CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers wait for a free throw during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 25, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the LeBron James saga plows forward like it’s an early 2010’s summer, the conclusion appears to be drawing near. And, like the early 2010’s, it’s ESPN’s Brian Windhorst leading the reporting.
On the Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst said that James is contacting players on some of the interested teams. This, of course, then gets sent back to the respective team’s head coach and/or general manager.
“LeBron is reaching out and talking to players on some of these teams and they report back to their GM or coach.”
“LeBron is reaching out and talking to players on some of these teams and they report back to their GM or coach,” – @WindhorstESPN on the latest details around LeBron and what teams are hearing. pic.twitter.com/PTRl2hsZeP
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Windhorst did not indicate who these players were or even the exact teams that have been contacted, adding to the veiled maneuvering happening in the background.
The Cavs can also, in a way, corroborate this reporting from ESPN. Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson, while being interviewed at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, appeared to allude to Cleveland’s pursuit of James.
“You guys know there’s a little free agency thing on right now so…that could be our real jump and you know what I’m talking about,” Atkinson said during the Cavs’ Summer League matchup against the Detroit Pistons. “That’s exciting too.”
Then there is the Donovan Mitchell extension, which came a year sooner than many expected. Mitchell left a sizable amount of money on the table by signing this year as opposed to next summer, an act of good faith that may have been signed with the knowledge that something was coming to boost the Cavs’ championship outlook. Signing James would certainly be one of those achievable roster improvements.
At the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. This was after the 6-foot-8 forward had two goals and one assist in 39 games for Detroit before the trade.
While Soderblom struggled with the Red Wings before the trade, he undoubtedly changed things on that front after being dealt to the Penguins. In 20 games with the Penguins after the move, he posted five goals, 10 points, and 35 hits. With numbers like these, he proved to be a strong pickup to Pittsburgh's roster for the final stretch of the season.
Given how well Soderblom played for the Penguins following the trade, he is a breakout candidate to watch in 2026-27. He showed plenty of promise after being traded to Pittsburgh, and it would be big if he kept this kind of play up for a whole season. If he did, he would emerge as a key part of the Penguins' top nine.
With Soderblom being only 25 years old, the possibility of him hitting a new level next season should not be ruled out. It will be interesting to see what kind of season he has from here.
Mar 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
It is no secret to the league that a reunion of LeBron James and the team that drafted all the way back in 2003 would be hard to pass on. The Cleveland Cavaliers, as reported by Marc Stein, are regarded by teams pursuing James as “the scenario to beat”.
Stein includes teams who view this as the case to be the teams most in pursuit of the King. This includes the likes of the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets. According to Stein, the situation is viewed as Cleveland being the scenario to beat; however, not necessarily unbeatable.
Golden State reportedly, while having “tangible concern that Cleveland is the closest thing to a frontrunner,” has not given up on their pursuit of the King. Stein goes on to say that this sentiment is shared by all suitors above. With Timberwolves coach Chris Finch saying as much on Stein and Jake Fisher’s Bleacher Report livestream: “I think they’ve made everybody feel like they genuinely have an opportunity.”
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In the same excerpt from Stein, he floats questions around LeBron’s upcoming appearances this week. James is scheduled to have live podcast appearances this Thursday and Friday in New York City at the Fanatics Fest event.
It has been rumored that LeBron’s decision should be coming sooner rather than later. So the LeBron sweepstakes being announced before or even during LeBron’s media appearances later this week would not surprise many in the least.
If the Cavaliers are truly viewed as the “scenario to beat,” then Cleveland will need to remain aggressive in whatever approach they are currently utilizing to entice James to this potential third reunion. A return of LeBron brings more with it than a simple storybook ending to an all-time career. They would have a chance to compete for a title, and would presumably pull out all of the stops to put themselves in the best position to do so if they can secure a commitment from James.
It is no secret that the Chicago Blackhawks have formed a very strong prospect pool as they continue their rebuild. Due to this, they have many exciting youngsters in their system.
Eight Blackhawks prospects have made Scott Wheeler's new top 100 NHL drafted prospect rankings for The Athletic. Anton Frondell, Roman Kantserov, Sam Rinzel, Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Kevin Korchinski, Xavier Villeneuve, and Vaclav Nestrasil made the cut.
Frondell and Kantserov each received rankings in the top 25. This is because Frondell landed the No. 18 spot, while Kantserov picked up the No. 23 ranking.
Rinzel, Lardis, and Moore each landed spots in the top 65. Rinzel was ranked No. 49, Lardis picked up spot No. 57, and Moore grabbed the No. 62 ranking on Wheeler's list.
Korchinski, Villeneuve, and Nestrasil rounded off the rankings for the Blackhawks. Korchinski picked up the No. 75 spot, Villeneuve was given the No. 79 spot, and Nestrasil just made the cut at No. 95.
Overall, it is hard not to feel excited about the Blackhawks' future when they have so many promising prospects. It will be interesting to see how they all continue to develop from here.
Jul 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) and left fielder Jackson Chourio (11) celebrate after both players scored run on a two run homer run by Turang against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Welcome back to another edition of our Reacts Survey! This week, we’re asking fans to grade the first half of Milwaukee’s season.
After getting out to a hot start at 8-2, the Crew faltered a bit, falling to .500 though 26 games and jut 16-14 after the first month. Since that point, however, the Brewers have been one of the best teams in baseball. After going 19-7 in the month of May, they then went 17-10 in June before a 7-3 start to July. While they were swept by the Pirates in the final weekend of the first half, they still sit at 59-37 on the season, with a five-game lead atop the NL Central and the second-best record in baseball, behind only the 61-36 Dodgers.
With that in mind, how would you grade the Brewers’ first half? Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!
Nick Robertson’s has reportedly settled on a new contract.
The 24-year-old forward, who spent his entire NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, has agreed to a two-year contract worth $6.5 million ($3.25 million AAV), according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal comes less than two weeks after Robertson, a restricted free agent, filed for salary arbitration and just days before his scheduled July 28 hearing.
For Robertson, the agreement provides the stability he has chased since breaking into the league as a highly touted 2019 second-round pick (53rd overall). Drafted out of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, the Pasadena, California native was long viewed as a dynamic, undersized winger with high-end skill and speed. Early stints with the Leafs were interrupted by injuries and the Maple Leafs’ crowded forward depth, sending him back to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies for extended development stretches in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
The persistence paid off. Robertson gradually carved out a more regular role, showing he could play a gritty, responsible game while chipping in offensively. Over 234 NHL games, all with Toronto, he has produced 48 goals and 88 points. His most recent campaign in 2025-26 was his most complete: 78 games, 16 goals and 32 points, numbers that reflected both increased ice time and a growing comfort level in the league’s middle six.
That production made him a logical arbitration candidate after he earned $1.825 million in 2025-26. With the Maple Leafs facing their own cap and roster decisions, Toronto shipped the pending RFA to Pittsburgh on the opening day of free agency. The move gave the Penguins a young, cost-controlled forward with NHL experience and upside, while clearing a roster spot and cap flexibility for the Leafs, while reuniting him with former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas.
Now with his new club, Robertson will slot into a Penguins forward group looking for secondary scoring and energy. Pittsburgh avoided the uncertainty of an arbitration hearing by locking him in at a reasonable number that reflects his recent output and the organization’s view of his long-term fit. The deal runs through the 2027-28 season, taking Robertson to one more year of restricted free agency at the expiry of the deal.
For a player who once symbolized the Leafs’ prospect pipeline frustrations, the contract represents both validation and a fresh start. Robertson has shown he can score at the NHL level when given consistent opportunity. In Pittsburgh, with a new coaching staff and a different set of expectations, he’ll have another chance to prove it , this time with the security of a twoi-year deal in hand.
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The Red Sox may be off this week for the All-Star break, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow remains at work to try to salvage the season.
Breslow’s latest move was a minor one, acquiring outfielder Jahmai Jones in exchange for a player to be named later.
The Red Sox optioned Nate Eaton to Triple-A to make room for Jones.
Prior to being DFA’d, Jones suffered a massive dropoff from 2025, when he posted a .937 in 150 plate appearances, to 2026, when he’s had a .440 OPS in 105 plate appearances.
The 28-year-old is certainly a journeyman. He debuted with the Angels in 2020, played 26 games for the Orioles in 2021, spent the 2022 season in Triple-A, played 11 games for the Brewers in 2023 and played 47 games for the Yankees in 2024 before landing with Detroit in 2025.
Alex Speier, who first reported the trade, noted that Jones’ success against lefties last year likely intrigued the Red Sox. The right-handed Jones batted .288 with a .970 OPS against lefties last season. Last year, the Red Sox relied heavily on Rob Refsnyder and Romy Gonzalez to feast on opposing left-handers. Yet with Refsnyder leaving in free agency and Gonzalez just recently returning from injury, Breslow may be seeking a potential replacement with this move.
While Wilyer Abreu (.948 OPS against lefties) and Ceddanne Rafaela (.877) have been very effective, Jarren Duran (.587) has not.
Jones is unlikely to be the answer, as he got off to a slow start (.194 average in March/April), got worse in May (.114) and fell even further in June (.091) before getting DFA’d.
Yet with the Red Sox riding a ridiculous hot streak into the All-Star break (nine straight wins, victories in 14 of their last 16 games) and climbing back into postseason contention, the front office will be doing what it can to sustain some of that success through the month of July ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Gustafsson, the 13th overall pick, will be playing one more season in the SHL for HV71 before coming over to join the Islanders' organization.
We'll see if that plan has changed.
The 18-year-old Swedish defenseman, standing at 6'4 and weighing 203 lbs, plays an annoying brand of hockey. For his size, he's incredibly mobile, has top-notch hockey IQ, and also has the physical ability to shut down the best players on the other team.
The 18-year-old Swedish defenseman, standing at 6'4 and weighing 203 lbs, plays an annoying brand of hockey. For his size, he's incredibly mobile, has top-notch hockey IQ, and also has the physical ability to shut down the best players on the other team.
Although Gustafsson does want to add more offense to his game, that's not his specialty.
He should be viewed as a future Adam Pelech replacement.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 11: Rafe Perich #38 of the Frisco RoughRiders rounds the bases in the third inning during the game between the Frisco RoughRiders and the San Antonio Missions at Nelson Wolff Stadium on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Zach Del Bello/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Congratulations to Rafe Perich, who has been named the #6 prospect in the 2026 LSB Midseason Community Prospect Rankings, receiving a little under a third of the vote.
Our list so far:
1 — Sebastian Walcott
2 — Caden Scarborough
3 — Malcolm Moore
4 — A.J. Russell
5 — Yolfran Castillo
6 — Rafe Perich
Moving on…
Because there has been a history of vote-spamming shenanigans in the rankings, I used Google Forms for the last several of community rankings, and it worked out well, so we will use it again. You will need to include your LSB user name when you vote. If you don’t have an LSB user name, you need to use some sort of identifier. While this won’t eliminate the possibility of vote spamming, it will make it harder.
So who is the #7 prospect in the Rangers system right now?
It’s been a pretty rough go of it thus far this season for Gutierrez, who ranked 24th on our list of the Mets’ top prospects coming into the 2026 season, but he was on fire in the week leading up to the break. The 20-year-old edged out Christopher Morel, who started his time in Syracuse very hot after signing with the Mets recently, for these honors. Gutierrez led the Mets’ minor league system with ten hits, only struck out once, and hit a home run and a double.
We noted that Gutierrez’s defense was ahead of his offense coming into the season, and he had struggled pretty significantly at the plate up until this week. But he had at least one hit in all five games that he played, and he had multi-hit games in four of the five.
Jonathan Santucci, LHP
Week: 1 G (1 GS), 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (Double-A)
Santucci ranked 12th on our list of the Mets’ top prospects before the season began, and after a bit of a rocky start to his season in April with Binghamton, he’s settled in pretty nicely. Since the beginning of May, he has a 3.02 ERA and a 3.30 FIP with a very good 29.0 percent strikeout rate and a decent enough 11.2 percent walk rate. In this start against Hartford, Santucci struck out eight, walked one, and gave up two runs, only one of which was earned.
Perhaps it’s a bit harsh not to give this one to Dakota Hawkins, who threw six perfect innings with five strikeouts in High-A Brooklyn in his lone start of the week, but given that both pitchers are 23 years old, I’ve gone with the slightly imperfect but impressive outing by Santucci. The inimitable Steve Sypa will be back on this series next week.
New Gm. New era. Time’s are changing in Utica, as well as the big club. What Devils prospects appear poised to ride the wave of change and make their NHL debuts this season? Let’s take an early look.
Anton Silayev
First, let’s address the elephant in the room. One of Sunny Mehta’s first moves was to announce the inevitable signing of LHD Anton Silayev to his ELC. Silayev is a smooth-skating 6’7 giant with offensive instincts, who after a record-setting campaign, struggled after a coaching change in Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod limited his ice time and usage last season in the KHL.
The left defense position is currently stacked at the NHL level and even if either Brendan Dillon or Jonas Siegenthaler end up moved this summer, Topias Vilen appears poised to make his case, and recent acquisitions Declan Chisholm and Vladislav Kolyachonok add to the crowded field of competition. None of these players should preclude Silayev from the NHL roster though, and while Silayev may spend some time getting acclimated in the AHL to start the season, odds are we will see the Russian giant in New Jersey soon.
Amadeus Lombardi
One of GM Sunny Mehta’s earliest moves was to acquire 23-year-old center/winger Amadeus Lombardi from the Detroit Red Wings for a fourth round pick in the 2026 draft. GM Mehta made it clear in press conferences that acquiring Lombardi was not only a depth move, but a “bet” that the player is ready for the NHL. With that high praise, Lombardi should be given every opportunity to win a spot on the Devils roster. We will know more in camp, but after 81 points in 92 games the past two seasons for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL, the speedy center seems to be a bet worth taking. Time will tell if it pays off.
Jakub Malek
With the plan seemingly to run a three goalie-carousel in New Jersey between Jake Allen, Nico Daws, and newly-acquired David Rittich, the odd man out seems to be Jakub Malek, who should be earning the lion’s share of starts in Utica to start the season. But for how long? Malek, who won the Ian Anderson Award for most-improved player on the Comets this past season for his strong play down the stretch, would be the obvious choice of a replacement should one of the aforementioned netminders falter or go down with an injury. Malek has succeeded just about everywhere he has played and despite a slow start adjusting to North America, has shown flashes of brilliance at the AHL level in his first season. Sunny Mehta appears more willing than past GMs to let the dice roll with a fresh face in net. All these signs point to this being the year we get a look at Malek in New Jersey.
Matyas Melovsky
With some revamping at the center position, Matyas Melovsky has slid down the depth chart a little bit, but is still a strong candidate to earn a look at the NHL at some point this season. Listed amongst Utica Comets “prospects to watch”, Melovsky had a strong rookie showing scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 55 games, slowly working his way up the lineup and even earning power play time towards the end of the season when the 22-year-old put up 7 points in his last 7 games. While unlikely to earn a spot out of camp, if Melovsky is able to build off that late season success, there is a good chance this defensively reliable, two-way centerman could make his NHL debut as an injury call-up.
Your Take
What do you think? Will this be the year Cam Squires breaks out? Could Ethan Edwards make a push despite a crowded field on the left side? How about newly-acquired Ben Steeves or Etiene Morin earning a look? Any other candidates for a NHL debut? Let us know in the comments below.
Jun 9, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) pitches to the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
If old journalists are to be believed, the MLB All-Star Game used to be far more meaningful than it is today. Apparently, players took the whole league superiority thing seriously, and Pete Rose wanted to win so badly that he helped ruin Ray Fosse’s career.
Though it’s just as possible that Rose saw an opportunity to be an asshole, and never liked passing those up.
These days, with interleague play and player movement more common, it feels like nobody cares quite as much about the game. Still, as a Phillies fan, I’ve always pulled for the National League (Which has historically gone about as well as rooting for the Phillies themselves). While this game won’t decide home field advantage in the World Series or anything that serious, with this year’s game in Philadelphia, and a good number of Phillies on the team (though one fewer than there should be), I’d especially like to see the NL pull out another win this year.
I decided to familiarize myself with the American League personnel, since I realized I didn’t actually know that much about many of the players on the team. (As the years go by, it’s become more and more clear that I’m a Phillies fan, and not actually a baseball fan.)
Here’s a list of the roster – and due to all the injury dropouts, it’s quite bloated. Since I’m actively rooting against them, I’ve tried to work up a little bit of animosity for every player on the team. Apologies if any of these guys is a personal favorite of yours.
The injury dropouts
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr, Blue Jays – All-Star voting has always been as much a popularity contest as rewarding the players having the best season. Back in the day before the internet took off, when a lot of people rarely saw teams from the opposite league, you’d know half the starting lineups before the season just based on name value.
With online voting and statistics readily available, that phenomenon has lessened, yet you still get some players voted in based on their reputations. For example, Vladito was voted the starter at first base despite having a bad season. But since he’s been dealing with injuries, he’ll miss the game.
Nick Kurtz, Athletics – He was named the replacement for Guerrero, and promptly went on the IL, meaning he’ll also miss the game. That’s probably for the best as the sub-.500 homeless Athletics don’t deserve two starters.
Aaron Judge, Yankees – I get why he’s on the team as he’s probably the biggest American-born star in baseball. But he’s hurt, and it isn’t clear when (if?) he’s coming back.
Byron Buxton, Twins – The poor man’s Mike Trout in that he’s always injured and is apparently content to spend his career out of the national spotlight on a non-contender.
Ranger Suarez, Red Sox – Unfortunately, Mr. Rager just made his annual trip to the Injured List due to a hip injury suffered last week.
Cam Schlitter, Yankees – He’s apparently said he won’t pitch in the game. What the heck? You’re a 25-year-old who was never a top prospect, and you’re saying “no thanks” to appearing in the All-Star Game? Sigh…
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 12, 2026
The starters
C – Shea Langeliers, Athletics – His name reminds me of the Stephen King story “The Langoliers.” They made a movie based on it, and in the climax, Balki from Perfect Strangers gets eaten by Pac-Man.
As for Shea, let’s face it, he’s only here because Cal Raleigh inexplicably sucks this year.
1B – Ben Rice, Yankees – And here’s the third choice for the starting first base job. It’s funny that a guy named Rice is like the whitest person in baseball. I mean, the guy went to Dartmouth!
2B – Ernie Clement, Blue Jays – What the heck is Ernie Clement doing in the starting lineup? Did Blue Jays fans go absolutely nuts with the online voting?
SS – Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals – Okay, we finally have a legitimate star player. Although after the Royals gave up a “Little League home run” to the Mets, the league probably should have stepped in and banned all Royals from appearing in this game.
3B – Junior Caminero, Rays – It’s kind of fun when young Rays make the All-Star team because you get to speculate what team they’ll be representing in a few years when they inevitably get traded. (I wouldn’t be mad if the Phillies traded their entire farm system for him.)
OF – Mike Trout, Angels – I mentioned him earlier, but amazingly he actually stayed healthy for half a season. This will probably be the first national television exposure he’s gotten since Eagles players stopped handing him footballs.
OF – Riley Greene, Tigers – He’s basically the poor man’s Kyle Schwarber. But unlike others who I’ll discuss later, he’s still trying to play the field for now, so good for him.
OF – Cody Bellinger, Yankees – I am shocked that Yankees fans haven’t turned on him yet. Don’t worry, they will soon enough when they realize he’s not actually an elite hitter.
DH – Yordan Alvarez, Astros – You shouldn’t be allowed to be a primary designated hitter until you’re at least 30. Grab a glove, Yordan!
P – Dylan Cease, Blue Jays – This guy seems to be on the Aaron Nola trajectory where he’s great every other year, and average to good in the other years. Bad news, Blue Jays fans: He’s on your payroll until age 36, so you’d better hope he ages better than Nola has.
Reserves
Dillon Dingler, Tigers – I suppose when you’re saddled with a last name like Dingler, your options for naming your children are limited. At least his parents tried for some alliteration to make it halfway palatable.
Adley Rutschman, Orioles – He’s gone from “best catcher in baseball” talk to “The Orioles need to send somebody, and there aren’t that many good catchers in the league.”
Travis Bazzana, Guardians – Wonder how much the Savannah Bananas are going to pay him to play for them when his career is over?
Willson Contreras, Red Sox – I honestly can’t remember which Contreras brother is which, and in the end, does it really matter? One of them usually ends up in the game. (Although props to him for playing to the crowd as a heel on Monday night.)
Kevin McGonigle, Tigers – Hailing from Media, McGonigle is actually having a good rookie season. So I’ll just take this opportunity to say I miss the Granite Run Mall. Between the Orange Julius and Showcase Comics, that was a fun mall.
Miguel Vargas, White Sox – Remember when it used to be a big deal for Cuban players to join MLB? You never knew exactly how good – or how old – these guys would actually be when they arrived. It’s nice to see him having a breakthrough season because the Dodgers traded him away, and that team needs to take some L’s.
Munetaka Murakami, White Sox – He competed in the Home Run Derby, and I want to remind people that there is no real basis for the belief that the Derby messing up player’s swings or portending a down second half of the season. Yes, we know that Bobby Abreu stopped hitting home runs after the 2005 Derby. But he had been on a career outlier heater in the first half of that season.
I also want to remind Phillies fans that the reason the team didn’t pursue him harder is because he can barely play the field and the Phillies already have All-Stars at first base and designated hitter. (Would you really rather have him than Kyle Schwarber?)
Randy Arozarena, Mariners – Looking at this guy’s career numbers, he doesn’t scream three-time All-Star to me. That must be because he plays in media hotbeds like Tampa and Seattle. That said, if the Mariners decide to sell at the deadline, I wonder how much he would cost.
Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox – Solid player who is probably going to rack up a bunch of All-Star berths over his career when better players drop out, and somebody has to be chosen as replacement.
Tristan Peters, White Sox – I was wondering why the White Sox had so much representation on this team, and then I remembered that they were actually playing well this year. He was also the replacement for a previous injury replacement, so I guess somebody needed to go.
Yandy Diaz, Rays – If I had a nickel for every designated hitter on the All-Star team whose first name started with Y, I’d have two nickels! Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
Pitchers
Parker Messick, Guardians – With MLB’s endless endorsement deals, and a new Spider-Man movie coming out, I’m surprised they didn’t try to work out some sort of deal where he’d call himself “Peter Parker Messick.” (Maybe I shouldn’t give them ideas.)
Nick Martinez, Rays – Yet another guy making the team as a replacement for a player who has dropped out. He’s making his first All-Star team at age 35, and I guess if I had waited that long to make the All-Star team, I’d take it any way I could get it too.
Drew Rasmussen, Rays – It’s amazing how the Milwaukee Brewers consistently make the playoffs when there seem to be so many good ex-Brewer pitchers scattered throughout the league. Remember, never trade with the Rays! (Unless you’re the Phillies and you can get the starting pitcher in the All-Star Game from them!)
Joe Ryan, Twins – He hasn’t been traded yet? It feels like he’s been in trade rumors for the better part of three years now.
All-Star Joe Ryan is pitching so well this year that it actually makes a #MNTwins trade more likely, not less. Regardless of what their record is at the trade deadline.
Here's why: • Ace-level season = peak trade value. • Twins' playoff odds remain modest (32.8% at best),… pic.twitter.com/H2qt6UT0Js
Michael Wacha, Royals – Career mediocrity makes his second ever All-Star game. I don’t know if this is a feel-good story or a testament to how few actually great pitchers there are?
Bryan Baker, Rays – Is this guy actually good, or is this a Jeanmar Gomez situation where if you put a guy into enough save situations, he’ll rack up a hefty save total?
Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox – Speaking of Cubans of questionable ages, when this guy first came over from Cuba, a lot of people assumed he was older than his listed age of 22. But at age 38, he’s still racking up saves, so maybe that was legit? Either way, I kind of hoped we’d be done with him by now.
Jacob Latz, Rangers – This is literally the first time I’ve heard of this guy. It’s weird that the Rangers are in first place, and they could only get one rep on the team, and that’s their closer. Meanwhile, the awful Royals have multiple players on the team. Why not take Jacob deGrom instead of Latz?
Cade Smith, Guardians – I wish the Phillies could call up a reliever and see him instantly dominate like Smith has the last three years.
Justin Verlander, Tigers – He gets to serve as team mascot or something? I’m not sure what the point of these “Legends” picks is supposed to be.
The Pittsburgh Penguins should consider adding another left-shot defenseman to their roster this off-season. After trading away Parker Wotherspoon and not re-signing Ryan Shea, they could use more depth on the left side of their blueline.
With it now being two weeks since the start of NHL free agency, there are not too many notable UFA defensemen still available for the taking. However, there is an interesting potential option in defenseman Carson Soucy.
Soucy split this past season between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, where he recorded five goals, 12 points, 91 blocks, and 105 hits. This was after the 6-foot-4 blueliner posted four goals, 13 points, 106 blocks, and 115 hits in 75 games split between the Vancouver Canucks and Rangers during the 2024-25 season.
While Soucy does not produce much offense from the point, he is more known for being a defensive defenseman who kills penalties and throws the body. With this, he could be a decent veteran blueliner for the Penguins to add to their depth.
If the Penguins signed Soucy, he could slot nicely on their second or third pairing. He would also offer them another option to work with on their penalty kill because of his steady defensive play.
On a short-term and affordable deal, Soucy could be worth bringing in for the Penguins. It will be interesting to see if they make a push for him this off-season.
SPARTANBURG, SC - JULY 12: Bowling Green Hot Rods pitcher Jacob Kisting (39) throws a pitch during a High A Minor League Baseball game between the Boiling Green Hot Rods and the Hub City Spartanburgers on July 12, 2026 at Fifth Third Park in Spartanburg, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This was the 14th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Tuesday, July 14th).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), prospect Caden Bodine remains the top performer in the system. His full season statline is further below.
Meanwhile, there is a new pitcher reigning supreme in the system, Jacob Kisting. The Rays acquired Kisting for Eric Orze last November and the 23-year old is having a breakout campaign in High-A. Thus far he has compiled a 1.67 ERA | 2.56 FIP with a 28.5 K% & 5.1 BB% over 70 IP.
RUMBLINGS
The Futures Game was Sunday. Nathan Flewelling earned MVP honors after hitting the game’s lone homerun while Theo Gillen collected a hit in three trips to the plate.
Slater de Brun finally made his organization debut as he began a rehab assignment in the Complex League
Tre’ Morgan has started another rehab assignment.
TEAM LEADERS
Must currently be assigned to that team
Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
(minimum of 150 TBF & PA)
Tampa Bay Rays
Top 10 Prospects
None currently on active roster
Durham Bulls
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .261, Blake Sabol OBP: .344, Logan Davidson SLG: .444, Carson Williams HR: 11, Carson Williams wRC+: 101, Carson Williams SB: 18, Homer Bush Jr
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 2.39, Evan Reifert FIP: 3.79, Joe boyle K%: 33.0% Ty Johnson BB%: 8.6%, Chase Solesky WHIP: 0.99, Ty Johnson AVG: .171, Ty Johnson WHIFF%: 15.2%, Ty Johnson
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 4.20, Jackson Baumeister FIP: 4.45, Derrick Edington K%: 29.0%, Jackson Baumeister BB%: 3.2%, Santiago Suarez WHIP 1.10, Jackson Baumeister AVG: .190, Jackson Baumeister WHIFF%: 16.1%, Jackson Baumeister
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .312, Connor Hujsak OBP: .425, Tony Santa Maria SLG: .605, Connor Hujsak HR: 20, Connor Hujsak wRC+: 151, Ryan McCoy SB: 34, Tony Santa Maria
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.67, Jacob Kisting FIP: 2.56, Jacob Kisting K%: 28.5%, Jacob Kisting BB%: 4.6%, Dominic Niman WHIP: 0.89, Jacob Kisting AVG: .291, Andres Galan WHIFF%: 17.3%, Noah Beal
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .308, Tom Poole OBP: .448, Tom Poole SLG: .492, Tom Poole HR: 8, Cooper Flemming wRC+: 158, Tom Poole SB: 26, Alberth Palma
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 29: Athletics Pitching Coach Scott Emerson #14 runs back to the dugout in the top of the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Sutter Health Park on June 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Tuesday A’s fans! It’s All-Star Game Day!
But before we get to the game, the Athletics made a move yesterday afternoon, letting go of pitching coach Scott Emerson and promoting bullpen coach Dan Hubbs to take over for the rest of the year:
The A’s have dismissed pitching coach Scott Emerson. Bullpen coach Dan Hubbs will serve as interim pitching coach for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The move couldn’t come soon enough. The team is currently second to last in the entire sport in ERA, ahead of only the Colorado Rockies who play in the most hitter-friendly stadium in the world. A’s pitchers have had to pitch in their own hitter-friendly environment over the past season and a half but the pitching has been a problem for a while now, going back to the final Oakland years.
Emerson, who has been the pitching coach since mid-2017, has been given talented arms over the years but the Athletics have struggled to develop many quality arms in recent seasons. Righty J.T. Ginn has been a success story this year but outside of him many of the younger arms have failed to establish themselves. Veteran arms like Jeffrey Springs and Luis Severino haven’t benefitted from any coaching that Emerson has done. There was a hope that as the offense came into its own that the pitching would soon follow but that hasn’t happened. A’s fans were calling for Emerson to be let go and the team has finally followed through on it.
Bullpen coach Dan Hubbs is replacing Emerson the same way Emerson got the job from Curt Young in ‘17. He likely isn’t a long-term option and the team will surely be on the lookout this offseason for pitching coaches, but the team needed to make a move. Maybe he can help provide a spark for the young arms over the second half. There have been some solid individual performances down in the bullpen.
What does this also say about Mark Kotsay? Now in his fifth year leading the team, expectations were raised entering this year. The club has finally accrued enough talent at the big league level to at least hover around .500 and that’s good enough to be in the playoff hunt. That’s where the A’s were over the first two-ish months of the season but have, for the second year in a row, suffered a season-crippling losing spell in the middle of the summer. The front office hasn’t exactly given him too much pitching to work with but with Las Vegas around the corner the front office may be getting antsy. Perhaps firing Emerson is a sign that Kotsay’s seat may be warming up as well.
Anyway, the 2026 All-Star Game is tonight! A’s fans will be treated this evening with Shea Langeliers catching and batting third. He’s likely only going to get one, maybe two at bats but it’ll still be fun to see the Green & Gold on the national stage. And it’s hard to miss the catcher so extra visibility for ‘Bangeliers’ and the A’s tonight. Any predictions on how our boy does?
First pitch is at 5 but the festivities start an hour before that. Until then guys. Have a great day everyone.
This went under the radar but Leo De Vries led off for the AL Futures squad and went 1-for-2 with a two stolen bases, a run scored and a strikeout. Not bad, Leo:
