukee Brewers due to their reaching of the ALCS a season ago. The Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Yankees all had their first picks dropped 10 spots as a “fine” of sorts for exceeding the second payroll tax threshold (also known as the “Competitive Balance Tax”).

Their second round selection is the 65th overall pick, and their third pick (the final to be made on Saturday) will be the 101st selection. Seattle also had a pick given to them due to their eligibility for receiving “Competitive Balance Picks” in Round B, just after the second round, however they dealt that 68th overall selection to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of the Brendan Donovan trade this winter.

After picking 129th in the fourth round, Seattle picks every 30 selections afterwards for the remaining rounds as scheduled, save for rounds five and six wherein the Dodgers forfeited their picks as compensation for signing players who’d declined a qualifying offer.

What’s Seattle’s bonus pool situation?

Pretty small. Seattle has only $8,218,200 they are allowed to spend on signing bonuses for their draftees this year, 24th-most in MLB. The Pirates and Rays both are allowed to utilize over $19 million, by contrast. A season ago, Seattle selected LHP Kade Anderson 3rd overall and inked him to a $8.8 million bonus by himself. That was possible, of course, because after missing the playoffs in 2024, Seattle famously sprung up the lottery ladder to the third overall pick despite being projected for 15th, in the fairly new lottery system MLB has employed as part of their anti-tanking efforts. This, plus ineligibility to pick in the top-10 in consecutive years (or more than two consecutive years, depending on the market size of the club) have seemed to be savvy and successful disincentives towards active non-competitiveness instituted by MLB. You’ll see some less-favorable sentiments about draft-related proposals by MLB later on here, so it is important to note that they seem to have absolutely gotten this right.

Bonus pools are determined by draft slots in the first 10 rounds, and Seattle can save any funds unused initially to splash on players throughout the entire draft, so long as they sign those initial players. Seattle has nailed a number of major picks in recent years, and should be able to snag some impressive talents, but the realistic outcome is a less immediately eye-popping set of selections than some recent years.

Who is eligible to be drafted?

Anyone residing in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories who has never signed a previous MLB/MiLB contract and is either

  • A high school graduate, OR
  • Attending a junior/community college, OR
  • Attending a four-year college/university which they have attended for at least three years/have reached their 21st birthday, whichever occurs first

The draft does not include players born and raised anywhere else in the world, wherein players are eligible to sign anytime after their 16th birthday to a contract with any big league club from each team’s capped bonus pool (players like Julio Rodríguez, Shohei Ohtani, or Yordan Alvarez), or as a true free agent once they are 25 years of age (almost exclusively established stars in countries with robust internal summer baseball leagues like Japan, Cuba, and South Korea, e.g. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jose Abreu, or Jung Hoo Lee).

There have also been recent changes to the draft’s rounds, with more dreamed of by MLB’s ownership groups. If you do not care for a bit of analysis on those suggestions, feel free to skim to the next headline.

Since MLB owners halved the number of rounds in the draft in recent competitive bargaining agreements, the draft has dropped from three days to two, and to 20 rounds from 40 since 2019 (and from 50 to 40 in 2011). The draft is once again a wish list item to warp for owners, who recently fantasized publicly with a dream of dropping to just 12 rounds, excluding high schoolers entirely (the players with the most leverage to negotiate their signing bonuses) and necessitating a higher age of eligibility for drafting to 20 years of age. While this could open up a batch of additional college players to eligibility, the intent is overwhelmingly a labor cost reduction. Players who debut earlier reach free agency earlier, and therefore can negotiate with more than just the team that claimed their right to work for the coming decade on draft day. From a pure on-field perspective, Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodríguez would have seen their careers quite differently, while Colt Emerson and Ryan Sloan would still be on campus. Part of baseball’s distinct joy is in its many avenues to plausibility, and it would be nice not to see those curtailed.

What’s coming next on LL?

Plenty! Check out some of our draft profiles if you’ve not already, and keep an eye out each day for a roundup of coverage around the scouting world, our own mock draft of the first 50 or so picks, some deep dives from Max, Kate, and myself, live draft coverage this weekend, and more!

Posted on

Kings reportedly to waive DeMar DeRozan, making him free agent

DeMar DeRozan wanted Sacramento to make a decision: Either waive him (and save $15 million) so he could get on the market before space dried up, or find a trade as they have been trying to do for more than a year.

DeRozan got his wish, the Kings are waiving DeRozan and making him a free agent, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

DeRozan has a $25.7 million contract for this season, but only $10 million of that is guaranteed. This will almost certainly be a waive-and-stretch for Sacramento, spreading the $10 million he is owed over three seasons (at $3.3 million per year), which will save the team about $22 million this season and take them below the luxury tax line.

This move was expected by other front offices around the league (and part of the reason there was no trade market for DeRozan, interested teams knew they could just sign him as a free agent for way less money, and they wouldn't have to give up anything).

DeRozan, who will turn 37 before next season, is still a bucket. He has a specific game — he's an old-school midrange assassin, but who can create his own shot — and averaged 18.4 points per game last season in Sacramento. There will be interest in him, and he is reportedly looking for a regular role on a playoff team.

The Kings still have Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine on their roster and continue to look for trades for them.

Posted on

'I Don't Know That I Expect Him To Go Back': NHL Insider Casts Doubt On Patrick Kane Returning To Detroit

On Monday, new reports surfaced that may see a fan favorite leave the Detroit Red Wings. 

On his podcast, 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman spoke on several topics when it came to the Red Wings, including the Dylan Larkin trade situation, a possible offer sheet for restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson and, lastly, the future of future Hall of Fame winger Patrick Kane.

The 37-year-old hockey legend is coming off his 19th NHL season, in which he surpassed 500 career goals, crossed 1,400 points and became the all-time leader in points recorded by an American-born player. 

Kane finished the season with 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in just 67 games after missing time due to injury. The hope was that with the Red Wings likely pushing to end their decade-long playoff drought next season, Kane would play a large role on the team once again, but that may not be the case. 

The Buffalo native has been rumored to be exploring options outside the Motor City, and Friedman quickly addressed the topic, saying, "I don't know that I expect him to go back to Detroit."

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.

It would be a big blow for a Red Wings team to lose a player still capable of 50 to 60 points out of the middle of their lineup, and it would create another hole general manager Steve Yzerman would need to fill. Detroit has already made it known it wants Kane back, but with the organization also dealing with uncertainty surrounding Larkin, the roster picture in Detroit is far from settled.

The rumor mill has suggested Kane may look to explore the possibility of chasing one more Stanley Cup, having already won three during his dynasty days in Chicago alongside Jonathan Toews. 

With Toews having recently retired after 16 NHL seasons and a storybook final year with his hometown Winnipeg Jets, Kane may look to follow a similar path and try to go out on top by joining a true contender. 

Multiple reports have floated Kane's hometown Buffalo Sabres as one of the more realistic landing spots, should he ultimately decide his time in Detroit has run its course.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.