30 September 2024, USA, El Segundo: Basketball, NBA, Media Day, Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James answers questions during a press conference. Photo: Maximilian Haupt/dpa (Photo by Maximilian Haupt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
There’s a lot of smoke around a potential LeBron James return when his current deal with the Los Angeles Lakers ends at the conclusion of this season. James once again added fuel to the fire by having some nice things to say about the Cleveland Cavaliers in the most recent episode of the Mind the Game Podcast after their moves to acquire James Harden, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis at the trade deadline.
First, LeBron was complimentary of the team going out and getting Harden.
“They felt like they needed another playmaker, someone that’s been there, kind of been in this situation before, and they added James, perennial All-Star who’s still putting up All-Star numbers,” James said. “He gives Donovan Mitchell another, like, ball handler guy who can make shots late in the game.”
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LeBron seems like he has a lot of respect for Harden. Back in June 2024, Rich Paul said that his client would accept a paycut from the Lakers if it meant he could play with an established playmaker or big man. Harden was one of the players Paul listed.
Making the move to acquire Schroder and Ellis also received the king’s blessing.
“Those pickups that they got from Sac as well,” James said. “Schroder, a former teammate of mine, you know that’s going to compete every single night, and Keon Ellis, the guy’s going to compete, make shots. Like, those guys are going to be, I think, really, really good for that team, especially in the East, where it’s a lot of bulk.”
LeBron — like seemingly every man over 35 years-old in America — has a podcast. He talks about the NBA, and Cleveland’s moves at the deadline have been mostly praised. From that perspective, his doing so isn’t newsworthy.
At the same time, LeBron has been in this business for a long time. He knows that his words have meaning, and he sees all the noise about him returning to Cleveland. If he wanted to quiet that down, he’d avoid talking about his former team — especially on his podcast, where he presumably controls what gets released.
We’ll see what happens this summer. In the meantime, James believes the Cavs are better prepared for the playoffs now.
“You’ve got to have some dogs in there, so I think they added a lot.”
WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Arsenal blew a two-goal lead at last-place Wolves on Wednesday to give a huge boost to Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title.
The league leader was held to a surprise 2-2 draw at Molineux, having led 2-0 in the second half.
Teenage debutant Tom Edozie scored in the fourth minute of added time to complete Wolves' comeback.
“There was a big difference in how we played in the first half and the second half. We dropped our standards and we got punished for it,” Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka told the BBC.
The draw means Arsenal has dropped points in back-to-back games and leaves it just five ahead of second-place City, having played a game more.
With the top two still to play each other at City's Etihad Stadium, the title race is too close to call.
“(It's) time to focus on ourselves, improve our standards and improve our performances and it is in our control,” Saka said.
Arsenal has led the way for the majority of the season and one bookmaker paid out on Mikel Arteta's team winning the title after it opened up a nine-point lead earlier this month.
But Wednesday's result was the latest sign that it is feeling the pressure, having finished runner-up in each of the last three seasons. It has won just two of its last seven league games.
Having blown a lead against Brentford last week, it was even worse at a Wolves team that has won just one game all season.
Victory looked all but secured after Saka gave Arsenal the lead with a header in the fifth minute and Piero Hincapie ran through to blast in the second in the 56th.
But Wolves' fightback began with Hugo Bueno's curling shot into the top corner in the 61st.
The 19-year-old Edozie was sent on as a substitute in the 84th and his effort earned the home team only its 10th point of a campaign that looks certain to end in relegation. While it did little for Wolves' chances of survival, it may have had a major impact at the top of the standings.
“Incredibly disappointed that we gave two points away,” Arteta said. "I think we need to fault ourselves and give credit to Wolves. But what we did in the second half was nowhere near our standards that we have to play in order to win a game in the Premier League.
“When you don’t perform you can get punished, and we got punished and we have to accept the hits because that can happen when you are on top."
Arsenal plays Tottenham on Sunday. Its lead could be cut to two points before it kicks off if City wins against Newcastle on Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 11: Joel Embiid #21 and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during the game against the New York Knicks on February 11, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, that’s not going to help start the second half on the right foot.
The Sixers have ruled Joel Embiid out for their first game back out of the All-Star break against the Atlanta Hawks with shin soreness. While he hasn’t been ruled out for any further games, the team has released a short update.
“While participating in a right knee injury management program during the All-Star break, Joel Embiid reported soreness in his right shin,” the team’s release said. “Following a consultation with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning.
“He will be OUT of tomorrow’s night game vs. Atlanta and will be reevaluated ahead of the team’s back-to-back this weekend. Further updates will be provided later this week.”
Joel Embiid reported soreness in his right shin. Following consultation with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning.
He’s OUT tomorrow, reevaluated ahead of the back-to-back this weekend, per Sixers.
So it would appear this shin soreness popped up in his right leg. That one hasn’t been plagued by injuries or required a number of surgeries, but it has caused Embiid problems as of late. He missed the last two games before the break with right knee soreness.
It’s especially unfortunate because the Sixers have really needed him on the court as of late, losing six of their last seven games without him in the lineup. Those last two games before the break were especially bad blowout losses, including a 49-point drubbing at home against the New York Knicks.
At least the rest of the Sixers’ injury report is clean, with only Johni Broome and MarJon Beauchamp doubtful on G-League assignments. That means Quentin Grimes is good to return — he missed the last two games before the break as well with an illness.
Former Duke teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have headlined the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year race for much of the season. In recent weeks, however, the perceived gap between the two has appeared to widen, with Flagg averaging 27.3 points per game to open February and strengthening his case as the class’s best player.
Yet, scoring averages alone rarely capture a player’s true impact.
Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, let’s take a closer look at how this year’s rookie class is actually impacting games – separating shot volume and counting stats from measurable value added.
The Top Rookies of 2025-2026
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
FGOE: +0.7%PTOE: +0.0Team Record: 19-35
Cooper Flagg, this past summer’s No. 1 overall pick, is priced at -750 betting odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year coming out of the All-Star break. However, a closer look at NBA StatsHub metrics makes it difficult to argue that he has been the league’s most impactful rookie to date.
Flagg’s +0.7% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation ranks 122nd out of 224 players averaging at least 20 minutes per game this season. He also ranks 139th in Points Over Expectation, suggesting that his scoring production has been more volume-driven than efficiency-driven.
The on/off data supports that conclusion. Dallas has been 3.1 points better per 100 possessions with Flagg off the floor this year. While he has provided a modest offensive boost (+1.9 offensive rating), he ranks last on the team in defensive rating among players with at least 200 minutes played.
It’s not difficult to see Flagg’s long-term upside, but his overall impact on a 19-35 Dallas team has been less impressive than his surface-level stats indicate.
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
FGOE: +6.1%PTOE: +2.2Team Record: 26-29
A month ago, we examined the league’s most underrated scorers using Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and came away wondering if Kon Knueppel could be the NBA’s next superstar.
Since then, his production has only strengthened that case. Over the past month, he’s averaged 18.4 points per game while shooting 47.1% from the floor, including 41.7% from 3-point territory. He’s also converted 92.5% of his free throw attempts during that stretch – ranking ninth in the NBA among players with at least seven games played and 3.0 free throw attempts per game.
Charlotte’s team success further validates Knueppel’s positive impact.
Charlotte finished 19-63 last season, posting the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and the fourth-worst point differential in the league. This year, the Hornets have already surpassed that win total and remain firmly entrenched in the playoff conversation with fewer than 30 games remaining.
Like many rookies, Knueppel has experienced defensive growing pains. However, his +6.1% FGOE and positive Points Over Expectation suggest that his scoring impact is not simply the product of opportunity. His ability to convert difficult shots efficiently has been a central factor in Charlotte outperforming their preseason expectations.
VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers
FGOE: -3.5%PTOE: -0.8Team Record: 30-24
VJ Edgecombe pulled into the All-Star break averaging the third-most points per game (14.9) and fourth-most assists per game (4.1) in this year’s rookie class. However, his efficiency looks more like what we would expect from a traditional rookie 42.3% shooting overall and 35.2% from 3-point territory.
His relative offensive inefficiency is captured in NBA StatsHub’s advanced metrics, too, with his -3.5% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and -0.8 Points Over Expectation both lagging significantly behind Flagg and Knueppel.
Similar to other players in their first year, Edgecombe has struggled defensively – ranking fourth worst on the 76ers in defensive rating among players to log at least 500 minutes this season.
Nevertheless, the upside for Edgecombe is undeniable. He was named Rising Stars MVP after a dominant performance at NBA All-Star Weekend and will look to parlay that into a strong second-half as he looks to help Philadelphia improve their playoff position during the home stretch of the regular season.
The Takeaway
The gap between perception and production is where FTN’s NBA StatsHub proves most valuable.
For years, rookie evaluation leaned heavily on scoring averages and traditional box score metrics. Now, with tools like Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and Points Over Expectation, we can better distinguish between volume-driven production and true value creation.
This year’s rookie class is filled with impact players. But when isolating sustainable shot-making and measurable offensive value, Kon Knueppel stands out — even if the betting markets don’t agree.
Peoria, Ariz. - February 16: Nick Pivetta #27 of the San Diego Padres pitches during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres know a little something about controlled chaos. Over the holiday weekend, general manager A.J. Preller made a flurry of moves (and he’s likely not done yet), signing Griffin Canning, Germán Márquez and Walker Buehler in order to address the depth question in the starting pitching group.
These players might seem like random selections by Preller — like the Friars are blindfolded, throwing darts at the board until they happen to hit a bullseye — and maybe there’s a part of that that’s true. But the prevailing belief at play is that these pitchers can return to form this season.
In that sense, each of them is somewhat of a reclamation project for pitching coach Ruben Niebla. The Padres are hoping that if just one of them can have a Nick Pivetta-esque surge then they’ll have the problem of another ace in the rotation.
Here’s a look at what’s holding these three pitchers back, and how they could return to their former glory.
Griffin Canning
Canning is an interesting case because (of the three) he is the closest removed from being a reliable starter. After spending his first five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Canning had a renaissance year in 2025 pitching for the New York Mets. In his first seven starts for the club, he turned in a 2.47 ERA before a couple rocky starts bumped it up to 3.77. Across 16 starts he averaged close to five innings with a 1.38 WHIP.
Prior to ‘25, Canning had never turned in an ERA below 4.00 outside of the shortened 2020 season. His resurgence ended when he ruptured his Achilles tendon in late June, putting a stop to the comeback year for the right-hander.
If Canning can build on the positive trend forward he had with the Mets, the Padres will be able to slot him into the fifth spot of the rotation with ease.
Germán Márquez
The longtime Colorado Rockies ace found a new place to call home this offseason for the first time in the last decade. Over the better part of that time in Colorado, Márquez was one of the most reliable starters in the game. Prior to 2022, he posted a 4.25 ERA across 795.2 innings (135 starts). During that he also held a 6.9% walk rate and a 24.0% strikeout rate.
However, in ‘22 his performance took a nosedive, and eventually Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. Since coming back he has not been the same, posting an ERA over 6.00 in both 2024 and ‘25. If Márquez can return to the durable strikeout artist he once was, San Diego will have a de facto replacement for free agent departure Dylan Cease.
Walker Buehler
It’s easy to forget that Buehler is only five years removed from finishing fourth in NL Cy Young voting. In 2021, he finished with a 2.47 ERA across 33 starts for the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the following year he had Tommy John surgery and didn’t pitch for the entire 2023 season. When he finally did return, he struggled to find his footing, posting an ERA above 4.00 every year since.
Buehler was a borderline ace for the Dodgers prior to his injuries. He spent the 2025 season splitting time between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. His time in Boston was rough, to say the least, with a 5.45 ERA in 23 starts before eventually being released in August. He then made three appearances for Philly and turned in a 0.66 ERA across 13.2 innings.
The bet for San Diego is that Buehler can return to a fragment of the ‘21 version of himself that took the league by storm. After spending the first seven years of his career in the NL West (and with the Padres’ rivals no less), the hope is that Buehler can use that elite knowledge of the division to his, and the Friars’, advantage.
Whatever comes of these three pitchers in the 2026 season, the long and short of it is that the worries about rotation depth are now gone. At bare minimum, the Padres now have competent pitchers to fill out the back end of their rotation and eat innings, giving their bullpen time to rest. But the hope is (as always) that these three can become more than that and be contributors to San Diego’s bid for its first World Series championship.
The Sacramento Kings are losing another one of their key players for the rest of the season.
Star center Domantas Sabonis underwent season-ending surgery on Wednesday morning to repair a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania. The Kings confirmed Sabonis' surgery was successful.
Sabonis had originally torn his meniscus in November and rehabbed it before returning to the court last month, but it was ultimately decided that surgery was the best option.
The news comes just after it was reported that the Kings' leading scorer Zach Lavine had surgery on his right hand after the All-Star break; he will also miss the rest of the season.
Both Sabonis and Lavine had been at the center of trade rumors as the Kings look to rebuild, but the deadline passed with both of them staying put for now. Sacramento's 12-44 record is currently the worst in the league.
Kings starting center Domantas Sabonis is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair his left meniscus on Wednesday, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by other sources.
This injury is not new. Sabonis was diagnosed with a torn meniscus back in November, but opted for non-surgical treatment and sat out a couple of months. After the Kings did not find a Sabonis trade to their liking at the trade deadline, and with the tanking Kings having the worst record in the NBA this season, now seemed like a good time for Sabonis to go under the knife.
Sabonis joins wing Zach LaVine as out for the season in Sacramento. LaVine had hand surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn ligament.
Sabonis played in just 15 games for Sacramento this season, averaging 15.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. He has two years and $94 million remaining on his contract, and trade rumors about the three-time All-Star will undoubtably pop up again this offseason.
BODO, Norway (AP) — Champions League runner-up Inter Milan became the latest scalp claimed by Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League, losing 3-1 away in the first leg of their playoff on Wednesday.
The club is located north of the Arctic Circle — which is farther north than any team in Champions League history.
Serie A leader Inter was seeking a seventh straight win in all competitions but fell behind in the 20th minute when midfielder Sondre Brunstad Fet netted with a neat finish.
Although burly striker Pio Esposito equalized with an opportunist finish 10 minutes later, the home side picked off Inter with two goals in quick succession in the second half.
Both were similar, with quick passing and unselfish assists.
For the second goal, forward Kasper Høgh rolled the ball for Jens Petter Hauge to launch a powerful shot into the top corner in the 61st.
The winger, who once had a brief spell in Serie A with AC Milan, jumped and kicked the corner flag in celebration.
The fans at the 8,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadion were cheering again three minutes later when Høgh scored the third goal after being teed up by Ole Didrik Blomberg.
Cuban's theory is that fans don't care about winning or losing. They care about experience.
"Few can remember the score from the last game they saw or went to," Cuban wrote on Twitter. "They can’t remember the dunks or shots. What they remember is who they were with. Their family, friends, a date. That’s what makes the experience special."
For most fans, the experience is undeniably more special if the preferred team wins. Cuban doesn't see it that way.
"Fans know their team can’t win every game," he said. "They know only one team can win a ring."
His point is that long-term hope is more important than short-term success, and that tanking helps achieve the goal of building a consistent contender.
"We didn’t tank often," Cuban said of his time in charge of the Mavericks. "Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka [Dončić] and improve our team."
Cuban's bottom line? "The [NBA] should worry more about fan experience than tanking. It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking. You know who cares the least about tanking? A parent who [can't] afford to bring their 3 kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their fave player Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are."
He may be right about experience and affordability, with one very important caveat. Sports leagues are currently cramming their pockets with gambling money. And gamblers definitely don't wager for "the experience."
They want to win. They need to assume both teams want to win the game as badly as the gambler wants to win the bet. And while a team's "tank" rating could be factored into the betting analysis, no one knows when or where a team is going to decide to give the starting five the night off in the hopes of not winning a given game.
Legalized gambling places a premium on the integrity of sport. The integrity of the games, and the integrity of the wagers on the games.
Tanking games is a stone's throw from fixing games. Would Cuban say fans don't care about fixed games, they care about the experience?
The NBA isn't the WWE or the Harlem Globetrotters. Tolerating anything that undermines the notion that, for both teams, "winning isn’t everything but it’s the only thing" invites a major scandal driven by bets gone bad because one of the teams wasn't really trying to win.
The reality is that tanking is happening, and that the NBA isn't doing enough to stop it. A major controversy, whether manifesting itself in legislation, regulation, prosecution, and/or litigation, is inevitable.
Chicago is finally thawing out after an interminable winter that saw a brutally cold January transition straight to a just as frigid February. While Chicago shows signs of emerging from its long winter slumber pitchers and catchers have already reported to Arizona. There will be Spring Training baseball this week when the Cubs host the White Sox at Sloan Park in Mesa on Friday afternoon.
There’s a familiar cadence to these days as baseball gets every closer. The Cubs’ promotional item schedule dropped yesterday with a number of interesting bobbleheads and alternate jerseys that are sure to fire up fans. We’re getting reports of players in the best shape of their life hitting bombs in batting practice. And the Cubs social media hashtag and marketing slogan for 2026 was unveiled: #This
The Cubs have used a lot of different social media hashtags over the years. You can see all of them for the last decade or so courtesy of Six Point Sports below:
It wasn’t just fans from other teams, however. You may remember a similar dynamic emerging pretty quickly during the #ThatsCub run in 2017. Cubs Insider recognized this dynamic right away:
When thinking about who will be a part of the New York Rangers’ core in the future, Noah Laba is one of the first players to come to mind.
Laba’s emergence with the Rangers came as a surprise. He entered training camp having just played in 11 American Hockey League games after two years at Colorado College, and given his fourth-round draft status, he wasn't highly touted or necessarily on anyone’s radar heading into September.
From the start of training camp and into the preseason, Laba stole the show, standing out amongst the rest of the pack, which made it impossible for Mike Sullivan to deny him an NHL roster spot.
Not only did the 22-year-old forward secure an opening-night spot in the lineup, but he’s carved out a permanent role with the Rangers as the team’s third-line center, playing in all sorts of situations, including on both the power play and penalty kill.
In 54 games this season, Laba has recorded six goals, 10 assists, and 16 points, while averaging 13:18 minutes. Laba’s stats don’t tell the full story of his impact..
He provides the team with a combination of speed, physicality and reliability that is rare for a rookie.
Making a quick jump from the NCAA to the NHL, Laba has been forced to adapt to the professional game on the fly.
“I think just learning each and every day more and more, and trying to become a better player, and become more of an impact for this team,” Laba said. “It's my focus, it's been my focus, and it'll continue to be…
“I think it takes a certain level of discipline and maturity to play at this level, so I definitely grew there, and as well as how to be a pro, and just learning from the guys here who've done it a long time.”
Of course, the Rangers are not in an ideal spot as a team despite the emergence of Laba.
The Blueshirts are currently sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference and are heading in the direction of a “retool”, which was outlined in Chris Drury’s letter to fans issued on Jan. 16.
On top of learning about the pace of NHL play, Laba has also learned a lot about the business side of hockey, watching the Blueshirts trade veteran players the likes of Artemi Panarin and Carson Soucy.
“I think I've always kind of known, and when you're kind of experiencing it, it’s a little different, it becomes more of a reality,” Laba said of the business side of the NHL “It’s something that everybody's fully aware of, and you just kind of continue to focus on what you can control.”
With Drury emphasizing the Rangers’ desire to get younger in his letter moving forward, it presents an opportunity for Laba to truly establish himself as one of the franchise's cornerstone pieces.
Laba wants to be part of what the Rangers are attempting to build for the future, with the intention of staying in New York for years to come.
“I think anytime you’re given an opportunity, you try to do the best you can with it, and that’s my goal,” Laba said. “I want to be here for a long time and continue to be a key player here. It takes a lot of work on my end, and I’m going to continue to try to work towards that.”
The Boston Red Sox infield will look much different in 2026.
Veteran third baseman Alex Bregman was a one-and-done in Boston as he left for the Chicago Cubs in free agency. He’ll likely be replaced at the hot corner by either Marcelo Mayer or newcomer Caleb Durbin.
First baseman Willson Contreras and utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa have also entered the equation. The Red Sox traded for Contreras to address their need for a right-handed bat, and later signed Kiner-Falefa as a versatile infield depth option.
Boston will need its infield defense to improve next season, because the revamped starting rotation includes multiple pitchers who depend on getting ground-ball outs. Contreras and Kiner-Falefa should help in that department.
Here’s a closer look at the Red Sox’ infield situation for 2026:
As a result, Contreras will be counted on to replace Bregman’s offensive production. It’s a tall task, but one that the 33-year-old is capable of completing.
Contreras had two more homers and 18 more RBI than Bregman last season, albeit in 21 more games. His OPS (.791) wasn’t much lower than Bregman’s (.821).
The big difference between the two is their strikeout rates. Contreras struck out 25.2 percent of the time last season, while Bregman K’d in only 14.1 percent of his plate appearances. Bregman’s bat-to-ball skills are far superior.
Defensively, Contreras should be a significant upgrade over the options Boston has had in recent seasons. He ranked fourth among all first basemen last season with six Outs Above Average.
The Red Sox need Trevor Story to stay healthy again in 2026.
In 2025, Story bounced back from another injury-plagued campaign with his best Red Sox season yet. The 33-year-old played in 157 games — tying a career-high — and led the club in hits (161), runs scored (91), homers (25), RBI (96), and stolen bases (31).
He’ll be leaned on heavily again in 2026. By letting Bregman walk in free agency, Boston put pressure on Contreras and Story to deliver as the team’s two biggest right-handed bats. It’ll be a massive blow to the lineup if Story struggles to stay healthy.
It’ll be interesting to see whether the Red Sox move Story to second base at some point in 2026. Story’s defense was well below average last season, and there’s little doubt that former top prospect Marcelo Mayer would be an upgrade at the position.
Marcelo Mayer struggled mightily against left-handed pitching during his 2025 rookie season.
Mayer’s much-anticipated rookie season ended prematurely as he underwent wrist surgery in August. It marked the third consecutive year that the former top Red Sox prospect suffered a season-ending injury.
Health and struggles against left-handed pitching are the top two concerns for Mayer heading into the 2026 campaign. The 23-year-old went 4-for-26 (.154) with a .416 OPS and 10 strikeouts against LHP.
Mayer’s issues against southpaws persisted throughout his minor-league career, so it’s no surprise that they continued in the majors. But as a former No. 4 overall pick who is believed to have an All-Star ceiling, he’ll be expected to take a noticeable step forward next season.
Where Mayer excelled as a rookie was defensively at second and third base. His above-average glove will be a huge plus for a Red Sox club that needs more consistency out of its infield defense, especially with a pitching staff that will induce a ton of ground balls.
Caleb Durbin finished third in the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year race.
In need of another starting infielder after losing Bregman, the Red Sox acquired Durbin in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. The soon-to-be 26-year-old spent most of his time at third base for Milwaukee last season, but he could play second for Boston with Mayer at the hot corner.
Durbin finished third in the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year voting after amassing a 2.8 WAR in 136 games. He was a league-average hitter, though he provided value with his advanced bat-to-ball skills. He boasted an elite strikeout rate of 9.9 percent, but he ranked near the bottom of the league in hard-hit percentage (26.9) and average exit velocity (85.2).
Boston’s lineup features several players who strike out a ton, so Durbin’s plate discipline will be a breath of fresh air. His defensive versatility will also be useful this upcoming season.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa has played every position except first base in his eight-year MLB career.
The Red Sox signed Kiner-Falefa to a one-year, $6 million deal in free agency. The 30-year-old is a glove-first utility player who has played every position except first base in his eight-year MLB career.
With Boston, Kiner-Falefa will be leaned on as a versatile defender off the bench. He won’t be expected to do anything special at the plate as he has always been a below-average hitter.
Kiner-Falefa has earned a reputation as a clubhouse leader. Perhaps he’ll help fill the leadership void left by the departures of veterans Bregman and Rob Refsnyder.
Romy Gonzalez could begin the 2026 season on the injured list.
Gonzalez has played a key role for the Red Sox as a utility infielder who mashes left-handed pitching. He’s expected to reprise that role in 2026, though he may not be ready for Opening Day due to a shoulder injury he suffered at the end of the 2025 season. Manager Alex Cora recently announced that Gonzalez is currently shut down from all baseball activities except for playing catch.
If and when Gonzalez returns to the lineup, Cora will continue to lean on him against lefties. We could see a Mayer/Gonzalez platoon at second base if Mayer’s woes against LHP persist.
Nick Sogard has proven to be a solid utility man for Boston over the last two seasons.
Sogard has been a solid utility player for the Red Sox over the last two years, and he could have a bigger role in 2026 if Gonzalez misses time. He doesn’t offer much upside at the plate, but he is capable of playing every infield spot and also made a few appearances in right field last year.
Triston Casas suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in May 2025.
It won’t be an easy road back to Boston for Casas, whose 2025 season ended in May after he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon. Even if he’s fully healthy, he’ll likely be eased back into action with a minor-league stint before the Red Sox consider calling him back up to the big-league roster.
The question is, where does Casas fit on this year’s Red Sox club? Contreras is expected to be the everyday first baseman, and the team already has multiple DHs. Casas doesn’t currently have a clear path to consistent playing time, but Boston will have to find some way to fit him into the puzzle if he shows the power that once helped make him the top prospect in the organization.
Catchers – Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Carlos Narvaez was a pleasant surprise in his first season with the Red Sox.
The Red Sox will roll with the same catching tandem in 2026: Narvaez as the primary backstop and Wong as the No. 2.
Narvaez far exceeded expectations last year in his first season with Boston. The 27-year-old was among MLB’s best defensive catchers, ranking near the top of the league in caught stealing above average, blocks above average, pop time, and framing. He was also a pleasant surprise at the plate, belting 15 homers and amassing a solid .726 OPS in 118 games.
Wong quickly lost his starting job to Narvaez in what was an abysmal season for the 29-year-old. It took him until June 23 to earn his first RBI of the year, and he also had his worst season yet as a defensive backstop. He’ll look to bounce back and take pressure off Narvaez, who was clearly affected by his heavy workload down the stretch in 2025.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- No matter what comes of Slovakia at these 2026 Winter Olympic men's hockey league games, St. Louis Blues coach Jim Montgomery knows he has a player there that could be galvanized by his play.
Dalibor Dvorsky, a first-round pick (No. 10) in the 2023 NHL Draft, had a goal and an assist for the Slovaks, who continue to defy the odds and reached Friday's semifinal with a 6-2 thumping of Germany in quarterfinal play at Santagiulia IHO Arena in Milan, Italy on Wednesday.
The center now is up to six points (three goals, three assists) in four games for Slovakia, which awaits its opponent pending the result of USA-Sweden's game on Wednesday.
"It can catapult his confidence," Montgomery said of Dvorsky. "To do this on the world stage in the Olympics, it's one of the biggest events you can ever do it. It's like seeing a player do it not only in the NHL playoffs but also the American (Hockey) League. It gives you the confidence that you know how to stay in the moment, how to execute in the moment, and how to come through in big moments. And when you're a gifted player like Dvorsky is, this gives you the confidence that you can do it. That's a big mental hurdle to achieve."
Dvorsky was a plus-1 with three shots on goal in 14:03 of ice time in the game Wednesday.
* Finland 3, Switzerland 2, OT -- It was a tough ending for Pius Suter and the Swiss players in their quarterfinal matchup when they led 2-0 late in the third period before succumbing late, ultimately losing when Artturi Lehkonen (Colorado Avalanche) won it in overtime for the Finns.
Suter had an assist on a Nino Niederreiter (Winnipeg Jets) goal that gave Switzerland a 2-0 lead in the first period but couldn't hold it.
Suter, who finished the tournament with two goals and an assist in four games, played 15:31 and was a minus-2 in the game.
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As the Detroit Red Wings return to practice with the NHL schedule set to resume in just over a week, they’re expecting to welcome back one of their most important pieces on the blue line.
Defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who hasn’t played since Jan. 21 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, is expected to return when Detroit faces the Ottawa Senators on the road on Feb. 26.
Detroit’s top defensive pairing of Edvinsson and Moritz Seider has been among the NHL’s best, and the Detroit Red Wings clearly missed the towering Swede during their stretch of games leading into the Olympic break, when they earned just six of a possible 14 points.
Simon Edvinsson couldn't even STAND after taking a 86MPH one-timer off the knee and he STILL managed to block another shot with his stick 🤯💪 pic.twitter.com/KatDe4o51b
"It sucked, it was probably the worst feeling that you have to sit there and feel like you can make a difference, but can't do anything when you're sitting," he said.
"It sucked, for sure."
While Edvinsson was able to play the remainder of the game against the Maple Leafs after aggravating his lingering injury during the first period, he knew the next day that something would need to be done to fix the problem.
“It was lingering for a while, and in the last game, I felt something even more, and that was like the last drop that I needed to really do the surgery,” Edvinsson continued. “I thought I could go the whole season without doing it, but when I felt that and couldn't really put weight on my knee, it happened in the first period in the Toronto game, and it was the adrenaline that made me play the whole game.
"The next day, it was just a no-go," he said. "I’m glad that we got the surgery timed so quick, the recovery and everything have been great.”
Playing in his second full NHL season, Edvinsson has tallied six goals with 11 assists while averaging 22:34 of ice time per game.
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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Tommy Nance #45 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during Game Three of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tommy Nancy is a 34-year-old (35 in March), right-handed reliever, from Long Beach, California. He was undrafted (is that a word?), and signed as an amateur free agent in 2016 by the Cubs, after playing in an independent league in 2015.
He had a rather slow climb up the minors. When you are undrafted, you have to prove yourself every step of the way. He missed the 2017 season with a shoulder nerve injury, and then the 2020 season because COVID-19 led to its cancellation.
Tommy made it to the majors in 2021, pitching in 27 games and posting a 7.22 ERA. Before the 2022 season, he was taken by the Marlins off waivers. He pitched in 35 games for them with a 4.33 ERA. From there, he went to the Padres as a free agent and then, in August of 2024, the Jays traded (bought?) Nance for cash.
He is out of options.
Tommy pitched in 20 games for us in 2024, with a 4.09 ERA. At the start of the 2025 season, the Jays DFAed him, but he stayed in the organization.
Then, in late July, Nance was called up again and stayed up with the team the rest of the way. He ended up pitching in 30 games, in half the season, with a 1.99 ERA. Batters hit .214/.262/.231 against him, with 5 holds. He moved up to pitch in higher-leverage spots as the season went on. I don’t know if there was a pitching coach that unlocked something, or it was just a run of good pitching, but he was pretty amazing.
Unfortunately, he had a rough couple of outings in the ALDS against the Yankees.
He threw three pitches:
A slider, 43.0% of the time.
A curve, 29.2% of the time.
A Sinker, 27.8% of the time, 94.5 mph.
Nance got a lot of ground balls, 52.9% ground ball rate, which, considering our infield defense should be even better this year, is a very good thing.
Spring Training will be interesting. We have 11 or so relievers, all trying for 8 spots. Hoffman, Garcia, Rogers, Varland, Little, Fisher, and Fluharty all, at least in my mind, are very likely to make the team. If Lauer is pitching out of the pen, that would be 8 spots. But then injuries tend to happen in spring training.
And then there is Miles, Lee, and Bastardo.
Steamer thinks he’ll pitch in 58 games with a 3.80 ERA
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