BALTIMORE — Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the club announced Wednesday.
Dr. Keith Meister, team physician and orthopedic consultant for the Texas Rangers, will perform the operation, which had not been scheduled yet.
“It’s obviously really disappointing news,” Tigers general manager Jeff Greenberg said. “Really feel for Jackson. Obviously everybody sees the talent, and he made a really positive impression to this team in his short time here. He’s going to work through this. He’s a very determined individual.”
Jobe went 4-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 starts after making Detroit’s opening-day roster. The 22-year-old rookie was placed on the 15-day injured list with a Grade 1 right flexor strain following his May 28 outing.
“As is standard process in our medical evaluation process, we sought additional evaluations,” Greenberg said. “Through that evaluation process, a UCL injury was also discovered. From there, there were a series of conversations between Jackson, the doctors and the medical staff, and ultimately surgery was determined as the path.”
Selected third overall in the 2021 amateur draft, Jobe was the Tigers’ third-ranked prospect in 2024, according to MLB.com.
The right-hander made two relief appearances for Detroit late last season, then two more in the American League playoffs.
Detroit holds the best record in the AL at 44-25 following Wednesday night's 10-1 loss at Baltimore.
Clarke Schmidt threw six scoreless innings and the Yankees used a five-run inning to defeat the Royals, 6-3, on Wednesday night in Kansas City.
Here are the takeaways...
-Royals LHP Kris Bubic came into Wednesday's game leading MLB with a 1.43 ERA, so the Yankees had to take advantage of any opportunities to score runs and they did in the second inning. Cody Bellinger led off the second inning with a triple and after a Jazz Chisholm Jr. walk, Anthony Volpe grounded into a fielder's choice, beating out a double play attempt to drive in Bellinger.
A few batters later, Austin Wells drove in Volpe with a double to right-center. Paul Goldschmidt followed with a two-run single and Ben Rice drove in Goldschmidt -- who took second on the throw home -- to push the Yankees' lead to 5-0.
Bubic allowed a season-high five runs in that 41-pitch second inning, but the left-hander settled down afterward, pitching into the fifth inning before being pulled after just 4.1 innings.
-Schmidt was on the bump for the Yankees and outpitched Bubic. The young right-hander shut out the Royals, twirling his breaking stuff for five strikeouts and keeping the Kansas City batters off balance.
He was also helped by the defense behind him, especially Trent Grisham, who made an incredible diving catch and threw out Maikel Garcia at second, trying to stretch a single into a double.
Otherwise, Schmidt cruised through the Royals' lineup. He threw 91 pitches (54 strikes) across six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out seven.
-The combination of Brent Headrick and Fernando Cruz got the Yankees into the ninth, but Mark Leiter Jr. had a tough ninth and wasn't helped out by his defense. Oswald Peraza called off Wells on a pop-up in the infield and couldn't grab it, and then Salvador Perez launched a two-run homer to end the shutout. After a groundout, the Royals hit back-to-back singles to drive in another run, the second hit coming on a grounder that struck Leiter Jr. and the reliever threw away.
Aaron Boone was forced to bring in Devin Williams to try and close this game. Williams struck out Mark Canha swinging on his airbender changeup and got Jonathan India to ground out to end the game.
-The Yankees' offense, outside of the second, couldn't push across any runs until Aaron Judge came up in the seventh. To lead off, the captain launched a 99 mph fastball the opposite way, 413 feet over the right-center field wall. Judge, how hitting .394, finished 1-for-4 and is the second player (Cal Raleigh) to reach 25 homers this season and is currently on pace for 61.
Chisholm went 0-for-1 with two walks but was pulled in the fifth inning for Peraza. The Yankees announced Chisholm left with left groin tightness. After the game, Boone said the initial strength tests on Chisholm's groin were good, and he isn't too concerned about the issue.
Game MVP: Clarke Schmidt
Schmidt was dominant and the Royals couldn't get any rally going, allowing the Yankees' offense to get to Bubic and the Royals' bullpen.
The Mets extended their winning streak to five games on Wednesday night, as a masterful performance from David Peterson helped them defeat the division-rival Nationals, 5-0, at Citi Field.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Pete Alonso entered the game with MLB's fourth-highest slugging percentage (.589), and he wasted no time in raising that mark. Showing off some impressive upper-body strength, he punched a two-out, first-inning double to center off Nats starter Jake Irvin that somehow one-hopped the wall and drove in Brandon Nimmo from first to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. It was Alonso's league-best 63rd RBI of the season -- his 20th just this month -- and 39th extra-base hit.
-- The Mets inflicted further damage on Irvin in the third. After a one-out double to right from Francisco Lindor -- his 12th of the season -- Juan Soto launched a two-out, two-run homer to right-center to bump their lead to 3-0. The towering 408-foot blast from Soto extended his on-base streak to 13 games and raised his OPS to .854. He's also smacked five homers in his last 11 games.
-- Nimmo became the third Met to go yard in the fifth, when he took an Irvin changeup deep to left-center to push the lead to 4-0. He then belted another in the seventh, a solo shot to right off reliever Jackson Rutledge, to make the score 5-0. The long balls marked Nimmo's second multi-homer game of the season -- his first came against the Nats back on April 28, when he delivered a whopping nine RBI in Washington, D.C.
-- Much to the Mets' delight, Peterson didn't break much of a sweat on the mound. The left-hander faced the minimum through the first three innings, throwing a career-low 32 pitches across those frames, and allowed just two hits through six scoreless. He quickly found himself in a seventh-inning jam after allowing back-to-back singles, but rallied to retire the side by fanning two and inducing a groundout.
-- With a five-run cushion and an economic pitch count, Peterson returned for the eighth... and nearly lost the shutout bid. After a one-out double from Luis Garcia Jr., a single to center from Jacob Young produced a bang-bang play at the plate that required an umpire review for catcher's interference on Luis Torrens. Luckily for the Mets, the tag from Torrens came just before Garcia touched home, and the initial ruling of an out was confirmed by a dramatic replay, and interference was disregarded. Peterson then induced a flyout, becoming the first Met to complete eight innings this season.
-- The Mets kept Peterson in for the ninth, and he made light work of the Nats. He induced a lineout from Amed Rosario, a strikeout from James Wood, and a groundout from Andres Chaparro. After the final out, Peterson received a rousing ovation from the crowd, hugs from several teammates, and a surprise Gatorade bath from Sean Manaea and Tyrone Taylor while speaking to SNY's Steve Gelbs near the dugout. It was the Mets' first shutout from a lefty since Steven Matz in 2019.
Game MVP: David Peterson... who else?
Even those who dig the long ball above all else couldn't dispute Peterson's worthiness for this accolade. He threw nine scoreless innings, striking out six and allowing six hits. His season ERA is now 2.49. He's gone seven-plus frames in three of his last four outings.
Dave Roberts talks with the media prior to Tuesday's game. (Derrick Tuskan / Associated Press)
Dave Roberts wasn’t pretending to be calm. He was calm.
None of this was new to him, the depleted starting rotation, the fatigued bullpen, the division rivals within striking distance.
Under similar circumstances in past seasons, Roberts pointed out, “We’ve gotten to the other side.”
The Dodgers won a World Series like this last year. They have won the National League West in 12 of the last 13 seasons.
They usually reach “the other side.”
So rather than panic, Roberts waits. He waits for the end of a particularly difficult 26-game stretch, and when Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell can pitch again.
Roberts won’t say this publicly, but the Dodgers just have to tread water until they are whole.
They claimed a 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday to win for the second time in their three-game series at Petco Park, preserving their lead in the NL West.
The Dodgers host the second-place San Francisco Giants in a three-game series that starts Friday and the third-place Padres in a four-game series that opens Monday, after which their schedule will become noticeably softer.
Their remaining opponents before the All-Star break: the Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers. The post-All-Star Game schedule is extremely manageable as well.
Provided a couple of their starting pitchers return as anticipated, the Dodgers should be able to not just win their division but also secure a top-two seed in the NL, which would give them a first-round bye in the playoffs. As it is, the Dodgers are 41-27, only ½ game behind the Chicago Cubs, the league’s current No. 2 team.
Dodgers players have taken on Roberts’ understated confidence and make-do-with-what-you-have approach, which explains how the team has survived a 19-game stretch in which every opponent had a winning record. The Dodgers were 10-9 in those games.
“Character,” Roberts said.
Roberts specifically pointed to Teoscar Hernández, who broke out of a slump Wednesday to hit a key three-run home run; to Freddie Freeman, who he revealed is now dealing with a quadriceps injury in addition to his ankle problems; to Mookie Betts, who has continued to play high-level shortstop while playing with a broken toe.
“Guys are not running from the middle part of the season, the stretch we’re going through,” Roberts said. “We’re just finding ways to win.”
Teoscar Hernández circles the bases after his three-run homer. (Derrick Tuskan / Associated Press)
The series win against the Padres was also a credit to Roberts’ ability, and willingness, to play the long game.
With Tony Gonsolin put on the injured list last week, the Dodgers were forced to schedule two bullpen games in San Diego. By punting on the first and refraining from using any of his go-to relievers in a loss, Roberts ensured his team would be positioned to win the series finale.
Again, this was nothing new, as Roberts basically forfeited games in both the NL Championship Series and World Series last year with the remainder of the series in mind.
Roberts elected to send opener Ben Casparius back to the mound to pitch a fourth inning on Wednesday rather than replace him with Jack Dreyer, whom Roberts has grown to trust. The extra inning made a difference. Lou Trivino pitched to the bottom of the Padres’ lineup in the fifth inning, allowing Roberts to deploy Dreyer against the heart of the order in the sixth.
When Michael Kopech walked the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Roberts responded with the necessary degree of urgency rather than allow the recently activated Kopech to try to pitch his way out of trouble. Roberts summoned Anthony Banda, who retired Luis Arráez and Manny Machado to maintain the Dodgers’ 4-2 advantage.
“The bullpen has certainly been used and pushed,” Roberts said. “I just think it speaks to the character.”
And it says something about the manager as well.
Roberts is now in his 10th season as the manager of the Dodgers. He has managed 1,426 games for them in the regular season and another 100 in the postseason. At this point, there’s not much he hasn’t seen, including what the team is dealing with now.
McIntosh breaks 400m IM world record in 4:23.65 time
Third record broken in five days for Canadian teenager
18-year-old matches Phelps’ 2008 mark for single meet
Summer McIntosh broke her third swimming world record in five days on Wednesday night, clocking 4:23.65 in the women’s 400m individual medley at the Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria, British Columbia.
The 18-year-old from Toronto lowered her own world record of 4:24.38, set earlier this year, and became the first swimmer to break world records in three different individual events at one long course meet since Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague has been creating plenty of chatter as a potential trade candidate this off-season. It is understandable, as the 6-foot-6 defenseman is a pending restricted free agent and due for a raise. Thus, the Golden Knights could very well end up flipping him if his asking price for his next contract is too high.
The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the teams that have been linked to Hague this off-season. When noting that Hague is a big shutdown defenseman right in his prime, he would have the potential to be a solid addition to the Flyers' blueline if acquired.
However, a new update has been provided regarding the Flyers and Hague trade rumor, which makes it questionable. According to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz, a team source "strongly denied" to him that the Flyers are interested in Hague. In addition, Kurz also added that he does not believe the Flyers will trade for the 26-year-old.
The Flyers' rumored interest in Vegas defenseman Nic Hague was pretty strongly denied to me from a team source. I do not expect that to happen.
While Hague appears not to be on the Flyers' radar, adding a new defenseman should be one of the Flyers' top priorities this summer. It is no secret that their blueline could use a boost, and this is especially the case when it comes to their right side.
Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see what happens with Hague this summer, but Kurz's report creates some doubt about the possibility that Philly will end up acquiring the 2017 third-round pick.
Jun 5, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals put left-hander Cole Ragans back on the injured list after one dismal start against the Cardinals, this time with a left rotator cuff strain, and activated reliever Lucas Erceg from the IL before Wednesday night’s game against the Yankees.
Right-hander Jonathan Bowlan also was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to provide some extended depth in the bullpen, and right-hander Trevor Richards was designated for assignment.
The 27-year-old Ragans, an All-Star for Kansas City last season, went on the IL in mid-May with a left groin strain. He returned three weeks later at St. Louis, where he allowed five runs on five hits and three walks in just three innings, dropping him to 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA through his first 10 starts this season.
“It’s very frustrating. I feel badly for him,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s a diligent worker. He prepares like crazy to get out here. It’s not a lack of preparation or work ethic. Sometimes you get hurt. You throw 95, 98 miles an hour, it’s something that puts a ton of strain on your body and especially your arm. So it’s very unfortunate. It’s disappointing.”
Ragans, who was 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA last season, was undergoing more tests to determine the severity of the injury.
“I shouldn’t speculate,” Quatraro said, “but if I was going to be pressed on it, I would say we’re optimistic.”
The Royals have the luxury of six starters in their rotation, which means losing Ragans for a while does not dramatically alter their plans. Kris Bubic and Noah Cameron have been revelations early in the season, while veterans Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Michael Lorenzen have been able to give the club dependable innings.
Erceg, who closed games last season but had mostly been used as a setup man for Carlos Estevez, had been on the injured list since May 27 because of a lower back strain. He’s appeared in 24 games with a 1.96 ERA across 23 innings, and his return gives the Royals two of the best late-inning relievers in the American League this season.
“He’s a huge part of what we do not only in the bullpen but as a whole team,” Quatraro said.
Bowlan has made nine appearances for Kansas City this season, going 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA, and should provide some length in the bullpen. Richards allowed four runs over three innings in three appearances during his stint with the Royals.
The American Hockey League has announced the Top Prospects Team for the 2024-25 season.
The AHL's hockey operations department and general managers decide this honor. Skaters must have been 22 or under on the first day of the AHL season, played 36 AHL games, and less than 30 NHL games. Goalies must have been 23 or under, player 25 AHL games and less than 20 NHL games.
The Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 at home in Game 3 Wednesday to take a 2-1 NBA Finals lead.
Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick by Indiana in 2022, erupted for a game-high 27 points off the bench. He shot a scorching 9 of 12 from the field to go with 7 of 8 free throws. He added four rebounds, one assist and a block in just 22 minutes. He averaged 16.1 points on 45.8% shooting in the regular season.
Sometimes you need your non-stars to step up and swing a game in a playoff setting, and Indiana just got one from its own draft pick.
Indiana started both halves extremely slow, but blew out Oklahoma City in each of the second and fourth quarters to seize the advantage.
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana’s starters with 22 points on 9 of 17 shooting to go with 11 assists and nine rebounds, one away from a triple double. He also logged two steals and a block. Pascal Siakam posted 21 points on 8 of 14 shooting, with T.J. McConnell’s 10 points off the bench rounding out the double-digit scorers.
Oklahoma City got better production out of their starters, but lacked enough bench scoring. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 24 points on 9 of 18 shooting, while league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points on 9 of 20 shooting, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Chet Holmgren had a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, but went 0-for-6 from deep that stunted OKC’s perimeter statistics. Alex Caruso played 32 minutes off the bench, adding eight points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Isaiah Joe played just four minutes and made both of his 3-point attempts.
The Thunder are now in a precarious situation down 2-1 in enemy territory. Should Indiana capitalize at home, Oklahoma City would be down 3-1, a deficit only 13 teams in league history have turned around.
Only one of those 3-1 deficits were turned around in the NBA Finals, which involved LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers beating Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
Game 4 is set for Friday in Indiana at 8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT.
The Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 at home in Game 3 Wednesday to take a 2-1 NBA Finals lead.
Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick by Indiana in 2022, erupted for a game-high 27 points off the bench. He shot a scorching 9 of 12 from the field to go with 7 of 8 free throws. He added four rebounds, one assist and a block in just 22 minutes. He averaged 16.1 points on 45.8% shooting in the regular season.
Sometimes you need your non-stars to step up and swing a game in a playoff setting, and Indiana just got one from its own draft pick.
Indiana started both halves extremely slow, but blew out Oklahoma City in each of the second and fourth quarters to seize the advantage.
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana’s starters with 22 points on 9 of 17 shooting to go with 11 assists and nine rebounds, one away from a triple double. He also logged two steals and a block. Pascal Siakam posted 21 points on 8 of 14 shooting, with T.J. McConnell’s 10 points off the bench rounding out the double-digit scorers.
Oklahoma City got better production out of their starters, but lacked enough bench scoring. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 24 points on 9 of 18 shooting, while league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points on 9 of 20 shooting, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Chet Holmgren had a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, but went 0-for-6 from deep that stunted OKC’s perimeter statistics. Alex Caruso played 32 minutes off the bench, adding eight points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Isaiah Joe played just four minutes and made both of his 3-point attempts.
The Thunder are now in a precarious situation down 2-1 in enemy territory. Should Indiana capitalize at home, Oklahoma City would be down 3-1, a deficit only 13 teams in league history have turned around.
Only one of those 3-1 deficits were turned around in the NBA Finals, which involved LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers beating Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
Game 4 is set for Friday in Indiana at 8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT.
Teoscar Hernández has sunflower seeds thrown at him by Kiké Hernández, center, and Robert Van Scoyoc, right, after his three-run home run. (Derrick Tuskan / Associated Press)
There was a one-handed finish. A slow stroll out of the batter’s box. And a leisurely, long-awaited trip around the bases.
It’d been a while since Teoscar Hernández last admired such a momentous home run ball.
It was a sight the struggling Dodgers had come to sorely miss.
Ever since returning from an adductor strain last month, Hernández had endured one of his coldest stretches at the plate since joining the Dodgers last year. He was batting .171 over 20 games since his mid-May return to the lineup. He had just three hits in 38 at-bats over his last 10 contests.
That slump, which also included only one home run since April 28, finally they finally reached a tipping point ahead of Wednesday’s series finale against the San Diego Padres, with manager Dave Roberts moving Hernández out of his customary cleanup spot in the batting order in favor of hot-hitting catcher Will Smith.
“I love him in the four [spot] when he’s right,” Roberts said pregame. “But clearly the last few weeks, he’s been scuffling.”
With one swing in the top of the sixth, however, Hernández finally started to look right again.
In what was a tie game at Petco Park, on a day first place in the National League West was up for grabs, Hernández delivered the decisive blow in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win over the Padres, belting a three-run home run to straightaway center that sent the club a pivotal series victory.
“It was a big hit,” Roberts said. “The last few weeks, he’s … felt like he hasn’t contributed. But he has a knack for getting big hits. And that’s as big as they get, so far at this point in the season.”
Hernández’s sixth-inning at-bat was everything his recent trips to the plate hadn’t been during his weeks-long slump.
He finally got ahead in a 2-and-0 count — something Roberts had noted was a rarity for the 32-year-old slugger of late, in large part because of his inability to punish mistakes in his hitting zone.
“Balls that he should move forward, he’s not,” Roberts said. “And with that, there’s more chase, because he’s getting behind.”
And when Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada did serve up a mistake over the plate, Hernández didn’t miss it, clobbering a 2-and-1 fastball down the middle for a 420-foot drive that broke open the game.
“[It felt] really good, especially because I put the team in front,” said Hernández, whose home run was his 11th of the year and extended his team lead in RBIs with 47. “I’ve been working really hard, every at-bat, trying to get good pitches to hit … trying to get back the feeling that I had before I got injured.”
The Dodgers (41-28) got other heroics in Wednesday’s rubber-match triumph, one that gives them a two-game lead in the division over the Padres (38-29).
Ben Casparius gave up just one run in a four-inning start, replacing originally listed starter Justin Wrobleski in what could be a permanent move to the starting rotation for the rookie right-hander (or, at least, until the rest of the Dodgers’ banged-up pitching staff gets healthy in the coming months).
“He obviously came up as a starter … [and] where we are at now currently, he’s certainly showing that he’s 1 of 5,” Roberts said of Casparius, who had a 2.93 ERA as a swingman out of the bullpen to start the year. “The next time he’s on the mound, it will be as a starter.”
Andy Pages saved Casparius from another run along the way, throwing out a runner at home plate in the second inning with a 99 mph strike from center field. It was Pages’ fifth outfield assist of the season, tied for fifth-most in the majors.
“He's been doing it all year,” Casparius said. “I haven't seen anybody play in the outfield at a level he has this year. It's honestly, at this point, something that I think we all expect. And he picked me up big time right there."
Michael Conforto, meanwhile, got the game tied at 1-1 with an opposite-field homer in the fifth, marking just his second long ball since April 5.
And even at the start of the sixth inning, the Dodgers did some little things right to set up Hernández’s go-ahead blast. With one out, Freddie Freeman legged out an infield single, despite playing through not only his gimpy right ankle but also “a little quad thing” Roberts said he has been dealing with in recent days. Then, Smith reached base for the first of three times on the day by drawing a key one-out walk.
The Padres didn’t go away down the stretch. A Hyeseong Kim throwing error led to one run in the sixth, trimming the Dodgers’ lead back down to two runs. Then in the seventh, the command problems that plagued recently activated reliever Michael Kopech during his minor-league rehab stint last month reared their ugly head, with the right-hander issuing three-straight one-out walks in the seventh to load the bases.
Recently surging left-hander Anthony Banda, however, escaped that jam with the help of an impressive play by Mookie Betts at shortstop, who got to Manny Machado’s 3-and-0 grounder in the hole and made an on-time, one-hop throw to Freeman at short.
“Securing it, being able to throw from different arm angles, that’s something he just didn’t do well last year, given the lack of reps,” Roberts said. “But that’s a play that, in a big spot, time of game, the stakes right there, to make that play was huge.”
Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia then took care of the eighth and ninth innings, ensuring the Dodgers left San Diego in first place in the division.
“It’s fun playing these guys,” Roberts said of the Padres, who will make a return visit to Dodger Stadium next week for a four-game series. “They know they’re talented. We know we’re talented. It’s a fun series. It’s a big series. It’s not the end-all, be-all in June. But it was fun.”
As the off-season unfolds for the Buffalo Sabres, there are many opportunities for them to improve their roster. And as rumors swirled Wednesday about a major trade that will send star left winger Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers to the Anaheim Ducks for a prospect and a draft pick, it's fair to say this was a missed opportunity for the Sabres.
Given that Buffalo should want to acquire more veteran experience to lead them into the playoffs, Kreider would've been a terrific pickup for the Sabres. But it looks like Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams couldn't or wouldn't beat Anaheim's price for Kreider, and the Ducks are going to be better for it.
It's true Kreider is coming off a down season. And his $6.5-million salary, which runs for the next two seasons, may look like an overpayment for the 34-year-old. But in the two previous seasons, Kreider posted a combined total of 75 goals and 129 points. That's someone worth taking a gamble on, especially considering Kreider is a playoff beast, generating 48 goals and 76 points in 123 career playoff games.
Now, Kreider has a no-trade clause in his current contract, allowing him to veto a trade to 15 teams. Maybe Buffalo is one of those teams. But players can change their minds if GMs are allowed to talk to them prior to a trade. That could be what's happening at the moment with Kreider and the Ducks.
But in this writer's opinion, the Sabres are closer to competing for a playoff berth than Anaheim is. That's what should be frustrating for Buffalo fans right now. Every move like a Kreider trade is showing, one way or another, that the Sabres aren't aggressive enough to be a mover-and-shaker on the trade front.
Kreider may be a flop next season in Anaheim. But Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has quietly added a lot of veteran experience -- winger Alex Killorn, defenseman Jacob Trouba, and now, Kreider. That's an indication that teams value experience and knowhow. And at the moment, the Sabres don't have enough of it.
Trading Star Winger Tuch Should Definitely Be An Option For SabresThe Buffalo Sabres definitely have some untouchables on their team -- namely, star winger Tage Thompson, and defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. And there are other players it should take a mammoth deal to acquire -- namely, winger J.J. Peterka, center Josh Norris and blueliner Bowen Byram.
It would've been a coup for Adams to acquire Kreider, but that ship has apparently sailed. And now, the Sabres have to turn their attention to other veterans who are on the trade block. There are definitely teams out there willing to surrender some experienced players for young players and draft picks, and Buffalo has a lot of those assets. But once again, they're on the outside looking in, and Sabres fans are well within their rights to wonder if and when Buffalo will step up and make a move of consequence.
Kreider has been through the wringer in Manhattan, and still managed to thrive despite all the pressure he faced as one of the cornerstone members of the Blueshirts. You want someone like that in Buffalo. You want him to buy into your vision for the franchise, and you want him to be a great example for your young, developing players.
This is why Kreider would've been a great fit with the Sabres. But the bottom line is that Buffalo didn't outbid Anaheim, and the Ducks apparently wound up picking up a vital component as they make their own push to be a playoff team. Kreider may not have worked out in Buffalo, but taking a chance on him would've been a justifiable gamble. And it didn't happen.
Right now, the Sabres are not proactive with trades. And that's on Adams and his new management team. Buffalo absolutely has to be ready, willing and able to acquire assets that will improve their chances of getting into the post-season. And for one reason or another, they're unable to do so.
It's no wonder some Sabres fans want to throw their hands in the air out of despair. They see other teams taking big swings, while Buffalo stays stapled to the bench, unable to even get to the plate. Landing Kreider would've infused the Sabres fan base with a jolt of optimism, but instead, they only got more silence from Adams & Co..
Time will tell if the Sabres can land a difference-maker this summer, but at the moment, cynics have more moves -- or lack of moves -- to point to and justify their exhaustion with this organization. When nothing solid materializes for a franchise that desperately needs help, the reaction of the paying customers will not be positive. And if Kreider thrives with the Ducks next year, Sabres fans will wring their hands in agony wondering "what if" Buffalo had stepped up and acquired him.
‘Challenge of fan unrest at ticket price and accessibility’
England’s football system is “under strain” in a climate of tension between commercial imperatives and the needs of supporters, according to a new report from Deloitte. The analysis also warns that uncertainty over the role and scope of an independent regulator is “unhelpful” to those wishing to join the rush of investors entering the sport.
The Annual Review of Football Finance painted an overall picture of a booming industry, pointing out that the European football market was worth a record £32.2bn in 2023-24. More than £16.9bn of that was generated by the “big five” leagues, with the Premier League alone recording revenues of £6.3bn. Deloitte cautioned, though, that those numbers do not tell the full tale of a game caught between its community roots and the requirement for continued growth. “There can be no doubt that the system in English football is under strain,” said Tim Bridge, lead partner at Deloitte sports business group, in the report’s foreword. “Repeated reports of fan unrest at ticket price and accessibility demonstrate the challenge in the modern era of balancing commercial growth with the historic essence of a football club’s role and position in society: as a community asset.”
With an increasing sense in league circles that Giannis Antetokounmpo will remain in Milwaukee, trade speculation is ramping up around the second biggest name on the market: Kevin Durant.
The Phoenix Suns and Durant's representation — led by KD's business partner Rich Kleiman — are sorting through offers, working together to find a trade that works for all involved, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Teams that have expressed interest in Durant, sources said, mainly feature the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. Several wild-card suitors have made inquiries on Durant in the past seven to 10 days, sources said...
Suns officials and Kleiman will continue to meet on trade conversations -- with talks expected to escalate before the NBA draft later this month.
Because Durant is entering the final year of his current contract ($54.7 million), he has some leverage in the situation. Teams are not going to give up the kind of haul Phoenix is seeking to rent Durant for a year. Whoever trades for Durant will likely sign him to an extension, one that is at or near the maximum of two years, $122 million.
The Suns reportedly are looking for depth and players who can help them retool quickly around Devin Booker, as well as draft capital. With the Suns over the second apron of the luxury tax, a third team (or more) is almost certainly involved in any Durant trade to make the numbers work under the more restrictive CBA.
Here's a closer look at the teams mentioned.
• San Antonio Spurs. Durant to the Spurs is the rumor with the most heat, there is a growing sense in some circles they are the front runners. The idea for the Spurs is that trading for Durant, pairing him with Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, and having him as an example for about-to-be-drafted Dylan Harper, makes the Spurs a dangerous team next season in the West and helps build a culture for the future. Durant is not on the timeline of those other players, but the Spurs could view this as the best path to being a threat in the deep Western Conference next season. The trade would likely involve something like Devin Vassell or Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Harrison Barnes and this year's No. 14 pick. There is zero chance the Spurs are giving up the No. 2 pick for KD.
• New York Knicks. It's unclear just how serious these talks are. While a Karl-Anthony Towns for Durant works as the core of a trade (and Devin Booker and KAT have Kentucky ties), it would take a third team coming in (because the Suns are over the second apron, so some money has to go elsewhere) and for a Suns team looking to add depth and draft picks, it's hard to see a path to a trade both teams would like. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reports the Knicks are out of the running.
• Houston Rockets. While Houston certainly put together a package of picks — they control the Suns' 2027 and 2029 first rounders — and young players that would interest Phoenix, reports from people around the Rockets from the start have said they have a limited interest in Durant because he does not match up with the timeline of the rest of their core (Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, etc.). If the Rockets could get Durant on a steal of a deal it's one thing, but whether they would put together the best offer is another question. A trade could involve Green, this year's No. 10 pick and some other players, and it would require a third team to make the math work under the second apron.
• Minnesota Timberwolves. This is a team that has been to the Western Conference Finals for consecutive years and is looking for the player who can put them over the top. Durant might be that guy, and he is Anthony Edwards' idol. Maybe the biggest challenge is logistics, with both teams over the second apron, this trade would take at least three and likely four or more teams to make work. Reports out of Minnesota say Jaden McDaniels and Naz Ried are off the table in any trade for Durant, so it would likely be Julius Randle (unless the Suns have interest in Rudy Gobert), an assortment of less expensive players, this year's No. 25 pick and/or another first, and a whole lot of players and picks going to other teams.
Miami Heat: Durant to Miami is intriguing, but it's hard to see how this trade comes together. For it to work for Miami, it has to keep Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, and they'd prefer not to give up Kel'El Ware (if I'm the Suns, I demand he is in the deal). Who else on the Heat roster would the Suns want? Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic and some future firsts? Maybe Duncan Robinson. Again, it's just hard to see how this all comes together, but apparently the sides are talking.
