Worldwide Sports News

January 29, 2026

Takeaways: Travis Konecny Nets Hat Trick, But Flyers Still Stumble in Columbus

The Philadelphia Flyers arrived in Columbus hoping to reset the tone after a flat loss to the Islanders. Instead, they left with another reminder of how narrow their margin for error has become, and how dependent they are right now on individual brilliance to keep games from slipping away entirely.

A 5–3 loss to the Blue Jackets followed an unfortunately familiar script: moments of real push driven by Travis Konecny and Dan Vladar, followed by late unraveling when execution and collective detail fell apart.

1. Travis Konecny Put the Offense on His Back.

There are nights when a single player tilts the ice, and this was one of them.

Travis Konecny scored his third career hat trick, giving the Flyers all three of their goals and, at one point, erasing deficits entirely to pull the game level at 3–3. He now has 20 goals on the season, leads the team with 48 points, and continues to operate at a level that feels increasingly detached from the rest of the lineup. Since Jan. 17, only Montreal Canadiens star Cole Caufield has scored more goals league-wide.

Have a DAY, TK. 🧢🧢🧢#PHIvsCBJ | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/AxVR7TzMNX
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 29, 2026

But the significance of Konecny’s night wasn’t just the goals themselves. It was the contrast. Each time Columbus grabbed momentum, it was Konecny who manufactured an answer. He was attacking directly, capitalizing on defensive lapses, and forcing the Flyers back into a game that was drifting away from them. Without him, this contest never becomes competitive.

The problem, though, is what happened after he did his job. The rest of the Flyers' offense didn’t build off his goals. They didn’t push Columbus onto its heels for sustained stretches. Konecny kept pulling them back from the edge, but no one else grabbed the rope with him. When the game turned late in the third period, there was no second wave.

That imbalance—one elite driver, too little reinforcement—is becoming a defining issue.

2. Dan Vladar’s Return Deserved a Better Team Effort.

Dan Vladar hadn’t played in two weeks, returning from injured reserve into a difficult situation against a fast, opportunistic Blue Jackets team. He gave the Flyers exactly what they needed to stay alive. Vladar made some truly mind-blowing stops, weathered early pressure, and allowed the Flyers the chance to claw back into the game despite extended stretches where Columbus controlled play.

All the stick taps for Vladdy. 😤#PHIvsCBJ | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/TJ62PKiYYv
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 29, 2026

Like Konecny, Vladar was doing damage control. He wasn’t perfect, but he gave Philadelphia a chance to win. That’s all you can ask of a goaltender coming off injury and stepping back into the crease.

To be fair, the Flyers were cut down to five defensemen after Rasmus Ristolainen, who had only recently returned from IR himself, left the game early with a lower-body injury. From a sheer numbers perspective, that limits how evenly defensive responsibilities can be distributed, and removes a physical, defensive-defenseman aspect from the Flyers' backline.

And what followed late was not a goalie failure. Defensive gaps widened, puck management deteriorated, and the Flyers lost track of layers in front of their own net. When Columbus struck twice late in the third to break the tie (including an empty-net goal), it felt like in a movie gun duel, where the last two bullets are emptied into an already keeled-over opponent just to make sure they're dead.

3. The Flyers’ Offense Beyond Konecny Leaves Something to Be Desired.

On paper, the Flyers produced enough secondary contributions to suggest balance. Christian Dvorak registered two assists, while Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, Travis Sanheim, and Noah Juulsen all chipped in helpers as well, continuing a trend of defensemen moving pucks efficiently and generating offense from the back end.

However, much of that production came in moments tied directly to Konecny’s scoring plays. The broader issue was how little sustained pressure the Flyers generated at five-on-five when he wasn’t on the ice. Too often, offensive-zone time ended with low-percentage shots or turnovers. Too few forwards were consistently winning inside space or forcing Columbus’ defense into extended sequences.

The Flyers are not lacking ideas. They are lacking execution and pace. That gap has been especially noticeable since the midpoint of the season, as fatigue accumulates. When Konecny leaves the ice, the offense frequently loses its edge and urgency, becoming easier to defend and easier to reset against.

4. Late-Game Structure Continues to Be a Problem.

The Flyers did the hardest part of the night: they erased deficits and tied the game in the third period. What followed was the part that continues to elude them—closing games with composure.

After Konecny’s third goal made it 3–3, the Flyers didn’t settle into a defensive posture designed to force overtime. Instead, their decision-making sped up in the wrong ways, and coverage assignments broke down. Columbus capitalized not with brilliance, but with execution.

This has become a real thorn in the Flyers' side. Whether chasing games or protecting ties, the Flyers have struggled to manage the final minutes with consistency. Discipline, structure, and puck support erode just enough to swing outcomes. It’s not a collapse every night, but it’s enough to cost them precious points.

5. Competitive Efforts Aren't Enough Anymore.

There was no shortage of effort from Konecny. Vladar battled. Several defensemen moved the puck well and logged responsible minutes. But effort alone doesn’t offset disconnection. Too many Flyers looked passive, reacting to momentum instead of shaping it.

The space they’re stuck in right now is competitive, but fragile. Dangerous, but dependent. Until more players consistently assert themselves—especially late—the Flyers will continue to live on narrow edges, where even heroic performances can’t prevent familiar endings.

The Flyers are now seven points out of a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division, and if they want any fighting chance of actually securing a postseason, they're going to have to majorly and consistently step up to the plate and start connecting.

Given RW and ROW?@NHLFlyers are now 7 points out of the playoffs.

96pts is the 50:50 to make it mark.

That is 17-8-5 in their final 30 games.

.650 pt%. So basically they have to be a top 5 team in the @nhl from here to have a chance to make the playoffs.#Flyers #NHL
— Alexander Appleyard (@avappleyard) January 29, 2026

It's not an impossible ask given what we've seen this team be capable of, but right now, an appropriate metaphor for the Flyers is that they're stuck in quicksand. If they want to get out, they can't thrash around in a frenzied panic, but instead must still themselves, shed the heavy items weighing them down, and distribute their weight evenly to create a supportive surface. From there, they have to grasp a firmer surface and make small, deliberate movements to get out of it.

Stay calm. Make an effort to drop the bad habits that have allowed games to slip away. Distribute responsibilities more evenly. Hold on to the things they're doing right, and prioritize the small details that make the difference in games.

The quicksand itself doesn't kill you—it's the succumbing to exhaustion and exposure that will do you in if you don't pull yourself out in time.

January 29, 2026

Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-Man: Lázaro Estrada

Lázaro Estrada is a 26-year-old (27 in April), right-handed pitcher, from Cuba.

He made it to the majors for the first time last year, pitching in two games, 7.1 innings. He was hit pretty hard, 10 hits in 7.1 innings, but he also had 10 strikeouts.

Lázaro was #36 on our Top 40 Prospect list in 2024 (in 2025, he turned 25, and we don’t consider players 25 and over ‘prospects’). Tom_M wrote:

There are three pitches in Estrada’s arsenal. The fastball is a four seamer that’s not hard, sitting 91-94, but has nice vertical ride and horizontal run. His changeup is rarely used and doesn’t have impressive shape, but it does sit 10mph off his fastball and can get some chases. In the past, his breaking ball has been the star of his arsenal. Before 2023, it was a curveball that he could occasionally snap off with spin rates up to an elite 3,400 RPM. This year the curve was replaced with a slow slider. He still spins it at around 2,700 RPM, which would be in about the 90th percentile in MLB, but in a couple of looks this year the movement wasn’t as impressive as that would suggest. Estrada’s command is solid and seems likely to end up average.
Estrada profiles mostly as a reliever, with only one pitch that looks like it has the potential to be a difference maker in MLB and a spotty track record of durability, but he’s performed so far and the breaking ball bears watching. At 25 and rule 5 eligible, he’ll need to move this year to have a hope of reaching Toronto.

He pitched most of the 2025 season in Buffalo. He had a 5.73 ERA in 26 games, 25 starts, with a 5.73 ERA. In 97.1 innings, he had 99 strikeouts and 32 walks.

Estrada has two option years left, but I’m thinking this is a pretty important year for him, if he’s going to have a major league career.

Steamer thinks Estrada is going to pitch in 23 games, 23 innings, with a 4.19 ERA with 21 strike outs.

The team has added a bunch of relievers this off-season and there are younger arms coming up quickly behind Lázaro. But he gets a lot of movement on his pitches, as you can see in this gif from Sportsnet. He would be better off on a team that could let him pitch and find his way in the majors. But, unless he’s DFAed, I think he’s going to end up in Buffalo, hoping to be next in line when we need a pitcher in case of an injury.

I don’t think there is enough prospect shine left on him to be a trade piece, but who knows. I think he could be a good major league pitcher. I’m not sure he’ll get the chance.

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January 29, 2026

NBA Minutes Report: Fallout from Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant sidelined again

Welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will review each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.

The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three, five, and ten games, and for the entire season, to see which trends stand out to you.

All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also extremely generous. Be sure to follow him to check out all of his baseball data as well.

2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Giannis, Ja Morant injuries free up opportunities

With Butler’s season-ending injury, fantasy managers are forced to pivot after the loss of a top-25 player.

Raphielle Johnson,

Atlanta Hawks

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Dyson Daniels	35.8	34.5	33.9
Jalen Johnson	35.5	37.2	35.7
Nickeil Alexander-Walker	32.8	34.1	32.9
Onyeka Okongwu	32.1	31.6	32.9
CJ McCollum	28.9	27.4	27.1
Luke Kennard	23.5	21.1	21.6
Corey Kispert	17.4	17.2	17.9
Vít Krejčí	5.9	9.8	15.9

The Hawks have been without Kristaps Porziņģis and Zaccharie Risacher since January 7th. Of course, the team is 6-4 in that stretch and has won its last four games. Nickeil Alexander-Walker continues to be one of the best signings of the offseason and is a top 35 player in fantasy over the last two weeks. CJ McCollom has stepped into a bigger role with those two out and has also produced top 75 value over that stretch. Corey Kispert has seemingly taken Vít Krejčí's role as shooter off the bench, but this is a solid squad.

Boston Celtics

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Derrick White	34.6	33.5	34.7
Jaylen Brown	34.2	36.4	36
Payton Pritchard	30.7	33.2	32.2
Sam Hauser	26.3	29.1	29.5
Anfernee Simons	24.3	26.5	26.5
Neemias Queta	23.2	25.8	25.6
Luka Garza	18.7	18.4	18.9
Hugo González	17.3	16.3	15.4
Amari Williams	17.1	12	12

The big news for the Celtics is that Jayson Tatum is now talking about not returning until next season. It's understandable, given the nature of his injury, but a big blow to a team that is having a surprisingly great season. This may remain a three-headed monster for the remainder of the year. Jaylen Brown is also having a tremendous season, and I broke it down in a video recently.

Brooklyn Nets

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Noah Clowney	42.8	31.3	30.4
Nolan Traore	36.8	25.8	24
Michael Porter Jr.	33.5	32.5	32.5
Nic Claxton	30.4	30.4	28.6
Ziaire Williams	27	24.8	24.8
Egor Dëmin	27	25.4	25
Terance Mann	24.7	21.6	22.6
Cam Thomas	22	19.9	22.2
Jalen Wilson	19.7	14.4	15.9
Day'Ron Sharpe	19.6	20.7	20.4
Danny Wolf	19.3	16.7	18.7

The Nets play so many people consistently. Only Nic Claxton and Michael Porter Jr. are even inside the top 160 in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks. Noah Clowney and Egor Dëmin are both battling minor injuries, but this team is just not very interesting apart from discussing where they'll trade Porter Jr.

Charlotte Hornets

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Brandon Miller	30.1	30.3	30
Moussa Diabaté	28.4	26.1	27.2
Kon Knueppel	26	27.4	27.9
Miles Bridges	25.4	26.5	27.5
LaMelo Ball	25.1	25.2	25
Sion James	19.1	19.7	21
Ryan Kalkbrenner	18.9	19.9	19.8
Grant Williams	18.6	20.3	17.4
Josh Green	17.6	17.7	16.8
Collin Sexton	17.1	17.8	18.3

The Hornets have been really good in January. I know they are only a few games over .500 in the month, but they have the best net rating in the sport and have six road wins by 15 or more points this month, which ties the 2001-02 Lakers and the 2011-12 Heat for the most in a month in NBA history. Both of those teams won the NBA championship. I'm not saying the Hornets will do that, but this team is playing at a high level, and Brandon Miller has been electric, which I covered in a video this week.

Chicago Bulls

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Nikola Vučević	33.4	32.7	32.1
Coby White	31.7	31.1	30.8
Jalen Smith	30.6	28.5	27.8
Matas Buzelis	28.8	28.8	28.4
Josh Giddey	26.7	26.6	26.6
Isaac Okoro	25.9	23.8	26.5
Ayo Dosunmu	25.4	25.3	25.3
Kevin Huerter	19	18.7	20.5

Josh Giddey returned last week and has immediately returned to a top 60 player in fantasy basketball. We should see his production continue to tick up. Tre Jone has still been sidelined for the last three games with a hamstring injury, but with Coby White also back and producing top-60 value over the last two weeks, the Bulls don't miss Jones as much.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Evan Mobley	34.8	35	34.1
Donovan Mitchell	33.8	34.6	34.6
Jaylon Tyson	32.2	32.6	31.1
Jarrett Allen	27.4	30.1	29.8
Nae'Qwan Tomlin	25.7	22.6	21.4
Dean Wade	24.2	25.6	24.1
Sam Merrill	23.9	23.9	21.7
De'Andre Hunter	21	17.8	21.2
Lonzo Ball	16.8	16.8	13.6

The Cavaliers were just entering a strong stretch of play, and Donovan Mitchell has been a top 10 player in the sport, which I discussed in a video. However, now they will be without Evan Mobley for 1-3 weeks with a calf strain. I covered that and the injury fallout in a video this week.

Dallas Mavericks

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Naji Marshall	34.3	33.1	32.1
Max Christie	34.2	32.8	32.1
Cooper Flagg	32.3	30.8	29.7
P.J. Washington	27.1	27.1	28.1
Dwight Powell	25.8	26.4	23.5
Caleb Martin	25.3	24.2	21.6
Brandon Williams	24.6	22.4	21.3
Jaden Hardy	24.3	14.6	18.8
Klay Thompson	18.7	19.6	22.3
Daniel Gafford	18.6	18.6	21

Cooper Flagg is still managing his ankle injury, which has caused him to miss a few games in the last week, and trade rumors continue to swirl around Anthony Davis. There are also trade rumors around Naji Marshall, who has been tremendous over the last month, averaging 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, which is a top 70 player. He and Flagg are the only two players that can be relied on for consistent production; although, Max Christie has enjoyed a nice five-game stretch recently.

Denver Nuggets

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Peyton Watson	38.5	35.9	35.8
Jamal Murray	37.3	34	35.8
Spencer Jones	33	33.5	30.6
Jalen Pickett	27.7	28.6	29.2
Jonas Valančiūnas	26.4	26.4	26.4
Tim Hardaway Jr.	25.8	24.3	28.7
Aaron Gordon	24.8	27.1	28.6
Bruce Brown	22.4	21.4	22.8
Zeke Nnaji	21.4	21.1	21

Denver has played surprisingly well with Nikola Jokic out, with Peyton Watson emerging as a legitimate threat. Jonas Valančiūnas has also filled in admirably as a top 100 player, and this team looks as deep and talented as the Thunder. The big question surrounds Aaron Gordon, who continues to deal with a hamstring injury, which I discussed in a video this week.

Detroit Pistons

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Cade Cunningham	34.9	36.2	33.4
Tobias Harris	27.1	29.3	27.6
Jalen Duren	26.6	28.1	27.4
Duncan Robinson	24.4	26.8	25.5
Isaiah Stewart	23.4	23.1	24.5
Ronald Holland II	23.2	20	22.2
Ausar Thompson	21.2	23.9	23.7
Daniss Jenkins	20.3	21.9	19.8
Javonte Green	17.1	14.5	19.6
Jaden Ivey	16.1	16.7	18.4

The Pistons are pretty healthy right now, so their rotation has gotten incredibly deep. That said, the production really revolved around Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. Ausar Thompson has played well over the last two weeks, but his value really remains on the defensive end. This is still a team that feels like it needs to make a consoliation trade.

Golden State Warriors

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Stephen Curry	27.8	28.7	29.2
Moses Moody	26.6	24.2	24.5
Brandin Podziemski	26.1	26.6	25.6
Will Richard	24	21.8	21.2
Al Horford	23.3	24.3	21
Draymond Green	23	23	24.6
Gui Santos	22.7	19.9	17.7
De'Anthony Melton	22	22	21.7
Buddy Hield	20.9	19.3	16.7
Quinten Post	20.3	17	16.9

We've now seen a week without Jimmy Butler, so we have a little better sense of how the Warriors are going to handle their rotation. Brandin Podziemski has seen a bump in minutes and usage and has been a top 65 player over the last four games. De'Anthony Melton and Moses Moody have also been fringe top 100 players, as they get a bit more usage. I think Melton could produce even more if he were given a bit more run.

Houston Rockets

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Amen Thompson	39	39.6	39.7
Kevin Durant	38	39.5	38.8
Jabari Smith Jr.	35.9	36.2	36.1
Alperen Sengun	33.3	34.2	34
Tari Eason	25.7	24.8	24.8
Josh Okogie	24.9	22.7	20.8
Reed Sheppard	22.2	23.6	21.1
Dorian Finney-Smith	17.7	16.3	16.2
Steven Adams			23.6

The Rockets announced that Steven Adams is going to miss the rest of the season with his ankle injury. That's a pretty big loss for a team that has a really narrow rotation. Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela will step into bigger roles, but this still figures to be a team that's all about Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson, all of whom have been top 25 players over the last two weeks.

Indiana Pacers

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Pascal Siakam	36.2	35.2	34
Andrew Nembhard	33.4	33.9	33
Aaron Nesmith	33.1	32	31.5
Jarace Walker	27.2	26.5	25.4
Bennedict Mathurin	26.6	26.6	26.6
Johnny Furphy	24.5	22.1	22.6
Micah Potter	20.6	15.9	16.6
T.J. McConnell	17.7	16.2	16.6

Not much has changed with the Pacers over the last few weeks. They remain in "wait for next year" mode, so there is little of value in their lineup as currently constructed. Jarace Walker has been playing better of late and should continue to get big minutes as the team focuses on development.

NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers

Fantasy Basketball Week 2 Injury Report: Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards headline the list of sidelined stars

The Pacers, Lakers and Thunder are among the teams with lengthy injury reports at the halfway point of Week 2.

Raphielle Johnson,

Los Angeles Clippers

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
James Harden	33.2	33.4	35.6
John Collins	27.6	26.5	28.3
Kawhi Leonard	26.3	26.3	28.4
Ivica Zubac	25.8	25.9	28
Kobe Sanders	25.5	24.8	24.5
Jordan Miller	24.6	24.8	28.6
Kris Dunn	24.4	27.7	27.6
Brook Lopez	17.8	17.4	17.4
Nicolas Batum	17.6	16.8	17.6

Man, the Clippers have been playing really strong basketball lately, and Kawhi Leonard looks like a legit MVP candidate. Jordan Miller has also been a fringe top 100 player over the last two weeks, averaging 14.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 steals. He's become a nice wing option for this team, and they all seem to be gelling right now.

Los Angeles Lakers

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Luka Dončić	35.7	36.4	35.7
LeBron James	32.2	33.4	32.9
Jake LaRavia	30.2	27.9	29.1
Marcus Smart	29.4	29.9	29.1
Rui Hachimura	24.7	26.1	23
Deandre Ayton	21.8	20.1	24.8
Jaxson Hayes	18.6	19	18.1
Gabe Vincent	17.3	17	17.3
Jarred Vanderbilt	15	16.9	17.9

Austin Reaves has been out for way longer than many people expected, and the Lakers are 5-7 in their last 12 games. Maybe Deandre Ayton is still bothered by his eye injury, but Luka Dončić and LeBron James have been the only players in the top 170 over the last two weeks. They are just not getting any help.

Memphis Grizzlies

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Jaren Jackson Jr.	32.5	32	32
Jock Landale	29	27.1	26.5
Cedric Coward	28.3	26.9	26.7
Cam Spencer	27.8	24.4	26.6
Santi Aldama	27.4	26.3	27.3
Jaylen Wells	25.6	24.6	24.6
GG Jackson	24.8	22.6	21.4
John Konchar	21.7	20.6	18
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	20.8	19.5	17.8
Vince Williams Jr.	20.2	19.7	20.5

Ja Morant returned from his calf injury last week and is now out for multiple weeks with an elbow injury. I broke down the consequences of that in a video this week.

Miami Heat

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Bam Adebayo	34	33.9	32.4
Jaime Jaquez Jr.	30.4	30.1	28.4
Pelle Larsson	29.4	28.7	28.5
Norman Powell	28.1	28.6	30.4
Andrew Wiggins	27.2	28.5	30.2
Dru Smith	23.2	22.5	17.4
Nikola Jović	20.4	19.5	16.3
Kasparas Jakučionis	19.9	17.5	17.4
Simone Fontecchio	19.5	20.5	18.3

The injury-plagued season for Tyler Herro continues. He has missed the last seven games with a rib injury, and Davion Mitchell has also missed the last four with a shoulder injury. That has led to more minutes and usage for Dru Smith, who has been a top 125 player over the four games that Mitchell has missed, and more usage for Andrew Wiggins, who continues to be up a quietly solid season.

Milwaukee Bucks

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Ryan Rollins	34.3	31.5	32.4
Bobby Portis	33.1	28.7	25.7
Myles Turner	32.3	28.8	27.3
Giannis Antetokounmpo	31.8	28.8	30.3
Kyle Kuzma	31.7	29.4	25.6
AJ Green	30.4	29.4	30.8
Cole Anthony	18.3	17.2	15.6
Gary Harris	16.9	17.3	15.1
Gary Trent Jr.	13.4	13.5	16.5

Is the season over for the Bucks? Kevin Porter Jr. is sidelined with an oblique injury, and now Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for 4-6 weeks with a calf strain. I discussed the fallout from that in a video this week, and my colleague Kurt Helin wrote about all the Giannis trade possibilities as well.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Anthony Edwards	36.2	36.6	37.1
Donte DiVincenzo	30.4	31.9	33.9
Julius Randle	30.4	31.1	33.3
Jaden McDaniels	29.5	31.8	32.7
Rudy Gobert	26.6	28.5	29.4
Naz Reid	26.1	27	26
Mike Conley	19.6	17.7	18.7
Bones Hyland	17.6	13.8	15.2

The Timberwolves are pretty healthy right now, and have been for a while, so there's not much to say here.

New Orleans Pelicans

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Trey Murphy III	37.8	36.7	36.6
Zion Williamson	33.3	29	30.1
Saddiq Bey	32.8	31.3	30.7
Herbert Jones	26.5	26.5	26.5
Yves Missi	24.3	25.9	23.4
Derik Queen	23.3	24	25.5
Jeremiah Fears	19.3	17.7	23.6
Jose Alvarado	16.6	16.6	16.6
Jordan Poole	12.3	21.8	19.2

The Pelicans have also been pretty healthy over the last couple of weeks, but Dejounte Murray is still likely a month away from returning. A fully healthy Pelicans team has meant less usage for Derik Queen, who is averaging 9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over the last two weeks. Could the trade deadline mean a departure for Yves Missi and Jose Alvarado, who returned from injury this week? That would open up bigger roles for Jeremiah Fears and Queen.

New York Knicks

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Josh Hart	34.4	31.2	32
Mikal Bridges	34.2	32.1	33.4
OG Anunoby	34.2	32.8	33.9
Jalen Brunson	34.1	33.3	30.7
Miles McBride	28	25.5	30.8
Mitchell Robinson	26.8	22.3	22.1
Karl-Anthony Towns	26	25.7	28.8
Landry Shamet	20.9	20.2	18.8
Tyler Kolek	20.1	10.8	13.4

The Knicks hit a rough stretch where they lost nine of 11 games and seemed to be in a tailspin. Now, they've won four in a row, and the defense seems to be clicking. It may not be a coincidence that Karl-Anthony Towns has seen his minutes dip in that time. The Knicks have closed many games with him on the bench, turning to Mitchell Robinson for defensive value. The Knicks are no longer forcing offense through Towns, who is also shooting worse than he has ever in his career. It's a situation to monitor.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	35.2	34.5	34.1
Luguentz Dort	34.9	34.2	29.8
Chet Holmgren	31.9	31.8	30.5
Aaron Wiggins	31.8	31.4	27.3
Kenrich Williams	26	25.3	19.3
Isaiah Joe	25.5	25.3	20.2
Jaylin Williams	23.2	19.3	18.5
Cason Wallace	23	23.8	23.5

Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell are both hurt, but Isaiah Hartenstein looks set to return on Thursday. That could help a team that is 3-3 in their last six games and recently lost to Indiana. They need a third option on offense right now behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, who have both been top 35 players since Williams and Mitchell got hurt.

Orlando Magic

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Paolo Banchero	38.9	36.5	36.3
Anthony Black	38.2	35.9	34.6
Desmond Bane	37.8	36.4	34.8
Wendell Carter Jr.	30.1	28.7	28.9
Jalen Suggs	27	27	27
Tyus Jones	18.8	14.2	15.9
Tristan da Silva	16.6	17.4	19.2
Noah Penda	12.7	12.9	20.8

Jalen Suggs is back, but Franz Wagner is now back on the sideline as he has experienced some soreness in his previously injured ankle and has missed the last four games. That has allowed Anthony Black to continue his breakout season and Paolo Banchero to remain the focus of the offense. There remain questions about how Banchero and Wagner fit together, but the Magic's starting five has rarely played together this season due to injuries. Tyus Jones is also giving them nothing recently and could likely be moved at the deadline.

Philadelphia 76ers

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Tyrese Maxey	33.1	37	37.4
Joel Embiid	32.8	37	34
Paul George	32.6	33.9	31.7
VJ Edgecombe	32.1	34.6	34.8
Kelly Oubre Jr.	28.3	32	31.1
Jared McCain	23.5	23.5	12.1
Quentin Grimes	22.5	22.8	23.9
Justin Edwards	20.3	17.6	10.2
Dominick Barlow	18.1	20.6	20.4

Quentin Grimes is dealing with an ankle injury, and the 76ers are continuing to monitor minutes for Joel Embiid and Paul George as the two veterans recover from knee injuries, which has led to more minutes for Jared McCain in the last week. It feels unlikely that those minutes remain when this team is healthy, but George wil continue to sit out games here and there as the season goes on, so you never know.

Phoenix Suns

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Dillon Brooks	34.8	33.7	31.9
Grayson Allen	33	31.7	29.2
Collin Gillespie	32.9	30.5	29.5
Royce O'Neale	31.1	29.1	29.6
Devin Booker	28.4	31.7	33.9
Mark Williams	25	24.5	24.9
Jordan Goodwin	22.8	21	21.4
Oso Ighodaro	20.4	21.9	21.7
Jordan Goodwin	19	21.2	22.4

The Suns got Jalen Green back last week, but he reaggravated his hamstring injury, and Devin Booker also hurt his hamstring.I covered the consequences of both of those injuries in a video this week.

Portland Trail Blazers

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Toumani Camara	35.4	35.6	35
Shaedon Sharpe	33.9	33.9	33
Deni Avdija	30.7	26.8	30.8
Donovan Clingan	29.1	30.2	29.2
Jerami Grant	25.6	24.9	24.1
Sidy Cissoko	24.2	25	25.2
Jrue Holiday	23.8	22.6	21
Caleb Love	23.6	25.2	27
Robert Williams III	19.7	19.5	16.3

Kris Murray and Scoot Henderson remain sidelined for the Trail Blazers, but the rest of the team is pretty healthy. Robert Williams III is still doing some injury management with his left knee, so he is going to sit out games throughout the season, but he's just a backup center anyway with this team healthy. We have seen Caleb Love's minutes and usage decrease with Jrue Holiday back, but Holiday is at the center of trade rumors, so this remains a situation to monitor. Shaedon Sharpe has been a top 60 player over the last month, averaging 21.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

Sacramento Kings

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Domantas Sabonis	29.4	26.3	24.4
DeMar DeRozan	29.3	31.2	33.8
Russell Westbrook	27.5	29.6	32
Malik Monk	27.3	27.5	25.4
Dennis Schröder	26.2	23.6	22.3
Nique Clifford	25.6	24.5	20.5
Dylan Cardwell	23.8	23.5	21.9
Zach LaVine	22.5	27.4	29.9
Keon Ellis	21.8	21.8	13.3
Precious Achiuwa	20.5	20.8	25.7

The Kings are trying to shake things up at the trade deadline, but it's unclear if any teams are willing to take on the veterans they're trying to trade away. Domantas Sabonis returned, which is a nice boost for the team, and DeMar DeRozan is playing really well, which I covered in a video this week.Dylan Cardwell has also emerged as a high-energy rebounder and defender off the bench, and I interviewed him this week.

San Antonio Spurs

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
De'Aaron Fox	34.5	33.8	33.2
Stephon Castle	33.1	33.1	31.7
Victor Wembanyama	30.9	29.7	28.2
Keldon Johnson	28.6	27.4	26.4
Julian Champagnie	27.9	29.3	30.7
Devin Vassell	24	24	24
Harrison Barnes	23.2	23.3	24.4
Luke Kornet	19.3	21.1	21.3
Dylan Harper	17.4	20	20.6

With Devin Vassell (thigh) returning, Julian Champagnie has seen his minutes and usage tick down even before he suffered an eye injury. We've also seen the Spurs continue to increase Victor Wembanyama's playing time, and he has been the dominant force that many expected, producing as a top 5 overall player in the last two weeks.

Toronto Raptors

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Brandon Ingram	35	35.2	35.7
Scottie Barnes	32.9	33.9	36.2
Immanuel Quickley	32	33.1	33.2
Sandro Mamukelashvili	30.3	29.8	26
Collin Murray-Boyles	28.3	28.3	32.4
Ja'Kobe Walter	23.8	23.8	17.4
RJ Barrett	22.3	22.3	22.3
Jamal Shead	22.3	26.1	29.3
Gradey Dick	20.2	20.6	19.6

The Raptors are coming up in all times of trade rumors, with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley being the names mentioned the most. Quickley would be a nice get for somebody because he has had a solid season, but perhaps the fit isn't there in Toronto. Sandro Mamukelashvili filled in for Collin Murray-Boyles admirably, but Murray-Boyles is back now and figures to take back over most of the usage and minutes.

Utah Jazz

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Keyonte George	34.4	35.9	34.5
Lauri Markkanen	31.1	31.1	32.9
Ace Bailey	30.3	31.3	29.7
Isaiah Collier	28.9	26.6	24.8
Cody Williams	27.5	26.7	26.8
Jusuf Nurkić	27	29.9	29.4
Brice Sensabaugh	24.7	23.6	26.2
Kevin Love	24.2	18.7	19
Kyle Anderson	20.6	19.8	20.2

The Jazz got Lauri Markannen back this week, but they continue to find ways to rest their players on an alternating schedule as they try not to win too many games and lose their first-round pick, which is top-8 protected. It's incredibly frustrating, and I covered all of that in a video this week.

Washington Wizards

Name	Last 3	Last 5	Last 10
Alex Sarr	36.6	33.8	29
Tre Johnson	34.2	32.8	30.5
Bub Carrington	32.8	34.9	34.7
Kyshawn George	32	32.3	29.7
Bilal Coulibaly	27.6	27.6	24.7
Khris Middleton	27.4	27.4	25.2
Justin Champagnie	22.8	24.1	24.2
Jamir Watkins	19.7	19.8	20.9
Will Riley	18.4	17.9	19.8

Bilal Coulibaly returned this week, but it remains to be seen how long he can stay healthy. That will cut into Tre Johnson's minutes as usage, though, so it's something to be mindful of. Bub Carrington continues to play pretty well and has been a top 100 player over the last month, averaging 11.6 points, 5.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game.

January 29, 2026

Sixers, Maxey reportedly on Giannis’ ‘radar,’ but team hasn’t called Bucks

Shockwaves were felt across the NBA on Wednesday when ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Milwaukee Bucks were, for the first time, genuinely listening to trade offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo. A number of teams have since been linked to the former Finals MVP, with Miami, New York, Minnesota and Golden State emerging as the most frequently mentioned suitors. So far, however, the Sixers have not been connected to the superstar forward.

Jake Fischer and Marc Stein have been closely tracking the developing trade market and recently shed light on Philadelphia’s position. Their reporting suggests the Sixers’ level of interest, or lack thereof, while also offering an intriguing detail about how the situation is unfolding:

“League sources say Philadelphia, furthermore, has not contacted Milwaukee about a possible Antetokounmpo deal in the wake of a better-than-expected first half, but The Stein Line has learned that the prospect of teaming up with Tyrese Maxey — who, like Giannis, works with prominent NBA trainer Drew Hanlen — does have the 76ers on Antetokounmpo’s radar.“

Many will focus on the latter detail in the quote, but the more surprising revelation is that the Sixers have not contacted Milwaukee at all. I’m not arguing that they should trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, or that it would even make sense. Still, this is Daryl Morey we’re talking about. He’s a known star hunter, the executive who’s always willing to make a call about your best player. The fact that there hasn’t been even a preliminary inquiry is notable and reinforces the idea that the Sixers are operating on a longer timeline, one that likely centers on Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

That said, it’s still interesting that Maxey was mentioned as a potential running mate for Antetokounmpo. That part isn’t much of a surprise, given how seamless the fit would be. Maxey has arguably been the best guard in the Eastern Conference, and Philadelphia would still have flexibility to build around those two. So far, the only other player reported as a possible partner alongside Antetokounmpo is Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Despite interest from Antetokounmpo’s side, the path to a Giannis-to-Philadelphia deal is murky at best, which likely explains why the Sixers haven’t shown much interest. For salary-matching purposes alone, Philadelphia would have to include at least one of Paul George or Joel Embiid. Embiid has been playing his best basketball in years, while George, despite some ups and downs, has done a solid job filling gaps on both ends of the floor.

And that’s before factoring in what Milwaukee would almost certainly demand on top of the contracts, likely a significant haul of draft capital and young players. When viewed through that lens, the lack of movement from the Sixers becomes far easier to understand.

Despite the overwhelming odds that nothing ultimately develops between the Sixers and Antetokounmpo, it’s worth noting that he singled out Maxey as one of just two players he’d be interested in playing alongside early in the process. That detail alone makes it difficult to completely dismiss the idea.

Still, unless there’s a significant shift in the Sixers’ stance, this appears more like an interesting footnote than a realistic outcome. For now, Philadelphia seems committed to a longer-term vision, one centered on Maxey and the pieces around him, rather than making a franchise-altering swing for a superstar whose fit, cost and timing don’t quite align.

January 29, 2026

Line Combinations: Red Wings vs. Capitals

Last season the Washington Capitals surprised everyone by dominating the league, with multiple players having career breakouts and the team finishing far ahead in the standings. They ended the season with a 51-22-9 record, the second-best in the NHL. This year however, the Capitals have struggled and currently sit outside the playoff picture with a 25-22-7 record.

Meanwhile the Detroit Red Wings have taken the spotlight, performing in ways similar to Washington’s dominant season but with a younger roster that seems better positioned for long-term success. Despite their struggles Washington has still managed impressive wins against teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, and Tampa Bay Lightning, showing they cannot be underestimated.

Detroit could have a historic night with Patrick Kane just one point away from breaking Mike Modano’s record for most points by an American-born player. The Red Wings have been scraping by recently, winning only two regulation games in their last eight outings, while Washington has struggled with a 7-13-4 record over their last 24 games.

Detroit’s offense relies on both their top-six and contributions from the bottom lines, including James van Riemsdyk and other supporting forwards. Washington counters with Alex Ovechkin still scoring at a high level, Dylan Strome showing flashes, and Tom Wilson and rookie Justin Sourdif emerging as key offensive threats. The goaltending matchup will be marquee has John Gibson for Detroit will clash with Logan Thompson expected for Washington, each with solid but differing season performances against their opponent.

Red Hot Red Wings Clash With Ice Cold Capitals in High Stakes ClashA surprising young Detroit squad faces a struggling Washington team. History looms as Patrick Kane chases a scoring record.

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

Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Minnesota (Thursday)

Kasper – Larkin – Raymond

DeBrincat – Copp – Kane

Finnie – Compher – van Riemsdyk

Soderblom – Rasmussen – Appleton

Benard-Docker – Seider

Sandin-Pellikka - Chiarot

Johansson – Hamonic

Gibson

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January 29, 2026

Blackhawks Vs Penguins: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 54

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off a tough loss to the Minnesota Wild. After leading 3-0, the Hawks allowed the Wild to chip away, tie the game, and win it in a shootout. They didn’t play horribly, but they were unable to lock things down in the end and win.

Now, their mini-road trip continues with a visit to eastern Pennsylvania to play the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins come in at a pleasantly surprising 26-14-11, while the Blackhawks are 21-23-9.

This will be the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season. The first was a 7-3 win for the Penguins on December 28th at the United Center.

Scouting Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Penguins are having a great season, when many thought they’d be a lottery team. There is a solid mix of veterans and young players, but some of their veterans aren't like others around the league.

Rakell-Crosby-Brazeau

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

McGroarty-Kindel-Mantha

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Kulak-Letang

Solovyov-Shea

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Kristopher Letang are all-time great players who will all be first-ballot Hall of Famers.

In the case of Crosby, he is one of the five best hockey players ever to play the game, and he is still at the height of his powers in his late 30s. When the Olympics come around in a couple of weeks, he will be the captain of Team Canada in their pursuit of Gold.

Malkin is having an incredible season and is on a point per game pace once again as well. He doesn't move like he once did, but there is no denying his scoring prowess as he's found a way to be successful without the legs that he had in his 20s. Being smart, having a good shot, and knowing where to be at even strength and on the power play are big parts of his game.

Letang and Karlsson don't play together as defense partners, which spreads the wealth on the back end for them. It isn't as strong a group as it was when they were winning Stanley Cups in the 2010s, but they can move the puck well and shut down their opposition enough to win more than they lose.

Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins. They acquired Stuart Skinner from the Edmonton Oilers earlier in the year, but Silovs will be the guy for this match against the Blackhawks.

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks are on the moms/mentors trip, so they are trying to get everyone involved as much as they can. Colton Dach is going to suit up for Chicago in place of Landon Slaggert, which is the only change to the skater lineup. Sam Lafferty remains a healthy scratch.

Nazar-Bedard-Teravainen

Greene-Moore-Burakovsky

Bertuzzi-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Donato-Foligno-Dach

Vlasic-Crevier

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Connor Bedard, who grew up idolizing Sidney Crosby, will stick with his new line alongside Frank Nazar and Teuvo Teravainen. They were fantastic against the Wild and are looking to pick up more steam against this Penguins team that may allow some chances.

In goal will be Arvid Soderblom, which sets up Spencer Knight for the second half of a back-to-back on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center. Last time out, a shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Soderblom was on his game. An opportunity to start against Pittsburgh is another shot to keep the confidence up.

Patrick Kane Update

Earlier in the week, former Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane tied Mike Modano for the most points by an American-born player in the history of the NHL.

Blackhawks Legend Patrick Kane Ties Mike Modano For Most Points By An American Chicago Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane is very close to cementing himself as the highest-scoring American-born NHL player of all time.

While the Blackhawks are taking on the Penguins in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Red Wings will be hosting the Washington Capitals. This is Kane's first chance to break the record.

How To Watch

The Blackhawks vs Penguins game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it can be found on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 6:00 PM CT.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

January 29, 2026

Best NBA Player Props Today for January 29: Naz-ty Work

It’s a great night of hoops action with eight games on the NBA board, highlighted by the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder, heading to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves.

In a game full of stars, you know I’ve got an NBA player prop pick for that one, plus my other favorite NBA picks for Thursday, January 29.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Kyshawn George	Over 6.5 rebounds	<<-105>>
Jalen Smith	Double-double	<<+185>>
Naz Reid	Over 2.5 made threes	<<+120>>

MORE NBA FREE PICKS

Prop #1: Kyshawn George Over 6.5 rebounds

-105 at bet365

It’s hard to be one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA when Giannis Antetokounmpo is on your roster. But the Milwaukee Bucks have figured it out.

Now, Giannis is injured and the subject of many trade rumors. So, I’m fading Milwaukee on the boards even against a team like the Washington Wizards.

Tonight, I’m targeting sophomore Kyshawn George. The 22-year-old is showing some promise, averaging 15.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists this season.

He’s got those rebounding numbers up to 8.0 over his last six games, grabbing eight or more four times. His rebounding total is 6.5.

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #2: Jalen Smith double-double

+185 at bet365

I’m getting greedy by taking Chicago Bulls big man Jalen Smith to go for a double-double in back-to-back games.

Smith is playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 12.3 points and 9.2 rebounds over his last 13 games, which includes six double-doubles over his last 13 games.

Tonight, he faces one of my favorite rebounding fades, the Miami Heat.

The Heat aren’t the worst rebounding team, but their high pace means they take a lot of shots and, in turn, a lot of rebounds. They allow the second-most per game, meaning Smith hauls down enough boards for another double-double.

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FDSN, CHSN+

Prop #3: Naz Reid Over 2.5 threes

+120 at bet365

The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t about to let the Oklahoma City Thunder run away with the Western Conference.

And the T-Wolves are one of the few teams that can outshoot OKC. The trio of Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid can take advantage of a shockingly suspect Thunder perimeter defense.

OKC surrenders the fifth-highest three-point shooting percentage and the sixth-most made threes per game.

So tonight, I’m backing Reid. The Timberwolves’ stretch big is scorching, knocking down 45.9% of his threes over the last 10 games and clearing three-plus in seven of those. No reason that trend stops tonight.

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Prime Video

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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January 29, 2026

Pistons vs Suns Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Cade Cunningham is the high-octane petrol fueling the Detroit Pistons offense.

The point guard is at his best creating for his teammates in the open floor and has dished out double-figure dimes in three of his last four outings. But there’s a speed bump in the way when Detroit visits the Phoenix Suns tonight.

My Pistons vs. Suns predictions are buying back Cunningham’s inflated assist total against one of the best defenses in the NBA.

Here are my NBA picks for Thursday, January 29.

Pistons vs Suns prediction

Pistons vs Suns best bet: Cade Cunningham Under 9.5 assists (-112)

Cade Cunningham has eclipsed his assist prop total in five of his last seven appearances, including 11 assists against this very same Phoenix Suns squad on January 15.

Cunningham was mired in a shooting funk in that matchup, including a 0-for-7 night from 3-point range, but found ways to spark the Detroit Pistons with his passing.

Player projections for tonight’s trip to the desert aren’t as advantageous when it comes to his assists. Models range from 7.7 to 9.5 dimes, with the majority of those forecasts falling short of the 9.5 O/U.

And for good reason. The Suns are a Top 10 defense and do an exceptional job putting the brakes on foes who want to push the ball.

They give up the fourth fewest fast-break buckets and limit those teams to the second-lowest transition points per play. Phoenix also holds opponents to the fourth fewest assists and, more importantly, the sixth lowest assist-to-FGM rate.

The Pistons record the eighth most points per play in transition and sit third in average fast-break points (18.0). Cunningham sets the tempo for that transition attack, but will be forced to play more half-court sets against the Suns.

My number for Cunningham comes out to 8.6 assists Thursday night.

Pistons vs Suns same-game parlay

The Suns have some offensive weapons nursing ailments, but can put the brakes on the Pistons’ fastbreak attack.

Cunningham’s projections call for a downtick in dimes compared to his recent distribution.

Dillon Brooks battles on the boards with models calling for 4.7 rebounds tonight.

Pistons vs Suns SGP

Under 214.5
Cade Cunningham Under 9.5 assists
Dillon Brooks Over 3.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Check engine light

Our game predictions forecast both teams staying short of 210 points.

Cunningham’s projections sit as low as 7.7 assists tonight.

Brooks is averaging more than four rebounds this month, with the Suns' backcourt running thin.

Royce O’Neale is forecasted for double figures with a busy night beyond the arc.

Pistons vs Suns SGP

Under 214.5
Cade Cunningham Under 9.5 assists
Dillon Brooks Over 3.5 rebounds
Royce O’Neale Over 9.5 points

Pistons vs Suns odds

Spread: Pistons -4.5 | Suns +4.5
Moneyline: Pistons -185 | Suns +155
Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5

Pistons vs Suns betting trend to know

Detroit has produced a 5-9 Over/Under count in non-conference games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Suns.

How to watch Pistons vs Suns

Location	PHX Arena, Phoenix, AZ
Date	Thursday, January 29, 2026
Tip-off	9:00 p.m. ET
TV	FDSN Detroit, Suns+

Pistons vs Suns 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

January 29, 2026

A look at MLB players lined up to participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to begin in less than three months, as Team USA is looking to avenge a runner-up finish at the hands of Shohei Ohtani and Japan back in 2023.

Manager Mark DeRosa heads up the American squad, a team that is headlined by several big-name stars. Let’s take a quick look at MLB players participating in the upcoming event, beginning with Team USA. Note: Rosters are not yet finalized, meaning there will surely be additions to this list in the coming weeks. I’ll try to keep this updated over time.

USA

RHP David Bednar (Yankees)
SP Matthew Boyd (Cubs)
3B Alex Bregman (Cubs)
OF Byron Buxton (Twins)
OF Corbin Carroll (D-backs)
RP Garrett Cleavinger (Rays)
INF Ernie Clement (Blue Jays)
OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs)
SS Gunnar Henderson (Orioles)
RHP Clay Holmes (Mets)
RP Griffin Jax (Rays)
OF Aaron Judge (Yankees)
RHP Brad Keller (Phillies)
LHP Clayton Kershaw (retiring after WBC)
RHP Nolan McLean (Mets)
RHP Mason Miller (Padres)
C Cal Raleigh (Mariners)
RHP Joe Ryan (Twins)
DH Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)
RHP Paul Skenes (Pirates)
LHP Tarik Skubal (Tigers)
C Will Smith (Dodgers)
LHP Gabe Speier (Mariners)
2B Brice Turang (Brewers)
RHP Logan Webb (Giants)
RP Garrett Whitlock (Red Sox)
SS Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals)

Team USA is not short on big names, as the team is headlined by reigning AL MVP (and three-time winner) Aaron Judge and runner-up Cal Raleigh, who broke MLB’s record for homers by a catcher in a season. Both the AL Cy Young (Tarik Skubal) and NL Cy Young (Paul Skenes) are also on the roster.

Players returning from the 2023 WBC roster for the US include designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, catcher Will Smith, and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

The Brewers’ lone representative in the 2026 WBC, as it stands, is infielder Brice Turang, who is coming off the best season of his young career. Turang, 26, accumulated 5.6 bWAR in 2025, hitting .288/.359/.435 with 18 homers, 81 RBIs, 97 runs, and 24 steals while finishing as a finalist at second base for both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

Australia

2B Travis Bazzana (Guardians)
RHP Liam Hendriks (free agent)
INF Curtis Mead (White Sox)

Australia’s roster includes veteran reliever Liam Hendriks, who is currently a free agent after spending an injury-shortened 2025 season with the Red Sox, struggling to a 6.59 ERA and 12 strikeouts over just 13 2/3 innings. Travis Bazzana is arguably a bigger name than Hendriks despite having not yet reached the majors with Cleveland. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick and MLB’s No. 17 prospect split time across three levels in 2025, hitting .245/.389/.424 with nine homers, 39 RBIs, 71 runs, and 12 steals in 84 games.

Bonus: Former Brewer Dave Nilsson, who played for Milwaukee from 1992-1999 and earned an All-Star appearance in his final MLB season, is the manager of Australia.

Brazil

INF Bo Bichette (Mets)

Canada

OF Owen Caissie (Marlins)
1B Josh Naylor (Mariners)
C Bo Naylor (Guardians)
RHP Matt Brash (Mariners)
SS Otto Lopez (Marlins)
LHP James Paxton (retired)
RHP Cal Quantrill (free agent)
RHP Michael Soroka (D-backs)
C Liam Hicks (Marlins)
1B Tyler Black (Brewers)
RHP Jameson Taillon (Cubs)

Colombia

LHP Jose Quintana (free agent)
3B Gio Urshela (free agent)
RHP Julio Teherán (free agent)

Cuba

OF Andy Pages (Dodgers)
3B Yoán Moncada (Angels)
RHP Yariel Rodríguez (Blue Jays)
INF Andy Ibáñez (Dodgers)

Dominican Republic

RHP Sandy Alcantara (Marlins)
RHP Brayan Bello (Red Sox)
3B Junior Caminero (Rays)
SS/OF Oneil Cruz (Pirates)
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
LHP Cristopher Sánchez (Phillies)
OF Juan Soto (Mets)
OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres)

Junior Caminero is the headliner on the D.R.’s roster. The 22-year-old third baseman had a breakout 2025 season, accumulating 4.4 bWAR as he hit .264/.311/.535 with 45 homers, 110 RBIs, and 93 runs, garnering an All-Star spot and a ninth-place AL MVP finish.

Great Britain

LHP Aroldis Chapman (Red Sox)
C Harry Ford (Nationals)

Israel

OF Harrison Bader (Giants)
RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles)
C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies)

Team Israel is led by Giants outfielder Harrison Bader, who had a great season between the Twins and Phillies in 2025, totaling 3.9 bWAR as he hit .277/.347/.449 with 17 homers, 54 RBIs, 61 runs, and 11 steals to go with strong defense. Dean Kremer of the Orioles and Garrett Stubbs of the Phillies both return from the 2023 team.

Italy

1B Vinnie Pasquantino (Royals)
OF Jac Caglianone (Royals)
RHP Adam Ottavino (free agent)

First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, or “Pasquatch” as he’s affectionately known, will represent Team Italy for the second consecutive WBC in 2026. He’s had a solid four-year career with K.C., hitting .266/.330/.456 with 70 career homers across 424 games.

Japan

DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (Angels)
LHP Yuki Matsui (Padres)
INF Munetaka Murakami (White Sox)
INF Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays)
RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (free agent)
OF Seiya Suzuki (Cubs)
RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers)

I don’t think I need to say much more about Shohei Ohtani at this point. Everyone knows he’s the best player on the planet at this point, and no other player (with the possible exception of Aaron Judge) is even close to being in that conversation. Ohtani helped lead Japan to the title in 2023 and will look to do so once again in 2026. Dodger teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto is also on the roster.

Mexico

1B Jonathan Aranda (Rays)
OF Randy Arozarena (Mariners)
OF Jarren Duran (Red Sox)
C Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays)
RHP Andrés Muñoz (Mariners)
1B Rowdy Tellez (free agent)
INF Luis Urías (free agent)
INF Ramón Urías (free agent)
RHP Taijuan Walker (Phillies)

Randy Arozarena and Jarren Duran both return to the Team Mexico roster after participating in the 2023 WBC. Arozarena was a star in that edition, hitting .450/.607/.900 with a homer, six doubles, nine RBIs, eight runs, and six walks in four games. Duran is, notably, a name that has come up often in trade rumors this offseason, as Boston looks to deal from their outfield depth.

Netherlands

OF Ceddanne Rafaela (Red Sox)

Nicaragua

3B Mark Vientos (Mets)

Mets third baseman Mark Vientos is the lone MLB player on Nicaragua’s roster, though he’s coming off a disappointing season after a breakout campaign in 2024.

Bonus: Milwaukee pitching prospect Carlos Rodriguez was on the 2023 Nicaragua WBC roster, pitching four innings of one-run ball (2.25 ERA). We’ll see if he’s on the team once again in 2026.

Panama

LHP Logan Allen (Guardians)
C Miguel Amaya (Cubs)
C Iván Herrera (Cardinals)

Puerto Rico

3B Nolan Arenado (D-backs)
UTIL Willi Castro (Rockies)
SS/3B Carlos Correa (Astros)
RP Fernando Cruz (Yankees)
OF Riley Greene (Tigers)
SS Francisco Lindor (Mets)
SP Seth Lugo (Royals)
OF George Springer (Blue Jays)

The Mets train continues, as shortstop Francisco Lindor is included on Puerto Rico’s roster. Lindor had a solid 2023 WBC with the team, hitting .450/.500/.550 with a triple, five RBIs, six runs, and a steal over five games.

Venezuela

OF Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox)
OF Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves)
OF Jackson Chourio (Brewers)
INF Maikel Garcia (Royals)
C Salvador Perez (Royals)
SS Ezequiel Tovar (Rockies)

The 14-year veteran catcher Salvador Perez will participate in his fourth WBC with Venezuela, this time as the team captain. Across eight career WBC games, he’s hit .346/.393/.808 with two homers and eight RBIs.

January 29, 2026

Heat vs. Bulls predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for January 29

Winners of two of their last three, the Miami Heat (25-23) are in the Windy City tonight to play the Chicago Bulls (23-24). This game was originally scheduled for January 8 but had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather.

Each of these teams played last night…and each team lost last night. The Heat lost at home to the Magic, 133-124, despite 23 points off the bench from Simone Fontecchio. The Bulls lost by three in Indianapolis to the Pacers. Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 25 points in the 113-110 loss.

That loss was the second in a row for Josh Giddey and the Bulls who are now under .500 and in tenth in the Eastern Conference. Giddey has been exceptional this season averaging 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game but has missed nearly 25% of the Bulls’ games. This team is not deep enough to succeed too often when he is absent.

While Pat Riley desperately tries to get Giannis to South Beach, the Heat continue to sputter along sitting in eighth in the East but just one game out of sixth. Acquired last offseason, Norman Powell is Miami’s leading scorer averaging 23 points per game.

This is the second of four regular season meetings between these teams. They met earlier this season on November 21 at the United Center with the Heat rolling to a 143-107 win.

Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Heat at Bulls

Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time: 8PM EST
Site: United Center
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network Sun, Chicago Sports Network

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Heat at Bulls

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Miami Heat (-130), Chicago Bulls (+110)
Spread: Heat -1.5
Total: 238.5 points

This game opened Bulls -1.5 with the Total set at 242.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Heat at Bulls

Miami Heat

PG Davion Mitchell
SG Norman Powell
SF Pelle Larsson`
PF Andrew Wiggins
C Bam Adebayo

Chicago Bulls

PG Josh Giddey
SG Coby White
SF Isaac Okoro
PF Matas Buzelis
C Nikola Vucevic

Injury Report: Heat at Bulls

Miami Heat

Davion Mitchell (shoulder) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Tyler Herro (ribs) is listed as doubtful for tonight’s game

Chicago Bulls

Tre Jones (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for tonight’s game
Zach Collins (toe) has been ruled OUT of tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Heat at Bulls

The Bulls are 15-10 at home this season
The Heat are 10-15 on the road this season
The Bulls are 24-23 ATS this season
The Heat are 27-21 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 21 of the Bulls’ 47 games this season (21-26)
The OVER has cashed in 25 of the Heat’s 48 games this season (25-23)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. has picked up at least 4 assists and 5 rebounds in 5 of his last 7 games
Coby White has scored at least 22 points in 5 of his last 6 games

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Heat and Bulls’ game:

Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Bulls on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Bulls +1.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 238.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

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January 29, 2026

Celtics' Jayson Tatum reportedly reconsidering comeback, may sit out season recovering from torn Achilles

When Jayson Tatum went through an entire workout in front of reporters in Detroit last week, the message was clear — he is getting closer and closer to a return from the torn Achilles he suffered in the playoffs last May. Reinforcements for Boston's playoff run seemed to be on the way.

Now, Tatum is reconsidering that comeback and may sit out the entire season, according to multiple reports.

First, he spoke with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and said he "wants to get it right the first time, so it's just a lot to think about."

Later that night, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported on NBA TV that Tatum is re-evaluating everything and may sit out the entire season.

Sources: Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum (Achilles recovery) is re-evaluating his situation and is now considering sitting out the entire 2025-26 season. Final decision has yet to be determined. pic.twitter.com/Z8CcVjFSIr
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 29, 2026

Tatum tore his Achilles tendon last May, in Game 4 of the Celtics' second-round series against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Recovery time for an elite Athlete from a torn Achilles is usually 10-12 months, and the early end of that timeline would have Tatum returning in March, with time to play for a month with the Celtics, get his legs under him and fit in with one of the surprise teams in the East.

Tatum thinks a lot about how he would fit in with these Celtics, he said in a recent appearance on "The Pivot Podcast" (hat tip The Athletic).

"If or when I do come back this season, they will have played 50 some-odd games without me, so they have an identity this year or things that they've felt have clicked for them. And it's been successful. They're the (second) team in the East up to this point. So there is a thought in my head, like, how does that work? Or how does that look with me integrating myself off the injury … 50, 60 games into a season? There obviously could be some challenges. And it is a thought: Do I come back? Should I wait? It's something that I honestly, recently, in the last two weeks or so just kind of contemplate every single day."

Boston and New York are currently tied for second in the East, seeding that will matter come the postseason. Led by Jaylen Brown, who is having the kind of season that lands him on MVP ballots, Boston has the No. 2 offense in the NBA, and the defense has been solid enough to win games. In a wide-open East this year, the expectation was that Tatum, anywhere close to his old form, would elevate this team to potential Eastern Conference favorites.

Yet every time there was talk of a Tatum return, there has been a chorus of voices — including medical experts and former front office people — suggesting Tatum take the entire season off and not push for an early comeback. They suggested he take the same position as Tyrese Haliburton, who ruptured his Achilles a month later in the NBA Finals, and just take this entire season off, then return at full strength for the 2026-27 season.

That decision ultimately falls to Tatum, his medical team and the Boston Celtics medical staff. Tatum is at least considering the long-term, patient approach. Ultimately, he needs to do what is best for himself, his body, and his career — and that's no easy call. He's got time to really think it through, but a decision day is coming sometime after the All-Star break.

January 29, 2026

Oilers Expect Different Challenge Against Sharks Than Ducks

The Edmonton Oilers will face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night, but this will be a far different test than the matchup against the Anaheim Ducks from Tuesday. Two similar up-and-coming teams that appear to be the next great franchises in the NHL, the Sharks and Ducks offer different challenges.

"The systems are different. They do things differently," said head coach Kris Knoblauch. "They're both exciting teams with a lot of young talent, yes, they are, but the type of game that each one plays is different."

McDavid Will Get His First Look at a Future Teammate

Celebrini is headed to the 2026 Winter Olympics alongside Connor McDavid. Both will play for Team Canada at the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina.

They'll be opponents on Thursday, but teammates in a couple of weeks. "He's driven. He plays a hard game, wins faceoffs, and puck battles. He does a lot of things that a veteran does," said McDavid. It will be McDavid's first up-close look at a player some believe might challenge him for the Hart Trophy this season.

Expect it to be a challenge that McDavid gets excited about. And, now that Edmonton understands the kind of push a young team can bring, maybe this matchup will be another good litmus test.

"Anaheim definitely has young skill, and they play a fast game, but everybody's structured now. If you're going to have success in this league, it's not just going to be free-wheeling and having these young guys score a few points every night. You have to play a structured game, or else you're going to pay for it," said Knoblauch.

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January 29, 2026

2026 Chicago Cubs player profiles: Matt Shaw

Fifth in the series. Today we look at the Cubs’newly-anointed utility man.

Matt Shaw is a controversial figure in Cubdom right now. Not for his political beliefs (at this time), but because the signing of Alex Bregman necessarily leads to a change of position for the young man, and because it looks a bit like fan favorite and team leader Nico Hoerner is going somewhere else after this season to facilitate Shaw’s transference to second base, should there be a 2027 season.

The chance of that is non-zero, but that won’t be our focus.

Shaw had two different seasons in one. His first half was iffy — the entire third base contingent were not very good, and none of them got to midseason, except for Shaw, who took over the spot, made a lot of really good defensive plays, and held his own with the bat. His slash line of .226/.295/.394, with a bWAR of 3.1, isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s leagues better than Jon Berti was turning in.

Indeed his bWAR figure is in the same ballpark as Bregman’s 2025 (3.5 bWAR). Bregman’s numbers were reduced due to injury. Shaw’s were bolstered by his very good second half. Fangraphs, who aren’t as influenced by defensive numbers, awarded Shaw 1.5 fWAR, while Bregman garnered 3.5 fWAR.

We’ll have to see how Shaw adjusts to a utility role. Team management has said that he’ll spend some time in the outfield, which would lead me to think that Kevin Alcántara will be spending the bulk of his time in Iowa, provided that Tyler Austin’s power shows up, which would make Austin the backup 1B/DH, as noted in his profile.

It would not surprise me if Shaw flourishes in that role. He certainly has the speed and athleticism to get the job done. I wouldn’t vote against his chances.

January 29, 2026

50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years: Mark Teixeira

The 2009 season marked a transitional year for the Yankees, coming off the final season in the original Yankee Stadium and the team’s first season without a postseason appearance since 1995. The team’s aging core was still producing, but veteran slugger Jason Giambi’s contract expired after the season, leaving a hole at the cold corner.

Thankfully, there was a marquee first baseman available on the market: Mark Teixeira. The switch-hitting slugger and Gold Glover was coming off an MVP-caliber season — he had been traded from the Braves to the Angels at the trade deadline, which wiped out his vote share because of the change in leagues. Several teams attempted to woo Teixeira, but the Yankees were ultimately successful, inking him to an eight-year pact. Tex would be one of the most important contributors to the 2009 team which baptized the new Yankee Stadium with the franchise’s 27th championship. While he struggled with injuries on the back half of the deal, he was a fearsome presence in the heart of the Yankee lineup for most of those eight years.

Mark Teixeira
Signing Date: January 6, 2009
Contract: 8 years, $180 million

Teixeira was born on April 11, 1980 in Annapolis, Maryland and attended Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore. He excelled enough there for the Red Sox to take a flyer on him with a ninth-round pick in the 1998 Draft, but he chose to honor his commitment to Georgia Tech, where he became one of the top college hitters in the country.

Now a consensus first-round talent, Teixeira was selected fifth overall in 2001 by the rebuilding Texas Rangers. It wouldn’t take long for him to blossom in the bigs. He made the Rangers’ roster out of spring training in 2003 and from that point forward was a lock to slug at least 25 home runs a season. By 2005, he had already exceeded 100 career homers, reached the All-Star Game, and taken home a pair of Silver Sluggers as well as a Gold Glove. But he wouldn’t reach the postseason until 2008, at which point Teixeira had been traded at the deadline twice in as many seasons; first from the Rangers to the Braves for a king’s ransom, then from Atlanta to the Angels.

That offseason, Teixeira entered free agency as the best hitter on the market. The Angels were interested in bringing him back, but several other teams made big offers. The Red Sox, who had drafted him back in high school, were in the mix — though Teixeira had vocally criticized Boston in the past for their pre-draft negotiations with him. The Nationals and Orioles both tried for the Marylander who grew up close to both Baltimore and DC.

Eventually, the Angels and Red Sox got cold feet, providing an opening for the Yankees. Teixeira, who idolized Don Mattingly growing up, ultimately chose the Bronx as the place to continue his career. The eight-year, $180 million agreement, announced right before the holidays, was made official on January 6th. Teixeira joined starting pitchers CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett as part of a gargantuan free agent haul as the team awaited the grand opening of the brand new Yankee Stadium.

Teixeira proved a perfect fit in the Bronx, providing a strong baseline of production at the plate with sterling first-base defense, but also capable of entering incendiary stretches in which he was impossible to pitch to. Like the rest of the team, Teixiera took a bit to get going in April, but was the AL’s best hitter in May, smashing 13 home runs with a .330/.391/.748 slash line. He made the All-Star Game and then was an even better hitter in the second half, finishing the year with 39 homers and 122 RBI. He finished second in MVP voting behind Minnesota’s Joe Mauer.

Mauer and the Twins, of course, would meet Teixeira and the Bombers in the ALDS. The Yankees took Game 1, but Game 2 would be a battle requiring extra innings. In the bottom of the 11th, Teixeira smashed a line drive down the left field line and over the wall for a walk-off home run to put New York in the driver’s seat.

View Link

Teixeira struggled in the playoffs despite the early highlight, but the Yankees took down his former team, the Angels, in the ALCS, and hosted the Phillies in the World Series. After Philadelphia snatched the series lead in Game 1, a homer from Teixeira off Pedro Martinez tied Game 2 and lit the spark for an eventual Yankee win. Finally in Game 6, Tex provided an RBI single in the fifth to help bring the Commissioner’s Trophy back to the Bronx.

The Yankees would not return to the Fall Classic again during Teixeira’s tenure, but his presence at the heart of the order helped extend a window which appeared to be closing before his arrival. In 2010, he registered another strong season, with an .856 OPS, 33 home runs, and his second Gold Glove in as many seasons at first base. Unfortunately, Teixeira struggled again in the playoffs before a hamstring injury put him on the shelf. The Rangers, the franchise which had drafted him nine years before and was now a powerhouse, kicked the Yankees out in the ALCS in six games.

In 2012, Teixeira began to struggle with injuries. He suffered from a persistent cough that plagued him throughout the early part of the season, then endured a pair of DL stints for calf injuries late in the season. He returned in time for the postseason and hit well, but with no home runs, and the Yankees were swept by the Tigers in a demoralizing ALCS.

That marked the final postseason run of Teixeira’s career. The Yankees entered a somnambulant period after 2012, overloaded with veterans who couldn’t stay on the field. Teixeira was one of them, only playing 15 games in 2013 after injuring his wrist during the World Baseball Classic. In 2014, Teixeira’s production dropped as he again dealt with hamstring and wrist injuries. New York missed the postseason both years.

Entering the 2015 season, it appeared Tex’s halcyon days had come to an end. But in his age-35 campaign, the embattled first baseman authored a terrific comeback campaign, returning to the All-Star Game for the first time since ‘09. He finished the year with 31 home runs, a total which would have been even higher had it not been for August 17th. That night, with the Twins in town, Teixeira fouled a ball off his leg and staggered out of the box. He left the game and was diagnosed with a bone bruise, but after several weeks of tests and negative X-rays, was finally found to have suffered a shin fracture. That would spell the end of what had been a stirring resurgence.

Then, at last, came 2016, the final year of Teixeira’s deal. His final ride was an unproductive slog, in which his average hovered around .200 and his formerly prodigious power wilted, even as he slugged his 400th career homer on July 4th in San Diego. In August, he announced in a press conference that he would retire at the end of the season. But he did have one last magical moment in him: a walk-off grand slam against the Red Sox in one of the final games of his career.

View Link

The main objective for Teixeira in coming to New York was to win. He did, right away, playing an instrumental role on a championship team. Despite failing to return to the mountaintop in his successive years in the Bronx, Teixeira provided high-quality play on offense and defense for as long as his body would allow him to do so. He retired as an accomplished and dedicated 14-year major leaguer with nothing left to prove.

See more of the “50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years” series here.

January 29, 2026

Prospect lists show Royals system is top-heavy, still needing progress

It is prospect list season! The Royals have a few names that rank highly on lists, providing reasons for optimism. But despite signs of improvement, it is clear that the team still needs more progress to become a sustainable winner.

Baseball America is the gold standard of prospect lists, release their 2026 update last week. They are quite high on Royals catcher Carter Jensen, ranking him #11 among all prospects. Other than Bobby Witt Jr.’s #3 ranking in 2022, it is the highest a Royals prospect has ranked in a Baseball America preseason ranking in the last dozen years. Jensen hit .290/.377/.501 with 20 home runs in 111 games across Double-A and Triple-A, then joined the Royals in September and impressed, hitting .300/.391/.550 with three home runs in 20 games.

Pitcher Kendry Chourio also broke into the top 100 prospect list at #82, after being aggressively promoted this year. He went from the Dominican Summer League, to the Arizona Complex League, finishing with six starts at Low-A Columbia, all at age 17. With the Fireflies, he posted a 5.16 ERA but with 24 strikeouts and just 4 walks in 22.2 innings. The publication singles him out as a prospect who could be a riser this year, writing he “blends now stuff with uncommon poise into a skill set,” and that a strong season could give him “a case as the sport’s best pitching prospect.”

Baseball America pre-season top 100 rankings for Royals prospects

Just missing the top 100 prospect list was pitcher David Shields, who also impressed this year at a very young age. The 18-year-old left-hander posted a sensational 2.01 ERA with 81 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 71.2 innings. In their article about the prospects that just missed, Josh Norris writes that he “doesn’t have the kind of blow-away stuff as some of the other pitchers in the minors, but his pitchability and command should help him become a mid-rotation starter in a few years.”

MLB Pipeline also came out with their prospect list last week, with Jensen ranked #18 and former first-round pick Blake Mitchell ranked #75. Mitchell had a tough start to his 2025 season, suffering a wrist injury in spring training that kept him out for the first half of the season. When he returned, he continued to show a very patient eye at the plate, but his power was sapped as it often is for players returning from wrist injuries. The 20-year-old catcher hit .207/.372/.296 with two home runs in 49 games for High-A Quad Cities. Mitchell was ranked #48 by the publication last year, and was ranked #75 by Baseball America last year before falling off their list this season.

Keith Law has high praise for Jensen, ranking him #10 overall. He writes the 22-year-old is a “legit Rookie of the Year candidate this year as a true catcher who could hit 20 homers with a strong OBP, and with 3-plus WAR potential right away thanks to the defense and positional adjustment.” He ranks Mitchell #56, despite what he calls a “lost year.” Law believes Mitchell is “the best defensive catcher in the Royals’ system, a plus receiver and framer with at least a 60 arm, and has the raw power to be a regular at the position even if he doesn’t hit for a high average.” He also ranks Chourio #61, writing that although there are injury concerns when a pitcher his age throws so hard, he is “everything you’d want to see in a young pitching prospect, including the potential upside of 80 command.”

Kiley McDaniel at ESPN had Jensen as the only Royals prospect in his top 100 list at #25, but he ranked Kendry Chourio (#124), Josh Hammond (#132), and Blake Mitchell (#143) in his 101-200 list. He had high praise for Chourio, writing the right-hander “has the elements to become a front-line starter I’m looking for: enough velocity, plenty of command, the potential for three above-average pitch shapes and surface number performance.” But he adds that the right-hander needs to tweak his “breaking ball shapes.” Curiously omitted from the ranking is Shields.

As for the overall state of the Royals’ farm system, they still seem to rank in the bottom third. McDaniel ranks them #24, praising top prospects Jensen and Chourio and their draft picks of Hammond and pitcher Michael Lombardi. But he writes, “the rest of the system is made up of mostly role players and higher-variance types.”

Jon Hoefling of USA Today came out with a farm system ranking last week, putting the Royals at #26, writing, “they might have a dry spell of great prospects coming to the big leagues for a few years. However, in his top five list of Royals prospects, he omits Chourio or Shields, instead listing Jensen, Mitchell, 2025 first-round picks Sean Gamble and Josh Hammond, and 19-year-old shortstop Yandel Ricardo.

MLB Pipeline last August ranked the Royals #26, although they write the Royals had “one of the most interesting and dynamic international classes of 2025” that netted Chourio. A recent MLB Pipeline poll of executives regarding relative strengths of farm systems did not mention the Royals at all. Kiley McDaniel at ESPN ranked the Royals #27 last August, writing, “Hammond and Gamble could be the high-end prospects needed to pull this system out of the bottom third of the league.”

Prospects1500 ranked the Royals #26 at the end of last season, writing that if “Kendry Chourio continues his breakout and Blake Mitchell can bounce back after an injury-filled 2025, the top of this system could look stronger this time next year. Fangraphs has farm system rankings based on Future Value metrics of top prospects in each system, ranking the Royals 28th.

The Royals are one of six clubs to place just two prospects on the Baseball America list, with the Diamondbacks, Braves, Cubs, Phillies, and Rangers. Three clubs – the Rockies, Angels, and Padres – have just one prospect, and the Astros have none.

You could argue that the Royals’ farm system ranking is low because they graduated players to the big league roster. But that isn’t quite accurate. Jac Caglianone has graduated from lists, but other homegrown players have been in the big leagues for a significant amount of time – Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Maikel Garcia have all spent at least three full seasons in the big leagues. Noah Cameron and Freddy Fermin are the only significant players who have debuted in the last three seasons. Besides, a successful small market team needs to continually produce prospects to build a sustainable winner. Having a farm system that has dry spells will lead to a thin roster.

But there is reason to think things are turning a corner for the Royals. They have taken a more data-driven approach since J.J. Picollo took the helm, and have been more aggressive in spending in the international market, landing top prospects like Ricardo, Chourio, and shortstop Warren Calcaño. Scouting director Brian Bridges took over after the 2023 season, and his first two draft classes have an intriguing mix of prospects that includes Caglianone, Shields, Gamble, Hammond, and pitcher Drew Beam.

Still, the Royals have a long way to go before they are even close to the top farm systems in baseball. And unlike the free agent market, the financial disparities haven’t made it impossible for small-market teams to compete for prospects. The Guardians are tied for the most prospects on Baseball America’s list with six, with the Brewers and Marlins close behind at five. Kiley McDaniel tweeted that the Brewers will rank #1 when he comes out with his overall farm system rankings.

Until the Royals can consistently produce impact talent year after year, and not just rely on the occasional standout prospect, the farm will remain closer to the bottom than the top of industry rankings. Progress is evident, but sustainability remains the real test.

1. Travis Konecny Put the Offense on His Back.

2. Dan Vladar’s Return Deserved a Better Team Effort.

3. The Flyers’ Offense Beyond Konecny Leaves Something to Be Desired.

4. Late-Game Structure Continues to Be a Problem.

5. Competitive Efforts Aren't Enough Anymore.

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