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Wheeler opts out of All-Star Game: ‘Wants to do what's right by the club'

Wheeler opts out of All-Star Game: ‘Wants to do what's right by the club' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

SAN DIEGO – Rob Thomson is all about his players getting their individual accolades. He said last week that he wants all his players to be All-Stars. And he meant it.

But you have to get a feeling with the amount of weight his starting pitching has carried this season for the club that maybe, just maybe, not having some deserving pitchers on the All-Star team is OK with him.

Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez deserve to be going to the Midsummer Classic, but they were not chosen. So they’ll get some much-needed rest and relaxation during the break. Zack Wheeler was rightfully selected for the game, but it was announced Friday that Wheeler has decided not to participate in the festivities in Atlanta, instead opting to take a few days off and ready himself for the rest of the season.

Wheeler, who will start Saturday against the San Diego Padres, is 9-3 with a 2.17 ERA. In his 116 innings pitched he has struck out 148 and an incredible 0.84 WHIP. MLB announced that Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon will take Wheeler’s place.

“He came to me the other day and he basically said that he wanted to make sure his body was in good shape coming out of the break and carry on through the rest of the year,” Thomson said. “He wants to do what’s right by the club. After tomorrow’s start he’ll have more innings than last year at the break. He’s being smart. That’s what Zack is and we have a lot of guys like that, to tell you the truth. I’m really happy for him. It was his decision and I think he’s being smart about it.”

Wheeler could very easily have been replaced on the National League roster by one of his teammates, but MLB decided to go another way. Perhaps due to the fact that he’s pitching on Sunday may have been a big strike against Sanchez going. “I am (surprised),” said Thomson. “But it’s one of those things where (pitching) on Sunday you can’t. Both him and Ranger, for me, are certainly deserving to be All-Stars. In my mind they’re All-Stars. (Sanchez) wasn’t voted in so I think it’s easy for them to switch out and get somebody who they know is going to be able to give them an inning or two.”

It’s not just about the actual pitching that could take a toll on any of the Phillies starters at the All-Star game. Thomson knows it’s more than that. “I’ve been through it a couple of times and it’s tiring. It really is. I’m happy that he’s decided to make the best decision for him. Which probably ends up being the best decision for us.”

He’s baaaaack

When asked about Bryce Harper and where he may be offensively after his three doubles and home run against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, Thomson had to suppress a smile, and maybe even an all-out laugh.

“His timing looked really good the other day,” the manager said. “Over time since he’s come back from the injured list, that the timing, the swing, bat-speed have all improved every game. And even before the game the other day he was putting good swings without seeing much production but he was putting good swings on the ball. Looks good right now.”

For the season, the Phillies entered Friday 40-25 with Harper in the lineup, just 14-14 without him. In those 40 wins, Harper is hitting .309 with 23 extra base hits (15 doubles, eight home runs) and 30 RBI. In the 25 losses, those numbers are .181, three extra base hits (two doubles, one homer) and five RBI.

Monday during batting practice in San Francisco, Harper had a couple un-Harper-like swings, it appeared. He took a second and then blasted four screaming shots over the wall in right field, one of which ended up in McCovey’s Cove. It seemed like a moment. Maybe it was. 

Good Abel

Mick Abel took the mound for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Thursday and came away with good reviews from manager Rob Thomson after his six inning, one hit, one walk and four strikeout performance in which he didn’t allow a run. 

“Really good. Touched 98, 72 percent 3-2 pitch strikes. Just filled up the strike zone. Was confident, poised, landed his breaking ball. I’m really happy for him, really proud of him.  That’s what I’m most proud of. He got back to who he is, kept it really simple and attacked the zone.”

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Why the Matt Dumba Trade Is About More Than Just The Player

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was busy on the trade market again on Thursday, sending defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok to the Dallas Stars in exchange for fellow defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick. 

The Stars were over the salary cap at the time of the trade and had been looking for a team to take Dumba off their hands. He has one year left on his contract and will make $3.75 million this upcoming season. The Penguins easily absorbed that contract because they had over $15 million in cap space going into the trade. 

If the Penguins were still trying to win, this move would be a headscratcher, but that's not where they are right now. They are in transparent rebuild mode and have been since they traded Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes before the 2024 NHL trade deadline. They've been stockpiling assets over the last year and a half and now have 29 picks over the subsequent three drafts, including 17 in the first three rounds. They may not even use that 2028 second-rounder that they got with Dumba and could package it for a young player when the time is right. 

All of their moves throughout this offseason so far indicate that they don't care that much about the 2025-26 season. They see how good the 2026 NHL Draft is and could be in line to get a high pick, especially if they trade at least two of Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell. They are asking for good returns on all three, and so far, no team has been willing to meet their price. Karlsson feels like the most likely to go right now since there's a bit of a logjam on the right side with him, Kris Letang, Connor Clifton, Dumba, and Harrison Brunicke waiting in the wings. 

Speaking of Dumba, he played in 63 games for the Stars during the 2024-25 season, finishing with one goal and 10 points. He was healthy for the playoffs but got scratched in all of their playoff games. That's telling, considering the Stars had Cody Ceci, Ilya Lyubushkin, and even Alex Petrovic logging big minutes on their blue line. 

Dumba is only 30, but the fall-off in his game has been drastic. Throughout his career, he has been a player who can drive offense and bring some snarl, but the offense has dried up over the last few seasons. The last time he finished with more than 25 points in a season was during the 2021-22 season when he compiled seven goals and 27 points in 57 games with the Minnesota Wild. Dumba has also been below 50% in shot attempts per 60 minutes in six of his last seven seasons and has an expected goal share below 50% in four consecutive seasons. 

He spent 10 seasons with the Wild before bouncing to the Arizona Coyotes (now Utah Mammoth), Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, and now the Penguins. The Penguins will attempt to get him back on track a little so that they can try to flip him at the 2026 trade deadline. That means likely starting him on the third pairing and potentially moving him up to the second pairing to "showcase" him to other teams.

It's somewhat similar to when they signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year deal in free agency last year, aiming to "rehab" his game. Yes, he didn't get dealt to a contender at the deadline, but they still wanted to showcase him as much as possible in a top-four role at 5v5 and on the top power-play unit. The Penguins will likely rely on one of Karlsson (if he's not traded) or Letang to quarterback the top unit since Dumba only has a little over 65 power-play minutes over the last three seasons. He used to compile well over 100 PP minutes with the Wild before his game started to fade. Dumba may get a little bit of time on the second PP unit this season, but that's about it. 

The Penguins will "try" to get some of Dumba's 5v5 offense going a bit again to pair with the snarl and physicality that he has brought to the table throughout his career. They want to get a bit bigger, meaner, and tougher to play against after looking a little soft in front of their net last season. 

The Dumba deal isn't a trade that will "wow" anyone, but it provides the Penguins with another body for the right side of their defense and a good future asset that they don't necessarily have to retain. They are also set up to gain more future assets at next year's deadline, as Dumba is one of several players who don't have a contract beyond this season, including Connor Clifton, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Blake Lizotte, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, and Danton Heinen. In other words, the rebuild is proceeding as planned. 

(Data via Natural Stat Trick). 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more! 

Featured Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Celtics' surprise Summer League addition impresses in debut

Celtics' surprise Summer League addition impresses in debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Former San Antonio Spurs big man Charles Bassey gave the Boston Celtics’ Summer League squad an unexpected boost in Friday’s opener.

Bassey joined the Celtics’ Summer League roster just before Friday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 6-foot-10 center immediately made his presence felt, notching two blocks within his first four minutes of action. He finished with 14 points (7-9 FG), 11 rebounds, and two blocks in 18 minutes.

“It was just clear that guy can make an impact in the game, and you saw that throughout the course of the game today. I think he was huge for us,” Celtics Summer League coach Matt Reynolds said of Bassey after Boston’s 92-78 win, per CLNS Media.

That’s the kind of production the Celtics’ thin frontcourt needs after parting ways with Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and likely Al Horford. However, Bassey remains an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team.

Bassey’s performance in Friday’s game undoubtedly gave C’s president of basketball operations Brad Stevens something to think about. As of Friday, Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and rookie second-rounder Amari Williams are the only centers on the NBA roster.

Last season with the Spurs, Bassey averaged 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 10.4 minutes over 36 games. The Western Kentucky product would be a solid reserve big man, and with the roster as currently constructed, he could compete for the starting center role.

Bassey co-starred in Friday’s Summer League opener alongside rookie first-rounder Hugo Gonzalez. The 19-year-old tallied 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, and two blocks in his first taste of NBA action.

The Celtics’ Summer League slate continues Sunday against the New York Knicks with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas.

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The Hockey Show: Bill Lindsay talks Stanley Cup championship comparisons, Bill Zito appreciation

The Hockey Show returned on Friday for the first episode of the offseason.

This week, hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork starting off by reviewing their Rescue Paws fundraising drive, which raised $300 over the course of the postseason.

Before getting into the meat of the show, the boys played a viral video of former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky begrudgingly getting into a fight with a drunk man on the golf course.

Joining The Hockey Show this week is Florida Panthers radio color commentator and NHL Network analyst Bill Lindsay.

He spoke about the difference between experiencing Florida’s first Stanley Cup win last season and then going through the run to their second straight title this year.

The boys also asked Billy about Panthers GM Bill Zito missing out again on the GM of the Year award, Florida’s moves in the offseason to re-sign all their big free agents and his favorite nicknames from during his playing days.

Additionally, this week’s wins and fails of the week included Roy re-upping on his hatred for the New York Islanders over their re-signing of defenseman Tony DeAngelo, some amazing audio from goaltender Alex Lyon after he signed with the Buffalo Sabres and Sam Bennett breaking out the Panthers goal song at his wedding earlier this month.

You can check out the full show in the video below:

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Jeff Skinner Signs With One-Year Deal With San Jose

The NHL free agency market grew remarkably thin after the initial rush of signings in the opening week. One of the more prominent names unsigned was former Buffalo Sabre Jeff Skinner, but the veteran winger found a home on Friday, signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the San Jose Sharks.  

The 33-year-old was bought out of the final three years of his eight-year, $72 million contract last June and quickly signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Skinner was thought to be an option for the Oilers in their top-six playing alongside either Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid with another former Sabre Evander Kane expected out for the entire regular season.  

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The former 40-goal scorer was relegated mostly to a bottom-six role last season and scored 16 goals during the regular season and one goal in five games in his first Stanley Cup Playoff action. The Oilers did not show much interest in bringing back Skinner even after trading Kane to Vancouver Viktor Arvidsson to Boston, and losing Corey Perry and Connor Brown in free agency,    choosing instead to re-sign Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen, and add Andrew Mangiapane and Curtis Lazar as UFA’s.

The Sharks are at best a longshot to make the playoffs and since July 1 have been more focused on adding veterans on short-term deals to get to the cap floor and establish a support structure around youngsters Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. GM Mike Grier signed defenseman Dmitri Orlov to a two-year deal, John Klingberg to a one-year deal, and claimed Nick Leddy off of waivers from St. Louis, adding $14.5 million in salary. 

If Skinner has a productive season playing in the Sharks top-six, his contract will be easily movable at next season’s trade deadline. 

   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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NHL News: Ex-Blackhawks Defender Signs With Jets

Former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Isaak Phillips will be staying put with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets have announced that they have signed Phillips to a two-year, two-way contract. Starting next season, Phillips will have a $812,500 cap hit at the NHL level with the Jets.

Phillips, 23, was traded by the Blackhawks to the Jets back in January in exchange for defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin. Following this, Phillips played in 39 games with the Jets' AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, where he posted three goals and eight points.

Phillips was selected by the Blackhawks with the 141st overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In 56 games over four seasons with the Blackhawks, Phillips posted two goals, 10 assists, 12 points, 31 penalty minutes, and 89 hits. He also played in three games during the 2024-25 season with the Blackhawks before being traded to the Jets, where he scored a goal and threw three hits. 

Phillips also recorded one goal, eight points, 54 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating in 28 games this past season with the Rockford IceHogs before being traded to Winnipeg. 

Now, after signing this new contract with the Jets, Phillips will look to continue to improve his game. It will be interesting to see if he can earn a spot on the Jets' NHL roster next season from here. 

Former Blackhawks Goalie Signs With New TeamFormer Blackhawks Goalie Signs With New TeamFormer Chicago Blackhawks goalie Collin Delia is taking his talents overseas.

Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Garrett Crochet explains decision to skip All-Star Game

Garrett Crochet explains decision to skip All-Star Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet pulled himself out of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game to keep his arm fresh for the second half of the season.

Crochet earned his second straight All-Star nod amid a Cy Young-caliber campaign, but at an MLB-leading 120.1 innings pitched this season, the left-hander is already 25.2 innings away from matching his career-high. The 26-year-old left-hander understandably doesn’t want to add to that hefty workload during an exhibition.

“For me, it’s just looking at my past four years,” Crochet said, per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. “In 2022, I threw zero innings. In ‘23, I threw 13. Last year, I threw 146 and this year I’m on pace for 200. From my standpoint, it makes no sense to make that 201 to throw in a game that doesn’t determine my team’s fate throughout the season.

“Especially because we’re looking at the postseason. If I threw 20 innings in the postseason, I’m almost 100 innings over last year which was over 100 innings above the year prior. It just didn’t make sense to me.”

The Red Sox’ schedule also didn’t help Crochet’s cause. Crochet is set to start Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, so he’d head into the All-Star Game on only three days rest.

Crochet pitched a scoreless fourth inning while representing the Chicago White Sox at the 2024 All-Star Game. This time, he’ll watch from the dugout alongside teammates Alex Bregman, who also won’t play as he returned from a quad injury on Friday.

“It’s a huge honor to be there,“ Crochet added. ”I threw last year with it being my first one. If I were to go next year, I would probably throw. But just with the way my continued growth is, and my workload ceiling, I’d rather not add to it.”

With Crochet and Bregman sitting out, veteran closer Aroldis Chapman will be Boston’s lone representative in Atlanta. Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize will replace Crochet on the American League roster.

The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 15.

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Jesse Winker placed on IL with back injury, Jared Young called up amid flurry of moves

Mets designated hitter Jesse Winker is heading back to the IL just a few days after returning from an extended absence.

Winker, who exited Thursday's game against the Orioles after just one at-bat due to back tightness, was placed on the 10-day IL due to back inflammation, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Jared Young was called up from Triple-A Syracuse to take Winker's spot on the roster.

In addition, the Mets activated Kodai Senga from the IL and recalled Austin Warren from Syracuse.

To make room on the roster, Justin Hagenman was optioned to Syracuse and Rico Garcia was designated for assignment.

With Winker on the IL, the Mets will essentially be without a regular DH until after the All-Star break, which begins for them after Sunday's game in Kansas City.

Starling Marte landed on the IL on Tuesday, retroactive to July 7. The expectation is that he'll be able to return right after the break, with the Mets beginning the second half against the Reds on July 18 at Citi Field.

On the at-bat before he came out, Winker popped out to end the first inning. He was pinch-hit for in the fourth inning by Mark Vientos.

The 31-year-old was playing in just his second game since May 4 after returning from the injured list on Tuesday after working his way back from an oblique injury.

Winker was hitting .239 with a .739 OPS (112 OPS+) prior to his oblique injury, totaling just one home run and 10 RBI.

The lefty hit .286 with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, and five walks over five games in the minor leagues during his rehab assignment.

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The New CBA Could Allow A Canadiens Player To Reach A Big Milestone

It came as good news for any hockey fan that the negotiations for the new CBA between the NHL and the NHLPA went so smoothly that they were able to ratify it a year before it even came into force. No strike, no lockout nonsense, just uninterrupted hockey for the next five years (the last year of the current CBA and the four years of the new one).

But amongst the highlights of the new deal is a disposition which could have a significant impact on one Montreal Canadiens player. From the 2026-27 season, the NHL teams will be playing 84 games rather than 82 like they have been for some time now, this means the Habs will be playing 166 games in the next two seasons. That’s the exact number of games Brendan Gallagher needs to reach the all-important 1,000 games milestone.

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The alternate captain has two seasons left on his six-year, $6.5 million AAV contract. Although some fans were once critical of his contract, hoping it would be bought out, his recent season has appeased the masses, as he played all 82 games and scored 38 points.

It was the first time since the 2018-19 season that he managed to play all 82 games of the season, and on top of that, 21 of his 38 points were goals. It had been a long time since he reached the 20-goal mark; in fact, the last occurrence was in 2019-20, when he put up 22 goals in a 59-game Covid-shortened season.

The devoted veteran has now played 834 games with the Sainte-Flanelle, and if he manages to stay healthy and isn’t traded or bought out, he could finish his contract having played exactly 1,000 games all wearing the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge.

ALL 21 BRENDAN GALLAGHER GOALS OF THE 2024-25 SEASON! 21 BUTS!ALL 21 BRENDAN GALLAGHER GOALS OF THE 2024-25 SEASON! 21 BUTS!Brendan Gallagher had a remarkable bounce back season. He got himself back up the 20 goal mark, hitting 21 total. Here's a compilation of all 21 goals he sco...

It would be a fitting end for the man who was fifth in team scoring this past season and third in goals scored. Not so long ago, I would have laughed at the suggestion that Gallagher could play a full season with his injury track record, but he did manage to do it this past season, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

It would be hard not to be happy for the veteran if he did reach the 1,000-game milestone, after all, the odds were hardly in his favour. A fifth-round pick and 147th selection overall at the 2010 draft, who was only 5-foot-9, most counted him out without knowing anything about him, but straight from his first training camp, two things were obvious: he was playing like a player much bigger than he was, and his determination was without limit.

The alternate captain has stuck with the Habs through highs and lows and never wanted to move elsewhere. This season, he climbed his way into the Canadiens’ record book and reached several milestones. His 834 games with the Sainte-Flanelle are the 20th most games played in the storied uniform, with 239 career goals, he is the 15th most prolific goal scorer in franchise history (and that’s a long history), his 225 assists are the 39th highest total. His 464 points are the 27th highest total.

Only five players have played 1,000 games with the Canadiens: Henri Richard (1,258), Larry Robinson (1,202), Bob Gainey (1,160), Jean Beliveau (1,125), and Claude Provost (1,005). That’s some pretty elite company, and for everything he has accomplished on the ice, Gallagher is deserving of joining it. For that to happen, though, everything will need to play out perfectly. It would be agonizing for fans to see Gallagher’s career come to an end just short of the milestone. Think of how many of them still mention Andrei Markov’s 990 games and the way he fell just short…

Photo credit:  Douglas DeFelice-Imagn Images

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Maple Leafs Re-Sign Fowards Cedric Pare And Sam Stevens To Marlies Contracts

The Toronto Marlies are bringing back two more depth players.

The club announced on Friday afternoon that they've signed Cedric Pare and Sam Stevens each to one-year AHL contracts. Both players spent the entirety of last season with the Marlies, with Pare appearing in 59 games and Stevens appearing in 21 games.

Pare played a majority of his minutes as a center in Toronto's bottom six. In 59 games with the club, the 26-year-old scored 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points, his second-highest total in the AHL since he turned pro.

The forward signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Maple Leafs last summer and became a restricted free agent on July 1. You might remember Pare because of his accidental knee-on-knee collision with Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine during preseason last September, which forced the Finnish forward out for two months.

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Pare has 39 goals and 56 assists in 207 career AHL games over four seasons. The 2017 sixth-round pick by the Boston Bruins has yet to appear in an NHL game. Pare became a restricted free agent after Toronto didn't qualify him as a restricted free agent in June.

Stevens is also a center who spent most games down the middle of the Marlies' top six last season. AHL Toronto first signed the forward after his final season (2023-24) at Boston University, where he scored 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 40 games.

The 25-year-old scored two goals and two assists in 21 games with the Marlies this past season. In 142 games at Boston University, Stevens had 26 goals and 24 points. This is going to be the forward's second pro season.

Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.

It's been a busy couple of days for the Marlies, who revealed their regular season schedule on Thursday and made a significant number of AHL signings earlier in the week. Toronto signed Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Ben King, and Nick Rheaume to one-year AHL contracts, while also re-signing Marko Sikic and defenceman Ryan McCleary to one-year deals on Tuesday.

The Marlies also signed former Marlie Marc Johnstone to a two-year AHL contract, Ken Appleby to a one-year contract, and re-signed Reese Johnson. Toronto's regular season begins on the road on October 10 against the Rochester Americans.

(Top photo of Pare: Thomas Skrlj / Toronto Marlies)

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Ha-Seong Kim, Joe Boyle and Brice Matthews

FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

Ha-Seong Kim (SS Rays): Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues

Originally hoping for a mid-May return from shoulder surgery, Kim finally made it back on July 4, which was more than five weeks after he initially started a Triple-A rehab assignment. That assignment, which was paused in mid-June because of a minor hamstring problem, saw him hit .208/.352/.250 in 91 plate appearances, causing a great deal of doubt over whether Kim was going to be his usual self in his first weeks and months back from surgery. Four games later, those concerns have already been alleviated.

In 21 games at Triple-A Durham, Kim managed just three extra-base hits, a 23% hard-hit rate, an average exit velocity of 83.9 mph and a high of 105.1 mph. In four major league games, he’s already topped 105.1 on four occasions, peaking at 107.0 mph. His homer Thursday off Walker Buehler checked in at 106.4 mph. Six of his 10 balls in play have been hit hard. The shoulder isn’t holding him back.

Kim isn’t going to be a major offensive force, but he might do a little better in the friendlier hitting environment in Tampa than he did in Petco, and he should steal quite a few bases. He was 6-for-6 in that regard on his rehab assignment, and he’s already tried two in his first four games back, though he was thrown out once. He should wind up with about 15 steals and solid numbers elsewhere, making him worth rostering in even the shallowest of leagues.

Joe Boyle (SP Rays): Rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues

Boyle, recalled to pitch behind Drew Rasmussen last Sunday, doesn’t yet have a spot in Tampa Bay’s rotation, but it’s only a matter of time. His two major league appearances this season have seen him allow a total of two hits in 10 innings, and he’s yet to give up earned run. In Triple-A, he had a 1.84 ERA and a 96/31 K/BB in 73 innings. He’s still not exactly a strike thrower, but the walks aren’t so costly when they’re paired with stuff like this.

The Rays got Boyle from the A’s over the winter as the primary return in the Jeffrey Springs trade and introduced him to a splitter as a replacement for a poor changeup. He’s quickly taken to it, and he’s been throwing it 91-94 mph to go along with his 96-100 mph heater. His slider remains his No. 2 pitch, and it’s awfully tough to hit, but he often fails to locate it well. He’s more around the strike zone with the splitter, and now hitters can’t be sure they’re going to get the fastball when he’s behind in the count.

It’d be nice if there was a stricter plan for Boyle. Not only do the Rays have a full rotation at the moment, but they could also get Shane McClanahan back at the end of the month. Still, Drew Rasmussen has an innings limit, and Taj Bradley is sporting a 4.60 ERA. Something will give. The Rays might even trade a starter in the hopes of getting help elsewhere. Boyle needs to be very much a part of the team’s plan for the second half, and he has too much upside to leave in free agent pools.

Brice Matthews (SS Astros): Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues

Matthews won’t get to take part in the Futures Game this weekend, but it’s because he’ll be in the majors instead; the Astros gave their 2023 first-round pick and probable No. 1 position player prospect his first callup Friday after he hit .283/.400/.476 in 325 plate appearances for Triple-A Sugar Land.

What’s unclear is whether Matthews is up to stay. Although he’s listed at shortstop above, he’s been used mostly at second in Triple-A, and all of his MLB playing time should come at second. The Astros hope to get Jeremy Peña back right after the break. They also have Chas McCormick rehabbing and a couple of other injured players perhaps returning before the end of the month. Still, second base is mostly unclaimed in Houston. Jose Altuve has been playing there a lot more since Peña went down, but his defensive numbers remain rough, which is why the Astros wanted him in left field in the first place. Mauricio Dubón has been very good of late, but he’s still probably best utilized as a utilityman. If Matthews starts off well, the Astros will be tempted to keep him up.

That’s not to say Matthews is necessarily ready. The Triple-A line is very good, but he’s still striking out 30 percent of the time. That number could climb to over 35 percent in the majors, which would make it very difficult for him to hit for average. Still, he’s shown improved power this year, he’s always taken plenty of walks and, with 25 steals in 31 attempts this year, he’s an asset on the basepaths when he reaches. That speed gives him ample fantasy potential. Most likely, it won’t be realized until 2026, but he’s worth keeping an eye on.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- The Red Sox have given Romy González a much-deserved chance against right-handers the last two days, and he deserves a long look, particularly given that Abraham Toro is the current alternative at first base. He could offer some mixed-league value as a regular, especially since he’d likely do more running. All four of his steals this season have come versus righties. Even though he’s been on base more often against lefties in his career, he has a far easier time stealing against righties, having gone 15-for-17 against them and 7-for-11 against lefties in essentially one full season of playing time (606 plate appearances).

- The Diamondbacks had to put another closer on the IL after Shelby Miller was diagnosed with a strained forearm. That probably makes Kevin Ginkel worth a try in deeper leagues, even with his 8.57 ERA. Ginkel got roughed up in his first two appearances back from the minors last month, but he’s allowed two runs over nine innings since. With his velocity down about one mph, he’ll probably continue to get hit a little harder than usual, but, you know, saves.

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Blues 2025 First-Round Pick Justin Carbonneau Chooses QMJHL In 2025-26, Leaving Door Open To Crack NHL Roster Also

St. Louis Blues 2025 first-round pick Justin Carbonneau (left) poses with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in Los Angeles after being selected with the 19th pick. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

St. Louis Blues prospect Justin Carbonneau, the No. 19 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has made his choice and it's a familiar one.

The forward has decided to return to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and play for Blainville-Boisbriand Armada next season.

The 18-year-old, who was with the Blues for prospect camp last week and made terrific impressions on team management, coaches and notably, the fans, was contemplating a choice between a return to the QMJHL or to play college hockey at Boston College.

He made his choice on Friday, announced by the Armada:

Carbonneau, who had 89 points (46 goals, 53 assists) in 62 regular-season games last season, projects to play for a squad that will be among the favorites to win the QMJHL and potentially represent a side competing for the Memorial Cup.

He conferred with the Blues last week, but ultimately made the decision with his family that it was best to advance his playing career where he's familiar.

And by doing so, Carbonneau can attend Blues training camp in September, leaving the options open that there's at least a chance of being a player that can come in and steal an NHL job, or if not, he has that option of going to juniors, something that wouldn't have been available had he chosen the college route.

Should Carbonneau somehow made the opening night roster, the Blues can showcase him for nine NHL games before deciding whether he remains with the big club or heads to junior for the season, but it all depends on if he signs an entry-level contract. Stay tuned.

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Minnesota Wild Re-Signs Michael Milne To A One-Year Contract

Nov 16, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Michael Milne (60) during a stoppage in action against the Dallas Stars in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images.

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild issued a qualifying offer to forward Mikey Milne on July 1st. The Wild have now announced they have re-signed the forward to a one-year, two-way contract.

He will make $775,000 in the NHL and $100,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2025-26 season.

Milne, 22, appeared in one NHL game for the Wild during the 2024-25 season. He played 6:34 of ice time and had three hits in a game against the Dallas Stars. 

The 5-foot-10 forward is a speedy and aggressive winger who was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft. 

The native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, recorded 15 goals, 11 assists, and 26 points in 60 AHL games with the Iowa Wild last year. He had two power-play goals and one shorthanded goal. 

In three seasons with the Wild, Milne has 30 goals, 30 assists, 60 points and 90 penalty minutes in 157 career AHL games.

Other Wild News

Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel On A One-Year ContractMinnesota Wild Sign Forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel On A One-Year ContractST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced a few free agent signings. They signed goaltender Cal Petersen along with forward Tyler Pitlick. They have also signed forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel.  Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Nico Sturm To A Two-Year DealMinnesota Wild Sign Forward Nico Sturm To A Two-Year DealST. PAUL, Minn - As previously written, Nico Sturm would be a perfect fit for the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have now announced they have signed the free agent to a two-year contract at $2 million AAV. Wild Issue Qualifying Offers To Marco Rossi, Michael Milne & Part Ways With Four PlayersWild Issue Qualifying Offers To Marco Rossi, Michael Milne & Part Ways With Four PlayersST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced qualifying offers for forwards Marco Rossi and Michael Milne. They did not make qualifying offers to Graeme Clarke, Adam Raska, Luke Toporowski, and Ryan O’Rourke.
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Rangers And Bruins Linked As Possible Destinations For Jack Eichel If He Does Not Sign Contract Extension With Golden Knights

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Jack Eichel is yet to sign a contract extension just yet with the Vegas Golden Knights as questions about his future are beginning to be discussed. 

The growing speculation is that Eichel will sign a contract extension with the Golden Knights at some point, but if that were not to happen for whatever reason, the New York Rangers have been linked as potential destinations for the superstar. 

“I think other teams around the league are expecting it (Eichel contract extension with the Golden Knights) to get done,” ESPN’s Emily Kaplan said.

“I haven’t heard anything about Eichel not wanting to get it done, so my expectation that is something that gets done this summer, but we shall see, and if he does happen to say ‘oh wait, I would rather go play on the East Coast or maybe I’m not ready to make a decision yet,’ then obviously the Rangers would be very high on the list of teams he’d be interested in along with the Boston Bruins of course.”

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Vegas is already working out what Eichel’s contract extension could look like. 

Rangers Finding A Way To Make It Work With Mika Zibanejad And Avoid NoiseRangers Finding A Way To Make It Work With Mika Zibanejad And Avoid NoiseWith the dust mostly settled, it appears as if Mika Zibanejad will return to the New York Rangers for the 2025-26 season.

Friedman also added that Eichel’s potential contract extension could be even more expensive than Mitch Marner’s new eight-year, $96 million contract. 

The Rangers have been rumored to have their eyes on some big-name players during the 2026 offseason.