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Do we owe Alec Zumwalt an apology?

May 19, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals hitting coach Alec Zumwalt during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

I have never been a big league hitter. I received some hitting instruction as a youth, but it was mostly “keep your eye on the ball”, “be a hitter”, and “stop adjusting yourself down there so much.” Big leaguers get all sorts of more sophisticated hitting advice from not only their hitting coach, but the assistant hitting coach, the assistant to the assistant hitting coach, the director of hitting, the doctor of hit-ology, and the Chief Strategic Officer for Launch Angle Excellence and Exit Velocity Innovation. And that’s only within the organization! They also probably have their own personal hitting coach, a hitting academy they visit in the off-season, their dad (make contact or I’m not visiting you this holiday season!), and their buddy Little Jim, who thinks everyone would hit .300 if they just stopped swinging for their fences (its just that easy!).

So I don’t really know what Alec Zumwalt, the Royals’ Director of Hitting Performance, actually does. But he is in charge of overseeing how the Royals develop hitters. And in case you haven’t noticed, the Royals have not been particularly good at hitting over the last two seasons. They finished last year with the fifth-fewest runs scored per game and were abysmal with runners in scoring position. This year they got off to a very similar start, burying the team in the standings early on. There were calls to fire Zumwalt. Even from me!

They don’t walk. They don’t hit for power. They swing too much, chase too much, and yet, are far too patient on the first pitch. They hit too many flyballs for a team that doesn’t hit the ball hard. They are also terrible at hitting fastballs, which should be the easiest pitch to hit. In short, while Zumwalt has advocated for a strategy of identifying a good pitch to hit and doing damage to it, the Royals have utterly failed.

Yet despite a growing list of injuries, the offense has begun to flourish this month. Royals hitters are batting .284/.349/.460 in June, with a 121 wRC+ that ranks seventh in baseball, and they are second in the majors with 5.9 runs per game.

Arguably Zumwalt’s most important job has been overseeing the development of the Royals’ two prized hitting prospects—Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone. Those two lefty power hitters are the future of this lineup, and brother, the future is starting to look really bright. Jensen is hitting .280/.325/.507 this month, and has his season wRC+ at 100, which is impressive considering the average rookie catcher has a wRC+ of 81.

Meanwhile, Caglianone is on another planet right now. A planet of home run-hitting beasts! This month, he is hitting .373/.453/.773 with nine home runs and a 10.5 percent walk rate. His June wRC+ of 232 is better than anyone in baseball, save for Pete Crow-Armstrong.

And it does appear that the hitters have made changes. As friend of the site Jack Johnson pointed out, Jensen has opened his stance and moved his hands up.

Jac Caglianone has also appeared to make some changes, simplifying his stance and shortening the distance between his bat and the ball.

Now don’t get me wrong, the offense overall is still near the bottom of the league. Those shutouts back in April still count, and the team buried itself in a hole that may be too deep to escape from. Zumwalt is responsible for more than just two hitters, and the Royals have received disappointing production from Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, Jonathan India, and Isaac Collins.

But those are veterans, many of whom may have been dealing with injuries much of the season. Hitting coaches and coordinators often have a greater impact on younger players than on established veterans who already have years of ingrained habits. And it is not just Jensen and Caglianone that are coming on, the Royals have gotten impressive offensive streaks from young hitters like Michael Massey and Nick Loftin lately that could provide more depth to the lineup.

As the injuries pile up, this is looking more and more like a lost season. But the Royals could use this as an evaluation season for several young hitters. And at least this month, they look like they could be on the right track. I’m not ready to issue a full mea culpa to Zumwalt quite yet, but the recent results suggest something may be working.

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Diamondbacks News: Eduardo Rodriguez Stimies Cardinals

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 23: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium on June 23, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

Late, Clutch Offense Salvages Win from E-Rod Gem
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched 6.2 innings of scoreless baseball. He left with the score tied. But then, Nolan Arenado got key knock, giving the Diamondbacks their first hit with runner in scoring position in what seems like an age. Paul Sewald was terrible, but Torey Lovullo actually pulled him in time and the Diamondbacks celebrated the win after Brandyn Garcia pitched the one-batter save.

Diamondbacks Escape Sewald Meltdown
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched a gem. The Diamondbacks finally managed a productive few hits with runners in scoring position. That resulted in Sewald entering the game with a four-run lead, a non-save situation. As seems to be his M..O. Sewald struggled and only recorded two outs while allowing three runs. Brandyn Garcia then came in and pitched lefty on lefty to record his first save through a one-batter outing.

Diamondbacks and Giants Agree to Schedule Change in August
The two teams will now play a day-night double header on 29 August, giving both teams an important day off. For the Diamondbacks it gives them a day off before taking on the Phillies in a series with potential playoff implications.

Right at Home, Arenado Silences Crowd with RISP Hit
Some things just feel like they were scripted – but not in a bad way. This is one of those times.

Other Baseball News

MLB’s Competitive Balance Issue “Explained”
The disconnect between the players, the owners, the fans, and reality is staggering and pieces like this do nothing to alleviate the growing impression that an extended lockout is looming and inevitble.

Freddy Peralta Deal Has Been a Dud for Mets
For all the hand-wringing about how poor Zac Gallen has been this season (incredibly poor), at least it isn’t the situation of Freddy Peralta with the Mets. Yikes!

How ABS if Helping Fuel Left-Handed Hitting Resurgence
The more uniform strike zone has resulted in a rather sizeable split between left-handed and right-handed wRC+.

Zack Gelof Leaves Game with Spiked Hand Laceration
The Athletics’ Zack Gelof saw his 24-game hit streak come to an end after his hand was impaled by the Giants’ Matt Chapman during an awkward play at second base in which Chapman stod p while Gelof’s hand was under the cleats.

Craig Counsell Perplexed, Irked by Rainout Decision
Back-to-back rainouts in two cities have caused something of a scheduling conundrum for Craig Counsell and the Chicago Cubs. The Chicago skipper is displeased with the situation and questioned the decision-making process, given that no rain fell during the game’s scheduled window for play.

Tigers Relied Too Heavily on False Production from 2025
When the Tigers did their winter business, they were mistaken in what the team needs really were and now it is showing up in the standings in a big way.

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3 Forwards Winnipeg Should Target in Free Agency

 With free agency set to open next Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets find themselves at a familiar crossroads as a team with genuine Stanley Cup aspirations but in need of the depth scoring that has recently eluded them.

The Jets averaged just 2.79 goals per game this past season, a mark that tied the New York Islanders for seventh-worst in the entire NHL. While some names have already come off the board in Jason Dickinson and Bobby McMann among those recently re-signed or extended elsewhere, a handful of intriguing options remain available, and Winnipeg would be wise to pursue at least one of them aggressively.

Anthony Mantha, RW/LW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Few players on the open market this summer had a better season than Mantha, who put together a 64-point campaign in Pittsburgh while helping the Penguins pull off one of the more surprising playoff qualifications of the year. The 31-year-old from Quebec has always had the tools to be a difference-maker, and last season he proved what happens when those tools are put to proper use. 

With Pittsburgh's long-term direction still very much in question, Mantha will likely prioritize landing somewhere with a realistic shot at winning and Winnipeg fits that description. A second-line pairing with Cole Perfetti would give both players a chance to thrive.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

There was a time not long ago when Bjorkstrand was one of the more quietly productive wingers in the league, regularly posting 50 to 60 points and looking like a fixture in any competitive lineup. Last season in Tampa told a different story, with just 32 points in 80 games in a bottom-six role that never really suited him. 

The 31-year-old Dane is the kind of player who needs the right environment to produce, and Winnipeg could be exactly that. Give him top-six minutes and real responsibility, and a bounce-back season is well within reach. On a reasonable multi-year deal, the upside far outweighs the risk.

Mason Marchment, LW/C, Columbus Blue Jackets

The Jets had an edge problem this past season. Without Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, the lineup lost a nastiness that opposing teams had come to respect, and that absence was felt when the games got physical. Marchment solves that problem while bringing genuine offensive value alongside it, a rare combination at 30 years old. 

The Uxbridge native has established himself as one of the more sought-after power forwards available, consistently delivering in the 45-to-55-point range while making life difficult on opponents every shift. Slotting him into the bottom six would free up the second line to focus on pure production, and it would restore an identity to this Jets group that has been missing for the better part of a year.

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Buffalo Sabres land No. 4 pick in the draft after trading Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres acquired the No. 4 pick in the NHL draft in a trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks.

As part of the deal, Buffalo also acquired third-year defenseman Louis Crevier, who had a career-best 25 points in his first full NHL season, and a second-round draft pick, 46th overall. Chicago also acquired hard-hitting forward Jordan Greenway.

Byram is the key player in the trade.

The 25-year-old had a career-high 42 points and matched a career high with 11 goals in 82 games in spending much of the season playing alongside captain Rasmus Dahlin as Buffalo’s top defensive pairing. He was part of a deep and talented blue line that contributed to the Sabres winning their first Atlantic Division title and snapping an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.

With the fourth pick, the Sabres are positioned to land a top prospect in a draft class that’s loaded with highly regarded defenseman. Among the defensive candidates expected to be available at No. 4 are Carson Carels (WHL Prince George), North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff and Latvia’s Alberts Smits.

Buffalo hosts the two-day draft.

In Chicago, Byram adds offense to a team that finished eighth in the Central Division standings for a fourth straight season and hasn’t made the playoffs in six years. The Blackhawks have struggled to improve despite picking seventh or better in each of the past four drafts — a stretch that included them selecting Connor Bedard first overall in 2023.

Chicago has a group of promising young defensemen, including Artyom Levshunov — the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft — and Kevin Korchinski — the No. 7 pick in 2022. But the Blackhawks needed another veteran leader on the blue line after trading Connor Murphy to Edmonton on March 2.

The 29-year-old Greenway is a 10-year NHL veteran, who spent three-plus seasons in Buffalo. He played a valuable checking line role, but has been slowed by injuries, limited to 74 games over the past two seasons.

Byram spent his first three-plus seasons with Colorado, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2022 before being traded to Buffalo two years later.

Former Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams signed Byram to a two-year, $12.5 million contract last summer in a deal reached before the defenseman’s arbitration hearing.

In addressing reporters after Buffalo was eliminated by Montreal in the second round of the playoffs, new Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he was placing a priority on signing Byram to a long-term contract this offseason.

At 6-foot-8 and 228 pounds, Crevier brings size and a hard shot to the Sabres a mere five days after they traded 6-foot-5 defenseman Michael Kesselring to San Jose. The teams swapped first-round selections with Buffalo moving up seven spots in the order by landing the Sharks pick at No. 20.

The Sabres now have six picks in this year’s draft.

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Game 80 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Miami Marlins

Jun 23, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Alejandro Osuna (19) celebrates scoring a run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Texas Rangers @ Miami Marlins

Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 11:10 AM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

loanDepot park

RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Eury Perez

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSMARLINS
Joc Pederson – DHXavier Edwards – 2B
Wyatt Langford – CFOtto Lopez – SS
Josh Jung – 3BKyle Stowers – 1B
Brandon Nimmo – RFHeriberto Hernandez – LF
Jake Burger – 1BGriffin Conine – DH
Ezequiel Duran – SSJakob Marsee – CF
Alejandro Osuna – LFOwen Caissie – RF
Elias Diaz – CLeo Jimenez – 3B
Nicky Lopez – 2BBrian Navarreto – C
Jacob deGrom – RHPEury Perez – RHP

Go Rangers!

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The floor of the Washington Nationals bullpen is incredibly low

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Brad Lord #41 of the Washington Nationals looks on after conceding a three-run home run to Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Nationals Park on June 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With Trea Turner at the plate, Brad Lord and the Washington Nationals were one strike away from completing another emotional win over the Phillies. In what felt like an hour later, Trea Turner came to the plate again in the top of the 9th to single and make it 14-8 Phillies. I would say I have never seen anything like this, but I did just a couple weeks ago in San Francisco.

At this point, we know what the floor of this bullpen is, and it is at the Dead Sea. The bullpen can actually string together some decent performances. However, when it is not going right, this unit is legitimately unable to get outs. That 9th inning in San Francisco and the 9th inning tonight are perfect examples of that.

All the damage in those innings came without the other team even making an out. Tonight, 10 straight Phillies reached base with two outs, turning an 8-6 lead into a 14-8 deficit. The normally reliable Brad Lord crumbled so quickly that he gave up 5 runs before another reliever was even able to get ready.

It was so close to being such a statement victory at Nationals Park. The crowd was engaged and fired up in a way that I had not seen in years. They were ready to explode when Lord got two strikes on Trea Turner. Instead, they went home disappointed like they have so many times over the past 6 years.

At the end of the day, this bullpen just does not have the horses. The floor is super low in the bullpen for a reason. It is because these guys do not have swing and miss stuff. When they desperately need it, these guys cannot get that big strikeout. Blake Butera mentioned all the times Nats pitchers got into 2 strike counts and could not finish the job.

He talked a lot about execution, and that is part of the problem. However, the bigger problem is something he cannot really say. These relievers just do not have good enough stuff. Butera knows this, but clearly you cannot totally throw your guys under the bus. Nats relievers have the lowest whiff rate in the MLB by a large margin and have the worst stuff with the least velocity.

As Paul Toboni sinks his teeth into this project further, that will change. However, for now, this bullpen is always on the brink of disaster because if they are not executing, there is nothing for them to fall back on. I wrote about the Nats lack of stuff in the bullpen and some options to fix that.

These pieces really loom large right now. I love me some Brad Lord and still think he is an extremely valuable piece of this bullpen. However, his best role is as a multi-inning guy. His stuff is fine, but it is not lockdown closer stuff. When the Phillies have a tight game in the 9th, they can turn to Jhoan Duran, who averages over 100. Meanwhile, the Nats don’t have anyone who even averages 97.

The Nats have some okay pieces in the bullpen, but they do not have an alpha, or anything close to that. Clayton Beeter has good stuff, but he can’t throw strikes. Richard Lovelady has a closer mentality, but he does not have closer stuff. Orlando Ribalta is solid, but he is not elite either. PJ Poulin is a nice opener, but nothing more. Gus Varland has gotten big outs before, but he also has plenty of blow up potential. It is just slim pickings for Blake Butera when he needs to get big outs.

Paul Toboni has been so long term driven in his quotes this year, but this morning on the radio, he struck a different tone. He talked about how much this loss ate at him and acknowledged that this team could be in a very different place with a better bullpen. 

Toboni is a big reason why the bullpen is in this spot. He traded the Nats highest upside bullpen arm that he inherited in Jose A. Ferrer. The Ford for Ferrer trade made a ton of sense at the time, but it has not aged well so far. Ferrer is not some perfect reliever, but he throws gas and has been good in high leverage. 

He also used the waiver wire to build the bullpen, instead of signing more proven options. When the Rangers rebuilt their bullpen this offseason, they went down the cheap veteran route. They signed Tyler Alexander, Chris Martin, Jalen Beeks and Jakob Junis. Alexander, Junis and Beeks have all been hits, posting ERA’s below 4. These guys were not big money options, but all had fairly long track records.

This is not a bullet proof plan. We saw that last year, when Mike Rizzo brought in Jorge Lopez, Lucas Sims and Colin Poche. None of those guys worked out. However, you have a better chance of finding reliability when you bring in these veterans.

I do not necessarily blame Toboni for choosing the route he did. It is clear that he viewed this as a rebuilding year, and wanted to take some chances on arms that have the team control to help the team beyond this year. However, these guys were on waivers for a reason.

Now that Toboni knows that this team has something about them, I hope he addresses the bullpen at the deadline. I am not asking him to bring in a rental like Aroldis Chapman. Rather, I would like to see him bring in a younger, hard throwing controllable arm like Sam Bachman or Jaden Hill, who I wrote about.

With the lack of stuff in the bullpen, total implosion is on the table at any time for the Washington Nationals. As we get deeper into this build, Paul Toboni must find better stuff in the ‘pen. Whether that is through trades, or converting a guy like Luis Perales to the bullpen, we just need to find swing and miss stuff. Without elite stuff, it is tough to get those final outs, and we saw that last night and in San Francisco.

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Leaving So Soon? Should Canadian NHL Teams Have Concerns About American Players?

The post-Brady Tkachuk era began at least one season earlier than anyone could have imagined on Sunday night, and the announcement ruined many a Father's Day dinner.

Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers for the 9th and 25th overall selections in Friday’s NHL Draft, a conditional, lottery-protected first-round pick in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2027.

GM Steve Staios met the media on Monday and made it very clear this was not his idea and that he felt it best to accommodate the trade request rather than play a waiting game.

Though many Sens purists were in denial about this day ever coming, the signs were there. Matthew relocated to Florida, won two Stanley Cups, played with Brady at the 4 Nations Faceoff, and captured Olympic gold alongside his brother.

Now that the deal is done, rather than roasting the departed, it's important to note what this might mean in the big picture, not just for the Senators, but for all Canadian NHL markets.

1) What Canadian Teams Can Learn From The Brady Tkachuk Trade

This is not the first time this has happened in the NHL or even to the Senators.

Tkachuk was selected in the 2018 draft, and Alex DeBrincat was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022.

Neither was ultimately committed to a long-term future with the Senators, and for their own reasons, wanted to return to play in the States. 

The template for this kind of move was set by Matthew Tkachuk, who forced Brad Treliving’s hand in Calgary and landed himself in Florida via trade.

Making a star American-born player the linchpin in a Canadian market via the draft or a blockbuster trade can carry an extra risk if they hope to keep them after free agency hits. Canadian teams need to be cautious and understand that.

2) American Players Currently Available Through Trade or Free Agency 

Potential replacement players in the marketplace for Tkachuk and to fill the already existing top-six scoring forward dilemma are the talk of the town. The Sens got started with a deal on Tuesday for San Jose's William Eklund and two prospects, but their search may not be over.

They've also been linked to American players like RFA Jason Robertson and UFA Alex Tuch.

Robertson seems like a no-brainer if he wanted to come. He would really take the sting off losing a player like Tkachuk. Would he come in a sign and trade scenario? That is the $12 million question.

3) No Movement Clauses in Negotiations

These clauses have become more common with top players.

However, the Tkachuk trade is not the only trade where this sort of clause, regardless of the player’s citizenship, has put the team and others around the league in a bad position when it comes to negotiations and finding them new NHL homes.

Policy on the use of these clauses should be particularly stringent in negotiations with American players where it might be best to pay the higher AAV to ensure maximum return when an asset needs to be moved.

Contracts like Dylan Larkin’s, where the full no movement is in the early years of the player’s contract before any decline has occurred, seem to make more sense than a full NMC end-to-end.

There is a path forward, and there is life after Brady Tkachuk. If Steve Staios believes the team does not need to take a step backwards to recover from this, then let him execute his plan. 

When push comes to shove, the lessons listed above need to be on the minds of all Canadian NHL General Managers.

By Pat Maguire
The Hockey News

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Pat Riley and the Miami Heat Bet Everything on Giannis Antetokounmpo

Brennan Asplen / Getty Images
Riley pushed all his chips in to land Giannis. Breaking down the blockbuster trade, the fit with Bam Adebayo, and what's next for the Miami Heat.

Nobody should be surprised. That's the first thing to understand about what happened Monday night, hours before the 2026 NBA Draft was set to begin in Brooklyn. The Miami Heat trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't shocking. It isn't unexpected. It is, in fact, the most Pat Riley thing that has happened in the NBA in years, and he has been doing Pat Riley things for decades.

Riley cleared the deck when Jimmy Butler walked out the door at the deadline last year, took a long look at the roster he had left, and decided the only logical next move was the biggest one available. That's who he is. That's always been who he is. You don't get to 81 years old with Riley's résumé by playing it safe and hoping the ping pong balls bounce your way. You pick up the phone, you make the call, and you find a way to get it done. Monday night, he got it done.

The Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, including the 13th overall selection Tuesday night -- which turned into Nate Ament, who could be the steal of the draft at that selection -- a 2030 pick swap, and a 2033 second-rounder. That's the whole medicine cabinet. Every asset Miami had been quietly stockpiling since the Butler era ended got shipped to Wisconsin in one transaction.

Riley and the Heat didn't dip their toes in. They cannon-balled off the high dive.

John Fisher / Getty Images

Let's talk about what they gave up, because it matters. The Bucks chose Miami's offer over a Celtics package that reportedly included Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, which tells you everything about how aggressive Riley was willing to be. Herro was the centerpiece heading to Milwaukee, a former Sixth Man of the Year and the kind of scorer that most rebuilding teams would love to have. Ware is a 20-year-old center with legitimate upside. Jakucionis was a first-round pick from this cycle who hadn't played an NBA game yet. And three unprotected first-rounders going out the door means Miami is betting everything -- and I mean everything -- on this working.

Now for the part that's going to generate debate all summer.

The fit isn't obvious. Giannis and Bam Adebayo together create one of the most suffocating defensive frontcourts in the history of the league -- two of the best defenders at their respective positions, both capable of guarding one through five, both elite rim protectors, both the kind of players that opposing coaches design entire game plans around. On that end of the floor, this pairing is genuinely terrifying. Erik Spoelstra is going to have a field day.

But offense is where the questions live. Giannis operates best in space, attacking the rim in a straight line, using his combination of size and athleticism to punish defenses that can't contain him one-on-one. Bam is a brilliant offensive player in his own right -- skilled in the post, lethal as a pick-and-roll operator, one of the best passing big men in the game. The issue is that they both need the paint to do their best work. Put them together, and you have two of the most physically dominant players in basketball fighting over the same real estate. It's more than fair to question Miami's ability to build a true contender around Giannis and Bam, especially on par with the reigning champion Knicks.

And then there's the roster around them. After sending out Herro, Ware, Jaquez, Jakucionis, and a small fortune in picks, what exactly is left? The Heat's depth chart after the trade is thin, which doesn't begin to cover it. Portis comes over from Milwaukee, which helps at backup center, but the situation gets worse when you factor in Norman Powell. The veteran wing is an unrestricted free agent this summer and one of the more coveted players on the market, and with Giannis's $58.5 million salary now on the books and the second apron looming, Miami almost certainly won't have the financial flexibility to bring him back. That's a 20-point-per-game scorer walking out the door right as their most important acquisition is walking in.

This team is going to need to find shooters, wings, and secondary playmakers in the bargain bin of free agency and the buyout market, all while navigating cap constraints that leave very little room for error. The roster construction puzzle that Miami's front office is going to be solving right up until opening night just got significantly more complicated.

Here's the counterargument, and it's a legitimate one: Maybe none of that matters.

Antetokounmpo still averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting 62.4% from the field this past season in the 36 games he played. When healthy, he is still one of the three or four best players alive. Pairing him with Bam and turning Spoelstra loose on a defensive scheme built around two generational defenders is a formula that could make up for a lot of offensive inefficiency. The Heat under Spoelstra have always been more than the sum of their parts. They've won playoff series with rosters that had no business winning playoff series. They went to the Finals with Butler and a collection of castoffs. What they do with two legitimate stars and a Hall of Fame coach is a different conversation entirely.

The goal now for Miami is to get Giannis signed to an extension. He becomes eligible for a four-year, $275 million supermax in January 2027, and if he doesn't sign it, he could opt out the following summer and walk. That's the sword hanging over everything here. If Riley can get the extension done -- and the expectation is that he can, given that Giannis chose Miami over Boston when he could have gone either way -- then this is a franchise-altering move that sets up the Heat for the next four or five years. If he can't, Miami just gave away its entire future for one year of a 31-year-old coming off an injury-plagued season.

The irony of all of this is that the Lillard era in Milwaukee indirectly delivered Giannis to South Florida. The Bucks waived Dame, signed Myles Turner, went 32-50 anyway, and Giannis watched all of it from the sideline while his knee healed. The relationship between player and franchise deteriorated quietly, and Riley was positioned perfectly to take advantage. That's not luck; that's decades of understanding how the league works and being ready when the moment arrives.

Should it have been more surprising? Probably not. Riley has been doing this his entire career, finding a way to the table when the biggest names become available by outworking everyone else in the room and betting on himself to figure out the rest later. He got Shaq. He got LeBron. He got Jimmy. Now, he's got Giannis.

The fit questions are real. The roster concerns are legitimate. The risk is enormous, and everyone in South Florida knows it.

But this story isn't really about Pat Riley anymore. It's about Giannis Antetokounmpo. It's about what happens when one of the most dominant players of his generation gets a fresh start, a new challenge, and an organization that believes championships are the only acceptable outcome. Miami has done more with less before. Now it has something it rarely gets: a player with a résumé that already belongs among the all-time greats. The question isn't whether Giannis can elevate the Heat. It's whether this partnership can unlock one more level in a career that still feels unfinished.

Everything about this move is a gamble. But if you're going to bet on someone, betting on a two-time MVP still in his prime is a pretty good place to start.

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Islanders Anxiety – Episode 376 – A Meaty Wrap

What was supposed to be an easy episode about the draft turned into a look at a wild few days in the NHL and where the Islanders sit among the craziness.

We don’t know anything about prospects. So we reached out to our Patrons and asked them who they’d like to see the Islanders draft this Friday. A few names rose to the top for a variety of reasons, some good and some silly. Most of all, we want the Islanders to come out of Buffalo this weekend with a clear direction and a plan forward. Some nice prospects would be good, too, of course. But there’s a difference between working towards a goal and just keeping the lights on.

A few teams around the NHL are certainly working towards their goals, although it’s hard to see what some of those are. The Panthers grabbed Brady Tkachuk with the goal of winning another Stanley Cup, and the Senators replaced their captain by using one of their acquired picks to get William Eklund from the Sharks. The Blackhawks and Capitals spent a lot to get Bo Byram and Jordan Kyrou, respectfully, which makes us think the Islanders might be better off playing it safe. But the reality is, they might not have a choice. With a lot of older players locked into long, expensive contracts, they don’t have the wiggle room to maneuver the way other teams do, which means there’s a good chance next season’s team looks a lot like last season’s. That’s certainly a direction. Just not the one we want.

Along the way, we make some predictions about the draft, come to a startling revelation about the Islanders involvement in one of Wednesday’s trades and lament the hiring of longtime Islander villain Pascal Dupuis to their front office. Really, guys?

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Can we leave Bryce Harper alone please?

Jun 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (3) reacts after hitting an RBI triple against the New York Mets in the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

This off-season, there were reasons to be critical of Bryce Harper.

First, he simply wasn’t as impactful on the field in 2025 as he had been in previous seasons. His .844 OPS was his lowest since 2016 and he failed to make an impact in the postseason for the first time in his career.

He never looked right. There was little emotion, little fire. He seemed to drift through the season as a spectator, not a leader.

Second, when Dave Dombrowski made his “elite” comments about Harper after the season, I felt Harper’s decision to publicly dispute the comments, replete with his “Not Elite” T-shirt months after Dombrowski’s comment, showed a lack of situational awareness.

I was highly critical of Harper during that time.

So yes, I came into the 2026 season a little annoyed with the Phillies’ star first baseman, and I truly did wonder if the 33-year-old’s best days were behind him.

Those fears have been allayed.

Despite a brief two-week slump heading into last weekend’s series against the Mets, Harper had been having a more impactful season than last. And then, he went off on Saturday and Sunday against New York.

Harper finished Sunday night’s game a triple short of a cycle after hitting for the cycle on Saturday. The last player to finish one element short of a cycle the game after hitting for a cycle was teammate Trea Turner, when they were Nationals teammates in April 2017 (via OptaSTATS).

Harper’s weekend pushed him atop the leaderboard among first basemen in OPS (.897) entering Tuesday’s game against the Nationals. But his triple to cap the cycle on Saturday has people talking.

For those who didn’t see it, Harper’s three-bagger was essentially a double to the left-center field wall that he turned into a triple simply because he had decided he wasn’t going to stop running, no matter what.

When Harper stepped to the plate, it was an 11-1 game with two outs in the 5th inning. His hit into the gap made it a 13-1 game. In this instance, Harper’s decision to try for the triple, at the risk of getting thrown out at third to end the inning, was a no-brainer.

In a one-run game, it’s a stupid decision. In a 12-run game? Light your hair on fire, dude.

Harper was credited with a triple because he never stopped running, so the official scorer made the decision that he did not advance to third because of the throw home. Harper’s intention was to get his triple and, after doing so, erupted in the kind of emotional celebration we saw routinely from Bryce during the 2022 and ’23 playoffs, but haven’t seen much of since.

Some fans didn’t like it. They didn’t like that Harper celebrated his individual accomplishment with such vigor. But why?

The game had already been won. It was a cool moment. Triples are awesome. Cycles are rare. Harper had never gotten one. What’s the harm?

After the game, Harper was asked about his decision to try for the triple, and about his tendency to run the bases aggressive on the bases.

“I’ll tell you what, I don’t really care what people think about my base running because that’s how I’ve always played,” a vindicated Harper said. “I’ve done it since I was seven years old. I don’t really play a different way when I know I can try to get to second base. I’ve made mistakes on the bases. I’m going to. Little kids are going to do the same thing, and I’ll preach to them to play the game hard, and if you get thrown out at second or third, then so be it.”

This answer, and Harper’s aggressive pursuit and celebration of his cycle, apparently rubbed some people the wrong way.

With a little over 12,000 votes cast online, 90% of the above respondents said “no.” I reckon that would be your answer, too. And the ratio on the tweet speaks to the silliness of the question itself.

I may be in the minority, but I think sports talk radio is fun. Most of the time, I think it adds to the enjoyment of following sports in Philadelphia. And if you think sports talk radio in Philly is “too much,” you weren’t around for the sports talk radio environment of the 1980s, ’90s and the early 2000s. It was a very, very rough scene.

Still, this question, and this take, was a misfire.

There was reason to criticize Harper last year and this previous off-season.

But now? After the monster weekend he had at Citizens Bank Park and the bounce-back season he’s having? You’re going there now?

Harper is playing terrific baseball. He’s a great teammate. I wholeheartedly agree that he sometimes says and does things that are worthy of criticism, but I also believe Harper would not have pushed for the triple on Saturday night if the game had been close. I absolutely do not believe Harper is a selfish player who is focused first on selfish goals and second on team goals.

To believe otherwise is to ignore his history with the Phillies.

As someone who was highly critical of Bryce during the off-season, I feel I can say this with some credibility.

Enough already. Leave the guy alone.

He’s playing great baseball.

He’s enjoying the game.

The team is feeding off him in a positive way.

And let’s not forget all the incredible moments he’s given the fanbase over the last seven years.

Criticize Harper when he deserves it. Let’s not go out of our way to make up things to criticize him for.

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Pittsburgh Penguins sell for $2 billion. Details on Florida-based buyer

The Pittsburgh Penguins have found a new owner after a Florida-based company struck a deal that's set to cost a little shy of $2 billion.

The sale has yet to officially close, but with the NHL Board of Governors approving the deal on June 23, it's expected to go through shortly.

Here's what to know about the Penguins' buyer.

Who bought the Pittsburgh Penguins?

The sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins from The Fenway Sports Group to Hoffman Family of Companies was unanimously approved by the NHL Board of Governors on June 23.

The sale was announced more than six months ago on Dec. 19, 2025, and it's expected to close imminently.

How much did the Pittsburgh Penguins sale cost?

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL.com the transaction is set to cost about $1.75 billion.

In 2021, Fenway Sports Group bought controlling interest of the Penguins for $900 million from Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle. FSG owns several sports properties, including the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park in Boston.

"Actually, the deal was made a year ago, so based on the valuations at that time, that was consistent with what Sportico and Forbes and CNBC were doing, although at the time and even now I think it was low," Bettman said of the $1.75 billion valuation for the Penguins to NHL.com. "Having said that, it's nice that the Hoffmans got a good deal and it's nice that Fenway in five years doubled its investment. I still think it's low, but that's OK."

What are the Hoffmann Family of Companies that bought the Penguins?

The Hoffman Family of Companies, or HF Companies, is owned by couple David and Jerri Hoffman of Naples, Fla. The company owns a large catalog of area real estate, businesses, the Florida Everblades minor league hockey team and Hertz Arena.

With the acquisition of the Penguins, Geoff Hoffmann, CEO of HF Companies' Private Equity arm, will serve as Governor. Greg Hoffmann, CEO of the firm’s Real Estate arm; Kyle Dubas, General Manager & President of Hockey Operations of the Pittsburgh Penguins; and David Hoffmann, Founder & Chairman of HF Companies, will each serve as Alternate Governors.

David Hoffman bought Florida's Everblades and Hertz Arena in August 2019. The Blades were affiliated with the St. Louis Blues for the last two seasons, but the Blues announced June 22 that they have moved their ECHL affiliation to the Worcester (Mass.) Railers with an agreement through the 2030-31 season, leaving Florida looking for a new partner. Pittsburgh has had an affiliation agreement with the Wheeling Nailers for 29 years.Four years ago, Geoff Hoffman and his wife Megan founded Type 1 Timer Hockey in 2022. Inspired by their son Henry's experience of living with Type 1 diabetes, it's the only hockey camp in the United States intended specifically for kids with the diagnosis and is held annually at Hertz Arena.

"The Penguins represent everything Hoffmann Family of Companies stands for — community, excellence and long-term thinking," Geoff Hoffman said in a release. "We look forward to building on the team’s success by providing support and resources to both Kyle Dubas and the hockey operations team, as well as the established leadership group on the business side. We're proud to represent this storied franchise and are eager to become an active, invested part of the Pittsburgh community."

Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Key details of Pittsburgh Penguins $2B sale to Florida-based company

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Red Sox Minor Lines: Devin Futrell strikes out 12

Worcester: L, 1-4 (BOX SCORE)


Patrick Sandoval had another short rehab outing, giving up a couple runs to Toledo (Tigers AAA) while also botching a pickoff attempt. The offense went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Romy Gonzalez, who hopes to return this week, had a knock, but it was one of just six on the day, and the only extra-base hit was Tsung-Che Cheng’s, who had a triple. The WooSox never held a lead despite Toledo not having a spectacular day themselves.

Portland: L, 5-7 (BOX SCORE)

Portland is probably the most consistent and intriguing offensive team relative to their level on the farm, and they showed it again Tuesday in Connecticut against the Yard Goats (Rockies AA). Franklin Arias had three hits and Johanfran Garcia chipped in a double, and even Brooks Brannon continues to get hits, but the team also had the stranding runners bug, leaving ten on the basepaths. In the end, Hartford puleed ahead with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead for good.

Greenville: W. 2-0 (BOX SCORE)

Justin Gonzalez’s line drive in the third and Luke Heyman’s solo shot in the fourth were the only productive hits the team had in Asheville. (Astros High-A) But the offense isn’t the story, because Devin Futrell was absolutely nails in his six innings. Futrell is an overpowering lefty who has the size the team typically looks for (6’5″, 217) Although he lacks high-end velocity, he had total command Tuesday. He struck out 12 in six innings and threw 84 pitches; this was his second consecutive awesome start. Tyler Davis and Steven Brooks finished off a masterful night on the mound. Here are all of Futrell’s K’s throughout the night.

Salem: L, 2-7 (BOX SCORE)

Salem had just four hits against Myrtle Beach (Cubs A) and took until the sixth inning to get on the board. At the top of the lineup, Skylar King had a home run, and Andrews Opata had a knock and his 30th stolen base of the season, but the offense was mostly stagnant otherwise, wasting two hits from Avinson Pinto in the middle of the lineup as everyone otherwise got sat down on strikes at least once.

Happy day game Wednesday!

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Where to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Minnesota Twins: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, June 24

The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 51-29 record, face the Minnesota Twins, who are third in the AL Central with a 38-43 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -175 moneyline compared to the Minnesota Twins' +145. Starting pitchers are Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers, with a 1.47 ERA, and Joe Ryan for the Twins, with a 2.99 ERA.

  • Date: Wednesday, June 24

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET / 4:40 p.m. PT

  • Where: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN

  • TV Channels: Twins.TV Presented by Progressive, SportsNet LA

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Los Angeles Dodgers: 51-29 (first in NL West)

  • Minnesota Twins: 38-43 (third in AL Central)

  • Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5

  • Moneyline: Minnesota Twins +145 / Los Angeles Dodgers -175

  • Over/Under: 8.0

Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (7-2, ERA: 1.47, K: 78, WHIP: 0.88)

Minnesota Twins: Joe Ryan (5-3, ERA: 2.99, K: 99, WHIP: 1.00)

Series: Game 3 of 3

Weather: 74°F at first pitch

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Santos up, Corniell optioned

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 11: Winston Santos #14 of the Frisco RoughRiders reacts during the game between the Frisco RoughRiders and the San Antonio Missions at Nelson Wolff Stadium on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Zach Del Bello/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

The Texas Rangers have recalled pitcher Winston Santos, the team announced today. To make room for Santos on the active roster, the Rangers have optioned pitcher Jose Corniell to AAA Round Rock.

This is part of the domino effect resulting from Jack Leiter going on the injured list (and then having ankle surgery yesterday). Corniell was called up to take the place of Leiter on the active roster, with Cal Quantrill, the team’s long man, starting in Leiter’s place yesterday. Corniell threw 69 pitches yesterday, and thus would not be available to pitch again until, most likely, this weekend. Not wanting to be left without someone who can give them length out of the pen, Corniell is now sent down and Santos is up.

Santos, a 24 year old righthander who was added to the 40 man roster after the 2024 season, has spent 2026 at AA Frisco, and has not performed in such a way that you would expect him to get a call up. He has a 7.44 ERA on the year in 42.1 innings over 11 starts, though with an impressive 12.3 Ks per 9 (and a less impressive 2.1 HRs and 4.5 walks per 9). Interestingly, has allowed exactly three runs in each of his last six games, in which he has faced exactly 21 batters four times (and 25 and 18 batters the other two times).

So why is Santos the guy called up? The only other pitchers on the 40 man roster who are not short relievers are Leandro Lopez, currently on the injured list, and David Davalillo, who was assigned to the ACL Rangers where, I would assume, he’s working on things. Davalillo had started the season at Frisco and was pitching for Round Rock before he got sent to the desert. And there’s no one in the system who is not on the 40 man roster who is making a compelling case to be added to the 40 man roster (which would mean DFA’ing, say, Blaine Crim, or pre-emptively putting Jack Leiter on the 60 day injured list under the assumption he won’t be available until mid-August) and sit in the bullpen as the emergency long man.

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Where to watch New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, June 24

The New York Yankees, ranked first in the AL East with a 47-31 record, face the Detroit Tigers, who are fourth in the AL Central with a 34-45 record. The Detroit Tigers are favored with a -145 moneyline compared to the New York Yankees' +120. Starting pitchers are Ryan Weathers for the Yankees, with a 4.13 ERA, and Tarik Skubal for the Tigers, with a 3.02 ERA.

  • Date: Wednesday, June 24

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT

  • Where: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI

  • TV Channels: Detroit SportsNet, Amazon Prime Video

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • New York Yankees: 47-31 (first in AL East)

  • Detroit Tigers: 34-45 (fourth in AL Central)

  • Spread: Detroit Tigers -1.5

  • Moneyline: Detroit Tigers -145 (56.6%) / New York Yankees +120 (43.4%)

  • Over/Under: 7.5

New York Yankees: Ryan Weathers (2-5, ERA: 4.13, K: 89, WHIP: 1.13)

Detroit Tigers: Tarik Skubal (3-3, ERA: 3.02, K: 57, WHIP: 1.02)

Series: Game 3 of 3 (series tied)

Weather: 72°F at first pitch