INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers battles Baba Miller #18 of the LA Clippers for position during the second half of a game at Intuit Dome on October 28, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Across the first four games of the regular season, Jarred Vanderbilt found himself entirely outside of the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation, with head coach JJ Redick opting for Sandro Mamukelashvili and Kevon Looney as his backup big men behind Walker Kessler. But Looney struggled mightily in those appearances. His insufficient scoring and passing were stunting the offense while his lack of size and declining mobility rendered him an issue defensively.
So, Redick gave Looney’s rotation spot to Vanderbilt against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night and the veteran forward, in his first minutes of the season, delivered. His motor, range and quickness defensively caused problems and the Lakers outscored the Clippers by 22 points during his 21 minutes. In particular, Redick cited Vanderbilt’s ability to front the post against Brook Lopez as a crucial contribution.
Following the victory, Collin Sexton — who previously spent half a season alongside Vanderbilt with the Utah Jazz in 2022-23 before Vanderbilt was dealt to Los Angeles — praised Vanderbilt’s even-keeled mentality while he rode the bench early on and how his approach benefits the whole team.
“Vando is somebody that is always going to stay ready … You never see any bad days for Vando. He’s always going to be a leader,” Sexton told reporters. “He’s always going to come in and be that vet and be that good person whether he plays no minutes or he plays 48 minutes. He’s always going to be the same person and I feel like that’s one of the things that helps in the locker room is we’re all for the team and tonight, he was definitely for the team. He came in and he brought that juice right away and I feel like he was a huge, huge impact in us winning.”
Given Vanderbilt’s impressive 2026-27 debut and Looney’s poor showing through four games, it seems pretty likely Vanderbilt will continue garnering rotation minutes for the time being. His next chance comes Friday on the road when the Lakers kick off their NBA Cup Group Play against the Golden State Warriors at 7 p.m.
Despite leading the Belleville Senators and the entire American Hockey League in goal scoring last season, free agent forward Arthur Kaliyev had to wait until late October to find a new team.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Kaliyev is signing a 25-game professional tryout agreement with the Iowa Wild, the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild.
Kaliyev scored 40 goals in 70 games with the Belleville Senators last season, becoming the first player in franchise history to win the AHL goal-scoring title. He also added 28 assists for 68 points, finishing tied for third in league scoring and earning a spot on the AHL's First All-Star Team.
Sens GM Steve Staios was asked about the Kaliyev allegations at the start of the 2025 training camp.
It was an outstanding season for the 25-year-old winger, but it wasn't enough to earn him another contract with the Senators organization.
There was already some familiarity between Kaliyev and the Senators' front office. He played junior hockey for the Hamilton Bulldogs when Michael Andlauer owned the team and Steve Staios ran its hockey operations.
Despite his impressive production in Belleville, Kaliyev barely got a cup of coffee in Ottawa. Maybe an espresso. He appeared in two games and got one assist, before being returned to the minors for the rest of the season.
When the summer arrived, he became a free agent and the Senators let him walk. Not many people in Ottawa complained about that, but no one would have imagined that he'd go six months without getting a deal.
Kaliyev's former girlfriend, Lauren Mochem, accused him of defrauding her of more than $50,000 during their relationship, alleging that he used the money to support a gambling addiction. The police and the NHL investigated and found no evidence of any violation.
Kaliyev's offensive ability has never been the biggest question about his game. The former second-round pick has a shot that's elite, even by NHL standards.
His skating and defensive play have been more persistent concerns, helping explain why his success in the AHL hasn't translated into a permanent NHL role.
For now, Kaliyev will attempt to rebuild his career in Iowa, where a 25-game tryout gives him another chance.
It's a weird position for the reigning AHL goal scoring champion to find himself in.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Manager John Schneider #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays and Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. speak prior to the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Derik Hamilton/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers dispatched the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night, their 4-1 victory in Game 5 of the World Series giving them their first title in franchise history. Up there in baseball Valhalla, Bob Uecker had the night of his afterlife.
That puts a wrap on the 2026 Major League Baseball season as a whole, meaning the Cincinnati Reds can once again peel themselves off the couch and begin preparations for a 2027 season that, mercifully, cannot possibly be as disappointing as the one that just ended. Baseball wastes little time in sprinting into administrative season, and that began this morning at 9 AM ET when players eligible for free agency were allowed to file.
That includes the likes of Tyler Stephenson of Brock Burke, two names in particular who need a spotlight right here. Though both could have filed for free agency as early as this morning, there’s a five-day window where their former team will be the lone club that can negotiate with them, and since both sure do look like players the Reds would like to have back in 2027 (and beyond), that means the two sides have five days to figure out what a contract would need to look like going forward for that to work. I don’t expect either to sign during this window, but at least there’s a little bit of a heads-up that the Reds will get prior to both getting the opportunity to talk to all 30 clubs beginning next week.
The end of that five-day window will also be the final chance for teams to issue a Qualifying Offer to any of their free agents who were not acquired mid-season. At one point in time that seemed like a discussion the Reds front office was having surrounding Brady Singer, though that has (thank the lord) gone silent amid his season-ending slump. That also marks the day where option decisions must be made, so by then we’ll know if Emilio Pagan has opted into his $10 million salary to remain with the Reds in 2027 or decided to test the free agent waters again. We’ll also have a resolution on the mutual option between the Reds and Eugenio Suarez, though those almost never get picked up by both sides anyway. It’s also the deadline to put players back on the roster from the 60-day IL, so there could be some DFA shuffling (or minor trades) to accommodate the likes of Hunter Greene and Spencer Steer needing 40-man spots once again.
November 1st will see the Gold Glove Awards given out to star defenders across the league. The Reds have no star defenders in the eyes of the powers that be, though – at least, not this year.
November 2nd will see Silver Slugger Award finalists announced, and here’s where we may see the sport’s spotlight swing back to Elly De La Cruz. The 2nd will also see the finalists for all the major BBWAA awards announced, of which Sal Stewart will surely be included in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
November 9th will be the day the Reds find out if Sal won the NL RoY, or not. While the honor itself is a glorious one, keep in mind that the Reds would be in line to get an extra draft pick at the end of the 1st round in 2027 if Sal takes home the prize – and the draft bonus pool boost that goes along with that.
November 9-12 will feature the GM meetings in Las Vegas, ones that will surely be interesting this season given the looming lockout that will be just three weeks later.
November 11th will be the day both the NL and AL Cy Young Award winners will be announced. Chase Burns won’t win the NL award this season despite being firmly in the mix for most of the year, but he’s going to end up with some down-ballot votes.
November 12th is the day the MVPs are announced in both leagues. Elly’s not going to win in the NL this year, but there’s a realistic chance he finishes within the Top 3.
November 16th is the date we’ll see who the BBWAA has included on their ballot for induction in the Hall of Fame, at which point in time social media will become a giant argument over who is worthy of a plaque in the hallway of an old building in an obscure and hard to reach town in upstate New York.
November 17th is the day Silver Slugger Awards are actually announced. It’s also the deadline day for players to accept QOs, if they’d received them. It is also-also the day teams must add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from potential selection in the Rule 5 Draft, which is typically held during the Winter Meetings in December…
…however, the Winter Meetings are currently scheduled for December 7-9th, and that’s after the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire on December 1st, and there’s zero indication whatsoever that the MLBPA and MLB itself will come to an agreement before that date to postpone an inevitable lockout.
There’s a lot that typically goes on between December 1st and the start of spring training in mid-February, but the dates when those events will occur (or be cancelled) are pretty meaningless at this juncture. Baseball will have to see the arbitration process dealt with in short order at some point, the Draft Lottery to determine the order for next June’s draft will need to take place, and who signs who will all have to fight what figures to be a long, dark transaction freeze until the two sides can figure out how to properly distribute their billions of dollars. It remains to be seen whether teams will make moves in a fury before the expiration date of the current CBA, or if they’ll roll the dice on getting lucky with what’s left after the fact.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 7: Trayce Jackson-Davis #32, Jakob Poeltl #19 and Head Coach Darko Rajakovic of the Toronto Raptors participates in an all access practice on March 7 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“Yak is our starter. We’re number one defence in the league at this time, and he, Yak, has a lot to do with that.”
This is the stance of Raptors coach Darko Rajaković after the Toronto team’s first four games in the season. In them, Jakob Poeltl, that Raptors’ starting centre, has averaged three points, four and a half rebounds, and less than one block per game, in just under 20 minutes a game.
This is a far cry from Yak’s near 15-10 season back in ‘24-’25, and the injuries that have plagued Poeltl in the years since have contributed heavily to two seasons (thus far) of very limited production from the big man. Nevertheless, Rajaković refuses to publicly condemn his player.
“Yak does so many things on defensive end of the ball that it helps us tremendously,” the coach said at today’s presser. “And lot of those things, they will not show up in the box-score you know, and the way he’s presenting himself in the paint, the way he’s controlling screener, the way he rotates and helps our guys… Offensively, I think his rhythm is gonna come.”
While overreacting to a small sample size is unhelpful, it is clear as day that some type of issues are present. Whether lingering injuries remain a concern, or something else is keeping Poeltl at bay, something needs to change for the Raptors if they want to win games in the modern NBA. And, while Rajaković remains steadfast, standing by the Austrian big man, he has also insinuated that he is not burying his head in the sand, and may be choosing to address this issue from a rotational perspective at this juncture.
the raps can keep starting jak if they want to, i don't care too much about that. but the minutes distribution at centre is gonna have to change. soon.
Journalist Joe Wolfond seems to have cleanly summed up the direction the Raptors may be taking the team, as the coach indicated that the Raptors’ current arrangement of centre minutes was not set in stone.
“Everything is on the table, you know?” Rajaković said when asked about Trayce Jackson-Davis getting more minutes at the 5. “Obviously, I love to have as many players as possible to be ready to help us and to step on the floor. It’s just finding those right moments, right minutes and the right rotations to maximize that.”
While relatively non-committal, this statement suggests that Rajaković may be exploring what having the 6’9” centre play a bigger part in the Raps’ rotation could look like. And if last night is any indication, that looks good. In a game where both Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray Boyles got into f0ul trouble, Jackson-Davis stepped up to grab 11 rebounds, and looked like a ray of hope for the Raptors.
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 21: Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against Trayce Jackson-Davis #32 of the Toronto Raptors in the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jackson-Davis is two inches taller than Collin Murray-Boyles, and the two of them off the bench may combine to give the Raptors that extra support at the 5 that is so necessary, but cannot be sustained at this juncture by Poeltl and Boyles alone.
With the Raptors facing off against the Orlando Magic again this Friday, the team will have another opportunity, both to give Jakob Poeltl time to demonstrate that he is a starting-calibre centre, and for Trayce Jackson-Davis to show both the organization and the fans that he needs more minutes.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Orlando Ribalta #64 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Nationals Park on August 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It has been well established at this point that the Nationals did not have a good bullpen. They set the record for blown saves and had a rotating cast of characters all season long. Of that group, Orlando Ribalta and Brad Lord were the most reliable. Neither were lights out, but both of them posted sub-4 ERA’s and logged at least 40 appearances.
Ribalta and Lord are unlikely to be star relievers, but they are the type of arms you need to fill out a bullpen. The Nats are trying to build a bullpen filled with unique arms, and these two are an example of that. Despite both being right handed relievers, they have very different pitching styles and roles.
At 6’7 245 pounds, Ribalta is a towering presence on the mound and comes at hitters with an over the top delivery. His 97 MPH 4-seam fastball has a good combination of velocity and ride. Ribalta’s secondary pitches include a slider he often uses to get ahead of hitters and a fluttering changeup to put guys away.
Ribalta’s calm mound presence allowed him to come through in some big spots for the Nats. He played a role in some of the Nats meltdowns, but most of the time, Ribalta was not the one causing the fire. In fact, he was the one putting them out. Ribalta had a knack for getting out of bases loaded situations, and he earned the trust of Blake Butera.
MLB hitters are now 0-11 vs Orlando Ribalta this year with the bases loaded.
— Optimistic DC Sports Fan (AC12 Ring Before Harper) (@JWoodGlazer29) July 25, 2026
Overall, Ribalta had a nice breakthrough season, but there is still room for growth. The 28 year old posted a 3.77 ERA and a 3.91 FIP with 42 strikeouts in 43 innings. His 84.6 MPH average exit velocity against and 36.7% chase rate were both elite metrics. However, his strikeout rate of 23.6% and walk rate of 10.1% are both pretty average for a reliever. Right now, Ribalta is a solid 7th inning guy, but if the strikeouts start matching his stuff, the ceiling is higher.
While Ribalta was a high leverage arm, Brad Lord was in a different role. Lord is your classic multi-inning reliever, a role that is becoming more common across the league. With starters not pitching as deep into games, teams need to get creative with how they use their pitchers.
Most of the time, Lord pitched about 2 or 3 innings in his appearances. In his 40 outings this season, Lord threw 83.1 innings. Until about late June, Lord was an absolute weapon in that role. However, he hit a wall after blowing a game against the Phillies in devastating fashion. Lord had a blow up outing against the Pirates shortly after that, and then he went on the IL.
However, Lord had a rock solid finish to the season. After August 1st, Lord had a 3.55 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. He is not the flashiest reliever in the world, but he is very helpful and can eat innings effectively. Lord was the only Nats reliever who was on the team from start to finish.
Barring an unforeseen development, the Nationals’ Opening Day bullpen will be:
Clayton Beeter Cole Henry Brad Lord Cionel Pérez (L) Andre Granillo PJ Poulin (L) Gus Varland Ken Waldichuk (L)
We saw this season that Lord is not someone you really want to turn to in save situations. However, he can be a nice piece in a good bullpen. His profile reminds me a lot of Chad Patrick in Milwaukee, who logged 106 innings this year, mostly in a bullpen role.
From a pitch mix standpoint, Lord relies heavily on his 4-seam fastball and sinker. Both pitches have a lot of movement thanks to his sling shot release. His low release point and funky mechanics make him a tricky at bat. Lord is great at doing the dirty work in the bullpen.
Neither Lord nor Ribalta should be your best relievers, but that says more about the state of the rest of the Nats bullpen. Both are useful pieces who should play a role for years to come. Now the priority should be to acquire truly elite arms so those two can pitch in the proper role.
I actually think the Nats have a decent amount of interesting bullpen arms. The depth is in a much better spot than it was a year ago. However, they need to find a true anchor in the back end to tie everything together. If they do that, we will also see the best of guys like Lord and Ribalta.
Former New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz will be inducted into the Nashville Predators' Golden Hall on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals.
“This franchise, to me, is everything, really."
A storied career, an unforgettable impact. Celebrating our Golden Hall inductee, Barry Trotz.
Trotz, who won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, joined the Islanders that summer along with former general manager Lou Lamoriello.
In 288 regular season games behind the Islanders' bench, Trotz went 152-102-34, helping the Islanders to back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021.
Following his dismissal from the Islanders after a rough 2021-22 season, Trotz was named general manager of the Predators a year later, a role he held until he announced his retirement this past June 2nd.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: The shoes of Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden on October 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Reaves acknowledged he didn’t even think they would become friends.
“I wasn’t joking,” Reaves told the California Post in an exclusive interview. “There were times when the trade first happened where we would walk by each other in the locker room and not say anything to each other because I didn’t know what to say to him. That was the first reaction: ‘What is this guy going to be like?'”
It’s hard to believe that was just a year and a half ago.
Nowadays they often spend their afternoons together on golf courses. They jokingly take shots at each other during interviews. And they have each other’s backs.
Their chemistry has translated onto the court, where they’re the NBA’s best offensive duo.
Dončić leads the league in scoring (36 points per game). Reaves is 16th (24.4 points per game). Dončić and Reaves are the highest-scoring duo in the league (60.4 points per game) by a landslide, averaging nine points more than Steph Curry and Yaxel Lendeborg (51.4 points per game) who are second.
They’re averaging more combined points per game than the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O’Neal duo ever did, including when they averaged a combined-high of 57.5 points in 2001-2002 en route to leading the Lakers to three straight championships.
Luka Doncic (77) and Austin Reaves (15) of the Los Angeles Lakers high-five during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
When Dončić was dealt to the Lakers, he was shellshocked.
He was coming off a 2023-2024 campaign in which he led the Mavericks to the Finals and finished third in MVP voting before Dallas ripped the rug out from under him. Dončić had wanted to spend his entire career with the Mavericks. Instead he was left feeling betrayed and mortified as the only NBA superstar of his caliber to be jettisoned against his will in his prime in the modern era.
When he first arrived in Los Angeles, his head was spinning.
“For me, it’s hard to speak when I come to a new team, new people,” Dončić told The Post. “It’s kind of hard for me to speak. I had some people I knew from before, so I kind of hung out with them. But after that, in [next season’s] training camp, [Austin and I] got really close. That’s when it probably started.”
***
It was obvious everything had changed between Dončić and Reaves last season.
Their awkward silence had morphed into brotherly teasing.
Dončić joked that Reaves wanted to be his friend, but he’s “not allowing it.” Reaves pointed out that he had more dunks than Dončić. Dončić lovingly called Reaves “a hater.” Reaves tenderly called his teammate an “A-hole.”
Dončić was happy.
He needed the summer to wrap his mind around the trade. After having some space, his hurt transformed into determination. He realized he had an opportunity of a lifetime ahead of him: He was the face of the 17-time champion Lakers, a globally celebrated brand. As soon as Dončić fully bought in, his personality began to show.
Reaves saw who he really was.
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Draymond Green are seen at the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Golden State Warriors season opener at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. London Entertainment
“Once we came back for the next year, right off the bat we had similar interests,” Reaves told The Post. “We kind of act the same, which is kind of sad to say for me. But we both love joking around, having a good time.”
Reaves and Dončić are both funny. They’re understated. They’re humble. They prefer spending time with their loved ones over the LA scene. Golf is their meditation.
As soon as they developed a bond, their chemistry started bleeding onto the court.
When LeBron James was out at the top of last season because of sciatica, Dončić and Reaves led the Lakers to a 15-4 start. Then last March, when James was struggling with multiple ailments and sidelined for three games, the duo led the Lakers to wins over the Pacers, Knicks and Timberwolves, sparking a 15-2 run.
There was a synergistic dance between the guards. They reacted off one another as though they were musical instruments in an orchestra.
“Having him come out of his shell and just be himself is the best thing that can happen, not just for the organization, but for him, for us, for everybody,” Reaves told The Post.
***
Last season was challenging for both stars, who tried to support each other through their speedbumps.
Dončić was in a custody battle with his ex-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, over their two daughters who were living with her in Slovenia.
Reaves knew he was going to turn down his $14.9 million player option in June to become a free agent, and he hoped he could return to the Lakers.
In a bit of poetic cruelty, Dončić and Reaves both suffered injuries in a game against the Thunder on April 2 that derailed the Lakers’ playoff hopes.
Dončić suffered a strained hamstring that sidelined him the entire postseason. Reaves sustained a strained oblique, an injury that would keep him out the first four games of the team’s first-round series against the Rockets.
They were there for each other through everything.
“It’s very interesting how life works, and there’s certain things that happen in people’s life where you kind of create a bond over things,” Reaves told The Post. “We’re all around each other 95 percent of the time throughout the year, especially when [basketball is] in season. We might get an off-day every week or two weeks.
“But you travel together and you know the things people are going through. And you just want to be there for him. And there were a couple of things on both sides where we were both going through things and having each other’s company was the best thing that could’ve happened. And it’s grown into a real relationship after that.”
***
Dončić and Reaves banter like brothers, but they also have each other’s backs as though they were family.
Last summer, Dončić made it clear to Lakers brass that a few things were very important to him. He wanted a franchise center. And he wanted Reaves to remain his teammate.
The Lakers were Doncic’s team after James left in free agency for the 76ers in July, and the franchise’s top priority was to make its superstar happy.
In Reaves’ first public comments after agreeing to the deal, he let it be known how much Dončić meant to him.
“Luka,” Reaves said in Las Vegas in July, “I mean, he’s one of my best friends on this planet. Talk to him almost every single day. He sends me videos of his golf swing and asks me what he can do to get better, and I tell him I’m not a coach.”
Austin Reaves, left, and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers pose for a portrait during NBA Media Day on Monday, September 28, 2026, at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves went from viewing Dončić as a shy enigma with whom he didn’t know if he could relate, to letting him into his inner circle.
And Dončić went from feeling devastated that he was traded to the Lakers, to wanting to spend his entire career in a purple-and-gold jersey — and wanting Reaves in one alongside him.
“Hopefully, yeah,” Doncic told The Post when asked if he wants to retire as a Laker.
Doncic and Reaves won each other over.
They have one of the most amusing bromances in the league, which has led to them becoming the NBA’s most potent offensive duo.
Just a year and a half ago, this seemed far-fetched.
The Sixers added Jaylen Brown to their injury report Thursday night ahead of a second matchup with the defending champion Knicks.
The team listed Brown as questionable with left knee soreness for Friday night’s contest at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The game will be the Sixers’ first of four in East Group B of the 2026 NBA Cup.
Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Jabari Walker (left knee patellar tendinopathy), Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain) and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear) were all still listed as out.
For the first leg of the Sixers’ back-to-back, neither Joel Embiid nor LeBron James appeared on the team’s injury report. The two stars had split injury management nights on the Sixers’ back-to-back last weekend. The Sixers will head to Charlotte on Saturday to play the Hornets.
The Sixers earned their first victory of the season by beating the Knicks on opening night. New York started 0-3 but has won its last two games, topping the Pistons and Bulls.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 28: Zach Agnos #36 of the Colorado Rockies looks on during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Lucas Casel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
He made three starts, earned two saves, regularly worked multiple innings out of the bullpen and pitched in just about every game situation imaginable. By season’s end, he’d logged 91 innings, nearly 39 more than his previous professional high.
He also finished with a 5.93 ERA.
Agnos was more useful than good, but there were stretches of effective pitching and some encouraging developments in his arsenal that suggest he might have more to offer.
2026 statistics
G (GS)
W-L
IP
ERA
FIP
WHIP
K
BB
SV
rWAR
41 (3)
0-2
91.0
5.93
4.57
1.51
58
35
2
0.1
Source: Baseball Reference.
A little bit of everything
Agnos entered 26 of his 38 relief appearances with Colorado trailing, including 13 when the Rockies were behind by at least four runs. For a team that lost 104 games, pitching from behind was hardly unusual.
The Rockies generally weren’t asking him to escape inherited jams, either. He began 31 of his relief appearances with a clean inning and was often left to cover two or three.
There were opportunities to finish victories, too. On April 8 against Houston, Agnos worked 3.1 innings to earn his first save of the season. He added another on April 26 against the Mets.
On May 21 against Arizona, Agnos made his first start since high school.
He retired the first six Diamondbacks he faced. He ran into trouble in the third, walking Adrian Del Castillo and allowing a single to Ketel Marte, but got Corbin Carroll to line out to center to end the inning.
He then retired all six hitters he faced in the fourth and fifth, finishing with five scoreless innings, one hit, one walk and four strikeouts.
Five days after that, the Giants scored seven earned runs against him in one inning.
Fourteen earned runs in three innings, immediately following five scoreless innings against Arizona.
Two months of genuinely good pitching
In July and August, Agnos allowed just six earned runs over 27.1 innings, posting a 1.98 ERA. He walked four batters, struck out 17 and continued working primarily in multi-inning appearances.
All six earned runs came in two appearances.
On July 22 against Washington, Agnos entered with two outs in the seventh and the Rockies trailing 5-0. He allowed three consecutive singles and two earned runs before recording the third out. He stayed in the game long enough to cover 2.1 innings, allowing seven hits and three total runs.
On August 21 against Cleveland, Patrick Bailey hit a three-run homer off Agnos, who eventually allowed four earned runs in 2.1 innings.
Those were the only two appearances in July and August in which Agnos allowed an earned run.
Every other outing was scoreless.
On July 6 against the Dodgers, he threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit. On August 5 against Tampa Bay, he worked two hitless innings.
For two months, Agnos wasn’t just effective. He was excellent. But that performance was a dramatic departure from his struggles earlier in the season, and he couldn’t sustain it through September.
The difference between those three stretches is striking:
Period
IP
ERA
BB
K
May – June
34.0
8.21
15
19
July – August
27.1
1.98
4
17
September
12.1
8.76
8
6
Source: Baseball Reference.
Agnos allowed multiple earned runs in each of his final five appearances.
It’s fair to wonder whether the workload caught up with him. His 91 innings were well beyond the 52.1 he’d previously thrown in a professional season. His velocity was also down across all six pitches in his final appearance on September 22, although it had remained largely normal earlier in the month.
Something different in the arsenal
Agnos didn’t just take on different assignments in 2026. He also changed what he was throwing.
After relying on four pitches in 2025, Agnos added a slider and sinker to his repertoire. The slider was particularly interesting against left-handed hitters, producing a positive five-run value. Overall, opponents hit just .161 against it.
Agnos threw his splitter less frequently than he had in 2025, but opponents hit just .194 against it in 2026. It also generated a 41.9% whiff rate, easily the highest of his six pitches.
His sweeper also showed promise, holding opponents to a .220 average while generating a 34.6% whiff rate.
The results weren’t nearly as encouraging across his entire arsenal. Baseball Savant’s run value data highlights some significant differences depending on which side of the plate hitters stood:
Pitch
vs. LHH
vs. RHH
Four-seam fastball
-2
-8
Cutter
-6
+2
Sweeper
-1
+2
Sinker
-2
0
Slider
+5
-3
Splitter
0
-1
2026 pitch run value by batter handedness. Positive values favor the pitcher; negative values favor the hitter. Source: Baseball Savant.
Agnos threw his four-seam fastball and cutter more than any other offerings, accounting for nearly half his pitches. Opponents hit .306 against the four-seamer and .359 against the cutter.
Agnos struck out just 14.3% of opposing hitters, placing him in the second percentile among major-league pitchers. He did lower his walk rate from 12.3% in 2025 to 8.6% in 2026, while also improving his hard-hit and barrel rates.
The individual results from his secondary pitches suggest Agnos has something to work with. The challenge is finding a way to turn those pitches into more strikeouts and better overall results, particularly when his most frequently used offerings have been so hittable.
Where does Agnos stand heading into 2027?
Agnos made three starts, posting a 1.69 ERA over 10.2 innings, compared to a 6.50 ERA in 80.1 innings as a reliever. That’s a considerable difference, although three starts are not enough to establish him as a rotation candidate. His more likely role remains that of a multi-inning reliever, something the Rockies leaned on him heavily for in 2026.
But he’s hardly the only pitcher capable of filling that role. Colorado has other young pitchers who could benefit from those opportunities, and as the organization works to improve its pitching staff, there should be more competition for those innings.
At 26, Agnos is still under team control and won’t be arbitration-eligible until 2028. He also has minor-league options remaining, giving Colorado some flexibility to keep him around without committing to a permanent spot in the major-league bullpen.
That works in his favor, but only to a point. His versatility helped him accumulate 91 innings in 2026, but a 5.93 ERA isn’t going to do much to protect his opportunities as better pitching becomes available.
Whether Agnos can turn the promise of his secondary pitches into more consistent results may determine how much longer that versatility remains valuable to Colorado.
Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias, middle, speaks to the media on Friday, May 2, 2025, in the home dugout at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. (Taylor Lyons/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The World Series is over. The Brewers are the champions of the 2026 season. Now that that’s settled, the baseball offseason calendar takes over. The month of November is more important than usual this year with the expected coming lockout, which will freeze roster movement until a labor agreement is reached.
What’s happened so far
Free agency begins
At 9am on the day after the World Series ends, players who are free agents after the season officially become free agents. Their current teams have an exclusive negotiating window for five days.
These are the Orioles free agents: Keegan Akin, Chris Bassitt, Andrew Kittredge, Trevor Rogers
Still to come
November1
Gold Glove award winners announced (already known there will be no Orioles winners)
November 2
Deadline to decide on team and player contract options
Orioles players with options: Zach Eflin (mutual), Luis Robert Jr. (team), Ryan Mountcastle (team), Ryan Helsley (player – already exercised)
Deadline to extend qualifying offers to free agents
Orioles likely to receive one: Trevor Rogers
60-day injured list players return to 40-man roster
Orioles who must return to roster: Kyle Bradish, Ryan Helsley, Colin Selby, Jordan Westburg, Tyler O’Neill
Free agency opens – any team can sign any player starting at 5pm
Contemporary Baseball Era HOF ballot (players, managers, executives) announced
Silver Slugger top 3 finishers announced
BBWAA award (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year) top 3 finishers announced
November 9-12
General manager meetings (Las Vegas)
BBWAA awards announced (nightly in this order: ROY, Manager of the Year, Cy Young, MVP)
November 16
Hall of Fame 2027 BBWAA ballot announced
November 17
Deadline for players to accept or decline Qualifying Offer at 4pm Eastern
Deadline for Rule 5 Draft-eligible players to be placed on 40-man roster
Orioles to think about include: Creed Willems, Aron Estrada, Enrique Bradfield Jr., Michael Forret, Nestor German, Braxton Bragg, Patrick Reilly
November 20
Deadline for “non-tender” – where arbitration-eligible players are released instead of being offered a 2027 contract
December 1
Owner lockout of players likely to begin when Collective Bargaining Agreement begins at 11:59pm
December 6
Contemporary Baseball Era inductees announced, if any
December 7-9
MLB Winter Meetings (San Diego), specific scheduled events including draft lottery and Rule 5 draft likely to be postponed or cancelled due to lockout
January 8, 2027
Deadline for arbitration-eligible players to settle on 2027 contracts or exchange salary figures for a hearing (postponed if lockout ongoing)
January 15, 2027
International amateur signing period opens
January 19, 2027
BBWAA Hall of Fame Class of 2027 results announced
Mid-February, 2027
Spring training begins (major league portion postponed if lockout goes long enough)
March 25, 2027
Orioles Opening Day at Tampa Bay Rays (likely postponed if lockout goes long enough)
There was shocking NHL news this morning, as Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLennan announced that Dylan Larkin will not play tonight as the team faces the Chicago Blackhawks.
McLennan said interim GM Shawn Horcoff would address the situation and that the Red Wings would issue a statement. After the announcement, TSN hockey insider Pierre LeBrun said trade talks surrounding Larkin have escalated. While he noted a deal is not imminent, discussions have certainly escalated.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman added that he believes Detroit's plan is not to play the center until a trade is materialized. He later reiterated that report and added that the Red Wings are expected to provide a statement on the matter.
"There were talks in the last 24 hours between Larkin's camp and the Red Wings, both last night and again this morning, and what was communicated from the agents to Detroit was that Larkin feels he's given the team ample time since his trade request in May to get a deal done," said LeBrun. "Larkin has had enough, so decision was made he won't play tonight nor for foreseable future hoping a trade materializes. Fluid situation still. Red Wings circling back to teams with interest, etc., as talks escalate."
The Wild have been heavily linked to Larkin. With connections to Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy, and Brock Faber, Larkin would have plenty of familiarity with the Wild's lineup. When Larkin announced he had requested a trade, the Wild quickly became frontrunners.
The fit makes lots of sense. The Wild want to add a top-six center, and Larkin's style of play fits the Wild's. Larkin could form a strong one-two punch with Joel Eriksson Ek. Larkin is a solid two-way center, but with the Wild, he could be asked to focus more offensively while Eriksson Ek continues his stellar two-way play.
This season, Larkin has scored two goals and six points in 10 games, averaging 21:41 of ice time. Larkin was stripped of the captaincy before the season started and missed the first few games while recovering from an injury.
The cost to trade for Larkin remains unknown, but many presume a deal could involve Danila Yurov and any of the Wild's upcoming first-round picks. There has also been speculation that the Wild's ability to land Larkin in a trade could impact Hughes' decision to re-sign in Minnesota.
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Charlotte Hornets forward Naz Reid talking with head coach Charles Lee during the second quarter of an eventual 97-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee said star forward Naz Reid was benched in the second half of a 97-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday because he “didn’t meet our standard” of play.
Reid is currently in the second season of a five-year, $125 million contract he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2025 before being traded to the Hornets in June.
“Unfortunately, Naz didn’t meet our standards in the first half and at halftime we made the decision that he wouldn’t play in the second half,” Lee said after the game. “But I look forward to him meeting those standards come next game.”
Charlotte Hornets’ Naz Reid shoots a free throw during an NBA game against the Detroit Pistons in Detroit on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The Hornets led 51-44 at the half, but were outscored 53-38 in the second half without Reid.
With less than five minutes in the first half, Reid looked confused when Lee appeared to communicate play signals.
Reid, who was talking with Hornets center Moussa Diabaté before Lee chimed in, seemed lost on the next possession.
He finished with seven points on 2-of-6 shooting in 13 minutes. Reid also had one block.
Naz Reid Benching: Watch the full clip below.
At 4:49 in the 2nd quarter, Naz appears to be explaining something to Moussa before Charles Lee steps in and shows Reid two different play signals. Was Naz explaining it incorrectly?
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee watches the game against the Washington Wizards on Monday, October 26, 2026, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. NBAE via Getty Images
In five games played for Charlotte, Reid is averaging 19.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
Reid, the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year, was a part of the trade that sent NBA All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves.
Charlotte Hornets center Naz Reid drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in Detroit. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In addition to Reid, the Hornets received a 2033 unprotected first-round pick and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), as well as first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030.
South Africa lead Australia by 40 runs with six wickets remaining
Ackerman out for 62 as Bavuma dismissed on 35 in Cape Town
South Africa reached the close against Australia in a perilous position at 140 for four in their second innings on the third day of the decisive third Test at Newlands, a lead of 40 runs with six wickets remaining.
Matthew Breetzke will resume on the fourth morning on 19 with batting partner Ryan Rickelton on eight as South Africa look to post a total that will trouble Australia batting last.
The hangovers and deliriousness from the Brewers’ first World Series title haven’t even subsided and other teams are ready to poach.
The Astros are targeting Milwaukee assistant general manager Matt Kleine to fill their vacant general manager opening, according to The Athletic.
He previously worked for the Astros before joining Milwaukee in 2007.
Brewers executive Matt Kleine. MLB
Kleine, who was 40 entering the season, has been with the Brewers for 20 seasons and earned a promotion to his current role on Nov. 1, 2023.
He worked his way up from associate scout and has held various roles during his two-decade tenure.
The team’s media guide states his current role focused on roster construction, transactions, finances, procedural compliance and overseeing salary arbitration, among other duties.
Kleine worked alongside general manager Matt Arnold and former Brewers general manager and current top Mets baseball executive David Stearns to build an NL power despite spending far less than other teams, particularly the Dodgers, who they swept in the NLCS this year.
The ability to build a strong team without an elite payroll could matter in Houston since owner Jim Crane is known for drawling lines when it comes to long-term extensions.
The Athletic reported that Kleine emerged as the favorite earlier this month from a field that also included White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield, former Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and former Phillies general manager Matt Klentak.
Houston Astros owner Jim Crane speaks at a press conference for pitcher Tatsuya Imai in Houston, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. AP
Kleine also appeared alongside Crane at the Houston Sports Fall of Fame event earlier this month.
Moving fast to hire a new top decision-maker is of the utmost importance considering the potential Dec. 1 lockout and that the person chosen will have to help land a new manager.
Should Kleine land the role, he’ll inherit a team that won the AL West with an 81-81 record but has not won a playoff game since 2023 and features an aging roster.
While Yordan Alvarez is a star, Jose Altuve is only getting older, questions linger about Carlos Correa and Jeremy Pena has one year left on his contract before entering free agency.
