The NHL’s latest big contract signing has Vancouver Canucks fans excited.
Earlier today, the San Jose Sharks announced that star forward and BC-local Macklin Celebrini has signed a five-year contract extension beginning during the 2027–28 season. The contract expires after the 2031–32 season, during which Celebrini will become an unrestricted free-agent at the age of 26.
It’s safe to say that Canucks fans are very happy about the prospect of a potential Celebrini free-agency signing.
“Walked himself to UFA basically,” @LaheyHNIC wrote on X. “Incredible day for the Canucks.”
Celebrini’s contract is the second five-year extension signed by a player from North Vancouver, as Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard also inked a new contract in mid-July that will walk him to UFA status in 2031.
With both North Vancouver products set to become UFAs in the future, Canucks fans have already begun celebrating an outcome in which both Bedard and Celebrini return home to play for the Canucks.
“CELEBRINI AND BEDARD ONLY SIGNED FOR 5 YEARS, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS !!!” @Springer4MVP said on X.
"This has to be the best off-season for the Canucks in the past decade. 2 hometown boys signing contracts that lineup perfectly with the Canucks rebuild. Couldn't ask for anything else," @Taj1944 commented. "Now they have to stay patient for 4-5 years and keep loading up with young talent."
“Bedard and Celebrini are both walking themselves to be 25 and 26 year old UFAs,” @Naughty4Novotny added. “They both want to come home and play for their favourite hockey team as soon as possible 🤩.”
“#Canucks have 5 years to put together a decent roster AND get a practice facility project built. Don’t let that time go to waste ⏳,” @LachInTheCrease wrote.
Only time will tell whether fans’ premature celebrations are a sign of something true to come along. For now, it appears the allure of two potential homecomings will be enough to keep Vancouver’s fanbase excited.
Apr 6, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) and Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) face off during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
We are at one of the quietest points of the offseason, but the New York Rangers still have two notable restricted free agents without a contract extension in place.
The futures of defensemen Scott Morrow and Vincent Iorio with the Rangers appear to be in flux, as both remain unsigned.
The Blueshirts acquired Morrow from the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the K’Andre Miller sign-and-trade package.
Despite coming into the 2025-26 season with some promise and expectation, the 23-year-old defenseman was unable to carve out a consistent role with the Rangers, bouncing up and down from the NHL and American Hockey League.
The 23-year-old defenseman played in 29 NHL games this past season, recording six points while averaging 15:40 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Rangers claimed Iorio off waivers from the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 31.
Iorio stuck around with the Rangers for the remainder of the season, but he was scratched for a handful of games. ‘
The 23-year-old defenseman posted three points in 27 games for New York while averaging 13:05 minutes.
The Rangers re-signed Braden Schneider to a one-year, $5.5 million contract extension, and acquired both Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson, which puts Morrow and Iorio in a difficult position to earn consistent playing time at the NHL level.
It’s unclear where the Rangers are regarding negotiations with Morrow and Iorio.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 29: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers, right, is hugged by manager A.J. Hinch #14 after being pulled from the game against the Baltimore Orioles during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on July 29, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It took twelve innings to watch the Tigers officially lose this one, but the real downfall really started when Tarik Skubal exited the game in the seventh. The final score was 10-9 for the O’s.
The Tigers were feeling mighty fine after their blowout win on Tuesday and hoping to ride that wave into a series win during the Wednesday day game. To get there, they’d have Tarik Skubal on the mound in potentially his last start with the Tigers? Who knows, but the hot stove is certainly hot. He would be up against Trevor Rogers for the Orioles.
Tarik Skubal got the game started in historic fashion, wasting no time getting his 1000th career strikeout on the first batter he saw.
Pete Alonso then singled, but two outs followed to end the inning in short order. The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, so they would not be repeating their one run in every inning feat from Tuesday night.
Coby Mayo got a one-out single in the second, but Skubal was on his game and got the next two batters in order. In the home half, the Tigers went three-up, three-down.
The Orioles went 1-2-3 in the top of the third. In the bottom of the inning, Spencer Torkelson singled and it was another big Tigers’ milestone as it was his 500th career hit.
Matt Vierling doubled, then Javier Baez continued to be red hot since his return with a single to score two runs. He ended up on second thanks to a throwing error from Pete Alonso. With one out, Kevin McGonigle hit a sac fly to score Baez.
Skubal was cruising by the time they reached the fourth, getting the side out in order. In the home half, Dillon Dingler singled, but three outs followed to leave him stranded.
Three-up, three-down on repeat for Tarik in the fifth. Matt Vierling got the bottom of the inning started with a triple, but he appeared to hurt himself somewhere between second and third, with Zach McKinstry coming in to pinch-run and ultimately replace him in the game. Baez then singled, scoring McKinstry.
Gleyber Torres doubled, then with one out, Hao-Yu Lee hit a sac fly to score yet another run. By the time the end of the inning came around the Tigers were up 5-0.
Skubal kept making it look easy through the sixth, with another 1-2-3 inning. In the home half Riley Greene reached on a fielding error, then right on his heels, Eduardo Valencia reached on a throwing error. That was now three errors in a single game for the O’s, and the Tigers were keen to make sure they regretted every one. McKinstry doubled, bringing in two more runs.
Gunnar Henderson got a leadoff single in the seventh. A great diving stop from McGonigle, combined with a super accurate catch from Torkelson, got the first out of the inning and definitely saved getting another runner on the basepaths.
With two outs, Coby Mayo walked, bringing A.J. Hinch in, but Skubal remained in the game. This was the first inning of the game that Skubal showed signs of struggle with his command. Leody Taveras then singled to score the first Orioles’ run of the game. That was all she wrote for Skubal, possibly for the last time as a Tiger, and his final line (after the inning finished…. so spoilers) was 6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K on 92 pitches. He got a standing ovation for the second time in the game and received high-fives from the whole dugout. If it was his last start, which feels unfortunate and likely, it was a good start to say goodbye on. Kyle Finnegan came in to replace him. After an unbelievably long at-bat, Jeremiah Jackson worked a walk. The bases were loaded with two outs, and a pinch-hitting Jackson Holliday coming up. Holliday singled, scoring two runs. Holliday stole second, and then Taylor Ward singled, bringing in two more runs. At this point, it would have made more sense to just leave Skubal in, it couldn’t have possibly been worse. Finnegan was pulled, finally and Drew Anderson came in to replace him. A pop out ended the inning but the damage was certainly done as the Orioles pulled within two.
Rogers’s day was done in the home half, replaced by Anthony Nunez. A pinch-hitting Colt Keith got a one-out triple. With two outs, Riley Greene was intentionally walked. With two on, though, the final out of the inning came, leaving the runners stranded.
In the top of the eighth, Henderson got a leadoff walk. A pinch-hitting Dylan Beavers reached on a fielder’s choice where Gleyber Torres opted to throw to second, didn’t get the out, and everyone was safe. With one out, Mayo tripled and suddenly the game was tied. The Tigers did finally get out of the inning but needless to say the damage was done and Skubal’s final game was pretty soundly squandered. Yennier Cano was the new pitcher in the bottom of the inning and he got the Tigers out in order.
Kenley Jansen was the new Tigers’ pitcher for the top of the ninth. Ward got a one-out walk. It took some work, but Jansen did manage to best the O’s to get out of the inning unscathed. Tigers went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning against Tyler Wells. The game was headed to extras.
Jacob Waguespack came in from the Tigers’ bullpen. A pop-out and a double play with the ghost runner got the Tigers out of the inning. Riley Greene was intentionally walked again with one out, then Valencia hit into a double play to end the inning, all with a runner on third.
Mayo got a leadoff walk in the eleventh. Taveras laid down a pretty perfectly placed sac bunt to advance both baserunners into scoring position. Yohel Pozo hit a sac fly to right, allowing Christian Encarnacion-Strand to score. While the tag did look close, it seemed clear the run was safely in. That was it for Waguespack, who was replaced by Drew Sommers. Holliday singled, scoring another run. Sommers did finally get out of the inning, but the Tigers would need to score at least two runs in the home half to stay alive. Rico Garcia came in to pitch, and because the baseball gods have a sense of humor, Torkelson hit a home run to score two and tie the game up. And it was Tork’s 100th home run, no less, his second milestone of the game. With two outs, James Outman was hit by a pitch. The O’s went back to their bullpen for Grant Wolfram who got the final out of the inning and keep us going into the twelfth.
With two outs in the twelfth, Colton Cowser singled, scoring a run. That was it for Sommers who was replaced by Brenan Hanifee. He got the final out of the inning, but once again the Tigers were behind, and they’d need to wake up their bats if they wanted to win it. Ben Malgeri got a leadoff walk in the home half to put two on. Greene grounded out to bump both runners into scoring position. The Orioles went back to their bullpen for Andrew Kittredge. He got the final out of the inning and of the game, and the Tigers took the L.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 11: Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during batting practice prior to a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 11, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It has been a frustrating season for Vinnie Pasquantino, and last night was just another setback. Pasquantino exited Tuesday night’s game against the Twins with hand soreness, and today the Royals placed him on the Injured List with right wrist soreness. Pasquantino previously missed a month after suffering a hamate fracture in mid-June. To replace him on the roster, the Royals called up outfielder John Rave.
Pasquantino has struggled to get going in 2026, getting off to a very slow start. He hit .165 in April and couldn’t get over the Mendoza Line until mid-May. He started to hit towards the end of the month until he injured his wrist on a swing during a June game against the Astros. He returned to the lineup in mid-July, and while he has hit .282 (11-for-39) in the 11 games since returning, he has not hit for power. Players with wrist and hand injuries commonly have a loss of power upon returning. For the season, Pasquantino has hit .232/.318/.345 with six home runs in 79 games, the tenth-lowest slugging percentage among all qualified hitters.
Rave appeared in nine games earlier with the Royals, hitting .222/.333/.611. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter was batting .285/.396/.481 with 13 home runs and 18 steals in 77 games for Omaha.
Jac Caglianone is likely to move back to first base to fill in for Pasquantino, with Salvador Perez also likely to see some time there.
The New York Yankees took the first two games of this series, and they're -145 favorites to earn another win in Game 3 at Rate Field.
With Cam Schlittler dealing, my Yankees vs. White Sox predictions and MLB picks believe the value again lies with the road team on July 29.
Who will win Yankees vs White Sox today: Yankees (-145)
Davis Martin has had a rough go of late. His ERA is 6.0 over the last 30 days, and his underlying numbers (5.45 xFIP, 5.69 SIERA) indicate the poor results are warranted.
Yankees vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-115)
Schlittler’s gotten dinged up a little more frequently of late, but his process is as strong as ever. He has struck out 32.2% of batters in his past five starts while posting a 2.80 xFIP.
His success should continue in Chicago. The White Sox rank 18th in average vs. righties this season, and 24th during the month of July.
It’s a struggle for them to string together hits, and Schlittler’s 0.83 HR/9 output doesn’t give them an escape via power.
If Martin doesn’t get blown up, this game should stay Under.
Bet to -120.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 64-58, -7.05 units
Over/Under bets: 67-50-5, +8.64 units
Yankees vs White Sox weather
Temperatures are expected to land in the low 70s with winds blowing east. No real impact.
Yankees vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Yankees -145 | White Sox +125
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+115) | White Sox +1.5 (-135)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)
Yankees vs White Sox trend
New York has hit the game total Under in 13 of the last 19 games (+6.60 units, 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. White Sox.
How to watch Yankees vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Yankees starting pitcher
Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2.07 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Davis Martin (9-5, 3.49 ERA)
Yankees vs White Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
In the 21st century, only three teenagers have recorded 100-point seasons at the NHL level. A fourth, Steven Stamkos, came close, but finished with 95 points. On Wednesday morning, the San Jose Sharks signed forward Macklin Celebrini to a record-breaking deal. He's now projected to be the highest-paid player in the NHL during the 2027-28 season, although a lot can change between now and then. So, how does his new deal compare to previous teenage superstars?
Macklin Celebrini's 115 points is the most in San Jose Sharks history, and the fourth-most by a teenager in NHL history. He trails just two of hockey's all-time greats, Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby. Considering Gretzky's teenage seasons were almost half a century ago, we'll leave him out of this discussion and focus directly on Crosby to start.
Sidney Crosby
Crosby's first years in the NHL were a little different, as by the time he was due for his first big contract, he had already surpassed the 100-point threshold in back-to-back seasons. As a result, the Pittsburgh Penguins wanted to lock him up as quickly as possible and as soon as he became eligible for an extension, he got his new contract.
Crosby's first big deal was a five-year contract with an average annual value of $8.7 million. While that is over $10 million less than Celebrini's new cap hit, at the time, the salary cap was much lower. Crosby's cap hit took up 15.34% of the Penguins' cap space at the time, a significant sum, but a manageable one for the best player in the world.
Celebrini's cap percentage is a bit higher, sitting at 16.56%, but it's still in the same ballpark. The Sharks' young star had another feather in his cap as well. While the Sharks had superstars in the past, Celebrini already owns the franchise record for points in a season, something Crosby has never come close to doing because of franchise legends Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr. As a result, it makes sense that the Sharks would have to give Celebrini a bit of a bump.
Connor McDavid
Roughly a decade ago, Edmonton Oilers standout Connor McDavid was coming off of his first 100-point season and was the face of a new generation of stars in the NHL. As a result, the Oilers locked up their budding superstar with an eight-year contract that carried an average annual value of $12.5 million. While it was quite a bit more money than Crosby had earned a decade prior, McDavid's cap percentage was just marginally higher at 15.72%.
Of course, the main difference between McDavid's contract and those of Celebrini and Crosby was the term. McDavid signed the maximum term, eight years, while both Celebrini and Crosby opted to go with shorter-term deals.
Interestingly though, both McDavid and Crosby have remained at the exact same cap hit for the rest of their careers, at least to this point anyway. While their contracts were sizeable at the beginning, their loyalty to their organizations, while occasionally questioned in the media, was always at the forefront as their careers progressed.
While many have criticized Celebrini's message of taking a "team-friendly" deal, in reality, he's taken almost the exact same contract as other players of his caliber historically. His cap percentage is slightly, but not significantly, higher and unlike McDavid and Crosby, Celebrini has the potential to be the best player in the history of his organization. While that's not meant as a slight on two future legends of the game, it means that the Sharks have to do whatever they can to keep Celebrini happy, even if it means paying slightly more.
Had he wanted to, Celebrini undoubtedly could have become the first player with a cap hit north of $20 million. Instead, he chose not to and followed in the shadow of Crosby and McDavid by taking slightly less than market value.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: Daulton Varsho #5 of the Toronto Blue Jays makes a leaping catch at the wall on a hit by Brady House #12 of the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Blue Jays 5 Nationals 2
That was a fun game.
Until the sixth inning, we were losing 1-0. Well, from the fourth inning until the sixth inning we were losing 1-0.
We tied it in the sixth. George Springer walked to lead off the game. Two outs later, Ernie Clement doubled him home.
And we went ahead in the seventh. With one out, Kazuma Okamoto singled. An out later, singles from Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho scored him.
Thankfully, we got three more in the eighth. Davis Schneider doubled with one out. Very happy for him, he’s had a rough go, hopefully that hit will be the start of good stuff. Yohendrick Piñango singled to give us runners on the corners. Myles Straw came in to pinch run for Lips, smart move as he’ll be coming in on defense anyway.
Straw decided to steal second. He was called safe. Nationals challenged and it wasn’t overturned. But it was very close. I am sure that if it was an out call on the field, it would not have changed on review. I was less than pleased with the baseball IQ shown. We had an insurance run on third and one out. A fly ball would have given us a big run.
Nathan Lukes struck out. Okamoto doubled both home (a bloop double, that the center fielder almost made the catch on). Then Springer singled home Okamoto.
It went from a one run lead to a four run lead.
Tyler Rogers, who got the last out of the seventh, stayed in the game for the eight. He sat for a long time (Dan said 17 minutes) and he wasn’t sharp in the eight.
James Wood led off with a double. Luis García Jr. singled him in, making it 5-2 . José Tena walked bringing the tying run to the plate. And bringing Louis Varland into the game looking for a six out save.
Varland got a force out at third, an amazing play by Andrés Giménez, making a diving stop to his right and throwing to third for the force. He didn’t have time to turn to second and go for the double play. Good on Clement for being close to the bag at third.
A Varland walk put the tying run on first. But a strikeout and a fly out ended the inning. and catching one after he slipped (he seems good at making catches after slipping).
There was a dumb moment in the first. Jays had runners on first and third with one out. Springer struck out, on the third strike pitch, Okamoto was thrown out trying to steal second. I think, it was an effort for a double steal, he goes to second, stops and Lukes at third comes home. But it was very poorly executed.
I’m sort of burying the lead….Trey Yesavage was excellent. 6.2 innings, just 3 hits, 1 earned, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. Very little was hit hard of him. After six innings, he was at 87 pitches. I was glad John left him out there to start the seventh. He gave up a lead off single. Then a sac bunt and a strikeout. Then John put in Rogers, who got a ground out.
There was a lot of terrific defense today. Varsho made a couple of excellent catches in center. One in the first inning with a runner on, catching the ball right at the top of the wall. I don’t think it would have been a home but would have been close. And catching one after he slipped (he seems good at making catches after slipping). Giménez and Nasim Nuñez (even though he made an error) put on a show at short
We had 12 hits, and 4 walks and should have scored more. Okomoto had 3. Lips, Kirk, and Varsho had 2 each. Lukes (with 2 walks) and Giménez (0 for 4) had the 0 fors.
Jays of the Day: Varland (0.23 WPA, he didn’t seem happy with getting water poured on him while talking to Hazel. He threw his glove hard at, I think, Straw for doing it), Yesavage (0.23), Okamoto (0.19, and good play at first base), Varsho (0.15) and Davis Schneider (0.10, for a double and a walk).
Other Award: Rogers (-0.11, maybe the long offensive inning cost him), Lips (-0.11, but a nice catch in left), Lukes (-0.09) and Springer (-0.09).
Tomorrow is an off-day. Friday the Cardinals come to Toronto. There might be a trade or two by then.
DETROIT (AP) — Trade deadline target Tarik Skubal and Detroit fans gave each other a warm farewell Wednesday, just in case this was the two-time Cy Young Award winner’s final appearance in a Tigers jersey.
Skubal was cheered at every opportunity by a crowd of 34,406 while taking a shutout into the seventh inning against Baltimore. His first standing ovation came when he struck out leadoff hitter Taylor Ward on a 3-2 changeup to record his 1,000th career strikeout.
He reached the mark in 857 innings, breaking Max Scherzer’s franchise-best mark of 944 2/3 innings.
He got another ovation when Tigers manager A.J. Hinch removed him after Leody Tavares’ RBI single with two out in the seventh.
With Detroit lingering below .500, the Tigers could deal their ace ahead of next Monday’s trade deadline. Skubal is eligible for free agency after the World Series. He has a $32 million salary, a record total in arbitration, after the team offered $19 million, and is expected to sign a massive contract in the offseason.
The 29-year-old lefty said earlier this month that it was his preference is to finish the season with the Tigers to compete for a World Series championship, which has eluded the franchise since 1984.
“Going into spring training and the whole offseason, I’ve never been more motivated to try and win a World Series for this city, the team that drafted me and helped develop me,” he said on July 23.
Detroit has bounced back in June and July but still entered Wednesday at 51-57, 3 1/2 games out of the last AL wild card.
Skubal had experimental surgery on May 6 to remove a loose body from his pitching elbow and returned to pitch on June 13.
“The way the surgery went is exactly how it was supposed to go,” he said in July. “I don’t know if remarkable is the word I would use.”
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal looms as arguably the biggest domino to fall as the 2026 MLB trade deadline nears. With arguments for and against Detroit moving the star 29-year-old, Hall of Famer CC Sabathia is clear on what he believes needs to happen.
[The Tigers] have to trade Tarik Skubal ... If they don’t, that sets them back in that division maybe five or six years.
CC Sabathia
As the Tigers (51-57) fade in the AL Central and Wild Card races, Sabathia believes now is the ideal time for Detroit to acquire "all the pieces" it needs to replenish its farm system and MLB roster. A potential deal for Skubal could see the Tigers "run through" a team's farm, with multiple top prospects and MLB-ready talent likely coming back to Detroit in any deal for the two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner.
Bob Costas and CC Sabathia weigh the Detroit Tigers’ options at the trade deadline in a wide-open American League as their ace Tarik Skubal approaches free agency.
That's why Sabathia is adamant about the rare opportunity Detroit has in front of it, saying it "makes no sense" to keep Skubal when the chance to re-tool on the fly is on the table.
In what could have been his final start for the Tigers on Wednesday, Skubal allowed three earned runs and struck out six across 6.2 innings against the Orioles. Will this truly be his last appearance with Detroit?
We have until 6p ET on Monday, Aug. 3 to find out.
With the 2026 MLB trade deadline looming, CC Sabathia offers perspective on what it’s like to handle rumors and uncertainty as a player when everything feels like it’s “up in the air.”
New episodes with CC and Ahmed Fareed drop every Wednesday on Peacock, NBC Sports NOW, NBCSN, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 19: Steele Hall #3 of the Cincinnati Reds turns a double play during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds used the 9th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft on shortstop Steele Hall, then just 17 years of age, out of Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama. Hall had just recently reclassified to be a high school senior and therefore draft eligible, but the Reds had been scouting him as a potential #1 overall pick in the 2026 draft even before that.
Safe to say, the Reds have long been high on this kid, and his first taste of pro ball in 2026 has shown precisely why.
In 58 games for the Reds in Arizona Complex League play, Hall hit .288/.387/.518 (.904 OPS) with 10 homers and 24 steals, flashing both a patience at the plate and developing power while doing almost all of that at just 18 years of age. He turned 19 at the end of last week, and it turns out the Reds had a nice little present waiting for him.
According to Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline, the Reds have promoted Hall up to Class-A Daytona, and he’s expected to finish out the season with the Tortugas in Florida State League play.
Thanks to both his elite play and promotions elsewhere, Hall has risen to the #2 spot in MLB Pipeline’s rankings of the top prospects in the Cincinnati system (behind only Alfredo Duno), and they currently rank him as the #47 prospect in the game overall.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 29: Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets drives in a run with a double against the Atlanta Bravesin the seventh inning during their game at Citi Field on July 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After trouncing the Braves in the first game of their series, the Mets’ pulled off a less dramatic win, taking the matinee 3-2 with a nightcap to follow.
The first four and a half innings of this game looked very similar on both sides of the ball. Both teams committed errors, both allowed some baserunners on questionable defensive alignments, but both pitchers got out of jams and kept the games scoreless.
AJ Smith-Shawver was making his first start after Tommy John Surgery and mostly looked very strong. A.J. Ewing reached twice and stole two bases against Smith-Shawver, but otherwise, he kept the Mets fairly in check.
That would change in the bottom of the fith.
Tyrone Taylor led off the inning with a walk, which was followed by a Brett Baty line drive that skipped off of Matt Olson’s glove, and put runners on first and third with no outs. Francisco Alvarez then drilled a ball off the base of the wall in left, scoring Taylor and sending Baty to third, while Alvarez just barely got into second. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Ewing scored Baty, and the Mets were up 2-0.
That would be it for Smith-Shawver, who was pulled for Didier Fuentes with one out. Fuentes walked Lindor to put two on, but a Bo Bichette pop out and a Carson Benge strikeout ended the scoring at two.
Sean Manaea similarly avoided trouble for his first five innings, working around some soft contact, walks, and a hit by pitch without allowing a run.
However, Manaea’s luck would run out in the top of the sixth, when a Matt Olson two-run homer tied the game before letting their lead last for one defensive out. However, three quick outs followed the dinger, and in five pitches, Manaea closed out the fifth.
Overall, Manaea’s six innings of five hit, two run, four strikeout, two walk ball got the job done, even if this wasn’t a pretty effort at times. Manaea has slowly righted his season somewhat, but not likely enough to make him a deadline target.
Victor Mederos began the sixth inning on the mound for Atlanta, and was greeted by Jared Young’s second hit of the game. After retiring the next two batters, he was pulled for lefty Dylan Dodd, who struck out pinch hitter Marcus Semien to end the frame.
Huascar Brazobán was first out of the ‘pen for the Mets and got three quick outs.
Dodd pitched the seventh for the Braves, and walked both Ewing and Francisco Lindor, but he looked like he was about to get through it when he got Bichette to line out to right. However, Carson Benge took an up and in fastball down the right field line to score Ewing and push Lindor to third. Young was then plunked by the first pitch he saw and, with the bases now loaded, Dodd was out of the game.
Old friend Danny Young was next in for the Braves, facing Jorge Polanco from the right side. Polanco, who got down a sacrifice bunt earlier in the game, struck out looking for what feels like the 600th time since he returned to end the inning.
The Mets had to get six more outs to win the game, and they first entrusted Luke Weaver to get them there. A strikeout and a double play got them halfway there. Both Weaver and Brazobán bolstered their trade value with excellent performances today.
Tyler Kinley pitched the bottom of the eighth for the Braves, and good outfield defense prevented the first two batters from reaching base. An Alvarez ground out turned the game over to Devin Williams to close it out.
Williams got the first two batters to fly out to shallow right and left fields, respectively. Mauricio Dubón lined a single up the middle to keep the Braves alive. Pinch runner Jorge Mateo stole second on an overturned out call, putting the tying run into scoring position. However, the slumping Riley couldn’t deliver, striking out to end the game.
This is the first time the Mets won more than two in a row since a four-game winning streak that ended May. Could they match that streak tonight?
Christian Scott will face Chris Sale in the nightcap, starting at 7:10pm tonight.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 29: AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the New York Mets during their game at Citi Field on July 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The opening game of Wednesday’s doubleheader at the New York Mets was a bit of a good news, bad news situation for the Atlanta Braves.
The good news was that AJ Smith-Shawver’s 2026 debut largely went well and appeared likely to give the Braves rotation an immediate upgrade.
The bad news is the offense didn’t do much in terms of run support for the 23-year-old.
Matt Olson provided the Braves’ only runs with a sixth-inning homer in the 3-2 afternoon loss at Citi Field, snapping Atlanta’s streak of three straight series wins coming out of the All-Star break.
With the game tied at 2 in the seventh, Carson Benge’s two-out RBI double proved to be the difference after Dylan Dodd (2-1) issued consecutive one-out walks to A.J. Ewing and Francisco Lindor.
The Braves were not lacking in chances for more runs, going down in order just twice in nine innings. However, they finished 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, stranded five runners and were largely unable to find much success against Mets starter Sean Manaea and the bullpen behind him.
Manaea allowed five hits and two runs over six innings and Huascar Brazoban, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams each followed with scoreless innings to stifle the Braves, who have scored three or fewer runs in four straight games after scoring six-plus in six of the first eight coming out of the break.
Atlanta had the tying run at second with two outs in the ninth after Mauricio Dubón delivered a two-out single and pinch runner Jorge Mateo swiped second. But an Austin Riley strikeout squandered one final scoring chance and clinched the defeat.
Smith-Shawver didn’t factor into the decision or make it through five innings in his season debut, the latter of which isn’t especially surprising considering he was on a pitch count of sorts. But he was effective for much of his debut, navigating traffic in each of his first four innings to post four scoreless frames.
Things came apart a bit in the fifth, though, as he allowed the first three batters to reach on a walk, a single and a double to plate the game’s first run. A sacrifice fly by the next batter ended his outing after 4 1/3 innings over which he allowed two runs on four hits, struck out four and walked two.
Still, he immediately looked to be an upgrade to the rotation, sitting 97 and touching 98 mph with his fastball and balancing that with effective offspeed offerings. Especially as he continues to rebuild his stamina, he has the look of being a better option than a number of starters the Braves have been forced to rely on this season.
After a glacial start at the plate, Atlanta equalized in the very next inning when Drake Baldwin led off with a double and Olson extended his team lead with his 28th homer — seventh-most in the majors — to tie the game.
Other than that, though, the Braves couldn’t break through.
They’ll have another chance to do that Wednesday night in the Mets finale before heading home to kick off a four-game set against the Washington Nationals on Thursday.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 28: Jake Burger #21 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a single in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 28, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for July 29, 2026 against the Tampa Bay Rays: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Casey Legumina opening for Ian Seymour for the Rays.
Texas will try to make it two in a row against Tampa, who has a righthanded pitching opener going in front of a lefthanded pitching pseudo-starter. That’s why Joc Pederson and Evan Carter are on the bench. Lefthanded hitting Alejandro Osuna is in the lineup, though, which helps explain why the Rangers are reportedly looking for a righthanded hitting outfielder at the trade deadline.
The lineup:
Langford — DH
Duran — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Foscue — 2B
Lopez — SS
Cauley — CF
Osuna — LF
Diaz — C
5:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +120 underdogs.
The federal probe is examining whether the empire of the billionaire and chief executive of Guggenheim Partners was involved in fraud from private-credit deals. An employee of Walter’s reportedly raised red flags over suspicious revenue booking.
Mark Walter suffered a stroke midway through the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
But there’s more worry surrounding the sports mogul.
The health of the 66-year-old is also a topic of concern for some inside Walter’s business empire, according to the Wall Street Journal. In the middle of the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run, Walter reportedly suffered a stroke and was notably absent from the team’s festivities after the team had been crowned champions.
Walter was present for the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series win at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, but didn’t join the team for the trophy presentation in the Bronx in 2024. Now, it’s been revealed he was dealing with a medical emergency at that time.
The Dodgers did not respond to a request for comment.
The recovery process from the stroke was reportedly arduous for Walter as he struggled to speak clearly for months. According to executives and investors involved with Walter, they felt that his mental sharpness had declined since the stroke.
Other sources told the Wall Street Journal that there was no evidence of Walter’s health emergency affecting his decision-making for the business empire.
Mark Walter and Guggenheim Baseball Management purchased the Dodgers from former owner Frank McCourt in 2012. MLB Photos via Getty Images
Since spearheading that $2.15 billion purchase, however, Walter has developed a reputation as a largely hands-off owner, leaving day-to-day operations to team president Stan Kasten and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
In recent years, he has been an increasingly rare presence around the club, as well, making only a handful of public appearances during regular season play each year.
“They make all the decisions,” Walter quipped after last year’s World Series, when asked how much he trusts his “baseball people” to run the franchise. “I just tell them yes.”
Walter has been a more constant fixture during the Dodgers’ annual postseason runs, and also accompanied the club on its season-opening trip to Tokyo last season –– only five months after his stroke reportedly occurred.
Still, his absence from the 2024 World Series celebration was notable, with the team not disclosing at the time why he was unable to be present for their title-clinching victory at Yankee Stadium in New York.
In the two years since, Walter has had a couple of public flubs in Dodgers-related speaking appearances.
During the team’s trip to the White House in April 2025, the Chicago-based businessman briefly mispoke when he said the organization had “committed $100 million to help Chicago –– or, LA fire” relief efforts, before brushing off the slip with a chuckle.
Last week, during the team’s return trip to the White House, Walter appeared to become confused about which notes he was supposed to be reading from during a prepared speech, before manager Dave Roberts briefly stepped in to assist.
Walter’s interactions with the press in recent years have almost exclusively been limited to impromptu scrums following playoff games –– most recently, in the wake of last year’s Game 7 triumph in Toronto, after he went on stage to accept the Commissioner’s Trophy.
Walter was last seen around the team immediately after the White House trip last weekend, talking to Roberts and other members of the organization on the field during batting practice before a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Mark Walter purchased the Lakers for a record-setting $10 billion in October 2025. Getty Images
Last year, of course, Walter further expanded his footprint in the Los Angeles sports market by purchasing a controlling stake in the Lakers at a $10 billion valuation through his TWG Global group. Dodgers executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen became the Lakers’ president of business operations months after that sale, while Friedman and fellow Dodgers executive Farhan Zaidi have served in advisory roles for the basketball team.
Walter’s portfolio also includes ownership of the Sparks’ WNBA franchise, TWG Motorsports’ Formula 1 racing team, a partial stake in Chelsea Football Club of the English Premier League, and the entire Professional Women’s Hockey League (which he founded in 2023, and whose trophy is named the “Walter Cup”).
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 23: Joe Lacob and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors greet after the game against the Chicago Bulls on January 1, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There was a version of me, years ago, who spent way too many nights doing something I’d never admit to the average person walking down the street. I’d hop from team blog to team blog under the infamous blogboi moniker of Goldbloodedking, deep in enemy territory, soaking up whatever fear and doubt was leaking out of the comment sections.
I was skulking through Pounding the Rock during the Spurs’ slow fade. I was hanging around The Dream Shake when the Rockets were still convinced they had one more run in them. I took kerosene and matches to Fear the Sword, back when Cleveland fans were bracing for whatever came after LeBron’s first go-round. I’d show up uninvited and declare, with the full confidence of a visionary who had one drink too many on a Friday night, that their franchise had been chosen for one purpose: to be the next team the Warriors dynasty flattened on its way up the mountain.
The Warriors hadn’t won anything yet when I started saying this. I wasn’t reacting to a trophy case. I had a feeling, and I said it loud enough and often enough that the other blogs got sick of me. Pounding the Rock banned me. The Dream Shake hated my guts. Fear the Sword ran me out of town before the ink was even dry on the first banner. I didn’t care. I believed it before it was true, and then it was true, and I got to be right in front of everybody who told me to sit down.
This week I found myself reading a Warriors headline that sounded exactly like the conversations I used to have with everybody else, except this time I couldn’t laugh it off: “Warriors are just fine running back this old team”.
“[The Warriors are] just fine running back this kinda older 37-win core and understanding they’re not necessarily a part of the title conversation.” 👀@anthonyVslater details Golden State's mindset this offseason ✍️ pic.twitter.com/WyepV6obys
Slater’s reporting paints a surprisingly clear picture. The Warriors are comfortable bringing back essentially the same veteran core, a team that won 37 games, and the front office isn’t pretending that group is part of the title conversation this season. Reading it, I couldn’t help thinking about all those nights on Pounding the Rock and Fear the Sword. Only now the dynasty everybody was quietly writing around was the one in my backyard.
The moves themselves tell you why nobody’s expecting a leap. Draymond Green came back on the same one-year, $27.7 million deal he’d previously turned down. LeBron picked Philadelphia over everybody, including Golden State. The free agent market was about as thin as it’s been in years, and the Warriors filled the rest of the roster out with minimum deals because that’s all the cap situation allowed.
The Warriors are positioning themselves for next summer instead of this one. Draymond and Butler both come off the books after this season, Curry becomes extension eligible on August 29, and once the current contracts are finalized, the Warriors are projected to have some of the cleanest cap space in the league by next summer. They’re trying to get to next summer with as much flexibility as possible, betting that the next disgruntled superstar eventually becomes available once the books actually clear.
I don’t know how else to read it. Does the organization already believe this probably isn’t the group that’s winning another championship? I get keeping themselves flexible until another real opportunity walks through the door, but is there truly know way to improve this team this season externally?
I spent a decade telling other fanbases to make peace with their ending. I never thought I’d be the one hearing it being told back to me by the Warriors themselves.
COVERS INTEL:
