Newest San Diego Padre Alex Verdugo (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the San Diego Padres and Alex Verdugo have agreed on a minor-league deal. The terms do not include an invitation to the big-league camp. Instead, Verdugo will report to the minor league facility in Peoria, Ariz.
The 29-year-old outfielder was released by the Atlanta Braves last season after appearing in just 56 games. During his brief tenure, he struggled at the plate, batting .239 with 12 RBI and no home runs. It was very disappointing for both sides, as Verdugo had a promising start to his 2025 campaign. He hit .322 over his first 14 games with the Braves.
Verdugo was drafted out of Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in September 2017. The Dodgers dealt him to the Boston Red Sox as part of the package in the Mookie Betts blockbuster trade.
Verdugo had his career-best offensive production in Boston. He hit .308 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The left-handed hitter hit a career-high 13 home runs in 2021, which he duplicated in his lone season (2024) with the New York Yankees. In 2022, Verdugo drove in 74 RBI in 152 games with the Sox.
In nine major league seasons, he has a career .270 batting average with 70 home runs and 328 RBI in 856 games. The Padres will be his fifth major league organization.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Ramon Laureano #5 of the San Diego Padres gets ready in the batters box against the Colorado Rockies during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres scored a run in the top of the first inning in their meeting with the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Park in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Sunday, but it all went down hill after the top half of the inning.
The Giants responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning off Padres starter German Marquez who was making his first start as a member of the organization. Marquez was not bad, but he got some bad luck. A ball kicked off the glove of Ty France at third base and soft fly balls were able to find the grass just beyond the outstretched glove of a San Diego infielder or outfielder.
Marquez finished two innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks allowed. San Francisco was able to get to Marco Gonzales who allowed two runs over three innings, Ethan Routzahn who allowed a run in his one inning of work and Stephen Yeager who allowed three runs over 0.2 of inning, giving them a 9-1 win.
San Diego did not have the same success at the plate. The Padres had a hit in the first, second and fifth innings and had two hits in the sixth inning. Jose Miranda doubled in the fifth and Ramon Laureano tripled in the sixth, which were the only extra-base hits of the game. Laureano was stranded at third after France was hit by a pitch and Sung-Mun Song struck out to end the inning.
The Padres return to action against the Athletics at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday at 12:10 p.m.
Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Boris Katchouk is on the move again.
The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have acquired Katchouk from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Roman Schmidt.
Katchouk started this season with the Tampa Bay Lightning after signing with them during this past off-season. Katchouk was then traded to the Wild back in late December in exchange for Michael Milne. Now, after spending a little over two months with the Wild organization, Katchouk is heading to Philly.
Katchouk has primarily played in the AHL this season, where he has recorded five goals, eight assists, and 13 points in 29 games split between the Syracuse Crunch and Iowa Wild. He also played in three games for the Lightning this season before being traded to Minnesota, where he was held off the scoresheet.
In 117 games over three seasons with the Blackhawks from 2021-22 to 2023-24, Katchouk recorded 11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points, and 176 hits. He was acquired by the Blackhawks ahead of the 2022 NHL trade deadline as part of the deal that sent Brandon Hagel to the Lightning.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 1: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is introduced before the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 1, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cavs are at their best when they get their bigs involved offensively, especially Jarrett Allen. Opponents know this as well and are packing the paint anytime one of Cleveland’s bigs is rolling or available for a pass inside. This led to more than a few of their turnovers on Sunday afternoon.
Additionally, James Harden wasn’t as sharp as he usually is with the ball. He’s responsible for five of Cleveland’s giveaways. Some of these were uncharacteristically sloppy. This could also be a byproduct of playing through a broken thumb.
Opponents know that the Cavs want to get the bigs involved and that Harden isn’t 100%. This will make them more susceptible to turnovers, even against a poor defense like Brooklyn’s. Cleveland will need to be better in this area if they want to avenge Friday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
Speaking of things that also went wrong on Friday, the Cavs — once again — nearly blew this game late.
They were up seven with a minute and a half left against a bad Nets team, and then proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot. The Cavs allowed the Nets to score on four of their final five possessions, committed two turnovers, and missed two crucial free throws of their own.
The combination of poor clutch defense and not effectively closing the game out at the line is also what did them in against Detroit. Evan Mobley’s big offensive rebound after a Dennis Schröder missed free-throw saved them from being in the same situation they were in then.
A better team than Brooklyn might’ve taken advantage. These late situations are where they miss Donovan Mitchell — who sat out his third straight game with a groin injury — most.
There were still good things to take from this game, particularly how Harden opens up the offense with his passing.
Harden wasn’t perfect, but the way he’s a threat to get the ball to everyone on the court unlocks the offense in a way few in the league can for their team.
Harden has the unique ability to both make every pass and see every opening as if he’s watching everything unfold in slow motion above the action.
This play is a good example of that.
I’m not sure if Harden ever actually sees Sam Merrill on this pass. What he does know is that there’s two defenders on the ball, and two down low taking away the inside pass, and the opposite wing is covered up as well. By process of elimination, the corner must be open, which is where he riffles the pass too.
Merrill was actually drifting away from the corner when he caught it, but the velocity of the pass gives him enough time to set his feet and square his shoulders for the on-balance three.
This also illustrates how Harden just reads and reacts to everything so quickly. He keeps the decision tree open as long as possible, and if the defense gives a better opportunity to one of his teammates, Harden is going to get the ball to them even if he’s already going up with his own shot.
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There aren’t many players who can make passes like this.
Harden contributed a team-high 22 points in the win, but did so on just nine attempts from the field. He did a great job of getting to the line, as he took 12 free throws, which ties his most in a game in a Cavs uniform. Overall, he came into this game attempting over four fewer free-throw attempts in Cleveland than he did with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Most of the fouls he drew came from attacks off-the-dribble. That’s notable because if there were something he’d be hesitant to do coming back from a broken thumb, it’d be driving to the hoop.
Even though he did on Sunday, Harden hasn’t really looked to score since coming to Cleveland. With the Clippers, he was averaging 17.5 shot attempts per game. So far with Cleveland, he’s only taken 17 or more shots once in the eight games he’s played with the Cavs.
Throughout his career, Harden’s shot attempts have mostly reflected the context and offense he was in. In his prime with the Houston Rockets, he routinely averaged over 18 shots a game. When he’s playing off another star player, he’s adjusted his shot attempts down. This was most recently seen when he took under 15 shots a game alongside Joel Embiid when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Harden has mostly tried to set up his teammates in Cleveland. That’s what the situation has called for. And he’s done an excellent job of doing that so far. It’ll be interesting to see if that changes on Tuesday assuming Mitchell will still be out of the lineup.
The Cavs need Donovan Mitchell to play at a faster pace.
Harden’s deliberate style has helped the offense, but it’s done so most when he’s paired with Mitchell’s frenetic energy.
Mitchell has been a one-man break starter this season as the Cavs have gotten out in transition 1.9% more (90th percentile) when he’s on the court compared to when he’s off.
The Cavs were missing this on Sunday. They played at one of their slowest paces of the year, with only 95 possessions. They weren’t able to get anything easy in the open court and mostly relied on Harden and others to create in the half-court. It was good enough to get the win, but it wasn’t their best overall offensive process.
Mitchell and Harden’s opposite styles have blended nicely. That is more apparent when only one of them is on the court.
Keon Ellis has great hands, even if he has a broken finger. He finished with five blocks and three steals in this game. It’s nearly unheard of for a guard at his size to get his hands on the ball with such frequency.
Just look at some of these blocks and steals. I don’t think I’ve seen someone with this combination of size, closing speed, and hands. And he also never gives up on a player and has seemingly endless energy. He’s a complete game-changer on that end.
In another life, Ellis would’ve made for a great free safety.
Evan Mobley is turning the corner. He has now strung together two good games, which is encouraging given how disjointed things looked offensively for him when he first came back from the calf strain after the All-Star break.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned on Friday that it typically takes Mobley time to find his groove after he returns from an injury. I wouldn’t say he’s found it yet, but the team did play its best basketball with him as they outscored Brooklyn by 24 when he was on the court.
Things are trending in the right direction.
Allen has continued his aggressive play.
He tied Mobley for the most shot attempts on the team (12), which is exactly what you want to see.
The Cavs have continually challenged Allen to be more involved offensively. He was when Harden was out for two games, and that carried over on Sunday when he returned to the floor. The offense will continue to be at its best when he’s involved like this.
For the first time in a decade, the Detroit Red Wings have positioned themselves as buyers rather than sellers at the NHL Trade Deadline, which is just five days away (Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET).
Although Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is known for keeping his cards close to the vest, the club has been linked to several high-profile names, most notably Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks and Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues.
It's because of the recent trade history between the Red Wings and the Blues that a deal involving Thomas could make sense in the eyes of noted NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.
"I do think the conversations around him have intensified in the last few days," Friedman said on Sunday afternoon during a guest appearance on the NHL on TNT. "I think the Red Wings have been around there, and St Louis and Detroit have done deals before."
Earlier this week, Friedman indicated that Thomas being traded from the Blues could happen before Friday afternoon's deadline.
“I think it actually could potentially happen (before Friday’s deadline), and I have to say, I’m a bit surprised about that,” Friedman said. “I think it’s heated up around him a bit.”
In fact, Thomas isn't the only Blues player that the Red Wings could have eyes for. Because they are reportedly in the market for another right-handed defenseman, Justin Faulk fits that bill.
The veteran blue liner, who has already tallied 11 goals with 32 points so far this season, is under contract through the end of next season and carries a $6.5 million cap hit.
Meanwhile, Thomas is signed through 2031 and has an $8.125 million cap hit. In order to facilitate a trade for either player, the Red Wings would likely request that the Blues retain a portion of their cap hits.
In recent years, Yzerman has made multiple deals with the Blues, not the least of which was the 2022 acquisition of defenseman Jake Walman, forward Oskar Sundqvist, and a 2023 second-round pick in return for Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski.
Detroit's 2019 acquisition of Robby Fabbri in exchange for checking forward Jacob de la Rose became one of their more underrated moves, as Fabbri was a regular contributor when healthy.
Additionally, Yzerman acquired goaltender Ville Husso from the Blues later that summer in return for the 73rd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Armed with multiple prospects, draft capital, and ample salary-cap space, Detroit has the necessary pieces to put together a trade package for one of Thomas or Pettersson.
Given his Stanley Cup-winning experience and his knack to produce timely offense, the Red Wings will not be alone when it comes to bidding for his services.
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Recently, The Hockey News Montreal Canadiens looked at a few potential targets for the Habs from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Now, in this latest edition of the Canadiens trade targets series, let's take a look at the Winnipeg Jets.
Logan Stanley
If the Canadiens want to add another potential option for their bottom pairing, Jets defenseman Logan Stanley could be worth pursuing. The 6-foot-7, 231-pound blueliner would not only provide the Canadiens with another tough defenseman, but would also give them more offense from the point. His stats this season show this, as he has set career highs with nine goals, 11 assists, and 20 points in 57 games.
Stanley's contract also adds to his appeal, as he has an affordable $1.25 million cap hit for the remainder of the season. With this, he would be a valuable player for the Canadiens to add to their defensive depth.
Luke Schenn
Luke Schenn could be another defenseman for the Canadiens to consider if they want to improve their depth on the right side. If they added Schenn, he would give them another option to work with for their bottom pairing or seventh defenseman role. Furthermore, he would give them a good mentor for their younger players and a defenseman who has won the Stanley Cup twice.
In 44 games this season with Winnipeg, Schenn has recorded one goal, seven points, and 137 hits.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 5: Brandon Williams #10 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket around Chris Youngblood #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on December 5, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-38) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (46-15) on Sunday night, finishing out a three-game home stand where they’ve yet to win. After winning two in a row, Dallas put in two commanding tank performances against the Grizzlies and Kings. The Thunder are coming off an incredible overtime win against the Denver Nuggets.
Here’s the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder
WHAT: Last home game before a road trip
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 7:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
The injury report is lengthy for Dallas, as has been the custom this year. Cooper Flagg remains out with this foot sprain, which is starting to get concerning (but of course, this injury must heal correctly). Marvin Bagley will miss again with the neck sprain following the injury against the Kings. PJ Washington is doubtful with the same ankle sprain but the designation suggests progress on that front. Naji Marshall is questionable with a finger injury, but I bet he plays. Caleb Martin is also questionable with lower back soreness.
The Thunder have several players out as well. Jalen Williams has a hamstring injury. Ajay Mitchell has been out for a while with a few injuries. Thomas Sorber’s been out the whole year and someone named Brandon Carlson is out as well with a lower back injury.
This short homestand has been brutal, but given the state of the Dallas roster it’s not shocking. They’re tired and you can only play hard like they do for so many months before something gives. Nothing would surprise me with regard to the Thunder game tonight (well a Dallas win would); they could keep it close or get blown out.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died early Sunday morning in a single-car crash, police said. He was 23.
Ponder was driving a 2023 Tesla when he lost control on a curve and hit a guardrail, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The car struck an electrical line pole and rolled down an embankment.
Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene in Boulder County. Police said a preliminary investigation “shows that speed is suspected as a factor.”
Ponder played in two games for the Buffaloes last season, going 0-for-1 passing and carrying the ball twice for a loss of 4 yards. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Opa Locka, Florida, began his collegiate career at Bethune-Cookman before transferring.
The Buffs were slated to begin spring practice on Monday.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders posted on X. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1.”
Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion reposted Sanders' statement and called Ponder a joy to be around and coach.
“Getting that call from his dad today didn’t feel real,” Marion posted. “Love you Dom! God cover his family & our team, especially our qb room!”
Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo said Ponder “epitomized the values of passion, enthusiasm, leadership, toughness, and intelligence that were revered by his teammates and coaches alike.” The athletic department said it would make counseling resources available to players and staff.
Fellow Colorado quarterback Colton Allen also paid tribute to Ponder on Instagram.
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”
The Big 12 Conference extended its condolences in a post on X.
The USC men's basketball team is losing one of its most key players at one of the most critical points of the season.
Chad Baker-Mazara, a sixth-year graduate student, is no longer with the program, the team announced in a statement Sunday afternoon.
No further details were provided by the team, but Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times reported that "it wasn’t any one incident, but an accumulation of issues that led to Baker-Mazara’s departure."
Baker-Mazara put up 14 first-half points in USC's 82-67 loss to Nebraska on Saturday but exited the game just three minutes into the second half after he fell hard on the baseline while trying to chase down Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort. He briefly went into the locker room and did not re-enter the game.
"He said he couldn’t go," head coach Eric Musselman told reporters after the game.
USC was Baker-Mazara's fifth team in six years. He began his college career at Duquesne before transferring to San Diego State a year later and earning Mountain West sixth man of the year honors. From there, Baker-Mazara spent a year in junior college at Northwest Florida State before landing at Auburn, where he played two seasons and had a prominent role in their Final Four run in the 2024-25 season. He re-entered the portal shortly thereafter and ended up at USC.
Baker-Mazara started 22 of 26 games for the Trojans this season and has been their leading scorer after Rice went down with a season-ending right shoulder injury just six games into the season. He averaged 18.6 points on 44.4% shooting (38.3% from three), 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists — all career-highs.
The Trojans have been one of the teams on bubble watch for March. They're currently one of the first four out in USA TODAY Sports' latest bracketology, but they've lost five straight games, including a critical Quad 1 matchup against rival UCLA last Tuesday.
They'll finish out the regular season this week with a road game against Washington on Wednesday before returning home for one more clash against the Bruins on Saturday.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 1: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 1, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves gutted out an ugly win at the Intuit Dome on Thursday night before having two days off to prepare for a familiar opponent. The last time these two teams met up in a nationally televised affair was fireworks on Christmas Night between Nikola Jokić and Anthony Edwards duking it out in an overtime thriller where Denver came out on top.
This game could have big playoff implications as the weather warms up and teams prepare for the playoff battle ahead. Both teams head into today boasting a 37-23 record in a dead tie for the 4th seed in the Western Conference. While the Nuggets have already secured the tiebreaker, the ability to move ahead of them this late in the season is a prime opportunity to get up to the three seed.
Denver started the game out of rhythm and missing open looks, while the Timberwolves followed suit with some wobbly offense of their own. Anthony Edwards was having a tough time as Denver was committed to double-teaming him wherever he got the ball, and the rest of the offense was not able to capitalize on those advantages. A few lapses on defense, where Minnesota lost their assignments, led to Jokić killing them with passes on backdoor cuts. The three-time MVP scored 13 points and dished four assists in the first. Minnesota was outplayed in the frame and ended down 31-22 after the first 12 minutes.
Bones Hyland was getting Bizzy to close the first quarter and start of the second. He set fire to a Timberwolves team that needed an extra jolt in a Sunday afternoon game. He helped to tie the game early in the second, leading a 9-0 run, and finished the half with 15 points on a perfect 5/5 from the floor. Minnesota killed in the non-Jokić minutes and used that to go on another big 12-0 run later in the period. Nikola Jokić came back in to keep the game close, but the Timberwolves closed the half strong with a couple of Ayo buckets and Ant getting a runout to the rim for a layup to give the Wolves a 58-50 lead at halftime.
And just like that, this game is tied at 31. Wolves have begun the second quarter on a 9-0 run. Bones Hyland is responsible for all of those points. He's scored 7 of them and just assisted on that Ayo transition layup.
The offensive floodgates were wide open for both teams to start the third quarter. Donte used his hustle and grit and parlayed it into some flamethrower shooting. He hit four threes in the quarter to help the Timberwolves maintain their solid lead. Jokić kept the Nuggets afloat; he had 17 of his own in the third and kept the game from getting out of hand. After an 8-0 run late, Julius stopped the bleeding with an And-1 to help Minnesota maintain their eight-point advantage with a 90-82 score heading into the final 12 minutes.
The Timberwolves were in a prime position to grow their lead to start the fourth, with Jokić heading to the bench and them dominating those minutes in the first half. Naz Reid took that challenge head-on. He drilled a three and had a couple of nifty Big Jelly finishes around the hoop – skipping for joy after the final one. Jamal Murray punched back with a high-flying dunk to get the crowd back into it, and Denver would not go away. Even with this, the Timberwolves used their defense and turned it into offense to shut down the hopes for a comeback. Anthony Edwards led the way with 21 while Jaden added 20 of his own.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 1, 2026
Donte’s Hustle
Donte DiVincenzo always shows up ready to roll. In a game where the Timberwolves struggled to wake up for the early afternoon tipoff in Denver, he continued to bring it. While the shot can be streaky at times, this is something that he can and does do consistently. Whenever there was a chance for him to go make a play, he did it. You combine this grittiness with the hot shooting, and it was one special performance.
DDV drilled four threes in the third quarter while mixing in his patented hustle to give the Wolves runouts and extra possessions. Those things add up over the course of the game, none bigger than him coming from Nikola Jokić’s blind spot to take the ball from him and help Jaden get a fast break layup when the game still felt like it was in the balance during the fourth quarter. He scored 17 points and added five assists and three boards along with a pair of steals.
Donte DiVincenzo sneaky post-up steal on Nikola Jokic + Jaden McDaniels transition layup pic.twitter.com/JlME3YroJU
Early in the game, when Minnesota was struggling, part of the reason was that Denver was committed to double-teaming Anthony Edwards wherever he was on the floor. It threw Ant off his rhythm and made him have to work hard for all his opportunities early on.
The way to combat this was through getting out in transition. The Timberwolves outscored Denver in fast-break points 30-6. They utilized their strong defense to get out for easy opportunities and grease the wheels of the offense. They also outscored Denver 22-11 in points off turnovers. The age-old saying of “the best way to beat a zone is to go before it gets set up” also applies to this defensive scheme.
The Timberwolves head back home to take on the Memphis Grizzlies, which marks the end of their three-game road trip, where Minnesota went 3-0. Tuesday’s game against Memphis will air on FanDuel Sports Network at 7 PM CT.
In a corresponding move to the Tye Kartye waiver pick-up, the New York Rangers sent Brennan Othmann down to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
In the final game leading up to the Olympic break, Othmann was scratched out of the lineup, as Mike Sullivan did not hide his feelings toward Othmann’s overall readiness for the NHL.
“I think there are elements of his game that have to continue to improve in order for him to establish himself as an NHL player,” Sullivan said of Othmann.
Despite what seemed like a golden opportunity for Othmann to carve out a role with the Rangers due to the team’s direction to retool and focus on getting younger, he finds himself back in the AHL.
The decision to send Othmann down to Hartford stems from inconsistencies in his level of play.
“I just think it has been a little bit of an inconsistent game,” Sullivan said. “There’s been times when he’s made a positive impact on the game, there’s been others when he hasn’t. We’ve talked a lot to him about attention to detail, bringing in a reliable conscientious game.
“If you’re playing in a bottom six-role, and you’re not filling the net on the offensive side of the rink, then your contributions have to be in those areas. Those are the areas we’ve worked with Otter to try to help him.”
In 17 games this season with the Blueshirts, the 23-year-old forward has recorded one goal and one point, while averaging 9:53 minutes.
Ahead of Friday's March 6 NHL trade deadline, the Philadelphia Flyers have officially made their first move.
On Sunday night, the Flyers made their first of what is expected to be a few trades this week, sending defenseman Roman Schmidt to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Boris Katchouk.
Schmidt, 23, was acquired by the Flyers on Dec. 8 in exchange for fellow defenseman Ethan Samson, but failed to establish himself on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' blueline in the AHL.
Instead, players like Christian Kyrou, Helge Grans, Oliver Bonk, and Maxence Guenette held or earned positions ahead of the 6-foot-5 former third-round pick.
As for Katchouk, the 27-year-old is a Canadian-Russian forward and a former second-round pick with 179 games of NHL experience, scoring 15 goals, 21 assists, and 36 points.
The journeyman winger will serve as organizational depth for the Flyers, and it's worth noting that his Russian heritage should be helpful for goalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov down in Allentown.
Katchouk was a player I figured the Flyers would sign specifically for that role in the 2024 offseason, though it never came to fruition in the end.
No picks were exchanged by either side in this trade, so the Flyers move a younger, out-of-favor defenseman for an older, more established forward. That's it.
It's possible the Phantoms will need the reinforcements in preparation of a future call-up, which could be winger Alex Bump. The Flyers also need a fourth-line center as things currently stand, so Karsen Dorwart or Lane Pederson could reprise their previous NHL roles, too.
We haven't gotten that far yet, but the Flyers are getting started on their trade deadline business early.
The Dodgers' Jackson Ferris delivers a first-inning pitch against the San Diego Padres last week in Peoria, Ariz. (Norm Hall / Getty Images)
The way the Dodgers have spent money in recent years, one area that often gets overlooked is their ability to draft, trade for and develop prospects.
The Dodgers boast five prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 rankings, tied for third-most among teams. The group includes four outfielders — Josue De Paula (No. 15), Zyhir Hope (No. 27), Eduardo Quintero (No. 30) and Mike Sirota (No. 60) — in the top 60. Two of those prospects, De Paula and Quintero, were international signings, and the other two, Hope and Sirota, were acquired via trade.
Sirota came over in last year’s trade that sent Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds. A year earlier, the club acquired Hope and promising young pitcher Jackson Ferris from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Michael Busch and right-hander Yency Almonte, who recently returned to the Dodgers on a minor league contract.
Ferris, who pitched 1-2/3 scoreless innings in his second Cactus League start Saturday in the Dodgers’ 7-6 split-squad loss to the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium, noticed the contrast going from the Cubs to the Dodgers.
“It was different,” Ferris said last month at his locker at Camelback Ranch. “It was honestly a breath of fresh air. Getting to know these coaches, they just understand exactly what they wanted for me and how they were going to go about it.
“It was cool to see how different things were. The Cubs [are] a great organization, good minor league system and everything, it was crazy to see how different the Cubs are from the Dodgers. The Dodgers are just as good, if not better, at everything in the minor leagues and in the big leagues.”
Ferris arrived at Cubs minor league camp in early January 2024, ready to get to work. A few days later, he was surprised when the team told him he had been traded.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting it after only throwing like 55-ish innings in my first year and doing well,” Ferris said. “So, I didn’t really know how to react. The Cubs coaches were talking highly of the Dodgers coaches, so then I was pretty excited.”
Ferris credits the Dodgers for being more detail-oriented than the Cubs and helping him improve as a pitcher.
“It was my first year of pro ball, so maybe it was just like being a high schooler, I didn’t necessarily get a whole lot of coaching,” Ferris said of his time with the Cubs. “I’d say it was more like, ‘Go out there and let’s just see how you do in your first year.’ Whereas whenever I came here, they studied my throw, everything and it was like, ‘Here, we think these drills are going to help you,’ and we just kind of took off in our first year of being here.”
That season, Ferris posted a 3.20 ERA across 34 starts between high-A Great Lakes and double-A Tulsa, earning minor league pitcher of the year honors from the organization. Last year, Ferris logged a 3.86 ERA across 26 games and 126 innings at double-A Tulsa.
This year Ferris could be knocking on the door of a big-league promotion. He’s impressed through his first two Cactus League starts, with just four baserunners and no runs over 2-2/3 innings, while working with a versatile five-pitch mix that features a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a “bullet slider,” a straight changeup and a 12-to-6 curveball.
“I like Jackson,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently. “I like the player. He’s a good kid. A lot of talent. I think for me, it’s just trying to harness his arsenal. It’s a good fastball. He needs to continue to get ahead, be able to put hitters away with the secondary pitches, be efficient with his pitches per inning, but I like Jackson.”
Mookie Betts makes Cactus League debut
Shortstop Mookie Betts played in his first spring training game Sunday, reaching on a fielder's choice and grounding out in two at-bats while scoring a run in the Dodgers' 4-3 win over the Angels at Camelback Ranch.
"I know I had an 0-for-2, but I got two good swings," Betts said after he was lifted from the game. "I was prepared, I was ready to go. Couldn't ask for anything more than what I've been doing."
Left-hander Alex Vesia pitched a scoreless fourth inning, striking out the side. Vesia has struck out five of the nine batters he has faced across three appearances this spring.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Pitcher Logan Gilbert #36 of the Seattle Mariners throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on February 23, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners lost today’s game against the Rangers, 9-4, and are now 3-6 in spring training, which will happen when half your roster is off at the WBC. But despite the absence of regulars, today’s game offered plenty of intrigue for those who know where to look.
Before he left for Team USA, Cal Raleigh extracted a promise from the beat writers that they would text him updates on what his pitchers were up to when not under Cal’s steely gaze. Logan Gilbert – perhaps responding to Cal’s unprompted heckle of him yesterday about his own spring training debut – immediately decided to test out the babysitter of Andrew Knizner behind the plate. His first two pitches of the game whistled in at 96 mph before he promptly followed that up with a cutter, one of two pitches (the other being the sinker) that he likes to play with during spring training and then leave in Peoria, at Cal’s insistence. It probably should have gone for an easy out, but Logan, enjoying his personal Rumspringa of being away from the watchful eyes of his regular catcher, decided he would try to field his position. It, uh, did not go well.
“It went really well in my mind,” said Gilbert mournfully postgame. “I thought I got it there. I was like. Oh. I’ve got this.”
[Narrator: he did not, in fact, Got This.]
“MAN DOWN!” cackled Luis Castillo from across the clubhouse while Gilbert was talking.
(An inning later, Gilbert also made a halfhearted attempt at another grounder that rolled past him, but smartly let it go for Cole Young – whose defense looks much improved this spring – to hoover up for him. Perhaps Cal made a mid-inning phone call to the dugout.)
That wasn’t Gilbert’s lone time straying from Cal Raleigh’s light. He flashed all his usual pitches, sitting 96 on his four-seamer and dutifully mixing in his slider, splitter, and curveball, but he also threw two sinkers and six of the cutters, including the one he would have gotten the out on to Osuna, one for a swinging strikeout on Kyle Higashioka, and one for a flyout to Josh Smith. So will the cutter finally make its way to T-Mobile Park?
Probably not, says Gilbert, Cal or no Cal, although not for lack of effort. “I’ve been trying for six years.”
The only damage against Gilbert was a solo home run, when Rangers prospect Cam Cauley ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Gilbert, a solid choice, given that Gilbert threw nine of ten first-pitch strikes today.Working with a 50-pitch cap, Gilbert was able to get through the lineup one time plus one batter, seeing Alejandro Osuna twice.
Gilbert’s outing on the mound impressed his manager.
“I thought Logan was really good today,” said Dan Wilson postgame. “I thought he came out with a different mindset today, used all his stuff, was ahead in the count, and we just saw an intensity today that was something we haven’t seen in a little bit.”
He was less impressed by Gilbert’s fielding.
“He’s gonna hear about that one for a while, I think, from the bench,” said Wilson wryly.
The positives weren’t only on the pitching side, either. The game got off to a good start for the Mariners thanks to Cole Young. In the game preview I said Young drew a tough left-on-left matchup today, facing Rangers starter Jacob Latz. I was corrected by staffer Zach Mason, who accurately observed that it cannot be a tough matchup when one of the participants is bad at their job. Nevertheless, this was no cheapie, going 442 feet at 106 miles off the bat, as Young continues to piece together a solid spring.
Also encouraging: that home run scored Victor Robles, who was on base with just his second hit of the spring. Robles figures to get some more playing time while his outfield-mates are with their WBC teams, so hopefully this is the second of many to come.
Following Logan was the spring debut of Ryan Sloan, and if you were wondering why so many prospect-knowers have been saying Sloan is “untouchable” in Seattle’s system when trade discussions were heated, this outing probably answered that for you. Sloan was absolutely dominant in a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 inning where he got eight swings, only two of which the Rangers trio of Higashioka, Smith, and Ezekiel Duran – so not exactly spring training cannon fodder – were able to touch. He opened up against Higashioka with a four-seamer that came in at 98.9 mph and didn’t let up from there, firing a hard slider before going back to the heater at 97 for a soft-contact flyout. He then took apart Josh Smith on a three-pitch strikeout that included a hard (91.7 mph) changeup Smith whiffed over and a generous strike three call on a heater (again at 98.9) that was a touch above the zone. Sloan finished his day by throwing a 94 mph cutter for a first-pitch ball that Duran was ruled not to have swung at (it sure looked like a swing) before eventually getting him to ground out softly on a slider.
Sloan’s outing had everything you could want: big velocity, filthy secondaries, weak contact, ugly swing-and-miss. This is why that word “untouchable” was thrown around in pre-season. There’s just only so many freshly-minted 20-year-olds who haven’t reached Double-A yet who can make a big-league hitter look this bad.
Speaking of bad, the rest of the game. Maybe just go back and watch Gilbert and Sloan’s innings again rather than watch the rest of this game, which devolved into the Rangers stacking up a seven-run sixth inning. I was in the clubhouse talking to Sloan while it happened, so I choose not to recognize it. The Mariners’ younger players fought for a pair of extra runs in the bottom of the eighth, stacking three walks against Rangers reliever Robby Ahlstrom before Spencer Packard connected for a two-run single, but the damage was done, and the Mariners lost, 9-4.
However, even in a game of bad results, there are good processes to celebrate. The Mariners hitters didn’t do much offensively, but they struck out just one more time (6) than they walked (5). Gilbert’s outing was a familiar reminder of the dominant pitcher he is; Sloan’s was a glimpse of the dominant pitcher he might very well be. Cole Young continued to build on what’s been a solid spring for him and reminded everyone that he might usually be a contact merchant, but he can still put a charge into a lousy pitch (sorry for all the strays, Jacob Latz). And even Troy Taylor, who has had a rough spring so far coming off a disappointing 2025, had one of his best outings in a long while, giving up a leadoff hit on a first-pitch fastball but coming back to strike out the next three hitters, punctuating his last K with a nasty sweeper.
It’s a reminder that baseball careers are built slowly, a little at a time, and the end result one day doesn’t necessarily determine an overall arc. It was the youngest member of the team today, Ryan Sloan, who reflected on the trap that good results can be:
“When you’re going through periods of success, it’s so easy to kind of get away from what you know works, just because results are good, process is good, and it just makes it really easy to get away from it. I’ve never felt like it’s so easy to get away from my routine, just because things have been going well. So I came up with the motto, just get better today. I just think, one day at a time, just do what I know works, get better today, and continue to do that week in and week out.“
Despite the final line, many Mariners did get better today, in big ways and small ways and ways that aren’t even in this recap. And in spring training, that’s all you can ask for.
Kevin Mannell pitches at Auburn | Nebraska Athletics
For the second game in a row, Nebraska pitching wrapped a big beautiful gift with a bright red bow for the Auburn Tigers in the form of 12 walks and three hit batters. You. Can’t. Win. Games. When. You. Walk. Batters. Until the Cornhusker pitching staff internalizes this fundamental aspect of the game, there are going to be more ugly games for fans to sit through.
Gavin Blachowicz got his third Sunday start of the season, but did not have the same command of his pitches that he had in his previous two outings. Bristol Carter led off the Tiger first inning with a double and scored two batters later on an Eric Guevara single to put Auburn up 1-0 after one.
Blachowicz got a taste of Auburn hitting in the bottom of the second inning with Chris Rembert leading off with a single and Logan Gregorio reaching on a fielder’s choice, and then both runners advancing on a crucial Jett Buck throwing error. Auburn ended up scoring an earned run on a sacrifice fly ball, and then three unearned runs on a Chase Fralick home run. This was the fifth four run inning of the series for the Tigers and they held a commanding 5-0 lead.
Tiger starter Alex Petrovic was effective in his first three innings against the Big Red, though the boys from Lincoln did put the lead-off man on twice, and had two on with no outs in their second. The Cornhuskers we able to get back into the game in the fourth after Case Sanderson singled, Joshua Overbeek walked, and Dylan Carey was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Cole Kitchens hit a shot to the shortstop that he misplayed, scoring Sanderson. Then Devin Nunez hit a deep fly ball to score Overbeek. However, the rally was silenced as catcher Trey Fikes looked at strike three. Auburn added a run in their half of the fourth to make the score 6-2 Tigers after four complete innings.
Offensively, this was a game of wasted opportunities. In six of nine innings the Cornhuskers put the lead-off batter on, yet they only scored twice. Six times they had at least two runners on base and only scored three runs. To rub salt into the wound, with two on and two out in the top of the 8th inning, Jeter Worthley faced a full count and was called out on a pitch-clock violation.
Kevin Mannell came in to relieve Blachowicz to start the third. The Mississippi State transfer had his best appearance of the season going four innings with five strikeouts and steadying the ship, though he did give up one run. Despite that, the four innings was huge because of the shortage of arms in the bullpen today.
The seventh inning exposed the Nebraska bullpen as three pitchers appeared, Braxton Stewart, Auden Pankonin, and Grant Cleavinger. Auburn scored two runs on one hit, three walks and a hit batter. After seven innings, the Tigers were up 8-2 over the Cornhuskers.
Joshua Overbeek scored his second run of the game, and Nebraska’s final run of the game, in the top of the eighth inning. He singled and beat a throw to third on a Dylan Carey double. Max Buettenback drove him in on a sacrifice fly.
The eighth inning could not have been uglier for Nebraska pitching. Freshman Jace Ziola started it off with a walk, hit batter and a walk. With bases loaded, another freshman, Cooper Grace came in and went walk, walk, walk. In came senior Caleb Clark who induced a ground ball double play, but then went walk, walk, and ground out to first base. Four runs, no hits, no errors, seven walks, and one hit batter. Final score: Auburn 12, Nebraska 3.
Ironically, Nebraska out-hit Auburn today, eight to seven. By the same token, Auburn issue six free passes to Nebraska’s 15.
Nebraska did get back into it in the middle innings, and with Kevin Mannell slowing down Auburn scoring, Nebraska was a couple of hits away from making it an interesting game. That was not to be and the Cornhuskers dropped the series to Auburn.
The home opener is scheduled for Tuesday at Haymarket Park against Omaha. South Dakota State then comes to town for one game on Wednesday. It most likely will not be 74-degrees with a bright blue sky like it was today in Alabama, but it’s baseball!
Notes
· Dylan Carey’s single in the second inning was his 200th hit in his Cornhusker career, he is the 28th Husker to reach that mark
· Six times during the weekend series Auburn put up four runs.
· On the weekend, Nebraska pitching surrendered 25 walks and hit eight batters. You can believe that Coach Rob Childress will address that with his staff this upcoming week.
· With the entire bullpen seeing action this weekend, it will be interesting to see who is called on to start Tuesday and Wednesday. One would think that Ryan Harrahill will get one of the starts, and maybe Colin Nowaczyk will be given a chance to get back on track after his recent struggles.
· The big question mark with pitching is whether Cooper Katskee will start a midweek game, or will the coaching look to get him into the routine to start next Sunday, which he was tabbed to do at the start of the season.
