TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers waves to the crowd as he exits the field after the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Waking up on a Monday morning knowing we’ll know the full World Series matchup. The Tampa Bay Rays return home up three games to two on the Cleveland Guardians, with Game 6 on Monday night at Tropicana Field. Game 1 of the World Series is Friday night in Milwaukee.
Here are a few Dodgers-related and Dodgers-adjacent stories to start your morning.
A jersey worn by Shohei Ohtani during the Dodgers’ season-opening Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs in 2025 was sold at auction on Saturday for just over $2 million. Larry Holder at The Athletic has more.
The Savannah Bananas last week announced their 2027 schedule, which includes a game on Saturday, April 24 at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are scheduled that day to be on the road, facing the Washington Nationals.
Then again, with the lockout coming on December 1, the actual start of the 2027 season is still in many ways to be determined, depending on how long it takes for major league owners and players to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement.
That uncertainty was reminded to me when reading the Dodgers’ offseason primer from Beth Harris at Associated Press, which included, “A work stoppage would give Ohtani extra time to heal, although during such time the Dodgers would be cut off from communicating with any player, leaving Ohtani to rehab either from possible surgery or from his injuries on his own.” Emphasis mine.
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 16: T.J. Hughes #13 (left) celebrates with Nazem Kadri #91 of the Colorado Avalanche after Hughes scored his first NHL goal in the second periodof the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ball Arena on October 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Three Avalanche forwards will miss upcoming two-game road trip. [Colorado Hockey Now]
The Avalanche are rolling offensively, while the Flyers just snapped their winless start—now Philadelphia gets to find out whether one win can fix all its problems. [The Hockey News]
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that Brett McLean has been named Assistant Coach, replacing Dave Hakstol who accepted a head coach position with the NCAA’s Arizona State University men’s hockey program. [NHL]
T.J. Hughes scores his first goal at a key moment. [Denver Post]
‘My decision’: Why Gavin McKenna was benched in Maple Leafs’ loss to Sabres. [Sportsnet]
Brady Tkachuk’s return to face Senators recalls some the NHL’s most hostile homecomings. The former Ottawa Senators captain has tried to tell anyone who will listen that Canada’s capital will always mean a lot to him. [Ottawa Citizen]
Still awaiting trade, Connor Hellebuyck could rejoin Jets when suspension end. [ESPN]
‘Like a big brother’: Austrian duo makes history with Halifax Mooseheads. [CBC]
Sunday Scramble: Will thousands of empty seats at Rogers Place get the Oilers attention? [Oilers Nation]
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: NBA referees Jacyn Goble, Bill Kennedy, and Brett Nansel discuss a call during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2024 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In late September, the NBA announced its points of emphasis and areas of focus for officiating, which included videos with narrated examples of the league’s new “points of education.” A week later, NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt broke them down in prose. So, with NBA Opening Day on October 20—and the Bucks’ season officially starting on October 21—it’s time fans hit the books. Of course, that’s arduous. So here, condensed for your convenience, are the “Cliff Notes.”
Offensive off arm
The point of emphasis: The league is cracking down on offensive players using their off arm to push off and create space.
Why you should care: Defenders might finally be able to, you know, have some semblance of a chance to defend again. And with Taylor Jenkins prioritising a return to defensive aptitude—and Bucks fans wanting a return to the dawg days—this could work in their favour. Then again, as Zillgitt wrote, “There is some leeway, a fine line in which the player can use his off arm against the defender as the player with the ball uses his off arm to firm up or feel for the defender.”
The point of emphasis: Screeners better do so legally—and that means without two hands.
Why you should care: Jericho Sims committed 28 offensive fouls last year, tied with Victor Wembanyama for the 10th most in the entire league. But Sims isn’t called for the same type of offensive fouls that Giannis was—he’s not barreling through opponents on his way to the cup. No, Sims’ come mostly from illegal screens. Don’t believe me? Just ask the Gyro Step podcast’s Rohan Katti:
F it Jericho Sims illegal screens from last season https://t.co/KdYgh3Gwve
Get your nose in the books and your reps in the lab, Jumpman!
Flopping
The point of emphasis: Players called for flopping will receive a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul and the opposing team will be awarded a free throw. But for such a foul to actually be called, it has to meet the STEM criteria:
Secondary
Theatrical
Exaggerated
Movement
Head snaps do not. They are embellishments, drawing attention to something that is illegal, so they are permissible.
Why you should care: Call me defeatist, but you probably shouldn’t. How can a referee possibly process a call that has its own set of four criteria in an instant? This will likely go the way of past points of emphasis—called several times early in the season only to be forgotten by December.
Reckless closeouts
The point of emphasis: Don’t be reckless when closing out. Simples.
Why you should care: If the Bucks’ preseason is anything to go by, they’ll be hoisting up a lot of long-range bombs this season. With that, they’ll face an increased number of closeouts. And with that, they’ll (potentially) face an increased number of reckless closeouts. Notably, “the shooter can fall to the floor in a sitting motion if he feels he’s protecting himself on a closeout.” Moreover, doing so “is not considered a flop.” So, pull up a pew, fellas. Stay safe!
Want more on these? Check out the NBA’s official video:
The point of emphasis: This one’s on the defensive team. They—players and coaches—need to stop time-wasting once a foul is called. Either challenge the call or don’t. Any filibustering will result in a delay of game violation.
Why you should care: For all the joy that NBA games bring, at times they drag on so much that it’s as if you’re back in the year 2000 listening to The Opposite of H20. This point of emphasis, then, might give you a few of those oh-so-precious minutes back. Paired with the absence of Giannis’ free throw routine, you might even find yourself looking for things to do!
And, just in case you truly are a sicko and want the tape, here it is:
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks reacts after being fouled by Ja'kobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden on October 15, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last year’s Toronto Raptors were one of the most fun teams in the league, a whirling dervish on defence that could be absolutely devastating in transition. But, the team’s lack of shooting hamstrung its halfcourt offence, forcing athletic slashers like Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett to operate in a phone booth, leading to some close losses at the end of fourth-quarter slogs. While swapping Brandon Ingram for Kawhi Leonard will undoubtedly give the offence a boost, the question remains: have the Raptors done enough to address their shooting deficiency?
Outside shooting is a force multiplier in today’s NBA. Not only can a hot shooter flip a scoreline in an instant, but the threat of a marksman with a quick trigger pulls defenders away from the paint, giving his teammates more room to attack the paint, especially important for teams like Toronto who are built around a young star who lives at the rim.
Leonard, the headline-grabbing new addition, knocked down 38.7% of his outside shots last year and was above 41% the three seasons before that. He’s an excellent three-point shooter, but he really makes his money in the midrange, where he’s one of the game’s premier iso scorers. In some ways, he’s a more physically strong and deadlier version of Brandon Ingram. His shooting skill will be a boon and he shot more threes (6.8 per game) than ever last season, but, for the Raptors, whether or not his teammates can space the floor for him is just as vital as whether or not he can space the floor for others, since he’ll have plenty of the ball at the end of the shot clock.
If we assume that the Raptors’ last preseason starting lineup (Leonard, Barrett, Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl) will be their regular season starting unit, only two of those players (Leonard and Quickley) shot above league average from three last year. Barrett has had a 40% season in his past, but has only shot 36% or better one other time in his seven seasons in the league and, like Leonard, he doesn’t toss them up at particularly high volume. Barnes is a career 30.1% shooter from beyond the arc and will be treated as a non-shooter in the playoffs, and Poeltl’s range barely extends beyond the basket. Quickley has a fast release and is unafraid to pull up from well beyond the arc, but he’s more streaky than automatic. He’ll probably need to up his three-point volume even more (he was at 6.8 attempts per game last year, the same as Kawhi) to really move the needle for a team that was just 26th in three-point attempts and 21st in percentage last season.
In fact, of the top eight Raptors in minutes per game last season, only Ingram (gone, but accounted for by Kawhi’s arrival), Quickley, and Sandro Mamukelashvili (also gone) shot better than league average from deep and only one other regular (Ja’Kobe Walter, at a sizzling 40.9% on 3.7 attempts per game) did so. Even if the Raptors opt to finish games with Collin Murray-Boyles at centre instead of Poeltl, CMB is still an unproven shooter who hit 34% last year on less than one try per night. Even a super small-ball lineup with Barnes at the five might not have particularly great spacing, unless Walter has a breakout season or Barrett finds consistency from deep. Jamison Battle can really shoot, but it’s not clear he’ll have a big enough role to make a significant impact and their best defensive guard, Jamal Shead, has only made 32.2% of his threes in the NBA.
This year’s Raptors team will still be plenty dangerous and they’ll be an absolutely miserable team to have to play against, whether in the regular season or the playoffs, but it may take another roster move, or a breakout shooting performance from CMB, Walter, or Shead, for them to have enough offence juice to take down the league’s elites in a playoff series.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 07: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns react during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sorry.
It’s the start of the NBA season this week, meaning Phoenix Suns basketball is back. But the most talked-about topic in Suns basketball right now is the comments from someone who’s not on the team anymore, Kevin Durant, who had a back-and-forth with team owner Mat Ishbia on the framing of the former Finals MVP’s tenure with the team.
So despite the fact that Suns basketball is returning in two days, we’re gonna start with the back and forth between the team’s owner and the Houston Rockets superstar for questions we want your answers on.
If not Kevin Durant, what should the Suns have done to improve the roster?
It’s February of 2023.
Mat Ishbia buys the team, and the team still has their draft picks, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Cam Johnson. INSTEAD of trading for Kevin Durant, which Ishbia has deemed a mistake since the decision, what should the team have done with the assets at their disposal to improve the roster as the Suns were struggling and coming off a disappointing playoff performance that saw them embarrassed on their home court in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks?
You be the GM.
The opening night starting center will be?
Both Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro started at least two of the team’s five games this preseason, with Maluach starting at center in the final three games, with the last one being alongside the team’s four other presumed starters, Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges.
While Ighodaro didn’t play in the team’s final two games, he should be ready for the start of the season, so let’s not factor in health. If you’re the coaching staff making the decision between the two, who are you picking and why?
What are your Suns predictions for the season?
The start of the regular season calls for prediction time, and in a Western Conference that’s lost LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Anthony Davis since the start of last season, there’s been a lot of turnaround over the past 12 months when the Suns began the 2025-26 campaign. Last year, the Suns surprised many when they won 45 games and made the playoffs after losing Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in the previous offseason. This year, they’re not gonna take as many by storm, as reflected by their win total projections by the sportsbooks and prediction markets.
What are your predictions for the 2026-2027 Suns season?
On the Suns’ Plate This Week
The regular season is here!
Phoenix has two games this week. On Wednesday at 7 pm AZ time, they’ll play the new-look Portland Trailblazers for their first game of the season. Then on Saturday at 7 pm AZ time, the Suns will host the Golden State Warriors in their regular-season home opener in a rematch of the 8/9 play-in game from a season ago.
LeBron James had options this summer. Stephen Curry would have loved to play with him on a nostalgia tour in Golden State. Cleveland wanted him to come home. Again.
LeBron chose the Philadelphia 76ers because he saw it as his best chance to win — and he took a huge discount to do it, playing for the veteran minimum. He wanted to team up with Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid to chase a ring.
"I'm not going for money. I'm not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win, and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship," is how LeBron put it on X back in July when he made his announcement.
Now, finally, we get to see his debut for the 76ers. Here's everything you need to know to watch LeBron's first game with Philadelphia, as well as the 2026 NBA season on NBC and Peacock.
Is LeBron debuting on NBA Opening Night?
Yes, LeBron James will debut as a Philadelphia 76er at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, when his 76ers take on the defending champion New York Knicks on ring night, the marquee game of the NBA's opening-night triple-header, broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
It's a star-studded opening night that opens with Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics traveling to take on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons, a showdown between the top two seeds in the East last season. At 7:00 PM, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks begin their NBA title defense as they take on LeBron, Brown, and the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Capping off the night at 9:30 PM, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder face Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.
How to watch LeBron James’ 76ers debut
Tip-off time: 7 PM ET Tuesday, October 20 Arena: Madison Square Garden, New York TV/Streaming Channel: NBC/Peacock Stream link:Watch live on Peacock
What is the 2026 NBA Opening Night Schedule?
There are 3 games: • Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons - 3:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock • Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks - 7:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock (Ring ceremony is at 6:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock) • Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs - 9:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock
How do I watch NBA Basketball games on Peacock?
NBA basketball games will be available on Peacock throughout the 2026-2027 season. Sign up here.
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It might be harder to predict the NBA right now than it has been at any point in league history. The last eight years have produced eight different champions, and no team has even made back-to-back NBA Finals appearances over that time. The second-apron is breaking up contenders early, and an added emphasis on pace-and-space is leading more injuries that make it so much harder to sustain success year-over-over.
The NBA season rarely plays out how we think it’s going to. The New York Knicks weren’t exactly a popular preseason pick to win it all last year, and absolutely no one saw the San Antonio Spurs morphing from a 44-win team to the Western Conference champions. The Indiana Pacers made a darkhorse NBA Finals run in 2025, the Dallas Mavericks did the same in 2024, and Miami Heat got all the way there as an 8-seed in 2023. You might think we can already fast-forward to a Thunder-Spurs rematch in the Western Conference Finals this year, but there tends to be a lot more chaos in this era of the league than ever before.
I think it’s fair to frame the East as the Knicks vs. the field. I respect the Knicks, but I’d still take the field in that equation, just because it’s so hard to put together consecutive Finals runs in this era. I was choosing between the Raptors and Celtics for my East pick, and I’m going with Toronto for a few reasons. You usually need a top-5 player to make a Finals run, and Kawhi Leonard looked like that type of player last year. I’m well aware of his constant injury issues late in the season, but hey, Toronto did a good job pacing his body last time he was there in 2019, and I think they can do it again. Scottie Barnes is going to have a monster year as Leonard’s sidekick, and when the two share the floor with sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles, it’s going to be impossible to score on Toronto. Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead are very good role players for this team, and I think Allen Graves can be a contributor off the bench as a rookie, too. Toronto games won’t be pretty, but Kawhi gives them the halfcourt scoring they lacked a year ago, and the rest of the squad should be ready to win a rock fight every night out.
The Spurs win the Western Conference
The Spurs won 62 games and were the only team in the league to place in the top-3 of both offensive and defensive efficiency last year. The scary thing is I think they will be even better this year. Obviously, it all starts with Victor Wembanyama, who is in the rare position of already being the best player in the world while still having so much room left to improve. Wemby’s defense is multiple levels above any other player on the planet, and I expect we’ll see a more well-rounded offensive game from him this year. Dylan Harper’s sophomore leap is coming, and he’s going to be one of the best guards in the Western Conference before you know it. I’m fascinated to see how San Antonio handles the dynamic between Harper and De’Aaron Fox, but Fox should be better than he was in last year’s playoffs on a bum ankle, and his bloated salary is a problem for another day. Even if I’m not the biggest Stephen Castle guy (cut down the turnovers, man!), San Antonio still has some other great role players, led by Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell. I think Tobias Harris’ scoring can help out in the halfcourt in a pinch, and I liked their draft haul, too. If any team can sustain consecutive title runs in this era, it’s the Spurs.
NBA Finals 2027 prediction: Spurs over Raptors in 6
Kawhi vs. the Spurs for a championship would be absolute cinema. Get me an alternate feed with Uncle Dennis’ color commentary! Toronto’s defense will be nasty, but Wemby is a problem without a solution. I have Wemby getting his first chip at 23 years old.
NBA MVP 2027 pick: Victor Wembanyama
Boring answer, I know. Luka Doncic was my backup choice. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2025 is the only NBA MVP to win the championship in the last decade, so it won’t be easy, but it feels like Wemby is destined to pull off a few of these double-dips in his career. Might as well start now.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
NBA Rookie of the Year 2027 pick: Cameron Boozer, F, Memphis Grizzlies
It’s a straight up crime that Boozer wasn’t the No. 1 overall pick, because he was very clearly the best prospect in the draft. Boozer is literally the youngest player in the NBA this season with a July 2007 birthday, but I fully expect him to be Memphis’ best player from the jump. Pick a play type, any play type, and Boozer is already excellent at it. He can body people in the pick-and-roll as the handler or screener, he can nail three-pointers off the dribble or the catch, he can drive, he can clean the offensive glass for putbacks, he can crush the offensive glass like a traditional big man, and he’s an expert decision-maker with the ball in his hands. No rookie has made All-NBA since Tim Duncan in 1998, but I think Boozer can challenge for a spot this year.
NBA Coach of the Year prediction: Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
The Celtics are my pick to earn the No. 1 seed in the East this year, and if Mazzulla pulls that off after the Jaylen Brown trade, he’s going to get hailed as a genius. Mazzulla optimizes every possession for success in a way no other coach can match. His teams have a clear identity of launching threes, hitting the offensive glass with aggression (hello, Mitchell Robinson), and challenging every shot at the rim. It brings me no joy to predict greatness for the Celtics, but I really think it’s going to happen this season.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year pick: Ajay Mitchell, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
Mitchell was one of last season’s breakout players, but it felt like he never got the recognition he deserved because injuries limited him to 57 games (taking away award consideration) and put him on the sidelines for OKC’s most important playoff games. The former UC Santa Barbara product can provide everything teams want from a secondary ball handler with airtight driving ability, improved outside shooting, and a knack for finding teammates without turning the ball over. SGA can’t do everything for the Thunder, and Mitchell will be there to pick to the scraps as the Thunder put together another dominant season.
NBA Most Improved Player 2027 pick: Scoot Henderson, G, Portland Trail Blazers
Henderson looks fantastic in preseason for the Blazers team that is no longer counting on him to be a savior with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant entrenched in the starting backcourt. I think it’s only a matter of time before Scoot breaks up that pairing, because his feisty on-ball defense, improved three-point stroke, and extra gear going to the basket makes him the most well-rounded guard in Portland’s backcourt. He’s slated to be a restricted free agent after this season, and he should have plenty of suitors if he finally starts living up to his former draft hype in his fourth season.
NBA Clutch Player of the Year 2027 pick: Jalen Brunson, G, New York Knicks
The NBA will be bending over backwards to give him this award if he hits a few clutch shots this year as a make-up call from last season. Brunson is the most terrifying clutch demon in the league, the Knicks are going to be awesome again, and he should win this award going away.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: Bryan Baker #47 and Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate the 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Rays won Game 5 against the Cleveland Guardians, putting them one win away from potentially winning their first World Series. The Guardians will look to spoil that tonight and force Game 7, which would put them in the World Series for the first time since 2016 and once again within striking distance of their first win since 1948.
It was a relatively slow weekend in Rockies land, but here’s what folks had to say about the team as well as others around the league:
While there are plenty of Major League roster questions, Thomas Harding offers three prospects for fans to keep an eye on in 2027 (especially if there is a lockout) — Mason Adams (No. 17 PuRP), Charlie Condon (No. 2 PuRP) and Jackson Cox (No. 11 PuRP).
We all know that the Rockies fired Alon Leichman after a rookie season that saw a lot of experimentation with the rotation. Nobody quite knows why the Rockies let Leichman go, but Thomas Harding provides more details as to potentially what went wrong between the two parties.
Banana Ball is returning to Coors Field in 2027, but it won’t feature the Savannah Bananas this time. It will feature the Party Animals and the Loco Beach Coconuts, which feature old friend Will Ethridge. Enter the lottery here if you haven’t already. Have you been to a Banana Ball game yet?
The Dodgers are out of the playoffs! Tyler Kepner makes his predictions for what will happen now that the three-peat (and maybe the lockout??) is out of the picture. He identifies all of the things that he thinks will happen:
MLB will try to stop them
They will keep winning … except in October
Other powers will emerge
They will take on other teams’ big contracts (Hey Dodgers, can we interest you in Kris Bryant??)
Speaking of the Dodgers, Brandon Day from our Tigers’ sister site does an excellent job of showing how the LA Team was built and now how MLB is trying to stop them after enabling them for years by putting the onus on the players during the CBA negotiations:
Between that exemption, and the Dodgers being allowed to defer a billion dollars in salary as of this writing, the league had a big hand in creating this monster. And the league’s bottom line loves the Dodgers dynasty. Now they say they want the players to agree to a salary cap, which the players union has always resisted, and bail the league out of its own mess.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 17: Carter Jensen, center, is mobbed by his Kansas City Royals teammates after his two-RBI single gave them the win over the San Diego Padres at Kauffman Stadium on July 17, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Brooks Sherman, president of real estate and development for the Royals, said on Thursday that master planning for the ballpark district is getting started now as the team looks to hire a master planner. “Right now our focus is on the stadium,” he said.
Sherman said there have been no decisions about any demolitions in Crown Center and that there are great tenants already on site whom officials look to keep and add to.
“That’s when we begin to look at the entirety of the rest of the district to understand what kind of buildings we would have, an entertainment venue, the retail, the food and beverage and so forth, so there have been no decisions about any destruction on any building.”
Sherman said there are a lot of great tenants at Crown Center, and they want to keep all of them. One of those, just north of 25th Street and the Hallmark-owned Kaleidoscope, is the Sea Life Aquarium. That entity told us to reach out to Hallmark about demolition.
“The development will reimagine Crown Center and revitalize the city’s original live-work-play neighborhood while strengthening our business community and creating new opportunities,” one of the spokespeople for Hallmark said. “We remain in the early phases of planning the district beyond the ballpark. We are committed to maintaining open communication with our tenants and business partners as plans progress.”
Dobnak excelled in limiting hitters to a 3.7% barrel rate and inducing ground balls at a 51.2% rate. While this is a good recipe for limiting home runs and extra-base hits, Dobnak struggled with striking out batters, and batters were too easily able to make contact off him. One of Dobnak’s biggest weaknesses was his inability to miss bats. Hitters made contact on 91% of their swings at pitches in the strike zone (league worst), leaving him heavily reliant on his defense to record outs. His 4.22 FIP, more than a run higher than his ERA, suggests his results could be difficult to sustain.
“I’m just continuing to get better,” said Tolbert, whose .246 batting average and .693 OPS while coming up through the Royals system didn’t exactly portend his recent level of success. “Each season you just try to find what works for you, and try to get into a groove. I’ve had good hitting years and I’ve had average hitting years. I don’t really chase numbers, though. I just trust my routine and my process. If you’re focusing on the process, the numbers are going to be the numbers.”
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - MARCH 18: Nate George (11) of the Baltimore Orioles runs in from the field during a minor league spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 18, 2026 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
On the surface, it might feel like Nate George and Enddy Azocar are an unlikely pairing for our prospect review series. And it’s true, their 2026 seasons had very different trajectories. But they are both talented outfielders who weren’t heralded signings when they joined pro ball in 2024. They are both above-average defenders, which is always exciting after watching the Orioles’ current defense. And they both played for the High-A Frederick Keys, though not at the same time.
These two had almost opposite arcs over the course of the season. George’s year was highly anticipated after he shot up the prospect lists with his 2025 performance. Azocar, however, struggled in 2025 and was looking to get into the top prospect discussion (spoiler: he did). Now the two sit back-to-back on the Orioles prospect list at MLB Pipeline; Azocar is #6 and George is #7.
Nate George
At the end of 2025, Nate George was a star on the rise. The Orioles drafted him in the 16th round of the 2024 draft. By the end of the next season, everyone was taking notice. He was awarded the team’s Minor League Prospect of the Year in 2025, was named a top 100 prospect by Baseball America, and was at the top of Orioles’ prospect lists.
He did so by spending his 19th year laying waste to the Florida Coast League and Low-A, then finishing off the season with a .380 OBP in 21 games with the high-A Aberdeen IronBirds. His full 2025 numbers: .336/.413/.483 with 50 stolen bases. He is also an above-average fielder with a ton of speed, making him perhaps even more enticing than Enrique Bradfield, Jr., who has the defense but struggles offensively.
When the 2026 minor league rosters were announced, the High-A Frederick Keys had an enviable lineup. George joined fellow prospects Ike Irish and Wehiwa Aloy to make a formidable threesome. But it didn’t last long.
George was off to a pretty good start when, after 20 games, he was put on the injured list with a non-baseball-related medical condition. George was hitting .293/.372/.366 with 15 SB when he left the team. He did not play for the rest of the year.
There have been no real updates on George since he was removed from the active roster at the beginning of May. It hurts for a prospect to lose so much development time, but more than that, I think we can agree that we just hope he’s doing ok as a person. I expect we’ll get news of some sort as we approach spring training.
Enddy Azocar
The same year that Nate George was drafted #489 overall, the Boston Red Sox signed Enddy Azocar out of Venezuela for just $40,000. Azocar made his professional debut that year in the Dominican Summer League, then started strong in 2025 in the Florida Coast League. After just 14 games, the Red Sox promoted him to low-A Salem.
Unlike George, Azocar struggled in low-A. Over 71 games he failed to get on base (.273 OBP) and failed to hit for power (.315 SLG). He was young for the league, about 2.5 years younger than the average player. It was a struggle he apparently learned from, because 2026 was much different.
Azocar began 2026 with the same team he finished 2025 with, the low-A Salem Red Sox. Same team, but he appeared to be a different player. He started strong at the plate, OPS’ing .868 in May and .907 in April. His power jumped up, too. By the end of May, Azocar had seven home runs. He hit only six in all of 2025.
His improved numbers earned him a promotion to high-A, and he stumbled against the higher competition. June was his worst month of the season, but he adjusted. In July, he hit eight home runs and OPS’d 1.046 in 19 games.
On August 3rd, Azocar was traded to the Orioles in the package that sent Adley Rutschman to the Red Sox. He debuted with the Frederick Keys the next day and made a very good first impression. Azocar had three hits in his organizational debut and 10 hits over his first five games. He finished out the year with the Keys and hit .327/.372/.529 in 25 games.
At just 19, Azocar was still young for the league he played in. But this time around, he thrived. Between the two orgs, he played well at High-A for 71 games. I expect he’ll start 2027 with the Double-A Chesapeake Baysox.
Azocar has played multiple outfield positions, but on all three teams in 2026 he spent the majority of his time in center field. Per MLB Pipeline, he has good instincts and average range in center, but is much better suited to a corner outfield position. Luckily for him, the Orioles need defensive help at all positions.
George and Azocar are both young, talented outfielders in the Orioles’ system. They had different paths in 2026, but we hope to see them both continue to succeed in 2027.
Oct 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick (10) celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning.
The Rays beat the Guardians yesterday to take a three-games-to-two lead in the American League Championship Series. Here are some takeaways from Game 5.
Assuming Díaz is correct, the Rays will take on the National League Champions Milwaukee Brewers. Eric Longenhagen has a review of the NL Championship Series.
Jayson Stark writes that with the Brewers win, the “gamers” beat the Hall of Famers. (The Athletic sub. req.) Stark also tries to put the Brewers win in historic context and has the kinds of obscure facts that we’ve come to expect out of Stark.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 22: Luis Arraez #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies warms up during batting practice prior to the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
If the Cardinals want to compete next season, it would be wise to shore up their positions of weakness. The bullpen is a clear weakness, but it’s also the part of the team I would probably focus on last personally. An argument for the best closer in baseball is Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays, a 31-year-old with 3 career saves entering this season. Baker was drafted by the Rockies, traded as the player to be named later in a package for a year and a month of Seung Hwan Oh, selected off waivers by the Orioles a few years later, and finally traded for a draft pick last deadline. Meanwhile, Edwin Diaz got paid $17 million to allow nearly a run per inning in his 21 appearances for the Dodgers. Neither of these are unusual stories for relievers.
So most of my offseason talk will be focused on finding someone for either third base, center field, or starting pitcher. There is a very big, unfortunate issue with this however: the free agent market at those positions kind of suck. It’s why my very first free agent profile was focused on someone who has barely played 3B (JP Crawford). Any true 3B upgrade will either have to come via trade or someone at a different position. Which brings me to today’s post.
In theory, anybody who plays second base can play third base. And while that is literally true, the two positions require different strengths so they are likely not going provide the same quality of defense. But the truth of the matter is that the 2B market is significantly stronger than the 3B market. At the very least entertaining the better second basemen on the market is worth exploring to improve 3B. You could also move JJ Wetherholt to 3B, but I am opposed to that, so I would make it clear to these free agents that they would have to play 3B. It’d be an easier argument because Wetherholt is indeed better defensively than every other 2B. So if for no other reason than to eliminate them as real targets, let’s look at the 2B who might make sense at 3B.
The Tampa Bay Rays are one win away from the World Series. They also, at least as of now, made an extremely bad trade involving Brandon Lowe. They traded one season of Lowe, getting paid $11.5 million, 5 seasons of Mason Montgomery (2.2 fWAR out of the bullpen), and Jake Magnum (who isn’t very good) for 25-year-old Jacob Melton (who missed most of 2026 to injury and never saw the majors) and Anderson Brito, a mediocre prospect who only pitched in 8 games in 2026 at a level he had already pitched before (and he was worse at that level in 2026).
With all that said, Brandon Lowe has more warning signs than a radiation plant. He will most likely receive a qualified offer, and that is not a good start. In his previous four seasons prior to 2026, he averaged under 2 WAR per season. He was randomly great at defense after a career of not being very good defensively. The first year of his deal will be at 32-years-old. And he has never played an inning of 3B at pro ball. Also his arm is 11th percentile according to Statcast, though 2B hold back more than 3B as we will soon see.
The arm is the big one because frankly, a career of being not great defensively is actually a very good argument for someone to move to 3B. But I wanted to take a one-year game on Crawford defensively, and you would likely be taking a 3-4 year gamble on Lowe (his QO could very much hurt his market to an extreme degree though). On the positive side, his power wouldn’t be that terribly affected by Busch. He hit 35 homers for the Pirates. It would have been 32 at Busch.
But unfortunately, I have even more warning signs. For as good of a season as he had, there are so many reasons to not sign this guy. My last warning sign is that his offense looked to be on the luckier side. He had his highest K% since 2019 and he had his highest BABIP also since 2019. That’s not a great combo. His xwOBA was .331, which was his lowest since 2022 in his injury-shortened season. His actual wOBA was .354.
I’m going to be completely honest. I think I would avoid Lowe even if the Cardinals had a hole at 2B. A 32-year-old who probably didn’t actually get better last season but saw a career year saddled with a QO? And we have to move him to 3B, a position he hasn’t played professionally, and he has a weak arm?
Expected Contract: I don’t think I can even guess, I have no idea
The great big mystery of Arraez is how does the league value Arraez? Coming off a 0.9 fWAR season, Arraez signed for $1 year, $12 million. That is honestly more than most 0.9 WAR players will get, maybe all of them, so I’m not necessarily taking it as a given that the league doesn’t value Arraez like anti-stats people like to say. He will be 30-years-old and will likely get a multi-year deal.
With that said, his offense did not really get that much better, he was a significantly better player because he was suddenly great at defense. I have not looked into why, but unlike Lowe who was generally below average before 2026, Arraez was straight up awful defensively. Even with genuine improvements, it’s very hard to buy into his 2026 level of defense. You just don’t really see that kind of jump defensively, ever, and if it was hitting that did it, everyone would be similarly skeptical. When a sudden jump happens, you don’t assume the same level, you go somewhere in between where he used to be and his career year.
Arraez has played 3B, although very little, and like 2B and like 1B, he was awful defensively. I don’t think his arm is an issue. It’s 25th percentile, but I think he has more in the tank. When he last played significant innings at 3B, he threw it four miles per hour harder at 3B than when he played at 2B. And his arm at 2B this past season was very similar to how hard he threw at 2B in the year he also played 3B. He was actually dead average the year he played 400 innings at 3B, for some reason he was -7 OAA in 40 innings the very next season and nobody’s tried him at 3B since.
His bat is more reliable, although not near as good as the batting average people think. He doesn’t walk and he has no power, so he’s an above average hitter, but definitely not elite. He also hits into a lot of double plays. He hit into 15 double plays last season and has averaged just about that in the last four seasons. He somehow hit into 18 double plays when he batted .354.
As I said in the beginning, I don’t really know how the league values him. My interest in him is entirely dependent on his next contract. Is he valued like an All-Star, because I’d definitely avoid that contract. Like the 1 WAR player he was in 2024 and 2025? That means short-term and that’s more interesting.
Chisholm is kind of the opposite of our first two choices. His 2026 season stats are him coming off a down season and he’s very likely good on defense, despite his blunders. His numbers at 3B are a bit of a mixed bag – he was very good in 2024 and not good in 2025, and then the Yankees stopped playing him at 3B. He’s similar to Arraez in that he threw it harder at 3B than he does at 2B and most of his 9th percentile arm is related to that fact. He threw it 85.6 mph at 3B last year, 78.5 mph at 2B. So he must be really having his fair share of lobbing it over at 2B. It’s not really possible to lob it over at 3B (despite it looking like that’s what Matt Carpenter did).
We also saw in the 2026 playoffs that he likes to play hero ball and will likely continue to do so given his postgame comments, and I can see how that could potentially affect you more at 3B than 2B when you simply have more opportunities to make errors from trying to land on a top ten list. Couple that with the high standard he sets at 2B and the 3B version of Chisholm is probably a worse player than the 2B version.
On top of that, he had a down year with the bat. His xwOBA was a career low .294 and his 98 wRC+ was only a little bit better than his career low his rookie season. His power took a huge dip despite the bandbox he got to play in. Like his offensive stats are concerning.
Of course he’ll be 29 and the reporting is indicating he will not receive a qualified offer. They didn’t actually want Trent Grisham and he accepted, and I don’t think they want to repeat that risk. And Chisholm is firmly in his prime years so a bounceback offensively wouldn’t be the craziest thing. Chisholm would be a bit of a swing and it doesn’t seem like he’d be a fan favorite, but at least by value…. I mean he makes sense.
Conclusion: If you can get him for a good deal, frankly, I might take that swing
Torres is an interesting case, because he has not played 3B since 2018 and he has a grand total of less than 200 innings there in his entire pro career. But he’s also a former SS who has spent his fair share of time on the left side of the infield. Of course, he was bad defensively there and had to move to 2B. He has also been bad there. It’s clear range is not his thing which means there’s some theoretical upside to him defensively at 3B. Like he sets a low enough standard at 2B that I’m not real sure his defense would actually be worse at 3B. And like the others, once he moved from SS to 2B, his arm strength magically got weak. So I feel like his arm wouldn’t be an issue.
He also will 100 percent not have the qualified offer saddled on him. He already accepted it for the 2026 season and can’t get it again. He’ll be 30. He is fairly consistent as an above average hitter. And his batting profile is walk-heavy, not a ton of strikeouts, not reliant on power at all, so a move to Busch shouldn’t really hurt him. I’d actually be very curious on what kind of deal he would get, coming off a down year.
Conclusion: I’d be very tempted if less than my proposed contract
I could talk myself into Jazz Chisholm or Gleybar Torres. I assume the Cardinals have a much better way of figuring out how each player’s defense would translate at 3B. It’s entirely possible them at 3B is just a nonstarter. Kind of an important part of this whole process. So the estimates would have to work out, the contract would have to work out, they’d have to be willing to play 3B, I wouldn’t say any of these are likely.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: PitcherDrew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates at the end of the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Monday, everyone! We could know as soon as tonight who will be heading to the World Series against the Brewers, or whether we’ll get a nail-biter Game 7 in the ALCS. Today we’ll check in on how the Rays have managed to turn things around when they needed it the most, and how pitcher Drew Rasmussen came in clutch precisely when his team needed him. We round things up with some postseason chatter as well as some offseason and free agency overview. Plus, the Tigers have added a new member to their coaching staff, and it’s a reunion of sorts for A.J. Hinch from his Astros days.
Let’s get right into it.
Detroit Tigers News
Happy Willie Horton Day!
One of the greatest to ever wear the Olde English D and #RepDetroit
Join us in celebrating Willie Horton’s 84th birthday and Willie Horton Day in the state of Michigan! 👏 pic.twitter.com/JWyh5IXClE
Longtime MLB catcher Martín Maldonado is in agreement to join the Detroit Tigers coaching staff, sources tell @CodyStavenhagen and me – https://t.co/QLAEbAkoCv
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Blake Wesley #14, Jeremy Sochan #10 and Malaki Branham #22 of the San Antonio Spurs pose for a portrait during 2022 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 15, 2022 at UNLV Campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Back in 2022, the San Antonio Spurs drafted three players in the first round — Jeremy Sochan (9th), Malaki Branham (20th), and Blake Wesley (25th). The pick that brought Branham was acquired from the Toronto Raptors and the Wesley pick from the Boston Celtics.
All three joined the Silver & Black and began developing. Sochan in particular was shuffled through various roles as the team developed, but never locked into a position. As the Spurs continued to grow, Branham and Wesley found themselves with diminishing roles as the team built around Victor Wembanyama. The emergence of Stephon Castle and a monster trade for De’Aaron Fox left the 2022 drafted duo in the dark.
On July 9, 2025, Branham and Blake Wesley were traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kelly Olynyk. Last February, the Spurs waived Sochan. He went to the Knicks and picked up an NBA championship.
The NBA season starts Tuesday. On October 17, all three of the Spurs 2022 draft picks were waived by their respective teams.
Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham oraz Blake Wesley.
Panów łączą dwie kwestie. Każdy został wydraftowany przez Spurs w 2022 oraz zwolniony z NBA w przeciągu ostatnich 24H.
After picking up his championship ring, Sochan signed with the Portland Trail Blazers but was waived after four preseason games. Branham, who’d been with the Washington Wizards since being traded in 2025, he signed with the Orlando Magic in September. Wesley, who landed in Portland after initially being traded to the Wizards, signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on a one-year contract.
All three were waived within 24-hours of one another on Saturday.
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The Boston Celtics’ 2026-27 season officially begins Tuesday afternoon as they’ll take on the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.
These C’s will take some getting used to. That’s because Jaylen Brown, a franchise cornerstone since 2016, was shipped to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in a shocking offseason trade. Boston acquired Paul George in the deal, hoping the veteran will fit seamlessly in the starting lineup alongside superstar Jayson Tatum.
The Celtics also upgraded their frontcourt by signing ex-New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson. In addition, they inked widely respected veteran guard Mike Conley to a one-year contract.
Will that be enough for them to maintain their reputation as a threat to win the Eastern Conference? Better yet, should they still be considered NBA championship contenders?
Here’s how the Celtics stack up against their competition heading into the new campaign, according to NBA experts’ power rankings:
“The Celtics made a carefully considered decision to trade All-Star forward (Jaylen) Brown to the 76ers, but the potential for that to backfire is still enormous. Just imagine the anger and outrage in Boston if the 2024 Finals MVP helps the 76ers win their first championship since 1983.
“While that worst-case scenario became more plausible when LeBron James joined Philadelphia on a veterans minimum contract, Boston should remain one of the East’s top contenders after adding Paul George and Mitchell Robinson this summer. Jayson Tatum should be back to his All-NBA level form now that he’s 18 months removed from his Achilles tear, and coach Joe Mazzulla has established a winning, high-effort culture that has delivered at least 56 wins in each of his four seasons.”
“This ranking feels a little low for a Boston team that is going to win a lot of regular season games, but this first ranking is focused on title contention, and I don’t believe these Celtics, as constructed, are as serious a postseason threat (I am higher on the potential of the Pacers and Rockets).
“That said, just having Jayson Tatum back on the court will be welcome, he is a joy to watch. Plus, this team will defend, has depth and athleticism, and will be disciplined under reigning Coach of the Year Joe Mazzulla.”
“This offseason was about the shocking Jaylen Brown trade. But now that real games are about to be underway, the focus needs to be on who is here, and that’s Jayson Tatum, who Boston decided was the star worth keeping. Joe Mazzulla showed that he is going to get his team to win in the regular season. Everyone focuses on the high volume of 3s, but the focus should be on how Boston dominates the possession battle and makes things hard on opposing offenses consistently. This can be a special season for Tatum individually, and Boston should assume its customary spot near the top of the East standings even if Paul George takes another step further from his prime.
“The question for Boston is what it will do when the jump shots go cold in the playoffs. But even in a tough conference, the Celtics shouldn’t be doubted when it comes to hosting a game on the opening weekend of the playoffs.”
“The Celtics shocked the world by trading Jaylen Brown during the offseason. They shouldn’t experience much of a decline. Jayson Tatum’s return should fill the void left by Brown. Paul George is a perfect fit in Joe Mazzulla’s system, where he can capably switch on defense and shoot a high percentage from 3 on offense. Mitchell Robinson might be the most underrated addition of the offseason, both weakening the Knicks and adding to an already-elite offensive rebounding team.”
“Microscopic sample size be damned, Jayson Tatum and new pick-and-roll partner Mitchell Robinson formed a lethal pairing in the preseason that opposition defenses can’t decipher. Robinson’s rim-rolling repertoire will create countless corner threes for the trigger-happy Celtics.”
“Could this be the best version of Jayson Tatum we’ve ever seen? There’s no ambiguity that it’s his team now, so it’ll be fascinating to see how he handles that responsibility. But it’s also possible that Tatum’s usage stays close to the same and it’s a committee of players that fill what’s lost from Brown.
“Will Derrick White have a bounceback year? He forgot how to shoot last year, but he could have refound it this summer. Could Payton Pritchard take a leap? Last season, Pritchard averaged 26.7 points and 7.6 assists per 75 possessions without Brown on the floor. What will Baylor Scheierman or Hugo González look like with more chances? And could George end up having a healthy season that builds on his strong finish in Philadelphia? There are a lot of paths for the Celtics to end up even better.”
