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The Devils Hope Their Core Can Go Up Against Any In The NHL

The New Jersey Devils have had a core in question for years. Are the right pieces in place, and can they win with the stars leading them? With only two playoff appearances in five years and three in the past eight, the team's top-end talent was second-guessed. 

With the Connor Hellebuyck acquisition, the core is different. Now, the Devils have three forwards (Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt), plus defenseman Luke Hughes and elite goaltender Hellebuyck to build around. 

This gives the Devils a core that can go up against any team in the NHL. This road trip against the Dallas Stars (Oct. 27), Colorado Avalanche (Oct. 28), and Vegas Golden Knights (Oct. 30) will test how good it is, especially if Hellebuyck is geared up and ready. 

The Stars, Like The Devils, Have An Underrated Core

The Stars are a well-built team and have been for years. Their general manager, Jim Nill, provided them with depth, but elite talent leads the way, even among some of the overlooked players in the league. 

5 Lessons From The Connor Hellebuyck Trade5 Lessons From The Connor Hellebuyck TradeThe following is an excerpt from this week's Devils Notebook. For more on the Hellebuyck trade and all things Devils from the past week, make sure to check it out on Devils team site at The Hockey News!

Wyatt Johnston often goes unnoticed as a young center in a non-traditional hockey market. However, he’s not only one of the best scorers in the NHL, but he’s also scoring at a surprising pace to start his career. Johnston is off to a slow start with only two goals this season, but he has 136 games and is only 23 years old. 

At this rate, Johnston can hit 400 goals by the time he’s 30. Moreover, the way he finds the back of the net is tough to stop as he gets to the net and the slot and powers the puck in or scores with his quick shot. It’s a skill set that ages well and will make him a consistent threat on the power play. 

The Stars also have their version of an elite defenseman in Miro Heiskanen. He hasn’t won the Norris Trophy and doesn’t stand out on the offensive end, but he is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the game, with 36.9 defensive point shares in his nine seasons in the league. If the NHL had an award for the best defensive defenseman, he would be a perennial finalist for it. 

Mikko Rantanen is the power forward who is tough to play against. Likewise, Jason Robertson has been in the news in recent years because of his point production, yet he was left off the USA Olympic team and has struggled to sign a long-term deal. However, the Stars' core goes beyond the core and is tough to handle.

Devils Notebook: Hellebuyck Trade Lessons, Larkin, Upcoming Road Trip & MoreDevils Notebook: Hellebuyck Trade Lessons, Larkin, Upcoming Road Trip & MoreEvery Sunday of the NHL season, Mike Fink empties the notebook with some thoughts, quick hits, and anything in between on the New Jersey Devils.

It’s similar to the Devils core, which has its stars who garner the headlines, notably Hughes and Bratt, who are highlight-reel players. However, whenever the Devils are competitive, fans start noticing Nico Hischier and what he brings to the lineup. 

Devils Have Another Look At The Avalanche Core

The Oct. 20 game at home against the Avalanche was a test that the Devils handled. They saw firsthand how skilled Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are, yet held them in check for a 4-3 win. 

The Avalanche are looking to even up the score and, more importantly, rebound from a slow start. The Presidents’ Trophy winner last season is 6-5-1 and sits in fourth place in the Central Division.

Connor Hellebuyck Addition Puts The New Jersey Devils In Win-Now Mode Connor Hellebuyck Addition Puts The New Jersey Devils In Win-Now Mode The acquisition of the three-time Vezina Trophy winner makes the Devils one of the teams to beat in the Metropolitan Division and the NHL.

The Devils will get MacKinnon and Makar playing with an edge. “These points are going to be points you wish you had at the end of the year, and you don’t want to give them up,” Makar stated after the 4-3 loss to the Devils. 

Both Makar and MacKinnon know the Avalanche must snap out of this slow start that’s weighing them down. It’s why they will give the Devils, who will play the second game of a back-to-back, a tough game on Wednesday night

Where The Devils Have The Edge

The Devils, thanks to the moves GM Sunny Mehta made this summer, enter these matchups with more depth. They have the advantage outside of their core and particularly on their third and fourth line, with forwards who can check, defend, and score. 

The Avalanche and Stars are also starting to show their age and lose a step. They aren’t the juggernauts in the Western Conference that they were in previous seasons. The Devils, meanwhile, are a younger team, and it’s reflected in their play. 

Plus, if Hellebuyck is playing at a high level, the Devils can beat anyone. It’s unlikely that happens right away, as the goaltender has yet to see NHL action and will need time to prepare for the season ahead. However, the expectation is that Hellebuyck will return to that elite form at some point, and it gives the Devils an edge regardless of who they play. 

What is on your mind as the Devils begin this road trip? Comment below!

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Steph Curry’s ‘weird’ start to the season took another strange twist vs. Nuggets

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors watches from the bench with a towel over his head during an NBA basketball game, Image 2 shows Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry reacts after being fouled while driving to the rim against the Denver Nuggets
Steph Curry during Warriors win over Nuggets

DENVER — It’s been a “weird” start to the season for Steph Curry, but maybe not for the reason you think. His knee hasn’t been a concern, and he’s taking the Warriors’ 1-3 start in stride.

Curry says he’s capable of playing 30 minutes in a game.

He just hasn’t yet.

“I’m feeling good,” Curry said Monday after the Warriors’ 134-114 win over the Nuggets. “It’s been weird because I still haven’t gotten to the 30-minute mark, but that’s not because of an inability to do it. It’s game situations and obviously the plan, too. I’ve asked to do that, or if the game calls for that, I’ll be ready. But we haven’t gotten there yet.”

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Curry sat the final 10 minutes of the blowout win and logged only 26 total minutes. He got the same treatment in a lopsided loss to the Lakers on opening night and finished at 21, almost played 30 minutes against the Grizzlies and sat out the second half of their back-to-back a night later in Phoenix.

It’s all part of the plan to manage the load on Curry’s runner’s knee that cost him 27 games last season. That, and the ebbs and flows of the scoreboard in the NBA.

He still managed to log 24 points in his abridged time on the floor against the Nuggets. Curry connected on all eight of his shots from the field.

Believe it or not, the greatest shooter of all time had missed at least one in every other game he has played, except one. In 1,227 career games, including the postseason, the only other time Curry had a perfect shooting performance was Feb. 5, 2011 — on five attempts for 14 points.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry reacts after being fouled while driving to the rim in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Denver. AP Photo/David Zalubowski

It didn’t look like it was going to be Curry’s night early. He went into halftime with just three points and one attempt from the field. Then, came a classic Curry flurry.

Curry went off for 17 points in the third quarter as Golden State pulled away.

“I didn’t go into the game thinking that’s what it was going to be,” Curry said. “But I did go into it with the mindset of not trying to force anything, get the ball moving.”

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors watches from the bench during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Getty Images

At halftime, Kerr orchestrated a game plan to get Curry going, setting screens in the back court, extending the Nuggets’ defense and forcing them to chase him around.

“We just decided to free him up right away,” Kerr said. “And he got hot right away.”

The Warriors went into halftime leading 60-56. By the time Curry checked out for the final time with 8:01 left in the fourth quarter, Golden State had extended its lead to 110-91.

In a sense, Curry played himself out of more minutes.

But he shouldn’t be complaining.

The Warriors need him to make it through another 79 games.

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Bucks Reacts Survey: Are you happy with Taylor Jenkins’ rotations?

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Taylor Jenkins of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country.

With the first week of NBA action in the books, we can start digging into what’s happening on-court for the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite putting themselves in position to win their opening two games against the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls, the Bucks came up short. Since then, they’ve admirably challenged the Philadelphia 76ers and beaten the Indiana Pacers. But to focus solely on outcomes is reactive (and reductive). How, then, do you feel about the Bucks’ processes? More specifically, how do you feel about Taylor Jenkins’ rotations?

Starting lineup

Jenkins has leaned on veteran experience in his starting lineup, running with Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, and Ryan Rollins to begin each game so far. Combined, this lineup has 34 years of NBA experience to help it battle other teams’ best units. But it’s not just experience that matters here. Relative to the rest of the roster, these guys are all at, approaching, or just past their playing primes.

Regular reserves

So far, Jenkins has gone with a ten-man rotation. Somewhat surprisingly, Kasparas Jakučionis has become the team’s sixth man—and he’s revelling in it, playing the best basketball of his young career and looking like the Bucks’ best floor general (or at least its most natural). After him, Jenkins has turned to a forward—Ousmane Dieng in the first two games, Nate Ament in the next two—before rounding out the rotation with Kel’el Ware, Brayden Burries, and AJ Green. Combined, these players have just 11 years of NBA experience. And, honestly, that these guys have played over Gary Trent Jr. and Caris LeVert is at least somewhat surprising, especially after what we saw during the preseason.

Collecting DNPs

That leaves the DNPs, one of the few stats players don’t want to lead their team in. Up to this point, as far as players on the 15-man roster go, Gary Trent Jr., Caris LeVert, Bogoljub Marković, and Jericho Sims (for all intents and purposes) are “leading” the charge. Notably, there are distinct divisions here: players past their prime (LeVert), players theoretically in their prime but who aren’t really needle-movers (Trent, Sims), and youthful projects (Marković). Outside of these guys, the three two-way players—Pete Nance, Cormac Ryan, and Kam Jones—have, understandably, also yet to see any action.

Having recapped the rotation, are you happy with Jenkins’ decisions? Let us know your thoughts by voting below—and don’t forget to explain your reasons in the comments.


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Mariners News: Robert Gasser, Francisco Lindor, and Daniel Vogelbach

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Robert Gasser #54 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game three of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 26, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning! The Milwaukee Brewers took a commanding 3-0 World Series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays last night with a dominant 10-1 win. What are your predictions for Game 4? Will the Brewers sweep, or will the Rays get one back at home?

MLB Postseason scores…

In Mariners news…

Around the league…

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Arizona Fall League: Eduardo Quintero shines on the basepaths

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Eduardo Quintero #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers jogs to the dugout during a game between the Salt River Rafters and the Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch on October 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Out of the 10 Dodgers currently on the Desert Dogs roster, seven made an appearance in what was a 25-run thriller as Mesa defeated Glendale 13-12. The visiting Solar Sox overcame what was at one point a six-run deficit, handing the Desert Dogs their 13th loss in 18 games.

Three of the first four pitchers for Glendale were members of the Dodgers organization, including starter Brooks Auger, who was pulled an out shy of finishing the third inning, having allowed three earned runs—all of them in the opening frame. Mesa scored 13 runs with just a single home run, one that came in the first inning with a runner on base, as Antonio Anderson took Auger deep.

Dodgers’ Sam Horn and Cody Morse each pitched in with a clean inning, striking out two—it wasn’t until Samuel Carpio of the Marlins came on in the sixth that the wheels came off with an eight-run rally for the visiting side, losing this one despite out-hitting their opponent 16-to-9.

Productive one through nine offensively, the Desert Dogs saw eight of their nine starting hitters reach base multiple times, including all four Dodgers. Charles Davalan and Chase Harlan each secured two hits in six at-bats and drove in a run, while Eduardo Quintero walked twice and singled once in five opportunities up at the plate. Reaching base so often, Quintero made the most of it, responsible for three of Glendale’s six stolen bases in seven attempts. Lastly, down in the ninth spot, Anson Aroz had an RBI, going 1 for 4 with a walk.

Monday score

Mesa 13, Glendale 12

Tuesday schedule

The Glendale Desert Dogs look for their sixth win as they welcome the Mesa Solar Sox for an afternoon matchup, with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m.(PT).

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This Week in the Minors: Omaha Storm Chasers season in review

COLUMBUS, OHIO - JUNE 04, 2026: Connor Kaiser #16 of the Omaha Storm Chasers hits a single during the sixth inning against the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park on June 04, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Kansas City Royals Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers finished the year with a record of 65-81. It was a balanced season of sorts for the team, as they finished both halves of the season 8 games under .500. However, which players were able to produce a good season?

The good from the position players:

Brett Squires was someone that most Royals fans probably hadn’t heard of before the season started. Then, the 26-year-old first baseman just kept hitting. Squires was an undrafted guy that the Royals signed. He has slowly worked his way through the system. He was very good in Quad Cities in 2024 and had a middling year in Northwest Arkansas in 2025. But 2026 was all good for Squires. Between 32 games in Double-A and 100 games in Omaha, Squires slashed .277/.351/.549. He smacked 34 doubles, 3 triples and 31 homers, driving in 103 runs. He walked 56 times, striking out 141. He mainly played 1st base, with a little bit of left field sprinkled in. I would love to see him get a chance in Kansas City next season.

Carson Roccaforte had a phenomenal season. The 24-year-old centerfielder, who the Royals took as a Comp B pick in 2023, out of Louisiana-Lafayette looked the part. It’s been somewhat of a slow grind to get to Omaha, but Roc finally did. This season, he played 110 games in Double-A and the final 28 in Omaha. Between the two stops, Roc slashed .257/.338/.519. He hit 26 doubles, 5 triples and 35 homers, while driving in 96 runs. He stole 32 bases. The issue with Roc is he struck out 181 times. The primary centerfielder is unbelievable defensively as well. As much as I’d like him to be the Opening Day centerfielder next season, I think he starts in Omaha for the first month or two. Not because he’s not worthy, but because the Royals probably want him to get more time in Triple-A first.

Jack Pineda is a late bloomer type of guy. The 27-year-old infielder put together a good season. The Royals took Pineda in the 12th round in 2022 out of Baylor. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Pineda slashed .351/.413/.530 in 81 games. He hit 20 doubles, 3 triples and 9 homers. He walked 23 times, striking out 46. He stole 18 bases. Defensively, he played shortstop, third and second base, all very well.

Peyton Wilson had a nice season, slashing .276/.358/.433 in 94 games this season. He hit 29 doubles and 8 homers, walking 41 times, stealing 17 bases. Wilson is a 26-year-old infielder, who the Royals took as a Comp B pick in 2021 out of Alabama. Defensively, he played second, third and left, very solid infield numbers.

Gavin Cross got off to a rough start, but finished nicely, finishing the season with a .247/.306/.434 slash line. He hit 20 doubles, 5 triples and 17 homers. He stole 25 bases, walked 32 times and struck out 149 times. The Royals took Cross 9th overall in 2022 out of Virginia Tech, he is now 25 years old. He can play all three outfield spots well.

The good from the pitching staff:

If I am going to be completely honest with you, the Omaha Storm Chasers pitching staff is somewhat bleak. Mainly because it was a lot of older guys, some of them might be considered “washed”. So, this list isn’t that long. Most of the guys aren’t even with the team anymore or won’t be next season. They aren’t pieces for the future.

Ryan Ramsey is a 25-year-old lefty, who the Royals drafted in the 13th round in 2022 out of Maryland. He has grinded his way through the organization and finally got his first full year in Omaha. Ramsey made 28 appearances and 21 starts, throwing 115.2 innings. He walked 65, striking out 110. Opponents hit .275 off him. It wasn’t the most encouraging season, but a guy that could be in Kansas City next year.

Henry Williams is a 25-year-old right hander, who the Royals got from the Padres in the Scott Barlow trade. Williams made 28 appearances, 26 starts this season. Between Double and Triple-A, Williams threw 132 innings, striking out 120 hitters, walking 63. Opponents hit .277 off him. I think he could also get a shot in Kansas City next season.

Ethan Bosacker is another 25-year-old right hander. The Royals took him in the 13th round in 2023 out of Xavier. Between Double and Triple-A, Bosacker threw 62.2 innings. He struck out 48 hitters, walking 34, with opponents hitting .254 off him. This could be a bullpen option next season.

The final one who could be a Royal next season came over late in a trade. Lucas Braun is a 25-year-old right hander. He came over from Atlanta in the Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter trade. In his 8 starts with Omaha, Braun threw 37.2 innings, striking out 38 batters, while walking 13. Opponents hit .282 off him. He provides starting depth for the Royals next season.

Next year will be an interesting year for the Royals Triple-A affiliate. I hope they can get some more youth in there, especially pitching wise. Thank you for following along all year with Royals minor league coverage!

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Ronny Mauricio has terrible luck AND terrible timing

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Ronny Mauricio #0 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a home run during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This was not the year for Ronny Mauricio (again). In 2026, he once again was up and down and only showed flashes of potential during his time at the plate. His offense was usually lackluster, and his defense often reminded you of the players you were missing.

Mauricio was first recalled from Triple-A on April 6, when Juan Soto went on the Injured List. He was optioned to Triple-A on April 13. He was recalled from Triple-A on April 23, when Francisco Lindor found himself on the IL for two months. It should have been an opportunity for Mauricio to prove himself, but on May 3, he fractured his left thumb sliding into first base and landed on the IL himself.

After completing his rehab assignment on June 24, he was optioned to Triple-A. He was recalled the next day when Marcus Semien was placed on the IL. On July 7, he was optioned to Triple-A, where he remained until September 18. Mauricio was recalled for the final time when Jared Young was placed on the 7-day concussion IL. In 2026, he played in 25 games and had 62 plate appearances. He hit .220/.258/.441 with a wRC+ of 91 and fWAR of -0.2.

There were some nice moments in Mauricio’s cameos this season. In April, he had his first walk-off hit, in extra innings, no less. At the beginning of May, he bludgeoned a 421-foot go-ahead home run that sealed the Mets’ win against the Angels. When he returned in September, he looked like a different hitter: more patient, better plate discipline. During his last seven games, he hit .294/.400/.824. He capped it off with three homers in his last two games. The totality just wasn’t quite enough, especially given the timing of his turnaround.

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Arizona Diamondbacks News 10/27: One Big Inning, One Big Series Lead

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with Brice Turang #2, William Contreras #24, and David Hamilton #6 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after scoring a run during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game three of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 26, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

Gabriel Moreno wins award for best Venezuelan player in MLB this season by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno was named the 2026 recipient of the Luis Aparicio Award, given out annually to the best Venezuelan player in Major League Baseball. 

The award is voted on by sports journalists in Venezuela, and Moreno received 65 out of 100 first-place votes. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo came in second, and D-backs pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez finished third.

“It is an honor to receive this award,” Moreno said in a press release. “Luis Aparicio is our legend, the first Hall of Famer we Venezuelans have in Cooperstown, and he means a lot to us.”

These D-backs have their eyes out for awards come November by Steve Gilbert [DBacks.com]

ALL-MLB TEAM
The Diamondbacks have six finalists for the All-MLB Team, including Moreno (catcher), Carroll (outfield), Perdomo (shortstop), Ketel Marte (second base), Nolan Arenado (third base) and Eduardo Rodriguez (starting pitcher).

Of that group, the only ones who have been named to the All-MLB Team as Diamondbacks in the past are Carroll (2023) and Marte (’24, ’25). 

Carroll was named as second team All-MLB in 2025. 

Of all the candidates, Moreno seems to have the strongest case, as he finished second in OPS (.906) among MLB backstops with at least 400 plate appearances as a catcher, while finishing first among big league catchers with 6.7 bWAR. 

The All-MLB Team, which was established in 2019, will be announced Nov. 11 during the fourth annual MLB Awards from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. 

Why Brandon Pfaadt’s 2027 Could Be His Most Important Season Yet by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

2026 is the first time Pfaadt has extended his positive contributions into a lengthy stretch of dominance. His shift away from a strikeout-focused approach fell in line with Arizona’s overall pitching output, and it led to more sustainable success.

But now, Pfaadt is an important cog in a concerningly depth-lacking rotation. Eduardo Rodriguez’s ace-like 2026 season could regress. Nelson is a question mark due to health and underperformance in 2026. Merrill Kelly struggled in 2026 and Corbin Burnes looked brutal in his three post-injury appearances.

Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt and Jose Cabrera all struggled in their debut seasons. There aren’t many arms in the system worthy of stepping into a major league role if needed.

Around the League

With historic romp, unrelenting Crew just 1 win from 1st World Series title by Anthony Castrovince [MLB]

When the World Series shifted to St. Pete for Game 3 on Monday night, the Rays had faith that they had been beaten but not creamed in the Cream City, had belief that Freddy Peralta could shut down his old squad, had hope that they were one win away from reshaping the narrative of this Fall Classic.

Then came the eight-spot in a fifth inning that Peralta could not finish. Not just any eight-run outburst, but one that came entirely with two out.

The big inning that cemented the Brewers’ epic 10-1 victory and the one hit allowed in six scoreless innings from Milwaukee starter Robert Gasser made for the most extreme encapsulation yet of the way this team has demoralized opponents and made the postseason its personal playground on the increasingly likely path to a franchise-first title. Every Brewers starter reached base, eight of the nine drove in a run, and Jackson Chourio had four hits – one shy of tying the World Series single-game record – by the end of the fifth inning.

MLB tests out restricted OF shifts in effort to up offense [ESPN]

The Arizona Fall League has long been a testing ground for the next generation of MLB players, and lately, it’s also been a venue for testing potential rules changes.

This year, Major League Baseball’s newest experiment is to restrict the positioning of outfielders on every at-bat.

The goal is to boost the game’s sluggish offense by making outfielders play straight up — instead of adjusting for individual hitters’ tendencies — which will in theory lead to more doubles and triples.

The outfield positioning experiment is limited to just games that are played at Salt River Fields, since it has similar technology to MLB parks.

Arizona Fall League Midseason Check-In by Eric Longenhagen [FanGraphs]

The Best of the New Names

Joey Dixon, RHP, Houston Astros
Sam Horn, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Maddox Long, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Joe Ariola, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Dixon missed multiple years recovering from Tommy John surgery and then most of 2026 dealing with a shoulder issue, and even when he pitched he wasn’t 100%. His velo is back and I’ve seen him parked at 94-97 while flashing bat-missing sliders and changeups. He’s smaller than most starters and his injury history points to the bullpen, but potentially as a multi-inning, platoon-neutral weapon. He’s getting added to The Board with a 40+ FV, the grade of a good bullpen’s third- or fourth-best guy. Sam Horn was a college quarterback at Missouri who missed time because of an elbow surgery and a fractured tibia. He rehabbed throughout 2026 and was active during Bridge League/Instructs, but I didn’t see him then because on the one day I knew he’d be pitching, Jackson Flora was making his uniformed debut for the Giants. In the AFL, Horn has been 93-96 with a plus slider and changeup. It’s a great starting point for someone who hasn’t pitched consistently since high school.

Long and Ariola look like standard middle relievers who could be ready fast. Long was at three different colleges across five seasons, then Indy ball. He’s 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, has a really loose delivery, a heavy low-90s sinker, and a plus slider that he commands with uncommon consistency. Ariola has a riding 93-94 mph fastball and hammer curveball, pretty standard lefty fare in the Caleb Thielbar mold.

Did Anyone Win The Caleb Durbin Trade? by Charlie Wright [MLB Trade Rumors]

The deal that sent infielder Caleb Durbin from the Brewers to the Red Sox seemed like a disaster for two months. By the end of the year, it looked like a season-saving maneuver.

Boston and Milwaukee executed the six-player swap in early February. Durbin joined the Red Sox after the club came up short in an attempt to replace third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency. Fellow infielders Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler, plus a draft pick, also came over in the deal. The Brewers received infielder David Hamilton and lefties Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan.



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Player review: Patrick Bailey

May 1, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (14) reacts to a strike during the third inning against Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

2026 stats:.146/ .213/ .183, 15 wRC+, -0.1 fWAR over 30 G, 89 PA w/ Giants

In game 4 of the division series against the White Sox, the Guardians turned a 2-0 deficit into a 9-4 lead, helping them claim the series in a winner-take-all game 5. You’d be forgiven if you did a double-take watching that game as a distantly familiar face launched a pinch-hit solo homer then later delivered a tie-breaking RBI single that sparked a game-defining rally.

Hey…wasn’t that the guy who was the worst offensive player in the league when he was on the Giants?

Yeah — that was Patrick Bailey. Same dude who played just 30 games for San Francisco before being traded on May 9th to the Guardians. The move surprised many. It was aggressive. It wasn’t universally panned either. The catcher was a man of extremes: a number-one glove and dead-last bat. His 89 plate appearances through April were excruciating to watch. He hit .146 with a .183 slugging percentage. A .396 OPS. A 15 wRC+. He had somehow accrued a -11 batting run value in a month. Those numbers are bad, and somehow they still don’t really do justice to how bad he was. Watching his at-bats was the sensory equivalent of  blowing hot air into your eyeballs with a hair dryer. Trying to hit a baseball was a desperate, feckless act for Bailey, like an accountant, recently stranded on a desert island, rubbing two pencils together to start a fire. He’d leave the batter’s box as cold as it was when he arrived. 

Was he really that bad? I mean I’m having fun tooting the hyperbole horn, but that 15 wRC+ ain’t a lie. Perhaps the better question is was he going to stay that bad? No he wasn’t, and no, he didn’t. Looking at the batted-ball metrics and expected stats, it was pretty clear Bailey wasn’t getting a fair shake (his BABIP with the Giants was .186). Things evened-out in Cleveland. Bailey batted .228 for the rest of the year as a Guardian with a .292 OBP (256 PA) and a respectable .390 slugging percentage — 30 points higher than his previous career best mark he posted as a rookie in 2023. His 90 wRC+, while still below average, is good for the highest of his young career. Over 33 at-bats in the postseason, Bailey slashed .273/ .333/ .455 with two homers and four runs batted-in — one less rib-eye than he had as a Giant. 

Sift around in the muck and the mire of early 2026, and it’s pretty easy to track the logic of the trade. Everyone else was doing bad, and Bailey was the worst of the bunch. The catcher’s plate-appearances were a black hole that Buster Posey and pretty much everyone else was tired of getting sucked into. Something needed to be done, and Bailey gave Buster a decent-sized head to roll without causing mass clubhouse panic. It served as a hopeful wake-up call without looking completely rash or reactionary in the moment. While the move sacrificed defense, it was defensible. Back-up catcher Daniel Susac was off to a hot start, and Posey wanted to find ways to get players like Jesus Rodriguez and Eric Haase more at-bats. Bailey was relatively young, under team control, and had some serious value as a two-time Gold Glove winner. This was a person with elite skills in a particular area who knew how to shepherd a flock of pitchers over the hills and through the valleys of an at-bat, an inning, a game, and a season. While the institution of the ABS system limited some of his stand-out talents as a pitch-framer, there was still some room for the artistry with selling balls-and-strikes.

Bailey had value, and Posey turned him into a draft pick, a pitching prospect with a Major League nickname (who would end the year allowing just one earned run over 8 innings against LA, as well as a Shohei strikeout), and an immediate (though not sustained) offensive boost from catching reinforcements. Three days after Bailey’s trade, Eric Haase homered twice off Yoshinobu Yamamoto — a shellacking that heralded Yamamoto’s meltdown against Milwaukee in the National League pennant. You could see the shadows of past demons passing across his glazed over eyes in that 3rd inning. Brice Turang, Jake Bauers, and Christian Yelich were just descendents of one man: Haase. 

Posey and Tony Vitello replaced Bailey with an aggregate of five names. Daniel Susac boasted the most staying power. He’s 6’ 4’’ with a cannon for an arm, but after a hot start, Susac produced nominally better (94 wRC+) at the plate than Bailey did for Cleveland and was limited by injuries to his elbow and back before being shut down by a season-ending knee cap fracture in early August. 

Trading Bailey sacrificed clarity. Plans A, B, and C had to be scrapped due to injuries. The position became a Guess Who? Game. Andrew Knizner? Sounds familiar…  Drew Cavanaugh, who started the year in Double-A Richmond, Virginia, ended up making the most appearances at catcher for San Francisco. Offensively, he ended up ranking about the same as Bailey. Defensively, he was nowhere close.

It’s hard to argue that the Giants “won” the trade based on how the year panned out. Bailey found level at the plate. He moved out, moved on, and served up postseason dramatics for Guardian fans while the Giants’ cohort watched from their couches wringing their hands about a move made in May.

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Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg makes stunning ‘wet the bed’ admission after crushing Nuggets

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Golden State Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg drives past Denver Nuggets' DeMar DeRozan during a game, Image 2 shows Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg hangs from the rim after dunking the ball during a game against the Denver Nuggets, Image 3 shows Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during a game against the Denver Nuggets

DENVER — It’s been easy to forget at times in his first four NBA games that it wasn’t too long ago Yaxel Lendeborg was just another guy on a basketball team at a junior college in the middle of the desert, five hours from anywhere. Like, not even four years ago.

One person it hasn’t been lost on, despite his outspokenness, is Lendeborg.

The Warriors rookie’s willingness to say whatever is on his mind, on the court or in press conferences, has already earned him a certain reputation. But it has also resulted in an endless stream of soundbites, some of which offer some actual insight.

For example, Lendeborg didn’t hold back on Peacock after the Warriors’ 134-114 win over the Nuggets on Monday night. He led the way with 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, the best performance in a historic start to his career — but not even he saw this coming.

Yaxel Lendeborg (1) of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

“I definitely thought I was gonna wet the bed,” Lendeborg said. “Definitely didn’t have the best hopes for what I was gonna do.”

While that’s the open book we’ve come to know, it doesn’t exactly express the kind of confidence that would lead a 24-year-old rookie to chirp back-and-forth with Luka Doncic.

It sounds like the rookie who took six tepid shots in his first preseason game — a little more than three weeks ago, that’s where Lendeborg was. Inside a 10,000-capacity gym in Honolulu, he made one shot and finished with four points in an exhibition loss to the Clippers.

What happened afterward might have changed the course of Warriors history.

“After the game in Hawaii, where I think I had like three points and only took like three shots,” Lendeborg said, undercounting on both, he approached Steph Curry and Draymond Green. 

“I asked them, you know, just for some guidance and advice. They told me, just try to be confident, be aggressive and play through the mistakes. I’m gonna be in a position to do that. Just hearing that from those two guys, I was coming into the game timid, like I don’t want to mess up what they’ve got going on. And they pretty much just gave me free roam.

“So they helped me out, and from then on, I just vowed to be a little more aggressive.”

Curry, Green and coach Steve Kerr all backed up the message publicly after Lendeborg’s underwhelming preseason debut: They didn’t just want him to be aggressive — they needed him to be. If nothing else, Lendeborg has proven to be a quick learner.

Message No. 1: Received.

Lendeborg has scored in double digits in every game since — eight including the remaining four in the preseason — averaging 20.1 per contest on 13.1 shots. He’s the first Warriors rookie to reach double figures in the first four games of his career since Chris Webber in 1993.

“He’s definitely getting better each and every day,” Green said. “It’s extremely exciting because there’s so much he don’t know. He don’t know a lot.”

Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg hangs from the rim after dunking the ball for a basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Denver. AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Lendeborg said the game is already slowing down for him, at least offensively. He acknowledged he still has lots to learn on the other end of the court.

“I still have to figure out my weakside help,” Lendeborg said. “I gave up a lot of buckets down low. Just thinking my teammates gonna get back, and they’re thinking I’m gonna stay there. So it’s just a little confusing.”

Green has been more than eager to teach Lendeborg all of the tips, tricks and hints he’s learned over his 12 years in the NBA. Advice has been coming at him like a firehose.

And Lendeborg just keeps gulping it all down.

“I find myself talking to him the entire game,” Green said, “just telling him something different. And I think what’s most of it is he can apply it right away. Like you tell him something, and he comes down next play, and it happens. He applies it right away. So that’s special in itself.”

When it’s not coming from Green, it’s coming from Kerr.

“It’s definitely gonna be trial and error for me, but I really appreciate him for continuing to talk to me, have patience with me,” Lendeborg said. “He’s not screaming at me; he’s talking to me like a human. … There’s nothing for me, to be like, acting arrogant, or in a negative way toward it.”

Lendeborg, it seems, doesn’t miss a moment to learn something new. Even in his postgame interviews. Back on the Peacock set with Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Carmelo Anthony, Lendeborg turned the questions around on the trio of NBA legends.

“Do you guys have any advice, just to keep going, things I gotta work on?” Lendeborg asked the hosts. “Things that you guys see that I don’t see?”

It’s a Master’s level course on the league for a player who just four seasons ago was averaging single digits for Arizona Western College, an NJCAA school on the western border in Yuma.

Golden State Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg (1) drives against Denver Nuggets’ DeMar DeRozan (10) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Ball Arena in Denver, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Getty Images

Since then, of course, Lendeborg has gone on to win a national title at Michigan and earned his No. 11 overall selection in this past June’s draft. That’s a steep climb, and it would appear that Lendeborg’s arrow is still pointing sharply up and to the right. 

“I think that’s the exciting part – where this can go,” Kerr said after Lendeborg’s 31-point night. “Because there’s still probably 10 plays that I can pull up on tape, either mistakes defensively or offensively not recognizing something that he needs to recognize. Despite all that, he just dominated the game and took over. At 24, in his fourth game. So, pretty impressive.”

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The Sixers are stuck in a holding pattern at backup center

Well, here we are again, talking about backup center as a problem for the Philadelphia 76ers. You know how the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

It was predictable, yet at the same time, who saw it coming this quickly? In case you haven’t seen the splits by now, so far on the season the Sixers have a 112.3 offensive rating when Joel Embiid is on the floor and prior to Sunday’s loss to Detroit, the team was averaging only 92.8 points per 100 possessions with Embiid off the floor.

So, now what? Philly is again in need of a backup center and Ariel Hukporti isn’t magically going to be available. Players who signed free agent contracts this past summer are eligible to be traded on Dec. 15. By then, there are probably some more willing parties to negotiate with Mike Gansey on a trade. December is also when they could theoretically sign a veteran big still on the market on a prorated deal.

But the big question that we all have to ponder is if the Sixers can afford to wait just shy of two months before making a trade for another big man. There’s two paths that the Sixers can choose between now and the middle of December. They could opt to be more aggressive with Embiid’s minutes and overall availability than they would have if Hukporti was healthy. That seems unlikely. Perhaps the more plausible scenario would be Philly sitting on its hands and waiting it out, not altering Embiid’s minutes at all, losing some more games than anticipated early in the season, and making a trade when the NBA calendar is more trade-friendly.  Are you willing to sacrifice your playoff seeding for this, Sixers fans?

Maybe the better question is, do the Sixers even have a choice here? This is where whiffing on Johni Broome, and Adem Bona not developing into anything more than he already is become particularly costly. Yes, those two players were recent second-round picks by the Sixers, and on some level all second-rounders are lottery tickets, but it’s also not impractical to want your second-rounders to become serviceable bench players.

If you’re unhappy with the status quo behind Embiid at the moment, maybe your only hope is that whenever Dominick Barlow gets healthy, he can be a functional small-ball 5. But again, is that a tenable option behind Embiid for what would be about 15-20 games at the bare minimum before more frontcourt help was brought in?

Philadelphia has not shot the ball very well from the three-point line to start the season. That could always be a remedy here as well. If the Sixers can have some lights-out shooting games, they won’t need a paint presence for the minutes Embiid isn’t available. Sure, maybe they’ll allow opposing centers to have big nights inside, but any team would trade 2s on defense for 3s on offense.

On some level, it feels like we’re just spit balling a bunch of scenarios and coping mechanisms here because it’s all we can do as we go through another season in which we’re routinely wondering what’s going to happen when Embiid isn’t on the floor. 

It is interesting how much the narrative has ballooned up and down surrounding Embiid in the last 2-3 years. A little over one week before he suffered a brutal knee injury in January 2024, Embiid had a 70-point game against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. He came back from the knee injury and had a 50-point playoff game against the Knicks that spring. Then he won a gold medal in the Olympics only to have the knee injury plague him for all of the 2024-25 season. Just when it looked like he was becoming one of the worst contracts in the NBA, he went off against the Celtics in the 2026 postseason. We’re now again talking about how much he is missed when he’s not on the court again.

Sadly, it hasn’t seemed to matter who is running basketball operations for the Sixers or who the head coach is. The same problems come up regarding frontcourt depth behind Embiid. Right now, it doesn’t seem like there are any buttons for Gansey to push. Anything you get from Tacko Fall or other players you could bring in on two-way deals is a hope and a prayer.

But at this point, it looks like that’s all they can do until the middle of December.

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Where does Mohamed Diawara fit in the Knicks’ rotation?

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 5: Mohamed Diawara #51 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 5, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

A hangover can be a sobering experience. A lot of people know that. One moment you are on top of the world, the life of the party, drinking and dancing in the middle of a crowd to a song that seemed like it was written just for you. And then all of a sudden you wake up and feel like a reborn “Night Train” Lane is using your head as a tackling dummy. That upcoming brunch with the not-so-close relatives doesn’t seem that enticing anymore, does it?

You might have heard that your beloved New York Knicks are dealing with something similar these days. They sure have been told once or twice. Actually, if they could get a dollar for every time someone brought up the famous movie title in relation to their recent basketball exploits, they might soon be able to play for good ol’ Jimmy for free. That’s what you get for starting your title defense with no wins in three games: you will hear about it. With that said, some Knickerbockers definitely have it a little worse than others.

While the main crew is stumbling through the club and trying to dissect the poor-tasting regular beverage of a long, grinding season, one of last year’s heroes hasn’t even been invited back to the party yet. What it is exactly that’s keeping Mohamed Diawara on the pine is anybody’s guess, but there surely is something that doesn’t sit well with head coach Mike Brown. It’s not the sneakers or the baggy shorts, so much we can say.

No minutes so far for Mohamed Diawara

It seems as if Diawara really hasn’t fully recovered from hitting the rookie wall late last season—both physically and mentally. After surprising everybody by clearly outperforming his late draft status, he got lost in the shuffle later in the year. As his earlier unwavering confidence wavered, he more often than not looked like a shaken gallic rooster in the headlights. With every subpar outing, it seemed to creep deeper into Mo’s head, as he looked visibly frustrated at times. But even if he wasn’t part of the playoff rotation, many in Knickland were still confident that the guy who locked up Jaylen Brown in Boston and drilled triples in Wemby’s face at the Garden would have a significantly bigger role going forward. The Knicks apparently agreed, giving him a new four-year contract in June.

So far these expectations haven’t been met. Like at all. An injury-shortened, bad summer league and an average-at-best preseason didn’t exactly get the hype TGV rolling again. Physically, Diawara certainly looks bigger, but transforming your body can be quite a challenge for a young player, especially when the added pounds take away from the nimble movement skills you once possessed. Judging by the few glimpses we got of Mo in the summer, it seemed that he wasn’t exactly confident in his new skin yet as a player. Understandable but unfortunate nonetheless.

What makes his stagnating development especially frustrating for New York is that the young Frenchman, in theory, is exactly the type of talent their roster could use right now and going forward. Outside of their starters OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, the Bockers really do not have any long wings at their disposal, and it becomes an even more glaring circumstance when you consider that their lineup features a lot of smaller guards to begin with.

Diawara could improve Knicks’ balance

The Knicks worked around it admirably during last year’s playoff run, even if it didn’t make sense at times. Three-guard lineups with Jalen Brunson and Jose Alvarado somehow worked against a vaunted Spurs defense in the Finals, Landry Shamet turned into some super sub on his minimum deal, Jordan Clarkson impersonated Dennis Rodman off the bench, and no Knick ever really got exposed physically that much. It was awesome to see, but somehow it also felt like the stars aligned just right for a play here, a game there, then even a series and a run. Matchups favored the Knicks and they managed to hide their shortcomings perfectly at just the right time.

But can all of that happen again? Can we trust the rather smallish roster to hold up for another year without opponents finding the obvious problems with it? It might, but having a better balance on the depth chart would also be a welcome sight. Championship teams often struggle when they just do the things they did a year ago and expect things to also just go exactly the same. In terms of a roster and a team, you need a certain level of disruption, some new impulses to keep the group humming, interested. C’est peut-être Monsieur Diawara pour les Knicks de New York.

Diawara can push the vets in front of him a little bit, and he could challenge their inner mentor. Some veterans tend to be more engaged when they have younger guys looking up to them, guys that force them to be role models in practice and on the court. I’m sure our beloved and extremely professional Knicks aren’t slacking in that regard, but if a youngster is out there in the real games with them, there is certainly another dimension that could make them focus a bit more themselves.

Make no mistake about it: Mo Diawara has to earn his minutes. He has to be a gain, not a distraction. Limited history suggests, though, that if the Knicks are serious about his development, they might want to try him rather sooner than later with their regular rotation. Diawara has always looked like a guy who thrives with better teammates, carving out and excelling in a limited role as a defensive, three-point-shooting specialist. The gained confidence from another opportunity could unlock him again and send him back in the right direction. Which in turn would be a win for the entire team. For all the hope that Mo might expand his game immediately after his rookie year, he and his trainers might have jumped a step or two, who knows. That doesn’t change the fact that he is a player who might add something the team lacks right now.

You don’t have to let him run the bar immediately. But a little time on the dancefloor, maybe a song or two, could be a good idea. At least we could see if he still has some moves.

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Yankees 2026 Roster Report Cards: Amed Rosario

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Amed Rosario #14 of the New York Yankees takes the field prior to Game One of the American League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Before the 2026 season, the Yankees re-signed utilityman Amed Rosario to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Long rumored to be a trade target for the Bombers, Rosario spent the latter half of 2025 with the team after being acquired from the Nationals at the Trade Deadline. The move was low-risk and really seemed like a fit that was too good to be true.

The organization brought Rosario back to balance the lineup against left-handed pitching, and he earned solid marks from PSA last year for doing just that. His ability to play multiple positions also made him a useful bench piece, allowing him to slide around the infield and outfield as needed. Still, I think we all know the vision was for him to serve as the other half of a platoon at third base alongside Ryan McMahon. To say that dream fell short would be an understatement.

Grade: F

2026 Stats: 87 G, 244 PA, 10 HR, 28 R, 34 RBI, 3 SB, .238/.279/.405, 88 wRC+, -0.2 fWAR, -0.2 bWAR

2027 Contract Status: Free agent

After participating in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, Rosario got off to a strong start to the season. During April and May, he looked much like the player he had been for most of his career, batting around .270 and occasionally getting a hold of a pitch or two. His bat and versatility were useful as he moved around the infield, plugging holes as they arose due to injury. However, his production plummeted after he returned from the paternity list in early June.

In June and July, Rosario slashed .195/.241/.366. His strikeout rate climbed to 34.5 percent over that stretch, and it felt like he was swinging at flies in every at-bat. By this point, it was also becoming apparent that Rosario wasn’t hitting lefties remotely as well as he was righties, making the daily chess match that much harder.

Over the last third of the season, Rosario’s numbers settled in the middle of his previous two segments as he batted .258 in August and .231 in September. In another strange twist, after hitting a big blast at the end of July, Rosario’s power dried up, and he failed to hit another home run in either month. In a lot of ways, Rosario’s season was a microcosm of the Yankees’ year. What looked like a low-risk move that was too good to be true got off to a promising start before ultimately falling short of expectations in ways that were almost impressive.

Rosario made the Wild Card roster and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout and a walk in his lone postseason appearance against Boston. He was then left off the ALDS roster against the Rays as the coaching staff opted to carry another pitcher in his place. I assume Rosario’s baseball future will be somewhere other than the Bronx next season after his year and a half run with the Yankees.

Defensively, Rosario’s versatility was somewhat useful with the injuries the club faced, but the results were ugly as his Outs Above Average came in at -9. He appeared in 55 games at third base, seven at second base and designated hitter, five games in right field, and four in left field. Rosario’s defensive numbers at the infield spots were as rough as the eye test, as he posted a .911 fielding percentage at third and .882 at second. He was perfect in the limited action in both outfield spots, but overall he wasn’t a very reliable defender at any position making his versatility less valuable.

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Rosario’s biggest highlight came on July 31, when he launched a 450-foot home run against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. It was the second-longest home run hit by a Yankee all season. Another noteworthy performance came in April against the Athletics, when Rosario hit two home runs, including the go-ahead three-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning off former Yankee reliever Mark Leiter Jr.

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In 2026, Rosario, the man meant to mash lefties, ended the season batting .208 against southpaws, well below his .287 career average. His .606 OPS against left-handed pitching was a far cry from what the Yankees needed. The splits against righties made the situation even more head-scratching: he hit .295 with an .833 OPS, compared to a .265 career average against right-handers.

The final Statcast numbers showed a 39.3-percent hard-hit rate and an average exit velocity of 90.2 mph. His average bat speed reached 74.0 mph, a career high, and he set a new career high with a 112.1 mph exit velocity. Additionally, Rosario might have suffered from some poor luck, as his expected batting average (xBA) was .250, 12 points higher than his actual average.

Rosario finished the season with negative WAR, posting a -0.2 mark. When you literally have one job and you fail to do it, a failing grade is fair and is what the group consensus here at PSA concluded. I personally gave Rosario a D- due to the fact he hit righties well this year, if nothing else. What grade would you place on his report card? 

See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.

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Flyers Could Be A Quality Trade Partner For Blackhawks

Last Friday, when the Chicago Blackhawks had the Montreal Canadiens in town, there were a couple of people in the press box acting as “scouts”. One of them was Keith Jones, who is the current President of Hockey Operations for the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Currently, the Flyers are 3-7-3 through 13 games played. That is good for the worst points percentage in the Eastern Conference and 4th-worst in the entire NHL. This comes one year after not only making the playoffs, but also winning a series.

Is Keith Jones out scouting? Are any of his other scouts or executives flying around to take a look at certain players across different leagues? We’ll see how quickly they become aggressive sellers if the losing continues. 

Was Jones there to see the Hawks or the Habs? Well, the Montreal Canadiens are a lot closer to contending. The Flyers have a few pieces that may be worth acquiring for future assets if you’re Montreal and looking to win now. 

With that said, the Flyers may also be a great trade partner for the Blackhawks at this stage. When it comes to executives in Philadelphia, there is no true hot seat right now. However, they may be feeling some heat in Chicago after their 3-8-0 start.

Some teams make changes to the coaching staff whenever these things happen, but would they really fire Jeff Blashill right now? It doesn’t make a ton of sense. Instead, a big trade could help them get back on track. The Flyers have veterans who could help this young Blackhawks group. 

The most notable of the bunch is Travis Konecny. He is a veteran forward who has had 7 seasons in which he scored 20+ goals. In 2 of them, he eclipsed 30. In most of those 20-goal seasons, Konecny has had 50+ points as well. There is also an edge that he plays with, which can be extremely difficult to go up against. If there is any sort of issue going on between the Flyers and this player, he could be moved sooner rather than later. 

Owen Tippett, Cam York, and Rasmus Ristolainen are a few other names that could find themselves in trade rumors down the line as well. As long as those guys get healthy, they make sense for a Blackhawks team looking for a spark. 

Whether it's getting Connor Bedard another linemate at even strength or on the power play, or adding a veteran who can help calm the waters, nothing should be off the table. 

The Hawks are not in a position to be considered a buyer, or even close, but they need something to spark change within their group. They can’t keep getting blown out whenever they play a good team. If one of these guys can help, it’s worth considering. 

What might the Flyers want from the Blackhawks? Well, young players that the Blackhawks don't feel will be part of the long-term future could be in play. Is Kevin Korchinski going to stay in the press box forever? All of the forwards they like on the NHL and AHL roster can't play for Chicago at once. There are plenty of moves that could be made. 

Matvei Michkov Makes Perfect Sense For Blackhawks To ConsiderMatvei Michkov Makes Perfect Sense For Blackhawks To ConsiderThe Chicago Blackhawks could consider Matvei Michkov if he is available for trade.
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Report: Jaylen Brown's camp denies that he demanded trade from Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown’s representatives have forcefully denied recent reports claiming that Brown demanded a trade from his former team, the Boston Celtics, telling ESPN that such rumors are "10000% a lie."

The clarification from Brown’s camp to ESPN came in response to comments made by former NBA player and current NBC Sports Boston analyst Brian Scalabrine, who claimed that Brown had not only requested a trade from Boston, but also presented the team with a list of demands and expressed interest in being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Brown’s representatives emphasized that he never asked to be traded to the Bucks, nor did he submit any list of demands.

According to his camp to ESPN, Brown’s only request was to have some input regarding his next team if a trade were to occur, and he sought to be treated on equal footing with fellow Celtics star Jayson Tatum during his time in Boston.

In the wake of the backlash, Scalabrine walked back his earlier comments during the Celtics’ pregame coverage against the Chicago Bulls on Monday, Oct. 26. He clarified that Brown did not explicitly demand a trade but described the situation as more of an "ultimatum," suggesting that Brown’s camp wanted certain conditions met, or there could be consequences.

More: Thunder lose starters Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace to injuries requiring surgery

"I don't know what the ultimatum was or the demands or whatever it was," Scalabrine admitted. "So, technically, he did not demand to be traded. It was, ‘do these things right here or else.' And one of them might have been, 'give me the $140 million extension.'”

Brown’s representatives denied Scalabrine's claims in the ESPN report.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Report: Jaylen Brown's camp denies that he demanded trade from Celtics