SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 11: An exterior view of the stadium with Pride colors before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park on June 11, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
As most of you know, multiple members of the San Francisco Giants decided to deface their uniforms on Friday in protest of the team’s Pride Night. I wrote my initial thoughts for Sunday’s BP post, but now it’s time for us to move forward and take action.
I’ve seen accounts from many fans who have decided to not renew their season tickets. And that’s an extremely powerful statement! But that’s not something that’s feasible for everyone, so I wanted to share an additional action item for those in the community who are upset.
This was inspired by a post on Bluesky from ToasterPosey. Fans can reach out to the team’s Chief Diversity Officer Roscoe Mapps via email at RMapps@sfgiants.com to express their disappointment with how the team is handling this issue.
And if you feel comfortable doing so, please share your messages down below in the comments to help folks who might not have the words, but still want to help.
I’m going to be doing some research for additional ways we can take action as well. So keep an eye out for that in the coming days.
What time do the Giants play today?
They do not. They are headed east to begin a series against the Atlanta Braves tomorrow.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - MARCH 03: Theo Gillen (24) of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 03, 2026 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This was the 10th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Monday, June 15th).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), 22-year old Caden Bodine remains the top hitter spot in the Rays system. The backstop was recently added to Baseball America’s top 100 prospect rankings (80) and is up to 4th in the Rays system.
Meanwhile, Aidan Cremarods is back as the top performing pitcher system. The 22-year old Cremarosa is having a solid debut season within the Rays system. The 2025 8th round pick is currently in Single-A and holds a 2.59 ERA | 2.68 FIP with a 31.4 K% & 5.3 BB% over 48.2 IP.
RUMBLINGS
Emilien Pitre has been promoted to Double-A. The 23-year old 2nd round draft from 2024 was having an excellent campaign in his second season in High-A. At the the tine of his promotion, he was hitting .297/.429/.413 with 2 HR, registering a 129 wRC+ over 221 PA.
Trace Phillips signed the second largest deal for an undrafted free agent in history last year, signing a $629,200 deal with the Rays. He was one of the top prospects eligible for the draft last Summer but went unselected. He made his debut las week, pitching a scoreless inning.
Theo Gillen’s great season keeps getting better. Thus far in June, he is hitting .409/.536/.500.
TEAM LEADERS
Must currently be assigned to that team
Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
(minimum of 110 TBF & PA)
Tampa Bay Rays
Top 10 Prospects
None currently on active roster
Durham Bulls
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .258, Blake Sabol OBP: .344, Logan Davidson SLG: .470, Tatem Levins HR: 9, Tatem Levins wRC+: 100, Carson Williams SB: 24, Raynel Delgado (Traded to the Astros on 6/10)
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.85, Ty Johnson FIP: 3.30, Ty Johnson K%: 29.1% Evan Reifert BB%: 5.2%, Jonathan Heasley WHIP: 0.97, Ty Johnson AVG: .174, Evan Reifert & Ty Johnson WHIFF%: 14.0%, Ty Johnson
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .309, Austin Overn (placed on the IL on 5/27) OBP: .384, Xavier Isaac SLG: .533, Austin Overn (placed on the IL on 5/27) HR: 12, Xavier Isaac wRC+: 141, Austin Overn (Placed on IL on 5/27) SB: 28, Austin Overn (placed on the IL on 5/27)
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.96, Chris Clark FIP: 2.50, Chris Clark K%: 34.5%, Alexander Alberto BB%: 4.2%, Gary Gill Hill WHIP 0.94, Alexander Alberto AVG: .184, Alexander Alberto WHIFF%: 16.2%, Alexander Alberto
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .335, Theo Gillen OBP: .444, Tony Santa Maria SLG: .577, Connor Hujsak HR: 15, Connor Hujsak wRC+: 161, Theo Gillen SB: 25, Theo Gillen
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.73, Jacob Kisting FIP: 2.81, Jacob Kisting K%: 40.5%, Jacob Kmatz (Promoted to AA on 6/9) BB%: 5.4%, Jacob Kisting WHIP: 0.91, Jacob Kisting AVG: .185, Jacob Kisting WHIFF%: 21.7% Jacob Kmatz (Promoted to AA on 6/9)
DENVER , CO - JUNE 9: Hunter Goodman (15) of the Colorado Rockies celebrates hitting a home run off of Colin Rea (53) of the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Last week, the Denver Post’s Troy Renck laid out his trade-deadline philosophy for the Colorado Rockies, writing that the team is “making progress, but (it is) time for Paul DePodesta, Josh Byrnes to flex muscles with trades.” To summarize, here’s how Renck think the Rockies should approach the trade deadline: “Other than catcher Hunter Goodman and (Chase) Dollander, no player should be untouchable.”
For me, that raised a question: How should Hunter Goodman fit into the Rockies rebuild plans? Is he a player to build around, or is he more valuable as a trade chip that could bring back a significant haul?
The initial 2026 numbers indicate that 2025 was not an outlier season for the Rockies catcher; rather, this is who he is.
With the trade deadline in mind, then, it’s worth considering where Goodman is in terms of the numbers, where the demand might be for his services, and what might be the best move for the Rockies.
(All 2026 numbers are current as of Monday morning.)
Offensive numbers
As a quick refresher, Goodman finished 2025 slashing .278/.323/.520 with a 114 wRC+. He also hit 31 homers in 579 plate appearances. Add to that a K% of 26.3% and a BB% of 5.7%. Also notable were his home-road splits. Goodman hit 13 homers at Coors Field compared to 18 homers on the road, so Coors did not have a significant effect on that part of his game. However, when considering his overall numbers, he was roughly the same wherever he played: .307/.356/.526 (116 wRC+) at Coors and .248/.356/.515 (118 wRC+) on the road.
In other words, Goodman’s AVG and OBP were better at Coors while his SLG stayed roughly the same.
To anyone calling him a “Coors creation,” uh, no.
Now consider the numbers so far with the season just under half finished.
In 280 plate appearances, Goodman is slashing .250/.321/.536 (120 wRC+). Add to that the fact that he’s already hit 20 home runs, so he’s well on track to surpass his 2025 total.
As for his BB%, it’s 8.2% while his K% is an unseemly 33.9%, a significant increase over 2025.
In terms of his home-road splits, at Coors, he’s slashing .211/.300/.447 (77 wRC+ — you read that correctly) while on the road, Goodman is .283/.340/.609 (158 wRC+). So he has been significantly better away from Coors Field. As for home runs, he’s hit just seven of his 20 homers in Denver.
At this point, Goodman appears to be settling into another outstanding season.
Offensive numbers compared to other catchers
I was curious as to how his offensive numbers compared to those of his peers.
When compared to all other catchers, Goodman’s 1.7 fWAR ranks second among all MLB catchers. (Ahead of him is Dillon Dingler, 3.2 fWAR.) He leads all NL catchers by this metric, with William Contreras ranking second (1.6 fWAR).
His 20 home runs lead all catchers (Shea Langeliers has 18), as do his five stolen bases. (Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks is next with four.) He also has the highest SLG among catchers with more than 100 plate appearances.
All of that is a long way of saying Goodman’s offensive numbers remain solid and surpass those of most other catchers.
Frankly, he should be the starting catcher for the National League at the All-Star Game next month, and it’s not even close. The fact that Goodman is currently sixth in the NL voting is, frankly, some hot garbage.
Defensive numbers
In 2025, Goodman was not an especially effective defensive catcher. In 841.1 innings behind the plate, he had -3 DRS, an FRV of 1, and a FP of .987. In other words, he was fine, but his bat more than made up for a marginal defensive performance.
Goodman said during the offseason that he had worked hard on the defensive side of his game, and the initial results are promising. In 406.2 innings caught, he has 1 DRS, an FRV of 0, and a .980 FP.
Granted, defensive metrics have their issues, but Goodman appears to have improved. Only Austin Wells has more DRS (3) while Goodman is tied with JT Realmuto and Dingler.
ABS Challenge numbers
That brings us to Goodman’s success with the ABS Challenge system, which Statcast tracks. (For the purposes of this column, I’m leaving out pitch framing.)
Overall, he ranks fourth on Baseball Savant’s leader board (behind Tyler Stephenson, Dingler and Salvador Perez). Goodman has won 35 of the 55 challenges he has issued, which gives him a 64% success rate. Twelve of those challenges have resulted in strikeouts.
MLB is early in its analysis of this particular metric, but the initial results suggest that Goodman is an exceptional challenger. (Is that even the correct term?)
Trade possibilities
So, yes, Hunter Goodman is a serious trade candidate. Goodman’s offensive bona fides are unassailable, his defensive numbers are improving, and his ABS Challenge numbers are at the top of the league — plus he’s not a free agent until 203o.
The next question, then, becomes whether there’s a market for his services.
The Rockies have shied away from trading Goodman in the past, but under new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, anything is possible this summer – even moving a player many deem untouchable. An All-Star and Silver Slugger recipient last season, Goodman has continued to hit this year, belting 18 home runs with an .837 OPS in 63 games. Goodman’s defense is slightly below average, but his bat would make him an appealing asset to a lot of contenders and he is under club control for three more seasons.
Which contending teams have been weakest at catcher so far?
There are three obvious choices in terms of catcher rankings by fWAR: New York Yankees (0.1 fWAR), Tampa Bay Rays (0.5 fWAR), and Pittsburgh Pirates (0.7 fWAR). (For those keeping score at home, the Rockies are ranked third in MLB with 2.2 fWAR at the catcher position.)
The Yankees and the Rays have long been trading partners with the Rockies, and as for the Pirates, well, seeing Hunter Goodman on that roster would be a treat.
The closest comparator I could come up with for a Goodman trade was the Miami Marlins sending JT Realmuto to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019. At the time, Realmuto was 28 and under team control until 2020. In return, the Marlins received catcher Jorge Alfaro, RHP Sixto Sanchez, LHP Will Stewart, and $250,000 in international bonus slot money.
Any trade for Goodman should surpass that.
Conclusions
Questions about whether Hunter Goodman could develop into an elite catcher have been answered with a resounding “yes.”
That voters have overlooked Goodman on their All-Star Game ballots is an insult to a talented young catcher. But for the Rockies (who, in case you’ve forgotten, are carrying three catchers on their roster), the better question is whether Goodman should remain with the team.
I’m a serious Hunter Goodman fan, but the only real answer for a rebuilding organization is that if the Rockies receive the right offer, he should finish on the roster of a contending team (with a deep farm system).
I am certain you will let me know in the comments your stance on this, and I look forward to reading what you have to say.
(The article contained an error about Goodman’s fWAR, which is 1.7 not 2.4, which has been corrected.)
Vote early, vote often
Before writing this, I knew Hunter Goodman was having a really good year, but I truly did not realize how good. Based on the numbers we have right now, he should be the starting catcher at the All-Star Game for the National League, and it’s not even close.
If you’re curious as to what’s on Clint Hurdle’s mind these days, Kyle Odegard’s got you covered. Hurdle praises the Rockies new front office and gives his thoughts on Mickey Moniak and Chase Dollander.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) skates during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on March 31, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As the draft gets closer, let’s look back at the results for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the last 10 years. We’re going off of the look we took last year, to see what changes and developments have happened in the last twelve months that might have changed the way we see the draft now.
let’s see how the Pens have done recently in the draft.
2025
Grade: Incomplete (but hell yeah!)
One year isn’t near long enough to find deep meaning withing how an NHL draft went, but we still are including it to show what happened more than try and cast a critical eye at this point. For starters, getting a non-top 10 pick to play all season and be a contributing player is a unicorn occurrence, the Ben Kindel pick looks like it could be a very, very good one for the Pens. That alone will likely set them up for a good grade once it gets time to tell exactly what has panned out.
Beyond Kindel, it’s very much wait-and-see, which again is normal, expected and completely fine. Horcoff had a solid year in the NCAA, Zonnon turned heads making a seamless transition to the AHL in the playoffs and the rest of the many picks all had various degrees of success this season. There could be a few diamond in the rough hopefuls (Ryan Miller and Kale Dach are longshots worth keeping tabs on, for starters) and still plenty of time for the others to make their way. It’s early to make bold statements in any particular direction, but with that qualifier out of the way, the 2025 draft haul for the Pens could one day end up being very good. It certainly shows a lot of promise 12 months later.
2024
2025Grade: Incomplete (but trending nicely enough) 2026 Update: Yeah, that sounds about rightfor the time being
Brunicke became the rare teenaged defenseman in the NHL, though briefly and to spotty results. His future looks bright, especially after a great turn in the AHL playoffs. Several other players from this class like Howe, Pietila and Harding also completed modestly successful AHL seasons. It doesn’t look like a nearby NHL future is assured for any besides Brunicke, but considering that the Pens didn’t have a first rounder and only made two picks within the top-100, this is a so far so good situation for having a few decent prospects a couple years later. There’s enough going right at the moment that you don’t have to squint too hard to see several reasonable candidates for NHL action in the future, though it remains to be seen if any of them (besides Brunicke) will end up as important and long-lasting pieces of a future NHL roster.
Yager made his NHL debut for Winnipeg at the tail end of the season, but his overall prognosis is not looking very rosy at the moment based on underwhelming AHL stats. The Pens may have done well to trade him early on based on the post-draft developments, or lack thereof. (Of course, they’d be doing better still had they selected one of Matthew Wood, Samuel Honzek or Axel Sandin-Pellika, the next three choices off the board after they took Yager…)
Pieniniemi was just traded in what looks like a throwaway deal to move on from a young player after he failed to report to the ECHL at one point and held a virtual lock out for himself for a couple of months. Not unusual to see a third rounder flame out, but the circumstances around it were unfortunate to see that situation come to a resolution so quickly.
Ilyin had some nice moments in his AHL debut this spring and could well salvage this class, even if we include Rutger McGroarty as a stand-in for Yager, which he was as a prospect for prospect trade (McGroarty was drafted in 2022). The results from Pittsburgh’s 2023 picks is not looking like it’s going to create a lot of waves at the NHL level. At this point, you really need to see a big step from McGroarty in 2026-27 and Ilyin take a leap in order to get something out of it.
2022
2025 Grade: C- (with time remaining to improve the grade) 2026 Update: C- (with time starting to run out for the class)
Pickering had a very troublesome draft+4 that only saw him play in four NHL games and venture into the territory where he’s moving towards potential bust in a hurry. Next year will be big for him to sink/swim when it comes to his NHL prospects. The same could be said last year with some optimism but now is a lot more measured about what the possibilities are shaping up to be.
With that in mind, it looks like Murashov will likely be a one-man class out of this as far as candidates to play a major role as an NHLer for the long haul. (Plante and Devlin are in the NCAA with rights retained but not much pro projectability). Murashov has been a great AHL goalie and will likely soon get a chance to show if he has what it takes to make it in the NHL. Expectations around him have arisen monumentally within some segments of the media and fanbase, and not without reason. But it’s going to be a lot to live up to for him at this point. If Murashov becomes a quality NHL goalie, this grade goes up. Until then, it’s staying the same.
2021
2025 Grade: F (with a slight chance of improving) 2026 Update: Not much has changed
There was only one top-150 pick, so this class was likely always bound to be whatever Broz could develop into. He’s gotten right on the verge to see some NHL action but for one reason or another (sometimes due to him being hurt/sick when the opportunity was open), he’s only played one NHL game through his draft+5. Broz still has some intrigue and upside, but at this point he doesn’t look like a long-term difference maker either. Given the nature of this draft, a failing grade was almost bound to happen, so the harsh grade isn’t directed as a negative to the team so much as acknowledging the circumstances that occurred to make the result happen.
2020
2025 Grade: D+ (with slight chance to increase) 2026 Update: Moving to an F, for now
Clang provided the Pens with value when they moved him as part of the Rickard Rakell trade, and now he’s signed to a Swedish team after a few AHL seasons. Blomqvist has gotten stuck in the pecking order clearly behind Murashov. Blomqvist is a decent AHL goalie but hasn’t grown much beyond that to this point. The book isn’t closed on him helping the Pens at some point, but it doesn’t look like he’s going to be a major player either with Murashov and Arturs Silovs in his age range and firmly ahead of him.
Again, not much for high-value picks to work with so this is what it is. The curious decision to take goalies with both of the only two top-100 picks the team held was questionable then as it is now. It’s always good for a team to strategize taking the best player they think is out there, it might have been better if they tried to find a skater they liked for at least one of those picks.
2019
2025 Grade: D- 2026 Update: F
For all the hope that Poulin and Legare inspired, they have amounted to 19 games, 0 goals and two points between themselves. Even seven years later that is a bitter pill to swallow, following the expectations of developing some young talent. Sometimes, it’s just not meant to be and it wasn’t in this case.
Puustinen showed some flashes but didn’t have much staying power at the NHL level, and now the Pens have nothing from this draft class remaining in their organization with only the most modest of contributions to show from it (almost all of it at the NHL level from the seventh round pick). Disappointing result to end up with so little.
2018
2025Grade: I don’t know, maybe a C? 2026 Update: D-
The Pens brought Hallander back for 2025-26 to see what he looked like as a fully formed 25-year old, and the results weren’t that impressive before he suffered an unfortunate blood clot. He’s still under contract and might be a fringe player for next season if cleared to play but doesn’t look like much gained or lost either way. The best of this class was trading Addison when he had value to be a part of the Jason Zucker trade. Beyond that, another classic Jim Rutherford year of not prioritizing draft picks and ending up gaining virtually nothing out of the draft as a result.
2017
2025 Grade: F (or a 0 if we’re being really stern but accurate) 2026 Update: Yup
As written last year, “for the first time since the team’s initial two-pick amateur draft in 1967, the Pens produced a draft class that has zero NHL games played. None at all. Might as well have stayed home.”
Such is a risk with no first round picks and only two inside of the top-150. They weren’t set up for success in the 2017 draft and didn’t come close to finding any. Oh well, the banner will fly forever.
2016
2025 Grade: D+ 2026 Update: B-
Gustavsson’s rise into an NHL starting goalie, and a decent one at that, has changed my outlook about this draft class. If just grading that, you have to give the Penguins credit for mining a starting goalie out of a late-second round pick. (Perhaps less credit for trading said goalie less than two years later as part of the Derick Brassard deal, but that’s a different subject for a different day). Gustavsson did losing his starting job by playoff time to an even better goalie in Jesper Wallstedt but he’s turned into a very respectable player.
Considering the Pens again didn’t have a first round pick to make and little draft ammo to work with, they at least found one legit NHL player. That’s more than what they can say most other recent seasons.
With the Knicks still basking in the glow of their first NBA Championship in 53 years and final preparations being made for the parade through the Canyon of Heroes, the rest of the NBA is pointing towards next season…and we should do the same with a look at the Futures market.
Lets take a quick look at the NBA Futures Market at DraftKings and the favorites, the contenders, and an intriguing long shot to consider in 2027.
2027 NBA Favorites
San Antonio Spurs (+250)
That is a long time to lock up your money for such short odds. There is no denying the talented core of the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper are young but look like a force that should be even better in 2027. As an aside, not sure if a year will be long enough for Wemby to grow up and grasp the concept of sportsmanship. The face of the global NBA needs to be better than what he showed this past month.
Oklahoma City Thunder (+260)
We again must acknowledge it’s a long time to lock up your money for such short odds amidst so many question marks. Top of that heap of unknowns: Was a lack of healthy bodies what cost Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and co.? Even if it was, will Jalen Williams’ hamstring be able to withstand a full season of wear and tear (pun intended) in 2027? In addition, does this team have a Chet Holmgren problem?
Boston Celtics (+550)
What will a full season of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum look like? If they do not trade for Giannis, where will Jaylen Brown end up? It is obvious he and the Celtics are getting divorced. After overachieving during the regular season without Tatum (Achilles), the Celtics struggled to fit the pieces together once Tatum returned. Will Brown departing be addition by subtraction or merely help with the management of Boston’s salary cap?
New York Knicks (+650)
No doubt Jalen Brunson will have this likable bunch ready to defend their title and they will have players wanting to join the fun, but the last eight NBA champs have failed to repeat. That said, the Finals MVP has proven doubters wrong time and again, who's to say he won’t do it again in 2027.
2027 NBA Contenders
Los Angeles Lakers (+2800)
Any team with Luka Doncic will have a distinct opportunity to win an NBA Championship. In addition, gotta believe Year 1 of Team Luka (minus LeBron?) will look and play a bit different than they did this past season. In the end, can Doncic finish the season healthy enough to make a run in the postseason?
Indiana Pacers (+2800)
This team is intriguing. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) expects to be ready to start the season. Their Big 3 - Halliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac - should be able to compete with any Big 3 in at least the East. The lineup that reached Game 7 of the Finals in 2026 was not as good as the 2026-27 roster. But will that be enough? Rick Carlisle is one of the Association’s best coaches. He’ll need to work his magic to get the most out of the supporting cast if they hope to get over the top.
Denver Nuggets (+2800)
Nikola Jokic is still arguably the Association’s best player, but his supporting cast is truly lacking. The roster as is can’t compete with the best teams. It is a fragile bunch that combines to offer missed time due to injury and salary cap issues. The front office will have to get creative to give Jokic a realistic chance to truly compete for another title.
Minnesota Timberwolves (+3000)
Anthony Edwards is elite, and this team plays hard in the playoffs. Full stop. That is where this conversation ends as the talent is just not there to win a title. If they get Giannis without having to give up Jaden McDaniels or Naz Reid, we will revisit this.
Detroit Pistons (+3000)
How much did Cade Cunningham and co. learn from their late season struggles and early expulsion from the playoffs? Does Jalen Duren rebound from just a brutal postseason? What do they add to a group that gave the Knicks more trouble than any other team this past season?
Cleveland Cavaliers (+3500)
Not sure why or maybe if the Cavs are considered contenders as currently constructed. Physically talented but not mentally strong enough to win in the playoffs. However, if LeBron James heads home for the final year(s) of his career? Not sure how that would work in terms of the cap if James Harden returns, but without an addition like James, the Cavs can’t make a deep playoff run.
Miami Heat (+4000)
These odds shorten substantially if Giannis heads to South Beach. IF the biggest name Pat Riley ships out is Tyler Herro, there will be enough talent in Miami for Erik Spoelstra. Bam Adebayo and the Freak will need to learn to play together but Spoelstra is one of the best in the business and will get the most out of the suddenly longer and more athletic Heat. But will there be enough there to win a Title?
Golden State Warriors (+4500)
Do Steve Kerr and Steph Curry want LeBron? Would that addition put them into contention? Maybe. Lots of big names and strong resumes on that roster, but lots of old legs as well.
Philadelphia 76ers (+5500)
This is Tyrese Maxey’s team BUT his team needs Joel Embiid to contribute…especially in the playoffs. The one-time MVP was frankly immobile in that Knicks’ series. His contract and his talent combine to keep him tied to Philly, but they need more from him if they are to compete for a title.
2027 NBA Long Shot
Utah Jazz (+20000)
This team is intriguing especially at this number. Their talent will be undeniable. They will at worst put Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, Ace Bailey, and one of Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, or AJ Dybantsa on the court next season. That is a long and highly skilled group that checks a lot of boxes. Even more boxes checked if Jaylen Brown lands in Salt Lake City. If the thought of making that leap is too great for you no matter who puts on a Jazz uniform, maybe a little sprinkle on the Jazz to win the West (+12000) is worth a sweat.
The NBA offseason promises address changes along with curious and intriguing personnel decisions. Those moves will undoubtedly alter these odds, but will there be greater clarity before training camps open? The Knicks were among the favorites entering the season and made a few tweaks at the deadline but heading into the postseason were not deemed the favorites to win the NBA Finals.
The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently ranked the top 75 pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) in the NHL with July 1 rapidly approaching. Two Chicago Blackhawks were among the players ranked, as Ilya Mikheyev and Matt Grzelcyk made the cut.
Mikheyev was given the No. 31 spot on Johnston's pending UFA rankings. It is not difficult to understand why Mikheyev has made the cut, as he put together back-to-back strong seasons for the Blackhawks. The 31-year-old's solid secondary scoring ability and strong defensive play should make him a popular target if he decides to test the market this off-season. In 77 games this season, he had 18 goals and a career-high 36 points.
As for Grzelcyk, he landed the No. 67 spot on Johnston's list. The 32-year-old blueliner recorded zero goals, 12 assists, and a minus-9 rating in 69 games this season for the Blackhawks. This was after he scored one goal and set career highs with 39 assists and 40 points in 2024-25 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Teams looking for more defensive depth could consider taking a flier on the veteran defenseman if he reaches the market on July 1.
It will be interesting to see what kind of deals these two Blackhawks end up landing from here.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox looks on before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 05, 2026 in New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 5-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday, OTM! While the Red Sox are only five games out of the third Wild Card in the American League, I think we’re all in agreement that this team probably isn’t going anywhere. It’s America’s pastime, though, and you need to find reasons to watch the games. Aside from just killing time on a summer night, individual performances are one reason to watch. Payton Tolle is in the running for Rookie of the Year, while Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu will be in the mix for Gold Gloves once again. Do you care about that stuff when you’re watching? I, for one, make sure to watch Tolle pitch, but don’t really care if he gets award recognition. It’d be cool if he did, because he rocks, but it doesn’t really move me either way. Maybe this isn’t the most relevant question today, but I like using this spot to ask questions I’m curious about, so let me know what you think.
Use this thread to talk about what you want and be good to one another.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 12: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets celebrates with teammates at home plate after hitting a grand slam home run in the second inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, June 12, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Mets have played exactly .500 baseball in the month of June so far. Juan Soto continues to be the Mets’ most consistent hitter (no surprise there), but Bo Bichette may be finally heating up, as he spends his second straight week in the green. Meanwhile, Mark Vientos’ stock is way down, as he continues to lose more and more of his at-bats to Jared Young. Carson Benge has been excellent of late and this week also saw the return of Francisco Alvarez from a torn meniscus—many weeks ahead of schedule.
Player
Last week
This week
Francisco Alvarez, C
Brett Baty, UTIL
Carson Benge, OF
Bo Bichette, 3B
Vidal Bruján, INF
A.J. Ewing, OF
MJ Melendez, OF
Marcus Semien, 2B
Hayden Senger, C
Juan Soto, OF
Luis Torrens, C
Mark Vientos, 1B/3B
Eric Wagaman, 1B/DH
Jared Young, 1B/DH
Mark Vientos continues to struggle so badly that manager Carlos Mendoza recently said he will have to compete for at-bats. And Mendoza has been true to his word. Vientos has played in just 7 of the Mets’ last 12 games and has just one hit in the month of June. Vientos has struck out in seven of his 16 plate appearances. Jared Young has been taking most of Vientos’ at-bats and has been much more productive, posting a 114 wRC+ this month thus far over 46 plate appearances. Half of his ten hits have gone for extra bases, including three home runs, and his seven RBIs are the second-most on the team.
Though his struggles are not quite as pronounced as Vientos’, Brett Baty is trending down as well, posting a 44 wRC+ in the month of June thus far. Baty has just eight hits in his last 42 plate appearances, only one of which went for extra bases. Baty walked three times, drove in three runs, and scored two runs. MJ Melendez has been seeing a bit more playing time as a result and he has held his own with an uninspiring but respectable 99 wRC+ in 32 plate appearances. He has shown some pop; three of his five hits were for extra bases, including a home run. He also drew four walks, which is somehow the second-most on the team over this 12-game stretch.
Bo Bichette leads the team in both RBIs (12) and hits (16) in the past 12 games. His 159 wRC+ for the month of June also leads the team. Of course, the highlight of this hot stretch for Bichette was his huge night in the series opener against the Braves, in which he went deep twice, including an opposite field grand slam against Spencer Strider that put the Mets ahead—ultimately for good. It may be too little too late for the Mets, but if the team is going to turn things around, Bo Bichette finally heating up would be a major reason why.
Juan Soto staying productive would be another major reason why. Though not quite as raging hot as he was at the end of May, Soto still put up a solid 121 wRC+ over 51 plate appearances. He racked up 11 hits, including two home runs and two doubles. He scored five runs and drove in five runs. And as usual, he led the team in walks with seven. Heading into Monday’s series opener in Cinncinati, Soto was up to third in the National League in OPS and had gone over 30 plate appearances without a strikeout.
Carson Benge has settled in to being quite the productive everyday player for the Mets, as his run of good play has gone on for almost two months now. In June, he holds an excellent 137 wRC+ in 51 plate appearances. The Mets outfield trio all had a good couple of weeks; A.J. Ewing put up a 130 wRC+ in 46 plate appearances. Both Mets rookie outfielders had 13 hits apiece—second only behind Bichette for the team lead. Benge’s nine runs scored lead the team. He also walked three times and drove in five runs. Ewing also walked three times. He drove in three runs, scored six runs, and stole three bases—the only Met to swipe multiple bags over the past two weeks.
Francisco Alvarez made a borderline miraculous return from a torn meniscus many weeks ahead of schedule and got off to a quick start, but has cooled off since. Overall, he had three hits including a home run in his first 14 plate appearances since being activated. Meanwhile, Luis Torrens had six hits—half of which went for extra bases—in 27 plate appearances, good for an 89 wRC+. Torrens scored five runs and drove in two runs. When Alvarez was activated, Hayden Senger, who went hitless in two plate appearances, was sent back down to Triple-A.
Marcus Semien hasn’t been what I would call raging hot, but he has at least lifted himself out of awful territory, hovering close to league average with the bat for the past month or so. In June so far, he has an 85 wRC+ in 48 plate appearances. He actually leads the team with four home runs, which represent half of his total hits over this 12-game span. They also represent all four of his runs batted in and four of his five runs scored. Semien also walked three times and stole a base.
As the last men off the bench, Vidal Brújan and Eric Wagaman have not seen many at-bats. Wagaman reached once via a hit by pitch and struck out in his other two plate appearances. Brújan did not reach base in either of his two plate appearances.
Now that the NBA Finals are over, the biggest story in basketball is the future of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo has played the first 13 years of his career with the Bucks and led the franchise to a championship in 2021 — its first since 1971.
But it appears his time in Milwaukee could be comingto an end, and with the 2026 NBA Draft set to begin next Tuesday, a deal could potentially happen in the short term.
The two teams most often mentioned in Antetokounmpo trade rumors over the last few weeks have been the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.
The Heat are seemingly always in the mix when a huge star is rumored to be available. The Celtics need an upgrade at center and have the ability to put together a compelling trade package. And unlike several other contenders, the C’s still control a bunch of their future first-round picks.
So, which team has the edge in the race for Antetokounmpo? What’s the latest on this situation? The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn provided an update on Monday’s edition of NBC Sports Boston’s Boston Sports Tonight.
“I don’t think (Giannis) is going to be a Celtic, and that’s just from what I’m hearing,’ Washburn said. “I think the Celtics are gauging what it would take to get Giannis to Boston and trying to figure out whether they want to move Jaylen Brown.”
Washburn later added: “I do think Miami has the edge on this, but I do think Boston is kinda sniffing around and finding out could you even acquire Giannis without sacrificing Jaylen? That would be a big question. What is exactly Milwaukee looking for? Who is the third team involved? Because it’s gonna have to be a third team involved.”
There’s no question that Antetokounmpo is still an elite player entering his age 32 season. His record speaks for itself: Two league MVPs, 10 All-Star appearances, nine All-NBA appearances (seven first team), a Finals MVP and one championship, among other accolades.
Antetokounmpo is also two years older than Brown and more injury prone. The Bucks star played in only 36 games last season and has appeared in 70-plus games in a single season only once since 2019. Antetokounmpo also has advanced past the first round of the playoffs just once since 2022, and outside of the 2021 title, the Bucks have been perennial playoff underachievers.
We also have plenty of evidence that the duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum is championship-caliber. They have played in five Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals (one title in 2024) together.
Either way, it’ll be fascinating to watch the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes play out. A top-five player being traded always shifts the balance of power in the league.
Jun 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Nick Gonzales (3) runs to first base during a fielding error against the Athletics during the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had an up-and-down season, recently falling under .500 at 36-37, while spending a good chunk of the year so far several games above. But one of the big changes this year was the return of offense to Pittsburgh, and one of the biggest reasons for that is Nick Gonzlaes.
Well, the first group of Major League Baseball All-Star voting has been released, and the 27-year-old Gonzales sits in fifth place for the third baseman voting. The current voting is as follows:
Gonzales is second on the team in batting average, hitting .296 on the season with 2 homers and 31 RBIs. He has an OPS of .711 and a WAR of 1.0. He’s also stolen 4 bases.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez are the leading vote-getters for the National League and American League, though Ohtani leads all players with 1,165,133 votes.If they both still lead when Phase 1 of the voting is complete on Jun 25 at noon, both players will receive automatic starting spots in the All-Star Game. The 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will take place on Tuesda, July 14, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Gonzales is the only Pirates player in the top five of any of the position voting, though cases could be made for Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz and Ryan O’Hearn, who are all having good seasons at the plate for the Buccos.
Congrats to Gonzales for his early showing. Though he’s going to have to get some votes in Phase 2 to catch up to the rest of the the third-basemen. Still, the Pirates will likely have a position player in the game, so it very well could be Gonzales.
Warriors superstar Steph Curry is such an elite shooter that, sometimes, even Hall of Fame players can forget how good of an all-around offensive player he is.
That’s the case with Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who, before the 2026 NBA Finals wrapped up on Saturday night, delivered an odd breakdown comparing Curry’s path to success with his and that of New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
“Here’s where it separates. Curry did it at 6-foot-3, more or less, shooting, scoring. Brunson and I, if Brunson becomes a champion, right? We did it scoring and assisting,” Thomas said last Friday on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back.” “That is something totally different and that’s why it’s so unique in terms of what you’re watching because he can assist and then he scores. Curry was more just a scorer, so there are two different ways of doing it.
“Now, with Brunson and I being smaller, we cannot measure ourselves by this analytics category criteria that has been established in the basketball world that only fits and suits the 6-foot-6 and above player. So, if you’re 6-foot-6 and above, these analytics numbers and criteria fits you but if you’re trying to win as a small player, we cannot play to that criteria of statistical analyzation. So we need to figure out how we can win without being measured by the 6-foot-6-and-above guy. And Brunson has settled into that. So, I’ve done it. He’s trying to do it. Curry did it at 6-foot-3.”
Isiah Thomas says small guards like him & Jalen Brunson have to win by transcending analytics 🏆
So, in Thomas’ mind, Curry had to have averaged more points and fewer assists per game during his four championship runs, right?
Unfortunately for Thomas, the stats don’t back up his claim.
During the Warriors’ 2014-15 title run, Curry averaged 28.3 points and 6.4 assists in 21 postseason games. Two years later, with Kevin Durant on board, Curry averaged 28.1 points and 6.7 assists in 17 playoff games.
During the Warriors’ 2017-18 title run, in which Curry missed the first round, he averaged 25.5 points and 5.4 assists in 15 games.
In 2022-23, with Durant long gone and Curry the focal point of the offense, he averaged 27.4 points and 5.9 assists en route to NBA Finals MVP.
Over those four title runs, Curry averaged a cumulative 6.11 assists in 75 games.
As a kicker, Brunson averaged 10.1 made field goals on 21.7 field-goal attempts during the now-completed playoff run. Curry’s highest title-run numbers came in 2015 when he averaged 9.5 made field goals on 20.9 field-goal attempts.
Thomas, if anything, is the outlier. During his two title runs with the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990, he averaged 19.4 points and 8.2 assists. Curry and Brunson are more alike than Thomas is to either of them.
Yes, Curry is known for his scoring and less for the other aspects of his game. But to say he didn’t score and assist on his way to success isn’t accurate.
With the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup on Sunday, the sports books already have lines for who they think will lift Lord Stanley in 2027.
The Colorado Avalanche, who were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals come in at +750 while the Hurricanes are looking to repeat at +750.
The Golden Knights round out the top three, coming in at +1000.
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 19: Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori reacts during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 19, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. 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 C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The offseason is officially upon us and the Dallas Mavericks have both a coaching hire and two draft picks to think about in the near term. Regarding the former, it is now being reported that no fewer than five candidates are known to be on the Mavericks’ radar. Those names include Micah Nori, Royal Ivey, Jama Mahlalela, Tony Dobbins and Terry Stotts.
The known head coach candidates for the Dallas Mavericks consist of “Nori, Houston's Royal Ivey, Toronto's Jama Mahlalela, Boston's Tony Dobbins and former Hawks, Bucks and Blazers head coach Terry Stotts,” per @TheSteinLine
The following is a high-level overview of each candidate and their coaching resume.
Micah Nori – Minnesota Timberwolves
The 52-year old Nori has been an assistant coaching fixture in the NBA for 17 straight seasons. He spent his first four with the Toronto Raptors, followed by two with the Sacramento Kings, three with the Denver Nuggets, three with the Detroit Pistons and the prior five years with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
His time spent in Toronto is of particular note, as it was there he assisted under head coaches Jay Triano and Dwane Casey. Ironically, the former is a current assistant coach for the Mavs (though that may be short lived after the departure of Jason Kidd) and the latter was an assistant for Dallas when the Mavs won the championship in 2011. More relevant however, is Nori’s brief bit of time crossing over with Masai Ujiri when the current Mavs’ President was the assistant GM in Toronto. Mavs’ fans are familiar with Nori from their 2024 Playoffs matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. During that series, Nori worked the sideline as a de facto head coach for the Timberwolves while Chris Finch sat second row as he recovered from a knee injury.
Simply put, Nori has been around the block and worked with some of the best coaches and best players in the game today, making his candidacy highly plausible.
Royal Ivey – Houston Rockets
Ivey, at age 44, has accumulated a solid 10-year assistant coaching career of his own, following a 10-year playing career in the NBA. He spent two years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, then two with the New York Knicks, followed by three with the Brooklyn Nets and three with the Houston Rockets.
Ivey was born in New York, but has ties to Texas by way of his collegiate playing days at the University of Texas at Austin. Something of a journeyman in his NBA playing days, Ivey quickly transitioned to a coaching career where he has been ever since. Beyond assistant coaching in the NBA, Ivey served as head coach of the South Sudan national team, eventually coaching the team in its first-ever Olympic berth in 2024.
Ivey may not be getting quite as much attention as someone like Nori, but he brings his own unique experiences from his time both at home and abroad.
Jama Mahlalela – Toronto Raptors
Aside from a two-year stint as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors from 2021-2023, the 46-year old has spent significant time with the Toronto Raptors. His tenure began back in 2006 as part of the community development team and then served as Director of Basketball Operations for NBA Asia. Beginning in 2013 and for five-straight years, Mahlalela was back serving as an assistant coach in the North, then took on the head coaching reigns for the Raptors’ G-League affiliate. From there, it was another year as an assistant with the Raptors, then the aforementioned Warriors stint, then a return to the Raptors for the past three years.
Although he was technically uninvolved with the Raptors during their 2019 championship run, as he was concerned with his head coaching duties with the G-League team, he did net himself a more direct championship in his short run with the Warriors as an assistant in 2022. He brings a unique resume with his time spent in Hong Kong running NBA Asia overseeing clinics and other developmental programs.
Mahlalela has a diverse background and is certainly very familiar with Ujiri from their overlapping time in Toronto, making him another candidate with direct ties to the current Mavs’ regime.
Tony Dobbins – Boston Celtics
The 44-year old Dobbins has the least extensive coaching resume of the group, having been an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics for the past six years.
Dobbins went undrafted in the 2004 NBA Draft, but nonetheless had himself a playing career in both the G-League and overseas until 2017. Beginning in 2020, he kicked off his coaching career as an assistant with the Celtics, where he has been ever since. His championship ring came at the expense of the Mavericks in 2024 giving him some hardware like others on this list.
Dobbins arguably has less than the others in terms of experience, yet has been part of a highly regarded franchise and got himself a ring in relatively short order.
Terry Stotts – Golden State Warriors
We previously covered Stotts in a standalone article earlier this month, so we’ll avoid a redundancy here. Suffice it to say, Stotts is a basketball lifer with strong connections to the Mavericks’ 2011 championship team. He was an assistant coach under Rick Carlisle at the time, before moving on to become head coach for the Portland Trailblazers for nine seasons.
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The Philadelphia Flyers are not exactly widely expected to do what they did last season again in the upcoming season.
With a late-season surge after the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Flyers carried an electric run of form into the Stanley Cup playoff spot, clinching a berth in Game 81 and then eliminating the rival Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
The eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes put a commanding halt to that with a sweep of the Flyers in the second round, and that was the end of it.
Although those Flyers put up about as good a fight as you can in a series sweep, especially against a suffocating team like the Hurricanes, they have done little to improve their odds at a Stanley Cup of their own.
Now that the Hurricanes are officially Stanley Cup champions, BetMGM released its early odds for the 2027 Stanley Cup winner, placing the Flyers 17th overall at +5000.
At those odds, the Flyers are tied with the likes of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals, both of whom missed the playoffs and play in the same division.
Ahead of the Flyers are teams such as the New Jersey Devils (missed), the Utah Mammoth (Round 1 exit), the Anaheim Ducks, the Los Angeles Kings (swept by Colorado) and, somehow, the Ottawa Senators (swept by Carolina).
Admittedly, it is strange that the Mammoth, (+3000), Kings (+3500), and Senators (+1800) all have significantly better odds than the Flyers, who at least won a playoff round, even if it was against the Penguins.
The Senators, who lost to the same playoff opponent as the Flyers, showed nothing in their four games to justify such a massive gap between the two teams.
Out West, the Mammoth are probably about equal to the Flyers, and the Kings are annual pretenders, not contenders. At least the Flyers have some upward momentum.
With a strong showing at the 2026 NHL Draft and in free agency, the Flyers can easily position themselves to make such mediocre odds look short-sighted.
