Major League Soccer suspended Inter Miami star forward Luis Suárez for Saturday’s key playoff match against Nashville SC.
Suárez received the one-match suspension from the MLS Disciplinary Committee for an off-ball incident in Game 2 of the first-round series. Suárez kicked at Nashville defender Andy Najar in the 71st minute of the match, which Nashville won 2-1. Game 3 of the best-of-three series is Saturday.
Fresh off an MLB season in which its RSNs averaged 1.5 million viewers per night, Main Street Sports Group has inked media rights renewals with the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals.
In exercising the options to extend their in-market deals with the owner/operator of the FanDuel Sports Network-branded RSNs, the three clubs have given Main Street a vote of confidence—one that ensures the company will begin the 2026 MLB campaign with the same roster that suited up for this past season.
The renewals arrive in the wake of a local-TV ratings boom, as FDSN enjoyed an 18% improvement in MLB deliveries over the course of the regular season. The overall audience gains coincided with a 101% uptick in streaming impressions, as more than 2.5 billion minutes of live action were consumed by fans in Main Street’s nine local baseball markets.
The Brewers, which finished an MLB-best 97-65 this past season, were Main Street’s biggest draws in 2025, as their RSN put up baseball’s second highest local-market ratings, trailing only the Phillies’ showing on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Among Milwaukee’s highest-rated telecasts was the latter half of an Aug. 19 Brewers-Cubs doubleheader, which averaged over 110,000 households on FDSN Wisconsin—a figure that represents 12% of the market’s TV homes.
The Brewers’ success was particularly gratifying for Main Street, as the franchise’s local ratings effectively ratified an earlier decision to remain in the RSN pool. After having announced its intentions last fall to quit the model for a spot under the MLB Media umbrella, Milwaukee backtracked on its decision, signing a one-year deal with Main Street in January.
“This past season’s surge in viewership is a reflection of our fans’ passion and the growing accessibility of Brewers baseball,” Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger said in a statement. While cord-cutting continues to erode the national pay-TV base, local sports has managed to offset any losses in linear reach with a rapidly expanding streaming audience. Fans this past season streamed more than 400 million minutes of Brewers games, good for a year-over-year gain of over 30%.
The Brew Crew’s streaming boost was in keeping with the rest of Main Street’s MLB portfolio, which also includes the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays. More than 900,000 unique users tuned in to Brewers games through the FDSN app, with total streaming up nearly 70% compared to 2024.
Main Street’s MLB renewals follow last month’s extensions with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild. Representatives from the teams that have re-upped with their legacy RSNs within the last several weeks cited overall accessibility and the unique proposition afforded by a local media partnership as the primary factors in their respective renewals.
The nimbleness with which Main Street has rolled out its direct-to-consumer platform has gone a long way toward ensuring that younger fans aren’t being shut out of the action as the traditional pay-TV bundle continues to shrink. Main Street says it remains on pace to sign on 1 million DTC subscribers at year’s end, a tally that would mark a considerable gain over the 650,000 customers that were onboard when the company issued its latest head count in early May.
And on Tuesday night, the Boston Bruins once again targeted the youngster with defenseman Nikita Zadorov cross-checking Schaefer to the ground and then delivering a cheap shot to Schaefer's face as he was on the ice.
To the Islanders' credit, Schaefer's teammates came to his defense, with Anthony Duclair and Anders Lee literally jumping on top of the 6-foot-7 and 255-pound Zadorov.
"We're a family here… I know they always have my back, and they know I will always have their backs," Schaefer told reporters post-game.
That's the kind of response you love to see. But at the same time, the message isn't exactly being delivered in a way that prevents this from happening again.
Following the game, Zadorov basically laughed off the response from the Islanders and their fans, who flooded his Instagram with nasty direct messages.
"Get out of my DMs and go to the rink to cheer for your team," Zadorov replied. "That place was a library tonight."
In other words, Schaefer is not off-limits. Not by a long shot.
One month in, it is clear that the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, who has five goals and 11 points in 13 games, is skating with a target on his back. It's also clear that despite the Islanders' best intentions, Schaefer keeps getting attacked.
Some might argue that this is a rite of passage for any young player. After all, Sidney Crosby picked up 110 penalty minutes as a rookie in the NHL, while Connor McDavid missed almost half his rookie season after fracturing his clavicle on a dirty hit from Philadelphia's Brandon Manning.
That is the path that Schaefer is on.
The more games he plays, the more teams are going to target him. Eventually, he's going to either have to fight back (like Crosby) or risk a major injury (like McDavid), unless Islanders management steps up and does something.
“Teams are starting to see how good he really is,” Duclair told reporters. “Obviously, you want to be hard on good players. We try to do the same with their star players, so he definitely is going to have a target on his back all year. We’re here to protect him.”
It's one thing for the players to have his back. But it's now time for GM Mathieu Darche to do the same.
Which raises the question: how much more can Schaefer take before the Islanders get an enforcer to protect their most valuable asset?
Remember, this is not a veteran. Schaefer, who is 18 years old, is basically a kid. Last year, he was playing in major junior against other teenagers. Now, he's getting roughed up by a hulking man in Zadorov who weighs 255 pounds.
When Auston Matthews was a rookie, the Leafs signed Matt Martin to "keep the flies off", as then-coach Mike Babcock said. The San Jose Sharks took a similar approach this season by trading for heavyweight Ryan Reaves as protection for Macklin Celebrini.
Martin, who happens to be Schaefer's landlord this season, is no longer playing. But after watching Schaefer get continually roughed up, the Islanders might want to bring back Martin or at least trade for an enforcer who can act as a bodyguard.
Perhaps they already have the answer on their team in defense partner Scott Mayfield. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound blueliner has 488 career penalty minutes and has fought tough guys Garnet Hathaway, Kurtis MacDermid, Ryan Lindgren and Andreas Englund in the past two years. But he's only had one fight per season in the past four, according to hockeyfights.com.
If they don't find someone to answer the bell more often, this could be a long — and painful — season for the Islanders rookie.
"Eventually, he’s going to have the same protection that the star
players get,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy told reporters. “I hope (the wait for that is) not too long.”
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Coming off a strong bounceback season which culminated in the Blue Jays' first trip to the World Series since 1993, two-time All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette is hitting the open market this winter.
The Blue Jays extended Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a 14-year, $500 million contract earlier this year, but can they afford to keep their other homegrown star?
Stars like Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, and Cody Bellinger join headliners Kyle Tucker, Dylan Cease, and Bo Bichette in a 2025–26 MLB free agent class loaded with impact bats and arms.
Don’t forget: Check out theRotoworld player news feed for all the latest news, rumors, and transactions as MLB’s Hot Stove gets underway!
Bichette in Review
Bichette was limited to 81 games in 2024 due to a calf strain and a fractured finger, and his production suffered along the way, as he hit just .225 with a .598 OPS. It would stand to reason that Bichette would bounce back with improved health, and that’s exactly what we saw this past season, as he rebounded with a .311 batting average to go along with 18 homers and 94 RBI across 139 games.
If it wasn’t for a left knee sprain on September 6, Bichette likely would have led the AL in hits in addition to surpassing 100 RBI for the second time in his career. Still, the 27-year-old was just one of seven qualified hitters to hit .300 while also posting the highest contact rate of his career.
Season
Strikeout rate
Contact rate
2024
19 percent
80.4 percent
2025
14.5 percent
83.1 percent
Career average
19.4 percent
80.5 percent
Bichette is a .294 career hitter through 748 games. Only five players (min. 500 games played) have a higher batting average since Bichette made his MLB debut in 2019.
Then there’s the downside. While Bichette’s offense is a strength, his defense at shortstop will be a topic of conversation. He ranked last among shortstops in defensive runs saved (-12) in 2025 and also ranked near the bottom in the outs above average (OAA) metric. He's also shown a steady decline in sprint speed, impacting his range, and he ranked in the 12th percentile in terms of bat speed in 2025. How could that impact him as he moves into his 30s?
Market Outlook
Bichette is the clear No. 1 shortstop option on the market. Full stop. That’s a good thing to be. However, most of the big-spending teams already have players firmly-entrenched at shortstop. Things could look different if the Yankees have run out of patience with Anthony Volpe or the Dodgers decide to make a play and move Mookie Betts back to the outfield. Both scenarios are possible, but just not likely as of today.
Of course, Bichette played second base when he returned for the World Series. It was his first time playing the position in the majors, but it also underscores the possibility of a position change in his future. That willingness would greatly expand his market this offseason.
Perhaps the best recent comp for Bichette’s situation is what the Giants did last season in signing Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract. Each player has different strengths, but Bichette is two years younger than Adames, so he’ll likely get eight or maybe nine years from someone. Corey Seager was close to the same age Bichette is now when he signed his 10-year, $325 million deal with the Rangers in November of 2021. Somewhere in the middle of those deals is where Bichette is likely to settle in.
Best Fits
Blue Jays: Home sweet home. There’s obviously appeal for both sides, as Bichette is a proven performer in Toronto and one of the key pieces of their lineup. He's also stated plainly that he'd like to return, so a reunion is logical. If Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins decide to spread out the team's spending, one alternative in free agency is Ha-Seong Kim, who just opted out of returning to the Braves. They could also look to the trade market or simply use Andrés Giménez there, which they did throughout the playoffs.
Bo Bichette on his future:
“I’ve said I want to be here from the beginning.” #BlueJays
Braves: Speaking of the Braves, Bichette would be a perfect fit at shortstop. Atlanta was last in the majors with a 59 wRC+ at the position in 2025. Nick Allen saw the bulk of the playing time and played fantastic defense, but that’s just not going to work. It would sting for Blue Jays fans if their former general manager Alex Anthopoulos was able to pry him away. Still, it’s not really the Braves’ style to sign big-ticket free agents. The franchise record guarantee for a free agent contract remains B.J. Upton’s five-year, $75.25M contract from November of 2012.
Tigers: As noted above, Gleyber Torres is a free agent, so the Tigers have a hole at second base and Bichette could certainly play shortstop for now, as Javier Báez and Trey Sweeney are the only internal options at the moment. Of course, the Tigers have prospect shortstop Kevin McGonigle on the way, but there's questions about his future defensive home as well.
Angels: The Angels are a hot mess in more ways than one, but signing a good player in his prime can help shift the narrative somewhat. This would only happen if Bichette accepts a role at second base, as Zach Neto is already in the fold at shortstop. Still, Bichette and Neto would make for a fun middle-of-the-infield for the next few years. Fun fact: Bichette's father, Dante Bichette, was originally drafted by the Angels and played his first three MLB seasons with the club before being traded to the Brewers for Dave Parker in 1991.
Contract Prediction
Given Bichette’s age — he'll be 28 in March — look for him to secure a long contract. My guess is eight years, but he could get a ninth year if there’s enough interest. His knee injury from late in the season is not expected to require surgery, so that shouldn't impact his market. The most likely scenario is that Bichette will eventually find his way back to the Blue Jays, which seems like the best fit for all parties after an emotional postseason run. Everyone should feel like they have a job to finish.
In the NBA, an unhappy star inevitably leads to trade speculation. That has happened here. However, there is not much of a market around the league in trading for Morant, multiple front office sources told NBC Sports. There are concerns about whether he is still an All-Star-level player, and how his personality and ball-dominant style would fit on a lot of rosters. That said, there is always some level of interest in picking up a player — especially a popular one, someone a team's marketing arm can sell and boost ticket sales — on a lowball offer, or a team open to trading a problem star for a problem star. The challenge becomes that if Memphis is ever going to consider parting with the face of the franchise, it will want a massive haul in return, and that market is not out there.
"There is still no shortage of teams that will continue monitoring his situation. The Minnesota Timberwolves, per a team source, are one. Ditto for the Sacramento Kings. The Grizzlies' next opponent, the Houston Rockets, need a point guard after losing Fred Van Vleet to a torn ACL in the preseason but, per a team source, are unlikely to pursue him."
Morant's contract is not the issue. He is making $39.5 million this season and has two years, $87.1 million remaining after this season, reasonable numbers if a team still considers Morant an All-Star. Morant can still put up numbers, averaging 20.4 points and 7.1 assists a game this season.
Memphis would be wise to wait until they get healthy — center Zach Edey is near a return, and this team badly misses Scottie Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome for spacing — before making any decisions. Give Iisalo a chance as he starts to get back key players who better fit his system. Then, if that doesn't work, there will be hard conversations to have about him, Jaren Jackson Jr. and the rest of the roster.
For right now, Memphis is just trying to get itself right, and the rest of the league is watching this play out. As we get closer to the trade deadline in February, the situation may change, but this is more likely an offseason kind of move. If we see a change at all.
The road has not been a friendly place for the Florida Panthers so far this season.
Florida began a four-game trip on Tuesday night in Anaheim and to say it did not go well would be a bit of an understatement.
While the Cats were able to erase multiple deficits, the overwhelming Ducks proved to be too much for Florida to handle and ultimately pulled away late, prevailing 7-3.
Considering the game was tightly contested for the majority, there are some positives that can be plucked from this one, but overall, it was another stinker.
Let’s get to Tuesday’s takeaways:
GAME GOT AWAY FROM THEM
Florida was down 1-0 and 2-1 before eventually clawing their way to a 3-2 lead midway through the game.
Unfortunately, between taking too many penalties and allowing an uncharacteristic amount of rush opportunities, the Panthers saw the game slip from their grasp.
It’s troubling when a team that generally plays a very structured game starts to come apart at the seams, and that’s what we saw from the Cats in Anaheim.
“I think at 3-3, it's a game,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “It was probably even at that point, but we wouldn't like very much what happened after 3-3 in the manner that it happened. We were into some pretty simple reads, or simple one-on-one plays, that we weren’t anywhere near to a standard that we would have, and we spent too much time in the penalty box on soft penalties.”
DUCKS’ SPEED MADE IT TOUGH
Despite the several areas that Florida struggled, credit must go to the Ducks for sensing a weakness and pouncing.
Anaheim kept their foot on the gas all night, constantly putting the Panthers on their heels and keeping them wondering where the next rush would be coming from.
Overall, yes, Florida played a decent game at even strength, there were still several holes in the Cats’ D that the Ducks exploited on several occasions.
“They play a fast, skilled game, and they really try to beat us up the ice,” said Panthers forward Noah Gregor. “We try and play a really tight gap game, and sometimes, if guys aren't in the right spots, they get breaks.”
FACING EVERYONE’S BEST
Not that this is anything new, but no matter which building the Panthers are lacing up their skates to go to battle, they know they’ll be facing the best their opponent has to offer.
That’s what happens when you’re the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
Last season, Florida was better equipped to handle the challenge based solely on the fact that they were a healthier squad.
Now they’re facing those same difficult tests, night after night, but doing so without some of their most important players.
It is what it is, and you’re not going to hear the Panthers complaining, but that doesn’t make it any easier to endure.
At some point, the Cats will need to start finding results if they’re going to keep pace in the standings until the injured list starts to shrink.
“Everybody has factors that they deal with at the start of each year, and we know what ours are,” Maurice said. “Some of them are earned, and we're proud of them, so we expect to get everybody's best.”
Photo caption: Jan 21, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal as defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) plays for the puck against Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) during the second period at Honda Center. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
The Montreal Canadiens have made a roster move, as they have recalled defenseman Marc Del Gaizo from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
With this roster move, the Canadiens will now have an extra defenseman on their roster for their road game against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 6.
Del Gaizo joined the Canadiens this off-season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with them in free agency. This was after he recorded two goals, seven assists, nine points, and a minus-3 rating in 46 games this past season with the Nashville Predators. He also posted eight goals, 12 points, and a plus-10 rating in 30 AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2024-25.
Les Canadiens ont rappelé le défenseur Marc Del Gaizo du Rocket de Laval.
Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. During the game, Pittsburgh legend Evgeni Malkin took an aggressive slash at Winnipeg defenseman Logan Stanley. It was quietly announced on Sunday that Malkin would be fined $5,000 for his actions.
The incident occurred late in the first period as the two players battled behind the Jets’ net. Malkin appeared to feel that Stanley was being too rough, and in retaliation, he two-handed Stanley on his left side. Malkin received a minor penalty on the play for slashing. The $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Malkin has a long history of supplemental discipline throughout his 19-plus years in the NHL, including multiple fines and suspensions. Most recently, he was fined $5,000 last November for slashing Boston’s Nikita Zadorov and has previously served suspensions for various stick-related incidents.
Despite the penalty, Malkin recorded his 15th assist of the season on a Sidney Crosby goal. The Jets went on to win the game 5-2. The Penguins carried that frustration into Monday’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where they blew a 3-0 lead. They allowed four unanswered goals in the third period to lose 4-3, dropping their third game in their last four contests.
Stanley was back in action Tuesday as the Jets suffered a surprising 3-0 shutout loss to the LA Kings, though none of the goals came during his shifts. The 27-year-old defenseman has seen bright spots this season, being relied upon for 17-20 minutes a night while adding more point production than he ever has before in his career. So far this season, Stanley has a career-high two goals with four assists for six points in 13 games, including two multi-point games.
The Buffalo Sabres entered their match against the Utah Mammoth with a short-handed roster, as illnesses to winger Jason Zucker and center Jiri Kulich necessitated the recall of center Noah Ostlund. The 21-year-old Ostlund combined with countryman and Rochester linemate Isak Rosen for his first NHL goal in the third period, but the Sabres registered only an anemic 18 shots and lost 2-1 in overtime at KeyBank Center on Tuesday.
Alex Lyon was the standout performer for Buffalo, stopping 33 shots and keeping the game scoreless through 40 minutes and allowing only Nick Schmaltz’s goal in regulation, but for the fifth straight contest, the Sabres went to extra time. In those five games, the club has lost four in overtime to Toronto, Columbus, Boston, and Utah, and won only against Washington in a shootout on Saturday. Clayton Keller’s game-winner extended the Sabres consecutive point streak to seven, but handed them their fourth loss in five games.
“(Lyon) played great. You need your goalie to play great. The number of bodies and pieces we had to move around, we needed our goalie to play well and he did that for us.” Ruff said after the game. “(Playing) three-on-three is about winning one-on-one battles. We had our chance, (Alex) Tuch went down, but our coverage wasn’t good enough, we lost coverage on the high cycle and let Keller in.”
In a tightly compacted Eastern Conference, the lost points early in the season have the Sabres outside of a playoff spot. Had they earned the extra point in half of their overtime losses, they would be in third place in the Atlantic Division. Instead, they are one point out of last place playing mostly on home ice the first five weeks of the season.
The Red Raiders are scoring in bunches and stuffing opponents. Their oil-rich boosters are keeping the coffers full. Is this the dawn of a new era for Texas Tech?
The Yankees will be active in this winter’s trade market – they always are – and, as you read this, Brian Cashman and his staff are probably evaluating potential deal concepts that no one sees coming.
So their offseason will be a fun watch, as usual. We’ll try to play along with our list of suggested Yankees trade targets, which is below. The Yanks need relief, a righty bat, and to figure out some outfield configurations. We address it all.
We’d love them to add a contact bat. Can postseason Ernie Clement be cloned? We know the Blue Jays wouldn’t trade him to the Yankees, nor should they.
We’re unsure if the Yanks would pay the high cost of trading for Tarik Skubal, if he’s dealt. Or for the other big aces who – maybe – could be had (Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Freddy Peralta). But they’ll definitely inquire on that kind of talent, to at least do a price check.
A big deal like that could flip the pinstriped winter, which would change our list. If one happens, check back with us. Everything on our list, of course, is contingent on how it goes in free agency, with their own free agents and with their own desire to promote from their farm.
Here are our rankings. Keep reading to see No. 1:
5. OF Adolis García, Rangers
This would’ve qualified as a blockbuster a few years ago, but García, 32, has had two consecutive down seasons. Now we’ll call it a potential buy-low. If the Yankees are looking to add a right-handed bat, García might be a decent bounce back candidate – he sagged to a .665 OPS and 19 homers last season in Texas, but still ranked in the 89th percentile in average exit velocity. In 2023, García smashed 39 home runs in an All-Star, Gold Glove season. Then he had an all-time ALCS, slugging five homers and driving in 15 runs en route to MVP honors. He had three homers and nine RBI over the final two games as the Rangers rallied from a 3-2 deficit to bury Houston. Sounds like the kind of postseason results that could boost the Yanks, eh?
4. RHP Mitch Keller, Pirates
Unlike many teams, the Yankees have the elements of a strong rotation in place with Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren set for the start of 2026 and early-season returns looming from Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón. But what if they use some of their young pitching (Gil or Warren) in a deal to shore up the bullpen or to find a center fielder? They’d need reliable rotation coverage, which is where Keller comes in.
He’ll turn 30 in April and he’s got three years and $55.7 million left on his contract. He might be gettable because the Pirates, unlike many teams, have an abundance of young pitching, including the incomparable Paul Skenes. Pittsburgh’s MLB-worst offense (3.6 runs per game in 2025) needs help. Maybe the Yanks can trade the Bucs some young offense for Keller, who had a 4.19 ERA in 32 starts last season and has made at least 29 starts in each of the past four years.
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman walks on the field before game three of the 2024 MLB World Series between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
3. CF Oneil Cruz, Pirates
He’s so toolsy that it’s easy to dream on Cruz, what with his power, speed and arm strength. He tied for the NL lead in steals (38) with Juan Soto and also slugged 20 homers, all while playing center field full-time for the first time. Might he be a pinstriped answer in center, depending on how the rest of their winter goes?
Cruz ranked in the 98th percentile or better in hard hit percentage, bat speed, and average exit velocity, which is plenty enticing. But he batted just .200 with a 32 percent strikeout rate and the Yanks already have a few low-BA, big-whiff types. Maybe Cruz, who’s just 27, just had a bad year and his career arc is still trending skyward. He had a 114 OPS+ and 58 extra-base hits as a shortstop in 2024.
2. RHP Pete Fairbanks, Rays
The Yanks have some nice bullpen pieces in place, such as David Bednar, but Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are free agents, so there is significant work to be done on Bronx relief. Fairbanks, who reached career-bests in games (61) and saves (27) last season, would be a nice target as a setup man for Bednar. The Rays hold a $12.5 million option on Fairbanks for the 2026 season. That might be pricey for a reliever on a team that traditionally does not spend lavishly.
Fairbanks, who turns 32 in December, relies mostly on a 97 mph fastball and slider combo and has addressed some of the command issues that have plagued him in the past. Last season, he trimmed his walk rate to 7.4 percent, below the MLB average of 8.4 percent. One caution – he’s dealt with injuries in the past, though he was healthy for all of 2025 and notched a 2.83 ERA.
1. OF Steven Kwan, Guardians
Kwan is a little different than most of the hitters the Yankees currently employ, which might make him a nifty fit. He’s a put-the-ball-in-play type (seventh in the AL with 170 hits last season) who does not strike out (8.7 percent strikeout rate). Could be a leadoff solution – he’s got a .351 career on-base percentage, though it was only .330 last season. He’s also an expert left fielder, with four straight Gold Gloves there, and Yankee Stadium is one of the most difficult left fields in baseball.
Kwan is also an efficient base-stealer (80.7 percent in 2025; MLB average was 77.6). He doesn’t pound extra-base hits, but he’d look good scoring on a bushel of Aaron Judge bombs, no? The Guardians might not be specifically looking to deal Kwan, but they’ve swapped players as they move through arbitration before.
Rebuilding the bullpen is one of the Yankees’ main priorities this offseason, and they retained a key member of that group on Wednesday morning by picking up Tim Hill’s 2026 option.
Hill, who will make $3 million next season, was Aaron Boone’s go-to left-hander out of the pen in 2025, appearing in 70 games while pitching to a 3.09 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 67.0 innings.
The 35-year-old veteran was especially tough on left-handed hitters, holding them to a .444 OPS. Hill allowed just 23 hits to lefties all season while striking out 27 lefty hitters.
Hill was one of a number of relievers the Yanks could have lost to free agency. Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Paul Blackburn, and Ryan Yarbrough are all free agents.
Meanwhile, the Yankees declined right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga’s $5 million option, making him a free agent as well.
A member of the Yankees for the past eight seasons, Loaisiga has some absolutely electric stuff, but his last few seasons have been derailed by injury. After elbow issues limited him to 17.2 innings in 2023, the righty had to have Tommy John surgery in 2024. While he came back in 2025, a flexor strain ended his season in August.
Matthew Pouliot
