Kendrick Perkins if the NBA is ready for life after LeBron James:
“Is the NBA ready for life after LeBron? Hell no. Hell no. They’re not…. We come on television every damn day and if LeBron James played the night before, we gonna talk about LeBron James the next day”
“Is the NBA ready for life without LeBron?” Perkins asked. “Hell no. Hell no.”
The former NBA champ explained for over two minutes on ESPN’s morning show that the league will suffer for a multitude of reasons if James calls it quits after this season.
LeBron James consistently drew the loudest cheers at during Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game. NBAE via Getty Images
“When you just go and look at his social media following, we’re talking about over 200-million-plus followers,” Perkins said. “Name me another athlete that’s coming close — or another basketball player, should I say — that’s coming close to that. We can’t.
“When you talk about packing out arenas on the road, LeBron James does that in every arena that they pull up in that’s not in [LA’s] Crypto.com. He’s been doing that for the last two-plus decades.”
Perkins also said James helps lift jersey and sneaker sales, and with a squeaky-clean off-court résumé, he’s a great role model, too.
James, who is 41 years old, is currently in the final year of his Lakers contract. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Do a lot of these guys, like a Victor Wembanyama or Anthony Edwards — do they have potential?” Perkins asked. “Absolutely. But let’s not sit up here and take for granted at all what this man has been through and what he has done.
“Hell, we come on television every damn day, and if LeBron James played the night before, damn it, we going to talk about LeBron James the next day.”
James has been in the NBA since 2003, and despite now being 41 years old, he’s still playing at an elite level, averaging 22 points per contest.
But speculation that he might retire this year has grown louder than ever, particularly after he wouldn’t commit to at least one more season while being peppered with questions about his future before Sunday’s All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in LA’s Inglewood.
Despite his advancing years, James is still averaging 22 points per game. NBAE via Getty Images
“When I know, you guys will know,” James said of his basketball plans beyond 2026. “I don’t know. I have no idea.
“I just want to live, that’s all,” he added
James is currently in the final year of his contract with the Lakers, and if the star athlete opts for retirement instead of re-upping with Los Angeles or playing elsewhere, it’s clear Perkins thinks the entire landscape of the NBA will be drastically altered.
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Feb 11, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1), forward Keldon Johnson (3), and guard De'Aaron Fox (4) celebrate as the clock expires against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
Week 16: The Spurs avoided a series of trap games for their first undefeated week since December, beginning with an Oklahoma City Thunder team that was both injured and “load managing” on the second night of a back-to-back and had none of their top 7 players available, followed by an away/home mini-series against a depleted Mavs team that was waiting for trade assets to become available. In the first two games — against OKC and at Dallas — the Spurs were a little complacent but kept both teams at arm’s length the entire time before exploding at home in the second game against a more complete Mavs team, riding a historic 40-12-12 triple-double from Stephon Castle to a blowout victory.
In a scheduling quirk resulting from the NBA Cup Quarterfinals, the Spurs began their annual Rodeo Road Trip playing in the home of the Lakers for the third time this season. Again facing a depleted team, with Luka Doncic out with a hamstring injury and LeBron James and Austin Reaves load managing on the second night of a back-to-back, Victor Wembanyama left little doubt who was the best player on the floor, scoring a historic 25 points in the first 8 minutes of the game, 37 in the first half, and 40 overall before getting extended second-half rest in a rare wire-to-wire blowout victory.
AGAIN facing a depleted team, with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler both out injured, the Spurs initially looked like a tired team on the second night of a back-to-back, out step defensively and getting down by as much as 16 in the the third quarter. However, in a familiar trend from recent weeks, they weathered the storm before flipping the switch in the final 18 minutes, ramping up their defensive intensity while attacking the Warriors down low on offense, making a surging comeback to win their sixth straight game and enter the All-Star break as the hottest team in the league.
All-Star Weekend moment: We can finally say it: the Spurs are ranked above a team they beat four times this season.
Mitch Johnson, coaching the veteran USA Stripes, delivered some of the week’s best pre-All-Star sound — openly wondering why San Antonio had only one All-Star despite strong results against star-laden opponents, and arguing that if De’Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle weren’t All-Stars, Victor Wembanyama should be leading the MVP race.
Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are all still on their rookie contracts, and the team has a real chance to finish second in the loaded West.
So, this aim for the team may seem a little nitpicky.
But if Castle (28.8 percent from three this season) and Harper (25.2 percent) enter the playoffs shooting like they are right now, defenses are going to completely ignore them and make life a lot more difficult for every Spur sharing the floor with them.
There isn’t enough time for either to fix their outside shots between now and the postseason, but giving them plenty of opportunities to try should be a priority. Opposing defenses are going to give them opportunities to hit big shots. They’ll at least need the confidence to hit them.
Coming up: Thurs. 2/19 vs. Phoenix Suns* (32-23); Sat. 2/21 vs. Sacramento Kings* (12-44)
* at the Moody Center in Austin
Prediction: 2-0 — For once, the Spurs were able to align their two games in Austin with the Rodeo Road Trip to give them a bit of respite from traveling (although a five-game road trip still awaits afterwards). They’ll be relatively fresh and motivated after a big showing at All-Star weekend, where they were well represented but left wanting coming up short in nearly every event (outside of Carter Bryant in the Rising Stars Challenge). First is a rematch with a Suns team (and possible future playoff opponent) that had their number early in the season but will be missing Dillon Brooks, who will be suspended for receiving his 16th technical of the season. (It’s a little early for that, don’t you think?!) Next will be a directionless Kings team that may have a motivated DeMar DeRozan, who tends to show out against his former teams but otherwise won’t have enough if the Spurs show up.
EAST LANSING, Mich. — There is no grudge, no animosity, no hard feelings.
All Xavier Booker has to do to make sure is check his phone.
That’s where he’ll find friendly text messages from Michigan State’s Coach Tom Izzo. Some light scrolling will reveal congratulatory messages from other Michigan State Spartans staffers after the big man put together the best game of his college career earlier this month.
UCLA forward Xavier Booker during the NCAA college basketball game against Oregon, Dec 2025, in Los Angeles. AP
That he did it for the UCLA Bruins didn’t bother anyone.
Everybody understood that it was time for a new position and a new school after Booker’s two underwhelming seasons as a Spartan.
“Most nights, you are going to play somebody who is just as strong as you or stronger,” said UCLA’s Booker. Getty Images
“It was definitely a little sad,” Booker told the California Post of his departure. “But we kind of all knew what it was and we all came to an agreement.”
Booker will return to the Breslin Center on Tuesday night as a different player, the changes going well beyond a blue-and-gold uniform.
He’s playing center now, starting for the Bruins. That means there’s less lingering on the perimeter and considerably more manning the middle, fighting for rebounds and serving as the last line of defense. Booker still has permission to shoot 3s, his 41.5% accuracy from long-range ranking as the fourth-best percentage on the team.
It hasn’t been the easiest of transitions, with the converted power forward sometimes struggling to hold his own at a wiry 6 feet 11 and 250 pounds.
“Most nights, you are going to play somebody who is just as strong as you or stronger,” said Booker, who is on the way to setting career highs across the board with averages of 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game. “It’s definitely been an adjustment, but I have been getting better every day.”
A reminder of his unique talent came when he made all four 3-pointers and 10 of 11 shots against Rutgers, dominating from beyond and inside the arc. His best moments are when he’s super active, using his elite athleticism and 7-foot-5-inch wingspan to protect the rim and snag rebounds.
Bruins head coach Mick Cronin during the game against the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Feb. 14. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
So how has Booker gone about increasing his?
“He’s got a little bald guy chasing him up and down the court in practice,” Cronin cracked, referring to himself, “and I try to tell him every day, ‘You’ll decide your fate in basketball.’”
His future seemed more assured a few years ago, when Booker arrived as the highest-rated high school prospect of Izzo’s three decades at Michigan State. Growing up, he had spent more time on the wing than under the basket before a massive growth spurt in high school.
Even with an almost mythical combination of size and skill, Booker never found a rhythm as a Spartan. On a roster stocked with centers, he mostly played power forward. As a sophomore, he went from starting the first three games to out of the rotation during the team’s final three games in the NCAA tournament.
A departure seemed inevitable.
“We had meetings about it and an almost tearful departure, if you want the truth,” Izzo said at Big Ten media day. “But I just didn’t get his motor going like I needed to.”
Cronin pitched Booker on moving to center as part of a career reboot. The thinking was that this was his most likely path to a spot on an NBA roster. What sparked the idea was Cronin watching Booker produce 12 points and seven rebounds while playing the five during a victory over North Carolina early last season.
“He said the UNC game,” Booker said, “was all he needed to see.”
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg drives to the basket against Booker in Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb. 14. AP
Many wondered how Cronin could unlock a better version of Booker, given the coach’s similarities to Izzo in terms of a snarling demeanor and prioritization of defense.
The concerns have proven valid, Booker nearly falling out of the rotation last month. But Booker said UCLA’s coaching staff has continued to back him, even before a revitalizing nine-point, four-rebound, three-block performance during an upset of then-No. 4 Purdue.
“The coaches, they all still instill a lot of faith and they believe in me, so they’re on me every day and I just take it, I don’t ever take anything the wrong way,” Booker said. “I just take everything they say with a positive outlook and just try to get better.”
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Motivation won’t be an issue against the Spartans, even if there figures to be plenty of handshakes and hugs. Booker said he still talks to guard Jeremy Fears Jr., his former roommate, nearly every week.
“Definitely going to reconnect with some of the guys there probably before the game or after,” Booker said. “But the main thing is just coming out of there with a win, that’s what I want most.”
Of course, his old pals want the same thing. This could be one day when his phone doesn’t buzz with pleasantries from his former coach.
“I told him I’ll pull hard for him,” Izzo said, “all but one game a year.”
Michigan (24-1) took over the top spot in the poll on Monday, Feb. 16, and has won 10 consecutive games since dropping its only game this season against Wisconsin on Jan. 10. Nine of its wins during the win streak have been by double digits, outside of its 75-72 win over No. 9 Nebraska.
Arizona not only fell out of the No. 1 ranking, but fell behind Michigan, No. 3 Houston and No. 4 Duke after its back-to-back-losses. Elsewhere, Purdue jumped five spots to No. 7 in the update, ahead of the Boilermakers' top 10 showdown against No. 1 Michigan on Feb. 17.
Here's a look at the updated men's college basketball USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for Feb. 16:
FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 16: A detail view of the jersey of Bailey Ober #17 of the Minnesota Twins prior to a spring training game against the Boston Red Sox on March 16, 2025 at the Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pitchers and catchers have reported, optimism is in the air, and the first spring training game is this Saturday! Baseball is upon us, and in less than two months, it’ll be Opening Day, and we can enjoy cheap drinks, courtesy of the Twins. All is well in Twins Territory. (besides…y’know, everything else surrounding the team).
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
How can you not be romantic about Twinkie Town Movie Night? Many thanks to James Fillmore for organizing our Friday movie nights. We’ve got Back to the Future III coming up this week!
Arizona’s reign as the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll is over for now. After five weeks at the top, the Wildcats took their first two losses of the season, losing their hold on the Big 12 lead as well.
Michigan reclaims the No. 1 ranking, the unanimous choice after the Wolverines extended their current winning streak to 10. Houston, now alone atop the Big 12, climbs to No. 2. Duke vaults to third as Arizona falls to No. 4. Connecticut continues to round out the top five.
It was a mixed week for Iowa State, which drops two positions to No. 6 but picked up a convincing bounce-back win against red-hot Kansas. Purdue leaps back into the top 10 at No. 7, a gain of five positions. Gonzaga, Nebraska and Illinois round out the top 10.
Kansas slips to No. 12 behind Florida, whose late charge continues with another three-spot gain. Texas Tech also moves up three places to No. 13 after beating Arizona on the road.
Virginia checks in a slot higher at No. 14, but a couple other ranked ACC squads weren’t as fortunate as North Carolina tumbles seven places to No. 20 and Clemson takes a six-position fall to No. 24.
Wisconsin, nudges into the poll at No. 25, replacing fellow Big Ten member Iowa.
Pedro Javier Ramirez is 21 years old and won’t be 22 until April Fool’s Day, which he will most likely spend in Iowa. He has a chance to reach The Show to start the year, but it’s a relatively small chance and he can likely use the time to hone his craft.
In five years, Ramirez has risen through the Cubs system, starting at Myrtle Beach, where he was a Pelican, and moving on to South Bend and Knoxville. He sports a lifetime MiLB slash of .291/.362/.412, which is not bad at all. He has decent wheels, having stolen 86 bases during his time in the organization, and boasts a .774 OPS, again, not bad. He strikes out a bit but in general gets good wood on the ball with a level stroke — his power is limited but he looks to have an MLB future, perhaps as a utility man with starter upside.
He’s a little guy — 5’9”, 165. Unlikely that he’ll develop any more than 10-homer power, but you never know. He can flash some glove — I’ve seen him play a little, and no doubt Josh could tell you more, and probably has, but his time is next year and beyond, I’d say. He does play third, short, and second base, though his numbers have a heavy middle-infield sort of lean.
We’ll have to see how he develops, along with tomorrow’s featuree James Triantos, and the Cubs will have to determine whether they are kept in-house or dealt for other players. Both have room to grow.
But… this bears repeating. Ramirez’ glove is for real and his bat does have life to it.
ALLENTOWN, PA - JUNE 10: Andrew Painter #16 of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs pitches during the game between the Worcester Red Sox and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Olivia Damato/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
With spring training opening up this week, many people are going to start remembering that baseball is about to begin. Hearing the pitchers and catcher popping mitts again is always the best sound reminder that we have that our blessed game is around the corner and soon after that, position players will return.
Then we’ll have actual games!
As always, whenever a new season begins, there are new storylines to follow that will have a rather sizeable impact on how the season could possibly play out. The major ones have already been talked about in other formats – the health of Zack Wheeler, the happiness of Bryce Harper. Instead of simply rehashing them, let’s talk about a little more niche things to keep an eye on once practices and games start to begin.
How does Jose Alvarado look?
There has been a lot of complaining this offseason about the Phillies not making enough changes to a roster that has failed to return to the World Series since making in 2022. Some of it is fair, some of it eyebrow raising. Yet something that has been overlooked is that their bullpen is suddenly, at least on paper, one of the better overall units in the game. They have a lot of pitchers that can get outs by themselves via the strikeout and can do so from the right side. It has been a weakness of theirs the last few years, to have few right handed options that could get outs without having to rely on the defense.
Yet one of their offseason moves involved trading Matt Strahm to Kansas City, weakening themselves from the left handed side in the process. They boasted three left handed pitchers in the bullpen that were all quite good, so trading Strahm represented a belief that the other two returnees – Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks – will be good enough to withstand the loss of Strahm.
That does put a target on Alvarado’s back to regain his form from early 2025.
We know that he was suspended for 81 games last year due to a failed PED test, which makes that success a bit more suspect. He repeatedly said it was a tainted weight loss supplement that he took, which caused him to fail. When he did return, he didn’t look right at all and needed to be shut down for the rest of the season with an elbow issue.
That return from injury is all the more important considering the sudden lack of left handed depth they have in the bullpen. In Alvarado’s absence, Strahm stepped up and had an excellent season while Banks filled in to become one of Rob Thomson’s more trusted relievers towards the end of the season. Strahm is now gone, which leaves just the pair at the major league level. They have other options on minor league deals like Tim Mayza, Kyle Backhus and Genesis Cabrera, but it’s not exactly the same as having the trio the Phillies had to begin 2025.
What Alvarado looks like this spring will go a long way easing that anxiety that they don’t have enough. There are legitimate questions around him: how is his velocity? What kind of shape is he in? The answers to these questions need to be positive. Otherwise, there might be some issues.
What does Andrew Painter’s fastball look like?
Painter’s 2025 was something of a disappointment, depending on how one chooses to view it. From a health standpoint, he was able to get through the entire season healthy, without much of a setback, so that has to be considered a success. Production, on the other hands, was lacking. He just did not come back from his surgery and dominate in the way many thought a prospect of his caliber should. A lot of that is likely because of his fastball. Matt Winkelman put it best:
The problems start with Painter’s four seam fastball. Once an elite pitch before the injury, it was a liability by the end of the season. Predictably for a pitcher ramping back up from not pitching for two years, he gradually lost a little bit of velocity month over month. His arm slot also changed, and it led to less vertical movement. Since Painter’s height is never going to give him good attack angle on the pitch, the loss of movement led to it being very hittable in the strike zone. The problem seemed to also get worse when he introduced a sinker to his arsenal midway through the season. If Painter’s 4-seam fastball is not going to be as dynamic as it was in 2022, the sinker will help him get weak contact in the zone and is a good addition to his arsenal. If the Phillies can clean up his arm slot and find consistency between the two different fastball shapes, it won’t return it to being a dominant pitch, but it will prevent it from being a liability.
It’s going to be something to watch with Painter as the spring progresses. If he does not have that power fastball back, he’s going to have to rely on contact more than he should, which could lead to baseballs being hit into places where fielders are not occupying the space. It’s so important for pitchers in the modern game to be able to get outs via the strikeout and it really does start with the fastball.
For Andrew Painter, it could be very important.
How is Justin Crawford faring against major league pitching?
It would be one thing for Crawford to find lots of success when he’s having that success in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Those are the ones where the big league pitchers have gone home, gone to stretch, gone to run and the minor league options are on the mound in auditions for their organization. Considering that he has had a good amount of success against these kinds of hitters, were Crawford to replicate it during spring training, it shouldn’t be surprising.
Instead, it would be more indicative of where his level is when we see him face major league pitching. How Crawford fares against major league pitching when he gets a chance to face them is going to be crucial to see if he is truly ready to make the leap the major leagues. The team has more or less anointed him as their center fielder to begin the season, likely putting him lower in the order to lessen the burden on his production. So, it would be more productive to make sure he is hitting at or near the top of the order when games start so that he gets a chance to face that major league hitting as often as possible. Things are going to be complicated a bit when scores of pitchers he would otherwise face during Grapefruit League games head out for WBC preparation, but there will still be some that remain in their various camps. Rob Thomson and company should make sure that Crawford is seeing these pitchers as much as possible to make sure he is as accustomed to them as can be. It’s not the same thing, of course, but it’ll be the closest the team can get to major league quality pitching.
Stunning ton by Pathum Nissanka seals hosts’ run chase
Australia need Ireland to beat Zimbabwe on Tuesday
Australia could be out of the T20 World Cup before they even play their final first round group match after a stunning fightback by Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Returning captain Mitch Marsh and a revived Travis Head looked to have set Australia on course for a victory that would have kept their tournament hopes alive as they smashed a century-plus opening stand at more than two-runs-a-ball.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 09: A Cincinnati Reds mascot stands on the field beofre the game between the Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on September 09, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Aaron Doster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sheng-En Lin claimed the #19 spot in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings, doing so after finally getting shifted to a pitch-only player after having previously been considered a two-way prospect. The results were quite good on the mound as he reached Class-A Daytona, and the hope now is that as he focuses solely on the mound that he’ll continue to improve and refine his already talented approach.
Now, we take the voting into the final spot, with #20 next up on the list!
Per usual, you can find the link to the Google Form for voting right here, yet it’s also embedded at the bottom if you want to read through first and not have to embark upon the painstaking process of scrolling all the way back up here. Both link and embed will be removed once voting closes so you can’t stuff the ballot post facto, however, so be advised that this paragraph will make zero sense if you stumble back across it a year from now.
Here’s how the list has materialized so far:
Sal Stewart
Alfredo Duno
Rhett Lowder
Hector Rodriguez
Edwin Arroyo
Cam Collier
Steele Hall
Tyson Lewis
Chase Petty
Arnaldo Lantigua
Jose Franco
Zach Maxwell
Leo Balcazar
Adolfo Sanchez
Carlos Jorge
Aaron Watson
Julian Aguiar
Tyler Callihan
Sheng-En Lin
A large list of talented names exists below for spot #20. Have at it with the votes!
Liberts Aponte, SS (18 years old)
2025 at a glance: .247/.368/.461 with 7 HR, 9 SB in 193 PA for DSL Rojos (Dominican Summer League)
Pros: 29/35 K/BB showed greatly improving strike zone awareness; already a plus defender at short where he projects to be excellent both with range and arm long-term
Cons: Still not viewed as a potential plus with the bat, though early returns are already better than original scouting reports; has a long way to go in terms of physically maturing
The Reds doled out $1.9 million to sign Aponte last January, and that marked the single largest contract they doled out in that particular international signing window. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the #18 player overall in that class, noting he was ‘one of the most skilled defenders in his class’ and ‘offers solid wheels’ with ‘magic in his hands’ while doling out a 65 grade on his fielding ability.
The rest, we knew, would take time, as he was just liked at 6’0” and 160 lbs, and that even felt like a slight exaggeration. To his credit, though, he mashed 7 homers as a 17 year old in DSL play while showing more power than anticipated, and if that aspect of his game grows to match what’s already known the Reds have found themselves a gem.
It will be interesting to see if the Reds push him up to Arizona Complex League play at all in 2026 or give him another year in the DSL seeing as he just turned 18 years old in November.
Luke Holman, RHP (23 years old)
2025 at a glance: ER, 2 H, 10 K, 4 BB in 9.0 IP with Daytona Tortugas (Class-A Florida State League
Pros: Two plus breaking pitches (slider, curve)
Cons: Not a ton of velocity on his fastball, which sits 91-94 mph
Luke Holman threw 109 pitches for LSU in a 6-2 loss to North Carolina on June 1st, 2024, a game in which he yielded 4 ER in 6.2 IP with 7 H, 11 K, and a lone walk. Since then, he’s thrown just 9.0 IP on a mound, total.
Holman, Cincinnati’s 2nd round pick in 2024, sat out the remainder of 2024 after being drafted, finishing his calendar year with 91.2 IP of 2.75 ERA ball that included a wonderful 0.98 WHIP and 127/33 K/BB. When his 2025 began in Daytona, all signs looked promising in his first pair of starts only for an elbow issue to subsequently sit him down and require Tommy John surgery, and we’ve not seen him since.
He sat 91-94 with his fastball (and touched 96) before, and has a pair of wicked breaking balls that he uses as his out pitches. If he returns to form in 2026 the way he ways before (or even better!), he still profiles as a back-end starter who should move quickly through Cincinnati’s system after dominating SEC play in stints first with Alabama and later with LSU.
Mason Morris, RHP (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: 9.00 ERA, 7/1 K/BB in 4.0 IP with Class-A Daytona Tortugas; 3.29 ERA, 78/31 K/BB in 54.2 IP with University of Mississippi
Pros: Fastball that can touch 100 mph; four-pitch mix
Cons: Lack of experience
Mason Morris landed with Ole Miss in 2023 primarily as a corner infielder, and the now 6’4” 225 lb righty only recently became a full-time pitcher prior to the Reds selecting him with their 3rd round pick in 2025. He’s got projection through the roof, though, with a 100 mph heater, plus cutter, and a pair of other breaking balls that look like they’ve also got the juice.
The question, though, is how Cincinnati plans to use him.
Morris only got a pair of outings as a pro after being drafted, and it appears the Reds have intentions on seeing if he can develop into a starting pitcher. That’s something he’s never really done before, however, and he’ll turn 23 years old in August of 2026. So, we’ll see how long of a leash the Reds give him with that avenue, since if they want to simply keep him in the bullpen there’s very little reason why he shouldn’t rocket through the minors and give them a legit relief arm at the big league level in short order.
Mason Neville, OF (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .247/.333/.442 with 1 HR, 2 SB in 90 PA with Class-A Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League); .290/.429/.724 with 26 HR, 9 SB in 280 PA with University of Oregon
Pros: 60-grade power with potential plus arm and plus speed & baserunning; chance to stick in CF, though still profiles as a solid RF if moved to the corner; led Division I with 26 HR in final season at Oregon
Cons: Lots of swing and miss in his game, at times, including a 34.4% rate in his short sample with Daytona
The Reds clearly love Neville, as they drafted him in the 18th round out of high school 2022 only to watch him initially attend the University of Arkansas. After transferring to Oregon and swatting more dingers than anyone else in 2025, the Reds went back to him in the 4th round of the most recent draft.
Neville is incredibly toolsy, his left-handed swing producing significant power when he makes contact. He’s good at working walks despite his swing-and-miss proclivities, and posesses the kind of athleticism and speed to be a legitimate CF.
His tiny sample with Daytona has some red flags with the Ks, but it’s such a small sample that it’s hard to take it with too much certainty. For instance, he hit .298/.365/.526 through his first 17 games there only to go 2 for 20 with 9 Ks across his final 6 games – that could, and likely is, all small-sample noise.
Big tools, that Neville. He could well be the steal of the 2025 draft.
Ricky Cabrera, 3B (21 years old)
2025 at a glance: .187/.276/.240 with 0 HR, 0 SB in 89 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)
Pros: Above-average power, speed, and hit tool, with an arm that’s good enough to play at 3B (if he can find his accuracy)
Cons: An absolutely lost 2025 season that included a season-ending knee injury
The optimist in you sees that Cabrera only just turned 21 years old in October, and in 2024 posted a 110 wRC+ with 11 HR and 19 SB in the pitcher-friendly confines of the Florida State League with Daytona (with said wRC+, along with his OPS, both ranking among that league’s top 10). That same optimist probably would point out that 2025 saw the Venezuela native play in the cold April weather of the Midwest League with Dayton for the first time, and he struggled mightily in those new conditions before a knee injury rendered his 2025 completely lost.
There’s still a lot to like about Cabrera, even though he’s physically matured off shortstop at this juncture and likely profiles as a 3B, or potentially at 2B defensively – with his defense needing just as much improvement as his bat at the moment, too. If the batting cage stuff can begin to translate onto the field again post-injury, there’s still a ton to like about the former $2.7 million signee and Top 5 overall international prospect from the 2022 class.
I’m assuming there is no pessimist in you, for now.
Hansel Jimenez, SS/3B (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: .269/.374/.445 with 5 HR, 12 SB in 147 PA for DSL Reds (Dominican Summer League); .229/.345/.364 with 4 HR, 3 SB in 142 PA for Sydney Blue Sox (Australian Baseball League)
Pros: 70 grade raw power (per FanGraphs) with potential to be a plus runner, fielder, and have a plus arm
Cons: Potential swing and miss issues (25.9% K-rate in the DSL, 64% contact rate); may end up at 3B long term
Signed for an undisclosed amount during the 2024 international signing period, Jimenez has immediately hit the ground running in prospect circles with his mix of potentially elite athleticism and batted-ball metrics that jump right off the page.
After dabbling in DSL play in 2024 at age 17 (6 for 14 with a double and 4 steals in 5 G), he repeated that level in 2025 and more than held his own with an .820 OPS. Those solid surface stats hide his pretty monumental 45% hard-hit rate, 106 mph EV90, and maximum exit velocity of 113 mph – all numbers posted by an 18 year old. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs has him ranked 12th (right behind Tyson Lewis) and notes the multiple similarities between the two, though Jimenez is a full year younger.
The second half of the NBA season is here and while we've had a two-man race for most of the season, there is a third option that is making noise, and he's the only healthy player of the top three.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-210) and Nikola Jokic (+300) are the frontrunners for MVP and rightfully so. The two have won the past two MVP awards and four of the past five, but Cade Cunningham (+1400) has steadily been the third option in this race.
Detroit recorded the best record in the NBA during the first half of the season and Cunningham has played 47 out of 53 games, which is more than the other four players on this top-five list. If SGA, Jokic, Luka Doncic (+2000) and/or Victor Wembanyama (+3500) struggle to reach the 65-game minimum, then Cunningham's odds will continue to improve as he will certainly reach 65-plus games played at this rate.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (-210)
Points Per Game: 31.8 (2nd) Assists Per Game: 6.4 (16th) Rebounds Per Game: 4.4 RPG (110th)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last played on February 3rd and missed the last five games for the Thunder with an abdominal injury. SGA has missed seven games in total this season and is expected back within a few games for the start of the second half, if not, right away on the 20th against the Brooklyn Nets.
Oklahoma City went 2-3 in the last five games without SGA as Detroit overtook OKC for the best record in the NBA. Last year, SGA received 71 out of 100 first-place votes for MVP (Jokic got 29) and this year, he could see a similar number of votes, if not more depending on whether or not Jokic or Victor Wembanyama meet the 65-game requirement.
SGA is second in the NBA with 31.8 points per game over 33.3 minutes per game and is averaging career-highs in field goal percentage (55.4%) and assists (6.4). The current price of -210 for SGA to win MVP is likely the lowest odds he will have the remainder of the season, pending another injury. I would be shocked if he doesn't win MVP back-to-back seasons.
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+300)
Points Per Game: 28.7 (7th) Rebounds Per Game: 12.3 (1st) Assists Per Game: 10.7 (1st)
Nikola Jokic returned before the All-Star break and recorded seven games played. Jokic has missed 16 games this season and can only miss one more game before he's ineligible to win MVP because of the 65-game rule, so at +300 odds, he is skating on thin ice.
Jokic is averaging a triple-double this season with 28.7 points (7th), 12.3 rebounds (1st), and 10.7 assists (1st). Jokic accomplished a triple-double average last year and leads the NBA with 20 triple-doubles and third with 34 double-doubles.
The Joker has played at least 69 games in every season, so this will be his lowest games played of his career at 30-years-old. If Jokic misses two more games, that opens the door for the next player on this list to possibly catch SGA in the MVP race.
3. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (+1400)
Points Per Game: 25.3 (14th) Rebounds Per Game: 5.6 (T-70th) Assists Per Game: 9.6 (2nd)
Coming off a career-year in 2024-25, Cade Cunningham put together an impressive first half to this season. Cunningham is second in the NBA with 9.6 assists per game and averages 25.3 points per game (14th), which is slightly less than his 26.1 PPG last season.
Cunningham has been durable as well in a year where almost every MVP candidate has missed significant time due to injuries. Cunningham has played in 47 out of 53 games and Detroit has the best record in not only the East, but the entire NBA! At 40-13, the Pistons are exceeding expectations and own the NBA's second-rated defense behind the reigning champion, Thunder.
With 27 double-doubles on the year, Cunningham is fourth overall in that department and tied-sixth with three triple-doubles. He's played 34.9 minutes per game, which is the fourth-most in the NBA, so Cunningham is doing a bit of everything for the first-place Pistons.
4. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (+2000)
Points Per Game: 32.8 (1st) Assists Per Game: 8.6 (3rd) Rebounds Per Game: 7.8 (25th)
Luka Doncic leads the NBA in scoring at 32.8 points per game, which is the second-most of his career, plus he ranks top five this season in triple-doubles (6) and double-doubles (25). Doncic has missed 12 games so far and can only miss five more before he becomes ineligible to win MVP, which plays into his +2000 odds.
For the second time in his career, Doncic is averaging more than 10 three-pointers per game, but shooting his lowest percentage from deep since 2022-23 and fourth-lowest in his eight-year career. His 22.0 field goal attempts per game is tied for the second-most of his career and in the NBA this season, so Doncic is clearly option No. 1 in Los Angeles even with LeBron James and Austin Reaves having solid campaigns.
5. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (+3500)
Points Per Game: 24.4 (19th) Rebounds Per Game: 11.1 (5th) Blocks Per Game: 2.7 (1st)
Victor Wembanyama is having a fantastic season for the Spurs and is one of the few reasons why the NBA's All-Star Game was a success over the weekend. Wembanyama brought a competitive edge to the weekend and that's a big reason why the Spurs sit in second-place of the Western Conference at 38-16.
Wembanyama has missed 14 games this season, so the most he can play is 68, giving him three games to miss before he's ineligible to win a major award. While he's considered a long shot for MVP, Wemby is the frontrunner to win the Defensive Player of the Year at -320 odds. Wemby leads the NBA in blocks per game (2.7) and has offensive shooting splits of 51/36/81.
The 7-foot-4 alien is truly a one-of-one in this league and changing the game with how he impacts players' decisions around the rim and his ability to stretch the floor and shoot from anywhere. However, an MVP this year is unlikely, but next year, Wembanyama might be the best bet before the season starts depending how the Spurs' postseason run looks.
Honorable Mention
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (+5000)
Points Per Game: 29.3 (4th) Rebounds Per Game: 6.9 (40th) Assists Per Game: 4.7 (43rd)
The Boston Celtics finished the first half of the season 35-19, ranking second in the Eastern Conference behind only the Detroit Pistons. A large part of their success derives from Jaylen Brown who is posting career-highs without Jayson Tatum.
Brown averages a career-high 29.3 points per game this season (4th in the NBA) on 10.9 makes and 22.6 field goal attempts (both rank 1st), plus 48.3% from three, and 77.5% from the free-throw line. Brown's 6.9 rebounds per game is tied for the most in his career and if his 4.7 assists per game holds, that will be a career-best for Brown.
Unless Boston goes nuclear in the second-half of the season, steals the No. 1 seed, and Brown's numbers increase to something like 32/8/6, then he likely won't win MVP, but a top-five finish is very possible. Brown has never received a regular season MVP vote in his career, but this will be the year it happens. Tatum received MVP votes in each of the past four seasons, but it's Brown's turn.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
Erie SeaWolves catcher Thayron Liranzo works against the Harrisburg Senators on opening day at UPMC Park in Erie on April 4, 2025. | GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We’re pretty partial to FanGraphs here at Bless You Boys. They combine outstanding writing with all the statistics you could want to understand baseball and baseball players, and their subscription cost is extremly reasonable and has remained low for years now. They also have Eric Longenhagen, probably the most thorough analyst on the national prospect scene.
So, the drop of their spring top 100 prospects list is always a notable occasion. It doesn’t hurt that the Tigers’ farm system is pretty great at this point, either. What’s particularly nice, is that you can go over and read their extensive reports on each top 100 player without a paywall, though you will then be subject to the ad-based version of the sight, as you deserve!
Seriously, FanGraphs deserves subscribers.
But I digress…the Tigers have five prospects on FanGraphs new list of 50 FV or better top prospects in the game. They go 110 players deep this year rather than the arbitrary 100 player cutoff found eldwhere.
You won’t be surprised to find Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, Bryce Rainer, and Josue Briceño all made the list, but unlike a lot of other sites, FanGraphs still has Thayron Liranzo as a 50 FV prospect. Most of the national sites and a lot of local prospect coverage dumped Liranzo all the way down to the 45 and even 40+ tiers after a tough season in which he made the leap to Double-A full-time at age 21 and struck out 31.7 percent of the time, while looking very run down in the summer months and not playing that much behind the pate.
Personally, I kept Liranzo at 45+, just outside of top 100 level, knowing that he’d had some personal issues, and that a switch-hitting, 21-year-old catcher has an enormous workload and level of responsiblity compared to anyone else on the roster. Not only do they have their work behind the plate and plenty of extra drilling on framing, blocking, and throwing, but he’s also learning to hit upper level pitching from both sides of the plate rather than just one. That’s a lot for a player who was still younger than most of the 2025 draft class.
Evan Woodbery of MLive had a great article over the weekend detailing the difficulties of that season. That is paywalled, but the short version is that Liranzo’s long-time trainer, who was like a second father to him, died unexpectedly during the season, and fatigue really started crushing him in the second half of the season as the swing and miss piled up.
In the middle of the season, Liranzo’s longtime trainer, whom he considered a father figure, passed away. He dealt with family problems back home in the Dominican Republic. A shoulder injury limited him to designated hitter duty at times.
“All these things were affecting me, and I didn’t really know how to handle it,” he said. “It was my first time going through something like that, and I wasn’t having a good year on the field either. Everything kind of piled up on me, and I felt like I lost my head a little bit.”
The Tigers pushed him to get leaner over the offseason, and Liranzo got his diet sorted out and went all out on the strength and conditioning program laid out for him heading into the offseason. He lost a ton of weight, showing up to camp looking much leaner and stronger, it’s glaringly obvious in pictures from camp, and put plenty of work into refining his defensive game.
This is still a catcher who switch-hits and has double plus power hitting left-handed and a good eye from the strike zone. His power is closer to plus hitting right-handed. Reaching Double-A at age 21 is already a minor accomplishment, but particularly impressive with all the added demands on a catcher. This is still the guy who mauled Arizona Fall League pitching back in October of 2024, and he’s still four years younger than Dillon Dingler was when he finally estabished himself as an everyday big league catcher last year. The jump to the upper levels is no joke.
There is still plenty of swing and miss in the zone, and Liranzo does need to clean up some wasted motion in his swing mechanics to simplify his hand path. He’s probably always going to strike out quite a bit, but as a catcher and first baseman who walks and has 40 home run power, the risk in his hit tool is counterbalanced pretty nicely by his enormous potential. So, a high risk, high reward prospect, still 22 years old. He’s not McGonigle or Clark, but that’s a lot of young player as the fifth ranked prospect in the system. With luck, the Tigers will essentially get something like a switch-hitting Alex Avila who is better as a second catcher on a squad rather than the everyday guy.
McGonigle, interestingly, checks in as FanGraphs 5th ranked prospect after landing in the second spot on most other rankings. Clark is 7th, with both of them getting 60 FV grades. Shorstop Bryce Rainer is 23rd as a 55 FV prospect. Briceño comes it at 63rd with a 50 FV grade, while a pretty deep group of prospects in that 50 FV tier leaves Liranzo 105th out of 110 prospects graded 50 FV or higher.
Jose Urbina, RHP 20 | 6’3” | 180 A | 2.05 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 92.1 IP (19 GS), 26.4% K, 8.2% BB A+ | 2 ER (2 HR), 4.0 IP (1 GS), 5 K, 0 BB
Good pitchers grow and adjust, and Urbina has done that consistently at an age young for his level. Physically he has grown in strength, sitting at 96 with the fastball after flashing high octane in 2024, and technically he has grown, refining his dialed up slider and his two-plane curveball into complementary pitches — which lack plus command but are thrown with feel. He shouldered a starter’s workload at 19, and was awarded one additional start at High-A, where he allowed two solo shots and struck out five. Overall, the age, body, and body of work have him on the trajectory of top prospect lists in the near future.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
NA
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
NA
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
NA
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
NR
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
NA
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
NA
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
NA
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
NA
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
NA
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
NR
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
The push for Tre Morgan gained a seventh vote, but it was 2025’s Top Dog Urbina who made the leap this round. Will the similarly rated Baumeister be next, or will Morgan’s crew rally the support in the next round? This next round adds recent international signee Victor Valdez.
Elsewhere, FanGraphs dropped their Top-100 with Williams 28th, Hopkins 59th, and Forret 92nd (!).
Candidates
Jackson Baumeister, RHP 23 | 6’4” | 224 AA | 4.62 ERA, 4.15 FIP (15 GS) 62.1 IP, 19.5% K, 9.6% BB AFL | 6 ER (1 HR), 9.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS), 10 K, 9 BB
A shoulder injury derailed what should have been Baumeister’s coming out party, as his previously plus breaking ball was expected to carve up Double-A. After a tough start to the year and two months on the sidelines, Baumeister returned in August and salvaged the season with a brilliant finish. The tough luck continued, however, in the Arizona Fall League, where a line drive struck him in the head, but he escaped without significant injury. Currently, Baumeister has taken on a fastball/slutter profile, with a slow curve in his back pocket, and has shown teachability and pitchability over the years. The former Seminole currently thrives on his frequently used major league fastball that may be better challenged by a promotion to Triple-A.
Homer Bush Jr. 24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215 AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
OF Victor Mesa Jr. 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Morgan continued to hit without power in 2025, a great discouragement for some evaluators, but his present 50-grade hit tool and feel for the zone allow a major league projection. He continued his improved, quieter two-strike approach in 2025 that built on his success retooling his swing in the AFL last year. The Rays gave Morgan 14 starts in Left Field last season, and Baseball America called the defense “playable,” but his value is tied to his plus-plus defense at First.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. Rays internally gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify his five tool profile.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 6: Stuart Fairchild #17 of the Atlanta Braves catches a fly ball to end the seventh inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Truist Park on July 6, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With a new snippet of information, it’s time to examine what we might be able to infer about the Guardians’ outfield plans for 2026.
This weekend, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland dot com shared a quote from Guardians’ manager Stephen Vogt in which Vogt clarifies that David Fry is working exclusively as a catcher right now and will begin working at first base later in the spring, but that it wouldn’t be fair to expect him to play third base or right field, yet. Perhaps Fry works on getting back into playing shape for those positions during the season, but Vogt gave no indication whether or not this was the plan.
I had been assuming that part of David Fry’s presence on the roster was a return of his ability to play right field, so this is causing me to re-evaluate some roster projections. I don’t think there is really any chance the team will use one of Fry’s remaining options to send him to Columbus – he’s making the roster one way or another, if healthy. So, what does this mean for the remaining open spots?
The Established Spots: Catcher: Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges. First Base: Kyle Manzardo Second Base: Gabriel Arias or Brayan Rocchio Shortstop: Brayan Rocchio or Gabriel Arias Third Base: Jose Ramirez Left Field: Steven Kwan Designated Hitter, First Base and Third Catcher: David Fry
First, please stop imagining the team will play Kwan in center. They will not. We don’t have to understand it. We just have to accept it. Second, join me in accepting that barring an act of God, we will see Rocchio and Arias up the middle to start the season. I’m optimistic that either Juan Brito or Travis Bazzana or both will see time at second base this season, but, barring injury, it won’t be until May at the earliest. Accept it, get mad, grieve it, move on.
There are five roster spots remaining, then. One spot WILL go to a utility infielder who can play shortstop. That player is Daniel Schneemann, as Angel Martinez and Juan Brito are NOT shortstops. A breakout camp for Carter Kieboom could make him an option here, but that’s unlikely for a variety of reasons. Expect it to be Schneemann, who does bring some value here in that he can also play competently in any outfield position.
So, that means there are four roster spots remaining, including two empty spots at center field and right field currently. Let’s look at our primary candidates:
Left-Handers: Nolan Jones, Chase DeLauter, George Valera, CJ Kayfus, Petey Halpin, and Khalil Watson. Right-Handers: Stuart Fairchild and Johnathan Rodriguez. Switch-Hitters: Angel Martinez and potentially Juan Brito.
I think all indications are that Chase DeLauter will break camp with the team, if healthy. The big question is whether it will be as a center fielder or a right fielder. If the team is truly fine with the idea of playing DeLauter in center field, than I (perhaps delusionally) expect them to DFA Nolan Jones and pass him through waivers to get an extra “option” on him and stash him in Columbus in case of injury. Far more likely, however, is that the team plans for Jones as the primary centerfielder and DeLauter as the primary right fielder. So, let’s pencil that in: Jones for center field, DeLauter for right.
The team will have a right-handed bat on the bench who can play center field. It will either be Fairchild or Martinez. Given that Martinez has remaining options, I expect that Fairchild gets first crack at sticking on the roster since he is the only outfielder the team has added (thus far) this offseason. Now, the team DID add Jones late in spring training last season; maybe they have a plan to do something similar to add a right-handed hitting outfielder this spring training. I am open to the idea, Antonetti. Make it happen, cap’n. But, for now, Fairchild secures that fourth outfielder spot.
We are now at the most interesting battle of the spring, in my opinion. Assuming that Halpin and Watson continue to get seasoning in Columbus given their ages and option situations, we will have Kayfus, Rodriguez, Martinez and Brito competing for that 13th roster spot. I am curious how much we will see Brito in right field in Spring Training, given Fry cannot play there. Brito has hit left-handed pitching extremely well in the minors and I found him to look passable in right field (he has a decent arm). Currently, I think that choice would be the best option for a roster above that lacks punch against left-handed pitching. Brito also looks competent at first base, and can clearly play second base in a pinch. If Brito isn’t ready for that fielding work yet, I wonder if Martinez will get first crack given his lefty mashing so far.
It is undeniably a struggle to leave either Kayfus or Valera off this roster, let alone both. To be clear, if the team is willing to play DeLauter in center, then both Kayfus AND Valera can make the roster. Kayfus looked passable in right field, and Valera and he could get time there and at DH (with Kayfus also perhaps being a late-inning-replacement-with-a-lead at first base). However, there’s no doubt that this thirteenth roster spot SHOULD be a right-handed bat if possible, given the construction of the rest of the roster.
It’s also a possibility that the team deludes themselves into thinking Johnathan Rodriguez can play right field. I refuse to accept that will happen for the sake of my mental health. Rodriguez, then, is just David Fry insurance. He can bat at DH if Fry is hurt or ineffective. Until then, he hangs out with the Clippers.
So, my current projection for Guardians hitters on Opening Day (given health): C: Naylor and Hedges 1B: Manzardo and Fry MIF: Rocchio, Arias, and Schneemann 3B: Jose LF: Kwan CF: Jones and Fairchild RF: DeLauter and Martinez (or HOPEFULLY Brito)
But, what I WANT the Guardians to do is this: C: Naylor and Hedges 1B: Manzardo and Fry 2B: Bazzana (rip the band-aid off and let him do his thing!) SS: Rocchio UIF: Schneemann 3B: Jose LF: Kwan CF: DeLauter and Fairchild RF: Valera and Brito
Let us know your predictions and ponderings in the comments below!
