Posts

Posted on

Analyzing fit of six defensemen Sharks could target before NHL trade deadline

Analyzing fit of six defensemen Sharks could target before NHL trade deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

How can the San Jose Sharks improve their defense ahead of the March 6 NHL trade deadline?

The Sharks, heading into the deadline, are trying to straddle two paths.

There’s the here and now: Five points out of the last wild-card spot in the West and Macklin Celebrini ascending to a superstar level. They’re trying to make the playoffs this season.

But there’s also the future: The Sharks are building to be a Stanley Cup contender, not right now, but in a couple of seasons. So it’s not necessarily time to sell the farm for a small improvement.

Based on The Athletic’s most recent Trade Board, here are a half-dozen possibly available defensemen who fit one of these two paths, or both.

Multiple league sources also shared their thoughts. Also, who would I target if I were the Sharks?

Dougie Hamilton

The offensively gifted Hamilton should be able to help the Sharks’ top power-play unit, but he’s more likely a bridge option.

The 2028 UFA is 32 and has a $9 million AAV. He also has a 10-team Trade List, which the Sharks reportedly aren’t part of.

All that said, the right-hander should come cheap via trade, as long as he agrees to come to San Jose. The New Jersey Devils badly need to clear salary cap space and Hamilton has had a down campaign.

Hamilton would be a solid target for the Sharks: They’ll have the cap space for the next couple of seasons, and someone will have to be their PP1 quarterback if they allow veteran John Klingberg, who’s had an up-and-down season, to walk.

San Jose doesn’t have a clear internal option for this role and based on their interest in Hamilton during the summer, probably before they signed Klingberg on July 1, they likely view Hamilton as a better placeholder than Klingberg.

Hamilton has also been very productive since a highly publicized healthy scratch on Jan. 10, with two goals and 11 points in his last 12 games.

“Not really a production question,” Scout No. 1 said. “Lots of holes in his game and his compete.”

Justin Faulk

Faulk, 33, is also a bridge PP1-worthy quarterback, and he’s considered to be a better pure defender than Hamilton.

However, unlike Hamilton, the 2027 UFA’s contract is seen as a relative bargain — he’s got a $6.5 million AAV and is enjoying his first double-digit goal campaign since 2022-23. He does have a 15-team No-Trade List.

Faulk might garner a first-round draft pick at the trade deadline and will certainly return a high pick or a top prospect.

The right-hander, as a player, might be a more suitable fit for the Sharks, but his likely expensive cost in trade makes Hamilton an arguably more appealing target.

Mason Lohrei

Lohrei, 25, is an offensive defenseman who might need a change of scenery.

Inked to a two-year, $3.2 million AAV contract last summer after a breakout 33-point season, Lohrei has seen his ice time cut and a few healthy scratches under new head coach Marco Sturm.

“Needs to mature a bit,” Scout No. 1 said. “Roll of the dice.”

Lohrei is the right age to grow with the Sharks and could provide an immediate puck-moving spark, but does he defend well enough to play in their top four?

If the Boston Bruins were certain of that, the left-hander probably wouldn’t be available in the first place.

Zach Whitecloud

Whitecloud, 29, hasn’t played a regular top-four shift for most of his career, but that appears to be more a consequence of playing most of his youth on a deep Vegas Golden Knights defense.

Since getting traded to the Calgary Flames in the Rasmus Andersson deal, the 6-foot-2 shutdown defender has averaged 23:09 a night, second only to Mackenzie Weegar, a huge uptick from the 17:44 that he averaged in Vegas.

A 2028 UFA, the right-hander is being paid bottom-pairing money at $2.75 million AAV. So he’s on a bargain of a contract, which will make him that much more costly to acquire.

Two NHL scouts told San Jose Hockey Now that they believe Whitecloud’s trade value is in the range of a second-round pick plus a prospect.

If the Sharks believe in Whitecloud, he’d be both an upgrade now and someone who should still be a key contributor in a couple of years.

Logan Stanley

It took the 2016 first-round draft pick nearly a decade, but Stanley appears to have arrived as an NHL player at exactly the right time, heading into unrestricted free agency this summer.

A 6-foot-7 defender with a mean streak, the 27-year-old left-hander also has a bomb of a shot, and has nine goals.

The question is, do you buy on Stanley as a late-blooming top-four defenseman? He still just plays 16:33 a night for the Winnipeg Jets, and before this season, had never netted more than one goal in a year.

Braden Schneider

Like Lohrei, it’s a little suspicious when a young defenseman, capable of munching minutes, is available like Schneider reportedly is.

Just 24, the pending RFA is more of a shutdown defenseman, and on the surface, big and mobile and can kill plays, sounds like a perfect Mike Grier trade target.

Can the right-hander grow into a true-blue top-four defenseman on a Cup contender?

“Top-four potential,” Scout No. 2 said. Another scout agreed with that assessment.

“He skates well, physical, great kid,” an NHL source said. “No idea what the ask would be, but it better be a lot.”

If the Sharks believe that, he would well be worth a first-round draft pick in a trade.

My Thoughts

There are a couple of other interesting trade targets out there in Brandon Carlo and Pavel Mintyukov.

Carlo, 29, is a big shutdown defenseman who has struggled in Toronto but could welcome a move to San Jose. Are the Maple Leafs, six points out of the playoffs, ready to sell? Carlo could be a smart buy-low opportunity.

Mintyukov is a 2022 first-round draft pick, a very gifted puck-mover who reportedly requested a trade from the Anaheim Ducks earlier this season. It’s hard to see the Ducks trading him in-division, and also, the 22-year-old doesn’t necessarily help the Sharks as much right now.

So who would I target if I were the Sharks?

I’d take a flyer on Hamilton at a bargain basement price.

I also think Whitecloud is worth the suggested cost.

Of all the aforementioned options for the Sharks?

“Whitecloud would be [the best] fit,” Scout No. 3 said.

Trading for one or both of these defensemen would require San Jose to jettison at least one of their handful of UFA blueliners, Klingberg, Mario Ferraro, Timothy Liljegren or Vincent Desharnais.

These acquisitions, however, would both improve the Sharks now and in the near future, without breaking the bank in terms of trade assets. This should keep San Jose in position to acquire elite talent to play with Celebrini, which should be the priority this offseason.

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

Posted on

8 Warriors questions for the rest of the NBA season

Steph Curry and Draymond Green embracing.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 30: Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors embrace prior to the start of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Chase Center on January 30, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors return to action tonight, kicking off the 27-game second “half” with a home matchup against the Boston Celtics. The good news is that the Warriors should be quite well rested … they didn’t have a single player lace up their sneakers at the busy All-Star weekend. The bad news is that the rest doesn’t seem to have helped those in the infirmary. Steph Curry, who had been hoping to return before the break, has been ruled out for Thursday’s game, and it’s a little ominous — coach Steve Kerr has said that Curry might be headed for yet another MRI.

Despite all that, tonight’s game at the Chase Center is must-see TV for Dubs fans who are starved for hoops after a week without meaningful games … and for anyone invested in where the Warriors will end up in the standings. There’s no shortage of storylines to pay attention to as the Warriors get back on the court, but here are the eight biggest questions that will be answered over the next two months.

How does Kristaps Porziņģis fit?

The Warriors didn’t land Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they still made a significant addition at the NBA trade deadline. In two separate deals made to facilitate each other, the Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, while receiving Kristaps Porziņģis and a second-round draft pick.

Porziņģis, who was an All-Star in 2018, is on the final year of a two-year, $60 million deal that hasn’t aged particularly well … he’s only played in 59 games over the course of that contract, and has been traded twice. Yet it seems unlikely that the Warriors acquired him merely to be a rental who would reach free agency and seek out the next opportunity. Sure, there were some other long-term benefits of the trade for Golden State — they rid themselves of the final two years and nearly $20 million on Hield’s contract, and grabbed a late draft pick — but the primary goal of the trade was to acquire Porziņģis.

That’s not to say that the Warriors have already made up their mind that they’ll re-sign Porziņģis this summer (though they certainly can, as they acquired his Bird rights in the trade). But it does mean that they’re open to it and curious about it.

With the Warriors no longer harboring dreams of contention following Jimmy Butler III’s ACL tear, watching how Porziņģis fits with his new squad is the biggest storyline for the rest of the season. In theory, the 30-year old Latvian is a great fit with the team. He’s one of the tallest players in the NBA, at 7’2, and his wingspan is outrageous. Despite that daunting size, he’s a fluid player who moves well and has good athleticism, and is a career 36.6% shooter from deep … and 38.7% over the last four years. He’s a very strong defensive player, and can be a force on offense.

But there are always questions about how new players will fit in Kerr’s system, and alongside Curry, and that’s doubly true for big men. Can Porziņģis make the right reads and decisions, and can he make them quickly? Will he understand his role, set big screens, and fit the defensive scheme? An enormous, athletic, slick-shooting stretch five with strong defense feels like the perfect fit on offense next to Curry, and on defense next to Draymond Green, but you never know until you see it.

Perhaps more importantly is the question of whether or not Porziņģis, who has played just 17 games this year, can get healthy and stay healthy. He only played 42 games last year, and has hit the 60-game mark just once since the 2016-17 season. How he looks on the court — and how often he’s on it — may determine whether his 2026 stint with the Warriors is a blip on his Basketball-Reference page, or the start of a long journey.

How will Gui Santos, Will Richard, and Pat Spencer fare with larger roles?

Butler’s injury and the deadline trades opened up playing time for a lot of players, but specifically for three. With forwards Butler and Kuminga no longer suiting up, Gui Santos has slid into a large role, with Kerr saying that the Brazilian is likely to stay in the starting lineup going forward. With Hield gone, playing time has opened up for Richard to be one of the primary backcourt players off the bench. And with the team clearing some cap space and two roster spots, they were able to give Spencer a guaranteed contract, right as he exhausted his two-way contract playing time.

All three players have shown great things throughout the season, and all three have had moments where their inexperience is on full display. They now get nearly 30 games, with more leash than ever before, to prove that they can be not just intriguing players, but key rotation pieces on a good basketball team.

Richard is under contract for next season, but Spencer is not, and Santos has a team option. It seems certain that at least two of the trio will be on next year’s roster, and probable that all three will. But it’s audition time for each one: not just for a future roster spot, but for a more permanent role moving forward.

Is Steve Kerr enjoying himself?

After the shorthanded Warriors used a furious late rally to beat the Phoenix Suns two weeks ago, I commented on Bluesky that Kerr was “living his dream now.” It was mostly a joke, but not entirely. Kerr looked happy and rejuvenated. He admitted after the game that the win felt like a championship victory.

There’s no doubt that Kerr enjoys playing with a scrappy team of underdogs who hustle hard and buy into his philosophies, but that can only take you so far when you’re as competitive as he is. And while the Warriors can fill that role now, they can’t next year, when they’ll be anticipating the (eventual) return of Butler, while trying to push Curry’s championship window open once again.

The question becomes: is Kerr still enjoying this? It’s no secret that he is not under contract for next season. And while it’s also no secret that Kerr and Joe Lacob have not always seen eye to eye, Curry is the most powerful voice at 1 Warriors Way, and he has made his stance crystal clear: he doesn’t want to play for anyone else. That stance is strong enough that it will force Lacob to always have an offer on the table for Kerr; but no stance of Curry’s is strong enough to control Kerr’s desires. If he’s no longer enjoying himself, then this may be the final run. But if he looks as rejuvenated in the final months as he did in that win against Phoenix, you can bank on him returning to the Bay for a 13th season.

Can Seth Curry get healthy and prove himself?

The younger Curry’s season has quietly been one of the saddest parts of the year. At long last, the Curry brothers were united on the same team, and would get to share the court. But due to cap restrictions, the Warriors didn’t add Seth until December, and he played in just two games before suffering an injury that has sidelined him since. Worse yet, Steph was injured for the two games that Seth played in … so we still haven’t seen them on the court together.

While injuries are a persistent concern with Seth, he still looks the part of a player who could play a key role in the rotation. With Hield now in Atlanta, the Warriors are shockingly thin in terms of shooting depth, and Seth — a career 43.3% marksman from deep — can help with that. If he can get on the court and show that he fits in the system, he could play himself into a contract for next year, too.

Can they play well enough for next year?

Right now, the game plan for next season looks shockingly similar to what ended up being the course of last season: become a good enough team that adding Butler at the All-Star break can push them into contention.

It arguably did in 2024-25, when the Warriors beat the No. 2 seeded Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, and were picked by many to topple the Minnesota Timberwolves in the semifinals before Curry suffered an injury that he never returned from.

Now they’ll try to do the same in 2026-27. Instead of getting Butler by trade, the Warriors can expect the six-time All-Star to return from his ACL injury sometime in January or February. In order for that to be as impactful as it was last year, the Dubs will need to be in a place where Butler’s presence can push them over the edge.

The next two months don’t count towards next year’s standings, but they will give the Warriors a sneak peek into next year. They simply need to be a team that can have a winning record without Butler if they want his return to nudge them into the realm of contention. If the Warriors look lost and hopeless over the rest of the regular season, then Mike Dunleavy Jr. will enter the offseason knowing he needs to make a sizable change before opening night. If they comfortably post a winning record between now and the end of the year, then they’ll have confidence that they only need to do a little tinkering, and then sit back and wait for Jimmy.

How consistent is Moses Moody?

It’s been a little bit of an up-and-down year for Moody. He’s spent most of the year looking like a solid rotation piece who should probably be coming off the bench on a good team. He’s spent some of the year looking like a high-quality starter who should get 30+ minutes every night. He’s spent some of the year looking like he belongs at the back of the bench.

Moody has two years and $26 million remaining on his contract after this season. Is he part of the next winning Warriors team? Or is that a contract they should be looking to move this offseason to facilitate more impactful moves? The Warriors have seen his talent on full display, but now they need to see if he can bring it consistently, in all phases of the game. It could shape the offseason.

Will Steph Curry’s injuries linger?

Injuries are nothing new to Curry, but lately they’ve become less severe and more varied. He’s been relegated to street clothes on a few different occasions this year, with various ailments. The latest issue, a case of runner’s knee, has been lingering. Curry had hoped to return before the All-Star break, but was then ruled out for the team’s final few games, and the All-Star Game as well. Worse yet, he won’t be on the court tonight, and may be headed for an MRI.

There’s only so much that we can learn about Curry’s 2026-27 health over the next two months. But needless to say, if he the current injury lingers — or if a few more pop up — it will be cause for concern as to whether or not he can stay healthy enough next year to lead the Dubs back into contention.

What rumors and reports pop up?

When the year began, no one expected the Warriors to trade for Antetokounmpo. But as the deadline approached, suddenly it started to feel like a distinct possibility. In the NBA, things are only off the table until they’re put on it; and they can be put on it very quickly.

There will be rumors about LeBron James having interest in joining forces with Curry and Green, two of the players he most respects in the league. Perhaps Kevin Durant, who already seems to be falling out of favor with the Rockets, will again be on the trading block and this time the Warriors won’t care about whether or not he wants to come back. Nikola Jokić is nearing free agency. The league can’t go more than a few months without a star surprisingly expressing that they’re no longer happy on their team. The Antetokounmpo rumors will certainly pop back up.

Nothing that big is even remotely likely to happen, but life moves fast in the NBA. Nobody thought James Harden was on the trading block a few weeks ago until a move was made. Heck, Luka Dončić was viewed as untouchable until a Shams Charania tweet was fired off one Saturday night last year.

The Warriors go big game hunting. If there’s actually any big game to hunt, it could control the shape of the summer.

Posted on

Winter Olympics recap: US beats Canada in OT for women's hockey gold medal, Stolz stunned in 1,500

MILAN (AP) — The U.S. women's hockey team delivered an Olympic comeback for the ages by beating Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Thursday.

With her team trailing 1-0, American captain Hilary Knight forced overtime by tipping in Laila Edwards’ shot with 2:04 remaining in regulation.

Megan Keller then scored 4:07 into overtime to hand the U.S. its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey.

It was the seventh time the two powerhouses faced off for Olympic gold since women’s hockey debuted at the 1998 Nagano Games. In the 2022 Beijing final, Canada beat the Americans in the final.

With the sides playing 3-on-3 in overtime, Keller broke up the left wing and pushed past Claire Thompson. Driving to the net, Keller got off a backhander that beat Ann-Renee Desbiens.

Kristin O’Neill scored a short-handed goal for Canada in the second period.

Earlier Thursday, Alina Muller scored the bronze medal-winning goal in overtime in Switzerland’s 2-1 victory over Sweden. It came 12 years after Muller scored the clinching goal to deliver the Swiss their first Olympic medal in women’s hockey — a bronze at the 2014 Sochi Games.

Jordan Stolz stunned in 1,500 meters

U.S. speedskater Jordan Stolz’s late push wasn’t enough.

The American star settled for silver in the 1,500 meters, missing a chance to secure a third gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games.

China’s Ning Zhongyan won Thursday’s race in an Olympic-record time of 1 minute, 41.98 seconds. The 21-year-old Stolz, who won gold medals in the 500 and 1,000 at these Games, crossed 0.77 seconds later.

As Stolz glided by, hands on his knees, Ning raised his country’s flag aloft with both hands and started a victory lap.

Stolz, a Wisconsin native, will participate in the mass start on Saturday.

Dutch skater Kjeld Nuis, who won the 1,500 at the past two Olympics, took bronze.

Eileen Gu advances to halfpipe final despite fall

Defending Olympic champion Eileen Gu shook off a fall during her opening run to advance to Saturday's final in freeski halfpipe. The 22-year-old Gu was born in the United States and competes for China.

She clipped the lip of the halfpipe on the third trick of her first run, knocking her left ski off and sending her skittering to the bottom of the course.

That set up a pressure-packed second attempt that run earned 86.50 points, good enough to place fifth among the 12 skiers who advanced to the final.

US and Canada reach women’s curling semifinals

The United States and Canada advanced to the women’s curling semifinals.

The Americans, skipped by Tabitha Peterson, beat Switzerland 7-6 in a match that went to an extra end. The teams will square off again in Friday’s semifinals.

Peterson threw the decisive rock and her teammates swept it into position, just a hair closer to the button than the Swiss’ nearest stone.

Canada beat South Korea 10-7 and will play Sweden on Friday.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Posted on

Nuggets vs Clippers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Denver Nuggets are still a long way from healthy, but they should nonetheless be deeper than the Los Angeles Clippers after the trade deadline.

My Nuggets vs. Clippers predictions trust Denver’s best player in part because of his conditioning, one of many NBA picks on Thursday, February 19.

Nuggets vs Clippers prediction

Nuggets vs Clippers best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 26.5 points (-120)

Since the Los Angeles Clippers traded Ivica Zubac, who do they expect to defend Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic?

Brook Lopez is not the defensive stalwart he once was, and even at his peak, he was not necessarily quick enough to keep up with Jokic. Asking Kawhi Leonard to slow the Serbian would deplete the Clippers’ best offensive threat.

Jokic’s physicality should abuse Los Angeles. He is simply too much of a mismatch against this version of the Clippers’ roster.

Nuggets vs Clippers same-game parlay

With Jokic dominating the Clippers inside and on the glass, he should set a tone that leads to a cover of this modest spread.

Nuggets vs Clippers SGP

  • Nikola Jokic Over 26.5 points
  • Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
  • Nuggets -4.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Turn it up, Kawhi

Kawhi Leonard is playing the best basketball of his Clippers tenure, as seen for a moment in the All-Star Game.

Nuggets vs Clippers SGP

  • Nikola Jokic Over 26.5 points
  • Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
  • Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points
  • Nuggets -4.5

Nuggets vs Clippers odds

  • Spread: Nuggets -4.5 | Clippers +4.5
  • Moneyline: Nuggets -190 | Clippers +160
  • Over/Under: Over 226 | Under 226

Nuggets vs Clippers betting trend to know

The Nuggets are 2-0 both outright and against the spread against the Clippers this season, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by a combined 25 points in those two games. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Clippers.

How to watch Nuggets vs Clippers

LocationIntuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
DateThursday, February 19, 2026
Tip-off10:30 p.m. ET
TVALT, FDSN SC

Nuggets vs Clippers latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

Cam Payne plans to bring energy and stability in second Sixers stint

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 03: Cameron Payne, #15 of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in action during the EuroLeague Regular Season Round 26 match between Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade at Menora Mivtachim Arena on February 03, 2026 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo by Seffi Magriso/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)

It’s no surprise the Sixers were targeting a guard on the open market after the trade deadline.

The team sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies with no NBA players coming back to Philly. With Quentin Grimes missing two games with an illness before the All-Star break, the Sixers’ lack of depth at guard was exposed.

While names like Lonzo Ball and D’Angelo Russell were thrown out there, the Sixers ultimately decided to bring back a familiar face in Cameron Payne. The 31-year-old was playing in Serbia for Partizan when he got word of the Sixers’ interest a few days ago.

His agent warned him things could move quickly from there.

“It actually happened really fast,” Payne said at the Sixers practice facility Wednesday. “[My agent] told me, ‘It’s going to happen pretty fast, so you might want to pack.‘”

Payne is no stranger to these types of twists and turns. He was the 14th overall pick in 2015 out of Murray State by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He struggled with injuries and inconsistency early in his career. He was traded to the Chicago Bulls, spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and even played two games in China in 2019.

He was able to resurrect his career with the Phoenix Suns, helping that team reach the Finals in 2020-21. He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24 and was traded (along with a second-round pick) to the Sixers for Patrick Beverley. He gave the Sixers some solid minutes down the stretch and into the playoffs, parlaying that into a contract with the New York Knicks in 2024-25.

The Knicks moved on and Payne was in camp with the Indiana Pacers ahead of the 2025-26 season. He didn’t make the opening night roster and was waived. Instead of sitting around waiting for his next opportunity, Payne made the decision to go overseas.

As Payne learned, if you’re playing basketball somewhere in the world, the NBA will still have eyes on you.

“I told my agent this morning, I was like, ‘I don’t know how I keep finding a way to get back [the the NBA],‘” Payne said. “But I guess the NBA is still watching. If you still take your game seriously and do the right things, play the right way, they’re still looking.”

Payne enjoyed the experience with Partizan. He said the environment is a little wild — almost college-like. “It was lit, man,” he said. The other thing he got to do there was be the focal point of an offense, something he hadn’t been able to do since college. It was an opportunity and responsibility he didn’t take lightly.

While nobody will be asking that of him with the Sixers, they could certainly use a guard off the bench. Tyrese Maxey leads the NBA in minutes per game by a healthy margin. VJ Edgecombe leads all rookies in minutes — also by a healthy margin. Payne can play alongside either guy while giving the duo some rest during the final 28 games of the season.

Nick Nurse made it known that Payne will get minutes — in part to help his electric backcourt get to the postseason as fresh as possible.

“He can eat into some of those minutes to get those guys off the floor, for sure,” Nurse said. “And I would imagine down the stretch there’ll be games where he’ll play super huge minutes, too, when those two guys …. the workload gets [high] we can throw him in there in certain games, and he’s capable of doing that.”

If nothing else, Payne provides stability. The team knows what he is and what he brings to the table every night, something you couldn’t say about the Sixers’ guards off the bench this season.

“We know him,” Nurse said. “Veteran ball-handler. Guy who’s played in some big games. I think we’ve seen Cam provide some speed, energy, three-point shooting, run some pick-and-roll, get some layups here and there. … He looked like he’s in a really good rhythm. He’s been playing at a pretty high level over there.”

Payne has been in these spots. He knows what it takes to succeed, whether he’s playing big minutes or barely leaving the bench.

“I just always say ‘be you,’” Payne said. “Don’t ever change for anybody. Just be yourself.”

In 31 games for the Sixers back in 2023-24, Payne shot 38.2% from three and averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game. If that’s what the team gets now — on top of the energy he brings to the table — it’ll be a shrewd signing.

Posted on

Dave Roberts puffs on cigar while watching wing-eating contest

Dave Roberts apparently likes to enjoy a cigar while watching people overindulge.

The Dodgers manager popped by a wing-eating competition at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Glendale, Arizona, on Wednesday night, and he was seen puffing on a stogie as he took in all the sights and sounds of engorgement.

Dave Roberts was seen at a wing-eating competition on Wednesday night enjoying a cigar. Instagram/bobbleheadz_805

In a video shot by a spectator, the World Series-winning skipper could be seen savoring some smoke as competitors shoveled chicken into their mouths.

Dave Roberts and the Dodgers are trying to win their third-straight World Series this season. AP

At one point during the festivities, Roberts actually told the Dodgers’ social media team he thinks he’d fare pretty well in a wing-consuming showdown.

He added he’d thrive in a doughnut challenge as well.

Wednesday’s event has become a bit of a spring training tradition for the Dodgers — last season, several Los Angeles superstars, including Shohei Ohtani, made it out to catch the action.

This year, Roberts was joined by Evan Phillips, Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim and Alex Call, and the guys seemed to have a blast — while insisting if they were in tilts to inhale the most sushi, ramen, hot dogs and nachos, they’d be stars.

Posted on

Can the A’s Young Core Turn Defense Into a Strength?

The number one reason the Athletics suffered a fourth straight losing season last year was run prevention. Both the starting rotation and bullpen struggled, particularly at home in Sacramento. But it wasn’t solely the pitchers’ fault. The A’s finished 2025 with -34 defensive runs saved — the fifth-worst mark in MLB — and committed 88 errors, tied for eighth most in the league.

The team’s young core group of hitters took a major step forward offensively last season, cementing the team’s lineup as one of the most exciting to watch this year. Nevertheless, if the A’s want to return to the playoffs for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, the team must display vastly improved defense to complement its offensive excellence. 

In the first couple months of last season, it felt like a circus every time former A’s outfielder JJ Bleday (-19 DRS, -30 career) tried to catch a fly ball or line drive in center field. The year before, Bleday was serviceable playing that tough position, yet last year he regressed in all facets of the game. 

Eventually, the A’s had enough of his mishaps and replaced him with top prospect Denzel Clarke, who proceeded to make highlight-reel catches and home run robberies nearly every game he played. Lawrence Butler also showed he can play that position if needed, although he is better suited to right field due to his strong but often inaccurate arm. Tyler Soderstrom has left field locked down for the next several years following his seamless transition last season from first base to left field. Soderstrom became a Gold Glove finalist, a miraculous achievement given that he had never played outfield before in his professional career.

The numbers made it clear that the A’s defensive shortcomings weren’t confined to one position group. The infield additionally contributed to the struggles, as several young regulars continued learning the nuances of their positions.

First baseman Nick Kurtz and shortstop Jacob Wilson finished first and second in the American League Rookie of the Year race because of their offensive performances. Nevertheless, both need to improve defensively. Kurtz trained this offseason on improving his defense, specifically catching pop-ups, while Wilson has room to get better if he can improve his range to convert more balls put in play into outs. Jeff McNeil will be at least average at second base and then the A’s third baseman will be decided in spring training. If the A’s want to prioritize defense, Brett Harris is the best option, whereas Max Muncy is the most dynamic offensive player in the mix.

Will Kurtz or Wilson have a better defensive season this year? Do you think the A’s move Wilson off shortstop when Leo De Vries is ready? If so, is he a better fit at second base or third base? Finally, what teamwide defensive strategies should the A’s employ this season to gain an edge?

Posted on

The Lakers’ 2026-27 salary-cap outlook after the NBA trade deadline

The Lakers were relatively quiet at the trade deadline aside from swapping Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard. That’s in part because their proximity to their first-apron hard cap (less than $1.5 million away) limited what they could do.

That shouldn’t be the case this offseason.

The Lakers have long been projected to boast max or near-max cap room and the trade deadline did not change that. Because both Vincent and Kennard are on expiring contracts, that trade had no bearing on the Lakers’ outlook beyond this year.

That was undoubtedly intentional. With LeBron James’ future still very much up in the air, the Lakers are keeping their options open.

That isn’t the case for every team that was initially projected to be a factor in the 2026 free-agent market. The Washington Wizards were initially projected to have $80-plus million in cap space this offseason, but they spent it all in “pre-agency” by acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis ahead of the trade deadline. The Utah Jazz blew through theirs as well by acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. while the L.A. Clippers made a pair of trades that suggests Kawhi Leonard could be next to go this offseason.

Keith Smith of Spotrac now projects only three teams to have significant cap space this offseason, plus/minus the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons. The Lakers are leading the way.

Longtime salary-cap analyst Yossi Gozlan took it one step further.

That seems good. Is that good? (Just don’t spend it all on a 34-year-old Paul George. Take it from a Sixers fan.)

The Lakers’ 2026-27 cap sheet

The Lakers have two major variables to confront this offseason: LeBron’s future and Austin Reaves’ free agency. The good news is that until they re-sign Reaves, their cap sheet is relatively clean at the moment.

Luka Dončić will begin the three-year max extension he signed this past August, which will start at 30% of whatever next year’s salary cap ends up being. Based on the current $166 million cap projection, Dončić’s new deal would start at $49.8 million.

For now, Dončić is the only Lakers player under contract for next season who’s earning more than $15 million. Jarred Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), Jake LaRavia ($6.0 million), Dalton Knecht ($4.2 million) and Adou Thiero ($2.2 million) are the only four other players on guaranteed contracts, while nearly $1.26 million of Bronny James’ $2.3 million salary is guaranteed.

The Lakers will also enter the offseason with a $20.9 million cap hold on their books for Reaves. As we’ve covered before, the Lakers will presumably try to follow the same blueprint the Philadelphia 76ers used with Tyrese Maxey to take advantage of his below-market cap hold. They’ll spend the rest of their cap space first, then re-sign him via Bird rights even though that will push them over the salary cap.

Between Dončić, Vanderbilt, LaRavia, Knecht, Thiero, the guaranteed portion of Bronny’s contract and Reaves’ cap hold, the Lakers will be entering the offseason with $96.7 million in guaranteed salary on their books.

Player2026-27 Salary
Luka Dončić$49,800,000
Austin Reaves (cap hold)$20,906,361
Jarred Vanderbilt$12,428,571
Jake LaRavia$6,000,000
Dalton Knecht$4,201,080
Bronny James$2,296,271 ($1,258,873 guaranteed)
Adou Thiero$2,150,917
TOTAL (GUARANTEED)$96,745,802

That doesn’t mean they’ll have nearly $70 million of cap space to spend, though.

For one, they’ll have an incomplete roster charge of roughly $1.36 million for every open roster spot below 12. Even if they fully guarantee Bronny’s contract, they’d have $6.8 million of incomplete roster charges on their books until they filled those spots.

The bigger swing factors are Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton, who have $5.4 million and $8.1 million player options for next season, respectively. They also have a $2.5 million team option on Kobe Bufkin, which they figure to decline to maximize their financial flexibility.

Assuming the Lakers do decline their team option on Bufkin, here’s how much cap space they’re projected to have depending on what Ayton and Smart do with their respective player options.

  • Both decline: $61.4 million
  • Smart picks up, Ayton declines: $57.1 million
  • Ayton picks up, Smart declines: $54.7 million
  • Both pick up: $50.3 million

All of those figures would require the Lakers to renounce the rights to all of their free agents other than Reaves, including LeBron and Rui Hachimura. They also don’t factor in whichever first-round pick the Lakers land this summer.

The Lakers’ free-agency outlook

Based on the current $166 million cap projection for 2026-27, a max contract for someone with 0-6 years of NBA experience would start at $41.5 million, someone with 7-9 years of NBA experience (like Luka) would start at $49.8 million and someone with 10 or more years of NBA experience would start at $58.1 million.

That makes James the first domino that must fall for the Lakers. Until they either re-sign him or renounce his free-agent rights, they won’t have any cap space whatsoever.

If the Lakers do clear $50-plus million in space, they’ve already discussed going after Andrew Wiggins, Tari Eason and Peyton Watson, among others, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. He mentioned Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade as other possible candidates who fit the Lakers’ need for more long-range shooters and defenders.

After the trade deadline, general manager Rob Pelinka told reporters that the Lakers had been “aggressive” in conversations, but they decided to prioritize their long-term future.

“I would say we were aggressive,” Pelinka said. “And one form of being aggressive is saying no to moves that come your way that might not be best for the short- and long-term future, that’s like being aggressive even though you end up doing nothing. Because it’s hard to say no sometimes to getting a good player that could be a quick short-term fix but could have implications for the long-term where it doesn’t fit into the overall vision you have for the team.”

If the Lakers look to maximize their financial flexibility, there’s a wide range of possible outcomes this offseason. The NBA has become even more unpredictable in the second-apron era, as teams are more desperate than ever to dump overpaid stars (or former stars) on massive contracts.

The Wizards acquired both Young and Davis for pennies on the dollar ahead of this year’s trade deadline. The Memphis Grizzlies were reportedly eager to offload Ja Morant as well, but they couldn’t find a taker even after trading Jackson to Utah.

Pelinka believes the Lakers might be able to take advantage of other teams this offseason that are looking to dump contracts for whatever reason.

“Knowing that there’s an unintended consequence when a new system comes into place — teams kind of learn their way through it — we felt like creating optionality or having optionality now is really a positive thing for us this coming offseason,” Pelinka told reporters. “Because there’s some teams that maybe have gotten too deep into the aprons. And I think players, we see around the league, that become available when teams get in that position.”

“Whether it’s through free agency, whether it’s keeping our own players, whether it’s looking around the league for players that are really good that maybe teams are trying to get off salary, we feel like there’ll be so many different ways to complete our roster in the offseason.”

The Lakers have a megastar in Dončić and a unique amount of potential cap space for a title hopeful this offseason. This summer will go a long way toward determining how well they can build a championship contender around Luka over the next few years.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

Follow Bryan on Bluesky.

Posted on

Mets Notes: Sean Manaea's mechanics, Kodai Senga touches 97 MPH, and what to watch with Carson Benge

The Mets will be hosting their 2026 Grapefruit League opener against the Miami Marlins in just two days, and there have been oodles of storylines worth watching down in Port St. Lucie. 

Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza met with the media on Thursday, discussing two key pieces of the starting rotation, a veteran and a prospect who will impact the outfield, and much more.

Here's what Mendoza had to say...

Manaea's Mechanics

Sean Manaea unlocked something midway through the 2024 season, when he switched to more of a cross-body delivery that had hitters looking foolish. As part of that adjustment, Manaea began dropping his arm slot even lower than he typically does, according to Mendoza. 

Add in some brutal injury luck, and the lefty had a tough 2025 season (5.64 ERA in 15 games).

But now, Manaea is a "healthy player," and Mendoza says that getting his mechanics right could go a long way towards once again seeing the version of Manaea who took the mound in 2024.

"Last year, that oblique injury was tricky for him, and then he had a setback, I believe, and he was just never himself. It wasn’t easy for him. It was hard. I don’t think he ever got in a rhythm last year, even when he was feeling good," said Mendoza. "Whether it was mechanics, he was just off."

"We felt like he went a little (too low with his arm slot)," Mendoza said, "so we’re trying to get him back to, I’m not going to say normal because he’s always going to have that slot, but those are some of the adjustments that we’re working on."

Robert's Rousing Power Display

Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. has proven that he can be an All-Star talent when healthy, but a host of lower body injuries have caused him to miss a combined 110 games over the past two seasons. 

The Mets are taking things slow with their new outfielder, saying he won't play in spring games right away, but that hasn't stopped the veteran from putting on a show during his live BP at-bats.

"It’s pretty incredible. You watch, the sound of it, he’s pretty special," Mendoza said. "Man, I keep telling myself and people here, if this guy stays healthy, we’ve got a pretty good player. We’ve seen it, but that’s our goal. We have to, and I know he’s working really hard, but he’s just very easy. And I think it was 115 (MPH exit velocity), the ball he hit in live BP. It’s pretty impressive." 

Benge-Watching

With Juan Soto shifting to left and a healthy Robert locking down center field, the starting right field spot is up for grabs, with top prospect Carson Benge among the options.

But what do the Mets want to see out of the 23-year-old as he attempts to break camp in the majors?

According to Mendoza, it's quality over quantity, saying that how Benge looks at the plate and in the field will be more important that his actual stats.

"I think it’s more the quality of the at-bats … how hard he’s hitting the baseball, how he’s controlling the strike zone, how he’s going to bounce back after a tough game," Mendoza said. "There’s a lot to look for, whether it’s offensively, defensively, and base-running-wise."

"[Benge is] another guy who impacts the baseball to all fields," he added. "I think his ability to control the strike zone—but the one thing I’ve seen the past few days here during live at-bats is his ability to foul off tough pitches, especially when he gets behind in counts. That for me is a really good sign, that he’s able to stay in the fight, and he continues to stay aggressive."

Senga's Strong Showing

Right-hander Kodai Senga saw his 2025 season get off to a phenomenal start, pitching to a minuscule 1.47 ERA over his first 13 starts. But a hamstring strain suffered in June derailed him, and his numbers on the other side of the injury (5.90 ERA in nine starts) suffered as a result.

Senga threw one inning of live batting practice on Thursday, leaving his manager impressed, especially with where his velocity is at this point in camp.

"Really good," Mendoza said of Senga. "I think the biggest thing for me, when you see 96, 97, that’s a really good sign. I thought he threw some really good sweepers, especially for strike one, back door against lefties. He’s just working on all of his pitches, he’s just trying to get the feel. First time out there, the feedback from the hitters is always important, and yeah, I think it all comes down to health. We all know that, and man, it was good to just see him go out there with intensity and throwing the ball the way he did."

Posted on

27 games to find out what this Suns’ team really is

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 10: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Tonight, the post-All-Star break gauntlet begins. And if it feels like you have heard me use that word before when talking about the Phoenix Suns, you are not imagining things. It always feels this way. For whatever reason, the Suns routinely land in the top ten in remaining strength of schedule, and yes, I went to Tankathon to double-check myself before saying it out loud again.

Checks Tankathon…

Ummm…why aren’t the Suns on anyone’s ‘toughest opponent’ list? What are we? Chopped liver here?!

What’s left is no joke. The final 27 games are stacked with teams that have something at stake. These are not drifting opponents. These are teams fighting for playoff positioning, teams clawing to avoid the Play-In, teams scrapping to get into it. And that is exactly where Phoenix lives right now, right in the middle of the mess, where every night feels like it carries a little extra weight.

The difference now is perception. The Suns are no longer sneaking up on anyone. That part of the season is gone. They have exceeded expectations, changed the tone around the league, and earned a reputation. Teams know what’s coming. They know about the pressure, the physicality, the disruption Phoenix brings possession after possession. Whether opponents can actually execute through that chaos is a different conversation, and one we are going to track in real time as this thing winds down. But the margin is thinner now. The urgency is louder. And this final stretch is going to tell us exactly who the Suns are, even though everyone knows the test is coming.

When you dig into the numbers and look at what remains, a few things jump out that feel worth paying attention to. Of the 27 games left, 14 are against teams currently above the .500 mark. To this point in the season, the Suns are 13–17 against teams over .500. That tells you that they have been good, not great, in those environments. Competitive but not dominant.

Where they have made their money is against lesser competition. Phoenix is 19–6 against teams under .500, and there are still 13 games left on the schedule against that tier of opponent. It reinforces what we already know. This team takes care of business when it should, and that has been a defining characteristic of the season.

So if you take those pre-All-Star break trends, apply the same winning percentages to what lies ahead, and do a little honest math (.433 winning percentage against over .500 teams, .760 winning percentage against sub-.500 teams, divided into the respective remaining totals against teams currently classified as such), the projection lands in a very reasonable place. A 17-12 finish over the final 27 games. That puts the Suns at 49–33. The question is now can that do that?

The feel-good story of the Suns is about to be tested over the remainder of the season, and a big part of that is because the expectations have quietly shifted, at least in the eyes of the fan base. This was a team that most people penciled in for around 31 wins, maybe fewer if things broke the wrong way. They hit 32 before the All-Star break.

When you start there, the natural question becomes how much the organization adjusts its priorities, its internal expectations, and its timelines. If the trade deadline told us anything about how Mat Ishbia and Brian Gregory view this season, it is that they are committed to staying the course. The focus remains on long-term viability and organizational health rather than chasing short-term fixes in a season where a championship run still feels out of reach. There was no panic. No swing for the fences. No attempt to paper over cracks with temporary solutions.

Now the roster is set. This is the team. And the interesting thing is that Phoenix is not alone in that reality. Every team they are chasing, or being chased by, has issues of its own. Oklahoma City does not look like the same juggernaut it was a year ago, and it is dealing with health concerns. Houston is staring down a Kevin Durant-sized cloud, something Suns fans know all too well. Minnesota has struggled to consistently beat quality opponents. The Lakers lack depth. The Warriors are showing the very real effects of age and injuries.

There are no clean paths in this part of the standings. No perfect teams waiting at the top. The Suns are flawed, but so is everyone else, and that is what makes the final stretch of this season so fascinating.

So the question becomes: as we march toward March, how many of the Suns’ deficiencies will actually show themselves and be exploited by opposing teams over the remainder of the schedule? How many wins? How many losses? Where does this ultimately land them in the standings? There are 27 games left, and every one of them feels like a data point in a larger experiment. How much of what we have seen so far is sustainable? How much of it was momentum, surprise, and timing lining up just right?

And maybe the most important question of all: how do you feel about the very real possibility that this team stumbles down the stretch? Because that possibility exists. The reasons are clear. The margin is thin. The league adjusts. The legs get heavy. The film piles up.

But if this team has taught us anything this season, it is to expect the unexpected. To acknowledge all the reasons it should not work, then sit back and enjoy it when it does. This is not a team built through traditional roster construction, clean archetypes, or tidy measurables. They are winning through things you cannot easily chart. Heart. Connectivity. Trust. Talent that keeps outperforming expectations.

So here we go. The final 27. No safety net. No mystery left. It starts tonight against the San Antonio Spurs.

Posted on

Mountain West in the NBA: How MW alums are performing midway through 2026-27

The Mountain West men’s basketball season is in full swing, but it’s never a bad time to discuss past Mountain West stars and their journeys after being in the conference. It’s time for our annual “Mountain West in the NBA” update, so let’s not waste any more time and dive into it!

Colorado State:

Isaiah Stevens, G/F, Sacramento Kings

After parlaying a strong summer into a two-way contract with the Miami Heat last season, Stevens found a new home in Sacramento. Though he’s spent most of the season in Stockton with the Kings’ G-League affiliate, averaging 14.1 points and 8.3 assists in 27 combined games. Stevens has played six career NBA games up to this point, totaling 10 points with five rebounds, 10 assists and six steals in 49 minutes.

Fresno State:

Orlando Robinson, C, UFA

Robinson was recently released by the Orlando Magic, who he held a two-way contract with. Robinson has been apart of four organizations (Heat, Kings, Raptors, Magic) the last three seasons, averaging 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds across 13.1 minutes per game over that span (84 games; 16 starts).

Nevada:

Cody Martin, F, Indiana Pacers

Martin’s career has largely been affected by injury, playing roughly 37 percent of available games over the last four seasons. He signed a 10-day hardship contract with the beleagured Indiana Pacers in November, and has since played 10 games with the Noblesville Boom (Pacers G-League affiliate), averaging 13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals on 54.9 percent true shooting.

Caleb Martin, F, Dallas Mavericks

Martin was dealt to Dallas in February of 2025 as part of the Quentin Grimes 1-for-1 swap with Philadelphia. Martin, 30, has appeared in 46 games (10 starts) with the Mavericks this season, averaging 3.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 44.5 percent shooting, including 36.8 percent from 3-point range and 62.9 percent from the charity stripe.

Kobe Sanders, G, Los Angeles Clippers

Drafted No. 50 overall in last summer’s draft, Sanders’ emergence with Los Angeles has been one of their brighest spots this season. The Clippers recently converted Sanders into a standard contract, where he’s averaging 6.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 43.6/37.0/80.0 shooting splits.

San Diego State:

Kawhi Leonard, F, Los Angeles Clippers

Leonard has been one of the NBA’s best players for the last 2-3 months. The Aztec alum is leading the NBA in steals (2.1), tallying 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game on 49.1 percent shooting and 61.9 percent true shooting. Notably, Leonard took All-Star weekend by storm, scoring 37 points in three 12-minute games on 13-of-24 shooting and 7-of-12 from distance. The 14-year vet has, once again, reinforced the belief that he’s arguably the league’s best two-way player — when he’s on the court, which has occassionally been a struggle.

UNLV:

Derrick Jones Jr., F, Los Angeles Clippers

Our third Clipper! Jones has been one of their best point-of-attack defenders and 3-point shooters the last two seasons. In 99 games with the Clips, Jones is averaging 10.1 points and 3.2 rebounds on 36.7 percent shooting from 3-point range, where he’s taken nearly 40 percent of his attempts.

Utah State:

Sam Merrill, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

Merrill has carved a niche as an elite 3-point shooter. Over the last three seasons, the Aggie alum is shooting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc on 5.8 3-point attempts per game (86.5 3PAr!), including a remarkable 47.2 percent on 7.5 triple tries in 31 games (22 starts) this year. He’s been in-and-out of the team’s lineup due to injury, but he’s been the best shooter on a middle-of-the-pack 3-point shooting team through 55 games.

Neemias Queta, C, Boston Celtics

Amid the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet, Queta, a five-year veteran, has been thrust into a much larger role with the Celtics this year. And he’s played up to expectation, tallying 9.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 65.5 percent true shooting in 51 games (50 starts) this year. Most importantly, he’s shown he can be a starting-level center in the right context, even though he still has plenty of room to grow as a defender.

Wyoming:

Larry Nance Jr., F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Nance, now in his age-33 season, has sparingly played with Cleveland in his second stint there. He’s essentially been an end-of-bench rotation player this time around, averaging 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game across 25 appearances. We are toward the end of the hill with Nance, who has largely battled injuries over his 11-year journey.

Posted on

What Royals player are you rooting for the most in camp?

GOODYEAR, AZ - MARCH 21: The Kansas City Royals line up during the national anthem before a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on March 21, 2014 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Sarah Glenn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Royals have had a full squad working out all week and tomorrow they’ll begin their first exhibition matchups. Spring training performances can be difficult to judge. Many players are working on new pitches, new swings, and with new teammates. The thin, dry air of Arizona is not like the environment players will play in when the season begins in March in the cold spring air of the Midwest.

And yet, players can still impress coaches, teammates, and fans with their spring performance. Maybe they can dazzle everyone enough to make the team, or at least make an impression to be called up at some point to get their opportunity.

Who are you rooting for in Royals spring training to do well? Here’s a reminder of who’s in camp.

*-denotes non-roster invitee

Catchers (9): Jorge Alfaro*, Canyon Brown*, Omar Hernandez*, Carter Jensen, Elih Marrero*, Blake Mitchell*, Salvador Pérez, Ramon Ramirez*, Luca Tresh*

Infielders (13): Brandon Drury*, Maikel Garcia, Jonathan India, Connor Kaiser*, Michael Massey, Kevin Newman*, Vinnie Pasquantino, Josh Rojas*, Tyler Tolbert, Abraham Toro*, Daniel Vazquez*, Peyton Wilson*, Bobby Witt Jr.

Outfielders (11): Dairon Blanco, Jac Caglianone, Gavin Cross*, Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel, Nick Loftin, Kameron Misner, John Rave, Carson Roccaforte*, Lane Thomas, Drew Waters

Pitchers (34): Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert, Mason Black, Kris Bubic, Noah Cameron, Eric Cerantola, Dennis Colleran*, Steven Cruz, Jose Cuas*, Lucas Erceg, Carlos Estévez, Bailey Falter, Stephen Kolek, Ben Kudrna, Alex Lange, Seth Lugo, Daniel Lynch IV, Chazz Martinez*, James McArthur, John Means*, Nick Mears, Eli Morgan*, Frank Mozzicato*, Héctor Neris*, Helcris Olivárez*, Shane Panzini*, Hunter Patteson*, Cole Ragans, Aaron Sanchez*, John Schreiber, Mitch Spence, Matt Strahm, Michael Wacha, Steven Zobac

Injured List (1): Alec Marsh

Posted on

What one move would you make right now?

We stand on the eve of spring training. Tomorrow sees the 2026 incarnation of the Arizona Diamondbacks take the field for the first time – albeit in an empty and meaningless contest against their complexmates from Colorado. With the team now apparently close to maxed out on payroll – and, as we’ll see later today, closer to the luxury tax bracket than ever before – it feels largely like the roster we currently have is going to be the one we will have in Dodger Stadium five weeks from today. But if there was something else you got to do, what would it be?

You’re the GM: What’s one trade, signing or extension you’d make right now?

There are certainly ways in which the team could potentially be improved. Indeed, almost every area, be it infield, outfield, rotation or bullpen has a question-mark over some aspect. But if you had to pick a single (and plausible – no trading Carlos Santana for Aaron Judge!) move to improve the team for Opening Day, what would you do? Bear in mind there’s basically no salary room available, so any trade is probably going to be like-for-like. But perhaps you would rather look long term, and sign someone already on the roster to an extension? If so, who would that be and why?

Posted on

50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings: Max Fried

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 18: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees is introduced at a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 18, 2024, in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We’ve reached the end of our 50 Most Notable Yankees’ Free Agent Signings, and today we’ll wrap up with the most recent within the paramters. Okay, maybe you could argue that the re-signing of Cody Bellinger earlier this winter is technically the most recent biggest one. That one was a touch too recent to show up on our list, and also bringing a non-All-Star back like that is a little different than the big splash the Yankees made when they signed Max Fried last winter.

It’s also one that has worked out swimmingly so far.

Max Fried
Signing Date: December 17, 2024
Contract: Eight years, $218 million

At the start of the 2024-25 offseason, the Yankees’ main focus was on brining back Juan Soto. In addition to hitting the home run that sent the Yankees to the 2024 World Series, Soto had an unbelievable season and his combination with Aaron Judge had the potential to be an all-time great one if he stayed in the Bronx.

Unfortunately, we know how that story went. The Mets seemingly weren’t going to be denied in their pursuit of Soto, and they beat the Yankees to the punch. That being said, even without Soto, the Yankees had a roster that had just won the AL pennant. They were still in a, hopefully, “contending” window and needed somewhere to pivot. They decided to do so with one of the best pitchers on the market.

The Los Angeles-area born Max Fried had been a first-round draft pick of the Padres — seventh overall — in 2012 after starring at Harvard-Westlake School alongside fellow future standouts Jack Flaherty and Lucas Giolito. However, San Diego would not be where Fried would make his name. Having worked his way into the top 100 prospect lists, Fried was part of a multi-player deal in 2014 that sent him to the Braves, with Justin Upton the headliner going to the Padres. It was a savvy move that would have major ramifications for Atlanta in just a few years.

The trade went down as Fried was still recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he missed the entire 2015 season. After returning for 2016, Fried got the call-up to the majors in August 2017, debuting out of the bullpen. Fried ended up appearing in nine games — four starts — in 2017, posting a 3.81 ERA in 26 innings. While he returned to the minors for much of the following season, he was again pretty solid when getting his cup of coffee in the bigs in 2018.

Fried got a chance to start 2019 in the majors, albeit in the bullpen. However, he quickly ended up in the rotation and made 30 starts in his first full major-league season that year. The 2020 season was, of course, COVID-shortened, but it was Fried’s breakout campaign, as he posted a 2.25 ERA over his 11 starts, finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting.

The next two years saw Fried fully get on the map. In 2021, he was, by several measures, the Braves’ best starter as they won the 2021 World Series crown. He was the winning pitcher in the series-clinching Game 6 victory, shutting the Astros out for six innings.

View Link

In 2022, Fried posted arguably his best year, putting up a career best total in both WARs, recording a 2.48 ERA and a second place Cy Young finish. His 2023 was limited to just 77.2 innings due to injury, but both that year and 2024, he was still very good. That led him to being one of the marquee free agents on the 2024-25 market, and on the short list for the best pitcher available.

The Yankees have a history of employing very good left-handed pitchers, which may have prompted them to pivot to Fried as their big acquisition post-Soto. While they had already met with him while still pursuing Soto, they moved quickly after losing the outfielder, inking Fried to an eight-year deal less than a week after Soto went to Queens. The $218 million deal was the largest ever signed by a left-handed pitcher.

One year into that contract, and it’s hard to have any big complaints. Fried’s debut season in the Bronx saw him post a 2.86 ERA along with a league-leading 19 wins. He got off to a ridiculous start, winning AL Pitcher of the Month for April, and ended up winning that same honor during the season’s home stretch in September. Fried earned All-MLB First Team honors, finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting, and nabbed his fourth career Gold Glove.

View Link

Beyond that, with the absence of Gerrit Cole, Fried had to step up as the de facto Yankees’ ace. He was the man who took the mound in Game 1 of the Yankees’ Wild Card Series clash against Boston and threw 6.1 shutout innings. His start against the Blue Jays in the ALDS didn’t go well, but on the whole, Fried came up big in his first year in pinstripes — especially given the increased pressure caused by Cole’s absence.

Fried will be under contract through his age-38 season in 2032. Fingers crossed that he has more greatness ahead this coming season!

Edtior’s note: As Matt wrote at the top, since this series and its selection process began before Cody Bellinger was re-signed a month ago, the Max Fried signing from December 2024 will mark the end of our “50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years” series. Thank you for following along in this walk down Yankees history! If you missed any of the contracts we discussed, check out the full rundown here.

Posted on

Tigers release images of new alternate jerseys

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 07: A detail shot of the Detroit Tigers city connect jersey is seen prior to the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Detroit Tigers were teasing new alternate jerseys all week on their social media accounts. On Thursday they finally introduced a new navy blue road jersey with orange script, and the bright orange road jerseys with the Olde English D for Friday night home games.

The Tigers spent 18 months researching the idea and conducting fan surveys and focus group testing on many different concepts to come up with the final designs. 28 other clubs have been wearing alternate home/road jerseys for specific games, on top of the City Connect unis that will still be used as well. These all on top of the classic home whites, and road grey, for five different options.

Many of us have clamored for an alternate that resembled the Tigers classic road greys from the ‘68 season, and we’ll have to wait on that. Personally, I’m a fan of the simple navy blue and white spring training uniforms as well. But they wanted something with more color and pop, and they got it.

Staff opinion is mixed, but then we don’t have many jersey hounds. Everyone likes that the orange home alternate jerseys still have the Olde English D front and center, at least. As noted the electric blue City Connects will still be in the rotation as well for select Monday home games. We didn’t have images of the alternates in our Getty or USA Today photo tools just yet, but they have been released on the Tigers site and to all the social media accounts.

What’s your opinion on the new alternates?

View Link