Jose Urbina, RHP 20 | 6’3” | 180 A | 2.05 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 92.1 IP (19 GS), 26.4% K, 8.2% BB A+ | 2 ER (2 HR), 4.0 IP (1 GS), 5 K, 0 BB
Good pitchers grow and adjust, and Urbina has done that consistently at an age young for his level. Physically he has grown in strength, sitting at 96 with the fastball after flashing high octane in 2024, and technically he has grown, refining his dialed up slider and his two-plane curveball into complementary pitches — which lack plus command but are thrown with feel. He shouldered a starter’s workload at 19, and was awarded one additional start at High-A, where he allowed two solo shots and struck out five. Overall, the age, body, and body of work have him on the trajectory of top prospect lists in the near future.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
NA
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
NA
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
NA
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
NR
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
NA
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
NA
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
NA
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
NA
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
NA
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
NR
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
The push for Tre Morgan gained a seventh vote, but it was 2025’s Top Dog Urbina who made the leap this round. Will the similarly rated Baumeister be next, or will Morgan’s crew rally the support in the next round? This next round adds recent international signee Victor Valdez.
Elsewhere, FanGraphs dropped their Top-100 with Williams 28th, Hopkins 59th, and Forret 92nd (!).
Candidates
Jackson Baumeister, RHP 23 | 6’4” | 224 AA | 4.62 ERA, 4.15 FIP (15 GS) 62.1 IP, 19.5% K, 9.6% BB AFL | 6 ER (1 HR), 9.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS), 10 K, 9 BB
A shoulder injury derailed what should have been Baumeister’s coming out party, as his previously plus breaking ball was expected to carve up Double-A. After a tough start to the year and two months on the sidelines, Baumeister returned in August and salvaged the season with a brilliant finish. The tough luck continued, however, in the Arizona Fall League, where a line drive struck him in the head, but he escaped without significant injury. Currently, Baumeister has taken on a fastball/slutter profile, with a slow curve in his back pocket, and has shown teachability and pitchability over the years. The former Seminole currently thrives on his frequently used major league fastball that may be better challenged by a promotion to Triple-A.
Homer Bush Jr. 24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215 AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
OF Victor Mesa Jr. 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Morgan continued to hit without power in 2025, a great discouragement for some evaluators, but his present 50-grade hit tool and feel for the zone allow a major league projection. He continued his improved, quieter two-strike approach in 2025 that built on his success retooling his swing in the AFL last year. The Rays gave Morgan 14 starts in Left Field last season, and Baseball America called the defense “playable,” but his value is tied to his plus-plus defense at First.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. Rays internally gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify his five tool profile.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 6: Stuart Fairchild #17 of the Atlanta Braves catches a fly ball to end the seventh inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Truist Park on July 6, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With a new snippet of information, it’s time to examine what we might be able to infer about the Guardians’ outfield plans for 2026.
This weekend, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland dot com shared a quote from Guardians’ manager Stephen Vogt in which Vogt clarifies that David Fry is working exclusively as a catcher right now and will begin working at first base later in the spring, but that it wouldn’t be fair to expect him to play third base or right field, yet. Perhaps Fry works on getting back into playing shape for those positions during the season, but Vogt gave no indication whether or not this was the plan.
I had been assuming that part of David Fry’s presence on the roster was a return of his ability to play right field, so this is causing me to re-evaluate some roster projections. I don’t think there is really any chance the team will use one of Fry’s remaining options to send him to Columbus – he’s making the roster one way or another, if healthy. So, what does this mean for the remaining open spots?
The Established Spots: Catcher: Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges. First Base: Kyle Manzardo Second Base: Gabriel Arias or Brayan Rocchio Shortstop: Brayan Rocchio or Gabriel Arias Third Base: Jose Ramirez Left Field: Steven Kwan Designated Hitter, First Base and Third Catcher: David Fry
First, please stop imagining the team will play Kwan in center. They will not. We don’t have to understand it. We just have to accept it. Second, join me in accepting that barring an act of God, we will see Rocchio and Arias up the middle to start the season. I’m optimistic that either Juan Brito or Travis Bazzana or both will see time at second base this season, but, barring injury, it won’t be until May at the earliest. Accept it, get mad, grieve it, move on.
There are five roster spots remaining, then. One spot WILL go to a utility infielder who can play shortstop. That player is Daniel Schneemann, as Angel Martinez and Juan Brito are NOT shortstops. A breakout camp for Carter Kieboom could make him an option here, but that’s unlikely for a variety of reasons. Expect it to be Schneemann, who does bring some value here in that he can also play competently in any outfield position.
So, that means there are four roster spots remaining, including two empty spots at center field and right field currently. Let’s look at our primary candidates:
Left-Handers: Nolan Jones, Chase DeLauter, George Valera, CJ Kayfus, Petey Halpin, and Khalil Watson. Right-Handers: Stuart Fairchild and Johnathan Rodriguez. Switch-Hitters: Angel Martinez and potentially Juan Brito.
I think all indications are that Chase DeLauter will break camp with the team, if healthy. The big question is whether it will be as a center fielder or a right fielder. If the team is truly fine with the idea of playing DeLauter in center field, than I (perhaps delusionally) expect them to DFA Nolan Jones and pass him through waivers to get an extra “option” on him and stash him in Columbus in case of injury. Far more likely, however, is that the team plans for Jones as the primary centerfielder and DeLauter as the primary right fielder. So, let’s pencil that in: Jones for center field, DeLauter for right.
The team will have a right-handed bat on the bench who can play center field. It will either be Fairchild or Martinez. Given that Martinez has remaining options, I expect that Fairchild gets first crack at sticking on the roster since he is the only outfielder the team has added (thus far) this offseason. Now, the team DID add Jones late in spring training last season; maybe they have a plan to do something similar to add a right-handed hitting outfielder this spring training. I am open to the idea, Antonetti. Make it happen, cap’n. But, for now, Fairchild secures that fourth outfielder spot.
We are now at the most interesting battle of the spring, in my opinion. Assuming that Halpin and Watson continue to get seasoning in Columbus given their ages and option situations, we will have Kayfus, Rodriguez, Martinez and Brito competing for that 13th roster spot. I am curious how much we will see Brito in right field in Spring Training, given Fry cannot play there. Brito has hit left-handed pitching extremely well in the minors and I found him to look passable in right field (he has a decent arm). Currently, I think that choice would be the best option for a roster above that lacks punch against left-handed pitching. Brito also looks competent at first base, and can clearly play second base in a pinch. If Brito isn’t ready for that fielding work yet, I wonder if Martinez will get first crack given his lefty mashing so far.
It is undeniably a struggle to leave either Kayfus or Valera off this roster, let alone both. To be clear, if the team is willing to play DeLauter in center, then both Kayfus AND Valera can make the roster. Kayfus looked passable in right field, and Valera and he could get time there and at DH (with Kayfus also perhaps being a late-inning-replacement-with-a-lead at first base). However, there’s no doubt that this thirteenth roster spot SHOULD be a right-handed bat if possible, given the construction of the rest of the roster.
It’s also a possibility that the team deludes themselves into thinking Johnathan Rodriguez can play right field. I refuse to accept that will happen for the sake of my mental health. Rodriguez, then, is just David Fry insurance. He can bat at DH if Fry is hurt or ineffective. Until then, he hangs out with the Clippers.
So, my current projection for Guardians hitters on Opening Day (given health): C: Naylor and Hedges 1B: Manzardo and Fry MIF: Rocchio, Arias, and Schneemann 3B: Jose LF: Kwan CF: Jones and Fairchild RF: DeLauter and Martinez (or HOPEFULLY Brito)
But, what I WANT the Guardians to do is this: C: Naylor and Hedges 1B: Manzardo and Fry 2B: Bazzana (rip the band-aid off and let him do his thing!) SS: Rocchio UIF: Schneemann 3B: Jose LF: Kwan CF: DeLauter and Fairchild RF: Valera and Brito
Let us know your predictions and ponderings in the comments below!
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 28: David Festa #58 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Target Field on August 28, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Full Spring Training is officially underway with all pitchers, catchers, and position players in Fort Myers to get the Twins season started. This team, as always, is full of potential and hope for a strong 2026, but there remain a few distinct roles to be filled. Let’s break down the projected Opening Day roster at the start of Spring Training.
(Note: anyone in italics is a non-roster invitee that would need to be added to the 40-man roster before Opening Day)
Starting Pitchers
Locks (4): Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson
In contention (4): Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews, David Festa, Mick Abel
Out (9): Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, Marco Raya, John Klein, Cory Lewis, Trent Baker, Christian MacLeod
The top 3 in the rotation are as locked as possible. SWR probably should be a “near lock” but I think it’s his spot to lose with so many questions behind him. The splitter he added in the second half last year was quietly his best pitch and could help him take things up a level.
The final rotation spot will come down largely to health. Festa and Zebby have flashed frontline ability over the past two seasons, but both have durability questions and Festa missed the end of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery. He’ll be built up as a starter, but I think is bullpen bound due to health concerns. Zebby and Abel have the best stuff, but have been hit very hard in their limited MLB time. As such, Bradley probably has a leg up here.
Zebby, Abel, and Morris are likely the next men up for the rotation. Top pitching prospect Prielipp will see MLB time too, but likely out of them ‘pen after already having two UCL reconstructions in his young career.
Relief Pitchers
Locks (6): Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, Cole Sands, Anthony Banda, Kody Funderburk, Eric Orze
In contention (13): Travis Adams, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, Marco Raya, David Festa, Liam Hendriks, Andrew Chafin, Julian Merryweather, Matt Bowman, Dan Altavilla, Cody Laweryson, Grant Hartwig, Andrew Bash, Raul Brito
Out (1): Matt Canterino (IL)
Almost no one is out of contention here because there are two WIDE open bullpen slots for whoever can take them. Left-handers Prielipp and Rojas’ chance of making the team straight out of camp took a hit with the additions of Rogers, Banda, and Chafin over the past few weeks. Combined with Funderburk, they need righty arms more than anything.
The only reason Hendriks isn’t a lock is because of his health. He only threw 14 innings last season with the Red Sox after barely pitching in 2023-2024 due to a cancer scare and Tommy John surgery, but flashed his strong breaking balls as usual. If he’s healthy, he will likely close games for the Twins.
Your other choices for the final bullpen spot come down to pitchers who have good stuff with bad results (Festa, Merryweather, Brito) or bad stuff with better results (Chafin, Bowman, Altavilla, Laweryson, Hartwig). Given the lack of raw stuff in the bullpen as it stands, I think they take a gamble on the first group.
Catchers
Locks (2): Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini
In contention: none
Out (6): Alex Jackson, David Bañuelos, Ricardo Olivar, Noah Cardenas, Patrick Winkel, Andrew Cossetti
Put it in pen. Even if there’s an injury, just sub in Jackson for whoever is out to start the season. This is the easiest group to project by far.
Infielders
Locks (5): Josh Bell, Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Kody Clemens
In contention (4): Ryan Kreidler, Austin Martin, Tristan Gray, Orlando Arcia
Out (5): Eric Wagaman, Aaron Sabato, Gio Urshela, Tanner Schobel, Kalen Culpepper
Wagaman doesn’t have a role in the infield, maybe in the outfield. Same could be said for Martin, but I wonder if Shelton gives him one last try at second base with their needs here. Clemens can’t play shortstop, unfortunately, but he should get plenty of time at 2B and 3B throughout the season.
The only real question here is who can provide any semblance of life as a utility man behind Brooks Lee. Ryan Kreidler, Tristan Gray, and Orlando Arcia will battle for the honor throughout Spring Training, but don’t be surprised if the Twins make an outside addition still.
Outfielders
Locks (3): Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach (for now)
Near locks (3): Alan Roden, Austin Martin, James Outman
In contention (2): Eric Wagaman, Kyler Fedko
Out (5): Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Hendry Mendez, Walker Jenkins, Kala’i Rosario
I expect to see plenty of Rodriguez, Jenkins, and Gonzalez with the Twins this year, but they all need some more seasoning in AAA first. Fedko had a breakout 2025 in St. Paul, but sits behind Wagaman as a right-handed platoon partner for OF/1B.
Larnach is a lock for now because I still think he’ll get dealt to an outfield-needy contender before Opening Day. If he’s with the Twins, he’s obviously a lock. Roden’s fate is tied to Larnach’s as another lefty corner outfielder. In any other scenario he would be the Opening Day left fielder, but that is now Larnach’s spot with the acquisitions of Josh Bell and Victor Caratini taking up most of the 1B/DH reps.
Martin finished 2025 as one of the Twins’ most consistent position players. There’s no place for him to start, but he will start in an outfield corner against every lefty and plenty of righties as players need days off. Outman likely is a lock as well as the only other player who can play a good CF behind Buxton. Both of them could be pushed out due to roster needs elsewhere, though Outman is out of minor league options.
Final Roster Projection 1.0
Bold = camp battles
SP (5): Lopez, Ryan, Ober, SWR, Taj Bradley
RP (8): Rogers, Topa, Sands, Banda, Funderburk, Orze, Liam Hendriks, David Festa
C (2): Jeffers, Caratini
IF (6): Bell, Keaschall, Lee, Lewis, Clemens, Tristan Gray
OF (5): Buxton, Wallner, Larnach, Austin Martin, James Outman
Martin and Outman get Opening Day spots thanks to their versatility and ability to provide late game value off the bench with defense and baserunning. Bradley beats out Zebby for the final rotation spot. Hendriks is healthy and Festa shines in short spurts to give the Twins some electricity at the end of games.
Most controversially, I have Gray as the final position player. Kreidler is a marginal defender at shortstop while Gray shines there. He also has the potential to be a much better hitter than Kreidler and have a mid-career offensive breakout like the Twins helped Willi Castro discover. I think Arcia is completely washed. If you can’t hit in Denver in August, you can’t do it in Minneapolis in April. Thanks for reminding me of Twins legend/your brother Oswaldo Arcia, though.
Who do you see making the Twins out of Spring Training? Any surprises you think will come out of nowhere like Castro in 2023 or Jhoan Duran in 2022?
NBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, and the Association will tip off for the final quarter of the season on Thursday. As we move into “silly season,” some teams will start looking to the future and developing their young players rather than worrying about wins.
Here are the top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds for the second half of Week 17.
Priority Adds
1. Day’Ron Sharpe
2. Nique Clifford
3. Ty Jerome
4. Nolan Traoré
5. Kyle Filipowski
6. Devin Carter
7. Tristan Vukčević
8. Gui Santos
9. Scoot Henderson
10. Brice Sensabaugh
Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies (35 percent rostered)
Jerome continues to offer monster production in limited minutes, and due to his excellent play, this will surely be the last week I can mention him in this column before he’s no longer widely available. In just 20.2 minutes per game, Jerome has averaged 19.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.0 dimes, 1.2 swipes and 2.3 triples. He’s started all six of his appearances and should be locked into a starting gig for the rebuilding Grizzlies the rest of the way.
Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz (28 percent rostered)
With Jaren Jackson Jr. done for the season and Utah actively tanking, Filipowski should see a ton of playing time for the remainder of the season. Jusuf Nurkić and Kevin Love don’t figure into Utah’s long-term plans, but Filipowski is the future. He’s averaged 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocked and 1.1 triples across 19 starts this season.
Sacramento extended its losing streak to 14 before the All-Star break, and the Kings will be one of the teams anxiously waiting for ping pong balls to determine their fate in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery. Zach LaVine (hand) is out for the season, and the Kings recently traded guard depth to Cleveland for De’Andre Hunter. Expect Clifford to see big run down the stretch. In two games since his 30/4/4/2/2 eruption, he’s struggled tremendously from the field, shooting 5-of-31, including 1-of-11 from beyond the arc. Shooting woes aside, Clifford managed 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.5 steals in that pair of contests while seeing 37.5 minutes per game. The Kings have every reason to incentivize development after the break, which is a huge positive for Clifford’s fantasy value.
Brice Sensabaugh, Utah Jazz (18 percent rostered)
Sensabaugh isn’t going to offer much in the way of peripheral stats of defense, but if you need scoring and triples, he’s your man. Over his last 15 outings, Sensabaugh has averaged 18.7 points and 2.5 triples to go with 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.7 steals. His 48.7/83.3 shooting splits should be quite attractive to fantasy managers, too.
Like Ty Jerome, Scoot has only appeared in a handful of games this season, but he’s been great with his limited playing time. Unlike Jerome, Henderson has come off the bench in all four of his games, but his playing time could ramp up after the All-Star break. He’s averaging 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.8 triples while shooting career-best marks from the floor (51.7%) and the charity stripe (82.6%).
Gui Santos, Golden State Warriors (16 percent rostered)
Santos has been the most consistent option for the struggling Warriors, and he seems to have a meaningful role locked down for the foreseeable future. He’s started six of the Dubs’ last eight games, averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.9 blocked shots and 1.6 triples across 27.6 minutes in that span. Santos is a poor free-throw shooter, but he’s knocked down 59% of his shots across his last eight.
Sharpe has lottery ticket value, but he’s been steady enough as of late that adding him isn’t a major gamble. Grabbing him off the waiver wire early could prove highly beneficial down the final stretch of the season. Over his last 12 games, Sharpe has averaged 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals across 20.4 minutes. Sharpe is behind Nic Claxton on the Nets’ depth chart, but he’s done well in his allotted time and made the most of expanded opportunities. In four starts, Sharpe has averaged 13.8 points, 8.5 boards, 4.3 dimes, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks across 30.8 minutes. Claxton (hip) sat out the Nets’ final game before the All-Star break, and Sharpe produced a monster 19/12/5/2/2 line across 31 minutes. Brooklyn isn’t playoff bound, and the team may finally decide to give Sharpe some additional run after the break. With career per-36 averages of 16.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 swats, Sharpe has tremendous upside. Add now, and hope that an expanded role materializes.
Traoré has started eight straight games, but he’s turned up the production as of late. Across his last four games, he’s averaged 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.8 triples in 31.5 minutes. In that span, Traoré has shot 59.1% from the floor and 71.4% from the charity stripe. The rookie could see north of 30 minutes for the remainder of the season as Brooklyn prioritizes development before heading to another draft lottery.
Carter could join Nique Clifford as a permanent starter in Sacramento’s backcourt sooner rather than later. The last-place Kings have no reason to play Russell Westbrook or Malik Monk meaningful minutes, and the second-year man out of Providence should get a long look to close out the 2025-26 campaign. He’s averaged 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists across 26.6 minutes over his last five games.
Tristan Vukčević, Washington Wizards (4 percent rostered)
Alex Sarr will be back no earlier than February 26 while dealing with a right hamstring strain, which gives Vukčević ample runway until he returns. Washington is looking ahead to next season when Trae Young and Anthony Davis are healthy, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Wizards take a cautious approach with Sarr. Vukčević has logged 20+ minutes in nine games this season, averaging 14.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers in those contests.
Other options:Jaden Ivey (26%), Dylan Cardwell (20%), GG Jackson (19%), Dylan Harper (17%), Ryan Kalkbrenner (14%), Jeremiah Fears (14%), Paul Reed (10%), Ousmane Dieng (6%), Jose Alvarado (4%)
Drew Smith’s time with the Mets has officially come to an end.
The right-hander was among the clubs longest-tenured members, but now he’s landed a minor league deal to remain in the NL East with the Washington Nationals.
SNY’s Michelle Margaux was first on the report.
According to Margaux, Smith could earn $1.75M if he makes the big-league team.
Smith, of course, missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery.
It’s unknown exactly where he stands in his recovery at this point, but you’d have to figure he’s at least close to or at 100 percent heading into spring training.
If so, the 32-year-old could quickly earn a high-leverage role in Washington’s bullpen.
Smith pitched to a 3.48 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 202 strikeouts in parts of six big-league seasons with the Mets.
He made his MLB debut in the Big Apple in 2018 after being acquired from Tampa Bay in the Lucas Duda trade (July 2017).
British No 1 beaten 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 by Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic
World No 67 reels off six games in a row to claim victory
Emma Raducanu lost the final six games in a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 defeat against Antonia Ruzic in the opening round at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The British No 1, whose original opponent Elisabetta Cocciaretto withdrew at late notice because of fatigue, fought back in the second set to level the match and led 2-0 in the decider before losing all momentum.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 16, 2024: Adam Macko #30 of Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 16, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
AdAdam Macko is a 25-year-old, left-handed pitcher. The Jays added him to the 40-man roster in November 2023, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft. He was born in Bratislava, Slovakia (he grew up in Ireland). A quick Baseball Reference search shows that the Jays have never had a player born in Slovakia. The most famous MLB players from Slovakia? Elmer Valo played 20 seasons, mostly for the Phillies, in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, who played the outfield and had a 28.7 career bWAR, and pitcher Jack, who played 23 seasons, with 8 teams, between 1909 and 1933, missing a couple of seasons due to World War One, who had a 59.7 bWAR with 247 wins.
Adam’s family came to Alberta to go to the Vauxhall Baseball Academy. Apparently, Vauxhall is the potato capital of Canada and is a 2.5-hour drive from Calgary, but I’m almost sure I’ve never been there.
Adam came to us in the Teoscar Hernandez trade (with Erik Swanson). He was number 8 on our top prospect list last year (he’ll fall off the list this year, as he’s 25). Tom M wrote:
He pitches with a smooth left handed delivery that he repeats well in spite of a longish arm action. His fastball is a four seamer between 91 and 95mph that has average carry and plus arm side run. His primary breaking ball (and in some outings most thrown pitch) is a slider that averages 80mph but on which he can vary the speed and shape from a cutter-ish 82 to a curve-ish 78. He also has a big curve in the low 70s with easy plus depth and an 81mph change-up with major arm side fade and some depth. The velocity’s fringy but everything moves and he has feel for locating the fastball and slider especially that help them play up a little. The change might have the best movement profile but his feel to land it varies, and the curve is so big hitters tend to lay off it, so it might be more of a strike stealing weapon than a swing and miss pitch. His command is average when he’s on, but it can come and go a bit.
Right now, Macko checks all the boxes to fit as a back end starter. He’s put up decent numbers through AA, and his repertoire is good enough and deep enough to hold up in that role even if he lacks the true put-away pitch necessary to be a top three starter in a good rotation. The only thing left to do is prove that he can handle a full season’s starting workload by getting over 100 innings in a season. He’ll get his chance starting in Buffalo.
Macko missed the start of the 2025 season after knee surgery, returning to Triple A in early June to be sort of mediocre as a starter, then moved to the bullpen and saw mostly better results. He works with four pitches, with the slider and curveball probably 55s and his fastball 92-94 as a starter. His command and control have always lagged behind his stuff. He gained almost a full mile per hour on the fastball when he moved to relief and was in the zone much more often, and hitters chased more of his pitches out of the zone, including the fastball. He should make his MLB debut this year, which would make him the first Slovakian-born big leaguer since 1961 and the first to grow up there in MLB history.
He’s in his last option year, which adds a little pressure to the season.
Unfortunately, he had a meniscus tear in spring training last year and later had a forearm strain, costing him a couple of months of the season. He ended up pitching in 18 games for the Bisons, including 10 starts, with a 5.20 ERA over 64 innings, 36 walks, and 65 strikeouts.
He throws a four-seam fastball averaging 94 mph, a slider, a slow curve, and a changeup.
Macko is in a tough spot; there are a number of pitchers battling for the ‘first to be called up if a starter goes down’ spot. Ricky Tiedemann, Lazaro Estrada, Jake Bloss, and some non-roster spring invitees will get a good look this spring. But then the team might be looking at Adam as a reliever now. A good spring would help him out.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Hyeseong Kim #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a fielding drill during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a busy Dodgers offseason, we have a pretty idea of what their roster will eventually look like. But the active roster over the 186 days of a major league regular season is an ever-changing organism.
The Dodgers last year used 62 players, for instance, including 40 pitchers, both the most in franchise history. If we increase the threshold of playing time to five games, the 2025 team used 48 different players. In other words, expect several players to contribute in some fashion in 2026.
With a full nine-player lineup and top six starting pitchers all signed through for at least two more seasons, the Dodgers have a relatively-set roster in the abstract. But there are still decisions to be made this spring, some of which are due to injuries and some uncertainty.
Kiké Hernández is back in the fold, but won’t be ready at the beginning of the offseason as he recovers from left elbow surgery. That opens up a spot on the bench even if Edman is fully ready, which could mean a chance for one or both of Hyeseong Kim and Alex Call.
ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates after the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Thursday, September 25, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
At this time of year, I tend to start thinking through what my expectations are for the coming season. Having a base model in my head helps me avoid overreacting to early-season noise. Part of that process includes looking at the AL Central, the main competition the Royals need to beat to reach the playoffs. It is not typically considered a very strong division, as the coastal, big-money teams are in the West or East in both leagues, with the possible exception of the two Chicago teams, who play in big media markets but have not traditionally acted like it.
I’m going to start with the weakest team and work through the other non-Royals clubs before getting to how Kansas City matches up.
Both systems agree that the White Sox are going to need some very fortunate bounces to compete for even the last wild-card slot. They have some individually talented players, but there are simply too many holes in the roster to take them seriously as a contender. They don’t really have a unit that qualifies as a strength.
Their rotation features Shane Smith, who had a genuinely nice 2025 season but profiles more as a solid third starter than an Opening Day, top-of-the-rotation arm. After him, there are several back-end types who are really fifth or sixth starters unless Anthony Kay learned something in NPB that unlocked another level, or Erick Fedde rediscovers the weird magic that made him good for that stretch in 2024. Maybe Noah Schultz or Hagen Smith can come up from the prospect ranks and improve things.
The bullpen is very similar. I think Grant Taylor is really good, and there are a few other decent arms, but not enough, and none who are true back-end anchors. Seranthony Domínguez as your seventh-inning guy is probably fine; as your closer, it leaves a lot to be desired. His inconsistency over the years is concerning for that role. The pitching staff is almost certainly going to be in the bottom half of the league.
The offense is not much better. They again have a couple of interesting bats. Colson Montgomery had a very nice debut at age 23. Projection systems don’t believe he can come close to repeating it, but there’s some hope. Kyle Teel is similarly interesting as a catcher who should provide value at the plate. The outfield, outside of Luis Robert Jr., is rough. When Andrew Benintendi (still only 31!?) is hitting in the middle of your lineup, things are probably not going well. This unit is going to need a lot of luck to score enough runs to be competitive.
I still don’t really get how the Guardians did what they did last season, and the projection systems seem to agree. This is a flawed team — especially offensively — that somehow rides its pitching well enough to reach the playoffs on a recurring basis.
They don’t have anyone you’d call a true ace, but Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams are both good. Maybe Parker Messick can give them a reliable third option at the top of the rotation, but this is not a scary group. There’s enough depth and competence to be middle-of-the-pack or slightly better, though.
The bullpen has been their strength the last few years and might continue to be. Cade Smith is a beast, though Hunter Gaddis backed up quite a bit last year after his dominant 2024. And of course, there’s no more Clase. I could see a scenario where this ends up below league average, but I’ll give the organization the benefit of the doubt, given its track record of building bullpens. They have eight or so other arms from which they’ll likely cobble together a third and fourth option, plus depth.
The lineup, on the other hand, is just bad. They’ve struggled to score runs for years. José Ramírez and Steven Kwan give them stability, and I think Kyle Manzardo provides a third consistently above-average bat. After that, it’s a lot of wishing. Can they find a way to score enough runs to stay competitive? They may need Travis Bazzana, Cooper Ingle, or maybe Ralphy Velazquez to come up and add a quality bat, but none of them are sure things. (Still love the name Ralphy.)
Projection systems consistently seem to love the Twins. And the Twins love disappointing them — at least that’s how it has felt in recent years.
After the fire sale at last year’s deadline, many would assume they have little to no shot, but these probabilities disagree. I think it’s mostly a function of a very good rotation. Pablo López and Joe Ryan make a nice one-two punch. Add quality depth behind them, and you have one of the better starting fives in baseball.
For me, the problems arise in the bullpen. There’s no clear top-end arm anymore. Maybe Taylor Rogers or Justin Topa recaptures some of their previous dominance, but I wouldn’t bet on anyone in this bullpen as a true slam-the-door option. The depth was also thinned out at the deadline. It looks like an inconsistent group.
There are talented hitters. Byron Buxton is very, very good — and we also know he tends to disappear from the lineup. You can realistically hope for 100–110 games of his production. Luke Keaschall had a good 2025 debut and looks like a nice long-term piece, but he’s more of a table-setter than a top-tier bat, especially since that .340 BABIP is unlikely to repeat. Matt Wallner and Ryan Jeffers are solid, and maybe Royce Lewis finally pulls it all together (I sincerely doubt it).
They’ll score some runs, but I doubt they’ll finish in the top half of the league offensively. Left field, shortstop, first base, and DH are all considerable issues that bringing in Josh Bell does not fix. His projections are odd — I’m not sure why systems expect his best season since 2022 at age 33, but they do. One true middle-of-the-order bat is not enough, and there’s always the threat of ownership shedding more payroll.
Now we get to the favorites. The Tigers have a lot going for them and have added a couple of large pieces to get even stronger.
Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez might be the best one-two punch in baseball, and a back end of Jack Flaherty, Verlander, and Casey Mize is solid. I have concerns about Verlander, but he really just needs to be serviceable. The Reese Olson and Jackson Jobe injuries reduce their depth, which does hurt, but they’re still positioned to have one of the best rotations in the league.
The bullpen is significantly less intimidating. Will Vest was dominant for stretches last year, but counting on that for a full season feels risky. Any team planning on Kenley Jansen as its closer at this stage has questions. Nothing against Jansen, but last year feels a bit like fool’s gold statistically. Can they get reliable back-end production from Tyler Holton, Kyle Finnegan, and others? It feels like they’ll have a lot of serviceable arms without true top-end dominance. That creates risk — and it contributed to their inability to hold the division late.
The other issue was consistent run scoring. That’s a theme in the Central: solid starting pitching, inconsistent bats. The Tigers probably have the most stable lineup top to bottom. Riley Greene has become a stalwart, and Spencer Torkelson finally put it together to add thump. I believe in those two, and adding Gleyber Torres helps.
It’s the Colt Keith, Dillon Dingler, Wenceel Pérez, and Zack McKinstry group I’m less sold on. Most outperformed their underlying metrics last year. Javier Báez had a strange renaissance before reverting to below-average production. This is a good offense if those supporting pieces hold. If not, it becomes pedestrian. If Kevin McGonigle or Max Clark forces the issue, that would help considerably.
Given the rotation strength, they have to be considered favorites, regardless of BP slightly preferring the Royals.
After looking at everyone else, I’m more optimistic about the Royals than I was initially.
Their starting pitching strength and depth match up well within the division. Injuries are the biggest risk, as we saw last year. Cole Ragans likely needs to return to Cy Young-level form for this team to reach its ceiling, but the rotation should be second or third in the division at worst.
I also like the bullpen more now. The back end of Carlos Estévez, Lucas Erceg, and Matt Strahm is better than any other in the division. I don’t even think that’s particularly arguable, though I do have mild concerns about both Erceg and Estévez. The depth — John Schreiber, Nick Mears, possibly displaced starters, and Luinder Avila focusing solely on relief — gives them the strongest bullpen depth in the Central. This may be the best bullpen KC has had in some time. Hopefully that’s not just spring hopium.
Bobby Witt Jr. is clearly the best player in the division, and Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, and Maikel Garcia give the Royals the strongest top-of-the-lineup core in the Central. The questions come at leadoff and in the back half. There aren’t as many internal solutions as Detroit has, and there aren’t elite prospects waiting in the wings. Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone may determine whether this lineup is good enough. Isaac Collins, Jonathan India, and Lane Thomas matter too — but mostly they just need to be useful and outproduce last year’s black holes.
I’m probably closer to the Fangraphs division odds – around 25% – because I think Detroit is slightly better overall. But I also believe this front office will add if needed, which could push that toward 30–35%. On overall playoff odds, I’m closer to BP.
The AL as a whole feels open. I see only five clearly better teams: the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Tigers, and Mariners. That puts the Royals somewhere near 50% to make the playoffs — and I’m ready for the season to begin.
Houston, TX: New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu (26) smacks a homer in the ninth inning to tie the game in Game 6 of the ALCS against Houston Astros on October 19, 2019, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
Let’s get something out of the way right off the bat. The Yanks’ initial free agent contract for DJ LeMahieu will go down as one of the smartest moves they have ever made. We’ve sung its praises before! Pilfering the second baseman from the Rockies on a two-year, $24 million contract in October 2018, New York could not have imagined the bang they’d receive for their buck. It just wasn’t as notable at the time of its signing as the one we’re discussing today.
Anyway, back to the bargain for a moment. Over the next two seasons (the latter shortened by COVID-19), DJLM hit a combined .336/.386/.536, good for a 146 OPS+. He led the Junior Circuit in batting average, on-base percentage, and on-base plus slugging percentage in 2020, and compiled 7.1 bWAR per 162 games. If you subscribe to the theory that 1 WAR is worth about $10 million, 2019-20 DJ provided $62 million in surplus value, a number that would have certainly been even higher had the 2020 season not been capped at 60 games.
Oh, and DJ provided one of the biggest playoff moments in recent Yankee history in Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS, smashing a clutch, game-tying, two-run home run in Houston with two outs to go against Roberto Osuna. He saved the season … for a whole 15 minutes or so. It was all for naught, of course, “thanks” to Aroldis Chapman.
But still. What an absolute steal that first contract was. When the Yankees 2020 season ended, ignominiously, at the hands of the Rays (oh hey, thanks again Chappy), so did DJ’s first contract with the Yanks. What would the Yankees do?
DJ LeMahieu Signing Date: January 27, 2021 Contract: 6 years, $90 million
In the least surprising turn of events imaginable, the Yankees tendered LeMahieu the qualifying offer and he rejected it. Coming off that COVID-shortened campaign when he hit .364 to pace the Junior Circuit and finished third for the AL MVP (which he may have deserved with a league-leading 3.0 rWAR), it would have been stunning had DJ accepted the QO. It would have been equally unimaginable for the Yankees to let DJLM walk, as he was versatile with the ability to man second, third, and first, and he was arguably as central to the entire offensive operation as Aaron Judge.
So, off to free agency he went. And, like entirely too many free agent sagas in MLB, this one dragged on much too long. Thanksgiving, the Winter Meetings, Christmas, and the turn of the calendar all came and went with LeMahieu unsigned.
By mid-December, the Yankees and their star were roughly $25 million apart in negotiations, according to reports. Everyone and their dog knew DJ was their number one priority, but with the gap, news leaked that LeMahieu was ready to engage with other clubs. Meanwhile, our own Peter Brody wrote a cogent analysis of why the Yankees could (should?) pass on LeMahieu, given their self-imposed financial constraints.
Obviously, his flirtations came to nothing. In late January, the hot stove really heated up where DJ was concerned. Ominously, reports emerged that the Yankees’ priorities were perhaps askew. Jim Bowden reported (accurately) in the days prior to LeMahieu’s signing that the front office was concerned with the luxury tax implications of signing DJ.
“According to a source the #Yankees deal with LeMahieu will be for more than 4 years……now question is it 5 or 6 years… According to a source the #Yankees preferred more years and less AAV in LeMahieu deal for luxury tax issues. Deal will be for more than 4 years.”
LeMahieu was about to enter his age-32 season. A six-year pact would lock the Yankees in financially through his age-37 campaign. And lest readers wonder if this is all hindsight being 2020, it has long been a truism that second basemen have rough aging curves. Nate Silver touched on this as far back as 2005 in Baseball Prospectus, and FanGraphs revisited the topic in the context of the Yankees’ efforts in early 2013 to extend Robinson Canó before that superstar Yankees second baseman hit free agency. Anecdotally, it feels like one of those adages I’ve known my entire adult life.
Alas, Bowden was right. Instead of a four-year deal with a higher AAV, the Yanks opted for frugality and extended the total cost over six years. A fully functional Death Star, indeed.
The deal was agreed upon in mid-January but not until January 27th did it become official. New York had to keep DJ and they did, while minimizing the annual hit to their payroll. And as Lindsey Adler pointed out in the pages of The Athletic, DJ got a long-term deal likely to take him through to the end of his career. For his part, DJ was happy to be back in pinstripes.
The thought exercise here is fascinating. This article, and Yankee fandom’s historical memory of DJLM, likely looks very different if the Yanks had inked him to a shorter-term, higher AAV deal. Imagine a four-year pact. When injury and underperformance caused LeMahieu to crater in 2024, New York could have parted ways with him at any point, with no money remaining on the books past that season.
Instead, DJ was back last season because the Yankees were too reluctant to admit that they were getting nothing for their $30 million across the final two years of the deal. And while he was considerably better than in ’24, that’s not saying much. New York parted ways with him last July, but because of the decision to pursue a longer-term deal that lowered LeMahieu’s AAV, they’re still on the hook paying him in 2026.*
*He hasn’t retired, but no team has signed him in seven months and it feels distinctly possible that his long-term deal will have indeed taken him to the end of his career. So at least he has that, I suppose.
It boggles the mind that the Yankees, who boast resources and revenues few other teams can match, insist on pinching pennies at the weirdest possible times. The fatal miscalculation they made while garnering any luxury tax savings enabled by this deal was that there was an opportunity cost in the desire to keep running LeMahieu out there when he had long since been a productive ballplayer, just to try to get something. Superior present options could have been pursued, or at the very least, they could have stopped playing Jazz Chisholm Jr. out of position at third just to accommodate the hobbled LeMahieu, no longer physically able to man the hot corner.
Back on the field, it wasn’t all doom and gloom at the start of the new contract. LeMahieu did come back to Earth in 2021, but even a nearly 100-point regression in his batting average left him a league-average hitter who played a solid second base and provided veteran leadership. Part of it could even be blamed on a sports hernia that he was playing through down the stretch, which got to be so painful that LeMahieu was unable to appear in the 2021 AL Wild Card Game loss to the Red Sox.
LeMahieu’s 2022 season was even better. He had a 110 OPS+ and by bWAR, it was the third-best season of his career (ignoring the giant COVID-shaped elephant in the room that was 2020). He appropriately won the first-ever AL Gold Glove for a utilityman as well.
But it all went to hell in the middle of August, when LeMahieu broke a sesamoid bone in his right big toe — a mouthful of an injury that only got worse when he also suffered ligament damage in his second toe. Unable to generate any drive and with a brief IL stint not helping matters, he again missed the postseason. As it turned out, he would never appear in a playoff game on this contract.
In 2023, LeMahieu was fine, even showing signs of resurgence in the second half with an .809 OPS. But there were signs that it was a bit luck-driven, and in 2024, that train came completely off the tracks. I know we’re harping on it, but Aaron Boone and the Yankees stubbornly kept running him out there, and even ran it back in 2025 before finally admitting defeat and releasing him last summer.
The second DJ LeMahieu deal never even came close to the lofty returns of its predecessor. But, to a certain extent, that is the Yankees’ own fault. Letting DJ walk after his sensational 2019-20 was likely never an option and would have drawn the ire of the vast majority of their fans.
But choosing to extend the tenure of his contract over six years rather than a shorter term was an unmitigated disaster that has soured fans’ opinions of the front office and their memories of LeMahieu, who deserved a better fate given his initial smashing success.
References
Blum, Ronald. “After 4 straight injury-marred seasons, DJ LeMahieu hopes to regain former form as batting champion.” Associates Press. February 18, 2025.
Brody, Peter. “The case against re-signing DJ LeMahieu.” Pinstripe Alley. December 18, 2020.
Cameron, Dave. “Robinson Cano and Second Base Aging Curves.” FanGraphs. March 1, 2013.
DJ LeMahieu. Baseball-Reference.
DJ LeMahieu. FanGraphs.
Harding, Thomas. “Fan favorite LeMahieu signs with Yankees.” MLB. January 11, 2019.
Hoch, Bryan. “LeMahieu placed on injured list.” MLB. October 3, 2021.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 24: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket as Alexandre Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game on October 24, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Sam Hodde/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Washington Wizards post Anthony Davis has yet to play a game for his new team. And he realistically won’t play again until the start of the 2026-27 season when the Wizards are poised to make the postseason for the first time since 2020-21, at least on paper.
Davis has suffered a number of injuries in recent years. But not long before his trade to Washington, Davis injured his left hand and finger in a game for the Dallas Mavericks when they were playing the Utah Jazz on Jan. 8, 2026. He sustained ligament damage and faced the possibility of having surgery, though Davis ultimately refused.
To break down hand and finger injuries, we spoke with Dr. Noah Raizman, an orthopaedic surgeon for The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery. Dr. Raizman has worked with athletes at the high school, NCAA Division I and professional levels, including for active players on the PGA Tour, the MLB’s Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians, and the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers.
As a disclaimer, Dr. Volk’s statements are spoke in the aggregate and aren’t specific to Young’s situation. They are also not official diagnoses. Please consult your physician for your situation.
BF: What kind of injury did Davis have within his hand?
Dr. Raizman: While the Dallas Mavericks [Davis’ team at the time of injury] did not disclose what specific injury is, it is likely a volar plate injury on one of the small joints in the metacarpal phalange.
(Note: In plain English, what Dr. Raizman wrote is that Davis may have injured his hand by jamming a finger and getting a torn or stretched ligament at the knuckle joint in the process.)
BF: What is the typical recovery time for this type of injury?
Dr. Raizman: It typically takes 6-8 weeks for the ligament to solidly heal, and there is conditioning work that can help support it. To support NBA caliber play, longer than 6 weeks is the best recovery timeline.
BF: Should Davis be worried about repeating this injury again once he’s back?
Dr. Raizman: This injury does not put Davis at a higher risk for other similar injuries, but there is a risk of further injury if he returns too early, not allowing the finger to fully heal.
BF: Anything else to note about this injury?
Given how the Wizards are performing this season and their potential to get a high 2026 draft pick, it does not seem like they are in a major rush to get him back on the court. Again, since Davis could risk reinjury if he returns too early, the Wizards should hold off on playing him, ensuring that the injury is fully healed.
Dec 7, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) is fouled by Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns went 1-1 in their two games before the All-Star Break this week, defeating the Dallas Mavericks and losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder. While the team had off, Devin Booker participated in the three-point contest and was a member of the winning All-Star squad. Meanwhile, management signed free agent forward Haywood High to a multi-year deal.
Here are the main questions for Week 17 that we want your thoughts on:
What do you think of the Haywood Highsmith Signing?
Highsmith didn’t play at all for the Brooklyn Nets this season before he was waived, but before he was traded to to them in the offseason, he played in 35 playoff games in four seasons for the Miami Heat, and was a bench contributor to their 2022-2033 Finals team that became one of the only eight-seeds to ever make the finals.
Standing at 6’5”, Highsmith is an undersized forward known for his defensive and shooting abilities. In his last two seasons, he shot at least 38% from three, and averaged a steal and a block per 48 minutes.
With Cole Anthony likely to be waived, and the open roster spot to be used to convert Jamaree Bouyea’s two-way contract into a standard one, Highsmith looks to be the only new player the Suns will sign the rest of the season. Highsmith will be returning from a torn meniscus he suffered but was slated to make his season debut with Brooklyn before he was waived.
Do you think the Suns should have signed someone else with the roster spot or was Highsmith the right choice?
What did you think of the new All-Star game format?
The format helped the Suns, as Devin Booker came away victorious, but many seemed to like the three teams involved in the game with one of them being filled with players not from the US.
Three out of the four games were one-possession contests and we saw some spectacular performances, like Kawhi Leonard scoring 31 out of Team Stripes’ 48 points in the third game. Players appeared to be playing harder than they had been in recent All-Star games, and one match even went to overtime.
Do you think the new format is a sustainable one that will keep the game quality as strong as it was this year?
The All-Star game is returning to Phoenix
For the first time in 18 years, the NBA All-Star game will be played in Phoenix next season, when Mortgage Matchup Center will be the host of All-Star weekend. No current Sun was active the last time the game was played in Arizona, and Devin Booker is sure to be representing the team if he has a strong year next season.
What does it mean to the city of Phoenix to be hosting another All-Star game? Will you be in attendance?
For more questions on the Suns follow @HoldenSherman1 on X for content after every game.
6 Suns scored in double figures tonight.
How was Phoenix able to have such a balanced attack? The team’s leading scorer Dillon Brooks had just 23.
Sep 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Garrett Cleavinger (60) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic dropped a surprising note that the Rays lone lefty reliever Garrett Cleavinger is evidently drawing strong trade interest this week, in sourcing likely derived from a couple teams pushing for the acquisition.
In a vacuum, this is totally something the old Rays would do, as Cleavinger is a short-arm reliever making $2.4 million with yet another pay increase coming next season in his final year of arbitration. Short of paying for a lights out closer, the Rays usually build their bullpen in a cave with some scraps, and Cleavinger has eight saves since his 2020 major league debut.
The modern Rays, at lease of the last couple seasons, wait and see how the season will go before removing any key pieces. The logic would go: If there’s a 20% chance this team is competitive for the playoffs, you see if you’re in that 1/5 chance before moving on from your best relievers.
Rosenthal doesn’t throw his weight around lightly, and given that this rumor is here at all, it would seem to indicate the Rays also think they have enough left handed support to part with a fireman southpaw and that the team didn’t give a hard no upon inquiry.
If the Rays acquiesce, it could indicate that 40-man left-handed starters Ian Seymour and Joe Rock might start getting more swing-man assignments or time in the bullpen to maximize their value on the roster. In camp the Rays will also have journeyman LHP Cam Booser, who I’m willing to bet already had a strong shot to make the Rays roster this Spring.
Cleavinger sported a 2.35 ERA last season over 61.1 IP, his second consecutive season of sixty innings thrown, with a 33.7% strikeout rate (96th percentile in MLB) with a 36.0% whiff rate (97th percentile) and 7.4% walk rate (63rd percentile).
MEXICO CITY, MEX- FEBRUARY 24: A Mexico City Capitanes fan stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Long Island Nets on February 24, 2024 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading end/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright NBAE (photo by Trecy Wuattier/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MEXICO CITY — For decades, talk of an NBA franchise in Mexico was not fringe speculation but a recurring thought experiment in league discourse, especially as the league deepened its ties with Mexican basketball fans and infrastructure as years passed.
The NBA first staged an international game on Mexican soil back in 1992 — its third-ever matchup outside of the United States — when the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets faced each other at Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City. So great was the experience that the league sent the Rockets and, this time, the New York Knicks for another preseason matchup one year later.
Ultimately, Mexico went on to put together a five-year run of hosting exhibition games for the NBA, then welcomed American teams sparsely in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2012. The first regular-season NBA game to take place in Mexico happened in 1997, and the south-of-the-border country has hosted such games every season since the 2014-15 one, barring the COVID-impacted campaigns.
The arrival of the CDMX Capitanes to the G League only intensified the Mexican belief of belonging, giving fans their closest link yet to the NBA when they joined the NBA’s developmental league in 2021-22 after they were officially welcomed two years earlier, in 2019.
And for a major segment of those supporters — call them dreamers, idealists, or any other optimistic descriptor you can find for them — the ones convinced that an NBA franchise belongs here almost by birthright, the expectation now feels like set-in-stone destiny rather than a mere, perhaps even distant, possibility.
Those fans talk about expansion not as a remote outcome, but as something that could, or for some, should, happen as early as “tomorrow.” In their minds, the city formerly known as Distrito Federal and politically rebranded into — coincidentally or not — much more internationalized CDMX is huge, vibrant, full of passionate fans, and simply the right place for the NBA to land next.
“Mexican fans bring more passion than people think,” said a supporter named Alex, pointing to how soccer culture has translated naturally into basketball fandom.
At different points in time, during press conferences tied to NBA Global Games in Mexico City, commissioner Adam Silver publicly described the city as a potential site for future expansion.
“We think there’s an enormous opportunity to continue growing the game of basketball here in Mexico City and throughout the country,” Silver said in Nov. 2023. “And we also see this as a gateway essentially to the rest of Latin America.”
But even at the height of that buzz, the conversation was not one of imminent commitment to expanding south of the American border. By late 2024, Silver was clear that Mexico City’s place in expansion was still behind compelling proposals from other American markets.
“Personally, I would love to have a team [in CDMX],” Silver said then. “[But it] would be more difficult to expand to Mexico City than it would be to expand to U.S. cities that have very publicly sought NBA teams.
“Being direct, it’s highly unlikely Mexico City would jump above U.S. cities that are currently under consideration.”
Capitanes, for one, keep proving Silver right (in making a strong case as a proper fit for NBA expansion) and wrong (as a team based in a place still far from being an NBA-level hub).
The team’s games take place in cavernous Arena CDMX (opened in 2012 and with a maximum capacity of 22,300) and are packed with families, fans pounding drums, Latin American flags representing the multinational talent showcased on the court, and a level of emotional attachment that does not exist anywhere else in the G League.
Many Capitanes supporters attending the team’s home opener for the 2025-26 season against the OKC Blue insist the city is ready for the NBA in every way that matters: culture, passion, atmosphere, and symbolic weight. They describe Capitanes games as proof that Mexico City can be a “basketball destination,” a place where fan noise, family crowds, and a growing sense of belonging are enough to convince the league to plant a flag here permanently.
“Mexico City is ready,” claimed a middle-aged fan named Adrian. “With the team we have, any players would adapt to it tomorrow.” For him and many others, the city’s size, diversity, and infrastructure already solve everything the NBA or outsiders might be worrying about.
“The atmosphere here is special,” said Leo, a longtime fan who attended the opener along with his wife and three kids. “People feel connected to the team. It’s a family thing, and the fans give everything. We already support this like an NBA team.”
The CDMX team steadily leads the league in attendance, and although it took some ruthless and conniving marketing related to LeBron James’ son Bronny to break the all-time record, they destroyed the prior mark — one that already belonged to them — by bringing 19,328 souls to the arena for a developmental-league game held on Jan. 4, 2025 (that ended up not featuring Bronny after all).
Capitanes’ jerseys and all other merchandise sales are unparalleled, and the social engagement the team generates is on another level. They are the only unaffiliated G League team after the Ignite project vanished, but that fact only helped Ciudad de Mexico Capitanes feel like a true national project.
On the surface, one could believe Capitanes simply has outgrown and outpaced the G League structure. It feels like a leap from a player-development league and its surroundings to a full-blown competition, such as the NBA, is the most natural of moves. So much so, that a Capitanes PR member just confirmed tickets for international NBA games staged in CDMX always fly off of selling platforms the minute they go up for sale.
To many fans, the conclusion is simple: if Mexico City can fill the building for a one-off game in the middle of the NBA season, it can fill it 41 times a year with a local team calling Arena CDMX home.
But the closer the NBA gets to defining its future, the clearer it becomes that Mexico City’s biggest obstacles are not emotional or cultural. They have everything to do with infrastructural and financial hurdles, and they are, inevitably, deeply tied to the Association’s global strategy.
People who work inside Capitanes — the staffers, the media members who cover them daily, the executives who deal with the League (NBA or G) on a daily basis, and even the most fervent of super-fans who have earned unique access to all things Capitanes and call themselves Familia Capitan, understand the scale of these challenges far better than the dreamy fans who can only imagine a seamless transition into the largest stages basketball has to offer.
For some around the organization, the idea of a near-term NBA franchise is outright impossible to entertain.
“No,” Capitanes PR staffer Raúl Bravo told SB Nation when asked whether an NBA expansion could happen in the short term. “There are a few reasons. There’s competition from other cities like Las Vegas and Seattle. And even if the NBA called us and said ‘let’s go,’ the financial power needed to operate an NBA team is enormous — more games, more hotels, more staff, more everything.
“NBA player salaries are way above those of the G League players, so the investment would be magnified incredibly, and out of reach.”
The most common thread among insiders navigates the understanding that, beneath the NBA-level arena and the international buzz generated by the team and their approach to roster building in what most consider “the team of Latin America,” Capitanes operate on a reality completely different from what an NBA franchise requires.
When Bravo describes the problem, he is not talking about the fanbase or the Mexican culture being roadblocks on CDMX’s path to the NBA. Bravo is talking about the organization-wide budgets, high-end salaries, top-tier facilities, and fine-tuned logistics needed to be in place in order to make the jump. The gap in all of those areas, sadly, cannot be closed by the immeasurable passion and the emotional pull of Capitanes.
Capitanes head coach Vítor Galbani, in his first season at the helm, framed the gap directly when discussing the day-to-day competitive realities the team faces shortly after earning his first win of the season, in front of the Arena CDMX crowd.
“We have fewer resources than other teams,” Galbani said. “We’re at the mercy of call-ups. Other teams can send NBA players down and bring them back up. We can’t. Our roster is built differently — younger, mostly Latin American — and that makes the challenge bigger.”
Galbani’s view also speaks to a deeper truth that fans still don’t quite grasp: Capitanes are designed as a development platform, not a contender, as independent as they might be.
From the fans’ perspective, there’s a powerful emotional component at play that trumps it all, given the fact — acknowledged and proudly communicated by the organization itself — that Capitanes represents not just Mexico City, but the whole Latin American landscape.
The feeling, which extends well beyond Mexico’s borders, is what makes Capitanes what it is and has always been, and in the eyes and hearts of most fans, it’s not going anywhere — expansion or not.
“Capitanes, even if they’re not full of Mexicans, represent Latin Americans,” said Gerardo, a fan whose kid is honing his skills at the Capitanes’ underage developmental team. “It’s a platform for the player who wants to reach the NBA and sees Capitanes as a trampoline.”
The Latin American identity of the team is a core branding element, a selling point for fans, and a genuine pipeline for players with dreams of making it to the NBA or hooping overseas. But if the Capitanes were ever to become an NBA franchise, that identity would disappear almost instantly.
One staff member stated clearly: “There’s no way to keep five Latinos on an NBA roster — the level isn’t there.”
“That core wouldn’t survive,” said Rubén Calderón, who works both for Capitanes PR and NBA Mexico. “It’s impossible. Fans don’t see it — maybe because they don’t understand how the NBA works — but you can’t have five or six Latin American players on an NBA roster unless they’re truly NBA-level.
“There’s not enough Mexican and Latin American talent to keep an NBA team competitive.”
A fellow Capitanes PR member echoed that sentiment: “People don’t see that. Maybe because they don’t really know the NBA level.”
The human contradiction is as obvious as it is disheartening. Capitanes fans love the team for the most part because it represents them, from cultural traits to the region, starting in the northernmost Baja California and spanning all the way down south to Chile’s Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region.
“People from Latin American countries — Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico — they’re not going to fly to the NBA to watch a random game,” says Capitanes superfan Sinuhe Yepez. “But they’d come here and pack the arena to root for their colleagues and to watch teams that come from the United States.
“They’d be paying a fifth of the cost in CDMX compared to attending a game in the USA, and they’d get the same experience.”
An NBA franchise built in Mexico City would not represent that at all. The Association tipped off in October with a record 135 international players from 43 different countries across six continents.
The Atlanta Hawks, with 10 international players, led the league on that front. None of them was born south of the United States of America.
Multiple media members, including national reporters Erick Aguirre and Mario Alberto Castro, brought this up immediately.
“There would be a loss of identity,” they said. Both agreed that a roster built on Americans, as any NBA roster has its foundation in, would change the heart of what Capitanes currently are.
“You need a Latin icon,” they argued. “A Jaime Jaquez Jr. or a Juan Toscano Anderson. Ideally, someone like [NBA prospect] Karim López.” Without that, they fear fans would lose their rooting anchor and thus their interest in attending Capitanes games and following the team so closely and passionately as they currently do.
None of the conversations above, however, addresses the largest barrier of all: the humongous financial effort needed to make it to the NBA.
Every person inside the organization who deals with logistics on a weekly basis mentioned the facilities problem currently hurting CDMX’s case for landing an expansion team.
“To have an NBA franchise, you need a place where the entire team — offices, staff, medical, athletes — can spend their time and operate,” Calderón said. “Capitanes don’t have that. They train at the Comité Olímpico Mexicano (around 6.5 miles from Arena CDMX). Offices are split into COM and a separate building in the southern part of the city. Capitanes don’t own the arena, and everything is scattered.”
More worryingly, a few staffers revealed that there is nowhere in the city to build centralized facilities akin to what the NBA would require, or at the very least prefer.
“In the Valle de México area, there is no land left of that size,” Calderón said. “Not with the location needed. Around the arena, there’s nothing — you can find train yards, old neighborhoods, and then the poshest in Polanco. But there’s no open space.
“To build such facilities, you would need to build a new arena with everything in one place, and that means finding land far away from the current location and the city center — let alone the massive investment and the amount of money that’d take.”
It is a view echoed by people who see the team every day, such as Rodrigo Goyeneche, one of Mexico’s most reputed up-and-coming media voices and a longtime analyst for both Capitanes and fellow CDMX basketball team Diablos Rojos of Mexico’s Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional.
“Being fully honest, right now, we’re not ready for something like that,” Goyeneche said. “Not structurally, not logistically. The arena is huge, but the NBA needs more exclusivity. And here, the arena is privately owned and used for concerts and many other events. It’s not built for hosting a team every other day.”
The “exclusivity” of becoming the freshest member of the NBA family would inevitably bring a larger expense with it. Many supporters attend Capitanes games, and surely all of them adore the NBA Mexico Game, but they don’t attend it because it’s cheap — they attend because it happens just once a year.
Tickets for this season’s Mavericks vs. Pistons game on Dia de Muertos ranged from 850 pesos (around $46 USD ) to nearly 20,000 (approaching $1,090 USD), sitting courtside. Capitanes’ G League games are affordable, with the cheapest tickets available for 50 pesos (less than $3 USD). For a single event, people save, plan, and spend. But a season of 41 home games at that rate, the equation would change entirely.
“A lot of fans struggle to get to the arena,” one Capitanes staff member acknowledged. “They only come on weekends. Between weekday and weekend sales, the difference is huge.”
Local fans who save for months to attend a single NBA Mexico game, or who buy Capitanes jerseys knowing the player may leave next month, would suddenly face a season with 41 home games and consistently NBA-level prices. Most of them simply could not afford NBA prices or frequency. Yepez, one of the most passionate and active fans of Capitanes, acknowledged he’s stopped attending so many games already for financial reasons and an increase in prices.
“I need to earn a lot of money to afford attending,” Yepez said. “Back then, I got full-season tickets close to courtise for 7,000 pesos. Now, I need to pay close to 2,500 pesos per game to sit in the same area. I’d probably need to sell an eye and a kidney to afford that.”
Goyeneche also pointed out the competitive reality that many fans often overlook when rooting for their home team, which has to do with the developmental nature of the G League compared to the NBA.
“The goal now isn’t to win a championship,” Goyeneche said. “It’s to develop talent. But people want a champion. They want their stars to stay. And with Capitanes, the roster changes every year. Yet the fans still come. That’s unique, but it has everything to do with the core values of the organization.”
While fans would get more familiar with the team’s faces and supposedly know Arena CDMX like the back of their hands, would they be able to pony up the money needed to root for their squad at the court level three times a week?
That tension is reflected in talking with fans who follow the team closely but acknowledge the financial limits already in place while being part of the lesser, more affordable G League.
Ivan, a longtime Capitanes and Oklahoma City Thunder fan, envisions the dream clearly but understands the barrier.
“There’s still not a big enough basketball fan base in Mexico for the NBA to give the country its own team,” Ivan said. “Capitanes helped grow the fanbase. More people follow the sport now, but there’s a long way to go.”
For Ivan and many others, travel is another point to consider. Flying from Mexico City to Texas doesn’t pose a big challenge. Flights to Cleveland or Toronto, in Ivan’s eyes and pocket, are long and costly.
From a logistics standpoint, the NBA solved the concern years ago. While it’s been proven that travel isn’t an operational barrier these days, for franchise ownership, staff, and operations, the expenses related to it could become unmanageable quickly.
And that is exactly why NBA discourse has pivoted heavily toward planting a flag in Europe rather than exploring home expansion, let alone looking south of the border.
Although Silver said after September’s Board of Governors meeting that the league was on “parallel tracks” regarding potential expansion involving both national and international moves, things appear to have changed of late.
While there has been resurgent buzz about Las Vegas and Seattle in recent weeks, over the past few months, the league has signaled that its most urgent expansion opportunity is not in Mexico or the U.S., but across the Atlantic. The “NBA Europe” project, tentatively targeted for a 2027-28 proper launch, would include up to 16 teams in cities like London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, Athens, and Istanbul. Then, in late December, both the NBA and FIBA made their “joint exploration” of a new league based in Europe official.
The NBA has already hired JPMorgan Chase and The Raine Group to secure investors. The conversations, according to multiple reports, have involved sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms, and ultra-wealthy family groups. The Middle East has shown particular interest, given that it could finally find a way to circumvent the current rules capping foreign passive ownership at 20 percent in NBA teams.
What Europe offers is simple: enormous capital, established sports corporations arriving from the soccer sphere, existing arenas already owned by world-renowned organizations such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, massive markets with a foothold in the continent’s premier competition — the Euroleague — and global investment appetite to tie their names to the NBA.
According to the NBA’s Managing Director for Europe and the Middle East, the NBA sees a “$50 billion European sports market” and noted that basketball barely captures “0.5 percent of it.” Not to mention, some NBA owners — most notably Knicks steward James Dolan, according to rumors — are hesitant to dilute U.S. media revenue further unless expansion fees are astronomical, while the European model would offer them a parallel revenue stream with no media dilution at all.
None of these incentives points toward Mexico City landing a team for the time being.
The immediate implications of the European move are unmistakable. If the NBA arrives in Europe by 2028, the move could delay U.S. expansion for years. And if ownership groups with the deepest of pockets push billions into the project, Ciudad de México will inevitably slip further away — not because it lacks passion, but because the NBA’s financial thirst will lie elsewhere.
Even the most optimistic insiders acknowledge the financial gap. NBA Mexico managing director Raúl Zárraga, speaking before the 2024 NBA Mexico Game, praised Capitanes’ success in building a collective Mexican and, by extension, Latin American identity.
“When you are in the arena, you’ll see that the people are rooting not for Mexico City Capitanes, they’re rooting for Mexico’s Capitanes,” Zárraga said.
He also praised their competitiveness, merchandise leadership, and visibility throughout multiple channels. But even Zárraga, with at least some partial, inside knowledge of the NBA’s operations, offered no timeline for NBA expansion into Mexico.
“There’s no plan in action to look for a potential owner or potential group of people dedicated to get a new team in Mexico or in any other place in Latin America,” Zárraga said. “So there’s nothing new to announce or confirm about Mexico being considered.
“It’s a complicated process. You can imagine the international locations, all the different cities, but there is no doubt that many cities will be participating, including Mexico City.”
In the sharpest corners and deepest streets of Ciudad de México, the people closest to the Capitanes project understand that better than anyone. When asked whether an NBA roster could adapt to living in Mexico full-time, staff members repeatedly said yes — but with caveats.
Calderón said players would “live in good zones, with a good quality of life,” as they do now as members of the G League squad. That said, he cautioned they’d effectively be forced to live in a bubble, having personal chefs, security, private routes, and minimal city interaction.
Others mentioned that Capitanes already house players in the Polanco neighborhood, one of the most expensive areas in Latin America, hosting the most expensive street in Mexico, and believe that the model could scale to host a full NBA operation.
Idealistic Capitanes fans, meanwhile, don’t deny the challenges; they simply believe everything will sort itself out. Cultural adaptation? “They will adapt.” Travel? “Distances aren’t worse than some NBA-to-NBA trips.” Roster identity? “Capitanes represents Latin America.” Financial strain? “It’s the NBA — they’ll make it work.” Player discomfort? “They’ll live in Polanco.”
These solutions, however, highlight another gap. For an NBA franchise, such bubbles must be permanent, secure, and supported by a full organizational machine, bringing back to the table one more financial hurdle to clear and invest in.
Even the city’s biggest strengths, like Arena CDMX’s size and ambience, come with their own challenges. Bravo pointed out that weeknight attendance is a problem already in the G League.
Some fans, who attend games clad in bootleg clothes available for purchase at pirate-market prices — snapback hats at 100 pesos or $5 USD, and screen-printed jerseys selling at 150 pesos or barely $9 USD — right outside the stadium, admitted that Capitanes games scheduled on working days noticeably have “less atmosphere.”
Going from barely 20 home games to double that figure if in the NBA is an entirely different sales reality.
A longtime superfan from Europe, but who has lived in CDMX for a few years, put the economic tension bluntly. “Tickets for the annual NBA game can cost 20,000 pesos courtside,” he said. “Capitanes’ games remain accessible, but an NBA season? Only if the NBA puts in money to help the organization. With a single owner here, it’s difficult.”
Across interviews, one underlying thread emerged from insiders, journalists, and staff, in that they all agree about the collective desire to keep Capitanes grounded in what they currently are — not an NBA team, but a gateway to the League.
A development hub for Latin American talent, a cultural point of pride, a bridge between the NBA and a region that hungers for representation in the biggest stages, and is eager to announce itself to the world. A team whose power comes from being different, not similar.
And ironically, that difference is exactly what would disappear in the jump to the NBA.
The players would be mostly from United States towns and come with American upbringings. The structure of the organization would be more centralized, the roster rules won’t allow Capitanes to rotate the cast of Latin talents, the operations would be much more strict, and the culture and atmosphere risk getting under heavy control and within stiff boundaries.
One fan admitted he fears the NBA would water down the true Mexican spirit that currently exists in the arena for a more Americanized audience, and risk the loss of Spanish chants, the charming presence of team mascot Juanjolote and other sponsor-affiliated wild characters, the cameos of paper-built Alebrijes, and the use of other local traditions, tunes, or Mexican descriptions of what’s going on on the court, from coaches’ challenging plays, to (Silencio! Sshhhhh…) tense moments at the free-throw line.
Asked if expansion could maintain the team’s Latin American identity, a fan named Roberto paused before offering his most honest answer.
“It would hurt a little,” he said. “It’d take away part of the fanbase.”
The drums? Might be muted. The Spanish chants? Curated. The fans who love the chaos and identity that make Capitanes a unique entity in the world of basketball would face a polished entertainment product built for global, if not American, consumption.
The people who work inside the organization know this truth intimately. They also know Mexico City is not ready. Not because it lacks heart, but because it lacks the dollars, acres of land, modern NBA facilities, an owner willing — and capable —to fund a multi-billion-dollar project, and a league that sees Europe as a more strategic and profitable next step.
So while Mexico City is closer to the NBA than ever before in history, the NBA, however, is moving somewhere else in its global strategy.
Capitanes may have already proven that Mexico is a basketball country. They have proven that the fans will come to the games, fill the arena with deafening noise, and build a culture that can sustain the sport. What CDMX cannot prove is that the infrastructure exists to support the most powerful league in the world and the business of the NBA — at least not yet.
Until that gap closes, the vision remains what it has always been: an emotion-fueled dream, just out of reach.
Mets owner Steve Cohen addressed a number of topics Monday morning in Port St. Lucie…
Shaking up the core
Change was needed with this core simply because…
“We haven’t won, and I really want to win,” Cohen emphasized. “Each year that goes by, I get more annoyed. It’s hard to know what to make of those chances, and sometimes they happen in a way that you don’t fully anticipate or expect.
“But the other side of it is, we have a really sharp baseball management group, and these guys were prepared and had alternatives, and like I said -- saying goodbye is always tough, but saying hello is kind of fun.”
Say hello to Bo…
One of those new faces the Mets brought in was Bo Bichette.
They, of course, landed Bichette shortly after losing out on Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers.
Cohen explained how he went to bed annoyed about missing the star outfielder, but the front office moved quickly to land a strong alternative shortly thereafter.
“The way I describe it is, when the news came down with Kyle, literally the body was still warm and we were getting calls from agents, literally within five minutes later -- I was like ‘the body is still warm here,’” he said.
“I went to bed annoyed, but the agent for Bo called us right after and discussions started -- you never know how they’re going to go, but they moved real quickly.”
In Bichette, the Mets pick up one of the league's premier hitters with RISP.
“It’s always better to have players that have performed in the clutch,” Cohen explained. “He’s not a home run guy, but he led the league in doubles last year, and doubles score runs too -- having those players who have preformed under pressure is usually a pretty good sign.”
Them pesky Dodgers…
Speaking of the Dodgers, Cohen was asked if he feels the Mets closed the gap between them and the two-time defending champs.
“They’re formidable, they have the ability to spend -- so do I, by the way,” he joked. “They’ve built a great team, but I think we’ve built a great team too. I think we’re going to be really competitive this year, and the goal is to meet them somewhere along the way.”
Impressions of the 2026 team… so far
Cohen only arrived in PSL on Monday, but he feels a different vibe around this club.
“I feel like there’s a different energy here than last year,” he said. “I don’t know what it is, it just feels really optimistic -- a lot of new faces, so I’m really excited by this team, I’m excited by the energy of this team, and we’ll see what happens.”
His goal for this team, though…
“Table stakes is making the playoffs, gotta make the playoffs,” Cohen explained. “I missed the playoffs last year, missing the playoffs two years in a row, that’s not good -- and then obviously you want to go deep.
“You can’t lose lose a short series, you can’t control what goes on, anything can happen in those short series -- but I think the idea is keep putting yourself in that position year in and year out, which we haven’t done.
“It’s been off and on, so we have to do better, and those are the goals I’m seeking.”
Confidence in Mendy…
Even after a down 2025 season, Cohen remains confident Carlos Mendoza is the manager they need to achieve his goals.
“Carlos is a great manager, he’s a great guy and a great motivator,” he said. “I believe a manager’s main job is the culture, obviously there are in-game decisions, but it’s really about creating the right culture, and I think Carlos does it really well.”
Mendoza is heading into the final year of his contract with the club.
Thoughts on Carson Benge...
Benge is one of the young pieces who could help Mendoza and the Mets return to the postseason.
The top prospect is being given every chance to make the Opening Day roster out of camp this spring...
"Obviously there's a great deal of expectation with Carson," Cohen said. "You've got to give him a bit of a break, right? He hasn't played in Triple-A yet, so it's hard to know how that's going to go, but he certainly has preformed in a way that would make you excited about the possibilities."
Benge, and the organization's other young pieces, will certainly benefit from being around the club's veterans.
Thoughts on a potential salary cap...
Cohen insisted he is solely focused on the 2026 season, and isn't worried about what may come in 2027.
As far as where he stands on a potential salary floor/cap...
"I'm listening to all of the arguments, but I've always been a league-first owner," he said. "I haven't made up my mind yet, but we'll see where it goes -- sometimes I put the league's interest above my own interest."
