But despite the fact that the Mets are essentially playing out the string, there are still important things to watch down the stretch.
And with New York planning to retool this coming offseason with an eye on being a playoff contender in 2027, there are five specific players whose performances over the final 46 games could have a big impact on how next season's roster is assembled.
Yes, the continued acclimation to the majors for outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing will be big over the next two months, as will the development of Nolan McLean and Christian Scott.
But their roles for next season are pretty much cemented.
The same can't be said for these five players, whose successes or failures could help shape how David Stearns and the club's front office operate this winter...
Semien will probably always be a polarizing name for Mets fans because he was acquired in the Brandon Nimmo trade. But looking at Semien as a Nimmo replacement never made sense -- he was simply the means through which the Mets extricated themselves from the final two years of Nimmo's contract.
And while Nimmo is still a productive offensive player (127 OPS+ ahead of play on Friday), his power is down, with him pacing for 17 homers in 154 games this season. More notable is that Nimmo's outfield defense has continued to decline, with him in the 23rd percentile this season in OAA, via Baseball Savant (he was in the 41st percentile in 2025 and the 66th percentile in 2024).
Add to the equation that there would be no room for Nimmo in an outfield with Juan Soto, Benge, and Ewing, and I think it's fair to say we've reached the point where relitigating the Semien-Nimmo trade is pointless.
Jul 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) attempts to turn a double play after forcing out Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) during the fifth inning at second base at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
In any event, Semien remains on the Mets, and he has two years left on his deal at $24 million annually for luxury tax purposes. That means that despite how Semien performs for the remainder of the season, he will almost certainly be a Met on Opening Day in 2027. But what will his role be?
Semien, who posted a 93 OPS+ last season after being a tick above average (103 OPS+) in 2024, will likely never again be the player he was between 2019 and 2023, when he had an .820 OPS. But it's fair to wonder if the hip injury he played through earlier this season had a serious impact on him.
The early returns since he came back from the IL suggest it did, with Semien putting up a .745 OPS with four homers in 17 games since being activated, and him playing much smoother defense at second base.
If Semien can simply be a league average hitter, and he shows his poor defense was due in large part to the hip injury, he could fit firmly in New York's plans for next season.
It would be an understatement to say it has been a rough go for Polanco in his first season in New York.
Signed in part to play first base (though it always felt like he would be mainly a DH), Polanco has been limited to 30 games due to an Achilles issue and has been relegated to strictly DH duties for now due to his physical issues.
In those 30 games, Polanco has hit just .144/.202/.243 with two home runs, mustering a .445 OPS.
And if you're looking for a silver lining in Polanco's advanced stats, you won't find it.
Polanco has been trying to swing out of his struggles, recently taking 300 swings before Wednesday's game -- where he had a homer and double.
Aug 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Jorge Polanco (11) celebrates his solo home run in the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. / David Richard-Imagn Images
It remains possible that Polanco gets healthy and produces at a level that warrants his inclusion as a regular player on the Mets in 2027.
If not, parting ways with him this offseason or at some point during the 2027 campaign wouldn't be terribly complicated, since next season is his final year under contract -- though the $20 million luxury tax number is hefty.
Following the trades of Luke Weaver (who was under contract through 2027) and Huascar Brazoban (who was under team control through 2029), the Mets are going to have to basically rebuild their bullpen from scratch.
Devin Williams will be a part of it next season, but it's mostly question marks beyond that.
Senga, in two appearances since being asked to transition to a high-leverage relief role, is showing that he could potentially be one of the answers.
Interim manager Andy Green said that Senga's stuff -- specifically his high-octane four-seam fastball and devastating ghost fork -- should play up in relief. And that's what has happened in the small sample size we have to go by.
Aug 4, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens (13) and relief pitcher Kodai Senga (34) celebrate a win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. / David Richard - Imagn Images
On Thursday against the Guardians in Cleveland, Senga fired a 1-2-3 inning while throwing primarily four-seamers and forkballs -- with his fastball topping out at 100 mph.
That came after a promising performance in Tuesday's series-opener where Senga worked around a walk in an otherwise spotless ninth inning.
Also a possible part of a remade Mets bullpen in 2027, the early returns for Lavender have been good.
The left-hander has tossed 2.1 hitless innings over two games, allowing one walk and striking out three.
Along the way, Lavender has generated plenty of uncomfortable swings from opposing hitters, which is something he did throughout his career in the minors.
In parts of five minor league seasons, the 26-year-old had a 2.78 ERA while fanning 244 batters in 158.2 innings -- a strikeout rate of 13.6 per nine.
The Mets already know what they have in Núñez, who was one of the team's best relievers in 2024 (2.31 ERA, 2.22 FIP, 0.91 WHIP, 12.3 K/9 in 35.0 innings) before getting hurt.
Núñez's 2025 season was then wiped out by Tommy John surgery after just 10 games, with him recently returning.
If Núñez can stay healthy and maintain his fastball velocity, his four-seamer/slider combo could be a key part of New York's bullpen going forward.
On Wednesday against the Guardians in his first big league outing since returning, Núñez's four-seamer (which averaged 96.3 mph in 2024) averaged 97.0 mph and topped out at 98.4.
Drew Rasmussen might be the hottest pitcher in baseball right now - it’s a no-brainer to ride with him in our Rays vs. Mariners prediction.
The Tampa Bay Rays walk into T-Mobile Park as +105 underdogs at Polymarket despite running away with the AL East and having 12 more wins on the season over the Seattle Mariners. Let’s take advantage, shall we?
Let’s get right into my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 7, and build that bankroll for the weekend.
Who will win Rays vs Mariners today: Tampa Bay Rays (+105)
No matter which angle you look at in this game, it’s all screaming Rays (they’re 4-0 in their last four games against a righty), which I’d price closer to -105. Let’s take advantage of this value and run with it.
COVERS INTEL: Can Logan Gilbert handle the Rays? Not only do Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero have his number, but afer 59 plate appearances against the right-hander, Tampa Bay owns a .270 xBA and .430 xSLG. That should be enough to get us the W.
Rays vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 runs (+109)
One of the biggest reasons I love the Rays in this spot is because of Mr. Rasmussen, so it’s no surprise we’re rocking with the plus-money Under in this situation.
Looking at the MLB trends, the Under is 8-1 in the Rays’ last nine road games against a team with a winning record - that’ll play tonight.
Gilbert is no slouch, either, owning a career-low 5.4% walk rate himself, meaning both teams are going to have to earn their runs at T-Mobile Park - the most pitcher-friendly diamond in baseball.
I’m all over this Under at a full unit, and I’d play it up to +100.
Dustin Saracini's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 0-4, -4 units
Over/Under bets: 1-3, -2.9 units
Rays vs Mariners weather
It's a perfect night for baseball in Seattle, with temperatures sitting at a balmy 25 degrees farenheit around first pitch.
Rays vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Rays (+105) | Mariners (-116)
Run line: Rays -1.5 (+180) | Mariners +1.5 (-200)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-126) | Under 6.5 (+109)
Rays vs Mariners trend
The Rays have simply risen to the occasion this year against good pitching, going 4-0 in their last four games against a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Mariners.
How to watch Rays vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Friday, August 7, 2026
First pitch
9:45 p.m. ET
TV
Apple TV
Rays starting pitcher
Drew Rasmussen (10-5, 2.92 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Logan Gilbert (8-6, 3.46 ERA)
Rays vs Mariners latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
A source told Torre, "It was 1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap" and that the Clippers "were technically kind of funding it." Daktronics does not have a history of celebrity endorsements, and it's unclear what, if anything, Leonard may have done for the company, but it doesn't even do traditional consumer-facing advertising. The company's PR firm told Torre, "Daktronics doesn't have a deal with Kawhi right now." It said the league had contacted it about its ongoing investigation.
Through all of this, the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer have denied any wrongdoing and say they have nothing to hide. While they have yet to comment on this specific new allegation, here is part of the statement the Clippers gave to NBC Sports last month when the Leonard trade to Toronto was put on hold pending the conclusion of the investigation:
"For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff."
The Daktronics angle is a second offshoot of the league's investigation into Leonard's endorsement deal with Aspiration, a former Clippers sponsor. Aspiration was a green bank company that has since gone bankrupt, and its founder, Joe Sanberg, has been convicted of defrauding investors and is spending 14 months in prison for his crimes. The law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is conducting the investigation.
Clippers owner Ballmer was one of the investors in Aspiration. As previously pointed out on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, Ballmer made a $50 million investment in Aspiration, and not long after, Leonard signed a $28 million endorsement deal with the company (he also signed a four-year, $176 million extension with the Clippers). Ballmer and the Clippers have said they introduced Leonard to Aspiration, but that was the extent of their involvement.
The initial focus of the investigation was on that $28 million endorsement deal (which later grew to include now-worthless stock options). Multiple former Aspiration employees told Torre this was a "no-show" endorsement designed to funnel more money to Leonard and circumvent the NBA salary cap. There is no evidence Leonard did any promotional work for the company (while photos of Leonard for a marketing campaign were found, there is no evidence those were used, nor did he make any public appearances or post anything on social media about Aspiration). It's worth noting that this kind of no-work endorsement was something that Leonard's adviser, business partner and uncle, Dennis Robertson, reportedly had requested of the Raptors and other teams during Leonard's 2019 free agency.
Ballmer and the Clippers have denied all of this. From their statement to NBC Sports last month:
"At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison."
There is no word from the league on when the investigation will conclude, but once it does, the NBA's CBA with the players union requires it — and any potential punishments — to be reviewed by an independent arbitrator, who will have a say over whether the punishments proposed by the league match the evidence. The arbitrator's ruling can be appealed.
Which is to say, there is a long way to go in this process (unless the Clippers and league reach a kind of plea bargain deal).
Buster Posey fired back at a KNBR producer who said the Giants executive “sucks” on air. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
“Posey sucks, man,” the unnamed producer said while testing out a microphone.
For the first time since the hot mic moment, Posey returned as a guest on the show and left no doubt that he had heard what the KNBR employee said.
“Make sure the mics aren’t hot before you talk trash about me,” Posey said as his parting words before leaving the studio.
“Make sure the mics aren’t hot before you talk trash about me.”
— Buster Posey after his interview yesterday
Three weeks ago, Buster was on the show and an unnamed KNBR producer said “Posey sucks, man” into a hot mic after the interview was over pic.twitter.com/Cyjl0YrxFF
Host Markus Boucher and guest host John Dickinson didn’t bat an eye, however. Boucher laughed it off and reassured Posey the hot mic incident wouldn’t happen again.
Posey has been the recipient of much criticism over the course of the Giants’ 2026 season because of his handling of the team as well as the media. San Francisco has struggled significantly under first-year manager Tony Vitello and was active at the trade deadline because of its disastrous performance.
Markus Boucher and Brian Murphy have a morning show on KNBR called “Murphy & Markus.”
“Yeah, we’ll make sure the behind-the-scenes boys don’t press any hot mics. Appreciate you. Love you, Buster. Thank you, man. Buster Posey with the mic drop. Yeah, his mic was hot for that one,” Boucher said.
The New York Yankees are -131 favorites at home against the Atlanta Braves tonight, and my Braves vs. Yankees predictions are laying the juice.
This is a strong storyline game, with Max Fried making his first career start against the organization he came up with, and Tyler Mahle making his Braves debut after being acquired from San Francisco. The betting angle starts with the matchup: Fried’s contact control against a scorching Atlanta lineup.
Who will win Braves vs Yankees today: Yankees moneyline (-131)
I’m backing the New York Yankees moneyline for two units down to -145. There’s some anecdotal appeal in Max Fried facing his former team for the first time, but the matchup is the real reason.
Fried has allowed only three barrels on 197 batted balls this season, with a .254 xSLG and 2.39 xERA. That profile plays well against an Atlanta Braves lineup that ranks fourth in barrel rate but is closer to average when forced to string hits together.
Tyler Mahle is not a disaster (despite what his ERA says), but his 4.07 xERA and 9.2% walk rate are easy pressure points for the Bronx Bombers.
COVERS INTEL:Fried’s barrel rate has dropped from 6.9% last season to 1.5% this year, the biggest reason his xERA sits more than seven-tenths of a run below his actual ERA.
Braves vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-126)
I’m playing the Under because Fried gives this game a strong run-prevention base. His 49% ground-ball rate and .241 xwOBA allowed are elite indicators against a Braves lineup that is reliant on fly balls.
The Yankees’ offense also been ugly recently. They were held to one run Wednesday, going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Mahle is exploitable, but he's still a more-than-capable arm to slow down a stagnant offense.
You'll also get a well-focused pitcher hoping to make a strong impression with his new team.
Playable to 8 at +100.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 42-39, +6.58 units
Over/Under bets: 46-36, +10.74 units
Braves vs Yankees weather
Weather could matter more for timing than run environment tonight. It is hot at Yankee Stadium, with temperatures expected to sit in the low-to-mid 80s around first pitch, and there is thunderstorm risk in the early evening.
Braves vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Braves +119 | Yankees -131
Run line: Braves +1.5 | Yankees -1.5
Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8
Braves vs Yankees trend
The Yankees have covered the F5 run line in seven of their last nine games (+5.00 Units / 46% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Yankees.
How to watch Braves vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Friday, August 7, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVision, YES
Braves starting pitcher
Tyler Mahle (3-9, 5.13 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Max Fried (4-3, 3.12 ERA)
Braves vs Yankees latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 05: Jefry Yan #84 of the New York Mets celebrates after striking out Angel Martínez #1 of the Cleveland Guardians for his first career strikeout during the sixth inning of his Major League debut at Progressive Field on August 05, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Your 2026 former New York Mets: Oh, that was the problem, before the deadline the Mets had ’winning’ way lower on their priority list. Glad, the Mets brass caught that so they can begin their 2015-esque run.
“My first priority [said that day] is winning.”” -Bo Bichette [New York Mets]
Full disclosure, I’ve been on vacation the past two week with (thankfully) spotting internet, so I’m literally catching up on who was traded and who remains as I blog…
“Any time you find yourself in a situation like this, it’s not the most fun thing. You see people leave that you have good relationships with. It means that you’re not in a great place in the standings. But for us, we still have to show up and try to win every day, continue to be professionals. That’s what we’re looking forward to doing.” -Bo Bichette [New York Mets]
…so with h/t to David Roth of Defector,Let’s Remember Some Guys!
First, do you guys remember Bo Bichette? I remember him as well as his father Dante Bichette, who had a four-year run where he drove in 514 declines Rib Eye Steaks that paired with a somewhat edible four-year cumulative 0.6 fWAR. Which is just a wonderfully perfect mid-90s stat line that Dante was able to parlay into a three-year, $21 million extension for his age 35, 36, and 37 year old seasons. The contract ended up being a steal…/checks Baseball-Reference/…oh, wait, it went immediately south and the Rockies bailed one season into the three-year deal.
“I think [Bichette’s] in a good spot — as good as you can be. His intent coming here was competing for a World Series, and I think that is heavy on a lot of guys where we find ourselves at this moment. At the same time, carrying that heavy burden doesn’t make you perform well. Going out and believing you’re one of the best players on the planet and swinging the bat like it does.” -Mets Manager Tom Andy Green [Mets]
Anyways, absolutely not apropos of Remembering Some Bad Contracts to players with surnames of Bichette, Bo Bichette knows he’s having a down year and doesn’t feel great about it. But I bet he was Remembering Some Contracts and can console himself knowing his contract has $84 million guaranteed after this season and he will still have leverage to opt out if somehow that’s will be lead to being paid more than $42 million.
In other words, we’re going to start getting lots of quotes about how much he loves NY because he’s not opting out and no team will trade for him unless Cohen/Stearns eat at least the worth of 514 Rib Eye Steaks of his contracts.
“The way I look at it is, I think there’s no doubt this team is going to be better next year. I really believe that. There’s still a lot of talent in this room, a lot of young talent that’s really hungry, combined with guys that have been around who have done a lot of great things in this game. And then on top of that, typically when you have a season like this, people show up a little bit more motivated. So I think that this group is going to be well prepared to be better next year.” -Bo Bichette [Mets]
Honestly, I don’t really Remember Andy Green as A Guy and it might be tough for him to earn a spot as in Let’s Remember Some Former Mets Managers but he’s trying to hit the ground running because his use of MBA Buzzwords during post-game interviews might be making David Stearns roll his eyes.
I had to read additional context prior to the quote to realize Andy Green was talking about Jorge Polanco (another Guy I might not Remember) breaking out of a slump and not that the Mets might be paying his salary via some kind of equity in lieu of cash agreement.
“Sometimes, the sweat equity gets you rolling again.” -Andy Green [Mets]
I know the season is lost, but it’s nice the Mets are brought in former rival Placido Polanco to have the Farewell Tour he always wanted while giving Mets fans a chance to Remember him.
“It feels great to come through after putting a lot of work in.” -Jorge Polanco [Mets]
I’m going to level with you, while I think I’m pretty good at Remembering Some Guys, specifically former Mets from the mid-90s through today [Eric Valent, Desi Reliford, Bartolomé Fortunato]; I’m no David Roth.
Because while I’m confident David Roth will be able to Remember Jefry Yan in the future; I’m going to need Jefry Yan to do something so good or so bad in order for him to earn a spot in my brain where Guys like Dae-sung Koon have permanent residence.
“Once I had him at two strikes, I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to throw that slider,’ and if I freeze him, which is exactly what I did, I’m going to celebrate accordingly.” -Jefry Marte Yan [Mets]
“Honestly, I don’t think about [the Cleveland booing him or something, I did not see the game TBH]. They can do whatever they want there. They’re paying their tickets, so if they want to yell at me, they want to boo me, they can do whatever they want. I’m in my zone, and I’m going to enjoy my game any way that I want to.” – Jefry Yan Gomes [Mets]
The Mets should have Remembered Some Guys with real stuff instead of the fake stuff they went with in the first half.
“It’s real stuff. The fastball is alive.” – Shawn Andy Green [Mets]
Of course I Remember Kodai Senga. I also remember convincing myself his injury plagued 2024 was a blessing in disguise because /putting on my David Stearns-Andy Green MBA fedora/ it meant Senga could not opt out and the Mets were going to get SOOO much Surplus Value.
“Whatever role is given to me, I’m going to throw in that role — regardless of what I say,” Senga said through an interpreter. “If I say I want to be a starter, the team could tell me, ‘Just look at your stats.’ And I don’t have anything to say back to them.” -Kodai Senga [Mets]
I’m not in the ‘giving up’ on David Stearns camp yet,but when I Remember Some Front Office Guys, I remember how excited I was when Sandy Alderson was hired. To be fair to Alderson, he was dealt a bad hand with a barren farm, bad contracts and *cough /The Wilpons/*. With that said, and to put it very lightly, the second Sandy Alderson run included some notable missteps.
I know these Mets are not going to go on a run, but I’m going to continue to watch as is my wont, so Godspeed Jared Young or ChaseChacChaiseChayseChayce McDermott, you have a chance to do something that can earn you a coveted spot in Mets Sickos Fans’ Remember Some Guys rolodex.
“First and foremost, we added a tremendous amount of talent all throughout our system. Different shapes and sizes, different positional groupings, arms and bats, really good defenders. So overall, we believe that we’ve added to our system. We added players that will help us in New York and overall strengthen the quality of our farm system.” -David Stearns [Mets]
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 05: Andres Munoz #75 of the Seattle Mariners smiles at Cal Raleigh #29 after the game against the Detroit Tigers at T-Mobile Park on August 05, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hitters who step into the box against Andrés Muñoz in the late innings have a good idea of what they’re going to see: a triple-digit heater or his wicked biting slider. But since last season, Muñoz has been integrating a tiny new wrinkle in his arsenal: the changeup that he developed prior to spring training last year.
Last spring, all the talk was about Muñoz’s hot sexy new “kick change”, even as he acknowledged the pitch was still in developmental form. Despite the spring buzz, Muñoz threw the pitch only sparingly last year (~2% of the time). This season, he’s still throwing the pitch infrequently, but he’s doubled his usage of it from 2025, to about 5%, and he’s used it even more heavily at times, most notably in his recent outings against the lefty-heavy Twins and Tigers. Muñoz uses his changeup almost exclusively to lefties; of the 32 he’s thrown this season, he’s only thrown one to a righty. Ryan did a great writeup on Muñoz earlier this season, in which he noted that Muñoz had been struggling to get his heater past lefties; it looks like Muñoz started to dip into the changeup more heavily as a weapon to deal with lefties.
Mariners fans have been quick to point out the similarities between Muñoz’s changeup and the other most famous changeup in Seattle’s history, that of Mariners legend and king of the cambio, Félix Hernández. Like Félix’s changeup, Muñoz’s features similar heavy drop, between 5-7”, and comes in around 92 mph, about half a tick faster than it averaged last season, when he was still throwing it as a “kick” change, something he said he doesn’t always do now that he’s throwing the pitch more, as the grip is uncomfortable. Traditional pitching wisdom holds that a changeup is effective when there’s a large velocity differential between that and a pitcher’s fastball, but as our own Jake wrote about Félix’s changeup back in 2019, even when Félix’s fastball velocity started to decline, the changeup remained effective because it featured such a different movement profile than his fastball.
Declining velocity isn’t a concern for Muñoz, but the changeup does play off his other pitches well. While Muñoz is a traditional fastball-up slider-down reliever, the slider cuts gloveside, biting in on lefties and away from righties. The changeup tails armside, giving Muñoz a whiff-getting weapon against lefties – if he can tempt them to swing.
That’s the big if; of those 32 changeups Muñoz has thrown this season, 22 have been balls, and one a called strike (fun fact: the one called strike was also the one changeup thrown to a righty, and it was Jose Altuve). But when hitters swing, they don’t make contact – the pitch currently has a 100% whiff rate. Sometimes the changeup comes in just fully noncompetitive, too far outside to tempt even the most swing-happy of fellas.
But the changeup is more than just a pitch Muñoz hopes to throw for strikes or as a weapon against lefties. It’s a pitch he can use to give hitters a different look as opposed to just the fastball/sinker and slider. And it’s a pitch he can go to when he’s being taxed in an inning or having to throw multiple innings. In his two outings during the Giants series, he threw no changeups, mostly because he didn’t need to, both times blowing through his assigned slate of hitters on just nine pitches each time. But in a multi-inning outing against the Twins where he needed 24 pitches, he threw the changeup six times, or about 25% total.
But what Muñoz says he really values about the changeup – and why he’s not as concerned about throwing it for swinging strikes, even if that’s a nice bonus – is how it can help him reset his mechanics. Muñoz has a famously wonky delivery, falling hard off the mound to the first base side on his finish: something that’s not as noticeable when he’s getting whiffs on his heater and slider, but is a tough look when he’s walking hitters, which he’s always done at an above-average clip. But for all the sturm und drang about Muñoz’s season this year, he’s actually right in line with his career walk rate while striking out a career-high: almost 37% of hitters facing Muñoz are punching out. Muñoz credits his changeup for helping him get back in line when he’s struggling with his command.
“I used to use that pitch to reset when I have some issues with command,” said Muñoz, who has thrown a changeup since 2019, but only rarely at the big-league level until recently. “Like if I’m not able to control, I throw a changeup, and that’s my reset, like, okay, I can go back to the fastball, I can go back to the slider. It just helps me get back in line.”
“Even in the throwing program, when I throw and I feel like something is off, I throw a changeup and I throw the next fastball and it’s good. So that’s why I say that’s like a reset for me.“
But Muñoz doesn’t discount the power of the changeup when he can land it close to the zone – hence that 100% whiff rate when hitters do choose to swing.
“If it looks like it’s in the zone, they’re going to swing at it, especially with two strikes.”
For now, Muñoz is happy to use the changeup primarily as a way to check in with his body when he feels like he’s getting out of his mechanics. It’s still a distant third offering behind his heater/sinker and slider. But whether it develops into a true swing-and-miss weapon or just settles in as a way for Muñoz to check in with himself, it’s a useful tool in Muñoz’s arsenal. Sometimes change is good.
Edward Cabrera, Daniel Palencia and Javier Assad pose during Spring Training | | Getty Images
As you know, the Cubs pitching staff has been decimated by injuries this year. It’s one of the reasons Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer went and traded for Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and Ryan Zeferjahn — to address perceived weaknesses in both the starting rotation and bullpen.
Before I delve into the question posed in the headline, let me give major props to Cubs manager Craig Counsell for his handling of the rotation and pen. To have this team at 67-49 with all those injuries? Excellent work by Counsell, and I’m going to say it right now: If the Cubs win the NL Central, he’ll be NL Manager of the Year. Or maybe even if they fall just short of a division title.
Now let’s look at the Cubs pitching staff.
As the team enters Friday’s game against the Royals, here are the 13 pitchers on the MLB active roster (in alphabetical order):
Starters (5): Javier Assad, Matthew Boyd, Kevin Gausman, Shōta Imanaga, David Peterson
Relievers (8): Aaron Civale, Braxton Garrett, Colin Rea, Ryan Rolison, Caleb Thielbar, Trent Thornton, Jacob Webb, Ryan Zeferjahn
First order of business: You’ll note the starter list does include Gausman, who was added to the active roster on Wednesday. He’ll start tonight in Kansas City. It does not include Holmes, who will be added either today or tomorrow and will start Saturday’s game. Holmes is currently on the 60-day IL, so a 40-man roster move will be needed.
So who goes when Holmes is added? The Cubs have already stated that Assad will move to the bullpen (and not be demoted, at least for now).
I’d think it’d be Civale. He could likely be DFA and return on a minor-league deal. (This sort of thing appears to be the new market efficiency; the Braves did it with Carlos Carrasco six times this year before finally releasing him last month.)
Here are the rest of the Cubs pitchers who are on the IL (60-day IL as noted, also in alphabetical order):
Ben Brown (60-day) Edward Cabrera Hunter Harvey (60-day) Porter Hodge (60-day) Gavin Hollowell Cade Horton (60-day) Riley Martin (60-day) Phil Maton Shelby Miller (60-day) Hoby Milner Daniel Palencia Ethan Roberts Justin Steele (60-day)
That’s 12 pitchers, just one man short of a full staff, and you could almost make a full rotation and bullpen out of that list.
Anyway.
Of those 12, Hodge and Horton will not pitch this year. That leaves 10.
Of the other five on the 60-day — Brown, Harvey, Martin, Miller and Steele — Brown seems the most likely to pitch again. He was placed on the 60-day mainly as a procedural move. And presuming he does return, he’ll likely be working in relief — an “out-getter,” as Counsell likes to call his pitchers.
Cabrera, Milner and Palencia are currently on rehab assignments and of the three, Milner seems closest to returning. When he does, as I see it the Cubs have two possible moves: Either option Garrett to Triple-A, or DFA Thielbar. My guess is that Thielbar gets more rope and Garrett, who is a possible 2027 rotation candidate, gets optioned.
For Palencia and Cabrera, now we’re getting into speculation. It’s possible the Cubs option Assad at that point to keep him stretched out to start. But who else from that list of eight would go? Cabrera’s likely not going to start, unless the Cubs go to a six-man rotation, which they could, or they move Holmes to the pen, another possibility as he was a good closer for the Yankees for three years. I’m still not seeing any obvious candidate from the current eight.
Beyond that, I suspect Hollowell and Maton remain on the IL the rest of the year, though Hollowell could be activated and optioned. I don’t think we see Maton throw another pitch for the Cubs in 2026.
Roberts was spotted at Wrigley Field this week, but he’s returning to Iowa, from what I have heard, and is likely going to be optioned once he’s done with his rehab assignment.
Harvey has been reported as getting ramped up to return, but I don’t really see him being a contributor to the Cubs this year. Same for Steele, even though it would be a great story to have him back. I haven’t heard a thing about Martin, who was a great story earlier this year; he might also be done for 2026. Miller has been rumored to possibly be ready to return, but — where would they put him?
Again, these are good problems to have. You can never have too much good pitching.
How do you see things shaking out for the Cubs pitching staff the rest of the way?
February 28, 2011; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia (9) before the spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dunedin Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On this day 16 years ago,
the Blue Jays defeated the Rays 17-7.
Toronto hit eight home runs: Aaron Hill hit two, while Adam Lind, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, and Lyle Overbay each added one.
And, of course, J.P. Arencibia—playing in his first MLB game—hit two home runs and went 4-for-5 with a double.
At that moment, the future looked bright.
From the recap:
What a way to begin a major league career: he homered on the first pitch he saw, doubled in his second at-bat, singled in his third, and hit another home run in his fourth. He finished with 11 total bases, 3 runs, and 3 RBI. It seemed impossible not to pencil J.P. Arencibia into the lineup every day after such a debut, though I was sure Cito would find a way not to.
J.P. started just 9 of the remaining 52 games, hitting .143/.189/.343 in 37 plate appearances that season and going hitless in 15 September at-bats. I can’t help but wonder how different his career might have been if Cito had shown more faith and played him regularly from the start. When young players only get sporadic opportunities, they sometimes feel pressure to be great every time out—a tough way to begin a career.
Also, from the recap:
Arencibia became just the third Blue Jay to homer in his first career game, joining Alvis Woods and Junior Felix. During his postgame interview, he was covered in shaving cream, doused with two buckets of Gatorade, and then got another round of shaving cream. Please, Cito, play him tomorrow.
Cito didn’t play him the next day.
There are five Blue Jays who started their career with a home run:
Al Woods (1977)
Junior Félix (1989)
J.P. (2010)
Davis Schneider (August 4, 2023)
Charles McAdoo (June 1, 2026)
Jordan Bastian tweeted that, since 1900, no other player had 4 hits and 2 home runs in his MLB debut.
As we know, J.P.’s career didn’t unfold as hoped. He struggled with breaking balls and never mastered the strike zone, finishing with 85 walks and 484 strikeouts.
He spent four seasons with Toronto, hitting .212/.258/.408 with 64 home runs over 380 games.
After the Jays, he played 62 games for the Rangers in 2014 (primarily at first base) and 24 games for the Rays in 2015.
His defense was always a work in progress. He had a decent arm, throwing out 27% of base stealers, but also allowed his share of passed balls and wild pitches. If he had hit better, his defense would have been more forgivable. Off the field, he was great with fans—I once saw him in Calgary, playing with children and clearly enjoying himself.
Other performances of note:
Travis Snider led off and was 2 for 2 with 2 walks.
Yunel Escobar went 3 for 6.
Bautista hit his 34th home run, leading the A.L.
Edwin Encarnacion went 3 for 5 and made his 10th error of the season.
On the pitching side:
Brad Mills started and gave up 5 runs in 4 innings.
Brian Tallet pitched 3 innings of relief, got the win, and allowed 2 unearned runs.
Jason Frasor pitched a scoreless inning.
David Purcey started the 9th, giving up 2 hits and 2 walks, getting just 1 out.
Casey Janssen got the last 2 outs of the game, giving up a hit and a walk and allowing both of his inherited runs to score.
25 Years Ago
Chris Woodward belted three home runs against the Mariners. Amazingly, the Jays lost 5-4
Despite spending seven seasons and 362 games with the Jays—hitting just 26 home runs for Toronto—three of those came in this single game, which is remarkable.
In total, Woodward played 12 years in MLB and finished with 33 career home runs, so 9.1% of his career homers were hit in this one outing
The Mariners lineup at the time featured some greats:
Ichiro Suzuki led off and collected two hits.
John Olerud went 1-for-4.
Edgar Martinez hit cleanup and notched two hits, including a home run and two RBI.
The Jays carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth inning, but reliever Scott Cassidy allowed a run in the eighth and then the go-ahead run in the ninth. I have no memory of Cassidy, though he pitched in 58 games that year—his rookie season—with a 5.73 ERA. A wild stat: in seven save opportunities, he blew all seven (in fairness, he wasn’t a closer, but Buck Martinez and Carlos Tosca—managers that season—used him as a setup man, and the team lacked reliable relievers or starters. It was basically Roy Halladay and pray for rain.
Luke Prokopec surrendered a walk-off home run to catcher Dan Wilson in the 10th, taking the loss. Prokopec finished the year with a 6.78 ERA in 22 games (12 starts).
The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of a six-game losing skid, but the visitors are still heavy -163 favorites tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arizona starter Merrill Kelly has been brutal this season, which is why I’m backing LA to get back in the win column in my Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks predictions and MLB picks.
Who will win Dodgers vs Diamondbacks today: Dodgers (-168)
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be happy to see Merrill Kelly on the mound tonight. Kelly’s pitching run value, xERA (7.17), and xBA (.305) all rank in the bottom percentile among MLB pitchers this year.
The Arizona Diamondbacks starter throws his four-seamer more than 26% of the time – a pitch that the Dodgers have feasted on vs. righties.
LA ranks fourth in MLB in average (.270), fifth in SLG (.465), and seventh in wRAA (30.2) against that pitch type.
We’re paying the Dodgers tax, but I’m still taking LA up to -170.
COVERS INTEL: Roki Sasaki relies heavily on his four-seamer as well, and the Diamondbacks are hitting just .173 vs. that pitch from righties over their last 13 games.
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-126)
Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki hasn’t been great this season, but he’s turned it up over his last four outings with a stingy 2.25 ERA through that span.
And unlike the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks have struggled against the four-seamer from righties, which also happens to be Sasaki’s most common pitch (42.2%).
Arizona sits 27th in team average (.225) and SLG (.401) vs. that pitch type, suggesting their bats will be quiet tonight.
The Under has cashed in each of Sasaki’s last four starts, while the Under is 3-1-1 in Kelly’s last five outings.
I’d play the Under to -130 tonight.
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 7-3, +3.21 units
Over/Under bets: 3-7, -4.01 units
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks weather
Tonight’s forecast calls for mostly clear skies with light winds blowing out to right field in a hitter-friendly ballpark.
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -163 | Diamondbacks +156
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (-104) | Diamondbacks +1.5 (-100)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+117) | Under 9.5 (-122)
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks trend
Under is 7-0 in Kelly's last 7 starts following a team loss. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks.
How to watch Dodgers vs Diamondbacks and game info
Location
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Friday, August 7, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
SNLA, DBacks.TV
Dodgers starting pitcher
Roki Sasaki (5-5, 4.64 ERA)
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Merrill Kelly (8-9, 5.04 ERA)
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 07: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field on July 07, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gunnar Word/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the press conference immediately following the MLB Trade Deadline, Atlanta Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos stated that outside of Tarik Skubal, there was only one other starting pitcher (who he refused to name at the time) who they viewed as an “impact starter” at this year’s trade deadline. There was a lot of speculation surrounding both the Braves and Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom and it appears that there may have been some legitimate activity going on there.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is reporting that the Braves and Rangers apparently had an agreement in place for a trade that apparently hinged on whether deGrom wanted to stay in Texas or waive his no-trade clause in order to go to Cobb County. Rosenthal is using two anonymous baseball executives as his source in the reporting. Here’s the relevant quote from his Trade Deadline aftermath story:
For deGrom, [Anthopoulos] was willing to take on a sizable portion of the pitcher’s remaining salary — about $11 million this season and $37 million next season.…Two executives said a trade almost certainly was in place. The execs, granted anonymity for their candor, pointed out that teams do not approach players about waiving no-trade clauses so close to the deadline unless something is done.
The Braves also were involved in discussions for right-hander José Soriano and other starters, according to a person briefed on their talks. But other than Skubal and deGrom, they did not view those pitchers as difference-makers, or even better than what they had.
The news about José Soriano is interesting and considering what we know about the Blue Jays and their organization’s relationship with Anthopoulos, there was maybe a bit of extra satisfaction on Toronto’s part that they were able to beat AA to the punch when it came to pulling off a deal with the Angels. As far as deGrom goes, that’s a very significant commitment to make in terms of salary so that really tells you just how much Atlanta’s front office wanted to add deGrom into the fold.
I recommend that you read the article if you’re subscribed, as Rosenthal also discusses what the Braves were willing to give up for Tarik Skubal (reader, unsurprisingly it was a lot). There’s a lot in there to think about and it’s to the point where if you were disappointed with the deadline (I’m right there with you), you at least understand what the approach was for Atlanta heading into this year’s intense trade deadline.
With that being said, it does at least appear sincere that the Braves figured that it would be “deGrom (or Soriano) or bust” and they ended up getting the latter as a result. We’ll see how this all ends up going as time passes. For now, the Braves have to be feeling at least a little confident that things may end up working out after the performances that their starters had earlier this week (and also after Casey Mize got blown up for eight earned runs against the Diamondbacks in his Padres debut) but time will tell when it comes to figuring out if AA was right to pass up on all other deals going forward. We’ll see what happens!
CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 8: Mike Gansey speaks as the Philadelphia 76ers introduce him as their new President of Basketball Operations on June 8, 2026 at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. 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 Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A new executive always generates buzz. During his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mike Gansey was part of a front office that made notable additions like Dean Wade (now with the Sixers), Craig Porter and Jaylon Tyson. But you don’t truly know if an executive is the real deal until they’re in the driver’s seat.
Well, it turns out Gansey might be exactly that — the real deal. His first free agency oversaw one of the wildest offseasons in recent NBA memory: trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James to a minimum contract. And that’s just the headliners. Between the draft, trades and free agency, the Sixers brought in seven new faces.
Now that free agency has settled, how did Gansey perform in his debut? We’ll break down every new free agent addition, from the two-way contract players to LeBron himself, analyzing each one, and assigning proper grades based off of team and marketplace context.
Rayan Rupert (two-way)
Starting things off with the first two-way contract is Rupert. For those unfamiliar with him, he was the 43rd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Rupert spent his first three seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers where he saw very little use and playing time. He joined the Memphis Grizzlies via 10-day contract, eventually earning a two-way contract last season. There he saw an uptick in playing time. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals on 42.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.8 percent shooting from three in 16 games (30.9 minutes per game). Solid production, albeit on a small sample size.
Rupert’s game, to this point, is mostly a hypothetical due to the low sample size and young age. But what can you actually expect when he does play? Rupert boasts a tremendous frame at 6-foot-7 with a 7-3 wingspan to pair with it. Not only does he have true wing size, but he also has a stellar motor and legitimate basketball IQ. He’s the type of player you can throw out in the regular season at the end of the quarter to get a stop. If you believe in his Memphis tape, you have the makings of a coveted two-way player if the offense can catch up.
Now, he’ll take his talents to Philly. He’ll look to join the pipeline of two-way players who get extended run and earn his way onto a fulltime contract. Despite being in the NBA for multiple seasons, Rupert is still quite young at 22 years old.
Grade: B-
You simply cannot have enough defense and length alongside Tyrese Maxey and friends, and that’s exactly what Rupert is now. Two-way contracts are as low risk as it can be. There’s evidence to suggest Rupert’s best days are ahead of him. Some of the stuff he brings now can help this team too, even for a fringe signing. We’ll wait and see if the offensive skills can develop, but this is a solid, low-risk bet.
Caleb Love (two-way)
Moving onto their next two-way is one of the bigger names currently on a two-way contract in Love. For those who don’t know Love, he was a a notable draft prospect not that long ago in the 2024 draft. He had an extensive NCAA career, playing three years at North Carolina, later transferring to Arizona. Despite one of the more decorated NCAA careers, Love went undrafted in 2024, later joining the Portland Trail Blazers via two-way contract.
Unlike most undrafted, two-way contract first year players, Love put together a stellar rookie campaign that saw some heavy usuage. The Blazers used up all of his two-way elibility, heavily featuring him in the rotation. In 49 games, including one start, he averaged 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 38.8 percent shooting and 31.8 percent from three.
At 6-foot-3 (without shoes) with a near 6-foot-9 wingspan, Love has good size for a guard. He’s capable of pulling up from anywhere on the court and scoring in bunches. What’ll make or break his career (and tenure here) will primarily be tied to his efficiency. The base numbers leave a lot to be desired, but if he can pull those numbers up there will be no shortage of teams that could use his floor spacing and scoring ability. The Sixers included.
Grade: A
There’s a legitimate argument Love is now the best player on a two-way contract. And if he isn’t the best, he’s for sure in the conversation. He brings a lot of skills that rookie Labaron Philon and Anfernee Simons also provide, but having a reserve guard in your back, back pocket to space the floor and provide volume shooting is fantastic work on the margins.
Ariel Hukporti
Hukporti’s arguably the most controversial add of the offseason, which says a lot about the offseason Gansey had rather than Hukporti himself. The Sixers inked him to a one-year deal relatively early in the free agency period. The controversial part wasn’t necessarily Hukporti, but rather the way they signed him. After corresponding moves, the Sixers chose to dip into their bi-annual exception to ink him to a $3.4 million deal. This exception, as the name suggests, is granted every two years after it’s used, meaning the Sixers won’t have access to it next offseason. Albeit a small exception, the Sixers used most of it on Hukporti.
Hukporti, a late second-round draft pick, has had an extensive career overseas, eventually signing with the New York Knicks and filling their third-string center role behind Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Hukporti wasn’t utilized much — in fact he played less than 500 minutes total last regular season. As expected, there were mixed results. Hukporti was efficient, rebounded at a high rate (per-36 numbers show 11.5 rebounds per game) and played within his role. However, he racked up quite a few fouls despite playing in limited time. Some of that comes from the role (teams don’t care about backup backup bigs fouling when need be), but it is a legitimate area to watch as the Sixers, presumably, deploy him into a larger role here.
The risk side of this is relatively low, but factoring in the context of the BAE is important. If this signing doesn’t pan out, the Sixers will have burned one of their limited financial resources on a signing that didn’t help. However, you can make the argument that this is exactly the type of bet they should be taking: a low number, short-term deal with a player under the age of 25. We also have to factor in the Sixers’ scouting success of the past in identifying talent in other situations. Gansey has shown he has an eye for finding diamonds in the rough, and Hukporti might not be an exception.
The back-up big market was surprisingly competitive, with several players widely considered reserve bigs inking some massive deals. There’s plenty of fluctuation in length, non/partial guarantees, etc., so I’ll keep things simple here by comparing AAV (average annual value) with Hukporti and a few names to come below:
Jusuf Nurkic: 2 years, $22 million ($11M AAV)
Day’Ron Sharpe: 2 years, $20 million ($10M AAV)
Moe Wagner: 2 years, $19 million ($9.5M AAV, mutual option in year 2)
Al Horford: 2 years, $13.9 million (~$7M AAV)
Jaxson Hayes: 2 years, $12 million ($6M AAV)
In particular, I’m a fan of Sharpe’s deal the most out of this group. While all of these players are established NBA talent, if you told me Hukporti could have a better season than a lot of these names, I don’t think it would be crazy. Nurkic and Horford are aging, and Wagner is coming off a pretty serious knee injury. Hayes has been a nightmare off the court.
Grade: C+
For now, Hukporti remains unproven, and Gansey is banking on increased opportunity and development to justify this signing. It’s a fine marginal gamble. The addition of LeBron James should help neutralize most of Hukporti’s weaknesses, allowing him to settle into a defensive-first, low-usage lob threat role. This will be an interesting one to revisit mid-season.
Dean Wade
The first and largest signing of the Sixers’ free agency period was a familiar name for Gansey: Wade, one of the players he helped grow into a surefire NBA player. Wade inked a four-year deal worth $39 million — $30 million of that is guaranteed, with most of the final year in 2029-2030 not guaranteed ($1.6 million of it is guaranteed). The average salary for this deal is just a hair under $9.7 million.
Wade, for those who aren’t familiar with him, has made a career out of embracing the “dirty work” of basketball. He frequently took the hardest perimeter assignment on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite the base rebounding numbers looking low, I’d argue he’s an above average rebounder, and those numbers should trend up here in Philadelphia as he’ll play a lot more of the “power forward” position (unlike Cleveland, where he was used more as a “small forward”).
Defense is where Wade has made his calling card, but he’s also very capable offensively. He shoots well from the perimeter and makes smart reads. In particular, his assist-to-turnover ratio is stellar, albeit on small usage. The stats show Wade is a capable rotation player who should be able to hang on both ends of the floor.
Wade will bring defense, length, and good decision making behind the Sixers’ plethora of offensive options. In a vacuum, it’s a good signing from a fit perspective. But how does it stack up against some of the other bigger contracts handed out to forwards in this free agency class? There’s no shortage of names to compare:
John Collins: 3 years, $51M ($17M AAV — two of his three years have guarantee triggers)
Tobias Harris: 2 years, $31M ($15.5M AAV)
Rui Hachimura: 2 years, $28M ($14M AAV)
Sandro Mamukelashvili: 4 years, $52M ($13M AAV)
While all of those players differ from Wade in a variety of what they bring and offer to a team, it sure makes Wade’s contract look good in comparison. And you can make the argument that Wade is the best defender out of that group. Factoring in the top of the talent pool, the Sixers got the best fitting forward on the lowest number — which makes this signing look very strong on paper from a production standpoint.
Grade: A-
Wade might not be as talented as the players mentioned above, but the fit is undeniable. With an abundance of top-end talent, you need guys like him who embrace the dirty work, play defense, and fill the gaps. Evidence suggests Wade should scale up nicely, and he’ll get that opportunity in Philly. Four years is a long commitment for a player like Wade, but it effectively functions as a three-year deal. So even if it doesn’t work out, the Sixers converted a good chunk of their MLE into a legitimate need. The contract is also tradeable if necessary. That said, Wade could end up playing more rotation minutes than most expect. The Sixers will need his defense and corner-three shooting ability on a nightly basis.
Anfernee Simons
Wade was one of the easier signings to predict, so we’ll take things over to Simons who was one of the bigger surprises they’ve added this offseason. Using the rest of the mid-level exception, they inked Simons to a two-year, $12.2M deal. The second year is a player option that is worth $6M.
Simons had one of the more under-the-radar seasons last year. Some of that might’ve been because of how it actually went down. Simons started the season on the Boston Celtics and played well there, averaging 14.2 points while shooting 44% from the field and 39.5% from three on high volume in 49 games for the Celtics. He was a big reason behind their early season success playing in a supercharged sixth man role. So, what happened?
Simons, on an expiring deal, was shipped out at the trade deadline for two reasons. The first of which was to get under the luxury tax. The second of which was to bulk up their center position ahead of the postseason. So the Celtics sent Simons to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic. Simons would play out the rest of the season on the rebuilding Bulls, who to that point had a true glut of guards post-deadline. He would play a handful of games before being shut down, after re-aggrativiating a wrist injury he suffered in training camp with the Celtics. In a way, his season was forgotten cause he didn’t finish the year with a Celtics team that exceeded expectations. Make no mistake though, he was a big part of their early season success.
Simons is an intriguing add, strictly for offensive needs. He’s a gifted scorer and shooter — in fact, he’s one of the better floor spacers and high volume shooters in the NBA. His gravity metrics test strongly, and for a team that was in the basement on three point makes he’ll fill a clear need.
Anfernee Simons' top 10 stats showcase his 1v1 play, 3-point shooting, and the attention he's drawing from defenses this season.
Ranks and percentiles are among 2025-26 rotation players.
Defensively, I wouldn’t expect much, if anything, from Simons. His defensive numbers are some of the worst in the league. That said, he shouldn’t be asked to do too much defending here. And during his time in Boston, he did try on that end, which does count for something. It wasn’t for a lack of effort.
Comparable reserve guards who received contracts this offseason include the following:
Gary Trent Jr.: 4 years, $64 million ($16M AAV) – nothing to see here, NBA!
Quentin Grimes: 4 years, $60 million ($15M AAV)
Collin Sexton: 2 years, $19 million ($9.5M AAV)
Marcus Smart: 2 years, $13 million ($6.5M AAV)
Jose Alvarado: 3 years, $14 million ($4.7M AAV)
Some of those sure stick out… but let’s not get off track.
For a hair over $6M per season, I think the Sixers did well here. The rest of the market backs that up. In particular, it matches well with what Smart got in Houston. He’s a different player, obviously. Smart is more of a defensive minded guard than anything, and Simons is the opposite of that. But both of these guys are skilled on one end of the floor, and ended up getting almost the same amount of money. There’s an argument to make that Simons is the best player on this list, yet he’s missing an extra zero.
Grade: A-
The only thing holding me back from giving this a straight up ‘A’ would be the questionable fit alongside rookie Philon. Both fill a similar need, and have similar strengths and weaknesses. That could make this addition redundant. However, for the price point, the Sixers locked up a proven high volume shooter. He should also ease any early growing pains with the Sixers’ rookie.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been a top theoretical Sixer for as long as I can remember, ranging from the days of balloon contract debates involving JJ Redick and himself, all the way through a few summers ago when the Sixers had an abundance of cap space. Now, KCP will actually join the Sixers, coming off a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. While Memphis might be paying him almost $20 million, the Sixers will only be paying him the minimum this season on a one-year deal.
So what can Sixer fans expect? KCP has built a long, successful career as a coveted 3-and-D player. The base numbers aren’t glamorous, but you’re getting a guy who knows exactly what his role is and plays within it.
After several productive years in Denver, recent memory hasn’t been kind to KCP. He signed a three-year deal with Orlando, which yielded mixed results. He underwhelmed and was shipped to Memphis the following summer in the deal that brought Desmond Bane to Orlando. With the rebuilding Grizzlies, his numbers have continued to decline. He went from 40.6 percent from three in Denver, to 34.2 percent in Orlando, to 31.6 percent in Memphis over the span of the last three seasons.
Some of that decline can be attributed to age, but I also think both environments were just offensively limited. Orlando hasn’t ranked in the top 10 offensively in years, and Memphis rarely had a consistent star or offensive gravity during KCP’s time there. The Sixers have no shortage of talent, and that gravity should open up cleaner looks for him off the catch.
It’s hard to quantify defense with any advanced metrics, but I reviewed some of his defensive film in Memphis, and the eye test looks better than I expected. That team wasn’t playing for anything apart from draft positioning, but I think KCP can still hold his own defensively and won’t get completely embarrassed on the tougher assignments the Sixers will throw his way. I don’t think he’s completely washed in that regard.
Grade: B
KCP’s best days very well might be behind him, but this is a good bet for the Sixers to take at minimum salary. He has proven success with LeBron and has been a quality player alongside elite talent elsewhere. Similar to Wade, the Sixers need low-usage defensive guys, and if KCP can hit shots at the rate we’ve seen before, it’ll be hard to keep him off the court.
LeBron James
The Sixers signing King James has marked one of the worst days of my life…
…is what I’d say if I needed more clicks on this.
In all seriousness, the Sixers made what could be the biggest free agent signing in all of our lives, signing LeBron to a veteran’s minimum contract in a 1+1 structure, with a player option and 15% trade kicker.
Despite being 41 years old, LeBron is still a very good NBA player and should fit well with this group. In particular, he should help Maxey considerably by getting him off ball much more and into catch-and-shoot situations, which statistically should elevate his averages. LeBron also fits well with the starters: Maxey, Edgecombe and Brown, all of whom ranked towards the top in transition points. The Sixers should get plenty of run-out opportunities and have no shortage of options when running. He’ll also alleviate plenty of pressure off Embiid.
There will be an adjustment period for sure, but LeBron will come here to operate in a point guard role offensively. He will make life considerably easier for Maxey and Edgecombe. There are some fit and defensive concerns with this group as a whole, but betting on talent and the Sixers’ newfound depth to fill the gaps is a good bet.
Grade: A+
There’s a case that every single contract LeBron has taken has been an underpay in terms of production, name brand, and championship pedigree. So if that’s an underpay, what does it make LeBron on a minimum contract?
This signing took the Sixers from an already great team on paper and made them surefire contenders for the upcoming NBA season. This group has to put it together, and there will be growing pains from time to time. But if LeBron wants to sign with your NBA team, let alone for a minimum contract, you do it and don’t think twice. Anything less than an A+ for this would be frankly outrageous.
The final report card
For the most part, this is the type of report card you’d want to bring home to your parents. Gansey’s additions are mostly A’s and B’s, with Hukporti representing the lone C+ you can justify.
I didn’t have high expectations for Gansey in his first year as an executive. I wanted this team to get younger and look toward the future. In a way, they did that, adding Philon through the draft, along with Hukporti, Love and Rupert, all under 25. The Sixers worked with limited resources, primarily the mid-level exception, which they converted into two proven rotation plays in Wade and Simons. Then they added LeBron James, which speaks for itself.
This was one of the strongest debut seasons we’ve seen from an NBA executive. Most front offices evaluate whether their team got better, stayed the same, or got worse. For the Sixers, the answer is unquestionably yes. They got significantly better with Brown and LeBron, but Gansey did excellent work on the margins — an area I’ve been wanting to see addressed for a long time.
The team has to execute and things have to translate on the court, but it’s clear: Gansey’s first free agency was a massive success.
Welcome to the California Post’s weekly Dodgers recap, where we review the week that was, hand out very official awards and take stock of the state of the season.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-inning, 3-run start this week; 11-7 record, 2.76 ERA on season)
There haven’t been many heroic performances during the Dodgers’ six-game losing streak. But Yamamoto’s outing against the Red Sox last Saturday was an exception.
It wasn’t that he halted the Dodgers’ skid, instead taking the loss after giving up the decisive run in the eighth inning. Or that he was particularly dominant, striking out only three batters in a performance that actually saw his ERA slightly rise from 2.72 to 2.76.
But that Yamamoto was pitching at all –– much less effectively enough to complete eight innings –– was nonetheless a feat.
In the days leading up to the start, the already diminutive right-hander lost roughly eight pounds after getting sick at the end of the team’s previous road trip in New York. He spent the week slowly recovering, and had his rotation turn pushed back a day (after a bullpen game on Friday) to regain some extra strength.
It didn’t stop him from making his fourth eight-plus-inning start this year, which is tied with Sandy Alcantara for most in the majors. He also remains in the thick of the Cy Young race, ranking sixth in the NL in ERA, fifth in innings pitched and second in WHIP.
This week, Yamamoto stayed back in Los Angeles during the Chicago portion of the team’s road trip to keep recuperating. He rejoined them in Arizona ahead of his next scheduled start on Saturday.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto winds up to deliver in the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Copyright (c) 2026 Shutterstock Editorial. No use without permission.) Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock
DODGERS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Shohei Ohtani (10-for-24, 3 home runs, 5 RBIs this week; .297 average, .954 OPS, 26 home runs, 70 RBIs this season)
How much Ohtani’s day off from the Dodgers’ lineup last Thursday helped his knee still isn’t clear.
But it certainly didn’t seem to hamper his scorching hot swing.
Though the Dodgers’ two-way star has still not resumed a throwing program amid his ongoing knee injury, now more than a month removed from his last pitching start, Ohtani is in the midst of perhaps his most productive stretch at the plate all season.
Entering Friday, he had hits in nine straight games, five of which were multi-hit efforts. He had four home runs in his last eight, including his first multi-homer performance of the year on Wednesday. And, after the questions that were raised last week when lingering knee soreness forced him to miss a game, he offered a reminder that –– as a hitter, at least –– his injury still isn’t having a notable impact; ensuring his most valuable tool, his bat, isn’t being diminished.
Where things stand with Ohtani’s arm, of course, is less clear.
He did not resume catch play in Chicago this week, though manager Dave Roberts continues to insist that will happen “soon.”
The urgency to get him built all the way back up (at least, as fast as possible with two months still left before the playoffs) isn’t as pressing as it once was, either, thanks to the arrival of Tarik Skubal.
The Dodgers still expect to get something out of him on the mound again this year. But for now, while Ohtani’s two-way status grows more uncertain, there aren’t any worries about his hitting. That remains the most important thing.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, August 5, 2026. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
How worried should Dodgers be about the standings?
So much for the two-time defending champions having no meaningful baseball left to play this season.
Their recent losing streak might not be jeopardizing their playoff chances (Fangraphs still gives them a, *checks notes*, 100% probability of reaching October) or endangering their division lead (they enter this weekend’s series in Arizona 8 ½ games clear of the second-place Diamondbacks), but it has created unexpected competition for a pivotal playoff seeding.
While the Dodgers have dropped six in a row, the Atlanta Braves have won eight-straight, helping them leapfrog the Dodgers for the No. 2 seed in the National League. The Dodgers are also now three games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL’s best record and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage will undoubtedly be goals for the Dodgers over the rest of the season.
But, even amid the more condensed standings now, there is still probably a limit to how urgently they will push for them.
Last year, after all, the Dodgers defended their title even as the NL’s No. 3 seed, which required them to play a best-of-three wild card round and open all three of their subsequent series on the road.
And while they’d like an easier playoff path this October, they’re also unlikely to start pushing their aging roster any extra, or riding their banged-up pitching staff any harder, for the sake of seeding alone.
Josue De Paula (9-for-22, 5 home runs this week; .314 average, .972 OPS, 21 home runs, 82 RBIs this year)
The Dodgers’ top-ranked prospect was never going anywhere in the Skubal sweepstakes. This week, the 21-year-old slugger offered a resounding reminder why.
As deadline rumors swirled, De Paula mashed four home runs and collected nine RBIs in a torrid four-game stretch, setting a new high point in a season that has seen him unlock much more of his tantalizing potential at the plate.
Now, the question is how soon he could be promoted to triple-A.
The Dodgers did clear a pathway in the outfield with their Oklahoma City affiliate, after trading Jack Suwinski to Tampa Bay at the deadline for Hunter Feduccia. The expectation has been that either De Paula or Mike Sirota (the team’s next-best outfield prospect, who has also been tearing it up with double-A Tulsa) will thus take another step up the minor-league ladder.
For now, neither have gotten the call. Still, many more weeks like this, and De Paula won’t be stuck in double-A for much longer.
FUTURE DODGER OF THE WEEK
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal reacts after a play at home plate during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Chicago. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Melissa Tamez
Usually, we dedicate this section to identifying a player the Dodgers could potentially acquire in the future (sometimes far-fetched, other times not).
But this week, we decided we’d review the past, and see how many of our predictions so far this season came true at the deadline.
Skubal, of course, has been a common name in this section. We picked him early in the season as an obvious deadline candidate, and again after his May elbow procedure as a potential offseason signing. We then went back to the well again in last week’s weekly recap, as it became clear the Dodgers would make a real effort to get him.
As for the dozen or so other players featured in this space this year (from Mason Miller to Jacob Misiorowski to Nolan McLean to Munetaka Murakami)? Well, we’re either wrong –– or perhaps simply early.
After all, as the Dodgers showed once again at this trade deadline, whenever there is a star player potentially available in some form or fashion, they’ll almost always be in the hunt for them; no matter how far-fetched it once might have seemed.
Kawhi Leonard attends a news conference July 7 when former teammate Kyle Lowry signed a one-day contract to retire as a Toronto Raptor. (Chris Young / The Canadian Press via AP)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had a second lucrative undisclosed sponsorship agreement with a company doing business with the team, Pablo Torre reported Thursday night on his podcast.
Scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics, which built the $100-million video board at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome, hired Leonard to a multi-million-dollar endorsement deal, according to Torre. The podcast host found no evidence that the All-NBA forward did any work for the company.
The details are similar to the $2- million endorsement deal Leonard had with Aspiration, a now-defunct environmental banking company that had a 23-year, $300-million sponsorship deal with the Clippers. Steve Ballmer, the team’s owner, invested $60 million into Aspiration, triggering allegations that the payment to Leonard circumvented the NBA salary cap.
That deal is at the center off an ongoing, almost year-long NBA investigation. Requests Friday for comment from Leonard’s agent and the Clippers were not immediately answered.
The salary cap limits what teams can spend on player payroll to ensure parity and prevent the wealthiest teams from outspending smaller-market teams to acquire the best players. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has called attempts to circumvent it a “cardinal sin.”
The topic was raised on Torre’s podcast by a person identified as an “anonymous high-level source under contract for Intuit Dome.” The person alleged in an interview that the sponsorship deal was “1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap. It was funneling money from the Clippers through Daktronics back to Kawhi.”
The investigation into the Aspiration allegations has grown in scope, the Athletic reported three weeks ago. In addition to attempting to determine whether Aspiration’s payment to Leonard violated NBA salary-cap rules, the probe conducted by high-powered New York law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz is examining Leonard’s deal with Daktronics.
If the NBA determines that a salary-cap violation occurred, the Clippers could be fined and stripped of first-round picks. Ballmer also could be penalized and Leonard’s contract could be voided. He has one year and $50.3 million left on a three-year, $149.5-million deal he signed before the 2024-25 season.
The endorsement deal with Daktronics raised suspicion because the company doesn’t do business with the general public and doesn’t need prominent athletes or celebrities to pitch its products.
“Daktronics was conservative to a fault for the 20-plus years I was there,” a former employee told Torre. “I remember asking early on why we didn’t do more traditional advertising and promotion to increase brand recognition. I was told that since it’s B2B and not a consumer product, it didn’t make sense to advertise that way.”
Asked whether Leonard had an endorsement deal, Daktronics pointed Torre to a crisis management firm whose spokesman told Hunterbrook Media, “My understanding is Daktronics doesn’t have a deal with Kawhi right now.” Asked for clarification, the spokesman said, “I don’t know what the company wants to say, or can say, given the Wachtell investigation and all that.”
Daktronics is a leader in designing, engineering and manufacturing digital LED display technology and audio systems. Nearly 600 clients are listed on the company website, including numerous NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL teams. Other clients include several airports, and Daktronics built the LAX Time Tower, a 72-foot, four-sided interactive digital media structure located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
The Clippers traded Leonard to the Toronto Raptors on June 30 for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a slew of draft picks, but the teams put the deal on hold pending the outcome of the investigation.
Leonard would not talk about the allegations during the 2025-26 NBA season because the investigation was ongoing. He brushed it off during media day last September.
“None of us did … wrongdoing and, yeah, that’s it,” he said. “We invite the investigation.”
Almost a year later, the investigation continues. Silver has expressed a desire for a resolution, saying in June that it “needs to be wrapped up before next season.” The NBA regular season will begin in October.
Salary-cap circumvention first surfaced with Leonard during his free agency in 2019 after he led the Raptors to the NBA championship. Negotiations with the Lakers ceased when Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, requested a house, the use of private aircraft, guaranteed off-court earnings and an ownership stake in the team, according to Dan Woike of the Athletic. The Lakers informed Leonard’s representatives that those requests violated the NBA collective bargaining agreement and Leonard eventually signed with the Clippers, where he played the last seven seasons.
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Jon Metler's expert pick: Orioles moneyline
Price: 44¢ (+127) at Polymarket
The matchup for Shane Baz is the main reason I'm backing this bet, but the Texas Rangers also feel like a team in a strange spot after the trade deadline. Reports surfaced that Texas was shopping veterans Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, and Nathan Eovaldi despite remaining in the American League playoff race, creating some uncertainty around the clubhouse.
On the field, Baz draws a favorable matchup. Three of the Rangers' top five left-handed hitters—Seager, Joc Pederson, and Evan Carter—do their best damage on pitches at the bottom of the zone. Baz attacks in the opposite manner, using a riding four-seam fastball at the top of the strike zone before tunneling his secondary pitches off it.
That pitch mix should help neutralize the Rangers' pull-side power.
The Baltimore Orioles are trading as a 44-cent underdog, but I make them closer to a 48-cent underdog, which is why I'm hitting the button.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
How to watch: Apple TV
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Guardians moneyline
Price: 58¢ (-136) at Polymarket
The Chicago White Sox are in a brutal spot tonight after being swept in Boston and losing a 13-inning game yesterday. Chicago used seven relievers in the loss and now turns to Noah Schultz, who owns a 5.82 ERA and rarely pitches deep into games.
The White Sox are also just 1-7 across his last eight appearances.
Meanwhile, Parker Messick has allowed only one earned run in each of his three starts since the All-Star break. He owns a 2.20 road ERA and has held Chicago hitters to a .174 batting average in two starts against them this season.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL: Can Logan Gilbert handle the Rays? Not only do Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero have his number, but afer 59 plate appearances against the right-hander, 
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