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Seattle Mariners Minor League Roundup – Week Thirteen

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 20, 2026: Kade Anderson #13 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Tacoma Rainiers

The Rainiers managed a three-three split on the week, pushing with a very solid Salt Lake team that has given many teams fits throughout the season. The Rainiers are understandably thin right now, and despite one of the better bullpen crews in recent years, the big league roster’s lack of health has decimated this Tacoma team’s chances of stringing together wins. Whether they can bounce back or not is yet to be seen, but it seems unlikely much will be changing for at least a few more weeks.

It’s been tough sledding for Ryan Bliss this season, but he had a fantastic series at the dish this week. Collecting 11 hits against Salt Lake hurlers, Bliss managed six extra base hits in the series including his first homer of the month and a triple over the centerfielder’s head. Bliss got a brief call up with the flurry of roster moves that have occurred the past few weeks, but now with an uphill battle for a major league spot, Bliss will need to continue this hot hitting in order to carve out his career with the Mariners. Hopefully his week in Utah is a sign of more to come.

Arkansas Travelers

It was an uncharacteristically poor showing for the Travs this week, dropping five of seven (this included a makeup of a game previously rescheduled for weather) on the series. Frisco is a tough opponent and currently leads the Texas League South, but the Travs absolutely had to have a better showing than they did this week and are now on the outside looking in for a playoff spot. Arkansas will likely have to aim for the second half if they hope to lock down their ticket to the postseason.

Kade Anderson remains the biggest story in minor league baseball. Working another scoreless outing against a very solid lineup, Anderson lowered his ERA down to 1.02 on the year and looks entirely too good for the Double-A level. His 90 punchouts across 61.2 IP are remarkable in their own right, but put next to his season-long walk count of eight (!) takes his dominance into another stratosphere. How they plan to utilize Anderson at the big league level this season is unclear, but it’s becoming more and more obvious they’ll have to give him a shot at some point.

Potential injury note: Michael Arroyo was absent from this weekend’s slate of games, seemingly shut down after Thursday’s contest. Arroyo has missed some time this year with some minor injuries and hopefully can avoid the IL; since his return at the end of May, Arroyo had really started to put things together at the plate and looked much like his old self. There’s been no official move yet, but it’s something to monitor in the coming days.

Everett AquaSox

The Frogs dropped four of six to Hillsborough this week, unable to build on some really solid play across the previous handful of series. Unfortunately for the AquaSox, this one wasn’t much of a contest; Everett stole a pair of tight one-run wins, but the Hops were consistently posting double-digit run totals and really thwarted the Frogs offensively. Tough one this week, but an easy one to flush.

Jonny Farmelo popped yet another homer this week, raising his monthly total up to six and pushing him into double-digits for the year. The young centerfielder is slashing .313/.432/.701 in the month of June and has pushed his season-long K% down to 26.5%, a more than reasonable figure given his excellent walk rate and burgeoning power. Farmelo has one of the loftiest ceilings in this entire system, and if he’s able to hold this kind of output over the next month or so, it seems likely he’ll get a crack at the Texas League before the year ends.

Inland Empire 66ers

The 66ers couldn’t eek out a draw this week and dropped Sunday’s contest to lose the series by a score of four to two. The 66ers have really struggled to get any momentum built this season, and despite some of the bats putting together solid 2026 campaigns up to this point, with little pitching to speak of, it’s been tough for this team to consistently find themselves in the win column.

Estevan Moreno absolutely torched Fresno’s arms this week and has sneakily been one of the better hitters in this Inland Empire lineup. Popping four homers on the week amongst 12 total knocks, Moreno raised his season OPS to .904 on the back of his prodigious power and is proving his draft consensus wrong in the best way possible. Last year’s 20th round pick out of Notre Dame, Moreno has primarily played third base and was formerly a shortstop for the Fighting Irish, though he’s also logged time at first and figures to be more of a true corner-infielder long term. Looking like something of a late-round steal, hopefully Moreno is able to continue his hot hitting and fuel this 66ers lineup toward a successful second half.

Mason Peters’ start was skipped this week, hopefully a scheduled pass through the rotation in order to limit the young starter’s innings in his first go around of professional ball. Additionally, outfielder Korbyn Dickerson didn’t appear in Saturday or Sunday’s contests after missing a pair of games early this week, potentially getting some days off while nursing a minor injury. Both seem to have a very reasonable path to returning shortly, but given the unknown nature of their absence, it’s worth following in the coming days. Both players have been integral to this team thus far and are amongst the best prospects in this entire system.

ACL Mariners

Both Nick Becker and Yorger Bautista had outstanding weeks at the plate for the Baby M’s, building on strong months of June that have marked serious improvements to their games. Becker reached the 20 SB mark and hit his third homer of the year, raising his season OPS to .903 while consistently manning shortstop. Becker is still whiffing too much, but his strikeout rate has been declining in recent weeks, and his gaudy walk rate helps to buoy his numbers to the excellent level he’s currently sitting at. On the month, he holds an OPS of .980 with a K% below 30%. Bautista, who logged 11 hits in five games, owns an OPS of .813 on the month and is showing off a healthy amount of slug. Both prospects possess immense ceiling and figure to be top prospects for the foreseeable future.

DSL Mariners

Gregory Pio and Juan Rijo have garnered the bulk of our coverage for this DSL squad, but this lineup is far from a two-man show. Maikol Rodriguez, Jarvis Gomez, and Fabian Gonzalez all have OPS marks north of 1.000 and are crushing the baseball right now. They join Pio and Rijo as elite offensive producers and are giving this DSL roster the best lineup they’ve had in several years.

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Monday Stat Party: Losses By The Dozen

Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.

MONDAY

Eugenio Suárez became the first Reds player with a two-homer game against the Mets at Great American Ball Park since Adam Dunn on Opening Day of 2005.

The Mets found themselves down nine runs after the second inning. It’s only the 12th time in franchise history that’s happened, and the first since May 25, 2022 in San Francisco.

The Mets allowed at least three runs in three separate innings for the first time since an 11-6 loss on July 29, 2023, against the Nationals at Citi Field.

From the fourth inning to the seventh inning, the Mets had 11 baserunners but did not score. It’s the first time in franchise history they’ve had 11 baserunners in a four-inning span without scoring. (source: SNY broadcast)

The 12-0 final score marked the Mets’ largest shutout loss since a 15-0 loss on August 26, 2018, against the Nationals at Citi Field. The first and second Nats runs in that game came home on a groundout and a walk from 19-year-old Juan Soto.

The Mets suffered their eighth shutout loss of the season, tied for the most in MLB with the Giants and Padres.

TUESDAY

The Mets went with the exact same lineup a game after being shut out. It’s the first time they’ve done that (not including the starting pitcher) since April 19, 2014. Jared Young, Chris Young, and Eric Young Jr. were all involved in helping bring you this strange stat. (credit: SNY broadcast)

The Mets allowed three runs in the first inning in back-to-back games for the first time since July 18-19, 2021. The Mets won both of those games, with the first in Pittsburgh and the second in — where else — Cincinnati. (credit: SNY broadcast)

The Mets left 10+ runners on base for a third consecutive game, marking just the second time they’ve done that since 2017. The Mets’ 33 runners left on base over those games is their most in a three-game span since July 5-7, 2023 (a span in which they went 3-0).

WEDNESDAY

Bo Bichette recorded his sixth consecutive multi-hit game, becoming only the 19th Met with a streak of at least six multi-hit games. Steve Henderson has the Mets’ longest such streak with eight straight multi-hit games from July 12-21, 1979, while David Wright has the second-longest with seven straight multi-hit games from July 24-30, 2011.

Bichette became the first Met with 14+ hits and 8+ runs scored in a six-game span since Wright from July 24-29, 2011.

Francisco Alvarez recorded three batted balls with an exit velocity of at least 107 mph, becoming just the eighth Met to do that in the Statcast era (since 2015). The only Mets to do that in more than one game are Yoenis Céspedes (two times), Brandon Nimmo (two times), and Pete Alonso (eight times, including two games where he had four batted balls at 107+ mph).

Alvarez’s 112.6-mph single off Nick Lodolo in the top of the fifth inning marked his hardest-hit base hit since a homer off Ranger Suarez on September 21, 2024.

At 24 years and 328 days old, Nolan McLean became the youngest Mets pitcher to strike out nine or more batters and allow zero earned runs since Noah Syndergaard on May 22, 2016 against the Brewers at Citi Field.

Juan Soto, Alvarez, and Bichette all recorded three hits. It’s the first time three Mets recorded three or more hits in a game since September 2, 2025, when Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, and Brett Baty did it in Detroit.

THURSDAY

Juan Soto recorded his 30th career multi-homer game. At 27 years and 236 days old, Soto became the 3rd-youngest player to record their 30th career multi-homer game, behind only Alex Rodriguez and Mel Ott. Since 2018, his 30 multi-homer games are tied with Manny Machado for the 3rd-most in MLB behind Aaron Judge (40) and Kyle Schwarber (36).

Carson Benge recorded his seventh three-hit game, tied with JJ Wetherholt for the most by an MLB rookie so far this season.

SATURDAY

The Mets lost by 12+ runs for the second time in six days. The last time they lost multiple games by that many runs in that short a span was September 13, 2017 (a 17-5 loss at Wrigley Field) and September 18, 2017 (a 13-1 loss at Marlins Park).

The Mets allowed 15+ runs for the first time since August 12, 2023, when they lost 21-3 to the Braves at Citi Field.

Freddy Peralta allowed 10 earned runs. It’s only the eighth outing in franchise history where a Met pitcher allowed double-digit earned runs, with the most recent being Jerad Eickhoff’s final Mets start on July 27, 2021, against the Braves. Three of those eight outings have come at Citizens Bank Park. Here’s the full list of Met pitchers to accomplish the unfortunate feat, if you’re curious: Calvin Schiraldi, Pat Mahomes, Steve Trachsel, Al Leiter, Orlando Hernandez, Johan Santana, Eickhoff, and now Peralta.

Bryce Harper became the fifth player to hit for the cycle against the Mets, joining: Wes Parker (May 7, 1970), Ray Lankford (September 15, 1991), Vladimir Guerrero (September 14, 2003), and Jared Walsh (June 11, 2022).

Kyle Schwarber became just the second player to record two three-homer games against the Mets in their career, as he previously hit three homers against the Mets on June 20, 2021, with the Nationals. The other player is Willie McCovey, who did it on September 22, 1963, and September 17, 1966, both at Candlestick Park.

Harper and Schwarber became the second teammates to record a cycle and a three-homer performance in the same game, after Tony Lazzeri hit a cycle and Lou Gehrig hit four homers for the Yankees on June 3, 1932, against the A’s – also in Philadelphia. (source: Sarah Langs / MLB)

Prior to Saturday night, no player had recorded two homers at 440+ feet in the same game against the Mets. Schwarber did it in one inning, with the first homer projected at 456 feet and the second at 457 feet.

The Phillies recorded seven hits with an exit velocity of 106+ mph, tying the record for the most the Mets have allowed in a single game (June 8, 2023, in Atlanta — also known as the Ozzie Albies/Tommy Hunter game) in the Statcast era.

Prior to Saturday night, only 11 players had recorded three hits at 105+ mph in the same game against the Mets in the Statcast era. Harper and Schwarber both joined that list in the span of three innings (yes, each of them got three hits at 105+ mph between the third and fifth innings).

SUNDAY

Carson Benge homered in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. Benge became the youngest Met to homer in back-to-back games at Citizens Bank Park since David Wright did it in three straight from June 13-15, 2006.

The loss snapped the Mets’ streak of seven straight wins in series finales, dating back to May 27 vs. the Reds at Citi Field.

Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:

On August 16, 2018, the Mets beat the Phillies 24-4 in the first game of a doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. The game marked both the largest margin of victory (20 runs) and most runs scored (24 runs) by the Mets in franchise history.

Good things can, in fact, happen in Philadelphia.

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White Sox Minor League Player of the Week (June 15-21, 2026): Kyle Teel

Back in business: Kyle Teel hit his way back into the majors this week. | David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Charlotte Knights
Record 4-2 (last week), 42-33 (first half), 42-33 (overall)

Knights Players of the Week
Kyle Teel .500/.529/.750, 16 at-bats (finished rehab assignment, called back to Chicago on June 22)

Andy Weber .391/.440/.652, 23 at-bats
Ryan Galanie .381/.409/.667, 21 at-bats
Dustin Harris .348/.423/.609, 3-for-4 stolen bases, 23 at-bats
Rikuu Nishida .286/.333/.321, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 28 at-bats
William Bergolla Jr. Did not play (7-day IL from shin bruise)

Shane Murphy 8 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Jonathan Cannon 6 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 6 K
Mason Adams 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K
David Sandlin 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K
Noah Schultz 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 8 K

The Knights kept their strong season going with a winning series against the Bisons (35-40) in Buffalo. This was the only winning week for any team within the White Sox organization.

Catcher Kyle Teel, 24, wanted to return to the majors as soon as possible, and his performance proved it. Currently working hard to fully recover from a right knee LCL sprain, went 8-for-16 with a homer, a double, a walk, and four RBIs. Teel’s MLB career got off to a nice start in 2025, as he posted 1.9 fWAR in 78 games. Meanwhile, with Teel out due to injury, the catcher position has been a weak area for the South Siders in 2026. Teel’s return will go a long way in terms of patching up a thin area.

2026 Charlotte Knights Players of the Week
Korey Lee (March 27-April 5)
Oliver Dunn (April 6-12)
Shane Smith (April 13-19)
Jarred Kelenic (April 20-26)
Oliver Dunn (April 27-May 3)
LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 4-10)
Jacob Gonzalez(May 11-17)
LaMonte Wade Jr.(May 18-24)
Jacob Gonzalez(May 25-31)
Braden Montgomery(June 1-7)
Ryan Galanie(June 8-14)
Kyle Teel(June 15-21)

Birmingham Barons
Record 2-4 (last week), 26-43 (first half), 26-43 (overall)

Barons Player of the Week
Grant Magill .500/.545/.800, 10 at-bats

Brenden Dixon .364/.364/.818, 11 at-bats
Caleb Bonemer .316/.480/.316, 19 at-bats
Alec Briley .261/.320/.522, 23 at-bats
Anthony DePino .211/.375/.421, 19 at-bats
Colby Shelton .211/.250/.368, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 19 at-bats

Dylan Cumming 5 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 6 K
Connor McCullough 5 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Lucas Gordon 4 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 6 K
Jake Palisch 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 1 K
Morris Austin 3 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K
Gabe Davis 3 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 5 K

Birmingham lost another series, but for the second straight week, at least they made it competitive. The Barons won two of the first three games, but they dropped the last three to the Blue Wahoos (36-33).

Catcher Grant Magill, 25, only played in three games, but he made his playing time count. The talented catcher went 5-for-10 with a homer, a walk, and five RBIs. During Thursday’s game, which was one of the wildest of the season, Magill played a big role in Birmingham’s 16-13 victory., going 3-for-5 with a homer. Magill also drove in four to lead all players and help the Barons recover from allowing 10 runs in an inning. Magill got promoted on from High-A on June 10, and he is already dominating Double-A pitching.

2026 Birmingham Barons Players of the Week
Samuel Zavala (April 6-12)
Braden Montgomery (April 13-19)
Alec Makarewicz (April 20-26)
Wilfred Veras (April 27-May 3)
Jake Palisch(May 4-10)
Wilfred Veras(May 11-17)
Alec Makarewicz(May 18-24)
Drake Logan(May 25-31)
Dylan Cumming(June 1-7)
Anthony DePino(June 8-14)
Grant Magill(June 15-21)

Winston-Salem Dash
Record 3-3 (last week), 39-30 (first half), 39-30 (overall)

Dash Player of the Week
Kyle Lodise .368/.429/.895, 19 at-bats

Boston Smith .214/.421/.857, 14 at-bats
Ely Brown .263/.417/.263, 19 at-bats
Kaleb Freeman .263/.333/.474, 19 at-bats
Alex Ungar .250/.357/.500, 12 at-bats

Riley Eikhoff 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K
Grant Umberger 5 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Drew McDaniel 4 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K
Liam Paddack 4 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Max Banks 4 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K

For the third consecutive week, the Dash went .500 to remain nine games better than .500. Winston-Salem is still in second place in the South Atlantic League South.

Shortstop Kyle Lodise, 22, was fantastic across the board for the Dash. Overall, Lodise’s excellent performance was a major factor for Winston-Salem being able to salvage a series split. Lodise went 7-for-19 with three homers, a double, a walk, and a team-leading six RBIs. That monstrous week resulted in a 1.324 OPS that increased Lodise’s season OPS to .775. On top of his bat and defensive value, Lodise is 24-for-30 in stolen bases.

2026 Winston-Salem Dash Players of the Week
Caleb Bonemer (April 6-12)
Colby Shelton (April 13-19)
Colby Shelton (April 20-26)
Caleb Bonemer(April 27-May 3)
Colby Shelton(May 4-10)
Boston Smith(May 11-17)
George Wolkow (May 18-24)
Morris Austin(May 25-31)
Caleb Bonemer(June 1-7)
James Taussig(June 8-14)
Kyle Lodise(June 15-21)

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
Record 3-3 (last week), 35-34 (first half), 35-34 (overall)

Cannon Ballers Player of the Week
Matthew Boughton .519/.567/.741, 3-for-4 stolen bases, 27 at-bats

Efren Teran .313/.522/.313, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 16 at-bats
Jaden Fauske .304/.407/.565, 4-for-4 stolen bases, 23 at-bats
Derek Cerda .231/.333/.385, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 26 at-bats
Adrian Gil .143/.500/.571, 14 at-bats

Truman Pauley 5 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K
Anthony Patterson 4 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Gabriel Rodriguez 4 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Gabe Tanner 4 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Caedmon Parker 7 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 6 BB, 8 K

The Cannon Ballers dropped three of the first four games, but they rallied with two dominant victories to even the series against the Woodpeckers (33-35).

Infielder Matthew Boughton, 20, who plays second base, shortstop, and third base, was an enormous problem for Fayetteville pitching. The infielder, who the South Siders selected in the 11th round last year, posted massive numbers. Incredibly, Boughton went 14-for-27 with a homer, three doubles, two walks, three steals in four attempts, and a team-leading seven RBIs. Boughton reached base safely at least twice in every game this week. Boughton got off to a slow start to the season, and he entered this week with a .182/.244/.266 slash line. However, this week boosted his numbers up to .232/.292/.337.

2026 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Players of the Week
Stiven Flores (April 6-12)
Abraham Núñez (April 13-19)
Javier Mogollón(April 20-26)
Arxy Hernández(April 27-May 3)
Javier Mogollón(May 4-10)
Max Banks(May 11-17)
Riley Eikhoff(May 18-24)
James Taussig(May 25-31)
James Taussig(June 1-7)
Derek Cerda(June 8-14)
Matthew Boughton(June 15-21)

ACL White Sox
Record 1-4 (last week), 11-25 (first half), 11-25 (overall)

Complex Sox Player of the Week
Tommy Vail 3 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 7 K (on a rehab assignment)

D’Angelo Tejada .273/.429/.273, 2-for-2 stolen bases, 11 at-bats
Jefrank Silva .250/.357/.250, 12 at-bats
Alan Escobar .250/.333/.500, eight at-bats
Yordani Soto .200/.368/.200, 15 at-bats
Alejandro Cruz .133/.133/.133, 1-for-2 stolen bases, 15 at-bats

Justin Fuson 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K
Reudis Diaz 3 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K
Wikelman González 3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K
Orlando Suarez 2 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K

The Complex Sox only picked up one victory in five games this week, dropping to 14 below .500 overall. The offense had serious problems, only managing to score 14 runs (2.8 per game).

Pitcher Tommy Vail, 27, is on a rehab assignment and is expected to join the Barons when ready. Double-A is where Vail spent the majority of his 2025 season, and during those 51 innings, Vail posted a 3.00 ERA and a 4.11 FIP. This week, Vail showed he is about ready to return to normal baseball activity, as he delivered 3 1/3 shutout innings and did not even allow a hit.

2026 Complex Sox Players of the Week
Alexander Albertus(May 4-10)
Eduardo Herrera(May 11-17)
Yordani Soto (May 18-24)
José M. Mendoza(May 25-31)
Yordani Soto(June 1-7)
Landon Hodge(June 8-14)
Tommy Vail(June 15-21)

DSL White Sox
Record 2-3 (last week), 5-10 (first half), 5-10 (overall)

DSL White Sox Player of the Week
Sebastian Romero .333/.400/.611, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 18 at-bats

Carlos Vielma .429/.579/.429, 14 at-bats
Ronald Cardozo .250/.308/.250, 12 at-bats
Samuel Luis .143/.250/.143, 3-for-3 stolen bases, 14 at-bats
Hector Hernández .571/.625/.714, 2-for-2 stolen bases, seven at-bats

Roderic Ramirez 4 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Jhoriel De La Rosa 3 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Alexander De Los Santos 3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Ronald Kelly 3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K
David Colmenares 2 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 K

The DSL White Sox had another rough week, only winning two of their five games. As a result, they are already five games worse than .500.

Once again, outfielder Sebastian Romero, 17, was on top of his game, and he is off to a great start to the season. This week, Romero went 6-for-18 with two triples, a double, a stolen base in his only attempt, and he comfortably led the team with seven RBIs. That resulted in a 1.011 weekly OPS, and overall, he is slashing .367/.448/.796 (166 wRC+).

2026 DSL White Sox Players of the Week
Carlos Vielma(June 1-7)
Sebastian Romero(June 8-14)
Sebastian Romero(June 15-21)

Who gets YOUR vote for Minor League Player of the Week?
 
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Shohei Ohtani has been brilliant on the mound this year, but he’s still a long shot for the Cy Young

Shohei Ohtani has won four MVPs, and now he’s making an impressive bid for an honor that has thus far eluded the two-way star: the Cy Young Award.

Problem is, the competition in the National League might be a little too stiff this year.

Ohtani is 7-2 with a 1.47 ERA so far this season. With the Los Angeles Dodgers nearly halfway through their schedule, he’s made 12 starts and thrown 73 2/3 innings. His career highs in those categories are 28 and 166, back in 2022. That year he went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA for the Los Angeles Angels and finished fourth in the American League Cy Young race.

Ohtani’s hitting always has been more reliable than his pitching on a year-in, year-out basis. He didn’t pitch at all in 2019 or 2024, and his teams have been careful with his workload. Even now, he’s a few innings shy of qualifying for the ERA title, but with a mark that far below 2.00, he’s clearly one of the game’s top starters.

Still, he remains a long shot for the Cy Young according to oddsmakers. Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (8-3, 1.45 in 15 starts) is the favorite, and Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez (9-3, 1.80) isn’t far removed from throwing 50 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

Ohtani is a runaway favorite to win another MVP, of course. He isn’t on pace for the eye-popping home run and stolen base stats he’s produced in the past, but he leads the National League in on-base percentage, and when you factor in his pitching value it’s hard to make a case for anyone else.

Trivia time

The very first Cy Young Award went to a member of the Dodgers, back in 1956 when there was one honor covering both leagues. Brooklyn’s Don Newcombe won it. Since moving to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have had seven pitchers win the Cy Young. Who were they?

Performance of the week

The first two cycles of the 2026 season took place this past week. Pete Crow-Armstrong completed the single-double-triple-homer set for the Chicago Cubs in a win over Colorado. Then Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies pulled it off during a rout of the New York Mets.

Crow-Armstrong did get picked off first immediately after the single that gave him the cycle — so give the slight edge to Harper here.

Honorable mention: Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies hit three home runs in the same game Harper hit for the cycle. The only other time two teammates pulled that off was June 3, 1932, when Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees hit four home runs and Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle. The Yankees beat the Philadelphia Athletics 20-13 that day.

Comeback of the week

The Athletics overcame a seven-run, sixth-inning deficit to beat the Los Angeles Angels 12-11 in 10 innings. It was a wild evening, with the A’s taking a 4-0 lead before allowing 11 consecutive runs. The Angels had a win probability of 99% by the bottom of the seventh according to Baseball Savant.

The comeback began an inning earlier when Zack Gelof singled home a run to make it 11-5. With two outs in the seventh, Tyler Soderstrom walked and Jacob Wilson followed with a homer to cut the deficit to four. A two-run homer in the eighth by Max Muncy made it 11-9.

The A’s were down to their last out when Jonah Heim hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth. After Muncy, the third baseman, threw a runner out at the plate in the top of the 10th, the Athletics won when Nick Kurtz drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom half.

The A’s (38-40) are 1 1/2 games out of first place in the AL West despite what is now the worst run differential in the AL at minus-54.

Trivia answer

Sandy Koufax (three times), Clayton Kershaw (three times), Don Drysdale, Mike Marshall, Fernando Valenzuela, Orel Hershiser and Eric Gagne.

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Mammoth Extend Andre Tourigny And Blaine Forsythe, Bring In Adam Foote To Coaching Staff

Andre Tourigny isn’t going anywhere—and this time, Utah made sure of it in a much more meaningful way than initially understood.

What was first reported by The Fourth Period and Daily Faceoff insider Dave Pagnotta as a one-year extension has since been clarified: the Utah Mammoth have instead signed Tourigny to a multi-year contract extension, securing their head coach well into the next phase of the franchise’s growth.

The move removes any ambiguity around his future and signals clear organizational belief in the coach who has guided the Mammoth from early-stage rebuild to a legitimate playoff team.

Tourigny was entering the final year of his previous contract in 2026-27, a situation that often creates noise around a coaching staff heading into an important stretch. Utah instead opted to eliminate that uncertainty entirely, locking in continuity behind the bench as the roster continues to mature.

Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The extension comes on the heels of the most successful season in the franchise’s brief Utah era. The Mammoth finished 43-33-6, earning fourth place in the Central Division and a Western Conference Wild Card berth—marking the organization’s first playoff appearance since relocating.

Their postseason run was short but revealing. Utah grabbed a 2-1 series lead over the eventual Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights before ultimately falling in six games. While the exit stung, it also underscored a growing internal reality: this team is no longer solely projecting future competitiveness—it is already beginning to test it.

Across five seasons behind the bench dating back to the Arizona Coyotes era, Tourigny has compiled a 170-195-45 record. The raw numbers don’t tell a simple success story, but they do reflect something the organization values more—steady progression through a prolonged rebuild and the development of a young core that has finally started to deliver results.

Few coaches have lasted longer in today’s NHL landscape. Only Jon Cooper, Jared Bednar, and Rod Brind’Amour have had longer continuous tenures. And while the NHL officially treats Utah as a separate expansion-era franchise, meaning Tourigny’s “Utah tenure” is technically just two seasons, his influence spans the entire organizational transition.

What matters most inside the building is trajectory.

“André and Blaine have both been instrumental in building the foundation for our organization and will be critical in our continued success and leadership moving forward,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “André is an excellent leader, communicator, and person, who is extremely well respected by our players and our staff.”

Utah also confirmed multi-year extensions for assistant coach Blaine Forsythe while adding Adam Foote to the coaching staff.

Blaine Forsythe is back for another go at it. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas
Blaine Forsythe is back for another go at it. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas

Forsythe remains a key part of the structure despite a down year for the power play. Over his tenure, Utah’s man advantage has generally ranked in the top half of the league, including a top-10 finish during the 2024-25 season, and continues to be viewed internally as a stabilizing strength.

“Blaine’s an experienced, knowledgeable, and Stanley Cup-winning coach who has a strong body of work running the power play,” Armstrong said.

Adam Foote played parts of 17 of his 19 NHL seasons with the franchise that began as the Quebec Nordiques before relocating and becoming the Colorado Avalanche. Credit: Ron Chenoy.
Adam Foote played parts of 17 of his 19 NHL seasons with the franchise that began as the Quebec Nordiques before relocating and becoming the Colorado Avalanche. Credit: Ron Chenoy.

Foote, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2002 Olympic gold medalist, joins the staff following a brief head coaching stint with the Vancouver Canucks. His arrival is expected to bring a different voice and added experience to the room.

“We are also thrilled to have Adam, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2002 Olympic gold medalist right here in Salt Lake, join the organization and bring a fresh perspective to our room backed by years of experience as both a player and coach,” Armstrong added. “This is another exciting day for the organization.”

The foundation isn’t being reconsidered—it’s being reinforced. And at the center of it remains the same coach who helped build it from the ground up.

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Columbus Blue Jackets: The History Of The 14th Overall Pick

The Columbus Blue Jackets own the 14th pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Let's take a look at the history of that draft position for the CBJ.  

Some notable picks around the league at #14 are Charlie McAvoy, Brent Seabrook, Jake DeBrusk, and Devan Dubnyk. 

Alexander Wennberg - 14th in the 2013 Draft - Wennberg was drafted in the 1st round of the 2013 NHL Draft as the 14th overall draft pick.

Wennberg came to North America and made his NHL Debut in 2014. After having three decent seasons, including a 59-point year in 2016-17, Wennberg was signed to a six-year deal on September 1st, 2017. 

Tom Wilson would seemingly derail Wennberg's career in the 2018 playoffs when he laid a devastating check on him. The next two seasons, Wennberg would only total 47 points. In October of 2020, the CBJ would buy Wennberg out, making him a free agent. 

In addition to playing with the Florida Panthers since leaving Columbus, He's played for the Seattle Kraken, New York Rangers, and San Jose Sharks. After the 59-point season he had in 2016-17, Wennberg failed to score more than 38 points in a single season. That streak was stopped last season, when he scored 18 goals and had 55 points for San Jose. 

Jackson Smith - 14th in the 2025 NHL Draft - Smith was announced as the 14th pick by Johnny Gaudreau's widow, Meredith, at the 2025 NHL Draft and instantly became a fan favorite.

Jackson Smith is an elite freshman defenseman for the Penn State men’s ice hockey team. A native of Calgary, Alberta, he made program history as the first-ever first-round selection for the Nittany Lions, having been drafted 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2025 NHL Draft.

The youngster paced all Big Ten blueliners in points and broke the Penn State program record for the most single-season goals by a defenseman. He totaled 54 points and had 43 assists. 

The Blue Jackets seem to be open to trading the 14th pick this year, much like they were last year as well. But that's easier said than done in today's NHL. 

Can Waddell get a deal done involving the 14th pick? We won't know for a few days, but if they don't, they're sure to get a pretty good draft pick as well. 

Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.   

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Cubs vs Mets Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 22

Chicago (40-37) had an unscheduled day off yesterday to prepare for their short three-game road trip to New York (34-43). Both the Mets and Cubs are coming off losses as they meet for their second and final series of the season. Chicago swept the Mets earlier this year and outscored the Mets, 18-9.

Chicago is 6-3 in the last nine games and starting to turn the corner in June. The Cubs are 8-9 overall this month and ranks middle of the pack in ERA, BA, OBA, and most categories. The one area that the Cubs stand out is their plate discipline. Chicago has the third-most walks (72) and the eighth-fewest strikeouts (136).

New York is coming off two straight losses to Philadelphia and were outscored 25-11 in the series. The Mets surrendered 21 runs in the last two games and have the seventh-worst ERA (5.79) over the last week. In that same span, New York ranks 10th in batting average (.266), but has the second-fewest extra bases hits (5).

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Cubs at Mets

  • Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026
  • Time: 7:10 PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Flushing, NY
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Cubs at the Mets

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (-125), New York Mets (+104)
  • Spread: Mets +1.5 (-159), Cubs -1.5 (+131)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Mets

  • Monday's pitching matchup (June 22): Kodai Senga vs. Shota Imanaga
  • Cubs: Shota Imanaga

2026 stats: 86.2 IP, 4-6, 4.26 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 84 Ks, 22 BB

  • Mets: Kodai Senga

2026 Stats: 24.0 IP, 0-5, 9.00 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 28 Ks, 17 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong is hitting .286 with 83 hits, 16 home runs and 40 RBI over 290 at-bats
  • The Cubs’ Dansby Swanson is hitting .183 with 44 hits and 66 strikeouts over 240 at-bats
  • The Mets’ Juan Soto is hitting .301 with 66 hits, 17 home runs, and 38 RBI over 219 at-bats
  • The Mets’ Marcus Semien is hitting .219 with 61 hits and 65 strikeouts over 279 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cubs at Mets

  • The Cubs are an MLB-worst 29-48 ATS
  • The Mets are 32-45 ATS, ranking fifth-worst
  • The Cubs are 40-36-1 to the Over
  • The Mets are 35-34-8 to the Under
  • The Cubs are 15-22 ATS on the road, ranking fourth-worst
  • The Mets are 15-21 ATS at home, ranking seventh-worst

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Cubs and the Mets

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Cubs and the Mets:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Mets at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5

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MLB Same-Game Parlay Predictions: Our Best SGP Picks for Monday, June 22

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With another busy slate of games across the Majors, I've found more value in my MLB same-game parlay predictions. 

Gerrit Cole will dominate the Detroit Tigers, while Hunter Brown will miss some more bats against the Toronto Blue Jays. I'm also eyeing the St. Louis Cardinals to jump on Merrill Kelly early, while Andre Pallante deals.

Read more in my MLB picks for Monday, June 22. 

Today's best MLB SGP picks

GameSGP Odds
Yankees NYY vs Tigers DET+216
Astros HOU vs Blue Jays TOR+425
Cardinals STL vs Diamondbacks ARI+264

Yankees at Tigers SGP: Cole leads Yankees to victory

Gerrit Cole takes the hill for the New York Yankees tonight, and he's been holding his own. The right-hander has a 3.29 xERA over his last two starts, and he's held opponents to a 27.6% hard hit rate during that span. He's also cashed the Under in earned runs allowed in back-to-back outings. 

On the other side, Framber Valdez takes the ball for the Detroit Tigers, and he has been struggling. The lefty has a 4.85 FIP over the last month, and he's given up a 40% hard hit rate across his previous two appearances. Most notably, Valdez's FIP sits at 5.72 at home compared to 3.52 on the road. 

Jose Caballero is one of the Yankees' hitters I expect to jump on Valdez. He has a .388 wOBA across his last six games and has a hit in five of his last six. 

  • Time: 6:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: YES, Detroit Sports Network

See full analysis of this game in our Yankees vs Tigers predictions.

Astros at Blue Jays SGP: Alvarez keeps raking

Yordan Alvarez has been one of the best hitters in the big leagues this season, and he continues to crush. The slugger owns a ridiculous 68.4% hard hit rate and 26.3% barrel rate over the last week. He has three extra-base hits in his last six games, and Alvarez has cashed the Over in total bases in two of his last four. 

Hunter Brown returned from the IL last week and was solid, allowing just one run while striking out seven. While it's not a large sample size, Brown has cashed the Over in Ks in all three outings this season, and he's averaging 13.2 K/9. The Toronto Blue Jays do not strike out a ton, but with a modest total of 5.5, there's value in the Over. 

George Springer is in the midst of a three-game hitting streak, and he sports a .471 wOBA in his last five games and a .368 average. Springer's 38.9% hard hit rate during that span adds fuel to this pick. 

  • Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Space City Home Network, Sportsnet

See full analysis of this game in our Blue Jays vs Astros predictions.

Diamondbacks at Cardinals SGP: Pallante tosses another gem

The St. Louis Cardinals send Andre Pallante to the mound tonight, and he's been brilliant lately. He sports a 2.57 xERA over his last two outings, and the righty has cashed the Under in earned runs allowed in three straight.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, meanwhile, counter with the struggling Merrill Kelly. He owns a 5.31 FIP over his previous two outings, and home runs have been an issue over the last month, giving up 2.20 per nine innings. After scoring 16 runs on Sunday, the Cards should jump on him. 

Expect Alec Burleson to be one of those hitters who thrive. The slugger has cashed the Over in total bases in two straight games, and he owns a .414 xwOBA in his last six contests. 

  • Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, DBacks.TV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
  • SGP picks: 0-3, -3.00 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Can Michigan players enter transfer portal with Dusty May leaving for Mavericks?

Not even three months removed from winning the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament, Michigan men's basketball is looking for a new coach.

Dusty May, who won the title in just his second year coaching in Ann Arbor, will take the head coaching position of the Dallas Mavericks, a team that went 26-56 amid a 12th-place finish in the Western Conference in 2025-26. That said, the Mavericks have building blocks for success, including a top-10 pick in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft class and 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.

Opinion: Days before leaving, Dusty May sounded all-in at Michigan. Then, poof!

Why is Dusty May leaving Michigan? What we know of new Dallas Mavs coach

The question now is what is to happen with the players remaining on Michigan's roster. While some players, such as Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr., have already declared for the draft as first-round selections, others will have the opportunity to leave Ann Arbor via the transfer portal — but not immediately.

Here's what to know of the NCAA's transfer rules, and when Wolverines players can transfer from Michigan:

Can Michigan basketball players transfer with Dusty May leaving?

Yes, NCAA rules allow for the creation of a special transfer portal window following a head coaching change. At that time, players can enter the portal and potentially sign with another team.

When can Michigan players enter the portal?

According to the NCAA on Jan. 14, 2026, the Division I Cabinet enacted immediate rules changes for the transfer portal, including those for a team going through a coaching change.

Per the NCAA:

When a head coaching change occurs, a 15-day period will open five days after the new head coach is hired or publicly announced. If a new head coach is not announced within 30 days of the previous head coach's departure — and the 31st day after the head coach's departure is after the championship game — a 15-day window will open. The additional head coach departure window is available only after the basketball transfer window opens through Jan. 2.

Five days after Michigan hires or publicly announces its hire, the 15-day transfer portal will open, allowing players to enter and potentially sign with a team. The 15-day window will open if the Wolverines are unable to make a hire within 30 days of May's departure for the NBA.

That is separate from a 15-day transfer window that opens the day following the championship game, which in 2026 was on April 4.

Dusty May salary, buyout: Michigan coach contract details, and what he said of extension

Michigan basketball roster: Who did Michigan sign in transfer portal this offseason?

  • Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati): 4-star | No. 13 player in portal | No.3 C
  • J.P. Estrella (Tennessee): 4-star | No. 23 player in portal | No. 7 PF
  • Jalen Reed (LSU): 4-star | No. 163 player in portal | No. 33 PF

Michigan basketball high school recruit rankings

Michigan's 2026 high school recruiting class ranks No. 4 nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports' Composite rankings. Here's who the Wolverines signed, including their national rank:

  • Brandon McCoy Jr.: 5-star | No. 10 player nationally | No. 2 PG
  • Quinn Costello: 4-star | No. 45 player nationally | No. 8 PF
  • Lincoln Cosby: 4-star | No. 47 player nationally | No. 17 SF
  • Joseph Hartman: 4-star | No. 97 player nationally | No. 12 SG
  • Malachi Brown: 4-star | No. 148 player nationally | No. 46 SF
  • Marcus Moller: International

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dusty May to Mavs: What's next for Michigan players? Can they enter portal?

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Flyers Announce First Preseason Schedule Under New NHL Format

Officially, Philadelphia Flyers hockey returns in less than three months with the team announcing its 2026 preseason schedule on Monday morning.

Now, the special new novelty with this year's preseason slate, for all NHL teams, is that it is two games shorter, with the NHL instead opting for two more regular season games.

The 2026-27 regular season will now be 84 games long.

As a result, the Flyers only play two teams in the preseason this year: the Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins.

Here's the full schedule, as announced by the Flyers:

Monday, Sept. 21 at Washington Capitals at 7 p.m.

Note: This Sept. 21 game at Washington will be played at the GIANT Center in Hershey, PA.

Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Boston Bruins at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 24 vs. Boston Bruins at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Washington Capitals at 5 p.m.

Exclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyExclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyIn an interview with The Hockey News, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere discusses his top prospects, former players, free agency, and more.

The 2026 preseason will represent the first opportunity for Flyers fans to see new trade additions Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit in action for Philadelphia, as well as any other exciting players the team adds in free agency, the 2026 NHL Draft, or another trade.

Officially, the offseason will get underway on Friday, when the Flyers pick 21st overall in the draft.

On July 1, free agency opens, and then the Flyers are off to the races towards their preseason dates.

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Today In Canadiens’ History: A Caufield Milestone

On June 22, 2021, Montreal Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield had the first of many milestone nights. In a third-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, the winger became the first rookie since P.K. Subban in 2010 to score at least eight points with the Habs in a single playoff tournament.

The Canadiens would go on to eliminate the Golden Knights three days later, on St-Jean-Baptiste, to book their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Caufield would finish the tourney with 12 points in 20 games, a very successful first taste of playoff action, but like the rest of the Habs, he would then go four years before seeing any postseason action.

Will Former Canadiens Goaltender Get The Call To The Hall?
Potential Canadiens Draft Target: Nikita Shcherbakov
Former Canadiens Are Calder Cup Champions With The Marlies

Still, it’s been all about progress for the sniper since then, and this last season, the NHL had to acknowledge just how important a role he is playing with the Habs as he gave Nathan MacKinnon a run for his money for the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s best goal scorer. The diminutive winger pocketed 51 lamplighters this year, and it feels like we’ve yet to see his ceiling.

While his size has so far prevented him from finding his way on Team USA, it’s hard to imagine that he will never get his opportunity, especially since he forced the other markets to take notice this season, as evidenced by his Lady Bing Trophy win.

Caufield is under contract with the Canadiens for the next five seasons, and if the Habs are to finally be successful in the quest for their 25th Stanley Cup, they will need him to be at the top of his game. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with next season after establishing career-best numbers in both goals and points and tying his career-best numbers in assists.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

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What Could The Maple Leafs Realistically Receive In A Morgan Rielly Trade?

Real conversations are happening regarding defenseman Morgan Rielly and his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After 13 seasons in Toronto, and the longest active tenured player for the team, it could be the end of the line for Rielly and the Maple Leafs this off-season.

However, a breakup between both parties isn't as simple as it may seem, and that's because of Rielly's contract. The 32-year-old  is entering the fifth year of an eight-year contract and earns $7.5 million against the salary cap. In addition, he has a no-move clause in his deal, which allows the player to dictate where he goes next if he were to get traded.

With all that in mind, the complications of Rielly's situation and contract would factor into a potential trade and could hinder what the Maple Leafs receive, depending on the trade partner and what that other team may be interested in.

To anticipate what Toronto should expect in return if they dealt Rielly this summer, let's go through some previous examples of notable defensemen on unpopular contracts that were traded, or players who had trade protection and got moved anyway in recent memory.

Could Morgan Rielly And Matthew Knies Be Next Out The Door For Maple Leafs?Could Morgan Rielly And Matthew Knies Be Next Out The Door For Maple Leafs?Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka has made his imprint on the roster with a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. If he plans on making another big move this off-season, Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies are likely next in line.

It doesn't take a deep search to find a recent example of when a player with a no-move clause was traded. In fact, it happened before last year's Olympic break when the New York Rangers traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings.

Because Panarin had a say in where he wanted to end up, the Rangers were practically forced into a deal in which they probably could've garnered more assets elsewhere if Panarin had no trade protection.

In the end, New York received a solid prospect in Liam Greentree, as well as a 2026 third-round pick and a 2028 fourth-round pick.

Jim Hiller Must Believe In Maple Leafs Youngsters More Than He Did With KingsJim Hiller Must Believe In Maple Leafs Youngsters More Than He Did With KingsJim Hiller's track record in developing young players isn't the best. That's going to have to change with players such as Easton Cowan, Matthew Knies, Emil Andrae and the 2026 first overall pick potentially in the lineup next year. Here's how Hiller fared with the Los Angeles Kings in that aspect.

It's worth noting that Panarin's situation is very different, considering he was on an expiring deal and is a top-five scorer in the NHL over the course of the past decade. Nonetheless, that's how a no-move clause can affect the return in a trade.

There are multiple other ways to go about trading a player with a no-move clause or with an unpopular contract. Salary retention can certainly help with that.

The Florida Panthers acquired defenseman Seth Jones from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2024-25. Jones' game was really dropping in the latter stages of his tenure in Chicago, and at his $9.5-million cap hit.

However, the Panthers found a way to get Jones with the Blackhawks retaining $2.5 million of his contract. In the process, Florida sent goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round pick. That's quite the return for Jones, who was coming off some of the worst campaigns of his NHL career in Chicago.

And though many teams would be hesitant to retain any salary on a long-term contract like Jones' (expires after 2029-30), it doesn't mean something can't be worked out. Like Jones, Rielly's contract also expires through the 2029-30 season with a no-movement clause attached.

Report: Maple Leafs' John Chayka, Mats Sundin Talking With Morgan Rielly's Representative About Off-Season PlansReport: Maple Leafs' John Chayka, Mats Sundin Talking With Morgan Rielly's Representative About Off-Season PlansFor what seems like a possible end for Morgan Rielly's career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, conversations between the defenseman and GM John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin are reportedly "ongoing."

Another defenseman who was once in a similar situation to Rielly is Jacob Trouba of the Anaheim Ducks. Although this deal comes without salary retention.

Ahead of the 2019-20 season, Trouba inked a seven-year contract with the Rangers at $8 million per season. Not long after, it would be seen that Trouba did not play up to his dollar value, and when a highly-paid player can't perform to expectations, questions come to the surface.

Eventually, Trouba was traded to the Ducks through his 15-team no-trade list at the time, and New York didn't receive much in return. The Rangers received defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft.

There is a wide range of what can go down when a player needs a change of scenery. Sometimes, both parties in a trade walk away happy, or the team parting with the big-name player is handicapped by a bad contract or a trade-protection clause.

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Jason Collins to be honored posthumously with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at The ESPYS

NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Collins will posthumously be honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for his impact on LGBTQ+ visibility in pro sports at The ESPYS in July.

Collins was the NBA's first openly gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league. The 13-year center died May 12 of a brain tumor at age 47.

Before his death, Collins publicly shared his cancer journey and spoke openly about his prognosis in hopes of advancing understanding and helping others facing similar diagnoses.

The Ashe award is given to a person who has made a difference beyond the field of play by fighting for what they believe in. It will be accepted by Collins' twin brother, Jarron.

"It is profoundly bittersweet but deeply meaningful to accept the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage on my brother’s behalf, celebrating a legacy of visibility, strength, and love that will endure forever,” Jarron Collins said in a statement.

Among the past recipients of the Ashe Award are the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse survivors, NBA player Kevin Love, the U.S. Women’s national soccer team, former NFL player Steve Gleason, and NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson.

Hosted by “Saturday Night Live” comic Marcello Hernández, The ESPYS will air July 15 on ABC from New York. The show will also stream on ESPN+.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

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The Best and Worst Jazz Draft Picks of the Last Decade

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 06: Udoka Azubuike #20 of the Utah Jazz shoots over Jaylin Williams #6 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of a game at Vivint Arena on April 06, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

During the last decade the Jazz have had their fair share of hits and misses in the draft. Today we take a look back at the best, and worst of these picks, tomorrow the Jazz will make their most important selection in franchise history. 

Best:

Donovan Mitchell

In 2017 the Jazz made one of the best decisions in franchise history and traded Trey Lyles and 24th overall pick to move up to 13th and select Mitchell. In his 5 seasons in Utah he was a three time All-Star, runner up for rookie of the year, (thanks Ben Simmons)  winner of the 2018 Dunk Contest, and made the play-offs every year. Although the furthest the team ever made it during this span was a Western Conference Semifinals appearance it was still a very entertaining time to be a Jazz fan, and Mitchell was the main reason why.  

Walker Kessler

Though technically drafted by the Grizzlies I’m going to include Kessler here anyway because he was immediately traded to the Jazz, and because he deserves all the love from the fan base, especially in the midst of contract negotiations. At the time there was very little excitement about Kessler, and the main focus of the trade was on the draft picks involved, but Kessler quickly proved himself as an extremely talented starting level center. His first three seasons in Utah he averaged 2+ blocks per game, and probably would have done so again if his season hadn’t ended prematurely due to a shoulder injury. Going into this offseason Kessler is a restricted free agent and the Jazz will look to negotiate a deal to keep him here longterm. He also seemed to add a new skill to his game as he shot 6-8 (75%) from deep this season. While it’s obviously a very small sample size, his shooting form looked solid, and it could make him an even bigger threat on offense if he can be a 30ish% shooter from three. 

Keyonte George 

If not for the 65 games played rule Keyonte would’ve firmly been in the running for the Most Improved Player Award. Picked 16th overall in 2023, the Jazz got an absolute steal. Before injuries and tanking slowed him down, he was averaging 24 points, and six assists per game, while also averaging a steal per game for the first time in his career. It will be so exciting to see how Keyonte will look on a team that is trying to compete next year. 

Ace Bailey

After so much pre-draft drama surrounding the Jazz’s selection of Bailey 5th overall, he showed that the Jazz absolutely made the right call when drafting him. He looked every bit like the explosive highflying player that he was projected to be. Additionally he still hasn’t celebrated his 20th birthday yet, so he’s really only scratched the surface of his potential. It will be interesting to see if he will remain in the starting lineup after the Jazz add a blue chip player in this year’s draft. My guess would be that he will remain a starter and have an even better second year in the league.  

Isaiah Collier

Collier was another certified draft steal when he was selected 29th in the 2024 draft. Since coming to the Jazz he has been a true floor general, even breaking John Stockton’s rookie assist record. Another thing that stands out about Collier is his speed, when he attacks the rim at full speed, not many other players can keep up with him. This most recent season his jumpshot also looks to have improved. 

Worst: 

Cody Williams

I almost couldn’t bring myself to include Williams on this list, but I did my best to set my biases aside. To put it bluntly Williams appeared to be unplayable at times as a rookie. He lacked an NBA body and shot a putrid 32.3% from the field. There were so many times during his rookie year that he would become a ghost on the floor, but what a difference a year can make. Williams put in a ton of effort during the offseason, and gained 13 pounds. His confidence also grew considerably, and he took on a much more aggressive playstyle, and looked like a different player. If he can take a year three leap, he will find himself off of this list. 

Taylor Hendricks

Hendricks finds himself on this list for reasons completely outside of his control. A gruesome leg injury just 3 games into his sophomore season greatly derailed his development. In his third year as a Jazzman he could never really find his footing on the team. Since then he was included in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, and has looked like a different player. The change of scenery seemed to be exactly what Hendricks needed, as in his 26 games in Memphis he averaged 10.6 points and 4.7 rebounds. Hopefully he can continue to develop with more consistent playing time, and a more stable role. 

John Tonje

Is it really fair to include a player taken 53rd overall who was traded before he ever even appeared in an NBA game? Probably not, but I’m going to do it anyway because I have a horrible feeling that the Celtics will turn him into a decent player, and I wanted to put this prediction out there just in case I end up being correct. Other players that I could have included in this spot are: Nigel Williams-Goss, Justin Wright-Foreman, or Joel Bolomboy. Those three combined played just 26 games for the Jazz.

Grayson Allen

Allen was the Jazz’s lone selection in the 2018 draft, and after just his rookie year he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Mike Conely deal. Since then Allen has really come into his own as a player. He’s shown that he can be a real contributor on a playoff team. This past season was his most impressive, as he posted career highs in points, assists, and steals. 

Udoka Azubuike 

Azubuike was selected 27th overall in 2020, unfortunately his NBA career got off to a horrible start as he suffered a serious ankle injury in a G-League game. After that he could never really stay healthy and only played in 68 games during his 3 year Jazz tenure. When he was on the court however he was awful. He couldn’t defend, he was slow, and he was the least talented offensive player I have ever seen in a Jazz jersey. Jeff Withey had more of an offensive bag than Azubuike did. After a 16 game stint in Phoenix, he was out of the NBA. Currently he plays for the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

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Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron elected to 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class

Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron elected to 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

One of the best players in Boston Bruins history is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Former Bruins center and captain Patrice Bergeron, who played 19 years for the franchise from 2003-04 through 2022-23, has been elected to the Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.

The Hall of Fame announced Monday its new class that includes Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Carey Price and Keith Tkachuk. The induction ceremony is in November.

Longtime Bruins captain and star defenseman Zdeno Chara was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.

Bergeron is arguably the best two-way forward in NHL history. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy — given annually to the league’s top defensive forward — a record six times. He also scored 20-plus goals 14 times and finished with 1,040 points (427 goals, 613 assists) in 1,294 career games.

Bergeron helped the Bruins make the playoffs 15 times in his 19 seasons, including three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and the team’s only championship (2011) since 1972. He scored two goals in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks. The B’s won 4-0 on the road to secure their sixth title.

In addition to his accolades with the Bruins, Bergeron also enjoyed a lot of success for Team Canada in international competition.

He won two Olympic gold medals (2010 and 2014) and a World Championship (2004). He is one of 30 players in the Triple Gold Club — at least one Stanley Cup title, Olympic gold medal and World Championship gold medal.

The Bruins announced last week that Bergeron’s No. 37 will be retired to the TD Garden rafters next season.