Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick wasn’t happy with how the Raptors defense had been officiated on Sunday. AP Photo/Scott Strazzante
The Raptors entered Sunday ranked No. 1 in turnovers forced and defensive turnover percentage, but also committed the most personal fouls per game.
“If you look at the team – and this is not like a shot, this is just reality – a lot of the teams that force turnovers, they foul a lot,” Redick said. “And so by fouling on every possession, the refs are just naturally gonna allow you leeway.
“Oklahoma City does that. Detroit, watching this team, this version of this Raptors team on film, they remind me a lot of like last year’s Detroit team where they’re just going to foul you on every possession. And obviously they’ve also been called for the most fouls, and they’ve given up the most free throws, so that’s part of it.”
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick sees flaws in how NBA officials referee teams with aggressive perimeter defenders. NBAE via Getty Images
The game played as Redick said it would.
The Lakers finished with 24 turnovers that directly resulted in 30 points for the Raptors, who also committed 26 personal fouls.
While taking care of the ball has been a struggle for the Lakers, Redick saw what happened Sunday as a reflection of how NBA officials referee games in the modern era.
“I mean you guys can see it – some of those turnovers are because we’re legitimately getting fouled,” Redick said. “I told one of the referees this ‘cause all these guys do it, all the on ball defenders [do it] now. What they do is they pick you up and then they grab the arm you’re not dribbling with and then they try to steal the ball from you.
“Famously Cason Wallace did it with TJ McConnell [in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA finals]. And that’s just the NBA right now.
“It’s really hard when you play teams like this that are just fouling every possession. We did enough to play through it. But a lot of those turnovers are just that and then you can point to some decision making [with] some passes, all that stuff. Those naturally happen within the flow of the game.”
The Lakers aren’t shy with their issues with officials. Getty Images
Lakers superstar Luka Dončić, who’s often being guarded by the team’s best defenders, has noticed the shift in how perimeter defenders are officiated over the last couple of years.
“In the last two years, the game has become way more physical,” Dončić said.
“They allow way more contact. But obviously like you said, the refs can’t call everything. We just need to learn from them. We need to do the same things. Use that on the defensive end. You got to use aggression towards them. We just got to learn from that and we should do all the same on defense.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 22: Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates the team's 6-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on July 22, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Former Guardians’ closer Emmanuel Clase and starting pitcher Luis Ortiz begin standing trial for their alleged involvement in a gambling scandal today. Sam Blum of the Athletic has promised updates on Twitter here.
For clarification on a point raised in the comments, Ben Lively is signed for a minor-league deal with the Guardians for 2027 BUT if a team wanted to take him in the Rule-5 draft (thereby guaranteeing him a spot on the active roster, they could do so). That’s pretty unlikely given he had an unspecified injury to end the season and given his age. Also… they aren’t going to have a Rule-5 draft this year, I am pretty sure.
Luke Hill and Welbyn Francisca have been performing extremely well for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, with Hill boasting a .999 OPS while playing second base and DH and Francisca a 1.237 OPS while playing shortstop and second base. You can follow along (weather-permitting) with the Saguaros box score tonight at 8:30PM ET here.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 28: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using a remote camera positioned above the field of play.) The Milwaukee Brewers run onto the field after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in game five of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 28, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Milwaukee followed the 2024 Dodgers script in the World Series, with two close wins at home followed by a hope-crushing road win to go up 3-0 in the series. In both cases, a loss in Game 4 was followed by the series clincher in Game 5. The Brewers’ win was less in doubt than the Dodgers’ in 2024, but both achieved the same result, and shared another commonality.
Celebrating a championship on the road.
That’s been the norm of late, with only one team in the last 13 years has celebrated winning a championship in their home ballpark:
*Every game of the 2019 World Series was won by the road team. Wild stuff ^Dodgers were the “home” team in Game 6 in 2020, but every game of that series was played at Globe Life Field in Texas
The only home team in the last 13 years to clinch a World Series was the Houston Astros, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games in 2022, finishing things up at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Every other title involved Major League Baseball setting up the celebratory stage on a field that was not that of the home team, though in the case of this year, Milwaukee fans traveled quite well and made the Brewers feel quite comfortable at The Trop.
Winning any championship requires much more than merely the final game, obviously, and it feels like a pretty whiny thing to complain that a team isn’t winning its titles at home. Every title in itself is a gift, and should be appreciated in its own right.
But it’s still cool to clinch a championship at home.
“I’ve been a part of three World Series teams and I’ve never been able to clinch at home,” Kiké Hernández said after the 2024 NLCS. “In 2020 we were wearing white when we clinched the pennant. But we weren’t at home, we were in Texas.”
“It’s always fun to clinch,” manager Dave Roberts said in 2024. “But to be able to do it at home is really special.”
The Dodgers have won three championships in the last seven seasons, but none were finished off at home in Los Angeles. They were technically the home team in Game 6 in 2020, but that was the pandemic-shortened season and the Dodgers played their NLDS, NLCS, and World Series games all at Globe Life Field in Texas. The home team and not at home.
Only once in the Dodgers’ history have they won a World Series at home. Their first title, in 1955 for Brooklyn, was finished off at Yankee Stadium in Game 7, and in 1959 in Los Angeles the World Series ended at Comiskey Park in Chicago in Game 6.
The second year of Dodger Stadium saw the only time the Dodgers clinched a World Series at home, as they swept the Yankees. Sandy Koufax struck out eight in a complete-game victory in Game 4 to close out the championship with a 2-1 win.
The Dodgers finished off the 1965 World Series in Minnesota, celebrated in 1981 at Yankee Stadium, and did the same in 1988 in Oakland, the latter courtesy of yet another Orel Hershiser complete game, before this latest run of three titles, all clinched while away from home.
But they haven’t won a World Series at home in a long time. Then again, hardly anyone has of late.
TORRANCE, CA — Erik Gustafsson played two NHL games last season. He spent the rest of 2025-26 in Grand Rapids, where he posted 37 points in 39 AHL games for Detroit's affiliate. That ended a nine-season run as an NHL regular across eight clubs, a stretch of 226 points in 474 games without a single stop in the minors.
On paper, Gustafsson and a Los Angeles Kings team desperate for a rebound looked like a poor match, especially since he was the sole signing brought in to bolster one of the most stagnant defense corps in the league last season.
Bewildering to most, Ken Holland had already doubled down on the Kings archetype defenseman with Joel Edmundson and then padded it with Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, all on a roster that already iced Mikey Anderson, a shutdown defenseman, and an aging stalwart in their newest captain, Drew Doughty. Brandt Clarke was the only true puck mover left from last season, a lone island in a sea of outdated archetypes after Jordan Spence’s departure.
After last season’s woeful results despite a caddy cornered divisional playoff gift, the Kings replaced the master and commander of their playing style and deployment with Peter Laviolette. With Gustafsson, they handed him some aging veterans, layering into the same personnel to run a new system.
Gustafsson has already quintupled his NHL games from last season. Laviolette has paired him with Clarke, and the Kings finally have a puck-moving, offensive pairing they missed for all of last season. A defenseman who spent 98 percent of last season in the AHL now plays over 20 minutes a night, at or near the top of the corps. He started the season as the seventh defenseman.
Give him his due. He is posting his highest average ice time since 2022-23, and he has seized the opportunity with aplomb. His lone goal came on the power play, a semi-breakaway born of his own skating and creativity through the breakout, something completely unimaginable for four of their defensive regulars. Beyond his lone goal thus far, he brings an element this corps simply did not have outside of Clarke.
This is not the 2018-19 Blackhawks Gustafsson who posted 60 points in 79 games, and nobody signed this version to be a top pairing defenseman, yet over his brief tenure he has become somewhat like that, someone to throw out on a powerplay unit and deploy in offensive situations.
As much as this is a hat tip to Gustafsson, it raises the obvious question: how does an AHL defenseman blitz past practically the entire Kings blue line in a month? The answer says far more about the blue line than it does about him, and about a franchise that has glossed over major holes through the Rob Blake and Holland eras, running into a wall that gets harder to climb every season.
Doughty has turned back the clock lately with multiple three-point games, passing Gustafsson in production, but a hot stretch does not change his inevitable decline, his pending next contract, or the presence of Cody Ceci, with whom the Kings have yet to win a game while dressed this season.
The pairing data makes the case on its own. Five Kings pairings have cleared 50 minutes together this season, and only one holds a positive expected goals share. You have probably already guessed it: Clarke and Gustafsson at 60.7 percent (23rd best pairing in expected goals for). Among 136 NHL pairings with 50 minutes together, Edmundson and Doughty (48.1 percent) rank 77th, Anderson and Dumoulin (44 percent) rank 99th, and Anderson and Ceci (35.3 percent) rank 125th. Every pairing outside of Clarke and Gustafsson carries more expected goals against than goals for, and Anderson's pairings with Ceci or Dumoulin sit a full goal or more underwater. It is early, but a gap between 60.7 and 35.3 percent is not noise, and no small sample caveat explains it away.
Corsi tells the same story, with shot attempts cratering the moment Gustafsson and Clarke leave the ice. The fifth and sixth defensemen are not supposed to be a team's Achilles' heel, but when the third through sixth defensemen all statistically buckle in their minutes, one has to wonder what management had in mind.
There was a time when right-shot defensemen were the most coveted commodity in this league, and the Kings still roster like that time never ended. Ceci's right shot is the strongest case for his $4.5 million, and handedness balance does matter, but it all comes down to the impact a player makes on the ice, and Ceci's impact sits 125th of 136 pairings. That outdated thinking has seemingly lived risk-free in Los Angeles until now. A $4.5 million defenseman sits in the press box while a defenseman who spent nearly all of last season in the AHL plays over him and drives more offense than as many as three of the six defensemen deployed.
Ran their team's power play, rostered in under 30% of leagues (Oct 31):
Kasperi Kapanen EDM 64% of the PP (7:18) Corey Perry LAK 74% of the PP (6:27) Erik Gustafsson LAK 55% of the PP (4:48) Kyle Palmieri NYI 51% of the PP (4:32) Brayden Schenn NYI 51% of the PP (4:31) pic.twitter.com/N2nK38cIzD
It is a black eye for an organization whose gaping holes, once again, are papered over with parchment. What is happening with Gustafsson proves exactly what this roster needs: legitimate puck movers. Alexander Nikishin was the fish that fit this exact category of change, and adding a puck mover of his caliber, or anywhere close, fundamentally changes the ceiling of this wavering franchise.
If one AHL defenseman can climb to the top of this corps in a month, imagine what a true top-four puck mover would do.
For a franchise that has spent near the cap, management's capacity for change and control is dubious at best when the team rests in the cellar of the league. As much as 'the move' is as obvious as it gets, which includes a center hunt, the franchise has proven far more stubborn under Holland than expected in addressing glaring red flags.
Teams that spend to the cap are typically in their contender phase. It doesn't take a magician to prove that this is a mirage in Los Angeles.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 30: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 30, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Jose Alvarado’s availability for Monday‘s game after practicing on Sunday:
“I have not talked to our medical people.”
On Tyler Kolek’s role while Alvarado remains sidelined and going forward:
“Tyler is definitely going to keep playing while Jose is out. When he comes back, we’ll figure it out.”
On finally having a full practice over the weekend amid early-season issues:
“When you have an opportunity to practice, you hope that you can address some of the things that bothered you and get a little bit better.”
On failing to deal with opposing bench players getting hot:
“I’m OK with that because sometimes guys are going to get hot and make shots. Now, are there little things we can do to correct it? Yes.
“But what I was concerned with is our first half inability to control the dribble-drive, OK, and then how bad our turnovers were. Those were the two biggest things that I had concern with.”
On the need for rebuilding chemistry after the championship season:
“You’re starting all over. It’s like climbing a mountain. We’re climbing a mountain as a team and we conquer the mountain, then you gotta come back down, take some time off, then you gotta climb another mountain. It’s the same thing. And when you climb that mountain the second time, you’re starting from base camp again. And if you skip steps doing that, you’re going to die. It’s not that tragic for us. When you’re sitting at 2-4, people equate it to that sometimes, but it’s the same thing, taking each step the right way and embracing it and trying to get a little better.”
On why the Knicks must experience growing pains again despite having won the title:
“If we don’t go through our growing pains and we can’t get through our growing pains, for whatever reason — because we don’t want to go through it being that hard again or we think we know or whatever it may be — if we can’t get through our growing pains, we have no chance.
“It’s like anything you do in life. When you complete something and you have to do it again, you’re not just starting right here [at the top] when you do it again. You’re starting here [at the bottom] and you’re building up. And sometimes, your second or your third year doing it, you’re getting here [at the top] a little quicker. But you still gotta go through all the necessary steps to get there.”
On the Knicks’ struggles finishing in the paint:
“If you think about it, if you’re shooting the way we’re shooting the ball at the perimeter, it’s like in football, if you’re not able to pass the ball, they’re gonna put eight guys in the box. It’s the same thing. If we’re not making shots, they’re going to do this [collapse in the paint] and it’s gonna be harder to finish in the paint.
“And so eventually, at least the green [high-quality] 3s, we’re gonna have to continue generating green threes but we’re gonna have to make some green threes. But in the same breath, while we’re not doing that, we gotta be better in other areas to compensate for our ability to shoot the ball right now.”
On the Knicks’ problems stopping Philly in the paint:
“They were getting in our paint left and right, right and left, and it was really, really easy doing it. If it’s a post-up game or something like that, OK, maybe, I don’t know. But to continue to have that ball driven in the paint, especially in the first half when they shot 5 of 17 or whatever it is from the 3-point line, was not good.”
On the Knicks’ defensive communication and inconsistent execution:
“It’s not just one thing. It’s a little thing here, little thing there, little thing there, and that’s why it adds up. We’re competitive when we need to be, and that’s why all our games that we’re in, we have a chance down the stretch.
“But trying to make sure we continue to do the little things throughout the course of the game is gonna be huge for us because we’re not doing it right now.”
On the Knicks failing to execute fundamentals:
“It was almost like we were just gonna show up and go hoop and not doing the little things that we need to do to go get a win.”
“My name is Jalen Brunson and welcome to Madison Square Garden“
— Jalen Brunson helps raise the banner for Harry Styles 30 consecutive nights at the Garden
On trusting the Knicks’ decision-making and not being afraid to make mistakes:
“We have the right intentions. We’ve just gotta be confident in our decision-making and don’t be afraid to fail. We have the confidence in this locker room to do it. We all work hard. We see it every day. Everything’s going to fall into place as it should be.”
On the condition of his sprained left wrist heading into Monday’s game:
“The wrist is doing its thing.”
On the Knicks needing to rediscover their championship form more consistently:
“We gotta find a way to be that magical team we were last year at a more consistent pace. You don’t always want to just wait until the end to find that magic. Lightning don’t strike twice, so we gotta be that team right now and we gotta continue to build off of what we did last year.”
On the Knicks’ offensive struggles and failure to execute:
“We just haven’t played our best, and we haven’t executed at a high level.”
On the Knicks’ stagnant offense contributing to early deficits:
“I think when that’s happened, we’re just coming in a little stagnant offensively. Forced into either bad shots or turnovers. And then, you know, stops are harder.”
Mikal Bridges
On his affection for the Nets and Suns, his former teams:
“No matter them or Phoenix, people I played for, there’s always a spot in my heart for them and I always remember the time being there.”
On former Nets teammates still playing in Brooklyn:
“It might be just them two.”
On the Knicks’ practice session and correcting their mistakes:
“Just lock in. Obviously, we watch film and work on things that we gotta fix.”
On rebuilding the chemistry the Knicks developed during their championship season:
“Yeah, that’s why I think for us, we just gotta continue to grow. Last time we played was in June. I think [we were] probably the most polished as a team we were at the end of the year, as we should be. So, I know it’s tough to see last time we played to the beginning of the year, and obviously we should be better than we are, me personally. But it takes time and just not skipping steps and just kinda going through the process and keep learning, get back in that rhythm.”
“Doesn't really matter what team I play for. I was at my son's game yesterday & it was like 'I'm a Nets fan, you’re gonna kill it this year.' Then I get on the other side & it's 'Thank you for everything you've done for the Knicks"
“I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun. No, I don’t know nothing about (the Knicks’ winning streak against Brooklyn). I live in the present, baby. … Focus on what we need to do to get a win, build off of what we did [Sunday] and stick together as a group.”
On opposing fans taking over Barclays Center during Nets home games:
“I don’t give a shit. I’ve been on teams that weren’t good and didn’t have the excitement around them. Then you start winning and the whole arena is there to see your team and cheer. So I think that’s just part of being a fan. For us as a team, we got to give them something to root for.”
On whether he sees himself as responsible for developing Brooklyn’s next generation of fans:
“Oh, hell no. It doesn’t really matter what team I play for. I was at my son’s basketball game yesterday and it was like, Man, I’m a Nets fan. You’re going to kill it this year. Then I get on the other side and it’s, Thank you for everything you’ve done for the Knicks’ …”
On building a winning culture in Brooklyn and helping the Nets’ younger players:
“I definitely want to be a part of establishing a culture and giving the city of Brooklyn something to be proud of. I’m not here just to come out and get my numbers or whatever it is. I’m here to win a championship. I’m here to help these young guys excel and speed up their growth process.”
After recording a team-high 23 points, Michael Porter Jr. tells @Meghan_Triplett what Brooklyn can take from tonight's win into tomorrow against the Knicks. pic.twitter.com/nRjTqkDnws
On facing the Knicks after Brooklyn’s historic 54-point defeat at MSG last year:
“We’ve got a big game [Monday] that we should be very excited to play. Last year, when we went to the Garden, it was not pretty, and we should remember that and look forward to getting our rest [Sunday night] and going in there and being competitive. I know I’m looking forward to it.”
On opposing teams’ fans dominating the crowd at Barclays Center:
“When we play Knicks, Celtics, Philly, Lakers, it’s mostly their fans. It’s crazy.”
Damn, Nets owner Joe Tsai says the Knicks championship left the Nets fanbase ‘irritated’ and ‘embarrassed’ 🫢
“Every year, some team is going to win a championship. So it happens that this year that team is in the same city. It doesn’t make us feel very good. It irates our… pic.twitter.com/TFyiiNCRJ0
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Kyle Farmer #15 of the Atlanta Braves rounds third on his way to score during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves gave veteran infielder Kyle Farmer the opportunity to return to his hometown of Atlanta. They didn’t give him much of an opportunity to do much else, though, as Farmer spent most of the season on the big league roster but barely played.
How Acquired
The Braves brought in Kyle Farmer as a free agent in early February 2026 before releasing and then re-signing him in March. The nine-year MLB veteran had spent the 2025 season with the Colorado Rockies.
What were the expectations?
Farmer was added as an end-of-bench utility option that could provide infield depth, including shortstop. The Braves were potentially interested because of Ha-Seong Kim’s injury. Farmer also gave the team some additional outfield depth and, having limited MLB experience at catcher earlier in his career, was able to serve as the de facto third catcher when on the active roster.
As a player who’d seen action in 97 or more games in every non-2020 season since 2019, Farmer seemed to be in line to see a decent amount of action as a pinch-hitter and reserve. That said, he had an awful 2025 (-1.0 fWAR in 300 PAs), which interrupted a streak of fine-if-below-average performances in 2021-2024. Put those things together and he was projected to be above replacement-ish, but nothing resembling solid bench production or anything like that.
2026 Results
Farmer made the Opening Day roster but saw limited action until landing on the IL in mid-May. Limited action is kind of overselling it: in about six weeks, he got 15 PAs across ten games. He returned on July 4, got one PA across two games, and then was released on the 21st of the same month. He then came back on a minor league deal and returned to the big league club when rosters expanded on September 1, getting three PAs in two games down the stretch.
Add that all up, and he appeared in only 14 games during the season, his lowest total since debuting with the Los Angles Dodgers in 2017. He mustered only 19 plate appearances, slashing .222/.211/.278 (25 wRC+) with three RBI. Defensively, he appeared at third base, second base and shortstop and didn’t do anything to distinguish himself in a tiny sample. He finished 2026 with -0.1 fWAR, his second consecutive sub-replacement season.
What went right?
Farmer was able to spend most of the season on the big league roster — only about six weeks was he on a minor league deal — but otherwise it was a very quiet campaign for the 36-year-old. He only started one game: April 30 at home against the Detroit Tigers, when he went 1-for-3 as the team’s DH. That was the most WPA he earned on the season, too (0.03), as his second-inning single helped push across the first run of the game. If that wasn’t his most notable game, then it was probably his 1-for-3 performance against Cleveland on April 12 when he doubled and knocked in two runs after pinch-hitting for DH Dom Smith.
The fact that the organization kept him on the active roster while avoiding giving him playing time likely speaks to how the team valued his off-the-field contributions.
What went wrong?
After May 15, Farmer only appeared in four games with Atlanta — two in July and two in September. Given he only played in 10 of the team’s first 45 games, the lack of playing time stands out given he’d been a regular or highly-used reserve for the prior seven seasons. He went hitless for the remainder of the season after singling on April 30. Could the Braves have found a better use for his roster spot? That’s probably the biggest “what went wrong” with regard to his season, though given that the Braves won 94 games, it’s not a huge concern.
WPA-wise, his worst performance came during a meaningless contest against the Marlins on September 27. Farmer replaced Ozzie Albies and went 0-for-2, including a strikeout with two out and the tying run on base in the seventh.
2027 outlook
Atlanta has serious questions at shortstop with Kim unlikely to return after a disastrous season, and Mauricio Dubón a free agent. The team has multiple shortstop prospects, but they are all likely at least a season away. The team tends to hoard middle infielders at Gwinnett, so it isn’t out of the question that Farmer might return to the organization on a minor league deal if a better opportunity doesn’t come knocking, or if he doesn’t retire.
Farmer could serve minor league depth or in a big league role similar to the one he had in 2026 — and one Luke Williams held for several seasons — a utility man capable of handling shortstop as a reserve and serving as an emergency catcher. That said, it’s now been two years since Farmer actually provided any value to a team, and he’s now a half-decade removed from his one solidly average season, so, much like 2026 — if any team rosters him, it probably isn’t for what he can provide on the field.
Every offseason, Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo picks up the phone and tries to convince 29 other front offices that his prospects are worth more than they think. Or at least we hope he is this active.
On The Royals Rundown Podcast, we had Jeremy Greco play Picollo, while I served as the opposing general manager. We negotiated trades, and Jeremy wrote about his offseason plan in Playing Picollo Part 2. If you missed that episode, you can listen to it here.
The rules were simple. Jeremy ran the Royals with a shopping list of team needs. I played opposing GMs, and my only job was to protect my team and get a fair deal. No charity, no hometown discount, no pretending a Low-A reliever is a future closer because he’s wearing powder blue. While I am not a front office executive, I tried considering what holes my imaginary organization had, where their competitive timeline stood, and ultimately get the help they needed and could use.
We talked through six players. Four deals got done, two fell apart, and by the end Kansas City had a new rotation and a much thinner farm system. Here is the logic behind every call I made from the other side of the table.
All prospect rankings are from MLB Pipeline.
Reid Detmers (Angels): deal done
Royals get: LHP Reid Detmers
Angels get: LHP David Shields (#4), C Blake Mitchell (#5), RHP Jack Slightom (#12)
If you’re going to ask me for my best starter, you’re going to pay for my best starter. Detmers threw 185 innings with a 3.36 ERA, struck out 211, and was worth 4.2 WAR, and he comes with two more years of team control. His changeup generates whiffs like a buy-one-get-one coupon generates foot traffic, and he got better as the year went on, posting a 2.05 ERA after the All-Star break. Bring him to Kauffman Stadium, and he’s not a back-end piece, he’s likely the Royals’ Opening Day starter.
Jeremy’s opening offer leaned on Slightom and red-hot outfielder Angeibel Gomez. It was tough to reject, but Gomez is still far away from a big-league debut, so I countered with Shields, Mitchell, and Kendry Chourio. Neither of us was getting everything we wanted, so we met in the middle: Shields, Mitchell, and Slightom.
From the Angels’ chair, I liked it. I told Jeremy I felt I got the better end, and that the deal only swings back their way if both the arm and the bat miss. Jeremy’s response was that both carry red flags. That’s fair. It’s also exactly what a GM says after they’ve already hung up the phone.
The headline of this deal is not a single prospect, but rather two in Shields and Mitchell. Shields had an electric 2026 season, staying all year in the High-A Quad Cities rotation en route to the Midwest League championship. There are concerns about Shields’ velocity, but the then-19-year-old hurler had little problem this year against more experienced batters.
He is a starter through and through, and few pitchers are better poised to start their age-20 season in Double-A than Shields. While the minor-league run environment exploded this season, I looked at Shields’ 2.48 SIERA in valuing him. For comparison, Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski led MLB with a 2.35 SIERA this season. The results will not translate one-to-one from High-A to MLB, but they show how elite a pitcher Shields was in 2026.
The wild card here is Mitchell, the uber-athletic catcher with a polarizing batting profile. His 23 homers and 27 stolen bases in High-A this season put him in elite company, while his 131 wRC+ shows how much more productive he was than his peers However, the 34.1% strikeout rate is a huge red flag, even weighed against a 22.1% walk rate. That ratio would be among the better in MLB, but it was only tied for 212th among High-A batters alone. Add in his contact issues, and Mitchell feels like an all-or-nothing prospect Kansas City could move on from after the 2026 season. The Angels lack a clear top catching prospect better than Mitchell, so shoring up that position with an MLB hole to boot feels feasible.
Slightom is more of a wild card, not because of any flaws or red flags, but because he has yet to show what he can do in professional games. Kansas City liked him enough to give him an above-slot deal after drafting him this year in the second round, thanks to projectable stuff and a starter’s build. But with no affiliated action yet, the jury is still out on what Slightom will be. I looked at that build and his fastball, coupled with a unique delivery, and think there is a solid prospect there to work with on his secondary offerings. Here is a quick look at him down in Arizona.
Figured this would be a good battle. Kansas City Royals 2026 2nd rd draft pick Jack Slightom vs Padres 2026 free agent signing Josh Skowronski. Slightom gets Skronk here. pic.twitter.com/GDTxxpull7
My ask: 3B Josh Hammond (#3), UTL Nick Loftin (MLB), LHP Dash Albus (NR)
The Gilbert talks are where I learned the most about playing the other side. Jeremy kept offering pieces that made sense for the Royals to move. I kept asking for pieces that made sense for the Mariners to own.
Michael Massey was the easy no. Seattle’s middle infield is already a crowded elevator, with Cole Young, Brendan Donovan, Michael Arroyo and Brock Rodden all waiting for the doors to open. Adding another second baseman solves nothing. Third base is the real long-term hole, especially with Donovan hitting free agency after 2027. That’s why I pushed for Hammond.
I also wasn’t going to let Jeremy forget what they were buying. Gilbert has one year of control left and projects to make about $15.4 million in his final arbitration year. One year of an ace is still one year. I wanted Loftin, not Isaac Collins, and Jeremy wouldn’t budge on Loftin. The talks did not last long on Gilbert, but opened another door in Seattle.
George Kirby (Mariners): deal done
Royals get: RHP George Kirby
Mariners get: C Ramon Ramirez (#7), RHP Lucas Braun (#16), LHP Dash Albus (NR)
So we stayed in Seattle and changed the name on the jersey. I countered with Ramirez, Braun, and Albus for two years of Kirby, and Jeremy took it.
My pitch was simple. Kirby is coming off a down 2026, a 4.33 ERA in 174.2 innings, which is the only reason he’s available at this price. The Royals get a surefire rotation arm with two years of control, and the Mariners turn a pitcher in a dip into three young pieces. Jeremy walked away thinking they gave up very little in Braun and Albus. Sometimes the best trades are the ones where both sides think they won the coin flip.
Ramirez is the headline piece here for Seattle, banking on the still underappreciated catching prospect in the Royals’ system. While an injury took some time from him this summer, his High-A performance went well overall. Looking at his skills behind the plate from 2025 to 2026, I feel comfortable with him sticking as a catcher after some fielding and blocking concerns raised eyebrows last season. His bat is what will carry him, and the bat speed remains tantalizing after a 2025 injury saw his power decline following his return. He would join Seattle’s organization as a well-rounded alternative to Luke Stevenson, the Mariners’ current top catching prospect.
LVPB (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League) meet Ramón Ramírez! #RaisingRoyals👑 21-year-old slugger went 2 for 2 with a home run and a 2-run single and walked twice last night in his debut for @labarrabrava.
The Royals need pitching depth heading into 2027, but if there was room to let Braun walk, I was going to take it. With youngsters Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan pushing for MLB roles in 2027, there is a steep drop off to the Mariners’ next wave of pitching talent. Braun serves more as an insurance policy than a high-ceiling add, but with a 3.69 SIERA in Triple-A action last season, that is his best role in any organization. The control is his calling card, but Braun lacks a tool that screams MLB regular to me. Still, you carry insurance for a reason, and Seattle will likely need some on their supporting starting staff.
This was the second time I tried to get Albus, and I finally landed him for Seattle. Albus is not a top-30 prospect, but relievers rarely are. The 19th rounder from the 2024 MLB Draft now has two steady seasons in the Royals organization, pitching at least 55 innings each year. His jump from 13.8% K-BB% in 2025 to 21.4% K-BB% in 2026 gives him some helium. Albus was also among High-A’s best pitchers at inducing chase swings (39.8%, 98th percentile) and limiting in-zone contact (73.5%, 94th percentile). Those are not aberrations, but rather him improving on what he was strongest with at Low-A last season. Heading into his age-24 season, Albus should start next season at Double-A.
Nick Lodolo (Reds): no deal
My ask: LHP Justin Lamkin (8), OF Asbel Gonzalez (15)
Lodolo’s 2026 was a story told mostly by blisters. He finished with a 4.97 ERA in 108.2 innings. Look past that and you find a pitcher who, in his healthy 2025, posted a 3.33 ERA over 156.2 innings and 4.7 WAR. He has one year of control left at a projected $5.7 million, which is a bargain for a guy who can pitch like that when his fingers cooperate.
So I asked for Lamkin and Gonzalez, essentially the price of the 2025 version. Jeremy refused to pay 2025 prices for a 2026 Lodolo. I understood the logic. I also pointed out that they had just paid exactly that kind of price for a George Kirby coming off his own down year. Consistency is a lot to ask from a general manager. Apparently it’s even more to ask from a podcast host. This was also before Lamkin really started taking off in the Arizona Fall League, so my buy-low attempt on the Texas A&M alum fell short. Thank goodness for Royals fans.
Ryan Feltner (Rockies): deal done
Royals get: RHP Ryan Feltner
Rockies get: RHP Felix Arronde (#21), LHP Darwin Rodriguez (NR)
Feltner found a niche in piggyback and bulk relief work, and his changeup is the kind of pitch that looks better the farther it gets from Coors Field. He projects to make about $3.8 million in arbitration and isn’t a lock to be tendered. Getting him out of Colorado is a bet that he becomes something else. Plenty of pitchers have walked out of that altitude and found out who they really were.
Of every deal we made, this is the one I like most from the opposing side. Colorado turns a non-tender candidate into two arms. Kansas City gets a lottery ticket with a really good changeup.
Arronde had a ton of helium coming into 2026, after pitching 128.2 High-A innings with a 2.80 ERA in that span. He was not a dominant strikeout pitcher, but adeptly limited home runs and induced ineffective contact in his 26 appearances. But the burgeoning minor-league run environment was a brick wall for him in 2026, where he jumped to Double-A and pitched his third consecutive 100-plus-inning season. The strikeouts ticked up, but the walk rate spiked from 8.1% to 11.2%. His home run rate was one of the worst in minor league baseball, allowing 2.14 home runs per nine innings, or 25 in his 24 total appearances. He was a consistent presence in the strike zone this year, and hopefully a repeat of Double-A this coming season gets him back on track.
Rodriguez is a nice-to-have in this deal as a guy who, like Albus, has factors that say he could develop into a big-league contributor in coming years. The Venezuelan pitched a career-high 115 innings this season, all at Low-A Columbia, with a 3.83 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and 3.54 SIERA all showing how consistent he was in Columbia. His control sets up a so-so arsenal well, somehow getting batters to chase at a 32.4% rate while only whiffing 23.5% of the time. He was a late starter to his professional career, but has been remarkably consistent over the past three years. High-A offers the next test, though, and his lacking stuff might be his downfall. But finding that next fastball shape for Rodriguez and honing the changeup, that is on my organization.
Darwin Rodriguez fans nine Woodpecker batters in 5.2 innings, a new career high for the Fireflies southpaw! 😎🔥 #LetsGlowpic.twitter.com/bH2rZVusUh
— Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) June 6, 2026
Dylan Crews (Nationals): deal done
Royals get: OF Dylan Crews
Nationals get: LHP Daniel Lynch IV (MLB), OF Sean Gamble (#10)
The first position player added in this exercise is banking on a blue-chip prospect benefitting from a change of scenery. Crews has the pedigree and a solid glove, but no track record of production yet. He hit .223/.289/.374 with an 82 OPS+ in 2026, good for 0.7 WAR. My honest projection is that he peaks as a 1- to 2-WAR player. Talent doesn’t win ballgames. Production does. But he would still serve as an improvement to the current Royals outfield and give the team room to add another impact bat in the outfield, where hopefully Crews would serve more as a supplementary role in center field or left as needed.
What Crews does offer the Royals is cost certainty. He’s pre-arbitration through 2027 and under team control through 2030, and that matters for a payroll that just swallowed Detmers, Kirby, and Feltner. When the rotation gets expensive, a cheap outfielder with upside starts to look like a necessity.
Jeremy’s offer included Yandel Ricardo (#11 in the farm system). I swapped Ricardo out for Lynch and asked for Gamble and Lynch. The logic was based entirely on Washington’s needs. With Seaver King and Eli Willits holding down shortstop, Washington needs a future multi-position outfielder with some base power more than another infielder, and Gamble fits. Lynch fills a bullpen that needs left-handed arms, and with Washington’s recent track record of testing out pitching reclamation projects, I think the 2018 first-rounder would offer them a starting option that I know Kansas City fans do not want to see pitching against them.
Gamble’s season is a Rorschach test. He finished with a 72 wRC+ at Low-A as a 19-year-old, but he also stole 38 bases, including 12 in his final 23 games. His power ticked up late, too, with a .123 ISO from August on compared to .107 for the year. Squint one way and he’s a speedster still learning to hit. Squint the other, and he’s a young hitter starting to find damage. As the Nationals, I’ll happily take that ink blot.
He was exclusively in center field for Columbia last year, flashing his speed and reaction on plenty of highlight-reel plays. I am still interested in the versatile profile he had coming out of IMG Academy last year, but his future likely lies in center or left. The Nationals do have some outfield prospects, but like Gamble, all are far from the league. Luke Dickerson is a similar profile to Gamble, but is not a surefire guy to push Gamble off Washington’s radar altogether.
Sean Gamble lines a stand-up triple to the right field wall that scores Henry Ramos to give us a first-inning 1-0 lead. #LetsGlowpic.twitter.com/nEDB9k6Sju
— Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) May 27, 2026
The final tally
When the dust settled, five of the Royals’ top 12 prospects were wearing new uniforms: Shields, Mitchell, Ramirez, Gamble, and Slightom. In return, Kansas City added three starting pitchers and a cost-controlled outfielder. Taking that opposing general manager hat off after this exercise, I feel that is the aggressive stance Kansas City needs to take this offseason if they want to improve the big-league product, without hedging their bets on a litany of prospects who have not played above High-A.
But give Jeremy credit for what he didn’t move. They held on to Chourio and Gomez, the two best players in the system, and Hammond stayed put because he wouldn’t part with Loftin in the Gilbert talks. A front office can survive trading depth. It rarely survives trading the future, and all three have hopeful roles in the next great wave of Royals prospects.
There was a strange beauty in playing the other side of this equation. I was able to go get guys I want to see progress like Rodriguez and Albus, while adding prospects who would be likely top-ten additions to any system out there. Will our thought process come to fruition? Likely not, just like many free agent or trade predictions we will see over the offseason ahead. But that intent on Kansas City’s end is what needs to materialize if fans are to believe 2026 was an injury-fueled fluke rather than a return to the baseball purgatory Kansas City has occupied for much of my adult life.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 28: Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner celebrates following Game Six of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians on October 28, 1995 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
It looks like Braves Country will be on Hall of Fame Watch once again this offseason, as another Atlanta luminary has been named to the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for the 2027 class of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Former Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner has made the star-studded list of eight candidates for this year’s class.
Ted Turner joins a list that includes legends like Dusty Baker, Lou Pinella, Bruce Bochy, and Bill White. Sandy Alderson, Brian Sabean and Joe Maddon also made the list as well, so this is about as stacked of a ballot as you can get when it comes to former executives, managers and umpires.
As the linked article mentions, Turner was responsible for getting the Braves on TBS during his time as owner, which allowed for Atlanta’s games to be televised across the country on cable — hence the nickname of “America’s Team” during that time period. While Turner was known for that and some colorfully strange hijinks during his time as a hands-on owner, it was only after he took a more hands-off approach that the ballclub blossomed into the perennial contender that it is today.
Turner was the owner as the Braves became a powerhouse throughout the 1990s and with Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz already in the Hall of Fame from that era, it would only make sense if the owner joined them as well. It’s a shame that the honor is coming posthumously (assuming Turner gets into the Hall) but it would still be well deserved for one of the more forward-thinking and unique baseball owners of his time.
As usual, any given candidate must receive 75 percent of the vote from the 16-person panel to receive induction. We’re likely going to see multiple inductions on this ballot and hopefully Ted Turner is among them. We’ll see what happens once the votes are revealed on December 6.
UPDATE: Here’s Jayson Stark explaining the voting process
This is a loaded ballot filled with great names.
Just a reminder that the committee members only have 3 ballot slots apiece.
So mathematically it's almost impossible to elect more than two of these guys. https://t.co/9nebfENIg0
Former Mets general manager and team president Sandy Alderson has been named a candidate for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Alderson was announced as one of the eight people named to the non-player ballot to be voted on by the Hall of Fame's Contemporary Baseball Era Committee when it meets on Dec. 6 in San Diego.
Alderson's biggest success with the Mets came in 2015 as New York captured the National League pennant, and he was named Executive of the Year by Baseball America. In eight seasons under Alderson, the Mets made two postseason appearances and had a .485 winning percentage.
Before coming to Queens, Alderson was the general manager of the Oakland Athletics (1983-1997), winning three straight American League pennants and the World Series title in 1989.
Alderson joins three other executives and four former managers, including Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon, former Yankees manager Lou Piniella, Brian Sabean, Ted Turner, and Bill White. The candidates come from a pool of people whose primary contribution to the game came since 1980.
Any candidate who appears on 75 percent of committee members' ballots earns their place in Cooperstown, with induction set for the summer of 2027.
Golden State Warriors Yaxel Lendeborg discusses his performance against the Clippers.
In Sunday’s 124-112 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors rookie phenom Yaxel Lendeborg fell just shy of scoring 40 points. It is the most for a Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry in 2010.
Lendeborg finished with 37 points and was asked why he didn’t go for the 40-point figure. He indeed tried, but fell short because of the pressure from his peers.
Yaxel Lendeborg scores 37 points in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. NBAE via Getty Images
“I’ve never been a stat chaser in my life, so just falling into peer pressure like I did just now was pretty much bad on my part,” Lendeborg said. “Especially because I’m a guy that just loves ethical hoops. I’m a guy that loves efficient basketball, and I didn’t do that the last two or three minutes. So it’s kind of bad on my part.”
Lendeborg said his teammate De’Anthony Melton approached him and said, “Hey man you need to get 40. You’re three points away.’ And I’m like, ‘Nah, man. It’s all good.’ And he peer pressured me into doing it.”
Yaxel Lendeborg celebrating with Will Richard during his 37 point performance on Sunday night. NBAE via Getty Images
“He said he’s going to give me the ball. And he literally like, was holding it just to give me the ball. And I’m like, ‘All right, fine. I’ll shoot it.’ And I missed.”
Lendeborg said he tried to barter with Melton about being content with his 37 points, but then Will Richard approached him and said, “You got to do it.”
“Everybody was just egging me on, and I kind of just fell into it. But I know next time, I’mma just play in the flow of the game, ’cause they came out of me like four threes in a row, and we almost lost the game because of that. So, next time I’m never doing that again.”
It is not often you hear a professional athlete openly talk about trying to pad their stats. Yet, the Warriors rookie is not one for holding back.
Golden State Warriors rookie, Yaxel Lendeborg scores 37 points against the Clippers on Sunday night. Getty Images
“If it comes to me, it does. If I don’t get it, then I wasn’t meant to get it that day,” Lendeborg said. “Imma be way better next time.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins are once again throwing things back to their days wearing blue for an alternate uniform.
The team unveiled its kits that will be part of the broader NHL Hometown Remix series on Nov. 2.
The jerseys will be primarily a darker shade than the baby blue throwbacks they deployed starting in 2008. Those were designed to mimic the uniforms they wore upon breaking into the league in 1967.
These, apparently, drew similar inspiration as the team celebrates its 60th anniversary season, according to its announcement. Even as they look closer to the jerseys they used starting in 1972 that were a deeper shade of blue.
"This Hometown Remix jersey draws from the offset compositions, halftone textures, and unmistakable graphic style of the ‘60s," the team wrote. "The crest gets a pop art treatment that gives the Penguins mark a fresh, modern pulse. The shoulder patches deliver the same offset aesthetic: the igloo for the much-loved old Penguins’ arena, the triangle for the three rivers. On the hem, Pittsburgh’s unique neighborhoods are represented through glorious colors, grounding the jersey in hometown warmth and cultural pride. The numbers on the back leave a lasting impact, with halftone and offset detailing that mirrors the crest’s pop art language. The palette feels both classic Penguins and unmistakably iconic. A tribute to a city that isn't afraid to be bold and make it count."
The uniforms will debut for the Nov. 3 home game against the Vegas Golden Knights at PPG Paints Arena. Fans will be able to see them at nine more regular season home games in 2026-27.
The Penguins started wearing black and gold in the 1980s to align themselves more closely with the Pirates and Steelers, who themselves drew inspiration from the city’s crest and flag that use those colors.
They’ve done so mostly uninterrupted since. The baby blues returned for a brief interlude around the first-ever NHL Winter Classic against the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium back in 2008.
Sidney Crosby scored one of his iconic goals that day, beating Sabres goalie Ryan Miller for the winner in the shootout that broke a 1-1 tie after regulation and overtime.
For that reason, fans have maintained a soft spot for the color blue since. It’s not uncommon to see a blue Crosby jersey in the stands for games at PPG Paints Arena, nearly 20 years later.
It will be interesting to see if these catch on in a similar way, considering their origin is a leaner period of team history before the arrival of icons including Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr beginning in the 1980s.
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
Former Kansas City Royals player Lou Piniella throws out the first pitch before a game between the Royals and New York Yankees on Sunday, May 20, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Former Royals outfielder Lou Piniella, who was Rookie of the Year with the team in 1969, is up for consideration in Cooperstown. The National Baseball Hall of Fame has announced eight nominees for the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot for potential induction in 2027. The candidates are Sandy Alderson, Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon, Lou Piniella, Brian Sabean, Ted Turner, and Bill White.
The Contemporary Baseball Era ballot features four managers and four executives for consideration in the Hall of Fame Class of 2027.
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) November 2, 2026
Sandy Alderson became the Athletics general manager at age 35 and built the team that won three consecutive American League pennants and a World Series title from 1988-90. Alderson later worked in the Commissioner’s Office as executive vice president for baseball operations before serving in the front offices of the Padres and Mets, where he helped lead both franchises to Postseason appearances.
Dusty Baker managed the Giants, Cubs, Reds, Nationals and Astros over 26 seasons, compiling 13 postseason appearances, 10 first-place finishes and a World Series title in 2022. A three-time Manager of the Year Award winner (1993, 1997, 2000) and three-time runner-up, Baker led his teams to the postseason in each of his final eight seasons as a manager. He was also a two-time All-Star as a player over a 19-year career with the Braves, Dodgers, Giants, and Athletics, and was a champion in 1981 with Los Angeles.
Bruce Bochy managed the Padres, Giants and Rangers over 28 seasons, compiling 2,252 wins while leading his clubs to nine postseason appearances, six first-place finishes and four World Series titles. The 1996 National League Manager of the Year, Bochy finished in the top three of the voting seven times. A former catcher who played nine seasons in the big leagues, Bochy is one of only six managers in history with at least four World Series championships.
Joe Maddon managed the Angels, Rays and Cubs over 19 seasons, winning 1,382 games while leading his teams to the postseason eight times. A three-time Manager of the Year Award winner, Maddon led the Rays to their first American League pennant and first winning season in franchise history in 2008. He later skippered the Cubs to their first World Series championship in 108 years in 2016.
Lou Piniella won Rookie of the Year with the Royals in their inaugural season of 1969. He spent five seasons with the Royals, part of an 18-year career that also included 11 years with the Yankees. He was an All-Star in 1972 with the Royals, and he finished his career with 1,705 career hits. After a stint in the Yankees front office, he got into managing, running the Yankees, Reds, Mariners, Devil Rays and Cubs over 23 seasons, winning 1,835 games and leading his teams to seven Postseason appearances. He won a title in 1990 with the Reds, and led the 2001 Mariners to an American League-record 116 victories. He was named Manager of the Year three times (1995, 2001, 2008).
Brian Sabean joined the Yankees front office and helped sign and develop many of the players who powered New York to four World Series titles from 1996-2000. He joined the Giants in 1997 winning three World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and his 2014 team defeated the Royals. His 18 years as Giants general manager marked the longest tenure in franchise history.
Ted Turner purchased the Atlanta Braves in 1976 and quickly established the team on the national stage by putting their games on his TBS television station, which was distributed to cable providers across the country and helped establish a new model for sports broadcasting. Turner owned the team as the Braves developed into a dynasty, winning 14 consecutive division titles from 1991-2005 in completed seasons, an MLB record.
Bill White spent 13 years in the big leagues as a first baseman and outfielder with the Giants, Cardinals, and Phillies. He was an eight-time All-Star, seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a World Series champion with the Cardinals in 1964. After serving as a broadcaster, White served as president of the National League from 1989-94. White presided over the addition of the Marlins and Rockies to the National League and helped consolidate the American and National leagues under one administrative umbrella. He was named the Hall of Fame’s Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award winner in 2026.
Candidates will have to appear on 75 percent of the ballots of the 16 voters, who have not yet been announced. The results of the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee vote will be announced on Sunday, December 6.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick made it clear that what happened on Sunday night won’t occur again.
And that there are consequences, especially for end-of-bench players, for not being ready to play in an NBA game when their number is called.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick wasn’t pleased with how his team closed out Sunday’s win over the Raptors. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers coach thought his team’s lead was safe when he subbed out most of his main rotation players – Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and Matisse Thybulle – with the Lakers leading by 14 points (123-109) with 1:43 left of their home game against the Raptors.
Luka Dončić, who had already scored 41 points by that point, had been out of the game for 45 seconds, with the Lakers and Redick believing the end-of-bench players would put the finishing touches on securing the victory.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick had plenty to be frustrated about with how the team’s end-of-bench players performed late in the win over the Raptors. AP Photo/Scott Strazzante
Even though the Lakers did eventually beat the Raptors, it didn’t come to fruition as Redick and the team hoped, with the end-of-bench players nearly blowing a double-digit lead in less than a minute.
“I won’t make that mistake again,” Redick said. “I’ll leave the guys in. You gotta play to the final buzzer, and if guys are not ready to play, then I just won’t put them in.”
After one of the lone rotation players, Quentin Grimes, split a pair of free throws to put the Lakers up 124-109 with 1:24 left, Jamison Battle hit a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer to cut the Raptors’ deficit to 12.
JJ Redick on the Lakers' lead being cut from 15 points to 5 in 40 seconds after LAL subbed its main rotation players out against the Raptors, leading to JJ subbing them back in to close the game: "We just didn't do a good job of taking care of the ball in that situation. So I… pic.twitter.com/pUhIHhvMLp
A failed lob attempt from Grimes to Jarred Vanderbilt that resulted in a turnover turned into another Battle catch-and-shoot 3 in transition that quickly cut the Lakers’ lead to nine points.
And a failed inbounds pass by Bronny James led to the Lakers’ lead dropping down to seven after Battle hit a floater on the Raptors’ ensuing possession, making it eight straight points in less than 20 seconds of game time for the 2024 undrafted forward out of Ohio State.
Jamison Battle scored eight straight points in less than 20 seconds of game time to make a significant dent in the Lakers’ lead. NBAE via Getty Images
Redick had seen enough by the time Jaden Bradley converted an and-1 layup to trim the Raptors’ deficit to six points with 44 seconds left (and five points after making the free throw) after the Lakers led by 15 points just 40 seconds prior.
Dončić, Reaves, Kessler and Thybulle all subbed back in for James, Vanderbilt, Jaden Hardy and Cameron Carr (who was making his NBA debut) before Bradley shot his free throw.
The Lakers did just enough to secure the win with its main players back in the game, but it wasn’t pretty.
“A lot of times as a player when you kind of get something like that in that point, you kind of look at it as garbage minutes but the reality is, every time you step on the court, you got to treat it like it’s minutes to play the game,” Kessler said.
“Because my rookie and sophomore year, I got put in the garbage minutes and you got to play to the whistle because the reality is you’re only going to get your shot. And I’m not saying that those guys aren’t competitors ‘cause a lot of them are, but they got to be a lot more more fundamental, for sure.”
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 01: Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) greets Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) after he hit a solo home run in the first inning during a Major League interleague baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals on October 01, 2017, at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This year’s Royals Hall of Fame ballot features several players from the club’s memorable 2014-15 pennant-winning teams. Zack Greinke, Eric Hosmer, Ian Kennedy, and Mike Moustakas join the list as first-time candidates, joining carry over candidates Carlos Beltrán, Billy Butler, Lorenzo Cain, Wade Davis, Alcides Escobar, Kelvin Herrera, Greg Holland, and Joakim Soria.
Fan voting is now open for the Royals Hall of Fame Class of 2027!
Beltrán played for the Royals from 1998 to 2004, winning American League Rookie of the Year honors in 1999. He became just the eighth rookie in MLB history to score 100 runs and drive in 100 runs in the same season. He was named American League Player of the Week three times with the Royals and earned Player of the Month honors in April 2004. Beltrán finished among the league’s top ten in stolen bases three times during his Royals tenure and ranks eighth among all Royals position players in rWAR. His 164 stolen bases rank eighth in club history, and he converted on an impressive 87 percent of his attempts.
Billy Butler
1,166 games, .295/.359/.449, 12.5 rWAR
Butler was a first-round pick in 2004 who spent several years as the Royals’ designated hitter, including during their pennant-winning 2014 season. His best season came in 2012, when he hit .313/.373/.510 with a career-high 29 home runs, earning Silver Slugger honors. He also made his only All-Star appearance that year, playing in front of his hometown fans at Kauffman Stadium. Butler finished among the league’s top ten in doubles three times and ranked sixth in RBI in 2012. He is tied for tenth in club history in home runs, ninth in hits, and eighth in doubles. His .295 career batting average ranks sixth in franchise history among players with at least 1,000 plate appearances.
Lorenzo Cain
713 games, .289/.342/.421, 24.6 rWAR
Cain is appearing on the ballot for the first time after receiving a retirement ceremony from the club in 2023. Originally acquired from the Brewers in the Zack Greinke trade, Cain quickly developed into one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball. From 2013 to 2017, he ranked third among all outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved with 75. His defensive brilliance was on full display during the Royals’ 2014 postseason run, when he hit .533 against the Orioles to earn ALCS MVP honors.
Cain made his first All-Star team in 2015 and finished third in American League MVP voting. That season, he ranked fifth in the league in runs scored (101), fifth in batting average (.307), third in defensive WAR (2.1), and fourth in overall rWAR (6.9). His dash home from first base on Eric Hosmer’s single in the deciding game of the 2015 ALCS against the Blue Jays remains one of the most iconic moments in franchise history. Cain ranks ninth in club history in career rWAR with 24.6.
Wade Davis
256 games, 3.39 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 6.6 rWAR
Davis was a starting pitcher in 2013, his first season with the Royals after being acquired from the Rays. But a move to the bullpen transformed his career, turning him into arguably the most dominant reliever in baseball. From 2014 to 2016, he appeared in 185 games and posted a remarkable 1.85 ERA while recording 47 saves. He struck out 33 percent of the batters he faced during that stretch. Davis was a two-time All-Star, received Cy Young votes in 2014 and 2015, and earned MVP votes in 2015. He recorded the final out of the 2015 World Series to clinch the championship for Kansas City. His 49 career saves with the Royals rank tenth in club history.
Alcides Escobar
1,245 games, .259/.292/.344, 8.2 rWAR
Escobar is another first-time candidate. A defense-first shortstop, he frequently hit near the top of the lineup for the Royals’ pennant-winning teams. Originally acquired from the Brewers in the Greinke trade, Escobar became an iron man for Kansas City, playing at least 155 games in six of his eight seasons with the club, including three seasons in which he appeared in all 162 games. He was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2015, then hit .478 against the Blue Jays that fall to earn ALCS MVP honors. He also famously opened the bottom of the first inning of Game 1 of the 2015 World Series with an inside-the-park home run, setting the tone for the series. His 160 stolen bases rank ninth in club history, while his 1,208 career hits rank tenth.
Zack Greinke
266 games, 3.93 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 29.8 rWAR
Greinke was originally drafted by the Royals with the sixth overall pick in 2002 and made his major league debut in 2004. He quickly established himself as one of the team’s best young pitchers, but his breakout season came in 2009, when he won the American League Cy Young Award. Greinke went 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA and 242 strikeouts, leading the league in ERA and finishing sixth in MVP voting. He also earned his first All-Star selection that year. Greinke was traded to Milwaukee after the 2010 season, but returned to Kansas City in 2022 for two more seasons. His 29.8 rWAR ranks fourth among all pitchers in Royals history, and he remains the last Royals pitcher to win the Cy Young Award.
Kelvin Herrera
442 games, 2.75 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 10.6 rWAR
Herrera was a two-time All-Star who recorded four seasons with at least 70 appearances and an ERA below 3.00. He was a key member of the vaunted “HDH” bullpen trio alongside Wade Davis and Greg Holland. Herrera was particularly dominant in the postseason, posting a 1.26 ERA in 22 appearances while striking out 38 batters in 28 2/3 innings. He ranks sixth in club history in saves and third in games pitched.
Eric Hosmer
1,048 games, .284/.342/.439, 15.5 rWAR
Hosmer was the third overall pick in the 2008 draft and quickly became a cornerstone of the Royals’ rebuilding effort. He debuted in 2011 and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. He developed into one of the best defensive first basemen in baseball, winning four Gold Glove Awards with the Royals. His best season came in 2017, when he hit .318/.385/.498 with 25 home runs and 94 RBI. He earned his first All-Star selection in 2016 and was named All-Star Game MVP after hitting a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning. But Hosmer’s most memorable moment came in the 2015 World Series, when his aggressive dash home on a ground ball to first base tied Game 5 in the ninth inning and helped the Royals eventually clinch the championship. His 127 home runs are tied for tenth in club history, while his 566 RBI rank ninth.
Greg Holland
394 games, 2.72 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 11.3 rWAR
Holland was an elite closer and a key member of one of the best bullpens in baseball. Drafted in the tenth round out of Western Carolina University, he made his Royals debut in 2010 and posted a 1.80 ERA the following season. By 2012, he had taken over as the team’s closer. Holland became an All-Star in both 2013 and 2014, earning Cy Young and MVP votes in each season. He recorded 46 saves in 2013 and 47 in 2014, finishing second in the American League both years. He allowed just one run in 11 postseason innings in 2014.
Holland recorded another 32 saves in 2015 but suffered an elbow injury late in the season that kept him out of the postseason. He eventually returned to Kansas City for another stint in 2020-21, appearing in 85 games. His 159 career saves rank fourth in club history.
Ian Kennedy
163 games, 4.48 ERA, 4.83 FIP, 6.3 rWAR
Kennedy signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Royals following their 2015 World Series championship, becoming the team’s highest-paid player at the time. He delivered a solid first season in 2016, going 11-11 with a 3.68 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 195 2/3 innings. Kennedy found new life after moving to the bullpen in 2019, when he converted 30 saves with a 3.41 ERA, giving the Royals a reliable closer. He finished his Royals career with 163 appearances, including 86 starts, and was worth 6.3 rWAR.
Mike Moustakas
934 games, .251/.306/.430, 11.4 rWAR
Moustakas was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft and one of the key prospects in the Royals’ rebuilding effort. He debuted in 2011 and endured some early struggles, but developed into a productive power hitter and an important part of the Royals’ championship teams. He hit .284/.348/.470 with 22 home runs in 2015, earning his first All-Star selection. He had his best season in 2017, when he set a Royals single-season record with 38 home runs and earned another All-Star selection. Moustakas also provided one of the defining defensive plays of the 2014 postseason, making a spectacular catch while tumbling over the third-base dugout in the ALCS. He ranks ninth in club history with 139 home runs and 14th with 441 RBI. “Moose” returned to Kansas City for a retirement ceremony in 2025, signing a one-day contract to retire as a Royal.
Joakim Soria
427 games, 2.82 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 14.3 rWAR
Soria had two separate stints with the Royals, pitching for the club from 2007-11 and again from 2016-17. Originally selected from the Padres in the Rule 5 Draft, he developed into a two-time All-Star with Kansas City and received Cy Young and MVP votes in 2010. Soria finished among the league’s top ten in saves four times with the Royals, including a second-place finish in 2010 when he recorded 43 saves. He ranks third in club history in saves and fifth in games pitched.
To be eligible for the Royals Hall of Fame, a candidate must have spent at least three seasons with the club, accumulated a minimum of 1,500 plate appearances or 300 innings pitched, and been retired for at least three years.
Fans can vote here, with the fan vote counting as three electors. Other electors include members of the Royals Hall of Fame, Royals front office staff, Royals Associates with at least 15 years of service, and select members of the media. The online fan ballot will account for three full votes for each of the five candidates receiving the most votes. Any candidate receiving at least 75 percent of the vote will be elected and scheduled for induction during the 2026 Royals season. Eligible alumni who receive at least 10 percent of the vote can remain on the ballot for five regular-phase election cycles.
Last year, John Wathan was elected into the Royals Hall of Fame. Yordano Ventura is the only candidate from last year’s ballot that did not carry over to this years ballot. The Royals Hall of Fame includes Kevin Appier, George Brett, Joe Burke, Steve Busby, Ewing Kauffman, Muriel Kauffman, Mark Gubicza, Alex Gordon, Larry Gura, Dick Howser, Whitey Herzog, Bo Jackson, Dennis Leonard, Denny Matthews, John Mayberry, Hal McRae, Jeff Montgomery, Fred Patek, Dan Quisenberry, Cookie Rojas, Bret Saberhagen, John Schuerholz, Paul Splittorff, Art Stewart, Mike Sweeney, Cedric Tallis, George Toma, Amos Otis, Frank White, Willie Wilson, John Wathan, and Ned Yost.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the NHL have unveiled their Hometown Remix jerseys by Fanatics.
The jersey has a beige or off-white base color, with navy blue accents on the arms around the elbow area, as well as one strip on the waist. That design continues on the socks and gloves, with navy blue pants.
On the chest, Toronto has a new logo, matching the crest that has been designed at center ice of Scotiabank Arena to begin this season.
The Maple Leafs will wear these jerseys six times this season, with the first instance coming on Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, with the new look making its debut. On top of the uniform making its first appearance in an NHL game, it will also be Hockey Hall of Fame night.
Nov. 19 against the Los Angeles Kings would be next on the Hometown Remix schedule, with an 80s night theme. On the 30th, the Maple Leafs will host the Philadelphia Flyers for 70s night, which rounds out the dates in November.
On Dec. 19, Toronto will see the Tampa Bay Lightning for 90s night. And the final day comes on Feb. 16 against the Carolina Hurricanes for '100 years of the Leaf."
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
