ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 27: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 27, 2025 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-40) are on the road for the second game in their six-game road trip. On Thursday night they play the Orlando Magic (32-28) in the first night of a road back-to-back. The Mavericks were most recently waxed by the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. The Magic beat the Washington Wizards on Tuesday to avoid starting a losing streak.
Here’s the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Orlando Magic
WHAT: Becoming one with road games.
WHERE: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
WHEN: 6:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
There’s another long injury report for Dallas. Cooper Flagg is questionable as of this writing and the Mavericks are signaling (by literally saying it in the media) that they expect him to play tonight but that he’s a true game-time decision. Stein’s gone so far as to report that he’s playing. We’ll see, considering Dallas plays in Boston tomorrow against the Celtics, in a game Jason Tatum is expected to return in on ESPN. Marvin Bagley is out. All of the two-way players are doubtful (so, out). Brandon Williams is questionable with his quad issue and Klay Thompson is probable.
For the Magic, Franz Wagner is out. Dallas native Anthony Black, Wendell Carter, and Jonathan Isaac are all questionable for the Magic.
If Flagg plays in this game, Dallas has a chance. If he doesn’t it’s going to be an ugly game… well it might be ugly either way, but if Flagg doesn’t play it’s going to be ugly in a way I don’t want to watch. Look for Paulo Banchero to try to get every Dallas bigman into foul trouble, which is a good bet. Look for Dallas to try more threes as they keep not shooting any.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
FORT MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox poses for this portrait during Major League Baseball spring training on February 20, 2011 at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.Pedoria played for the Red Sox from 2006-2019. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Between 1986 and 2006 15 different Red Sox players made at least 50 appearances at second base in one season: Marty Barrett, Jody Reed, Scott Fletcher, Luis Alicea, Jeff Frye, John Valentin, Donnie Sadler, Mike Benjamin,José Offerman, Lou Merloni, Rey Sánchez, Todd Walker, Mark Bellhorn, Tony Graffanino, and Mark Loretta. Barrett would also cross the threshold in 1984 and 1985 as the primary second baseman, giving us 22 years for the sample. Like “generations” of birth (Boomer, X, Millennial etc.) there is a little fuzziness here on the 20 years but, suffice it to say, Barrett pulled of this feat 5 times, Reed 4, Frye and Offerman 3, Fletcher and Bellhorn 2 times apiece, and all the rest only crossed 50 games played once.
The last man to do it in this sample was Mark Loretta. Loretta, acquired from the San Diego Padres for backup catcher and knuckleball specialist Doug Mirabelli, played 138 games at second and made the All-Star Game. A pending free agent, Loretta was a veteran placeholder to buy one more year of development for the future. The year was 2006. The future was a guy drafted in 2004 named Dustin Pedroia.
Boston was off on the actual day of the draft, June 7th, 2004, but on the 6th, the starting lineup included the very memorable starting second baseman César Crespo while Pokey Reese played shortstop.
Dustin Pedroia would make his major league debut on August 23, 2006 and play in 31 games – 27 as a second baseman and 6 more as the shortstop. He would then play for eleven seasons as the primary second baseman. In 2018 and 2019, Pedroia was definitely supposed to man the second base position, but due to injuries sustained through an unfortunate collision, he played in only a handful of games either year. Which means we need to take another look at the position after 2017.
Here are the players who recorded 50 or more games at second base over the last eight years: Brock Holt, Eduardo Núñez, Christian Arroyo, Trevor Story, Enmanuel Valdéz, Kristian Campbell, and David Hamilton. Holt and Arroyo pulled it off two times each, the others just once. All the other seasons since 2007 only Pedroia qualifies for the list.
It’s sort of telling that Holt and Núñez split 2018 and Campbell and Hamilton split 2025, whereas 2019-2024 was just a revolving door.
But 20 years after Dustin Pedroia emerged, and almost a decade since his keystone reign came to an end, there’s a new contender: Marcelo Mayer.
You may have seen his slick defense this week:
While it’s still possible, maybe likely, Mayer starts the season in Triple-A he’s an exciting player who can possibly bring some of what Pedroia did to second base this year: stability. That’s not to say that Mayer will be the player that Laser Show was. That’s for the future to reveal. But his time at third base covering for Alex Bregman last year was stabilizing.
Of course we don’t know for sure where he’ll play this year. He is a natural shortstop. He’ll probably the second baseman but, again, Alex Cora might like him at third. Or maybe he man both spots in some kind of defensive platoon. That are a lot of moving parts so who knows. But he’s mostly been starting at second base since beginning his Spring Training games.
Pedroia was the type of player who comes once in a generation. We already have a taste of that type of player in Roman Anthony. But Marcelo Mayer could still be the second base solution for four or five years (or more! But we’re starting small). The Red Sox haven’t had that guy in the post-Pedroia era. Penciling in a surefire starter, whether as the manger or a fan imagining the lineups, is a nice feeling. Let’s root for the kid to start that clock in 2026.
Ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the Philadelphia Flyers have yet to strike any deals of substance, though their latest signing indicates that one could be coming soon.
On Thursday, the Flyers signed AHL journeyman and tough guy Garrett Wilson to a one-year, two-way contract that will carry him through the rest of the 2025-26 season, making him eligible to appear in NHL games for the Flyers this season.
Wilson, 34, has not played in an NHL game since he was, as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, swept by the New York Islanders in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Aside from a one-year pitstop in Toronto with the AHL Marlies, Wilson has since played in the Flyers organization for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, serving as their captain for the last three seasons.
The 6-foot-4 enforcer has recorded no fewer than 100 penalty minutes in each of his last four campaigns, and is one penalty away from making it five.
Of course, the timing of signing a 34-year-old of this profile is intriguing, with the trade deadline less than 24 hours away at the time of this writing.
The Flyers have veterans like Nick Deslauriers (pending UFA) and Garnet Hathaway (2027 UFA) who no longer fit the team's roster and could spend their twilight years chasing a Stanley Cup with another NHL team.
Wilson, a well-respected leader in Allentown, could step in for the Flyers as an internal replacement for one or both players without the Flyers having to sacrifice veteran leadership and toughness during the process of getting younger and making space for prospects.
Now that the Flyers have assured themselves two veteran forwards with NHL experience - they just traded for Boris Katchouk as well - they presumably will feel less hesitant to subtract from their roster and their locker room ahead of the trade deadline.
MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 20: A general view of Sloan Park during a Spring Training game between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox at Sloan Park on February 20, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record 7-5. Change on 2025: +1.5. 5-inning record: 3-8-1.
Well, that five-game winning streak sure was nice while it lasted. It ended in no uncertain fashion this afternoon at Sloan Park, both sides of the game leaving room for improvement. The D-backs found themselves held to fewer than three runs for the first time this spring, managing only six hits and three walks. Their sole run came courtesy of Pavin Smith’s second home-run of spring, which got them on the board in the fourth inning. Cristofer Torin – and I am really going to have to work on my spelling of his first name – got two hits. Brady Counsell, son of Cubs manager Craig, walked to lead off the eighth inning for Arizona. So that’s nice.
On the mound, Ryne Nelson fell behind before recording an out, starting the game off by allowing a double and then a triple. The latter then scored on a groundout, but he then steadied the ship. Nelson went 2.2 innings, allowing those two runs on three hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Unfortunately, the next three pitchers Arizona used also got tagged, and they included Kevin Ginkel (a run on two hits with one K) and Ryan Thompson (two runs on two hits, also with one K). Nobody worked a clean inning for the D-backs this afternoon. Shawn Dubin, with a walk but also two strikeouts, probably came the closest.
Not a good day for ABS and Gabriel Montero. He cost the team both their challenges – the first behind the plate, the second at it. Home-plate umpire Trevor Dannegger had a good afternoon, being proven correct all four times his calls were challenged. Tomorrow is the first split-squad game of the spring, with half the team (including Daniel Eagan) hosting the White Sox at Salt River Fields, while the other half, led by Mitch Bratt, go to Maryvale and take on the Brewers there.
It may have only been for five innings, and he may have only had one ball hit in his direction, but Brett Baty made his right field debut in the Mets' 7-4 loss to the Washington Nationals on Thursday afternoon.
And while he wasn't exactly tested out there like he's been in a couple of games at first base -- another position he's learning this spring -- it's still good to see Baty trying new things, having a positive attitude and most of all, having fun.
"It’s feeling more and more normal," Baty said about the outfield, adding that getting live reps during batting practice the last few days has helped. "It’s like when I played at Double-A, so I’m having a lot of fun out there."
Baty clarified that he was never asked to play right field in Double-A, just left field, but that the two positions are very similar, just flipped.
So even though he didn't get a chance on Thursday to show off everything he's learned in the outfield, he'll certainly get more chances in the future, which is something Baty revels in.
"I'll play wherever," he said.
For Baty, who also learned second base last year after coming up as a third baseman, that's not just something he says. He means it.
As for the Mets, they'll take Baty's continued versatility if it means it keeps his bat in the lineup.
The 26-year-old had a good day at the plate against Washington, going 1-for-3, including a two-run opposite-field homer in the first inning. It was Baty's first hit of the spring after he had a breakout 2025 season in which he slashed .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs.
After a rough first few seasons in the league, Baty turned it on in the second half last year and has looked like a different player since -- one that is more mature, self-assured and confident in himself.
"You see the way he’s going about it on and off the field, the interactions, the questions he’s asking pretty much every coach," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "… Just the confidence, not only defensively but offensively. He knows he’s a really good big league player and he will continue to get opportunities here."
Another player learning a new position for New York during camp is Jorge Polanco, who saw his first game action this spring at first base on Thursday. The veteran infielder has mostly played second base and shortstop, with some third base, in his career went 1-for-2 with a walk and felt good being back on the field.
"I’m used to taking ground balls," he said when asked about playing first base. "It felt pretty good... Every time we go out there, we gotta prepare and we gotta be ready to make plays. Every time we’re out there playing, we want the ball to [be] hit to us so we can make a play."
Polanco was also asked if he's starting to feel like a first baseman and he quickly and emphatically said "yes" twice, adding that getting his reps there is helping him be more comfortable.
In fact, he and Baty have been doing a lot of work together at first base during practice, learning from one another and helping each other the best they can.
"There’s no ego with him," Baty said about Polanco. "He wants to play and he’ll play wherever, and he was ready to do that from Day 1, so I think it’s awesome. And I think we’re both bouncing ideas off of each other and working on the footwork and just like what feels good, what works.
"So it’s good to have us both over there helping each other out. And Mark [Vientos] too, when he was here."
With some official innings at both first base and right field now under his belt, does Baty feel more natural at one or the other?
"I think it’s too early to tell," he said. "I’ve only played first base in two games and I’ve only played right [field] for five innings, so I’m just enjoying the process and having fun at both positions."
Cooper Flagg, who has been out since Fe. 12 with a left midfoot sprain, will return to the Mavericks lineup Thursday night against Orlando, a story first reported by Marc Stein and since confirmed by others.
Flagg missed eight games, during which the tanking Mavericks went 2-6. Flagg, as expected, will be on a minutes restriction in his return but those minutes will grow in future games, according to Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News.
The biggest impact of Flagg's absence — and potentially his return — could be in the Rookie of the Year race.
At the midpoint of the season, Flagg and his college teammate at Duke, Charlotte's Kon Knueppel, were in a virtual dead heat for Rookie of the Year. Since then, Flagg has missed considerable time (he's played in 13 fewer games than Knueppel) while Knueppel has been scoring efficiently and leading the Hornets up the East standings into the playoff mix. Knueppel has started to take a solid lead in this race.
Flagg has about six weeks left in the season to change that dynamic. Whether or not he can do it, at least he is back on the court.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 2: Alperen Sengun #28 and Reed Sheppard #15 of the Houston Rockets high five during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 2, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 29, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Utah Jazz at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena. Trae Young will make his Wizards debut. Chat about it in the comments below!
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Juan Soto #22 of The Dominican Republic celebrates after hitting a home run in the third inning of the World Baseball Classic Pool D game against Puerto Rico at loanDepot park on March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 World Baseball Classic has technically already begun as you read this, as Australia beat Chinese Taipei in the opener, 3-0. However, Pool C is the only member of the quartet actually underway, so we have time to look ahead at the final batch of clubs, Pool D.
As Matt discussed yesterday, Pool C has a case as the Group of Death in this year’s WBC, but Pool D is at least the Group of Great Pain. Two baseball titans are expected to top the group, but all five teams feature real MLB talent. One shutdown relief performance or a ball that gets into the gap could flip the round-robin on its head. These games come in Miami, so three-and-a-half teams with majority Caribbean/Latin representation makes sense, and while Tokyo may be slightly louder for Japan and Chinese Taipei, the crowds for the Dominican Republic and Venezuela will absolutely make themselves known in an electric atmosphere.
Dominican Republic
The D.R. returns a lineup that is as good or better than any other nation in this tournament. I mean, just look at what they rolled out for a tune-up game against the poor Tigers:
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 3, 2026
Now, the appearance of Austin Wells here is a little like that “what’s a polar bear doing in Texas” meme, but the Yankee catcher qualifies under the WBC’s eligibility, and he’s looked strong in spring training so far, making him a perfect eighth hitter for a lineup with this much talent. It’s also worth noting that Geraldo Perdomo had a seven (!) win season last year, better than any other hitter on this team, and he’s batting ninth. The great weakness of Team Canada, my squad, is the pitching staff, so I’m quite glad the Canucks don’t have to face this group of hitters until at least the knockouts if at all.
The D.R.’s pitching doesn’t quite stand up to the power of the offense, but it’s certainly not lacking in talent on its own. Cristopher Sánchez, Sandy Alcantara, Brayan Bello, and Luis Severino form the backbone of the rotation, with Yankee Camilo Doval, former farmhand Albert Abreu, and Seranthony Domínguez expected to take big roles in the bullpen. This is a very, very good team.
It’s also a team that, for all the star power it boasts, has something to prove. The Dominican Republic didn’t even make it out of the group stage in the 2023 tournament, going 2-2 with big losses to Venezuela and Puerto Rico. For a nation as baseball-mad as the D.R., this squad may be coming in with the most domestic pressure to perform, and new manager Albert Pujols — yes, him — will need to get a team full of big names on the same page to avenge that ’23 disappointment and match ’13 Robinson Canó-led D.R. squad as WBC champions.
Venezuela
The winners of that abovementioned group in 2023, Venezuela swept their way into the knockout stages before finally being eliminated by Trea Turner’s grand slam in the quarterfinals.
They come into this tournament ranked fifth in the world, and like the D.R., will boast a lineup that could put up serious numbers across a 162-game MLB season. Ronald Acuña Jr is The Man, even on a squad that boasts a widely-recognized leader like Salvador Perez, but Eugenio Suárez, Jackson Chourio, old friend Gleyber Torres, and the Contreras brothers round out what should be a dynamite offense. New Red Sox starter Ranger Suárez and veteran Eduardo Rodríguez highlight the pitching staff, which will unfortunately be missing the talents of the injured Pablo López.
The marquee matchup of this pool will be Venezuela against the D.R., and whoever comes out on top will be in the driver’s seat atop the group table. A longtime baseball powerhouse, the Venezuelans have only fared better than fifth once (a third-place finish in 2009), and this is the best team of the field that has never hoisted the WBC trophy.
The Netherlands
We get a little example of the vestiges of colonialism, with many of the Kingdom’s best players coming from the Antilles, most prominently Aruba and Curaçao. Newly-minted Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, who is one of those Caribbean-born representatives, played for the side in 2006 and 2013, before being named a bench coach for the next two tournaments, and finally getting the top job as manager for this run. Andruw’s son Druw Jones, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, will look to carry on Dad’s legacy in his first taste of WBC action.
The nation has had legitimate success at the WBC, with two memorable upset wins over the D.R. in 2009 and more meaningfully, a pair of fourth-place finishes in ’13 and ’17. But they were unable to escape the group stage in ’23, as Italy beat them in the Pool A finale behind Matt Harvey (yes, really) to send ’em home. Kenley Jansen and Xander Boegarts, two stalwarts of the WBC, will lead the team’s pitching and lineup respectively, and Ceddanne Rafaela brings his excellent outfield defense to the center field slot. The infield is rounded out by Ozzie Albies and old friend Didi Gregorius, still kicking around at age-36. Jurickson Profar was supposed to be involved as well, but, uh, that isn’t happening.
Israel
Appearing in its third WBC and featuring a roster of primarily American players with Jewish heritage, Israel didn’t fare as well in 2023 as it did in its first WBC in 2017, with an opening round sweep against Netherlands, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei. They only mustered a single win last time around, going 1-3 and failing to advance out of the group stages.
Former Yankees Harrison Bader, Tommy Kahnle, and Matt Bowman are on Israel’s roster for 2026, and Triple-A arm Harrison Cohen is also expected to be in the mix. Orioles starter Dean Kremer will lead the rotation. As he is in New York, Brad Ausmus was the bench coach during the last WBC under Ian Kinsler, but like Jones, he’s now running the show. Best-forgotten 2013 Yank/old nemesis Kevin Youkilis is the hitting coach, and long-ago Yankees catcher Jerry Narron is on the staff as well.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is sort of the little brother of the quartet of Latin/Caribbean teams here, with a winless debut tournament in 2023 but sweeping its way through the qualifying process a year ago. That qualification was capped with a stunning win over #2 ranked Chinese Taipei in the final. The team does feature some very real pitching talent, but the lineup is likely to be a little thin — although adding the Mets’ Mark Vientos will help with some of the thump.
Maybe the feel-good story of the tournament will be Dusty Baker, who may have the best case to be considered the current Mr. Baseball, and who will take over managerial duties for the very young underdog squad. A win for Nicaragua would represent a huge step forward in baseball development for the small nation, and I’d be lying if I said I’m not rooting for it.
Find more Pinstripe Alley WBC pool previews here: Pool A, Pool B, Pool C.
Trump joked that watching three-hour games with Steinbrenner was the hardest thing he ever had to do. "(Steinbrenner) liked me, I liked him and we both liked nobody else," Trump said.
Trump didn't elaborate on what baseball is doing "wrong," but has previously railed against MLB as "woke."
In the diatribe about Steinbrenner, Trump shouted out his "friend" Alex Rodriguez, who was in attendance at the event. Rodriguez, who won a World Series title with the Yankees, was one of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history but hasn't been voted into the Hall of Fame due to his ties to performance-enhancing drugs.
Though Trump boasts in 2026 about his friendship with Rodriguez – and hosted him in the Oval Office before Thursday's event – the president used to excoriate the former MLB star on Twitter before entering the political arena.
Trump called Rodriguez a "druggie" and regularly advocated for the Yankees to terminate his contract. Trump even said that "it was only drugs" that made him a great player.
A-Rod is just not making it. We want to give him a chance but it was only drugs that made him great.
LONDON (AP) — Tottenham's Premier League survival hopes took another blow with a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Thursday.
Spurs — one of the richest teams in Europe and a founding member of the Premier League — is just one point above the relegation zone and without a domestic win in 2026.
“We know that the position we are in is not where we want to be. We need to figure out how to get out of it as soon as possible," said Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke. “There have been difficulties, but we aren’t in the position to make excuses. We need to do the job on the pitch.”
Spurs' latest defeat was the fifth in a row and the third under new coach Igor Tudor, who was tasked with the responsibility of turning the season around.
He watched as his team capitulated in front of a home crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — conceding three goals in the first half, having taken the lead and then gone down to 10 men when Micky van de Ven was sent off.
Palace took full advantage by scoring three times in seven minutes before the break.
Ismaila Sarr struck twice — one from the penalty spot — with Jorgen Strand Larsen getting the other for the visitors.
That was after Solanke had given Spurs the lead in the 34th minute. Van de Ven was red-carded four minutes later for bringing down Sarr in the box and Palace took control.
“I am very disappointed, like the fans,” Tudor said. "We know what the moment is and we need to keep working and believe.
“But after this game I believe more than before because I saw something in the team and in the dressing room after the game. When we will be complete it will be good, I believe.”
The deepening crisis at Tottenham comes after winning the Europa League last season and advancing to the knockout stage of the Champions League this term, where it faces Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 next week.
But its desperate league form has carried on from last year when it finished one place above the relegation zone — its lowest final position in the Premier League era.
Its plight also comes amid a tumultuous period when it has had seven managers in less than seven years.
Tottenham has spent only one season out of England's top flight since 1950 and has been an established member of the Premier League since the competition's inception in 1992.
It is a two-time English league champion and was a Champions League finalist in 2019.
It's near-63,000 capacity stadium is one of the most impressive in Europe and regularly hosts NFL games, as well as top music concerts.
Deloitte ranked Spurs ninth on its most recent rich list in January with revenues of $781 million. That placed Tottenham above giants like Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli further confirmed the reports, adding that the Kings are receiving a draft pick, and the two teams are also swapping picks.
In the Senators' press release of the trade, the conditions of the swapped third-round picks are explained.
"Ottawa will get the worse of the Kings’ own third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft or Dallas’ third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (acquired in a previous trade). Los Angeles will get the better of Ottawa’s own third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft or Washington’s third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (acquired in a previous trade). However, if both Ottawa and Washington do not qualify for the 2026 NHL playoffs, then Ottawa will instead transfer to Los Angeles the worse of Ottawa’s own third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft or Washington’s third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (acquired in a previous trade)."
Foegele has been in and out of the lineup for the Kings at times this season, and that was not lost on Kings GM Ken Holland. Holland openly hinted at trading away Foegele shortly after acquiring superstar left winger Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4.
Warren Foegele (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
Los Angeles' GM admitted that he had a surplus of forwards and that a player like Foegele shouldn't be a healthy scratch. Evidently, Holland has found Foegele a home where he'll be hoping to get more playing time.
He's featured in 47 games and has scored seven goals and nine points this season for the Kings. With that, he's averaged 14:45 of ice time in what is his second season with Los Angeles.
However, in his first season with the team, he was far more productive. In fact, he went on to have the best campaign of his career, scoring 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points. Not to mention, he put up a plus-36 plus-minus rating and averaged 16:10 of ice time per game, all of which are personal bests.
The Kings signed Foegele in the free agency window in the off-season of 2024. The Markham, Ont., native carries a $3.5-million salary cap hit for one more season after this campaign, and has a five-team no-trade list, according to puckpedia.com.
Before his time with the Kings, Foegele spent three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, growing into a middle-six forward as time went on. In his last season with Edmonton, which was 2023-24, the 29-year-old scored 20 goals and 41 points.
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The Pittsburgh Penguins should be looking to add to their forward depth ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. One of their biggest needs is another center, and they are now being linked to one of their former players.
"League sources have told The Athletic that Pittsburgh is considering a deal that would bring former Penguins center Teddy Blueger back to the team," Yohe wrote.
If the Penguins brought back Blueger, he could be a nice addition to their and penalty kill due to his solid two-way play. However, he could also move up the Penguins' lineup at times due to his versatility if ever needed.
With Blueger being one of the top third-line centers available on the trade market, it is likely that the Penguins will have competition for his services. He is exactly the kind of solid two-way forward that playoff teams love to add, and it also does not hurt that he has a good amount of playoff experience on his resume as well.
In 14 games this season with the Canucks, Blueger has recorded five goals, three assists, eight points, and 33 hits.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 3, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With 21 games left, there is still much to be decided for the Lakers.
On the long road that is the NBA season, LA can see the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings is just a game-and-a-half away. However, the objects in their rearview are closer than they appear as they are also just two games ahead of the seventh-seed Suns, who are currently play-in-bound.
That means there’s little to no room for error. They will either arrive at their desired destination come mid-April or it’s going to be a bumpy ride with an ugly ending.
Buckle up, Lakers fans.
5 things I liked and didn’t like
1. A nice little streak
With the Lakers playing games against the Warriors, Pelicans and Kings, this week, they had an opportunity to stack wins. They accomplished that feat and played well.
But, forgive me if I’m not going to stand up and clap about the greatness of the 2025-26 Lakers.
After all, they played a Steph Curry-less Warriors, a Kings team with the worst record in the NBA, and a Pelicans side yet to win 20 games.
Still, sometimes, the most important thing to do is what’s expected of you. They didn’t disappoint this week, and now they are in a position to impress and prove they are a higher-level team than their record indicates.
2. Ignoring the drama
It’s not always fun in Lakerland, but it’s never boring.
Even in victory, there are enough miserable, negative people to find darkness in the light. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that when Luka Dončić and head coach JJ Redick had an argument during the team’s win against the Warriors, it went viral.
Still, I was taken aback by how many people were obsessed with it. It was a topic on every show and podcast, big and small and before the Lakers played the Pelicans, Redick was asked about it multiple times.
His response was what I expected: to dismiss it as nothing out of the ordinary.
“I don’t know why it went viral, it felt very normal to me” – JJ Redick on his interaction with Luka Doncic on the bench during the Warriors game that got a little heated pic.twitter.com/jNPF2KFBUO
If this shocks people or is considered a problem, then every team in the NBA has massive issues. If the average fan heard how players talk when mics aren’t around or when they are comfortable, their jaws would drop to the floor.
Even from publicly available things, this is rather tame. It’s not Kobe Bryant yelling during practice, berating the general manager and insulting his teammates. And it certainly isn’t Draymond Green knocking out Jordan Poole.
This was just a heat-of-the-moment argument that was likely forgotten between the two of them in a matter of minutes.
LeBron and Luka have had some good games this week, but Austin Reaves did not. He has struggled to score against any opponent. Over the past five games, he’s been held under 20 points in every contest, well below his average of 23.8 per game.
Austin Reaves shooting percentages over the past five games. 40% vs. Celtics 37% vs. Magic 41% vs. Suns 63% vs. Warriors 33% vs. Kings.
At the half, he is 0-6 from the field against the Pelicans.
Is it just a poor shooting slump? Is it having trouble getting integrated with LeBron being back on the floor? Or is there a bigger issue?
Are teams getting more physical with him and is Reaves’ inability to get to the paint and finish through contact becoming an issue again? During the playoffs last year, we saw Reaves get bullied by the Wolves, which led to a poor series.
A rough week won’t erase a career that’s had a positive trajectory, nor will it eradicate what’s so far been a great year for Reaves. But I’m perked up a bit, especially since this is a contract season and we’re about to enter the most important part of the year.
4. Take a bow, Jaxson Hayes!
From the outside looking in, it’s easy to say a player should accept whatever role they are given. But how would you react at your workplace if you were asked to minimize yourself for the betterment of others?
That’s what Hayes did in LA by returning on a one-year deal and getting demoted from starter to backup.
Not only did he take this in stride, but he’s responded by having a great season. His performance against the Pelicans was a prime example.
Hayes started on the bench but, after outplaying Deandre Ayton, Redick decided to stick with him down the stretch of the close game. That confidence in Hayes was rewarded as he stymied Zion Williamson, getting multiple stops on him down the stretch.
The Lakers won and Hayes was a big reason why. This isn’t the first time Hayes has stepped up and helped LA win a game, and it certainly won’t be his last.
The Hayes redemption arc was not something I thought we’d see, but I’m glad the basketball gods added it to the script.
5. Plus, plus-minus
While most of the year has seen Lakers lineups in the negative, this week has been positive.
The seven most used fine-man lineups all won their shifts, led by the starting lineup at +14, the second-highest plus-minus. The best lineup featured Reaves, Hayes, Dončić, Jake LaRavia and Luke Kennard, which played for 13 minutes and was a +20.
It’s great to see the starters winning their minutes as well as this new lineup with Hayes and Kennard working so well.
Hopefully, that continues as LA begins facing some tougher opponents.
Stat of the Week
If I were to call Luka one thing, it’d be consistent. No matter what, he is going to produce.
In Sunday’s home win against the Kings, Luka had 28 points, five rebounds and nine assists in 29 minutes. It marked his 35th game this season, recording 25+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists, most in the NBA.
There is plenty left to figure out regarding how to make the Lakers one of the best teams in the league, but what’s clear is that Luka is a great No. 1 option to start that with.
Play of the Week
Basketball is fun. The Play of the Week is a reminder of this as Dončić adds another ridiculous make to his ever-expanding highlight reel.
Luka begins by quickly driving hard towards the rim. He tries to come to a hard stop, but begins to slip while also handling the ball behind his back.
This slip could’ve led to a turnover. But somehow, Luka quickly got back up and recovered. The play looked like something you’d see on the playground or in an AND1 mixtape.
Once Luka was back on his feet, he quickly got a shot up and drilled it. On the Spectrum broadcast, Billy Mac had the perfect call for this play.
“If this goes in…It goes in! That’s some magic from Luka!”
Luka can always be Player of the Week, but he gets it this time since he was the most consistent Laker and a big reason why they have won three straight games.
He averaged 30.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists, leading the Lakers in all three categories.
While this week was better for LA’s big three, overall, there is work left to do. Law Murray broke down the stats for the trio in his latest piece for The Athletic.
In 297 minutes, the Lakers have outscored opponents by only three points with Dončić, James, and Reaves together. There have been eight games in which L.A. has outscored opponents during the trio’s shared minutes, eight in which the Lakers have been outscored and one in which they played to a draw.
One of the more disappointing aspects of the Dončić-James-Reaves combo has been the offense. The Lakers have scored only 109.2 points per 100 possessions this season with their three best players on the floor, a figure that would rank below every NBA team except the gap-year Indiana Pacers.
Alex Regla always provides thoughtful critiques of the Lakers for the site, and he laid out why this upcoming stretch will decide who the Lakers truly are.
The Lakers will go head-to-head with the clubs they’re currently sandwiched between in Minnesota and Phoenix. Additionally, they also have two pivotal matchups remaining against Houston, Denver and Oklahoma City each.
Given how bunched up everyone still is, tiebreakers will likely play a big role in determining the final playoff bracket.
For example, despite still having one game remaining against Phoenix, the Lakers have already lost the season series to the Suns, a result of the two sides playing an extra time this season during the NBA Cup knockout rounds. Conversely, thanks to their two early-season wins against Minnesota, the Lakers have notched the season series over the Timberwolves. Tiebreakers against Houston and Denver are still up for grabs.
It may sound like hyperbole, but this is why the Lakers’ entire season could come down to how they fare in these eight games.
Jul 2, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Didier Fuentes (75) throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Below you will find a list of the 40 players to make the roster, as well as a guess at the 27 players who will actually participate in the game – assuming they stay healthy. The number next to them is their ranking on the Battery Power Top 30 list that was updated this winter.
40-man Player Pool
PITCHERS (21) Blane Abeyta, RHP, NR Ethan Bagwell, RHP, No. 25 Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Honorable Mention Lucas Braun, RHP, No. 19 Garrett Baumann, RHP, No. 12 Blake Burkhalter, RHP, No. 18 Cam Caminiti, LHP, No. 1 Didier Fuentes, RHP, No. 3 Isaac Gallegos, RHP, NR Drue Hackenberg, RHP, No. 30 Hayden Harris, LHP, No. 28 Herick Hernandez, LHP, No. 20 Jhancarlos Lara, RHP, No. 11 Briggs McKenzie, LHP, No. 7 Ian Mejia, RHP, NR Rolddy Munoz, RHP, NR Owen Murphy, RHP, No. 4 Raudy Reyes, RHP, No. 23 JR Ritchie, RHP, No. 2 Luke Sinnard, RHP, No. 8 Luis Vargas, RHP, NR
CATCHERS (3) Archer Brookman, C, NR Colin Burgess, C, NR Manuel Dos Passos, C, NR
INFIELDERS (9) Lizandro Espinoza, UTIL, NR John Gil, SS, No. 9 Jim Jarvis, SS, NR Alex Lodise, SS, No. 10 David McCabe, 1B/3B, Honorable Mention Cody Miller, SS, No. 16 Jose Perdomo, SS, No. 21 Tate Southisene, SS/OF, No. 6 Dixon Williams, 2B, No. 26
OUTFIELDERS (7) Owen Carey, OF, No. 17 Patrick Clohisy, OF, NR Isaiah Drake, OF, No. 15 Conor Essenburg, OF, No. 14 Luis Guanipa, OF, No. 13 Eric Hartman, OF, No. 24 Diego Tornes, OF, No. 5
Predictions
I predict the Braves will take 11 pitchers, 2 catchers, 7 infielders, and 6 outfielders to this game, with 1 wildcard spot open.
With the pitchers I think it can be safely assumed that Cam Caminiti, Didier Fuentes, Owen Murphy, and Jhancarlos Lara will all be heading to the game. JR Ritchie is only outside that group as the Braves could decide to hold him back as they consider him for a big league spot after his strong start to the spring. I also believe that Luke Sinnard, Lucas Braun, and Hayden Harris are likely, with Herick Hernandez being close to that group as another lefty option to go with Caminiti and Harris. That is eight or nine guys out of the 11, and we haven’t even gotten into talented prospects like Briggs McKenzie, Raudy Reyes, Garrett Bauman, Landon Beidelschies, or Ethan Bagwell, or more experienced arms like Blake Burkhalter, Rolddy Munoz, Ian Mejia, or Drue Hackenberg
I will pick Caminiti, Fuentes, Murphy, Lara, Sinnard, Braun, Harris, and Hernandez for the first eight slots, leaving Ritchie off the team in favor of keeping him with the big league squad. Beidelschies is the next pick, giving the team a fourth lefty. Hackenberg gets a slot here as the Braves hope he can put a forgettable 2025 season behind him. With the final spot going to young fireballer Raudy Reyes, just to give him a chance to throw gas in this game.
Catcher is going to be the toughest spot to pick as none of the names in the pool are significant prospects. I am going to go with Archer Brookman for one of the spots, as the Braves just added him via the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft this winter, so they may want to give him a look. With the other spot, young Manuel Dos Passos is the pick over Colin Burgess, as Dos Passos is the most intriguing prospect in this pool.
With the infield I believe two things are fairly safe bets. Based on how he has been used this spring plus his late promotion to Double-A last year, John Gil will be a lock if healthy. I also think David McCabe is going to go because of the need for a first baseman. The three recently drafted shortstops in Tate Southisene, Cody Miller, and Alex Lodise will all be strongly considered, as will also recently drafted second baseman Dixon Williams. But you can make an argument for former top international signee Jose Perdomo, who is finally healthy and in camp in the best shape we have seen since signing. Though minor league veterans like Lizandro Espinoza and Jim Jarvis would add a little experience to the team.
Two of these guys will need to be left out, and unfortunately I believe one of the more intriguing prospects will be in that group, as I can’t picture the Braves leaving off both Jarvis and Espinoza for their experience, versatility, and being the most advanced. I will leave Jarvis off in favor of Espinoza, and also Perdomo due to his struggles to this point in his career. That makes the group of infielders Gil, McCabe, Southisene, Lodise, Miller, Williams, and Espinoza.
The outfield is most likely to bring top prospect Diego Tornes and the most advanced player of the bunch, Patrick Clohisy. That means one Top 30 prospect will need to be squeezed out here. Top prospect Conor Essenburg seems like the most likely to get the squeeze due to his not playing in a professional game that counts yet, and I chose him over Luis Guanipa as the player not to make the cut. That means the outfield would be Tornes, Clohisy, Isaiah Drake, Owen Carey, Eric Hartman, and Luis Guanipa for the six spots. That is going to be an impressive group of young players to watch.
With the wildcard spot it would be a tough decision. On the hitting side there are prospects Perdomo and Essenburg, versatile veteran Jarvis, and a third catcher in Burgess. If they decided to go with a 12th pitcher there are prospects like top draft pick McKenzie, young prospects like Baumann and Bagwell, more experienced options like Burkhalter, Mejia, and Munoz. I am going to take Baumann over Jarvis with this pick, as he is a highly regarded prospect getting ready for his first taste of the upper minors.
