The former Minnesota Wild defenseman announced his retirement from professional hockey on social media, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than a decade and took him through the NHL, AHL and Europe.
Hunt's journey to the NHL was anything but conventional. Undrafted out of Bemidji State University, the Maple Ridge, British Columbia native worked his way through the ECHL and AHL before making his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2013-14 season.
Over parts of 10 NHL seasons, Hunt appeared in 288 regular-season games with the Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche. He finished his NHL career with 26 goals, 60 assists and 86 points.
Minnesota fans will remember Hunt from his three seasons with the Wild from 2018-21.
After being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018-19 season, Hunt carved out a role as a dependable depth defenseman with an offensive touch. He played 100 games for Minnesota, recording 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points while quarterbacking the second power-play unit at times.
His best offensive season came in 2019-20 when he set NHL career highs with eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points in 59 games.
Following his stint with the Wild, Hunt spent the 2021-22 season with the Vancouver Canucks before helping the Colorado Avalanche during the 2022-23 campaign. He later continued his career overseas before announcing his retirement.
Although he never became a full-time top-four defenseman, Hunt's perseverance made him one of hockey's better underdog stories. From going undrafted to reaching nearly 300 NHL games, he proved that determination and offensive skill could earn a lengthy career at the highest level.
His retirement closes the book on a professional career defined by resilience, adaptability and an unwavering commitment to chasing the NHL dream.
Among the holes left unaddressed by the Philadelphia Flyers this offseason was defense, where the club added only Simon Benoit at the expense of Emil Andrae. If the Flyers want to take another step in the rebuild, they'll need to do more than that.
Fortunately, a young, potential future top four defenseman can be had via trade, and they needn't look very far to find him.
Elsewhere in the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes have yet to agree to a new contract with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin who, according to himself, would like north of $8 million a year on his next deal.
"Earlier, when asked about rumors that he wants $8 million per season on his new deal, the defenseman smiled and said: 'More.'" RG's Daria Tuboltseva wrote in her exclusive interview with Nikishin.
"My agents handle that. I don't push the situation much, they take care of everything themselves. If something concrete comes up, they'll call me. Right now there's nothing concrete about the contract," Nikishin said. "The salary cap keeps growing, and defensemen are getting bigger salaries. You can already feel the difference. I think contracts will keep getting bigger and bigger over time."
By the sounds of it, Nikishin, 24, is backing himself to earn his improved salary and do the Hurricanes, or a team like the Flyers, a favor by taking the money now instead of later.
With the Leo Carlsson offer sheet and trade links to Zach Werenski, it's been well-established that the Flyers are able and willing to spend big money to improve their roster.
Nikishin, with 11 goals and 33 points in his first NHL season, would provide an upgrade already, even while not yet reaching his full potential.
Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale were the only Flyers defensemen to crack 30 points last season, and they were also the only two to have more than five goals (Sanheim had 11).
The young Russian blue liner already has 17 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience, winning it all with the Hurricanes this year while playing in a reduced role, and he's also a former teammate of Matvei Michkov's from their SKA St. Petersburg days in the KHL.
With Nikishin in need of a new contract and the Flyers willing to spend, plus the added element of familiarity, the trade fit between the two sides is obvious.
However, at the same time, other teams are pursuing the 6-foot-3 defender, and the Flyers will have to beat them to the punch if they are serious about making another upgrade this summer.
Recently, it was reported that the St. Louis Blues have interest in trading for Nikishin, and other teams will begin to realize soon, too, that the 24-year-old is worth the chase.
The Blues have enjoyed great success going this kind of route before, landing Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg with offer sheets that pried them out of Edmonton.
If a team like St. Louis is willing to pony up again, even if not necessarily an offer sheet, that might say something about Nikishin.
According to PuckPedia, the Flyers have $14.88 million in cap space remaining and only need to re-sign Nikita Grebenkin, so the decision to trade for and re-sign Nikishin is entirely up to them.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 31: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets connects for his seventh inning solo home run against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on July 31, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – LF Francisco Lindor – SS Bo Bichette – 3B Carson Benge – RF Luis Robert – CF Jared Young – 1B Marcus Semien – 2B Jorge Polanco – DH Francisco Alvarez – C
SP: Robert Stock – RHP
Marlins lineup
Liam Hicks – DH Kyle Stowers – 1B Otto Lopez – SS Xavier Edwards – 2B Griffin Conine – LF Owen Caissie – RF Jakob Marsee – CF Joe Mack – C Javier Sanoja – 3B
SP: Sandy Alcantara – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:40 PM ET TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 27: Mitch Keller #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park on July 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are finishing off their four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds, but they won’t have it easy in the final game before the MLB Trade Deadline tomorrow.
Mitch Keller gets the start for the Pirates, and he’s looking for his first win since June 28, when he last pitched against the Cincinnati Reds. He went six innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs in a 9-4 victory at PNC Park. The Bucks have won each of Keller’s last two starts in 10 innings, including his latest appearance on July 27 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he went 5.1 innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs.
The Reds are giving the ball to their ace, Chase Burns, who is 12-1 so far this season. In his last start against the Pirates, he went six innings, giving up nine hits and five earned runs, but the Reds rallied late to win 9-7 at PNC Park. After that appearance, he won his next three starts but came away with a no-decision in his latest appearance on July 28 against the Cleveland Guardians. Burns went five innings, giving up five hits and one earned run, but the Reds lost 6-5.
Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
GETTING TO SIXTEEN: Today’s game will be the fourth time this season the Cubs have had a chance to move to 16 games above .500. They lost, 6-0, at Texas on May 9, then at St. Louis, 3-2, on Wednesday and at home against the Yankees, 2-0, on Friday. Last year, they had 16 more wins than losses for the first time on June 5, when they were 39-23 after a 7-1 win at Washington. They went to 16 above for good on Aug. 16, at 69-53, after beating the Pirates at home, 3-1. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RUBBER GAMES: The Cubs are 4-4 in all third games of series vs. the Yankees. They won the first, in 2003; lost the next four, in 2005-22; then won the last three years. The wins in 2003, 2023 and 2025 were in rubber games, with the ones in 2003 and 2024 coming at home. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
COMING FROM BEHIND: Last night’s game was the 46th of the season in which the Cubs overcame a deficit. It was the 11th of those in which they did so in their next inning at bat after falling behind. They have done it in 43 different games, winning 30 and losing 13. They have won three in a row, five of six and 15 of 17 starting June 11, the day they began their 29-14 surge. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Ryne Sandberg’s two-run homer in the 10th gives the Cubs a 4-2 win over the Mets in New York. It happened 35 years ago today, Friday, Aug. 2, 1991.
Just when you think Colin Rea is past his sell-by date, he comes up with a solid performance, six one-run innings against the Cardinals last Tuesday. Of course, it helped that the Cubs gave him a 7-0 lead before the bottom of the second.
Rea hasn’t faced the Yankees since April 26, 2024 in Milwaukee, which is so long ago that Anthony Rizzo was batting cleanup for New York. (He went 0-for-5.) Rea threw six innings and allowed five runs that night.
The only current Yankee who has faced Rea more than a handful of times is Paul Goldschmidt (3-for-10). Trent Grisham and Jasson Dominguez have homered off him.
Rea has been much better at Wrigley Field (3.33 ERA in 54 innings) than on the road (5.93 ERA in 57.2 innings), so perhaps that will make the difference.
Gerrit Cole missed all of 2025 and the first third of this year recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Since his return he’s been good. Not “2023 Cy Young good,” but good enough. He still strikes out a lot of guys, doesn’t walk many and as you see below, his velocity is still up there. He was very good in his last start, last Tuesday against the White Sox. He threw six scoreless innings, striking out seven.
Cole last faced the Cubs Sept. 8, 2024 at Wrigley Field and threw six innings, allowing three hits and two unearned runs.
Dansby Swanson is 4-for-11 (.364) with two home runs. Michael Conforto has also homered off him. Alex Bregman, who was Cole’s teammate in Houston in 2018 and 2019, is 3-for-12 with two doubles.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 1: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays is taken out of the game by manager John Schneider #14 in the sixth inning of their MLB game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rogers Centre on August 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are about 31 hours short of the trade deadline and the Jays haven’t made a move yet. I’m expecting trades, but I will be sad to see guys leaving the team. I’ve been putting off hitting publish hoping something comes up.
The Jays have been too quiet, there aren’t any rumors or anything at the moment.
There was a big trade, the Dodgers got Tarik Skubal and really didn’t give up anyone that they won’t be able to live without.
The Tigers got:
Zyhir Hope a left-handed hitting outfielder, 21 years old. He’s hitting .293/.369/.530 with 23 home runs in 94 games at Double-A Tulsa. He strikes out a fair bit, but has good speed
River Ryan a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher who has an ‘upper 90s’ fastball and a slider with good control. He’s missed a lot of time thru injuries, including Tommy John, but I’d imagine the Tigers will be calling him up as soon after he’s recovered from his hamstring injury. 27 is old for a ‘prospect’ but injury issues have slowed his climb.
Brady Smith a right-handed pitcher, 21 years old, who has been hit pretty hard in A ball this year, but has 113 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. He’s also been through Tommy John throws mid-90s with a very good changeup and a slider. I think he’ll end up in the bullpen, but you never know.
I don’t know that it is really enough for one of the best pitchers in baseball, but it does suggest the Jays won’t get as much for Kevin Gausman as we’d like to think. But they are three guys who were on Baseball America’s top 100 prospect list. I would be very happy getting one guy on the top 100 prospect list for Kevin.
It doesn’t look like Bo Bichette will be moving, I didn’t think it was likely. He’s making too much money for my liking. I did see someone say that the Jays should trade for him, but I can’t imagine it, as much as I’d like to continue watching him.
Bo Bichette, whose contract contains a no-trade clause, said the Mets haven’t come to him with any proposals. Says it’s highly unlikely he will be dealt.
Today’s lineup: Urias back in the leadoff spot. Springer playing outfield (I wonder if that is for teams scouting him?). We have seen a lot of lefty starters lately.
Some of Vancouver’s minor hockey associations are expressing their concern over the Vancouver Canucks’ potential practice facility project.
In a joint statement released on Friday, the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey Association said the following regarding the Canucks’ recent practice facility update of signing an MOU to build at Britannia Ice Rink.
“...We are disappointed by the report that the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Canucks are exploring building a practice facility that could leverage an existing community rink at Britannia without creating desperately needed new ice capacity.
“The City of Vancouver has not added a net new municipal ice sheet since the 1970s, yet demand for ice time remains exceptionally strong and continues to grow. Minor hockey associations throughout the city are operating at capacity and, in some cases, turning away prospective players because sufficient ice time is not available. The shortage impacts not only minor hockey but also a wide range of community ice users, including figure skating, adult recreation leagues, and other ice sport organizations.”
In the project proposal released on Thursday, the Canucks and City of Vancouver’s plan indicates that, rather than building a brand-new facility itself, the construction process will focus on creating a separate section attached to the pre-existing rink, referred to as the “training venue.”
With this in mind, the statement made by the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey outlines how the idea of a new practice facility complex, one they compare to the Seattle Kraken’s Community Iceplex, could be “a conversation worth having” regarding its benefit to both the team, the city, and the communities being impacted by potential work done at Britannia.
“A partnership involving the Vancouver Canucks, the City of Vancouver, and a private-sector development or operating partner could help expand ice access, manage capital costs, and create a lasting legacy for future generations of Vancouver families,” they state.
The full statement can be found via @vanminorhockey on Instagram.
Dec 21, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the NHL puck and Stars logo and hockey stick and the face-off circle during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Vancouver Canucks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 28: Chase Burns #26 of the Cincinnati Reds walks back into the dugout during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park on April 28, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kate Woolson/Cincinnati Reds/Cincinnati Reds)
The Cincinnati Reds dropped Saturday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at home in Great American Ball Park, but on Sunday they’ve got their ace on the mound with the series victory in the balance.
Chase Burns will toe the rubber for the good guys opposite Bucs starter Mitch Keller, with first pitch on the docket set for 1:40 PM ET.
Eugenio Suarez will begin this game on the bench, and with the trade deadline looming tomorrow afternoon that means he may well have made his final start in a Cincinnati Reds uniform. That’s sad, though not quite as sad as the fact that it means Ke’Bryan Hayes is going to be in the starting lineup at 3B more or less every day going forward (today included).
Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin Sunday’s series finale in GABP, one that may well be the final game the Reds play before ripping apart the roster:
Jeremy Sochan, who won a ring with New York last season after being released by the San Antonio Spurs following the trade deadline, is now headed across the country.
Sochan has agreed to a one-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, reports Shams Charania of ESPN, who got the news from Sochan's agent Deirunas Visockas. While the report does not mention the size of the contract, it is undoubtedly for the veteran minimum.
It also is a non-guaranteed deal and Sochan is essentially getting the chance to come to training camp and compete for a roster spot, reports Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report. That echoes what NBA Insider Jake Fischer had previously reported: Portland has 12 players on guaranteed contracts, and Sochan now joins Micah Potter, Vit Krejci, and likely others to follow on non-guaranteed deals, all of them brought in to compete in training camp for the final couple of roster spots. That said, there is room for frontcourt players like the 6'8" Sochan in Portland, which will start Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara at the forward spots, but the depth behind them is a question for the team.
Sochan, who Gregg Popovich once tried as a point-forward in San Antonio, got some regular run early last season with the Spurs but eventually fell out of the team's increasingly deep rotation. He signed as depth for the Knicks frontcourt, but averaged 6.9 minutes a game in the 16 games he got into for the Knicks. In New York's run to the title, he played a total of 23 minutes in the playoffs.
TODAY’S GAME: The first-place Astros will try to complete a sweep of the Rangers today in the finale of this huge three-game weekend series between the top two teams in the AL West.
RHP Peter Lambert (8-5), who went 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in five July starts, will get the start for the Astros today vs. RHP Kumar Rocker (4-8) and the Rangers.
SILVER BOOT SECURED: The Astros are 8-4 against the Rangers this season, securing them the 2026 Silver Boot.
The Astros have now won the Silver Boot in 10 consecutive seasons (every year since 2017), during which the Astros have gone 101-55 vs. the Rangers.
SWEEPSTAKES: The Astros have swept two of their last three series and four series overall this season…the Astros last swept the Rangers from Sept. 15-17, 2025, a three-game set in Houston.
WINNING WAYS: The Astros have won 10 of their last 11 games, a span that includes two five-game winning streaks, which is their season-long.
The Astros are now two games over .500, their first time at that mark since being 6-4 following their 10th game of the season on April 5.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 37-24 since May 22, which ties as the best record in the AL in that span.
On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
Winning Percentage since May 22, AL T1. Astros 37-24 (.607) T1. Red Sox 37-24 (.607) 3. Tigers 33-27 (.550)
GOIN’ DEEP: The Astros rank third in the Majors in home runs (154), trailing only the Nationals (164) and Yankees (156).
Houston has done their dam- age in bunches, recording 22 three-homer games, the most by any team in the Majors.
TODAY’S BROADCASTS: Today’s game will be televised by Space City Home Network with Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum and Julia Morales on the call.
The Astros English radio broadcast on SportsTalk 790 will feature Robert Ford and Kevin Eschenfelder.
Francisco Romero and Alex Treviño will be on the call on the Astros Spanish radio broadcast on TUDN 102.9 FM.
SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL: The surging Astros won their fifth straight game, downing the Rangers 5-4 on Saturday night at Daikin Park.
The offense did their damage against RHP Jacob deGrom, tagging him for five runs on seven hits and five walks, including multi-hit efforts from SS Jeremy Peña (2×5) and 1B Christian Walker (2×4, RBI).
RHP Ronel Blanco (3ER/4.2IP) started for Houston, before giving way to a strong bullpen (1ER/4.1IP).
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez is a strong AL MVP candidate as he leads the league in all three Triple Crown categories, ranking first in batting average (.324), HR (35), and RBI (82).
Additionally, he currently leads MLB in OPS (1.079), OBP (.438), SLG (.641) and TB (255), and in the AL, he ranks first in hits (129), extra-base hits (56), and runs (76), and third in walks (77)…AL
HOT IN JULY: DH Yordan Alvarez hit .360 (31×86) with nine home runs, 22 RBI, a .467 OBP, a .721 SLG, and a 1.188 OPS in 23 games in July.
In the month, Alvarez led the AL in home runs, RBI, OPS and SLG, while ranking second in walks (15), second in hits, and fourth in batting average and OBP.
GOOD INTENTIONS: DH Yordan Alvarez was walked twice intentionally last night, giving him a Major League-leading 22 intentional walks on the season.
Alvarez’s 22 intentional walks ties as the third-highest total in a single season by an Astros player in club history, along with Lance Berkman, who was walked intentionally 22 times in 2006.
STREAKING: SS Jeremy Peña has hit safely in 13 straight games at a .429 (24×56) clip with 17 runs, three doubles, one triple, six home runs, 12 RBI and a 1.271 OPS during the streak.
Peña’s streak is just one game shy of his career high, a 14-gamer from April 8-23, 2025, and ties as the longest by an Astro this season (also, DH Yordan Alvarez from April 14-28).
THE LAMBO: Today’s Astros starter RHP Peter Lambert leads the club in wins (8), starts (18), innings (103.0) and strikeouts (100).
Among AL pitchers with at least 100 IP, Lambert ranks fourth in opponent average (.207) and eighth in ERA…Lambert pitched last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 starts.
WHAT A RELIEF: LHP Josh Hader, who is 15-for-15 in save opportunities with a 1.17 ERA, recorded his 77th career save as an Astro last night, moving him past RHP Fred Gladding (76) for fifth place in saves all-time among Astros relievers.
He now trails RHP Ryan Pressly (111) for fourth on that all-time list.
STALKING 500: RHP Bryan Abreu has 497 career strikeouts, needing just three strikeouts to reach 500 for his career.
He would become just the fourth reliever in franchise history to record 500 strikeouts with the club, joining LHP Billy Wagner (694), RHP Brad Lidge (557) and RHP Dave Smith (529).
DOWN ON THE FARM: The Triple A Sugar Land Space Cowboys picked up their second-straight a walkoff win last night over Salt Lake, with RF Joey Loperfido (4×4) scoring the winning run on a double by 2B Ronel Delgado (2×3).
At Double A Corpus Christi, RHP Bryce Mayer, the Astros top pitching prospect, tossed 6.0 shutout innings, fanning nine hitters, while allowing three hits and no walks in the Hooks 7-0 win over Frisco.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, August 1, 1:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 1: Ty France #25 douses Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres with Gatorade after a walk-off win over against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park on August 1, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres needed a two-out walk-off single from Jake Cronenworth to get a dramatic 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. Fernando Tatis Jr. was intentionally walked to bring Cronenworth to the plate. The adorable little second baseman as Mud Grant likes to call him, won a seven-pitch at-bat and delivered the game-winning hit on a single to center field to score Xander Bogaerts from third base.
The Padres found themselves tied after Mason Miller was called on for a five-out save. He entered the game with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth and got the second out of the inning before the Giants scored two runs on a double by Osleivis Basabe. San Diego had been in control throughout much of the game and looked to be cruising to a 5-3 win before the game-tying hit. Miller closed out the eighth and worked a scoreless ninth to give the Padres a chance win it in the bottom half of the inning.
Taking the mound
Michael King (SD) v. Landen Roupp (SF)
Michael King had a strange outing the last time he took the mound against the Colorado Rockies. He pitched six innings and allowed four runs with six strikeouts and a walk. King was tagged for two home runs and got a no decision after the Padres got an 8-7 walk-off win. He has been solid in his last seven outings earning a 2-1 record with a 2.90 ERA. King will need to be sharp against a San Francisco lineup that has shown an ability to take advantage of mistakes.
Landen Roupp has performed well against the Padres but comes into the contest with a 7-9 record and a 4.12 ERA. Roupp had a rough outing his last time out. He faced the Milwaukee Brewers and allowed four runs with three walks and a strikeout in just 3.2 innings. San Diego will look to be patient to get their pitches from Roupp in an effort to get him out of the game early.
Batter up!
There is no telling what the lineup could look like after today, so the best bet is to think the Padres are going to put their top guys on the field in an effort to notch one more win before the Trade Deadline. Gavin Sheets has been slumping and has not played much but it is just a matter of time before he gets back on track.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Manny Machado, DH
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Sung-Mun Song, 3B
Gavin Sheets, DH
Luis Campusano, C
It is understandable that the Padres want to put their best team on the field as they head into the final game before the Trade Deadline. They can do that with Machado at DH. Song has shown himself to be a competent fielder and has not played in some time. It would be a good day to get Machado off his feet considering the next four games come against the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Campusano should get the start behind the plate in the day game after a night game.
Relief corps
The Padres used more bullpen than expected after Walker Buehler went just 4.1 innings. Wandy Peralta, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada and Mason Miller were all used in the eventual win. With King on the mound, the hope is the ‘pen gets a rest day, but if he falters, Kyle Hart could be used to cover bulk innings as San Diego looks to close out the series with a win.
As the National Hockey League enters the second month of free agency, a number of former Buffalo Sabres still remain unsigned. At this point of the offseason, players who have not latched on with an NHL club might consider playing in Europe, or taking a short-term deal or professional tryout to earn a one-year deal.
Marcus Johansson is the Webster’s Dictionary definition of a journeyman, having played for six NHL clubs during his 16-year career. After starting in 2010 and spending his first seven seasons in Washington, the 35-year-old has played for New Jersey, Boston, Buffalo (during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season), Minnesota, Seattle, a return to the Capitals, and then the last four seasons back with the Wild.
Will the Sabres add scoring help between now and the start of training camp?
Johansson’s best offensive years were during his first stint with Washington, where he posted a career-high 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) in 2016-17, but for the most part, he has settled into a middle-six depth forward who scores in the 30-40 point range. Last season, with the Wild, he compiled 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists), four goals in the playoffs, and played for Sweden at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, yet he had not been re-signed by Minnesota GM Bill Guerin.
There was some thought that the veteran forward was in a holding pattern waiting for the Wild to offer him another one-year deal, but the 35-year-old in early June signed a deal to return home to play with Farjestad, which likely marks the end of his NHL career.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after his play for an out during a 2025 Major League Baseball season home opening game at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers on Sunday made official their trade of Tarik Skubal, winner of the last two American League Cy Young Awards. For the start left-hander, the Dodgers sent outfielder Zyhir Hope plus pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith to the Detroit Tigers.
Ryan was the only one of those three players on the 40-man roster, so Skubal simply takes Ryan’s spot. The Dodgers already had an open slot after designating Cole Irvin for assignment on Saturday, but that spot wasn’t needed, yet. The trade deadline comes at 3 p.m. PT on Monday, so there’s still time for maneuvering.
Skubal missed six weeks this season after arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow, similar to the procedures Edwin Díaz and Blake Snell underwent this season, though with a quicker return to action. The left-hander in 16 starts this season has a 2.79 ERA with 116 strikeouts and 14 walks in 96 2/3 innings, and over his last six starts has a 1.95 ERA with 50 strikeouts against only six walks.
Because the Dodgers are both a multiple-repeat competitive balance tax payer and because they surpassed the fourth (and highest) CBT threshold, they will pay a 110-percent tax on any overage, which is another $10,787,097.
Presumably the Dodgers will activate Skubal at some point during their series against the Chicago Cubs, which begins Monday at Wrigley Field. Skubal last pitches Wednesday for the Tigers, throwing 92 pitches in 6 2/3 innings against the Baltimore Orioles. He’d be on four days rest on Monday, something he’s done in five of his 16 starts this season, and would be on five days rest on Tuesday.
Ernesto Martinez Jr. of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders is present before a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
It is a case of joining them after you beat them.
Ernesto Martinez Jr. played last season with the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. He appeared in nine games against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and although he only went 5-for-30, some of the hits he had led the Sounds to victory. On May 22, 2025, in a game during a series in Nashville, his single capped a five-run seventh inning that tied the game at 6. Nashville won in 11 innings, 7-6. Two days later, his home run finished off a 12-5 win for Nashville. Finally, on Aug. 2, 2025, at PNC Field, the Sounds trailed, 2-0, heading into the top of the ninth inning when they scored seven runs. Martinez’s two-run double put Nashville ahead, 3-2, on its way to a 7-5 win.
This season, the 27-year-old left-handed slugging first baseman and native of Cuba is with the RailRiders and producing some big hits for them. In 87 games, Martinez is batting .238 (72-for-302) with 10 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs and 53 RBI. His home-run total is a career-high, surpassing the 13 he hit in 2024 with the Biloxi Shuckers, Double-A affiliate of the Brewers in the Southern League. He is nine RBI away from tying his career-high of 62, also set during that 2024 campaign.
Two of his home runs have been grand slams: April 3rd in a 17-4 rout at Rochester in the second game of a doubleheader and July 7th at Buffalo that completed an eight-run ninth inning and an 18-3 romp.
On July 28th, in the series opener at the Iowa Cubs, his two-out, two-run triple to left-center field in the top of the eighth inning tied the game at three. He scored on the next pitch when Kenedy Corona laid down a perfect bunt that he beat out for a single. Martinez then tacked on some insurance with a two-run single in the top of the ninth that gave the RailRiders a 6-3 victory. It was Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s first game in Iowa since 1990 when they were the Red Barons and affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies. It was their first win in the Hawkeye State since July 27, 1989 — a span of 37 years and one day.
For the most part, Martinez is pleased with how his season is going.
“It’s had its ups and downs, been more positive than negative,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot, got better defensively, gotten better at putting the ball in the air. I feel like I’ve progressed a lot, regardless of the downs.”
He said a slight adjustment to his swing has helped him hit as many home runs as he has this season.
“Just working on taking some stuff from Judgie (Aaron Judge), Spencer (Jones),” Martinez said. “Some stuff that they’ve adapted to me and my particular hitting approach. It’s been a little bit inconsistent because it’s the first I’m doing it. But that’s pretty much what we’ve been doing.”
Born in Antilla, which is located in the Holguin Province of Cuba, Martinez was originally signed by the Brewers as a nondrafted free agent in May 2017. He worked his way up through the organization in eight seasons before electing to become a free agent last November. He signed with the Yankees in December. Several factors led to his decision.
“What was really attractive was what other people were saying about them. Plus the history of the Yankees. The callup percentage of guys who are signed free agents. But the commentary of the people outside the field and inside the field were great. I always wanted to put the jersey on. It wasn’t like a no-brainer, but it almost was.”
Martinez was a fan of the Yankees growing up in Cuba. He followed players like Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano.
“My dad used to bring me some tapes from outside the country and I would watch video of all those guys,” Martinez said.
His father, Ernesto Martinez Sr., has been and continues to be a big influence on Martinez’s career. Ernesto Sr. played 10 seasons as a catcher in the Cuban National Series and in 2002, he contributed a solo home run in Game 7 of the championship series to help give Cachorros de Holguin a 2-1 win and the team’s first title.
The elder Martinez then continued his professional career in France. At the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, father and son played on the same team for France. The younger Martinez was the youngest player at age 17.
“He was a hero of the city where I grew up. He won them their only championship,” Martinez said. “So I pretty much wanted to be like him when I grew up.”
Be patient. That is the best piece of advice Martinez’s father has given him.
“In baseball, there is always a day after the other,” Martinez said. “You’re always going to get a next day in baseball.”
Martinez is patiently waiting for his first callup to the major leagues. For that to happen, he feels he must be a little more consistent.
“I came here to get better,” he said. “We know what the goal looks like. We’ve just got to repeat it every day.”
Jul 12, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The MLB 2026 trade deadline of Monday, August 3 at 4:00 p.m. MDT is fast approaching.
The Colorado Rockies (and, frankly, most teams) were disappointingly quiet on so far this week.
But last night while the Rockies were celebrating their 12-6 win over the Kansas City Royals, the Los Angeles Dodgers made the move:
Look for the trade market to get serious today.
As the day progresses, we’ll keep this tracker updated with the most pertinent rumors and the biggest deals that come to fruition.
The Rockies and Kansas City Royals will play this afternoon at 1:10.
