MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 29: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on November 29, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Turns out, Michael Porter Jr. isn’t the only Brooklyn Nets big currently garnering interest around the league. Jake Fischer reports Monday that “sources say that Toronto, in addition to calls on mid-tier centers like Dallas’ Daniel Gafford, has also expressed interest in Brooklyn’s Day’Ron Sharpe.”
Day’Ron continues to be one of the best bigs off the bench this season, currently averaging 21.9 points and a ludicrous 17.7 rebounds per 100 possessions.
There was also news — actually no news — on the Giannis Antetokounmpo front. As Brian Lewis reported exclusively, the the Brooklyn Nets pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo never … actually … began.
That’s what Lewis tweeted exclusively Monday afternoon….
I’m told the #Bucks haven’t received a call from Brooklyn about Giannis Antetokounmpo. I know there’s reporting to the contrary, and I can’t say say what the #Nets will do in the future; but as of now league sources say they haven’t called the Bucks. #nbahttps://t.co/guR4ya9Ghn
[A] highly placed league source familiar with the situation told The Post that — among the calls that the Bucks have fielded on the 31-year-old star — Brooklyn wasn’t among them as of Monday afternoon.
That of course runs counter to some early reporting that Brooklyn, which had long coveted the 6’11” Greek big man, would jump into the trade fray now that the Bucks are willing to listen to offers. As Lewis noted.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the most sought-after player at Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. But sources told The Post that — contrary to reports — the Nets haven’t called Milwaukee about the Greek superstar.
For years, Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks hoarded assets in case Antetokounmpo ever decided he wanted to leave Milwaukee and was made available.
The news follows word from Brian Windhorst that the Nets haven’t put Michael Porter Jr. on the market. MPJ, presumably would be a big piece in any Giannis trade Brooklyn would make. Not including him now would indicate that the 27-year-old is likely to be a part of Brooklyn’s long-term plan … or that they will wait til the summer to field offers.
Specifically, Jake Fischer reports that the Raps are pursuing size and although their top target is Donatas Sabonis, they have monitored Sharpe as well.
Toronto will continue to explore its options for an infusion of size. As we’ve reported many times, they have shown an interest in Sabonis for some time … while some in Anthony Davis’ camp still believe that the Raptors will pursue him. Sources say that Toronto, in addition to calls on mid-tier centers like Dallas’ Daniel Gafford, has also expressed interest in Brooklyn’s Day’Ron Sharpe.
The Raptors have all their first round picks through 2032 as well as all but one of their seconds..
The deadline of course is now three days away, Thursday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
STAVELY, Alberta (AP) — Three Southern Alberta Mustangs junior hockey players were killed Monday morning in a vehicle crash while heading to practice.
RCMP said it responded to the crash at an intersection with Highway 2 in Stavely — about an hour’s drive south of Calgary. JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso, both 18 and from Kamloops, British Columbia, and 17-year-old Caden Fine of Birmingham, Alabama, were killed.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, in a social media post, offered condolences to the players' families and teammates.
“The whole Alberta hockey family is standing with you in sorrow and in prayer,” Smith said. “In the days ahead, I know Albertans will wrap these families and this team in love and support as they navigate a pain no one should ever have to bear.”
RCMP said the crash involved a northbound semi truck pulling gravel and a small passenger vehicle going east. The driver of the semi, a 40-year-old man from Stavely, sustained minor injuries.
The U.S. Premier Hockey League team said on Facebook that it is working closely with authorities and is asking for privacy for the players' families.
“There are no words that can adequately express the depth of our grief," the team said. "These young men were more than hockey players — they were teammates, sons, brothers, friends, and deeply loved members of our Mustangs family and the communities we call home. We are a family, and today our family is hurting.”
At the town’s arena, three white and red jerseys with the last names of the players were draped over a table, along with three upright hockey sticks.
The Kamloops Minor Hockey Association said in a statement that Casorso and Wright grew up in the B.C. organization. Casorso played from 2012 to 2025 and Wright from 2011 to 2025.
“Although their journeys began here in Kamloops, they found a second hockey family and a new bond with the Southern Alberta Mustangs,” the statement said. “These three young men were teammates and friends to many. We are grieving together, as one hockey family forever changed by the loss of these young men.”
The Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League also offered support on social media: “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who knew them,” the team said.
News of the crash evoked memories of another deadly crash involving a junior hockey team.
In April 2018, 16 people were killed and 13 injured when a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League crashed. The team had been on its way to a playoff game when a semi truck went through a stop sign and into the path of the bus at a rural intersection near Tisdale, Saskatchewan.
The mayor of Humboldt expressed condolences to the Alberta team on Facebook.
“We stand with your community as you mourn this tragic loss, and our thoughts are with all those affected,” Mayor Rob Muench said.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Alex Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 03, 2025 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Wizards 119-102. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the New York Knicks tomorrow night. Let’s get to the preview.
Game info
When: Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Tre Johnson (ankle), Tristan Vukcevic (hamstring), Trae Young (knee, quad) and Cam Whitmore (shoulder) are out. Anthony Gill is day-to-day.
For the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson (ankle), Miles McBride (ankle) and Kevin McCullar are out.
What to watch for
The Wizards kicked off February on the right note with a win against the Sacramento Kings last Sunday. The Knicks will be a much tougher opponent to beat tomorrow night, however. They have won six straight, with their most recent win coming against the Los Angeles Lakers last Sunday.
Hopefully, Washington won’t be caught flatfooted like they were against the Lakers last Friday. Let’s see how things shape up as we head toward the NBA Trade Deadline as well.
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 1: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns. looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on February 1, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have been off to a terrific start with already 30 wins under their belt before the All-Star Break. This is a complete 180 compared to last year, as this version of the Suns is viewed as one of the best underdog stories, whereas last year, they were one of the biggest failures. That being said, the Suns have dealt with injuries just like in past years, but have powered through with the depth pieces rising.
One of those big standouts is Dillon “The Villain” Brooks, who has been a massive piece to the Suns’ success this year.
Brooks has come up clutch multiple times for this team, taking over when he needs to be the major x factor on offense. In a recent game, we just saw the proof of this as Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Collin Gillespie were all out against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. What did Brooks do? Well, he dropped a career-high 40 points and routed them by almost 20 points.
Even with all this positive talk and endorsement from fans and players on the squad, Brooks was still snubbed of an All-Star appearance this year. This has left many fans, including myself, confused about how this could have occurred.
"Tell everybody, we have two All-Stars on the team! This man is an All-Star"
Collin Gillespie speaking the TRUTH after Dillon Brooks' career night against the Pistons 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/qdcqXdTupa
Luckily, the Suns were at least represented with Devin Booker making it, but this still does not fill the void left by Brooks’ not being there. As I stated earlier, he has come up huge for this team and has been the second or third option on most nights this year. Just look at his recent stats while Booker has been out, with Green sporadically playing as well.
Dillon Brooks over the last 4 games:
29.8 PPG 4.5 RPG 3.0 APG 1.3 SPG 1.0 BPG 56.8% FG 47.6% 3P 89.3% FT 31.9 MPG
Even with his awe-inspiring numbers as of late, he has been helping this team win all season long. For someone who was viewed as a throw-in in the Kevin Durant trade, he has changed that narrative, becoming the most valuable piece from that deal so far. This season, he is averaging some career-high numbers. In 31 minutes, he averages 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.2 blocks while shooting 45/36/86 from the field. An efficient shooting season while being a leader on both ends clearly captures how much he means to this team.
So, how did he not make it, you may be asking? Well, as we can see, this was the list of other reserves from the Western Conference.
2026 NBA Western Conference All-Star Reserves:
Anthony Edwards (MIN) Jamal Murray (DEN) Chet Holmgren (OKC) Kevin Durant (HOU) Devin Booker (PHX) Deni Avdija (POR) LeBron James (LAL)
Even with Brooks not making it, there were a lot of snubs from the Western Conference. Depending on who you ask, they will give a different name, but with it being in Los Angeles at the Intuit Dome, I would have expected a Clipper to make it with their success as of late. Regardless of that, to me, there is a clear person Brooks could have replaced.
Now, this is no hate on that person, but this year it is clear they are not an All-Star and only got the bid for legacy’s sake, and it is LeBron James. James, who was out to start the season, is having an impressive year 23 for sure, but not one that is clearly better than Brooks. He also is not helping the impact of winning on that team, compared to Brooks for the Suns.
That is why it stings most, because of how much Brooks has meant to the success of this Suns team. He has played in a majority of their games, missing only six so far this season, and every time he is needed, he steps up to deliver. It does not matter on which side of the ball it is; he always has the fighting energy to contribute and make a difference. With that fuel, he powers not only for himself but this team as well to make a difference on both ends.
Brooks was so impactful in fact that he earned Western Conference player of the week, for his tremendous play. This is just more proof that he has been a leader who has stepped up countless times for the squad’s success. He is the definition of someone you want on your team and someone you would hate to go against.
So even if Dillon is not an All-Star and is not going to be represented, he is still an All-Star to me in my heart. He has helped the Suns change their narrative this year by proving those doubters and haters wrong. That is the best fuel for this team to continue succeeding, especially Brooks, who never backs down.
The White Sox might really get a kick out of having David Sandlin in their rotation this summer. | (Photo by Ella Hannaford/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Rejoice! It’s February! That means baseball will be back before the month is over, and I’ll finally write about something besides “Hey, look at this young arm!”
Unfortunately, Spring Training is still weeks away. Respite still eludes you, South Side Sox stan. The Pale Hose have another arm you haven’t heard of, Daniel Sandlin, and I’m going to tell you all about him. (At least he’ll stick around for longer than Ryan Rolison.
The trade represents a lateral move for Sandlin’s organization ranking: FanGraphs has Sandlin as the ninth best prospect in the White Sox system, which was just about the consensus for him with the Red Sox. His big-ticket trait is velocity: at 6’4’’ and 215 pounds, Sandlin was topping out at 99.9 mph in September. The steady velocity – he sits around 96mph – has kept the door open for Sandlin to start in the majors, despite being transitioned into the bullpen at Triple A this past season. In the video below, a June 21 Double-A start, you can see how easily Sandlin can overpower an opposing lineup when he’s locating his fastball at the top of the zone:
FanGraphs also has good things to say about Sandlin’s cutter and slider, calling both pitches “nasty and fairly distinct from one another.” A sinker/sweeper combo rounds out his standard five-pitch mix, although he has a curveball he’ll mix in on occasion. Sandlin also threw a changeup last year. No, literally. He threw one changeup:
However, I’d wager the remainder of Luis Robert Jr.‘s contract that Sandlin is going to be throwing a lot more changeups … what’s that? Apologies, dear reader, but I’m now being told all that money actually has been spent? No kidding? Huh. Well then, I guess I’d wager the remainder of Andrew Benintendi’s contract? Regardless, if Sandlin’s going to win a spot in the White Sox rotation, he’ll need to get comfortable with a changeup, and quick.
At this point in time, Sandlin’s has a two-part plan for approaching lefthanders. The first part is to throw the ball, and the second part is to pray:
2025 Splits (Combined Double-A and Triple-A) vs. Righties: .225 BA, .343 SLG, .649 OPS, .289 BABIP vs. Lefties: .285 BA, .430 SLG, .772 OPS, .358 BABIP
Back to FanGraphs, who came through in the clutch with an updated 2026 report today: “[Sandlin] still doesn’t have a great offspeed pitch with which to attack lefties … [he] peppers the top of the zone with cutters and sliders before elevating his fastball with two strikes.”
If you’re throwing your breaking pitches up in the zone to get ahead against opposite-side hitters, it doesn’t take much imagination to picture what could happen if that slider hangs just a little, or that cutter comes out a little flat, or even if he just misses his spot a couple inches low. The French refer to it as “Bang City.”
If you’ve read a single thing I’ve published on this site before — not a guarantee, I realize! — you already know what I’m going to say, and you’re probably pissed off that you’ve read 500 words just to realize this is yet another article about the kick changeup and how I think it’s a magical pitch that fixes everybody. But I’m not even the first to bring it up this time!
“The White Sox have had recent success coaxing better changeups out of pitchers with naturally-good breaking balls,” FanGraphs concludes in their prospect report, “and perhaps they’ll be able to do that with Sandlin.”
And I’d say the evidence is there! Sandlin has a very strong supinator profile. His Achilles’ heel, for him and many supinators, is a lack of arm-side options against opposite-handed hitters.
To flatten out his pitching splits, Sandlin’s going to need something. This is the magic of the kick change: no unfamiliar arm mechanics or discomfort. The platonic ideal of the kick change isn’t just its effectiveness, but how quickly somebody can pick it up and add it to their arsenal. For Sandlin, it is also the difference between a major league starter versus a middle reliever.
Dominick Barlow had the game of his NBA life Monday night.
The 22-year-old forward was tremendous in the opening contest of the Sixers’ five-game West Coast road trip, a 128-113 win over the Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Barlow had a career-high 26 points and a career-best 16 rebounds. Ten of those boards were offensive.
Tyrese Maxey posted 29 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Joel Embiid scored 24 points.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard recorded 29 points and six assists.
On the second night of a back-to-back, the 23-26 Clippers’ absences included James Harden (personal reasons) and Derrick Jones Jr. (right ankle sprain).
The 28-21 Sixers will visit the Warriors on Tuesday night and aim for a fifth consecutive win. Here are observations on their victory vs. the Clippers:
Brilliant Barlow start
Maxey hit two early three-pointers in a row and scored an extremely efficient 16 first-quarter points, shooting 4 for 6 from the floor.
Barlow was also outstanding. The Sixers seemed to beat the Clippers to every contested ball in the first quarter and Barlow’s energy was everywhere. While the Sixers are obviously a better, more well-rounded team with George, Barlow’s shown he shouldn’t be viewed as a last-ditch starting option.
The two-way contract player (for now) has started 32 times this season and frequently fit well by doing the dirty work alongside the Sixers’ stars. On Monday, Barlow earned a major chunk of the spotlight. He had two put-back buckets, an and-one layup in transition and a chase-down block on Leonard in the first quarter. All told, Barlow posted 11 points and seven boards in the opening period. The Sixers raced to an 18-2 lead.
Especially with Harden out, it was no surprise that the Sixers’ defense constantly slanted toward Leonard. He missed his first five field goals and the Sixers held Los Angeles to 19 points in the first quarter.
Sixers turn to three-guard look
Jared McCain swished a three on his first shot of the night. He played in a three-guard lineup with VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes to begin the second quarter.
Edgecombe was scoreless until he made two free throws with 9:10 left in the second, but he looked good at point guard and threw several sharp passes in a seven-assist outing.
Grimes’ first points were of the highlight variety. He exploded for a big dunk on John Collins that the Sixers’ sideline enjoyed.
The Clippers eventually found some success in the second quarter as Leonard and his teammates adjusted to the Sixers’ many double teams. Leonard had a 5-for-5 stretch and the Clippers made a 9-0 run to cut their deficit to 58-44.
No trouble going wire to wire
Coming off of a 40-point performance vs. New Orleans, Embiid shot 2 for 10 from the floor in the first half. Edgecombe had a very cold shooting game and finished 1 for 11.
Embiid made four throws over the last minute of the second quarter and got into a typical scoring groove in the third. The Sixers still couldn’t turn the game into a no-doubt blowout. They left Jordan Miller free for a wide-open dunk late in the third quarter and head coach Nick Nurse asked for a timeout.
Grimes and McCain both stalled the Clippers’ momentum by knocking down threes in the the closing stages of the third quarter. However, McCain committed a turnover on the Sixers’ last possession of the third and Miller’s subsequent layup trimmed the Sixers’ lead to 100-87.
Barlow reached his career high in satisfying fashion with 8:23 left in the fourth quarter, converting an and-one lefty layup seconds after he’d grabbed an offensive board. He sunk a long-range jumper on the Sixers’ next trip, too.
The Clippers weren’t nearly precise enough in the fourth quarter to pull off a massive comeback. L.A. never led and the Sixers kept a double-digit advantage. Following two straight Leonard missed free throws, Maxey drilled a step-back three. He was able to soak in the final three minutes and change from the bench.
San Diego Padres Joe Musgrove (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Major League Baseball’s offseason is coming to an end. It is time to take your bats, balls, and glove out of storage because Spring Training is fast upon us. The San Diego Padres’ postseason hopes rest on a resurgent Joe Musgrove leading them to October baseball.
Spring Training is where pitchers want to ramp up their offseason workouts, but the Padres need some assurance that Musgrove is healthy to begin the regular season on the active roster.
Musgrove is an essential part of the rotation
He missed the entire 2025 campaign recovering from Tommy John surgery. Arm injuries limited his workload the prior season, as Musgrove finished with a 6-5 record, 3.88 ERA in 19 starts. The right-hander’s season prematurely ended in the postseason, as Musgrove pitched 3.2 innings before leaving his start against the Atlanta Braves with elbow discomfort in the Wild Card round.
You cannot argue with his career success. Musgrove registered a 3.73 ERA with a 23.9% strikeout rate and 6.0% base-on-balls rate in 180 starts. He utilizes a six-pitch repertoire, as his sinker averages over 90 MPH, which sets up the four-seam fastball (93 MPH) to get batters out.
Friars skipper Craig Stammen has reiterated that he does not foresee implementing an innings limit on Musgrove. However, he will monitor how he feels after each start and determine if Musgrove needs extra recovery time before his next appearance on the mound.
Starting pitching depth is hard to find
The Friars are searching for starting pitching depth, as they need to take a cautious approach with several starters. Michael King, Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez, JP Sears, Triston McKenzie, and newly signed Marco Gonzales are expected to see time in the starting rotation this season. Several in this group carry their own injury issues.
King spent the majority of last season on the injury list, which limited him to 15 starts. All eyes will be on him during his throwing sessions at the start of Spring Training. The organization is optimistic that King will return to form in 2026.
Gonzales spent last season recovering from surgery that placed an internal brace to repair the flexor tendon in his left forearm. The injury limited him to 17 combined starts in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The latest procedure was the third surgery on Gonzales’ troublesome arm. If he makes the major league roster, the coaching staff will monitor the amount of innings-pitched all summer long.
It is undecided if Musgrove will begin the 2026 season on the Opening Day roster, as the Padres will monitor his progress during Cactus League appearances. They need to build up his arm strength before Musgrove makes his regular season debut.
It may be disappointing not to see him pitch in the opening series at Petco Park, but the goal is to keep Musgrove healthy all season long.
It marked Detroit’s largest margin of victory in franchise history.
It wasn’t just a typical blowout.
The Nets appeared to silently quit.
This brand of losing is starting to take a toll.
“Man, we just got to learn from it. We just can’t keep getting beat by 50 though,” Nic Claxton said after the loss. “It’s really demoralizing as a group for us. We got to come together and figure out ways to, at least, keep the games closer.”
The Nets are in another rebuilding season with a young squad after using a league record five first-round picks in the 2025 draft.
The front office has made its tanking mission known from the beginning.
“We spent all of our [2025] picks — we had five first-round draft picks this past summer. We have one pick in 2026, and we hope to get a good pick,” team owner Joe Tsai said in October. “So you can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season.”
Jordi Fernández looks on during the Nets’ Feb. 1 loss to the Pistons. Imagn Images
Losing has not necessarily been the problem during their 13-35 season.
They currently find themselves fourth in the race for the bottom, with the hope of having favorable odds to land the No. 1 pick.
However, what the Nets have done the last two weeks is a different level of losing.
Prior to their humiliation in Detroit, the Nets were embarrassed by the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 21, losing by 54 points, 120-66.
It was the biggest margin of victory in Knicks history while the Nets earned the lowest-scoring effort in the entire NBA this season.
The Nets attempt to grab a rebound during their Feb. 1 loss to the Pistons. Imagn Images
Four days later, the Clippers beat Brooklyn by 37 points.
There’s losing and then there’s this — utter embarrassment.
“It’s not just that you don’t play consistently hard, it’s then you quit and we cannot allow that,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “It starts with me, gotta create habits, we’ve done it. We’ve done it well. Even in this game you can say the way we started playing basketball, we were trying to match their physicality and play the right way and find ways to score. From there, it was a complete fall down. So, obviously this one hurts. Gotta help them be better.”
After a 5-0 run in the final seconds against the Knicks bench, the Nets were spared from the worst defeat in franchise history — a 59-point thrashing at the hands of the Clippers last season on Jan. 15.
Going into the season, the second-worst Nets blowout loss was by 52 points in Houston on Oct. 18, 1978.
The losses to the Knicks and Pistons, however, have surpassed the mark to make up the top three of the Nets worst losses in franchise history.
“We found ways to get good shots early on and then we couldn’t. We couldn’t match that, and then it was from frustration to whatever you want to call it,” Fernández added. “It’s forgetting what you’re supposed to do. So, we’ll run it back. We’ll hold [our team] accountable, we’ll give them a hug, whatever the case may be. [We have to] go out there and play better than this.”
For a team that was 7-4 in December with the top defensive rating across the league (105.4) during that span, this is likely not the kind of tank job the Nets leadership had in mind.
It will be on Fernández to guide his young team after a shameful two weeks.
We are getting close to the point where our Top 100 Prospect countdown crashes into the Prospect Vote, so we may not have too many more rounds to go here.
This time around, we determined a winner while one player on our ballot was DFAd (Jairo Iriarte) and a recent winner (Gage Ziehl) was dealt away. For now, we will keep Jairo on the ballot, but if his is claimed elsewhere we’ll add two players next go-round.
In very tight voting, Marcelo Alcala eked out the win, earning 8 of 44 (18%) votes:
The tight race among Alcala, Diaz and Schweitzer yielded the lowest share of the vote for a winner yet, at 18.18%. This was Alcala’s first time on our ballot.
Past No. 34s in the SSS Top Prospect Vote 2025 Voting lasted only 31 rounds 2024 Abraham Núñez (33%) 2023 Voting lasted only 24 rounds 2022 Voting lasted only 17 rounds 2021 Kodi Medeiros (23%) 2020 Alec Hansen (32%) 2019 Luis Curbelo (25%) 2018 Jameson Fisher (28%)
Alcala is the 15th hitter of 34 players to advance, as well as the third center fielder:
Left fielder Caden Connor, who traversed three levels of the White Sox minors in 2025, joins the ballot for this round.
South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2026
Alexander Albertus Third Baseman Age 21 2025 high level Arizona Complex League (Rookie) Age relative to high level +0.4 years Overall 2025 stats 8 games ▪️ 0 HR ▪️ 2 RBI ▪️ .333/.520/.444 ▪️ 3-of-3 (100.0%) SB ▪️ 6 BB ▪️ 3 K ▪️ 1.000 FLD%▪️ 0.3 WAR
What can you say further about Albertus? He seems to have great tools but an uncanny ability to stay off of the field (just eight games in a season-plus in the White Sox system). In 2025, he was assigned to Kannapolis but was … wait for it … injured. He lasted just eight games of ACL rehab before hitting the IL-60 again.
Aldrin Batista Right-Handed Starting Pitcher Age 22 2025 SSS Prospect Vote ranking 6 2025 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level -1.2 years Overall 2025 stats 2-0 ▪️ 7 games (2 starts) ▪️ 14 IP ▪️ 5.79 ERA ▪️ 17 K ▪️ 7 BB ▪️ 1.429 WHIP ▪️-1.2 WAR
Batista was our No. 6-voted player in last year’s poll and top righthander — and then disaster struck, as he started the third Dash game of the season on April 6 and then was out more than four months with a stress fracture in his right (pitching) elbow. His return in late August was iffy, with three poor relief appearances of five. But he ended the season with a scoreless (two-inning) “opener” start, which hopefully reverses the curse for 2026.
Ryan Burrowes Second Baseman Age 21 2024 SSS Prospect Vote ranking 23 2025 SSS Prospect Vote ranking N/R 2025 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level -2.0 years Overall 2025 stats (Low-A/High-A) 111 games ▪️ 6 HR ▪️ 39 RBI ▪️ .255/.342/.355 ▪️ 47-of-53 (88.7%) SB ▪️ 39 BB ▪️ 110 K ▪️ .976 FLD%▪️ 1.1 WAR
It feels like Burrowes has been around forever, and he’s still only 21 years old (and playing at a level significantly younger than his age). His first taste of High-A ball went pretty well, as his baserunning seems to have no trouble translating at any level. The hit tool is solid, although he continues to struggle with contact — a no-no for a speed-over-power guy.
Caden Connor Left Fielder Age 25 2025 high level Charlotte (AAA) Age relative to high level -2.3 years Overall 2025 stats (High-A/AA/AAA) 126 games ▪️ 7 HR ▪️ 64 RBI ▪️ .272/.358/.366 ▪️ 13-of-16 (81.3%) SB ▪️ 60 BB ▪️ 81 K ▪️ .982 FLD%▪️ 1.9 WAR
Like Ryan Galanie, it’s hard to know what to make of Connor. The end of the 2025 season, at Charlotte, marked the first time in his pro career that he’s not played old for his level. But aside from a dip in July, Connor hit well all season and didn’t get dunked underwater at Charlotte. Theoretically with a weak White Sox outfield, the sky’s the limit for him in 2026.
Reudis Diaz Right-handed relief pitcher Age 20 2025 high level ACL (Rookie) Age relative to high level -2.1 years Overall 2025 stats 1-1 ▪️ 1 SV▪️ 21 games (4 finishes) ▪️ 27 2/3 IP ▪️ 2.28.ERA ▪️ 18 K ▪️ 8 BB ▪️ 1.084 WHIP ▪️1.2 WAR
Who? You’re forgiven for being unfamiliar with an extremely young arm who hasn’t yet gotten out of rookie ball, but our No. 77 prospect a year ago (then a starter, repeating the DSL and killing it) made a successful adjustment Stateside. He’ll return to starting in 2026, likely getting his feet wet in Arizona and getting a promotion to Low-A in the second half of the season.
Ryan Galanie First Baseman Age 25 2025 high level Birmingham (AA) Age relative to high level +1.3 years Overall 2025 stats (High-A/AA) 119 games ▪️ 11 HR ▪️ 94 RBI ▪️ .276/.327/.422 ▪️ 14-of-17 (82.4%) SB ▪️ 35 BB ▪️ 79 K ▪️ .995 FLD%▪️ 1.1 WAR
It’s been a slow but steady climb for this 13th-rounder in 2023. The good news here is, with the caveat that Galanie has always competed older than his level, Galanie has found some footing. While his power/slugging numbers are merely OK, he drove in 94 runs in 2025. He disappeared a bit in the playoffs for Birmingham (just four hits in six games, with five walks as well) but started every game in the march to a second consecutive Southern League title for the Barons.
Jairo Iriarte Right-Handed Relief Pitcher Age 24 2025 SSS Top Prospect Vote Ranking 19 2025 high level Charlotte (AAA) Age relative to high level -4.3 years Overall 2025 stats (Rookie/AAA) 3-3▪️ 1 SV ▪️ 37 games (5 starts, 9 finishes) ▪️ 48 IP ▪️ 7.13 ERA ▪️ 50 K ▪️ 37 BB ▪️ 1.917 WHIP ▪️ -0.8 WAR
The 2025 season was an utter disaster for Iriarte, who went from prospective South Side rotation member to lost in space. The righty, who made his brief debut in the majors in 2024, both lost the plate and misplaced his strikeout power. The Brian Bannister Pitching Lab has its work cut out here, for sure.
Javier Mogollón Shortstop Age 20 2025 high level Kannapolis (Low-A) Age relative to high level -1.4 years Overall 2025 stats 51 games ▪️ 5 HR ▪️ 19 RBI ▪️ .220/.347/.387 ▪️ 15-of-21 (71.4%) SB ▪️ 30 BB ▪️ 56 K ▪️ .971 FLD%▪️ 1.0 WAR
An ascending star just one year ago, we have to tap the breaks a bit on Mogollón after a lackluster first full season of minors ball. While still young for his level and managing to keep his head above water in a new league every season of his career, Mogollón’s undeniable hitting in Rookie ball fell off significantly with the Cannon Ballers. However, how much of that was due to battling injury is undetermined, as Mogollón was shelved for what turned out to be the season on July 2.
Yobal Rodriguez Right-Handed Starting Pitcher Age18 2025 high levelDSL White Sox (Rookie) Age relative to high level -1.5 years Overall 2025 stats0-3 ▪️ 13 games (10 starts) ▪️ 30 1/3 IP ▪️2.97 ERA ▪️ 33 K ▪️ 13 BB ▪️ 1.022 WHIP ▪️ 1.2 WAR
Rodriguez is a rare DSL pitcher, not for his relatively light innings load, but as a primary starter — and at just 17 years old (Yobal turns 18 on February 9). Inasmuch as it’s tough to project anyone out of the DSL, especially pitchers, you could hardly have hoped for more from him in his pro debut.
Tyler Schweitzer Left-Handed Starting Pitcher Age25 2025 high levelCharlotte (AAA) Age relative to high level -3.3 years Overall 2025 stats (AA/AAA) 8-2 ▪️ 27 games (10 starts) ▪️ 99 2/3 IP ▪️4.61 ERA ▪️ 81 K ▪️ 41 BB ▪️ 1.344 WHIP ▪️ 0.8 WAR
Schweitzer relieved in most of his games in 2025, but he remains a starter in our eyes given he was consistently paired with Tanner McDougal in Birmingham Barons starts. And in Birmingham, Schweitzer was divine: 1.27 ERA that included a long scoreless streak leading to a Charlotte promotion, 0.946 WHIP. However, everything the southpaw did as a Baron, he undid as a Knight (7.92 ERA, 1.740 ERA). While other gilded arms (Drew Thorpe, Grant Taylor) get to skip Charlotte entirely, Schweitzer was not so lucky. And that luck could prevent him from ever seeing the majors.
Round 24 of voting was the last of 2023 (we did not do an actual wrap for the voting, but Jordan Sprinkle ended up being our final pick), and the full archive.
Nov 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić (77) moves the ball against Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images | Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
The Lakers always find themselves near the center of trade rumors regardless of the state of the team or the situation.
This year, there’s plenty of reason for them to be surrounded by rumors. A flawed roster and a competitive Western Conference have upped the pressure on the Lakers to make a move.
Will that pressure lead to a trade actually being made? It feels unlikely, both because of a lack of trade assets and a barren market. And with two targets in Keon Ellis and De’Andre Hunter already being dealt, it slimmed the market even more.
So, let’s dive into the latest updates on those available, unavailable and the expectations of the Lakers in coming days.
Backing off De’Andre Hunter
The Lakers were involved, to some degree, with Hunter before he was dealt to the Kings in a truly confounding move. The interest may have been real at the start, but once the asking price was revealed, the Lakers backed away.
On Monday, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints revealed that the trade package of Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht in which the Cavs were asking for was too much without getting more in return.
The Lakers had been going back and forth on a package that would’ve involved Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht being traded for Hunter. The idea of including at least one other team had come up in discussions between the Cavs and Lakers, with the Brooklyn Nets being mentioned by league sources as a team willing to take on salary for draft picks.
Although the Lakers did hold a level of interest in Hunter’s skills as a 3-and-D wing, the idea of flipping Hachimura and Knecht for him without receiving any additional assets or draft compensation for the final year of Hunter’s contract was viewed as a negative. This resulted in Los Angeles taking a step back in discussions with Cleveland.
There were rumors of the Lakers being interested in the Nic Claxton of the Nets, so perhaps a framework of a deal that saw them get Hunter and Claxton is something they were seeking. However, with Brooklyn ultimately not being involved in the deal, it appears there wasn’t much traction there with Cleveland or the Nets.
No traction on Andrew Wiggins
Over the summer, Andrew Wiggins was someone connected with the Lakers, though a deal never felt particularly close. However, with the Lakers not having anything more appealing to offer and the Heat eyeing a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal, Siegel also reported that nothing is close.
Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Lakers are now pressed for time to find a key wing upgrade before the trade deadline, now that Keon Ellis and De’Andre Hunter are off the table. Where do the Lakers go from here with all of their expiring salaries?
Despite continued interest in Andrew Wiggins, the Heat don’t appear to have interest in anything the Lakers have offered.
There is a small possibility the Lakers could get involved in a Heat-Bucks deal for Giannis that re-routes Wiggins to LA, but it would likely require a first rounder, which doesn’t feel likely.
Asking price for Naji Marshall
The last name mentioned by Siegel is yet another player previously linked to the Lakers…and Luka Dončić, for that matter. Naji Marshall is a player who has excelled in Dallas and, at least originally, alongside Luka. Naturally, he makes sense alongside Luka in Los Angeles, but the Mavs have a high asking price for him, according to Siegel.
Naji Marshall is another player being linked to Los Angeles, among other playoff contenders, but Dallas has held a high asking price of a first-round pick for the 28-year-old wing. The Mavs don’t appear eager to trade Marshall over the likes of Gafford, Thompson, and others.
Everyone sure loves to seek out first round picks for everything. At least with Marshall, it makes a bit of sense as he’s guaranteed for a relatively low salary next season, too. But not everyone is worth a first round pick, guys.
Unlikely to make a move
Taking all that into account, it’s probably not a surprise that the belief is the Lakers will do nothing. On Monday morning, Brian Windhorst of ESPN spoke on “Get Up!” about the team’s current negotiations (h/t The Lakers Review/Twitter).
“The trade talks that they have had have largely been offering their expiring contracts. They haven’t been willing to include much of future draft picks or taking on future money. They are basically spinning their wheels waiting to rebuild this team around Luka Dončić.”
Prior to that, he gave his own thoughts on what he expects the team to do at the trade deadline, which is not much.
“I don’t think so because I think you really look and read what the Lakers have actually done over the last months, they’ve been leaning towards retrofitting their team in the summer of 2026…That is when they will get access to three first round picks to trade. Right now, they’re only permitted to trade one.”
Having said all that, this front office is very insulated and, traditionally, very quiet about its actual intentions. Sometimes that results in a shocking trade like Luka, but often that’s meant the team quietly does nothing.
We’re just days away from finding out which way it goes this season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have activated defenseman Ryan Graves from injured reserve.
Graves has not played for the Penguins since their Jan. 21 contest against the Calgary Flames with an upper-body injury. However, now that he has been activated off injured reserve, he is officially an option for the Penguins again.
Graves has appeared in 19 games this season with Pittsburgh, where he has recorded one goal, 15 hits, 35 blocks, and a minus-2 rating. The 6-foot-5 defenseman also has two goals, seven assists, nine points, and a plus-6 rating in 13 games this season with the Penguins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
In 150 games over three seasons with the Penguins, Graves has recorded five goals, 14 assists, 19 points, 162 hits, 250 blocks, and a minus-7 rating.
Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators incoming general manager Barry Trotz announces the twenty fourth pick in round one of the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Barry Trotz is retiring as general manager of the Nashville Predators after just under three years on the job but will stay on through the March 6 NHL trade deadline and until a successor is found, playing a role in that process.
Trotz, 63, said Monday he informed majority owner Bill Haslam in December that he intended to step away when his contract expired at the end of the 2026-27 season. The decision is not health-related, and Trotz is expected to remain with the organization as an adviser through that time.
“After some discussion, we elected to begin a search for my replacement now, but I am happy to work in my current role until we make a new hire, however long that might be,” Trotz said.
Haslam aims to have a new GM in place by the draft in late June. He downplayed any disagreement between ownership and Trotz that led to this plan.
“This is about Barry making a life decision and then us together,” Haslam said at a news conference announcing the change. “This has nothing to do with any disagreement with Barry or a reflection of where we are or are not as a team.”
Coach Andrew Brunette told reporters he learned Monday morning that Trotz was stepping down.
“I guessed I was as surprised as everybody else,” Brunette said. “Wasn’t expecting that today.”
Trotz took over control of hockey operations from longtime GM David Poile in the summer of 2023. The Predators made the playoffs the following season after Trotz fired coach John Hynes and hired Brunette to replace him.
After spending $100 million in free agency to sign Stanley Cup champions Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei on July 1, 2024, set expectations high, they were one of the league’s biggest disappointments with 52 losses in 82 games and nowhere close to playoff contention.
“Our goal is to build an organization to win a Stanley Cup and not just make the playoffs,” Trotz said. “That’s been my goal since being here.”
Nashville is in the mix past the midway point of this season but appears to be an organization at a crossroads since Haslam became majority owner last summer. Stamkos still has two years left beyond this one on his contract at a salary cap hit of $8 million, Skjei four more at $7 million and Marchessault three more at $5.5 million.
They and center Ryan O’Reilly are all in their 30s and could be potential trade chips ahead of the deadline or in the offseason.
Whoever follows Trotz could have some big decisions to make on those players and others, pending how he approaches buying, selling or standing pat, along with Brunette and his staff. The core of franchise goaltender Juuse Saros, captain Roman Josi and top forward Filip Forsberg is signed for the foreseeable future, providing a foundation that could win again sooner than later with the right moves around them.
Trotz’s second act with the Predators was much shorter than his first, when he coached them from their inception in 1998 through 2014, bringing respectability and relevancy to an expansion team playing in a so-called nontraditional market. He moved on to Washington and was behind the bench when the Capitals won the Cup in 2018 and spent four seasons coaching the New York Islanders before returning to Nashville.
“At a time when many were questioning Sun Belt expansion, Barry, together with David Poile, established the Nashville Predators as a model NHL franchise,” Predators CEO Sean Henry said. “More recently, Barry has spent nearly three years working tirelessly as our general manager to position the Predators for several years of success, ensuring the organization has all the necessary tools in place to build a long-term winner in today’s NHL, placing an emphasis on the welfare of every player in our system.”
Shortstop Walt Weiss (TOP) of the Atlanta Braves completes a double play over Tino Martinez of the New York Yankees 23 October 1999 during game one of the 1999 World Series at Turner Field in Atlanta, GA. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/DON EMMERT (Photo by Don EMMERT / AFP) (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
