This is a Senators team that has had the Penguins' number as of late, winning eight of the last 10 games between the two teams. One of those eight wins came back on Dec. 18, a 4-0 shutout in Ottawa. The Penguins haven't beaten the Senators in regulation since Jan. 20, 2023, when they won 4-1 at home.
The Senators have won three in a row heading into this game, and two of those wins came against the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. They have outscored their opponents 16-4 during this three-game winning streak.
Offense hasn't been the issue for the Senators this year. They rank ninth in goals per game (3.33) and, according to MoneyPuck, have the third-best 5v5 expected goals percentage in the league (54.7%). They just can't get saves and have gotten the worst goaltending in the league this year.
Linus Ullmark will start in goal for the Senators on Monday, and while his numbers are down this year (2.89 goals-against average and .884 save percentage), he has played very well against the Penguins during his career. He is 7-0-0 against the Penguins with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.
Tim Stutzle is having another great year for the Senators, compiling 25 goals and 57 points in 54 games. Drake Batherson has also been great with 19 goals and 46 points in 51 games, ditto for Jake Sanderson, who has 10 goals and 44 points in 54 games.
The Penguins will go with the same lineup that they had on Saturday against the New York Rangers. Arturs Silovs will start in goal after he backed up Stuart Skinner for that game.
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Brazeau
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
McGroarty-Kindel-Mantha
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Kulak-Shea
Solovyov-Clifton
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
Nov 7, 2023; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Cleveland Guardians general manager Mike Chernoff speaks to the media during the MLB General Manager's Meetings at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
This is an article to politely ask Guardians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti and General Manager Mike Chernoff to stop repeating a new talking point they have offered to media twice, now. If you’re wondering why I am writing this… well, they haven’t done anything else for us to talk about, so blame them.
Speaking of not doing anything, Guardians’ front office obviously knew when they emerged from their mid-December to mid-January winter’s nap, they would be asked why they did nothing to address an offense that ranked 28th in MLB in 2025… aside from re-signing Austin Hedges, who is the worst hitter in MLB since his debut among players with similar plate appearance numbers. I have to say, addressing this issue would be a challenge for the most skilled of communicators. They obviously cannot tell the truth, which is very clearly that they have been given instructions to limit the amount of money the team has committed for 2026 and 2027, given the likelihood of a lockout producing a shortened or canceled season in 2027, resulting in reduced revenues for a team that is – apparently (?) – strapped for cash.
So, one approach they have both attempted is to emphasize that the team doesn’t want to sign someone who will block their younger players. Ok. Brayan Rocchio, Juan Brito, Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter, C.J. Kayfus and George Valera need a clear runway to prove themselves as major leaguers. For sure, the team will not, then, leave any of these players in Columbus until May or June to gain an extra year of team control/avoid super-2 issues. Surely. But, aside from that, any Guardians’ fan with access to FanGraphs knows that the team is STILL missing some right-handed thump, and, someone who can competently play centerfield, hopefully a right-handed hitter.
Antonetti and Chernoff have responded to the latter concern saying that even though they have made competitive offers for right-handed outfielders who can play centerfield, they have just been too gosh darn honest with those players, letting them know they will have to platoon, and those players have chosen to play elsewhere with better chances of increased playing time. Leaving aside the fact that at least one of these players would have chosen to compete for time in Cleveland if offered more MONEY to do so, I guess we are supposed to admire our front office for their exemplary honesty. Surely, they’ve always been upfront and forthright with players and fans and never had to hide any motivations the team might have that conflict with their interests. Surely. Props to them. Ok.
“Prior to the 2022 baseball season what Major League free agents did the Cleveland Guardians sign? …Why am I bringing that up? Those are not the names everyone is talking about. Both 2022 and ’24 we won the Central Division finding young players opportunities. In 2022, we chose not to sign the Eddie Rosarios of the year.””
And here’s Chernoff:
“We won the (Central Division) title in 2022 and 2024, I’ll give you 100 bucks if you can name the free agents (hitters) we signed.”
Coincidentally, Antonetti, whose wallet is apparently a bit tighter than Chernoff’s, ended up paying CtC’s own Tommy Pecoraro that $20 for giving the answer that in 2022 the Guardians signed Bryan Shaw and Luke Maile. As Tommy has pointed out, Antonetti has now paid him more than he has any major league free agent outfielders this offseason. For 2024, the answer was Austin Hedges and Ben Lively (Terry Pluto wrote that it was Ramon Laureano, who was an arbitration signing, but ANYWHOO…).
Chernoff, also, in a mind-blowing quote (to me), told Pluto, “We don’t play (try to sign) top tier free agents.” Um… is he allowed to say that? Does MLB PA have some sort of grievance here to file about a team that receives revenue sharing openly saying they simply are not going to sign top-tier free agents? I honestly don’t know.
I realize that Antonetti and Chernoff are working in the perfect market to try this… junk… to be polite. The media isn’t going to push back hard on this (with apologies to Zack Meisel of the Athletic, who does push back, and Paul Hoynes, who will occasionally make a run at resisting the company narrative) and it’s not going to be discussed AT ALL on sports radio airwaves who would prefer to spend discuss the drama around the Browns’ defensive coordinator than the only superstar in Cleveland history who has taken a huge paycut to make sure he can play an entire Hall of Fame Career in this city.
The Guardians’ brass are using 2022 and 2024 as their examples, presumably because the team made playoff runs in both years. I wonder why they aren’t using 2016 when they made a World Series run? Could it be because their signings of veteran stopgaps Mike Napoli and Rajai Davis as well as trades of numerous top prospects for Andrew Miller ended up propelling that run? No one should expect their favorite team to hit on every veteran signing. However, when there is a hole on the roster, small market teams should – at the very least – target affordable veterans to fill that hole and raise the floor of a roster that has playoff potential. Sometimes, you hit on Napoli and Davis (and even Juan Uribe was helpful in giving a young Jose Ramirez confidence in 2016). Sometimes you don’t. But it needs to be attempted.
It’s, frankly, condescending to expect that fans can’t remember signings like Mike Zunino, Cam Gallagher, Josh Bell and Luke Maile. The most rabid fans among us spend all offseason futilely HOPING for some kind of activity and start immediately trying to imagine how these kind of additions might turn out to be brilliant moves. Additionally, bringing up how inconsequential these moves are is an odd choice given that the teams of 2022 and 2024 did not win a pennant or a title. What if you’d actually spend some money, Chris? What if you’d signed someone who made an all-star team and led us to another win or two in the playoffs, Mike? Even the casual fans would remember that player’s name. Hey… maybe we should try that instead of these cute little trivia contests? I am completely open to a Rhys Hoskins or Randal Grichuk late offseason Hail Mary to simply increase this team’s floor against LHP by even the tiniest bit.
But, hey, my writers can always use some extra money. So, go ahead with this PR campaign of asking about your pitiful attempts to dabble in free agency, I guess. It’s not like I am going to change their feelings with another blog post. Thank goodness we have Jose Ramirez, and I am now going to go back to being excited about seeing the exciting young players they have in the organization in 2026. I sincerely hope that this gambit on internal development pays off for the team and they can laugh at this article and others for years to come. No one will be happier than I will if that happens. But, running the lowest payroll in MLB and touting your track record of getting the most out of the least is a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for ‘em.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Elton Brand, Daryl Morey, and Head Coach Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2025 in at Chicago, Illinois at McCormick Convention Center. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA trade deadline is this Thursday. What direction the Sixers will go is anyone’s guess. They can throw themselves into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes or simply do some housekeeping to make sure Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker get standard deals. Simply ducking the luxury tax would apparently not sit well Joel Embiid.
What do you want to see? What do you not want to see? Is there a specific player or position you think the team should target? Hit me with your thoughts and questions below.
Also, I’m going to leave this pinned to the front of the site through the deadline so we can keep the conversation going.
The Chicago Blackhawks have played against every team in the NHL this season at least once, except for the San Jose Sharks. That will change on Monday night with a match set to take place at the United Center.
The San Jose Sharks are 27-22-4, which is a record (58 points) keeping them on the playoff bubble. At 21-25-9, the Blackhawks are 7 points behind them. Although each team has been in the bottom five over the last several years, there has been steady improvement shown by both.
Bedard vs Celebrini
This is a matchup between two of the NHL’s brightest young stars. Connor Bedard was the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, while Macklin Celebrini went first one year later at the 2024 NHL Draft. These two are compared for a variety of reasons. With that said, this matchup is much more than two young stars going head-to-head.
The San Jose Sharks do rely on Celebrini a lot in terms of their offensive production. He currently has 79 points, which is good for fourth in the entire NHL. The next closest Sharks player is Will Smith with 38. This will get him in Hart Trophy conversations if they do end up making the playoffs.
Smith-Celebrini-Toffoli
Eklund-Wennberg-Graf
Regenda-Misa-Kurashev
Goodrow-Gaudette-Reaves
Orlov-Liljegren
Ferraro-Mukhamadullin
Dickinson-Desharnais
Askarov
The Chicago Blackhawks are going to see Yaroslav Askarov in San Jose's net, who is another good young goalie trying to make his way as an elite player in the league.
Outside of Celebrini and Smith, other young skaters like William Eklund, Michael Misa, and Sam Dickinson are there forming what promises to be a great core for a long time. Veterans like Tyler Toffoli, Alex Wennberg, and Dmitri Orlov are there for support as well. It's a good group that's only going to get better as the years go on.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Chicago Blackhawks will still be without Nick Foligno for this game. He is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, although he skated with the team at practice on Sunday.
Nazar-Bedard-Bertuzzi
Teravainen-Greene-Burakovsky
Donato-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Slaggert-Moore-Dach
Vlasic-Crevier
Kaiser-Rinzel
Grzelcyk-Murphy
Knight
Spencer Knight will start in goal for Chicago, as each team will go with their young up-and-coming star goalies. Sam Lafferty is the healthy scratch up front, and Artyom Levshunov will continue his development program, keeping him out of the lineup.
Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar have started to gain some chemistry together at even strength. In this game, they will be with Tyler Bertuzzi. With Landon Slaggert and Colton Dach on Oliver Moore's wing, they will form an energy line.
Jeff Blashill is continuing to evaluate what he has in Moore, who has shown versatility in terms of where he is in the lineup and what position he plays.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:30 PM CT.
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter of a game at Fiserv Forum on November 02, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, everyone. The NBA trade deadline is days away. That means we’re going to be covering every rumor, no matter how obscure, for the rest of the week.
Today, I want to unpack the pros and cons of the Cleveland Cavaliers hypothetically trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
If you’re wondering how or if this type of move is possible, I’d suggest reading Jackson’s breakdown from yesterday. To cut to the chase, here are the three deals he included:
With those offers in mind, let’s get into the nuance of making a move this drastic.
Pro: Massive Talent
The best player in the Eastern Conference would play for Cleveland. That’s pretty straightforward.
Cavs fans know better than anyone that sometimes simply having the best player on the floor is enough to win you a game, series, or even the championship. Giannis might not be as dominant as LeBron James was, but in a wide-open Eastern Conference, one could assume that all he needs is a decent supporting cast to trample his way back to the NBA Finals.
Cleveland would have a stronger supporting cast than Milwaukee, no matter which deal they go with. Antetokounmpo’s star power would either be flanked by a combination of Mitchell and Mobley—or Mitchell, Allen, and Garland. Either way, that’s a minimum of three All-Star caliber players in the starting lineup.
The rest of the rotation would still be strong, too. The Cavs would be keeping Sam Merrill (and/or Max Strus), Keon Ellis, Dean Wade, and Dennis Schroder. I’d imagine they fight tooth and nail to keep Tyson, as well. I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Tyson was considered untouchable. He’s the type of player you don’t give up so easily.
All of this to say, Cleveland gets an MVP and bona fide superstar in Antetokounmpo. A player who is capable of elevating his performance in the playoffs and meeting all their needs for size and shot creation. You can argue that Giannis is enough to make up for the loss of Allen and Garland on his own. And, he might be better currently than Mobley ever will be.
Circling back to my first point, the Cavs wouldn’t just be getting the best player in the deal; they’d be gaining the best player in the conference. That’s historically a good sign.
Con: A few Cautionary Tales
Big swings can lead to embarrassing misses. We haven’t seen a team win a championship after making a homerun swing since the Los Angeles Lakers won with Anthony Davis in the 2020 Bubble.
Seriously, those massive “all-in” moves haven’t been paying off for anyone else.
The Oklahoma City Thunder built their championship roster from the ground up with smart drafting and small moves on the margins. The Boston Celtics did the same, tinkering with trades for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, but never selling the farm or letting go of the J’s.
The Denver Nuggets followed the same formula. They didn’t panic and trade Jamal Murray. Instead, they gave that group enough time to grow together, while making ancillary moves to improve the supporting cast until they finally broke through in 2023.
And then there’s the 2021 Bucks, who kept their group together despite multiple failures before winning the title over the Phoenix Suns. It wasn’t until the Bucks gave up on that core (maybe justifiably) that everything truly collapsed.
Now think of the teams that have taken big swings during this same stretch.
The Brooklyn Nets whiffed on their big three of Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant. The Suns would later make a similar mistake, coming up woefully short on a big three of their own.
Milwaukee, as mentioned, traded for Damian Lillard before realizing how valuable Holiday’s defense actually was. The Dallas Mavericks… well, I don’t really know what the Mavericks were thinking when they traded Luka Doncic. That one’s on them.
My point is, each of the last five champions stuck to their guns. This is true for most championship teams if you comb back through NBA history. Seismic changes rarely pay off. And, it’s even more unlikely that a massive move at the trade deadline works in your favor.
Relating this to the Cavs, they may already have the talent to win a championship. Kneecapping their future for a 31-year-old star who relies heavily on his athleticism could be a short-sighted and unnecessary move.
For example, let’s say they include Mobley and Tyson in the deal. Two young stars with loads of potential in exchange for an aging Antetokounmpo (with mounting injuries). That’s the type of move that lends itself to immense criticism a few years down the line if it doesn’t work out. A self-inflicted, franchise-altering error is something you should work hard to avoid.
Championship squads might shuffle the deck, but they don’t throw away the cards and start a brand new game. The NBA’s landscape has changed enough that being a top-heavy squad isn’t going to cut it. You need depth, continuity, and admittedly, a whole lot of luck. Cleveland would be seriously testing their luck with an overhaul at the deadline.
Conclusion:
I can’t fault anyone who wants to trade for Antetokounmpo. Hell, I wouldn’t exactly be complaining if #34 was wearing a Cavs jersey. It’s not hard to get excited about a player of his caliber joining the roster.
The packages required for Antetokounmpo aren’t unreasonable. But they are loaded with the potential to backfire. Mobley looks like he’ll be a DPOY, All-NBA candidate for the next 10 years. Garland has been one of the league’s best floor generals when healthy. Allen just put up 40 points and 17 rebounds in 30 minutes. Does Cleveland need to give up one (or multiple) of those players for a star who could be a short-term rental (either due to health or free agency)?
It takes guts to win a championship. While I highlighted the dangers of putting all your chips in the middle, it’s still true that every title team took risks. The question is whether or not you believe the Cavs need to take that risk at this point in their timeline.
CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 31: LaMelo Ball #1 and Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets high five after the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 31, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Charlotte Hornets are playing better than any team in the NBA right now. Seriously. This isn’t a hunch, or based on the eye-test, but objectively the Hornets have been brilliant. They weren’t just dominant in January, they were historic. Going 11-6, and currently on a six game win streak — coach Charles Lee has the team cooking in a way they haven’t … well, ever.
It’s not just that the Hornets are winning, but how they’re winning. This team is dominating on both sides of the floor. After beating the Mavericks in overtime on Saturday night Charlotte matched the all-time record for road differential in a single month, finishing at +151 — which is tied with the 2010-11 Heat, a team that featured LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
Kon Knueppel may or may not win Rookie of the Year, because Cooper Flagg is playing brilliant basketball — but no rookie has been more important to their team than Knueppel. Emerging as far more than a connective piece, Knueppel has become the Hornets’ primary three point shooter on a team already loaded with talent from behind the arc. The rookie is shooting 42.7% from deep, lifting his eFG% to 60.9% this season. Not only is Knueppel knocking down everything, but he’s doing it as a volume shooter who is averaging 7.7 threes attempted per game.
This was on full display Saturday night, when Knueppel went 8-12 from beyond the arc in an explosive performance.
The highest-end player comparison for Knueppel out of the draft was Klay Thompson. Now it appears there’s a very real chance he could exceed that assessment. Knueppel has become a three-level scorer who is both capable of knocking down threes as a spot-up shooter, but also creating his own shot — something people didn’t think was in his bag entering the draft. He’s also an underrated defender, who is able to mitigate his lack of on-ball ability with spacing and awareness, often taking his man out of the play before they get the ball.
When the Hornets drafted Kon the question was less whether or not he would be a good player, and more how he’d fit alongside Brandon Miller. Both have similar attributes, with Miller being taken with the No. 2 pick in 2023 because of his three point shooting and shot creation — which the Hornets desperately needed to take focus off LaMelo Ball.
There have been bumps in the road during this learning process, but the Hornets have finally found their footing. Utilizing a starting lineup of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Moussa Diabate has become the team’s secret sauce. Offensively it gives the team three shooters around the perimeter, with Bridges and Diabate both being solid finishers around the rim. Meanwhile on defense it’s a varied mix of the on-ball defenders in Ball and Melo, the off-ball ability of Knueppel, and the rim protection of Bridges and Diabate which has been the different maker.
The offensive numbers are what’s eye popping here, as the team has become better able to play with unity and purpose. The Hornets of the past existed as a monolith: Either LaMelo Ball was shooting the ball, or making an assist — with little in between. It made for eye-popping individual numbers, and a whole lot of losses. Now the offense is designed around the second or third pass, stretching the floor in ways that are very difficult to defend with as many shooters as the Hornets boast.
This has been a huge boon to LaMelo Ball, who is attempted five less field goals on average, but is posting more assists along with a career-low in turnovers. As a result we have a core in Charlotte that is dictating the pace, buying in to Charles Lee’s system, and seeing results from it.
The Hornets' top 4 in EPM are their 4 best young players. Often, a young team overachieving is subtly led by a few veterans. But the Hornets are playing good basketball because their young core is cohesively driving winning.
The key player we haven’t talked about is Moussa Diabate, who has become the ideal center for this new-look Hornets team. Signed to a two-way contract at the tail end of the 2024 season, Diabate showed enough in a short period of time that Charlotte shopped Mark Williams, eventually trading him to the Suns. The difference between the two centers is dramatic, with Diabate being less of an offensive threat — but far better on the defensive end, and a more aggressive rebounder. It’s not that Diabate is better than Williams, but he’s strictly better for this version of the team, fitting in much better as an ancillary piece, rather than forced focal point.
All that’s left to be answered is how far this team can go? Currently at 22-28 there’s a significant early season hole Charlotte needs to dig out of in order to make the playoffs. However, there is an outside chance if they can keep up their stellar January performance to find a backdoor into the postseason, likely as a play-in team.
The real hype should be for 2026-27. If the Hornets can find a long defender to play the four and give some more defensive backbone next to Diabate then the current scoring trio are good enough to really make noise in a weaker Eastern conference. Factor in that Charlotte is $12M under the tax theshold, giving them the room to bulk out their bench — and we really could be looking at a team a year from now that is threatening to be one of the best teams in the conference.
For now fans will gladly accept this run. The Hornets have put everything together around its young core, and the vibes are off the charts. For a team that normally inspires apathy it’s been the biggest turnaround in the NBA this season, and the sky is the limit.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -FEBRUARY 1: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs greets Dylan Harper #2 back to the bench during action against the Orlando Magic in the second half at Frost Bank Center on February 1, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a true display of resilience, the San Antonio Spurs overcame a blizzard and several travel delays to gut out a 112-103 victory against the Orlando Magic on Sunday. The Magic responded after the Spurs got off to a hot start, outscoring Orlando 37-21 in the first quarter. A dominant third quarter gave San Antonio the boost they needed to finish off the Magic at home.
Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama led the third-quarter run. Harper built off his stellar performance against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday with another great outing on Sunday. He got to the rim, showed touch in the paint, and made highlight defensive plays.
Harper’s finish ability is not normal for a rookie. He looked stopped dead in his tracks on this play, but he just uses his next-level body control and touch to scoop the ball in around the defense.
Shots like this offer a glimpse into what Harper can be in a few years. Hitting these kinds of turnarounds in the mid-range show that the rookie has the touch; he’s still developing at range and at the pace of the NBA game. If he can do that, he’ll unlock another level for San Antonio’s offense.
This block was a tantalizing look at what Harper could become defensively. He’s so long and athletic, and has good instincts on the defensive end. Pair that with his ability to get into the paint and his improving shooting touch, and the Spurs could have another All-Star on their hands. Harper had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in the win.
Don’t forget Harper’s court vision. Here, he finds the cutting Carter Bryant for a monster jam. Bryant has started to get his feet underneath him a bit more for the Spurs as the season goes on. He looks much more comfortable and isn’t forcing things as much as he used to. Dunks like these are what make his upcoming appearance in the NBA Dunk Contest so exciting.
Wembanyama once again fought through physical defense to will the Spurs to victory. No matter how many limbs and bodies the Magic threw at him, Wemby responded by getting into the paint, finishing, or getting fouled. His defensive impact was felt, especially in the third quarter, where Orlando scored just 18 points. Wembanyama had 25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 5 blocks in the win.
Wembanyama has looked stronger and a bit more resilient to contact in the last week. The Orlando and Houston games were physical bouts that tested Wemby’s will, and he stepped up to the occasion in both matchups. Plays like this show what a stronger, more physical Wembanyama can do. He absorbs the contact and still has the strength to fight through it and finish over the top with his length—scary stuff from the Spurs All-Star.
San Antonio will get a few days off before another matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 4th. Check out the video below to see full highlights from the Spurs’ win over the Magic.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 30: Evan Longoria #10 of the San Francisco Giants looks on while at bat against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park on August 30, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section!
What moment in this franchise history haunts you, keeps you up at night, barges into your brain at inconvenient moments when you’re just trying to enjoy a game…
TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 27: George Abbott of Tottenham Hotspur in action during the match between Vissel Kobe and Tottenham Hotspur at National Stadium on July 27, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, it’s a done deal at least as far as these loans go. Spurs’ academy account on social media has confirmed the previously discussed loans of George Abbott and Alfie Dorrington. Abbott is heading to Mansfield Town in League One to join up with his Spurs academy teammate Oliver Irow, while Dorrington is heading to Salford City, currently third in the table in League Two.
George Abbott has joined League One side Mansfield Town on loan for the remainder of the season.
There’s not a ton left to say about these two loans that isn’t already left unsaid. Neither are expected to feature in the first team at Spurs if they stayed, and both were recalled from unsuccessful loans in the fall so it was always very likely that they’d head back out.
Abbott hopefully can integrate himself into his new team. He did very well on loan at Notts County last season, but injuries derailed his time at Wycombe. As for Dorrington, I’m now kind of afraid that League Two/League One might just be his level. I don’t expect Spurs to hold on to either player very long after this season, and I think selling them both this summer is the expected move.
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 26: Danny Coulombe #54 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field on August 26, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nationals figure to have an exciting lineup in 2026, with a combination of proven talent such as James Wood and CJ Abrams, youngsters who have flashed upside such as Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews, and still relatively unknown commodities such as Harry Ford and Brady House. While the lineup will certainly be worth watching this season, it’s hard to say the same about the Nationals’ pitching staff.
According to Fangraphs, the Nationals’ starting rotation and bullpen both rank 30th out of 30 in projected fWAR in 2026, respectively. While the starting rotation is only the worst by a little, the bullpen is far and away the worst in the sport according to Fangraphs, with its projected combined fWAR of 0.4 being 0.7 behind the 2nd worst unit, the San Francisco Giants.
I’ve discussed starting pitching options the Nats should be looking to bring in before pitchers and catchers report soon, now let’s take a look at some options on the bullpen side of things, to take the unit from awful to at least bearable in 2026.
LHP Justin Wilson
After a tough 2024 season in which the 36-year-old Wilson posted a 5.59 ERA and 4.73 FIP in 46.2 IP, it appeared Wilson’s career was nearing its end. After an effective 2025 in which he posted a 3.35 ERA and 2.95 FIP in 48.1 IP, it looks like the now 38 year old Wilson still has some juice left in the tank after all.
One of the things Wilson does most effectively is generate swing and miss, something Paul Toboni is looking to add to a bullpen unit that sorely lacks it currently. In 2025, Wilson posted a 74th percentile chase rate and 91st percentile whiff rate, good for a 27.5% strikeout rate, ranking in the 82nd percentile among all relievers. His fastball and slider are his go-to swing and miss pitches, both having a whiff rate over 30%, but he’ll also mix in the occasional cutter and splitter to keep hitters guessing.
While Wilson was exactly 50th percentile in average exit velocity in 2025, it doesn’t affect him as much as others because he excels at keeping the ball on the ground, with a 72nd percentile groundball rate in 2025, resulting in a strong 72nd percentile barrel rate (which accounts for both the exit velocity and launch angle of a batted ball).
The 38-year-old Wilson seems like a pitcher that a contender would have taken a chance on by now, but if his market just isn’t where he expected it to be by now, the Nationals should jump into negotiations and get a deal done. Whether he ends up closing games or being a setup man, Wilson would be a big boost for a currently very shaky bullpen.
LHP Danny Coulombe
Coulombe was dominating in the first half of 2025 with the Twins, posting a 1.16 ERA and 2.01 FIP in 31 IP with them, before seeing the results disappear in the second half after being traded to the Rangers, as well as dealing with a shoulder injury, resulting in a 5.25 ERA and 6.64 FIP in 12 IP for them. The 36-year-olds market has been quiet this offseason, offering the Nats a chance to swoop in and offer him a situation where he’ll have nearly unlimited attempts at finding what he had going on early in 2025.
Coulombe has been nothing but consistent throughout his entire big league career, posting an ERA under 3 every year since 2022 and an ERA over 4 only once since 2017, resulting in a career ERA of 3.35. One of the key reasons for his success is his ability to limit barrels, whether it be by keeping hard contact to a minimum or keeping the ball on the ground.
Coulombe does not throw hard, ranking 6th percentile in fastball velocity in 2025, but it doesn’t matter because his primary pitch is actually his cutter, which he throws 40% of the time to great success, posting a 36.4% whiff rate and .291 xwOBA with the pitch in 2025. Outside of the cutter, he relies on a multitude of pitches to rack up outs, with sinkers against lefties and sweepers against righties being his other go-to pitches.
RHP Scott Barlow
While the results lagged behind the peripherals in 2025 for Barlow, posting a 4.21 ERA and 4.70 FIP in 68.1 IP, there are reasons to believe he can be more effective and potentially even break out in 2026, the type of pitchers the Nationals should be all over right now in free agency.
One thing Barlow did extremely well in 2025 was limit hard contact, posting a 96th percentile average exit velocity and 99th percentile hard hit rate. He also did a strong job of keeping the ball on the ground, with a 60th percentile groundball rate, resulting in a 66th percentile barrel rate. He also generated plenty of swing-and-misses in 2025, with an 87th percentile whiff rate and 67th percentile strikeout rate overall.
So if Barlow was both limiting hard contact and getting swing-and-misses in 2025, why weren’t his results better? The issue that plagued Barlow was walks, and he gave up a lot of them, with his 14.9% walk rate ranking in the bottom 1st percentile among relievers in 2025. Hitters had a hard time doing damage off Barlow’s stuff, but as long as they worked the count enough, odds were, Barlow was going to beat himself for them.
While the walk issue might be enough to scare contenders away from the 33-year-old Barlow, the reason the Nats should be taking a shot on him is that it was an outlier year for him in terms of that issue, as it was a 2% jump in walk rate from 2024 to 2025. With proper coaching, there is the potential of Barlow getting the walks back under control, which could make him an extremely effective piece out of the pen for Butera to use.
Mar 30, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Bally Sports Midwest announcer Chip Caray and Brad Thompson wave to the fans during the second inning of an opening day game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Toronto Blue Jays at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
We finally have solid details of how the St. Louis Cardinals plan to make their games available for streaming for the upcoming season. The team says that Major League Baseball will produce and distribute all in-market St. Louis Cardinals games and they promise to do it with no regional blackout restrictions.
Here are the exact words shared by the St. Louis Cardinals in a press release shared today:
“Fans can purchase a Cardinals.TV streaming subscription when packages go on sale on February 10. Cardinals.TV can be purchased for $99.99 for the full season or $19.99 per month. Information on cable and satellite providers, including specific channel locations, will be announced at a later date.“
The St. Louis Cardinals are the 8th team to turn over their broadcast to MLB joining the Diamondbacks, Guardians, Padres, Rockies, Twins, Mariners and Nationals. There’s no mention who the broadcasters will be for the games, but they say those details will be provided in the coming weeks. I noticed the no blackout promise comes with an asterisk specifying “in Cardinals territory”. That seems to refer to the national exclusive broadcasts and not some odd state restrictions or so I hope.
“Our top priority is making sure that Cardinals fans can watch their team as easily as possible,” said Anuk Karunaratne, Cardinals Senior Vice President of Business Operations. “Whether you prefer cable, satellite, or streaming, you’ll have uninterrupted access to every in-market game through this new model. MLB brings world-class production capabilities, and we’re excited about what this means for the future of Cardinals broadcasts.”
There are a lot of reasons why the 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins are finding success that they haven't found in the last few years.
For one, they're getting contributions from up and down their lineup. They already have eight players with 10 or more goals - more are on the way, too - and seven players are on pace to score more than 20 goals (and, it could be eight if Rickard Rakell - injured for 20 games this season - gets hot, as he is currently on pace for 19). In addition, 10 players are on pace to clear 40 points this season.
In addition, they're getting solid and timely goaltending. Stuart Skinner has a combined .895 save percentage since he was dealt to the Penguins from the Edmonton Oilers in December, but that's including three shaky starts to begin his tenure in Pittsburgh. Since those three starts, he is 8-1-0 with a .916 save percentage. Arturs Silovs has been solid, too, going 5-1-2 with a .905 save percentage since the holiday break.
And, of course, the Penguins are playing better defense, as they are pretty much near the middle of the pack in most major defensive metrics - a step up from where they were at earlier in the season. They've gotten the most out of guys like Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea on the back end, and Erik Karlsson is having a renaissance season.
But beyond personnel, the Penguins' new system under head coach Dan Muse and his staff is also doing them a ton of favors. So, too, is this team's ability to capitalize on momentem swings.
And that ability to not just capitalize on those swings, but outright dominate because of them, has been a pretty big factor behind this team's success.
"Hockey's a weird game, and when pucks go in, they go in in bunches sometimes," forward Tommy Novak said. "It seems like the next line up is always hungry for another one and to keep [the opposition] in the d-zone."
First thing's first: There is a glaring disparity between when the Penguins strike first this season in comparison to when the opposition does. Pittsburgh is 23-3-5 when scoring the first goal of the game this season as opposed to 5-11-6 when they allow it, which speaks to their ability to control play from the drop of the puck.
But, digging deeper, there are some pretty interesting figures behind the Penguins' quick-strike offense and their ability to keep piling on once they seize momentum.
Through 53 games this season, the Penguins have scored:
- Two goals within a minute 10 times - Two goals within two minutes 19 times - Three goals within 10 minutes eight times - Four goals within 20 minutes three times - Three-plus consecutive goals 25 times - Four-plus consecutive goals 11 times - Five-plus consecutive goals five times
In other words, this team is not only generating a lot of offense from different parts of their lineup, they are able to string together shifts where they dominate possession, roll four lines, and pile on offense in order to give themselves either a good chance at a comeback or some always-needed insurance.
So what's behind this team's ability to take full advantage of momentum swings within games?
The truth is, no one really knows why this team is able to do this as often as it does.
"I wish I could say it's something that's, like, planned," Muse said. "I have nothing to do with it. It's the guys on the ice. I think, sometimes, it's just a little bit of that momentum. You're feeling it, the bench is feeling good, so you get that next opportunity. On the flip side of it, for the team on the other side, when momentum's going against you, you're kind of back on your heels.
"You've seen it where it's the same line doing it twice, then another line doing it next. But, sometimes, when you're kind of on the right side of things, it's just continuing to build traction, continuing to go in the right direction. It's a credit to the group and that next line or that next pair that's jumping over the boards after a goal. Whether it's a goal or it's just another good offensive shift keeping the momentum on our side, it's always a good thing."
"Momentum" will certainly be a theme for the Penguins over the next month-plus, as they're the hottest team in hockey with three games left to play before the near-three-week Olympic break. They're currently on a six-game win streak, sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 67 points, and have scored 31 goals in their past six games.
Perhaps the Olympic break is coming at a tough time for this team, especially because they have so much momentum. But the key for the Penguins is continuing to build on the formula that has made them so successful this season.
"Every line's able to bring some offense," Mantha said. "And if there's one goal, you know the next line's going to be able to hop on the ice and do the same thing.
"It's maybe a little bit of luck, it's maybe the good work we're putting in. But, at the end of the day, it's good for our team."
Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann has been named the NHL’s first star of the week.
The 29-year-old was dominant, notching four goals and seven points in three games. He picked up points in all three games, including two goals and two assists against the Washington Capitals, a goal and an assist against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Kraken won all three games with McCann leading the way.
McCann has missed a large part of the season dealing with several lower-body ailments. The Kraken haven’t indicated whether they are all separate issues or the same, but he’s been on injured reserve multiple times because of lower-body injuries.
Despite all the game action he’s missed, McCann has recorded 16 goals and 29 points in 30 games, ranking second in goals and sixth in points on the Kraken.
"McCann registered 4-3—7 in three games to lift the Kraken (26-19-9, 61 points) to a perfect week and into third place in the Pacific Division. He notched his second career four-point performance (also Feb. 22, 2024 vs. VAN: 1-3—4) with 2-2—4, including his 26th career game-winning goal, in a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals Jan. 27. McCann then posted 1-1—2, his sixth multi-point effort of the campaign, in a 5-2 triumph versus the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 29. He capped the week by scoring his 200th NHL goal (and 134th with Seattle) in a 3-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights Jan. 31. The 29-year-old McCann, the Kraken’s all-time leader in goals and points, ranks second on the team with 16 goals and sixth with 29 points despite only playing in 30 of Seattle’s 54 total contests this season (16‑13—29)."
Joining McCann as stars of the week were Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andre Vasilevskiy, who was named second star after posting a 3-0-0 record, a .930 save percentage, a 1.95 goals-against average, and a shutout. The third star of the week was Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny, who scored five goals and seven points in four games.
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Jan 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates with forward Keldon Johnson (3) after Johnson scores a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
Week 14: Consistency continued to plague the Spurs in January as they alternated wins and losses. After opening the week with a comfortable home victory against the Jazz, they went out on the road, where they proceeded to blow a 16-point first-half lead to their rival Rockets after getting outscored by 15 points in the fourth quarter. The same almost happened again in Utah, but Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox saved the day by playing like superstars when it mattered most. Unfortunately, complacency struck again at home against an improving Pelicans team, and while the Spurs came back from 20 down to take a late lead, they couldn’t hold on, giving away another winnable game to split the week.
In a complete 180 from their match-up the week before, when the Spurs started hot before the Rockets exploded in the second half, this time it was the Rockets who were off to a hot start. With the Spurs down by as much as 16 while looking careless and uninterested, they suddenly flipped the switch midway through the third quarter and started playing with more physicality and discipline. What started as a frustrating game for the Spurs turned into to them blowing by the Rockets on their way to victory, giving them a 2-1 series lead and a key victory for seeding and tie-breaker purposes.
With the Hornets playing well above their record lately, plus the game being moved back to a morning tip-off with the hopes of getting the Spurs out before the winter storm hit (news flash: they didn’t), this was destined to be sneakily tough trap game. That ended up being the case, and despite winning three of four quarters, one horrific stretch to close the second ended up putting the Spurs in just a deep enough hole that they couldn’t climb all the way back out, despite cutting what had been a 20-point lead to two late in the game.
If the Spurs were ever going to be forgiven for a loss, this would have been it. After sitting on the tarmac for two hours in Charlotte just to have to stay overnight, they then experienced engine trouble and had to make an emergency landing in Atlanta to switch planes. As a result, the tip-off for this game was moved back twice, and the Spurs had to go straight to the arena from the airport. Perhaps being back on non-frozen terra firma gave them new life, but despite another ghastly second quarter, this time getting outscored 40-23, the Spurs dominated the first and third and didn’t let the physical, trash-talking Magic (mainly Desmond Bane) get in their heads in one of their more admirable victories of the season, considering the situation.
The Spurs have alternated wins and losses for their last seven games, a stretch that includes one of each in Houston. They came back from 16 points down to beat the Rockets on Wednesday and are sending their coaching staff to L.A. for All-Star Weekend.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs held the Rockets to just 23 points on their final 39 possessions (0.59 per) as they came back from 16 points down on Wednesday. They’ve trailed only 17 of their 49 games by double digits and are now 6-11 in those games, with five of the wins having come against Houston (twice), Denver, New York and Oklahoma City. 2. The Spurs still rank third in defensive rebounding percentage, but they grabbed just 61.7 percent of available defensive boards over their last three games of January, with second chance points being much more than the overall difference in their recent losses to the Pelicans (outscored 27-9 on second chances) and Hornets (18-4). They began February by holding the Magic to one of their worst offensive rebounding games of the season. 3. Devin Vassell re-entered the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon and, interestingly, he replaced Harrison Barnes instead of Julian Champagnie. It was the first time in more than 10 years that the 33-year-old Barnes (one of three Spurs that have played in every game) came off the bench in a regular season game, but he was on the floor (instead of Champagnie) down the stretch and committed a damaging foul on a Miles Bridges 3-point attempt with a little more than a minute left.
Coming up: The last time the Thunder were in San Antonio, the Spurs had a rest advantage and won by 20. They’ll have a rest advantage again for the fifth (and final) regular season meeting on Wednesday.
The Spurs earned an elevated trip in these standings mostly on the strength of a comeback win in Houston, and head coach Mitch Johnson will join Victor Wembanyama at the All-Star Game. The Spurs have a lot of interesting scenarios, but I do wonder what happens at power forward. You can never have too much shooting, so I have a Jeremy Sochan for Hauser swap here; I’m sure there would be some outgoing picks from San Antonio to complete a deal like this. Just keep an eye on the power forward spot for the Spurs, whether that’s Sochan or even starter Harrison Barnes.
The Spurs have alternated wins and losses over their last six games and have struggled to find consistent offensive production at times, which led to disappointing losses to the New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets.
Before the trade deadline, the Spurs are said to be seeking extra frontcourt depth next to Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet. Jeremy Sochan is expected to be moved, and there has been chatter about possibly moving Kelly Olynyk as well for a key upgrade.
Coming up: Wed. 2/4 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-11); Thurs. 2/5 at Dallas Mavericks (19-30); Saturday 2/7 vs. Dallas Mavericks
Prediction: 2-1 —This is becoming a boring cycle of predicting 2-1 every week, but the strength of schedule and the Spurs’ lack of consistency make it hard to predict anything else. They get a chance for revenge against a Thunder squad that has had similar issues lately and that the Spurs are uniquely built to challenge. They then have that dreaded away-home miniseries that no one likes against the improving Mavs. This isn’t the same deer-in-the-headlights Mavs team they blew out to open the season (Cooper Flagg has grown a lot since then), but they’re still missing Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, so the Spurs should at least get the in at home, if not both.
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 21: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal during pregame warmups prior to the Detroit Lions versus the Pittsburgh Steelers game on Sunday December 21, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic Detroit had the scoop on Monday morning. The arbitration hearing between Detroit Tigers’ ace, Tarik Skubal, and the club will take place on Wednesday, February 4. The arbitration panel will have 24 hours to rule in favor on one party or the other.
The Tigers filed for a one-year contract of $19 million, while Skubal and agent Scott Boras filed at $32 million. The midpoint is $25.5 million, which is where the the three person panel will essentially make an over/under decision and award Skubal either $19 million or $32 million. The two parties could still work out an agreement beforehand but that seems out of the question by this point.
The difference of $13 million is the largest in the history of arbitration. Should the Tigers win, that decision may set a pretty firm cap on arbitration awards for now. Should Skubal win, he’ll set a record for the highest salary ever for an arbitration eligible player, surpassing Juan Soto’s $31 million a few years back. Soto’s deal was agreed without a hearing, so the Skubal decision, should it go his way, will also set a new standard for arbitration awards for the top players in the game. His would also be the biggest one-year increase in the sport’s history.
The Tigers initially offered $19.80 million, which was rejected. That amount would just break David Price’s 2015 record for a one-year salary for an arbitration eligible pitcher by $50,000, though again, that deal was negotiated to agreement by then GM Dave Dombrowski and Price’s representatives. It didn’t go to an arbitration panel. It’s fairly telling that 11 years later, the Tigers offered Skubal the same amount, and that is why many expect Skubal to come out on top in the hearing. That certainly isn’t guaranteed, however, as the size of the raise year over year would also be unprecedented should Skubal win through and receive the $32 million.
A minor war of words in the media has followed, as the two parties filed their initial numbers, each rejecting the others’ demands. At that point negotiations ceased, the two parties filed their numbers, and there have been no reported talks since. The Tigers came off looking rather poorly based on their offer just on the Price comparison alone. They did fire back a little through the media, suggesting that they were willing to negotiate from that point, but that Boras and Skubal cut off negotiations. Boras responded that he and Skubal were still willing to negotiate. And so it goes…
As big of a story as this is for Major League Baseball, particularly with the next CBA negotiations looming, we’ll have to see if this is actually that impactful for the 2026 Tigers or not. The $13 million may be the difference in terms of adding another depth starter or not, and the starting pitching market has ground to a halt over the last week or two, perhaps in anticipation of arb hearings around the league finalizing payroll numbers for numerous teams. But unless the Tigers are getting into the Framber Valdez sweepstakes, or waiting on the final number before actively engaging on talks to trade Skubal, which seems highly unlikely at this point, then they’re probably hunting for a cheaper, one-year starter either way.
Still, knowing Skubal’s number one way or the other at very least gives them that clarity. Another looming factor is that pitchers and catchers will report to spring training on Wednesday, February 11. At that point, the Tigers could move an injured player like Jackson Jobe to the 60-day injured list, allowing them to sign a player without designating anyone for assignment.
So the next two Wednesdays will be big for freeing up the Tigers as they look to finalize their roster for 2026. The question is whether they’re waiting on these two dates or not. If they’re actually planning to keep adding signficant talent to the roster once they have Skubal’s final number and can open a 40-man roster spot, we should find out over the next two weeks.
