Worldwide Sports News

Coming off a 6–2 homestand, the Golden State Warriors head out on a four-game road trip beginning Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 PM PT in Dallas and can be watched on Prime Video and NBC Sports Bay Area.

Dubs in Dallas 🤠

🏀 GSW at DAL
🕖 4:30 pm PT
📺 @NBCSAuthentic & @NBAonPrime
📻 @957thegame
📲 https://t.co/6BLvDT0oIP @Betway || #DubNation pic.twitter.com/hU7pw7eNqF
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 22, 2026

Previously with the Warriors:

The Warriors are coming off a tough 145–127 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in what was the team’s first game without Jimmy Butler — who was officially ruled out for the season after suffering a torn ACL the night before. Butler’s absence was felt immediately, as Golden State surrendered 41 points in the first quarter and spent the rest of the night playing from behind. Despite a few spirited runs in the second half, the game remained firmly in Toronto’s control with the team still figuring out how they plan to navigate the Butler injury.

Draymond said the Warriors could win a championship last year at the All-Star break after acquiring Jimmy Butler — and now the tables have turned completely.

"Shit I don't know. We gotta go through it… we'll figure it out. Nature of the game we play. Injuries happen. But I… pic.twitter.com/VOmRCozHup
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 21, 2026

What to watch for tonight:

Golden State looks to bounce back Thursday night as they begin their road trip in Dallas. With Butler gone, the Warriors must find new ways to replace his all-around impact on the game, especially on the offensive end where he was averaging 20 points per game this season. On Tuesday, that responsibility fell to Jonathan Kuminga, who returned after 16 straight games listed as a DNP to score 20 points in just 21 minutes.

Jonathan Kuminga tonight:

20 PTS
5 REB
2 AST
7-10 FG

First game after 16 consecutive DNP-CDs.pic.twitter.com/Ow4JAAo9gI
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) January 21, 2026

Despite a turbulent stretch that included Kuminga requesting a trade from the team, he provided a much-needed offensive spark. Head coach Steve Kerr has consistently pointed to the lineup fit alongside Butler and Draymond Green as the reason for Kuminga’s extended absence, but with Butler sidelined, the door is now open for him to slide into a larger role. For now, this appears to be the Warriors’ solution, but it’s worth monitoring whether Kuminga playing is merely a short-term fix or part of a broader plan to keep him beyond the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

Steve Kerr on Jonathan Kuminga:

"I thought JK was really good and it's a great sign. With Jimmy out, obviously there's a hole at that spot on our roster. JK's gonna factor in here again and really pleased with the way he stayed ready." pic.twitter.com/Wdldt6YOAQ
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 21, 2026

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!!

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Draymond Green, Quinten Post

Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington, Dwight Powell

How to watch Regular Season Game 46

Who: Golden State Warriors (25 – 20) vs. Dallas Mavericks (18 – 26)

When: Thursday, January 22nd, at 4:30 p.m. PT

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas

TV: Prime Video and NBC Sports Bay Area (available on fuboTV)

January 22, 2026

Rangers land All-Star pitcher MacKenzie Gore in trade with Nationals

The Texas Rangers landed the most coveted arm remaining on the trade market when they acquired MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals in exchange for five prospects, the clubs announced Jan. 22.

Gore, 26, earned his first All-Star nod in 2025, and while he faded a bit in the second half, still possesses one of the most dominant left-handed arms in the game. He established career highs in strikeouts (185) and strikeouts per inning (10.4) last season for Washington.

Part of the return package includes shortstop Gavin Fien, as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 draft joins the No. 1 overall, Eli Willits, in Washington's system.

The Rangers finished last season 81-81, their second consecutive non-winning season since taking the 2023 World Series. They traded second baseman Marcus Semien to the New York Mets, non-tendered slugger Adolis Garcia and have been relatively quiet this offseason otherwise.

Now, they can slot Gore between the right-handers Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom atop the rotation, giving them a potentially dominant starting pitching look.

That's assuming Gore, whose fastball reaches 98 mph, cleans up some of his peripherals. He posted a 1.35 WHIP last season and walked 3.6 batters per nine innings. Yet after the trade of Freddy Peralta from Milwaukee to the New York Mets Jan. 21, Gore was the clear-cut best remaining arm on the trade market - and he comes with two years of club control before becoming eligible for free agency.

Gore joined Washington as one of the centerpieces of the blockbuster 2022 deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego. While the trade worked out splendidly for the Nationals, with Gore, shortstop CJ Abrams and slugger James Wood emerging as foundational pieces, the Nationals lost 91, 91 and 96 games in the three full seasons since that deal.

Their most recent struggles preceded the firing of manager Dave Martinez and longtime GM Mike Rizzo. Now, the original rebuilding structure is getting torn down as new GM Paul Toboni tries to construct a winner anew.

In addition to Fien, a high school draftee from Temecula, Calif., the Nationals will receive right-hander Alejandro Rosario, a 24-year-old who sat out all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. Abimelec Ortiz (Class AAA outfielder, 23), Devin Fitz-Gerald (Class A infielder, 20) and Yeremy Cabrera (Class A outfielder, 20) are also headed to Washington.

MacKenzie Gore trade details

Texas Rangers receive:

LHP MacKenzie Gore

Washington Nationals receive:

SS Gavin Fien
RHP Alejandro Rosario
1B/OF Abimelec Ortiz
INF Devin Fitz-Gerald
OF Yeremy Cabrera

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MacKenzie Gore trade to Rangers details as Washington deals All-Star

January 22, 2026

Roman Josi reflects on career with Nashville Predators ahead of 1,000th career game

It has been 5,171 days since a 21-year-old Roman Josi was called up from the Milwaukee Admirals to join the Nashville Predators.

He remembers it vividly. On Nov. 26, 2011, Josi played his first NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings.

"I remember going out there for warmups and thinking that it was the coolest thing," Josi said. "It was at Joe Louis Arena, which was historic and across from me, you had guys like Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, which was pretty surreal. You never forget your first one."

Thursday, in the Predators' home matchup against the Ottawa Senators, Josi will play his 1,000th career game and become the first player in franchise history to play all 1,000 games with the Predators.

"It's a crazy number and a pretty special day," Josi said at Thursday morning's skate. "It's a good time to reflect a little bit and think about the time you've been here. It's pretty special to do it with this organization and the only team I've played for."

Roman Josi speaks to media ahead of his 1,000th career game #Preds pic.twitter.com/8CSJP7M2i4
— Jack Williams (@jackgwilliams) January 22, 2026

Josi's list of accolades, not just in the Predators organization, but in the NHL and internationally, is a long one.

He's established himself as one of the best defensemen of his generation, a four-time NHL All-Star, 2020 Norris Trophy Winner, and just the second defenseman ever to lead an NHL franchise in points, the other being Hall of Famer Ray Bourque (1,506 points) with the Boston Bruins.

Over 999 career games, Josi has tallied 198 goals and 554 assists for 752 points.

"To play 1,000 games in one uniform is really hard these days," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "With the CBA and free agency, it's a heck of an accomplishment."

Josi has been a pioneer in the growth of Switzerland's hockey presence, winning three silver medals at the IIHF World Championships, competing in the 2014 Olympics, and gearing up for another run at the 2026 games next month.

While he's originally from Switzerland, Nashville has become home to Josi. It's where he met his wife, Ellie Ottaway-Josi, and where his two kids were born and are being raised.

Josi's family will be attending the game on Thursday.

"My kids are at a good age now where they kind of understand what's happening a little bit," Josi said. "I met my wife here. My kids were born here. There are so many things that have happened in this town over the last 15 years.

"My family is here from back home (Switzerland). They've been here so many times and they love it."

Nov 26, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) takes the puck up ice against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at the Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images

Reaching 1,000 games means even more, considering Josi's health and the possibility in the 2025 offseason that he may not reach the milestone.

After missing the final two months of the 2024-25 season, it was revealed that Josi had been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a circulatory disorder that causes a rapid heart rate increase.

With his status in flux throughout the summer, days before training camp, General Manager Barry Trotz announced that Josi would be ready, "100 percent healthy."

"We were all a little bit scared last year. I'm sure he was," Brunette said. "I think the clarification with what he was dealing with eased a lot of tension in all of us, especially him. To see him back, he's pointed at a really high level this year.

"We played better because Roman's healthy and in his groove, so I'm happy to see him. He's been scoring some goals lately. His game is at a really high level."

Josi said a lot has to go right health-wise in order to get to 1,000 games, but he credited the people around him in the Predators organization who got him there.

"There are a lot of people to be thankful for," Josi said. "Our staff does an amazing job to keep you healthy and a lot goes into it. I feel very lucky, health-wise, to make it to 1,000."

Feb 9, 2011; St. Paul, MN USA; Minnesota Wild forward Andrew Brunette (15) with his wife Laurie Brunette (second left) and father Dan Brunette (left) is presented with a silver hockey stick for his 1000th game played last week before the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-Imagn Images

The moment allowed Brunette to reflect on his 1,000th career game, which he eclipsed in 2011, with the Minnesota Wild. He said the moment can be emotionally "tough."

"When you get to that game, sometimes it feels like an obituary at times," Brunette said. "You see everybody talk about it and you gotta kind of catch yourself that you're, you're not dead. The tributes and the things people say.

"As a hockey player, you're always moving forward. Next game, next shift, the next play. To take a second and reflect, for me, wasn't a great feeling."

The celebration has already begun ahead of the game, as Josi has received gifts from his teammates, including a limited-edition Norqain watch and VIP tickets to the US Open.

It'll be a special celebration Thursday night, but Josi is aware of the task at hand of beating the Senators and avoiding a third straight loss.

"You obviously want to enjoy the moment, but once the game starts, we're trying to win," Josi said. "It's a special game for me, but once the game starts, you focus on that."

January 22, 2026

Rangers land Gore from Nats, per reports

MLB Trade Rumors: The Texas Rangers have acquired starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals, per reports. Texas is sending five prospects, including 2025 first rounder Gavin Fein.

Well, we have been saying that the Rangers needed to add another starting pitcher. It appears they have done so.

Gore, who turns 27 next month, is a lefthander who was picked third overall in the 2017 draft out of Whiteville High School in North Carolina. He was a consensus top-10 prospect heading into both 2020 and 2021, but a disappointing 2021 season that saw him start poorly at AAA, miss time due to blisters and general ineffectiveness, and ultimately make just 12 starts in affiliated ball (half of them below AAA) before struggling in three Arizona Fall League starts saw him plummet in the rankings.

He started 2022 in the minors, but ended up making 13 starts and three relief appearances in the bigs for the Padres before being traded to the Washington Nationals in the Juan Soto deal while on the injured list with elbow issues.

From 2023-25, Gore has posted a 4.15 ERA in 89 starts covering 469.1 IP, with 517 Ks against 186 walks and 62 homers. Last season he threw 159.2 innings in 30 starts, with a 4.17 ERA, a 3.74 FIP and a 4.33 xERA.

We will update as more information becomes available.

UPDATE — According to Evan Grant, along with Fein, the Nats are getting Abi Ortiz, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Alejandro Rosario, and one other prospect. The unknown prospect is not, he says, Sebastian Walcott or Caden Scarborough.

UPDATE II — The fifth prospect is reportedly Yeremy Cabrera.

Fein is the guy in the deal who you feel like could make the Rangers regret the deal.

Ortiz had a strong final couple of months of 2025, but he’s a bat-only guy who wasn’t a lock to be added to the 40 man roster this offseason. He was, of course, ultimately added, which means that Gore will replace Ortiz on the 40 man.

Rosario was a super-exciting prospect at the end of 2024, a guy who was on most top 100 lists. He then was diagnosed with a torn UCL in the spring, needed Tommy John surgery, didn’t actually have Tommy John surgery for a while, and it isn’t clear whether he actually has had it or not (ed. note — he had it on January 13, so nine days ago). He was not going to be pitching again until 2027, so you see why the Rangers would be willing to part with him, given his injury situation.

Fitz-Gerald was the Rangers’ 5th round pick in 2024. He performed well in the ACL in 2025, and earned a promotion to Hickory to finish out the season.

Cabrera was a $10,000 international signee who turned heads in 2024. He spent the 2025 season at Hickory, slashing .256/.364/.366 with 43 stolen bases.

Their ranks on the Rangers’ BA list:

Fein — #3

Fitz-Gerald — #8

Rosario — #13

Cabrera — #14

Ortiz — N/R

I will offer more extensive thoughts on Gore later on tonight.

January 22, 2026January 22, 2026

Europa League roundup: Tielemans and Emery clash as Sancho seals Villa progress

Manager shoves his own midfielder in stoppage time
Aston Villa into last 16 with victory at Fenerbahce

Aston Villa sealed a top-eight finish in the Europa League after Jadon Sancho’s first goal for the club gave them a 1-0 win over Fenerbahce in Turkey. But the Villa manager, Unai Emery, was involved in a touchline spat with Youri Tielemans after the midfielder was substituted in stoppage time.

Villa’s win was their sixth from seven European matches this season and ended Fenerbahce’s unbeaten home record. Sancho opened his account in Villa colours to put the visitors in the driving seat amid a loud Sukru Saracoglu Stadium atmosphere.

January 22, 2026

Hawks rally in Memphis, defeat Grizzlies behind Johnson’s all-around night

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Atlanta Hawks showed resilience, poise, and just enough late-game execution to slip past the Memphis Grizzlies, 124–122, grinding out one of their most satisfying road wins of the season. Atlanta

After absorbing an early punch from a fired-up FedExForum crowd, Atlanta settled in, leaned on its versatility, and delivered when it mattered most exactly the kind of performance Hawks fans have been waiting to see after being on a four-game losing streak.

Atlanta was powered by a monster all-around night from Jalen Johnson, who was everywhere on the floor. Johnson attacked mismatches, cleaned the glass, and facilitated offense in transition, finishing just shy of a triple-double with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, setting the tone for the Hawks’ aggressive approach.

“I thought our group showed real toughness tonight. Memphis made multiple runs, the crowd was into it, and we didn’t blink. Jalen set the tone with his force and competitiveness, and we trusted each other late. Those are the kinds of wins that build you — especially on the road,” said head coach Quinn Snyder.

Whenever Memphis threatened to seize control, Johnson answered whether with a strong finish at the rim or a timely defensive play that swung momentum back Atlanta’s way. His clutch drive late in the fourth quarter ultimately sealed the victory.

The Hawks didn’t rely on just one option. Nickeil – Alexander- Walker orchestrated the offense and made key plays down the stretch, while Atlanta’s supporting cast chipped in with timely shooting and interior toughness. The Hawks consistently punished Memphis on second-chance opportunities and executed with greater composure in late-clock situations.

Inside, Atlanta’s bigs held their ground, limiting easy looks and forcing Memphis into contested finishes a subtle but decisive factor in a game decided by just two points. Onyeka Okongwu delivered 18 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, while Luke Kennard spaced the floor with 18 points, including four three-pointers.

Memphis countered with strong production from Ja Morant, who pressured Atlanta’s defense all night with his speed and playmaking. Morant finished with 23 points and 12 assists as the Grizzlies surged in the third quarter and carried momentum into the fourth.

But late missed opportunities and Atlanta’s calm execution at the free-throw line proved costly. Memphis even held a slim lead late in the final period, yet a desperation three from Morant at the buzzer rimmed out, sealing the Hawks’ hard-earned victory.

Atlanta is 21-25 on the season as they are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

January 22, 2026

Raptors willing to part with several starters in trades

A few days ago, we talked about what the Toronto Raptors could do at the deadline. Knowing Bobby Webster, but actually knowing his mentor Masai Ujiri, tells us that it’s a real possibility for the Raptors to not do anything spectacular at the deadline. Instead, they could wait for the summer to make moves. Yet, there is that little possibility that Webster starts his tenure as leader of the Raptors with a bang and makes a big trade before Feb. 5th’s deadline.

As Josh Lewenberg of TSN reports, the Raptors seem willing to part with more than one of their starters. Webster has apparently been on the phone with several other teams, tossing around possibilities, and doing what Lewenberg calls his “due diligence” on checking in on several targets around the NBA. This is definitely a move reflective of Masai’s tactics — staying extremely informed but not necessarily doing anything. It’s why the Raptors usually end in a ton of trade reports this time of year, because the Masai-now-Bobby method usually involves picking up the phone and having a chat about literally every player whose name is floating around. It’s less about wanting to make a move and more just knowing what options are out there in case you decide you might want to make a move. Something Lewenberg details in his reports as well. We all know the deal in this front office by now.

Can you see why I hate the trade deadline now?

Another good point Josh makes above is that sometimes these little check-ins turn into something more — take Brandon Ingram a year ago. I would have been one to tell you there’s no way the Raptors pull the trigger on that one, and they did. Mind you, the price ended up being lower than expected, which was nice. Another thing about Masai and Bobby — they know how to negotiate.

Now, another thing Lewenberg says is that if the Raptors don’t make a move at the deadline, its more because their “hands are tied” than anything. Makes sense, given their maybe most valuable asset is an injured Jakob Poeltl. The new-ish part in Lewenberg’s reporting is that the Raptors seem to be willing to part with any or all of Poeltl, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. Take this with a grain of salt, though, as the Raptors aren’t ones to leak themselves, and these speculations are more coming from other teams’ sources. As we all know, it’s these players (well, their salaries) that are the most valuable in trades for Toronto, and also prevent the Raptors from making any big signings now or in the summer.

If I had to make an educated guess, I would say Quickley was the most likely to be moved at the deadline, if anyone does get dealt. I would say Poeltl, yet his precarious injury situation doesn’t make me as confident that teams will bite. With Barrett, I’m sure it’s not off the table to include him in the deal, but it would have to be the right deal. If Barrett is traded this season, it’s because it’s the only way the Raptors get their top choice guy, in my opinion. He also still has a year left on his contract, so it’s a big undertaking for any team trading for him.

The Raptors are reportedly willing to part with RJ Barrett, per @JLew1050

“TSN can confirm that Toronto appears willing to part with some combination of Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett, or at least that’s the impression that rival teams have gleaned from… pic.twitter.com/7rrchjY0Ny
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 22, 2026

As I mentioned in last week’s update, most of the players that maybe would have been Toronto’s big targets (Young, Davis, Sabonis) are either gone, too expensive, or hurt. Or multiple of those options. We’ll have to see if anything comes up in the next few weeks as teams head into the final days before the deadline.

January 22, 2026

Bulls vs Timberwolves Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

A three-game losing streak can knock you from thinking about the No. 2 seed to worrying about the Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference. The Minnesota Timberwolves cannot let this slide continue, but fortunately, hosting the Chicago Bulls is a ripe chance to right things.

My Bulls vs. Timberwolves predictions and NBA picks recognize the value presented by a possible Minnesota injury.

Bulls vs Timberwolves prediction

Bulls vs Timberwolves best bet: Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points (+100)

With Julius Randle questionable tonight due to left foot soreness, the quick question becomes who will handle the ball more if Randle is out of this Minnesota Timberwolves lineup. The first instinct is Naz Reid, as he could slide into the starting lineup if Randle is indeed ruled out.

Howeve, Reid banged up his shoulder on Saturday, and his 5-for-15 shooting on Tuesday did not ease those worries.

Then look to Jaden McDaniels. The wing has already been handling the ball more often for Minnesota, often initiating the offense as Mike Conley continues to struggle and Donte DiVincenzo seems to play best in an off-ball role. Randle often initiates the offense, as well, but if he is indeed ruled out, that work should land more on McDaniels’ shoulders.

He has already cleared this prop in five of his last eight games. That trend should continue with or without Randle, but particularly if the Timberwolves are without him tonight.

Bulls vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Jaden McDaniels is not much of a pull-up shooter from deep. His threes usually come on catch-and-shoot chances, and with the thought that Randle may be sidelined, those chances will be fewer. Furthermore, McDaniels has cleared this scoring prop while not hitting multiple 3-pointers four times since Christmas.

Bulls vs Timberwolves SGP

Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points
Jaden McDaniels Under 1.5 threes
Timberwolves moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wolf pack of props

This is not doubt in Reid. This is seeing value in an Under if his shoulder is indeed bothering him, and Tuesday’s 5-for-15 shooting was his worst showing of January, a decent indication his shoulder is indeed bothering him.

Bulls vs Timberwolves SGP

Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points
Jaden McDaniels Under 1.5 threes
Timberwolves moneyline
Naz Reid Under 15.5 points

Bulls vs Timberwolves odds

Spread: Bulls +8.5 | Timberwolves -8.5
Moneyline: Bulls +270 | Timberwolves -340
Over/Under: Over 238 | Under 238

Bulls vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Timberwolves are 3-0 ATS against the Bulls in the last two seasons, all of those coming as at least a three-bucket favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Bulls vs Timberwolves

Location	Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date	Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	FDSN-North, CHSN

Bulls vs Timberwolves latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

January 22, 2026

Derrick White is an All-Star — but don’t take it from me

BOSTON — Before the Celtics’ win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, head coach Rick Carlisle was asked about what he expected from this year’s Celtics team. And Carlisle, who has been coaching against the Joe Mazzulla Celtics for years, made clear he was far from surprised at the Celtics’ success this season. Before even being prodded further, the longtime NBA coach explained why.

“Derrick White is an All-Star,” Carlisle said. “He’s an All-Star player. I mean, the guy is 8th in the league in blocked shots.”

White is not the only reason Carlisle cited for his preseason confidence in the Celtics: he touched on Jaylen Brown’s greatness, Payton Pritchard’s growth, Sam Hauser’s shotmaking, and Mazzulla’s offensive creativity.

But the unprompted proclamation about White is what stood out most about Carlisle’s answer — in large part because there hasn’t been a ton of chatter about the Celtics guard being an All-Star this season, or at least not as much as many expected going into the year.

The reason for that is simple: his offensive efficiency is down. The 31-year-old is averaging 17.7 points and 5.4 assists — both career-highs — but he’s doing so while shooting 39.1% from the field (the lowest of his NBA career) and 32.4% from three (the second-lowest of his NBA career).

Still, Carlisle was adamant: “He’s such an important part of their team.”

Jaylen Brown, who on Monday was announced as an All-Star starter for the first time in his career, was equally decisive in his proclamation.

“D-White has been a two-way player all year,” Brown said. “And I know we live in an era where that doesn’t get as much praise or respect, but that contributes to winning a lot. Derrick White has been playing at an All-Star level because he plays both sides of the ball. And that’s no disrespect to some of those other guys that are maybe in All-Star contention — but it’s a clear difference.”

Asked Jaylen Brown about Derrick White’s defense — and he said he could see D-White being Defensive Player of the Year:

“I think Derrick White has been playing at an All-Star level l, because he plays both sides of the ball. And that's no disrespect to some of those other guys… https://t.co/TFWbYOn7OB pic.twitter.com/vUqsyydJav
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) January 22, 2026

White has been in a particular offensive slump as of late; he is averaging just 10 points on 30.2% shooting in his last 5 games. Still, the Celtics have outscored opponents by 76 points with him on the floor in that span.

That doesn’t surprise those who know his game best, such as his longtime head coach.

“He’s not defined by shooting efficiency,” Mazzulla said. “To me, that’s a bonus.”

After Wednesday’s 119-104 win over the Pacers, Mazzulla pointed out White’s expansive list of more intangible contributions for the Celtics: his role as one of the Celtics’ lead pick-and-roll ball handlers, his ability to make 2-on-1 reads, his defensive versatility, his penchant for getting backtips and stopping fast breaks, and proclivity for doing all of the things that have made him one of the most valuable role players in the league.

As a result, even amid an uncharacteristic shooting slump, White has the highest +/- rating on the team, a +275 on the year

“I just think it’s hard to recognize all the other stuff, and it’s just easy to notice the shooting efficiency because it’s right there,” Mazzulla said.

Carlisle and Mazzulla are far from the only two NBA coaches to gush about White this season; it’s become a regular occurrence.

“I think he is the most underrated player in the league,” Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said last month. “The guy is an absolute winner.”

Asked Erik Spoelstra about Derrick White:

“I think he is the most underrated player in the league. The guy is an absolute winner, whatever role you put him in … He just does so many things … He's the best shot-blocking guard in the league.” pic.twitter.com/AtAYDWBy6I
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) December 20, 2025

Derrick White for Defensive Player of the Year?

Jaylen Brown went so far as to say he feels like White is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. And, there’s a real case to be made; White is fourth in the NBA in stocks (steals and blocks), and he’s averaging career-highs in both categories (1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game).

Among NBA players who average at least 30 minutes per game, White has the second-highest Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus (+2.1), a metric that assesses a player’s defensive impact per 100 possessions (he trails only four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert).

And, he is as durable as they come — White has only missed one game this season — and he’s the best shot-blocking guard in the NBA.

“I think Derrick is a first-team All-Defense type of ballot, or maybe even Defensive Player of the Year,” Brown said. “But on top of that, he contributes on offense, and that takes a lot more energy, a lot more effort to do night-to-night. And he’s healthy, he’s available.”

Neemias Queta, who oftentimes has the clearest view of White’s defensive accument, praised his savviness as a defender.

“He’s always got a good chance of getting a stop, no matter who he’s guarding, or even off the ball, too,” Queta said. “He’s really communicative, too. He’s a Swiss Army knife, and he can do a little bit of everything on both sides of the floor. But defensively, especially, I feel like he holds his own in pretty much all types of matchups.“

Brown pointed out that White is doing all that while also shouldering significant offensive responsibilities; he’s the team’s second-leading scorer behind Brown and has the second-highest usage rate on the Celtics (23%). No other defensive player of his caliber concurrently carries such a heavy load on the other side of the ball.

“You’ve got to give that respect to Derrick,” Brown said. “It’s not an easy job to do and play both ends of the ball at a high level for the duration of the season — and be available for a majority of the games. That’s extremely difficult. He’s been doing that for us all [season], and that has helped us be a second seed.”

White probably won’t be named an All-Star, though reserves — selected by coaches — will be announced on February 1st. And, it’s too early for a real Defensive Player of the Year campaign, though White will certainly be in the mix when those conversations begin.

But those who know White’s game best— and basketball best — know that his impact is inherently not captured on the stat sheet.

And, it probably won’t ever get the recognition it deserves; that’s why NBA coaches go out of their way to give him his flowers.

“Regardless of what the stats look like,” Brown said, “Derrick White is an All-Star.”

January 22, 2026

NBA 2025-26 midseason Sixth Man of the Year: Naz Reid is man to beat, plus betting tips on race

We've reached the midpoint of an NBA season that has been filled with surprises — Detroit and Boston lead the East, San Antonio is second in the West — and also far too many injuries to stars. It's also given us jaw-dropping moments, and not just the ones Victor Wembanyama seems to deliver us on a nightly basis.

The midpoint also means it's time to take stock of the NBA postseason awards. All week long, I will make my picks for some of the NBA's top awards at this point in the season, plus get betting angles from NBC Sports experts. Today: Sixth Man of the Year.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year: Naz Reid

2. Jaime Jaquez Jr.
3. Ajay Mitchell

Analysis of Sixth Man of the Year race

Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year two years ago with stats that are not as good as the ones he is putting up for the Timberwolves this season, including a career-high 14.5 points per game. He is also someone coach Chris Finch leans on in clutch minutes (depending on the matchup) because of his versatility and ability to play both ends of the floor (he is a plus defender and a big shooting 38.8% from 3-point range).

Usually, the Sixth Man of the Year race sees a lot of movement in the second half of the season, but it feels like someone else is going to win the award this year, they are going to have to prove themselves better than Reid. Good luck with that.

Miami's Jamie Jaquez Jr. — who has carried the Heat offense for stretches — might be the guy to pull that off, although he needs to be a little more efficient with his scoring to win this. Ajay Mitchell has been a revelation off the bench in Oklahoma City in his second season, and the fact that he tends to be on the court with a stacked roster — have you seen the Thunder bench? — shouldn't be held against him. Mitchell has been fantastic.

Three other names to watch in this race are Reed Sheppard in Houston, Keldon Johnson in San Antonio, and the hot Anfernee Simons in Boston. Any of them could climb into the top three — or the top spot itself — with a strong second half of the season.

Orlando's Anthony Black, Atlanta's Nickiel Alexander-Walker and Phoenix's Collin Gilespi are not on this list because all three have become regular starters and have started more than half of their team's games to this point.

Betting Sixth Man Race

We reached out to the NBC Sports betting experts for their thoughts on the Rookie of the Year race and how they might bet it.

Drew Dinsick, NBC Sports Betting Analyst

The rubric for this award is the most productive bench player in terms of raw scoring for a Top 3 seed in either conference. We've seen a rotating cast of favorites for this award throughout the season at this point but the man coming on strong at the moment is clearly Anfernee Simons of the Boston Celtics. His price at 14/1 does not capture the recent surge which find him Top 3 in points scored off the bench, slightly behind Naz Reid and Jaime Jaquez Jr. It seems likely he will lead bench scoring by the All-Star break for the 2-seed Celtics which will likely mean he will be the market favorite and the best awards bet on the board at this time.

January 22, 2026January 29, 2026

2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300 Rankings: Judge and Ohtani lead the way; Skenes and Skubal in Top 10

Moving on from the “way too early” rankings, this is the first official edition of the top 300 for 2026. Players are ranked for 5x5 mixed leagues using a one-catcher format. I include the mixed-league disclaimer because I do reward upside, particularly past the top 200 or so.

⚾️ Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300 overall ranks

**Updated Jan. 28**

2026	Top 300	Team	Pos	Pos Rk	Jan 16
1	Aaron Judge	Yankees	OF	1	1
2	Shohei Ohtani	Dodgers	DH	1	2
3	Bobby Witt Jr.	Royals	SS	1	3
4	Ronald Acuna Jr.	Braves	OF	2	4
5	Juan Soto	Mets	OF	3	5
6	Jose Ramirez	Guardians	3B	1	6
7	Tarik Skubal	Tigers	SP	1	7
8	Julio Rodriguez	Mariners	OF	4	8
9	Paul Skenes	Pirates	SP	2	9
10	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	Blue Jays	1B	1	10
11	Gunnar Henderson	Orioles	SS	2	11
12	Elly De La Cruz	Reds	SS	3	12
13	Kyle Tucker	Dodgers	OF	5	13
14	Fernando Tatis Jr.	Padres	OF	6	14
15	Corbin Carroll	Diamondbacks	OF	7	15
16	Nick Kurtz	Athletics	1B	2	16
17	Pete Alonso	Orioles	1B	3	17
18	Zach Neto	Angels	SS	4	18
19	Garrett Crochet	Red Sox	SP	3	19
20	Francisco Lindor	Mets	SS	5	20
21	Jackson Chourio	Brewers	OF	8	21
22	Kyle Schwarber	Phillies	DH	2	22
23	Yordan Alvarez	Astros	OF	9	23
24	Logan Gilbert	Mariners	SP	4	24
25	Junior Caminero	Rays	3B	2	25
26	Trea Turner	Phillies	SS	6	26
27	James Wood	Nationals	OF	10	27
28	Cristopher Sanchez	Phillies	SP	5	28
29	Ketel Marte	Diamondbacks	2B	1	29
30	Michael Harris II	Braves	OF	11	30
31	CJ Abrams	Nationals	SS	7	31
32	Pete Crow-Armstrong	Cubs	OF	12	32
33	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	Dodgers	SP	6	33
34	Austin Riley	Braves	3B	3	34
35	Cal Raleigh	Mariners	C	1	35
36	Bryce Harper	Phillies	1B	4	36
37	Jazz Chisholm Jr.	Yankees	2B	2	37
38	Bryan Woo	Mariners	SP	7	38
39	Jarren Duran	Red Sox	OF	13	39
40	Max Fried	Yankees	SP	8	40
41	Mason Miller	Padres	RP	1	41
42	Brent Rooker	Athletics	OF	14	42
43	Freddie Freeman	Dodgers	1B	5	43
44	Jackson Merrill	Padres	OF	15	44
45	George Kirby	Mariners	SP	9	45
46	Manny Machado	Padres	3B	4	46
47	Roman Anthony	Red Sox	OF	16	47
48	Hunter Greene	Reds	SP	10	48
49	Maikel Garcia	Royals	3B	5	49
50	Edwin Diaz	Dodgers	RP	2	50
51	Cody Bellinger	Yankees	OF	17	51
52	Wyatt Langford	Rangers	OF	18	52
53	George Springer	Blue Jays	OF	19	53
54	Blake Snell	Dodgers	SP	11	54
55	Brice Turang	Brewers	2B	3	55
56	Jacob deGrom	Rangers	SP	12	56
57	Sal Stewart	Reds	1B	6	57
58	Jeremy Pena	Astros	SS	8	58
59	Chris Sale	Braves	SP	13	59
60	Geraldo Perdomo	Diamondbacks	SS	9	60
61	Shohei Ohtani	Dodgers	SP	14	61
62	Vinnie Pasquantino	Royals	1B	7	62
63	Hunter Brown	Astros	SP	15	63
64	Ben Rice	Yankees	C	2	64
65	Noelvi Marte	Reds	3B	6	65
66	Joe Ryan	Twins	SP	16	66
67	Bo Bichette	Mets	SS	10	67
68	Cade Smith	Guardians	RP	3	68
69	Oneil Cruz	Pirates	OF	20	69
70	Logan Webb	Giants	SP	17	70
71	Matt Olson	Braves	1B	8	71
72	Josh Hader	Astros	RP	4	72
73	Dylan Cease	Blue Jays	SP	18	73
74	Luis Robert Jr.	Mets	OF	21	74
75	Tyler Soderstrom	Athletics	1B	9	75
76	Spencer Schwellenbach	Braves	SP	19	76
77	Mookie Betts	Dodgers	SS	11	77
78	Cole Ragans	Royals	SP	20	78
79	Framber Valdez		SP	21	79
80	Josh Naylor	Mariners	1B	10	80
81	Aroldis Chapman	Red Sox	RP	5	81
82	Seiya Suzuki	Cubs	OF	22	82
83	Jhoan Duran	Phillies	RP	6	83
84	Corey Seager	Rangers	SS	12	84
85	Jacob Misiorowski	Brewers	SP	22	85
86	Luke Keaschall	Twins	2B	4	86
87	Devin Williams	Mets	RP	7	87
88	Jo Adell	Angels	OF	23	88
89	Zack Wheeler	Phillies	SP	23	89
90	Kyle Stowers	Marlins	OF	24	90
91	Jackson Holliday	Orioles	2B	5	91
92	Jose Altuve	Astros	2B	6	92
93	Sonny Gray	Red Sox	SP	24	93
94	Rafael Devers	Giants	1B	11	94
95	Byron Buxton	Twins	OF	25	95
96	Jacob Wilson	Athletics	SS	13	96
97	Kyle Bradish	Orioles	SP	25	97
98	Daylen Lile	Nationals	OF	26	98
99	Andres Munoz	Mariners	RP	8	99
100	Jordan Westburg	Orioles	3B	7	100
101	Riley Greene	Tigers	OF	27	101
102	Dylan Crews	Nationals	OF	28	102
103	Christian Yelich	Brewers	OF	29	103
104	Xavier Edwards	Marlins	SS	14	104
105	Drew Rasmussen	Rays	SP	26	105
106	Eury Perez	Marlins	SP	27	106
107	William Contreras	Brewers	C	3	107
108	Bryan Reynolds	Pirates	OF	30	108
109	Brandon Nimmo	Rangers	OF	31	109
110	David Bednar	Yankees	RP	9	110
111	Ivan Herrera	Cardinals	DH	3	111
112	Jesus Luzardo	Phillies	SP	28	112
113	Alec Burleson	Cardinals	1B	12	113
114	Joe Musgrove	Padres	SP	29	114
115	Teoscar Hernandez	Dodgers	OF	32	115
116	Willson Contreras	Red Sox	1B	13	116
117	Daniel Palencia	Cubs	RP	10	117
118	Alec Bohm	Phillies	3B	8	118
119	Ceddanne Rafaela	Red Sox	2B	7	119
120	Brenton Doyle	Rockies	OF	33	120
121	Griffin Jax	Rays	RP	11	121
122	Nolan McLean	Mets	SP	30	122
123	Tommy Edman	Dodgers	2B	8	123
124	Gerrit Cole	Yankees	SP	31	124
125	Jorge Polanco	Mets	2B	9	125
126	Tanner Bibee	Guardians	SP	32	126
127	Alex Bregman	Cubs	3B	9	127
128	Jeff Hoffman	Blue Jays	RP	12	128
129	Nick Pivetta	Padres	SP	33	129
130	Andy Pages	Dodgers	OF	34	130
131	Ian Happ	Cubs	OF	35	131
132	Salvador Perez	Royals	C	4	132
133	Ranger Suarez	Red Sox	SP	34	133
134	Nico Hoerner	Cubs	2B	10	134
135	MacKenzie Gore	Rangers	SP	35	NR
136	Jakob Marsee	Marlins	OF	36	135
137	Freddy Peralta	Mets	SP	36	136
138	Ryan Helsley	Orioles	RP	13	137
139	Yandy Diaz	Rays	1B	14	138
140	Hunter Goodman	Rockies	C	5	139
141	Brandon Woodruff	Brewers	SP	37	140
142	Trevor Story	Red Sox	SS	15	141
143	Agustin Ramirez	Marlins	C	6	142
144	Michael Busch	Cubs	1B	15	143
145	Kevin Gausman	Blue Jays	SP	38	144
146	Marcell Ozuna		DH	4	145
147	Jung Hoo Lee	Giants	OF	37	146
148	Tyler Glasnow	Dodgers	SP	39	147
149	Shane McClanahan	Rays	SP	40	148
150	Ezequiel Tovar	Rockies	SS	16	149
151	Shea Langeliers	Athletics	C	7	150
152	Raisel Iglesias	Braves	RP	14	151
153	Mike Trout	Angels	OF	38	152
154	Matthew Boyd	Cubs	SP	41	153
155	Cade Horton	Cubs	SP	42	154
156	Randy Arozarena	Mariners	OF	39	155
157	Emmet Sheehan	Dodgers	SP	43	156
158	Willy Adames	Giants	SS	17	157
159	Edward Cabrera	Cubs	SP	44	158
160	Bryson Stott	Phillies	2B	11	159
161	Matt McLain	Reds	2B	12	160
162	Chase Burns	Reds	SP	45	161
163	Jordan Beck	Rockies	OF	40	162
164	Andrew Vaughn	Brewers	1B	16	163
165	Bryce Miller	Mariners	SP	46	164
166	Isaac Paredes	Astros	3B	10	165
167	Trevor Megill	Brewers	RP	15	166
168	Xander Bogaerts	Padres	SS	18	167
169	Steven Kwan	Guardians	OF	41	168
170	Trey Yesavage	Blue Jays	SP	47	169
171	Nathan Eovaldi	Rangers	SP	48	170
172	Emilio Pagan	Reds	RP	16	171
173	Dansby Swanson	Cubs	SS	19	172
174	Michael King	Padres	SP	49	173
175	Kerry Carpenter	Tigers	OF	42	174
176	Adolis Garcia	Phillies	OF	43	175
177	Colson Montgomery	White Sox	SS	20	176
178	Nick Lodolo	Reds	SP	50	177
179	Kenley Jansen	Tigers	RP	17	178
180	Sandy Alcantara	Marlins	SP	51	179
181	Daulton Varsho	Blue Jays	OF	44	180
182	Munetaka Murakami	White Sox	3B	11	181
183	Ryan Pepiot	Rays	SP	52	182
184	Luis Garcia Jr.	Nationals	2B	13	183
185	Pete Fairbanks	Marlins	RP	18	184
186	Drake Baldwin	Braves	C	8	185
187	Shane Bieber	Blue Jays	SP	53	186
188	Heliot Ramos	Giants	OF	45	188
189	Carlos Rodon	Yankees	SP	54	189
190	Wilyer Abreu	Red Sox	OF	46	190
191	Addison Barger	Blue Jays	3B	12	191
192	Brendan Donovan	Cardinals	2B	14	192
193	Shota Imanaga	Cubs	SP	55	193
194	Eugenio Suarez		3B	13	194
195	Gleyber Torres	Tigers	2B	15	195
196	Josh Lowe	Angels	OF	47	187
197	Brett Baty	Mets	2B	16	196
198	Bubba Chandler	Pirates	SP	56	197
199	Otto Lopez	Marlins	SS	21	198
200	Matt Chapman	Giants	3B	14	199
201	Jameson Taillon	Cubs	SP	57	200
202	Trent Grisham	Yankees	OF	48	201
203	Abner Uribe	Brewers	RP	19	202
204	Brandon Lowe	Pirates	2B	17	203
205	Spencer Strider	Braves	SP	58	204
207	Will Smith	Dodgers	C	9	206
209	Max Muncy	Dodgers	3B	15	207
210	Taylor Ward	Orioles	OF	49	208
208	Carlos Estevez	Royals	RP	20	209
206	Pablo Lopez	Twins	SP	59	205
213	Caleb Durbin	Brewers	3B	16	211
214	Konnor Griffin	Pirates	SS	22	212
211	Gavin Williams	Guardians	SP	60	210
216	Spencer Steer	Reds	1B	17	214
212	Seranthony Dominguez	White Sox	RP	21	264
215	Logan Henderson	Brewers	SP	61	213
217	Dennis Santana	Pirates	RP	22	215
218	Miguel Vargas	White Sox	3B	17	216
219	Spencer Torkelson	Tigers	1B	18	217
220	Justin Steele	Cubs	SP	62	218
221	Lenyn Sosa	White Sox	2B	18	219
222	Jonathan Aranda	Rays	1B	19	220
223	Kirby Yates	Angels	RP	23	221
224	Kris Bubic	Royals	SP	63	222
225	Matt Wallner	Twins	OF	50	223
226	Cody Ponce	Blue Jays	SP	64	224
227	Chandler Simpson	Rays	OF	51	225
228	Nolan Schanuel	Angels	1B	20	226
229	Masyn Winn	Cardinals	SS	23	227
230	Zebby Matthews	Twins	SP	65	228
231	Luis Arraez		1B	21	229
232	Christian Walker	Astros	1B	22	230
233	Reid Detmers	Angels	SP	66	231
234	Colt Keith	Tigers	2B	19	232
235	Ramon Laureano	Padres	OF	52	233
236	Willi Castro	Rockies	2B	20	235
237	Reese Olson	Tigers	SP	67	236
238	Josh Bell	Twins	1B	23	237
239	Gabriel Moreno	Diamondbacks	C	10	238
240	Jonathan India	Royals	2B	21	239
241	Ryan Walker	Giants	RP	24	240
242	Kazuma Okamoto	Blue Jays	3B	18	241
243	Marcus Semien	Mets	2B	22	242
244	Zac Gallen		SP	68	243
245	Yainer Diaz	Astros	C	11	244
246	Riley O’Brien	Cardinals	RP	25	245
247	Anthony Volpe	Yankees	SS	24	246
248	Shane Baz	Orioles	SP	69	247
249	Mickey Moniak	Rockies	OF	53	248
250	Royce Lewis	Twins	3B	19	249
251	Andres Gimenez	Blue Jays	2B	23	250
252	Cam Schlittler	Yankees	SP	70	251
253	Tyler O’Neill	Orioles	OF	54	252
254	Lawrence Butler	Athletics	OF	55	253
255	Jurickson Profar	Braves	OF	56	254
256	Sean Manaea	Mets	SP	71	255
257	Josh Jung	Rangers	3B	20	256
258	Merrill Kelly	Diamondbacks	SP	72	257
259	Brandon Marsh	Phillies	OF	57	258
260	Ernie Clement	Blue Jays	SS	25	259
261	Christopher Morel	Marlins	OF	58	260
262	Evan Carter	Rangers	OF	59	262
263	Sal Frelick	Brewers	OF	60	263
264	Parker Messick	Guardians	SP	73	261
265	Adley Rutschman	Orioles	C	12	265
266	Reynaldo Lopez	Braves	SP	74	266
267	Giancarlo Stanton	Yankees	OF	61	267
268	Brooks Baldwin	White Sox	OF	62	268
269	Clay Holmes	Mets	SP	75	269
270	Anthony Santander	Blue Jays	OF	63	270
271	Jesus Sanchez	Astros	OF	64	271
272	Ryan Mountcastle	Orioles	1B	24	272
273	Jeff McNeil	Athletics	2B	24	273
274	Luis Castillo	Mariners	SP	76	274
275	Carlos Correa	Astros	SS	26	275
276	Colton Cowser	Orioles	OF	65	276
277	Jorge Soler	Angels	OF	66	278
278	Braxton Ashcraft	Pirates	SP	77	277
279	TJ Friedl	Reds	OF	67	279
280	Ozzie Albies	Braves	2B	25	280
281	Kodai Senga	Mets	SP	78	281
282	Victor Scott II	Cardinals	OF	68	282
283	Dylan Beavers	Orioles	OF	69	283
284	Bryan Abreu	Astros	RP	26	284
285	Ryan Weathers	Yankees	SP	79	285
286	Justin Crawford	Phillies	OF	70	286
287	Romy Gonzalez	Red Sox	2B	26	287
288	Noah Cameron	Royals	SP	80	288
289	Kyle Manzardo	Guardians	1B	25	290
290	Lars Nootbaar	Cardinals	OF	71	291
291	J.T. Realmuto	Phillies	C	13	293
292	Ryan O’Hearn	Pirates	1B	26	294
293	Jose Caballero	Yankees	SS	27	295
294	Chad Patrick	Brewers	SP	81	292
295	Nolan Arenado	Diamondbacks	3B	21	298
296	Dominic Canzone	Mariners	OF	72	300
297	Brandon Pfaadt	Diamondbacks	SP	82	297
298	Jake McCarthy	Rockies	OF	73	NR
299	Max Scherzer		SP	83	299
300	Jac Caglianone	Royals	OF	74	NR

Jan. 28 Notes

- Falling off: Grant Taylor (234th), Christian Moore (289th), Troy Johnston (296th)

- Just a little update here, and it's mostly because I wanted to make my new feelings known about MacKenzie Gore after last week's trade. Gore was my No. 85 SP before getting sent to the Rangers, leaving him about 10 spots off the original top 300, but that was largely because I have the Nationals as the second worst situation for pitchers in the league. Dealing with poor defense and especially poor catching, Nationals pitchers have had ERA far in excess of their FIPs the last two years (4.72 FIP, 5.35 ERA season), and their bullpen figures to be especially poor this year.

I'm not quite as sure what to make about the situation in Texas, largely because Globe Life Field has been all over the map; it had one of the best park factors for hitters in 2023, only to play as a significant pitchers' park in 2024 and an extreme one in 2025. It's been especially tough on right-handed power the last two years. Maybe that won't keep up, but if it does, it's especially great for a left-handed flyball pitcher like Gore. As a result, I have Gore all of the way up to 35th among SPs now, and he checks in at No. 135 overall here.

- The other significant change is Seranthony Domínguez going from 26th to 21st among RPs after signing on to close for the White Sox. Grant Taylor fell from 23rd to 28th, leaving him just off the list. I wasn't projecting him for many saves in the first place, but this does take away some of his upside. I still think he'll be fantastic in a multi-inning setup role.

- Moore and Johnston lost some playing time in my projections with the Angels re-signing Yoán Moncada and the Rockies acquiring Edouard Julien. Julien could play second for Colorado, but he's a liability there. I have him slightly outhitting Johnston, though his limited home run and steal potential keeps him off the list.

- Harrison Bader didn't make the top 300 while he was still a free agent, and though he'll obviously be a regular in San Francisco, he's further away now after joining the Giants.

Jan. 22 Notes

- Having Michael Harris II ranked 30th overall isn’t something I saw coming when I started doing my projections. I’ve been just as disappointed by his lack of progress as everyone else; his OPS has gone from .853 in his rookie season to .808, .722 and .678 the last three years. And yet I found so much more to be encouraged about than I thought I would, enough to think that he’s quite a bit more likely to duplicate his second half of 2025 (.299/.315/.430, 14 HR) than his first half (.210/.234/.317). He scores this highly for me even though, because I have him batting seventh, he’s projected for the second fewest plate appearances of anyone in my top 50 hitters (only Jazz Chisholm Jr. has fewer). If he gets off to a nice start and finds himself moving up the Braves lineup, I think the potential is there for him to be the steal of the year.

- Sal Stewart’s placement here at No. 57 is another one that’ll raise eyebrows. I’m actually rather disappointed the Reds traded Gavin Lux, since that should help Stewart’s ADP some. Really, though, I wasn’t worried about Lux or anyone else being in Stewart’s way, no matter how hesitant Terry Francona was to use him last September. Stewart just hammers the baseball in a way that separates him from everyone else on the Reds roster, save Elly De La Cruz. He’ll bat lower in the order initially, but he could quickly settle into the cleanup spot. There’s no reason he can’t make a run at 100 RBI, and his value would only increase if the Reds get him some extra position eligibility by playing him at third or second.

- Luis Robert Jr. moved up about 15 spots to No. 74 with Tuesday's trade to the Mets. Citi Field is a little bit of an upgrade for him in the ballpark department, and he's certainly in a better lineup now, even if the trade means he's more likely to spend most of the year batting in the bottom half of the order. On the plus side, that will free him up to continue stealing bases.

- Neither the Robert addition nor the Bo Bichette signing did anything for one of my favorite picks this year, Brett Baty. Still, I'm keeping the faith. Baty is athletic enough to handle left field, and even if Carson Benge emerges there, I'd still take Baty over Mark Vientos as a DH against right-handers. Baty showed 25-homer power last season, and his contract rates are a little better than his strikeout percentages suggest. If he can get the ball into the air with a little more frequency this year, he should bust out.

- On the White Sox side of things, Lenyn Sosa (No. 219) and Brooks Baldwin (no. 268) both moved up with Robert out of the mix. Luisangel Acuña seems poised for a shot to replace Robert in center, but while he could steal 40 bags as an everyday guy, I think his bat will probably force him into a utility role. Sosa isn't necessarily a good regular for a major league team, either, given his middling defense and atrocious walk rate, but he hit 22 homers last season and managed a solid .264 average in the process. He ought to be the White Sox's primary DH. Baldwin seems like an unexciting, jack-of-all-trades sort, but his EV numbers took a nice jump last year and he's gone 9-for-9 stealing bases in 136 big-league games. He could be a sneaky 15 HR/15 SB guy if he's in the lineup most of the time.

- I was already lower than most on Freddy Peralta for this season, and the trade to the Mets didn't help, dropping him from 27th to 35th among starting pitchers. Still, it would have been considerably worse if the Mets hadn't upgraded their defense this winter. The Brewers are just so strong there and, aided by their ballpark, make their hurlers appear better than they actually are; their pitchers have a league-low .274 BABIP over the last three years, with Peralta himself coming in at .265.

- There are still only 27 relievers in the top 300, though that number will swell as closing situations start to clear up a little this spring. The unrepresented teams are the Athletics, Diamondbacks, Nationals, Rangers, Rockies and Twins, while the Brewers and Astros each have two relievers on the list. Also present is free agent Serathony Domínguez, who I suspect will wind up closing for one of those unrepresented teams (or maybe the White Sox). The relievers on those clubs closest to making the list were Arizona's Kevin Ginkel (34th among RPs), the Athletics' Mark Leiter Jr. (37th), the Twins' Cole Sands (42nd) and the Rockies' Victor Vodnik (47th).

January 22, 2026

From 1-129 to doom: England’s stunning ODI batting collapse in Sri Lanka spin nightmare

Sri Lanka’s spinners turned the screws to script a hard-fought 19-run victory over England in the opening one-day international at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday (all times local).

January 22, 2026

How Kyle Tucker fits in the Dodgers lineup

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers outfield production in 2025 was lacking, making it a clear need this offseason. They compensated for that by adding Kyle Tucker, who was the consensus top free agent available, rated the No. 1 free agent at the beginning of the offseason by ESPN, FanGraphs, The Athletic, MLB Trade Rumors, Baseball Prospectus, Yahoo Sports, MLB.com, and CBS Sports.

The cost was heavy, guaranteeing $240 million on a four-year contract, and even adding two chances for Tucker to opt out of the deal, such was the demand for his services on the market. But the Dodgers have the money, and they’ve been more than willing to spend it, with record-setting competitive balance tax payments the last two seasons. They also have the prospect depth to absorb the loss of draft picks for signing Tucker (and for signing Edwin Díaz, too).

They thought Tucker was worth that kind of investment.

“Anytime you can add a guy to your lineup that is arguably better against same-side pitching — there’s really no holes in what he does offensively. Really balanced splits, versus right, versus left, incredible decision making, really good bat-to-ball skills,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday. “Just the way that will kind of complement and help further round out our offense, something we thought that would be significant in terms of the odds increasing on our championship quest.”

Dodgers outfielders as a group in 2025 hit .240/.299/.415, with a 98 wRC+ that ranked 17th among 30 MLB teams. Tucker is a career .273/.358/.507 hitter with a 138 wRC+, and has posted a 130 wRC+ or better in each of the last five seasons. Dodgers outfielders last year totaled 4.3 fWAR as a group (Andy Pages accounted for 4.1 fWAR himself), while Tucker has tallied 4.2 fWAR or higher five years in a row, averaging 4.7.

Since the start of 2021, Tucker is one of only four major league hitters with an isolated power — slugging percentage minus batting average — .200 or above combined with a strikeout rate of 16 percent or lower, along with fellow star players Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and José Ramírez.

The Dodgers in 2025 had a 21.9-percent strikeout rate as a team, 12th-lowest in the majors. Adding Tucker should help that.

But where does he fit in the Dodgers lineup? Last week, I asked this question on The Feed here at True Blue LA, and got various responses, ranging between Tucker batting as high as second or as low as fifth. But either way, he’ll be in a prime spot in a suddenly more-loaded lineup with him on board.

“I was talking with Gomer [general manager Brandon Gomes] and Andrew [Friedman] recently, and it’s just fun to think about where Kyle is going to hit in the lineup,” manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday. “He’ll be in the top third. I don’t want you guys to hold me to it right now, but [hitting] second or third seems to make sense.”

It’s still only January 22, still a month from spring training games starting and nine weeks from opening day. A lot can happen between now and then. But let’s unpack what Roberts said on Wednesday.

For the last two seasons, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman have been the Dodgers’ big three atop the lineup. If Tucker hits second or third, one of those other three is moving. It won’t be Ohtani, who seems entrenched in the leadoff spot. Betts is coming off his worst offensive season, but the Dodgers have been loath to move him down in the lineup. It took until Game 5 of the World Series for Betts to shift down in the lineup to third, his first start outside of the top two since 2021. Betts hit third in Games 5 and 6, and hit fourth in Game 7.

Freeman in four years with the Dodgers has hit mostly second or third. He batted cleanup four times in September 2024, but those were only against left-handed pitchers to help split up the left-handed hitters in the lineup. That continued into 2025, but Freeman also hit cleanup sometimes against right-handed pitchers, and hit fourth a total of 47 times in the regular season, and batted cleanup eight times in 17 postseason games.

I think Freeman is the most likely of the Big Three to move down in the lineup. Putting Tucker second or third would mean at least two of the Dodgers’ first three hitters batting lefty, but they happen to be two of the best lefty-on-lefty hitters in the game.

Over the last five seasons Tucker hit .270/.340/.511 against southpaws, with his 136 wRC+ against same-handed pitchers third-best in the majors among batters with at least 300 such plate appearances, trailing only Yordan Alvarez (166 wRC+) and Ohtani (140).

Freeman hitting cleanup would mean three lefties in the first four hitters, which is generally fine, but can cause problems later in the game, either with an opposing manager bringing in a left-handed pitcher to handle a run of lefty batters or if trying to extend a southpaw starting pitcher a little bit deeper into the game. Last year the Dodgers occasionally countered the latter by inserting a right-handed batter before Freeman, usually Teoscar Hernández or Will Smith.

Roberts before last year’s opener mentioned making a lefty pitcher pay the “Teoscar tax” to get through that portion of the lineup, which worked out swimmingly when Hernández hit a game-winning three-run home run off Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to turn the game around.

But whether Freeman bats fourth or fifth still highlights the depth of the Dodgers lineup now with Tucker on board. After Freeman, there will be one or both of Smith or Hernández, and that’s before considering Max Muncy, Tommy Edman, and Andy Pages.

No matter how you slice it, that’s a formidable lineup top to bottom.

January 22, 2026

What now for Yankees after Cody Bellinger? Three ways Bombers can improve

NEW YORK – By agreeing with Cody Bellinger on a new contract Wednesday, the Yankees’ top offseason task was completed.

But that doesn’t end the winter work for GM Brian Cashman and company.

Three weeks away from the start of spring training, the Yankees are still exploring upgrades to the pitching staff, along with right-handed hitting depth.

And the potential for a significant trade exists, now that Bellinger is secured on a five-year, $162.5 million free agent deal that includes opt-outs after years two and three.

This is now a crowded outfield, with Bellinger in left field, Trent Grisham in center and Aaron Judge in right, which impacts the playing time of switch-hitter Jasson Dominguez and lefty-hitting prospect Spencer Jones.

Let’s examine where the Yankees might be exploring additional options for 2026:

Yankees' potential rotation targets

Current rotation: LHP Max Fried, RHP Cam Schlittler, RHP Luis Gil, RHP Will Warren, LHP Ryan Weathers.

On the injured list: RHP Gerrit Cole (June ETA), LHP Carlos Rodon (May), RHP Clarke Schmidt (September).

Current depth: RHP Paul Blackburn, LHP Ryan Yarbrough.

Summary: Several contenders, including the Yanks, had been tied to interest in Milwaukee Brewers’ right-hander Freddy Peralta, the subject of trade discussion for months.

But late Wednesday night, as first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Mets closed out a stunning deal to land Peralta, earning a relative-bargain $8 million in 2026, his free agent walk year.

Washington Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore is under team control through the 2028 season, but he’s already set to earn $5.6 million this season with some expensive arbitration years ahead.

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds have some notable starting depth including right-hander Brady Singer, though he’s earning $12.75 million in 2026, his free agent walk year.

The current Grand Canyon-sized arbitration gap between Tarik Skubal and the Tigers makes things interesting, but you’d anticipate Detroit going into 2026 with the game’s best starter and re-evaluating at the trade deadline.

Though the Yanks are questionable to add a pricey free agent starter at this point, even on a one-year deal, the versatile Nick Martinez and Cooperstown-bound veterans Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are intriguing options.

Yankees' potential bullpen targets

Sep 22, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero (59) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Current bullpen: LHPs Tim Hill, Brent Headrick; RHPs David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, Kaleb Ort, Cade Winquest.

Current depth: RHPs Jake Bird, Yerry de los Santos, Paul Blackburn; LHP Ryan Yarbrough.

Summary: St. Louis lefty JoJo Romero was linked to Yankees’ interest earlier this winter, with the re-tooling Cardinals likely to remain active on the trade front.

Entering his free agent walk year, Romero posted a 200 ERA-plus last season and is due to earn $4.26 million in 2026.

Though the Yanks aren't heavily into this free agent market, a patient strategy might get them to take an inexpensive flyer here, with some interesting names such as right-hander Michael Kopech and lefty Danny Coulombe available.

In recent years, the Yankees have been adept at making under-the-radar deals for relievers - especially power right-handers with swing-and-miss ability that have yet to reach their potential.

And if the Yanks are seeking to move payroll here in a bigger trade, Doval is making over $6 million this season.

Yankees' potential right-handed hitting targets

Jun 28, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first base Paul Goldschmidt (48) singles during the sixth inning against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Current position players: 1B/C Ben Rice, 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B Ryan McMahon, IF Jose Caballero, Amed Rosario, Oswaldo Cabrera; OF Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, Jasson Dominguez; DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton; C Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra.

On the injured list: SS Anthony Volpe (ETA May).

Current depth: IF Paul DeJong, Braden Shewmake, Jorbit Vivas; OF Seth Brown, Spencer Jones; C Ben Rice.

Summary: There's room to add a right-handed hitting first baseman, a corner outfielder and possibly a catcher (to better complement the lefty-hitting Wells).

Free agent outfielders Austin Hays and Harrison Bader could see their markets accelerating now that the major free agents are off the board and Luis Robert Jr. is a Met, traded by the White Sox this week.

Paul Goldschmidt has designs on playing in 2026 and the 2025 Yankee remains in free agency, as does veteran Rhys Hoskins, whose career since 2023 has been hampered by injuries.

With their recent free agent signing of Victor Caratini, the Minnesota Twins might have a catching surplus.

Switch-hitting former All-Star catcher Jonah Heim remains in free agency, as does catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielder Miguel Andujar (who mashes lefty pitching) though the defensive shortcomings of both ex-Yankees is notable.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Yankees MLB trade rumors after Cody Bellinger contract