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Could Panarin Be The Offensive Jolt The Kings Require?

The Los Angeles Kings are fading away from the playoffs, and that is largely because of the team's lack of offense and ability to score goals.

Los Angeles is the second-worst team in the NHL when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the net in two key categories. They've scored 121 goals and a goals-per-game average of 2.57.

Overall, the Kings' top players haven't been producing as expected. Right winger Adrian Kempe has 15 goals and 36 points in 47 games, and center Quinton Byfield has nine goals and 28 points in 46 contests.

Whether it's the defensive-heavy system that head coach Jim Hiller imposes on the team, or their stars have lacked consistency, it's not good enough for the Kings to latch onto a spot in the post-season.

It's been reported before that Los Angeles and GM Ken Holland are searching for a scoring winger, and one of the best in the league may have just become available.

On Friday, the New York Rangers sent a letter to its fans regarding the club's status for the rest of the season, saying they are looking to retool. That means they'll be open to moving off some veterans.

Artemi Panarin (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)
Artemi Panarin (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

Furthermore, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman provided a report that with this transition in the Rangers' organization, they won't be offering a contract extension to star left winger and pending UFA Artemi Panarin.

Panarin does have a full no-move clause on his current deal. However, with the transparency from his team that they won't be contending for the playoffs, nor offering him an extension, maybe he'd like to explore a change of scenery.

Are The Los Angeles Kings a Good Fit For Jesperi Kotkaniemi?Are The Los Angeles Kings a Good Fit For Jesperi Kotkaniemi?The Carolina Hurricanes appear to be shopping Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Should the Los Angeles Kings be interested in acquiring the Finnish center, and would they be a good fit for him?

Despite the Rangers hanging around the basement of the Eastern Conference, the Russian veteran has been having a solid year.

In 48 games, Panarin has scored 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points. He leads the team in scoring, and would lead the Kings in scoring by nearly 20 points if he were to join them right now

He comes at an $11.6-million cap hit for this seventh and final campaign of his contract. The Kings currently have $11.3 million in salary cap space, but that includes the salaries of Anze Kopitar, Trevor Moore and Corey Perry, who are omitted as they're on injured reserve or labelled as non-roster in Perry's situation.

Perry Steps Away From Kings For Family Matter, Out IndefinitelyPerry Steps Away From Kings For Family Matter, Out IndefinitelyThe Los Angeles Kings will be without right winger Corey Perry in the immediate future as he goes back home to tend to a family matter for the second time this month. Meanwhile, defenseman Jacob Moverare will fill in against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.

That means the Kings will likely need the Rangers to either retain some of Panarin's salary or trade away some salary in a deal with New York or a separate deal.

Nonetheless, if Holland and the rest of the Kings' front office want to make a deal work with the Rangers, it certainly can be done.

If Los Angeles is interested in Panarin enough, they have plenty of assets to share. Top prospects such as Liam Greentree, Carter George, Jared Woolley, Jimmy Lombardi,

Henry Brzustewicz, and more. Not to mention the Kings have three first-round picks and four second-rounders over the next three seasons.

Recap: Multiple Kings Prospects Traded At CHL Trade DeadlineRecap: Multiple Kings Prospects Traded At CHL Trade DeadlineThe trade deadline has just passed in the CHL, and a few Los Angeles Kings prospects have been on the move as a result. Here is where three players have ended up.

Although, the Kings brass must be careful with what they give up as Panarin is 34 years old and there's no guarantee he stays in Los Angeles beyond the rest of the campaign.

Furthermore, Panarin may not be traded as he holds all the cards with his no-move clause. He could remain a member of the Blueshirts for the rest of the season if he'd like.

But if Holland wants to make a deal, surely Rangers GM Chris Drury will listen.

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Braves News: Financial parity, starting pitcher options, more

In the fallout of the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker to a huge free agency deal, there has been much discussion around the spending disparity in this sport. This is a complicated issue that is sure to take center stage when CBA negotiations take place next offseason in what seems assured to be another work stoppage. There is undisputedly a huge gap between the largest and smallest payrolls in MLB, with the Dodgers currently holding contract commitments worth more than the bottom five payrolls combined for 2026. Money is merely one of the factors that set teams apart, however, as organizational competence makes a huge difference. The Rays, Guardians, and Brewers stand as examples of consistently successful franchises in recent history that are perennially low spenders.

Baseball is a notoriously high variance sport in small samples, so it is difficult for a truly enduring competitive imbalance to exist for seasons on end beyond normal differences in team quality. The Dodgers are a unique beast, combining a unique capacity to sustainably spend more than any other team with elite organizational competence, with the added bonus of a desirable location for players to live that seems particularly appealing to players coming from East Asia due to relative proximity. An often-proposed solution is a salary cap and floor system, mirroring the other major sports in North America, but there are a host of reasons to doubt that such a system could be agreed upon between the owners and players such that it would create meaningful financial parity to solve the issue of both the extreme highs and lows of payrolls in MLB. It will be fascinating to see what path the sport moves forward with, as it seems like this issue may be coming to a head, particularly if the Dodgers are able to win yet another World Series this upcoming season.

MLB News

The Blue Jays reportedly offered $35o Million over 10 years for Kyle Tucker, representing a more traditional megadeal than the deal he agreed to with LA.

The Reds are getting interest in their talented rotation on the trade market.

There was a point this offseason when it felt inevitable that Ketel Marte would be traded, but it appears that ship has sailed.

Former All-Star reliever Ryan Pressly retired.

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Knicks battling through 'a lot of frustration' amid recent losing stretch

Following their Dec. 29 win against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Knicks improved to 23-9 and looked like one of the few, true contenders in the wide open Eastern Conference.

But since then, New York has lost eight out of their last 10 games and are now 25-17. They are just a half game up on the Toronto Raptors (25-18) for the No. 3 seed in the East and only two games up on the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers (22-18), who would land in the NBA Play-In Tournament if the regular season ended today.

It's been a very frustrating stretch for the Knicks, something star Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about after the team's 106-99 loss to Phoenix Suns on Saturday night. 

"A lot, a lot of frustration," Towns said. "That's all I got."

The big man went on to discuss his level of concern for the team after their third straight loss as they look to right the ship.

"I don't like losing any games, so of course for me, the concern is winning the next one," Towns said. "Just staying focused on the task at hand, winning games, and giving our fans something to cheer for."

Head coach Mike Brown also talked about the level of concern amid New York's recent skid, but downplayed the urgency, saying the team needs to "keep trying to fight."

"You don't want to lose games at all, but especially going 2-8 in the last 10. There's concern there, but not to the point to where we're going to overhaul everything," Brown said. 

"We got to work. We got to look in the mirror and see how we can individually help the group, starting with me. And then we got to get in the gym, we got to work as much as we can. We got to keep trying to fight like we did tonight, and if we do, we're going to give ourselves a chance."

It's clear there is plenty of room for the Knicks to improve, whether that be on defense (bottom five in defensive rating since Dec. 1 and 19th overall in the NBA this season at 116.1) or finding consistency in their three-point shooting (35.1 percent over last 10 games, 15th in the NBA, per StatMuse).

"I think everything," OG Anunoby said when asked what the team can improve on. "You can always get better at everything. Even if we were winning games, we would still be trying to improve everything."

Luckily, with the Knicks needing to get back on track fast, their schedule gets a bit easier over the next week. They'll face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday and the Nets on Wednesday before a matchup with the feisty Sixers next Saturday.

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Goaltending Woes Are Breaking The Ottawa Senators

Saturday’s crushing 6-5 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens finally revealed what felt inevitable with each passing game: The league's worst goaltending is finally starting to break the Ottawa Senators. 

Jake Sanderson led a 2nd period offensive outburst, assisting on 3 of the Senators’ 4 goals, and added his own goal to make it a 5-3 game midway through the 3rd period, tying a career high for points in a game with 4.

It was probably the best game of his career. He completely put the team on his back at both ends of the ice.

Jake Sanderson wasn't happy after Saturday night's overtime loss to Montreal (Senators on YouTube)

But instead of sheepishly answering questions from the media about his remarkable performance, the Senators’ star defenseman had to talk about how yet another game that his team deserved to win didn’t go their way.

Goaltender Leevi Meriläinen, making his 10th consecutive start and 11th consecutive appearance for the Senators in just three weeks, was dreadful.

It was his worst performance in the 11-straight games, in which he’s rocking a .847 save percentage. He cost the Senators another game as the team tries to claw back into the playoff race.

And Sanderson is making headlines for finally showing a glimpse into the mindset of the dressing room through this stretch.

Postgame, he said “Leevi made some good saves, but you know, I think at the end of the day, you gotta make more than 10 saves to win a game.”

It’s the type of quote that makes you want to see the video to see if the player misspoke.

He certainly didn’t. Sanderson was fuming. The silence after that bomb of a quote couldn’t be more telling.

It’s notable because players are usually quick to defend their goaltenders. 

Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle had Meriläinen’s back after the loss. Tkachuk said the team needs to do more to help him. Stützle voiced his displeasure that the goaltending would even be brought into question.

But watch their reactions on the Canadiens’ tying goal.

Those are not players who feel like they need to be better for their goalie. They deserve credit for sticking by their guy, but it’s obviously for show. 

It doesn’t mean Sanderson should catch heat for being transparent either.

He doesn’t strike me as the kind of star player who is out of touch with his locker room. He was being as blunt as he could without directly saying it.

Saturday’s loss was just a punctuation mark on an issue that has been simmering all season, and has come to a boil in the new year. The goaltending has been breaking this team’s spirit for weeks. 

And it falls on the front office.

Their negligence to address the most glaring issue on their otherwise impressive roster is making this a lost season in Ottawa. 

Despite his putrid numbers, Meriläinen has been overplayed by the Senators. 11 appearances in 21 days is unheard of in today’s NHL, let alone for a developing goaltender who is struggling mightily.

Linus Ullmark’s status is the elephant in the room for this discussion, even though he wasn’t exactly having a Vezina-calibre season before taking personal leave from the team. And his reported attendance at games as early as a week into his leave, coupled with what we’ve watched in the crease in his absence, is strange. 

James Reimer has been dressing as the back-up for 2 games now. If he isn’t ready now, when will he be? 

Meriläinen feels like a pitcher who just keeps giving up home runs, so there are relievers warming up in the bullpen, but he gets left in the game because the analytics say to do so.

It’s dinger, after dinger, after dinger. The other team just keeps rounding the bases while Meriläinen withers away on the mound.

Last week, I wrote about how the pressure is rising on President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Steve Staios.

Pressure Begins To Rise On Ottawa Senators GM Steve StaiosPressure Begins To Rise On Ottawa Senators GM Steve StaiosAs the Senators continue to sink to the bottom of the standings, the pressure rises on GM Steve Staios.

So why does one OT loss after back-to-back wins make the situation feel more dire?

Because it happened against Montreal, at home, in a game celebrating 30 years of the Canadian Tire Centre, while the building was flooded with Canadiens fans.

Tkachuk, Stützle, Dylan Cozens and Sanderson each had emphatic celebrations for their goals. The Senators get fired up for these games. They hate that their building gets taken over.

Sanderson was also candid when he was asked about the crowd.

This quote is the one that should be making the headlines. 

The way this game unfolded, with such a strong presence of the opposing team’s fans in the crowd, is a boiling point for this team’s star players. 

You can’t embrace that atmosphere if you can’t buy a save.

Enough is enough. Someone needs to relieve Meriläinen. 

Jack Richardson
The Hockey News Ottawa

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Which teams could the Lakers make a trade with for first round picks?

The Lakers find themselves in a precarious situation.

This year’s roster needs upgrades. However, Indiana doesn’t have much in the way of sweeteners to make those improvements. Misses on Jalen Hood-Schifino and Dalton Knecht mean the young prospects aren’t there to put into trade packages and undoing the Russell Westbrook trade and making the deal for Luka Dončić depleted the team of their first round picks.

Simply put, the Lakers don’t have the means, as things stand, to make notable upgrades to this team.

That makes the recent report from Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports all the more intriguing. The Lakers appear to be looking to replicate a move made by Phoenix last year in which they would trade away a future unprotected first round pick for multiple first round picks of lesser value.

The Suns traded an unprotected 2031 pick to Utah in exchange for first rounders in 2025, 2027 and 2029. Those picks were the least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah’s in each year, to give a sense of the types of picks the Lakers could see come back in a similar trade.

In theory, it makes a lot of sense for the position the Lakers are in. What the team needs now is some flexibility and the ability to make moves now that Luka is on the team. Optionality is one of President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka’s favorite words and the Lakers don’t have a ton of it when it comes to trades.

The problem is finding a team willing to do this type of deal. The list of teams with a plethora of picks and a willingness to play ball is short. Incredible short. In fact, after doing a bit of research, it feels like there are only about a handful of teams on paper who could be willing to make that type of deal.

Oklahoma City Thunder

This is the most obvious choice and if Pelinka is serious about this, he should be calling the Thunder daily. There’s an absolute trove of picks OKC could be willing to trade as, over the next two years, they have eight first round draft picks.

The problem is that most of the picks they own from other teams are actually valuable. In 2026, they have the Clippers’ and Sixers’ picks. In 2027, they have a pick swap with the Clippers and potentially the Spurs’ pick.

They do, however, have Denver’s first rounders in 2027 and 2029 and with Nikola Jokic going nowhere, those are prime picks to target.

Would a deal sending out the Lakers’ 2032 first round pick for 2027 and 2029 Nuggets first rounders and an OKC first round in that span work?

Brooklyn Nets

After OKC, the options are much less obvious and much slimmer. Brooklyn has a host of firsts, but they’re also a team that is not competitive right now.

That being said, it’s hard to figure out what the Nets’ plan is right now either. Sure, it’s to tank and acquire picks, but their selections with those picks in the last draft were some head scratchers.

Would they be open to consolidating some firsts after making so many picks in the 2025 draft? They own three future Knicks picks in 2027, 2029 and 2031, all picks likely to be at the end of the draft. They also own a 2032 Denver pick as well as the worst pick from Dallas, Houston and Phoenix in 2029.

On top of that, if they do trade Michael Porter Jr. this season or in the summer, that will certainly net them at least another first.

While they don’t have their 2027 pick, the bevy of picks they have at the end of upcoming first rounds could make them willing to do this sort of deal.

San Antonio Spurs

The final two teams really likely only make sense if the Lakers are looking to get back two firsts and perhaps some seconds, of which they only have one as things stand.

The Spurs have a bunch of picks, but a lot of them are going to be valuable, like Atlanta’s in 2026 and 2027, the Clippers’ in 2029 and Sacramento’s in 2031.

But there are two picks that are interesting in Boston’s 2028 first and the better of Dallas and Minnesota’s first in 2030. The fact that it’s the more favorable of those two teams makes it a little more unclear if they would include that pick, but they also could be a team confident enough in what they’re building, so long as Victory Wembanyama is around, that they’d include their own pick.

Utah Jazz

Negotiating with Danny Ainge sounds like a punishment that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemies, but despite being the team that did this type of deal recently, Utah still has enough picks to potentially do another version of it.

It would, again, be a lesser version, but Utah does own Cleveland’s first in 2028 and the better of Cleveland and Minnesota’s picks in 2029. Those picks are probably a bit too good to be included in this deal, but it also shows how few teams may be willing or able to do this kind of deal and the challenges Pelinka will face in completing it.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Gary O'Neil leads Strasbourg to 2-1 win over Metz in Ligue 1 debut

PARIS (AP) — Strasbourg new coach Gary O’Neil enjoyed a succesful Ligue 1 debut, guiding his team to a 2-1 win over local rival Metz in the French league on Sunday.

O'Neil, who started his tenure with a comfortable win at a fourth-tier club to reach the last 16 of the French Cup last weekend, was appointed earlier this month as a successor to Liam Rosenior, who left for Chelsea.

Strasbourg had failed to win its past five league matches and the win lifted O'Neil's side to seventh in the standings. Metz remained last, with just 12 points from 18 matches.

Diego Moreira put the hosts in front in the 12th minute but Strasbourg did not hold onto its lead for long as Gauthier Hein leveled from the spot. Forward Martial Godo headed home the winner just before the interval.

Rosenior’s departure has left fans opposed to the multi-club ownership model fuming, amid calls for the resignation of president Marc Keller. Strasbourg has been owned by Chelsea owner BlueCo since 2023. Some Strasbourg fans again protested the ownership setup on Sunday by deploying hostile banners in the stadium.

On Saturday, Lens secured a 10th consecutive win across all competitions to stay atop the Ligue 1 standings. Lens defeated Auxerre 1-0 and remained one point ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG warmed up for next week’s Champions League match at Sporting with a convincing 3-0 win over Lille on Friday. Third-place Marseille won at mid-table Angers 5-2 ahead of a Champions League showdown with Liverpool next week.

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

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Randy Vasquez needs to continue progression in 2026

Randy Vasquez has seen a steady increase of work since he started his career with the New York Yankees in 2023. He appeared in 11 games as a rookie and made five starts for the Yankees and finished the season with a record of 2-2. Vasquez closed the season with a 2.87 ERA and allowed 18 walks to 33 strikeouts. The future appeared bright for the right-hander.

The numbers produced by Vasquez caught the eye of San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller and he was acquired via the Juan Soto trade along with pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito and Drew Thorpe and catcher Kyle Higashioka.

Vasquez was given an opportunity to start for the Padres in 2024 and had mixed results. He appeared and started in 20 games and finished with a 4-7 record. His innings pitched increased from 37.2 to 98.0 which also led to an increased ERA of 4.87. Vasquez gave up 56 runs with 53 of those being earned and recorded 62 strikeouts and allowed 29 walks.

The thought was that Vasquez would take another step forward in 2025, and he did in terms of overall numbers, but the win/loss record remained relatively the same as he finished 6-7. Vasquez appeared in 28 games and made 26 starts. He threw 133.2 innings and worked to a respectable 3.84 ERA. However, his runs and earned runs shot up and finished at 127 and 122 respectively. Unfortunately for the right-hander, and the Padres, he finished with 78 strikeouts and 52 walks.

Vasquez currently stands as the No. 4 starter in the Padres’ rotation. If he remains in that position as San Diego enters the season, he will be asked to take on a greater role and will have to find greater success. Wins and losses are not solely on the pitcher so it’s tough to judge how well Vasquez is performing on record alone, but walks are solely on the pitcher and Vasquez has complete control over throwing strikes. His fastball velocity increased at the end of last season and there is hope that his increased velocity will increase his confidence and he will challenge more hitters.

With growing numbers in games started and innings pitched, Vasquez has been able to steadily acclimate himself to pitching through a major league season over the past three years. Reports are that Vasquez has been working throughout the offseason and is in better shape at this point in the offseason than he was at this time a year ago. Maybe that is maturity and Vasquez becoming more of a professional or maybe he understands he will be leaned on heavily in 2026 and he is trying to show Preller, manager Craig Stammen and the Padres he is up to the challenge.

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Michael Pineda

For today’s birthday boy, we have ourselves an interesting, injury-riddled, and often controversial character to dive into. Michael Pineda, once acquired by the Yankees in a fairly high-profile deal, looked to be a major part of the New York rotation through the early-mid 2010s.

It didn’t quite work out that way, as injuries and trouble both on and off the field got in the way more often than not for the big right-hander. He still had his moments in pinstripes and elsewhere, but his career certainly didn’t pan out the way he or his clubs likely hoped it would.

Michael Francisco Pineda
Born: January 18, 1989 (Yaguate, Dominican Republic)
Yankees Tenure: 2012-17

Born in the Dominican Republic and signing for $35,000 with the Seattle Mariners at just 16 years old, Pineda was an intimidating presence on the mound from the get-go. At 6-foot-7 and 280 pounds, the hurler signed his first contract late in 2005 and was loaded full of potential coming up through the ranks.

The man known as “Big Mike” made his MLB debut with Seattle in April 2011. He had just placed 16th on Baseball America’s preseason Top 100 Prospects list, with the outlet noting:

Pineda has the size, stuff and control to pitch at the top of a rotation. He throws a crisp fastball that sits at 93-97 mph and gets as high as 101 with explosive life and occasional heavy sink. He tightened and added more tilt to his quality slider this year, though he can still get under it occasionally, causing it to flatten out. He also did a better job of selling his upper-80s changeup with the same arm speed as his fastball, keeping it down and getting hitters to chase it. Pineda throws all three pitches from the same three-quarter arm slot. With his velocity, high-effort delivery and unusual arm action, it’s surprising how well he throws strikes.

Pineda pitched six frames of solid ball in his first outing, kicking off what was a very solid rookie campaign. That year, he tossed 171 innings across 28 starts with a more than respectable 3.74 ERA and 3.42 FIP. His first half was even better, as he completed at least six innings in 15 of his first 17 starts, managing a 2.58 ERA along the way. He was rewarded with an All-Star selection in his inaugural campaign, and received some down-ballot love with Rookie of the Year Award votes.

Expectations were high, and Pineda delivered a rookie season to warrant it.

While Pineda was doing his thing, the Yankees had a young catcher looking the part of a budding star as well. Jesús Montero was considered among MLB’s very best prospects, just behind the likes of Mike Trout and Bryce. Then in 18 games at the end of 2011, he notched a 163 OPS+, hit some big homers, and seemed to be a part of the team’s future. In the offseason following the 2011 campagin, the Yankees sent Montero and pitcher Hector Noesí to Seattle, with the primary return being Pineda. It was a potential-for-potential and youth-for-youth deal, a type of deal that isn’t all that common. It is safe to say that neither side played out the way the clubs likely anticipated in the end, but Pineda was officially a Yankee.

Unfortunately for the pitcher and his new club, the trouble started almost immediately. At the end of his first spring training with New York, Pineda complained of shoulder tightness, beginning what was a long road back to a big league mound. What began as a tendinitis diagnosis turned into a torn labrum and season-ending surgery for the Yankees’ new hurler.

Pineda wasn’t ready for the beginning of the 2013 season, but the Yankees were optimistic he’d be a part of their season. After an extensive rehab assignment in the minors, Pineda seemed close, before being pulled from a game with more shoulder tightness. Once again, it turned into another completely lost season for the big righty.

Finally, after spending two entire years on the shelf, Pineda appeared ready to go to begin the 2014 campaign. He won a spot in the rotation, and actually turned in some excellent work across 76.1 innings. He posted a 1.89 ERA (204 ERA+) in some of the best baseball of his career, but he couldn’t help but find himself in injury (and other) trouble. The drama began in a start against the Red Sox in April, his second against the storied rival. After suspicion in the first, Boston manager John Farrell alerted the umpiring crew of potential pine tar on Pineda. It was smeared on his neck — not the most subtle smudge in the world — and Pineda was promptly ejected from that game.

Over the next two seasons, Pineda was able to maintain his health to a much greater degree and remain in the rotation for longer stretches.

Between the 2015 and ‘16 seasons, the righty made 59 starts and worked over 330 total innings. He was far from a game-changing starter, but he was generally out there every fifth day as a roughly league-average arm — and at the very least, one who didn’t aggravate fans by walking the ballpark (his command might’ve been uneven at times, but his control never really wavered given his career 2.0 BB/9). And Pineda could still show flashes of his raw talent, like his May 2015 start against the Orioles, when he struck out 16 batters across seven innings of work. That tied a Yankees franchise record for the most in a single game by a righty pitcher, matching none other than ’90s ace David Cone:

Despite the high expectations Pineda established for himself headed into New York, there is still something to be said for someone who can pitch fine innings when it’s their turn. Pineda was able to do that for stretches at least, though the injuries and occasional trouble were clearly difficult for him to overcome throughout his career.

Pineda continued on roughly the same track in the 2017 season, providing solid value for the Yankees. But, in mid-July, it was discovered that the righty had a torn ligament in his elbow, and would require Tommy John surgery, as he’d once again be hitting the shelf for an extended period. This marked the end of his time in New York, but not for his MLB career.

After returning from elbow surgery in 2019, Pineda pitched some solid innings over the course of three seasons with the Twins (once interrupted by a PED suspension) though never pitching more than 146 frames in any of them. His final season came in 2022, when he tossed 46.2 underwhelming innings for the Tigers.

It was a rocky road at times for Pineda with the Yankees and elsewhere, in what was ultimately a disappointing career given how it started. That being said, he did have his moments of displaying tremendous talent, he just had plenty of trouble staying on the field one way or another.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, and Dodgers-induced ennui

Welp, this is attempt number three at writing this post. The first version was written on Thursday before the Dodgers had agreed to terms with Kyle Tucker. And the second version was written on Friday morning before Bo Bichette agree to terms with the Mets. Hopefully, I can get this version published before somebody signs Cody Bellinger or the Dodgers trade for Ketel Marte.

Phillies fans spent Friday afternoon in an absolute tizzy because Bo Bichette signed a free agent deal with the Mets.

When the offseason began, Bichette wasn’t really on the radar for most Phillies fans. Yes, he’s a good player, but seemed like an imperfect fit for the Phillies, and it felt much more likely that he would go elsewhere.

But then, the rumors started: The Phillies and Bichette were talking! The talks went well! The Phillies were the prohibitive favorites to sign him!

Bichette suddenly became a must have for Phillies fans. We were already penciling him into the lineup and figuring out where Alec Bohm could be shipped off to.

It seemed as if the Phillies had agreed to everything Bichette was asking for. And then…

If they had basically agreed on everything, why wasn’t the contract signed? It’s possible that the Phillies dragged their feet. Or it’s possible that Bichette’s camp always wanted to see how the Tucker situation played out.

It didn’t play out well for the Phillies. The Dodgers decided they needed another stone for their gauntlet, and Kyle Tucker decided he’d be fine being the sixth best player on a super team. The Mets seemed to think they were going to be the one to sign Tucker, and when they lost him, they pivoted to Bichette, giving him a contract that even Mets fans are a little unsure about.

Almost immediately after, the Phillies announce that they’re bringing back J.T. Realmuto, and let’s just say, the fan reaction has been a little different than when they re-signed him five years ago.

Most fans are unhappy that the team is basically “running it back” with mostly the same group that has fallen short the past four postseasons. The Phillies haven’t signed a big-name player in free agency since Trea Turner after 2022, so, I understand why people are unenthused about another season of the “same old” Phillies.

I do push back on this narrative that the past four years have been “failures.” Yes, they’ve seemingly had good opportunities to win the World Series, and they’ve disappointingly failed in that regard. But after watching the team miss the playoffs for a decade straight, I find it hard to turn my nose up at 95+ win division title-winning teams.

There are complaints that the team isn’t trying or were too cheap to match the Mets’ deal. (In reality, the offers were so different that it was almost like they were playing a different sport. Even though the Phillies offered more guaranteed money, the Mets are paying Bichette $42 in 2026, and he’ll have a chance to get a new deal next year when he might be the best free agent available.)

Looking beyond the disappointment at the Phillies not getting their shiny new toy, here’s the reality of the situation:

  • If the Phillies had signed Bichette, they would have been very likely to make the playoffs but still wouldn’t be the favorites because the Dodgers have an absolutely stacked roster.
  • Without Bichette, they are still likely to make the playoffs, but they won’t be the favorites because the Dodgers have an absolutely stacked roster.

It’s possible that the Phillies had a chance to match the Mets’ offer but simply refused because they did that calculus. Why spend a fortune in luxury tax money – as well as major penalties in amateur player acquisition – if you’re still going to be dependent on the Dodgers suffering some bad injury luck or having a bad week or so in October?

The Phillies could still make some moves to improve the team, and sadly it might not even matter. Because the way the baseball landscape currently exists, this is the Dodgers world, and the Phillies and 28 other teams are simply living in it.

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Wizards Get Rebuilding Loss to the Denver Nuggets

Last night’s loss to the Denver Nuggets felt more like “rebuilding” than “tanking.” The Wizards played a flawed game loaded with mistakes and miscues, and were competitive throughout, carrying a small lead into the fourth quarter and forcing fourth quarter heroics from Jamal Murray and Tim Hardaway Jr. to ultimately lose.

Facing a team devoid of centers (Nikola Jokic and former Wizards great Jonas Valanciunas were both out with injuries), Washington dominated inside — +10 on the boards, 27-4 advantage on second chance points, and outscoring Denver 66-50 in the paint.

Another strong game from Wizards forward Justin Champagnie — 13 points, 9 rebounds in the team’s loss to the Denver Nuggets.

They lost because of an array of defensive breakdowns, and some elite shotmaking from Murray.

A few notes I took during the game:

  • Denver won the opening tip and seconds later, Jalen Pickett walked into a wide open three. What happened? The Wizards didn’t match up properly. Two defenders were on Peyton Watson, and Tre Johnson (who was the closest defender) watched instead of sprinting into a closeout.
  • In the first half, Wizards defenders repeatedly sagged into the lane off Murray. While the team’s defensive priority is protecting the paint, there is no way — none — that leaving Murray undefended in the corner was part of the defensive game plan. They stopped helping off him in the second half.
  • Washington’s transition defense was poor for a few reasons. First, not sprinting back. Second, not matching up in ways that make sense. Third, ball watching and failing to notice opposing players positioning themselves for shots.
    • One Nuggets fast break got a transition corner three from Hardaway. Jamir Watkins got back but ball watched — failing to notice Hardaway running behind him to the corner. Watkins first noticed Hardaway when the ball swung to the man above the break, who Watkins picked up. When the pass went to the corner, Watkins sprinted to close out but was too late. Meanwhile, Marvin Bagley III and Justin Champagnie jogged back to the defensive end and never got involved in the play.
    • In the second quarter, Champagnie missed a three. While he watched the ball in flight, Bruce Brown (who’d closed out) ran to the offensive end. Bagley, Bub Carrington, and Tre Johnson all jogged back, but all three stopped out top and none of them noticed Brown behind them.
    • In the third quarter, Khris Middleton stopped playing to complain about a foul non-call. Meanwhile, his man got a wide open corner three in transition, which he (fortunately for Washington) missed.
  • The Wizards defensive scheme uses some of the “pre-helping” concepts pioneered by the Oklahoma City Thunder and being used by more teams around the league. Basically, the weakside “low man” comes halfway into the lane to be in position to help if there’s a drive. It’s generally a good method of complicating penetration and reducing the number and quality of opponent at-rim attempts. The drawback can be giving up open threes.
    • One play made me laugh: Middleton was low man. He pre-helped on a Murray drive against Alex Sarr, who’d picked him up on a switch. Middleton came all the way across the lane and was (theoretically) in position to cut Murray off. Unfortunately, Middleton’s lack of mobility meant that Murray still got all the way to the rim — he made a nice pass to Spencer Jones, who’d made a cut behind the help…which Carrington (who had weakside zone responsibility) missed because he was ball watching.

I know the preceding is a recitation of woes, but this game wasn’t bad. They were competitive in ways they should have been based on who was missing from the opponent’s lineup. They made mistakes early on and corrected them during the game. The scheme they’re trying to execute is good. What I noticed as problems are pretty normal for young players and are correctable with experience and acceptance of coaching.

Thoughts & Observations

  • Champagnie does a nice job of cutting to the rim when his man moves into a help position or turns his head.
  • Strong offensive game from George — an efficient 29 points to go with 5 rebounds and 7 assists. He was credited with three blocks, though I do not think he played well defensively — he’s guilty of ball watching, leaving his man to help when it’s not necessary, and not matching up properly.
  • Murray was the first guard in several weeks (at least) to figure out a counter to Sarr’s chase down blocks when driving the switch. Instead of a more normal extension into a layup, Murray jumped straight up as he laid the ball in. Sarr crashed into him and it became a three-point play.
  • Sarr did as well as any big man could be expected when switched onto Murray. He prevented penetration a couple timed, forced Murray into difficult shots at others, and even poked the ball loose once.
  • Bagley had another strong game off the bench. I’m curious to see Sarr and Bagley play together.
  • With Bilal Coulibaly out, the Wizards had no strong point of attack defender.
  • Abysmal game from Tre Johnson, who hit just 1-10 from the floor and missed all four of his three-point attempts. I didn’t love his shot selection, which was heavy on runners and floaters, which tend to be low value shots. The one he made was runner.
  • Aaron Gordon was two points from a triple-double. Filling in a center, he tallied 11 assists, including one pass that was Jokic-light — he caught the ball in the post and instantly spun and hit a shooter in the opposite corner — literally behind his head. There was no way he could see the man before he went into the pass. I call it “Jokic-light” because Jokic would have made the same pass but no-look.
  • Peyton Watson has been on a scoring binge with Jokic out. He has an impressive package of skills and the ability to make shots. His offensive efficiency would have gotten a solid boost if he’d shot better than 4-8 from the free throw line.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

  • eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
  • OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
  • TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
  • FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORSWIZARDSNUGGETSLGAVG
eFG%51.6%61.2%54.4%
OREB%33.3%11.4%26.2%
TOV%10.9%11.8%12.8%
FTM/FGA0.1670.2000.211
PACE10199.7
ORTG114119115.7

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is 115.1. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 114, the league — on average — would produced 22.8 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -2.8.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDSMINPOSSORTGUSG+PTSPPA+/-
Kyshawn George326714528.9%5.8243-6
Justin Champagnie265511220.3%-0.41521
Marvin Bagley III204214424.8%2.92002
Khris Middleton275713122.1%1.9136-9
Jamir Watkins21441934.9%1.7963
Will Riley16349718.7%-1.2621
Bub Carrington39828618.5%-4.520-6
Alex Sarr286010224.0%-2.015-8
Tre Johnson31655214.5%-6.0-78-8
NUGGETSMINPOSSORTGUSG+PTSPPA+/-
Jamal Murray398312836.1%3.82725
Tim Hardaway Jr.367513125.0%2.91500
Aaron Gordon326811916.8%0.412514
Spencer Jones29611806.1%2.490-6
Jalen Pickett224710715.3%-0.61128
Peyton Watson357410623.7%-1.7645
Zeke Nnaji163412511.8%0.481-8
Julian Strawther61206.5%-0.922
Bruce Brown25528414.3%-2.4-3510
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Ja Morant starts for the Grizzlies against Magic in London is his return from a calf injury

LONDON (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant started against the Orlando Magic on Sunday and was on a minutes restriction after a six-game absence because of a right calf injury.

“We’ll try to maximize his minutes and try to do it in a smart way," Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said at a pregame news conference at London's O2 Arena.

Morant missed the first of the two-game NBA Europe series when the Magic beat the Grizzlies 118-111 in the league’s first regular-season game in Germany.

Iisalo said the medical update he received about the two-time All Star was positive a day after Morant practiced with the team.

“We’ve discussed this several times this season, when you miss a bunch of games, it’s not so easy to (go) right away into big minutes," Iisalo said of his expectations for Morant.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Rockets look to keep up the momentum versus New Orleans

After a ‌tight ‌victory against Minnesota, Houston aims to snag another one against New Orleans. This year, the Rockets sit at 0-1 against the Pelicans, following a 133-128 defeat in overtime. From there, New Orleans picked up just four wins.

So far, the Rockets have shown flashes of real power mixed with some shaky stretches, pulling off wins in high-speed matchups, yet dropping others they should have claimed. In the latest outing, Kevin Durant dropped 39 points to beat the Timberwolves, highlighting his knack for those huge scoring bursts. When Houston locks in, their fast breaks and board work stand out; they often cash in on extra shots and own the glass.

New Orleans, though, packs a serious scoring punch when everybody’s fit, even amid all their troubles this campaign. Still, injuries and uneven play kept them from accumulating wins, and lately, betting lines favored the Pacers over them, pointing to deeper issues across the board.

Houston has to cut down on turnovers and draw solid efforts not only from Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, but also from guys like Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, and Jabari Smith Jr too.

Tip Off

6:00 CT

How To Watch
Space City Home Network

Injury Report
Rockets
Fred VanVleet: Out (Acl),
Dorian Finney-Smith: Day-To-Day (Ankle),
Tari Eason: Day-To-Day (Ankle)

New Orleans

Herb Jones (right ankle sprain) – Out
Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture) – Out

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Nets vs. Bulls preview: a busy Sunday in Chicago

BROOKLYN, NY – JANUARY 16: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Chicago Bulls grabs the rebound during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 16, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Let’s do it again. The Chicago Bulls almost pulled off an improbable comeback, but the Brooklyn Nets escaped with a 112-109 win on Friday night. The W snapped their five game losing streak.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Amazingly, this game will tip off after 7 PM. More on that in a bit.

Injuries

No Ziaire Williams, Michael Porter Jr, Drake Powell, or Haywood Highsmith.

Zach Collins and Noa Essengue are out. Patrick Williams is questionable. Josh Giddey has been upgraded to doubtful as he recovers from a left hamstring strain.

The game

Brooklyn won games one and two. They’ll wrap up the season series in February.

Noah Clowney continues to impress. The kid collected a double-double as his 23 points and 11 rebounds paced the Nets frontcourt. The more he plays well, the more he becomes an integral part of the Nets future when they return to playoff contention. Keep at it and the results will be there.

The Bulls found their three point shooting at the right time on Friday night. They went 6-12 from deep as they made their furious comeback. They’re tenth in threes attempted and 14th in efficiency, which is pretty respectable. For the Nets, they’ve got to make sure they make things tough on the Bulls and limit any quality looks they can generate.

Nolan Traore got the bulk of the point guard minutes over Egor Dëmin, and it shows the importance of having two decent young guards on the roster. When one doesn’t have it, you can turn to the other one and see if he can bring home. Either way, it serves as a valuable learning lesson for both of them and should help as they continue their careers.

Without Porter Jr in the lineup, look for Cam Thomas to be one of the team leaders in field goal attempts. If all else fails, Thomas can get shots up at the rim. And with him being unlikely to play on Monday due to the back-to-back, he’ll have even more incentive to hunt for his shot tonight.

Player to watch: Nikola Vucevic

When Vucevic has it going, he’s hard to slow down. Vuc has a great touch, is solid in the post, and can stretch the floor. There’s a reason why he’s always given the Nets hell over the years and Chicago will make sure he gets the ball as much as possible this evening.

Nic Claxton will keep on keeping on. Clax grabbed a season high 14 rebounds on Friday as he helped the Nets to a +6 advantage on the boards against the Bulls. Securing possessions matters a ton in close games and if we have another one that goes down to the wire, Claxton’s work on the glass will go a long way in pushing the Nets to a win.

From the Vault

I feel very safe saying that just about everybody at the United Center will have their attention on the LA Rams vs. Chicago Bears at Solider Field this evening. It’s the first time the Bears have been in the divisional round in 15 years. With that in mind, let’s take a trip back in time.

More reading: Blog a Bull, The Bigs, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter, City of Nets

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NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Today, January 18: Kane Stings Senators

Patrick Kane’s best days are behind him, but he remains very productive at age 37, having gathered 28 points through 34 games.

He has been especially efficient against teams that bleed goals, and he has a matchup with one this afternoon. That’s why he headlines my three NHL player props for Sunday, January 18.

Best NHL player prop bets today

PlayerBet99
Stars Miro Heiskanen Over 1.5 shots on goal<<-145>>
Lightning Brandon Hagel Over 2.5 shots on goal<<-170>>
Red Wings Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points<<-115>>

Get a first bet encore up to $800 — no BET99 promo code neededGet a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Sunday, January 18

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Miro Heiskanen Over 1.5 shots on goal

-145 at BET99

Miro Heiskanen has generated strong volume in Dallas all season long, averaging 2.6 shots on target per night and clearing this line at a whopping 81% clip.

He has consistently gotten the job done regardless of the level of competition. Facing stout defenses or low-event teams has made zero impact on his volume or success.

Isolating teams ranking Top-10 in shot suppression vs. defensemen, Heiskanen has recorded multiple shots in seven of eight home games.

The only Under was a one shot performance against the Kings in which Heiskanen still generated five attempts, which is more than enough volume to clear. He was just inaccurate in that one game.

Heiskanen will play a ton of minutes while matched up against the Lightning’s best players at 5-on-5. He also continues to quarterback the top power play over Thomas Harley.

There should be plenty of chances for him to test Andrei Vasilevskiy.

  • Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NHL Network

Prop #2: Brandon Hagel Over 2.5 shots on goal

-170 at BET99

The biggest beneficiary of the Brayden Point injury is undoubtedly Brandon Hagel. More falls on his plate at 5-on-5 and he also takes on Point’s role playing on the No. 1 power play unit.

To say it’s made a difference in his shot volume would be an understatement.

Hagel has averaged 2.7 shots and 6.1 attempts per game with Point in the lineup while clearing his line at a 57% clip. Very solid but unspectacular numbers.

Those outputs go up several levels without Point. Hagel has produced a whopping 3.9 shots on 8.2 attempts per game, going Over 2.5 shots in eight of nine.

Hagel attempted 6+ shots in every single one of those games. For reference, his hit rate sits at 80% this season — with or without Point — when generating 6+ attempts, which has been the floor thus far.

Expect Hagel to continue firing away Sunday afternoon.

  • Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NHL Network

Prop #3: Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points

-115 at BET99

The Ottawa Senators can’t keep the puck out of their net. They just can’t. It doesn’t seem to matter how many shots or chances they give up — whoever is between the pipes continues bleeding goals.

That’s why they rank 29th in goals against per game despite sitting third in expected goals allowed, behind only the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights.

As you’d expect from a team giving up goals in bulk, the Senators allow a lot of production to opposing right wingers. The fourth-most, in fact.

Patrick Kane has produced at a high clip in similar matchups this season. He has points in eight of 11 games against teams ranking Bottom-10 in points allowed to right wingers, including seven of eight on home soil.

Ottawa is in a road back-to-back with 37-year-old journeyman James Reimer expected to get his first taste of action this season. This is not a spot where the goals should stop flowing.

  • Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: RDS2, FDSN DET

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

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Steph Curry flattered by Collin Sexton's hilariously aggressive defense

Steph Curry flattered by Collin Sexton's hilariously aggressive defense originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Guarding Steph Curry is an undertaking very few in the NBA are prepared for.

Hornets guard Collin Sexton was ready for the challenge in the Warriors’ 136-116 win over Charlotte on Saturday at Chase Center, and he did his best not to leave Curry’s side.

Quite literally.

With 8:20 remaining in the second quarter and the Warriors leading 47-39, Sexton, with his arm around Curry, followed the Warriors superstar stride-for-stride across the court. When Curry, who noticed Sexton hovering, kept walking past Charlotte’s bench and toward the locker room, Sexton hilariously followed him off the court.

All Sexton is doing is what every coach probably preaches to their players when matched up against Curry: Wherever he goes, you go. And you don’t leave his side.

Of course, Sexton didn’t do anything wrong, he was just being overly aggressive in sticking by Curry’s side, but when asked about the viral moment after the game, Curry couldn’t help but feel flattered at the attention paid to him.

“There’s a part of you that fights it just because it’s not real basketball,” Curry said. “But there’s also a part of it that’s flattering … knowing that you demand that much attention and what it does to create shots for other guys.”

Whether it was Sexton and Charlotte’s defense or just a poor shooting night, Curry was held at bay with 14 points, three rebounds and five assists on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and 2 of 8 from 3-point range in 29 minutes.

Hopefully future opponents don’t take Sexton’s antics further and follow Curry out of the building.

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