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Dodgers cut Anthony Banda to make room for catcher Ben Rortvedt

All winter, the Dodgers have been dealing with a 40-man roster crunch.

On Friday, it led to a notable shake-up in their organizational depth chart.

First, recent free-agent infield signing Andy Ibáñez was reportedly claimed off waivers by the Athletics, after he was designated for assignment earlier in the week. Then, the team announced a waiver claim of its own, re-acquiring catcher Ben Rortvedt from the Reds while designating reliever Anthony Banda for assignment in a corresponding move.

Anthony Banda #43 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo during the 2025 World Series photoshoot at the Rogers Centre on Thursday, October 23, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. MLB Photos via Getty Images

The transactions provide some clarity about how the fringes of the team’s opening day roster could look when the season begins next month.

They also mark the departures (or, in Banda’s case, likely departure) of two players who were once expected to be big-league contributors for the two-time defending World Series champions this year –– as well as the return of an unexpected hero from last year’s postseason run.

It was only three weeks ago that the Dodgers signed Ibáñez to a $1.2 million free-agent contract. His addition was supposed to help bolster the club’s infield depth this spring, with second baseman Tommy Edman uncertain for opening day coming off an offseason ankle surgery.

However, Ibáñez was DFA’d this week when the team re-claimed outfielder Michael Siani off waivers from the Yankees (Siani had originally been claimed off waivers by the Dodgers earlier this offseason, but was DFA’d as the corresponding move for Kyle Tucker’s signing in late January).

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In DFA’ing Ibáñez, the Dodgers might have been hoping to slip him through waivers and keep him stashed in the minor leagues as a potential depth option. However, the A’s were willing to take on his contract, ending his Dodgers tenure before he could even report for camp.

The club attempted a similar maneuver earlier this winter with Rortvedt, the backup catcher they initially acquired at last year’s trade deadline and leaned on early in the playoffs while Will Smith was recovering from a hand fracture.

In November, the team quietly agreed to a $1.25 million deal with the arbitration-eligible Rortvedt, then DFA’d him in hopes of sneaking him through waivers and keeping him in the organization. However, the Reds unexpectedly claimed him, leaving former top prospect Dalton Rushing as the team’s only viable backup catching option for 2026.

Anthony Banda #43 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

But things changed again last week, when the Reds DFA’d Rortvedt in order to make room on their roster for free-agent third baseman signing Eugenio Suárez. Thus, the Dodgers scooped Rortvedt back up Friday, bolstering their catching depth with a reliable veteran who started each of their first four playoff games last October.

Because the Dodgers’ 40-man roster is maxed out, re-acquiring Rortvedt forced them to cut someone else loose. Their choice there was Banda, a former journeyman left-hander who emerged as a trustworthy member of the Dodgers bullpen the last two seasons (posting a 3.14 ERA in 119 total appearances) but was also facing stiff competition this spring to make the team’s opening day roster.

The Dodgers already have plenty of left-handed relief depth, with Alex Vesia, Tanner Scott, Jack Dreyer and Justin Wrobleski all also returning from last year’s squad. They added another southpaw, relief prospect Ronan Kopp, to their 40-man roster at the beginning of this offseason, as well.

Thus, the team had considered Banda as a potential trade piece this winter. And now, they will have a week to potentially find a trade partner for him (similar to how they traded another reliever, Ryan Brasier, last offseason after he was DFA’d) before having to put him on waivers.

The Dodgers could also try holding onto Banda, who is signed to a $1.625 million contract this season, and attempt to sneak him through waivers as they did with Rortvedt and Ibáñez previously. But it’s doubtful he would go unclaimed, leaving his chances of remaining with the team –– and finding a new role in their ever-changing roster picture –– slim as spring training approaches.

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Miami Heat (27-25) at Boston Celtics (33-18) Game #52 2/6/26

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 15: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball against Norman Powell #24 of the Miami Heat during the first quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on January 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Miami Heat (27-25) at Boston Celtics (33-18)
Friday, February 6, 2026
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #52 Home Game #25
TV: NBCSB, FDSN Sun, NBA-LP
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WQAM 104.3 FM, Sirius XM
TD Garden

The Celtics host the Miami Heat for the third of 4 games between them this season. They won 129-116 in Boston on December 19. They won119-114 in Miami on January 15. They will play one more time in Miami on April 1. The Celtics won the series 3-1 last season. They won the two games played in Miami and won one and lost one in Boston. The Celtics are 88-54 overall all time against the Heat. They are 45-24 all time in games played in Boston.

The Celtics made several moves at the trade deadline. They traded Anfernee Simons to Chicago for Nikola Vucevic. They traded Chris Boucher to Utah for John Tonje, a two way player. They converted Amare Williams to a standard contract from two-way. They traded Josh Minott to Brooklyn and they traded Xavier Tillman to Charlotte. The Heat were one of 3 teams, along with the Rockets and Spurs, who stood pat at the deadline.

The Celtics are 3rd in the East, 4.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are tied with 2nd place New York, 2.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 3.5 games ahead of 5th place Philadelphia and 6th place Toronto and 6.5 games ahead of 7th place Miami. The Celtics are 22-12 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 16-8 at home and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 4 games.

The Heat are 7th in the East, 11.5 games behind 1st place Detroit, 4 games behind 4th place Cleveland, 3 games behind 5th place Philadelphia and 6th place Toronto. They are half a game ahead of 8th place Orlando and 3.5 games ahead of 11th place Charlotte. They are 14-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 11-15 on the road and 5-5 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game.

The Celtics just completed a 2 game road trip where they swept Dallas and Houston back to back. After this game against Miami, they will host New York and Chicago for a 3 game home stand, which will take them into the All Star Break. After the break, they will head out on a 4 game Western road trip through Golden State, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix, and Denver.

This is the first of 2 road games for the Heat. After this game in Boston, they will play at Washington. They will then play Utah at home and New Orleans on the road before the All Star break. After the break, They will play at Atlanta and at home against Memphis before 2 games on the road at Milwaukee and Philadelphia.

The only players on the Celtics injury report at this time are Jayson Tatum as he rehabs from the torn Achilles and John Tonje who is awaiting the trade to be finalized. Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser and Nikola Vucevic are all currently not on the report. For Miami, Tyler Herro (ribs) and Terry Rozier III (not injury related) are both out.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Davion Mitchell

Derrick White | Getty Images
Davion Mitchell | NBAE via Getty Images

SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Pelle Larsson

Baylor Scheierman | Getty Images
Pelle Larsson | Getty Images

SF: Jaylen Brown vs Norman Powell

Jaylen Brown | Getty Images
Norman Powell | Getty Images

PF: Sam Hauser vs Andrew Wiggins

Sam Hauser | Getty Images
Andrew Wiggins | Getty Images

C: Neemias Queta vs Bam Adebayo

Neemias Queta | Getty Images
Bam Adebayo | Getty Images

Boston Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Jordan Walsh
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Nikola Vucevic
Amari Williams

2-Way Players
Ron Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
John Tonje

Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out
John Tonje (trade) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla 

Miami Heat Reserves
Kasparas Jakucionis
Jaime Jaquez, Jr
Keshad Johnson
Nikola Jovic
Dru Smith
Kel’el Ware
Simone Fontecchio

2-Way Players
Myron Gardner
Vladislav Goldin
Jahmir Young

Injuries/Out
Tyler Herro (ribs)  out
Terry Rozier III (not injury related) out

Head Coach
Erik Spoelstra

Key Matchups
Jaylen Brown vs Norman Powell
Powell is averaging 23points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He is shooting 47.2% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc. In 2 games against the Celtics so far this season, he averaged 22 points, 3.5 rebounds,2.5 assists and 1 steal while shooting 47.2% from the field and 14.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him well as he is the Heat’s high scorer and can put up a lot of points in a hurry if left open.

Neemias Queta vs Bam Adebayo
Adebayo is averaging 18.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  He is shooting 44.4% from the field and 34.6% from beyond the arc.  In the first 2 games against the Celtics, he averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists  while shooting 43.8% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.  The Celtics need to keep him out of the paint and off the boards.

Honorable Mention
Sam Hauser vs Andrew Wiggins
Wiggins is averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.  He is shooting 46.8% from the field and 38.4% from beyond the arc.  He didn’t play in the first game against the Celtics but he finished the second game with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.  He is a good shooter and so the Celtics need to defend him well.

Keys to the Game
Defense – Defense will always be the biggest key to winning every single game.   The Celtics are 11th with a defensive rating of 112.7.  The Heat are 4th with a defensive rating of 112.1.   The Celtics need to defend the perimeter since the Heat attempt 36.7 threes a game and shoot threes at 36.1%. They also have to defend the paint as the Heat are 3rd with 54.9 points in the paint per game.  The Celtics need to work harder than the Heat on defense and make that their priority.

Rebound – Along with defense, rebounding is always a key to winning.  As Pat Riley once said “No rebounds, no rings.”  The Celtics average 42.5 rebounds per game (9th) while the Heat average 46.6 rebounds per game (2nd).  The Celtics out-rebounded the #1 rebounding team, Houston, on Wednesday and they need to put the same effort into rebounding in this game.   It takes effort and hustle to get rebounds and the Celtics need to give more effort than the Heat to grab rebounds if they want to win this game.

Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in some of their wins,  they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow their opponents to surge ahead.  The Heat are known for playing hard against all of their opponents.   They have to stay focused for all 48 minutes and be ready for the heat to play harder in the second half and they need to match that effort and if the 3’s aren’t falling, get into the paint. 

Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics are best when they keep the ball moving and find the open man.  They struggle when they try to do too much individually. The Celtics are 21-2 when they have 25 or more assists in a game. The Heat are 5th in the league with 20.3 points off turnovers per game so the Celtics have to make careful passes and be careful not to turn the ball over. 

X-Factors
Home Game and Fatigue – The Celtics are at home and will have the crowd behind them to give them extra motivation.  The Heat will be playing in front of a hostile crowd and in an unfamiliar arena.  The Celtics are playing in the 3rd game in 4 nights and have been playing short handed so there may be some fatigue there. 

Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game.  The more aggressive team will usually get the benefit of the calls and so the Celtics need to be the more aggressive team. 

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Rays acquire OF Victor Mesa Jr. from Miami Marlins

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 28: Victor Mesa Jr. #10 of the Miami Marlins in the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 28, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired Cuban outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. from the Miami Marlins, adding a left handed fourth outfielder to the Spring Training mix. He has an option remaining, and will be competing with Chandler Simpson and Richie Palacios for an outfield slated to already include two left handed hitters in Jake Fraley and Cedric Mullins.

Signed in 2018 for $1 million, alongside his more heralded brother who signed for more than $5 million but is already out of baseball, Mesa Jr. has been on the fringe of Miami’s top-thirty prospects with a reputation for some swing and miss that was cleaned up in 2025, cutting his strikeout rate from 22% in 2024 to 15% last season. He has generally shown an ability to tighten up his swing mechanics and hitf/x at every level.

Despite a slow start to the year due to a hamstring injury in Spring Training, Mesa Jr. boasted a 136 wRC+ in Triple-A in 42 games before earned his major league promotion in 2025, picking up 34 days of service time over 16 games in his age-23 season, showing some surprising pop in the bat, hitting his first career homerun to the second deck on his birthday:

The return for Mesa Jr. was prospect Angel Brachi, an 18 year old infielder who put up a 142 wRC+ in 228 PA in the DSL. He ranked in the top-50 prospects at FanGraphs last season with a utility infielder projection, which is about the same value Mesa Jr. offers the Rays now.

To make room on the 40-man roster, left handed INF Brett Wisely has been designated for assignment, an expected outcome after he had previously been bumped down the depth chart by the acquisition of Gavin Lux.

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Lakers optimistic Luka Dončić avoided major injury, doubtful vs. Warriors

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on after a play against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Lakers fans can breathe a sigh of relief as it’s looking like Luka Dončić will be okay after exiting LA’s recent contest against the Sixers with a hamstring injury.

After the win, Lakers head coach JJ Redick didn’t have an update on Luka, but he did say that Dončić would get an MRI to indicate the severity of the injury.

The Lakers haven’t officially given a statement on their superstar guard, but Dave McMenamin of ESPN is reporting that there’s optimism that the injury is not a major one.

Luka’s importance to the Lakers cannot be understated.

He is their best player and the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 33.4 points per game. LA playing without him for an extended period of time would make winning that much harder.

Also, if he were to miss significant time, the Lakers would once again be playing shorthanded. Now that Austin Reaves is back, there was hope that the Lakers could have their entire rotation healthy for the first time since mid-December.

Luka has dealt with hamstring injuries before. As a Dallas Maverick, he suffered a hamstring injury late in the 2022-23 season that forced him to miss some games.

Hopefully, this update means Luka will miss little to no games due to this injury.

While Luka avoided a worst-case scenario, this injury does put his first All-Star appearance as a Laker at risk. Luka was named a starter for the game, but with it taking place on Feb. 15, he might choose to rest his body rather than play against Team USA.

If Luka does miss some additional regular-season games, it will hurt chances of remaining eligible for the NBA’s end-of-season awards. Currently, Luka has missed seven games due to injury. He can only miss 10 more games to remain eligible.

Still, even if he does miss some time, it doesn’t seem like it will ultimately derail his season or the Lakers’ chances of competing in the Western Conference.

The Lakers are currently fifth in the West, but just three and a half games back of the No. 2 seed.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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The Hockey Show: Panarin Wanted Florida, Stadium Series Fun, Latest Panthers-Bolts Brawl, Greg Wyshynski

The NHL is taking a break while the Winter Olympics are happening in Italy, but the Hockey Show isn’t going anywhere.

This week, co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski to chat about a plethora of topcs.

The boys got into the trade of Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings and the arrest of top prospect Gavin McKenna.

They also discussed Team USA’s chances in the Olympic hockey tournament and how the team’s roster was constructed, as well as the NHL Draft lottery and how the Pittsburgh Penguins will somehow win the lottery despite making the playoffs, just to piss off Roy.

Both with Greg and without, Roy and Dave discussed their weekend at the 2026 Stadium Series in Tampa, which included an unforgivable amount of penalties, according to Roy.

This week’s wins and fails included an incredible start by the US women’s hockey team at the Olympics, an upcoming inclusive matchup between the US and Canada, an NHL defenseman who doesn’t understand why goalies don’t serve their own penalties and another mistake by Tony DeAngelo that Roy couldn’t wait to shine the spotlight on.

You can check out the full show and interview in the videos below:

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers' Daniil Tarasov Exits Early With An Injury; No Status Update Provided

Panthers Come Up Empty In Tampa, Lose 6-1 In Final Game Before Olympic Break

Panthers Recall Mikulas Hovorka; Place Tobias Bjornfot On The Injured Reserve

Panthers Place Josh Davies On Waivers For Purpose Of Contract Termination

'He's Going To Be The Captain Of This Team'; Panthers' Anton Lundell Continues To Improve And Add New Elements To His Game

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Top 10 Chicago Blackhawks Prospects Entering Olympic Break

The Chicago Blackhawks and the rest of the NHL are officially at the Olympic break. The rosters are frozen, vacations are planned, and the players representing their countries are on their way to Milano Cortina. For the Chicago Blackhawks, Teuvo Tervainen is their only NHL player headed to the games. 

The trade deadline is not long after the games in Italy end (March 6th), so some big decisions have to be made about some of the pending free agents. Anyone moving out will create roster space not only for the rest of this season but also for next season. 

The Blackhawks have a loaded prospect pool filled with players trying to make their way to the NHL as soon as possible. It will take some longer than others, and some may never. There are even a handful that may be used as trade bait to get NHL-ready guys in the lineup. 

As we hit the big break, these are the top-ten prospects (non-full-time NHL players or under 50 games played) in Chicago’s system right now: 

1. Anton Frondell

With guys like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore no longer appearing on lists like this, Anton Frondell is the top forward prospect in the organization.

After becoming the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, his season with Djurgårdens of the SHL is going very well. In a league that’s incredibly hard to score in, he has 15 goals and 6 assists for 21 points in 33 games played. That’s extra special coming from a teenager with up and down ice time.

Frondell was Sweden’s best player en route to a Gold Medal at the World Junior Championships this year, which is another achievement on his resume. Frondell will likely either draw into Chicago’s lineup at the end of this season or the start of next.  

2. Sam Rinzel

Sam Rinzel is very close to graduating from this list. He is one of Chicago’s most talented defensemen in the organization, but he’s needed some time to develop in the AHL this season as well. For being a rookie playing the hardest position in the game, he’s handled it so well. 

Rinzel has been working on his defensive game, which is always the last thing to truly click at the NHL level. Since coming back up before the break, he’s played much better. His puck-moving skills are at another level, which has allowed him to be a power-play quarterback quickly. It won’t be long before he’s considered a true top-pair guy. 

3. Roman Kantserov

Few players have raised their stock in the last 12 months more than Roman Kantserov. He has dominated the KHL offensively this season. He is 21 years old and has declared that he’d like to come to North America at some point. His KHL contract is up at the end of this season. 

4. Nick Lardis

Speaking of reasoning their stock, Nick Lardis has been on a tear since the beginning of 2024-25. Scoring 71 goals in the OHL will do that for anyone.

Lardis didn't stop there, though. Up to this point, he is a point-per-game player in the AHL and had a good stint in the NHL while the Blackhawks dealt with injuries.

Next time Lardis suits up in the NHL, it may be for good. His ability to shoot the puck is up there with any young player in the organization, but he never looks out of place in other areas of the game, either. For being a former 3rd round pick in the draft, the Blackhawks found great value in Lardis. 

5. Marek Vanacker

The Chicago Blackhawks traded up to get Marek Vanacker in the 2024 NHL Draft at the end of the first round. He dealt with some injuries and inconsistencies during 2024-25, but has bounced back nicely this year. 

Canada snubbed him from their World Junior Championships roster, despite him being one of the best players in the OHL. That is fuel to his fire, and it has helped him stay dominant playing for his club in Brantford.

Will we see Vanacker make his NHL debut this year? How about in the AHL? It is possible, but with him being signed, he is sure to be a pro hockey player by the start of 2026-27.

6. Kevin Korchinski

Kevin Korchinski is still an incredible skater. He has a full season of NHL experience (his rookie year pro) under his belt, but he has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHL player. He has mostly played for the Rockford IceHogs since that year in the NHL.

While in the AHL, Korchinski has been an All-Star twice. The first time, he won MVP of the event after showing off his incredible skills as a former first-round pick. Now, he's trying to work his way back to the NHL. 

Will there be room for him after the trade deadline? His biggest problem is that the one thing he does best, offense, is not much better than Sam Rinzel's or Artyom Levshunov, so he must round out his game a lot more. 

7. Vaclav Nestrasil

The Chicago Blackhawks somewhat shocked the world when they took Czech forward Vaclav Nestrasil 25th overall in 2025. He wasn't on the radar, but his play since being drafted proved why their scouts were so high on him.

In addition to playing a key role on Czechia's Silver Medal-winning team, he's been a high-end producing freshman at UMass. It is unclear when he'll turn pro, but there is little doubt that the organization believes in his talents. 

8. Nathan Behm

Nathan Behm is a high-end offensive player in the WHL, currently playing for the Kamloops Blazers. Size, skill, and speed have been a theme for the Blackhawks in recent drafts, and Behm provides all of that to their system. Arizona State is where he will play college hockey next season before attempting to turn pro at some point. 

9. Jack Pridham

Jack Pridham decided to stay with the Kitchener Rangers in 2025-26 in favor of going to Boston University, where he committed to play college hockey. Now, he could still go back there after another dominant year in the OHL, or he could become a pro hockey player in Chicago's organization. Either way, Kyle Davidson has to like what he's seeing from their 2024 third-round pick.

10. Sacha Boisvert

Sacha Boisvert had an incredible year at North Dakota last year as a freshman. After transferring to Boston University ahead of 2025-26, things haven’t gone quite as well. He is still having a productive year, but injuries have kept him from taking the step that many thought he would. Will this keep him at BU for one extra season? It may. He may also still turn pro. Even with his slightly lowered stock, he still projected to be a solid NHL contributor. 

Honorable Mentions:

Mason West

Mason West is a football quarterback and a hockey player. After leading Edina High School to a State Championship, he is skating with Fargo of the USHL. He will play for Michigan State in 2026-27 as he continues to develop. 

AJ Spellacy

AJ Spellacy is a strong, speedy, energetic guy. He showed some of what he can do playing for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. Winning teams need depth forwards with Spellacy's potential in their prospect pool. 

Drew Commesso

Spencer Knight is the starting goalie of the future in Chicago. However, with the way Drew Commesso has developed at Boston University and with the Rockford IceHogs, Commesso will eventually get a chance to be the backup.

He could also get an opportunity to start somewhere else if the Blackhawks ever trade him to help acquire players at different positions. The talent is there for Commesso to do great things in the NHL. 

John Mustard 

Providance College is a great team, and John Mustard plays a big role in that success as one of their top offensive players. He can score goals, create chaos with his speed, and knows what to do with the puck when it's on his stick. Will his speed and skill translate to pro hockey? We will find out shortly. 

Adam Gajan

Playing for Minnesota Duluth, Adam Gajan has been one of the best goalies in college hockey. This level of play has earned him the opportunity to represent Slovakia at the 2026 Olympic Games. For a college goalie to get that type of honor, you know he's great. As far as his future with Chicago, it will depend on how his development continues, along with those around him who play the same position. 

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Preview: Wizards play Nets on Saturday afternoon

WASHINGTON, DC -  NOVEMBER 16: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets prepares to shoot a free throw against the Washington Wizards on November 16, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Washington Wizards play the Brooklyn Nets tomorrow afternoon. Let’s get to the info.

Game info

When: Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Barclays Center, New York City

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), Dante Exum (knee) and Anthony Davis (finger) are out. Jaden Hardy and D’Angelo Russell are day-to-day due to various injuries.

For the Nets, Josh Minott and Ochai Agbaji are day-to-day.

What to watch for

The Wizards upset the Detroit Pistons last night in what can be described as their signature win of the 2025-26 NBA season. They have also won four of their last six games!

Brooklyn in 13-37 this season and had lost 10 of their last 11 games. Things don’t appear to be as optimistic in the Big Apple’s other team (since the Knicks are doing real well) but playing against the Wizards should be a more even match than most of their previous ones. Hopefully Washington can get another big win tomorrow afternoon.

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Yankees Mailbag: Comparing risk in prospects and championship odds

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees speaks to the media before game four of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on October 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our bi-weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

ReadingYankee asks:Given the injury history of these two pitchers who are potential front line starters, which one has the best possible outcome in the next couple years: Chase Hampton or Bryce Cunningham? Obviously, this would be assuming they do not get injured again.

On the surface it’s a difficult call: MLB’s prospect rankings listed Cunningham above Hampton at the end of last year, but Hampton was listed as much closer to the majors, which is a major factor in determining if pitching prospects are going to pan out or not. However, given Hampton’s two extra years in the minors amounting to just a 71 inning difference in experience between the two, I’d give the edge to Cunningham having the easier path to the majors and thus contributing quicker. Because the truth is, we simply can’t assume that neither one gets injured again during their development — there’s nothing more volatile than a pitching prospect, and this is the risk they run. Cunningham’s first year being disrupted isn’t too much of a surprise, but Hampton’s now tossed just 18.2 innings in the last two years, 5.2 of which came in Double-A, and it’s hard to see a world where he can rise to the majors quickly even if he has a stellar 2026 to turn things around.

Chip23 asks:So, if we take Cashman’s statements at face value, that he has put together a “Champion-caliber roster” then should we also assume that a failure to win a championship is a reflection of the manager and that he will be held accountable?

Not necessarily, because there’s a bit of word-play from Cashman going on whenever the topic of being championship-caliber gets discussed. Because the organization views championships and the postseason at large as being a crapshoot (whether that’s correct or not is a a different discussion, one we’ll talk about in a second!), so long as the team is in the running and plays in October baseball, it’s not a failure to miss out on outright winning a title. If that wasn’t the case, then Cashman and Boone would be in extremely hot water by now having only gone to and lost a single World Series during their tenure — but as we know, the organization is quite comfortable with both of them running the ship. Perhaps things would change if they flamed out in the Wild Card Series a couple years in a row, but even with the relative disappointment of losing convincingly in the ALDS the team can point to the fact that they were tied for the most wins in the division and competed with the team that went to the World Series.

The idiot that said, “Harper is coming” asks:Can we change the terminology from “running it back” to “walking it back”?One implies a little more urgency than the other. I don’t see any urgency from this organization to be worthy of “running it back.”

So, let’s get into the thought process of the offseason overall, shall we? There’s no denial that the team didn’t display much urgency this offseason: they locked in fairly early on bringing back Cody Bellinger without showing much interest in the top of the market with Kyle Tucker, called his bluff when he was adamant about pushing for extra years and were willing to let someone else sign him, and then mostly fixated on minute bullpen moves to flesh out the roster while bringing back bench pieces. However, where they stand at the end of the day is still a top three team by FanGraphs’ projections, and outside of the Dodgers’ horde of talent they’re firmly in the mix to be the second-best team in baseball.

On the one hand, they weren’t pushing to improve themselves very much this offseason, which has it’s frustrations (which I share). On the other, they correctly assessed that they had a top team in 2025 that ran into another top team, and reasoned that they can get back to the Fall Classic with the roster they have now. Is it how I personally wish they operated this winter? No, I wanted them to be much more aggressive, but at the end of the day I’m not upset with the result either. I just wish it could’ve been settled about a month or two ago so we could’ve avoided the endless cycle of questioning whether they’d do something interesting.

OLDY MOLDY asks:Do the Yankees avoid another Boone June Swoon in 2026?

Here’s a case where I’d argue Boone could and should be held accountable for his record — because while the team has gotten into the dance every year barring one, they sure have looked highly inconsistent at the very consistent rate. Their almost penciled-in summer of poor play each year has been one of my major gripes with the team, and it lines up with their level of preparation that got put on display for the world when the Dodgers took them to task in 2024. Their fundamentals have been, in my opinion, highly suspect throughout this championship window, though mainly from 2020 on. Finding a way not to nosedive and potentially cost themselves the division with a terrible two-month stretch would go a long way towards building more faith in what they’ve constructed, so here’s hoping Boone and company can avoid it this year.

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Luka Dončić injury update: Lakers might have caught break on star

It sounds like the Los Angeles Lakers may have caught a break with Luka Dončić and his latest injury.

The NBA’s leading scorer suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday, Feb. 5 that forced him out of the team’s 119-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The injury happened during the second quarter, with 3:30 left to play. Philadelphia threw a double team at Dončić, which prompted him to turn the ball over on a bad pass. Immediately after the turnover, Dončić appeared to favor the back of his left leg and went straight to the locker room.

Dončić did not have a notable limp, but broadcast cameras caught him expressing visible frustration as he went into the locker room.

Dončić did not come out onto the floor with his teammates at the start of the second half, and the Lakers ruled him out with left leg soreness.

Here’s everything you need to know about Luka Dončić’s injury.

Luka Dončić injury update

On Friday, Feb. 6, ESPN reported that there’s initial optimism that Dončić’s hamstring injury is not a significant one, though he’s expected to be doubtful to play in Los Angeles’ game Saturday, Feb. 7 against the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers are not required to submit an official injury report until later Friday evening, so an official designation will be available then.

“Too early to say if it’s an injury,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters Thursday after the game. “(Dončić) had a sore hamstring.”

Luka Dončić stats

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks on in the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on Feb. 5, 2026.

Dončić is averaging 32.8 points per game, which leads all NBA players, adding 8.6 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game. Dončić has appeared in 42 games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Dončić injury update: Latest on Lakers star's hamstring

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Boston Celtics Daily Links 2/6/26

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 4: The sneakers worn by Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 4, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

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Daryl Morey explains rationale behind Jared McCain trade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 27: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 27, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bucks 139-122. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Sixers’ biggest bit of business at the trade deadline was also their most surprising. The team sent second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for draft compensation.

McCain was the 16th overall pick in 2024, the Rookie of the Year favorite pre-injury, and is still just 21 years old, on a rookie deal through the 2027-28 season and unable to even hit restricted free agency until the 2028-29 season.

So, why trade a player like that, especially when the trade did nothing to help Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the 2025-26 Sixers?

President of basketball operations Daryl Morey did his best to explain the decision.

“We see Jared as somebody that’s more likely to help a team in the future,” Morey said. “I think that’s fairly obvious; I think he has a bright future. We thought that the draft picks we got would help us more in the future — and could’ve helped us this deadline. The picks we got were offered to many teams and nothing materialized for a player that we thought could move the needle with those picks now. But we feel like going forward, those picks will help us build the team in the future in a good way.”

OK, let’s break down those comments a bit.

McCain undoubtedly struggled this year returning from a torn meniscus and also a UCL tear he suffered ahead of training camp. He missed the first six games of the season, struggled to find consistent playing time and never truly regained his form from a season ago. Though he’d shown flashes recently, it was fair to wonder if this was simply going to be a lost season for McCain.

While Morey said he wanted to use the draft capital he got in the deal to make an upgrade this season, the order of operations suggests the McCain deal still would’ve gone down no matter what. Sure, as Morey stated, the team got the deal done early so they could explore other options, but without a separate deal already in place, McCain would’ve been gone either way.

This wasn’t about ducking the tax. This wasn’t about improving this season — though the team surely did try to flip the assets for an upgrade. Morey can drop all the niceties about McCain he’d like, but it seems obvious the team valued the compensation and the future flexibility over rostering McCain. Whether it was fit or not believing in his future, the organization was ready to move on from McCain.

Many will fairly question the timing. The team could still use guard depth as Maxey leads the NBA in minutes per game and VJ Edgecombe leads all rookies. So, why not let the season play out when a similar offer would likely be on the table this offseason? And wasn’t the franchise selling McCain at his nadir value after such a promising rookie campaign?

“I’m quite confident we were selling high,” Morey said. “Obviously, time will tell. We weren’t looking to sell. I’ll be frank. Teams came to us with aggressive offers for him. You could say, ‘Yeah, that’s because he’s a good player.’ I agree with that. We thought this return was above, for the future value of our franchise, what we could get. The only higher point would’ve been during his run last season. Otherwise, we feel like we did time this well.”

Morey defended the return for McCain, saying it was superior to the value of a deal for a quality starting-caliber player. While Morey did make note that the consensus is the 2026 NBA draft is considered a good and deep one, he also admitted that wasn’t really the motivation behind the trade.

“That wasn’t the main focus,” he said. “I think it’s a nice focus, because we do think this draft is a good draft, but we’re not necessarily using the pick in this draft. It could be used for moves around the draft. The three seconds that we got with it, we think those could be used to move up in this draft. Obviously, myself and our front office have done a lot of deals over the years, and this just gives us more tools to make the moves that we think will help our future more than we saw with Jared, who we gave up. But that’s not a comment on Jared.”

Again, Morey has to say it’s “not a comment on Jared,” but how could it not be? It’s clear the starting backcourt for the next decade or so should be Maxey and Edgecombe. It’s also clear that Morey and the team preferred attempting to re-sign Quentin Grimes this offseason over letting him walk and hoping McCain could take over as the team’s top guard off the bench.

In the end, this is what it’s about — Morey and the Sixers felt the assets they got were more valuable to them than Jared McCain. We’ll find out soon enough if that’s the case.

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Islanders' Radio Voice Alan Fuehring On The Call For 2026 AHL All-Star Classic

New York Islanders radio broadcaster Alan Fuehring will be behind the mic for the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Illinois, for the Skills Competition on Tuesday at 8 ET and the All-Star Challenge on Wednesday at 8 PM ET. 

Fuerhing, who spent eight seasons as the Bridgeport Islanders' Director of Broadcasting, was promoted to the Islanders' radio broadcaster ahead of this season.

He also continues to fill in for Brendan Burke on MSGSN broadcasts. 

You can catch Fuehring and the AHL events on TSN, NHL Network, AHL.TV and CHSN.

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Kyle Farmer added to Braves Non-Roster Invitee list for spring training

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 4: Kyle Farmer #6 of the Colorado Rockies throws to first for an out in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Coors Field on August 4, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Earlier this week, we got the much-anticipated Non-Roster Invitee list from the Braves for this season’s spring training camp. That list initially consisted of 24 names. Now, there are 25 names on that list after the Braves made an addition to it here on Friday afternoon. Mark Bowman of MLB.com is reporting that the Braves are going to be bringing in Kyle Farmer as an NRI for spring training.

Farmer spent the 2025 season with the Colorado Rockies, where he put up some underwhelming plate numbers with a .227/.280/.365 slash line to go along with eight home runs, a .285 wOBA and 65 wRC+ over the course of 97 games played and 300 plate appearances. That ended up being good for an fWAR number of -1.0, which ain’t ideal! Farmer has never really been a real threat with the bat, as even in his best season in 2021, he was good for just 91 wRC+ over 529 plate appearances with the Cincinnati Reds.

I’d imagine that he’ll be used strictly as a defensive substitute but even then, he had a rough year last season in that department as well. He recorded -5 Outs Above Average in 2025 (good for the 11th percentile in all of baseball, according to Statcast) and his arm strength didn’t fare much better, either. With that being said, that’s likely the outlier because Farmer has had some good-to-great seasons with the glove. Again, 2021 comes to mind which is when he recorded 5 OAA (grading him out to the 92nd percentile) and he repeated that feat as recently as 2024, which is when he put up another 5 OAA as a member of the Twins.

So my guess is that the Braves are banking on a change of scenery (or simply getting away from the Rockies) should help him return to the form. If he does end up making the roster then he should serve as a very solid option as a defensive substitute in some games. For now, he’s another player to keep an eye on as spring training gets underway in the very near future.

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Artemi Panarin Details Reasoning Behind Departure From Rangers

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Artemi Panarin got to tell his side of the story just about 24 hours after being traded from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. 

Going into the 2025 offseason, the growing sentiment was that the Rangers would sign Panarin to a contract extension before he hit the open market in 2026. 

However, as multiple other marquee players signed contract extensions with their respective teams, including Connor McDavid, ​​Kirill Kaprizov, and Jack Eichel, Panarin was left as the odd man out, unsigned past the 2025-26 campaign by the Rangers. 

With the Rangers struggling through the first months of the season, speculation about the team trading Panarin grew. 

Once Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter on Jan. 16 outlining the franchises' intentions to retool the roster, it also came out that the team did not intend to re-sign Panarin and would look to trade him before the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline. 

Upon being traded to Los Angeles, Panarin quickly signed a two-year $22 million contract with the Kings. 

Panarin revealed that the Rangers were reluctant to sign him over the summer and that there wasn't a whole lot of dialogue between his camp and the Rangers regarding a contract extension over the course of the season. 

“We talked about contract a little bit, but I feel like this offer said ‘we’re not sure we want you or not.’ That’s why I’m not signed,” Panarin emphasized. 

It was when the Rangers went through their dreadful stretch in January that Panarin knew that his time in New York may be coming to an end. 

The Rangers Enter Olympic Break Hitting Rock Bottom The Rangers Enter Olympic Break Hitting Rock Bottom If there is a rock bottom, it’s safe to say the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> reached it after their 2-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.&nbsp;

“I feel like maybe 15 games ago when we started losing everything [I realized] it was possible [to get traded],” Panarin said. “And then when we lost to Boston like 10-1 or something like that, I would say that I already understood that even if Chris wanted to give me a deal, he probably can’t now because we’re kind of struggling here the whole team and we probably need some changes.”

The Panarin sweepstakes truly began to pick up steam when he was held out of the lineup due to roster management on Jan. 28.

Multiple teams were reportedly interested in acquiring the 34-year-old forward, including the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and Seattle Kraken.  

Ultimately, Panarin pinpointed the Kings as his preferred destination, and with the power of his no-move clause, Drury was only given the green light to trade him to Los Angeles. 

It was through conversations with Vladislav Gavrikov that helped guide Panarin toward Los Angeles. 

“I was not ready to pick a team where I didn’t want to go,” Panarin said. “I probably (would have gone) to Russia if L.A. didn’t give me anything… I just want to play for these guys.”

The Rangers’ signing of Panarin in 2019 to a seven-year, $81 million contract is widely considered to be the franchise's greatest free-agent signing.

In seven seasons with the Blueshirts, Panarin recorded 205 goals, 402 assists, and 607 points. In a city full of stars and celebrities, the Russian superstar was able to stand out and etch his mark in The Big Apple. 

Panarin embraced the New York spotlight, and he’ll now take center stage in Hollywood, but not before reminiscing on his time with the Rangers organization. 

“It’s a lot of good memories,” Panarin said. “We always had a great group of guys here, too. Pretty good atmosphere. … Find a lot of friends here. Obviously that’s a great organization, too. New York Rangers, Original Six team, huge history. I was pretty proud to play for these guys, for this jersey. Thank you very much to the fans.”

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Canadiens Will Spend Break In Second Place In Atlantic Division

While the Montreal Canadiens were not playing on Thursday night, 14 teams were in action, including direct divisional rivals Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

With a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sabres would have overtaken the Canadiens in second place in the Atlantic Division. Still, Lindy Ruff’s men were unable to pull it off against Sidney Crosby and company. The Pens won 5-2, which meant Buffalo stayed at 70 points in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens have a two-point lead on them and must manage to maintain a lead over the Buffalo outfit, since the Sabres would, in all likelihood, have the first tie-breaker at the end of the year; they have 26 regulation wins, while the Habs only have 21.

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As for the Senators, they currently trail the Bruins, who hold the second wildcard spot, by six points, thanks to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. While the Senators are not mathematically out of the playoff picture, a six-point deficit will be hard to make up with 25 games to go, given how strong the Atlantic Division has been this season.

Meanwhile, the two-time champions Panthers are trailing Boston by eight points after taking a 6-1 beating at the hands of the Lightning on Thursday night. The Cats’ frustration was evident as 147 penalty minutes were handed out to the Florida rivals. Matthew Tkachuk got a two-minute minor for abuse of officials and was looking for trouble all night, especially when he interfered with Nikita Kucherov, which led to a full-blown brawl in the third frame, when the Bolts were already up 4-0.

With the win, the Lightning now have a six-point lead over the Canadiens and have two games in hand. The Detroit Red Wings also have 72 points, like the Canadiens, but they have played one more game, which is why they find themselves in third place in the Atlantic.

If the Canadiens can keep the same pace, making the playoffs shouldn’t be a worry, but they’ll likely be jockeying for position right up till the end, and the first-round matchups won’t be clear until everyone has played 82 games. For now, though, the Habs can enjoy the break sitting in second place in the division and won’t have to worry about scoreboard watching until the end of February.

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