The transfer window has broken all rational rules and limits, leaving us to marvel and, ultimately, pick up the bill
There was a research study a few years back into a key period in the life of the TV show Location, Location, Location. You know the one. Half an hour of mid-morning drift. Hosted by two people whose common quality is they both look as if the minced essence of Wellington boots, the Volvo XC40 and the phrase “picky bits” has been reconstituted into human shapes, then sent out to judge people for buying houses.
The big reveal was always the bit where they came back a year later and saw how much the value had shifted. Because all conversations about houses are, in the end, an excuse to talk about money. Oh wow, it’s gone up by £20,000. You are good. Oh no, you’re now bankrupt and your flat looks like a hostage cell with fairy lights. Unlucky. You are bad.
The transfer window has broken all rational rules and limits, leaving us to marvel and, ultimately, pick up the bill
There was a research study a few years back into a key period in the life of the TV show Location, Location, Location. You know the one. Half an hour of mid-morning drift. Hosted by two people whose common quality is they both look as if the minced essence of Wellington boots, the Volvo XC40 and the phrase “picky bits” has been reconstituted into human shapes, then sent out to judge people for buying houses.
The big reveal was always the bit where they came back a year later and saw how much the value had shifted. Because all conversations about houses are, in the end, an excuse to talk about money. Oh wow, it’s gone up by £20,000. You are good. Oh no, you’re now bankrupt and your flat looks like a hostage cell with fairy lights. Unlucky. You are bad.
The Blue Jays (68-71) and the Guardians (70-68) continue their crucial three-game series in Cleveland tonight. The Guardians strengthened their hold on the final Wild Card with a 6-1 win last night over the Jays in the series opener. With the win, Cleveland extended their lead over the Blue Jays to 1.5 games in the race for the final Wild Card spot.
Toronto arrived in Cleveland after taking three of four from Seattle over the weekend but saw that momentum snuffed out by Gavin Williams. The Guardians’ ace was elite striking out 13 and allowing just one unearned run over seven innings. Patrick Bailey, Angel Genao, and Angel Martinez each ripped two-run homers to provide the offense for Cleveland. With the win, the Guardians are now 11-4 since August 12.
Toronto sends its ace, Dylan Cease (9-5, 2.33 ERA) to the mound tonight. Among the Cy Young favorites in the American League, Cease has been lights out for the last two months. In just two of his last 11 starts Cease has allowed three earned runs and in five of those 11 he has not allowed a run (earned or otherwise). Cease has thrown 67 innings since July 1 and allowed just 11 earned runs while striking out 89. Cleveland counters with left-hander Joey Cantillo (9-7, 3.70 ERA). His latest outing came August 26 against the Angels, when he worked six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits in a Cleveland victory. Cantillo has been particularly effective lately, posting a 2.16 ERA across his last three starts. During that stretch he has allowed just four earned runs in 16⅔ innings.
Cleveland has won three of five games against Toronto this year and can clinch the season series with a win tonight.
Lets dive further into tonight’s game and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Blue Jays vs. Guardians
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The Latest Odds: Blue Jays vs. Guardians
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Toronto Blue Jays (-131), Cleveland Guardians (+109)
Spread: Blue Jays -1.5 (+135), Guardians +1.5 (-163)
Blue Jays: Dylan Cease Season Totals: 150.1 IP, 9-5, 2.33 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 217K, 65 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Blue Jays vs. Guardians
Dylan Cease has struck out 8+ hitters in 4 of his last 5 starts
Patrick Bailey is 4-7 in his career against Dylan Cease
Jose Ramirez is just 6-30 against Cease
Nathaniel Lowe has homered twice in 13ABs against Cease
Kazuma Okamoto is 2-3 including 1 HR in his career against Joey Cantillo
Joey Cantillo has struck out 5+ hitters in 6 of his last 8 starts
Steven Kwan has hit safely in 9 of his last 11GP (17-46)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Blue Jays vs. Guardians
The Jays are 67-72 on the Run Line this season
The Guardians are 71-67 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 68 times in Toronto’s 139 games this season (68-66-5)
The OVER has cashed 65 times in Cleveland’s 138 games this season (65-73)
Expert picks & predictions: Blue Jays vs. Guardians - September 2
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Guardians and the Blue Jays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Blue Jays on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 7.0
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Juraj Slafkovsky said something that stopped a lot of people, of many different fan bases, in their tracks.
“It’s not really about the money for anyone in Montreal,” Slafkovsky said. “We’d rather just focus on collecting those rings.”
The Montreal Canadiens have spent the last few years building their contracts around that mentality. Nick Suzuki is signed for $7.875 million per season. Cole Caufield makes $7.85 million. Slafkovsky is at $7.6 million. Lane Hutson signed for $8.85 million, Noah Dobson is at $9.5 million, and Ivan Demidov signed an eight-year extension worth $9.15 million per season.
Montreal's highest-paid player, Dobson, didn't even sign his contract with the team; he was traded to them from the New York Islanders.
Montreal has its core under contract for years, until the first extension expires in 2030. Every one of those players could be part of the Canadiens through the rest of the decade if they continue to re-sign at this rate.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers have spent a lot of time trying to build around large contracts at the top of the roster. Leon Draisaitl carries a $ 14 million cap hit. McDavid is at $12.5 million. Evan Bouchard's new contract pays him $10.5 million per season. Those three contracts account for $37 million before Stan Bowman gets to the rest of the lineup.
The players have earned their money. Draisaitl has won multiple Hart Trophies, Art Ross Trophies, and Ted Lindsay Awards while producing at a level few players in the league can reach. McDavid is arguably underpaid for what he does. Bouchard put himself in a position for a major contract through his production from the blue line.
Edmonton has generally paid it's star players what they deserve.
Montreal has created an internal salary structure that its players appear willing to follow. Suzuki signed his eight-year deal in 2021. Caufield followed in 2023. Slafkovsky signed his extension in 2024, Hutson followed, and Demidov joined the group this summer.
Demidov had 62 points as a rookie and signed as soon as he became eligible. Hutson signed after winning the Calder Trophy. Slafkovsky agreed to his contract at 20, with plenty of years still ahead of him. None of them waited until the last possible moment to find out what unrestricted leverage or another season of production could bring.
They wanted the contracts done. They wanted to stay in Montreal. They wanted the organization to have money available to keep building the roster.
An extra million dollars on six contracts is $6 million that can't be spent somewhere else. A few players taking reasonable long-term numbers can create enough room for another forward, defenceman, or goaltender. It can give Kent Hughes money at the trade deadline without offloading someone else first. It can also keep a roster together when younger players begin needing new contracts.
Obviously, the Oilers have some discount contracts. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins signed for eight years at $5.125 million in 2021. Zach Hyman signed for $5.5 million and gave Edmonton one of the best contracts in NHL history. McDavid's current $12.5 million deal was a show-me deal to the Oilers, but a cheap one at that.
There has never been a salary structure throughout the entire roster that everyone seemed determined to maintain. Edmonton negotiated each contract on its own terms and dealt with the cap situation that followed.
That approach is common throughout the NHL. Players spend their careers working toward unrestricted free agency and the opportunity to secure their largest contract. Agents have a responsibility to maximize earnings. Careers can end quickly, and teams regularly trade, waive or buy out players when their contracts stop working for the organization.
Slafkovsky's comments provide some insight into how the players in Montreal see it. He is talking about winning a Stanley Cup. The players appear to view their contracts as part of keeping the group together long enough to do that.
Edmonton has spent years searching for value around McDavid and Draisaitl because every dollar matters once the top of the roster has been paid. Stan Bowman looks for players willing to sign short contracts, veterans whose markets disappeared and young players capable of producing on inexpensive deals. One bad contract can remove much of the remaining flexibility.
The same issue exists throughout the league. Toronto infamously paid the core-4 and then had nothing left. Colorado just signed Cale Makar to a $20.4 million contract. Florida might run out of cap space this year. Tampa Bay has had to let players go after winning their recent Stanley Cups.
Every contender eventually has players who need to get paid.
Montreal's current players seem determined to keep that problem under control before it arrives. Their comments underline that the message has become part of the culture, and every new extension gives the next player another reason to take less so he can win more.
The Oilers should want that.
McDavid and Draisaitl say they want to win a Stanley Cup. The team has made decisions around giving them that opportunity, and both players have already committed significant portions of their careers to Edmonton. Creating an internal expectation around contracts could become another part of keeping a winning roster together.
Why can't more NHL teams convince their stars that leaving money available can help them win? Why can't players decide that keeping another teammate around has value of its own? Why can't a room establish a number and have its core buy into it?
Montreal has managed to get several players thinking that way at the same time. The Canadiens now have years to see what they can build with the room those contracts provide.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and NBA have each reached out to scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics, seeking information about the company’s dealings with Kawhi Leonard.
Howard Atkins, acting chief financial officer of Daktronics, disclosed the development Wednesday, Sept. 2 in an earnings call and said the company was cooperating.
“Let me now briefly address a matter that has been in the media concerning the NBA’s investigation of Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers in connection with the league’s collective bargaining agreement that many of you may have heard about,” Atkins said during the call.
“As you might expect, we have received requests for information from the NBA. Additionally, the Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking information from us concerning the company and Mr. Leonard. We take these requests seriously and are cooperating. At this point, out of respect for the respective processes, we will not be providing further comment.”
It is unclear if this latest development may further delay the disclosure of the findings of the league’s investigation. Training camps are set to begin at the end of the month.
Kawhi Leonard investigation: What to know
In early August, the podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” reported on Daktronics’ alleged partnership with Leonard, which was the second such relationship to come under scrutiny. Previously, Leonard’s ties to a now-defunct green financial services company called Aspiration sparked an investigation into alleged no-show endorsement deals that purportedly funneled money to Leonard.
Daktronics, which is based in South Dakota, is the company that designed the video board inside the Intuit Dome, the home venue of the Clippers.
Torre had previously uncovered thousands of pages of legal documents, including a contract signed by Leonard for $28 million over a four-year term to market and endorse Aspiration, which previously received a significant investment from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
In the contract, a clause states that KL2 Aspire LLC, a company managed by Leonard, could “decline to proceed with any action desired by the Company,” which allegedly set up a framework for Leonard to receive payments without performing any work. Another clause states that Leonard would receive payments only if he continued to be a player on the Clippers.
Then, on Sept. 11, Torre reported that a December 2022 payment of $1.75 million to Leonard that had been running late, was made just nine days after a company led by Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong invested in Aspiration.
Clippers trade remains on hold
The Clippers and Raptors agreed June 30 to a trade that would send Leonard to Toronto, but both franchises released statements July 9, indicating that the execution of the trade was being delayed until the investigation had concluded.
Both teams also acknowledged that the NBA contacted each party and said the trade “can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation.”
The Clippers have undergone a youth movement as the team continues its rebuild. In February, the team traded James Harden to the Cavaliers and, in a different deal, Ivica Zubac to the Pacers. The Leonard deal earlier this summer signaled a desire to build for the future. Los Angeles finished ninth in the Western Conference with a 42-40 record and lost in the Play-In Tournament to miss the postseason.
In exchange for Leonard, the Clippers are set to receive Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-round picks.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 27: Trevor Rogers #28 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning at Busch Stadium on August 27, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One reason why the Orioles are where they are right now is they just can’t keep up a consistent high level of play. This is playing out in miniature over the first two games against the Rockies. Monday’s game brought the highest of highs with Colton Cowser’s amazing game-ending home run robbery to give the Orioles a fourth straight victory. Last night brought frustration and disappointment as the Orioles lost a game against a starting pitcher they had no business losing a game against.
Now, the Orioles need a win in the series finale so that we can all feel a little better. Losing two out of three to the Rockies, one of MLB’s worst teams, would not be a very auspicious beginning to the September stretch run that the Orioles are going to have to make. You can’t go around scoring two runs per game in Coors Field, against the Rockies pitching staff and get anywhere good. They lost a game to the Guardians with last night’s loss, so now they’re 1.5 games back – tied with the Rangers – in the wild card race.
It’s maddening with these guys. They should be better than this, even with all of the challenges they’ve faced this season. They just aren’t. Maybe they can be better over the final 23 games. They probably need to go 14-9 from this point on. Or, you know. Maybe they can’t be at least as good as that.
We are running a poll this week that is asking Orioles fans which area of the team they are most worried about when it comes to postseason contention. Have you voted yet? I’ll make it easy for you and embed it right here:
The performance of the hitters over the first two games of this series may tilt the poll a particular way. We’ll see! Results will be shared on Friday or Saturday.
Orioles lineup
Jackson Holliday – DH
Pete Alonso – 1B
Gunnar Henderson – SS
Luis Robert Jr. – LF
Samuel Basallo – C
Coby Mayo – 3B
Dylan Beavers – RF
Blaze Alexander – 2B
Colton Cowser – CF
Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Orioles. As you all probably remember, he’s been pretty good since June 1, though he was also not good in his last start, giving up six runs in five innings. It did not help the season ERA. He’s going to need to have a good September in order to get that number down to 3.something before the end of the season.
I hope Luis Robert Jr. makes a nice first impression on Orioles fans in his first start. I actually don’t have any hopes but it would be nice if he did it anyway.
Rockies lineup
Jake McCarthy – LF
Connor Norby – 3B
Hunter Goodman – C
TJ Rumfield – 1B
Cole Carrigg – CF
Jordan Beck – RF
Adael Amador – DH
Ryan Ritter – 2B
Ezequiel Tover – SS
Familiar face Tomoyuki Sugano is starting for the Rockies. He has an ERA over five. These guys better score more than two runs. Preferably more than four.
Yaxel Lendeborg names a future Hall of Famer as someone he looks forward to matching up against.
Yaxel Lendeborg has yet to play a minute in the NBA but already has his eyes on a player he wants to “lock up.”
The X account @EnjoyBBall posted a video that featured Lendeborg.
The Warriors rookie forward paused to think about who he’d want to face, and he revealed it to be the team’s former two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg sitting courtside during a WNBA game. NBAE via Getty Images
“I want to lock up everybody I guard up, obviously,” Lendeborg said. “… Probably KD, man; I want to try to lock him up, see what I can do.”
Lendeborg said that given his 6-foot, 9-inch frame and weighing 230 pounds, he believes Durant would give him a good matchup just because of their size similarities. Durant is 6-11 and weighs 240.
Before entering the NBA draft, Lendeborg built a reputation as a strong, versatile defender in college. He finished last season averaging 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game for Michigan.
Lendeborg’s college basketball career began as a junior college product at Arizona Western College, and he attended UAB for two seasons and later transferred to Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to an NCAA championship against UConn.
During Michigan’s Sweet 16 matchup against Alabama, he put on a clinic with 12 rebounds, two steals, seven assists and 23 points in 34 minutes.
Kevin Durant and Steph Curry as members of the Golden State Warriors. AP
The Warriors are scheduled to report for training camp on Sept. 29 and hope Lendeborg is a spark plug for their veteran-led team, centered around future Hall of Famer Steph Curry.
Aside from lining up across from Durant, Lendeborg also named Irving, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo as other NBA players he hopes to guard one day.
“All because they’re similar to my height, besides Kyrie and, you know, very fluid. So very excited about those,” Lendeborg said.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 01: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers swings at a pitch during the third inning against the Athletics at Globe Life Field on September 01, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Athletics of some location out west @ Texas Rangers
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 31: Nico Hoerner #2 of the Chicago Cubs tags out Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers at second base at Wrigley Field on August 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the Trade Deadline behind us, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.
First Place: Milwaukee Brewers (85-53)
Top Position Player: Brice Turang (4.2 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Jacob Misiorowski (5.7 fWAR)
After the trade deadline, I made my perspective known in these pages about the Brewers’ strategy — namely that winning on the margins without a cast of superstars is all well and good in the regular season, but tends to turn into a liability in October. Well, Milwaukee has unsurprisingly continued to win since then, including against their biggest NL rival. They took three out of four in Los Angeles against the Dodgers to secure the tiebreak and make the top seed in the NL just that little bit easier. If they stay the course in September, that first round bye is all theirs.
There are superstars on this roster, to be clear. Jacob Misiorowski leads MLB in ERA, FIP, WHIP, and strikeouts. He’ll obviously be a nightmare for opposing lineups to face. Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan have been capable complementary rotation arms, and their bullpen remains rock-solid.
On the hitting side, Jackson Chourio is finding his stride at the right time — he posted a .914 OPS in August. If he can continue to produce at that echelon, suddenly my argument against the Brewers gets ricketier. That said, one wonders whether Brice Turang, Jake Bauers, and Garrett Mitchell will be able to replicate the regular seasons they’ve had once they face the best of the best on the mound.
Top Position Player: Pete Crow-Armstrong (9.3 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Ben Brown (2.0 fWAR)
It felt like every game involving the Cubs this month had some fireworks. Sometimes, they were running up the score against the Mariners; other times they were blowing late leads to the Diamondbacks. In the last week of August alone, they lost 10-8 to the Reds, won the very next contest 17-5, and put up 17 runs against the Brewers in the final game of the month. The people having the most fun with this team are the impartial fans. Like me! I’ve been watching these guys a lot.
I don’t think the Shohei Ohtani industrial complex, powerful as it is, will be able to deny Pete Crow-Armstrong from claiming the NL MVP this year. He has made a habit of either beginning or ending games with home runs — sometimes, he’ll even do both, like in a crosstown bout with the White Sox. He’s the commander of the league’s best offense, which boasts a 117 wRC+, well above the Dodgers’ second place mark of 109.
The questions lie in the pitching staff. The Jed Hoyer-led front office did a solid job adding veterans Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes to shore up a rotation which has been bitten hard by the injury bug. (More bad news on that front: their biggest breakout arm, Ben Brown, suffered a setback in his recovery from a neck injury and will remain on the shelf.) The Cubs have 10 pitchers on the injured list — all but one of those guys are on the 60-day. Can they outslug their problems on the hill? They may have no choice.
Top Position Player: JJ Wetherholt (4.4 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Andre Pallante & Kyle Leahy (2.4 fWAR)
The Cardinals now reside in the mushy middle following a promising start to the year in which it appeared they may have been ahead of schedule. POBO Chaim Bloom’s project to reshape a team which was decidedly behind-the-times before his arrival is still a work in progress; St. Louis has the league’s 22th-ranked offense by wRC+ and the 20th-ranked pitching staff by ERA-. They’ve been playing above their weight class by doing the things the Cardinals always do well: induce soft contact, play good defense, and get hits in high-leverage spots.
The top of the St. Louis lineup seems to be largely set for the next few years: JJ Wetherholt as the toolsy tablesetter at the top ahead of Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson, two power bats with more contact chops than you’d expect. Joshua Báez announced his arrival bombastically with homers in his first three at-bats in the Show, something no one else has ever done. The construction zone begins after those guys. And this rotation won’t knock your socks off with high-caliber stuff or elite results anytime soon. They’re perfectly solid, not much more than that.
The future picture for the Cardinals is a bit of an odd one; with the Cubs and Brewers bidding to remain atop the food chain for quite a while, do they try to aggressively punch their way back into the playoff picture, or do they bide their time for regression to come for their rivals? Obviously, the upcoming offseason labor theater will also factor into these tough decisions as well.
Top Position Player: Brandon Lowe (3.6 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Paul Skenes (4.1 fWAR)
Were the season a little shorter, these Pirates may have stuck around in the playoff race a bit longer. But attrition has hit the Bucs rather hard, particularly in the rotation. Veteran Mitch Keller is out for the year with an injury to his teres major injury, Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler have been inconsistent, and Paul Skenes is having a down season by his stratospheric standards. Manager Don Kelly has moved to more of a six-man rotation to give Skenes more time between his starts, and that strategy has allowed him to rebound from a rough July. At the end of the day, the playoff odds for a team with the NL’s longest postseason drought continue to dwindle.
The Pirates were hitting their way to relevance this season with one of the highest scoring lineups, but that offensive production has waned. In August, they hit just .217/.398/.334 as a team. That’s a 50-point drop in average from the previous two months, and a 90-point drop in slugging from July. The dog days are not kind to this seafaring crew by the Allegheny. Not even Oneil Cruz hitting a home run off Mason Miller was enough to make up the difference.
I’m sure Pirates fans were chagrined by the news that Angels’ owner Arte Moreno finally took a hint and sold his team on Tuesday, sparking sudden optimism that one of the most moribund franchises in MLB — and the only one with a longer playoff drought than Pittsburgh — can finally turn the corner to relevance. Fans in western PA have been longing for Bob Nutting to do that very thing for a long time. I suppose they’ll keep on hoping.
Top Position Player: Elly De La Cruz (4.6 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Chase Burns (4.2 fWAR)
These Redlegs sure could use a break. Early in August it was announced that All-Star pitcher Hunter Greene would need to undergo a second Tommy John surgery, meaning Cincy will probably be without the former second-overall pick until 2028. The news cast a funerial pall over what was already a rough year in Queen City.
The youth movement that never seems to come to fruition did see some big strides this season. First baseman Sal Stewart deservedly made the All-Star team, as did fireballer Chase Burns — who, like Greene, was once drafted second overall. Elly De La Cruz hasn’t set the world on fire, but has remained a very, very good player. It just isn’t enough to make up for all the places where this team remains deficient. Cincinnati’s team wRC+ of 92 is the second-worst figure in baseball. Their 4.68 staff ERA is tied for fourth-worst.
This anecdote probably sums up the season as well as anything else: last week, the Reds placed veteran Eugenio Suárez and outfielder TJ Friedl on waivers. These decisions are often kept private due to the emotional nature of placing a well-respected player on waivers — and manager Terry Francona was irate that the news escaped the room. That both players ultimately went snubbed by the rest of the baseball likely only added to his consternation. In Suárez’s case, he’s got some more important matters at hand: the popular slugger will be stepping away from the team to take the naturalization test as he seeks to become an American citizen.
Salas, who is 20 years and 93 days old, made his MLB debut for the Padres’ road game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. In doing so, he became the youngest catcher to play in an MLB game since the legendary Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez debuted at 19 years old in 1991.
This is good company for Salas to share, as Pudge Rodriguez was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017, on what was his first ballot.
Ethan Salas of the San Diego Padres bats in the first inning of his MLB debut during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Getty ImagesSan Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas looks on during the second inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in Cincinnati. AP Photo/Tony Wagner
Of course, Salas still has a very long way to go before being deemed a Hall of Famer. But the 20-year-old has plenty of time to make his mark in the big leagues.
The Padres signed Salas as an international amateur free agent in 2023, giving him a $5.6 million signing bonus. He was just 16 years old at the time, but wasted no time progressing through the Padres’ organization.
Salas was then promoted to the Padres’ big league roster on Tuesday and got his first start on Wednesday, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his first three plate appearances. He produced a .296 average and an .822 OPS in 96 games in the minor leagues this season, and is seen as an extremely gifted defensive catcher.
National League’s Ethan Salas reacts to hitting a single during the second inning of the MLB All-Star Futures baseball game against the American League on Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Chris Szagola
May 20, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) dunks over Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during the second quarter during game two of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The 2025-26 season is behind us, and every one is looking forward to 2026-27, where the Spurs will be the reigning Western Conference Champions with something to prove after a disappointing Finals appearance. But we can still take a quick moment to look back after the NBA released the Plays of the Year from last season, as voted by the fans.
Stephon Castle and Luke Kornet both managed to beat out their teammate Victor Wembanyama at arguably his biggest strengths, winning Dunk of the Year and Block of the Year, respectively. Castle’s fan-favorite dunk came in Game 2 of the Conference Finals against the Thunder (which they admittedly lost), when he received a pass from Wemby at the top of the arc and drove straight down the paint for the tomahawk slam over seven-footer Isaiah Hartenstein. Replays show he got the ball as high as the top of the backboard square, which is quite some hops for a 6’5” dude. (Coincidently or not, this was also the game where Hartenstein later yanked Castle down after pulling or getting his fingers tangled in his hair — you be the judge.)
Kornet’s block came in Game 7 of the same series and helped clinch a trip to the Finals for the Spurs. Clinging to a precarious six-point lead early in the fourth quarter and Wemby sitting with five fouls, Kornet chased down Hartenstein after a steal and blocked his breakaway lay-up attempt, sucking the life out of the Thunder crowd as they made a last ditch effort to come back. The play stopped a momentum swing that was building for OKC, and the Spurs held on the rest of the way.
Other winners include Nikola Jokic for Assist of the Year, Luka Doncic for best Handles, Bam Adebayo for best Performance (I’m skeptical considering the circumstances of his 83-point game, but he can have his flowers), OG Anunoby for Clutch Play of the Year (ugh, we all know what that was), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for best…Drip? (I assume that’s wardrobe, correct me if I’m wrong, Gen Z Pounders. That slang isn’t part of my Millennial vocabulary.)
The 2025-26 NBA ID Fan Favorites Winners… as voted on by YOU, the fans!
🏆 Stephon Castle 🏆 Nikola Jokić 🏆 Luke Kornet 🏆 Luka Dončić 🏆 Bam Adebayo 🏆 OG Anunoby 🏆 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pic.twitter.com/NVCJ6cBo1h
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the match, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay raises his hands with his mouth open while wearing a headset, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke raises the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LVI
Why didn’t the Angels match the offer from the Dodgers that Shohei Ohtani ultimately accepted? Because Arte Moreno didn’t want to.
Why did the Angels blow $245 million on Anthony Rendon? Because Moreno said so.
Why didn’t the Angels finalize an agreed-upon trade in which they would have received Andy Pages from the Dodgers? Because Moreno didn’t want to.
Why did the Angels invest $240 million in Albert Pujols or $125 million in Josh Hamilton? Because Moreno believed in them.
Almost every major decision that resulted in the Angels missing the postseason for the last 11 years can be traced back to Moreno.
Under Moreno, the Angels’ most important decision maker wasn’t the general manager.
It was the owner.
The anticipated change in this dynamic is the primary reason the Angels will have a chance to return to prominence once Stan Kroenke officially takes over as the team’s owner. Kroenke, who owns the Rams, has agreed to purchase a controlling share of the Angels from Moreno.
Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke raises the Lombardi Trophy at the conclusion of Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The Los Angeles Angels have been sold to Kroenke, adding to the Walmart heir’s burgeoning and increasingly successful sports portfolio. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Judging by how Kroenke operates his other sports teams, expect baseball decisions to be made by baseball people rather than a super fan who happened to become wealthy enough to buy the team.
Unlike Moreno, Kroenke is not a micromanager.
Kroenke is what a sports team wants in an owner. He trusts the people under him to do what they were hired to do and provides them with financial support.
In football or soccer, a franchise’s vision is often provided by the head coach or manager. In baseball, the vision comes from the head of the baseball operations department.
But former general managers Jerry Dipoto, Billy Eppler or Perry Minasian were never granted the level of autonomy McVay and Arteta have received from Kroenke.
McVay was the driving force behind the Rams’ trade for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Arteta played a similar role in Arsenal’s acquisition of midfielder Declan Rice.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts after a touchdown by Dean Connors during the second half of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Getty Images
Moreno stuck the Angels with Pujols and his massive contract, then tasked Dipoto, Eppler and Minasian to work around that mistake.
“But I would say this on Arte’s behalf,” interim general manager John Mozeliak said. “He cared about this team as much as anyone.”
The problem with Moreno wasn’t that he didn’t care.
The problem was that he cared too much and couldn’t resist making decisions he lacked the expertise to make.
His temper further complicated the situation.
“I get too pissed off to be on Instagram,” he once said.
While the joke demonstrated a measure of self-awareness on Moreno’s part, it wasn’t a laughing matter for the Angels, who were at the mercy of his impulses.
Perhaps the most egregious example of this came before the 2020 season. Wanting to clear payroll, the Dodgers agreed to send Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling to the Angels for infielder Luis Rengifo and two minor leaguers. As part of the deal, the Dodgers threw in a 19-year-old Pages.
But the trade was contingent upon the completion of a separate deal the Dodgers were making with the Boston Red Sox for Mookie Betts. In his impatience, Moreno scrapped his team’s trade with the Dodgers.
Whoops.
Moreno did Kroenke at least one huge favor by clearing the decks for the new owner to rebuild the team as he wants.
Rendon’s contract will be off the books, and the only players currently under contract for next season are Mike Trout and Yusei Kikuchi.
The challenge for Kroenke will be to find the person who will be to the Angels what McVay is to the Rams, what Arteta is to Arsenal – or what Andrew Friedman is to the Dodgers.
That won’t be easy.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the match on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Villa Park in Birmingham, Britain. REUTERS
Steve Cohen has committed significant resources to the New York Mets since he purchased them in 2020. Cohen thought he found his Friedman in David Stearns, but that Stearns’ appointment hasn’t translated into the kind of success the owner envisioned.
Kroenke knows there aren’t any guarantees. Before McVay, there was Jeff Fisher, and before Arteta, there was Unai Emery.
Nonetheless, Kroenke’s first step as owner promises to be a step forward for the Angels.
Moreno won’t be calling the shots for them anymore.
1902: Laurie Auchterlonie won the U.S. Open at Garden City Golf Club, setting a then-championship scoring record and capturing his lone major title.
1906: Chicago White Sox ace Ed Walsh threw a two-hit shutout against the Cubs in Game 3 of the World Series, striking out 12 and setting a World Series record at the time.
1911: Ty Cobb of the Tigers and Frank Schulte of the Cubs became the first recipients of Major League Baseball’s MVP honor, then known as the Chalmers Award.
1925: Washington Senators ace Walter Johnson threw a six-hit shutout to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 in Game 4 of the World Series, his second complete-game victory of the Series.
1927: Lou Gehrig was named American League MVP after helping power the Yankees’ legendary 1927 season.
1943: Spud Chandler pitched a 10-hit shutout as the New York Yankees defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 in Game 5 to capture their 10th World Series championship.
1948: The Cleveland Indians defeated the Boston Braves 4-3 in Game 6 to win the World Series, securing the second championship in franchise history.
1959: NFL commissioner Bert Bell suffered a fatal heart attack while watching the Philadelphia Eagles play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Franklin Field. Bell had served as NFL commissioner since 1946.
1960: John Fetzer, already a member of the Detroit Tigers’ ownership group, acquired majority ownership of the franchise and became its principal owner.
1967: Carl Yastrzemski, Reggie Smith and Rico Petrocelli homered in the fourth inning of World Series Game 6, making Boston the first team to hit three home runs in one inning of a World Series game, as the Red Sox defeated St. Louis 8-4.
1971: Baltimore’s Brooks Robinson reached base in five consecutive plate appearances during an 11-3 World Series victory over Pittsburgh, setting a World Series record.
1980: The Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA regular-season game, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 103-92 in the expansion franchise’s debut.
1984: Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Mario Lemieux scored on the first shot of his first shift in his NHL debut, beating Boston Bruins goaltender Pete Peeters 2:59 into the game.
1986: Lenny Dykstra hit a two-run, ninth-inning walk-off home run to give the New York Mets a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
1991: Chip Beck shot a 59 during the Las Vegas Invitational, becoming just the second golfer to record a sub-60 round on the PGA Tour.
1992: Deion Sanders made sports history by playing for the Atlanta Falcons and joining the Atlanta Braves for that night’s National League Championship Series game on the same day, though he didn’t play in the Braves’ game.
1999: Pedro Martínez came out of the bullpen to throw six no-hit innings and strike out eight, leading Boston past Cleveland in the decisive Game 5 of the AL Division Series.
2004: Carlos Beltrán homered twice as the Houston Astros routed the Atlanta Braves 12-3 in Game 5 of the NL Division Series, giving Houston the first postseason series victory in franchise history.
2009: The United States defeated the International Team to win the Presidents Cup at Harding Park, with Tiger Woods completing a perfect 5-0 week and clinching the event in singles.
2010: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre became the first player in NFL history to reach both 500 career touchdown passes and 70,000 passing yards in a game against the New York Jets.
2012: Buster Posey hit a grand slam as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 in Game 5 of the NL Division Series, completing a comeback from a 2-0 series deficit with three consecutive road victories.
2014: Dak Prescott accounted for three touchdowns as No. 3 Mississippi State defeated No. 2 Auburn 38-23, improving to 6-0 during a season in which the Bulldogs reached No. 1 for the first time in school history.
2015: The United States edged the International Team 15½-14½ to capture a sixth consecutive Presidents Cup.
2020: Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 to win his record-extending 13th French Open title, earn his 100th Roland Garros match victory and tie Roger Federer’s then-record of 20 men’s Grand Slam singles titles.
2023: The Arizona Diamondbacks became the first team in postseason history to hit four home runs in one inning, using the record-setting third to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 and complete an NL Division Series sweep.
— USA TODAY Network
This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 01: Brandon Marsh #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammate Bryce Harper #3 after the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Zach Gardner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Here are the lineups for the series finale in Arizona. Let’s discuss!
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Emil Morales #96 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a one-run single to tie the game in the first inning during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
In the last 50 years, only four other Dodgers minor leaguers had at least 100 RBI in their age-19 season or younger — Mike Marshall (1979), Candy Maldonado (1980), Adrían Beltré (age 18 in 1997), and Cody Bellinger (2015).
Ontario first baseman and occasional third baseman Easton Shelton has 35 home runs this year, 15 more than any other player in the circuit. The 20-year-old Shelton has driven in 106 runs in 106 games this season. We’ll know by Sunday if Morales or Shelton can be the first Dodgers minor leaguers with at least 100 RBI and as many runs batted in as games played since Greg Brock knocked in 138 runs in 135 games for Triple-A Albuquerque in 1982.
In the last 50 years, the only other Dodgers minor leaguers with 100 RBI and at least as many RBI as games are Kelly Snider (139 RBI in 138 games for Class-A Lodi in 1977) and Mike Marshall (137 RBI in 128 games while inning Pacific Coast League MVP for Albuquerque in 1981).
Josue De Paula, the Dodgers top prospect, joined this group on Wednesday with Double-A Tulsa.
The last Tulsa Driller before De Paula to knock in 100 runs was Joe Koshansky in 2006 when Tulsa was a Colorado Rockies affiliate. De Paula had already scored 100 runs this season, and he’s just the second Tulsa Drillers player with triple digits in both runs and RBI, joining then-Rangers prospect Carlos Peña in 2000.
James Tibbs III, who was not called up to the Dodgers, is also sitting on 96 RBI for Oklahoma City with nearly three weeks to go in the Pacific Coast League season, so he could easily join this group, too.
