The biggest question, or questions, surrounding the Florida Panthers following the NHL Draft has been their two vacancies at the goaltending position.
Late Monday night, Florida addressed one of those spots, acquiring Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2028 third-round pick.
The 26-year-old is a restricted free agent, so Florida still needs to negotiate a new deal with him, but he fits in the mold of the team’s recent goaltending targets, measuring in at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds.
“Akira is a talented and athletic goaltender who has shown poise in high-pressure moments,” Panthers GM Bill Zito said in a statement released by the team. “We are excited to welcome him to our organization.”
Florida has done well in recent years targeting netminders who would find success when playing behind the Cats’ physical, defensive systems.
It helps to have a Goaltending Excellence Department led by a Hall of Fame goalie in Roberto Luongo.
But the work for Zito and Luongo is not done.
Florida is still in the market for a starting goalie, and it continues to sound like they will address that need via the trade market.
There are a pair of veteran goaltenders who fit Florida’s size appeal who they have looked into, according to a source. They are New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom and Los Angeles Kings tendy Darcy Kuemper.
Markstrom, 36, has two years remaining on his current deal that carries an average annual value (AAV) of $6 million, while Kuemper, also 36, is entering the final year of his deal that pays a $5.25 AAV, according to PuckPedia.
Additionally, Markstrom’s contract carries a 20-team no-trade list while Kuemper’s carries a 10-team no-trade list.
Either way, the Panthers will have to come up with a package to extract their goalie of choice if that’s the path they choose, while still making the financials work under the cap.
It will also be interesting to see what kind of price a goalie of either of their caliber and experience would demand after seeing Schmid cost the Cats a third-rounder.
There are still still a plethora of goaltending options in free agency, and the Panthers have done their due diligence on several of the pending free agents.
As it stands, though, it sounds like the team’s desired route is the trade market.
We’ll see how things continue to develop as we get close to July 1.
Photo caption: Apr 5, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Rasmus Andersson #4 of the Vegas Golden Knights controls the puck as Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes pursues the play during the first period of Game Six of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
This is a weird year when it comes to NHL free agency. A flurry of trades ahead of the draft led to some key players finding new homes and signing new contracts, while the restricted free agent market (headlined by Jason Robertson) continues to play out. That led to a free agent group that doesn’t exactly blow you away, but there are some major talent upgrades out there for teams trying to make the next step.
Free agency opens at 9 a.m. ET on July 1, and there remains a prevailing feeling that we could be waiting to see some of the big names leave the board, with teams still trying to work some major trades. We know Winnipeg is still listening to offers on Connor Hellebuyck, Zach Werenski could be on the move, and the Montreal Canadiens are making a lot of noise when it comes to potential deals that will get them to the next level. Those dominoes could impact free agency and open the market for some teams to swoop in and snag some of the mid-level talent.
Now let’s dive into the Top 10 players on the market this year.
No. 1: Rasmus Andersson, D, Vegas Golden Knights
Andersson was a trade-deadline acquisition from the Calgary Flames intended as a playoff push move, and it worked, as the 29-year-old defenseman helped propel the Golden Knights all the way to the Stanley Cup. A true difference-maker as a top-pairing player, Vegas won’t be able to retain him without some major salary cap gymnastics. That could happen, but all signs point to him moving on in free agency.
Andersson is a do-everything defenseman who is able to play at home, as well as be a part of the offense with 47 points in the 2025-26 season. He might not be quite offensively minded enough to quarterback a power play, but he is still a top-tier defenseman who could command in the $10M AAV range in this market.
No. 2: John Carlson, D, Carolina Hurricanes
We need to list the Canes here because that’s who technically owns his rights at the moment. Carolina made a late trade towards the end of the 2026 NHL Draft to get Carlson’s rights from the Anaheim Ducks, in an effort to negotiate with him for a few days before free agency opens.
It doesn’t matter that Carlson is 36-years-old, because he is still playing elite hockey. Registering 70 points in 71 games last year, he remains a Top 10 defender in the entire NHL. Obviously Carlson would take the Stanley Cup Champions to an entirely new level, but there are reports that it’s unlikely he’ll remain in Carolina, with Carlson’s camp seeking a short-term deal in the $10M AAV range. He’s definitely worth that money, but the Canes are unlikely to put all their eggs in that basket, especially when they have greater needs than adding to their defense depth.
No. 3: Anthony Mantha, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
I’m buying in on Mantha being better than his inconsistent stats show, are far more akin to the 64 points he scored last year with the Penguins, than the 44 point guy he was in 2023-24. We have a player who seems to flourish inside a system that actually needs him, where he struggles to be an impact on a back line without a lot of talent around him.
That means I think Mantha could be a great pickup for a team on the playoff bubble needing a talent injection. I also don’t think he’s going to command a bank-breaking sum in free agency because his career inconsistency will scare some teams off.
No. 4: Jacob Trouba, D, Anaheim Ducks
There are going to be some major growing pains on defense for the Ducks moving forward after having dealt John Carlson, and now losing Trouba in free agency.
Jacob Trouba is a solid second-line defenseman on most teams in the National Hockey League. I don’t buy he’s a top-line guy, but that’s still not bad for a team who needs a veteran presence on their line and someone who can be a sneaky breakaway threat with his long passing ability.
No. 5: Stuart Skinner, G, Edmonton Oilers
We are at a dearth of talent in the NHL when it comes to goaltenders, and the fact Stuart Skinner makes this list at No. 5 shows that. There are so many times Skinner seems like he’s ready to take the jump and then he falters when given the opportunity.
At this point he sits as a low-level starter or a premium backup. That’s about where his value is, and when teams are still trying to work out what happens with Sergei Bobrovsky and Connor Hellebuyck, there is some value here.
No. 6 Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals
Ovi is still deciding whether he’ll retire, re-sign with the Capitals for one more year, or potentially make the jump to free agency. I’m not buying for a second that the 40-year-old is a good fit, basically anywhere in the league at this point. Kudos for a phenomenal career, but at this point Ovechkin is only good for cherry picking goals, which is the role he had in Washington these past two seasons.
Outside of that, he’s a defensive liability, not much of a passer, and well, he’s 40. That’s basically the only issue. Still, he might be enough for a terrible team to sell some tickets, but I have no idea why he wouldn’t just retire a hero at this point rather than try to have a sad run elsewhere.
No. 7: Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
I don’t think a lot of people fully comprehend what a down season Bob had last year. Too much is being made of the Panthers’ injuries, and the goaltender’s agents are trying to sell him as still being a multi-year, $4.5M AAV talent when he just really wasn’t last season — but kudos to them for trying.
In 2025-26, we saw Bob finish with an .877 save percentage and allowing 3.07 goals per game. I don’t think he’s magically going to become elite again, and rather this is the beginning of a decline.
No. 8: Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
Jenner is really not an amazing player, but this is a profoundly weak market at center — especially ones with tenure. A team needing a third or fourth line guy will probably take advantage of adding to their depth here. The one thing that Jenner does offer is faceoff ability, which a lot of teams are lacking right now.
No. 9: Viktor Arvidsson, LW, Boston Bruins
Arvidsson is a jack of one trade: He’s great at skating fast and putting shots on net. That very narrow skillset allows him to put up some decent numbers, but he’s not really a great piece to build around. If a team has a specific plan for how to utilize him on a line then he could be a decent pickup, but the worry is that someone will sign him assuming they’re getting a 20 goal scorer without understanding how he achieved that.
No. 10: Mason Marchment, F, Columbus Blue Jackets
There was some talk about Marchment being a potential trade during the NHL Draft, but evidently, he was too important for CBJ to part ways with, hoping they could negotiate a deal. He’s a decent enough third-line player to have some teams intrigued, but doesn’t bring a lot to the table.
Being an all-glove, no-hit player pretty much bars you from superstardom, but even then, some manage to earn a place among baseball legend by doing the right thing at the right time. Bucky Dent’s seasonal OPS never climbed above .700 during his Yankees tenure, yet his name is rightfully etched into club history because his three-run home run basically won the 1978 AL pennant and sent the Red Sox packing. However, players like Dent are the exception. Most of them fade into obscurity — and that’s far from the worst outcome. Some are seen as emblematic of their team’s incompetence, their names becoming shorthand for a fallow era. Unfortunately, that was the fate that met Jerry Kenney.
Born in St. Louis, Jerry Kenney was raised in Beloit, Wisconsin, and excelled at basketball as a high schooler, earning All-State honors in his senior year. However, Kenney chose to focus on baseball as a profession, and in the 1963-64 offseason he was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He rose through the minor league ranks quickly, earning a promotion to the bigs in 1967, and proceeded to hit .310/.412/.397 over 74 plate appearances.
Kenney’s budding career was interrupted with a mandatory stint in the Navy, as the Vietnam War was ongoing. Fortunately, what was originally a two-year stint was shortened, and it was reported in November of 1968 that Kenney would be able to return for the 1969 season. As fate would have it, one Mickey Mantle announced his retirement on March 1, 1969. The narrative-hungry media were quick to name Kenney, who had split his time between center field and shortstop in the minors, as the heir to Mantle. Talk about setting reasonable expectations.
Suffice it to say that Kenney could not quite live up to Mantle’s standards. In his four seasons with the Yankees after he returned from military service, Kenney never hit more than four homers, and his batting average never reached the .270 mark. However, with the benefit of modern metrics, we can now see that Kenney was far more talented than the back of his baseball card would suggest. While his offensive metrics are generally mediocre, Kenney did manage to post a 103 wRC+ over 120 games in 1971, on the strength of a 14.2-percent walk rate and a .368 OBP. On the other side of the ball, the numbers paint a picture of a truly elite defender. From 1969-72, Kenney recorded 42 Fielding Runs Above Average — this despite only playing in 440 of 642 team games. On the strength of his glove, he was able to post 6.8 WAR over that period despite some terrible years with the stick. He wasn’t a star by any means, but he was a solid role player, and far from a scrub.
However, the Yankees, presumably not fully appreciative of Kenney’s defensive contributions, decided after 1972 that they had had enough of him. That offseason, Kenney was dealt to Cleveland as part of a four-player package for Graig Nettles.
OK, I know this article should be reserved for giving Kenney his deserved flowers, but this trade is so absurd that I feel compelled to spill some digital ink on it. So the Yankees dealt four players — Kenney, Charlie Spikes, John Ellis, and Rusty Torres — to Cleveland, getting back Nettles and Jerry Moses. What in the world was Cleveland thinking? Nettles had already established himself as one of the best players in the league, posting a whopping 16.2 WAR from 1970-72. And yes, I realize that WAR only meant Cold or Vietnam back in those days, but even when you account for his relatively low batting averages, Nettles still socked 71 homers over that period while playing Hall-of-Fame-caliber defense at the hot corner. It truly boggles the mind. I mean, imagine Cleveland trading Jose Ramirez to the Yankees in the 2020-21 offseason for a package of Tyler Wade, Kyle Higashioka, Mike Tauchman, and Estevan Florial. The resulting riot would have surpassed the Cuyahoga River Fire of 1969 as the most notable Cleveland disaster.
Phew. Okay, back to celebrating Kenney.
Kenney’s MLB career ended unceremoniously with just five games played with Cleveland in 1973. After his retirement, his name, along with Horace Clarke’s, became synonymous with the Yankees’ postseason drought that stretched from 1965 to 1975.
However, Kenney (and Clarke) deserve to be remembered as much more. Though it may be true that the Yankees never sniffed the playoffs during Kenney’s tenure, it’s not like he alone was the reason; far from it. As shown above, Kenney himself was a solid, if a bit one-dimensional, piece — had he found himself on more talented Yankees squads, he might have carved a name for himself with some postseason heroics, like Bucky Dent. It just so happened that his tenure coincided with a dip in the Yankees’ fortunes, and the retirement of a franchise legend in Mantle coinciding with the start of his career only served to inflate the hype around him — intensifying the scorn of fans when he inevitably failed to live up to it.
So, on this day, rather than disparaging Kenney for who he wasn’t, let’s celebrate Kenney for who he was — an elite defender, a solid role player, and a Yankee. Happy Birthday, Jerry!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 29: AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during game one of a doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park on May 29, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Braves 5-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The AJ Smith-Shawver news that Braves president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos shared last week in an interview with BravesVision is coming exactly to fruition.
The right-handed pitcher is set to officially begin his rehab assignment Tuesday night with Single-A Augusta, the Braves announced Tuesday morning.
Smith-Shawver’s first rehab start is slated for a 7:05 p.m. EDT game time with Augusta hosting the Salem RidgeYaks. You can watch the livestream if you have an MLB.TV subscription.
RHP AJ Smith-Shawver tonight begins a rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Augusta. LHP Danny Young’s rehab assignment has been transferred to Triple-A Gwinnett.
It’s approaching 13 months since Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgery last June. His last appearance was May 29 and the injury derailed what seemed to be a potential breakout season as he had a 3.86 ERA in nine appearances with 42 strikeouts, 21 walks and four home runs allowed in 44 1/3 innings.
The early returns from Smith-Shawver’s build-up work ahead of the rehab assignment officially beginning have been promising, Anthopoulos said.
“He was throwing the ball really well in Florida. He looked good,” Anthopoulos said. ” … Obviously it’s a max 30-day rehab assignment. We don’t necessarily always go all that way. We’ll see how he looks and he’ll build up.”
Braves President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos shares an update on AJ Smith-Shawver and his first rehab start: pic.twitter.com/TtrE3SFC2l
With Spencer Strider still sidelined for the foreseeable future and Bryce Elder coming hurtling back down to earth, more rotation options would be a big help for a Braves team which is all of a sudden clinging to a 3.5-game division lead.
Hurston Waldrep’s return over the weekend was Step 1. It seems Smith-Shawver will be Step 2. And with Spencer Schwellenbach heading to Florida soon for a potential return in August or September, per MLB.com, it would seem he will be Step 3.
Now to see if the Braves bridge that further over the next month with a trade acquisition ahead of the deadline.
“Look, it’s going to be one of those things where we’ll take the five best guys, the guys that are hot,” Anthopoulos said.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 26: Zak Kent #57 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 26, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nats are in a seemingly endless search for quality MLB relievers, so every time I see an interesting one, I will write about it. After the disaster against the Phillies, the Nats decided to recall Zak Kent. He has fired two scoreless innings since coming back, and has a unique arsenal I want to talk about.
Kent is one of Paul Toboni’s many waiver claims since taking the job. As we know by now, these claims are dart throws and most of these guys are on waivers for a reason. With Kent, he has been on the waiver wire multiple times. He was DFA’d by the Twins in late April, and then picked up by the Nats. Kent made a few outings for the Nats in May before being sent down.
Zak Kent pitched for the Twins earlier this season now he is going to face them. Kent is a Virginia native with a solid cutter/slider mix https://t.co/CoHa7cxR7E
As mentioned here, Kent is a Virginia native, and he went to school at VMI. This is a bit of a homecoming for him, so that may add motivation for him. However, staying in the big leagues should be enough motivation. To stay in the big leagues, you need to perform, and that is what Kent has done since coming back.
Zak Kent has a very unique arsenal that could make him a sneaky piece. The biggest thing that stands out with Kent is how much he can spin the baseball. Among pitchers who have thrown at least 100 pitches, Kent has the third highest spin rate on his fastball. He also gets a ton of spin on his slider and curveball.
In my opinion, Kent’s 4-seam fastball is actually more of a hard cutter. If you look at the pitch plot, his heater has a ton of cut and not a lot of ride. Even when you watch the pitch, you can see the ball cutting away from hitters.
His fastball/cutter is not very hard, averaging 92.4 MPH on the season. However, since joining the Nats, his average fastball velocity is up to 93.4. Kent’s slider is over a tick harder as well, and his curveball is almost 3 MPH faster. It is not an arsenal that will overpower hitters, but a 93 MPH cutter is nothing to yawn at.
In my opinion, Kent’s two breaking balls are his best pitches. This season, he has a whiff rate over 35% on both his curve and his slider. Kent is a natural supinator, meaning he gets a lot of natural cut on the ball. That means he can access a lot of different breaking ball shapes. I wonder if the Nats try to add a sweeper here. This year he has one pitch that was listed as a sweeper and had three last year, so it seems like they are trying it out.
Since coming back, Kent has been leaning into those breaking balls. It is only two outings, but he is throwing both his curve and slider over 30% of the time. We have seen Andrew Alvarez have success throwing his fastball, slider and curve in about equal doses, and I think Kent can follow that formula.
I actually found a piece from early 2025 where Kent dove into his arsenal. Interestingly, he did call his fastball a cutter, despite the fact Baseball Savant classifies it as a 4-seamer. There are some cool details about his mix in this piece.
In Kent’s 6 outings with the Nats, his ERA of 4.70 is unremarkable. However, he has a FIP of 3.49 and an xERA of 2.11. Stuff models do not really like Kent’s cut fastball, but they do grade out his breaking balls as above average. His command is nothing special, so those breaking balls are really the key for him.
I do not think Kent will be a dominant closer or even some great high leverage guy. However, I do think he has some interesting traits that could make him a solid big league reliever. Right now, the Nats need as many solid big league relievers as possible. If Kent can provide them with that, he would be a godsend.
He has only made two outings since coming back, but he has put up two zeroes and has not allowed any hits. In this bullpen, it does not take much to rise up the trust ladder. If Zak Kent has a couple more of these types of outings, he will be tasked with closing games before too long. I am not sure how well that would go, but it is great to see a reliever throwing the ball well and doing actually interesting things.
CHICAGO - 1988: Tony Fernandez of the Toronto Blue Jays fields during an MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois during the 1988 season. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tony Fernandez, widely regarded as the greatest shortstop in Blue Jays history, would have celebrated his 64th birthday today.
Fernandez still leads the franchise in games played (1,450) and hits (1,583), among other records. He also set single-season marks for singles (161) and triples (17), and is second among position players in bWAR with 37.5, narrowly behind Jose Bautista (38.4). This changes every time there is a tweak to the formula of bWAR. He was first a couple of years ago.
Fernandez had four separate stints in Toronto. He debuted at age 21 in 1983 and played shortstop until 1990, when he and Fred McGriff were dealt to San Diego for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter—a franchise-altering trade.
In 1993, after Dick Schofield’s early-May injury, the Jays tried Alfredo Griffin and Domingo Cedeno at shortstop, but neither stuck. Toronto traded with the Mets to bring Tony back, and he delivered: hitting .306/.361/.442 in 94 games and helping the Jays win another World Series.
After the season, Fernandez signed with the Reds as a free agent. He also played for the Yankees and Cleveland before rejoining the Blue Jays before 1998 as a utility infielder. In 1998, he played extensively at second and third base. By 1999, he was the starting third baseman and posted a terrific .328/.427/.449 slash line, though his defense drew some criticism.
In 2000, he played in Japan, then signed with the Brewers for 2001. After two months, Milwaukee released him, and Toronto brought him back once more; he finished his career as a Blue Jay, mostly as a pinch hitter and DH.
Tony won four Gold Gloves and was an exceptionally athletic shortstop—always one of my favorites. His leaping jump-spin throws and sidearm deliveries to first base were iconic, and I tried to copy them as a kid. He was usually smiling on the bench, though he didn’t say much to the media. Maybe it was a language thing, or perhaps Dominican players found the press unapproachable—or vice versa.
He was the smoothest shortstop I’ve ever watched play.
Fernandez is in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. In a fairer world, he’d be in Cooperstown too.
Tony passed away in February 2020, and his loss hit me harder than I expected.
Bud Black turns 69 today.
The Blue Jays traded for Black on September 16, 1990, when they were one game behind the Red Sox in the AL East.
He debuted in relief on September 18 and got the win, pulling the Jays into a tie for first. Black’s first start was a loss, but he started the second-to-last game, earned another win, and kept Toronto in the race. However, a loss on the final day (while Boston won) left Toronto two games back.
After the season, Black signed with the Giants as a free agent.
Across 15 MLB seasons, Black posted a 121-116 record and a 3.84 ERA over 398 games (296 starts).
After his playing days, Black became a pitching coach, then managed the Padresin 2007. He managed the Rockies to start 2025 but was let go after 40 games (7-33 start). He’s now an advisor with the Padres.
Pat Venditte turns 41 today.
Venditte pitched eight games for the Blue Jays in 2016.
He’s famous for pitching with both hands—earning the headline “amphibious pitcher,” which is even rarer than ambidextrous.
Venditte appeared in 61 big-league games over five seasons with six teams.
The start of NHL free agency is just about here. With this, we will soon see several signings around the NHL as teams look to boost their rosters.
Now, the Pittsburgh Penguins are being viewed as a prime potential fit for one of the NHL's top pending UFAs.
In a recent article for Daily Faceoff, Matt Larkin named the Penguins as the top potential landing spot for Columbus Blue Jackets UFA forward Mason Marchment.
"Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has openly stated his biggest regret as an NHL GM was trading away Marchment from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dubas could right that wrong by bringing Marchment to Pittsburgh," Larkin wrote.
It would make a lot of sense for the Penguins to target Marchment if he hits the free agent market on July 1. He could be a great replacement for fellow pending UFA forward Anthony Mantha if he does not re-sign with Pittsburgh.
If the Penguins signed Marchment, he could slot well in their top six and would give them another option to work with on their power play. In 68 games during this past season split between the Seattle Kraken and Blue Jackets, he posted 19 goals, 26 assists, 45 points, and 84 hits. Adding this kind of offensive production and grit could be big for the Penguins.
Welcome to the start of a new NBA calendar year as the free agency period officially starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 30.
Players, agents and front office decision-makers all have their phones on alert waiting for calls and text messages about what the future holds. Die-hard fans are refreshing their social media feeds every few minutes for the latest update.
There's already been major deals that have broken the internet.
It's pandemonium. Trades are happening. Players will be signing new deals. Some have opted out and chose to test the market.
Here's where our NBA experts think the biggest names in free agency will end up.
LeBron James
Scooby Axson: If the NBA wants to turn into the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers, then James should sign with Golden State. The most logical answer would be for him to stay put in L.A. and ride out the rest of his career there. Stranger things have happened, but with the league's most dynamic scorer by his side and complementary role players, there is no reason why a title run can't be realistic.
Mark Giannotto: The Lakers will be able to pay LeBron James more than any other team and he can continue playing with his son there. The flirtation with the Golden State Warriors feels more like posturing for a better deal from the Lakers at this point.
Lorenzo Reyes: Lakers. At this stage of his career, it’s tough to see James wearing an entirely new jersey, as much as the Warriors noise does make sense. I also don’t know that a Golden State team with James is any closer to competing for a title than the Lakers are. James’ family is in Los Angeles. I get the sense he wants to make it work there, even if he needs to take less.
Marcus D. Smith: I know there are a bunch of legitimate talks about LeBron leaving the Lakers, maybe for the Warriors. James playing alongside Stephen Curry feels like something that you'd force on NBA 2K. We had a glimpse of their tandem in the 2024 Olympics. It was magical but I think that's where the dream ends. LeBron spent the last eight years in Los Angeles. At age 41, I couldn't imagine him leaving.
Jalen Duren
Scooby Axson: Duren would be going into NBA purgatory if he wants to sign with Sacramento. His value is the most in Detroit, so both sides need to stop acting like babies and get a deal done. Unless the Pistons are so worried about Duren's no-show in the playoffs that they wouldn't dare give him max dollars for which he is eligible to receive.
Mark Giannotto: Though Duren (and more likely, his agent) are sending signals he and the Pistons are at an impasse and he's taking meetings with other teams, Detroit has leverage since Duren is a restricted free agent. This may be a drawn-out process and it could get uncomfortable given Duren's lackluster postseason performance, but the guess here is the negotiation ends with Duren resigning with the Pistons.
Lorenzo Reyes: Lakers. They’ve needed a defensive-minded center for some time, and are also trying to impress Luka Dončić, who will be watching what L.A. does to remain competitive. Duren is an excellent fit, and won’t be relied upon to create his own shot.
Marcus D. Smith: Multiple reports are saying Jalen Duren wants to be a Sacramento King. It's rare that guys actually want to play for the Kings, let alone be in Sacramento. Maybe Duren sees something brewing in California's capital, or he knows that they'll pay him. The deal could likely include Domantas Sabonis, who the Kings have been looking to sell on, so there's a possibility that Duren lands in the 916.
James Harden
Scooby Axson: Harden's best bet is to stay in Cleveland, as his championship window is closing every year that he gets bounced from the playoffs. His $42.3 million player option will be his last big payday, so he can opt out and come back to the team on a "hometown discount" and try for another run at a ring.
Mark Giannotto: Harden is going to stay with the Cavaliers on a more team-friendly deal.
Lorenzo Reyes: Cavaliers. He may have declined his player option, but the move here was always going to be for the two sides to work toward a multi-year deal. There’s little doubt around this one.
Marcus D. Smith: James Harden will be back in Cleveland. He declined his $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season, but it's likely that he'll still be back in Cleveland next season. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Cavs and Harden are working through a multi-year deal. Harden expressed desire to play in Cleveland back in May, after being eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals by the New York Knicks.
Norman Powell
Scooby Axson: Miami makes the most sense, but we are talking about the NBA where logic rarely rules the day. Powell is 33 years old and coming off leading the Heat in scoring. That won't happen again no matter where he goes, and a team with cap space like the Washington Wizards or Los Angeles Clippers would fulfill Powell's monetary demands.
Mark Giannotto: The Chicago Bulls are one of the few NBA teams with legitimate salary cap space to spend this offseason and they lack a starting shooting guard. Pencil in Powell to the Bulls.
Lorenzo Reyes: Bulls. Chicago has cap space it needs to use, and Powell could provide a solid, veteran presence (and much-needed shooting) to a roster that lacks both.
Marcus D. Smith: Norman Powell is likely on his way out of Miami since they can't pay him $25 to 30 million, but the Chicago Bulls can. I'd say he follows the money, plus he's a natural fit for what the Bulls lack: veteran leadership and shooting.
Tobias Harris
Scooby Axson: Any team that is looking for a solid veteran presence would be in line for Harris' service. The Celtics aren't changing their philosophy, so they will continue to jack up 3-pointers at every turn, and Harris, with a green light to shoot when he gets in the game, would fit right in.
Mark Giannotto: Where Harris ends up will likely depend on whether he's wants to take the midlevel exception to remain with the Pistons or play for a contender. Here's guessing he's willing to take a discount to play with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, who could use another floor spacer.
Lorenzo Reyes: Celtics. Assuming Jaylen Brown is moved, Boston will need a forward who can shoot and score. Harris has had spurts of excellent play and stretches when he disappears. Boston would give him the green light to shoot, but he’d need to deliver consistency for coach Joe Mazzulla.
Marcus D. Smith: Tobias Harris is a solid veteran, role player who can score in timely fashion. I feel like he'd stay on an Eastern Conference team for sure. I'm stuck between the Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics. Since Harris has always played meaningful basketball, I'd lean towards the Celtics.
Jonathan Kuminga
Scooby Axson: This is a tough one, as Kuminga can be an enigma at times. He wants to get paid like the star that he isn't, and can certainly act that way when things go awry. A team like the Brooklyn Nets, where expectations are nil, would be a good fit, as they have a mix of proven scorers on the roster that would go nicely with his skill set.
Mark Giannotto: The Clippers want to get younger and move Kawhi Leonard. Kuminga could slot into Leonard's role immediately, but they won't have enough money to get it done without trading Leonard.
Lorenzo Reyes: Kings. They’re going in on something of a rebuild, and Kuminga is looking for a larger role — and a significant payday. Sacramento will need to get creative to make it work with the cap, but this lets Kuminga come in and be a first or second option.
Marcus D. Smith: I'd say somewhere like Denver, but Jonathan Kuminga wants to be a star or a key contributor wherever he goes, not just a role player. Kuminga could have a chance to prove himself on the Los Angeles Clippers, if they deal Kawhi Leonard.
Rui Hachimura
Scooby Axson: If Hachimura wants to win, he will stay with the Lakers. If he is looking for a big payday other than what Los Angeles can offer him, he will sign with the first team that offers him a lucrative contract. His consistent play is too much for Los Angeles to give up on, so he stays where he is at for now.
Mark Giannotto: This might be Hachimura's best chance at a payday the rest of his NBA career and staying with the Lakers would likely mean taking a little less to help their salary cap situation. I bet he takes the money and the Brooklyn Nets have plenty to spend.
Lorenzo Reyes: Nets. Brooklyn has several young players who are still finding their way, and a veteran scorer who can space the floor is a huge need.
Marcus D. Smith: Rui Hachimura was a huge part of the Lakers' playoff success. LA can make the money work and that includes re-signing LeBron James. He's expressed desire to stay in LA since he was traded from the Washington Wizards. I expect Hachimura to return to the Lakers.
Anfernee Simons
Scooby Axson: Simons will be on the floor for one reason and one reason only: to put the ball in the hoop. Other times, it's basically five-on-four, so Washington can use another outside threat, and if the Heat come up with some money, he would be a nice addition down in South Beach.
Mark Giannotto: The Miami Heat need more shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo with Tyler Herro gone. Simons would be a nice fit in South Beach.
Lorenzo Reyes: Heat. Miami desperately needs shooting and can mask Simons’ defensive weaknesses. He’s also from Central Florida and played high school hoops in Bradenton, so a homecoming would be a seamless fit.
Marcus D. Smith: Anfernee Simons to the Heat is ideal. He's dynamic on offense as a scorer and can provide a spark. He has the capability to provide spacing, which will be much needed for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Mitchell Robinson
Scooby Axson: The Knicks play in an arena that underwent a $1 billion facelift, have an owner with unlimited funds, and don't want to pay Robinson, who was a key cog in their championship run. So Robinson needs to make his way to the left coast and join either the Lakers or the Clippers. The Lakers would be the most beneficial.
Mark Giannotto: If Robinson wants a starting role, he'll go to the Nets. If he wants to chase another title, he'll go to the Lakers. I bet he stays in New York and makes the move to Brooklyn.
Lorenzo Reyes: Nets. They have the cap space, they’re close enough to his current home, and they would give him a starter’s role. And since the Knicks are avoiding the second apron, it’s almost certain Robinson will play elsewhere.
Marcus D. Smith: Mitchell Robinson to the Nets has a ring to it. After winning a chip with the Knicks, you're practically forever royalty in New York. It makes sense for Robinson to play the game he loves, in a city he loves, even if its not exactly the same team that he developed that love with.
Peyton Watson
Scooby Axson: Not sure why Denver wouldn't match any deal that comes Watson's way, and if they don't, the Chicago Bulls should be waiting there with open arms. A sign-and-trade makes the most sense here, as it will satisfy needs on both sides.
Mark Giannotto: The Nuggets should match whatever deal Watson is offered and move other players to make it work. His value as a 3-and-D wing blossomed this past season.
Lorenzo Reyes: Spurs. This feels like such a great fit for both. Watson is a defensive player whom San Antonio coaches would love. His improvement on offense also allows him help the Spurs with their shot creation.
Marcus D. Smith: Peyton Watson has improved offensively, but it's his defensive capabilities that should really intrigue teams. The Lakers have needed more two-way wings, they get that in Watson. Watson would be a nice fit after seemingly losing Marcus Smart. Watson to the Lakers.
HOOVER, AL - MAY 23: Infielder Chris Rembert #2 of the Auburn Tigers follows through on a swing during the SEC Baseball Tournament Semifinal game between Auburn Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks on May 23, 2026, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
2026 MLB Draft Preview: Chris Rembert scouting report.
The 2026 is less than two weeks away — the first round kicks off on July 11, 2026 — so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangers’ first round pick is at #16, their second round pick is at #54, and their third round pick is at #89.
Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at Auburn second baseman Chris Rembert.
Chris Rembert is a 6′, 209 lb. righthanded hitting second baseman at Auburn University. Rembert graduated high school in Pensacola, Florida, in 2024, and was not drafted. A redshirt sophomore, Rembert turns 21 in early July.
Rembert’s hit tool is his carrying tool. He has good contact ability and bat speed, though his swing is such that he doesn’t lift the ball much, resulting in a lot of ground balls and line drives. He puts up strong exit velocity numbers to go with his contact ability, with Keith Law noting that he can handle velocity. However, his power numbers are lacking due to the fact he doesn’t tend to get lift on the balls he makes hard contact on.
Rembert has mostly played second base for Auburn, and is considered average there at best. There is some question as to whether he will have the range to stick at second base going forward — however, he could play third base or a corner outfield spot if necessary. His speed is considered more or less average.
Rembert was impressive as a freshman, slashing .344/.467/.555 with 37 walks against 36 Ks in 260 plate appearances, with 10 home runs. He saw a drop in walks and power in 2026, with just four home runs in 265 plate appearances, with 19 walks against 39 Ks. He put up a .343/.399/.459 slash line.
Rembert checks quite a few Rangers boxes for a college hitter — strong contact rates, strong exit velocities, quality performance in a strong conference. He regressed from his freshman season, which likely means he’ll be picked in the second or third round, rather than being a potential first round pick, as seemed to be the case after his terrific 2025 season.
He’s another one of these guys whose future as a professional will hinge on his ability to get more value out of his hard contact, rather than there being a bunch of hard hit 6-3s. His inability to play up the middle other than at second base is an issue, but being able to potentially play the corners gives him more value as a potential bench option, even if he doesn’t hit for enough power to be a regular.
Jun 7, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron (1) fields and throws to first for an out in Game 2 of the Super Regional between Alabama and St. John's at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
This is my least likely preview. Before the season Baseball America projected Lebron in the top 5 and even mentioned his potential to be #1 overall. Lebron responded to this lofty praise with easily his worst season yet. This included an eye popping 18 errors (that would be a roughly 50 error pace in MLB) and a batting average 55 points lower than either of his first 2 College seasons. Will he fall all the way to 36? Probably not because there’s Gold Glove potential and easy power, but I also wouldn’t rule it out as there are equal questions about the bat and there’s those 18 errors.
Lebron is a 21 year old, 6’2″ 190lbs right handed hitter from the University of Alabama with a pretty flashy tool set: Plus speed and arm, above average to plus power and above average to plus fielding and a somewhat questionable hit tool with plus bat speed and an approach to swinging Austin Powers would be overwhelmed by. As a defender Lebron brings great range and a cannon arm. The errors are a combo of the range getting him into the occasional error, but also that great arm’s accuracy can go a bit haywire at times. His tools should allow him to stay at Short, he’ll just need to clean up the throws and focus if he can clean up those items he could end up being a plus or better defender. His speed has also made him a big threat on the basepaths and he loves stealing bases. He’s been caught stealing TWICE in 3 years. Yeah, that’ll play.
Now onto his hitting and swing. Honestly, I love the swing. A small leg kick, he maintains his eye level pretty quiet setup and that plus bat speed. No changes needed in my opinion. The pitch recognition though is another story. Lebron loves to swing and he will expand the zone. He also struggles with breaking/off speed pitches. He doesn’t miss often on Fastballs, but he misses almost half of everything else. His raw power is probably double-plus, but game power gets held back a bit by the pitch recognition and contact issues. This feels like a guy the late 2000’s front office would kill for, it also seems like the type of hitter this team has had no luck developing. In the video below you get a great mix of game action showing a little of all the good thing Lebron can do.
I have very strong doubts Lebron gets anywhere vaguely close to 36. The tools are just too exciting and someone in the top 20 is probably going to roll the dice. Some Player Development Director will be convinced he can fix the issues. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Lebron dominates in A ball. His tools are probably going to be enough to overwhelm some talent there and, as you can see in the video, he feasts on high Fastballs, which he’ll see plenty of along with breaking pitches still a bit raw and similar to College. Double-A will be where he may first get exposed. But, man, that power in Reading’s homer prone park would be blast to watch, even if he only hits the Mendoza line with a 40% K rate.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: Griffin Canning #17 of the San Diego Padres looks on during the third inning against the New York Mets at Petco Park on June 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/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 Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Griffin Canning returned to the mound for the San Diego Padres in their series opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Monday night and there is no doubt that most of the Friar Faithful, if not all, were wondering how long he would last and how many runs he would allow before being removed from the game. To his credit, Canning lasted 4.1 innings and allowed two runs, which was enough to put the Padres in position to win, but the offense failed to produce, and the end result was a 3-2 walk-off win for the Cubs.
Canning has struggled throughout his time in San Diego and holds a 1-5 record with an atrocious 7.09 ERA. That is definitely not what any team wants to see from a member of its starting rotation. The fact that he remains in the rotation and continues to get starts is evidence of just how bad the Padres rotation is at this time. Walker Buehler has been arguably the most reliable starter of the group with Michael King lacking consistency and Randy Vasquez floundering with his recent performances. Lucas Giolito, German Marquez and Matt Waldron all joined Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove on the injured list and Yu Darvish was lost for the season before it ever began.
The hope is that Pivetta and Musgrove can return some time after the All-Star break, but how long after is unknown. Whether it is their returns or a trade deadline acquisition, Canning is squarely on the chopping block based on his numbers this season. His best start came on May 25 against the Philadelphia Phillies when he threw 6.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits with two of those hits being home runs. Canning followed that performance with three consecutive five-inning outings but has not gone longer than 4.1 innings in the three outings since.
According to the results of this week’s Padres Reacts Survey on Gaslamp Ball, the Friar Faithful who participated in the poll have seen enough from Canning and are ready to let him go. Giolito’s recent addition to the injured list may have spared him for now, but if the Padres get any rotation help, Canning will be the first to pack his bags if the fans get their way.
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WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Xavier Neyens #9 of the Houston Astros scores on a single hit by Chase Call during the seventh inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Check out some prospects who have been hot in the system!
HITTERS:
Xavier Neyens – Neyens, the Astros first round pick last year, has put together a strong season so far. This week the 19-year-old hit .400 with 3 home runs and 9 walks in just 5 games. Overall this season, Neyens has a .900 OPS with 12 home runs for the Woodpeckers.
Albert Fermin – Fermin got the biggest international bonus the Astros issued out this year and is off to a really strong start in the Dominican Summer League. This week the 17-year-old hit .333 with a double, 2 home runs, 8 runs batted in and 3 stolen bases. He is hitting .368 this season.
Lucas Spence – Spence, who got off to a slow start, has really turned it on and earned a promotion to Triple-A. This week the outfielder hit .421 with 3 doubles, a home run, 7 runs batted in and a stolen bases. He’s hitting .370 over 22 games in the month of June.
Arturo Flores – Flores is a young catcher down in Fayetteville but has been doing some damage with the bat this year. After earning a spot on the list last week, he repeats here with another big week. The 20-year-old hit .438 with 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in. He has 11 home runs and a .851 OPS overall.
PITCHERS:
Ethan Pecko – After a slower start to the year, Pecko has been one of the best pitchers in minor league baseball in the month of June. This week the right-hander tossed 6 innings allowing 1 run while striking out 4. In June he has a 0.75 ERA allowing just 2 runs on 13 hits over 24 innings for Sugar Land.
Brett Gillis – Gillis has had some strong starts this season and after having his best start last week, he bested that outing this week. In his start for the Hooks, the right-hander tossed 7 scoreless innings allowing 3 hits while striking out 7. He has a 3.45 ERA this season in Double-A.
Bryce Mayer – Mayer has been solid this year and this week he turned in his longest outing of the season tossing 5.2 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts in his start for the Hooks. Mayer has a 3.89 ERA with 62 strikeouts over 44 innings this season in Double-A.
Jackson Nezuh– Nezuh has done well racking up the strikeouts this season, though the ERA has been a little higher. This week he was great allowing just 1 hit and 1 run over 5 innings while striking out 9. Overall this season, the right-hander has 64 strikeouts over 53.1 innings.
There are some weeks where identifying a hitter of the week is a chore, and the best of the best still feels like scraping the bottom of the barrel. Other times, there are a dearth of options and it sucks to pass over someone who had one hell of a week because someone else had an even better one. This week was the latter. Nick Lorusso hit .300/.391/.750 with three doubles and two homers. John Bay hit .333/.455/.778 with two doubles and two homers. Nick Morabito hit .364/.417/.455 with two doubles and four stolen bases. Yonatan Henriquez hit .417/.417/.542 with three doubles and three stolen bases. Yonny Hernandez hit .571/.591/.762 with four doubles and two stolen bases.
Of those players, JT Benson really turned it up a notch. Benson has been on a tear since getting signed out of the indies earlier this year, but this week was especially impressive. I normally don’t like selecting players who didn’t play a “full week” (five or six games), but it’s hard to deny what he did this week; he had a 301 wRC+!
Offense is only about half of the equation of a player, and looking at Benson’s defense, he’s solid. The 24-year-old outfielder has average-to-above average speed and not only knows how to use it on the basepaths- where he has successfully stolen 13 total bases in 19 attempts this year and 33 in 38 attempts last season in the indies- but taps into it in the outfield as well. He is smooth out there, able to read the ball off the bat well, has a quick catch and release, and a strong arm. He has the combination of defensive skills that allow him to play all three outfield positions well enough, but he profiles best at this point in either left or right field for now due to a lack of reps and experience in center.
Daviel Hurtado
Week: 1 G (1 GS), 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (Single-A)
Daviel Hurtado had a solid week. Against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, he had a solid quality start, allowing one run in six innings pitched, scattering a pair of hits, walking one batter, and striking out six. I wouldn’t necessarily classify that kind of start as exceptional, but given the rest of the pickings for this week among the Mets minor league pitchers, that was the best individual performance. Jonah Tong is the only other starting pitcher who had a quality start, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in six innings. Everyone else? Not so much.
The 18-year-old Hurtado was signed by the Mets on January 15, 2023 after the young left-hander left Cuba. A native of Havana, he had been involved in baseball in the city for years, playing on the U-12 and U-15 Cuban National Baseball Teams. In 2022, he and his parents took up residency in the Dominican Republic and the left-hander began the vetting process by Major League Baseball to establish his eligibility to sign with an MLB club. The process went smoothly and quickly and he was granted his eligibility to sign that year, but given that most clubs had spent the majority of their international bonus pool monies, Hurtado and his representatives elected to wait to sign until 2023, giving him a better opportunity to sell his talent and maximize his signing bonus. Having agreed to an informal agreement in the months prior, Hurtado signed with the Mets and the two sides came to official terms, agreeing to a $640,000 signing bonus.
The left-hander was assigned to the Dominican Summer League for the 2023 season, but did not actually pitch, as Tommy John surgery kept him off the mound all season. He finally made his professional debut in 2024 with the FCL Mets and posted a 6.32 ERA in 15.2 innings, allowing 15 hits, walking 10, and striking out 23. He remained in the Florida Complex League to begin the 2025 season, but was promoted to Single-A St. Lucie after roughly a month, allowing a single earned run with the FCL Mets in 19.0 innings over 5 starts, scattering 8 hits, walking 5, and striking out 25. He remained with the St. Lucie Mets for the rest of the season and posted a 2.70 ERA in 46.2 innings over 13 appearances, 7 of which were starts. He allowed 45 hits, walked 19, and struck out 50.
The Mets had the 21-year-old begin the season with St. Lucie, and after posting a 5.00 ERA in 9.0 innings over 4 appearances, promoted him to High-A Brooklyn. The southpaw shrugged off the malaise he was showing in St. Lucie and has pitched well with the Cyclones. In 6 starts, Hurtado has a 1.91 ERA in 28.1 innings, allowing 13 hits, walking 4, and striking out 24.
Hurtado is listed at 6’1”, 165-pounds and is well-proportioned and lean. He stands on the far first base side of the rubber and throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot with a high leg kick and a long arm action through the back. His mechanics flow and are loose and smooth, leaving him in excellent fielding position in his follow-through.
Hurtado’s four-seam fastball sits in the mid-90s, ranging 90-96 MPH; he added a little velocity to it this season, and it is up roughly 2 MPH as compared to last season. The pitch has a low spin rate for a four-seam fastball, 2,190 RPM, giving it less ride and more sink. Overall, the pitch has been very hittable, which lowers his overall ceiling and is why he was never given serious consideration on the 2026 Top Prospect list despite posting sterling surface-level numbers- that and the fact that he bears a striking resemblance to Oliver Perez. He has been throwing the pitch a bit less this season, in favor of his breaking balls a bit more, which can only help him right now. Hurtado’s two-seam fastball is almost identical to his four-seam fastball in every way, from velocity to spin rate to induced vertical break, except it generally gets a few more inches of arm-side horizontal movement, about ten inches to his four-seam fastball’s five.
The southpaw’s curveball sits in the mid-70s-to-low-80s, featuring 55 inches of vertical drop and 5-10 inches of horizontal movement, making it a loopy, slurvy 11-5 bender. His slider sits in the mid-to-high-80s, featuring 35 inches of vertical drop and 3-5 inches of horizontal movement, giving the pitch hop. The two breaking balls tunnel well with each other, the slower curveball featuring more overall movement and the faster slider featuring less.
Hurtado was throwing a budding changeup infrequently in 2025, but he has since scrapped it, barely throwing the pitch during in-game situations this season. Despite the lack of a changeup, he has generally been slightly better against left-handed hitters over the course of his career, but has not ever exhibited extreme platoon splits one way or the other, dominating lefties or struggling against righties.
Hurtado is not only able to command all of his pitches, but the left-hander has pinpoint control. He can throw in the zone and outside of it with confidence, though gets beaten with regularity when he lives inside of it for too long. The southpaw is at his best when he is able to nip the zone with his fastball and then expand the zone with his breaking balls, getting batters to get themselves out either by inducing weak contact or swinging-and-missing. Between the sink from his fastball and weak contact from his breaking pitches, the left-hander has maintained extremely favorable batted ball splits over the course of his young career. This year, Hurtado has maintained a 22.6% line drive rate, 57.0% groundball rate, and 20.4% flyball rate in his 37.1 innings with St. Lucie and Brooklyn combined.
I had an oh-duh moment while watching this one play out. I have to go back down the rabbit hole, because I don’t see anyone keeping the full total. I know this is 10 walk-offs. I’m pretty certain the number is three for road wins in their last at bat. But I don’t recall if there were any home wins with an eighth-inning winning run. That is technically the other way to win while scoring in your last team at-bat. 10 walk-offs already is amazing. 13 last chance wins is amazing. This team finds new ways to amaze me all the time.
I’ll probably change my opinion once or twice more, but I think I’ve decided that if the Cubs decide to only bring back one corner outfielder, it is Seiya. I love the loyalty, the longevity, the season over season consistency of Ian Happ. I love that he moved all over the field until they settled on a position for him. I love that he then won several gold gloves at that spot. Seiya is significantly improved in the field now too. He’s grown so much as a fielder and he’s quietly having a very good season there. The relationship between Seiya and Pete Crow-Armstrong feels special. I think when all of my internal ballots are counted, I’m about 53 percent in favor of Seiya. Well within the margin of error.
But yeah, the story of the game and these last three days and really this whole season is this team just finding a way to win. Just like that, they are essentially back on a 90-win pace (89.6). Will all the injuries, all of the slumps, this team somehow gets it done. Four Cub pitchers were used in this game. None of them were particularly impressive. The Cubs allowed 11 hits and two walks. It definitely felt like they were in trouble all night long. And yet, they yielded just two runs.
The Cubs couldn’t really get to Griffin Canning, finally chasing him with two runs allowed over 4.1 innings. But he’s fared so much worse lately than that. The Cubs put up 10 hits, four walks and had a batter hit. They managed three runs. Often not enough, but just enough on this night. To be fair, I’m pretty sure at least one more run would have scored had the game not ended there. I really thought that was a walk-off homer off of Seiya’s bat. It felt like he hit it pretty close to the spot where Javier Baez once reached the basket against Johnny Cueto to win a game 1-0 in the playoffs.
I said the Cubs needed to get at least one win in this series to make sure they at least split the season series with the Padres. That mission is accomplished. Now they get two shots to win this series and also the season series. Given that the two teams figure to compete for a Wild Card spot, that could matter.
This team is bonkers to cover, but I wouldn’t miss it. These three straight wins are absolutely wild. They’ve faced some really elite pitchers on good teams and countered with a bunch of scrap heap arms. And won. I’m watching potentially the ultimate collision of social media and real life. If this team wins 90 games (or more), social media will have been tap dancing all season long on Craig Counsell’s grave while he wins the NL Manager of the Year award. The Dodgers and Brewers are exactly who we thought they were. The Braves are more or less who we thought they were and the Cubs are running more of a MASH unit than a pitching staff. And every time the dust settles again, they are still standing. Still in the rear view mirror of the Brewers. Stalking like some campy 80’s horror-slasher movie villain.
This team has been so odd, winning more than half of their games either by scoring in the last inning or blowing out their opponent, that we basically haven’t nitpicked any decisions. Not at the micro level anyway. While I’m often a big fan of the aggressive fan and making the other team make a play, I hated the send of Dansby Swanson on the fly out double play in the ninth. I would have rather continued to have the bases loaded there, even though it also put PCA on third. It didn’t end up mattering, but I just wouldn’t have made that send.
What a time to be alive! Go Cubs.
Three Positives:
Pete Crow-Armstrong, the walking man? Two more singles, two more walks. That up to the minute on-base percentage is .370. In his age 24 season, he’s going to be a two-time All-Star, a two-time Gold Glove (first time platinum?), and will best his ninth place MVP finish of last year.
Shōta Imanaga. 6.1 innings, nine hits, no walks, two runs. Four strikeouts. Not his best outing, but a terrific one at that.
Seiya Suzuki. Two hits, one a double. Two runs driven in, one run scored. He was part of all three runs that scored. That will be one of the most well struck balls off of Mason Miller this year.
Game 85, June 29: Cubs 3, Padres 2 (47-38)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Sidekick: Trent Thornton (.134). IP, 3 BF, H, K (W 3-2)
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Michael Busch (-.330). 0-4, BB
Goat: Miguel Amaya (-.183). 0-4
Kid: Ian Happ (-.144). 0-4
WPA Play of the Game: Seiya Suzuki’s walk-off “single” off the top of the wall. (.367)
Brewers Play of the Game: Michael Busch one play earlier, the fly out/thrown out at home double play. (.303)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 84 Winner: Bryse Wilson received 123 of 235 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Pete Crow-Armstrong +17
Michael Busch +15
Ben Brown +13.5
Trent Thornton +12.5
Carson Kelly +11.5
Edward Cabrera -9.5
Phil Maton -10
Dansby Swanson -12
Caleb Thielbar -13
Seiya Suzuki -14.5
Up Next: Game two of this three-game set. Matthew Boyd (2-1, 5.02) starts for the Cubs. JP Sears (1-0, 3.18) makes his second start of the season for the Padres. The 30-year-old veteran lefty made 27 starts last year for the A’s and Padres with a 5.04 ERA.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 09: Day'ron Sharpe #20 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Barclays Center on March 09, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 126-115. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Late last week, we got the news that former North Carolina men’s basketball player Coby White had agreed to a new deal with the Charlotte Hornets, who he had been acquired by in a trade last season. On Monday, we got more news that another Tar Heel had come to an agreement on a new contract. Yesterday, Day’Ron Sharpe reportedly agreed to re-up with the Brooklyn Nets for two years and $20 million, staying with the only NBA team he’s played for to this point.
Sharpe played at UNC from 2020-21. In his lone season in Chapel Hill, he averaged 9.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game. Those equated to some pretty impressive 19.8 and 15.8 per 40 minute numbers, leading to Sharpe being named an All-ACC Freshman that season. That and his obvious potential led him to get some pro love, leading to him declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft.
The Nets selected him with the 29th pick in that year’s draft and Sharpe has been a regular for Brooklyn since. For his career, he’s averaged 7.0 points and 5.9 rebounds as a bench player for the Nets. In recent years, as Brooklyn has begun a rebuild, he’s become even more of a regular for them. He put up career best totals pretty much across the board his past season, going for 8.7 points (on over 60% field goal shooting) and 6.7 rebounds.
In all likelihood, Sharpe will not get to be on a contending team over the two years of this deal, unless he and some others take some massive leaps. The Nets went 20-62 last year, and have traded away almost anyone on their roster who is any good, including Cam Johnson, who was sent to the Denver Nuggets before this past season. However, this contract will almost certainly give him a bigger role than he would have on a currently contending team. Having that bigger role could put him at a much more advantageous position when it comes to the contract he gets after this one, whether it be with the Nets or elsewhere. Sharpe would need to continue improving for that to be the case, but he’ll certainly get the opportunity to try.
As a fan of the NBA championship-winning team across town, I can’t personally say that I wish the Nets any success as a team. However, I certainly wish the best for Sharpe for this contract and any potential future ones.
