It looks like Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has a big summer ahead. He’ll no doubt be monitoring the market for a second-line center and for another right-shot defenseman, but the Habs could use some depth and grit up front. While the Canadiens weren’t as outmatched physically in the last playoffs as they were by the Washington Capitals in the 2024-25 playoffs, it was still obvious that Montreal could use some sandpaper.
Josh Anderson showed he can bring that, but he’ll be entering the last year of his contract when the puck drops on the next season, and he’s already 32. Zach Bolduc could also step up in that department, but that might not be enough. However, there’s one player who will reportedly be a free agent on July 1 that Hughes should consider pursuing: A.J. Greer.
Of course, the fact that he was born and raised in Joliette doesn’t hurt, but it’s really his style of play that makes him an ideal target for the Canadiens. He’s 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, he’s got a big body, and he knows how to use it. In 2025-26, he landed 203 hits, and the season before, 222. He’s not just big, he plays like it as well, and if someone wants to drop the gloves, he’s not opposed to answering the bell. He’s not the best fighter, but he can handle himself.
Furthermore, he’s also found a bit of a scoring touch last season, putting up 32 points in 78 games, almost doubling his 2024-25 output, which stood at 17 points in 81 games. The increase in production might have been a one-off, or he could be coming into his own as a player; we won’t know until he skates in the next season.
Greer also has a Stanley Cup ring, acquired in his first season with the Florida Panthers, and that’s the kind of experience that can come in handy on a young team that includes only one Cup champion among its players (Alex Newhook). Last season, Greer only had an $850,000 cap hit, but given his performance, he’ll be looking for a significant raise. Thanks to Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild, who just gave Michael McCarron a six-year deal with a $3.3 million cap hit after a 17-point season (and a full no-move clause for the first three years), he could be looking for a lot of cash.
There’s no telling what his demands will be, but Hughes at least must throw his hat into the ring and make him an offer. After the Canadiens’ impressive run in the playoffs, and given the fact that he’s from Montreal, Greer may be willing to listen to join the team he used to come watch as a kid, even emptying his bank account once to attend a game when he only had $200 left…now he could fill it up nicely by actually playing in front of friends and family.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 08: Members of the Washington Nationals celebrate a win after the game between the Washington Nationals and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Monday, June 8, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Nationals issues finishing off sweeps have been well documented at this point. They will get another chance to finally bring out the broomsticks this afternoon. This has already been a great road trip, but getting the sweep would be the icing on the cake. A good road trip has the chance to become a great one.
Blake Butera has decided to give CJ Abrams an off day this afternoon. Abrams has rough numbers against Robbie Ray, so the Nats decided today was the right day to give him a breather. Nasim Nunez will take his place at shortstop and Jorbit Vivas will play second. Curtis Mead is at third. James Wood will DH, meaning Daylen Lile is in left, Jacob Young is in center and Dylan Crews is in right. Andres Chaparro will be at first with a lefty on the hill and Keibert Ruiz will be behind the dish. Foster Griffin is on the mound for the Nats.
The Giants are also making a few changes. Interestingly, Casey Schimitt moves from left field to shortstop, giving Willy Adames an off day. Victor Bericoto will get his first start of the series in left field. Matt Chapman will move up to the 3 spot against a left hander. Veteran Robbie Ray will be on the hill for the Giants.
Giants 6/10
C. Schmitt SS L. Arraez 2B M. Chapman 3B R. Devers 1B J. Hoo Lee RF B. Eldridge DH D. Susac C V. Bericoto LF J. Cox CF
The Nats are looking for a sweep, but will have to do it without their star shortstop, at least for the start of the game. This has already been a very good road trip, but has the chance to be a special one. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 05: Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, June 5, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nick Loggarakis/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants wrap up this three-game series against the Washington Nationals this afternoon at Oracle Park.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be left-hander Robbie Ray, who enters today’s game with a 4.12 ERA, 5.33 FIP, with 63 strikeouts to 36 walks in 67.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 18-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday, in which he allowed just two hits and five walks with four strikeouts in five innings.
He’ll be facing off against Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin, who enters today’s game with a 3.63 ERA, 4.84 FIP, with 69 strikeouts to 21 walks in 72 innings pitched. His last start was in the Nationals’ 14-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, in which he allowed one run on two hits with four strikeouts in five innings.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a dunk against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wouldn’t be a Lakers offseason if LeBron James’ name weren’t involved in a ton of rumors. The biggest difference is that this summer is the first time he’s entering the offseason as an unrestricted free agent since joining Los Angeles.
So, a decision by James will have to be made. He can either return to the Lakers, join another team, or retire.
We won’t know what he decides for a bit, and he’s made it clear he hasn’t made a choice. However, in Jake Fisher’s piece for The Stein Line, he mentioned that the most likely outcome is LeBron staying in LA. Although he did say other suitors are available, including the Golden State Warriors.
Staying with the Lakers is widely believed to be his preferred choice because he is so entrenched in Los Angeles now after eight seasons with the purple and gold. Yet league sources maintain that Golden State remains legitimately interested in adding LeBron to their Stephen Curry/Jimmy Butler/Draymond Green core coached by Steve Kerr … with the pitch presumed to include the idea that LeBron could commute from Los Angeles to some TBD degree without having to move his family.
As things currently stand, the Lakers make the most sense for being LeBron’s landing spot.
He is already entrenched here, and so is his family. Bronny also plays for the Lakers, and considering they’ve had back-to-back 50-win seasons, it makes basketball sense for him to remain and see if with a healthy Luka Dončić, they can make a run in the West.
The Warriors have reportedly had interest in LeBron for years, so the fact they’ll reach out again is far from a shock.
The basketball case for the Warriors being a better place for LeBron is much harder to make. Steph Curry is great, but old. Draymond Green is no spring chicken himself, and with Jimmy Butler likely out to start the year, they are currently primed to be a play-in team once again next season.
After these two teams, the next logical option for LeBron is Cleveland. But, with LeBron reportedly uninterested in taking a pay cut to return to the Cavs, it’s hard to imagine a better scenario for him than ending his career with the Lakers.
A lot can still change between now and the start of free agency, but as things currently stand, the Lakers are in a good spot if their goal is to bring back their All-Star and go on another run with their top three guys.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: Will Wagner #7 of the San Diego Padres hits a single during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Petco Park on June 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cincinnati Reds (32-34) at San Diego Padres (34-32), June 10, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
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May 25, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jonathan Pintaro (91) follows through on a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Mets are recalling right-hander Jonathan Pintaro from Triple-A Syracuse and optioning Joey Gerber, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the second game of their series against the Cardinals.
Pintaro, the Mets’ No. 20 prospect per MLB Pipeline, impressed during a brief stint with the big league club in May. In two appearances, the 28-year-old totaled 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and one walk while striking out three. Pintaro has been effective all year in Syracuse, with a 3.16 ERA over 31.1 innings pitched. But he’s made a notable step forward in terms of limiting free passes of late. Pintaro issued 12 walks in 25.2 innings (4.21 BB/9) to open the season in the minors. Since returning to Syracuse on May 26, Pintaro has issued just 1 walk in 5.2 innings (1.59 BB/9).
Gerber, an offseason signing, has recorded three outings at the major league level this season. The most recent came on Tuesday night against the Cardinals, when the 29-year-old right-hander allowed one run in two innings. Gerber went out to the mound to warm up for a third inning of work, but was removed with an apparent injury.
The Mets have also made an adjustment to their rotation. Christian Scott, who was originally supposed to start Wednesday night against the Cardinals, will instead start Thursday afternoon in the series finale. Austin Warren will be the opener on Wednesday night. Pintaro, who last pitched for Syracuse on Saturday night, could provide multiple innings in relief for the Mets.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the first overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft, and that will be the highlight of the occasion. Along with that No. 1 selection, Toronto also has the 60th pick in the draft, which will come in the second round.
This 60th overall pick comes from Toronto's Scott Laughton trade to the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings had the Buffalo Sabres' second-round pick from previous deals. And with the Sabres' elimination in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Maple Leafs fall to the 60th pick.
Looking at the different mock drafts and opinions of draft experts, there are a number of players that are projected to be selected around the 60th selection.
Vanhanen is coming off an excellent first year in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips. The Finnish 18-year-old was a top performer for the Silvertips all season long.
In the WHL regular season, he led his team in assists (66) and points (87). In addition to that production, he provided 21 goals on the year, too, tied for fourth on the team in that category. He scored more points than teammates Carter Bear, who was selected 13th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2025, and projected No. 1 pick for 2027, defenseman Landon DuPont.
Vanhanen's scoring touch didn't stop in the regular season. In the WHL playoffs, he finished with 24 points in 18 contests, finishing second on the team in scoring for the post-season, and in goals with 12 tallies.
He was a big piece to Everett winning its first-ever Ed Chynoweth Cup as champions of the WHL, along with the franchise's first trip to the Memorial Cup, which was in Kelowna, B.C., this year.
Vanhanen was strong yet again at the Memorial Cup, finishing second in the tournament in scoring with four goals and four assists for eight points in five games for the Silvertips.
The Silvertips weren't able to lift the holy grail above their heads, but they did advance to the final against the Kitchener Rangers, losing 6-2 in that contest.
Nonetheless, Vanhanen has proven to be one of the best players on a very successful team this past year, who finished atop the regular-season standings of the WHL, playoff champions, and Memorial Cup finalists.
With that, he also put up six assists in seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship for a Finland team that finished fourth in the competition.
Before joining the Silvertips last season, Vanhanen played junior hockey in Finland, representing HIFK's U-20 team. In 42 games in the 2024-25 campaign, Vanhanen scored 17 goals and 47 points. He also made five appearances for HIFK in Liiga, but didn't register a point among the pros.
Vanhanen is listed at 5-foot-11 by NHL Central Scouting and has been labelled as an excellent playmaker.
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If you came to this page looking for our Spurs vs. Knicks predictions, you've gone the wrong way, my friend. Because you see this article is designed to answer the hard-hitting question... who will be at the Knicks game tonight?
Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals marked the first time a championship game was held in Madison Square Garden since 1999 — and boy, did the celebs show out.
You had Spike Lee looking to strangle the refs after they missed Wemby's murder attempt, Timothee Chalamet left his main boo, Kylie Jenner, at home so he could bro out with Ben Stiller, and even POTUS Donald Trump decided "The World's Most Famous Arena" made for the perfect napping spot.
We know Trump won't be in attendance for tonight's pivotal Game 4, but there are still plenty of stylin', profilin', limousine-riding, jet-flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin' n' dealin' son of a guns that could make an appearance, according to Kalshi — one of our best prediction market apps.
Who will attend Game 4?
The locks
Win probability
Spike Lee
-10000
99%
Timothee Chalamet
-5000
98%
Ben Stiller
-5000
98%
Jason Bateman
-3225
97%
Patrick Ewing
-2380
96%
Tracy Morgan
-2380
96%
Fat Joe
-1560
94%
Tina Fey
-900
90%
Death, taxes, and the people listed above being at an NBA Finals game hosted by the New York Knicks. The real question here is, will Timothee be able to top his iconic Game 3 fit?
Comedians/actors Chris Rock and Adam Sandler top this part of the odds, but Kylie Jenner at 77% catches my eye. The famous celeb has seemingly been attached at the hip to her man, Chalamet, during the Knicks' playoff run.
However, a brand-specific event had her on the beaches of Turks and Caicos instead of courtside for Game 3. Must be nice... Depending on her availability, expect to see Kylie and Timothee back together once more in Game 4.
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Will Taylor Swift be at the Knicks game tonight?
Reports today indicate that Taylor Swift will attend tonight's Game 4. That's right, baby, T-Swift is making an appearance at her (rumored) wedding venue to cheer on her favorite NBA team as they look to go up 3-1 over San Antonio.
Will Zohran Mamdani be at the Knicks Game tonight?
Kalshi currently sees a 4% probability of New York's mayor making an appearance (+2400). While there are no indications he will make an appearance for Game 4, Mamdani delivered good news to the city of New York on Tuesday — confirming watch parties will return outside MSG tonight.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 30: Brady Singer #51 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park on May 30, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Have yourself a seat in a comfortable spot and take a deep, deep breath. Here at Red Reporter, we are about to dive into some Brady Singer stats, and you need to prep for those before reading.
Among the 128 MLB pitchers who have thrown at least 50 IP so far in 2026, Singer ranks dead last in HR/9 (2.78). That’s especially a problem when you factor in that his K-BB% of 8.9% ranks 108th of that group. His 23.6% HR/FB rate is also the highest in the sport, with none of those 127 other pitchers so much as crossing the 20.0% mark.
His 90.6 mph average fastball velocity ranks 3rd lowest among the 126 pitchers that have that data tracked this year. His 5.89 ERA ranks 12th, somehow…wait a second, there are a lot of Colorado Rockies pitchers ahead of him on that list. His xERA of 6.27 ranks 6th worst – again, with two Rockies ahead of him and one right behind him on that list.
His 6.79 FIP, though, is the single highest in the sport. It’s somehow vastly larger than Eric Lauer, who sits at 6.46 behind him. Unsurprisingly, his fWAR of -0.6 has been worsted only by one pitcher in the game, and that’s Chicago’s Jameson Taillon at -0.7.
It’s been simply a horror show season for Singer, the highest earning pitcher (and second highest earning player) on the 2026 Reds. On Wednesday afternoon in San Diego, he’ll get yet another chance to either vastly improve those overall numbers or, instead, rocket to the top of all the bad leaderboards in one fell swoop.
Cincinnati will be up against Padres starter Michael King, who is coming off a trio of extremely mediocre starts by the standards of anyone other than, say, Singer. He’s yielded 13 ER across 15.2 IP, with 4 dingers allowed in those outings, so perhaps it’s good that the Reds are catching him at this juncture.
First pitch is slated for 4:10 PM ET, so tune in early.
Game 4 is here as the Spurs and Knicks continue this iconic series. San Antonio avoided a potential sweep with a 115-111 win in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. Victor Wembanyama scored a game-high 35 points, while Jalen Brunson poured in 32. That was the Knicks first loss in 46 days and the two had a short turnaround with one day off ahead of Game 4. Let's take a look at my best bets for Game 4 after going 5-1 in Game 3. Game odds are via DraftKings. Best of luck!
Spurs at Knicks (-2.5): O/U 216.5
This NBA Finals is living up to the hype as every game has came down to the wire with lead changes and comebacks throughout. One thing that we haven't had yet that the NBA has so often is a blowout. The Knicks won by 10 and 1 point, whereas the Spurs by 4. I think a blowout come be coming tonight, but by who?
I have no idea. I lean the Spurs and think they even the series up, but I'd rather get value. I went under win margins and played the Spurs to win by 21 or more points at +1800 odds and the Knicks at +800. I also sprinkled Knicks -9.5 (+225) and Spurs -9.5 (+370), which are the safer options.
The first quarter was my only loss in Game 3, going Under 56.5 points by finishing with 55. Not only did Brunson and Wembanyama have chances to cash the Over in the final minute, the only points that were scored in that span was a Mitchell Robinson free throw. Go figure.
I am running it back on the first quarter Over as the Knicks want to run and struggled a tad in the opening frame with 42.1% from the field (8/19) and 25% from three (2/8). The Spurs, offensively, looked the best they have in the series, especially in the first quarter of Game 3. I will go Over 55.5 first quarter points one more time up to 56.5.
Through three games, OG Anunoby has been incredible. Anunoby averages 20.3 points per game and hit the Over on his points prop in all three games with 17, 17, then a series-high 28 points in Game 3. Coming off 28 points, I will fade Anunoby and sell high by going Under his 16.5 points line.
Outside of Brunson and Anunoby, the Knicks went 20-of-50 from the field (40%) and 7-of-25 from three (28%) in Game 3. I'd not only expect the role players to be better, but Karl-Anthony Towns to have an improved Game 4 after going Under every single of his props in Game 3.
With Towns failing to score a single point in the fourth quarter through three games mixed with Brunson's takeover ability, I'd expect those two to account for a majority of the usage and scoring tonight, including the fourth quarter to avoid going back to San Antonio tied 2-2.
Anunoby has steadily shot between 10 and 13 shots in the series and 18 total free throws. That's good usage for the third scorer on the team, but any given night, Anunoby could become the fourth or fifth leading scorer on this Knicks team. I will go Under 16.5 points down to 15.5
Pick: OG Anunoby Under 16.5 Points (1 unit)
Jalen Brunson O/U 9.5 Rebounds + Assists vs Spurs
Brunson had his second 30-point game of the series dropping 32 in Game 3's loss. Brunson had 25 shot attempts for a second-straight game and averages 27.0 for the series. On the other hand, his rebounds and assists haven't been as glamorous.
In Games 2 and 3, Brunson went Over his combo prop of 9.5 rebounds and assists finishing with 11 and 10. In the last two games, Brunson has averaged 10.0 rebound chances and 9.0 potential assists per game, so he converted over 50% of both his total rebounds and assists. That cannot be relied on, especially at the high scoring clip he's holding, not to mention Brunson's taken 17 free throws.
After two straight Overs on his combo rebounds and assists prop, I will go Under 9.5 for Brunson in Game 4. I'd play this down to 8.5 for +100 or better.
Pick: Jalen Brunson Under 9.5 Rebounds + Assists (1 unit)
De’Aaron Fox O/U 5.5 Assists vs. Knicks
De'Aaron Fox led Game 3 in assists with eight and tied teammate Stephon Castle with 14 potential assists. Castle finished with five assists and Fox eight. Victor Wembanyama even poured in six assists on 11 potential assists. So in short, the Spurs were moving the ball well in Game 3 as they had 28 assists to the Knicks' 18.
The tempo of Game 3 picked up, so naturally, that fit Fox's play style. Whether or not Game 4 is similar reminds to be seen, but I'd expect Fox's assist numbers to decrease. Fox had five assists in each of the first two NBA Finals games and at least five in 16 out of 19 playoff games (84.2%). Fox totaled six or more in 10 out of 19 (52.6%), so a sharp contrast in 32.4% when you're getting 5.5 opposed to 4.5.
Five assists is the most common number Fox has landed on and he's posted at least five in 10 straight games. However, as the series goes on and Dylan Harper continues to turn heads — I'd say Fox is due for a stinker in the assists column and a good candidate to sell high on for Game 4. I like Fox Under 5.5 assists and would aim for +100 odds or better.
Pick: De'Aaron Fox Under 5.5 Assists (1 unit)
Season Record: 174-142-1 (55%) +21.07 units NBA Finals Game 1 Record: 3-1 +2.59 units NBA Finals Game 2 Record: 2-3 -1.44 units NBA Finals Game 3 Record: 5-1 +4.20 units NBA Finals Current Record: 10-5 (66.6%) +5.25 units NBA Finals Future Pick: Series Over 5.5 Games (2 units at -170 odds)
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Suns guards Royce O’Neale (00) and Grayson Allen (8) high-five after a scoring run against the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
From the dawn of time we came and now, after a season that raised as many questions as it answered, we are finally here. The time of the Gathering is upon us. Until now, Royce and Grayson have coexisted as key veteran contributors off the Suns’ bench, bombing three-pointers in volume and providing experience, leadership, and consistency. Yet in the Dead Money era of Suns basketball, uncomfortable decisions must be made, as the Suns desperately seek flexibility this offseason. In the end: There can only be one.
Like the hordes of feral pigs rolling Mad Max style over the plains of Texas, the Phoenix Suns’ guard population has overrun the ecosystem. There are not enough minutes to feed the stable of hungry guards, each possessing qualities that warrant playing time and limitations that made fielding balanced rotations difficult for first-year coach Jordan Ott, who relied on running small line-ups in an attempt to field his best five. Saddled with the remnants of Bradley Beal’s time in Phoenix and a draft cupboard full of cobwebs and the echoes of regret, Phoenix is going to have to move someone if they wish to make any substantial changes to its current roster.
And change they must.
Phoenix exceeded their expected win total by nine games, buoyed by oversized performances from key players on undersized contracts. Ishbia has consistently stated that he remains committed to winning. The consensus outside the organization, from the media and fan base, seems to be coalescing around setting the bar for success at a top-six finish in the Western Conference and a competitive first-round playoff matchup.
Can Ishbia bank on Dillon Brooks being one of the best iso scorers in the league again? Is Collin Gillespie going to chase Suns’ history a second year in a row? Jordan Goodwin hit over half of his career total in threes this last season…is that a blip in time or a sign of things to come? While the 2025-26 season may go down in fan lore as a cult classic, the sequel could very well bomb if the shots don’t fall.
While attractive trade-machine deals are scarce when the Suns lack the assets to acquire a name that would charge the fanbase up, Grayson and Royce are both players who can bring back legitimate trade value relative to their expected contributions.
You can never have too many shooters, unless all of them are short and at best kind of mid on defense. Grayson or Royce’s value might be higher on another team with a different roster construction, say Orlando or Detroit. But the Suns made their hay off the three-point shot. Can they really afford to give up both Royce and Grayson, who this past season combined to account for 29% of the Suns’ regular season three-point attempts and 30% of their made three-pointers? How about if I mentioned Devin Booker’s three-point attempts dropped from 551 in 2024-25 to 370 in 2025-26, and that the only member of last year’s squad ahead of Grayson and Royce in those categories was Career Year Collin Gillespie (CYCG).
Opinions may vary, but going forward, I’m operating on the assumption that the Suns will not, and can not afford to, move both Grayson and Royce unless it was in a package for a potential All-Star, and I’m not talking Cam Johnson or Dean Wade. Cough Ja Cough. Until that trade materializes, the Suns need to leverage at least one of their valuable trade pieces to rebalance the roster. So, who should the Suns trade and who should the Suns keep?
Royce is a rock in the grade 5 rapids that has been the Suns’ past two seasons. While the KD Suns swirled down the pipes of inevitability, Royce finished the season shooting 40.6% from three on 5.9 attempts per game and backed it up the very next year on a revamped roster by shooting 40.8% on 6.7 attempts per game; both career highs. Royce gives you proven solutions in uncertain times, and he’s thrived during his tenure in Phoenix.
Not to be forgotten in evaluating Royce’s value to the Suns is his availability. When you’re starting in a $23.2 million Bradley-Beal-in-street-clothes-shaped hole, spending your money on players that play games becomes vital. Over his 9-year career, Royce has played in 70+ games 8 times, and in the lone season he didn’t reach 70, he played 69. The Suns can not afford to undervalue availability in the Dead Money Era. When you’re down 0-2 in the count, you can’t take a cut at a wild pitch.
Quick to dead the bull like a matador, a phrase lifted from Miguel’s classic song, accurately describes Royce’s defensive journey last season. He olay’d far too many ball handlers into the lane, and I’m not entirely convinced that his time at the four wasn’t spurred by trying to match him up with players he had a chance to stay in front of, especially as the Suns tried to switch five with the Oso-anchored bench unit. The whole league got the tape on the Suns, and ball handlers julienned them on the dribble drive, as Oso tried to block shots just out of his reach.
In addition to his aged reflexes, playing Royce meant sacrificing size at the four. Royce’s production on the offensive end made it impossible for Jordan Ott to find minutes for our young, Stretch Armstrong fours, without sacrificing win totals. Taking Royce out of the equation frees up minutes for Fleming and Dunn, which addresses the Suns’ lack of size with players already on the roster who are both on value contracts.
What could we gain by trading Royce? The rumor mill has been working overtime, but as John Voita noted in the case for trading Royce O’Neale, the first benefit of trading Royce O’Neale is cap flexibility. Trading his $10.9 million contract to a team that can take on extra cap space could free up the money we need to resign Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Mark Williams. Three players whose signing is said to be at the top of the Suns’ offseason priority list.
Another angle is to trade Royce in order to move up in the draft.
Gregory has shown a willingness to work his way up the draft order if there’s a player he wants. In what’s predicted to be a deep but thinning draft, as players withdraw for a payday at the college level, the Suns have signaled interest in trading up to possibly secure a first-round pick. However, even the most optimistic returns for Royce don’t stretch far past the early second round or late first round picks. It’s unlikely the Suns will scoop a day one contributor that late into the draft, so replacing Royce’s three-point production would have to come from players currently on the roster.
What’s the likelihood that the Suns will be able to cobble together an additional 212 three-pointers and 520 three-point attempts? Booker can take more threes, but with teams likely riding with the “take away Book” game plan, too many of those threes are the walk-up off the dribble shots, and to be blunt, Book’s not good at those. Or maybe the young forwards will be able to pick up the slack on shooting. Suns fans cry out for Rasheer Fleming, who shot the three at 40% on 130 attempts, almost exclusively on catch-and-shoots. Can he shoot four times that amount with increased minutes and still put them through at a high percentage? Are we expecting that many open corner threes?
The hard truth of trading Royce, especially as a solo asset, is that it’s not a move that makes the Suns better. They gain the flexibility to sign other important players you might lose to free agency. They free up playing time for the Suns’ young core, which would allow the Suns to play more size and field a better defense. At the same time, they’re losing a sizable chunk of their shooting, and if they run this roster back mostly, it’s still the same roster Vegas predicted would miss the playoffs before the three-point shooting boom pushed us into the Play-In tournament.
Are the Suns still a playoff team if their three-point shooting regresses? I’m not sure. The margin for error is razor-thin, with Gregory forced to spend the next four years trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents.
So, should we trade Grayson?
“Not so fast,” I yell in my best Lee Corso voice as I put on the Grayson Allen mascot head.
This team needs Grayson Allen. He’s developed into far more than a three-point specialist and defensive irritant. The mob has decided we need a point guard to free up Book, but no one knows where to get one. A healthy Grayson Allen could be exactly what this team needs. He handles the ball, he runs pick and roll, and he’s improved his playmaking.
There aren’t a lot of potential playmakers on this roster to pick from, and Book and Grayson have an undeniable chemistry. If the goal is continuity, bringing back one of the longest tenured players aligns with that mission, and Grayson Allen brings so much to this offense when he’s on the court. It’s just that it’s been a couple of years since he’s been healthy.
Grayson’s availability has plummeted with no signs of it bottoming out. It’s been a parade of knee and soft tissue issues. He’s in, he’s out, he’s in, he’s out, and as a result, production has fallen along with his availability.
Since his inaugural year on the Suns, where Grayson played 75 games, and shot a blistering, league leading 46% from three-point range, he’s followed up with 64 games in 2024-25 and 51 games in 2025-26, a season in which we saw his three-point percentage drop to 34.9. So, which Grayson Allen can the Suns expect in the 2026-27 season? Can they afford to add another question mark, even if it’s a verified hooper like Grayson?
Despite the recent health issues, it seems safe to say that Grayson still has value on the trade market. His $18 million would match salaries with a different level of player than you could get for Royce, and you’d be hard-pressed to find many trade machine proposals involving the Suns that don’t include Grayson. One of the more intriguing options that has surfaced is trading Grayson for Cam Johnson.
On the surface, it makes a lot of sense. Cam is a forward and, as a career 39% three-point shooter, would provide spacing without sacrificing size or the minutes of other guards. But if we zoom in for a closer look, Cam has the same availability issues as Grayson and doesn’t bring any of the playmaking that could move Book off-ball. He also brings the burden of an additional salary that would have to be accounted for, either by not bringing back one of our free agents or by trading Royce for a cheaper contract. We all miss the energy of the Suns’ four finals run, but this isn’t a move that brings that back.
In the end, it’s all a balancing act. No team is interested in giving us a good deal; when you gain over here, you lose over there. Yet in the Dead Money era, there can only be one.
It all boils down to three questions: What did we get from these guys that we can’t win without? How well is our roster positioned to replace those things? What value could we gain from trading them?
There’s quite a bit of overlap when comparing the two. Both players have a proven track record of being high-percentage three-point shooters from all over the arc. Both of them are veterans and decision makers. Both guys are continuity pieces who have played multiple seasons for the Suns alongside Devin Booker. Neither of them is going to be a great defender or fix our rebounding concerns. Neither of them has a solution to replace their production on the roster, or a clear trade upgrade that would provide support in a significant area of need. Their trade value lies in gaining cap flexibility and balancing the roster size, which could address our perimeter defense, rebounding concerns, and clear minutes for our young players.
Grayson provides more versatility and could be the key to unlocking Booker’s scoring. Royce is Mr. Consistent. He’ll be available, he’ll work that pump fake, he’ll get up a ton of three pointers, and knock them down around 40 percent of the time. I think we need that.
So much about the upcoming season is up in the air. Are we going to get a second round of oversized performances from Brooks, Gillespie, and Goodwin? Do we know what we have with Jalen Green? Even Booker left last season with question marks about whether he could still wear the number one headband on a championship team and questions about whether he was even playing the right position. We need more players without question marks. Allen has question marks. If you bring back Allen, you’re rolling the dice on his health. The Suns have lost that gamble too many times to hit the atm for another 100 dollars. Not when they owe 23 million in Bradley Beal support, and their fanbase wants designer bags on a dollar tree budget.
If there can only be one. It has to be Royce.
The Quickening empowers me!
– Connor MacLeod
– Royce O’Neale
Welcome to Tom Mildenberger, who is our newest contributor at Bright Side of the Sun!
SHEPTON MALLET , ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: A old, end-of-life scrap car is placed in a crusher as it is processed at Pylle Motor Spares and Metal Processing, a licensed scrap yard in Pylle, near Shepton Mallet on September 6, 2017 in Somerset, England The UK government recently announced that it is to ban the sale all new petrol and diesel powered cars and vans from 2040 amid public health fears posed by rising levels of nitrogen oxide. The move follows similar pledges in France and has seen a number of car manufacturers offering substantial savings or 'scrappage' deals on new cars if customers trade-in older more polluting cars. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Diamondbacks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
A.J. Puk and Carlos Santana are rehabbing in Reno. Lourdes Gurriel Jr recently started his rehab assignment at Salt River Fields. The team signed Max Kepler to a deal. The clock is ticking on all these players, and in the next couple of weeks, decisions will need to be made, regarding what to do with them. There’s really three separate levels at which these choices have to be executed. Let’s look at each in turn, and see where the Diamondbacks stand.
The 40-man roster
Gurriel is, at least, already on here. Having been placed only on the 10-day injured list, that saves his spot on the 40-man roster. But Puk and Santana are both on the 60-day IL. While a positive at the time, in that they no longer counted towards the 40-man roster, in order for them to be re-activated, a spot will have to be cleared on that. Kepler, similarly, is not on Arizona’s 40-man roster, because he is still serving out the end of his 80-game suspension for a failed drug test. But when that happens, the team will also need to find a spot, if they want to keep him. All told, that’s three 40-man spots Arizona probably needs to find.
Let’s exclude the current 26-man roster from consideration here, calling their spots on the 40-man roster secure for the time being. That leaves fourteen men. Nine of them are pitchers, three are position players, and there are two on the 10-day IL: Gurriel and catcher James McCann. The latter is out with a strained quad, which led to an IL placement on May 19. Might he be moved to the 60-day IL? Quads are tricky things, especially for catchers. However, he reportedly started facing a pitching machine and doing catching drills last week. Unless there’s a set-back, 60-daying McCann – sidelining him for at least another five weeks – seems excessive. Especially with Aramis Garcia as the backup catcher.
The three position players are Jose Fernandez, Tim Tawa and Tyler Locklear. The first two were on the active roster until just a few days ago. If they were going to be DFAd, it would probably have have happened when they were taken off it (on June 5th and 1st respectively). I think it’s interesting that Locklear wasn’t activated when he came off the IL, especially given Arizona’s struggles at 1B, where their production is among the worst in the majors. But he has been merely okay in Reno: his .786 OPS in 25 games through Monday is basically team average. Still, the team traded for him for a reason, and it seems unlikely they’d cut bait as yet.
My instinct is, there’s going to be a bit of a National German Chocolate Cake Day Massacre (you know I’ll be celebrating that one tomorrow) among the minor-league pitching staff. Below, I’ve ranked the nine pitchers from most secure to most at risk, in terms of whose 40-man roster spot is in jeopardy. Generally, starters preferred over relievers, age and current level of performance also taken into account. All stats through Monday.
Brandon Pfaadt. Despite his fall from grace, definitely not going anywhere.
Mitch Bratt. Performing very well – a 2.68 ERA in 10 Reno starts is stellar. Currently on the MiLB IL with back inflammation
Yilber Díaz. Best K-rate of anyone currently in Reno – 38 Ks in 27.2 IP – but as ever, the walks (19) are an issue. Future closer potential.
Dylan Ray. A starter, and a 4.82 ERA is reasonable. He’s also young for AAA, but is on the 7-day IL for the second time this season.
Kohl Drake. A 7.80 ERA isn’t great. But he’s a starting pitcher and a left-hander, two big reasons to keep him around.
Andrew Hoffmann. Prone to the meltdown. Allowed 19 ER in twenty outings: 12 ER came in just two of those. Walks too many, but improved recently.
Philip Abner. Well, he’s left-handed and quite young. But that horrendous outing vs. Washington won’t have done his chances any good.
Kade Strowd. A rough game against the Nationals, and almost as many walks as strikeouts in Reno. Also turns 29 in September. so limited upside.
Juan Burgos. Came from Seattle with Locklear in the Suarez trade, but seems to have struggled since.
The 26-man roster
The next problem is going to be finding slots for everyone on the active roster. Let’s start with Puk, since he’s the only pitcher among the quartet, and there is a fairly easy solution there. As mentioned previously, the top of the D-backs bullpen has been excellent so far. The latest arrival was Drey Jameson, who took Pfaadt’s spot after the starter was optioned to Reno. His appearance in the Washington series didn’t exactly inspire confidence, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks in an inning of work. Having only been recalled on the 6th, he seems the clear candidate to give up his spot for Puk.
On the position player side, LuJames Groover is the most obvious candidate for similar reasons, and will probably be going back down to Reno when Santana is available. It’s an infielder for an infielder, and with Santana being a switch-hitter, handedness isn’t particularly important. When Lourdes is ready, I’d not be surprised to see Adrian Del Castillo optioned out to Reno. I’ve a feeling the team may want to keep Gurriel off the field, given this is already his second IL stint of the year, and use him more as a DH. Del Castillo is a lefty though while Gurriel is a righty. If the team wants to remain balanced, and Gurriel is considered able to play the outfield, optioning Tommy Troy instead makes sense.
If that does happen, then making room for the final man would become relatively easy, with left-handed Del Castillo being replaced by left-handed Kepler, largely in the DH spot. So while the ordering may be uncertain, it looks as though Groover, Troy and Del Castillo will be the ones to give up their spots on the position player side, as and when necessary to make room for the returning players and new arrival.
The roles
I touched briefly on this above, mentioning whether Gurriel is going to keep playing the field, or become our primary DH. Given the problems with his legs, I would be inclined to keep him at DH where possible. While Gurriel has struggled at the plate this year (OPS+ just 66), he might have the best overall track record among the right-handed candidates there. The problem would be, DH starts vs. LHSP are going to be the minority. What do you do the rest of the time with a man who is earning $13 million this year, whether or not he plays?
That isn’t a particular problem with Kepler, who is likely earning little more than league minimum. If he doesn’t hit down in Reno – and there’s a non-zero chance of that – then the team can simply let him go, with no damage except to their reputation. Presuming that isn’t the case, and he joins the active roster, then he’ll likely get starts at DH against RHSP. Even with the low bar at 1B (the D-backs are dead last in OPS there, and it’s not close), it’s hard to see much time for Santana, except as a late-inning defensive replacement. I would not be surprised if he comes back, fails to hit and the D-backs release him before the trade deadline.
The most interesting situation will be Puk, and whether he’ll take over as closer from Paul Sewald. The latter has been almost perfect in save situation (15 of 16), but a FIP of 4.00 and a minuscule .137 BABIP suggests there may be a Paulpocalypse approaching. The latter is the third-lowest of the 360 pitchers with 20 IP this year. That might be good reason to transfer the closer’s mantle to A.J. as soon as possible, rather than continuing to roll the dice. But that’s what the poll below is for. How do you think the team should handle the closer’s situation when A.J. Puk returns? Make your selection below, and explain your decision in the comments.
Feb 19, 2026; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Reiver Sanmartin (48) poses during Photo Day at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Some day game roster moves: lefty reliever Reiver Sanmartin, who’d been placed on the 60-day IL with a right hip flexor strain back in Spring Training, has returned from his rehab assignment and is now on the active roster. To make space for him, the Giants needed to clear both a 40-man spot and a 26-man roster spot.
Outfielder Will Brennan became the 40-man roster casualty as the Giants designated the 28-year old outfielder for assignment. The “speedster” stole 0 bases in 11 games with the Giants and was just 2-for-23 at the plate with 0 walks and 3 strikeouts. I confess ignorance about the financial ramifications of his split contract. He would’ve earned $900,000 if he’d spent the whole year in the majors or $400,000 if he played the whole year in the minors, but if he goes unclaimed (as I suspect he will), does that mean the Giants are on the hook for the prorated portion of the $900,000, as that’s a major league salary and seemingly guaranteed? Or because it was a formally split one, does that mean he’s only guaranteed the prorated portion of $400,000 because that’s where he was located at the time of the DFA? or is there some Giants both optioned Tristan Beck back to Triple-A Sacramento and designated for assignment outfielder Will Brennan. The difference would be about $250,000 ($450,000 if the majors is guaranteed vs. $200,000 for the minors).
But enough about Will Brennan.
Tristan Beck was optioned to Triple-A to clear the requisite spot on the major league roster and as someone who was once a Beck booster I believe his time on the team has likely come to an end. In this latest callup, he had just two scoreless appearances out of 6 and a 7.88 ERA (4.73 FIP) in 8 innings of work. Just 3 strikeouts, too.
He never had a great fastball, but it averaged down around 94 as opposed to 95 and batters teed off on it pretty good, slugging 1.091 off of it on 10 batted balls out of 56 times it was thrown. He’s been a bit better in Triple-A this year (3.91 ERA in 23 IP with a 9.0 K/9), but at 30 years old, he’s definitely entered “fungible reliever” territory.
So now the Giants turn to Reiver Sanmartin as their third lefty reliever in the bullpen, slotted behind Erik Miller (4.19 ERA / 3.77 FIP) and Sam Hentges (1.92 / 4.92). His 4-year major league career prior to 2026 had been on the Reds exclusively, where he had a 5.66 ERA (4.45 FIP) in 84.1 innings pitched. He had an 8.22 ERA with the River Cats in 7.2 IP but 8 strikeouts against just 2 walks. He is not a velo arm. He’s a contact pitcher by arsenal, featuring a 92-94 mph sinker, high-spin slider, and a changeup. Firmly in the Scott Alexander or Joey Lucchesi mold. Obviously, there’s something in the Giants’ scouting that tells them this pitch-to-contact type of arm is effective, even if the results for the team hasn’t shown up. A reminder that that Giants are 22nd in K/9 (8.03) but 4th in groundball rate (45.2%) yet 22nd in ERA (4.47). From 2022-2025, they were 12th (8.67 K/9), 1st (47.5%), and 12th (3.96), respectively.
Sanmartin missed all of the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He made just one appearance in 2025, back on September 2nd.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 04: Ronald Acuna, Jr. (13) of the Atlanta Braves loses his bat after striking out during the Thursday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays on June 4, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The big advantage of having a blazing two-plus months and MLB’s best record? You can afford to ease off the gas here and there. The disadvantage? Your fans have to watch a team that sometimes eases off the gas. While I have no idea how long Ronald Acuña Jr. will actually be out as a result of his latest run-in with injury, it’s possible that it’s less than ten days and this is a precautionary, if warranted, Injured List placement:
Atlanta today also placed OF Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring and selected INF Rowdy Tellez to the major league roster. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated RHP Jhancarlos Lara for assignment.
This is Acuña’s second IL placement for a left hamstring issue this year. He previously missed about two weeks in May with a similar ailment. He had a .333 wOBA (111 wRC+) and a massive .380 xwOBA before his first IL stint, and then returned and posted a much more fortunate .390 wOBA (150 wRC+) with more or less the same inputs (.376 xwOBA). What will he do for his third act? Stay tuned, but it won’t start until at least ten days from now. On the season, he has 0.9 fWAR in 235 PAs, which is a pretty good rate for a player in general, but is well below what we’re used to from him — dragged down by his own defensive issues, and the lingering ball-in-play issues from April.
Taking Acuña’s spot on the active roster is Rowdy Tellez, a veteran of eight MLB seasons that signed a minor league deal with the Braves a week before Opening Day. Tellez has a career 98 wRC+ and 0.1 fWAR, which makes sense given that a league-average bat isn’t very useful if you aren’t providing any defensive value. He’s put up a 123 wRC+ in 207 PAs in Gwinnett. My main thought is: if Dominic Smith can be blessed with the bounty of the 2025 Braves and become a fan-favorite masher, why not Tellez? The answer? Well, he and Smith can’t both be in the lineup at the same time…
Part of the roster math here sees Jhancarlos Lara get DFAed. I have no real knowledge about Lara, but people used to talk about him as being exciting back in 2023, when he was striking out a million dudes as a starter in A-ball. Since then, he’s really fallen apart with ballooning walk rates and dwindling strikeout rates; even moving to a swingman and then a relief role didn’t salvage much. Lara was pitching out of the Double-A bullpen earlier this year and putting up ghastly numbers like an FIP and xFIP both in the 7.00s.
The real question, though: are you ready for more Eli White?
RICHMOND, VA - APRIL 26: Cesar Perdomo #57 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels pitches during the game between the Somerset Patriots and the Richmond Flying Squirrels at CarMax Park on Sunday, April 26, 2026 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matthew Mitrani/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Apologies for going a few days without roundups for the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates. Thankfully, Tuesday was a full day, with all seven teams in action, so there’s still lots to talk about!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
High-A Eugene LHP Luis De La Torre (No. 14 CPL) was named Pitcher of the Week in the Northwest League after a 12-strikeout performance last week. Congrats!
AAA Sacramento (38-24)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros) 5-4 Box score
What’s the pitching equivalent of “one to measure, two to rake?” Whatever it is, it’s a philosophy that LHP Matt Wilkinson apparently abides by. Wilkinson, acquired earlier this year in the Patrick Bailey trade, was promoted to AAA after just 9 games in AA. And in his AAA debut, he was unable to make it out of the 2nd inning.
But things went much, much better with his second take. The burly southpaw was sensational on Tuesday, striking out 9 Space Cowboys in 5 innings, while throwing 53 of 81 pitches for strikes. Tugboat gave up just 4 baserunners on the day: a pair of singles, a walk, and a hit batter.
Unfortunately — but kind of humorously — all 4 of those allowed baserunners were in succession. After Wilkinson retired the first 2 batters he faced, he gave up back-to-back singles, hit a batter, and then issued a 4-pitch, run-scoring walk. But after that? He retired 13 consecutive batters to finish his day, which included striking out the side in both the 2nd and 4th innings. And with that, Tugboat is off and motoring in AAA!
Matt Wilkinson was on cruise control after a busy first inning yesterday against Sugar Land. A season-high nine Ks in five innings of one-run work for Tugboat, retiring the final 13 batters that he faced. No footage of the ninth strikeout due to a broadcast issue. pic.twitter.com/gupBGcIBEs
— Giant Prospective (@giantprospectiv) June 10, 2026
Things went less well for the pair of pitchers on the 40-man roster who threw. Recently-optioned RHP Wilkin Ramos threw just 12 of 26 pitches for strikes while failing to get through an inning, allowing 2 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs, while recording 2 outs. RHP Ryan Walker got the save, but gave up 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run, with no strikeouts. Walker has been pitching quite well with Sacramento, where he has a 1.93 ERA, a 3.80 FIP, and just 3 walks in 9.1 innings … given how awful San Francisco’s bullpen is, I’m in favor of bringing him back … just not for the 9th inning.
A very boring day on offense. Designated hitter Will Brennan had the only multi-hit game, as he went 2-4 with a strikeout, but I think most Giants fans have seen enough to want Brennan to stay put as depth in AAA. He could be a roster casualty given that center fielder Jared Oliva (who went 1-5 with 2 strikeouts) will be coming off the 60-Day IL soon, and the Giants won’t need as much as outfield depth when Heliot Ramos and Harrison Bader get healthy. And as I write this, the news comes in that Brennan has been designated for assignment.
Catcher Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL) continues to look oh so comfortable at the level, and went 1-2 with a walk and a hit by pitch. In their recent ranking of the top prospects in the organization last week, Fangraphs noted that “there are people within the organization who think he’s the player most likely to emerge from the pile of upper-level catchers as the club’s starter.” The lefty is up to a 1.166 OPS and a 196 wRC+ through 21 games with the River Cats, and has done a tremendous job limiting strikeouts this year (he had a 27.4% strikeout rate across 4 levels last year, and just a 19.8% rate in AAA this season). I think we’ll see him make an MLB debut at some point this year, especially since Daniel Susac (No. 20 CPL) has been struggling on offense lately, Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) got optioned/demoted, and Eric Haase could be dealt at the deadline.
AA Richmond (37-20)
Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) 1-0 Box score
The Squirrels may have lost, but it was still perhaps the best game on the farm this year from a pitching standpoint. Richmond was truly and utterly sensational from the start of the game to the finish.
It began with the starter, LHP Cesar Perdomo. A week after having one of the best pitching performances of the year on the farm, Perdomo one-upped himself with what I feel quite confident calling the best pitching performance of the year for a Giants prospect. The 24-year old from Venezuela took down 7 shutout innings while throwing just 85 pitches, 65 of which went for strikes. In those 7 innings, Perdomo allowed just 1 batter to reach base, when he gave up a 3rd-inning single.
And the cherry on top? Of the 22 batters he faced, Perdomo struck out 13 of them!
HAVE A NIGHT, DOMO‼️
Cesar Perdomo has struck out 1⃣3⃣ batters tonight, tying a Flying Squirrels single-game record! pic.twitter.com/QG6CPOE5Bt
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 10, 2026
June has been sheer dominance for Perdomo, who in his last start pitched 6 shutout innings with 4 baserunners and 9 strikeouts. Perdomo’s numbers this year are phenomenal: he has a 3.35 ERA, a 2.45 FIP, and 68 strikeouts against just 18 walks in 53.2 innings. He’s also made huge strides: after striking out 8.3 batters per 9 innings in High-A a year ago, he’s all the way up to 11.4 in AA this season. Of the 39 Eastern League pitchers with at least 40 innings thrown this year, Perdomo is 3rd in strikeouts per 9, and 2nd in FIP (behind former teammate Joe Whitman in both cases). Just an incredible year.
The bullpen was awesome, too, if a little chaotic. LHP Jack Choate (No. 37 CPL) had the lone hiccup, but even it was kind of funny and impressive: he gave up the winning run in the 8th inning, despite not allowing a hit or a walk, and striking out 2 … but he hit a pair of batters and committed an error. RHP Ben Peterson, recently promoted to AA, struck out a pair in the 9th inning, while allowing a hit. He has a stunning 23 strikeouts in just 13 innings since getting promoted.
In all, Richmond pitchers had 17 strikeouts on the day, while allowing just 2 hits and 0 walks. They deserved better than to lose the game!
Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t help them. The Squirrels had just 6 hits, and 0 extra-base hits. Center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) led the way by going 2-4, as he continues to round into form. Davidson hit quite a rough patch there for a while, but has opened up June with a 7-game hitting streak, during which time he’s gone 12-30 with 5 home runs, 1 double, and just 4 strikeouts. That’s brought his OPS back to .814 and his wRC+ to 110.
Eugene was the lone member of the Giants Class-A teams that didn’t shine on the pitching front, but they still won, which made them first-half champions in the Northwest League. Still, there were some exciting things there. LHP Jacob Bresnahan (No. 11 CPL) is still trying to find a groove this year, after missing the start of the season with an injury. He wasn’t great in this game, as he allowed 4 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs in just 4.2 innings, but he did strike out 6 batters. With a 4.80 ERA and a 5.05 FIP, it’s looking very unlikely that Bresnahan makes it 3 straight seasons with Pitcher of the Year honors in his league, but the 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings are a reminder as to why the Giants are so high on the southpaw, who turns 21 later this month. There’s a lot to like there, even if right now he’s issuing too many walks and giving up too many dingers.
RHP Ubert Mejias pitched quite well in relief, striking out 4 batters in 3 innings, while throwing 31 of 42 pitches for strikes. Impressive! Mejias did allow 4 hits though (all singles), which tagged him for a run. It was nice to see Mejias settle in, as he got absolutely rocked in his High-A season debut (this was his 2nd appearance at the level this year, after 1 appearance in 2025). As a result of that, his numbers look hilarious with Eugene this year: in 5 innings, he’s allowed 10 hits, 3 homers, and 6 earned runs … but has 8 strikeouts and 0 walks.
The offense was more solid than exceptional, but Eugene’s quartet of highly-ranked prospects, who fittingly fill the top spots in the order, all had good days. Right fielder Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL) went 1-4 with a strikeout, but drew a walk and bopped his 20th double of the season. Last year’s 3rd-round pick has an .808 OPS and a 124 wRC+ in his debut full season. Shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) also went 1-4 with a double, while also getting hit by a pitch and not striking out. Level has adjusted well to High-A so far, as he’s hit safely in all 7 games with the Emeralds, going 11-31 with 4 doubles and just 5 strikeouts (he hasn’t drawn a walk yet, but he’s been hit 3 times). Notably, Level played shortstop with High-A for the first time on Tuesday, as he had only played second base in his opening series with the team. It seems as though the Giants will switch he and Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) on a series by series basis, rather than a game-by-game one.
Speaking of which, Kilen played second for the first time this year, and went 1-3 with a double and a walk. The reigning 1st-round pick is now up to a .774 OPS and a 111 wRC+, with just a 13.3% strikeout rate. Rounding things out was center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL), who had a mixed bag of a day … the powerful righty hit 1-4 and struck out 3 times, but also blasted a 2-run home run, showing off his sensational power. The 2024 4th-rounder has a .790 OPS and a 113 wRC+ on the year, but also has a 30.6% strikeout rate.
San Jose Giants beat the Stockton Ports (A’s) 7-1 Box score
And now we return to our regularly scheduled pitching dominance. And this one began with someone who I would argue is the top pitching prospect in the organization: RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL).
It’s been an up-and-down season for Martinez, following his breakout in 2025. But Tuesday was firmly in the “up” category, as the 21-year old Venezuelan breezed through 5 innings, giving up just 2 singles, a walk, and an unearned run, while striking out 8 batters. After a tough May, Martinez has started June on a dominant foot, as his 1st start of the month featured 9 strikeouts in just 4 innings, with an unearned run.
There’s no denying the magic in Martinez’s arm. He’s now up to 67 strikeouts in 41.1 innings, resulting in a 14.6 K/9 mark that ranks 3rd out of the 419 Minor League pitchers with at least 40 innings thrown this year.
It hasn’t been a flawless year for Martinez, who is allowing 5.0 walks per 9 innings, has seen his ground ball rate drop by more than 10 percentage points (to 38.6%), and has both an ERA and an FIP that begin with a 4 (4.57 and 4.05, respectively). But my goodness is he exciting.
The bullpen was great, too. More than great, actually; perfect! RHP Mauricio Estrella tossed 3 perfect innings while striking out 4 batters, while RHP Trey Seeley K’d all 3 batters that he faced. Estrella’s overall numbers have been more good than great, as he has a 3.74 ERA and a 3.62 FIP, but the recently-turned 22 year old has phenomenal walk and strikeout numbers: 42 and 7, respectively, in 33.2 innings.
As for Seeley, it was his debut at Low-A, and what a debut it was! The 23-year old was a 14th-round pick in last year’s draft, and pitched 7 times in the Complex League with middling results this year, before moving to San Jose. Perhaps he just needed to face better competition!
The pitching stole the show, but the hitting was good, too. Catcher Junior Barajas had a really nice game, hitting 2-5 with a solo home run and a strikeout.
A left-handed hitter taken in the 11th round last year, Barajas earned high praises entering the year, and started the season red hot, but he’d really cooled off lately, posting just a .573 OPS in May after a .940 OPS in April. Most notably, he bashed 4 home runs in his first 8 professional games … then went 31 straight games without a dinger. Until Tuesday! The cold stretch tanked his numbers to a .741 OPS and an 83 wRC+, but there’s still so much potential in his bat, to go along with some awesome defense and leadership behind the dish.
Two other hitters had great games: third baseman Dario Reynoso continued his stellar season by hitting 2-3 with 2 stolen bases, while also striking out once, while designated hitter Jeremiah Jenkins went 1-2 with a double, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Reynoso, a right-handed hitter from the Dominican Republic who recently turned 21, has a sensational 1.003 OPS and a 148 wRC+, with 9 stolen bases in 11 attempts, though he’s still striking out at a 30.5% clip. Jenkins, a lefty from Maine who was taken in the 14th-round of the 2024 draft and just turned 23, has an .828 OPS and a 113 wRC+, but is striking out 33.1% of the time.
Arizona Complex League (12-15)
ACL Giants lost to the ACL Athletics 12-2 (7 innings) Box score
Well, this was just a bad game, and there’s no reason to dwell on it. The ACL Giants sent 5 pitchers to the mound, and all 5 struggled, en route to 15 hits and 12 runs in just 6 innings of action. RHPs Brayan Narvaez and Matt Dunaway, the latter of which is on a rehab assignment from High-A, struggled the most, as each gave up 3 runs in just an inning of work, without a strikeout.
The offense wasn’t all that much better. Designated hitter Yulian Barreto had a funny game in which he didn’t register an official at-bat, as he had a sacrifice fly and was hit by a pitch twice. Second baseman Jose Ramos had the best day, as he went 2-4, while shortstop Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) went 1-3, but was caught stealing and committed an error.
Moving on…
Dominican Summer League Black (4-3)
DSL Giants beat the DSL Red Sox Blue 15-5 (7 innings) Box score
Well, this is a much better game. The pitching wasn’t great, with the best performance coming from RHP Frank Quiroz. A 19-year old from the Dominican Republic who was a late addition to this year’s international signing class, Quiroz got rocked in his first 2 games of the season. But this one went much better, as he tossed a no-hit inning with 2 strikeouts, though he also walked 2.
The offense, on the other hand, was awesome, with 14 hits in 7 innings, half of which went for extra bases. Left fielder Franco Willias went 2-4 with a 3-run home run, a walk, a stolen base and a strikeout, while third baseman Boris Sarduy hit 1-3 with a 2-run blast and a walk. Both players are having exceptional seasons: Willias, a 21-year old, has a 1.029 OPS and a 119 wRC+, though it’s his third pass through the DSL (he performed well in the first two attempts); Sarduy, a 19-year old, has a 1.111 OPS and a 176 wRC+. It’s very early, but after really struggling with strikeouts in his first two years, Sarduy is K’ing much less frequently this season.
Designated hitter Keiberg Camacaro hit 2-4 with a double, a walk, and 2 stolen bases, while catcher Diego Alambarrio went 2-3 with a pair of doubles and a walk. Camacaro, who is only 19 but is in his fourth season in the DSL, is easily having his best year, with an .899 OPS, a 125 wRC+, 6 stolen bases in 8 attempts, and, like Sarduy, a dramatically reduced strikeout rate. Alambarrio, who just turned 18, has a .950 OPS and a 127 wRC+; he was great in his debut last year, but only played 9 games.
Dominican Summer League Orange (5-2)
DSL Giants Orange beat the DSL Mariners 8-7 Box score
Another rough pitching performance, though RHP Gerson Rivero stood out in earning the save, as he struck out 2 batters in a scoreless inning, with a hit allowed. Rivero, who recently turned 18, was part of last year’s signing class but this was his professional debut. Quite an introduction!
The stars were on offense, though, and there were a trio of them. Third baseman Albert Jimenez had the biggest day, as he went 2-4 with a 3-run home run, a sacrifice fly, and 5 runs batter in. Jimenez, a 19-year old righty, entered the season with 7 career home runs in 81 DSL games over two seasons. This year? He already has 5 home runs in just 7 games, giving him a 1.580 OPS and a 218 wRC+.
Shortstop Yeison Oviedo hit 3-5 with 2 doubles and 2 strikeouts, while right fielder Yoxander Benitez went 3-4 with a walk. Oviedo, an 18-year old in his second season, has a 1.071 OPS and a 163 wRC+ after struggling in his debut last year; Benitez, a 19-year old in his third season, has a 1.029 OPS and a 160 wRC+ as he looks to prove himself following two below-average years.
Home run tracker
8 — Dakota Jordan — [High-A] 5 — Junior Barajas — [Low-A] 5 — Albert Jimenez — [DSL] 1 — Franco Willias — [DSL] 1 — Boris Sarduy — [DSL]
Wednesday schedule
Sacramento: 5:05 p.m. PT at Sugar Lang (SP: John Michael Bertrand) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Harrisburg (SP: Greg Farone) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Spokane (SP: Niko Mazza) San Jose: 7:05 p.m. PT at Stockton (SP: Jordan Gottesman)
Arber Xhekaj vs A J Greer Dec 28, 2024Arber Xhekaj vs A.J. Greer from the Montreal Canadiens at Florida Panthers game on Dec 28, 2024. via https://www.hockeyfights.com
