ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 22: Cam Cauley #27 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting his first major league home run against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Globe Life Field on July 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
White Sox 4, Rangers 2
And back to .500 we go.
It could be worse. Being at .500 is better than being below .500. Given a choice between the two, I’ll take being at .500.
Also, the Rangers are still in first place, by virtue of Seattle losing. So that’s something.
The Rangers pitchers were fine, for the most part, I guess. Tyler Alexander gave up a run on a walk and a wild pitch that allowed that runner to go to third, putting him position to score on the subsequent single. Cal Qunatrill pitched three innings, two of which were good, one of which was very bad, and resulted in three runs scoring. Jakob Junis allowed the fourth run on three consecutive singles, though they weren’t exactly blistered.
The three pitchers after that — Robby Ahlstrom, Peyton Gray and Jacob Latz — did their jobs and kept the White Sox off the board so that the Rangers offense would be able to rally.
The Rangers offense, unfortunately, did not rally.
Latz was making only his second appearance since the All Star Break, due to the general dearth of close games where the Rangers had the lead. This was one of those “he needs some work and there’s an off day tomorrow” type appearances, rather than a “this is the ideal spot to utilize Jacob Latz” appearance.
The bats were largely silent. Cam Cauley had a home run, the first of his major league career. Off the bat it looked like an opposite field deep pop that would be caught on the warning track or something. It, instead, kept carrying and went several rows deep into the stands.
That was the second inning, and so one would be forgiven for thinking that that was the beginning of a respectable offensive output for the Rangers. Those thoughts would end up being banished.
The Rangers put runners on the corners with two outs in the third, but didn’t score. In the fourth, with Chicago having scored a pair of runs in the top of the inning off of Quantrill, the bases got loaded up on a Brandon Nimmo single, an Ezequiel Duran double, and a Cam Cauley 0-2 hit by pitch. Sadly, they only scored one run due to an Elias Diaz double play and an Alejandro Osuna strike out.
Texas didn’t get another hit the rest of the way after that Duran double.
They did manage some baserunners, yes yes. A couple of walks, a hit by pitch, an error. But no hits. And the final nine batters of the game resulted in seven Ks and a pair of weak groundouts.
This is how the game ends…not with a bang, but with a whimper.
Tyler Alexander’s fastball topped out at 93.1 mph. Cal Quantrill hit 94.5 mph with his sinker. Jakob Junis reached 93.6 mph with his fastball. Robbie Ahlstrom’s fastball maxed out at 94.9 mph. Peyton Gray touched 94.3 mph with his fastball. Jacob Latz’s fastball reached 96.2 mph.
Justin Foscue had a 104.1 mph ground out.
Now an off day to wallow in before a four game weekend wraparound series against Seattle.
The Atlanta Braves head into today’s series finale against the San Diego Padres as a heavy -223 moneyline favorite behind their ace, Chris Sale.
With the struggling Griffin Canning on the hill for the visitors, my Padres vs. Braves predictions are eyeing Atlanta to win the rubber match at home.
Find out more in my MLB picks for Thursday, July 23.
Who will win Padres vs Braves today: Braves -1.5 (-126)
The Atlanta Braves will be feeling confident with Chris Sale taking the ball. The left-hander owns a 2.77 FIP across his last four appearances, allowing just 0.86 HR/9 during that span.
Sale has also held opponents to a 31.8% hard-hit rate across his last two starts.
As for San Diego Padres righty Griffin Canning, he's improving, but there are still vulnerabilities. Canning has a 4.83 xERA in his last five outings, and he's allowed a 45.5% hard-hit rate.
That's a dangerous figure against a Braves offense with a 150 wRC+ across the last week.
Sale continues to deal, and Atlanta's hot bats add to Canning's struggles. I'll play this pick up to -140.
COVERS INTEL: Canning has been substantially worse on the road, posting a 5.96 FIP compared to a 3.78 mark at Petco Park.
Padres vs Braves Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-126)
We're looking at two of the top offenses in the big leagues at the moment, and with a modest total of 7.5, the Over screams value.
San Diego will likely have a difficult time against Sale, but they do carry a 159 wRC+ and .286 ISO over their previous six games. The Braves' bullpen hasn't thrived lately, collecting a 4.91 xERA while allowing 2.16 HR/9 over their last 25 frames.
As previously mentioned, the Braves are swinging it incredibly well, and they also have a .229 ISO in the last week. The Padres relief corps has held their own, but Atlanta could put up four or five before Canning even departs.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 36-41, -9.34 units
Over/Under bets: 43-32, +5.04 units
Padres vs Braves weather
Conditions look hot and somewhat unsettled in Atlanta this afternoon, with temperatures climbing from the mid-80s toward 90 degrees. Winds should sit around 8-9 mph, while rain chances rise into the upper 20% range later in the afternoon. Warm air could help carry, but possible showers are worth monitoring.
Padres vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Padres +213 | Braves -223
Run line: Padres +1.5 (+117) | Braves -1.5 (-122)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-117) | Under 7.5 (+113)
Padres vs Braves trend
The Braves have hit the team total Over in 30 of their last 45 games at home (+12.80 Units / 24% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Padres vs. Braves.
How to watch Padres vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Cumberland, GA
Date
Thursday, July 23, 2026
First pitch
12:15 p.m. ET
TV
Padres.TV, BravesVsn
Padres starting pitcher
Griffin Canning (1-8, 6.67 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Chris Sale (10-6, 2.06 ERA)
Padres vs Braves latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 22: Brice Turang (2) of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after reaching second base safely during a MLB game against the New York Mets on July 22, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Despite having plenty of outfielders on the roster, the Mets played Brett Baty in the outfield instead, a decision that directly lost them the game. Baty misplayed a ball that led to three runs and gave the Brewers the lead. The Mets couldn’t recover, losing both the game and the series against the Brewers.
Tarik Skubal has been in the spotlight ever since he burst onto the scene with the Tigers, and now all eyes are on him once again as the trade deadline approaches.
The Cleveland Guardians have come to life on offense, scoring 24 runs over the first three games of this series.
They are -140 favorites to take the finale. My Twins vs. Guardians predictions and MLB picks believe that line is a little short.
Who will win Twins vs Guardians today: Guardians moneyline (-140)
Gavin Williamsowns a 2.39 xFIP over the last 30 days, which does not align with his 4.70 ERA.
He has pitched well, and this is a great matchup for the numbers to finally reflect that.
The Minnesota Twins rank 27th with a .131 ISO against right-handed pitching over the last two weeks. They’re not hitting for power right now, and homers are the one thing that has made Williams vulnerable.
The Cleveland Guardiansare fourth in OPS vs. RHP the past 10 games, and star Jose Ramirez just returned. Williams should get the support he needs.
The forecast calls for weather in the mid-70s with slight winds blowing in. Small boost to the pitchers.
Twins vs Guardians odds
Moneyline: Twins +120 | Guardians -140
Run line: Twins +1.5 (-170) | Guardians -1.5 (+145)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)
Twins vs Guardians trend
Cleveland has hit the Over in 18 of their last 30 games at home (+4.85 units, 15% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. Guardians.
How to watch Twins vs Guardians and game info
Location
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Date
Thursday, July 23, 2026
First pitch
1:10 p.m. ET
TV
Twins.TV, Guardians.TV
Twins starting pitcher
Taj Bradley (9-4, 3.85 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcher
Gavin Williams (10-5, 4.00 ERA)
Twins vs Guardians latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens continues to lock up his team’s fleet of young wings.
The Celtics reportedly agreed to a three-year, $15 million extension with 22-year-old Jordan Walsh. Boston previously picked up Walsh’s $2.4 million option for the 2026-27 season, and now has Walsh on the books through the 2029-30 season. HoopsHype reported the deal includes a third-year team option.
Ron Harper Jr. inked a four-year, $13.7. million extension at the start of the summer. Baylor Scheierman is extension eligible next summer, while Hugo Gonzalez has three years remaining on his rookie deal. The Celtics will pay none of those players more than three percent of the salary cap in any of those seasons.
For Walsh, there’s a bit of security after riding a bit of a playing time roller coaster in his first three seasons in Boston. For the team, it’s a low-cost, high-reward opportunity given that Walsh is still young for his experience level and has had moments where he displayed All-Defense potential on the court.
Walsh appeared in 68 games for Boston last season, including 25 starts. The majority of those starts came in November and December when Walsh had rivals raving about his defensive potential. Lakers guard Austin Reaves went as far as to suggest that he could see Walsh “being one of the best defenders in the league,” after an early December tilt.
Walsh’s playing time ebbed and flowed during calendar year 2026, but he finished the 2025-26 campaign strong and carved out a playoff role. Walsh might have been the team’s best defender against Tyrese Maxey and logged 12.7 minutes per game in seven appearances against Philadelphia.
Walsh and the rest of Boston’s stable of young wings will get every opportunity to step into a larger role after the Celtics traded away All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown this summer.
Walsh was the 38th pick in the 2023 draft. He appeared in just nine games during his rookie season when Boston’s talent-filled roster won the 2024 title, then played 52 games in his sophomore campaign. Last season he averaged 5.6 points, 4 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks over 17.8 minutes per game.
Walsh ranked in the 84th percentile among wings, holding opponents to 2.3 percent below expected output during his floor time.
It's Day 24 and still no sign or peep from LeBron James about where his next NBA destination will be for his 24th season.
If it feels like this process has been drawn out, it's because it kind of has. And that could be intentional.
It's been thrown out into the realm of possibilities that James and company are purposefully stalling the decision to stick it to NBA commissioner Adam Silver after he pleaded for James to rush into his choice so the season schedule can be finalized and released.
"LeBron's crew was probably ready to make an announcement... they were probably comfortable making an announcement as early as last week that they were there (in New York) and then people were like telling them what to do," Baskin said. "There's a little bit of irritation. Irritated was the word that I was told, irritated by the commissioner pushing them."
James is no longer courting teams and has all the information he needs to make a decision, according to USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking the latest news, rumors and updates for all the things happening in real-time and behind-the-scenes for LeBron James' next major basketball decision. Here's everything you need to know on Thursday, July 23 about James and his impending decision:
Welcome to the 2025–26 installment of The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks’ Player Report Card Series. Throughout the off-season, THN will conduct a deep dive into how each member of the Canucks performed throughout the 2025–26 season. Today’s article will focus on defenceman Victor Mancini.
Mancini's 2025–26 Season Review
Mancini spent the 2025-26 campaign split between the AHL and NHL. He played 33 games with the Abbotsford Canucks, producing four goals and 12 points. As for the NHL, Mancini recorded three assists in 24 games while averaging 13:44 of ice time.
Overall, it was clear that Adam Foote and his staff were unwilling to give Mancini opportunities at the NHL level. He played over 16 minutes on seven occasions and played under 12 minutes eight times. Mancini was also a healthy scratch throughout the season, which included the final three games of the campaign.
As for his other stats, Mancini blocked 26 shots and threw 28 hits. He also registered 14 shots on net and had 32 shot attempts. Finally, Mancini got into his first career NHL fight, which he arguably won against Brandon Duhaime.
Overall, Mancini looked more confident in the AHL than the NHL. It is clear that Manny Malhotra trusts the 24-year-old, as he was a significant part of Abbotsford's Calder Cup championship. With Malhotra now behind the bench in Vancouver, Mancini could see more opportunities than he did during the 2025-26 season.
Mancini's 2025–26 Letter Grade
The 2025-26 campaign was not kind to Mancini. He didn't develop as planned, partly because of how he was deployed game to game. That being said, it is clear that the organization still has faith in him, as Mancini signed a two-year extension at the end of March.
Ultimately, Mancini receives an C grade for the 2025-26 season.
Mar 17, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Victor Mancini (90) puts his helmet back on after a scrum against the Florida Panthers in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 25: The Milwaukee Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins and General Manager Jon Horst pose for a photo with the 2026 draft picks Brayden Burries and Nate Ament during the Bucks Draft Press Conference on June 25, 2026 at the Pieper-Hillside Boys & Girls Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
From at least one perspective, the Milwaukee Bucks’ offseason isn’t among the best in the Eastern Conference. Following the trade of the franchise’s best player ever and the Gary Trent Jr. fiasco, CBS Sports contributor Sam Quinn gave Jon Horst and the Bucks a C- for their efforts.
“Without control over their own first-round picks, they should have no fear of the relegation zone. They should be trading any veterans with a shred of value – most notably Myles Turner and Tyler Herro – for whatever draft capital they can get. They haven’t. They set themselves up for a disappointing offseason by waiting too long to trade Antetokounmpo, and sure enough, that’s how things played out,“ Quinn wrote.
Still, the Bucks weren’t given the worst grade in the conference, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets receiving D+ and D grades, respectively.
Milwaukee might have dodged the basement of Quinn’s Eastern Conference grades by taking the Heat’s offer for Giannis instead of the Boston Celtics’, which was highlighted by Jaylen Brown (who was ultimately dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers). While the Heat package didn’t bring the Bucks back an All-NBA talent, it did give them multiple assets—players and picks—that they can work with down the line, whether they keep them on the roster or flip them for future assets. On top of that, they selected Brayden Burries with their number 10 overall pick, whose impressive play in the Las Vegas Summer League already has him looking like a draft steal.
Ultimately, while Quinn’s perspective might be that the Bucks aren’t in a good position, the Summer League play of Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, along with the expected growth of Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, and Jaime Jaquez—not to mention Tyler Herro’s impending second act—gives Bucks fans reason for hope that they should lean into as the 2026-27 approaches.
One thing that might make Quinn retroactively change his grade would be if the Bucks got Peyton Watson. Of course, there is a real possibility that, in order to acquire Watson, the Bucks might need to give up Ryan Rollins. What say you?
Brew Hoop community, what would you grade the Bucks’ offseason? Get your grading pens out and use them in the comment section below.
The Phoenix Suns have positioned themselves well heading into this upcoming season. With an underdog mentality last year, they proved the doubters wrong and exceeded every preseason expectation. This led them to the playoffs, and even if it was a sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was a refreshing year compared to some previous ones.
By making this leap, though, it gave the fans something to root for and be excited for heading into this offseason. That is when we saw most of our players retained, along with some new faces, including Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard. That said, with this season full of excitement and the Summer League now over, the waiting period begins for all of us. So today we are going to dive in and explore three parts of this Suns team that I think will be exciting to dissect once the fall does eventually hit.
1. The Center Rotation Debate
Obviously, this is going to be a discussion that will be talked about all season long. As we know, the Suns have three bigs on their team, and all will be eyeing some playing time this year. Mark Williams was brought back on a solid deal that presumably makes him the starting center. Still, we also saw flashes of Khaman Maluach in the summer league, and we trust Oso Ighodaro.
Restricted free agent Mark Williams intends to sign a three-year, $38 million contract to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. The deal is fully guaranteed for Williams, who averaged 11 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block in 23.6 minutes per game as the Suns starting center. pic.twitter.com/3hpQ9KlZNi
This will definitely lead to some nights where one guy starts but another finishes, either because of performance or because one of them is in foul trouble. With Ighodaro’s contract also being so cheap on the club option, there is no reason to sell him at this point. Maluach, since he performed well in the Summer League, also needs some room to develop, as he is the future at the center position if he pans out to be what the front office expects.
From my understanding, it will probably be Williams who gets the short end of the stick once Maluach or Ighodaro proves to be the true starter and the other is a solid backup. That, though, will take time and most likely not occur this season, leaving the possibility of one of them getting the lesser end of the stick at some point of the season.
Will Ott utilize some double-big options with Ighodaro and Maluach, as well as Khaman’s ability to stretch the floor? That will also be something to keep a keen eye on, especially against bigger teams or ones that play very physically.
2. Jalen Green in a fully healthy year?
As we all know, Jalen Green arrived in Phoenix and, before the preseason even started, was dealing with a hamstring injury. This left some questions for the guard before he even stepped on the court for the team. Many were already looking at the fit with star Devin Booker and didn’t like it; this, for sure, didn’t help that case.
That said, we did see Green return to the team, even if only for 32 games; he showed glimpses of growth. He did have some stretches where he was hot from three (and cold), but he also made some nice plays defensively, using his quickness to generate steals and points on the other end.
His transition game seemed to be the spark his game needed and what the team needed when he was out. So, looking ahead to this year, I hope to see some of that still translate in his second year in the Valley. I hope to see him also develop a bit more of a passing touch, so he doesn’t have so many “I get the ball, I am going to shoot it” moments.
Will he be the perfect fit on this team? I don’t know, but I am willing to see it through this year and see if he can have a healthy season if it all comes together.
Jalen Green Game Is Beautiful 🥹🔥.
Jalen Green is one of the NBA’s most explosive young scorers, known for his elite athleticism, quick first step, and ability to create his own shot. A dynamic three-level scorer, he thrives in transition, attacks the rim with authority, and… pic.twitter.com/rLltgvhvQW
Both players impressed in the summer league and seem poised to grow in an area of need for the Suns: the power forward position. Even with them trading for Miles Bridges to presumably start on day one, I do believe that long-term, either Peat or Fleming will take that job, maybe even by the season’s end.
Fleming brings exactly what this team needs off the bench to replace Royce O’Neale’s value. He is a solid three-point scorer and uses his size and length to generate turnovers and get even more buckets. I fear he is going to be someone the Suns want to utilize early in the year to fill that void if they lose by giving up so much three-point shooting.
Rasheer Fleming has some freakishly long arms and it's sick to watch him protect the rim as a 6'9 rookie…
With Peat, I do think he will be stuffed down the rotation to start, but with that impressive summer league run, he proved he was way better than his selection at pick 30. The former McDonald’s All-American was said to be a high lottery pick before going to the University of Arizona, so this seems like a home run swing from Brian Gregory and company.
If Peat can be another interior scorer for this team alongside Bridges and even Ighodaro in some double-big instances, then the Suns fill a huge void from last year’s roster. Having the size, especially with the youth in the frontcourt, is key; as they grow, they need more help to go at guys like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, so this is a smart decision in my eyes.
I do predict that both will see plenty of time off the bench, as the Suns will be going deep into it this year. This will be a huge plus, as the young guys can get reps, while also allowing their key role players to get some rest and not overwork themselves throughout the season. Last year, a ton of injuries came late for Phoenix, and, partially, I think some of it was because the rookies did not get as much leeway as many anticipated.
My "Most Impressed By" Summer League First Team:
G- Jack Kayil G- Brayden Burries F- Chaney Johnson F- Koa Peat C- Khaman Maluach
JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Tanner Franklin #43 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
On Monday, I covered the Memphis pitchers and the Springfield starting pitchers. Which is why this article begins with the Springfield relievers.
I think it is fair to say that Watson’s performance this year is a massive disappointment considering how well he finished last year at Springfield. You do have to be pretty neck deep in the woods to be invested in Watson in the first place, so I’m overstating the level of feeling most of you have towards him. But he had a 30.5 K% and 10.5 BB% with a 1.11 ERA in 24.1 IP last year in Springfield. The ERA was pretty lucky, but still. He has worse stats than last year pretty clearly.
Randal Clemente, RHP – 24
Acquired: International free agent signing out of Dominican Republic in 2020
Although the ERA isn’t better, Clemente seems to be improving as a pitcher from last season. He walked 26.1% of batters last year and struck out 27.5%. He clearly has swing-and-miss stuff… and also has no idea where the ball is going. You don’t usually see a pitcher where knocking off one percentage point off the K% for one percentage point of a BB% would totally be worth the tradeoff.
The last time I did an update, I am pretty sure Findlay had just got called up to Springfield. He struck out 30% of batters while walking 6.7%, so it was a well-deserved promotion. He’s doing alright, but considering he spent the vast majority of last year pitching poorly in Low A, him holding his own at AA less than a year later is a huge positive.
Darlin Saladin, RHP – 23 (VEB’s #16 prospect in 2025)
Acquired: International amateur free agent out of Dominican Republic in 2019
Most of these pitching lines are not as bad as they seem, for some reason they all have super high BABIPs. I don’t know if it’s because of poor defense or if it’s like playing at Coors Field or some combo of the two. I will say entering the 2025 season, Saladin did look like a legit prospect, so it has been disappointing that one and a half seasons later, he’s not great in AA as a reliever.
Hey we have something here…. and he’s hurt. Of course. He hasn’t pitched since May 24th. I actually think he may be in Memphis right now if he didn’t get hurt. Good strikeout rate, lots and lots of groundballs, and… well too many walks but it’s better than a lot of guys are managing.
I’m not going to share the stats, but there are a good four or five relievers in Springfield who have HORRENDOUS stats that make some of these lines look considerably more impressive. I’m talking like 9.00+ ERA and FIP. I’m not kidding. The ones I shared are the best relievers on the team.
With some of these pitchers, and I don’t know if you’re like me, you’ll notice a disparity between what you think the K/BB numbers should produce for FIP and what the FIP actually is. And in most cases, it’s hit by pitches. They are factored into the FIP formula. Franklin has 6 HBPs, so just mentally add that to his BB% and his FIP numbers make a lot more sense. Anyway, me personally, the numbers that matter are a strong K%, a slightly too high BB%, and a normal GB%. Things are on track despite the slash line being less than ideal.
Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP – 19 (VEB’s #19 prospect)
Acquired: Traded with Hunter Dobbins and Blake Aita for Willson Contreras
In case you have any regret at trading Willson Contreras for some reason – I don’t know why you want Burly in the outfield – I have to say the returns on his trade have been very good so far. Close to best case scenario quite frankly. Fajardo has been unbelievable and if anything tells me that minor league BABIP is super weird, it’s Fajardo producing strikeouts on 32.3% of his ABs and somehow still coming away with an insanely high BABIP.
Odle spent April and May in Low A and dominated, posting a 1.91 ERA with a 36.4 K%. He’s still missing a lot of bats in High A, but he’s missing the strike zone. He pitched yesterday and I did update the stats I could, which is actually good news, because his FIP will be a lot better. He struck out 9, walked 3, and hit a batter in 4.2 IP. He didn’t allow a homer either. I think the xFIP will improve too, but it’ll be a much bigger boost to the FIP. This is a 14th rounder posting those K numbers, it’s ridiculous.
Leonel Sequera, RHP – 20
Acquired: International amateur free agent signing out of Venezuela in 2022
I will refrain from judging him, mostly because the big knock on him, as far as being a prospect went, was that he didn’t strike people out. He’s improved his K rate from 20.9% to 24.2% and his BB% isn’t that much higher either. Last year it was 8.7%. His groundballs have remained the same. Why is his slash line so bad? Over a fourth of the flyballs he allows go out of the park. That is one home run per start and 2.03 per 9 innings. He’s still just 20 and the three stats I care about (K%, BB%, GB%) are fairly strong.
Nate Dohm, RHP – 23
Acquired: Traded with Jesus Baez and Frank Ellisalt for Ryan Helsley
It is genuinely hard to judge pitchers in the minor leagues right now and I guess by association, I suppose we should distrust some of the hitting stats. If everyone is having a BABIP problem, I kind of think it’s the league. Dohm’s K% is the same as last year, his BB% is a little better, and his GB% is noticeably better… for some reason his xFIP is a full run lower. So the run environment certainly has changed.
Frank Ellisalt, also in the Helsley trade, has been injured all season.
I’m trying to save myself a little time by not sharing the stats of the lower level when a guy is promoted, especially if the guy was promoted before my previous update (Van Dyke’s last Low A start was May 13th and my pitching update was May 24th), however it does have the effect of only seeing the negative part of a guy’s season. Van Dyke was excellent in Low A, with a lot of Ks, not many walks, and a decent GB%. He is arguably ahead of schedule despite underwhelming stats.
When both the K% and BB% make you audibly let out an expletive, you know you have an interesting line. That is a very high strikeout percentage. That is also a very high walk percentage. If he somehow duplicated this line up the ladder, he would have the floor of a reliever at the very least. So I hope he keeps missing this many bats.
He never ended up making the top 20, but he had a decent amount of support back in March. I think that was jumping the gun a little bit. And don’t worry he’s still considered a starting pitcher – his last outing, he did not literally start the game, but he threw 5 innings. And if you were wondering, he only threw 17.2 IP all last season, so the Cardinals are managing his innings. He also began the year hurt.
Yeah tell me the pitching environment in the minors makes sense right now with this stat line. Above average K%, great BB%, good GB% – terrible numbers. Granted, it’s home runs fault. He has allowed a homer on 27.8% of flyballs, and the league average is 11%. His xERA, for whatever that’s worth, is 3.63. I’m encouraged by his start despite the homers.
Now this line being bad, I understand. Along with Dutkanyvch and Findlay, Graham was drafted with the full realization that he had recently undergone Tommy John surgery. Graham only actually started 4 total games in college. He spent his freshman and sophomore years in relief and needed TJ surgery after just one start in his junior season. So Graham does not have many innings in his past. He threw a high of 33.1 IP in his sophomore season.
Young has been injured since May 14th and is on the minor league 60-day IL. He wasn’t put on the 60-day until July 17th, which could have been a procedural move to make room for the draftees since he has been injured for 60 days already and I think it works retroactively. Or he could be done for the year. I can’t find any information on his injury.
Nelfy Ynfante, RHP – 21
Acquired: International amateur free agent out of Dominican Republic in 2022
Yes, this is an unusual stat line to give for a guy who is Low A, but Ynfante was weirdly promoted to Springfield for 7 games. I don’t know why but the Springfield bullpen is so bad, he was middle of the pack, so they could have just been desperate. Anyway, he was sent back to Low A (and not High A, curiously), where his numbers are solid.
I don’t really need a WAR figure for the minor leagues, but one helpful thing it would do, quite honestly, is share exactly the context for the numbers. If it used FIP, Shelagowski would actually have a positive WAR, I’m fairly sure. If it used xFIP, I’m not sure what it would be, but I don’t think it’d be negative. How bad does an ERA of 5.71 look? It’d just be interesting to see how it compares to a replacement player in that league.
Breckheimer is another pitcher who is on the 60-day IL right now. Not that you got all that excited about these stats, but does suck to see an injured pitcher.
Jesus Garcia, RHP – 20
Acquired: International amateur free agent signing out of Venezuela in 2024
Garcia pitched about as good as you possibly can while he was at the complex leagues, so the Cardinals promoted him pretty quickly. He’s found more of a challenge at Low A and I wish for more missed bats, but it’s not that bad.
Standout Performances
Yairo Padilla came back from the injured listi and homered in his first game. He went 3-4 with a double in his next game and yesterday he went 1-3 with a single. He’s looking good when he’s healthy.
Sebastian Dos Santos had a 89 wRC+ before he went 2-4 with two doubles in yesterday’s game. So the 18-year-old has had a decent start, mostly thanks to a 15.3 BB%.
Jack Gurevitch sure is on a roll. On Tuesday, he came to the plate five times, he homered three times, doubled once and walked. Yesterday, he homered again, but the bum was out his other three times to the plate. He’s an extra base hit machine.
Tai Peete had a very Tai Peete game on Tuesday, going 3-5 with a triple and two homers, with the two outs being strikeouts of course. Yesterday, he came to the plate five times and didn’t strike out once, going 2-5 with a double.
In his most recent start, Fajardo threw 5 innings, struck out 10, walked one and allowed 3 runs.
Won-Bin Cho hit his 10th homer in 20 games while at Springfield, and his 18th of the season. He also singled, walked, and stole a base. It’s pretty fun he’s a prospect again!
Rainiel Rodriguez has a 112 wRC+ (before he went 0-4 with a BB yesterday) in a relatively unexciting way, except for the fact that he is 19-years-old having an above average line at AA.
If you think the Cardinals bullpen is bad, check out the Springfield bullpen. Three relievers pitched in yesterday’s game. The ERAs of those pitchers were 14.85, 7.96, and 14.04. One of those lines has thrown over 30 innings, one over 15, and one has 7.2 innings.
Brycen Mautz appears to be in the bullpen now. He threw 2 scoreless innings with 4 Ks yesterday. There is a good chance he’s being primed to replace Romero as the lefty reliever role when the Cardinals deem Mautz ready.
Early on, Chase Davis has a .200/.429/.500 line and already hit a homer. As you might expect, he’s walked a lot and he’s also struck out a decent amount.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Ike Irish #18 of the Baltimore Orioles bats in the fifth inning during the 2026 All-Star Futures Game Presented by Nike at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 8, Norfolk Tides 4
A pair of two-run home runs was all the offense that the Tides could muster. Heston Kjerstad hit his sixth long ball of the season in the sixth inning, and Bryan Ramos went deep for the third time in the ninth inning to make the scoreline a bit more respectable. Jud Fabian and Ryan Noda were the two that scored on those homers. Enrique Bradfield Jr. went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Creed Willems took an 0-for-3.
Chris Kachmar started on the mound, allowing four runs on seven hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Dietrich Enns followed and had another tough outing. Across his 1.1 innings the lefty gave up a pair of runs on three hits (two homers), three walks, and two strikeouts. Hans Crouse and José Espada combined for 2.2 scoreless innings in the middle of the game before Cam Sanders allowed two runs on one hit (a homer), a walk, and a strikeout.
Tavian Josenberger had a big game, hitting two home runs as part of his three-hit, three-RBI night at Prince George’s Stadium. Douglas Hodo added a pair of hits, including a double, two RBI, and a run scored. Frederick Bencosme had two hits out of the leadoff spot, and Brandon Butterworth went 1-for-5 with an RBI hitting right after him. Griff O’Ferrall had one hit, one run, and one stolen base. Fernando Peguero collected a hit and two stolen bases.
Juaron Watts-Brown’s turnaround continues. For the sixth consecutive start he lowered his season ERA. The box score doesn’t look amazing (5.1 innings, three runs), but he did it while striking out six and not allowing a single walk. The bullpen was money behind him. Zane Barnhart, Keagan Gillies, and Richard Guasch combined for 3.2 scoreless innings of relief to close out the win.
High-A: Frederick Keys 13, Rome Emperors (Braves) 8
All this Frederick offense does is put up big numbers. It happened again in this win. They collected 13 hits and six walks while going 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Wehiwa Aloy led the way with three hits, two runs scored, and five RBI. Ike Irish also had three hits, including a double, a walk, and a run scored. Aloy and Irish had one stolen bag each as well. Reed Trimble, Edwin Amparo, and Braylin Tavera hit one home run each. Tavera had three RBI for the game. Trimble also walked three times and scored four runs.
The pitching was not as universally successful. Yeiber Cartaya gave up three runs, four walks, and struck out five in his three innings. Ben Vespi coughed up three runs (two earned) in his two frames, and a rehabbing Cameron Foster allowed two solo homers in 1.1 innings. However, he late innings saw the relief corps lock things down. Chandler Marsh and Braeden Sloan combined for 2.2 scoreless innings to end the game.
Low-A: Hill City Howlers (Guardians) 6, Delmarva Shorebirds 4
Braylon Whitaker gave the Shorebirds a great effort at the top of the lineup. He singled three times, stole a base, and scored a run. Jaiden Lo Re added a single and a run scored. Junior Aybar doubled for the team’s only extra-base hit of the night and his 10th two-bagger on the season. Stiven Martinez had two of the team’s RBI and a walk. Miguel Rodríguez and Félix Amparao had one RBI each. Jordan Sanchez singled, walked, stole a base, and scored twice.
It was a mixed bad on the mound. Stephen Still lasted just four innings, but allowed only two runs on three hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Teddy Sharkey followed with a shutout inning, and then Eccel Correa provided two scoreless innings after that. The Shorebirds lost the game in the eighth inning, when Zac Lampton was charged with allowing four runs on two hits, three walks, and a strikeout. Jack Crowder came on for the final out and allowed one of his inherited runners to score.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 23: A general view of the Giants equipment rack before the start of the game between the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants on May 23, 2026 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Today is an off-day for the San Francisco Giants, and there hasn’t been a lot of fun to be had lately with the way the games have been going.
So instead of focusing on non-fun stuff, I thought we’d visit a video that the Giants’ social media team put out a little while ago. If you are a fan of Wordle, and the various other versions that have popped up over the years, and you’re also a baseball fan (which I assume you are, because otherwise you are very lost) then you’ve probably at least heard of the Immaculate Grid.
Players are given a set of parameters to guess baseball players that fit those parameters. And the more obscure your picks are, the higher score you receive. I’m pretty sure that’s how it works anyway, I haven’t played in a while.
So the Giants social media team asked Giants players to give it a go. The video is a little under twenty minutes, so grab your coffee, settle in, and enjoy!
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 7: Cade Gibson #58 of the Miami Marlins, Xavier Edwards #9 of the Miami Marlins, Otto Lopez #6 of the Miami Marlins, Esteury Ruiz #3 of the Miami Marlins, Heriberto Hernandez #13 of the Miami Marlins and Brian Navarreto #64 of the Miami Marlins celebrate after defeating the Seattle Mariners at loanDepot park on July 7, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This makes the Marlins another potentially useful model for the Rockies to consider at as they embark on their own rebuild.
Don’t be afraid to search the scrap heap
Many of the most productive pieces of this 2026 Marlins season joined the team in small unheralded moves after being cast off from other teams.
The most valuable player on the team this year has been shortstop Otto Lopez. His 4.3 fWAR leads the team and is top ten in the majors. Lopez was acquired off of waivers from the San Francisco Giants in 2024.
Their starting catcher, Liam Hicks, was a Rule 5 Draft selection from the Detroit Tigers last season. He currently has a 122 wRC+ in 90 games.
Their most valuable outfielder this season has been Esteury Ruiz who has only played 62 games for the team. Ruiz was acquired via a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being optioned to the minors for his third organization.
The Marlins’ hottest hitter since the start of June has been Heriberto Hernández who signed a minor league contract with the organization before the 2025 season. Hernández had a 127 wRC+ in June and has followed it up with a 182 so far in July.
This is a team that opened up spots on the roster when it became clear that the previous group was not going to be successful and then scrounged around for diamonds in the rough from anywhere they could find them. The Marlins then gave runway to these players that had been abandoned by other organizations and have seen tangible on-field benefits from having done so.
These small moves on the margins are a good first step, and if the Marlins are any guide, the Rox should continue making more of them even as the overall quality of the roster improves.
Trade from positions of strength
The Marlins of 2024 were a decent mirror of the current Rockies. Whereas the Rockies have some decent hitting talent throughout the organization, they have very little pitching talent. The exact opposite of this was the case for the Marlins when their current front office took over before the 2024 season.
The previous Marlins administrations had established an ability to identify and develop pitching talent — that aspect of the team was not the problem. The primary driver of their 100-loss collapse in 2024 was a complete dearth of hitting talent in the organization from top to bottom.
Since then they have made a flurry of trades from their pitching depth to address their hitting concerns. They have moved all of Trevor Rogers, Jesus Luzardo, Ryan Weathers, and Edward Cabrera over the past two calendar years. That’s almost an entire starting rotation of quality pitching arms that the Marlins have shipped out since the 2024 deadline, and yet, because it was such an overwhelming strength before, they are still in the top half of essentially all pitching categories this season.
In exchange for those four arms, the Marlins were able to bring in 11 players headlined by two regulars in their big league outfield in the form of Owen Caissie and Kyle Stowers. Both Caissie (24) and Stowers (28) have been roughly league average hitters so far this season but have both shown promise for more. Caissie was a top 100 prospect before his debut last season, and Stowers was a National League All-Star a year ago.
“[Owen] Caissie reminds me so much of [Kyle] Tucker. The way that we are talking about Tucker… this guy is going to grow into that!”
Harold and Matt are big fans of Owen Caissie and the job @Marlins President of Baseball Ops. Peter Bendix has done constructing Miami’s roster. pic.twitter.com/oOzgBd1xTd
In addition to those two major league hitters, the Marlins string of starting pitcher trades have also infused their minor league system with a pile of interesting position player prospects. This group is headlined by defensive shortstop Starlyn Caba, slugging outfielder Dillon Lewis, and speedy middle infielder Cristian Hernández but includes many other names thought to have a chance to be useful big leaguers.
Looking through the Rockies organization, the closest analog to the Marlins recent organizational pitching strength is in the outfield. Between the major league team and Triple-A, the Rockies have a ton of names currently factoring into their outfield picture.
The strong seasons of youngsters Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP), Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP), and Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) give the front office the freedom to consider following the Marlins example. They could look to move multiple talented, but older, outfield bats before the 2027 season to address their dearth of organizational pitching talent.
Hold on to your controllable stars
The Marlins 2022 NL Cy Young award winner Sandy Alcantara has been the subject of trade rumors for many years. Despite how many other pitchers the Marlins have shipped out of Miami in recent years, they have turned down all offers for their ace.
Before that Cy Young campaign in 2022, Alcantara signed a five-year deal (with a club option for a sixth) worth only a guaranteed $56 million. This contract was widely thought to be below market value at the time but looked incredibly team friendly after his award winning 2022 season. The overall shine on the total deal took a hit as Alcantara lost a season to UCL surgery in mid-2023, but that did not stop other teams from attempting to buy-low on the Marlins ace.
This combination of standout performance, years of below market team control, and reduced trade value due to injury has led the Marlins rebuff the myriad trade offers they received for Alcantara.
They are now reaping the rewards of having done so as Alcantara is once again leading the team in innings pitched, fWAR, and walk percentage. The Marlins rotation also features promising youngsters like Max Meyer and Eury Pérez but it’s depth has been significantly weakened by their many trades. Alcantara has been the reliable backbone that has allowed the Marlins to remain in the playoff picture so far this season.
Alcantara and the Marlins are a cautionary tale of how quickly competitive outlooks for once-hopeless clubs can turn around. If the Rockies do end up trading Hunter Goodman, it’s possible they will be looking around come 2028 and wondering whether a 30-homer bat behind the plate would have put them in the Wild Card race.
Conclusions
The Marlins problems that led to their most recent 100-loss season were very different from those facing the Rockies. For Miami the problem was an almost complete lack of premium young hitting talent (outside of Jazz Chisholm) whereas for the Rockies, the problem is on the mound.
Both clubs having their overall talent being lackluster and unbalanced, however, means that the methods employed should be applicable by just swapping out the particulars.
A plausible path the Rockies could take would be to keep taking shots at cast offs from other teams, trading aggressively for pitching talent from their outfield surplus, and holding onto their most accomplished player despite trade offers rolling in.
There’s no guarantees that this would result in the same sort of frisky contending team in two years that the Marlins have now, but there is precedent that it could.
The Isotopes pitching staff passed the baton effectively in this bullpen game. Five pitchers combined to fill the full nine innings and managed to strand eight runners en route to only two runs. The collective gave out six free passes and allowed eight hits but limited the damage with two doubles being the only extra base hits allowed.
The offense was led by Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) who collected three hits including his sixth triple of the season. The supporting cast around Veen of Nic Kent, Vimael Machín, and Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) each reached base twice. In the end, this was enough to score five runs and earn the Isotopes their 49th win and bring them back up to a .500 record.
Connor Staine started the first game of the doubleheader and earned his sixth win of the year with five solid innings. Until the fifth inning Staine had only allowed one run, the result of a solo home run from Jean Carlos Sio. The wheels came off a bit in the bottom of the fifth and he allowed three more runs on four hits including a double but by that point Hartford had already scored six runs of their own.
Center Fielder Mike Antico drove in five of the Yard Goats six runs with his second inning double and fourth inning home run. Beyond Antico, both Braylen Wimmer (a double and a stolen base) and Aidan Longwell (two hits) were the primary contributors to Hartford’s offensive output.
Michael Prosecky (No. 25 PuRP) started his third game of the season after having worked primarily in relief. Prosecky got through two innings with 39 pitches and didn’t allow any runs before handing the ball to Griffin Herring who promptly allowed the Flying Squirrels first three runs of the game. Fisher Jameson finished the game out with three innings in which he allowed an additional two runs on three hits and four walks.
The Yard Goats were never able to catch up to the Flying Squirrels after that third inning outburst. What offense the did muster came from a combination of Roc Riggio (No. 14 PuRP), who reached base twice and stole a base, and Andy Perez who had two hits including a home run.
Spokane took the lead early with a four run third inning but it was not enough to hold off the Dust Devils. The Indians offense was speed oriented as they only had a one extra base hit, a double by Alan Espinal, but made up for it with six stolen bases. Leadoff hitter Tommy Hopfe stole one of those bases to go along with four hits as their offensive standout for Spokane.
Jordy Vargas (No. 21 PuRP) got the start for Spokane and struck out eight over five innings. Over the course of those five innings Vargas allowed three runs on ten hits and two walks which kept the Indians in the game. Poor bullpen performances from Austin Emener and Nathan Blasick allowed the final three runs that the Dust Devils needed to take the victory.
For the first seven innings of this game the Quakes looked like they were in line for a victory.
The Grizzlies pitching staff, too their credit, kept the game close through the early innings even when the lineup was struggling to score. Ethan Cole started the game for Fresno and went five innings while only allowing two runs. Grif Hughes followed Cole and allowed another run on a solo home run by Victor Rodriguez but otherwise was great in his three innings of work.
At the plate, the Grizzlies were largely stifled until the eighth inning in which they scored their first two runs thanks to a home run by Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP). Then came the bottom of the ninth which Fresno entered trailing four to two. Landyn Vidourek, in his first game since being traded from the Dodgers, led the inning off with a walk before a pair of singles by Luis Mendez and Jeremy Ciriaco loaded the bases. Another pair of singles from Clayton Gray and Carlos Renzullo drove in the tying and winning runs.
The ACL Rockies dominated this one from the start. They divided the game amongst five pitchers, none of whom went longer than two innings. The only shaky performance for ACL Rockies pitchers was for the starter Kevin Concepcion who allowed three hits and two walks in only two innings.
At the plate the ACL Rockies combined for an incredible 17 hits, only three of which were for extra bases. This onslaught of pressure baserunners was headlined by center fielder Cristian Arguelles’s and third baseman Eriel Dihigo who had three hits apiece.
The bats were out for DSL Colorado in this seven inning match. A combination of plate discipline (they earned eight walks) and timely slugging led to runs in four separate innings. Centerfielder Larry Suero was the obvious standout in the lineup as he led off and collected four RBI’s by hitting both a double and a home run.
Yeremi Mendez and Eric Veras combined to hold the DSL Angels to four runs (three earned). They each only allowed a single walk, rare for this level of the minors, and the only extra base hit they allowed was a fourth inning double by David Manzueta.
Overshadowed by his slugging exploits has been Goodman’s ability to use the ABS challenge system to the Rockies advantage. Drew Creasman sits down with Goodman and how he’s gone about approaching the new system.
Speaking of Goodman, Sam Blum of the Athletic provides a primer for folks around the league as to why teams are interested in trading for him. This is aimed at folks outside the Rockies orbit that aren’t already familiar with Goodman’s game but it is just nice to see national media speaking so glowingly about a Rockie.
Another example of the national baseball media taking notice of Rockies performing well, Maddie Landis digs into TJ Rumfield’s rookie campaign. Landis lends credence to the idea that’s been floated on Purple Row that Rumfield has a legitimate case for National League Rookie of the Year.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 05, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA world is waiting on LeBron James to announce his next move, but thus far he remains determined to take his sweet, sweet time. Adam Silver is reportedly growing frustrated with James for delaying his free agency decision, because the league literally can’t make the 2026-27 schedule without knowing where he’s playing. Meanwhile, his agent Rich Paul is resolute that James won’t be rushed. It’s possible this could drag into August at this point.
Everyone is trying to put their own spin on why James is waiting so long to sign, and the latest rumor actually makes quite a bit of sense. James might be hoping one of his suitors will trade for Kyrie Irving or Anthony Davis, according to a report by Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports. James won championships with Irving and Davis as his top sidekicks earlier in his career, and he already knows he’s a great fit alongside them. The same can’t be said for James Harden or Jaylen Brown or Giannis Antetokounmpo right now.
If LeBron isn’t in love with any of his current options, it stands to reason that he would keep applying pressure to his suitors to mold the roster to his whims. He has plenty of time on his side: training camps don’t open until late September, and the first preseason games aren’t until October. The longer James waits, the more leash he has to try to force teams to trade for Irving or Davis.
James is basically the patron saint of player empowerment. He’s always used every bit of leverage to get what he wants from his teams, and when he starts losing leverage, he usually dips to a new franchise. James always has a long-term plan in mind when he changes teams, whether it’s teaming with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, trading the rights to No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love, or laying the groundwork for Anthony Davis’ trade to LA. It certainly passes the sniff test that he could be trying to pull some strings behind the scenes before he decides where he’s playing next season.
O’Connor’s report is mostly based on conjecture from people who work in the league. This isn’t a definitive demand from his camp yet. After 23 seasons of LeBron and counting, it just feels wholly reasonable that LeBron knows he has all the leverage in this situation, and he’s ready to use it to try to chase his fifth ring.
Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball are calling LeBron to join the Wolves
Minnesota has a strong case as the best basketball fit for LeBron. They have an elite backcourt in place with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, they have a dominant defensive center in Rudy Gobert, and they have one of the league’s better defensive wings in Jaden McDaniels. The Wolves could use a playmaking power forward, and LeBron is still as good as it gets for that archetype.
Edwards and Ball are calling James to try to convince him to come to Minnesota, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic:
Unfortunately, the idea of LeBron in Minnesota just doesn’t feel realistic to me. Is he really going to move his family to Minnesota? Is he really going to stay in the West? I don’t see it. It’s fun to dream about LeBron to the Wolves, but I’d be absolutely shocked if it happens.
LeBron odds now favor the Miami Heat
My local sportsbook app has the Heat as a 2-1 favorite to sign LeBron. This is only interesting in the sense that most people have viewed Cleveland as the frontrunner since he entered free agency. If you think LeBron is going anywhere other than Miami, there’s some money to be made right now.
I don’t care about gambling odds. If LeBron had to choose right now, I would agree that the Heat feels like his best landing spot. But what if he drags this out another month? At that point, the Warriors could trade for Anthony Davis, the Cavs could figure out a Kyrie Irving for James Harden trade, or a new suitor could do something else to pique his interest.
Why Aug. 6 looms as an important date
Anthony Davis is extension eligible on August 6. At that point, he can ask the Washington Wizards for a four-year, $275 million deal. It would be kind of crazy for the Wizards to give him that deal considering he still has two years left on his current contract, and he’s literally never played a game for the franchise. A four-year extension would lock up Davis until he’s 39 years old. Given that he’s already one of the least durable stars in the league, handing him that type of money that late in his career just feels like bad business for any team.
Of course, the Wizards also gave Trae Young $212 million this summer without another serious suitor for his services, so who knows what that franchise is ever thinking.
Let’s say the Wizards tell Davis they won’t give him an extension. At that point, does Davis try to force his way out of town to somewhere he can get paid? Could that location be to the team that will eventually sign LeBron?
Davis is represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, just like LeBron. If LeBron drags this out, it’s possible he can get Davis paid, which means another big commission check for Paul.
LeBron James free agency prediction
I’ll say LeBron is going to the Heat. It just feels like his best chance to get his fifth ring. Where do you think he’s going? Vote in our poll below:
It really feels like LeBron is putting a lot of pressure on the Cavs in particular right now. Cleveland is coming off a conference finals appearance, but it doesn’t feel like the best fit at the moment. Harden and LeBron both like the ball in their hands, and Harden is completely incapable of being a high-volume spot-up shooter.
Can the Cavs pull off a trade for Kyrie? Would they possible trade Evan Mobley for Anthony Davis? It sounds wild, but it could be the difference in LeBron ending his career in Cleveland versus anywhere else.
LeBron has his thumb on the scale right now. It’s not about money. He’s still good enough to be a major contributor to a championship team. It’s sure starting to feel like he needs to use his influence, because he doesn’t have an obvious option on the board.
“I’m super excited to have [Achiuwa] back,” Cardwell told NBC Sports California’s Tristi Rodriguez in an exclusive interview.
“I don’t know how he came along with the ‘Beam Boys,’ but he added the glasses, and I feel like the glasses are the most important part, and the ‘Beam Boys’ are about the glasses. There was this one random game, he had glasses going on and I was like, ‘Wow, this is actually really cool.’
“So, I’m super excited to have him back. He’s a great teammate, just a good guy to be around, and obviously a great ‘Beam Boy.’ We just like guys who are buying into the culture that Max, Nique and I are trying to set up, and like I said, he’s just a fun guy to be around.”
Despite a disappointing 2025-26 season, the “Beam Boys” were some of the biggest standouts throughout the year, especially for stepping up after the Kings suffered major injuries to their stars, from Domantas Sabonis to Zach LaVine.
Achiuwa was one of the biggest surprises from the Kings’ 22-60 season, averaging 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in 73 games and 57 starts.
“He said it all, I agree,” Raynaud followed up on Cardwell’s thoughts on Achiuwa’s return to the team.
With one full NBA season under their belt, Cardwell, Raynaud and Clifford should only develop and improve as the 2026-27 season approaches.
Last season, Cardwell averaged 5.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 44 appearances, while Raynaud recorded 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 74 contests, earning the France native NBA All-Rookie Second-Team honors.
Now with the addition of rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. to the team’s young core, who the Kings selected with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, the future only is looking bright in Sacramento.
COVERS INTEL: Canning has been substantially worse on the road, 
