In recent days, the Washington Capitals have reportedly been shopping forward Ivan Miroshnichenko and the Detroit Red Wings may be interested.
The 20th overall pick in 2022, who has been off to a slow start to his NHL season with six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 55 games. At 22, Miroshnichenko has yet to make his mark at the NHL level, despite seeing his role grow as high as the top line in Washington, but he has still been unable to break through with one goal but no assists through three games this season.
The Russian left winger could slot into Detroit's top six, where he could experiment in roles alongside Emmitt Finnie and Alex DeBrincat, or with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.
Risk would be minimal adding Miroshnichenko as he carries a very manageable $925,000 cap hit this season and next, so he shouldn't cost much to acquire, and if it doesn't work out, Detroit could part ways with him without much trouble.
The Red Wings would not be alone in their interest. Several teams have reportedly already inquired about Miroshnichenko, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.
Detroit would be joining a loaded group and may have to outbid others for a chance to land him, but if successful could find a cheap solution and key piece to their lineup.
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 24: Justin Champagnie #9 of the Washington Wizards celebrates against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on October 24, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington Wizards wing Justin Champagnie underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot, The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported Wednesday.
Wizards wing Justin Champagnie underwent surgery today to repair a fracture in his right foot, @TheAthleticNBA has learned. The Wizards are hoping that Champagnie will be able to return by the All-Star break. Champagnie suffered the injury during Monday's game in Charlotte.
The Wizards hope Champagnie will return by the All-Star break, according to Robbins. The All-Star break is scheduled for Feb. 19-24, 2027.
Pacers forward Obi Toppin fractured his right foot on Oct. 31 last season. He underwent surgery and returned on Feb. 26. Former Lakers forward Maxi Kleber fractured his foot on Jan. 25, 2025, and returned April 30, 2025 — 95 days after suffering his injury.
Champagnie injured his foot late in the first quarter of Monday’s 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. He attempted to play through it, but the injury overruled that determination. The 6-foot-7 wing intentionally fouled to stop the game and hobbled to the Wizards bench, where Khris Middleton and a team staffer helped him to the locker room.
“[Justin] is going to recover, and whatever he’s going through, we’re going to be right there with him, and he’s going to be right there with us throughout his recovery,” Trae Young said. “We’re going to make sure he’s right. We’ll hold down the fort while he’s gone.”
The Wizards quickly ruled him out with a right foot injury. Champagnie was one of Washington’s best players through the first three games.
Washington was a +36 with him on the floor and a -30 with him off. through the first three games He tallied 11 points and 14 rebounds and was a +18 in the team’s win over the Bulls.
Oct 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (15) stands on the court during the second half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
You know what sucks about NBA scheduling? And stop me if you’ve heard me complain about NBA scheduling before… The Suns played Monday night, and they don’t play again until Friday against the Denver Nuggets. By the time that date finally rolls around, the Suns will be the only team in the league with only 3 games played. Would’ve been nice to have a Wednesday game tonight, wouldn’t it? But instead, we’ll get some weird, wonky stretch of five games in seven nights later in the season to make up for it.
Because of all that time off, combined with the fact that Devin Booker scored only three points on 1-of-7 shooting against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, we’re left sitting around overanalyzing his performance. Questioning his body language at the end of the game. We’re so bored, we’re hitting up our local trade machines to pass the time. That can be a dangerous thing…
I could never cover football for this exact reason. You get one game a week, then you have to wait an entire week for another, leaving you to sit there and stew over everything that went wrong the previous Sunday. Seeing as I’ve spent the past couple of days doing exactly that, watching Booker footage over and over again, I figured it was time to put my thoughts together on the debacle.
I’ll start by acknowledging one simple fact. I don’t believe I’m somebody who coddles our superstar, primarily because, in my opinion, he hasn’t been a superstar over the past few seasons. That’s not a knock on Devin Booker, personally or professionally. It’s the reality of where he currently stands within the NBA landscape. We’re talking about a player who hasn’t won a playoff game since 2023 and failed to make an All-NBA team since 2023-24. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by suggesting that Devin Booker isn’t currently among the league’s premier players.
That’s not to say he doesn’t possess the ability to be one, because we’ve seen what he’s capable of throughout his career. He has a unique skill set, is an elite midrange scorer, and can pour in points with the best of them. We literally just witnessed this, as evidenced by his 43-point performance against the Golden State Warriors last Saturday. But consistency is what defines superstardom. It’s the ability to rise above the competition at every turn, or, in the case of Monday night’s game against Oklahoma City, to rise above three defenders at once.
“I’ve got to look at it back,” Booker stated after Monday’s loss when asked how he’ll evaluate his performance. “Shoot over three people?”
"I've got to look at it back. Shoot over three people?"
Devin Booker after 3-point effort (1-of-7 FG) in Suns loss tonight at OKC after scoring 43 points in Saturday's win over Golden State.
"I don't know. We'll see. Like I said, be more creative and finding spots where I get… pic.twitter.com/iGzex8x4wM
Yeah, based on that footage, I see why all the body-language doctors out there are writing prescriptions.
It’s troubling to see Booker go 1-of-7 against the Thunder, especially when you consider that two games earlier against the Portland Trail Blazers, he didn’t attempt a single three-pointer. While the Suns were getting their asses handed to them, their best (and highest compensated) player didn’t attempt a shot from beyond the arc, the very shot that could have helped his team get back into the game. That still befuddles me.
When you combine those performances with his postgame body language while sitting on the bench looking visibly distraught, and the fact that he didn’t appear willing to force the issue offensively, it catches your attention.
Devin Booker looked defeated sitting alone on the bench during a Phoenix Suns timeout 👀
I don’t care what opposing defenses are doing to Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or Jalen Brunson. Those guys are going to get their shots up regardless of what the opposition throws at them. If they see a triple team coming, they’re going to find a way to get that shot off before the triple team arrives.
In the same breath, I can understand what Booker was attempting to do against Oklahoma City. This is a team that historically, and especially as we witnessed in last year’s postseason, has done an excellent job of game planning to get the ball out of his hands. Their entire objective is to force the rest of the Suns to beat them, and when you consider that Phoenix has surrounded one of the best midrange talents in the game with a roster lacking reliable spot-up three-point shooters, that objective becomes even easier to accomplish. We miss you, Grayson.
When you watch this compilation from Kellan Olson, you can see Booker fighting to get open, finding his spots, and creating opportunities. But it’s the defense imposing its will rather than Booker imposing his.
To aid the discourse and help you form your own conclusions off the basketball, here is every half-court possession from last night when Devin Booker got a ball screen. pic.twitter.com/4n0ZGNlXa5
So what does he do instead? He goes into Point Book mode, recognizing that Oklahoma City is selling out to take him out of the game and relying on his teammates to pick up the slack. To his credit, he finished with seven assists and zero turnovers.
And much like trying to break down the 2-3 zone, something the Suns were unsuccessful in doing Monday night, the solution requires his teammates to start knocking down shots. If they do, the defense has to adjust, opening up opportunities for Booker to operate. But his teammates didn’t. Booker ended the game with a team-high 13 potential assists.
Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Jalen Green combined to shoot 6-of-23 from beyond the arc, a miserable 26%. Sure, they combined for 56 points, but they did so on 43.2% shooting on 44 shot attempts. Scoring continues to be a struggle for this Suns team, especially when opposing defenses can dictate where the ball goes and who gets to shoot it.
By the end of the game, Booker’s body language appeared to be that of somebody who was exhausted and frustrated with the outcome, his own performance included. At least that’s my interpretation. You’re out there battling an opponent that eliminated you from the playoffs the year before, and they’re successfully taking you out of your game, forcing you away from your preferred spots and making every possession a struggle. And when you look around for somebody to help alleviate that pressure, nobody is efficiently stepping up.
Look at the notes Barstool’s Sam Vecenie had on Miles Bridges and Jalen Green following this game:
I hate everything about what this Phoenix team has done to its starting lineup. They were without Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro tonight, so Maluach had to start. But really, the problem here is that Jalen Green and Miles Bridges are the antithesis of what made this team fun last year. They were so selfless and played for one another on defense last season. They moved the ball quicker and made better decisions. This group doesn’t do that with the starters. Coming into tonight, Phoenix’s starters had a negative-35.5 net rating and tonight might make that slightly better, but not much better. They got their ass kicked.
Green’s stat line looks about as good as it could. He had 20 points, four assists, four rebounds, only one turnover and shot 8 for 13 from the field. I wouldn’t say that he played poorly, but I didn’t love his game. I counted at least five possessions where he brought the ball up the court and shot the ball without passing, one of which was a pretty egregious one at the start of the second half where Phoenix clearly set up a Spain/stack action with Maluach and Booker, and Green just rejected the screen, drove to the rim, overpenetrated, and got stripped by McCain. Midway through the first, he had another no-pass possession where he settled for a contested midrange shot with 15 seconds left on the shot clock without trying to create anything for his teammates. When Green keeps it simple, attacking driving lanes when they come available as a slasher with his athleticism, taking open catch-and-shoot 3s, and cuts to the rim, he’s an effective player. He can attack mismatches well. The problem is when he tries to isolate or play in ball-screens against high-level defenses or defenders. He also doesn’t process it quickly enough and holds the ball too long upon catching it, allowing rotating defenses to catch up while he surveys. I don’t think he’s a fit with Devin Booker in the starting lineup.
Bridges was even worse largely because he can’t defend anyone. He gets caught in no-man’s land in help way to often. He can’t move his feet quickly enough on defense to deal with guards in switches. He ends up having to play too passively and is too far off of them, allowing them to get space and time to shoot. He also isn’t a good enough shooter to take advantage of when he’s open. He’s made 33 percent from 3 over his last four years, and only has one year in his career over 35 percent despite taking six per game over the last six years. He did a nice job moving without the ball, particularly in some moments where OKC was in zone coverage. Again, he had 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. The box score looks great. He did not play well.
My real issue with everything Phoenix is doing here with this group is that none of it is in service of accentuating Devin Booker or the scheme Jordan Ott found success with last season. Gillespie makes life easier for Booker by spacing the court, being an aggressive point-of-attack defender, and making good decisions. Goodwin and Brooks take really tough matchups on defense and are physical. Ighodaro was out tonight, but he moves the ball quickly. But Green and Bridges just have not looked like a fit at all. Maybe it gets better as the season continues, but their careers to this point would not suggest it.
Um. Yikes?
If I’m Devin Booker, I’m frustrated too. You’re a star in your prime, hoping that the organization is doing everything it can to build a competitive team around you. Not by trying to buy a championship by surrounding you with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, but by finding a way to construct a roster around you while navigating a difficult dead cap situation. And so far, it doesn’t look good. The connectivity doesn’t exist, the chemistry is flawed, and the schemes aren’t working.
I can understand the blanket statements from the fan base expressing frustration that Booker should be able to rise above everything happening around him. He’s the $57 million man, and scoring three points is unacceptable. I understand exactly where you’re coming from because, on the surface, I concur. But when I dig a little deeper, I see a player who wants some help around him. Defenders who actually defend. Rebounders who actually rebound. Shooters who actually shoot. Is that too much to ask?
Devin Booker had the body language of somebody who recognizes that the road ahead is going to be long and difficult, and that the only way this team can remain competitive is if he goes out there and scores 43 points every night. That’s something a younger player might embrace, but on Friday, Booker turns 30. And sure, that’s what the contract is for. I get it. But that doesn’t make things any easier when the roster that’s been constructed around you, albeit incredibly early in the season, has been an utter catastrophe thus far.
Booker deserves criticism for Monday night. Three points from your franchise player is unacceptable, regardless of the circumstances. But expecting him to overcome every deficiency around him isn’t a sustainable formula for winning basketball. The Suns need to find ways to make his life easier, and that responsibility belongs to the players, the coaching staff, and the front office. Booker needs to be better. So does everybody around him. Because if this is what turning 30 looks like in Phoenix, it’s going to be a long damn season.
Matt Renshaw declared after Australia’s strongest batting performance on this South African tour that he is neither a doctor nor a curator. But he confirmed his status as Australia’s incumbent opener and clearly remains a very loyal mate.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) gathers his game plan during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on October 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Lakers’ first back-to-back of the season will be without Luka Dončić.
After falling to the Blazers on Tuesday, the Lakers released their injury report hours before Wednesday’s game against the Clippers with Luka included on it. The superstar will be out with back tightness, the first game he’ll miss in the young season.
Ziaire Williams will also be out with left foot soreness. Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr both remain out.
Lakers say that Luka Dončić (back tightness) and Ziaire Williams (left foot soreness) won’t play in the second half of the back-to-back vs. Clippers.
Luka did miss time during the preseason, but it was never for any actual injury. Back tightness is a vague enough term to not raise too many concerns, at least not yet. For now, it mainly just seems like an opportunity to get him some rest.
Tuesday’s game against Portland was the start of five games in seven nights, so it’s not a surprise that the team is finding some rest for Luka. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if Austin gets the same treatment during the span, too.
A source says the Lakers are being cautious with Dončić and the back tightness as the team plays Game 2 in a stretch where the Lakers play five times in seven days. No longterm worry about his health at this time. https://t.co/HaLAZsL4zD
For Williams, a foot injury did limit him during the preseason, though it’s not clear if this is the same foot. Again, this early in the season and given the context, it’s fair to assume this is management and rest.
Carr did have an optimistic update on his status from head coach JJ Redick prior to Tuesday’s game. He took part in practice with Coachella Valley, which Redick said was an “important step” toward returning. He was assigned to Coachella Valley again on Wednesday afternoon, which is encouraging as well.
There has been no further updates about Thiero after Redick said he would be shut down for a couple of days in the opening week of the season.
Dončić led the Lakers in scoring in a 136-129 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The point guard nearly produced a double-double with 41 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes played against Portland.
It followed his 52-point game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, Oct. 25. Dončić scored 39 points through the first three quarters of play before tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 10 career 50-point games, which is the 11th most in NBA history. The Lakers guard passed Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who each have nine.
Dončić added his name to the franchise record books, becoming the fastest player to score 3,000 points in a Lakers uniform. The six-time All-NBA selection accomplished the feat in 95 games, beating out George Mikan (106) and Abdul-Jabbar (109).
Luka Dončić injury update
Dončić has been ruled out with back tightness.
He was not listed on Monday's injury report ahead of the game against Portland.
Coach JJ Redick is expected to talk to the media before tonight's game against the Clippers and may provide an update.
Luka Dončić injury history
Doncic does have a history of back injuries during his career. He most recently was listed with a back injury in March 2025. He was also listed with back-related injuries during the 2019, 2021 and 2024 seasons.
Where does Luka Dončić rank among NBA's best?
Dončić enters his third season with the Lakers as the unquestioned star and leader. His accomplishments and achievements are why he was ranked No. 4 on USA Today's top 100 player rankings ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Luka Doncic (back tightness) and Ziaire Williams (left foot soreness) are out against the Clippers on Wednesday in the second night of a back-to-back following the Lakers’ 136-129 loss to the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Damian Lillard (0) of the Portland Trail Blazers and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers hug after a game at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic is leading the league in scoring with 36 points a game. He had a 41-point, five-rebound, nine-assist performance against the Trail Blazers in the Lakers’ first loss this season on Tuesday, following finishing with 52 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in the Lakers’ 132-123 win over the Jazz on Sunday.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty ImagesZiaire Williams (11) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers will also be without Cameron Carr (right oblique strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee injury management).
The Clippers will be without Bradley Beal (right knee management), Rui Hachimura (left quad soreness), Brandon Ingram (right heel surgery), Jordan Miller (left rotator cuff surgery), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right lisfranc surgery) and Max Strus (right plantar fascia partial tear).
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 23: The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during second quarter of the Celtics Home Opener at TD Garden on October 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 23: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on October 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors registered their first win of the season on Monday, surprisingly blowing out the Denver Nuggets 134-114 on the road. And now, after the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a devastating injury to Anthony Edwards, the Dubs are in prime position to post a winning record on their three-game winning streak.
Needless to say, Edwards is not the only player who is injured in this game, as neither team is particularly healthy right now. Here’s the full injury report.
Warriors
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL repair surgery) Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon repair surgery) Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(not with team)
No new news on Butler and Moody. Not much new news on Porziņģis, either, other than an ESPN report today that suggested that Golden State doesn’t expect the former All-Star to play another game for them. For the foreseeable future, these three will remain on the injury report.
Lendeborg, who is off to a dream start to his career (he’s averaging 21.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game) got a little banged up during his dominant performance on Monday. You know it’s going to be hard to keep him off the court, and the Warriors aren’t in a back-to-back, so hopefully he’s able to play. It will be fun to see Lendeborg and Jonathan Kuminga play against each other, both for the basketball itself, and for the narrative.
Timberwolves
Out — Anthony Edwards (right knee injury management)
Edwards’ injured knee requires arthroscopic surgery, which should keep him out until sometime around the new year. It’s a bummer for him, for the Wolves, and for NBA fans. In the meantime, it should mean an increased role for Kuminga, who becomes Minnesota’s secondary scorer behind LaMelo Ball.
Out — Donte DiVincenzo (right Achilles tendon repair surgery)
The former Warrior played all 82 games for the Wolves last year, then tragically tore his Achilles during the playoffs. He has expressed confidence that he’ll be able to make it back on the court at some point this season but, if so, it would surely be towards the end of the year.
Enjoy the game, everyone. It tips off at 5:00 p.m. PT on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Kane gets guard of honour before 6-1 win over Magdeburg
Serie A: Inter sink Venezia, Milan lose at home to Bologna
Bayern Munich sailed to a 6-1 win over second-tier Magdeburg in the DFB-Pokal after their head coach, Vincent Kompany, was discharged from hospital earlier on Wednesday.
Kompany’s assistant, Aaron Danks, was in the dugout for Bayern for the last-32 tie, while Harry Kane was rested. The Ballon d’Or winner received a guard of honour from his teammates before kick-off in front of 75,000 fans at the Allianz Arena.
It feels like the Florida Panthers aren't clicking at full power just yet. Whether it's due to injuries to Brad Marchand and Aleksander Barkov or simply because they are still looking for their best combinations, the feeling is they have more to offer.
Despite that, the Panthers are 7-4-2 and sit in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with 16 points.
Their offense ranks 17th in the NHL, averaging three goals per game, and their defense ranks eighth, allowing 2.85 goals per game. Offensively, the Panthers have more to offer, and we are seeing it recently.
The Panthers won their last two contests, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 and the Winnipeg Jets 5-1, but the next handful of games offer an even better opportunity.
The Panthers return to Sunrise after a four-game road trip for a three-game homestand. Those three opponents are the Jets, Detroit Red Wings, and Blackhawks. The Panthers have already beaten two of them, and the third sits in last place in the Atlantic Division.
After those three games, the Panthers face two difficult road matchups against the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins, challenging but not unbeatable teams.
Expecting the Panthers to win each of these games is unrealistic, but if they are striving for a spot near the top of the Division, they need to earn as many points as possible over the next stretch.
At the same time, the Panthers need to improve in some areas. They aren't getting enough depth scoring. Sam Bennett has just three goals and six points in 13 games; Anton Lundell has scored just once and has only three points; Eetu Luostarinen has struggled; and outside of Lars Eller, their fourth line has produced little to nothing.
This stretch of games provides an excellent opportunity to do so.
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The mystery neck problem that forced Steve Smith out of the Cape Town Test has been revealed as what Cricket Australia is calling a cervical facet joint injury.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Junior Caminero limped off the Tropicana Field infield past midnight. Less than 20 hours later, he was back in the Tampa Bay Rays lineup.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that his 42-homer third baseman is "fine" and will play in Game 5 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Tampa Bay trails the series 3-1.
"He's been dealing with some lower extremity injuries, but there's a lot of guys that are nicked up right now playing through a lot," Cash said before the game. "(I) know that Cammy will be ready to go today."
Caminero irritated his left foot leading off the bottom of the 12th inning of Game 4, with the Rays down 3-2 and three outs from elimination. He hit a routine grounder to third and ran hard enough to beat Joey Ortiz's errant throw. He pulled up limping at first.
He stayed in the game anyway. When Liam Hicks singled to left-center, Caminero went from first to third.
"Really impressive that he went first and third right there, very instinctual play," Cash said.
Cedric Mullins then pinch-ran for him. Cash said after the game that he held off on the move until Caminero reached scoring position, partly because the Rays' bench was already thin. Ben Williamson's walk-off hit finished the 4-3 win and sent the series back to the Trop for one more night.
Caminero said after the game, in Spanish, that the foot has bothered him for about three months. He didn't say what the injury is.
Tampa Bay needs him. Caminero hit 42 home runs with 101 RBIs in the regular season and anchors a lineup that faces Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, who led the majors with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts. Drew Rasmussen starts for the Rays on short rest.
No team has ever come back from a 3-0 World Series deficit. The Rays need one more win just to get back to Milwaukee for Game 6.
"If my foot is broken," Caminero said, "I'll play tomorrow."
As the Yankees enter a long offseason, SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes opens up the mailbag to talk about who could be the manager in 2028 and the impending lockout...
Since Boone is in his last year, who is considered for the manager role in 2028? (And please don’t say they’re drawing Boone a new contract!) – Dyamondphillip on Threads
This is the question I always ask myself when I think about the Yankees moving on from Boone (or even Brian Cashman, for that matter): Who else?
Certainly, plenty of people would want to run the New York Yankees. But we know that doing so is unlike any other job in sports. The ongoing theory seems to be that running the Yankees requires preexisting understanding of what being a part of the organization is like.
And while Hal Steinbrenner is not as prone to making changes as his father was, managing the Yankees in the age of social media might provide an equivalent stressor: Boone is a constant public punching bag, even when the Yankees are winning. Whatever frustration the public has with that approach, his players respect it and people want to play for the Yankees, in part, because Boone takes the punches for them. So the Yankees need someone who understands the scrutiny, accepts that it is part of the job, and has a deep-rooted plan and personality capable of handling it. I think that list is a lot shorter than it feels sometimes.
Now, if the Yankees are replacing Boone, they are probably looking for someone who does things slightly differently. I would assume maybe a more disciplined approach, whether publicly or behind closed doors, might seem appealing if they have decided Boone’s more player-friendly style is not working.
Who are hard-nosed types with experience who understand what it means to be a Yankee and also want to manage?
Joe Girardi has already parted ways with this organization once. Alex Cora does not necessarily fit that exact description, and his tendency to speak his mind does not jive with a Yankees front office that is relentlessly buttoned up. Perhaps the Yankees wouldn’t mind that approach if he is still available when it is time to move on from Boone. But he never seemed like the clear-cut fit.
Could a former Yankee fit? Maybe.
Jorge Posada certainly aired his perspective earlier this week on Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman’s excellent podcast. But he has never managed before, and neither have any of his high-profile late-90s contemporaries. Again, the fit is not obvious.
Certainly, the Yankees could decide someone who hasn’t played for the organization would make sense, as long as they were sure that person could handle all that came with it. Carlos Mendoza is a former Boone bench coach. Luis Rojas has managed in New York before, too. But as Boone disciples, neither would necessarily represent a change in direction.
Obviously, this is all hypothetical, as is the premise of your question. But I do feel that, for all the completely understandable angst around Boone after another playoff failure this year, it is not as easy to replace him with someone who will steer them to the playoffs every year as it might seem. Perhaps that is why the Yankees front office did not prioritize a change ahead of a strange offseason. Perhaps they believe Boone is one of the few people who can handle the job reliably at this unique moment in the history of the franchise.
Is there going to be free agency activity before the lockout? @Buffan1712
Yes. How much? I don’t know. But I would absolutely plan on moves getting made. Last time around, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and others signed massive deals in a flurry before the collective bargaining agreement expired. Certainly, the possibility that this CBA will yield a salary cap might give some teams pause about moving before knowing the rules.
But in talking to people in front offices around the sport, the expectation is that any salary cap would be phased in over many years, rather than be implemented immediately with drastic consequences for those who overshoot its limits. Plus, a cap in any form is no guarantee: The union is vehemently opposed to it. A middle ground of some kind seems like a possible outcome, though no one negotiating could possibly admit that now.
I think some teams will be careful. The Dodgers, for example, might have to have some clarity about the rules before making too many financial commitments simply because they have so many, over so many years, already. The Yankees certainly have their fair share of money committed, too.
Maybe that creates caution in free agency, though frankly, free agency does not necessarily seem like the best way for them to address their needs for a more versatile lineup and some bullpen depth.
The Mets have enough money coming off the books next year that they likely do not have to wait, either. And remember: the owners talk. Steinbrenner, for example, is on the labor committee. He and others will know what the plan is for negotiations and what they could potentially be looking at in terms of rule changes. And they probably won’t agree to deals or CBA changes that would leave them scrambling when the lockout ends.
Will the World Series matchups and outcome affect the owners' bargaining positions post-2026 season? Will it affect the players association? – jrobelen on Threads
The main impact I think the World Series matchup will have is on public opinion. The owners have been planning to push for the cap for years. They, via their representatives at MLB, have had arguments spun for all scenarios for years, too. The one they will use to address the fact that two small-market teams are in the World Series is as follows: “A small-market team had not won the World Series in over a decade (Kansas City, 2015). Before that? The Marlins in 2003. Is that often enough to constitute true competitive balance?” Again, their argument, not mine.
As for the players association, I do think this World Series will offer some fresh public credibility to the argument they’ve been making all along: That the owners do not care about competitive balance at all, and are instead pushing a cap purely to limit their own expenses and pocket a greater, guaranteed share of revenue so they have more cash in the short term and higher franchise values long-term. Union head Bruce Meyer and his staff have been making that argument for years anyway.
But at its heart, I don’t think this World Series changes much because as it picks apart competitive balance arguments, it exposes the fact that those arguments were never at the heart of these negotiations to begin with.
Obviously, the owners want to make more money. That is their incentive. Obviously, the players association will never want to agree to a salary cap because it limits what their stars can make. That is a huge incentive. So neither side entered these negotiations prioritizing the health of the game, whatever they say to the contrary. They are protecting their right to make money, then trying to frame those arguments in a way that suggests their way is better for the sport.
But remember: The best thing for the sport is not to have a lockout in which players and owners fight over millions of dollars while non-team employees who rely on the sport miss much smaller paychecks and, in some cases, lose jobs. Not to mention the fans who struggle to get by while watching public arguments over millions and billions. The best way to ensure competitive balance is…well, to have competition, not spend the spring arguing in boardrooms.
So no, I don’t think the World Series affects anyone’s positions. If anything, it affects the battle for public opinion, which could matter as time goes on. The owners will push for a cap because it benefits them financially. The players will fight it with all their might because a cap limits their earning power over time. At its heart, this CBA negotiation was never, and will never be, about competitive balance anyway. And I do not think the Brewers or Rays have done anything to change that.
Baseball by June: Agree or Disagree. @lee_w18
Agree. But I have never been less sure of how something will end than I am these negotiations.
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced a flurry of roster moves after Wednesday's practice.
They placed forward Elmer Soderblom on injured reserve after listing him as day-to-day with an upper-body injury on Tuesday. He recorded an assist in the Penguins' 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
They also activated forward Justin Brazeau from injured reserve and have assigned him to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for a conditioning stint. He got hurt during the pre-season and hasn't played since.
Forward Avery Hayes and defenseman Chase Pietila have also been assigned to WBS.
Forward Justin Brazeau has been activated from Injured Reserve and assigned to @WBSPenguins (AHL) on a conditioning loan.
Forward Elmer Soderblom has been placed on IR.
Forward Avery Hayes and defenseman Chase Pietila have been re-assigned to WBS. pic.twitter.com/JIjtKM9eXM
Pietila didn't play in any NHL games during his brief stint with the Penguins, while Hayes played in Saturday's game against the Predators. Hayes looked good in that game, and it won't be long before he's in the NHL full-time.
Rutger McGroarty is still with the team, despite not practicing on Wednesday. He's likely the 13th forward for now.
The Penguins will return to game action on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
