Yankees Birthday of the Day: Alex Rodriguez

Three times over the past 25 years, the New York Yankees have spun a trade for one of the best young hitters on the planet, made available by his former team in order to dump his salary, despite the fact that their team captain played the same position. Most recently, it was Juan Soto, acquired for one magical season from the San Diego Padres prior to the 2024 season. Before that, it was Giancarlo Stanton, brought in to give the Yankees arguably the two best power hitters in the game in 2018. But the original version of this story took place 22 years ago this past February, when the Bronx Bombers — in desperate need of a third baseman after the incumbent, Aaron Boone, was injured playing basketball in the offseason — reeled in arguably the best player in the game of baseball, Alex Rodriguez.

Now nearly a decade since he last stepped in the batter’s box at Yankee Stadium, the legacy of A-Rod continues to spark debate, as fans question whether the otherworldly performance in his prime was worth the controversy of his decline.

Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez
Born: July 27, 1975 (New York, NY)
Yankees Tenure: 2004-16

Born in Washington Heights and raised in the Dominican Republic and Miami, Rodriguez put himself on the map at Christopher Columbus High School (freshman year) and Westminster Christian School (sophomore, junior, and senior years), playing shortstop for the baseball team and both wide receiver and quarterback for the football team. While it was his prowess on the diamond that would earn him international acclaim and numerous accolades — he played for Team USA in the 1992 World Junior Championship — his performance on the gridiron was so impressive that, when the University of Miami offered A-Rod a baseball scholarship, the football team stepped in with the goal of turning him into a two-sport athlete.

Unfortunately for Miami, however, the Seattle Mariners had other ideas, selecting A-Rod as the first overall pick of the 1993 MLB Draft. That would prove to be the right decision, as just thirteen months later, Rodriguez made his Major League debut against the Boston Red Sox — the first player to debut at the age of 18 in fifteen years. While he was unspectacular in his first cup of coffee that year, or in his limited time on the roster during the strike-shortened 1995 season, he had done just enough to be penciled in as the starting shortstop to start the 1996 season. And that year, he began to craft the legend of A-Rod. In a lineup that featured future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez, the 20-year-old Rodriguez was arguably the best player on the team, posting an absurd .358/.414/.631 slash line to become the third youngest player to win the batting title in AL history (and on top of that, he hit 36 home runs, too!).

Rodriguez spent the next four seasons on the Mariners, over which span he posted a .304/.372/.560 slash line, hit 148 home runs, won three silver sluggers, went to three Midsummer Classics, and joined the 40/40 club. Despite his performance, and despite having a stacked lineup, Seattle failed to even reach .500 in two of those seasons, and would lose to the Yankees in the 2000 ALCS.

During the 2000-2001 offseason, everyone assumed that Rodriguez would return to New York and sign with his childhood team, the Mets. But a host of demands from agent Scott Boras spooked Mets general manager Steve Phillips, who feared that Rodriguez’s presence would turn the club into a 24-player team, that also had A-Rod. And so, instead, the superstar shortstop inked a record-breaking, 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers, a deal that doubled the previous record for the largest contract in American sports, Kevin Garnett’s $126 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

To this day the contract ranks 19th in Major League history according to Baseball-Reference (and that’s without adjusting for inflation!).

For his part, Rodriguez certainly held up his end of the bargain for Texas. From 2001 to 2003, he slashed .305/.396/.615, hit 156 home runs, went to three All-Star Games, received two Gold Gloves and three Silver Sluggers, and won the 2003 AL MVP despite playing on a last-place team. Even so, the Rangers struggled to put a team around him, and after three seasons, decided that investing a full quarter of the payroll in one player wasn’t good roster-building. Immediately after the 2003 World Series, they put him on the trade block, spinning a deal with the Red Sox that the MLBPA ultimately vetoed because it would set the precedent that players could return guaranteed money. Once that deal fell through, the Yankees — suddenly in need of a third baseman, and upon learning that A-Rod was willing to switch positions — swooped in and acquired him, sending a package headlined by Alfonso Soriano the other way.

The baseball world, to say the least, was shocked.

Despite a 2004 postseason that we will ignore in all aspects, Rodriguez proved immediately why the Yankees made the right decision trading for him. Over his first four seasons in the Bronx, he posted a .303/.403/.573 slash line, blasted 173 home runs, went to four All-Star games, won two AL MVPs, and accrued an absurd 30.9 rWAR. He piled on highlight after highlight, hitting three homers and driving in ten runs in one night, recording his 2000th career hit and 500th career homer (becoming the youngest player to do the latter), and walking it off twice early in 2007. Nonetheless, cracks began to appear in the foundation, as the player whose contract was so famous that Night at the Museum would make a joke about it, earned himself a reputation as a postseason choker, as he had just seven hits in 54 plate appearances across 13 postseason games after 2004.

All of that would pale, however, in comparison to the two major controversies about to hit A-Rod, both of his own creation. On October 28, 2007, during Game 4 of the World Series, Boras announced that Rodriguez had opted out of his deal and would become a free agent. The announcement angered literally everyone, from the league that felt A-Rod was trying to upstage the World Series, to the Yankees who felt betrayed after Rodriguez had spent the year telling them he intended not to opt out, to (allegedly) A-Rod himself, who to this day blames Boras for acting contrary to his wishes (for what it’s worth, the Rodriguez/Boras relationship fell apart after this — perhaps some evidence that he’s telling the truth). At the end of the day, though, Mariano Rivera patched things up between Rodriguez and the Yankees, helping bring the two sides together on a new 10-year, $275 million deal that would keep him in pinstripes for the rest of his career.

Had that been the end of the controversy, we would look back at it as just a weird quirk in a career full of them. In February 2009, however, Sports Illustrated released a report identifying A-Rod as one of the 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, news that shook the baseball world and, indeed, even the nation — recently-elected President Obama even commented on it! For his part, Rodriguez owned up to the mistake, acknowledging that, although it was a different era, he was “stupid” and “naïve.” Perhaps, again, if this was the end of the controversy, he could have rehabilitated his reputation, gotten his number retired by the Yankees, and ended up in Cooperstown — especially since the 2009 season saw Rodriguez finally shake the “postseason choker” reputation, as he went 19-for-52 with six home runs and 12 walks, including a massive two-run homer in Game 3 of the World Series and a game-winning double in Game 4.

Things began to crumble around Rodriguez following the 2009 season, even as he passed the 600-homer threshold. While he was still a good hitter, injuries began to sap his power at the plate and his range at the hot corner, and limited him to just 137 games in 2010, 99 in 2011, and 122 in 2012. Joe Girardi famously benched him in favor of Raúl Ibáñez and Eric Chavez at critical moments in the intense ALDS matchup with the Baltimore Orioles. Then, as the Yankees were swept by the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS, he was spotted flirting with fans during the game.

Somehow, it got even worse. That December, it was revealed that Rodriguez needed hip surgery that would sideline him for the first half of the 2013 season — prompting the Yankees to acquire former Red Sox first baseman/third baseman Kevin Youkilis, which to this day feels like a crime against The Rivalry. Days afterwards, the Biogenesis scandal broke, and Rodriguez began to pick fights with literally everybody, including the players’ union and the Yankees organization.

Despite the threat of legal action against his own ballclub, though, and appealing a 211-game suspension, A-Rod returned to the Yankees lineup on August 5, 2013, giving a sluggish Yankees lineup a jolt and crafting some memorable moments — such as the time Girardi melted down at the umpire for refusing to eject Ryan Dempster, only to see Rodriguez get his vengeance later in the game.

Following the 2013 season, Rodriguez went off onto his year-long sabbatical, during which time Rodriguez went and enrolled in classes at Miami, and for most of us, that was that. I mean, how often does a 39-year-old infielder with a bad hip return to the Majors after missing an entire season? The answer, as it turns out, is exactly once. Rodriguez turned back the clock a little bit in 2015, blasting 33 homers, joining the 3,000 Hit Club, and putting together his best season since 2009 as the Yankees’ full-time designated hitter.

Unfortunately, Father Time came for Rodriguez the following season. The team worked with the struggling 41-year-old on as soft a midseason departure as one could’ve likely hoped given the circumstances. They announced his forthcoming departure a week in advance, honored him in a pregame ceremony before his final game on August 12th, and he got a double against the Rays for his final career hit. He played third base in the ninth one last time, and walked off the field to a very nice hand. The Yankees then designated him for assignment and promoted one of their prospects, outfielder Aaron Judge. Good move.

Since his retirement, Rodriguez has stayed in the game of baseball, most often serving as an analyst for ESPN and Fox — mixing in the occasional nugget with some bizarresoundbites. While his No. 13 remains in circulation, and he has yet to receive even a plaque in Monument Park, A-Rod’s apology tour has arguably been his greatest achievement: in fact, I know multiple Red Sox fans who have told me that they hate how much they enjoy A-Rod these days. And that is, itself, a pretty cool legacy.


See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Former Badgers star finds new NBA home after strong summer league performance

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: John Tonje #8 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on July 13, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Former Wisconsin Badgers star John Tonje has had an eventful start to his NBA career through just one season.

Selected with the No. 53 pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2025 NBA Draft, Tonje was sent to Utah’s G-League team, where he played alongside fellow former Badgers Max Klesmit and Steven Crowl. The guard earned a big role from the jump as a starter, playing in 31.3 minutes per game for the Salt Lake City Stars.

In that action, Tonje averaged 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from deep. However, his stint in Utah was short-lived as he was dealt at the trade deadline to the Boston Celtics in a deal that sent veteran forward Chris Boucher and a second-round pick back to the Jazz.

Tonje then saw his first NBA action, being converted from a two-way contract to an NBA contract, and he played in six games for the Celtics over the rest of the regular season. In 7.0 minutes of action per game, Tonje averaged 2.5 points and 1.0 rebounds, while shooting 28.6 percent from the field and 30 percent from three.

The wing moved back and forth between the NBA team and Boston’s G-League team, the Maine Celtics. In 11 games with Maine, Tonje averaged 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across 31.5 minutes per contest, shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three.

This offseason, Tonje got the chance to play for Boston’s summer league team and turned out a strong performance there. In five games, he averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists. That got him his next NBA opportunity: a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, which ESPN reported over the weekend.

The deal is a two-year contract, according to HoopsHype, and fills the last two-way slot for the Trail Blazers on their roster, joining Chris Youngblood and forward Jayson Kent.

Cubs vs Cardinals Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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David Peterson's results have improved with the Chicago Cubs, but his underlying numbers remain poor.

I don't think the Chicago Cubs deserve to be -120 favorites with Peterson on the mound, and my Cubs vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks on Monday, July 27, reflect that.

Who will win Cubs vs Cardinals today: St. Louis Cardinals (+100)

David Peterson owns a 5.57 ERA, 5.60 SIERA, and 12.6 K% over the last 30 days. He is in horrendous form.

The St. Louis Cardinals have not hit lefties consistently of late, but I’m not sure it matters. They faced Peterson twice recently and combined for 16 runs while knocking him out before completing four innings on both occasions.

Matthew Liberatore has started pitching a little better, conceding three runs or fewer in three of his past four starts — including against the Chicago Cubs.

Back the Cardinals to -110.

Covers COVERS INTEL:Peterson sits at the 19th percentile in K%, playing into the hands of a Cardinals lineup with the second-lowest K% vs. lefties.

Cubs vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (-110)

Opponents are hammering Peterson to the tune of a 44.1% hard-hit rate over the last month, which is the second-highest output among today’s starting pitchers.

Peterson is having a miserable time striking batters out, and the Cardinals excel in avoiding punchouts, making a perfect storm for plenty of good contact.

Liberatore’s 30.2% line-drive rate the past 30 days is alarmingly bad, and doesn’t bode well for his chances of slowing down a Cubs offense sitting in the Top 10 vs. lefties during that stretch.

Bet the Over to -120.

Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 63-55, -4.15 units
  • Over/Under bets: 64-49-5, +6.79 units

Cubs vs Cardinals weather

Temperatures are expected to approach 100 with slight winds blowing out.

Cubs vs Cardinals odds

  • Moneyline: Cubs -120 | Cardinals +100
  • Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+130) | Cardinals +1.5 (-150)
  • Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-110) | Under 9.5 (-110)

Cubs vs Cardinals trend

Chicago has hit the Game Total Over in 18 of the last 30 games (+4.85 units, 15% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Cubs vs Cardinals and game info

LocationBusch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
DateMonday, July 27, 2026
First pitch7:35 p.m. ET
TVMarquee Sports Network, Cardinals.TV
Cubs starting pitcherDavid Peterson
(5-7, 5.97 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcherMatthew Liberatore
(5-7, 5.18 ERA)

Cubs vs Cardinals latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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CJ Abrams has become too good for the Washington Nationals to trade

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 26: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals waits to bat in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park on July 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The plan entering the season may have been to trade CJ Abrams at this deadline. However, I just don’t think that is a move you can do at this point. Abrams has become too important for this ballclub to ship off. The Nats need to keep Abrams, at least through this season and make a major push towards an extension.

Abrams has been a nice player over the last three seasons prior to this year. He has taken things to another level in 2026. With the help of the Nats new hitting coaches, Abrams has become the best offensive shortstop in all of baseball. He is on pace for 42 home runs, 127 RBI and 26 steals. That is historic production from the shortstop position.

This is not something you can trade unless you get a package that rivals the Soto haul. Unless I see a Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan or Seth Hernandez type of arm headlining a package, I am honestly not that interested. Sure, Abrams is getting closer to free agency, but the Nats are also getting closer to winning.

When the Nats traded Juan Soto with 2.5 years of control, it was clear that this team was years away from relevancy. Right now, the Nats are on the cusp of being a relevant force in the National League. Heck, they have a chance to make the playoffs this year, being a game out of the third Wild Card spot. An Abrams trade would just kill all of the momentum from this season.

Right now, I am seeing Anthony Volpe and George Lombard Jr. packages. I am sorry, that just does not get the job done for me. Despite all the hate he gets, I actually think there is a decent player in there with Volpe. He seems like a prime change of scenery candidate. Lombard is a very good prospect, who should be a quality starting shortstop for a long time. However, neither of those guys have the superstar upside Toboni should be looking for.

If the Nats don’t get a package headlined by a top 10 prospect in baseball, it is not worth considering. I know the Yankees are interested, but Abrams has played his way out of their price range in my opinion. He is already a 4 win player with a wRC+ over 150. That is rarified air, and the type of player you need to build around.

An extension for Abrams will not be easy, but it is not impossible either. Without the Scott Boras factor, the window is open. It will take a lot of money, and I doubt ownership will be comfortable with it. However, at a certain point, ownership needs to get out of their comfort zone and prove their commitment. Nats fans need to see one of their star players actually stick around in DC for the long haul.

Right now, the Nats have a great thing going. Abrams and Wood are probably the best duo in all of baseball at the moment. They have grown up together and now they are just hitting their stride. Breaking up this duo right as they enter their prime will take an insane offer.

Given Abrams’ proximity to free agency and the Nats pitching woes, he should not be truly untouchable. However, the bar should be at a place where most teams simply won’t go. If a team does meet the bar, you can trade him, but it has to be for a godfather offer.

Getting “fair value” for Abrams is not good enough for Nats fans. We have to be getting 125 cents on the dollar here. Nats fans are getting tired of rebuilding. Making another move for 3 to 5 years from now would be a tough pill to swallow. It feels like the window is finally starting to open up.

That window should include CJ Abrams. Whether it is the deadline or the offseason, the Nats need to be aggressive in the pitching market, both in trades and free agency. Picking up Connelly Early is a good start, but the Nats still need a couple more starters and a rebuilt bullpen heading into 2027.

The Nats have a truly special offense that can carry this team for years to come. Wood and Abrams are the pillars of the attack, and they need to stick together. The Nationals finally have an identity after years in the wilderness. Paul Toboni would have a lot of explaining to do if he broke up that identity after just a few months. 

Unless someone truly overpays you like the Padres did for Soto, Abrams needs to stay. If the Nats were 15 games under .500 or if Abrams was just having a good year, things would be different. However, the window is opening for the Nationals and CJ Abrams is too dang good to trade.

LeBron James is officially a 76er, Tyrese Maxey had an idea this was coming

It's official: LeBron James is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.

If you wonder what that is going to look like on the court, join the club. What we do know is that he will wear No. 23 and what his uniform will look like.

“There is no doubt LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball and there are no words to measure the impact he’ll have on this organization,” 76ers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey said in a statement. “I have had the pleasure of knowing LeBron since high school and have seen the high-level impact he’s produced at every stop of his basketball journey. He is a consummate professional, the ultimate competitor, and a tireless worker. But he is also an incredible person with natural leadership traits, a family man, and someone who possesses unwavering commitment to community and those around him."

LeBron to Philadelphia was a plot twist few saw coming, but Tyrese Maxey — who shares an agent with LeBron — "was among a small group of people who got some inkling late Thursday night that James would ultimately choose the Sixers," reports Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Maxey, as well as Jaylen Brown and especially Joel Embiid, recruited LeBron James hard.

Another key factor in LeBron's decision was the idea he could live at least part time in New York City and commute to Philly for games and New Jersey for practice (the 76ers practice facility is in Camden, New Jersey). LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, said on his podcast, "If the Knicks hadn't won, there would be no board. He'd be going to the Knicks." But the Knicks did win the title and spent the offseason trying to keep the band together, not add LeBron.

However, as Marc Stein put it in his newsletter: "Proximity to New York City indeed emerged as a significant bonus lure" to get LeBron to Philly.

All that matters now is that LeBron is officially a 76er. It should be added that LeBron's contract has a 15% trade kicker if he gets moved, but that is far less likely than him signing with the 76ers in the first place.

6 Former Islanders Who Will Be Playing In Zdeno Chara's 'Final Shift' Game

On Aug. 21, former New York Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara will be playing in an event called "Zee's Final Shift", a farewell game for the 49-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer.

The farewell game will be held at the Winter Stadium in Trenčín.

Chara, who began his career with the Islanders in 1997-98 and returned to the team for his final NHL season in 2021-22, has invited many of his former teammates to this event, including some who played on Long Island. 

Johnny Boychuk, who is currently a part of the Islanders' player development squad, never played with Chara on Long Island. But the two won a Stanley Cup together with the Boston Bruins in 2011. 

The same goes for Dennis Seidenberg, who was on that Boston team and, like Boychuk, is working for the Islanders in player development. 

Then we have Zigmund Palffy, who was a fifth-year Islanders forward when Chara walked through the doors in 1997-98, playing a part of two seasons together. 

Fellow Slovakian Miroslav Satan, who played with Chara in Boston for one season in 2009-10, spent three seasons on Long Island (2005-2008).

Tomas Vanek's time with the Islanders spanned only 47 games in 2013-14 after being acquired and then traded off the island ahead of the 2014 NHL Trade Deadline.

Robert Reichel played for the Islanders as well (1997-1999). 

Here are the remaining invitees: Marian Hossa, Chris Kelly, Patrice Bergeron, Ray Bourque, Andrew Ference, Michal Handzuš, Jaromír Jágr, Tomáš Kaberle, Duncan Keith, Anže Kopitar, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, Adam McQuaid, Daniel Paille, David Pastrňák, Mark Recchi, Andrej Sekera, Marco Sturm, Aaron Ward, and Jakub Voráček.

Learn more about the event here: 

Úvod | ZEE'S FINAL SHIFTÚvod | ZEE'S FINAL SHIFTZdeno Chára je prvým slovenským hráčom, ktorý ako kapitán mužstva získal Stanley Cup (v sezóne 2010/11).

MLB Predictions and Moneyline Picks for Monday, July 27

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Happy Monday, everyone!

A new week brings a ton of opportunities, and tonight's MLB moneyline predictions are no exception. 

Let's dive into the full slate with my MLB picks on Monday, July 27!

MLB moneyline picks for July 27

MatchupPick
MarinersMariners
vs
RangersRangers
Rangers
+122
OriolesOrioles
vs
TigersTigers
Orioles
+108
DiamondbacksDiamondbacks
vs
PiratesPirates
Diamondbacks
+111
PhilliesPhillies
vs
MarlinsMarlins
Marlins
+170
Blue JaysBlue Jays
vs
NationalsNationals
Nationals
-115
GuardiansGuardians
vs
RedsReds
Reds
-153
BravesBraves
vs
MetsMets
Mets
+106
YankeesYankees
vs
White SoxWhite Sox
Yankees
-135
CubsCubs
vs
CardinalsCardinals
Cardinals
+106
AstrosAstros
vs
AngelsAngels
Astros
-106
Red SoxRed Sox
vs
AthleticsAthletics
Athletics
+160
BrewersBrewers
vs
GiantsGiants
Brewers
-125

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 7-27.

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Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 27

Mariners vs Rangers: Rangers (+125)

Rangers win probability: 44%

I get to back an offense with a 135 wRC+, .365 wOBA, and .837 OPS over its last six games against one with a 93 wRC+, .108 ISO, and .674 OPS, all at plus money? Yeah, give me the Rangers in this spot.

The Mariners have posted a wRC+ below 100 for more than a month now, while the Rangers have been on an absolute tear offensively.

Kumar Rocker has shown flashes throughout the season, and he'll do enough to keep Seattle's lineup in check. With the way Texas is swinging the bats right now, plus money is too good to pass up.

Orioles vs Tigers: Orioles (-111)

Orioles win probability: 52%

Keider Montero has been solid for the Tigers over his last few outings, but so has Kyle Bradish. I think this one comes down to which offense I trust more, and that's Baltimore's.

Over their last 12 games, the Orioles own a 113 wRC+, .334 wOBA, and .745 OPS, while continuing to swing the bats at a much more consistent level.

As for the Tigers, they've been one of baseball's most inconsistent offenses all season. I want no part of trying to time when that lineup is going to break out, especially against a pitcher like Bradish. Give me the better offense in what I expect to be a tightly contested game.

Diamondbacks vs Pirates: Diamondbacks (+111)

Diamondbacks win probability: 48%

It's a battle of mid-tier starters as Merrill Kelly and Mitch Keller square off this evening. Similar to the rest of the teams I'm backing today, I want the hotter offense, and that's Arizona. The Diamondbacks have completely flipped the switch over the last few weeks, swinging the bats with confidence.

Meanwhile, the Pirates have gone ice cold over their last six games, posting a 68 wRC+, .262 wOBA, and .092 ISO.

I'll gladly take the plus money underdog in a matchup where I trust the hotter lineup to make the difference.

Phillies vs Marlins: Marlins (+170)

Marlins win probability: 37%

The Phillies are coming off an 11-run outburst against the Yankees last night, and I have a rule to fade teams immediately after massive offensive performances. Sure, the Marlins haven't been the sexiest team to back since June, but I have no interest in laying money with a team that just scored nearly two touchdowns worth of runs.

I'll take my chances fading the offensive regression in this spot.

Blue Jays vs Nationals: Nationals (-115)

Nationals win probability: 54%

The old man is on the mound against one of the hottest lineups in baseball, and I want the Nationals in this spot.

Not only have the Blue Jays' bats gone ice cold, but they're also sending Max Scherzer to the mound to stop the bleeding. That hasn't gone well this season. Scherzer owns a 10.23 ERA, 5.58 xERA, and 1.73 WHIP, and he hasn't looked like the pitcher he once was.

Andrew Alvarez hasn't exactly been lights out for Washington either, but the Nationals offense has been swinging it well, while Toronto's lineup has looked lifeless. I'll gladly back the hotter offense at plus money in this matchup.

Guardians vs Reds: Reds (-156)

Reds win probability: 61%

Not a fan of laying this much juice with a team like the Reds, but when Slade Cecconi is on the mound, it's tough not to fade him.

The Guardians right-hander owns a 7.43 ERA and 2.02 WHIP over his last three starts, while allowing a 55% hard-hit rate and 12% barrel rate. That's a recipe for disaster, especially in a hitter-friendly park like Great American Ball Park.

On the other side, Chase Burns has done an excellent job protecting his home field this season, posting a 2.32 ERA and 1.15 WHIP at Great American Ball Park. I don't love the price, but this is a matchup where I'll happily side with Cincinnati.

Braves vs Mets: Mets (+104)

Mets win probability: 49%

With Martin Perez posting a 5.40 ERA, 6.46 xERA, and 1.57 WHIP over his last three outings, I was already leaning toward the Mets. Then I looked at how sustainable Zac Thornton has been, and it only strengthened my confidence in backing New York at home tonight.

Neither offense has been setting the world on fire lately, but the Mets have been generating much more hard contact while also drawing significantly more walks. I think those extra baserunners, combined with the pitching edge, make the Mets the right side in Queens tonight.

Yankees vs White Sox: Yankees (-135)

Yankees win probability: 57%

The White Sox exploded for 12 runs on Sunday afternoon against the Astros to avoid the series sweep. Now they welcome the New York Yankees to town.

Chicago will send Noah Schultz to the mound, and he has been hit hard all season. Over his last three starts, Schultz owns a 6.59 ERA, 6.89 xERA, and 1.83 WHIP.

Neither offense has been lighting it up, especially if you take away Chicago's 12-run outburst. Max Fried should give the Yankees a significant edge on the mound, and I also like fading the White Sox after such a massive offensive performance. That's enough for me to lean with New York in this spot.

Cubs vs Cardinals: Cardinals (+106)

Cardinals win probability: 48%

David Peterson is not a pitcher I'm willing to back as a favorite, especially while posting a 6.46 ERA, 6.29 xERA, and 1.44 WHIP over his last three outings. This isn't me saying Matthew Liberatore is some elite arm, because he isn't, but I do think he's the better pitcher in this matchup.

The Cubs offense has been humming over the last month, but I'm not willing to trust Peterson to keep any lineup in check for five innings right now. At this price, I'll gladly take my chances fading him. 

Astros vs Angels: Astros (-106)

Astros win probability: 52%

I am aware that Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai has been a bit rocky, but he's still a strikeout machine, and we all know the Angels love to swing and miss.

On top of that, Houston's offense has started to heat up over the last few weeks. After getting embarrassed by the White Sox, who hung two touchdowns on them Sunday, I expect the Astros to bounce back in a big way.

I like Houston to respond with a much better performance tonight.

Red Sox vs Athletics: Athletics (+160)

Athletics win probability: 38%

Price-wise and straight up, I want the Athletics. Sure, the Red Sox have been one of the best stories in baseball over the last month, but they simply have not been scoring runs consistently. If the Athletics can jump on left-hander Payton Tolle early, they have a great chance to come away with the win.

On top of that, I have no interest in laying -163 with an offense that owns an 80 wRC+, .291 wOBA, and .138 ISO over its last week. At this price, I'll gladly take the value with the A's.

Brewers vs Giants: Brewers (-125)

Brewers win probability: 56%

Brewers right-hander Brandon Sproat hasn't been particularly sharp over his last three outings, posting a 5.60 xERA and 1.71 WHIP. On the other side, Tyler Mahle has been solid enough, but nothing that really moves the needle.

Tonight in the Bay, I want to back the far better offense, and that's Milwaukee. The Brewers have been seeing the ball much better lately, while the Giants have posted a wRC+ below 100 with a strikeout rate north of 26% over their last six games.

Getting the Brewers at -125 feels like a steal in my book.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Red Sox News & Links: What’s next after the Curtis Mead trade?

DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 20: Curtis Mead #45 of the Washington Nationals prepares to bat in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Baseball is a cruel business. Tsung-Che Cheng will always be remembered as one of the spark plugs of the Sox’ historic 15-game win streak. Cheng appeared in 9 of the 15 wins and started 8 of them, putting up an OBP of .407 during the stretch and stabilizing the middle infield defense. But with the arrival of Curtis Mead, the Red Sox needed a roster spot and it was Cheng who was sent to Worcester… on his birthday. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

The demotion of Cheng is a reminder that every time a team adds someone new and exciting, there’s always going to be someone else who is disappointed about the old players who are sent packing. Those mixed emotions were prevalent throughout the clubhouse with respect to the departure of Connelly Early. “There’s a lot of guys in there that are very close with Connelly, and he’s been a huge part of this,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “I think at the same time, it sends a message like, ‘Hey, we’re trying to do some things to fill some gaps, with the run scoring and things like that, and we added a power bat.” (Matty Wasserman, Boston Globe)

Craig Breslow himself also described the trade as “incredibly uncomfortable,” but felt he had to do it anyway. “A lot of front offices are looking at very similar information, so trying to find an opportunity to win a trade is not nearly as easy as it maybe it would have been at another point,” Breslow said. “Instead, in this position, I’ve tried to shift to our goal not (being) to win the trade. Our goal is to make our major league team better. Sometimes, the most straightforward way to do that is a need-for-need-type trade.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

And by all accounts, the Sox aren’t done with the trade market. So who could be heading out the door next? Here’s a breakdown of the minor leaguers who are most in demand. “The Sox were willing to discuss Arias last year in deals for Twin hurler Joe Ryan or Arizona slugger Ketel Marte. His value has gone up since those conversations, but if the Sox want one of the potential jewels of the trade market such as Angels shortstop Zach Neto, Arias would be a necessary price.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

The fact that Arias is just about untouchable is a big reason why the Red Sox don’t land all that high on this ranking of teams most likely to land Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. (The Athletic)

And with the return of Ranger Suárez, the Red Sox rotation may not need much of an upgrade. (Scott McLaughlin, WEEI)

Hunter Goodman is also being viewed as a potential big game price, with the Sox, Yankees, and Rays amongst other teams all being mentioned as looking for a catcher. (Ken Rosenthal, Will Sammon, The Athletic)

Warriors reportedly discussed Jaylen Brown trade with Celtics near NBA deadline

Warriors reportedly discussed Jaylen Brown trade with Celtics near NBA deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors might have been in the mix for Jaylen Brown much sooner than the Philadelphia 76ers.

Five months before the Boston Celtics stunningly dealt the five-time NBA All-Star to Philadelphia on July 1 for Paul George, two first- and two second-round picks, Golden State was a team Boston considered moving one of its stars to.

ESPN’s Shams Charania joined Stephen A. Smith on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Monday, where he discussed the Warriors’ failed pursuit of LeBron James, who ultimately signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, and detailed trade conversations, centered around Brown, between Golden State and the Celtics before the league’s Feb. 5 trade deadline and how the James pursuit might have been different had the Warriors pulled off a move for Brown earlier in the season, rather than him falling into the 76ers’ laps this summer.

“The Warriors could’ve got in the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if they wanted to give up four first-round picks-ish, in that range,” Charania told Smith. “They decided not to from my understanding. Those two teams, the Warriors and Celtics did talk about a Jaylen Brown trade around the trade deadline, and it was around several first-round draft picks, potential swaps, and seconds.

“The Warriors decided not to go down that route, and so that’s on them. That’s the decision they made.”

Had Golden State added Brown at the deadline, or James’ longtime Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis this offseason, Charania believes those moves could have propelled the Warriors to the front of the line for James.

“If they had went out and got that done, does that make LeBron James more viable?” Charania added. “What if the Warriors had gone out and been willing to give up several draft capital to go get an Anthony Davis from Washington, does LeBron James follow suit? My understanding was, if the Warriors were able to get Anthony Davis, they had as good of a chance, if not better than anyone, to get a LeBron James, and I think you have to look at that in the calculus of everything.”

Now, Golden State has neither star — and as of Monday, zero new additions at all to its roster almost one month into free agency.

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Mid-summer Penguins offseason checklist

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - NOVEMBER 14: Erik Karlsson #65, Sidney Crosby #87 and Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins listen to the American national anthem before a game against the Nashville Predators during the 2025 NHL Global Series on November 14, 2025 at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Now a few weeks into free agency, the NHL has reached the quiet part of their calendar for the next month or so. Most the major moves are made and summer vacations and resets are in full swing as teams go slightly dormant to recharge the batteries for the upcoming season.

But news and changes are only one short phone call away, let’s set the table for what has happened so far this offseason and what could still be on the ol’ to-do list from last month’s action items.

Step 5b: More about free agents

On a related note to Step 5 above, there’s restricted free agency ahead for Arturs Silovs, Egor Chinakhov, Joel Blomqvist, Ville Koivunen and Alex Alexeyev. Aside from what the decision is about Alexeyev, either new contract agreements or at least qualifying offers will be sent to the rest of that group by the deadline later this month for progress in that area in the near future.

Koivunen remains an RFA with limited leverage on getting a new contract, beyond that the rest are taken care of. Alexeyev decided to sign in the KHL, the Penguins made sure to retain his NHL rights. Silovs signed a one-year deal, Blomqvist got two years (and an interesting structure within), Chinakhov got the most money and years for all at three years. Newly acquired RFA’s in Nick Robertson and Hendrix Lapierre got on the books for the next two years.

Step 6: June 1 free agents

This year there wasn’t much drama for the Penguins on drafted players whose rights expired yesterday. Zam Plante and Luke Devlin don’t apply since they are still enrolled in college that means Pittsburgh retains their rights a while longer

Nothin’ happening here, though prospect Cruz Lucius will qualify for unrestricted free agency on August 15th and likely choose to sign with a different NHL team soon after.

Step 7: Front office silly season

Todd Nelson’s name is starting to get floated around as a potential head coaching candidate.

The Pens made it through the bulk of the offseason without many moves within the front office. The notable exception is when Vokie Mpofu got hired to be an assistant GM for Nashville. Mpofu was an important behind the scenes executive over the past couple of years, his spot and role was replaced by another familiar face to Kyle Dubas when Brandon Pridham was hired by Pittsburgh under the title of hockey operations consultant.

Step 8: Draft prep

The bulk of the month will likely be spent finalizing a plan for the NHL draft, to be held June 26-27 in Buffalo.

The Penguins currently have seven picks, including three in the top 54 selections of the draft. Pittsburgh only has one pick over Rounds 4-7 (Nashville’s sixth rounder).

As tends to be the case under Dubas, the draft featured some activity and movement via trades. Pittsburgh traded a few picks around and ended up moving up in the fourth round to draft Parker von Richter and then moved to grab a fifth round pick to get goalie Matvei Nikonovich.

They remained the same at the top of the draft, taking the Ruck twins with their first two picks.

Step 9: Pro Scouting

Another behind the scenes action point, the Penguins will definitely be trying to find the next versions of Parker Wotherspoon, Anthony Mantha, Arturs Silovs and Justin Brazeau, if they can. All of those players contributed mightily to team success in 2025-26 and any NHL team can always strive for improvement around the margins if they find the right fits available.

Dubas gave signals the Penguins would seek value free agents and not look to make lengthy contractual commitments, and that’s exactly what happened. Andrey Kuzmenko was brought on as essentially an Anthony Mantha replacement on a one-year contract. Defenders Declan Carlile and Trevor van Riemsdyk were each given two-year contracts to add to the blueline that lost Ryan Shea and Connor Clifton as free agents.

Looking ahead, there’s not too much between now and training camp that the Penguins really have to do by this point. Most of their heavy lifting to shape the roster for next season has been completed, though further touches can still be made and we’ll throw them out here.

Step 10: Logjam of forwards

In numbers, the Pens have added more this off-season than they’ve lost up front (Kuzmenko, Robertson, Lapierre in, only Mantha and Noel Acciari out as free agents from the NHL roster). That position was already stacked with recent-ish trades to add Chinakhov and Elmer Soderblom last season and ended up retaining veterans Evgeni Malkin, Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar with contract extensions. As of now, it’s possible to build a realistic top-12 without Lapierre or Justin Brazeau in the lineup and it would take injuries for any of Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes to see NHL time.

Pittsburgh has Brazeau and Tommy Novak as players in the final season of their contracts with July 2027 free agency dates looming. Veterans Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are under contract through 2028 but never in shortage for trade whispers.

Now that the team knows their efforts to hunt for a big game possibility like star forward Jason Robertson won’t be happening, do they look the restack the deck a little bit? Dropping a forward via trade for a defenseman would make a lot of sense given splits. This doesn’t need to be addressed in summer but at some point the course is going to have to reverse for some forwards heading out to balance out all the incoming entries over the last six months.

Step 11: Comfortable with the blueline?

The current defense is very unusual for an NHL team, it contains two legitimate left shot defenders (Sam Girard and Declan Carlile) and then a host of unknown or undesirable options like Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, Ilya Solovyov and Owen Pickering.

NHL teams typically have a shortage of right shot defenders, but that’s not the case now in Pittsburgh. Between Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang and the recently acquired Kaeden Korczak and Trevor van Riemsdyk, the Pens have a surplus of RHD even before getting to top prospect Harrison Brunicke.

The Pens haven’t been in a major hurry to even out the numbers, and even created the imbalance by trading their most capable LD (Parker Wotherspoon) for a right shot in Korczak. What their exact plan is for defense construction remains murky and could possibly be unconventional to use a right shot on the left side. This could be more curiosity than needing a transaction to settle the situation depending on the internal plans, but it’s worth pointing out.

Step 12: Veteran extensions

The Penguins have three star players in the final season of their contracts in 2026-27. First, there’s 40-year old Evgeni Malkin who essentially is on a year-by-year basis right now. If he wants to extend his career with the Pens, he will have to perform. Given his age, 2026-27 could be Malkin’s final NHL season but it doesn’t look likely that player or team knows if that is true or will be advertising an official farewell in the near future.

The second big star on an expiring deal is Karlsson. Karlsson has a full no movement clause and has been very choosy and deliberate about his past transactions. Depending on how the season goes and what his mindset is, Karlsson could become a deadline trade target but he just as easily could be content to ride the full season out in Pittsburgh before determining his next steps later.

Finally, there’s Sidney Crosby. Crosby has always extended his contracts fairly early in the process prior to the last season starting, but seems to be more contemplative about it these days (his last extension in 2024 wasn’t officially signed until just before the start of training camp). Crosby’s next contract would commit him to playing as a 40-year old in 2027-28, and understandably enough he wants to see how his body feels before making such a decision. Still, his contract will be an unavoidable frequent question with folks wondering if 2026-27 is his final season or not and he’s never liked that type of attention. Perhaps he and the team get together around camp, perhaps he has no answer about his future at this point. Either way, it’s something to watch around the time that September rolls around.

NBA The Run review: A special game facing an existential threat

The largest and fairest criticism levied against sports video games is a lack of imagination and innovation. It’s perceived by a majority of gamers that each year developers make some small tweaks, update rosters, and trot out the same game — knowing full well that FOMO will carry them over the finish line, as players become desperate to have the newest title. Subverting those expectations is a large part of what makes NBA The Run special. Sure, it has its roots based in the NBA Street franchise, which was a modernization of NBA Jam’s DNA, but developer Play by Play Studios has created an exciting, unique foundation unlike anything else in sports gaming, which could blossom into something truly special, provided they can garner the support.

It’s been over a month since NBA The Run was released, and the choice to hold off before reviewing the game was part circumstance and part intentionality to see how it would settle in for the long run. This game is inherently an online-only experience, with the only available offline mode (for now) being practice. That is the design of this game. It’s supposed to be competitive, 3v3 street basketball, which might look purely arcade-focused from afar, but it has serious chops when it comes to being an online game, complete with a burgeoning metagame that makes the experience unlike anything else in sports video games right now.

The fundamental format of the game is baked into its title. Players embark on “runs,” a series of tournaments that end after four wins by taking home the championship against other teams of real players. Lose early and you’ll be bounced back to the menu to start another run, with the reward for winning it all being more XP to level up your account and more in-game currency used to unlock players, jerseys, dunks, taunts, and more. The major wrinkle to this format is that every game in a tournament is subject to a roulette spin that determines the ruleset for the game. You might roll up a standard “first-to-15” game, but there’s also a chance to hit something like “Dunk City,” where all dunks are worth three points, with every other bucket being worth one — and the same exists for three-pointers and alley-oops. These rule differentiations are critical because it ensures there’s no singular strategy that results in an easy win. Field a team of Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, and Kevin Durant and yeah, you’re going to have the edge in those three point game modes, but hit one that rewards points for dunks, or deducts the opponent’s points for blocked shots and you’ll be in trouble.

Every major NBA star you could ask for is in the game. There are currently 40 NBA players in the game, with almost every team having at least one star player. In addition, there are throwback versions of LeBron James (Cavs rookie), Kevin Durant (Sonic rookie), Steph Curry (rookie), Luka Doncic (Mavs rookie), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Clippers rookie) with unique stats that better reflect where they began their NBA journey, compared to right now. Each of these players is defined not only by their stats, but unique animations that wildly change the makeup of a game. Sure, everyone has the same animation for a running three — but only Dame has a fadeaway from beyond the arc that’s very difficult to block.

These nuances are what make the game special. Composing a team is random unless you run with friends, but a solid team composition is everything to having success. Initially, I tried almost every player in the game to find someone who represented my style, finally settling on Amen Thompson as my go-to player. Thompson operates like a supporting piece, using his lockdown defense and solid passing to be a glue guy on a team with established scorers. I’m not looking to stuff the box score with scoring, but my success is measured through how I can effect the game with steals, blocks, and assists.

Spend more time with the game and the player nuance really lifts the experience to another level. It hurts when you’re up against a good Victor Wembanyama player who knows their block timing, and a good SGA player can be a nightmare on both ends of the floor — breaking ankles with his handling before driving to the bucket, then swiping the inbound pass for another easy bucket.

For all this praise there are unquestionably some pain points to the experience along the way. The decision not to have goaltending is fine, because it keeps games moving quickly — but this has been an area players have learned to exploit with Wemby, parking themselves under the hoops to snatch any three-point attempts that come their way. Last week the game released its first major roster update, adding AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer to the game — with all three being extremely problematic. Developers were so generous with their stats that they are immediately three of the best players in the game, with Dybantsa especially being so overpowered that he towers over every forward in the game.

Developers have been quick to listen to the community and patch the game where needed, and right now these three rookies all need to be toned way, way back. It’s understandable to want to make them good enough to entice people to play as them, but there’s no excuse to make Dybantsa better than Durant and LeBron out of the gate, make Peterson functionally better than Steph Curry in every way, or Boozer to be the best offensive big man next to Nikola Jokic.

Regardless, it’s fun to see these discussions unfolding on Reddit and inside the community. This is the first time I can recall a sports game being discussed in the same vein as League of Legends or Rainbow Six Siege — deep, hardcore esports titles. Not that the input requirements are as taxing, or it’s quite to that level, but this is a competitive game with a chance to really mave waves long term, which is also the achilles heel here.

It’s impossible to discuss the future of NBA The Run without addressing the 10,000-pound elephant in the room: NBA 2K27 is coming. It’s the yearly sports title that no matter how much it can frustrate people, still absolutely dominates the space when it comes to breadth of modes. Ideally there would be a competitive niche that NBA The Run can dominate alongside 2K — but the roadmap for updates feels a little too slow and ponderous when a juggernaut is baring down on the already small community The Run has built. Players are clamoring for NBA legends, opportunities to add the greats from the past into this new format — but it might be another month or two before any meaningful changes are made. Compound this with growing frustration at a slower-than-average progression system and the imbalance of the rookies (which can only be unlocked at rank 25) and it makes for a questionable impression picking the game up late.

If you look at NBA The Run as a game right now then it’s just okay. It’s a fun experience that feels good with its fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay. When looking at the game as a foundation for something in the future, that’s where this gets really special. Developers have built a game which really is unlike anything else we’ve seen in sports games for some time — opening the opportunity to blend real-world athletes with online metagames to make a fascinating tournament game that has real esports potential.

The question is whether this game has the gas to bring in enough players to establish itself by the time that reality is fully realized. I truly hope it does, because the game is a blast — but that is the unknown part of this equation.

Former Wild Prospect Signs Contract With Division Rival

A familiar name is heading back to the Central Division.

Former Minnesota Wild draft pick Michael Milne has signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets organization, giving the 23-year-old winger a fresh opportunity after spending last season with three different organizations and four different teams.

Milne was originally selected by the Wild in the third round (89th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft after a standout WHL career with the Winnipeg Ice.

He spent parts of four seasons in Minnesota's organization, developing with the Iowa Wild while making his NHL debut during the 2024-25 season against the Dallas Stars.

'Saturday Night, State of Hockey, Couldn’t Ask For Much More': Mikey Milne Set To Make His NHL Debut'Saturday Night, State of Hockey, Couldn’t Ask For Much More': Mikey Milne Set To Make His NHL DebutWild prospect Mikey Milne is set to make his NHL debut tonight against the Dallas Stars.

In 172 career games with Iowa, Milne recorded 32 goals, 33 assists and 65 points, including a career-best 15 goals and 26 points during the 2024-25 campaign. 

Minnesota re-signed Milne to a one-year, two-way contract last summer, but his time with the organization came to an end in December when the Wild traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Boris Katchouk.

After appearing in 19 games with the Syracuse Crunch, Milne was dealt again before the trade deadline to the Detroit Red Wings organization, where he finished the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.

Now, Milne is returning to the city where he starred in junior hockey. He has signed with the Jets organization for the 2026-27 season, joining one of Minnesota's biggest Central Division rivals. 

While Milne is expected to begin the year in the American Hockey League, the move gives him another chance to work his way toward the NHL. If he earns a call-up, the former Wild prospect could find himself facing the team that drafted and developed him just four years earlier.

For Minnesota fans, Milne remains a prospect who never quite found a long-term opportunity with the organization. Now, his next opportunity will come with a division rival, adding another former Wild draft pick to the Central Division landscape.

Bold Steph Curry contract extension idea for Warriors floated by Brian Windhorst

Bold Steph Curry contract extension idea for Warriors floated by Brian Windhorst originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Could Steph Curry conceivably play the 2026-27 NBA season without a contract for the 2027-28 campaign?

In the mind of ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst, that’s the only way for the Warriors to retool the roster.

The 38-year-old Curry has one season left on his current Warriors contract, and on Aug. 29, he becomes eligible to sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension with Golden State.

On Monday’s episode of ESPN’s “Get Up,” Windhorst made the case for the Warriors telling Curry NOT to sign an extension before the start of the upcoming season.

“He is 38 years old,” Windhorst told host Mike Greenberg and fellow panelists Monica McNutt and Jay Williams. “He has said that he wants to play several more seasons. The Warriors are not giving up. They are missing and swinging a lot, but they are still swinging. The idea that the Warriors are a championship contender this year is ridiculous. They are not. But the idea that the Warriors are finished and cooked and never competing again, I give you the 76ers. They are going to keep trying.

“And one of the ways they can keep trying, quite frankly, is if Steph Curry doesn’t sign a contract extension this summer. Everyone’s watching to see if he will sign a contract extension.

“I submit [that] the Warriors should say, ‘Don’t sign a contract extension, let yourself become a free agent next summer. We’ll do a one-year deal with Draymond Green. Let’s clear $90 million in cap space and see what we can do in the market next year.’ You can’t win every year. Steph is going to try every year. The Warriors are going to keep trying. I don’t want to hear boo-hoo about an organization that went to six Finals in 10 years and won four championships, and is still working with a 38-year-old star.”

Windhorst’s thinking is that tying up $65-70 million per year with Curry’s expected extension limits what the Warriors can add around him.

But if Green re-signs for just the 2026-27 season, and Curry doesn’t sign his extension, they would become free agents next season, along with All-Star wing Jimmy Butler, giving the Warriors flexibility to add one or two big-time stars through free agency or via trades.

Then they could bring Curry back on a smaller contract.

The Warriors have swung and missed on numerous high-profile free-agent and trade pursuits over the last two years, including LeBron James last week, and as of July 27, they likely will return exactly the same roster they finished last season with.

So a roster overhaul in the next few years is almost assuredly going to happen, though it might have to wait until after Curry has retired.

Windhorst has been known to see the bigger picture, but it’s hard to envision Curry turning down $136.7 million when it’s unclear what that might lead to next summer.

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Carolina Offseason Tidbits: Volume 5

Danish ice hockey player Nikolaj Ehlers lifts the Stanley Cup trophy at the Sparekassen Danmark Arena in front of supporters in Aalborg, Denmark on July 23, 2026. Ehlers and Frederik Andersen won the NHL championship with the Carolina Hurricanes this season. The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 to capture the NHL's Stanley Cup on June 15, 2026, ending a 20-year wait for their second crown. (Photo by Henning Bagger / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images) / Denmark OUT

It has been a quiet offseason for hockey news lately, except of course for the Carolina Hurricanes players living their best lives celebrating with their day with the Stanley Cup.

Frederik Andersen brought the Cup to Legoland, Nikolaj Ehlers celebrated with his home town, and Sebastian Aho brought it to a concert. Good times my friend, good times.

The Finnish contingent, including “Papa Finn”.

Obviously, “Turbo” is not superstitious.

I’m sure you all can look up more pics yourselves. One good place to start is with the “Keeper of the Cup” on Twitter (X). (It will always be Twitter to me).

In other news, Ronan Seeley avoided arbitration and signed with the Canes for one year on a two-way deal. It will guarantee him a minimum of $160K for the year. He was the only Hurricane applying for arbitration.

It has been quiet on the Alexander Nikishin front. Adam Gold and Cory Lavalette discuss that a bit here along with the release of Cory’s book. I still remember the good old days when Cory and I used to watch the Draft from my living room and would take turns writing articles about the picks on Canes Country.

At least one of us hit the big time!

Somehow I missed the beginning of the chatter regarding that Brind’Amour might retire when Jordan Staal does? I find it hard to believe. Perhaps it is a bit of posturing for the coach to get more money out of Mr. Dundon’s hands.

I hope everyone is having a great summer!

Signing LeBron means pressure for Nick Nurse

Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse reacts to a play during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

While Sixers head coach Nick Nurse was celebrating his 59th birthday on Friday, the rest of the NBA universe went into a frenzy following the news that LeBron James will be signing with Philadelphia.

With The King comes a new batch of lofty expectations.

“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James said in a post on X.

As we are all aware, the Sixers have not made even the conference finals since 2001. Outside of the pressure to stay healthy throughout the playoffs, most of the pressure will land on Nurse throughout the season to ensure a championship run.

Nurse and the Sixers have avoided true contender expectations over the past two seasons, whether by design or necessity.

Entering the 2024-25 season, the Sixers had objectively the best offseason with the Paul George signing, yielding sky-high expectations. But they got hit by the injury plague the moment the season began, ushering in their worst record (24-58) since 2015-16.

Last season saw the Sixers enter with very reasonable expectations, likely a play-in team but possibly a 4-6 seed in the conference, early exit. They finished the season being swept by the Knicks in the second round, but completed a thrilling 3-1 comeback against the Boston Celtics in the first round.

Thus, the upcoming campaign will be only the second season Nurse has had to realistically deal with championship expectations. The first was his first season with the team in 2023-24, where they lost to the Knicks in the first round after making the playoffs as a play-in team. But even that season featured a James Harden holdout and another Joel Embiid meniscus tear.

This season, the Sixers field one of, if not the best roster in the NBA on paper, and are receiving the national pressure to perform. As long as the players are healthy, lots of the pressure will be directed at Nurse.

The problem to solve will be how to effectively utilize the Sixers’ four playmakers on offense. We saw at the end of the season various moments where Tyrese Maxey was struggling to be as impactful with Embiid being the centerpiece of the offense. It threw Maxey off the rhythm he established through the first 3/4 of the season which earned him All-Star starter honors.

Bringing in Jaylen Brown, who put up career-best figures in scoring (28.7 ppg), assists (5.1) and usage rate (32.5%) will not only force Nurse to stabilize Embiid and Maxey in his game plan, but add another layer in the shape of an All-NBA player.

James will absolutely help ease the pressure off Nurse at times thanks to his infinite basketball IQ and playmaking. There may also be times where James’ gravitas increases the pressure on coach. We have seen multiple iterations of “LeCoach” from a far throughout his career, so it will be of great curiosity to see whether Nurse meets the Philly version over the next two seasons.

Even with the monstrous acquisitions of Brown and James, Mike Gansey has delivered Nurse a pool of role players he will have to weave into the mix. Led by second-year guard VJ Edgecombe as the fifth starter, Nurse leaning into a transition-heavy gameplan could reap benefits during the regular season from the bench mob as well.

Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr., Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti and even new addition Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all have something to bring, especially in a fast-paced environment. And as long as James’ legs remain under him, we know what he can do with a full head of steam.

The pressure for Nurse will be how he marries that clear shift of priority from a team-building standpoint with the slow-paced nature of Embiid and James’ halfcourt game.

Can Nurse effectively convince Embiid to trade post ups for more threes to help space the floor? Can the coaching staff shift Embiid’s focus from majority offense to majority defense and avenge the dismal season we saw from him as a rim protector and rebounder last go-around? Will Nurse, and the organization at large, keep Jaylen Brown fulfilled in the wake of the ugly Celtics split and looming contract extension? Will Nurse establish that working relationship with James to avoid any “LeCoach” drama? Who will rebound the basketball?

Safe to say it will be exhilarating pondering these questions throughout August and as we approach training camp. What about Nurse or the strategy this season are you excited to have answered? Leave it in the comments below.

Entering his fifth year as the Sixers coach, it would be hard to argue more pressure has been on the Iowa native than there will be this upcoming season. The good news is, he will not be wearing as heavy of a load as the sole Finals-experienced main character for the Sixers. Five seasons of championship winning experience has just landed in Philadelphia.