According to family lore, the first team I ever rooted for was the St. Louis Cardinals, the football version. See, I entered this crazy world on a Sunday around 11 a.m. back when the Cardinals still played in Missouri, and about an hour later, my parents and I—well, I’m guessing just my father—turned on the Cardinals versus Cowboys.
In their last season opener before leaving for the desert, the Cardinals topped the ‘Boys, 24-13.
But outside of Super Bowl XLIII, I’ve never rooted for those Cardinals.
The other St. Louis Cardinals, well, now that’s a different story.
I’ve rooted for that baseball team my entire life. I’ve attended far more Cardinals games than Royals games. Until about 2010, when it became clear that I’d be staying in Kansas City, the Cardinals were my primary team. At that point, though, I switched. I wanted to be a fan of the team in the city (or area) where I resided.
Still, I cheer on the Cardinals. I won’t get too much into it, but the last few years have been painful for the franchise, and now they’re doing something they really haven’t done during my lifetime—rebuilding. Like, a full-scale, tear-it-down-to-the-studs rebuild. It’s probably for the best for the franchise to do that, and yet it’s still…weird, I guess, to see it happening.
So, yes, I root for two Major League Baseball teams, the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals.
And so can you!
I’ve devised a set of completely objective (subjective) rules grounded in science (eh) that will allow you to root for multiple teams in the same league without feeling bad (debatable) about it.
This stems from a) me rooting for both the Royals and Cardinals and b) one of my sisters insisting that it’s okay to root for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos, when it’s actually SACRILEGIOUS.
Here are the rules:
Rule No. 1: Hereditary
You can of course root for a team that you’ve been raised to cheer. This happened to me. I never lived in St. Louis but rooted for the Cardinals because that was my dad’s team, my mom’s team. Of my large family, I was the only one not born in St. Louis. I didn’t have much of a choice even after we moved to Kansas City.
If you find yourself born in, let’s say, San Francisco to a pair of expats from Seattle, let your Mariners’ flag fly. But don’t forget about the Giants. Different leagues, so it’s okay! When the two teams face each other, well, go with your gut.
Rule No. 2: Geography is King
If you want to root for two teams in the same league, those teams shouldn’t be that close in proximity. You can’t root for the Dodgers and the Angels. (Do the Angels have fans?) Or the Rams and Chargers. (Do the Chargers have fans?) It’s too weird to cheer on the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders. Giants and Jets. You get the idea.
Pick the team in your own backyard and forget the neighbor who’s within walking distance. Too awkward.
Rule No. 3: The Yankees Directive
I’m sorry, but if you root for the Yankees, you cannot cheer for another team. You are a Yankees fan. There’s nothing worse, and you are forbidden from cheering on another baseball team. When the Bronx Bombers’ season ends, you must turn off your TV and radio until after the World Series.
This can be extended to all other North American professional sports leagues, including other teams in baseball. If you root for the Red Sox, that’s it. The same goes for the Dodgers. You’re the new Evil Empire, which I’m sure doesn’t bother you, but there’s no other team for you.
In the NFL: the Cowboys, of course. Probably the Patriots.
In the NBA: Lakers, Celtics, Knicks.
In the NHL: either of those Florida teams. I would include Toronto, but they haven’t won anything in like 100 years.
Sorry, I don’t make the rules. Wait—[listens to voices in my head]—I’m being told I do make the rules.
Rule No. 4: Same Division (NFL and MLB only)
You can’t root for two teams in the same division. That’s just wrong. If you’re a Royals fan, you can’t cheer on the Twins or Guardians or Tigers or White Sox unlessit’s the playoffs against the Yankees or Dodgers or Red Sox.
This is even more of a thing in the NFL. If you cheer for the Chiefs, forget about the Chargers (which is easy) and the Raiders and the Broncos. You can root for the Raiders and Chargers against the Cowboys but you can never cheer for the Broncos. Seriously, if Max would let me cuss, I would do that here.
But this rule for divisions only applies to only MLB and the NFL.
Why? Because I can’t even name all of the divisions in the NHL—is the Patrick still a thing?—and I don’t think divisions matter anymore in the NBA when it comes to playoff seeding. Maybe it does, but it’s not nearly as big of a deal as it is in baseball and football.
Rule No. 5: Wedded Bliss
Strange as it sounds, there are people out there who will marry someone who roots for a different team than their own. My wife and I have never had this problem, though she is vehemently anti-St. Louis, for reasons she hasn’t shared or she’s shared, but I wasn’t listening.
Still, I’ve seen Mizzou fans marry Kansas fans, Royals fans marry White Sox or Yankees fans, Cardinals fans marry Cubs fans, and even Chiefs fans marry Broncos fans. Oh, big sis.
Does this civil union in love allow you to break these rules and add that second team to your stable of teams for which you root?
Absolutely not.
Stand your ground, dang it! Keep some autonomy. Keep thy independence! Tigers should never root for Jayhawks. Royals should never hope that the best happens to the Yankees. We want them to fail, always!
Love shouldn’t change that.
Rule No. 6: No Kroenkes Allowed
Sorry, Enos.
If you root for one of the following teams, you cannot root for another: Rams, Avalanche, Nuggets, and, for our European friends, Arsenal.
Rule No. 7: Chaos
You must never root for your team’s biggest rival even if that team is facing a Yankees-esque opponent. In that case, root for pure chaos.
Blues fan, but the Red Wings are facing the Lightning for the Eastern Conference title? I’m sorry, but you can’t cheer on either team. You must hope chaos reigns.
Cardinals fan, but the Cubs are squaring off against the Dodgers in the pennant for the right to face the Red Sox in the World Series? May God have mercy on your soul.
Chiefs fan, but the Broncos are hosting the Patriots in the AFC Championship game in which the trophy is named after your team’s founding owner?
Say, have you heard about this thing they call alcohol?
On Wednesday, Baseball America released its Top 100 prospects list for the season, kicking off the unofficial top prospect list season that will play out between now and the start of the regular season. Relevant to Orioles fans, five O’s prospects appear on this year’s edition of the list, starting with catcher Samuel Basallo at #9. The others who have made the list: Dylan Beavers (#21), Trey Gibson (#72), Nate George (#86), and Luis De León (#95).
That’s a solid set of top prospects, and it’s notable that the Orioles have managed to do this now that we’re several years removed from when they were regularly picking in the top five of the draft class. This group does not include any top Orioles draft pick at all. Beavers was the highest-drafted as a post-first round competitive balance selection in 2022.
Two of these players, Basallo and De León, are fruits of the team’s international amateur signing efforts. The Orioles signed Basallo to a contract extension shortly after he debuted last year. Two others, Gibson and George, were plucked from relative obscurity in the US amateur ranks. Gibson was an undrafted free agent in 2023, while George is a 16th round pick from the 2024 draft.
Mike Elias finding top prospect list talent from less-obvious avenues – lower-bonus international players and fifth round or later draft picks – is a good sign that we can hope will continue. It’ll be nice if the first round picks return to being top 100-level talent, too. 2025 top pick Ike Irish seems like he could get himself onto the lists starting in the midseason updates if he shows well in his first full pro season. The Orioles are unfortunately back in the top ten of the draft thanks to stinking it up last year, and also unfortunately the lottery didn’t put then in the top five even though they had the fourth-best odds of getting the #1 pick.
Two more players who the Orioles signed as amateurs made BA’s list of 20 “just missed” prospects. Those were pitchers Michael Forret and Esteban Mejia. Forret, a 14th round pick in 2023, was traded to the Rays in the Shane Baz deal. None of the other traded players were top 100-level talent on this list. Mejia, who only turns 19 in March, could make future top 100 lists if he’s able to start harnessing some of his natural talent as he reaches full-season affiliates. The O’s having three notable pitching prospects is also a new development in the Elias era.
Nice as it is to see five players in the top 100, it’s worth noting that the top two of these guys, Basallo and Beavers, have already debuted in MLB and will probably have their prospect status expire just weeks into the 2026 season. At that point, the Orioles won’t have any top 50-level prospects unless some of their guys continue on their upward paths. That could happen! I’m particularly excited about George.
Here’s a little of what Baseball America had to say about each of these top 100 (or almost-top 100) prospects:
Basallo
Basallo boasts elite bat speed and generates significant power to all fields thanks to his advanced bat-to-ball skills. … he is improving at swinging at pitches he can drive rather than ones his contact ability will allow him to get to. … He has plus-plus power and could be one of the game’s prolific sluggers, and his contact ability will only help him maximize his significant raw skills.
Beavers
Beavers told teams at the 2022 MLB Draft Combine that he knew his swing needed a lot of work. … The swing work Beavers and the Orioles have done have maximized his athleticism and plate discipline, which allows him to be adjustable and generate power naturally without expanding the strike zone or over-swinging in pursuit of slug. Above-average athleticism also shows up in Beavers’ plus speed and solid-average outfield defense in the corners
Gibson
After adding a sinker with unique angles in 2025, Gibson now has a pair of mid-90s fastballs. Righties either hit the new pitch into the ground or took it for strikes. However, Gibson gets his upside from his secondary mix. … The additions and improvements, plus his developing knowledge of how to use his growing arsenal, helped Gibson strike out batters at an elite level. Gibson has the potential to be a midrotation starter thanks to his pitch mix and aptitude.
George
George used a line-drive swing and knack for putting the ball in play to put together one of the best seasons a teenager had anywhere in the minors. … he is so dynamic out of the batter’s box—with run times of sub-4.0 seconds from home to first base—that he routinely stretches balls into the gaps for extra bases. His double-plus speed helps him in the outfield, where he has the makings of an elite center fielder with more experience.
De León
De Leon’s raw stuff has always been among the best in the Orioles’ system. … emphasizing fastball location to righthanded batters elevated his entire arsenal in the second half of 2025 as the rest of his stuff played up. De Leon’s command has always been inconsistent, but he has good zone rates with his fastball, suggesting it’s a trait that can continue to improve.
Mejia
Working with four-seam and two-seam fastballs, Mejia overpowered lower-level hitters with his electric stuff. His heaters sat in the mid-90s and averaged 98.4 mph—and there’s still some physical projection left to add to those marks. … Mejia is one of the most exciting and high-ceiling pitchers the Orioles have, but there’s a lot of work to be done to have him reach his No. 2 starter potential, from physical maturation to secondary pitch refinement.
**
This is a pretty good set of top prospects to bring into a season. Beavers is a strong Rookie of the Year candidate based on his 2025 debut performance, and if things click for Basallo before too long into the season, he could end up being a ROY candidate as well.
BA’s list is only the first of several from the major publications. I’ll be watching to see how other lists like Baseball Prospectus, FanGraphs, MLB Pipeline, and the Keith Law ranking at The Athletic assess the Orioles prospects relative to the league’s other top prospects.
The NBA season is long and I am aware that not everything with the schedule can be perfect, but it is strange to me that the NBA insists on doing these random 1-game road trips, especially to face a Western Conference team. Granted, New Orleans is not as far West as a team like the Lakers, but it is still a further trip than playing somebody in the Midwest.
With that being said, the New Orleans Pelicans are not a very good team, but this game feels like it could be a bit of a trap game given the above information. Plus, the Pistons are coming off a physical, hard-fought battle with the Boston Celtics on Monday.
This game could be used as a “rest game” for players that are clearly nursing injuries like Cade Cunningham. He is not currently listed on the injury report, so that may not be the plan, but as the Pistons have proven many times this season, they are equipped to win games against lesser teams without Cade.
The Pistons have also done a pretty good about not looking past teams that they are heavily-favored against for the most part this season, but this just feels like one of those games. The only time they seem to have done it is while on the road against a team from the West.
Game Vitals
Where: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA When: Wednesday, January 21 at 8 pm EST Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Pistons (-9.5)
Analysis
The New Orleans Pelicans have been a mess this season. They have every incentive to win as many games as possible, given the fact they owe their first round pick to the Atlanta Hawks, but they just cannot seem to put things together.
They have dealt with injuries to players like Zion Williamson as they do every season, but for the most part, their main building blocks have been healthy this season. Trey Murphy III has played 41 games, even Zion has still played 29 games, and Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen have played in most of the games this season.
For tonight, the only regular rotation player for sure missing is Jose Alvarado, although they could also be without Herb Jones, who has missed the last few games and is a game-time decision.
Despite all of that, the Pelicans just have not been very good. If you look at their roster and even their bench, they have some solid players. Trey Murphy III has been great this season and is a popular trade candidate around the league. Zion Williamson has been his usual efficient self when he has played. Derik Queen has been fun and is one of the contenders for Rookie of the Year. Even Jeremiah Fears is having a solid year for a young rookie guard. Even old friend Saddiq Bey is even having a great year starting for the Pelicans in his return from a Torn ACL.
For whatever reason, the formula just has not worked. The team has talent, which is why I am concerned by a trap game due to the quick road trip, but things could also come unraveled and the Pistons blow out the Pelicans. You really do not know what you are going to get.
I mentioned it above, but based on the initial injury report I do not foresee it happening, but this would be a good game to give somebody like Cade Cunningham a rest. He has been able to impact the game offensively through his passing, but his wrist contusion he suffered against the Knicks has clearly been bothering him when it comes to shooting. He shot 4-of-17 in the win against the Celtics on Monday, but also had 14 assists and no turnovers.
He went back to the locker room towards the end of the game and had some ice on his ribs, so he is clearly beat up. That is life as a number one option in the league when you play with a team full of guys that are not anywhere near the level of threat offensively as you are, but it could also be beneficial to give him a rest with games against the Rockets and Kings still coming up this weekend.
Right now, the only player on the injury report for the Pistons is Caris LeVert with an illness. And if we are being honest, that is more of a positive than a negative given LeVert’s struggles this season. If he does not play, Daniss Jenkins will get his minutes, I would anticipate.
I think this game goes one of two ways, the nearly-full strength Pistons run the New Orleans Pelicans out of the gym early and get their starters a rest night, or they look past the Pelicans and end up in a dog fight to the final buzzer like they had to on Monday. The Pistons rarely get blown out due to their defense, but they have had some weird games against lesser Western Conference teams on the road like losing to Jazz and almost blowing a huge lead against the Kings just last month.
Crow. Best served cold, apparently. I should know. I have spent plenty of time eating it myself after takes that aged poorly. But around the league, there is a whole lot of crow getting passed around right now as the Suns keep churning out an unexpectedly successful season and quietly building one of the better stories in the NBA so far.
You do not have to take my word for it. National outlets are starting to say it out loud. Phoenix is earning respect.
The Suns were without Devin Booker in Detroit on Thursday, when they blew a 16-point lead and lost by three, scoring just 15 points on 25 fourth-quarter possessions. Their offense hasn’t been great (115.8 points scored per 100 possessions) with Booker on the floor, but they’re now 1-3 without him, having scored just 101.3 per 100 over those four games. Of course, all four have been on the road and against teams — Houston, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Detroit — that rank in the top nine defensively.
Booker returned on Saturday, when the Suns beat the Knicks, who were playing without Jalen Brunson. Mitchell Robinson was there, but the Suns outscored New York (21-17) on second chances. While Phoenix is one of nine teams that have scored fewer points per 100 possessions than they did last season, it’s seen the league’s biggest jump in offensive rebounding percentage, from 26.4% (26th) last season to 33.6% (sixth) this season.
The Suns’ starting lineup didn’t have its best night at Madison Square Garden, but bench minutes were huge as they erased two separate, 10-point deficits. Grayson Allen continues to close games, and the Suns have outscored opponents by 13.4 points per 100 possessions in 486 minutes with both Jordan Goodwin and Oso Ighodaro on the floor, and they have the league’s fifth-ranked bench overall.
ESPN dished out midseason grades, and Kevin Pelton gave the Suns an “A” for their efforts thus far.
Thus far, team owner Mat Ishbia was right and the experts (myself included) were wrong about the Suns’ offseason makeover, which saw them say farewell to marquee additions Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. In their place, Phoenix has built a hard-playing squad in the image of newcomer Dillon Brooks that excels at forcing turnovers and has barely dropped off offensively from last year’s star-studded team, going from 13th in offensive rating to 15th. Collin Gillespie’s emergence as a capable starting point guard has been one of the season’s best stories — earning him the nickname “Villain Jr.” from Brooks — and new coach Jordan Ott looks like he’ll put an end to the revolving door on the Suns’
The Athletic is a bit more bullish on the Suns than most. They have Phoenix sitting ninth in their power rankings, tucked right behind the Golden State Warriors. Because of course they do. The Warriors are always going to live near the top of those lists. Clicks are undefeated.
Law Murray put it this way:
I don’t think it is likely that Booker gets selected as a starter, but I feel like he should be rewarded for a Suns team that basically is in the same spot in the standings as the Lakers despite significantly less talent. Jalen Green is expected to finally play his sixth quarter of the season this week. Booker is one of 20 players averaging at least 25 points per game, and of those 20 players, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham and Jamal Murray have won more games than Booker this season.
ESPN’s power rankings have the Suns sitting in 9th, and despite a three-game winning streak, they dropped one spot in their rankings. Make it make sense. Dave McMenamin had this to say:
How will Jalen Green be integrated into their success?
After making his return Tuesday, his first game action since early November because of a right hamstring issue, the Suns’ rotation will now shift to fit Green into the rotation. Adding a 23-year-old dynamic scorer is undoubtedly a good problem to have for first-year head coach Jordan Ott; shuffling things on the fly, however, is always a challenge, and Phoenix has had a good thing going so far this season and is riding a three-game win-streak.
Does any of that actually matter? Not really. The Suns still have to look inward and keep doing the work. They are in the middle of reintroducing Jalen Green into an offensive and defensive system that has been working. That is not plug and play. A player with that kind of shot appetite is going to require adjustment. If they can navigate that while stacking wins, that is success.
What someone writes in The Athletic is noise. And yes, I know I contribute to the noise. Sometimes loudly. But what I think does not matter. What matters is what happens in that locker room, the alignment inside the organization, and the way this team performs on the floor.
This season has already been fun. The national guys are starting to notice. The best way to keep their attention is simple. And to keep doing it the same way.
Hopefully not the highest accolade Santana will have received. | Scott A. Schneider / Getty Images
The Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was finalized yesterday with the election(s) of Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones. While so much has been said about the electees, I’m curious about the players who didn’t get in.
Of the 11 first-time nominees who fell off the ballot yesterday, none were Twins; of returning players, Torii Hunter came closest, getting 37 votes (8.4 percent). This sent me on a sojourn of Looking Up Far Too Many Names manually in order to learn about the Twins who only saw one opportunity to get their name checked.
Here are the Twins since the 1979 balloting, when the under-5-percent elimination rule was introduced, to go one-and-done on the Hall of Fame ballot. (Years listed are time in Minnesota, not entire career.)
After seven seasons with the Dodgers, Perranoski was traded to the Twins before the 1968 campaign, serving as the team’s closer for the 1969 & 1970 AL West-winning seasons. He earned MVP votes both years and finished seventh in Cy Young voting in the latter.
Bernie Allen second baseman, 1962-66 1979 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
A prototypical light-hitting second baseman, Allen started his career with a third-place Rookie of the Year finish in 1962 (.269/.338/.403 with 12 home runs), but that was his best offensive season.
The Twins’ first baseman through their 1960s success, Reese had his best season in 1969, slashing .322/.362/.513 and receiving an MVP vote for the only time in his career.
Andy Kosco right fielder, 1965-67 1980 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
Kosco started his career in Minnesota but was never more than a part-time player for the Twins, putting up minus-0.8 rWAR in 89 games across those three years.
Bob Miller relief pitcher, 1968-69 1980 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
Miller was already an 11-year veteran by the time he joined the Twins (in the same trade that brought Perranoski to Minnesota). Across the following two seasons, he pitched in 93 games with a 2.91 ERA; however, he was traded following the 1969 season, playing five more seasons for seven clubs.
Jim Perry starting pitcher, 1963-72 1981 ballot: 6 votes (1.5 percent)
The Twins acquired Perry from Cleveland during the 1963 season, and while he was used in a mix of starter and relief roles through 1968, he became a dominant starter in 1969, going 20-6 with a 2.82 ERA, 12 complete games, and 6.3 rWAR, finishing third in Cy Young voting. The next season, he won the award with a 24-12 record, a 3.04 ERA, 13 complete games, and 3.8 rWAR. Perry was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2011.
John Briggs first baseman & outfielder, 1975 1981 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
Briggs and Hands are similar, both veteran players who joined the Twins at or near the end of their careers for unceremonious stints.
César Tovar everywhere, 1965-72 1982 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
An electric superutility man, Tovar was a mainstay atop the Twins’ lineup for seven seasons, receiving MVP votes each year from 1967 (his highest finish, seventh place) to 1971. In 1970, he led the AL in doubles (36) and triples (13); the following season, he led the AL in hits (204). Tovar was inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Twins Hall of Fame in 2022.
Randy Hundley catcher, 1974 1983 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
Known as a Cub (and a member of that team’s Hall of Fame), Hundley spent the 1974 season in Minnesota, playing in 32 games, before ending his career with three part-time seasons in the National League.
Another late-career Twin, Singer spent four months in Minnesota, putting up a 3.77 ERA in his 26 starts before being selected by the Blue Jays in the 1977 expansion draft (and nearly being traded by them to the Yankees for Ron Guidry… but Peter Bavasi, Blue Jays president, nixed the trade).
The workhorse reliever’s heyday may have been in the early 1970s with the Expos and Dodgers, the latter for whom he won the 1974 Cy Young and set an MLB record with 106 appearances, but Marshall was still a dominant reliever during his first two seasons in Minnesota. In 1978, he appeared in 54 games (saving 21) and putting up a 2.45 ERA (3.0 rWAR); a season later, he pitched in 90 games (saving 32) with a 2.65 ERA (4.4 rWAR).
Larry Hisle outfielder, 1973-77 1988 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
Hisle was a regular in the Twins’ lineup for five seasons, saving his best seasons in Minnesota for his last two, slashing .273/.335/.394 in 1976 (4.3 rWAR) and .302/.369/.533 in 1977 (5.1 rWAR), leading the league with 119 RBIs and finishing 12th in MVP voting. He improved that placement the following season with the Brewers: .290/.374/.533 slash line, 5.3 rWAR, third in MVP voting.
Goltz went from solid as a starter during his first five seasons to electric over his latter three in Minnesota. Across the 1977-79 campaigns, Goltz put up 16.2 rWAR and a 3.34 ERA, going 49-34 (including an AL-leading 20 wins in ‘78) with 44 complete games.
Morales was never more than a part-time player in MLB but enjoyed his most success (and playing time) in Minnesota, totaling 290 games, 756 plate appearances, and 200 hits across those three seasons. By rWAR, he had his worst (1979, minus-1.0) and best (1980, 1.0) seasons as a Twin.
While best known for his 12 seasons as a Met, including his closing out the 1969 World Series, Koosman’s best season by rWAR came as a Twin in 1979: 20-13, 3.38 ERA, 7.2 rWAR, sixth-place Cy Young finish. Koosman had previously finished second in NL Cy Young voting in 1976 (21-10, 2.69 ERA, 4.7 rWAR).
Zahn’s very good 1978-9 seasons in Minnesota (combined 27-21 record, 3.25 ERA, 16 complete games, 8.2 rWAR) were bookended by mediocre seasons in ‘77 and ‘80 (combined 26-32, 4.53 ERA, 20 complete games, 0.7 rWAR).
A very good reliever during his four seasons in Minnesota, Campbell finished seventh in Cy Young voting and eighth in MVP voting in 1976, appearing in 78 games with a 3.01 ERA and 17-5 record (1.9 rWAR). The following season, with the Red Sox, he was even better: 2.96 ERA in 69 appearances with a 13-9 record and 4.7 rWAR, good for fifth in Cy Young voting and 10th in MVP voting.
Chris Speier shortstop, 1984 1994 ballot: 1 vote (0.2 percent)
Speier’s best seasons came during his initial six-plus-year stint with the Giants. Minnesota was his third and final team of the 1984 season; he played in just 12 games as a Twin, collecting seven hits.
Rick Dempsey catcher, 1969-72 1998 ballot: 1 vote (0.2 percent)
Dempsey spent the first four seasons of his career as a reserve for the Twins, playing in just 41 games over that time. It wasn’t until joining the Orioles in 1976 that Dempsey became a starter and Baltimore mainstay, remaining their starting catcher for his entire 10.5-season tenure at Memorial Stadium.
The longtime Pirates starter was a reliever by the time he landed in Minnesota, appearing in 34 games for part of the 1990 season while putting up a 7-3 record and 3.39 ERA (1.3 rWAR).
Reardon joined the Twins coming off consecutive All-Star campaigns in Montreal; while his stats dropped in 1987 (4.48 ERA, 0.7 rWAR), he still finished eighth in Cy Young voting and helped the Twins win the World Series. He returned to form in 1988 (2.47 ERA, 2.5 rWAR, 15th in MVP voting), and he ultimately finished his career with 367 saves against 358 walks allowed.
Kent Hrbek first baseman, 1981-94 2000 ballot: 5 votes (1.0 percent)
The Twins first baseman (alongside Justin Morneau), Hrbek spent all 14 seasons of his career playing for his hometown team. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 1982 (also his sole All-Star selection) and second in MVP voting in 1984, ending his career with 293 home runs and more walks (838) than strikeouts (798). The Twins retired his uniform number 14 in 1995, he was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and he was one of the inaugural members of the Twins Hall of Fame in 2000.
Bedrosian’s top individual accolade is the 1987 NL Cy Young award, won while a Phillie (2.83 ERA, 40 saves, 2.3 rWAR), but as a Twin, he’s known for the other World Series year: although putting up a subpar individual 1991 season (4.42 ERA, minus-0.1 rWAR) and postseason (three World Series appearances, 5.40 ERA), he earned a ring with Minnesota.
The longtime Astro spent most of 1993 and all of 1994 with the Twins, having a solid former season (11-13, 4.41 ERA, 2.8 rWAR) and a terrible latter one (6-12; 7.39 ERA; minus-1.3 WAR; led MLB with 25 starts, 107 earned runs allowed, and 30 home runs allowed).
The ace of the 1987 staff hit his peak just in time to lead the Twins to the World Series championship that year, going 17-10 with a 2.90 ERA and 8.1 rWAR. He won the Cy Young the following year (24-7, 2.64 ERA, 7.7 rWAR) before being traded to the Mets during the ‘89 season, and he remained a strong pitcher through the 1993 season.
Jim Eisenreich center fielder, 1982-84 2004 ballot: 3 votes (0.6 percent)
Eisenreich was a reserve when he started his career with the Twins, playing in just 48 games over three seasons in Minnesota. He became a regular in 1989 with the Royals and helped the Phillies reach the World Series in 1993.
Tewksbury peaked with his 6.4 rWAR, third-place Cy Young season in 1992, going 16-5 with a 2.16 ERA for the Cardinals. His two seasons in Minnesota were the last of his career, totaling 6.5 rWAR while going 15-26 with a 4.49 ERA.
Chili Davis designated hitter, 1991-92 2005 ballot: 3 votes (0.5 percent)
Davis served as the Twins’ DH and cleanup hitter during their 1991 pennant run, clubbing 29 home runs during the regular season and two more in the World Series.
Terry Steinbach catcher, 1997-99 2005 ballot: 1 vote (0.1 percent)
After 11 seasons in Oakland, Steinbach came to his home state of Minnesota for his last three MLB seasons, serving as the Twins’ primary catcher each year. Over those three years, he slashed .256/.321/.399 with 30 home runs and 3.2 rWAR.
Nixon’s last season as a regular came in 1998, his sole year as a Twin, when he put up a .297/.361/.344 slash line (0.2 rWAR) across 500 plate appearances in 110 games.
Gary Gaetti third baseman, 1981-90 2006 ballot: 4 votes (0.8 percent)
All-Star, World Series champion, Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer (2007), and triple play machine.
Aguilera joined the Twins in the trade that sent Viola to the Mets and became a decade-long closer, reaching three All-Star teams and serving as the closer for the 1991 World Series winners. He was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2008.
The 1991 Rookie of the Year and leadoff hitter for the trophy winners, Knoblauch proved an elite second baseman in Minnesota. Then he went to New York, and he wasn’t, and Minnesotans hated him. Then he was named in the Mitchell Report, and most of baseball hated him. Then he assaulted two spouses, and no one in baseball wants anything to do with him.
Fifteen years after closing out the Mets’ 1986 World Series win, Orosco joined the Twins for the last month of his age 46 season, the last month of his career. He retired after 24 seasons with the record for games pitched; his mark of 1,252 still stands.
Mike Jackson relief pitcher, 2002 2010 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
The ‘02 season was Jackson’s penultimate in the league (he did not play in 2003) and his only one in Minnesota; in 58 games, he put up a 3.28 ERA and 1.2 rWAR.
After having broken out as a star for the Mariners a few years prior, Boone lasted less than a month with the ‘05 Twins, slashing .170/.241/.170 (minus-1.1 rWAR) in 14 games, the last of his career.
The ace of the late-’90s/early-‘00s Twins staffs, Radke received almost no national recognition for his ability and reliability, with one All-Star selection (1998), a ninth-place Rookie of the Year finish (1995), a third-place Cy Young finish (1997), and a 25th-place MVP finish (also 1997) his sole award placements. Radke totaled 45.6 rWAR over his career and was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2009.
A regular Twinkie Town meme, Mulholland pitched two of his final three seasons for the Twins, appearing in 78 games to the tune of a 5-11 record, a 4.89 ERA, and 0.9 rWAR. Back in 1986 for the Giants, though, he did this:
Another pair of last-season-of-career Twins. Nevin, the first overall pick in 1992 (a choice that led Hal Newhouser to quit the Astros’ scouting department as he wanted Derek Jeter), joined Minnesota for September 2006 and played in 16 games (plus a single 0-3 playoff showing), slashing .190/.340/.286 and putting up minus-0.1 rWAR. Sierra had spent 14 games in Minnesota earlier in the year, slashing .179/.273/.214 (minus-0.2 rWAR) before being released in July.
Same story, just a year later: Cirillo was a Twin for part of 2007, his final season, and while his stats weren’t terrible (50 games, .261/.327/.386, 0.7 WAR), he didn’t finish the season with the team, being claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks in August.
Walker became the Twins’ starting second baseman after Knoblauch’s departure, and while his ‘98 and ‘99 seasons were respectable (combined .297/.357/.435 slash line and 2.2 rWAR), he was traded to the Rockies in 2000 after his hitting began to fall off.
Yes, those were his last two seasons. Yes, he hit badly (combined: 137 games, minus-1.5 WAR, .226/.266/.354 slash line).
Jacque Jones left fielder, 1999-2005 2014 ballot: 1 vote (0.2 percent)
The leadoff hitter for the early-’00s squads, Jones peaked in 2002 with a 5.5-rWAR season (.300/.341/.511, 27 home runs) before leaving after the ‘05 season for the Cubs.
Rogers was… fine, I suppose, in 2003 for the Twins, putting up a 4.57 ERA (1.9 rWAR). He proceeded to join the Rangers for two seasons and the Tigers for three, and the first three of those final five seasons resulted in All-Star appearances and Gold Glove awards, plus a fifth-place Cy Young finish in 2006. Of course.
The Twins traded for longtime Astros and Tigers closer Jones midway through the 2001 season, and he appeared in 24 games for the team (3.26 ERA, 0.3 rWAR), saving two.
Everyday Eddie began his career as a starter before quickly converting to the bullpen, leading the league with 83 appearances in 1996. It wasn’t until 2002 that he served as the regular closer for a full season, and he earned All-Star nods that year and the next, finishing his Twins tenure with 116 of his 187 career saves.
Luis Castillo second baseman, 2006-07 2016 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
After a decade with the Marlins, Castillo joined the Twins for the next season and a half, serving as a reliable glove (though with a negative Fielding Runs Above Average) and steady contact bat (.299/.357/.363) at second base.
Blake didn’t become a starter until the 2003 season in Cleveland, having only appeared in 49 games over his first four seasons. Those included 29 games across three different seasons in Minnesota.
Cabrera played only the last two months of the 2009 season as a Twin, and while his stat line was average (.289/.313/.430, minus-0.1 rWAR), Twins fans remember him fondly for his go-ahead home run in Game 163.
One of the most egregious one-and-dones in balloting history, Santana was arguably the best pitcher in the majors across the 2004-08 seasons. Over that span, he averaged 7.1 rWAR, a 17-8 record, a 2.82 ERA, and 238 strikeouts per season, winning a pair of Cy Youngs. The rise in votes for Félix Hernández this year (from 20.6 percent to 46.1 percent, the largest year-to-year jump since 1967) bodes well for Santana’s chances of being elected by committee: both pitchers had extraordinary several-season peaks but had their careers cut short due to injury.
Hernández made 23 starts for the ‘08 Twins and was not particularly good, going 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA (minus-0.3 rWAR) before being designated for assignment at the start of August.
After Cabrera’s departure following the 2009 season, the Twins brought in Hudson to fill their middle-infield quota of Orlandos. He responded with a 2.9 rWAR season (.268/.338/.372, league-leading 5.31 Range Factor per 9) before leaving for San Diego the following year.
Hawkins was a middling starter turned okay closer turned fantastic setup man, spending his first nine seasons with the Twins before playing another 12 years in the majors. After appearing as an occasional TV commentator for the team the last few seasons, he has now joined the club as its bullpen coach.
Michael Cuddyer right fielder / third baseman, 2001-11 2021 ballot: 0 votes (0.0 percent)
While never reaching an elite level of player, Cuddyer was a reliable middle-of-the-0rder bat and fan favorite, first in Minnesota, where he spent his first 11 seasons, then in Colorado and Queens. He earned his first All-Star nod during his final year as a Twin, picking up one more as a Rockie in 2013, the year he won the NL batting title.
Joe Nathan closer, 2004-11 2022 ballot: 17 votes (4.3 percent)
After coming to Minnesota in the A.J. Pierzynski trade (more on him in a bit), Nathan became one of the best closers of the 2000s, earning four All-Star selections and twice placing in the top five in Cy Young voting during his Twins tenure. He ended his 16-year career with a 2.87 ERA (2.16 in Minnesota) and 377 saves, 10th-most in MLB history, and he was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2019.
Morneau was my favorite of the mid-to-late ‘00s Twins stars ever since he came up through AA-New Britain, and I believe he could have been on a Hall of Fame track were it not for that fateful 2010 concussion. From 2006 to ‘10, he was a dominant hitter, winning MVP in 2006 and coming in second in 2008, and averaging a .298/.372/.528 slash line (32 homers, 4.6 rWAR) per 162 over that span. He now serves as a frequent color commentator on TV broadcasts for the team, and he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020 and the Twins Hall of Fame in 2021.
Before developing his league-wide reputation as an asshole during his time with the White Sox, Pierzynski worked his way into the starting catcher role in 2001, earning an All-Star selection in 2022 and putting up a 4.5 rWAR season (.312/.360/.484) in 2003.
Three years before ascending to the top of the National League with his 2012 Cy Young award, Dickey was a journeyman knuckleball reliever for the Twins. He appeared in 35 games for Minnesota in 2009, putting up a 4.62 ERA with 42 strikeouts versus 30 walks (0.6 rWAR).
The Twins traded for Hardy before the 2010 season, and he put up a respectable line: .268/.320/.394 and 1.3 rWAR. Then they traded him to Baltimore, where over the next four seasons he put up three straight 20-homer years, three straight Gold Gloves, and four straight 3-plus-rWAR seasons.
Well after the legend of Big Sexy took hold of baseball fans’ collective consciousness, Colón became a Twin, joining the team in July 2017 at age 44 and making 15 starts for the club. While his play was far from that at his peak, putting up a 5.18 ERA and 0.3 rWAR, one of his five wins (to go with six losses) came against the Diamondbacks, making him the 18th pitcher in history to earn a win against all 30 teams.
The Twins were treated to the Fernando Rodney Experience for the first half of 2018, during which Rodney made 46 appearances (with 25 saves) to the tune of a stressful 3.09 ERA and 0.7 rWAR. That August, the Twins traded him to the A’s, for whom he appeared against Minnesota (at Target Field) on Player’s Weekend. The team handed out player nickname shirseys to fans, and both my dad and I ended up with Uiya Clara. (And in the second game, when Rodney entered in the seventh inning, a fan named Matt in the outfield seats did Rodney’s bow-and-arrow motion, dislodged his contact lenses, and had to leave early.)
That’s all of them, every Twin who went one-and-done since the 1979 five-percent rule. HOF watchers now look ahead to Beltrán and Jones’ July 26 induction before setting their sights on the 2027 ballot, awaiting the news of who might join the voting pool for a shot at election… or a spot among the one-and-dones.
Manager showed tactical bravery in darkest hour and like Postecoglou may find respite outside Premier League
Thomas Frank was backed into a corner on every level, including team selection. The Tottenham manager had next-to-no options, only 11 established outfield players for the Champions League home game against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.
The expectation was for an either/or choice between Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie at left-back. But when the teamsheets dropped, it turned out Frank had picked them both and left Randal Kolo Muani on the bench. It was the latest low point for Kolo Muani, who has to be regretting his decision to join on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
Exactly half of the votes in the previous poll went to two players: INF Jadher Areinamo and RHP TJ Nichols. Accordingly, for this next poll, we will do a runoff of these two players. The winner of the vote will receive the No. 7 slot, and the loser will receive the No. 8 slot. We will then continue on Friday with No. 9.
Acquired in return for Danny Jansen at the 2025 trade deadline, Arienamo was promoted straight to Double-A by the Rays, and his success at that level carried over into the Venezuealan winter league, where his 1.112 OPS and 13 HR were each the second highest marks in the league. He’s considered to have a high baseball IQ, strong motor, excellent bat control, and defensive flexibility, any one of which could earn him an entertaining major league debut.
A sixth rounder from 2023, Nichols entered the Rays organization with low mileage and control issues, a match made in development heaven. Fast forward to 2025, and his 68% strike percentage ranked 10th best among all minor league pitchers with 100 innings, according to Baseball America. His breaking ball is a big fish in a little pond thanks to its two-plane movement. By my eye, he has a mid-90’s dead zone-ish fastball with easy, over the top heat, and a classic but inconsistent change up. Despite all his gains in control it’s his command that might hold him back, but he fills the zone and might be able to eat innings, which is enough for a back end starter floor. If you’re buying stock, he’s Kimberly-Clark.
Northwestern baseball is less than a month away from teeing off the 2026 season, and much of the team’s success this year hinges upon a revamped pitching staff. While Ben Greenspan’s tenure has been defined by growth across the board, pitching is one area where NU has struggled. The ‘Cats finished second-to-last in the Big Ten last season with a 7.65 ERA, a number that was worse than the 6.95 ERA they finished with in 2024. Last year, NU had 305 strikeouts, 59 less than the team above them, and had a 1.77 WHIP which was tied for second-worst in the league.
Simply put, the ‘Cats pitching must improve significantly if Northwestern wants to make serious progress in climbing the Big Ten ladder. With the departure of starters Blake MacMillan and Crawford Wade, there will be open spots for the Wildcats’ developing players and newcomers to make an impact on the mound. Let’s unpack the pitchers that will likely be most instrumental to the staff’s hopeful turnaround this year.
Sam Hliboki, RHP, Gr.
Hliboki announced he would return for a final season with Northwestern, and he’ll take charge as both the No.1 starter and captain of this pitching staff. His 82.1 innings pitched was fourth in the Big Ten, proving Hliboki’s major role with the Wildcats as a consistent option who could eat innings and go deep into games. Last season, he led the team in strikeouts with 65 and finished second in ERA with a 5.36 mark. He also allowed the fewest walks out of any Wildcat pitcher.
After spending his first four years at Vanderbilt and transferring to NU last season, Hliboki now has a full year of familairity pitching to Big Ten batters. His wealth of experience and veteran mindset should pay dividends for a relatively young ‘Cats pitching staff, and his steady presence on the mound will be invaluable as Greenspan experiments with different combinations and spots for other pitchers.
Matthew Kouser, RHP, So.
Kouser was one of the frontline starters for the ‘Cats in his rookie campaign. The 6-foot-5 New Jersey native made a team-high 14 starts and led the team in innings pitched with 61.2. He was also third behind Hliboki and Wade with 33 strikeouts.
His collegiate debut was arguably his best performance of the season, as he threw 6.0 innings of one run ball, earning him a Big Ten Freshman of the Week award. His 7.59 ERA was still lower than the team stat, but reflects that the next step he’ll have to take is doing a better job neutralizing Big Ten batters and leaving runners on base. Kouser’s role with the team will undoubtedly be bigger this year, and with a full year under his belt and great mentors to train under, he should be ready to take the mantle.
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 6, 2025
Garrett Shearer, RHP, Jr.
Despite leading the team in pitching appearances in 2024, Shearer struggled with staying on the field last year in a season marred by injuries. He played in just two games, but was fantastic in both of them: two runs allowed over 6.0 innings, and his first career complete game striking out six and giving up just four hits and one run.
While its a small sample size, Shearer’s 2.08 ERA proved that his talent and potential for dominance is certainly evident. While on the mound, he looked like one of the best pitchers on the staff, and its likely that if Shearer can stay healthy he’ll be thrust into a top spot in the rotation. Out of all the pitchers, Shearer has the most potential for a bounce-back season this year.
Jack Grunkemeyer, RHP, So.
The leader in games pitched for the ‘Cats in 2025, Grunkemeyer is another sophomore looking to build on a promising rookie season. His 1.66 WHIP was tied for third on the team, and he had multiple strong outings throughout the season with several innings pitched and few runs given up, including 3.1 hitless innings against Western Michigan and 2.2 perfect innings in relief against Michigan State. Grunkemeyer embraced a middle relief position with the ‘Cats last year, an that could continue this year. But given the roster turnover and shuffling of roles, it’s also possible that Grunkemeyer serves some time as a starter or bulk inning reliever.
Forniss took several starts down the stretch last season, finishing the year with five of his 15 games as starter. His inning count hovered around three for most of the year, but he gradually went deeper into games as the season went on. He earned his first save with 3.0 shutout innings against Valparaiso, which marked one of his strongest outings of the year and proves that he can adjust and be a stable force both as a starter and out of the bullpen. It’ll be interesting to see how Greenspan chooses to use him this year, but the Indiana native will certainly play a bigger role.
James Whitaker, RHP, Fy.
As our own Matt Campbell noted last week, Whitaker is one of the most exciting high school recruits that Greenspan has snagged. A top 100 RHP in his class with a 3.33 ERA at Bishop Gorman Gaels, a high school known for producing several MLB players, Whitaker brings a strong two-seam fastball, nasty breaking balls and a well-developed mindset to Northwestern. He could instantly join the rotation as a starter if he impresses in non-conference play, or start with a middle-inning or late-game relief role out of the bullpen. Regardless, Whitaker’s ceiling is as high as the Vatican, and he’ll be an exciting player to watch grow this season.
Colton Cravens, RHP, Fy.
Cravens could very well be the future of this team. As an 18-year-old from Kentucky where he was formerly recognized as the top high school pitcher in his state, he’s been ranked top 200 nationally. Cravens brings to Northwestern a 93 MPH fastball and a strong performance in relief during the Summer 2024 team elite, where he posted a 2.02 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 23 innings. Cravens will likely be slotted into the bullpen and have chances to make an impact right away, and if he can limit runs and keep his ERA low, there’s no telling how big his role could get.
The Knicks (25*-18) assemble on their home court again, desperate to avoid a season-worst, fifth-straight loss. They couldn’t ask for a better opponent to right the ship. The Brooklyn Nets (12-29), mired in a rebuild season, limp into the Garden having lost seven of their last eight games.
The Knicks’ four-game skid (as well as the one that came before it) has exposed familiar vulnerabilities on both sides of the ball. In Saturday’s 114-97 home loss to Dallas, the Knicks coughed up 17 turnovers and allowed one of the league’s worst three-ball teams to shoot 47% from beyond the arc. New York never led in a game against a shorthanded squad that ranks near the bottom of the Western Conference.
There’s always a silver lining. In this case, the Knicks are still loaded with the same talent that had some predicting them to go all the way this season. If they haven’t given up on coach Mike Brown or each other, this adversity might help to fortify their resolve, to make them stronger. A victory against an outclassed Nets squad could be the first step on New York’s road to redemption.
If they lose? Commence the firesale!
The Knicks will have their full rotation available tonight, while Brooklyn’s depth could be tested. Haywood Highsmith is out with a knee injury, and Day’Ron Sharpe is listed as questionable with an illness.
The Knicks demolished Brooklyn 134-98 at the Garden in their first meeting, then cruised to a 113-100 road win on November 24 behind Karl-Anthony Towns’ 37-point, 12-rebound performance. That victory extended New York’s winning streak over Brooklyn to 12 consecutive games—the longest in the rivalry’s history.
Prediction
ESPN.com has the Knicks as heavy home favorites, picking them at almost 80%. That seems generous, given the recent fumbles and stumbles, but New York has good reason to be considered favorites. Brooklyn is a try-hard club under Jordi Fernández, but New York is the better team on paper and should be desperate for a win. Emphasis on should be. A win won’t drastically change minds about the state of the Knicks, but it will help. In an encouraging display of pride and talent, New York wins this one by a dozen.
Game Details
Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.
The Rays had several interesting names getting some reps in international leagues during the offseason. I’ve recapped the performances from some of the standouts below and looked ahead to what it could mean for them in 2026.
Australian Baseball League
Leonardo Pineda
The 2024 international signee has played less than 100 professional games since joining the organization, but that didn’t stop the Rays from his aggressive assignment to the ABL. Playing against competition over half a decade older than him on average, Leo held his own and then some – slashing .279/.362/.402 in 36 games (138 PA) and playing a solid CF.
Maybe the most impressive number from his campaign down-under is that 26.5% of his hits went for extra bases (compared to just 20.8% at the complex league last season). He’s starting to tap into his above average bat speed and find in-game power without having to sell-out and sacrifice any contact ability.
Despite his relatively small sample of professional games even with his ABL experience, I expect Pineda to begin the year with low A Charleston where he might be pushed to a corner at times to make room for Rays CF prospect Slater de Brun. Pineda will still get his time in CF where he looks like he could develop to be an above average defender there.
Nicandro Aybar
A late injury replacement addition to the Perth squad, Aybar didn’t miss a beat as he made the most of his opportunity. He hit four HRs – doubling his professional HR total so far in his career – and showed above average bat-to-ball skills. His versatility and athleticism could make him a valuable utility player as he develops.
In the last two seasons, Aybar has seen time at all three OF positions as well as 2B and 3B, but looks best in a corner outfield spot. I think he has enough lateral quickness and arm to continue to get reps at his two infield positions going forward.
I expect Aybar to begin the year with Charleston after getting a cup of coffee there late last season.
Dominican Winter League
Hunter Bigge
Bigge seemed destined for a key bullpen role in 2025 before a freak injury derailed his season. He has since gotten back on the saddle – earning three saves across 8 IP to go along with 11 K and 3 BB.
The most exciting part of his performance in the Dominican Republic is that his stuff and confidence are just as great as they were pre-injury. I think Bigge could play a pivotal role and pitch in plenty of high leverage moments in 2026 as part of the closer committee. He could be a sneaky pick to lead the team in saves this year.
Kenny Piper
While the offensive production hasn’t been there for Piper this offseason, his defensive skills continue to shine. Piper is a plus receiver with above average athleticism behind the plate and his pitchers love throwing to him. Piper also has a 70 grade arm that he has been able to show off more this offseason as he has worked to improve his exchange.
His 42% caught stealing rate is by far the best in the Dominican Winter League, and 18% better than the league average. For more context, the ML leaders last season at 43% were Luis Torrens and Austin Hedges – Piper has shown similar pop times to both of them.
His hit and power tools currently grade below average and there might not be much we can expect from Piper offensively, but his work behind the plate is a valuable asset and he could be an impact defender in the majors if given the opportunity to play in a back-up role. I expect him to be ready to help the major league club as he awaits his opportunity in Durham along with Dom Keegan. Sometimes I wonder about the alternate universe where Danny Jansen begins the 2025 season on the IL and Piper makes the Opening Day roster.
Venezuelan Winter League
Jadher Areinamo
Areinamo put on a show this offseason. His performance in Venezuela is MVP worthy (although his ROTY award was also a nice prize) as he hit .364/.420/.692 with 13 HR across 162 PA. He continues to show an above average hit tool highlighted by double-plus contact rates. The biggest surprise from Areinamo has been his emerging power. It might never be above average power, but he has hit 28 HR since the start of 2025 in 167 games after hitting just 16 HR in his first 328 games of his career.
It’ll be interested to see how his emerging power translates to AAA. The run environment there is inflated so the production will likely be there, but I’ll be watching his hardhit%, 90th percentile EV, and his hardhit launch angles. Without his newfound power, Areinamo profiled as a utility infielder. These guys can be valuable in specific bench roles but may struggle to hold down an everyday job. But if the power is real, Areinamo could easily be the everyday second baseman as early as 2027. He already is a solid defender there, and with his offensive tools he would be an above average everyday contributor.
I’m wondering about what his swing decisions will look like at the next level. Areinamo has historically maintained chase rates far worse than average, so I’m concerned about his willingness to expand the zone even though he has found a way to be productive so far in his career. Areinamo’s recent power surge suggests that he’s making plus swing decisions in-zone – which is a nice way to hedge his potential weakness in expanding the zone. The swing decisions both in and out of the zone against more advanced pitching in AAA and the majors will be something to watch. I also have questions about Areinamo’s swing at the next level in terms of mechanics. There are a lot of moving parts, but he has double-plus bat-to-ball skills that have allowed him to make it work thus far. His noisy swing might cause him to whiff at elevated rates against higher velocity and quality breaking balls, and his suboptimal chase rates would only exacerbate this issue.
I have no concerns about Areinamo’s raw talent. He’s a plus athlete with outlier contact ability, but all players will be tested at some level where they can no longer rely on talent alone. This is where adjustments will have to be made in order for him to succeed at the next level and I hope Areinamo can show that in 2026.
BOSTON — Left-hander Ranger Suárez and the Boston Red Sox finalized their five-year, $130 million contract.
Suárez gets a $3 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the deal’s approval by Major League Baseball, and salaries of $7 million this year, $15 million in 2027, $30 million in each of the following two seasons and $35 million in 2030. The deal includes a $35 million mutual option for 2031 with a $10 million buyout.
Boston also traded infielder Tristan Gray to Minnesota for minor league catcher Nate Baez, opening a roster spot.
An All-Star in 2024, Suárez had spent his entire professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies after signing at age 16 in April 2012. The 30-year-old from Venezuela pitched out of the bullpen early on but has been a steady performer and mostly a reliable winner since moving into the rotation exclusively in 2022.
The deal was the first for a major league free agent for the Red Sox this season and came after they were outbid for Alex Bregman by the Chicago Cubs, who gave the incumbent Boston third baseman a five-year deal, $175 million with a no-trade provision the Red Sox wouldn’t offer.
Suárez was 12-8 with a 3.20 ERA last season in 26 starts covering a career-high 157 1/3 innings, then became a free agent for the first time. Because he turned down a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from Philadelphia in November, Boston gives up its second- and fifth-highest selections in July’s amateur draft and forfeits $1 million in international signing bonus allocation in 2027.
Philadelphia gets an extra pick after the fourth round of the draft as compensation.
Suárez was 8-5 with a 1.36 ERA and four saves in 12 starts and 27 relief outings in 2021. He finished 10-7 with a 3.65 ERA over 29 starts and 155 1/3 innings the following season, then fell off to 4-6 with a 4.18 ERA across 22 starts in 2023, when he landed on the injured list for a left elbow strain and later for a right hamstring strain. But he bounced right back the next year, going 12-8 with a 3.46 ERA in 27 starts and 150 2/3 innings.
Suárez spent time on the IL for lower back spasms, soreness or stiffness three times in the past four seasons.
The 29-year-old Gray hit .231 with three homers and nine RBIs in 30 games for Tampa Bay last year and was acquired by Boston in November. Baez, 24, hit .278 with eight homers and 54 RBIs last year for High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita.
Minnesota designated Vidal Bruján for assignment to make room for Gray.
During the third quarter of Monday's win over the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors lost forward Jimmy Butler III to a torn ACL in his right knee. And the team didn't have much time to process the personnel loss either, as they were back in action Tuesday night against the Toronto Raptors. That game, a 145-127 defeat, provided the first clues as to how head coach Steve Kerr would try to compensate for Butler's absence.
Brandin Podziemski (37 percent) moved into the starting lineup. While he wasn't as productive as he was the night prior, the promotion will raise the third-year guard's value, making him a worthwhile pickup in standard leagues. However, Tuesday's rotation was eye-opening due to who re-entered it, more so than who replaced Butler in the starting lineup.
Jonathan Kuminga (19 percent rostered, Yahoo!), a DNP-CD for the last 16 games who did not hesitate to request a trade after becoming eligible to be moved on January 15, checked into the game to begin the second quarter. The adage "stay ready so you don't have to get ready" certainly applies, as the Warriors forward logged 21 minutes and finished with 20 points (7-of-10 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one three-pointer. While fantasy managers may be hesitant to add Kuminga, and rightfully so given the time spent on the bench, Tuesday's performance should be enough to get him rotation minutes moving forward.
Buddy Hield (12 percent), who had fallen out of the rotation for a few games in early January, shot 6-of-6 from three and scored 25 points in 19 minutes. The Warriors' need for production pushed Hield and Kuminga up in the pecking order, and both responded well on Tuesday. We'll see what that means for both players moving forward, but fantasy managers can do far worse than kicking the tires on either.
Here's a look at some other key injury situations affecting fantasy basketball in Week 14.
G/F Zaccharie Risacher and F/C Kristaps Porziņǵis, Atlanta Hawks
Wednesday's game against the Grizzlies will be the seventh that Risacher (left knee bone contusion) and Porziņǵis (left Achilles tendinitis) will have missed due to their current injuries. Ahead of Monday's loss to the Bucks, the team announced that both players would be re-evaluated in one week, meaning they'll miss at least three more games.
While Vit Krejčí (two percent) had been Risacher's replacement in the lineup, Corey Kispert (one percent) received the nod on Monday. Neither offered much value against the Bucks, with Kispert scoring two points in 20 minutes and Krejčí going scoreless in 20 minutes. They combined to shoot 1-of-10 from the field. Neither player should be streamed, regardless of who serves as the fifth starter moving forward.
Porziņǵis' current absence has not affected fantasy basketball much. Mouhamed Gueye (one percent) and Asa Newell (less than one percent) have picked up a few additional minutes, but neither has done enough to make a dent in fantasy basketball. Both can, and should, be rostered in dynasty leagues, but that's about it. Porziņǵis' absences earlier in the season cemented Onyeka Okongwu's (89 percent) place in the starting lineup, and he has provided excellent value after beginning the year with an ADP of 94.
G Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
Giddey has been out since December 29 with a strained left hamstring, missing Chicago's last 11 games. However, he was initially considered to be questionable for Tuesday's win over the Clippers, which represents a step in the right direction for the point guard. Tre Jones (27 percent) has moved into the starting lineup, averaging 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 three-pointers in 27.1 minutes during this 11-game stretch. Shooting 60.7 percent from the field and 92.6 percent from the foul line, Jones has provided sixth-round per-game value in eight-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. Given his low turnover production, Jones has been even more valuable in nine-cat formats.
G Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
A left great toe injury derailed Garland's 2024-25 season, and he appeared in only three of Cleveland's first 16 games of the 2025-26 campaign as he worked his way back. Unfortunately, the point guard injured his right big toe during a January 14 win over the 76ers. Wednesday's game against the Hornets will be the third that Garland has missed, and on Sunday, it was announced that he'd been diagnosed with a right great toe sprain.
He'll be re-evaluated in a week, with Garland's absence further enhancing Jaylon Tyson's (27 percent) fantasy value. The second-year wing has been a top-75 player over the past two weeks and went off for 39 points in Cleveland's January 16 win over the 76ers. Craig Porter Jr. (two percent) and Dean Wade (less than one percent) served as the fifth starter in the two games Garland missed, but neither offered the production that would make them worth the risk in fantasy leagues.
F/C Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks
Gafford has missed three straight and four of Dallas's last five games with a sprained right ankle, which is the same one initially injured early in training camp. With P.J. Washington away from the team for personal reasons, the Mavericks turned to the tandem of Dwight Powell (one percent) and Moussa Cissé (four percent) to man the middle in Monday's blowout win over the Knicks.
The latter has been a top-100 player over the past two weeks and may be worth a look if Gafford and Washington remain out for Thursday's game against the Warriors. Cissé is on a two-way contract, so he isn't guaranteed to be active because of the 50-game limit. If Dallas decides to prioritize its draft lottery odds, Cissé could have value during the "silly season."
C Steven Adams, Houston Rockets
Adams suffered a sprained left ankle during Sunday's win over the Pelicans. Ahead of Tuesday's win over the Spurs, it was announced that he'd suffered a Grade 3 sprain, and that's the kind of injury where the timeline for full functional recovery could be measured in months. For that reason, the seven percent of Yahoo! league managers who have Adams rostered need to move on. Clint Capela (two percent) is now the backup center, but he only played 12 minutes against San Antonio.
Tari Eason (33 percent) returned to action on Tuesday after missing five games with a sprained right ankle, playing 20 minutes and finishing with six points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot. While the minutes restriction limits his ceiling in the short term, Eason has the potential to be a valuable option for fantasy managers down the stretch, especially if he gets back into the starting lineup.
F Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
Leonard has missed the Clippers' last three games with a left knee contusion, with the team sending him back to Los Angeles on Sunday to receive further treatment. While he was dealing with an ankle injury, Leonard injured his knee (not the one that had been operated on multiple times in the past) during a January 10 win over the Pistons. He'll be re-evaluated ahead of Thursday's game against the Lakers.
Rookie Kobe Sanders (one percent) has started the last four games, averaging 10.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 27.5 minutes while shooting 45.2 percent from the field. While decent, that production isn't enough to make Sanders a viable streamer in most leagues while the Clippers await Leonard's return.
G Austin Reaves and C Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers
Reaves suffered a Grade 2 left calf strain during the Lakers' Christmas Day loss to the Rockets and hasn't played since, most recently sitting out Tuesday's win over the Nuggets. Before the game, head coach JJ Redick said that Reaves is "progressing well" and should return at some point during the Lakers' current eight-game road trip.
Marcus Smart (seven percent) has been the replacement in the starting lineup, averaging 9.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 29.5 minutes and shooting 41.1 percent from the field. The veteran guard has not been a top-150 player during this stretch, but he did score 15 second-half points on Tuesday. Still, Jake LaRavia (14 percent) would be a better streaming option, especially as he continues to start ahead of Rui Hachimura (11 percent).
As for Ayton, he played 15 first-half minutes on Tuesday before exiting with a left eye injury. More will likely be learned about the severity of the injury and if the 7-footer will miss any time on Wednesday. Jaxson Hayes (one percent) played 15 minutes during the second half of Tuesday's comeback win, tallying six points and four rebounds. If Ayton misses time, there will be some who look to stream Hayes, but there should be superior options on most waiver wires.
G Tyler Herro and C Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
Of the two, Herro's injury is of far greater concern to the Heat and to fantasy managers. An MRI on his ribs revealed a costocondral issue, which is inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum. It's an injury that can result in an extended absence, and Herro did not travel west with the Heat for their five-game road trip. Pelle Larsson (five percent) has moved into the starting lineup, most recently contributing 16 points, six rebounds, nine assists and one steal in a January 20 win over the Kings. For managers in shallow leagues (and some 12-team leagues as well), Andrew Wiggins (56 percent) will be worth a look with Herro sidelined.
As for Ware, tightness in his right hamstring kept him out of Tuesday's win in Sacramento. The second-year center's production was inconsistent in the games prior, with his playing time decreasing as a result. His absence means the Heat will need more production from Bam Adebayo (99 percent), who rebounded from a poor showing against the Warriors on Monday with a good night against the Kings. Simone Fontecchio (two percent) and Nikola Jović (13 percent) may play a little more with Ware out, but neither has much appeal as a streamer.
F Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers
George missed both games of Philadelphia's back-to-back due to left knee injury management. Kelly Oubre Jr. (18 percent) moved into the starting lineup, totaling 39 points, five rebounds, six assists, four steals, one block and seven three-pointers in games against the Pacers and Suns. Philadelphia's schedule for the rest of January consists of six games with one back-to-back, so adding Oubre would not be a bad idea. George's next opportunity to play will be on Thursday against the Rockets.
G/F RJ Barrett and F/C Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors
After missing the Raptors' last six games with a sprained left ankle, the hope is that Barrett will be available for Wednesday's game against the Kings. Second-year guard Jamal Shead (eight percent) was Barrett's replacement in five of those games and has averaged 10.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in 32.0 minutes over the last six. However, Shead has shot just 35.2 percent from the field during this stretch, limiting his streaming value.
Murray-Boyles sat out Tuesday's win over the Raptors with a left thumb injury aggravated during the loss to the Lakers two nights prior. The rookie forward/center initially injured his thumb during a December 23 win over the Heat but did not miss any time. Interestingly, the Raptors started Tuesday's game without a center, with Gradey Dick (four percent) serving as the fifth starter. He logged 23 minutes, finishing with 10 points, three rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers. Sandro Mamukelashvili (18 percent) remains a worthwhile streamer, whether he starts or comes off the bench. Mamu put up 14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block and four three-pointers in 26 minutes off the bench Tuesday night.
G/F Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards
Coulibaly has missed Washington's last three games after injuring his lower back during a January 14 loss to the Clippers, with the team sending him home to receive treatment during their road trip. Monday's loss to the Clippers was the Wizards' first home game since, and it remains to be seen if Coulibaly will be available for Thursday's matchup with the Nuggets. Bub Carrington (11 percent) has moved into the starting lineup, providing 10th-round per-game value over the past week in eight-cat formats. Between Coulibaly's injury and Trae Young (knee) not being available, streaming Carrington would be a good idea.
Kirsty Coventry steers clear of global politics in buildup
Organisers will meet with vice-president JD Vance
The International Olympic Committee has yet to establish formal communications with the US president Donald Trump on preparations for the Los Angeles Games in 2028, the IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, has confirmed.
McLean dazzled in 48.0 innings over eight starts during his big league debut last season, posting a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while striking out 57 batters. He is expected to slot near the top of the 2026 rotation.
Benge, who ended the 2025 season with Triple-A Syracuse, is expected to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster -- and could be the starting left fielder if he makes it.
The other four prospects on BA's list could open 2026 in the minors.
Tong showed flashes during his first taste of the majors in 2025, but his arsenal can use some refining.
Williams should debut at some point in 2026, but there doesn't seem to be a clear spot for him at the moment.
Sproat, like Tong, debuted in 2025. Depending on how the Mets fill out their big league rotation, it's possible Sproat is used in relief in the majors this season -- at least for a portion of it. If not, he'll likely open the year in Triple-A.
As far as Ewing, he had a breakout season in 2025, slashing .315/.401/.429 (.830 OPS) across three levels, ending with Double-A Binghamton. The speedy Ewing smacked 10 triples and 26 doubles while swiping 70 bases.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City’s players will refund ticket costs for fans who traveled to Norway for the team’s shocking 3-1 loss to tiny Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League.
City striker Erling Haaland apologized immediately after Tuesday’s game for City’s performance, saying it was “embarrassing.”
Haaland is in a captains' group also containing Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Rodri, and they said in a joint statement Wednesday that the players will reimburse the 374 supporters who made the long journey to Bodø, which is located north of the Arctic Circle.
“Our supporters mean everything to us,” the statement read. “We know the sacrifice that our fans make when they travel across the world to support us home and away and we will never take it for granted. They are the best fans in the world.
“We also recognize that it was a lot of traveling for the fans who supported us in the freezing cold throughout a difficult evening for us on the pitch. Covering the cost of these tickets for the fans who traveled to Bodo is the least we can do.”
Raphielle Johnson