DeMar DeRozan wanted Sacramento to make a decision: Either waive him (and save $15 million) so he could get on the market before space dried up, or find a trade as they have been trying to do for more than a year.
DeRozan has a $25.7 million contract for this season, but only $10 million of that is guaranteed. This will almost certainly be a waive-and-stretch for Sacramento, spreading the $10 million he is owed over three seasons (at $3.3 million per year), which will save the team about $22 million this season and take them below the luxury tax line.
This move was expected by other front offices around the league (and part of the reason there was no trade market for DeRozan, interested teams knew they could just sign him as a free agent for way less money, and they wouldn't have to give up anything).
DeRozan, who will turn 37 before next season, is still a bucket. He has a specific game — he's an old-school midrange assassin, but who can create his own shot — and averaged 18.4 points per game last season in Sacramento. There will be interest in him, and he is reportedly looking for a regular role on a playoff team.
The Kings still have Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine on their roster and continue to look for trades for them.
On Monday, new reports surfaced that may see a fan favorite leave the Detroit Red Wings.
On his podcast, 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman spoke on several topics when it came to the Red Wings, including the Dylan Larkin trade situation, a possible offer sheet for restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson and, lastly, the future of future Hall of Fame winger Patrick Kane.
The 37-year-old hockey legend is coming off his 19th NHL season, in which he surpassed 500 career goals, crossed 1,400 points and became the all-time leader in points recorded by an American-born player.
Kane finished the season with 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in just 67 games after missing time due to injury. The hope was that with the Red Wings likely pushing to end their decade-long playoff drought next season, Kane would play a large role on the team once again, but that may not be the case.
The Buffalo native has been rumored to be exploring options outside the Motor City, and Friedman quickly addressed the topic, saying, "I don't know that I expect him to go back to Detroit."
It would be a big blow for a Red Wings team to lose a player still capable of 50 to 60 points out of the middle of their lineup, and it would create another hole general manager Steve Yzerman would need to fill. Detroit has already made it known it wants Kane back, but with the organization also dealing with uncertainty surrounding Larkin, the roster picture in Detroit is far from settled.
The rumor mill has suggested Kane may look to explore the possibility of chasing one more Stanley Cup, having already won three during his dynasty days in Chicago alongside Jonathan Toews.
With Toews having recently retired after 16 NHL seasons and a storybook final year with his hometown Winnipeg Jets, Kane may look to follow a similar path and try to go out on top by joining a true contender.
Multiple reports have floated Kane's hometown Buffalo Sabres as one of the more realistic landing spots, should he ultimately decide his time in Detroit has run its course.
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After the Nashville Predators extended him a qualifying offer on July 1, defenseman Justin Barron has signed a one-year contract worth $1.575 million.
The new contract is a $425,000 raise AAV from his previous one. Nashville now has $7,546,277 left in cap space.
The 24-year-old righty reached the end of a two-year, $2.3 million contract that was originally offered by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 offseason. Barron was traded to Nashville for Alexandre Carrier in a one-for-one transaction.
Since arriving in Nashville, Barron's numbers have been lackluster. During the 2024-25 season, Barron had 12 points in 45 games and a plus-minus of -14.
Staying in Smashville ✍️
We've signed defenseman Justin Barron to a one-year contract.
This past season, he logged just 9 points in 52 games and was healthy scratched a handful of times.
Barron is just the second defenseman that Chris MacFarland has signed as a free agent, and the fourth defenseman acquired via trade.
Those defensemen that MacFarland traded for are Adam Edstrom (New York Rangers), Jack Ahcan (Colorado), Hunter Skinner (St. Louis) and Ilya Lyubushkin (Dallas.
Edstrom and Lybushkin will likely play in the bottom four, while Ahcan and Skinner will likely be in Milwaukee.
Nashville Predators 2026 Signings
June 28: C Jack Drury to a 5-year, $22.5 million contract.
July 1: C Alex Kerfoot to a 2-year, $7 million contract.
July 1: D Jack Ahcan to a 2-year, $1.75 million contract.
July 1: D Hunter Skinner to a 1-year, $850,000 contract.
July 3: LW Chase Bradley to a 2-year, $1.75 million contract.
July 4: C Mavrik Bourque to a 5-year, $33 million contract.
July 6: D Justin Barron to a 1-year, $1.575 million contract.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 02: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field on July 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s no denying that we’ll know a lot more about the St. Louis Cardinals by the time this week is complete. 5 games over the next 4 days will be played at Busch Stadium against the NL Central division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The Cardinals have momentum, but on paper the next 4 days look difficult for St. Louis.
Let’s start with the pitching matchups which feature some questions for how St. Louis will lineup the rotation:
Monday, July 6 – Dustin May – 5-6, 4.80 ERA, 78 SO vs Shane Drohan – 3-2, 3.12 ERA, 59 SO
Tuesday, July 7 (day game) – Cardinals starter unannounced vs Jacob Misiorowski – 9-4, 1.47 ERA, 156 SO
Tuesday, July 7 (night game) Starters unannounced for both teams
Wednesday, July 8 – Cardinals starter unannounced vs Kyle Harrison – 8-1, 2.82 ERA, 99 SO
Thursday, July 9 – Starters unannounced for both teams
Monday night’s starter Shane Drohan is 1-1 in his last 7 games. His 3 most recent starts have been no decisions. In his last start, Shane threw 5 2/3 innings on July 1 against the Reds giving up 2 runs on 6 hits with 7 strikeouts and 1 walk. What can I saw about Tuesday’s starter Jacob Misiorowski that you don’t already know? He’s 5-2 in his last 7 games including that infamous 105.5 mph record-breaking fastball. His most recent 3 games are interesting, though, as he’s lost 2 of them, but those were instances of lack of run support. Jacob’s last start on July 2 against the Reds was a loss, but he struck out 10 and only gave up 1 earned run. Wednesday’s starter, Kyle Harrison, is having a great season as he’s 8-1 with just a 2.82 ERA. The Milwaukee Brewers currently lead the league in team ERA.
Entering Monday night’s game, the Milwaukee Brewers lead the St. Louis Cardinals by 7 games. They have won 6 of their last 10 while the Cardinals are 5-5 over the same period. The Brewers team leaders are as follows:
Batting Average – William Contreras – .295
Home Runs – Jake Bauers – 15
RBI’s – Jake Bauers – 52
OPB – Jake Bauers – .365
Hits – William Contreras – 95
How successful or not the St. Louis Cardinals are during the upcoming homestand vs the Brewers and Braves prior to the All-Star break will likely play a large role in whether they are buyers, sellers or a mixture of both at the trade deadline. Successful management of the pitching staff will be crucial over this 5-game/4-day series. A strong start Monday night by Dustin May will be key.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 30: The sneakers worn by Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It was time for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to part ways — but that doesn't make it any less emotional.
Milwaukee was the city that adopted the skinny kid from Greece and made him part of the community, and in return — beyond bringing a title and a decade of elite basketball to the city (although that matters) — he invested in Milwaukee, too. Giannis put together an emotional goodbye video to Milwaukee and its fans.
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) July 6, 2026
Bucks owners Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and Jamie Dinan released this statement:
"From delivering a championship to transforming our franchise, Giannis' impact on the Milwaukee Bucks is lasting and profound. We are incredibly grateful for what has been a remarkable and historic journey together.
"For 13 seasons, Giannis gave everything to this organization and inspired our city with his relentless drive, humility and heart. He grew into one of the greatest players in the world while becoming an integral part of the Milwaukee community. More importantly, Giannis represented this organization with authenticity, character and a deep commitment to the people of Milwaukee.
"His unforgettable moments on the court and his influence beyond the game defined an era of Bucks basketball and elevated our franchise on a global stage. Few players have left such a meaningful mark on a team, a city and an entire generation of fans.
"Though this chapter has come to an end, Giannis' legacy in Milwaukee is secure. It will always be felt here -- in the rafters, throughout our community and in the countless people he inspired. Forever a Buck."
Antetokounmpo is starting a new chapter in Miami, but when we think of him when he goes into the Hall of Fame someday, it will be as a Buck.
The Kings have signed defensemen Scott Perunovich and Erik Gustafsson to one-year contracts. More moves are expected to be made as these two signings aren’t good enough to improve the defense.
Last season, the Kings had a top 10 defense with 2.9 goals allowed per game. The success on defense was in large part due to the two-way forwards and the first two defensive lines.
The success on defense was in large part due to the two-way forwards and the first two defensive lines. The depth was not up to the defensive standards that the Kings needed to be a complete defense.
Los Angeles saw struggles from Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin on the third line in 2026. A big flaw of both of these players is that they brought very little physicality.
Ceci dished out 37 hits and had 166 hits taken, while Dumooulin had 36 hits and 137 hits taken. Both players received 100 more hits than they gave, which is a major problem for defensemen.
Physicality is required for depth defensemen, so that they bring energy and keep the opponent's offense in check. The Kings lacked that physical force last season and the new signings don't necessarily fix that problem.
Perunovich is only on a two-way contract as he likely won’t even spend a lot of time with the Kings. Even if Perunovich were on the Kings roster, the physicality would still be a major question for him.
From his brief stint with the St. Louis Blues, Perunovich had only 30 hits in 2024, a season-high for his career. Since then, Perunoich found himself out of the league last season. So it would be hard for Perunovich to come into the NHL and become the physical enforcer he never was.
On the other hand, Gustafsson was once a physical presence back in his days with the Chicago Blackhawks. However, time has past and Gustafsson struggled with the Detroit Red Wings back in 2025. He only dished out 28 hits and had 112 hits taken, which is part of the reason he was moved down to the AHL last season.
Neither Perunovich nor Gustafsson brought physicality in their last NHL stints, which is why both players spent 2026 in the AHL. The Kings will not fix their lack of physicality from either player, which is why another solution is required.
If the Kings want to improve the depth of the defense, Los Angeles need to stay on the free agency market. The Kings need more physical defensemen on the third and fourth line, which was not solved by signing Perunovich and Gustafsson.
San Diego, CA - September 28, 2025: A fan looks on as the San Diego Padres play the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on September 28, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
The good news is that we face a sub .500 team.
Ah, like I said in my previous preview, which was #27, for every Series there is good news and there is bad news.
The good news is that Brazil has lost. Ouch, just like last time, let me try this again: the good news is that no longer is the Padres a team with a record over .500. You all know what that means: the Diamondbacks have a terrible record against teams that are above .500, so with the Padres no longer being there, we have a terrific opportunity to go over Mount .500 again.
The bad news is that our best pitcher, Eduardo Rodriguez, will not take the mound in this series, so it will all be a gamble.
This series is 4 games. That is a lot of games. Sweeping is probably out of the question, but taking 3 should be possible, right?
Let’s take a look.
We have seen the San Diego Padres in just one series so far this season, and that was a 2-game series on April 25 and April 26. The Padres were tied as league leaders when they visited Chase Field at that moment, with a solid 17-8 record. The Diamondbacks were also in la la land, standing at 14-11, though the series loss against Chicago White Sox might have been a bit sour.
The first game was a 6-4 loss, Arizona could not hold a 4-0 lead after 2 innings: Pfaadt loaded the bases and Taylor Clarke emptied them, in a way a pitcher should not. The second game was pretty much the other way around, with the Padres taking a 6-0 lead after the top 5, a weak performance from Ryne Nelson, only to go down 12-7, with the Snakes scoring 10 runs in the 7th and 8th inning, amongst them a Tim Tawa grand-slam.
That was then, and this is now.
What is now?
Now is a Diamondbacks’ record that has not changed that much, going from 15-13 to 44-45. Now is also the total collapse of the San Diego Padres. After that first win against the Diamondbacks the Padres were 10 games above .500 and took the sole lead of the NL West. After that they pretty much gave good competition against the Dodgers, sitting closely behind them for almost the entire month of May, going 11 games over .500 at a certain moment, until the Phillies came to San Diego on May 25 and swept the Padres, the beginning of a slow downfall.
Ever since that series, the Padres have gone 13-24.
Over that span, the Padres still have a better offence than the Diamondbacks. Ha, you would not have suspected that, right? Truth is that, despite not being an All Star, Fernando Tatis Jr. still has been able to provide a 144 WRC+ in that time period, despite the lack of power and pop. Except for Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill, the Padres’ batting lineup has still been able to provide a run here and there, though sporadically, but all above or close to 100 WRC+.
Their starting and relief pitching has been bad, except for their star closer (and their top relievers are solid too), but more or less similar to the Diamondbacks’ pitching. As a matter of fact, xERA is slightly better than Arizona’s, though the ERA is not. Most likely, the Padres are not as good as they were the first two months of the season and are probably not as bad as they have been ever since. Their current record might be a good reflection of who they are this season, so this series will probably balance out or the luckier team might win.
The Padres receive the Diamondbacks with an injured list full of pitchers, a la Diamondbacks: Joe Musgrove (setback), Yu Darvish (out for the year), Nick Pivetta, Lucas Giolito, Randy Vasquez, David Morgan and Jason Adam (the latter being of the better relievers) all have no timetable for return.
The past two years, the Padres have had the Diamondbacks’ number. Arizona still maintains an all-time lead over San Diego, though it is shrinking: 248-234.
Matchups.
Game #1 Mon 07/06 6:40 PM MST, Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs Walker Buehler (SDP).
Brandon Pfaadt might still piss his bed when he thinks about the last time when he faced the Padres. It was in long relief, loading the bases and seeing Taylor Clarke relieve and gift him with 4 runs. But that Pfaadt no longer exists. We now have a renewed and rejuvenated Brandon Pfaadt, who knows how to strike the batters out, but, above all, keeps the hard hits limited. Unlike his fellow veterans Gallen and Kelly, Pfaadt now knows how to keep the balls in the park, something he had no idea about until going back to Reno. There, in the desert, he learned in 10 innings all that there is to know about baseball and how to become an ace in the major leagues. Pfaadt will lead the Diamondbacks to a victory and himself to everlasting success!
One who was on that road of success as well, was Walker Buehler. He was a menace in Los Angeles, an All Star and Cy Young contender, until he had to undergo Tommy John and ever since, he has never been the same again. In 2025 he was bad in Boston, but better in relief in Philadelphia. San Diego offered him a one-year contract. If Buehler continues to pitch like he does, he is a good candidate to get a Mike Soroka-like contract next season and the next ones, getting one year deals that flirt with 8 digit figures.
Game #2 Tue 07/07 6:40 PM MST, Zac Gallen (ARI) vs TBD.
The Padres don’t have a starter for this game yet, because this is the spot of Randy Vasquez, who hit the injured list recently and is without a timetable of return. Good chance the Padres call up Jhony Brito, who pitched briefly in the majors in 2023 and 2024 but was injured in the 2025 season. He recently returned and has pitched to an excellent 0.96 ERA in the PCL in 4 starts in June (18.2 innings). If he ends up starting this game, he will probably be on a short lease.
In my last series preview I said that it was hardly possible to get any worse than Gallen has pitched so far, but I was wrong, because his ERA keeps on rising. Last time Gallen held an opponent scoreless or limited to less than 2 runs was on April 25, against these Padres, when he had a brief appearance of 3 innings because of an injury. Maybe the Padres will inspire him again to a scoreless performance.
Game #3 Wed 07/08 7:10 PM MST, Jose Cabrera (ARI) vs Michael King (SDP).
After an encouraging debut, Jose Cabrera is experiencing the major leagues, with a tough performance against the Rays and an even tougher one against the Brewers. Maybe the Padres’ lineup will offer Cabrera a breeze, but more likely he will continue to learn the hard way in the major leagues. If he is hit hard, good chance it will be his final performance in the major leagues because he won’t be necessary for the final series before the All Star break, and after that, who knows.
Michael King has been the sole starting pitching star on this Padres’ squad, in what will most likely be his final year in San Diego, before skipping the player options and testing the free agency market, looking to sign a new contract before a lock-out becomes inevitable. King has faced the Diamondbacks four times in his career, all as a Padre, and has never lost.
Game #4 Thu 07/09 6:40 PM MST, Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs Griffin Canning (SDP).
Good chance that the final game of this series will become an absolute spectacle of a slugfest, with Merrill Kelly, the homer-prone pitcher, facing Griffin Canning, who is having a nightmare of a season. Merrill was once again hittable, but the Brewers couldn’t hurt Kelly too much, and despite one homerun, only gave up 2 runs. That is what we call a quality outing.
Canning did his starting and has also been used after an opener this season. In either case, it has not really worked for him. Canning is in the rotation because all others are injured, otherwise, he would have probably seen himself working in either long relief / mop-up or bumped off the roster. Canning was one of those prospects the Angels tried to rocket into the major leagues, but after an encouraging start, he never could cement himself as a major league starter, though he had an okay bounceback last year for the New York Mets. He faced the Diamondbacks last year with the Mets, getting a win, allowing only 1 run in 5 innings. It looks like the league has adjusted to this groundball pitcher once more, because the changeup he so successfully deployed last season, is now getting hit hard by the batters.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 13: Woo-Suk Go #19 of Team Korea pitches during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals game presented by Capital One between Team Korea and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on Friday, March 13, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
No, the trade deadline hasn’t arrived, nor are the Detroit Tigers getting an early start as a seller. Still, given the way this season has gone, it’s a bit amusing to think of the Tigers as having surplus relief help that is in demand by other clubs around the league. The Tigers dealt two Triple-A relievers, RHP Woo-Suk Go and RHP Matt Seelinger to the Twins and the Mets over the past two days, receiving cash considerations in return.
The key factor involved in the trades were the escalator clauses in both right-hander’s minor league deals with the Tigers. Both had the right to opt-out if not added to the 40-man roster shortly, and that wasn’t going to happen. So in a sense these are just procedural moves, the type that come up for the Tigers every year as president of baseball operations stockpiles minor league relievers via claims and minor league signings to try and fill out a pretty weak farm system in terms of upper level pitching prospects.
The 27-year-old Go, who has closing experience in his native South Korea pitching in the KBO, compiled a 2.60 ERA with a 2.43 FIP for the Toledo Mud Hens this season across 27.2 innings of work. His walk rates were a touch on the high side, but a 29.1 percent strikeout rate and no home runs allowed at the Triple-A level made him an interesting candidate who seemed like he might get a shot at some point. He developed a pretty good splitter over the past year, but still works with a pretty modest 92-94 mph fastball.
Seelinger’s numbers were more modest, and this was the 31-year-old right-hander’s third season in the Tigers’ farm system. His strikeout rates have been good, and he has both good extension and a solid mix of breaking and offspeed stuff, fulfilling much of what the Tigers like to look for, but his fastball shape has always been a problem, and the walks and power against him never really got under control for too long.
The Tigers have sent RHP Matt Seelinger to the New York Mets for a cash consideration. This is another deal prompted by an upward-mobility clause. Seelinger was not on the 40-man roster.
So ultimately, this is more about the state of the Twins and Mets at this point than anything to do with the Tigers. Both pitchers were bound to move on shortly anyway, with no real path to the major leagues for Seelinger, and only a slim one for Go. Flipping them for cash before that happened is just a standard decision.
As for the Tigers’ bullpen, finding the right arms to close out high leverage situations remains a challenge, but overall they were much better over the past five weeks. Since June 1, the Tigers bullpen ranks seventh best by ERA, and 11th by FIP, putting them comfortable into above average territory. Will Vest’s injury issues and struggles have presented a pretty big problem for them, but with Vest out again with an arm injury, they’ve gotten more aggressive with possible solutions.
The addition, at least temporarily, of Keider Montero should remain a big boost to that group, helping to close out games and pushing some lesser arms back into setup and middle relief territory, where they belong. Kenley Jansen will keep getting selected save opportunities for a while, but ideally Drew Anderson would clean up his tendency to make one big mistake and start contributing more in tight spots. We’ll see if that happens to play out. It’s also not impossible that the Tigers might decide to use Jackson Jobe out of the pen once his rehab is complete in August, but we’ll just have to see how that plays out. Otherwise, this is still a group that is deep enough in solid arms, but still lacks a real ace in the pen to shut the door on opponents. The probability that the Tigers will trade some starting pitching over the next month and need Montero right back into the rotation says the pen is going to remain their key problem.
The Tigers bullpen has gotten in much better shape, but it’s still far from a top unit. If Go and Seelinger couldn’t crack this group, the Tigers aren’t going to miss them.
It’s been a wild run of Cubs baseball over the last few days. The Cubs put an exclamation point on a 16-10 June with a 23-run barrage against the Padres before promptly giving up 17 runs against the St. Louis Cardinals, because baseball. The bats have been hot generally, but one player in particular is in the midst of a historic hot streak: Dansby Swanson. I mean, just check out the three home runs he clubbed on July 1 against the Padres [VIDEO].
It’s a remarkable turnaround, and you really don’t have to look further than Dansby’s splits before the hot streak and during it to see how big of an impact he’s had during the last three weeks for the Cubs. Baseball is such a random game of hot and cold streaks that I don’t generally recommend pulling cherry picked streaks in this way, however, what Dansby is doing right now is so noteworthy I think it’s helpful. Below you can see Dansby’s numbers on the season through June 16 compared to the absolute heater he’s been on since June 17:
Dates
PA
HR
RBI
AVG
OBP
SLG
wRC+
Thru 6/16
268
7
28
.175
.281
.306
67
6/17-7/5
65
9
29
.328
.354
.852
219
Select offensive stats
I mean, the home run and RBI totals alone are mind-blowing stats. Dansby has had more long balls and runs batted in during this 65 plate appearance stretch than he’s had during the first two and a half months of the season. It’s been an unbelievable span of production. In fact, in the 150-year history of the Chicago Cubs only two other players have put up more RBI in a 16-game span than Dansby Swanson: Sammy Sosa and Hack Wilson.
Sammy Sosa had one 16-game span where he had 32 RBI and 15 home runs. I’m sure you remember it well, it was the summer of 1998 starting May 25 and ending June 15, part of his historic June that ultimately saw him club a record 20 home runs. Hack Wilson had an unbelievable run through late July and the end of August in 1930 en route to setting the all time single season RBI record of 191, that season included multiple 16-game spans that saw him post 30+ RBI. Next up on the list is Dansby Swanson.
Kiki Cuyler also had a span of exactly 29 RBI in a 16 game span, tying Swanson’s mark. Intriguingly, Cuyler’s mark maps almost perfectly calendar-wise on Dansby’s current streak. Cuyler built his run from June 19, 1930 to July 4, 1930.
One fun fact about all of the numbers above, because spans start and stop on different days, Dansby should have a handful of shots between now and the All Star Break to pad those numbers and potentially pass Sosa and/or Wilson. He’ll lose two RBI next game as the Cubs contest with the Orioles replaces a June 17 game against the Rockies where he went 1 for 4 against the Rockies with a home run and two RBI, he’ll lose another RBI the day after that as he replaces the June 19 game against Toronto that saw him go 1 for 6 with an RBI. Given the hot streak he’s been on, it wouldn’t be terribly surprising to see him put together a performance worth more than an RBI or three over the next two games.
Here’s hoping Dansby stays hot so the Cubs can keep their winning ways going as they head into the All Star break. He won’t really start to lose the core of his current streak until the doubleheader from June 24 against the Mets falls out of the span. That day he notched 11 RBI across two games, going a combined 5 for 9 over two games with two home runs and a triple. Let’s check out the seven-RBI affair that started it all one more time [VIDEO].
In the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman and host Kyle Bukauskas discuss, among other things, a couple of potential trade targets for the Montreal Canadiens. The Sportsnet insider reports that Kent Hughes is leaving no stones unturned in his quest to add a top-six young talent (in their 20s) to the squad, but it’s proving to be a tough task despite the GM being very aggressive. Friedman mentioned that Kirill Marchenko would have been a possibility, but it’s been reported that he isn’t moving right now. As for the big trade offer that has been discussed, he adds that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, suggesting that what Montreal considered a great offer might not have looked so great to the other team.
He also reports that Montreal hopes Zachary Bolduc can give more than he has so far, and that they could still work with Oliver Kapanen to develop the center further, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the Finns had been included as part of the package offered. That in itself is not surprising, especially since Hughes has shown in the past that he is willing to move young talent if he believes that makes his team better. Alexander Romanov and Emil Heineman were both traded that way. He also threw an idea out there:
Someone else told me, you know who they thought might be a good fit in Montreal? And I have no idea if it’s even possible: one of those two Pittsburgh wingers, Rust (Bryan) or Rakell (Rickard). I think those guys would have to approve, but he looked at Montreal and said: “I thought with another scorer like one of those two guys, they might look pretty good”.
According to Puckpedia, Rakell has an 8-team no-trade list modified no-trade clause but Rust has no trade protection. While the idea is not silly, Rust put up 65 points in 72 games last season, and Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; I think that would be a plan D or E for Hughes. Both of these wingers are significantly older than the Canadiens’ core; the former is 34, while the latter is 33, and Hughes has repeatedly stated that he wasn’t looking to add veterans who would impede the development of his younger players.
If it gets very late in the offseason and Hughes cannot find a dance partner that would allow him to have a top-six twenty-something player, that may be an option he would turn to, but it definitely wouldn’t be his preference. They could be good stopgap options as they both have two seasons left on their contract, but stopgap to what?
Who in the Canadiens’ system could be ready to step into a top-six winger role by then? Alexander Zharovski? Perhaps his KHL contract will run out at the end of the season, but will he be ready to jump into such a high-profile role right away? That’s not guaranteed. And then there’s also Michael Hage, who should join in the Spring, once the Michigan Wolverines have (hopefully) won the Frozen Four.
Would it be wise to put two green rookies on the top six right away? Some would argue that it wouldn’t be, but that’s precisely what Montreal did this past season with Ivan Demidov and Kapanen, and it worked quite well until the playoffs at least. Would the two be as NHL-ready as Demidov and Kapanen were? At this stage, it appears somewhat doubtful…
Back to Rust and Rakell, though, it remains to be seen if they could be as productive in Montreal as they have been riding shotgun with Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh. They do have plenty of offensive talent though.
Los Angeles, CA - June 15, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Eric Lauer (33) delivers during the first inning of an MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Monday, June 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Kyle Freeland against Eric Lauer as the first-place Dodgers host the last-place Rockies is the matchup for the start of a series that represents the last Colorado visit to Los Angeles this season. Anyone’s feelings of déjà vu will be validated with this specific matchup because it has taken place once already this season; in fact, it was the duel for Lauer’s Dodgers debut.
A little over a month ago, the veteran left-hander was making his first start as a Dodger, and to be frank, his performance that game was nearly irrelevant to the result, with the Dodgers’ offense scoring 15 runs and cruising towards a blowout win. A similar type of game could very well happen again, even without the effects of Coors Field; after all, one cannot stress just how poorly this season has gone for Freeland, the pitcher with the worst ERA in baseball for anyone who has thrown at least 60 innings, at 7.25.
On a broader note, while it is easy to overlook Lauer’s contribution, one should not trivialize what he’s been able to accomplish since coming over to the Dodgers—making adjustments, including throwing his cutter far more than he was doing in his time as a Blue Jay. Between Lauer’s own terrible numbers early in the year with Toronto, Freeland’s performance, and that of several other veterans, it’s easy to illustrate the difficulty in putting together a run of starts as productive as Lauer’s after moving to a new club. The veteran southpaw is leading the Dodgers to a 6-0 record with a sub-3.00 ERA in 34.1 innings.
The New Jersey Devils traded Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames earlier in the offseason. He was an RFA looking for a major pay raise, and New Jersey saw it best to unload him to make more room on their cap sheet and blue line.
Trading Nemec to Calgary was the first big player move that Sunny Mehta made since becoming a first-time NHL GM. Since then, he has had a solid off-season, and more may be on the horizon.
On Monday, the Flames announced a contract extension for Nemec, who locked in a five-year deal with a cap hit of $7.25 million. This is a deal where the Flames are paying for the player that they hope he becomes, rather than the player that he is right now.
Nemec is a former 2nd overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft, so the pedigree is there. He can create offense if he’s in the right situation, but he must work on his defensive game if he’s ever going to truly drive a pair in any of the three zones.
In 155 games played, Nemec has 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points. He had somewhat of a breakout last year, as he had 11 of those goals to go with 15 assists for 26 points in 68 games played.
A lot of his ice time in the NHL has been in the shadow of guys like Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes. In Calgary, he’ll get a chance to show what he can do with more opportunity. If he reaches his true potential, his contract will then look like a bargain.
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This is one of the strangest and also weakest drafts in recent memory. Just as the impacts of the COVID draft and season have finally worked their way out of the system, the draft is now confronted by a staggeringly mediocre pool of prospects and the new reality that this is likely the last draft of its kind, as the new CBA is likely to significantly alter the way the draft functions, in many meaningful, impactful ways.
Introduction
It’s that time of year again. It’s that time when all teams turn their eyes momentarily from the various storylines surrounding division standings, all-star antics, and likely trade deadline scenarios and instead affix their attention on the newest crop of potential all-stars and epic busts. This year, the MLB draft will be held over a two-day window. The draft will begin on Saturday, 11 July at 10:00 MST, with rounds 1-4. The second day goes by much faster and will encompass rounds 5-20. The viewing schedule for the draft this year is as convoluted as MLB’s many various broadcasting deals for regular season games. It’s mind-boggling that MLB hasn’t figured out yet that this does not help their draft ratings. Nor is MLB’s draft ever going to rival the NFL draft. So maybe, just maybe, they could stop trying to pretend it can. Anyway…
Here is the broadcast schedule for this year’s draft: Day 1: Saturday, July 11 (Rounds 1-4)
4:30-7:45 p.m. ET – Picks 41-135 (MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+)
Day 2: Sunday, July 12 (Rounds 5-20)
11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+)
For at least one final season, the draft is largely defined by the draft pool, as determined and allotted by draft position. Arizona picks at #15 in the first round. The Diamondbacks were originally positioned to pick at No. 10 but slipped five spots during the Draft Lottery. Leading up to the draft, notable prospects linked to Arizona in expert mock drafts include Virginia outfielder A.J. Garcia and highly-touted high school infielder Tyler Bell.
Here is the final draft pool and selection order, along with the bonuses allowed for each of the first round picks. Bonus pool overages only apply to the first 10 rounds. If the team has any money remaining from that pool, the team is free to spend it on rounds 11-20.
Additionally, the Diamondbacks have the 31st pick in the draft, thanks to their inclusion in Competitive Balance Round A.
31. $3,118,300
The Diamondbacks then join the standard order of selections for the second round.
53. $1,848,200
Finally, after Competitive Balance Round B and the Free Agent Compensation picks are made, Arizona will select in rounds 3-20.
88. $915,100 116. $670,900 There are three more Free Agent Compensation picks between rounds four and five. 148. $491,700 177. $377,000 206. $297,100 236. $237,800 266. $209,500 296. $196,500
Conclusion
The Diamondbacks are on the cusp of adding 11 new names to the farm system. There are a number of outside considerations for this draft that will impact the team’s ability to find some true impact talent. We’ll be taking a look at some of that over the next few days. Stay tuned for the next segment where we discuss the pitching side of things.
Phoenix Suns General Manager Brian Gregory is keeping his right-hand man around for the foreseeable future, as Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein is finalizing a new extension to keep him working with the team on the business and basketball side, according to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania.
Phoenix Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein is finalizing a new extension, further cementing the partnership with owner Mat Ishbia to shape business and basketball operations of both franchises, sources tell ESPN.
With the extension being announced, Suns Governor Mat Ishbia gave Bartelstein high praise in a statement he gave to ESPN.
“From day one, I knew Josh was the right person to help build the culture and organization that I envisioned in Phoenix – on and off the court. He is my trusted partner in every aspect of our basketball (Suns and Mercury) operations and business side as well. His knowledge of basketball, care for our players, and the strong relationships he has across the NBA and WNBA have been invaluable in building our success and will continue to shape our future. His leadership has elevated our entire organization.
“He is one of the best CEO’s in all of sports, and happens to be one of the youngest too, and I’m excited to keep working next to Josh as we continue to build on our success.”
A former college basketball player at the University of Michigan, Bartelstein, who’s been with the Suns since 2023, played a major part in the team trading for Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic in his first year working with the team. With his father Mark being Beal’s agent, much was made about the relationship Josh had with his father to negotiate the trade, along with his buyout last offseason.
However, after a season in which the team surprised many by increasing its win total by 9 games and making the playoffs after missing them the season before, Ishbia and company rewarded Bartelstein with an extension. The Phoenix Suns have already had a busy offseason by resigning many of their free agents, trading for Miles Bridges, signing Luke Kennard and Pat Spencer, making a deal to draft Koa Peat with the 30th pick, and now extending Bartelstein.
