TULSA, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 19: Kendall George #1 of the Tulsa Drillers takes a lead off first base during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here’s a recap of Sunday and Monday in the minor leagues, including Double-A Tulsa opting to play on Memorial Day for the first Monday game of the season among Dodgers affiliates.
Easton Shelton, first baseman for the Class-A Ontario Tower Buzzers, powered his way to winning California League player of the week. Shelton had at least one hit, one RBI, and one run scored in all seven games last week at Inland Empire (they played a doubleheader on Wednesday), and hit .419/.424/.774 with three home runs, two doubles, 12 runs batted in, and 12 runs scored.
— Ontario Tower Buzzers (@towerbuzzers) May 20, 2026
Shelton, who signed out of high school as a non-drafted free agent in 2023, has scored in each of his last 11 games and driven in a run in eight straight contests. The 20-year-old is hitting .267/.337/.547 with a 111 wRC+ this year, and leads Ontario in home runs (10), RBI (38), and runs scored (33).
Player of the day
Ontario second baseman Kellon Lindsey had five hits, including a triple and double for Class-A Ontario. He scored four runs and drove in a pair from the leadoff spot. In seven games since returning from the injured list, the former first-round pick is 15 for 33 (.455/.486/.727).
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Tyler Fitzgerald hit a three-run home run in the first inning, helping the Comets to a Sunday win over the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks). It was the second home run in three days for Fitzgerald, who since getting acquired by the Dodgers has started seven games in left field, two at third base, two at second base, two at designated hitter, and one apiece at shortstop and right field.
Ryan Fitzgerald, playing first base on Sunday, doubled and scored in the win.
Carlos Duran pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers lost on Sunday to the Wichita Wind Surge (Twins), but rebounded with a Memorial Day rout of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals).
Tulsa scored seven runs in both the first and second innings on Monday. Sean McLain, who tripled and homered in Sunday’s loss, hit a grand slam in the first inning on Monday.
George came out of the game after that, replaced in center field by Chris Newell.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons’ Sunday home series finale against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers) was postponed by rain.
No makeup date has yet been announced. The only time these two teams meet again this season is June 9-14, but that’s at Wisconsin.
Class-A Ontario
Chase Harlan homered twice and drove in five runs in the Tower Buzzers’ Sunday rout of the Inland Empire 66ers (Mariners).
Harlan hit a solo shot in the fourth inning and a two-run homer in the eighth inning. He also had a sacrifice fly and RBI single in his three-hit game. The 19-year-old, drafted by the Dodgers in the third round in 2024, is hitting .333/.460/.507 with a 149 wRC+ this season with nearly as many walks (team-leading 31) as strikeouts (33).
Cam Leiter struck out five in his two scoreless innings. He has 27 strikeouts and five walks in his first 17 innings as a pro this year.
Transactions
Double-A: Right-hander Antonio Knowles demoted to Tulsa from Oklahoma City. Catcher/infielder Bryan Garcia was sent back to the Arizona Complex League after two games active for Tulsa, during which time he did not play
High-A: Right-hander Robby Porco promoted from Ontario to Great Lakes.
Class-A: Right-hander Accimias Morales sent back to Ontario after 18 walks, 10 strikeouts, and eight runs allowed in eight innings for Great Lakes.
BRONX, NY - MAY 24: Catcher Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees walks to home plate during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 24, 2026 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A couple of days ago, we asked for your input on which struggling Yankee you all were most concerned about. There were a variety of options, as the team has clearly seen problems arise in both their lineup and their bullpen that have defined their struggles up to this point. With plenty of input in outright votes as well as more in-depth responses via comments, let’s dig into the players that prompted the most worry.
Leading off, the overwhelming majority of you weighed in to elect Austin Wells as our most concerning struggling Yankee, at a whopping 66 percent of the vote. A couple of you also added commentary to your decision, with toddmarlin122 saying “third base and catcher need to be replaced asap,” ConorGallogly adding “I almost put Austin Wells because the organization has so little catching depth,” MDG92 chiming in that they’re “most concerned about Wells, because I don’t see it getting any better, and he was supposed to be a bat-first catcher,” and David6776 putting in “position wise though, I’m more worried about catcher. With the challenge system, Wells’ pitch framing is less valuable, we can’t have so many dead bats.”
That’s a lot of eyes on catcher specifically, and it makes sense that so much attention would be there. Wells indeed developed as a bat-first catcher that was looked at skeptically defensively, but the total inverse came true in the majors: he’s never found his stride consistently at the plate, but he’s handled the pitching staff beautifully and is one of the best framers in the league. The introduction of ABS does take away some of the effectiveness of Wells’ game, but only to a point as challenges can easily be wasted early in a game and batters can hesitate to pull the trigger on challenging borderline calls hoping to save their shot for a key at-bat later in the game. Still, it’s a slight damper on what is clearly Wells’ biggest strength individually that we can monitor, combined with the much easier to see struggles to get anything going offensively.
Wells’ bat has been average throughout his first three seasons, but its taken a complete nosedive in 2026. Despite working a career-best 14.7 walk percentage to this point, Wells is well-under the Mendoza line and slugging less than he’s getting on base, completely negating his defensive value by being a black hole at the bottom of the lineup. The team’s lack of options within the organization have given him little challenge for starting time, as J.C. Escarra has managed to look even worse offensively and commanded no more than the typical backup catcher’s playing time and the team appears unwilling to burden Ben Rice with the tools of ignorance now that he’s emerging as an elite bat. It’s on Wells to pull things together for now, and at best perhaps the Yankees look for an upgrade from Escarra to prompt some competition for their incumbent catcher.
The player that came in second at 13 percent of the vote was Jazz Chisholm Jr., and it’s easy to see why his name was on people’s minds as well. Chisholm was perhaps the team’s worst hitter through the first month and change of the year, completely missing his power swing as the cold of April sapped his ability to get a solid grip on the bat. Chisholm admitted to this being part of his problems, but he also had miscues in the field on top of the offensive struggles that elicited some heat from the fanbase. However, Chisholm has heated up with the weather, hitting for an .850 OPS in May to pull himself up to a slightly-above average 104 wRC+. He’s also gotten a couple of bombs on the board to pair with 13 stolen bases, continuing to apply pressure in that regard (though the team as a whole has struggled to swipe bags of late). Jazz will be one to monitor still, but he’s trending in the right direction and has the track record to inspire belief that he’s turned things around.
Third place in our polling went to the Other option, meaning that they opted not to chose either of our two main candidates nor any of Camilo Doval, Trent Grisham, or Ryan McMahon. Reading through the comments though, it’s clear who that other choice is: none other than the Captain, Aaron Judge. Several commenters felt no clarification was necessary other than to type his name, but others added on with WhittakerWalt asking “did he get old overnight, or is this just his usual slump?” while David6776 led off his thoughts with “for player, I’m most worried about Judge. Wondering if he’s starting to need glasses, and he’s probably our most important players.”
I can’t lie, I was surprised that so many of you were sounding off on Judge’s slump. We have the foresight of having seen his walk-off homer on Sunday and the double he laced in Monday’s game as indications that he’s breaking out of it, but even with those results its undeniable that he’s been on a cold streak: over his last 12 games, Judge owns a .593 OPS with that lone blast as his only long ball and the only two runs he’s batted in. However, given the body of work that he’s put up this season alone, I thought it would be clear that he’s going through just that — a slump. Judge has been one of the focal points of the offense, and when he’s firing on all cylinders he can hide the lineups’ flaws nearly single-handedly. His numbers may not be at the all-time pace he’s been on over the last two seasons, but he was putting those kinds of numbers up before this stretch and I have no doubt that he’ll get back to that territory before long.
If there was one area I would critique Judge’s play thus far, it would be his reluctance to abuse ABS to his advantage — Judge has seldom pulled the trigger on challenging a pitch, despite being the poster child of who the system should benefit after all of the low strike calls he’s taken throughout his career. He did confidently tap the helmet on a 3-2 pitch that was initially called strike three, and started walking towards first base before the replay confirmed that he’d indeed taken ball four, which leads me to believe that his top-notch plate discipline isn’t too out of whack. Instead, his timing is the thing that’s off, leading to him swinging through pitches and getting under more of them. I get the worries to a degree, as everyone knows the offense without Judge performing like he has throughout his MVP campaigns is a flawed one, but we don’t need to rush straight to being convinced that the cliff is here and Judge is going to start his decline.
Overall, I’d agree with the polling that Wells is the player I’m most concerned with, followed closely by McMahon who got a smattering of comments pointing out his performance as well. The two have ran into the occasional pitch that they can demolish, but haven’t done much else otherwise offensively, and having two regulars performing that poorly on top of having some starters still sitting with below-average numbers is a recipe for disaster. The Yankees have mostly avoided an outright tumble in the standings, facing one truly bad stretch of play that saw them lose three straight series to the Rays, Orioles, and Mets on the road. To avoid that in the future, it sure would help if one of those two could start to turn things around.
The Boston Celtics took a chance on Luka Garza after he spent most of his career on the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Boston had a serious lack of depth at the center position with a tight budget and a mostly uninspiring free agent pool to pull from. Garza was still unproven at the NBA level after four years in the league, and likely didn’t generate much buzz, but managed to earn the attention of Brad Stevens.
There was a mutual fit between the two parties – Garza was looking for a chance to have a meaningful role, and Boston was looking for a cheap way to add to their frontcourt. The expectations were low, so anything Luka was able to bring would be a positive.
Garza didn’t have a very special season by any numerical metrics compared to league standards, but he achieved career-highs in literally every major statistical category. He averaged 8.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks, while having 57.7/43.3/65.7 shooting splits – all career highs. All this was done in 16.2 minutes per game, and 69 games played. The numbers probably won’t jump out, but they indicate that Luka was capable of playing a role, and playing it well, so long as he got the opportunity.
It was incredibly important for Garza to be playable for Boston this year. He wasn’t going to be the starter, but the Celtics needed solid minutes that they could rely on behind Neemias Queta, which Luka was able to provide. Even Neemi wasn’t a guaranteed starter, and had to prove himself in that role, which made Garza’s success even more critical, though Neemi did end up proving himself as well.
Luka had several electric moments throughout the season, hitting big threes in close games, battling for rebound after rebound, and even a timely block here and there. His game-winning three over the Orlando Magic in the final game of the season will live on in Celtics lore for a long time. More than anything, he impacted the game through his mindset and energy. In a season where you’re expecting role players to step up, it makes a massive difference.
Boston, MA – April 12: Boston Celtics center Luka Garza celebrates after hitting a late 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. The Celtics and Orlando Magic played at TD Garden on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Though, while the regular season can be considered a relative success for Luka, the playoffs were a different story. It was not entirely his fault – the rotations looked much different with Jayson Tatum and Nikola Vucevic back – but Luka was entirely unremarkable. He played in all seven of the Celtics playoff games against the Philadelphia 76ers, but only 8.4 minutes per game. Joe Mazzulla tightened his lineups and deferred to Vuc as the first big off the bench.
The Celtics frontcourt often found themselves in foul trouble, though, which forced the team to utilize more depth. Between that and garbage time, that’s where Luka saw most of his playing time. It makes it much harder to gauge his reliability. Compound that with the fact that he was primarily matched up with Joel Embiid, one of the most dominant physically imposing big men of the modern era (when healthy), and it was a recipe for disaster. Garza often saw himself played off the court, a stark difference from where he was in the regular season when the stakes were much lower.
Between seven games, Garza played around 60 total minutes. In that time, he averaged 4.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists on 50/30.8/87.5 shooting splits. Ultimately, he lost almost all of the value he showed over the course of the year. Maybe Boston wasn’t expecting to make it to the post-season at the start of the year, but having an extra body who becomes near-unplayable when it matters isn’t ideal.
Vuc was likely expected to take Garza’s spot in the rotation regardless given their histories, but either way, it became pretty clear that Luka can’t be more than a number three in that situation as things stand. That’s not to say he doesn’t still have value – personally I found him to be one of, if not the most fun story of the year. His endless hustle, his heart and dedication, and his pure grit made him incredibly easy to root for. On top of that, I really enjoyed seeing his father hyping him up and supporting the team at every turn.
Dear Boston – thank you.
To the roar inside TD Garden, the incredible staff, the tireless coaches, and the entire Boston Celtics organization, thank you for welcoming us and making us feel at home from day one. A special note to the coaches whose work behind the scenes is truly… pic.twitter.com/Mc7Q7rMBHe
All in all, Luka exceeded expectations. He had a much bigger impact in Boston than Minnesota, but didn’t ultimately prove to make enough of a jump to move up in tier as a player. It was a good move by Boston to bring him in, and he may have earned a spot for next season too. He has one more guaranteed year on his deal – it’s just a matter of how dependent on in him Boston is willing to be. Given the playoff results, I would expect him to move down a slot in the rotation.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 20, 2026: Justin Lamkin #40 of the Kansas City Royals throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”
Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (25-25, 5.5 games back)
The Storm Chasers took 4 of 6 from the St. Paul Saints on the road. Cole Ragans made a rehab start, he threw 4.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 run, walking 1 and striking out 3. However, Ragans experienced the same feeling in his elbow as he did previously. He is going to be shut down before being reevaluated. Other notable pitching performances include Beck Way throwing 3.1 scoreless innings, striking out 5. Eric Cerantola struck out 6 in 3 innings worth of work.
At the plate, Brett Squires continued to mash. He was 7-for-22 at the plate, with a pair of doubles and homers. Josh Rojas was 7-21 with a pair of doubles and homers as well. Squires is a 26-year-old, who plays the corner outfield spots and first base. He has steadily worked his way through the Royals system, with a career .271/.364/.455 line in the minors with stolen 76 bases in his career. For him to get the call to KC, it would require a 40-man roster move and him to find a spot to play, as there is a logjam at first and the corner outfield spots.
— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) May 24, 2026
Omaha is home this week for the Memphis Redbirds, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (22-22, 5.5 games back)
The Naturals split their six-game series with the Amarillo Sod Poodles. At the plate, Spencer Nivens was 7-22 with three homers and a double. Carson Roccaforte was 9-26 with two more homers and a triple. Roccaforte is primed for a promotion really soon.
On the mound, Justin Lamkin’s second start in Double-A was a beauty. 6 innings of 1 hit ball, a solo homer, striking out 8. Lamkin is a fast riser to keep an eye on in the Royals system. Drew Beam also had a quality start, going 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, while striking out 3.
Spencer Nivens gives the Nats the lead in the second with a two-run, opposite field shot. It's his second of the year! #GoNatspic.twitter.com/Z93b0t8OhX
— Northwest Arkansas Naturals (@nwanaturals) May 23, 2026
The Naturals remain on the road, playing the Tulsa Drillers, the Naturals are down 14-7 right now in the top of the 8th as I write this. They gave up a pair of seven run innings to start the game. They don’t play Tuesday, but the rest of the series runs Wednesday through Sunday.
Quad Cities River Bandits (19-23, 6.5 games back)
The River Bandits lost 4 of 6 to the Beloit Sky Carp last week. David Shields threw a quality start, throwing one hit ball over 6 scoreless innings, while walking 1 and striking out 5. It was a good rebound for Shields, who got knocked around in his previous start. Blake Wolters, who recently got promoted from Columbia, had two rough starts. In total, he went 7.1 innings, allowing 11 hits, 13 runs (12 earned), walking 5 and striking out 5. It’ll be interesting to see how the 21-year-old bounces back this week. L.P. Langevin, a 22-year-old out of Quebec, had a good week, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out 4. The right-handed reliever was a 4th round pick in 2024 for the Royals from Louisiana-Lafayette. Langevin’s season ERA is 2.89 over 18.2 innings, with 34 strikeouts.
At the plate, Ramon Ramirez had a good week, hitting .455 over the series, smacking 3 doubles and a homer, while driving in 10 runs. Ramirez is batting .313 on the season, with a .374 OBP and .905 OPS and 40 runs batted in. The catcher is only 20 years old. Luke Pelzer, a 23-year-old outfielder has been having a nice season. The 17th round draft pick in 2025 out of Illinois-Chicago is hitting .305 on the season with 25 RBI’s and 15 stolen bases. This last week, Pelzer was 4-for-18 with a homer, 5 RBI’s and 3 stolen bases.
— Quad Cities River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) May 23, 2026
The River Bandits travel to Cedar Rapids this week. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Columbia Fireflies (20-25, 6 games back)
The Fireflies lost 4 of 6 to the Augusta GreenJackets last week. Catcher Brooks Bryan had a solid week, going 5-12 with 2 runs batted in. He was 3-4 with runners in scoring position. Sean Gamble was 6-22 on the week with a pair of doubles. It was one of the best weeks at the plate this year for Gamble. Josh Hammond was 7-22 on the week with a triple and three runs batted in.
On the mound, Michael Lombardi made 2 starts, totaling 9 innings, 6 hits, 1 run, 2 walks and 9 strikeouts. Kendry Chourio threw 2 scoreless innings, striking out 3 batters. Jordan Woods threw 5 innings of one run ball, striking out 8 batters.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 25: Arizona Diamondbacks INF Ketel Marte (4) drives in a run with his double in the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants on May 25, 2026 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Marte extended his hitting streak to nine games with four knocks at Oracle Park, his third straight game with three-plus hits.
The last Diamondbacks players with three hits in three straight games were Marte last June, Marte in 2019 (twice), Eduardo Escobar in 2019 and Paul Goldschmidt in 2018.
His batting average has jumped from .209 on May 15 to .275, as no one in MLB has a higher average over the past 15 days than his .444.
In other words, a vintage Merrill Kelly performance.
In an era where big velocity is king, Kelly has found success with a low 90s fastball because he’s able to throw a multitude of pitches and command them.
It was that command and feel that were missing early in the season, when he was still essentially going through Spring Training while pitching in regular-season games.
“That was probably, in my opinion, the sharpest it’s been so far,” Kelly said. “Saw some good life on the fastball. The misses that I have when I’m going bad, when things aren’t right, I didn’t see as many of those today. As far as shapes and location, everything was probably the sharpest.”
With June starting next week, the Arizona Diamondbacks are anticipating the impending return of several players from long-term injuries, including reliever A.J. Puk, outfielder Jordan Lawlar and first baseman Pavin Smith.
General manager Mike Hazen suggested on Monday that the order of their respective returns would be Smith, followed by Lawlar and then Puk.
Lawlar and Smith’s 60 days on the injured list are coming to a close, with Smith eligible to return first. Smith went on the IL on March 30 with left elbow inflammation while Lawlar was placed on April 3 with a broken right wrist.
While Corbin Carroll and Tommy Troy grabbed the headlines in Sunday’s win over the Colorado Rockies, Ryne Nelson quietly turned in a career outing of his own — and his consistency over the last few starts has made him one of the anchors of Arizona’s rotation.
Arizona’s rotation had previously hit a wall, with inconsistency and short outings from starters hurting not only results, but also forcing the bullpen into games earlier than ideal. Manager Torey Lovullo held a closed-door meeting with his starters to stress the need for better performances, and so far, that message has translated onto the field — especially in Nelson’s case.
The right-hander delivered his fifth consecutive quality start in his latest outing, working into the eighth inning for the first time in the majors. Nelson allowed just one earned run across eight frames while striking out three, continuing a stretch that has helped stabilize the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff.
It was around the 2022 season that the Diamondbacks, at least in the Mike Hazen and Torey Lovullo era, began to witness a core group of young players rising to the top of the system, graduating, and becoming regular major league contributors.
Young players like Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy — and even pitchers like Ryne Nelson and Tommy Henry — began to make their mark on the big league club. So much so that the Diamondbacks made a surprise march to their second National League pennant and a World Series appearance.
It’s beginning to feel like that again, though perhaps not in identical fashion. The Diamondbacks have stripped away some of their veteran players like Christian Walker, Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez and begun to rely on their youth, once again.
Tatsuya Imai walked the first two batters he faced Monday night, throwing only two of his first 10 pitches for strikes. That prompted a visit from pitching coach Josh Miller, whose message must have struck the right tone with the former Japanese superstar.
Imai responded by getting a double play grounder and then allowed just two of the next 17 batters he faced to reach to finish six scoreless innings and combined with two relief pitchers to throw the first no-hitter in the Major Leagues in nearly two years in the Astros’ 9-0 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
The no-no was the first in the Major Leagues since the Cubs’ Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge against the Pirates on Sept. 4, 2024.
2026 Memorial Day standings check: Surprises, letdowns, more [ESPN] {Ed. Note: Passan continues to beat the MLB line about how payroll isn’t actually a big deal in baseball. In the meantime, two of his colleagues further down the article note how the Dodgers don’t care about the regular season anymore because they know they’re getting to October…}
What stands out most when you look at the standings?
Passan: The number of low-payroll teams at the top and the number of high-payroll teams at the bottom. A look at the 10 best and worst teams by record reveals a very interesting fact: Their payrolls are almost identical. The 10 best teams in MLB this season are spending a combined $1.89 billion on players. The 10 worst teams in MLB this season are spending a combined $1.90 billion on players. Three of the 10 best teams — the Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Guardians — are carrying sub-$100 million payrolls, while just one of the bottom 10 (the Miami Marlins) are. There are five teams at $200 million-plus among the top 10 but only three in the bottom 10. Lower that threshold by just $5 million, though, and the Red Sox and San Francisco Giants join the New York Mets, Houston Astros and Tigers among the underachievers.
On Monday against the Cardinals, 103 mph was more than enough to continue rewriting the record books for power pitching.
The big right-hander hit 103 mph or more an unprecedented eight times in the first inning and hit triple digits 57 times on the day — 10 more than any other pitcher since the pitch tracking era began in 2008. Misiorowski tied his career high with 12 strikeouts to become the first pitcher in MLB to reach 100 strikeouts this season. He didn’t allow a hit until the sixth, when he finally allowed his first run of what has been a dazzling month of May.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was declared criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, but he will not serve a sentence for it, a Dominican judge ruled Monday.
In his decision, Judge José Antonio Núñez considered that Franco had been the victim of extortion and blackmail by the minor’s mother, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually trafficking her daughter.
“It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and, at the same time, exempt him from punishment,” Núñez said. “The court has granted Wander Franco a judicial pardon due to the particular circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one.”
Quintana’s IL placement comes on the heels of a short and disastrous start in Arizona on Sunday. In what turned into a 9-1 loss, Quintana yielded six earned runs over 1 1/3 innings. He will now miss at least two weeks, but elbow injuries often lead to much longer absences. The 37-year-old Quintana has been on the IL seven times during his career, including once this season for a hamstring strain, but an elbow problem had never shelved him until this issue cropped up.
11 Mar 1998: Pitcher Sean Bergman of the Houston Astros in action during a spring training game against the Florida Marlins at the Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida. The Astros won the game, 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman /Allsport | Getty Images
Our 19th entry features pitcher Sean Bergman, who in 1998 would pitch 172 innings for the Astros, while allowing only 42 walks en route to a dozen wins.
Q: How much did you know about the Astros prior to being dealt for outfielder James Mouton?
A: I knew absolutely nothing (laughs) when I came there.
Q: Was that first season with Houston the pinnacle of your career?
A: I would say so. I remember going into the season talking to Larry Dierker and the staff and they walked me through what they had done with Mike Hampton the year before. We talked about taking a little bit off pitch, and simply hit more spots, and not worry about throwing it as hard as possible. That actually worked really well for me.
Q: That 1998 season was a memorable one as McGwire and Sosa captivated the nation. How did you battle those guys?
A: I wasn’t afraid of anybody, but with McGwire you never wanted the ball to go up the middle when he hit it. It was kind of cool being in the middle of that thing. I actually gave up a homerun to each of them.
I remember the one I gave up to Sosa in particular was the only four seam fastball I had thrown the whole game, and he hit it out to right field.
The one I gave up to McGwire was a laser shot. I look back now and realize I was part of history, and it’s kind of cool.
Q: You mentioned Larry Dierker a moment ago. Did you prefer his managerial style?
A: I really appreciated him. He let his pitchers get out of trouble and would let guys figure things out. I have nothing but good memories about Houston. I owe a lot to the Astros for giving me the opportunity to play there.
Q: When Randy Johnson came to the club, how much did it change things for you?
A: I thought when Randy came, our odds of winning it (World Series) became better. When it happened, it was so exciting and we were ready to go!
For me, it meant being kicked to the bullpen, but I got to play with him and I learned so much. He was one of the greatest to have ever played the game. I took away as much as I could from him.
Q: Favorite memory of the Astrodome?
A: I loved taking B.P. in the Astrodome. One time I hit a ball into the upper deck, and I thought that was pretty cool. Another time, I had a battle with Kerry Wood and there were some 55,000 people and it was a tight game, and the place was rocking. That was special.
I’ve written about more than a thousand Cubs games in my years doing this. Never before has this felt more like Groundhog Day. For 23 games, this team overachieved. They caught a lot of breaks and came through in what felt like every big situation. It felt like every single day I was writing that we should soak it all in because the worm would turn, so to speak. Now they’ve lost 13 of 15, including nine straight. Now I’m writing every day that it isn’t as bad as all of this feels.
The big difference? We have so many decades of Cub fandom. We had no trouble accepting that the good times were a mirage. Taking on faith that this shall past? Another question all together. Unless we are talking in general about former Cub first round picks that didn’t pan out, Jordan Wicks isn’t particularly likely to be the answer to any questions. Things look so bleak right now.
There haven’t been a lot of quality starts in this stretch for Cubs starters, but this is the second one now in three games. But neither was enough to stop the skid. The Cub offense has scored 24 runs in the nine losses. Without doing any math, that’s fewer than three runs per game. The worst part of an extended offensive slump, the manager almost universally has to give days off to his struggling offensive players. The thought obviously makes complete sense. Also, any Cub lineup without Nico Hoerner in it is less than. I’d have said that earlier about a game that Ian Happ sat. I understand the frustration. This team will start stacking wins again when those guys and a handful of other regulars start consistently producing again.
The Cubs managed six hits and three walks. They had one runner caught stealing. They sent only 35 men to the plate. Quite simply, not good enough.
Three Positives:
Ben Brown allowed one run over six and struck out seven. That should win the overwhelming majority of time, even on a team much less skilled on offense.
Moisés Ballesteros had two singles and a walk in three trips to the plate.
Michael Busch had a solo homer for the only Cub run.
Game 54, May 25: Pirates 2, Cubs 1 (29-25)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Ben Brown (.225). 6 IP, 24 BF, 4 H, 2 BB, ER, 7 K
Hero: Moisés Ballesteros (.078). 2-2, BB
Sidekick: Michael Busch (.042). 1-4, HR, RBI, R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Trent Thornton (-.154). IP, 5 BF, 2 H, ER (L 2-1)
Goat: Dansby Swanson (-.145). 0-3
Kid: Michael Conforto (-.126). 0-4
WPA Play of the Game: Henry Davis’s solo homer in the seventh with two outs. Broke the tie. (.232)
Cubs Play of the Game: Michael Busch’s solo homer with two outs in the fifth. Tied the game at one. (.140)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 53 Winner: Michael Busch 31-24 over Pedro Ramirez (79 total votes).
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch +18
Nico Hoerner +13
Michael Conforto +9
Shōta Imanaga +7
Trent Thornton/Carson Kelly +5.5
Ryan Rolison -8
Phil Maton -9
Matt Shaw -10
Dansby Swanson -12
Seiya Suzuki -23.5
Current Win Pace: 87 wins
Up Next: Game two of the four-game set Tuesday night. Jordan Wicks makes his 2026 MLB debut. In his career, he has a 5.21 ERA in 95 MLB innings. To be fair to him, that’s a pretty small sample size and he’s only 26. It isn’t entirely unprecedented for a guy to have a success as a late starter. It’s just that the Cubs had high hopes after grabbing him with the 21st pick in the first round in 2021 out of Kansas State.
He’ll face another 26-year-old in Braxton Ashcraft. Ashcraft was the 2nd round pick of the Pirates all of the way back in 2018 (51st overall). He’s 2-3, 2.89 in 62.1 innings over his 10 starts this year. Last time out, he held the Cardinals to one run on four hits in seven innings of work. He struck out nine and walked only two.
The possibility of a 10-game losing streak in the same month as a 10-game winning streak is looming ominously.
Maybe this is the one, though? The one that stops the bleeding? This team desperately needs someone to step up and deliver an over the top performance and lead the way.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 10: Jacob Wilson #5 of the Athletics looks on against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 10, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Memorial Day everyone!
The A’s have been without starting shortstop Jacob Wilson for a couple weeks at this point thanks to the 24-year-old hurting his shoulder on a diving play. Dislocating your shoulder is never fun, especially for a player than literally needs it on every play he makes.
He’s now taking swings with the bat though as he progresses into his regular routine. The right-handed hitter is also getting work in the field as he’s fielding ground balls at his usual position of shortstop.
There remains no exact time table for Wilson’s return but based off everything we know it doesn’t seem to be much longer until we see him back with the big league club. His extended absence almost all but guarantees that he’ll need some sort of rehab assignment to get back into the swing of things, but it’s looking like once he gets back into baseball activities he won’t take long to return to the big league squad and reclaim his spot as the team’s #1 option at shortstop.
#Athletics relief pitcher Scott Barlow joined Chris Townsend on A's Cast Live & spoke about how windy games change the way pitchers attack hitters based on the conditions. #MLB#Baseballpic.twitter.com/jkkoBsS3bX
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks watches the game between the UConn Huskies and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during an Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Dickies Arena on March 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks have some question marks surrounding Kyrie Irving’s future with the team that should be answered this offseason.
The Mavs want to keep Irving around as a veteran mentor, but given the change surrounding the organization, Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz should be listening to possible trade offers for him. ESPN analyst Zach Kram suggests a trade that would send Irving to the Detroit Pistons for Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, Ron Holland and the No. 21 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
“The cost in this deal wouldn’t be too exorbitant, as Stewart, LeVert and Holland were all bench players for Detroit who didn’t contribute much in the postseason. Holland, in particular, is an intriguing trade option: As a recent No. 5 draft pick, he could be attractive for other teams but probably doesn’t fit long term next to Ausar Thompson because of both players’ offensive limitations,” Kram wrote.
The Mavericks would likely look for a new home for LeVert, as he is on an expiring contract. Stewart could also be traded for more assets. The main assets in the deal are Holland and the first-round pick in this year’s draft. Holland was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, and he has a lot of potential. The Duncanville native would be returning home, and he could establish himself as the frontcourt partner for Cooper Flagg for the foreseeable future.
MM community, do you like this potential trade? Let us know in the comments section below.
Turning to Cubs first baseman Michael Busch, he’s gone 3-for-8 with a pair of homers the past two games, and his .246 batting average against righties this season is way below his .272 mark in 2025.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNP, MARQ
Mariners vs. Athletics SGP: Bats power A's to upset win
The Athletics have beat up on righties to the tune of a second-ranked OPS and third-ranked wOBA, and Seattle Mariners righty Emerson Hancock has surrendered a healthy 44.2% hard-hit rate while sporting an unsustainable 83.3% strand rate.
Hancock has also been more vulnerable away from pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park and allowed a .355 wOBA with a 5.12 ERA across 96 2/3 career innings, so I like Athletics left-handed hitters Nick Kurtz and Carlos Cortes to have solid nights at the dish. They respectively sport elite .446 and .411 wOBAs against right-handed arms this season, after all.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCS-California, SEAM
Rockies vs. Dodgers SGP: Boys in Blue keep rolling
The Colorado Rockies strikeout at the highest rate against lefties, and Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Eric Lauer is a candidate for improvement. He spun a solid 3.18 ERA and 3.86 xERA across 104 2/3 innings last year, so I’m expecting regression to his respective 6.69 and 5.83 current marks.
Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez has been a force against lefties with a .391 wOBA and .284 ISO since the beginning of 2024, and he’s also rolling along a 12-game heater consisting of 11 runs, 17 hits, and 14 RBI with a 1.099 OPS.
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.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: The New York Knicks celebrate with the Bob Cousy Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time since 1999, the New York Knicks are heading to the NBA Finals. The Knickerbockers completed the sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night with a 130-93 victory. After Game 1, when New York made an incredible fourth quarter comeback to then win in overtime, the rest of the series was all Knicks, with 16-, 13-, and 37-point wins. The Cavaliers flat out gave up on playing defense towards the end of Game 3 and Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson seems to be living in an alternate universe where what analytics spit out matters more than the scoreboard.
All of which begs the question, do you feel any better about the Sixers’ own sweep at the hands of the Knicks? Philadelphia had their own share of embarrassing defeats, with 39- and 30-point losses. We as fans made our share of excuses (Joel Embiid missing a game, Tyrese Maxey’s finger injury, the team being wiped out from the seven-game series win over Boston), but the fact remains it wasn’t a particularly close series result. But now, seeing Cleveland suffer a similar fate, are you less bothered by how the Sixers bowed out? Are the stars just aligning for New York to have a magical run? Is it just their year and no amount of Nick Nurse adjustments was going to make a difference?
Whether you’ve made slighter better peace with things after seeing the Knicks shellack Cleveland, or if your feelings haven’t changed one iota, let us know your thoughts and vote below in the comments.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 15: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A little over a week removed from the end of the Timberwolves season, the first thing everyone should do is take a breath.
Not an “everything is fine” breath. Not one of those fake calm-down breaths right after your team gets sent home by a 7-foot-6 alien who looks like he was designed in a lab. A real breath. The kind you take when the adrenaline wears off, the message-board rage cools down, and you can finally look at the situation without immediately wanting to fire everyone, trade everyone, and build the next roster out of Anthony Edwards and duct tape.
Because in the immediate aftermath of Minnesota’s loss to San Antonio, the reaction was always going to be emotional. How could it not be?
The Wolves didn’t just lose. They ran into a test they couldn’t solve. After a strong Game 1, the Spurs punched back hard in Game 2. In Game 3, Minnesota spent over half the first quarter looking like someone had unplugged the offense. Game 4 was a win, yes, but it came with the giant asterisk of Victor Wembanyama getting ejected and Minnesota still needing Anthony Edwards to go full fourth-quarter assassin to survive. Then Games 5 and 6 arrived, and the Wolves looked too often like a team without answers, without enough shot creation, and without enough healthy bodies to keep pace with a young Spurs team that suddenly looked less like “the future” and more like “the present just kicked your door in.”
That was a rough way to go out.
It is made worse by the larger Western Conference picture, which now looks terrifying. Oklahoma City and San Antonio are not cute upstarts anymore. They are monsters. The Thunder have the reigning back-to-back MVP, a title, and a draft-pick war chest so large it feels like Sam Presti is playing franchise mode with cheat codes. The Spurs have Wembanyama, who looks poised to become the league’s most dominant force for years, plus a young core created by the kind of lottery luck that makes every Wolves fan stare into distance and ponder our choices in life.
The pessimistic case is easy to make. Maybe the Wolves peaked. Maybe this is what they are: good enough to win playoff series, not good enough to get past the new giants. Maybe Anthony Edwards spends the next few years dragging strong-but-flawed rosters deep into the spring before eventually looking around and deciding the grass might be greener somewhere else. That is the nightmare. That is the thing Wolves fans do not want to say out loud but absolutely think about.
Thankfully, the optimistic case is just as real.
The Wolves still have Edwards, and he is not even in his prime. They still beat Nikola Jokic and Denver while several key players were compromised or injured. They pushed San Antonio to six despite Ant playing on two bad knees, Donte DiVincenzo out with an Achilles tear, Ayo Dosunmu hobbled, Naz Reid nursing a shoulder, and the point guard position essentially vacant. When healthy, this team has shown it can hang with Oklahoma City and San Antonio. It has won five playoff series over the past three seasons. This is not some accidental 49-win mirage.
All is not lost, but standing pat would be malpractice. With that in mind, here are three key questions the Wolves will need to answer as we head into the off-season.
What to do with the point guard position?
The Wolves have holes. Real ones. The biggest is point guard. Mike Conley is aging into a different role, perhaps becoming the veteran-minimum, Joe Ingles-style adult in the room. DiVincenzo was asked to fill ball-handling duties, but that pulled him away from his strengths. Edwards can initiate, but his efficiency suffers when too much of the offense rests on him as the primary organizer. Dosunmu showed flashes, but whether he can be the full-time answer is a different question. The Wolves need a true organizer, someone who can run an offense, create advantages, punish defenses for loading up on Edwards, and keep Minnesota from devolving into stagnant possessions when playoff pressure spikes.
That brings us to Kyrie Irving… which is admittedly the kind of sentence that makes half the fan base immediately move to the next browser tab.
I have not been the world’s biggest Kyrie guy. The baggage is real. The injury history is real. He is not a long-term solution. But if Dallas is truly shifting into a new era around Cooper Flagg, an aging, expensive guard coming off an ACL injury may not be central to the Mavericks’ next phase. For Minnesota, though, Kyrie could be the kind of distressed asset swing that actually makes sense.
He remains a brilliant scorer. He can handle. He can close. He would take real offensive pressure off Edwards. In a series like San Antonio, where the Wolves kept running into dead ends, Kyrie’s shot creation and late-clock brilliance would have mattered. He’s not a perfect answer, but perfect answers usually cost five first-round picks and half your roster. If Irving can be acquired at a reasonable outgoing cost while keeping the core intact, it is absolutely worth exploring. Desperate times don’t always call for desperate measures, but they do call for creative ones.
Are the Wolves actually in on Giannis?
Then there is the Giannis dream.
And let’s be honest, it is a dream. A seductive, dangerous, probably-shouldn’t-stare-directly-at-it dream. Edwards and Giannis would instantly become one of the best duos in the league, maybe the best. The idea of Ant attacking downhill next to Giannis is the kind of basketball fantasy that makes you briefly forget the second apron exists.
But the risks are enormous. Giannis is older. He has an injury history. The trade cost could be franchise-altering. If Milwaukee’s required haul includes the Wolves giving up some combination of Jaden, Rudy, Naz, and Julius, suddenly Minnesota is sacrificing the very depth and defensive infrastructure that has made it dangerous. And if Giannis gets hurt at the wrong time? Congratulations, you may have just recreated Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard problem in Minnesota, only now Anthony Edwards is the superstar left staring at a hollowed-out roster.
If the stars align and Giannis somehow maneuvers his way to Minnesota at a below-market cost, you obviously take the call. But mortgaging everything for an aging, injury-prone superstar is how you end up holding an empty bag while your franchise player starts checking Zillow in other markets.
What do the Wolves do with Julius Randle?
Which brings everything back to Julius Randle.
Randle is the great offseason hinge. When he is right, he changes the Wolves. He gives them a second self-creator, a physical bully, a pressure release for Edwards, and a passer who can make the offense hum when he draws defenders and kicks to shooters. At his best, he makes Minnesota look like a championship-caliber team.
But reliability is the issue. The best ability is availabilty, and Randle deserves credit for giving the Wolves that all season. But the next best ability is reliability. Against Oklahoma City last year, he faded. Against San Antonio, he was invisible when Minnesota needed him most. That cannot happen from the centerpiece of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade and the player who is supposed to be your No. 2 offensive engine.
So yes, if a major move happens, Randle is probably involved. His contract, talent, and name value make him the clearest pathway to changing the roster. But trading him just to trade him would be reckless. He is still immensely talented. He can still generate offense. He still gives Minnesota size and physicality. Unless the Wolves are getting a clear upgrade or a cleaner roster fit, jettisoning him for the sake of emotional closure would be a mistake.
Taking a Breath…
There is also a case for continuity, even if nobody wants to hear that after a playoff loss. This roster has been in constant motion: Gobert arrives, Towns leaves, Conley ages out of a starting-caliber role, DiVincenzo gets integrated, Dosunmu arrives, injuries scramble everything. Sometimes teams need time. Boston needed years before breaking through. Denver endured playoff scars before its title. Dirk’s Mavericks spent a decade collecting postseason frustrations before everything finally clicked in 2011.
The answer is not always to flip the table.
Sometimes the answer is to make the right margin moves, stay patient with a talented core, and wait for the moment when health, matchups, maturity, and execution finally converge.
That is the line Tim Connelly has to walk now. No panic. No complacency. No fantasy trade that guts the roster unless the reward is truly worth it. No stubborn “run it back” denial either. The Wolves need a point guard answer. They need more reliable creation. They need to prepare for life without DiVincenzo next season. They need to decide whether Randle is part of the solution or the path to one.
But they do not need to act like the window is closed.
It isn’t.
Not with Edwards still ascending. Not with a roster that, when healthy, can compete with anyone. Not after three straight meaningful playoff runs. Not after proving again that Denver, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio are not invincible basketball gods.
The Wolves have work to do. Serious work.
But panic is not a plan.
Minnesota enters an offseason not hoping to become relevant, but trying to solve the last few riddles between very good and championship-good.
That is a hard place to be.
It is also the best problem this franchise has ever had.
It has been 27 long, agonizing, painful years for New York Knicks fans since they were last in the NBA Finals. So many years of promise before watching them slip away, so many years of seeing Spike Lee age courtside before our eyes. The years of Starbury, Melo, and the hopes of landing LeBron — none of it led to victory.
Now the Knicks are back. So much has changed since they faced the San Antonio Spurs in June of 1999 — heck, this was their starting five in those finals.
Charlie Ward Allan Houston Larry Johnson Kurt Thomas Patrick Ewing
It’s a good time to go through the wayback machine to remember what the world was like when the Knicks last had a chance to win it all.
Four new countries have been recognized by the U.N. since the Knicks were in the finals: Serbia (2000), Timor Leste (2002), Montenegro (2006), and South Sudan (2011)
Regular gasoline cost an average of $1.17 a gallon in the USA
The Super Bowl played in January featured the Denver Broncos beating the Atlanta Falcons. John Elway was named MVP. The halftime show was Gloria Estefan and Stevie Wonder
The No. 1 movie in America was Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, which was Mike Myers’ first movie since Wayne’s World 2
The top album in the United States was Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin, and it still slaps
E.R. was the most popular TV show in the country. It ran for another 10 years after the Knicks were in the finals. Noah Wyle took a 16 year break and released another hit medical drama in The Pitt during the Knicks’ time off
The world was still gripped by the Friends season five finale, in which Ross and Rachel got drunkenly married in Las Vegas
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on March 31, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Pierre LeBrun had a note about Evgeni Malkin and the negotiation with the Penguins for a new contract.
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The Penguins have been engaged in contract talks with Malkin’s agent, J.P. Barry. Malkin turns 40 on July 31, so it’s no surprise both sides are focused on a one-year deal. But it’s finding the sweet spot on the compensation that has remained elusive so far. Malkin’s AAV was $6.1 million this year, although with his front-loaded contract, his actual compensation was $4.8 million. I would imagine the Penguins would be starting talks closer to that $4.8 million and the agent would be starting closer to the AAV.
Because of Malkin’s age, the one-year deal could include bonuses, which would help massage the AAV.
This will eventually get done. Malkin isn’t going anywhere. But it’s not done yet.
The real dollars of salary becoming a point of contention is an interesting twist in proceedings. The Penguins have plenty of cap space and in fact have to spend a lot of money this summer just to reach the salary cap floor, so in that position it seems a bit silly to be haggling over relative chump change on setting the contract level for a player who still scored over a point per game and produced 61 points last season. By any metric, no matter what salary that Malkin will accept it is probably going to be less than his pure value and already present the Pens with a pretty good deal value-wise. That’s even before considering the gate appeal, general interest and revenue that having Malkin back will do for the team on the other end of the equation.
Then again, this type of harder line negotiating is often what seems to happen with Kyle Dubas. He tends to set a price he’s willing to pay and stick with it. That was seen last summer when the Pens didn’t qualify either Connor Dewar or Philip Tomasino and allowed both to hit unrestricted free agency. Both were brought back on team-friendly salaries and one year deals for the start of 2025-26. Interestingly, there was seemingly no drama to wrap Dewar up for a two-year extension this time around – a part of the process no doubt aided by offering Dewar the same salary that his linemate Blake Lizotte received ($2.25m) on his recent contract extension.
As mentioned, bonuses could be the answer to bridge the gap. Malkin, as a 35+ player, is eligible for performance bonuses in a one-year contract. The Penguins used bonuses last season for Anthony Mantha for every 10 games played. That could be set for Malkin on goals, assists, points or playoffs, though details would have to be ironed out with his agent.
LeBrun’s tone is confident the deal with Malkin and the Pens will get done, the most important part of it all might be the part about both sides are in communication. That’s a positive sign that with open lines that the team and player can figure out the details for what ends up being agreeable to keep the star forward around in 2026-27.
Following Monday’s 130-93 Knicks win in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, completing the sweep of the Cavaliers, Ball took to social media to post some thoughts about the game.
And it was just as you’d expect.
“Just finished watching the Knicks and Cleveland game. Man, nothing more satisfying,” he said in the beginning. “Man, they got my son Lonzo for this exact moment. Y’all didn’t get him for the season, you got him for this right here and look how you all get BLOWN out.”
Lavar Ball took to social media on Monday night to blast the Cavaliers for trading his son Lonzo Ball during the regular season after Cleveland was swept by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.Getty Images Lavar Ball took to social media on Monday night to blast the Cavaliers for trading his son Lonzo Ball during the regular season after Cleveland was swept by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.Getty Images
Lavar is referring to his eldest son Lonzo, who was with the Cavs since the start of the season before being traded to the Utah Jazz for draft considerations in February.
Lavar then dug deeper on what the real issues were plaguing the Cavs and how Lonzo would’ve solved their issues.
“Cuz you don’t have no easy transitional buckets. That’s what Lonzo do. Fast break points and defense. And what did y’all lose on? Fast break and defense and no intensity and no good leadership. Because that’s what Lonzo does.”
Lonzo played in 35 games (3 starts) with Cleveland and averaged 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 20.8 minutes per game.
Lavar finally completed his rant with a message about the future.
“But, y’all gotta learn the hard way. Big Baller knows everything. Alright Charlotte, go get them boys.”
Lavar Ball on the Cavaliers getting swept by the Knicks:
“They (The Cavs) got my son Lonzo for this exact moment. Yall didn’t get him for the season, you got him for this right here & look how you get blown out… Charlotte go get them boys” pic.twitter.com/AgKEQA9V6F
Charlotte, one of the East’s up-and-coming teams, features Lavar other son LaMelo and a talented group of youngsters around him. LaMelo averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 36.8% from three in 72 games.
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