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Lakers get their center, agree to two-year contract with former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton

The Lakers got their center, and it's the guy drafted two spots ahead of Luka Doncic in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The Lakers and Deandre Ayton have come to terms on a two-year contract, with a player option in the second year, a story broken by Chris Haynes and confirmed by multiple other reports.

This is as good a free agent center signing as the Lakers were going to make — he's the best available free agent center and a good fit on paper. Getting Ayton to live up to how good he looks on paper and not to be a disruptive force has been a challenge at all his stops.

Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds a game last season in Portland, and a couple of seasons ago in Phoenix averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds a game. On offense, when focused, he is a very good fit as the kind of big man who thrives next to Luka Doncic as a rim-runner and lob threat (34.4% of his shots last season came at the rim and he shot 82% on them), plus he has a silky midrange jumper from his spots on the floor.

Defensively, he is a big body in the paint, but not a great shot blocker (averaging one block per game last season).

The challenge with Ayton has always been getting him to live up to that potential on paper.

Ayton has had fellow teammates and basketball staff call him "immature," someone overconfident in his contributions despite "inconsistent effort" (often, but not always, off the record). He is seen as a diva, something Jason Quick detailed recently in a story at The Athletic.

"The tardiness to team flights and practices, according to a team source. The skipping of rehabilitation appointments. Fans saw him slam chairs when he was taken out of games. And a team source said there were tantrums in the locker room when he was sidelined for poor effort."

Ayton can't bring that attitude or effort level into the Lakers building — this is LeBron's locker room, and he has built a Hall of Fame career entering its 23rd season based on being prepared and bringing it every night. Doncic will count on him to bring it every night and not be a distraction. Coach J.J. Redick is a younger, former player head coach who can connect with players, which could help in this case. If that trio can all keep Ayton focused — if a team just buying him out rattles his cage a little bit — this will be a terrific signing for the Lakers.

The Lakers are betting they can get the best out of Ayton. They are also doing it on an affordable contract.

Ayton has agreed to a two-year, $16.6 million contract with Los Angeles. The Lakers can afford it because Ayton will take up the approximately $8.3 million remaining in the Lakers' mid-level exception (the other part of it went to Jake LaRavia). This season, the on-paper pay cut from $35 million a season won't impact Ayton because he's still receiving all of it from his buyout from the Trail Blazers (the amount the Lakers pay him will be discounted from that number). However, next season he can opt out and test the market, or re-sign with the Lakers.

How all of that goes will depend on how this season goes, and how close Ayton comes to living up to his on-paper potential.

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Braves' Schwellenbach out with broken elbow. Profar returns from drug suspension and Verdugo cut

ATLANTA — Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach broke his right elbow during a start last weekend and was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday as left fielder Jurickson Profar returned from an 80-game drug suspension and slumping outfielder Alex Verdugo was designated for assignment.

Schwellenbach said he felt tightness while pitching for Atlanta against Philadelphia on Saturday, when he threw 90 pitches. He allowed one run and three hits over seven innings.

He felt sore the following day and imaging Monday revealed a small fracture at the top of the elbow. Schwellenbach said he was told this was a freak accident and said he hopes to be back this season.

A 25-year-old in his second big league season, Schwellenbach is 7-4 with a 3.09 ERA and leads the Braves in wins, WHIP (0.967) and innings (110 2/3). He has won six of his last seven decisions.

Atlanta's rotation already was missing Chris Sale (broken rib), AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery) and Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder surgery).

"We’re pushing young guys all the time, and may end up that we have to do it again," Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Schwellenbach was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Sunday.

Right-hander Daysbel Hernández, sidelined from the Braves since June 4 by right forearm inflammation, finished his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett and was activated from the 15-day IL. Left-hander Austin Cox was recalled from the Stripers and right-hander Kevin Herget optioned to Gwinnett.

Profar returned after an 80-game suspension announced March 31 following a positive test for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in violation of the league’s joint drug prevention and treatment program. He missed 93 days, causing him to lose exactly half his $12 million salary. He is ineligible for the postseason.

“I’m responsible,” said Profar, who addressed his teammates Wednesday. “There’s there’s no excuses. I’m responsible for what goes into my body.”

The 32-year-old was an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger last season when he batted .280 and set career highs with 24 homers and 85 RBIs for San Diego. He signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Braves in the offseason.

In his absence, Braves left fielders entered Wednesday last in the major leagues with two home runs and a .523 OPS.

Verdugo agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract late in spring training. The 29-year-old made his big league season debut on April 18 and hit .239 with no homers and 12 RBIs in 56 games.

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Adams Pushes Back On Byram Offer Sheet Speculation

The Buffalo Sabres did not make much of a splash on the opening day of free agency on Tuesday, with the most impactful signing being the two-year contract for goaltender Alex Lyon and the re-signing of center Ryan McLeod to a long-term extension. The item that was the most newsworthy was a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger, that clubs interested in restricted free agent Bowen Byram are contemplating an offer sheet.

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams met with the media during Day 3 of the club’s Development Camp at LECOM Harborcenter on Wednesday and indicated that he is open to bringing back the 23-year-old blueliner, who is two years away from unrestricted free agency on a short- or long-term deal, and is open to a hockey deal bringing back NHL players, but that he would match an offer sheet if it were tabled by another club. 

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“The moves we've made and the position we've put ourselves in, from the cap perspective, has been strategic.” Adams said. “If you leave just enough room in your cap, maybe where you see a projection on a one year deal and someone comes over the top, you're potentially putting your organization in a really tough spot. So the moves we’ve made and the decisions we've made for weeks now leading up to this point (have been) with that in mind. So we'll be matching and have the opportunity to have a player under contract who we think helps us win.”

Dreger indicated that trade conversations have taken place between the Sabres and the Calgary Flames, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, and St. Louis Blues for Byram, who scored 38 points last season. After the trade of defenseman K’Andre Miller to Carolina on Tuesday and unrestricted free agents Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov signing seven-year contracts with the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, the availability for a legitimate top-four defenseman has shrunk to Byram, and Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson, putting Adams in a position to exact the price he’s looking for or bringing back him back on a short-term deal.    

“We believe Bo is an excellent hockey player that can help our team win,” Adams said, “I've maintained the same position that if there's a deal out there that makes sense for us that we think is going to improve our roster we're open to it. If there's not, we're not in a situation where we're looking to move him out or looking to move him for futures and stuff like that, for me we want to help our team win hockey games and he helps us do that.”

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NHL Free Agency: Flyers Won and Lost on Day 1

Christian Dvorak put a major dent in the Flyers' salary cap situation. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers were the one team that won as much as it lost on Day 1 of NHL Free Agency.

Entering free agency with three needs - a goalie, a center, and a seventh defenseman - the Flyers got to work and took care of business in record time, but at what cost?

Forward Christian Dvorak, expected to take over as the fourth-line center for at least one year, agreed to a one-year deal worth an egregious $5.4 million, making him the fifth-highest-paid forward on the Flyers' roster behind only Trevor Zegras, Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Owen Tippett.

Now, term was a big part of the deal for the Flyers so as to avoid locking themselves into undesirable future roadblocks for younger players, which drove Dvorak's price upwards, as well as bids from other teams.

But other centers with NHL experience, such as Curtis Lazar, Philipp Kurashev, and Lars Eller, all signed one-year deals with new teams worth no more than $1.25 million.

Lazar, like Dvorak, has played for Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet before. Injuries and adapting to a new coach limited Lazar to just five points in 48 games with New Jersey this season, but last year, he had 25 points in 71 games.

For his efforts, the 30-year-old, a prime bounce-back candidate, signed with Edmonton for one-year and $775k.

Piggybacking off that, new Flyers goalie Dan Vladar was by far the most expensive netminder to come off the market Tuesday, signing a two-year, $6.7 million ($3.35 million AAV) with Philadelphia that included an eight-team no-trade list in both years.

Flyers' Porter Martone Sets Sights on Early NHL DebutFlyers' Porter Martone Sets Sights on Early NHL DebutJust one day into on-ice activities at development camp, the hype around top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone is already growing.

Veteran Anton Forsberg, who signed with Los Angeles for two years at $2.25 million a year, was 11-12-3 last season with a 2.72 GAA, a .901 save percentage, and three shutouts. He was also the only goalie, other than Vladar, to pull in a cap hit north of $1.5 million.

Vladar was comparatively similar but slightly worse, going 12-11-6 with a 2.80 GAA, a .898 save percentage, and two shutouts.

Vladar is 27 and younger than the 32-year-old Forsberg, but does that make up the $1 million difference in cap hit? And, if Vladar isn't a long-term option as a starter or backup, does the age matter at all?

Indeed, much of this is insignificant with the Flyers being a fringe playoff team at best next season, but what is significant is that they have $4.6 million to find a solution to re-sign Cam York, be it a long-term deal or short.

The Flyers insist on not using LTIR to create emergency cap space for themselves, but with Tyson Foerster's status up in the air for opening night, they are pushing the envelope to the fullest, especially in the event further injuries occur during the season.

Speaking of defensemen, journeymen Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert give the Flyers, including York and excluding Rasmus Ristolainen, eight defensemen on the active roster.

One of those eight won't make the roster, and this doesn't account for someone like Helge Grans or Oliver Bonk, who will both be pushing for spots to fill in for Ristolainen.

Looking ahead, the Flyers have one retention slot open to hold onto some salary, with Andrei Kuzmenko off their books and Kevin Hayes and Scott Laughton still on for one more year.

If they want to use that slot to its maximum potential, either in a three-team deal (i.e. Noah Hanifin trade) or retaining salary on one of their own players, they'll have to manage the salary cap extra carefully until Foerster and/or Ristolainen return.

And just imagine how complicated things would have been if they landed Maxim Shabanov.

These free agency signings all address the needs to the Flyers sought out to address, but the relatively poor value of these signings puts the Flyers at high risk of finding themselves in adverse positions for what they want to do later in the season.

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Mets' Sean Manaea pitches into fourth inning in first Double-A rehab start since setback

It came a day later than scheduled, butSean Manaea was back on the mound in another rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday.

The Mets' southpaw tossed three-plus innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, one walk and striking out three batters. Manaea allowed a run in the first off a Kyle Karros single, then a Nic Kent single in the second inning that was aided by a throwing error by Jett Williams. The third run came in the third after a leadoff triple was brought in on a one-out single by Charlie Condon.

Manaea came out to start the fourth inning but walked the leadoff man on seven pitches before he was pulled.

Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza said that they expected Manaea to throw 45-50 pitches and the left-hander eclipsed that, tossing 60 pitches (39 strikes) against the Hartford Yard Goats. The extra length is likely due to Manaea's originally scheduled Tuesday start being postponed due to weather.

Mendoza confirmed that Manaea's next rehab start will be next Tuesday, in what is likely to be his final outing in the minors before being called up to join the Mets rotation.

Although Manaea's start on Wednesday wasn't perfect, it's encouraging to see him on the mound. This was his first rehab start since an elbow issue forced the pitcher to receive a cortisone shot.

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Blues Sign Center Pius Suter To Two-Year, $8.25 Million Contract

Center Pius Suter (24) joined the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, signing a two-year, $8.25 million free agent contract. (Danny Wild-Imagn Images)

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues picked up middle of the lineup center they were hoping to get.

Multiple reports had the Blues signing Pius Suter to a two-year contract worth $8.25 million ($4.125 million average annual value). The team confirmed the signing.

The 29-year-old, who set career highs in goals (25) and points (46) with the Vancouver Canucks last season in 81 games, will fill a void the Blues obviously needed in the middle of the lineup as a 2C/3C with Brayden Schenn. He is an exceptional defensive center with excellent penalty kill skills who just so happened to create offense off his defense a season ago and parlayed them into scoring chances, thus setting career highs in goals and points:

With the addition of Suter, the Blues now have Robert Thomas, Schenn, Suter, Oskar Sundqvist and Nick Bjugstad, who St. Louis signed to a two-year, $3.5 million ($1.75 million AAV) free agent contract on Tuesday from the Utah Mammoth, to utilize down the middle of the ice.

Remember last season, when Suter scored a third-period hat trick against the Blues? And look where he scored those goals: around the net and slot area. Blues coach Jim Montgomery is going to love this.

It was no secret that the Blues were in the market for a middle man, and when Sam Bennett came off the board and re-signed with the Florida Panthers and Mikael Granlund signed a three-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks for $7 million AAV, it was apparent the Blues were not going to get to those numbers.

But this is a low-risk, high-reward contract the Blues could fit into their salary cap, and they'll be fine when they place Torey Krug ($6.5 million AAV) on long-term injured-reserve and once Nick Leddy ($4 million AAV) either is picked up or clears waivers Thursday.

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Lakers agree to terms with former Portland center Deandre Ayton

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 8, 2024: Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) grabs the arm of Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (2) at Crypto.com Arena on December 8, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton, getting fouled by Dalton Knecht during a game last season, has agreed to terms with the Lakers. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

The Lakers finally got a center they have so desperately needed when they agreed to a deal with Deandre Ayton, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The Lakers were able to get Ayton after he received a buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers of his $35-million contract, giving up about $10-million, according to reports. That opened the door for the Lakers to get Ayton for about $9 million this upcoming season after he cleared waivers Wednesday, according to people familiar with the deal.

Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds over 30.2 minutes per game for the Trail Blazers last season. But he played in only 40 games, missing every game after the All-Star break because of a calf injury.

At 26 and 7-foot, Ayton fills a need for the Lakers because of his age, size and athleticism.

After the Lakers traded Anthony Davis to the Mavericks last season for Luka Doncic, the team was left with only Jaxson Hayes at center. Hayes was inefficient in the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing his starting job after playing in the first four games.

Read more:LeBron James exercises $52.6-million option and will be first to play 23 NBA seasons

When the free-agency period started Monday afternoon, the Lakers didn’t have a center on their roster, which they now have in Ayton.

The Lakers had been linked to free-agent centers Brook Lopez, who agreed to a deal with the Clippers, and Clint Capela, who agreed to a deal with the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers had more money to spend on Ayton because Dorian Finney-Smith declined his $15.3 million option with L.A. and agreed to a deal with the Houston Rockets for $53 million over four years.

Ayton was the first overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 2018 NBA draft, two spots ahead of Doncic, who was selected third by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Mavericks.

The Lakers see Ayton as a lob threat alongside Doncic, which worked well in Phoenix when Chris Paul was throwing lobs to Ayton when they reached the NBA Finals.

The Lakers feel good about the addition of Ayton because they got younger, more mobile and more athletic.

Also, the Lakers were able to maintain significant salary-cap flexibility going forward and are projected to have $60 million in cap space next July.

The Lakers aren't done, as they will continue to monitor the league for roster upgrades through trades and other free agents.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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What we learned as Jung Hoo Lee bounces back in Giants' extra-inning win

What we learned as Jung Hoo Lee bounces back in Giants' extra-inning win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

PHOENIX — As Wednesday’s game got into extra innings, Bob Melvin started managing as if it was a playoff game. Given how the last week has gone, it might as well have been. 

Camilo Doval pitched two innings for the first time in three years, closing out a 6-5 win in the 10th a few minutes after he blew the save in the ninth. It was a marathon outing from Doval, but the Giants didn’t have many options left and desperately needed to snap their four-game losing streak.

With the tying run on third in the bottom of the 10th, Doval struck out Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas. The usually calm closer screamed as he hopped off the mound. 

The Giants jumped ahead early on Tuesday and then shut it down. On Wednesday, they again looked energetic early. Mike Yastrzemski hit a leadoff homer, giving him three in the last nine games, and Jung Hoo Lee added an RBI triple in the first. Rafael Devers made it 3-0 with a hard single in the top of the fifth. 

The Diamondbacks cut the deficit to one, but Patrick Bailey and Brett Wisely brought insurance runs home in the top of the eighth. That would be crucial, as an error led to a third Diamondbacks run in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, the comeback was completed. 

Geraldo Perdomo led off with a single and Ketel Marte — who was named an All-Star starter earlier in the day — smoked a hanging slider from Doval into the seats in right, tying the game. 

Bailey’s sac fly put the Giants back on top in the 10th. Having already used all of his trusted high-leverage arms, Melvin sent Doval back out for a second inning. 

Back In Black

The Giants have started to wear their black road jerseys on occasion. Lee might ask that they do it the rest of this trip, even in the Sacramento heat this weekend. 

He followed the triple with a double his next time up, giving him his first multi-hit game since June 4. When he later got an infield single, he had his first three-hit game since May 6. 

Lee had been hitless on the road trip (0-for-14), but hitting coach Pat Burrell was encouraged by his swings in recent days and felt better days were coming. He came up a cycle shy of the cycle, hitting a deep fly ball in his final at-bat. 

Lee’s prolonged slump might be the biggest reason for the team’s overall offensive dip. The Giants want him at the top of the order, but he hit just .143 in June. 

Back Where It Started

Landen Roupp won a big league job in Arizona last spring, and during his two months in the desert this spring, he won a rotation spot. He hasn’t given it up, and he’ll take a 3.48 ERA into the final week of the first half. 

Wednesday’s outing was a mixed bag. Roupp was sharp early, but he gave up a solo shot to Thomas in the fifth and then walked a pair. He left with the bases loaded, but Erik Miller got him out of the jam, leaving Roupp with just two runs on his line. He walked four, struck out four and allowed five hits. 

Bounceback 

Miller’s last outing helped lead to a no-decision for Justin Verlander, but he came up huge in a tight spot Wednesday. He entered with the bags full, no outs and the heart of the lineup coming up, but the Diamondbacks sent rookie Tim Tawa up for the left-handed Pavin Smith and Miller struck him out. Josh Naylor hit a sacrifice fly, but Miller struck out the dangerous Eugenio Suarez to limit the damage. 

Some of Miller’s peripheral numbers are concerning, and given his walk rate, the dugout couldn’t have felt comfortable when he went 2-0 on Tawa to start his night. But he continues to get results, and that’s all that matters. He has a 1.50 ERA through 36 appearances.

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'I Wanted To Stay': Cody Glass Returns To The Devils

Cody Glass will don the New Jersey Devils jersey for the next two seasons. 

On Wednesday afternoon, the Devils announced the center signed a two-year contract worth $5,000,000, with an annual average value of $2,500,000. The contract breakdown is as follows: 2025-26: $2,500,000 & 2026-27: $2,500,000. The announcement was made by President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.

"I wanted to stay (in New Jersey) the whole time," Glass told reporters. "I am glad it got done."

The Devils acquired the 26-year-old on March 7, 2025, from the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Jonathan Gruden for Chase Stillman, Max Graham, and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. 

Through 14 regular-season games, Glass collected seven points (two goals, five assists). He finished the 2024-25 season with a face-off win percentage of 47.4%, winning 64 of 135 draws. 

Entering the postseason, the Winnipeg native only had three games of playoff experience between the Vegas Golden Knights and Nashville Predators. During his media availability on Wednesday, The Hockey News asked Glass what his takeaway was from New Jersey's Round 1 series against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

"Only having three (games) and then going to a series in Carolina, which is a pretty tough building to play in, was a great experience," Glass said. "Obviously, I wish it could have gone a lot better. It is something that I think about all the time, but I think it is something that is going to drive me this summer. We want to get back to that point, but we want to do a lot better and advance. I think it was a good step in the right direction for me, and it is something I can learn from." 

In addition to Glass returning to New Jersey, Fitzgerald signed unrestricted free agents Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov and re-signed goaltender Jake Allen.

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Photo credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

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Long Gone Canadiens Land In Intriguing New Spots

The latest Montreal Canadiens’ UFAs weren't the only former Habs to change teams yesterday. A pair of long-gone Canadiens landed in intriguing new markets with interesting new contracts.

Since making the Stanley Cup Final with the Canadiens in 2021, offensive defenseman Jeff Petry has struggled to find his form. When the Habs traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2022 offseason, he probably had hope that things would fall into place quickly on a team featuring the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, but that’s not what happened, far from it. The very next offseason, the Penguins traded him back to Montreal in a package that netted them Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick.

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Hughes then sent him to the Detroit Red Wings for Gustav Lindstrom and a fourth-round pick at the 2025 draft. A Michigan native, Petry was ecstatic to be going home, but his two-season stint with the Wings was great, too; he put up 32 points in 117 games and became a UFA on July 1.

Even though he’s now 37 years old, Petry wasn’t ready to retire, but given his recent performances, he didn’t have that many suitors. Ultimately, he signed a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers. The deal has a base salary of $775,000 but includes several performance bonuses. The veteran would like to win a Stanley Cup before retiring, and he has decided to bet on the repeat Champions achieving a three-peat next season.

As for Jonathan Drouin, after a disastrous stay in Montreal in which he struggled with mental health issues, he joined the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent on a one-year deal with an AAV of $825,000. After a convincing first season in which he scored 56 points in 79 games, Colorado signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million.

Due to injuries, the Quebecer was only able to play in 43 games this season, but he still managed to put up 37 points, averaging 0.86 points per game. Still, Drouin found himself a UFA on July 1st, and he was signed to a two-year pact with a $4 M cap hit by the New York Islanders.

In Long Island, Drouin will find QMJHL rival Anthony Duclair and coach Patrick Roy, whom he gave nightmares to in the juniors. We wish both Drouin and Petry the best of luck with their new team.

Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Ryan Mason ready to ‘write own script’ with West Brom after perfect Spurs ending

Having helped Tottenham win the Europa League the 34-year-old is stepping out on his own after building a library of coaching experience

For Ryan Mason, this opportunity has been a few years in the making. Since retiring from playing aged 26 after fracturing his skull – a horror injury that required 14 metal plates to be inserted into his skull, held together by 28 screws – he has built a library of coaching experience, working under José Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou. This coming season, after accepting his first full-time managerial role at West Brom, he has an opportunity to show his workings. “My last game was as a 25-year-old and I have had a seven-, eight-year apprenticeship, which in normal circumstances is quite a long time,” he says.

Nothing was normal about the end of Mason’s playing career. For a while there were 45 staples and he had a six-inch scar across his head. For about 10 days he had to be spoon-fed and being able to pick up a glass of orange juice was a major milestone. At the time he felt his career was in its infancy but stepping into coaching, initially in the Spurs academy, he discovered a new passion. “I definitely have a fire inside of me to be successful and fulfil the sort of dreams and ambitions that I had as a player,” he says.

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Mets' Carlos Mendoza on pulling Clay Holmes in sixth inning: 'I thought he did his part there'

With the Mets clinging to a one-run lead in the top of the sixth inning, manager Carlos Mendoza decided to pull starter Clay Holmes after 5.1 innings to go to his bullpen.

That decision ultimately decided the game as Reed Garrett entered and immediately allowed a game-tying double before the roof caved in on the reliever following a grand slam that broke the game wide open.

Holmes was taken out after 90 pitches and holding the Brewers to just one run -- a Sal Frelick solo shot to start the game. The right-hander did issue four walks, a trend lately, including three in a row in the fourth to three straight lefties.

After escaping that bases-loaded jam with a huge double play, Holmes began the sixth by walking another lefty in Christian Yelich. He retired Jackson Chourio, but that was it for the 32-year-old with Milwaukee due up three more lefties.

"I thought the lefties were giving him a little bit of a tough time, especially after watching that fourth inning and you watch that Yelich leadoff walk with three lefties coming up and at 90 pitches there, I thought he did his part there," Mendoza said after the loss.

Over his last three starts, Holmes has walked 14 batters in 15 innings. It hasn't necessarily caught up to him as he's allowed just six earned runs during that time, however it hasn't allowed him to pitch deeper into games.

With New York in desperate need of length out of its starters -- Wednesday's Game 1 of the doubleheader was the first time a Met starter pitched into the sixth inning in 17 days -- the walks (not just from Holmes) need to be fixed.

"That’s part of the decision," Mendoza said regarding Holmes' increased walk total factoring in his choice to pull the right-hander. "... I just felt like, especially today, he was trying to use the secondary [pitches], the slider, sweeper as backdoor pitches as opposed to land[ing] it below the strike zone and get chases there. He was trying to be maybe a little bit too fine there and that’s when he started losing it and walk some of the lefties."

The skipper also mentioned that he didn't think Holmes' changeup was "in play today against the lefties" and that it's an important pitch that he'll need this season.

Holmes was asked about that changeup and agreed with his manager that he "didn't really have it today" and saying it's been "hit or miss" for him lately.

"I think early on I was getting a lot of swing and miss out of the strike zone," he said. "The profile has kinda been a little bit inconsistent, the feel’s been a little bit inconsistent so I think it’s one thing that I definitely need to work on and need to find that pitch so I can go in the zone and still get the chase with it when I need to as well.

"It’s definitely a pitch that was very useful early on and it’s kinda been hit or miss here lately so it’d be nice to have it back."

And although Holmes said he never wants to get pulled, he said the decision is out of his control. He also mentioned that it was "definitely a hot day" and that he felt like he was tiring towards the end.

Mendoza was asked if the Mets went into the game with a pitch count on Holmes (who was supposed to pitch in Tuesday's rain out) for whatever reason like they've had on him in the past, particularly after his start in Colorado where he threw just 79 pitches over 5.0 innings, and he said "not necessarily" but pointed to the game and how he looked for the reasoning.

"When you got a guy that’s at 90 pitches in 5.1 [innings], you know, like, you’re asking what? 100 [pitches]? 10 more pitches? That wasn’t gonna be the case," Mendoza said. "We got some other guys that can cover 18 innings."

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Sánchez deals against Padres as Phillies collect another series win

Sánchez deals against Padres as Phillies collect another series win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The fireworks celebration the Phillies wonderfully put on at this time every year were almost threatened to be delayed Wednesday night in Game 2 of a doubleheader with the San Diego Padres.

Surprisingly, not because of rain or even the threat of it. No, it was all Christopher Sánchez’ fault. The left-hander mowed through the Padres lineup time and time again with such quick efficiency that it was feared the game would be completed well before darkness set upon Citizens Bank Park.

The threat of a delay was put to rest, really in one at-bat by the Padres, and while it differed from the efficiency of Sánchez, it featured his resilience.

With Gavin Sheets on first and two outs, Sánchez and Padres third baseman Jose Iglesias had an epic 10-pitch battle that had Iglesias foul off six pitches. With the count 2-2, Sánchez froze Iglesias with a 96-mile-an-hour sinker for the final out of the inning. He threw 7.0 innings on an 85-pitch gem.

He allowed just five hits, one earned run, struck out five and didn’t allow a walk in the Phillies 5-1 win. Sánchez improved to 7-2 on the season and the Phillies to 51-36 after the day/night split.

“He’s been, just like the rest of them, just wonderful,” said manager Rob Thomson of Sánchez’ night. “The changeup is swing and miss and the sinker… He had some balls hit hard off him but so much soft contact. He’s just attacking. Attacking the zone, trusting his stuff.” 

Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each pitched a scoreless inning as the Phils took two of three from the Padres.

First baseman Bryce Harper was not in the lineup for Game 2, as he continues to ease back from the wrist injury that kept him sidelined for 22 games. So far in his two starts since his return on Monday, Harper is 1-for-6 with a couple of strikeouts, a walk and was hit by a pitch. More importantly, he has taken hard cuts at the plate and has shown no hesitation in doing so. There has been no apparent flinching after a swing, no matter the result.

“I didn’t want to risk it,” Thomson explained. “He was available to pinch-hit. He felt fine. I just didn’t want to get him heated up again. Now if the game’s on the line, we’d go. That was the only reason, just precaution.”

Otto Kemp took over first base in the nightcap and provided a couple of singles, a walk, and some nice fielding plays.

Sánchez, like others on the starting staff, had a phenomenal month of June. In his five starts totaling 34 innings, he allowed just 25 hits and seven earned runs (1.85 ERA), while he struck out 33 and walked just six.

Normalcy returned to the Phillies starting rotation in the form of Cristopher Sánchez after a shaky start from Mick Abel in Game 1. Abel allowed five earned runs after getting just five outs in the 6-4 loss, while seven of the first nine batters Sánchez faced were retired on ground balls. 

Sánchez breezed through the Padres lineup to start the game on just 23 pitches. He then gave up a run in the fourth, though through no fault of his, really.

Fernando Tatis, Jr. led off the inning by beating out a dribbler to third. Sánchez then had him picked, but Otto Kemp’s throw to Trea Turner at second was awry and wound up in center field. Tatis went to third then scored when Jackson Merrill squeezed a single through the right side on a drawn-in infield for a 1-0 Padres lead. 

“I always go out and compete and do the best that I can and I always aim to not walk anyone,” said Sánchez through the team interpreter. “The important part is that we (starting pitchers) all act the same when we’re doing well and when we’re not. We’re just out here to support our team and to be the best of ourselves and go out and compete.”

The Phillies responded to the Padres’ go-ahead run immediately, as Alec Bohm led off the bottom of the inning with a single, moved to second on a groundout by Nick Castellanos and scored. Then came Max Kepler, who launched a bomb into the seats in right for a 2-1 lead. Kepler perfectly back-footed a 2-2, 90-mile-an-hour slider 379 feet off starter Dylan Cease for his 10th home run of the season. 

After Sánchez worked his way out of a two on, one out jam with consecutive strikeouts to end the fifth, Brandon Marsh led off the bottom of the fifth with a bomb to dead center for a 3-1 lead. Trea Turner reached on an infield single. He moved to second on a foul out by Bohm on a wonderful, sliding snare by third baseman Iglesias near the tarp. Turner scored on a Nick Castellanos single for a seemingly commanding 4-1 lead, considering the way Sanchez was waltzing through the San Diego lineup. 

“I like the way that I’m attacking,” said Marsh of his at-bats. I can definitely  improve a lot more on a lot of things. But, for what it’s worth, I like where I’m at personally and just have to continue to take it day-by-day and at-bat by at-bat.”

The Phillies added another in the seventh when Kyle Schwarber worked a two-out walk. Pinch-runner Johan Rojas stole second then crossed home on a triple to right by Bohm. 

The Phillies secured a 5-1 victory over the Padres, closing out Wednesday’s doubleheader and another series win.

They have Thursday off before welcoming the Cincinnati Reds in for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 1:05 p.m.

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Golden Knights Sign Kaedan Korczak To Four-Year Extension; Sign Jeremy Davies To Two-Year Contract

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Kaedan Korczak (6) skates with the puck during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed defenseman Kaedan Korczak to a four-year, $3.25-million extension and have also signed defenseman Jeremy Davies to a two-year contract.

Korczak set a career-high in games played and points this year, recording 10 assists in 40 games while averaging 15:04 of ice time. It's highly likely and almost a certainty that Korczak eclipses both those marks as he is set to become a full-time NHL player next season after the unfortunate news of Alex Pietrangelo's health. 

Throughout the 2024-25 season, Korczak was utilized exclusively to replace any injured defenseman, but the 2025-26 season will be different. Korczak is set to step into the lineup as a trusted defenseman night in and night out and will have the opportunity to compete with Zach Whitecloud for a spot in the top-four. 

Korczak has all the tools needed for a modern defenseman. He is a capable skater with a 6-foot-3 frame and a solid first pass. When in the lineup, the 24-year-old has won his minutes at 5-on-5, but with an increased role and an increase in ice time, it'll pose a new challenge for the former second-round pick (41st overall) in the 2019 NHL draft.

Korczak was set to become a Group-6 UFA next summer if he didn't reach the 80-game threshold. He signed a two-year $825,000 extension last season as an RFA but will become a UFA when his contract concludes in 2030. His new contract won't kick in until the 2026-27 season. 

Davies is a 28-year-old left-handed defenseman who has accumulated 23 games of NHL experience in his career. Davies has been a solid AHL player overall, scoring 44 goals and 174 points in 329 games. 

The Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC native is a safe bet for organizational depth that will likely have to clear waivers at some point during training camp. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Golden Knights Confirm and Announce Signings Of Several Players Golden Knights Confirm and Announce Signings Of Several Players The Vegas Golden Knights have confirmed and announced the signings of Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Dylan Coghlan,  Cole Reinhardt and Jaycob Megna. REPORT: Golden Knights Interested In Trading For A Pair Of DefensemenREPORT: Golden Knights Interested In Trading For A Pair Of DefensemenThe Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly interested in trading for defensemen Rasmus Andersson and Bowen Byram.
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Nashville Predators free agent Marc Del Gaizo signs with Canadiens

The Nashville Predators have lost another player in free agency as defenseman Marc Del Gaizo signed with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. 

He agreed to a one-year, $775,000 contract, making as much as he did this past season in Nashville. 

Del Gaizo was drafted by the Predators 109th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft out of UMass Amherst.

This past season, he split time between Nashville and Milwaukee, scoring nine points in 46 games with the Predators and 12 points in 30 games with the Admirals. Del Gaizo also had five points in 10 playoff games with Milwaukee. 

Del Gaizo had two different contracts during his two years in Nashville. During the 2023-24 season, he had an annual hit of $850,833. He made about $75,000 less this year. 

General manager Barry Trotz said that the goal of free agency was to improve the defense, which likely included adding depth. Del Gaizo is on the rise, as last season was the most NHL games he had played in a single season. 

The Predators have about $10.1 million in salary cap space. 

During this free agency period, the Predators have signed two defensemen: Nicolas Hague from the Vegas Golden Knights and Nick Perbix from the Tampa Bay Lightning. They have also extended a qualifying offer to Luke Evangelista. 

Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons were traded to Vegas as part of the trade with Hague.