A far-too-early look at Brooklyn’s upcoming free-agent decisions

BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 5: Josh Minott #00 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on April 5, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 09: Day'ron Sharpe #20 reacts with Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Brooklyn Nets during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Barclays Center on March 09, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 126-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As Brooklyn Nets fans wait to see just how much general manager Sean Marks plans to shake the soda can this offseason, it’s worth taking a closer look at the team’s own free-agent outlook before Brooklyn starts hunting in the market and bolstering the roster through the draft.

The Nets’ internal free-agent decisions will come into sharper focus at the end of June, when teams must make qualifying offers to players eligible for restricted free agency and decide on player, team and early termination options. Once the NBA Finals wraps up, teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents.

June 30 marks the final official day of the 2025-26 NBA league year, as well as the last day for players eligible for veteran extensions during the season to sign them. That evening, teams can also begin negotiating with free agents from other clubs.

On July 1, the 2026-27 league year officially begins and the NBA’s moratorium period opens, allowing restricted free agents to sign offer sheets while teams can begin signing players to minimum contracts, two-way deals, rookie-scale contracts for first-round picks and second-round pick exception deals. Teams can also begin exercising third- or fourth-year rookie-scale team options for the 2027-28 season

The first wave of summer basketball follows with the Salt Lake City Summer League from July 4-7, before the moratorium ends on July 6, when teams can officially sign players, complete trades and begin the 24-hour clock to match restricted free-agent offer sheets signed during the moratorium. The Las Vegas Summer League runs from July 9-19, while July 13 serves as the final day for teams to unilaterally withdraw qualifying offers to restricted free agents.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s take a closer look at some of the key decisions Marks and his front office staff will be tasked with this offseason.

Club Options

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 09: Day'ron Sharpe #20 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Barclays Center on March 09, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 126-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Day’Ron Sharpe

His physical maturity stands out so much on a young, developing Nets team that Sharpe may look like everybody’s uncle, but he’s really just 24 years old.

With just a $6.3 million club option, retaining Sharpe should be a no-brainer. Fresh off the best season of his career, the University of North Carolina product averaged 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game, all career highs, while appearing in 62 games and starting seven.

“One thing we know is Day’Ron is going to play extremely hard,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said, after Sharpe finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and two blocks during his first start of the season. “I really liked how hard he played, how engaged he was, and how he took advantage of the opportunity.”

Ziaire Williams

When Williams put up 25 points in just the second game of the regular season, it felt like we might have been witnessing the first signs of a career-altering leap. That leap hasn’t fully taken place yet, but the 24-year-old forward remained a steady contributor off the bench, particularly during the final stretch of the season.

Despite making 32 fewer starts and playing slightly fewer minutes overall, the Alabama product still managed to narrowly edge out his scoring output from the previous season, averaging 10.2 points do go along with 2.4 rebounds and a career-high 1.4 steals per game.

After a slow start early in the season, Fernandez showed Williams some tough love by challenging his energy levels while also acknoweldging his unique defensive potential.

“Be ready for the next opportunity” Fernandez said. “And when it comes, then just take it and sustain it and be the best defensive player on the team and one of the best in the NBA, which I believe he’s more than capable of doing.”

Josh Minott

The final player among the bunch to have a club option, Minott turned heads later in the season after originally spending some time on Long Island after being acquired in a trade from the Boston Celtics on on Feb.5.

Late in the dog days of the season, the former Celtic brought life to a Nets roster searching for a spark, showing that his high-character presence could make him a personality for the young players to lean on and seek inspiration from when the waters get rocky.

The best game of his career came on March 12, when he scored 24 points while knocking down 4-out-of-7 three point attemtps during a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

“So, (I’m) excited for him. … The thing that stood out is we’re asking him to pressure the ball, to pick up full court, and he did an amazing job,” Fernandez said after the game. “He’s trying to do everything we ask him to. You see the size. He’s going to let it fly. Those things are positive. So I’m excited to watch him play.”

Malachi Smith

Smith signed a 10-day contract with Brooklyn on March 13 before ultimately signing a two year, $2,216,755 contract, just a few months after being traded to the Long Island Nets on Sep.9.

While appearing in 15 games with Brooklyn throughout the 2025-2025 campaign, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

Neither Shams nor the Nets provided details on the contract, but in the past, Brooklyn has signed a number of players to multi-year, non-guaranteed deals late in the season, among them Kessler Edwards, David Duke Jr. and current Net Jalen Wilson. In those cases, the players contracts only became guaranteed for the second year if they made the final roster the following October.

Restricted Free Agents

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 05: Jalen Wilson #22 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots the ball against Julian Reese #15 of the Washington Wizards during the second quarter at Barclays Center on April 05, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jalen Wilson

Wilson will likely be playing the waiting game again, just like last year, after taking a step back and seeing noticeable decreases in starts, minutes and every major statistical category.

After leading the team in total minutes during the 2024-2025 season, the Kansas product averaged just 15.9 minutes per game while averaging 7.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Whether Marks and his staff plan to retain Wilson will heavily depend on which depth pieces they think they can take a swing at in free agency.

On one hand, Brooklyn’s coaching staff and much of the roster are already familiar with Wilson, who has no reported character concerns. However, moving on from him could also be part of letting go of a previous era of Nets basketball and welcoming in the new wave.

Ochai Agbaji

The 26-year-old shooting guard also arrived in Brooklyn on Feb.5, after spending the past two seasons with the Toronto Raptors.

With increased minutes, Agbaji showcased his ability to score relatively efficiently. After seeing more playing time throughout March, the former Raptor notched his two best scoring outings of the year with a pair of 18-point performances against the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies.

Overall, he averaged 6.7 points and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 45.5% from the field and 34.9% from beyond the arc through 20 games in Brooklyn. His best NBA season came during the 2024-25 campaign, when he averaged a career-high 10.4 points and 3.8 assists per game while appearing in 64 games and making 45 starts.

Two-Way Free Agents

INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 25: E.J. Liddell #9 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a three point basket during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 25, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

E.J. Liddell

A talented scorer at the college level who has shown offensive flashes as a pro, Liddell is the most intriguing two-way player of the bunch. After receiving limited playing time through the first two seasons of his NBA career, Liddell finally took advantage of a larger opportunity when called up to Brooklyn.

During the 2025-26 campaign, he averaged a career-high 5.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 21-point performance on 7-for-9 shooting against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Now in his final year of two-way eligibility, Liddell gives Brooklyn a solid practice body for its developing defenders and remains an intriguing developmental piece himself, especially if he can round out his game and build on his scoring ability.

Chaney Johnson

Another player with remaining two-way eligibility, Johnson’s gradual progress as a raw prospect over the past five years gives Brooklyn reason to keep him in its deck of cards.

After being named Gulf South Conference Player of the Year following a dominant run at the University of Alabama Huntsville, Johnson made the jump to the SEC, where the 6-foot-7, 220-pound wing served as Auburn’s defensive anchor during its run to the Final Four.

Don’t expect Johnson to slide into a starting role, but his athletic potential and high motor could keep him off Long Island sooner than expected.

Tyson Etienne

Known as a fan favorite for his time dominating down in Long Island, Etienne still has two remaining seasons of G League eligibility, and it would be a surprise if Brooklyn doesn’t use that to its advantage.

Last season, the 26-year-old guard 16.2 points and 3.8 assists for the Long Island Nets, also averaging 7.9 points and shooting 40% from the field while appearing in 24 games and starting 2 games with Brooklyn.

Canadiens Must Play With Urgency To Avoid Disaster

The Montreal Canadiens have lost the last two games, a first in these playoffs. If they were to lose a third consecutive game against the Carolina Hurricanes, they would find themselves in too deep a hole to climb out of. On Tuesday, Martin St-Louis understandably decided to keep his men off the ice. At this stage, they’ve seen more than enough action. It was time to look back on the last two games, reflect, and react.

Flushing away the defeat when there’s nothing you can learn from them makes sense, but after the last two games, there was plenty to learn from. There’s no doubt the coach and his assistants have been busy in the video room, dissecting the Hurricanes' play and passing that knowledge on to the players. Still, ultimately, it’s up to the players to execute and follow the instructions.

Canadiens’ Suzuki Must Lead The Way
Former Canadiens Blueliner On The Lesson A Legend Taught Him
Hutson Took The Blame For The Canadiens’ Overtime Loss

Historically, the team that leads 2-1 in a best-of-seven series has won it 69% of the time (402-180), so the odds aren’t favorable to Montreal right now, but those are just odds. Carolina has an 11-10 (.524) record in Game 4 while playing on the road, while the Canadiens have a 19-29 (.396) record in Game 4 playing at home. Down 2-1 in a series, Montreal hasn’t fared well historically; they are 8-21 (.276) overall and 6-11 (.353) when they started the series on the road.

If the Canadiens are to come out on top in Game 4, they’ll have to find a way to overcome the Hurricanes' forecheck and be able to execute good zone exits. In Game 3, they struggled to even get to the red line, which cannot happen tonight. The Habs have got to make their reads faster and make the right decisions in a split second. Entering the zone in possession has been a challenge, so it’s time to put the puck in deep, in the right area and come in at speed to retrieve it. In Game 3, Josh Anderson surprised Frederik Andersen while playing the puck behind the net and dispossessed him. That’s what Montreal needs to do more often, not just on the goalie but on their defensemen as well.

On Wednesday, goaltender Jakub Dobes is turning 25; the best gift his teammates could give him is some offensive support. The Czech netminder has been great in this series and has multiplied the important saves, but it’s not up to him to score the goals. He did get an assist on the game-tying goal on Monday, but that’s as far as it can go for him.

Whichever way you look at it, the Sainte-Flanelle’s forwards have got to step up. None of them found the back of the net on Monday, and that’s rarely a recipe for success. It’s not like they’ve never been able to produce against the Canes. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov all had five points in three games in the regular season against Carolina, and they all got on the scoresheet in Game 1.

It might be time for St-Louis to mix up his lines to spread his attack around. Putting Slafkovsky on the second line with Alex Newhook and Demidov could be an interesting combination. Putting another big body on the first line to fill the power forward’s spot would make sense. Zach Bolduc could be an interesting candidate. He brings speed, and he’s not afraid to throw his body around; he could be good in puck retrieval to feed Suzuki and Caufield.

At this stage, much is about having confidence and the right attitude. Montreal must come out strong and show Carolina that they won’t let them rule the game on Wednesday night. They must push back right away and show that they are still alive and kicking.

It will be interesting to see who the Canadiens use as a torchbearer tonight. So far, Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard, Chris Nilan, Kirk Muller, Guy Carbonneau, Larry Robinson and Claude Lemieux have fired up the crowd ahead of the game.

Just like Monday, the duel is set for 8:00 PM, and you can catch it on CBC, TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV, and HBO MAX. Chris Rooney and Graham Skilliter will be officiating, while Ryan Daisy and Devin Berg will be the linemen. Now that the Vegas Golden Knights have swept the Colorado Avalanche, John Tortorella’s team will no doubt be paying attention to proceedings as they prepare for the Stanley Cup Final.

Just like the Habs, the referees will have to be better tonight. They weren’t responsible for the Canadiens’ loss in Game 3, but their performance left a lot to be desired with missed calls on both sides. A blatant trip on Lane Hutson went uncalled in overtime, and minutes later, Montreal should have been called for too-many-men, but they let that go as well. Two wrongs do not make a right, and it would be refreshing if the referees' work could go unnoticed tonight, as it should.


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Phillies on the Pharm: 5/27/2026

Aroon Escobar of the Reading Fightin Phils is present before a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on April 16, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

Another fun packed night down on the farm for the prospects. Here are recaps of each game.

Buffalo 5, Lehigh Valley 4

This one was a thriller. Lehigh Valley was down for most of the game, yet got home runs in the eighth and ninth innings from Dylan Moore and Carter Kieboom to knot the game at three a piece. However, in the tenth inning, Nolan Hoffman was unable to record an out, allowing two runs to score and giving Buffalo the game. Felix Reyes continued his assault on minor league pitching, going two for four with an RBI.

Reading 10, Harrisburg 1

A solid pitching effort from Braydon Tucker was the highlight of this victory, as was a huge day from the offense. The former went seven innings, giving up only a single run on five hits, his (and Reading’s) best starting pitching performance on the season. The offense had several players have multi hit days, including Austin Murr, Alex Binelas, Kehden Hettiger and Raylin Heredia. Aroon Escobar chipped in a home run, topping off the offensive onslaught.

Frederick 10, Jersey Shore 2

Not the greatest of evenings for the BlueClaws as the pitching struggled and the offense was shut down. Ryan Drombowski started off hot, retiring the first nine batters he saw, but had the wheels fall off in the fourth and fifth innings thanks to some timely hitting and an untimely balk on his own part. For the offense, Luis Caicuto was the lone spark of offense, homering in the fifth inning, collecting two hits on the day.

Clearwater 10, Dunedin 8

The lone victory in the minor league organization, Clearwater rode a 14 hit barrage to ten runs and the win. There were multiple stars on offense on the evening, five players having multi hit games, led by a three hit game from Juan Villavicencio and a two double night from Allirio Ferrebus. For me, the highlight is Victor Cardoza. You get a guy that hits a baseball in the minors at 104 and I’m going to pay attention.

2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 55

We’d have to travel in the way back machine to 2017 to find a team that had two 10+ game winning streaks and one 10+ game losing streak. That team was the Dodgers. It won 104 games and reached Game 7 of the World Series. So nothing in the numerology department says that the ship has struck an iceberg and we should all be heading for the life boats. If per se, you were looking for where you stowed your life jacket, I wouldn’t fault you though.

I’m not sure I’ve given up, but I will say after the first inning Tuesday night, I realized I hadn’t yet watched the Survivor Season 50 finale. In fact, I still haven’t finished it, so for the three of you who have watched it, not spoiling it would be appreciated. If I can insert some gallows humor, I noted that the first inning did not, in fact, sink the Cubs. It was 5-0 after that first inning. They lost the other eight innings 7-1. So as bad as the first was, it got worse.

Life jackets. Yeah, depending on what your job is, if you work in the Cubs organization you might want to be looking for your life jacket. You know, or updating your resume. This kind of belly flop, with where the organization is right now today, it isn’t going to wholesale flip the front office. Most of those people have job security. But if this goes off the rails this badly, there are going to have to be some who pay the price. There’s a lot of season to go, but this looks like a fire the hitting coach(es) type of year. Perhaps take a look at your strength and conditioning or your training staff.

The injuries have ravaged the pitching staff and the offense continues to be inept. The offense is the really vexing part. They were really good. Until a few weeks ago. Then it just all collapsed. Increasingly since 2017, the Cubs have too many hitters with similar approaches. They go into long slumps and they tend to happen in concert with one another. This has been a reoccurring problem for years. I believe that the team has put so much emphasis on defense and good baserunning that they end up lacking enough really good hitters.

I don’t pretend to entirely understand all of the stats I see on Fangraphs. But I certainly understand relativity. The Cubs lead all teams on Fangraphs in terms of defensive WAR. It is indicated at 12.0 with the Dodgers second at 11.4. Third place (Red Sox) is 11.2 but then fourth drops all of the way down to 4.7. There are three teams WAY beyond all of the others defensively. Never get me wrong, that is a good thing. I love the defense that this Cub team plays.

BsR is the measure of baserunning on Fangraphs. The Cubs are at 0.1 which isn’t great. It’s 17th of 30 teams. Decent, but nothing amazing. If Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw got on base more, I suspect the Cubs would bump up some notches. The Cubs do rank 5th in the Fangraphs Offensive metric. That’s impressive. But the difference between 1st and 5th is 45.1 to 20.5. I may not understand everything that goes into the metric, but I do get relativity. The Dodgers by this measure are more than twice as good as the Cubs. That’s insane.

What does that difference look like in a slash line? As a team, the Dodgers have a .021/.010/.040 edge over the Cubs. Almost half a run per game. That’ll add up over time. So while offense remains the secondary strength of this team, this team lags a good bit behind the Dodgers, the standard bearer for offense in the modern game. Without an endless line of guys throwing in the upper 90’s and above, offense is the next best way to win ball games. Having both is the gold standard.

Cub pitchers are 21st in strikeouts per nine innings. They are a bit shy of two strikeouts per game behind the Brewers. They are 5th in walks per nine innings. They are 29th in homers per nine innings. Too many balls in play. Too many balls out of the park. 30th in homers per fly ball. 24th in FIP and these numbers are before the debacle that was game 55.

Not good enough.

Three Positives:

  • Alex Bregman had two hits, one a double, and the only run scored.
  • Carson Kelly had a pair of singles
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong had a single and was hit by a pitch.

For what it’s worth, if you tuned out on the game like I did, Fangraphs had the FIP at 1.07 and the xFIP at 2.46 for Hoby Milner’s outing. For that matters, they had xFIP at 3.43 for Jordan Wicks. I know I saw one of those scorecard features that show up on social media that the stuff was decent for Wicks but the execution terrible. I always hope after a first inning like this one that the pitcher is tipping his pitches. As rough as that is, that’s at least something you can fix. Five runs because they picked something up on you is rough. Five runs because you just weren’t up the challenge is a problem.

Game 55, May 26: Pirates 12, Cubs 1 (29-26)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

  • Superhero: Alex Bregman (.074). 2-4, 2B, R
  • Hero: Michael Busch (.023). 1-4, BB
  • Sidekick: Kevin Alcántara (.000). 0-1
  • Note: Hoby Milner also posted .000, but in this instance, I utilized official scorer’s discretion and credited the performance that was “better” or “more valuable” to the team. Or in this case, less detrimental.

THREE GOATS:

  • Billy Goat: Jordan Wicks (-.331). 4.1 IP, 24 BF, 9 H, BB, 8 ER, 5 K (L 0-1)
  • Goat: Seiya Suzuki (-.088). 0-3, HBP, DP
  • Kid: Nico Hoerner (-.060). 1-5

WPA Play of the Game: Brandon Lowe batted with a runner on first in the first inning with no outs. He singled and the runners ended up at second and third after Pete Crow-Armstrong threw to third to try to get the lead runner. (.099)

Cubs Play of the Game: Ian Happ batted with a runner on second and no outs in the second, the Cubs down 5. He doubled, driving in the lone Cub run. (.059)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 54 Winner: Ben Brown received 112 of 114 votes (at 98.25%, the highest percentage to date this year).

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

  • Michael Busch +20
  • Nico Hoerner +12
  • Michael Conforto +9
  • Alex Bregman +7.5
  • Shōta Imanaga +7
  • Ryan Rolison -8
  • Phil Maton -9
  • Matt Shaw -10
  • Dansby Swanson -12
  • Seiya Suzuki -25.5

Current Win Pace: 85.42 wins

Up Next: Game three of the four-game series on Wednesday night. Jameson Taillon (2-4, 5.20, 55.1 IP) makes his 11th start of the season. He’s lost three straight and allowed 12 runs over his last 9.2 innings of work. 23-year-old Bubba Chandler (1-6, 4.60, 47 IP) is also making his 11th start of the year. He’s lost his last two starts and hasn’t won since April 17. Last time out, he was undone by his defense, allowing three unearned runs over five innings. Taillon’s most recent win is April 29, so he’s had the more recent success of the two. Chandler was the 72nd pick of the 2021 draft by the Pirates, right out of high school.

One of these days, the tide will turn. But it’s getting hard to keep the faith.

Today in White Sox History: May 27

While Andy High and Red Corriden look on, and Hermanski covers bag, rookie Brooklyn Dodgers player Rockey Bridges dives onto bag head first at spring training in Vero Beach, Florida.
On this day 76 years ago, Red Corriden (standing, middle) took over as manager of the White Sox. After finishing out the 1950 season, Corriden spent the rest of the 1950s as a Dodgers scout.

1933
On the same day that the White Sox were awarded the very first All-Star Game, the club suffered their second-worst turnaround loss ever. Up 11-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth at Yankee Stadium, the White Sox surrendered 12 runs and wound up losing the game an inning later, 15-11. Ted Lyons surrendered the first six runs but left the game still ahead, 11-9; relievers Jake Miller (none retired, three hits including a single to Babe Ruth and a double to Lou Gehrig, three earned, loss) and Ed Durham (two-thirds of an inning, three hits, two earned, walk, two Ks, homer, blown save) put the nails in the coffin. For Miller, the three runs were the first earned runs he’d surrendered all season.


1938
With a home run into the center field bleachers, more than 440 feet from home plate, Hank Greenberg became the second player in baseball history to put a ball both in the bleachers and over the roof at Comiskey Park. Greenberg had hit a homer over the roof just a month earlier, on April 21.

With the blast, Greenberg became the second player to put a ball in the bleachers along with having been the fourth to homer over the roof at Comiskey Park. Jimmie Foxx preceded Greenberg in accomplishing both home runs. The only other hitters to accomplish this feat before home plate was moved eight feet closer to the fences in 1982 were White Sox sluggers Dick Allen and Richie Zisk in the 1970s.

Just 3,000 fans witnessed Greenberg’s blast, which helped push Detroit starter Vern Kennedy to 7-0 for the Tigers with a 5-2 win. The White Sox dropped to 12-14, and they would not be even that close to .500 for the rest of the season.


1950
Red Corriden was named the interim manager of the White Sox, after Jack Onslow’s firing on May 26. The White Sox hit the field at Comiskey and won the new skipper’s debut, 6-1, behind a complete-game effort from Billy Pierce and a five-run rally in the bottom of the eighth to snap a 1-1 tie with Cleveland.

Onslow had gotten the White Sox off to a 8-22-1 start, after overseeing the Sox to a 63-91 record in his first year as skipper in 1949; thus it was his horrible record, and not merely the fact that new GM Frank Lane wanted his own man in the manager’s chair. Corriden led the White Sox to a 52-72-1 record — a .419 pace, compared to .267 under Onslow.

Alas, despite the brighter play (the new skipper won five of his first six games) Corriden was a true interim manager, as Lane settled on Paul Richards as White Sox manager for 1951. Corriden became a Dodgers scout for all of the 1950s, before passing away just three weeks after his 49th birthday, in 1959.


1951
In sweeping a doubleheader in Cleveland, 5-2 and 6-4, the White Sox completed an 11-0 road trip, which remains the best in their history. It included triumphs over five different teams: Boston (two games), New York (one), Washington (three) Philadelphia (one), and Cleveland (four).

The road trip began with the White Sox at 12-9-1 and in third place in the American League, three games out. Unfortunately, the first-place Yankees got hot at the same time, so by the end of the road trip the White Sox were 23-9 and in second place, but still one game behind New York.

Returning home, the White Sox would win another three games to close out May, running a winning streak of 14 games and unbeaten to 15. It remains the second-longest winning streak in team history. The club finished May 1951 with a 20-5 record. In fact, their very next win pushed the White Sox into first place, where they remained for the next 34 days. Not bad for a team that had lost 94 games in 1950!


1994
Wilson Alvarez was masterful in extending his winning streak to a club record-tying 15 games. The lefthander fired a six-hit shutout at the Baltimore Orioles in a 3-0 win before 34,351 at Comiskey Park. The win was the last in Alvarez’s streak, which began on Aug. 24, 1993. Darrin Jackson doubled in a run in the first, Tim Raines’ sac fly brought home a run in the seventh and Frank Thomas homered in the eighth. 

Alvarez’s streak would end on June 7 at Comiskey Park, when he was bombed by the Blue Jays in a 9-5 loss, going three innings and giving up six runs.   


1997
Cleveland pulled off the first triple-steal in the majors in 21 years, in an 8-2 win over the White Sox. In the sixth inning with the bases loaded, Ehren Wasserman made a pickoff attempt at first base that caught Jamey Carroll off-guard. During the rundown, David Dellucci scampered home, Grady Sizemore took third base and Carroll beat the rundown to get to second base safely.


2017
The White Sox scored a coup and surprised the baseball world by announcing the signing of 19-year-old Cuban outfield prospect Luis Robert Jr. to a minor-league contract. Robert’s deal included a stunning, $26 million signing bonus. While the St. Louis Cardinals were big bidders for Robert, reportedly offering more than Chicago, Robert appreciated the White Sox having such a rich heritage of Cuban players. With the influence of first baseman/Cuba native José Abreu, Robert signed on the South Side.

Robert had been on the radar of major league teams since he was 15 years old because of his speed, power and compact swing. He was considered one of the top amateur players in the world and represented a significant addition as the White Sox were rebuilding a franchise that had grown stale and had limited success on the field and in the stands. 

Robert had a tremendous 2019 minor-league season and then signed a long-term contract extension with the White Sox before making his big league debut in 2020; that year, he won a Gold Glove and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Injuries have slowed his development in both 2021 and 2022, but his potential remains unlimited.

Brewers-Cardinals tensions heightened by Abner Uribe's 'crotch chop'

The St. Louis Cardinals – and even his own manager – did not care for Abner Uribe's "triple crotch chop" celebration. Uribe took issue with his belief the Cardinals threatened to intentionally throw at his Milwaukee Brewers teammates.

And the latest drama in the National League Central unfolded in a predictably absurd fashion.

Uribe was upbraided by Brewers manager Pat Murphy after directing his histrionics toward the Cardinals dugout after striking out Alec Burleson to end the eighth inning of Milwaukee's 6-0 victory at American Family Field on Tuesday, May 26.

Abner Uribe celebrates the final out of in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals May 26 at American Family Field.

"It’s just unacceptable," Murphy told reporters following the victory. "I don’t know what got over him. I mean, he’s been an emotional guy. That’s just not how we do things. I was embarrassed by it. Why are we doing it in a 6-0 ballgame?

"There must be something deeper that I don’t know about. I love the kid, believe me. I love the kid. There’s so much good in this kid. He’s been great for us in so many ways, but that’s unacceptable. Whatever’s going on, you can’t tolerate that – for his teammates and for everyone else. It’s just not going to be tolerated. That’s all there is to it."

Turns out, at least in Uribe's mind, there was something deeper going on. He claimed the Cardinals were intimating before their game Monday that they were going to intentionally throw at Brewers stars Christian Yelich and William Contreras.

So he issued an apology to his own team, but not the opposition.

"First and foremost, everyone here knows me and know who I am and knows I have a little bit of a history of being emotional out there," Uribe told reporters. "I think, first, I owe an apology to the Brewers, I owe an apology to my teammates, my manager, all the bosses of the team. It’s unacceptable to go out there and react in a way like that.

"But at the same time I don’t think it’s professional for their manager to be making signs to the dugout saying he’s going to be hitting guys. There was an event that occurred during practice today. I don't think that was right."

The apparent tension was heightened when Uribe threw a pitch up and in on Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera in the eighth inning.

"It’s not fun if you throw 2-0 in here up to your head," Herrera told reporters. "I said, 'Keep it down, and he started laughing.' So, I mean, I didn’t do anything crazy."

Neither, the Cardinals claim, did they, telling the Belleville News-Democrat that they did not threaten the Brewers. Milwaukee has won the first two games between the clubs, with the series finale set for 1:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brewers' Abner Uribe explains 'crotch chop' incident with Cardinals

In The Lab: Is the Pitching Lab Working?

One of the axioms I always live by is that I really don’t buy heavily into trends until Memorial Day. Obviously, Memorial Day has now come and gone. I have to admit that this early season has tested that axiom and my own patience as an analyst. I suppose this is my own version of a mea culpa. There are the numbers and they are what they are, but there are also the underlying reasons for the numbers. We should explore those before we get to the numbers themselves.

Reason One: Changes from the ABS system

The pitching lab works the way that any lab works. Science doesn’t happen without data. The Astros have famously taken pitchers that have struggled in other organizations and made them work here because they have relied more heavily on data than most organizations. That data pushed towards certain kinds of pitchers. The Astros have favored higher spin rates and pitchers that live successfully at the top of the zone and above.

Justin Verlander is probably the most famous of those examples but we could rattle off the names fairly easily here. They all had one thing in common. They had impressive four seam velocity and got hitters to chase near the top of the zone. The new ABS system has neutralized the high fastball considerably as the entire zone has moved lower. That could partially explain the heavy walks in the first month plus as pitchers suddenly weren’t getting the high strike calls and hitters weren’t chasing those four seam fastballs.

Obviously, the numbers (as we will see) have not completely stabilized and likely won’t throughout the season. That spills us into our second point, but the idea of data is important here. If the lab is built on data then there needed to be a healthy amount of new data to help the strategy evolve. Obviously, this alone will help performance some. We could certainly break each pitcher down between March/April and May, but suffice it to say, most of the Astros pitchers (that are still in Houston) have performed better than they did in March and April.

Reason Two: The who is more important than the what

One of the things that Joe Espada and Dana Brown will have to answer for are the slow starts. It is a noticeable trend and comes down to two very clear takeaways. First, there are some fundamental issues about how this team prepares in February and March. This year in particular saw very few pitchers building up the kinds of innings that we are traditionally used to. We were told they were throwing on the back fields and we were told not to worry. Clearly, those things were a concern and we were right to be concerned.

However, the Astros as an organization have lived around the margins with their pitching staff for over half a decade now. Each season is its own universe and the “back of the baseball card” gang have collectively failed to see that. Relief pitching in particular is a fungible asset which clearly points to a year to year quality of this whole thing. Espada has needed time to figure out who he can trust and how he can trust them.

This is not unique as every season has brought unique challenges in finding a reliable rotation and reliable high leverage relievers outside of Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader. Even if Abreu was the Abreu of old for the whole season, the Astros were still going to struggle with a new cast of characters and some obviously failed and failed pretty spectacularly. Some of those arms are no longer there and their absence has helped with the resurgence for the last four weeks.

The Numbers

W-LINNERAH/9BB/9HR/9
First 279-18253.16.299.245.611.53
Last 2613-13229.04.097.394.361.02

We should start by talking about what these numbers mean and what they don’t mean. Absolutely, the staff has been considerably better overall. In particular, the total number of base runners per nine innings has fallen considerably. Obviously, they are doing a better job of keeping the ball in the ballpark. We did not list the strikeouts because there isn’t a considerable difference there.

Over a long enough timeline the survival rate drops to zero. With smaller samples there will always be random variance involved. That’s a fancy sounding term, so what does that mean exactly? It means that the numbers you see cannot be completely attributed to the quality of the pitchers or their performance. Sometimes there is good and bad luck involved. That can impact the batting average on balls in play (BABIP) but also the amount of home runs given up.

This means that if left to their own devices, the pitchers that started March and April would have likely improved naturally. The home run rate was unsustainable. Guys like Mike Burrows have not been good, but their underlying statistics show they would not have continued to be that bad. Over the course of a full season, those numbers will always normalize some.

These numbers do say two very important things. First, the Astros have made some personnel changes and usage changes that have positively impacted performance. We could name the names, but the current five or six man rotation is performing much better than the one that started the season. Maybe more importantly, whether through health or a better understanding of how to use each pitcher, the bullpen has become much more functional than it was in the first month.

Secondly, while the last month has been a bit of a lime wedge, the overall performance is not the kind of performance we saw from this team over the course of their dominant seasons. The team ERA over the last month has been nearly league average. They are still walking too many guys and giving up a few too many home runs to be called a good staff. In other words, they are not the historically horrific staff they were in the first month plus, but they are still not what any honest analyst would call a good staff either.

Obviously, some of that could change. Hunter Brown is set to return in another week or so. Josh Hader is set to return in another couple of weeks. One could easily foresee those two pitchers alone changing the calculus some. It also could be said that pitchers like Nate Pearson and Alimber Santa could potentially add to that when given more opportunities. I’m obviously not predicting that, but the possibility cannot be ignored.

The long and short of it is that this is likely an average pitching staff over the balance of a full season. The gains from Brown and Hader could be enough to offset the damage the first month caused. Also, it should be noted that the hitting between the first month and this past month has been a mirror image of the pitching gains. This leads me to the same math conclusion I reached before this recent road trip. The Astros on balance are no longer a bad baseball team. The question is whether they will be good enough to dig out of the hole the first month put them in. That remains to be seen. How optimistic are you for a total rebound?

Braves vs Red Sox Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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Back-to-back home runs by the Boston Red Sox in the first inning weren’t enough to stop the Atlanta Braves from adding another win to their MLB-best record, as they prevailed 7-6 on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.

While the NL East heavyweights enter tonight’s matchup at essentially a pick’em price, my Braves vs. Red Sox predictions are backing Atlanta behind another strong outing from Bryce Elder.

Let's get right into my MLB picks for Wednesday, May 27. 

Who will win Braves vs Red Sox today: Braves (-108)

Chris Sale may get most of the attention atop the Atlanta Braves' rotation, but Bryce Elder has been every bit as dominant in his own right, leaning on a deep five-pitch mix to post a 1.97 ERA while ranking in the 90th percentile in Barrel% at Baseball Savant.

Elder is set to take on a Boston Red Sox offense that has been virtually non-existent in 2026, sitting 29th in runs per game (3.7) and sporting a .696 OPS on the year.

On the other hand, Atlanta’s lineup has swung back to form this season, ranking third in wOBA (.334), wRC+ (112), and trailing only the New York Yankees in team home runs. Take the Braves to make it consecutive wins in Beantown, and I’d play this up to -125.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Despite Elder averaging just 92.6 mph on his heater — 2.5 mph below the league average — the right-hander’s fastball run value sits in the 100th percentile.

Braves vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-117)

Although Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias each pitched an inning yesterday for Atlanta, Monday was an off-day for the Braves, which should allow them to run it back with their high-leverage bullpen arms tonight. Meanwhile, both Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock are coming off multiple days of rest for the BoSox.

Both bullpens rank Top 5 in reliever ERA, and I expect the offense to dry up for the most part after the first five innings. These teams are a combined 48-55 to the Over/Under this season, and considering the floundering Red Sox are already without Roman Anthony, I'm leaning toward the Under.

Braves vs Red Sox odds

  • Moneyline: Braves -108 | Red Sox -108
  • Run line: Braves -1.5 (+146) | Red Sox +1.5 (-176)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+104) | Under 8.5 (-117)

Braves vs Red Sox trend

Atlanta is a league-best 20-8 SU on the road this season. Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Red Sox.

How to watch Braves vs Red Sox and game info

LocationFenway Park, Boston, MA
DateWednesday, May 27, 2026
First pitch6:45 p.m. ET
TVBravesVision, NESN
Braves starting pitcherBryce Elder
(4-2, 1.97 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcherConnelly Early
(4-2, 3.33 ERA)

Braves vs Red Sox latest injuries

Braves vs Red Sox weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Astros vs. Rangers prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 27

With the series now tied at one game apiece, the Houston Astros (24-32) and the Texas Rangers (25-29) take the field for Game 3 of this four-game series.

 

The night after they were no-hit by Houston, the Rangers exploded for eight runs in the first inning and eventually held on for a 10-7 win last night at Globe Life Field. In his second at-bat of the inning, Joc Pederson went yard to cap the scoring in the first inning. Evan Carter picked up three hits in the game including his sixth home run of the season. Houston tried to make it a game but fell short. Yordan Alvarez homered twice and drove in four runs in the loss.

 

Tonight’s pitching matchup features Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Mike Burrows for the Astros. deGrom takes the mound with a record of 3–4 and a 3.86 ERA. His WHIP is among the best in baseball at 1.02 and he has struck out 64 opposing hitters. Burrows has not been nearly as dependable sporting a record of 2–6 with a 5.75 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.

 

For Texas, the hottest bats belong to Josh Jung, who leads the team with a .303 average, and Ezequiel Duran, who is 12‑for‑39 with 11 RBI over his last 10 games. Houston’s lineup continues to revolve around Yordan Alvarez, who is also hitting .303 with 18 home runs and remains one of MLB’s most dangerous hitters. Christian Walker has been hot as well, going 9‑for‑38 with five homers and 11 RBI in his last 10 games.

 

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game Details and How to Watch: Astros vs. Rangers

  • Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Globe Life Field
  • City: Arlington, TX
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Rangers Sports Network, Space City Home Network

 

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

The Latest Odds: Astros vs. Rangers

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Houston Astros (+135), Texas Rangers (-163)
  • Spread: Astros +1.5 (-157), Rangers -1.5 (+130)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Astros vs. Rangers for May 27

  • Astros: Mike Burrows
    Season Totals: 56.1 IP, 2-6, 5.75 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 48K, 20 BB
  • Rangers: Jacob deGrom
    Season Totals: 53.2 IP, 3-4, 3.86 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 64K, 11 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Astros vs. Rangers

  • Yordan Alvarez is 3-8 in this series with 3 HRs and 6 RBIs
  • Christian Walker (0-4) had his 4-game hitting streak snapped last night
  • Jeremy Pena has hit safely in 3 straight games (3-10)
  • Evan Carter picked up 3 hits last night after going 2-24 in his previous 9 games
  • Josh Jung has hit safely in 5 of his last 6 games (7-22)

 

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Astros vs. Rangers

  • The Rangers are 28-26 on the Run Line this season
  • The Astros are 24-32 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 31 times in Houston’s 56 games this season (31-22-3)
  • The OVER has cashed an MLB-low 21 times in the Rangers’ 54 games this season (21-29-4)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: Astros vs. Rangers

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

 

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Astros and the Rangers:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Rangers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Rangers on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Rangers’ Team Total OVER 3.5.

 

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Reinforcements are on the way as Jorge Polanco begins rehab assignment

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Jorge Polanco #11 of the New York Mets at bat during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jorge Polanco is set to begin a rehab assignment with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies this morning as he battles back from bursitis in his Achilles. The twelve-year veteran has been on the injured list since April 14.

One of the Mets’ key free-agent acquisitions, Polanco played just 14 games before bursitis and a wrist injury sidelined him. He signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Mets in an attempt to fill the void left by Pete Alonso’s departure in free agency. Thus far, he’s hit .179/.246/.286 in 61 plate appearances with the team.

It has been a battle for Polcanco to get on the field. It was the wrist injury that originally put him on the IL, but his Achilles injury started before and lasted longer than his wrist injury. Polanco received platelet-rich plasma injections to manage the pain and return to the field.

Manager Carlos Mendoza explained that Polanco will likely need to manage his Achilles for the rest of the season and maybe beyond due to the chronic nature of the injury, adding that Polanco will likely get more run at DH than first base when he arrives back with the big league club.

“Hopefully, we can get him a game or two at first base, but try to keep him off his feet as much as possible,” Mendoza said. “He’ll play some first base once he goes through his rehab assignment, but probably looking more like DH. We want to keep his bat in the lineup as much as possible.”

Polanco is coming off a resurgent year where he hit 26 home runs with an .821 OPS for the Seattle Mariners. The last-place Mets will take whatever they can get from the veteran as they try to save the season. New York has lost seven of its last eight games with a team slugging percentage of .349 that ranks last in baseball this year.

Eastern Conference Final Game 4 Preview and Thread: Hurricanes @ Canadiens

MONTREAL, CANADA- MAY 25: Taylor Hall #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal during the first period of Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Matt Garies/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens will square off for the fourth time in the Eastern Conference Final at Bell Centre on Wednesday night, as they Canes will look to push the Habs to the brink while Montreal will try to even the series heading back to Raleigh for Game 5.

The Hurricanes have successfully shaken off a humiliatingly bad performance in Game 1 that left us all to wonder if the issues plaguing them in the third round were more intrinsic than a result of playing historically strong Florida Panther teams perfectly built to beat them.

Nikolaj Ehlers’ overtime heroics in Game 2 followed by those of Andrei Svechnikov in Game 3 have made this unquestionably the most successful season the franchise has had since 2006, and a sixth-straight road playoff win on Wednesday would have them one win away from a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

These wins have not come easily, even as the territorial dominance that delivered them has. The Canadiens have mustered just 25 shots total across the past eight periods of play, and there is no reason to believe a reversal in the flow of the game and puck possession is coming on Wednesday.

That means Frederik Andersen, who will certainly have the crease again, will have to be sharp and ready for the few high-danger chances Montreal will inevitably generate, as they remain lethal on the counter-attack and have the high-end talent to win a game on the power play if given enough man advantages.

Carolina will have to play another disciplined game and continue to lean on Montreal by playing physically and tilting the ice. If goaltender Jakub Dobes slips even a little bit, the Hurricanes could ride an early 2-0 edge to a blowout win that would likely break the Canadiens’ spirit.

But through six meetings between the teams this year, Carolina has proven unable to muster such a result. We still have not seen the Hurricanes deliver a true A-plus performance this postseason, especially offensively.

Is one coming tonight, or will Montreal be able to dig deep and do enough to get the series back even? The Vegas Golden Knights are through in the Western Conference and awaiting a Stanley Cup Final opponent. How long will they be waiting?


Here’s how to check out the action…

Time: 8:00 PM EST

TV/Streaming: TNT/TruTV/HBO Max

Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Odds: Hurricanes -150 ML, Hurricanes -1.5 +172, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

Wednesday Morning Links

ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 25: Andrew McCutchen #4 of the Texas Rangers bats in the second inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Monday, May 25, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Morning, all!

Tuesday was Josh Jung’s first game back after missing two games with a sore shoulder, an injury that “freaked him out”due to a surgery he had for a torn labrum on the same shoulder four years ago.

Jacob deGrom hasn’t missed any starts but maybe he wishes that he had, as he’s been leaving fastballs up in the zone and getting knocked around.

Shawn McFarland’s response to the Rangers getting no hit by some guy was to discuss the dismantling of the roster at the trade deadline.

Skip Schumaker blames himself for the weak performance on Tuesday.

Kennedi Landry’s mailbox column is full of questions about the temperature in the clubhouse with the Rangers’ recent struggles.

Jordan Montgomery was four weeks ahead of schedule in his return from an elbow surgery that has sidelined him since 2024 until his recovery hit a snag last week.

Jack Leiter has the potential to be an ace but is still figuring things out as evidenced by his three faceoffs against Yordan Alvarez last night.

Brandon Nimmo has taken the lead in counseling his teammates on addressing their individual strengths at the plate and kickstarted the biggest run scoring first inning the Rangers have had since 2012 last night.

The team put up eight runs in the first on the way to a 10-7 win over the Astros last night, but if it takes getting no hit to spur that kind of production it’s going to be a frustrating season.

What should Egor Chinakhov’s next contract look like?

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 04: Egor Chinakhov #59 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Florida Panthers at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Kyle Dubas has a busy offseason ahead for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and when it comes to potential returning players Egor Chinakhov is probably going to be near the top of the list. Now that Evgeni Malkin is officially re-signed, Chinakhov probably jumps to the top of the list.

Chinakhov was a mid-season addition from the Columbus Blue Jackets, arriving in Pittsburgh with enormous talent but inconsistent results. Things simply did not work out for him in Columbus, and the Penguins were there to roll the dice on him, sending two draft picks and Danton Heinen the other way.

It turned out to be one of the best, most impactful moves that Dubas made in what was already a fantastic year for him.

Immediately upon his arrival in Pittsburgh, Chinakhov started to play like the top-line winger the Blue Jackets had hoped he would be.

He scored 18 goals with 18 assists (36 total points) in 43 games with the Penguins, bringing his full-season total to 21 goals, 21 assists and 42 total points across both teams.

It was his performance with the Penguins that opened the most eyes and put him on the map.

While he struggled to generate offense in the playoffs, his play in the second half of the regular season at least made him a must-keep player for the upcoming season. Especially given how good he showed himself to be away from the puck and as a playmaker. He was not just a one-trick pony ripping wrist shots and feasting on a high shooting percentage. He made the people around him better and made plays all over the ice.

Now the Penguins have to figure out a new contract for him given that he is set to be a restricted free agent. The Penguins have more salary cap space than any other team in the NHL this offseason, so money is not going to be an issue. It is just a matter of how much money it is going to take and what that contract is eventually going to look like.

I have some ideas.

I went back over the past 10 years and tried to pick out some comparable players and situations to get a sense of what those deals have looked like.

I was not only trying to find players at a similar age and production level to what Chinakhov has done, but also players that were facing a similar contract situation. What I mean by that is, players that are restricted free agents, but have already signed at least one bridge deal as an RFA. In other words: Not players coming off an entry-level contract.

Here are some of the players that I found:

PlayerGames Played At SigningCareer Goals At SigningGoals/GameCareer Points At SigningPoints/GameRFA Year GoalsRFA Year PointsContractPercentage Of Salary Cap
Jared McCann42793.218205.48027505 years $25 million ($5.0)6.06
Casey Mittelstadt35766.185196.54918573 years $17.25 million ($5.75)6.53
Joel Eriksson Ek26643.16296.36119308 years $42 million ($5.25)6.44
Artturi Lehkonen41280.194158.38319385 years $22.5 million ($4.5)5.45
Pavel Buchnevich30179.262195.64820484 years $28 million ($5.8)7.12
Egor Chinakhov24755.223113.4572142??

In terms of production and age, I am not sure these numbers are that far off. Maybe you want to argue that Chinakhov’s upside is a little higher than some of these guys, but how much is that worth in a contract negotiation? Do the Penguins want to gamble and go longer-term? Does Chinakhov want to gamble on himself and take a shorter-term deal in the hopes he can prove his second half wasn’t a fluke and try to cash in on the open market in a year or two?

But in terms of dollars and cap space, these guys signed contracts that were all between 5.4 and 7.1 percent of the salary cap.

In terms of this year’s cap, you are looking at a range of $5.6 million on the low end and $7.4 million on the high end.

Given that Chinakhov is coming off a bridge contract that paid him $2.1 million, and given the season he had, and given the rise in the salary cap, none of that seems totally unreasonable.

Three years, $20 million?

Four years $26-$28 million?

Does something like that interest you?

In some ways it is a tough situation. You want to keep him. You want to believe in what you saw in the second half, and there is good reason to do so. But there is still a mystery on what his upside and consistent level of production is going to be.

Either way somebody here is going to be taking a gamble. Either the Penguins on signing a player that is still a bit of an unknown, or Chinakhov betting (or not betting) on himself.

Elephant Rumblings: A’s Pitching Wave is Here

May 26, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Gage Jump (61) makes his MLB debut and throws a pitch against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

Happy Wednesday A’s Fans!

Over the past few years, the Athletics have built one of the most exciting young offensive cores in baseball, largely comprising players drafted and developed by the team. Guys like Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz did not need much minor league development time, while the likes of Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler and Zack Gelof spent considerably more time honing their skills in the team’s farm system. Toss in Shea Langeliers, who was acquired in the Matt Olson trade with the Atlanta Braves, and Brent Rooker, who was picked off of waivers after failing to hit with multiple teams, and the A’s have an offense that has the talent to put up multiple runs every game.

However, hitting is only part of the game, as baseball teams also need strong pitching and defense. In the A’s case, those latter two elements are especially important because both their current ballpark in West Sacramento and their future home in Las Vegas are exceptionally hitter-friendly environments.

Through 54 games this season, the A’s pitching staff has mirrored last year’s performance, posting a road ERA nearly two runs lower than its ERA at Sutter Health Park. Out of 30 MLB teams, the A’s have the 23rd-ranked ERA and have allowed the fourth-most home runs. The team’s highest-paid pitcher, Luis Severino, is not complaining as much as he did last year, although he still is struggling to pitch effectively at the minor-league ballpark.

Aware of the team’s need for better pitching to complete its rise from rebuilders to American League playoff contenders, the A’s solution may come from within. The team’s top pitching prospect, left-hander Gage Jump took Civale’s place on the roster and made his MLB debut last night against the Seattle Mariners. Jump pitched his way onto the team’s radar and league-wide prospect lists in his eye-opening first professional season last year. He had a mediocre first outing, allowing four runs on nine hits over five innings. Hopefully, now that he got his feet wet, he can pitch better and pick up his first win in his next start.

Jump could soon be joined by fellow top left-handed pitching prospects Jamie Arnold and Wei-En Lin, both of whom are doing well with the A’s Double-A affiliate. Should Jump stick with the A’s the rest of the season, that would leave a void in the Triple-A rotation, which will likely go to one of these standouts.

While these left-handers receive most of the attention, the A’s do have some noteworthy right-handers. Either Kade Morris and/or Braden Nett could follow in outfielder Henry Bolte’s and Jump’s footsteps by making the leap from Triple-A to MLB.

Right-hander Luis Morales is a big wild card. He showed flashes of promise last season, but has struggled in the majors and the minors this year. Lastly, it would be remiss to leave out right-handers J.T. Ginn and Jack Perkins, who have shown the ability to get MLB hitters out in spades over these past few weeks.

If the Athletics remain in American League West contention once the trade deadline looms, do you want them to trade a couple prospects for pitching help? If so, which pitcher would be the best fit to help this year’s squad?

A’s Coverage:

MLB News and Interest:

Best of X:

The Athletics are shaking up their rotation, likely due to the Mariners’ team-wide struggles against left-handed pitching.

What an amazing catch by A’s Double-A Midland outfielder Carlos Pacheco in his game this past Sunday!

Outfielder Cade Marlowe is performing well with the A’s Triple-A affiliate. Should he get an opportunity to contribute at the major-league level, especially given Lawrence Butler’s offensive struggles?

The A’s continuing to show that community impact matters just as much as what happens on the field:

Mariners News: Cal Raleigh, Bob Horner, and Travis Kelce

May 12, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) hits a single during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Good morning friends! Happy Wednesday to you all.

Last night, the Mariners triumphed over the A’s 4-1 thanks to another strong outing from Emerson Hancock, who kept it rolling even in the hitter-friendly Sacramento confines.

The M’s have a chance to slide back into first place in the AL West with a win today in the series finale. At this stage, which AL West rival do you see as the biggest threat to the M’s chances of winning the division?

In Mariners news…

Around the league…