LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: A detail shot of the main entrance to Dodger Stadium prior to Game One of the National League Wild Card Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Star players are exciting to watch, no doubt, but baseball seasons are long, and there is plenty of time to build up an affection for just about every type of player.
Miguel Rojas is entering his 13th and final major league season, before he transitions into a front office role with the Dodgers. He’s never made an All-Star team, but was a dependable regular at shortstop for five years with the Miami Marlins before returning to Los Angeles in more of a reserve role over the last three seasons.
“It’s coming on your feed every single day. You’re seeing the homer, you’re seeing the plays, you’re seeing the whole series,” Rojas said on SportsNet LA during Dodgers Fest on Saturday. “And then the feedback from the people on the streets. When they come to you and say, ‘That was the most memorable World Series,’ ‘That was the best game I’ve ever seen,’ it’s really impactful, because you were part of something really cool in baseball. That’s a moment you will never forget.”
Rojas has 57 regular season home runs in his 12 years to date. Scioscia made two All-Star teams with the Dodgers so perhaps he doesn’t fall into the underrated or unheralded category.
Eric Karros never made an All-Star team, but is generally well-regarded as the Dodgers’ home run leader since moving to Los Angeles, and is still broadcasting games for the team on television from time to time. I’m not sure he is underrated, but maybe he is. To each their own.
There can be many reasons for having an affinity for a non-star player. Maybe it was a specific moment from a game you watched as a kid. Maybe they have a penchant for earning three-inning saves. Who knows?
Today’s question is who is your favorite underrated or unheralded Dodgers player, past or present, and why?
Jan 31, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) shoots against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Even before the Sixers learned they’d be without the services of Paul George for 25 games, depth on the wing was an issue.
Other than George, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Justin Edwards were the only true wing options on standard deals. Nick Nurse has experimented with three-guard and bigger lineups, but having a true wing was a need with this week’s trade deadline looming. George’s absence only makes it a greater need.
Well, Saddiq Bey made a strong case Saturday to be the wing the Sixers should acquire.
The Villanova product dropped 34 points in the New Orleans Pelicans’ 124-114 loss to the Sixers. He added six rebounds and three assists while looking like the Pelicans’ best player for most of the night.
Bey had a productive freshman season for the Wildcats, but really took off for Jay Wright and company as a sophomore, receiving the Julius Erving Award given to the nation’s best small forward. Bey, now 26, was selected 19th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He struggled with efficiency early on in his pro career, shooting below 40% from the field in his first two seasons. Playing for a then-tanking Pistons team didn’t help.
After a midseason trade to Atlanta in 2022-23, Bey finished the campaign strong, averaging 11.6 points and shooting over 40% from three in a mostly reserve role with the Hawks. He struggled with efficiency again in 2023-24 before tearing his ACL late in the season, causing him to miss all of 2024-25.
Despite the injury, Bey signed a three-year deal with the Washington Wizards. Before playing a single game with the Wizards, he was traded to the Pelicans in the Jordan Poole deal. Though the Maryland native was surely disappointed to not suit up in D.C., the Sixers can now offer him another homecoming of sorts.
So, how can he help the Sixers?
Bey is listed at 6-foot-8 (with a near 7-foot wingspan) and 215 pounds. He has a strong and sturdy frame, and has the ability to play both the three and the four. The best thing about Bey is he can do a little bit of everything. He can start or come off the bench.
His shooting has been inconsistent at the NBA level, but he also hasn’t been in many good offensive ecosystems. This season, he’s hit 34.8% from deep on 5.2 attempts per game. In his last 10 games since coming back from an injury, he’s hitting 44.4% from three. He’s averaging 16.5 points in 30.2 minutes per game, with the ability to create his own shot, as he displayed against the Sixers. He can make things happen with the ball in his hands while also having success as an off-ball cutter. He typically makes good decisions, averaging 2.4 assists to 0.7 turnovers per game.
While he isn’t a lockdown defender by any means, he can be solid within a team structure. He’s also a strong rebounder off the wing, averaging 5.9 per game. His athleticism would also be a big help, as we’ve seen with the youth movement the Sixers have gone to this season.
His current head coach James Borrego gave a glowing endorsement ahead of Saturday’s game:
“He’s just a pro on both sides of the ball. The physicality defensively — we’re bigger, stronger, we’ve got more presence defensively. But offensively, he’s so versatile for us right now. He’s a catch-and-shoot guy, he’s a drive guy downhill, we post him some, he’s on the offensive boards, he’s closed out games for us, he’s made big shots for us. So, he covers a number of things for us offensively … He’s been a real settler for us offensively. When we’ve gone dry offensively, he’s someone we throw the ball to and we know something good is going to happen — either get a good shot [for himself] or find somebody open on the perimeter.”
What would it cost?
It’s hard to say. Matching his 2025-26 salary ($6.1 million) would be the easy part.
He’s signed through next season at a very reasonable number. Combine that with his production and you’re talking about more than just a couple of second-rounders. It could cost the Sixers a first — obviously, not the LA Clippers’ unprotected 2028 first, but one of the team’s own. New Orleans could potentially ask for someone like Jared McCain, though it’s fair to wonder if McCain is a fit with rookie Jeremiah Fears moving forward.
Bey would be an intriguing addition, the kind Joel Embiid seemed to hope the team would make. We’ll see what Daryl Morey and company have in store soon enough.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees looks on 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
Following two seasons with the Chicago Cubs and eight in the National League, Bellinger found himself in a very different (but also familiar) environment after he was dealt to the New York Yankees in December of 2024. Bellinger’s dad, Clay, was a Yankee from 1999-2001, winning two World Series championships with the team before playing his final year of major-league ball with the Anaheim Angels in 2002. Aside from the familial connection though, Bellinger had played just three career games in the Bronx out of 1,077 in his career.
Despite the new environment for him in 2025, Bellinger was arguably the Yankees’ best player outside of Aaron Judge. He came onto the scene and made an immediate impact in front of the fans at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day. Against the Milwaukee Brewers, he went 1-for-2 with a hit, an RBI, and a walk in four plate appearances.
Bellinger not only had a strong offensive output for the Yankees throughout the 2025 season, but his defense was the shining part of his game. He finished with some of the best defensive numbers in his entire career, rounding out his game more in his age-29 season, and Yankees fans hope he will continue his strong offensive output while also being a vacuum in the outfield in the 2026 season.
Bellinger’s excellent season with the Yankees gave the team’s front office almost no other choice but to re-sign him moving forward. And, after there was initially a gap between the Yankees and Bellinger’s representation (Scott Boras), the two sides did agree on a five-year deal worth $162.5 million and no deferrals. Bellinger received a $20 million signing bonus, and he has the option to opt out after the second or third season. Lastly, he has a full no-trade clause in this contract.
There were some concerning aspects about the raw numbers that Bellinger put out over the course of last season. His average exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and bat speed were all below league average. He also chased his fair share of pitches. However, the good news is that despite those numbers not living up to what fans probably want to see from the second-best-performing player on the team, there are other signals that should offer optimism heading into 2026.
First, Bellinger did an excellent job of seeing pitches and knowing which ones he wanted. His strikeout rate was the lowest of his career and sat in the 91st percentile among all major leaguers according to Baseball Savant. In that same vein, while Bellinger may have chased a fair share of pitches through 2025, his whiff rate was one of the lowest in MLB as well. He finished the year with a total in the 81st percentile. Additionally, while the Yankees might be a lefty-heavy lineup, Bellinger actually thrived against same-handed pitching last year with a 1.016 OPS in 176 PA.
Bellinger’s defense was out-of-this-world good for the Yankees in 2025, and that’s a bright spot that needs to continue in the outfield if the Yankees want to remain in contention for the World Series. His Range (OAA) and Arm Value were both above the 90th percentile across MLB, and his overall fielding run value was in the 91st percentile. Among all outfielders, Bellinger finished 19th in OAA and was the second-highest finisher among all left fielders. He’s a huge boost over what Jasson Domínguez would’ve offered with the glove, and he has the flexibility to play center and first in a pinch as well, spelling Trent Grisham and Ben Rice.
So, despite some bumps along the way in his contract negotiations this offseason, the Yankees and Bellinger were finally able to make a deal that ensures the player is paid what he believes he’s worth and that the club gets a player who was invaluable to the team last season under manager Aaron Boone. Bellinger’s defense alone was worth spending the money, but combining that with the fact that he produced well on offense, is a former MVP and a World Series winner, there should be high hopes for him to stay in form heading into 2026.
CORAL GABLES, FL - MARCH 03: Miami left-handed pitcher Herick Hernandez (9) pitches in the first inning as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Florida Gators on March 3, 2024, at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We are starting to hit the stretch of the campaign as we enter the top 20. With a couple of the safer picks rounding out the top 30, we have begun to enter the part of the list that caters to some high upside prospects. Compared to recent years there is a lot more upside, and a lot more tools that are definitely louder than years prior. There is also considerable capital associated with this particular section of the system with high international signing bonuses, as well as a pair of players drafted within the first six rounds. A lot has been talked about how the system has a serious lack of depth and high upside talent but with progression from this group of players, the back end looks significantly stronger with a pair of potential top 100 players should everything work out.
How he got to the Braves: 2024 20th round pick (611th overall)
It’s not very often you get value out of a final round draft pick in any sport – much less baseball. While he still has a ways to go, it appears as though the Braves may have gotten a steal when they selected Hartman out of Holy Trinity Academy out of Alberta, Canada in the 20th round of the 2024 draft. A toolsy but very raw outfielder, the Braves sent Hartman to the FCL to begin his professional career, where he struggled to an OPS of .396 in a very limited sample size of six games. He then got the promotion to low-A Augusta where he turned things around in a significant way. Across 83 games with the GreenJackets, the 19-year-old posted an OPS of .718 to go along with five homers and 41 RBI in the process – ultimately leading to a wRC+ of 109 for the season. Hartman has also show solid plate discipline for someone of his age and lower draft pedigree. In those 83 games, he posted a strikeout rate of 23.2% while walking in 10.6% of his at-bats. The biggest issue for Hartman – like any prep position player early in their career – is his ability to handle breaking balls. However, as the season progressed, he showed an ability to adjust late in the count and choke up on the bat to at least attempt to handle breaking balls a bit better. Augusta is likely to be Hartman’s home for the first portion of the season, but it wouldn’t take much to get the bump to Rome, as there really isn’t much talent standing in his way there. If he can figure out how to work counts deeper and handle the breaking stuff, the sky is the limit for Hartman.
The Braves got a steal in the 20th Round last year, grabbing Eric Hartman from Canada. The 18-year-old has split time at 2B/OF and has hits in 9 of his last 10. Clocked him 4.1 sec H-1(plus). Showed a good approach and the ability to hit velocity in my looks last week. pic.twitter.com/4x1MtCdKex
How he got to the Braves: 2025 international free agent
Raudy was a late add, relative to the normal international cycle, for the Braves during last year’s signing period. Coming in at 6’4” with a fastball that reaches 100 MPH at the age of 16 – it’s easy to see why he was signed for a massive $1.8M signing bonus. Raudy, who is new to pitching, is a complete project so he comes in cautiously at 23 overall despite the high end potential. On the season Raudy ended up making 9 appearances in the Dominican Summer League pitching 27 innings and registering a 11.67 K/9, and 9.67 BB/9 with a 3.67 ERA. Overall, really strong numbers for someone his age and his experience. But diving beyond the numbers, the reports out of the Dominican were great. Raudy was comfortably sitting in the 96-99 MPH range through three to four innings. His slider, while wild, showed promise with its shape and movement. It’s safe to imagine that Raudy stays in the Dominican Summer League next year as he will be 17 for a majority of the season, with his eyes on a stateside debut in 2027. At this time he is a complete wildcard, making him wildly difficult to evaluate but the upside is more than enough to make him comfortably within the top 30.
How he got to the Braves: 2023 international free agent
One of the biggest surprises in the Braves system in 2025 was the emergence of Rayven Antonio. Antonio came into the year as an arm most hadn’t had any expectations for, but it was known that he initially signed for just a $10k signing bonus out of Colombia and despite a decent stat line in his first two years, he really struggled to miss bats. Antonio posted a 1.16 ERA in 31 innings in the DSL in 2023, but only had 22 strikeouts. In 2024 he posted a 4.05 ERA between the FCL and a few games in Augusta, but he struck out only 31 in 46.2 innings. Coming into the year the expectation was that he was going to be a ground ball machine who didn’t miss many bats, and might post solid numbers in the lowest level of full season ball. Fast forward and Antonio was actually the ace of the Augusta rotation, continuing to rack up grounders, but also striking out 95 batters over 93.1 innings with his 4.15 ERA and 1.25 WHIP – numbers that would have looked even better if not for seeming to tire out at the tail end of the year thanks to blowing past his career high in innings. Antonio is still just 19 until March and expected to join Rome this year, and is now considered to be a legitimate prospect after his velocity increased last year. He now gets up to 98 MPH with his four seam fastball and also has a strong sinker, to go with a slider that has a chance to be a plus pitch, and a splitter that should be an average off speed pitch for him. Antonio is mostly a strike thrower, though he will need to continue to refine his command and continue to progress with his slider. He’s still a teenager, but one with the package to be a big league starter, and has had success at every stop so far. He is a potential middle of the rotation starter if everything comes together, but is more likely a potential quality #4 type of starter.
21. Jose Perdomo – SS
How he got to the Braves: 2024 international free agent
The big bonus signing out of Venezuela in 2024 has had a….rough….start to his professional career so far with the Braves. After having insane comps to Miguel Cabrera leading to fans everywhere to eagerly await his professional debut, Jose picked up an early knock as he suffered from a lingering hamstring injury that hampered him for nearly the entire year. He would play in just 8 games and hit a paltry .250/.318/.250 and leave fans and scouts wanting more. 2025 was supposed to be the year for Jose as he appeared to be fully healthy and the Braves brought him over stateside to compete in the FCL and work with coaches over here. Unfortunately, the results simply were not there as Jose would appear in 54 games and would hit just .223/.275/.270 with a walk rate sitting at just 6%. These are not exactly numbers that instill confidence in people, especially when you add in the fact that he had a soft tissue injury at the age of 17 that kept him out. In talking with scouts that were able to see him more readily, Jose had issues with his lower half and posture that would creep up during at bats. These issues would lead to some of the inconsistencies that plagued him throughout the season. The good is that these things are fixable, and there’s still no denying the talent that he has but it is imperative that his attitude and ethic continue to improve as he enters his second full season of professional baseball. The batted ball data is still there, as he had multiple hits over 100 MPH, including a 103 MPH single back on the 19th of July when he went 5-for-6 so there is still plenty of hope. Add in the fact that he will be just 19 for the entire season and there’s really no reason to give up any kind of hope for Jose. But one thing for certain is that he must show improvement in every facet. There is hope that he makes his Augusta debut this year but it wouldn’t be surprising if he started the season back in Florida, either.
Jose Perdomo is the highest ranked international prospect to land with Atlanta since Kevin Maitan. Perdomo has strong bat-to-ball skills, advanced plate discipline, and is a solid runner. Has potential to add power if he fills out his frame. 🎥: @MLBpic.twitter.com/9sOzbOuTaM
How he got to the Braves: 2024 4th round pick (129th overall)
Herick had one of the most puzzling seasons amongst all Braves prospects. Herick mystified hitters, giving up more than five hits in just one game last year. He struck out batters to the tune of an 11.06 K/9 rate, but then his command could implode, highlighted by his 5.92 BB/9 rate. He attacked batters with his slider to get ahead of counts and to generate whiffs. He would combo that with a fastball that ranged from 91-97, that he located often in the upper third. Herick also featured a solid curveball, and a splitter that would also look good at times. We often talked about Cam Caminiti’s ability to generate whiffs seen by his 13.6% SwStr% (% of strikes that were swung on and missed), but Herick eclipsed him with an even stronger 14.1%. With a good four pitch mix there’s every reason for Herick to stay a starter, especially since he’s capable of handling the workload of a full season already. However, with the command struggles there could also be a future where he focuses on his fastball/slider combo and excels as a reliever. Whichever route he ends up taking, there will be a lot of eyes on Herick Hernandez after he showed us all what he’s capable of last year.
19. Lucas Braun – RHP
How he got to the Braves: 2023 6th round draft pick (189th overall)
Lucas Braun quietly had a strong year – registering a 3.67 ERA across two levels (24 games in AA, 3 games in AAA). In his 24 starts for the Columbus Clingstones he had 3.99 ERA, 9.23 K/9, and 2.41 BB/9 rate. The anemic Clingstones offense did not help him much so he went just 5-5 despite those numbers. Lucas would then get promoted to Gwinnett to finish out the season and while the strikeout rate dropped to 5.21, the walk rate stayed strong, dropping on its own to 1.89 per 9. He did this by utilizing six pitches – a four seam fastball (90-93 MPH), two seam fastball (89-91 MPH), cutter (85-87 MPH), slider (81-84 MH), curveball (76-79 MPH), and a changeup. He showed the mental fortitude you want to see with starting pitchers by comfortably leaning on whatever pitches worked best for him that day – often his 4S, 2S, and slider. He had success both against righties (.229/.278/.375), and lefties (.205/.270/.343) and limited hard contact quite well.
Lucas will be 24 for most of the 2026 season and has already ticked a lot of the boxes you want to see starting pitching prospects do. Whether he’s called up to Atlanta, or is used in a trade, if he replicates the kind of year he had in 2025 he should find himself in Major League Baseball sooner than later.
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 15, 2025: Angel Cepeda #15 of the Chicago Cubs in the field during the eighth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Los Angeles Angels at Sloan Park on March 15, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Welcome back our countdown of the top 25 prospects in the Cubs system. For an introduction and an explanation of the rankings, check out yesterday’s introduction. Also a reminder. Clicking on the player’s name will take you to their milb dot com page.
Coppola is a true mystery box prospect because it’s hard to know what the Cubs are going to get out of him. He was one of the top high school left-handers in 2021, but he had a firm commitment to Florida. With the Gators, he managed just 49.1 innings over four years as back and shoulder injuries kept him on the shelf more than on the mound. He managed seven starts in his redshirt junior season in 2025 and struck out 43 batters in just 21.1 innings. That was enough for the Cubs to take him in the seventh round.
Unlike most pitchers the Cubs draft, Coppola’s low inning total at Florida meant that he made his professional start in Myrtle Beach last year. He only threw eight innings over three games, but Coppola struck out 14 batters and allowed just two runs for a 2.25 ERA. On the downside, he did walk nine batters in those eight innings.
Coppola is a huge left-hander whose fastball sits 91-to-93 miles per hour with good movement and an odd release angle. His best pitch is his low-80s slider that has a lot of movement on it. Maybe too much, as he can struggle to throw it for a strike sometimes. A sinker gives Coppola a third pitch for right-handers.
It’s easy to dream on what a fully-healthy Coppola could do in a major league rotation. At 6’7”, it’s also not hard to see him adding a little velocity when he doesn’t have to deal with injuries. There’s certainly some mid-starter potential here.
Of course, Coppola staying healthy might not be something he’s capable of. He does have a kind of odd three-quarters delivery and his size works against him there. The good movement he gets on his pitches also works against him because he’s currently not capable of throwing strikes consistently. It’s easy to say there’s a lot of relief risk here and honestly, a profile like this is much more likely to be a reliever. Maybe there’s a chance he can be a starter, but it wouldn’t be terrible if he ended up a a left-handed weapon out of the bullpen.
Coppola is a work in progress. If he can stay healthy and if he can throw strikes, he’s got some tremendous upside. Whether he starts the season in Myrtle Beach or South Bend, innings pitched and strikeout-to-walk ratio are the two things to look for in Coppola this year. If he takes a step forward, he’s likely a top ten prospect next year.
Here’s Coppola’s highlights with the Florida Gators last year.
Last year at this time we were looking at Birdsell making his major league debut some time in 2025. Instead, Birdsell missed the first two months of the season with elbow soreness. He came back in June and made eight starts—four rehab appearances and four with Iowa—before his elbow acted up again and he underwent elbow surgery. The Cubs were unclear on whether it was Tommy John surgery for Birdsell or something less invasive, but in either case, Birdsell is going to miss all of 2026 recovering.
At least Birdsell pitched quite well in his four starts for Iowa. He went 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA over 18.2 innings. Birdsell struck out 18 and walked eight.
This year’s report on Birdsell is the same as last year’s. He has a four-seam fastball in the 93-to-95 mph. He compliments that with an upper-80s cutter. He also features a curve and a changeup. He’s going to have to improve that change if he wants to retire left-handed batters in the majors.
But Birdsell’s biggest strength is is command and control. He generally can paint the corners with that cutter and knows how to locate the fastball well. Birdsell generally doesn’t walk many batters. His strikeout totals aren’t bad, but he doesn’t really miss enough bats to be a top starter.
The outlook for Birdsell this year is the mostly same as last year. He’s a potential number 4/5 starter. But beyond moving his timeline back, the surgery complicates things because Birdsell was expected to be a durable innings eater. He was a top ten prospect in the system last spring and he would be again this year if he were healthy. We just have to wait and see what 2027 brings for Brandon Birdsell.
Rodriguez took a big step forward this past year with a solid season at High-A South Bend. In 12 starts, Rodriguez pitched 64 innings and went 6-4 with a 2.81 ERA. He struck out 58 and walked 22. That earned him a short, four start promotion to Double-A Knoxville where he held his own with a 3.54 ERA, although the walk totals went up and the strikeout totals went down.
Despite a high leg kick, Rodriguez has a quick, compact delivery that gives the hitter a different look. He’s mostly a three-pitch pitcher, with a 93-to-95 mph fastball that can touch higher at times. It’s also “heavy” and can induce a lot of ground balls. He combines that with a mid-80s slider that’s his put-away pitch. He has a decent changeup to use against left-handers. Rodriguez is more of a ground ball pitcher than a strikeout pitcher and he does walk a few too many hitters.
Rodriguez has a chance to be a number-five starter, but he’s more likely destined for the bullpen. There, he might be able to add a little velocity and get a few more swings and misses on his four-seamer.
In any case, Rodriguez should return to Knoxville to start the season. If the Cubs decide to move him to the bullpen, he could move up to Iowa fast and be in line for a major league debut later this year. If they leave him as a starter, he’s a longer-term project.
Here are highlights from a seven-inning complete game shutout that Rodriguez threw in June.
Although Cepeda was born in the Dominican Republic and moved back there to avoid the draft and sign as a free agent, he’s actually spent the majority of his life in New Jersey and played for Team USA’s under-14 team. The Cubs gave him a $1 million bonus as an international free agent in 2023.
Cepeda is toolsy young player with a fair amount of projection left in him. He has average power right now, having hit eight home runs in 100 games for Low-A Myrtle Beach last year, but there does seem to be room for him to add power as he ages and become and above-average power hitter. Even eight home runs in a challenging hitting environment like the Carolina League and Myrtle Beach is pretty impressive for a 19-year-old.
Last year he spent the entire season with the Pelicans, going .249/.339/.375 with eight home runs and 27 steals. He could afford to pull the ball more as a lot of his hits (and home runs) are going to right field. He’s not a burner on the base paths, but he is an intelligent base runner who plays faster than his raw foot speed.
Defensively, Cepeda is losing a step as he adds weight. He can probably still play a decent shortstop, but third base seems to be his long-term position. He does have a strong enough arm to handle the hot corner. He would also do well as a second baseman.
The biggest issue with Cepeda right now is his contact skills as he struggles with breaking pitches from right-handed pitching. A 31 percent strikeout rate in Low-A simply isn’t going to cut it as he moves up the ladder. He also has a pretty wide platoon split, as he destroyed left-handers last year and struggled against righties. Were it not for these red flags, Cepeda would rank a lot higher.
Cepeda will take on South Bend as a 20-year-old in 2026. If he can learn to make more contact, he very well could be a top ten prospect this time next year.
Here’s Cepeda muscling out an opposite field home run last April.
I still feel that Bateman was born 40 years too late. In the mid-eighties, Bateman would have been a strong center field and leadoff hitter prospect with strong contact skills and the ability to steal 50 bases a year. But in the Year of our Lord 2026, Bateman’s complete lack of power likely dooms him to a reserve outfielder role.
Bateman’s game is making contact, mostly on the ground, and drawing walks. In his first season in Double-A last year, Bateman played 94 games ands hit .261/.376/.307 with two home runs and just nine doubles. While Bateman makes a lot of contact when he swings (and he rarely swings at bad pitches), he doesn’t make a lot of hard contact, even on the ground. That’s become more of a problem as he moves up the system and he can no longer take advantage of poor infield defenders.
But Bateman’s strike zone judgment means his on-base percentage stays high, even when the hits aren’t falling in. He’s also a plus defender in center field, even if his arm is below average. Maybe he doesn’t cover as much ground as Pete Crow-Armstrong (who does?), but he certainly gets to a lot of fly balls that other center fielder don’t.
Bateman has 70 speed (on the 20-to-80 scale), but he needs more experience stealing bases, He was caught six times in 25 attempts last year. With his raw speed, Bateman should be stealing a lot more than that and at a much higher success rate. I’m confident he will, assuming he gets on base enough to get a chance.
Bateman will likely start 2025 back in Knoxville. He needs to make more hard contact and improve his stolen base percentage to get promoted to Triple-A Iowa. He projects out as a fourth outfielder with a lot of value as a defensive replacement and a pinch runner. If he can make a little harder contact, he could be a valuable pinch hitter as well.
Dec 8, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro speaks with the media during the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings at Signia by Hilton Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Though it was stunningly cold this past Saturday, plenty of Kansas City Royals fans showed up to the fourth annual Royals Rally event. Fans who bought tickets received access to autograph sessions and could listen to select roundtables throughout the day.
Additionally, just like last year, this event served as the first big media event of the year, with a variety of Royals players, coaches, and front office members sitting down to field questions from the group. I was there during media availability and got a few questions in–including one that had been burning a hole in my proverbial pocket that I finally asked principal owner John Sherman.
This year, we’ll look at some quotes that I jotted down that I found noteworthy as we look ahead to the 2026 season.
“Stability” and “Reach”
Ok, this isn’t a quote per se, you got me. But they are two words that Cullen Maxey, the Royals’ new president of business operations, repeatedly said in regard to Kansas City’s broadcasting situation.
With FanDuel Sports Kansas City and its parent company, Main Street Sports Group, traversing the thorny path of financial ruin, the Royals have faced a choice in how to proceed: stick with FanDuel or transition to MLB. Just two days after the event, the Royals confirmed they were ditching FanDuel for the season in favor of an in-house MLB broadcast. All the broadcasters will remain on board.
When Sherman was available for an interview, I asked him about the instability with FanDuel and if that had impacted revenue or their ability to field the payroll they wanted. Sherman said that there has indeed been some revenue “erosion” and that a non-FanDuel option would result in further revenue erosion. Interestingly, Sherman also said that they considered it a short-term impact, and as such, they were simply eating the monetary difference so it wouldn’t impact the team.
So, why then did the Royals go with MLB if it meant even lower revenues? Maxey and Sherman believe that maximizing reach is the best and most profitable way in the long haul. That’s why they did it.
“We got away from our identity.”
It was a mostly quiet offseason for Kansas City, with a young core in place surrounded by a starting pitching staff with high-end and depth talent. Still, Picollo says that there were some growing pains last year and said that the team “got away from our identity.”
Interestingly, JJ said that this identity wasn’t about any individual playing factor, but that their identity was about putting pressure on other teams. And if you watched the 2025 Royals very often, you know that some things plagued the team all year long: a lack of getting on base, baserunning blunders, and defensive miscues.
If you’re wondering why the Royals didn’t grab another bat, Picollo said that there were “few available hitters to make us significantly better,” and it is that “significantly better” part that stands out for me, because the implied part of that is “for the cost.” Picollo knows the Royals would ideally like to add another bat, and Sherman said later that there still could be opportunities to add a bat–after all, it’s only February and we’ve got two months before Opening Day.
So if the Royals do add a bat, it’ll mean that they found that piece to make them significantly better at a cost that they agree with.
“We’ll match up and move guys around.”
The Royals acquired Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas in the offseason, and they’ll have Jac Caglionone from opening day. What will the outfield look like?
That was my question to Matt Quatraro, who agreed that those three will receive a lot of playing time in the outfield. But he followed that up by strongly suggesting that the outfield would be fluid. The first additional name Q brought up as someone who would get outfield time was Michael Massey, and Q also said that Nick Loftin and John Rave would be prepared to play there, too.
Kansas City is in a better place with the outfield, but there’s enough uncertainty that we may see platoons to some degree for all three outfield spots. While the Royals think that Collins is likely going to play a lot of left field, it sounds like there will be some healthy competition and enough plate appearances to go around.
“I want to retire here.”
During JJ’s interview, Salvador Perez’s loud voice could be heard from the hallway. When JJ referred to him as a Hall of Famer, Salvy quipped that he was glad to hear it. Perez’s smile and personality are as big as ever.
Salvy was asked about signing his most recent extension, and he was unequivocal in his happiness as a Royal. He wants to retire here, and he does not want to play for any other team. Will he make it to the Hall of Fame? It’ll be an interesting case. He could get to 350 home runs and 2,000 hits if he continues to play well. But make no mistake: Salvy is going to be a big part of the team this year.
“Last year was a failure.”
Vinnie Pasquantino is beloved by fans, teammates, and media alike because of his big personality, respectfulness, and honesty. It was the honesty that was on full display here.
When asked about how he felt about the season, he brought up last year and did not mince words, calling it a failure. They felt like they were good enough to make the playoffs, but they didn’t. To Vinnie, that wasn’t just an “aw shucks” situation, but a true failure. He brought up that Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia are on long-term deals and that the time to win is now.
New and returning Royals pitcher Matt Strahm later mentioned the same thing–that there is a drive and an expectation to win. “I was happy to hear how disappointed they were,” he said about his new teammates’ thoughts on the previous season. Strahm went on to say that he was tired of being a loser and wanted to win.
Somebody asked a clarifying question of Strahm about what would not constitute losing; he replied simply: the World Series. It’s clear that Royals players have their standards set high.
“We wanted to play in a more neutral setting more consistently.”
The Royals are in the process of moving in their fences, a decision that the team made after they crunched the numbers and determined it would help the team more than it would hurt them. During the event, you could clearly see that they were actively at work doing so, as you can see from a few photos I snapped of the snow-clad field:
Sherman put it in terms of a return on investment. Vinnie stated that he was excited about it and that he was looking forward to what it felt like in the regular season. Seth Lugo offered a measured response from a pitcher’s perspective, and said that as long as he does his job in limiting hard-hit fly balls and line drives, he won’t have to worry about where the walls are.
But Quatraro’s statement about playing in a neutral setting more consistently seems to be one of the core reasons for the change. It’s not that Kauffman was a hitter’s or pitcher’s park; it’s that it was so different from the rest of the league. We’ll see how it plays out in the regular season.
“We’re not going anywhere.”
It was during last year’s Royals Rally press conferences where Sherman said that the Royals would have an answer on where they wanted to play by the middle of the year. That didn’t happen, the latest in what has been more than one missed self-imposed deadline.
Since then, there has been very little official information from the club. But with John Sherman himself appearing before the media, Saturday was a rare opportunity to get some answers.
Perhaps taking some lessons from last year, though, those answers were mostly noncommittal. Sherman stated that they “feel good about where we are” and didn’t give a specific timeline. When asked if the team was trying to get a deal done without a public vote like in April 2024, Sherman did not directly answer, saying that those decisions weren’t up to the Royals and they were focused on what they could control.
However, Sherman did confirm that the team was no longer looking at the Aspiria campus in Overland Park. Additionally, he said that the team was still looking at sites “on both sides of the state line.” And for the first time that I can recall, Sherman said that extending the lease to stay at Kauffman Stadium was a possibility if necessary, though he preferred not to do that because that amounted to “kicking the can down the road.”
Sherman was also asked again if the Royals would move away from the metro. He responded, “We’re not going anywhere,” and that if somebody ever moved the team away from Kansas City, it wouldn’t be them.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 24: Seattle Mariners AL West division banners are seen before the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park on September 24, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners got better just because.
Fangraphs on Monday dropped their standings model for 2026 and the commensurate playoff odds . It was the biggest news for most of the morning because the Mariners, wouldn’t you know it, were the top projected team in the American League. No, not the best team in the American League, a distinction reserved for the Yankees or the Blue Jays or maaaaybe the Red Sox. But instead the team projected for the most wins, thanks to their good fortune of not playing in the AL East.
These odds felt final, a rubber stamp on another quiet offseason, the justification for continued austerity. For years the organization has committed to building good-not-great rosters, seeing 85-90 wins as a sort of sweet spot; just enough to always be competitive—favorites, on occasion—without risking prospects or profits.
And to their credit, it’s kind of worked. They’ve won 85-90 games in five consecutive seasons. They’ve made a deep playoff run. They’ve developed two of the five best batters in MLB and a premier pitching staff. They’ve made shrewd trades to supplement the roster. And they’ve done so while maintaining a top five farm system, one that’s beginning to graduate legitimate Big League contributors. They’ve held onto their cake, they’ve eaten their cake, and they’ve ensured us of its caloric efficiency.
The question this offseason was whether the Mariners would see this strong position as an ultimatum to chase their first ever World Series; or if they’d see last year’s playoff run as proof of concept for the model that’s gotten them, well, however far *this* may be.
I was prepared for the latter as of Monday at noon. They hadn’t been active since Christmas, and most of the good options had been snatched up by more diligent teams. Eugenio Suárez felt like the last realistic fit, and he’d signed with the Reds over the weekend on a modest one-year deal that the Mariners could have beaten if they cared. Sure, Jerry Dipoto said at Fan Fest there was another trade in the works, but I’d learned to ignore these verbal pacifiers, especially as he sounded committed to their strategy in December:
“And while we’ll continue to evolve our model, mold our model in certain places… I don’t think we’re going to bust it and start over again. We like the model. And right now we’re starting to see some tangible results of what that looks like. We still have goals that we want to achieve that we haven’t achieved yet. So plenty to do, but I think the infrastructure is the way we want it, and we’ll keep relying on the things that we do.”
We can see that “model” had them perfectly aligned with their historic quality. Again, it was arguably enough:
Now, I’d been writing about this strategy since 2021, exhausting all the pros and cons and logistical nuances across far too many words. But I’d never decided how to feel about it as a fan. I could appreciate—and even respect—a group of administrators with the competence and conviction to execute a long-term plan. I felt strongly about the core roster, as people and as players, and I was compelled to watch them every night. And I had some level of confidence that their success, relative as it may be, wasn’t likely to vanish again anytime soon. The Mariners, as of Monday at noon, were worth my time.
But it was easy to forget the hard feelings that existed around the organization from October 2022 through August 2025. For a model based on risk management, it still assumed an incredible amount of risk, all for a step above mediocrity. Baseball is a game. The point is to win. And doing so by technicality—by attrition, really—goes against the nature of competition itself. The Mariners, as of Monday at noon, were kind of pathetic.
Anyways…
At about 2 p.m., the Mariners traded a bunch of prospects for Brendan Donovan. The deal added a net +2.1 fWAR to their projection, with Donovan coming in at 3.1 fWAR by Steamer and Ben Williamson going out at 0.9 fWAR. As the plot below illustrates, this gives the Mariners their best ever projection by a considerable margin, an increase of 5%:
This doesn’t actually change their odds much. The Mariners’ projected standing increased by 1.4 wins; their odds to win the division increased by 6.9 points; their odds to win the World Series increased by 2.4 points. They’re in the same position now as they were before the trade:
The Mariners with this deal got better simply for the sake of getting better. It’s the first time that’s happened since… I honestly cannot remember. It might as well be forever. This is a legitimate win-now deal that commits more resources to 2026 than scales linearly. It’s inefficient, and at this level, that makes it a step towards greatness—the first of Jerry Dipoto’s tenure. I’d call this a new era.
There’s a bit of irony, of course, that I’m making so much hay about a deal for a player I don’t think is great himself. Donovan is obviously “good,” to be clear. He makes a ton of contact while still hitting the ball hard (a distinction that separates him from the likes of Adam Frazier and Kolten Wong). His ability to play so many positions is an exciting premise for a roster already oozing with flexibility. But I see this more as everyday depth, or maybe “fringe core,” if you had to name it as an aesthetic.
I’m also kind of surprised by the cost, even if I can justify each piece individually. I didn’t buy into Ben Williamson’s bat, but I bought into his glove. I was skeptical of Jurrangelo Cijtnje’s left arm, but I was encouraged by his right. The rest was long-shot trade filler, but why did the Cardinals require so much of it? That’s the price of progress, I suppose.
If this is it—and it probably is—the roster is close to ideal for a team now with both feet in the water, gauging its initial depth and temperature, considering whether to fully submerge and dive for the deep. They have great players. The have good players. They have role players. They have prospects. They have quality and contingency; now and later. They are the favorites in the American League. They’re maybe even great.
Baseball: World Series: Toronto Blue Jays Joe Carter (29) victorious, approaching 1st base after hitting, three run game winning, walk off home run during 9th inning vs Philadelphia Phillies at SkyDome. Game 6. Toronto, Canada 10/23/1993 CREDIT: V.J. Lovero (Photo by V.J. Lovero /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X45158 TK6 R18 F6 )
We’ve hit the fun time of the off-season where there is almost nothing for news.
The Jays pitchers and catchers report on the 11th, so at least we’ll start hearing about who is in the best shape of their lives soon. Actually, we don’t hear that much anymore as we’ve all made fun of it enough that no one says it anymore.
The Jays announced that a statue honouring the 1992 and 1993 World Series winners, and Joe Carter in particular, will be installed in front of Rogers Centre. The Ted Rogers statue is moving to another location within the Rogers’ corporate world. Hopefully, they will add a plaque honouring his decision to overcharge us all on cell phones. As long as we don’t have to see it anymore, I’ll be happy.
And there was mention that the team will start honouring past players and events more than they have in the past.
The potential extra outfielders: Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw and Joey Loperfido. Considering there isn’t room on the roster for all four, he’s right that they will have to show well. I’d guess that they will lean heavily on their defensive abilities to make the final choices, but hitting well in spring training games won’t hurt their chances.
RJ Schreck: Considering the four listed above, Schreck will want to show well to be a possible call during the season. If he does well he could move ahead of Lukes and Loperfido on the depth charts.
Leo Jiménez: He is out of options and would likely be quickly grabbed if he were on waivers. He could make a good utility infielder, but we are fairly deep in options for that job.
Spencer Miles: He and Angel Bastardo are Rule 5 guys and would have to be kept on the active roster if the team wants to keep them. There is no chance they would keep both. But one could get a spot at the back of the bullpen.
Brandon Valenzuela: Keegan figures he is number three on the catcher depth chart, and would be in position to make the team when a catcher goes on the IL. Catchers tend to get hurt, so showing well would make him the first call if someone is needed.
There is some non-Jays baseball news:
The Mariners traded for Brendan Donovan, part of a three-team trade. Donovan was an All-Star last year, and hit .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs in 118 games. He can play all over the field, but will likely play third for the M’s.
The Mariners send Ben Williamson to the Rays. And prospects Jurrangelo Cijntje and Tai Peete, plus a competitive balance draft pick to the Cardinals.
The Rays send prospect Colton Ledbetter and a competitive balance pick to the Cardinals.
The Angels signed Jeimer Candelario
And the Rays want $1.15 billion from taxpayers to build a new baseball park. I hate that sports teams can get billions from governments, so they can make billions off of us. And, of course, we are building a hockey rink in Calgary for the owners of the Flames, who could build the arena with money they find in their couches. But, build a water system that works? Nah, can’t have that.
Jan 19, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) reacts after dunking the ball in the second half against the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Jalen Duren is representing the Detroit Pistons in the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest. He joins Los Angeles Lakers big Jaxon Hayes and San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in the infamous contest.
Duren was already named an All-Star this season. The dominant big is averaging an 18-point, ~11-rebound double-double. His team defense has improved, he’s creating off the bounce, and his effort as a whole is through the roof.
The casual fan who begins to pay attention to the NBA after the Super Bowl will be seeing a lot of Duren in Los Angeles in the middle of February.
The Dunk Contest has been “dead” for a while now. Mac McClung has won the event three years in a row, and he’s not a standard NBA player. His dunks were pretty cool, but the star power in the dunk contest hasn’t been there.
John Wall was the last All-Star to win the contest in 2014 as he won with Team East. Jaylen Brown was an All-Star when he participated in the 2024 contest, but we aren’t usually getting the brightest stars these days.
Duren has a chance to stamp himself on another national stage. We see his skyscraping jams on a nightly basis, but the world’s about to see how he floats. Duren is fourth in the league with 111 dunks this year. A high dunk count doesn’t necessarily mean one can be an entertaining dunker, but Duren can fly and has some wiggle.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls some tricks out of his bag. It’s hard coming up with dunks that have never been done, but Duren putting his name in this hat can be good for his notoriety. Being the All-Star that delivers at the dunk contest is a cool footnote for his already phenomenal season.
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws chalk in the air before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 28: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws chalk in the air before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Finally home. The Brooklyn Nets closed out their five game road trip with a Sunday night tilt against the Eastern Conference leading Detroit Pistons. The Nets were never in it and got stomped out by the Pistons 130-77. A loss is a loss, I guess?
The opponent tonight is trying to break into that contenders tier. The Los Angeles Lakers are the center of attention in the NBA, but they aren’t where they really want to be yet. They’ve been on the road the past few weeks thanks to the Grammys and tonight is the last night of their eight game road trip. Fortunately for them, they’ve been in New York the past few days so they won’t experience any jet lag tonight. They took on the Knicks Sunday night at the Garden and lost 112-100. Getaway day is the best day.
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 7:30 PM.
🤕 Injuries
No Haywood Highsmith. Ziaire Williams and Noah Clowney are questionable. All three two-ways are in Long Island and Ben Saraf is still with Brooklyn.
Adou Thiero is out. Austin Reaves is close to returning, and is listed as questionable. Bronny James is questionable as well.
🏀 The game
Two days away. The trade deadline is fast approaching and teams need to figure out what to do. The Lakers are always in the market, but two players they reportedly had in mind were traded for each other over the weekend. A valuable lesson you can take going forward: NEVER trust the Sacramento Kings to make good decisions.
If the Lakers want to make it back to the Finals for the first time since 2020, they’re going to have to start defending at a higher level. LA is 25th in defensive rating, allowing 117.1 points per 100 possessions. I can’t think of any contender with a defense this porous. JJ Redick has a lot to work on before the season is out, and if the Lakers fall short once again, they’ll enter the off-season with a lot of uncertainty facing them.
At the very least, they have the franchise star in tow for the foreseeable future. Luka Doncic is still one of the game’s brightest stars. He’s an engine that controls the offense in a few that few people ever have in basketball history. Doncic can do just about everything imaginable on that side of the ball and is someone you trust to make the right play every time he has the ball in his hands. However, his efforts on defense leave a lot to be desired and if he can’t give you a C+ effort on that end, things get troublesome.
Feel like we’ve been saying it a lot recently, but how will the Nets respond after a 50 point beatdown? They can’t afford to fall behind in the ways that they have been due to their talent discrepancy. And on a night where there will be a lot of purple and gold in the building, falling behind by a bunch early will make for a LONG night in Brooklyn.
Having Noah Clowney back should help the Nets on the glass. LA is 11th in the league in rebounding while the Nets are near the bottom of the ranks. The Nets will try to keep Jaxson Hayes and DeAndre Ayton off the boards as best as they can. Ayton’s numbers look nice, but he’s generally been ok from everything I’ve read from Lakers reporters I keep up with. Considering so many people wanted Ayton out the NBA not too long ago, that’s not too bad!
So will this be Cam Thomas’ last home game as a member of the Nets? The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly have interest in him, but no moves have been made as of yet. If he does go, Steve Lichtenstein has a nice synopsis of where CT is at this point in his career:
“Of course, any new club should know what they’re getting with Thomas, whose shot selection and defense have been the source of endless criticism. The fact is that he has yet to show he can be a winning player—the Nets’ best stretch of basketball this season occurred while he was out of the lineup in December. He has the team’s lowest defensive rating and fourth-worst net rating.
But Thomas can get buckets. The Nets don’t beat the Jazz without Thomas’ 14 points on seven field goal attempts in the second quarter. Few players have his ability to create looks on his own and then make the high-degree-of-difficulty shots. Don’t discount his knack for drawing fouls, a useful skill for playoff basketball.“
A good showing against a playoff team could impress any last minute suitors out there.
👀 Player to watch: LeBron James
Time waits for no man. We’re starting to draw closer to the end of a historical, genre defining career. And when you start to zoom out and look at the scope of everything, it really puts things into perspective
Wow.
This is year 23 for LeBron James, and the legend is doing his best to stay in the game. He’s at career lows in minutes per game and usage rate as JJ Redick and the Lakers coaching staff do their best to nurse him through the regular season. The hope is he’s as close to full strength as possible when the playoffs begin so he can play with no restrictions. Before we get there, we’re going to get nights where he’s non-existent on defense or just playing at an average level. However, when the moment calls for it, he can still dial it up and deliver a vintage performance. And who knows, maybe this is the last time James plays in Brooklyn. Enjoy these moments while you still can.
Michael Porter Jr is expected back tonight. MPJ missed Sunday’s game due to a death in the family, and we send our condolences to him and his loved ones. He’ll get a chance to match up with James and build a case to be an All-Star injury replacement. He had a chance to make the team outright, but NBA coaches went in a different direction. Either way, an opportunity to compete against an all time great is always worth getting up for, so look for Porter Jr to be locked in early.
📺 From the Vault
I was in Philadelphia for Unrivaled over the weekend, and before I left town, I got a chance to check out the Ruth E. Carter “Afrofuturism in Costume Design” exhibit at the African American Museum in Philly. Two films Ruth worked on were Malcolm X and Black Panther, so let’s take two trips back in time
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 16, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The byzantine mechanics of the NBA salary cap makes some trades almost impossible to complete. I wanted to come up with a trade that sent Zach LaVine to the shooting-deprived Toronto Raptors for Jakob Poeltl and a first-round pick, but the salaries just don’t work out. I tried it as a three-team deal and still couldn’t figure it out.
There are a few teams with the right mix of draft picks, expiring contracts, and veterans looking for a new home who are uniquely suited to make deadline deals. This includes two teams hunting the championship in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons, plus play-in tier clubs like the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers. Here are three deals we’d like to see.
The Thunder get aggressive for Michael Porter Jr.
The Thunder are the favorites to win the championship this season, but their lack of shooting around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander threatens to doom their back-to-back bid. In this deal, the Thunder trade Lu Dort and two first-round picks to Brooklyn for Michael Porter Jr. MPJ is one of the best shooters in the NBA by draining 40 percent of his threes on nearly 10 attempts per game. Dort has been a foundational figure for the Thunder, but the team already has multiple gritty perimeter defenders who could fill his void with Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace remaining. The Thunder are sending Philly’s pick in this draft which is currently slated to be No. 18 overall, plus Denver’s first-round pick next year. The Nets could probably flip Dort this summer for even more draft capital. OKC hasn’t looked all that dominant since their 24-1 start, but this trade would give them even better odds of repeating as champions.
The Blazers push for playoffs with Ayo Dosunmu
The Blazers are already buyers at the deadline after adding Vít Krejčí from the Hawks. They also already owe the Bulls a lottery-protected first-round draft pick from the Lauri Markkanen-Larry Nance Jr. three-team trade from 2021. In this deal, Portland lowers the protections on the pick to top-4 to get Ayo Dosunmu from Chicago. Dosunmu is having a career-year with 45 percent three-point shooting and solid on-ball defense as he gets ready to enter unrestricted free agency this summer. The Blazers need a guard right now to push for the playoffs. The guard rotation next year could get crowded with Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson returning from injury and Jrue Holiday still around, but Dosunmu’s quick-hit driving ability and newfound three-point stroke works in almost any lineup. The Bulls get back a likely mid first-round pick in this scenario, and Portland still covers itself if it misses the playoffs and gets lottery luck. A tip of the hat to Blog-a-Bull for coming up with this one.
The Pistons buy low on Coby White
What can the Bulls get for Coby White on the brink of free agency? The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly interested, but I’m skeptical Minnesota would accept on a deal that sends Joan Beringer and Rob Dillingham to Chicago for White. Chicago should prefer that Minnesota deal over this Pistons offer if it has it on the table, but if not, I still think this package from Detroit is acceptable. The Pistons need another ball handler and shooter next to Cade Cunningham, and White can be instant offense when he’s at his best. This trade returns Paul Reed to Chicago, a DePaul alum, who is on a cheap $5.5 million deal next year and can provide big man depth. It also gives the Bulls four second-round picks that have a chance to be in the top half of that round. If the Bulls aren’t going to sign White in free agency, getting a haul for him now makes sense even if they can’t land a first-rounder.
James Harden returns to the Rockets
James Harden wants out from the Clippers, and his former team the Houston Rockets make a lot of sense. The Rockets and Clippers can haggle over the protections on this 2028 first-round pick, but deal essentially sends three of Houston’s non-contributors this season to Los Angeles for a near All-Star level point guard. Harden is still pretty damn good at age-36, and he could give the Rockets the shooting and playmaking juice they need for a playoff run.
The Charlotte Hornets were by far the best team in the NBA during January. This team has an extremely bright future if LaMelo Ball can stay healthy next to Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, but they still need a big man who can block shots and stretch the floor as a shooter. Those players are extremely hard to come by, but Jaren Jackson Jr. fits the bill. I debated whether there should be two or three future first-round picks going back to Memphis in this deal, but it makes sense for both sides either way. The Hornets really could be poised to contend in the East next year, especially if they land a player like JJJ. Memphis would be leaning fully into a rebuild.
Cam Thomas to the Raptors
The Raptors need a little more offensive firepower for the playoff push, so why not take a chance on Thomas for some end-of-bench guys? Thomas clearly isn’t in Brooklyn’s long-term plans, but maybe someone like Jonathan Mogbo could find a home there. Toronto would get to test run Thomas to see if they’re interested in re-signing him. With the East wide open, it makes sense for the Raptors to add another guard with some shooting ability.
The Golden State Warriors are running thin on star power when the Philadelphia 76ers come to town on Tuesday.
Golden State will be without Stephen Curry for the foreseeable future and with Jimmy Butler gone for the year and Jonathan Kuminga sidelined, veteran forward Draymond Green is left to hold down the fort.
My 76ers vs. Warriors predictions see the Dubs’ offense running through Green, prompting plenty of assists from the “point forward”.
He'll get a surge in ball possession and potential assists against the Philadelphia 76ers tonight. On the season, Green averages 5.3 dimes on 10.0 potential assists with a team-high 69.4 touches per game.
He logged 33 minutes against the Detroit Pistons on January 30 – the first time he’s played 30+ minutes since Jan. 5 – after Curry left the game with knee soreness. Green finished with six assists in the loss.
The Sixers are a middle-tier defense and give up their share of assists, with foes averaging 27.5 helpers per contests. Philly is also 25th in defensive assist-to-FGM rate, watching opponents record an assist on more than 65% of their buckets.
Projections for Green range from 5.4 to 6.8 assists with my number landing at 6.3 dimes from Draymond tonight. That should have the Over 5.5 assists priced around -145 but we’re getting plus-money on this prop.
76ers vs Warriors same-game parlay
The Sixers may be missing Paul George but this Warriors roster is running short on star power with Curry, Jonathan Kuminga and Jimmy Butler all out of action.
Green’s going to log more minutes and touches, with projections closer to seven dimes.
Draymond will also have to crash the glass, with his forecasts as high as eight boards.
76ers vs Warriors SGP
Philadelphia 76ers moneyline
Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists
Draymond Green Over 5.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Golden State of Emergency
While the 76ers take down Draymond and the Dubs, Tyrese Maxey might not have to go off to do so. His scoring projections come in short of his points prop.
76ers vs Warriors SGP
Philadelphia 76ers moneyline
Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists
Draymond Green Over 5.5 rebounds
Tyrese Maxey Under 28.5 points
76ers vs Warriors odds
Spread: 76ers +3 | Warriors -3
Moneyline: 76ers +130 | Warriors -155
Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5
76ers vs Warriors betting trend to know
The 76ers are 9-4 SU in non-conference games this season, including 3-1 SU when visiting Western Conference competition. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Warriors.
How to watch 76ers vs Warriors
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia+, NBC Sports Bay Area
76ers vs Warriors latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Fans wait to enter Sutter Health Park before a baseball game between the Athletics and the Kansas City Royals on September 28, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
The seventh round of voting wasn’t particularly close. Recent international signee Johenssy Colome ran away with the vote this round, solidifying himself as one of the top prospects in the A’s farm system. The 17-year-old is a ways away from making any sort of impact for the Athletics but the young shortstop has plenty of power in that right-handed bat of his, and he should be athletic enough to handle shortstop as he gets bigger and older. Otherwise a move to third base could be in order, and the A’s would love to have a power-hitting third baseman like Colome rising through the system.
Taking Colome’s spot in the nominees list is outfielder Devin Taylor. The A’s second round pick in the most recent draft, Taylor shows plenty of promise as a hitter and could be a fast riser in the Athletics’ farm system. The 22-year-old is a bit older for his level and doesn’t offer much in the way of defense but there’s no questioning his abilities in the batter’s box. Where will he land on this year’s CPL?
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Which A’s prospect do the fans believe is the #8 player in the system? Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
White’s right-handed power is legitimate and he can hit the ball a long way to all fields thanks to his strength and bat speed. He might be known for his home run totals but he’s a better overall hitter than people think, finding the barrel consistently and limiting strikeouts. His knack for contact can lead to him expanding his strike zone, but he doesn’t swing and miss very often.
It will be White’s bat that carries him to the big leagues. He’s a well-below-average runner who likely lacks the range and tools to stick at third base, where he toiled as a sophomore and junior, earning praise for playing through a shoulder injury at LSU in 2023. He’s likely headed to first base long term, which could give the A’s a glut of serious offensive talent between him and first-rounder Nick Kurtz.
At the plate, Morii features a smooth left-handed swing with tremendous balance. His power stands out, as he clubbed 45 home runs as a high schooler. He is considered an advanced hitter with good barrel control. On the mound, his fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph and sits around 92-93. He also brings a splitter with nasty movement, a true 12-to-6 curveball and a tighter slider with solid bite and depth, though that offering will probably require some fine-tuning. Having only been pitching with regularity for less than two years, Morii’s arm is relatively fresh as he enters the organization.
Morii’s high-octane throwing arm plays well at shortstop, but some evaluators see a possibility of moving to third base as his 6-foot-1 frame fills out. While scouts see Morii’s long-term future in the batter’s box, the A’s plan on giving him every opportunity to succeed as a two-way player, with excitement already building over his impressive physical traits and desire to become one of the next great players out of Japan.
Taylor shows the potential to become a plus hitter in terms of both average and power while controlling the strike zone. A left-handed hitter with plenty of bat speed and strength, he hits the ball extremely hard and generates power to all fields. He likes to swing the bat but has cut down on his chases this spring. He makes consistent contact and has no problems handling breaking pitches.
The majority of Taylor’s value will come from his offensive production. His speed, arm strength and defensive instincts all grade as fringy, which will limit him to a corner outfield spot in pro ball.
The A’s believe Echavarria’s stuff played better than the overall numbers might suggest. His fastball reached 98 mph and sat 95-96 with good ride up in the zone. The issue was struggling to command his arsenal when he would fall behind in counts. His mid-80s slider flashes plus, and his upper-80s changeup continues to improve. He also throws a two-seamer in the 92-93 mph range. He clearly dealt with some control issues, but the A’s are not at all sounding the alarm, instead patiently working with the teenager on adjustments.
Echavarria profiles as a starter for the long-term with his 6-foot-1 frame and sound delivery. Previously having shown an ability to consistently throw all of his offerings for strikes prior to the Draft, he will continue to work to rediscover that control in his second season of pro ball.
A switch-hitting shortstop, Montero has shown the ability to impact the ball from both sides of the plate, with his natural right-handed swing more direct to the ball, though his left-handed swing is more picturesque and he obviously gets more plate appearances from that side. He has the chance to hit for average and power, with a solid approach that has allowed him to walk more than he strikes out for much of the summer.
Last year, Montero was slower and less athletic, but attention to conditioning and nutrition has helped him get leaner and stronger. An average runner, Montero has the instincts and actions to stick at shortstop for a long time, with a solid and accurate arm. If his body gets bigger as he matures — he played all of 2025 at age 18 — he could move to the hot corner, but the A’s don’t see that in his future. What they are hoping for is that he comes to instructs this year and stays in the United States as one of the better prospects to come out of their Dominican academy in some time.
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Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay m
EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka during Los Angeles Lakers media day on September 29, 2025, at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Lakers are a flawed team.
That’s not even a hot take. After an early exit out of the playoffs last season, this team looks headed for a similar, perhaps even identical, path.
In theory, the trade deadline should offer a perfect solution to their problems. However, the Lakers do not sound like a team particularly close to a deal based on the reporting so far this week.
While the move is largely due to the lack of assets the Lakers have and how few solutions to their weaknesses exist on the market, it could also signal the front office’s hesitance toward making a deal.
In a vacuum, there is logic to the idea. This is a transition year, the Lakers are not one move away from contending for a title and they will have more cap space and draft picks this summer to build a team around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
But we’re not operating in a vacuum, and the history of this front office — and specifically President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka — kicking the can down the road from transaction cycle to transaction cycle is at the forefront of fans’ minds. Obviously, the best answer is threading the needle by finding someone who can help now and in the future, like a Herb Jones.
What the Lakers can afford is spending a first round pick on a player like Naji Marshall, who the Mavs are holding out for a first round pick for. He would address a big need as a wing defender, but he comes at a steep price and would cost the team future flexibility this summer. He also has the same flaw so many other current Lakers do in an ability to knock down perimeter shots.
And therein lies the problem with so many players available. There is no perfect solution to the Lakers’ problems and no one they can afford that will push them over the hump.
Again, the argument can be that they should be interested in those deals, but they clearly aren’t. Restrictions placed on them by both the league as to what draft picks they can trade and by themselves as to what contracts they want back place them in a weird spot where they likely stand pat, yet again, at the deadline.
On today’s episode, Ryan Eichten and Leo Sun take a look at the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 137-128 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade landscape, and much more:
— The Timberwolves four-game winning streak came to an end Monday night in another disappointing defensive performance. It was another example of the Wolves playing at a different level depending on who they are facing that night.
— The Timberwolves have enough talent and injury luck with that talent to finish as a top-three team in the Western Conference, but inconsistent play might prevent them from reaching their ceiling as a team.
— Julius Ranlde struggled to score efficiently as he put up 19 points on 5-14 shooting with Jaren Jackson Jr. providing the defensive resistance. Anthony Edwards scored 39 points, but like most of the Wolves’ roster, did not defend well enough for much of the game.
— On Thursday, the Wolves took down the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second time this season, leading the game from start to finish. The Wolves’ defense played with the right amount of physicality, while the offense rained down 3-pointers.
— Jaden McDaniels has been sensational for the Wolves of late inluding 29 points on 11-14 shooting in Monday’s loss to the Grizzlies. Naz Reid has also had an outstanding week, providing exactly what the Timberwolves needed off the bench.
— With Thursday’s trade deadline looming, all eyes turn to Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks. It is still to be seen if the Bucks decide to trade Giannis now or wait until the offseason, but the rumblings have been that the Wolves have been one of the most active in pursuit of the two-time MVP.
