November 2025

There were 1,432 posts published in November 2025 (this is page 5 of 144).

Report: Orioles add Ryan Helsley to their bullpen with two-year deal

The Baltimore Orioles added Ryan Helsley to their bullpen on Saturday, agreeing to a two-year contract with the free agent reliever.

The 31-year-old Helsley has an opt-out after one season, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was pending a physical.

Baltimore has been active as it looks to bounce back from a last-place finish in the AL East this year. The Orioles won the division in 2023 and made the playoffs as a wild card in 2024.

Outfielder Taylor Ward was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels on Nov. 18. Injured closer Félix Bautista agreed to a $2.25 million, one-year contract with Baltimore on Nov. 21, avoiding arbitration.

Helsley became one of baseball’s best relievers while spending his first six-plus seasons with St. Louis. The right-hander went 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 21 saves this year before he was traded by the Cardinals to the New York Mets on July 30.

Helsley struggled in New York, going 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA in 22 appearances. He allowed four homers and 16 earned runs in 20 innings.

The Athletic reported that Helsley was being looked at by some teams as a potential starter, but ESPN reported on Saturday that he was joining Baltimore in a relief role.

Helsley was selected by St. Louis in the fifth round of the 2015 amateur draft. The two-time All-Star made his major league debut in 2019.

Helsley had his best season in 2024, finishing with a 2.04 ERA and a major league-best 49 saves. He also struck out 79 batters in 66 1/3 innings.

He is 31-18 with a 2.96 ERA and 105 saves in 297 career games.

Indicted NBA Player Terry Rozier Resolves $8.2M Federal Tax Lien

Terry Rozier, the NBA player facing criminal sports betting charges, has resolved at least one other matter with the federal government: a multimillion-dollar tax lien.

On Oct. 29, the IRS filed a certificate of release in Broward County (Fla.), where Rozier resides, confirming he satisfied the lien of $8.2 million, which was originally assessed in August 2023.

The release came one day after ESPN reported on the lien, which occurred a few months after Rozier was accused of taking part in a betting scheme involving prop wages on his performance as a member of the Charlotte Hornets.

A federal indictment alleges Rozier tipped off a friend, Deniro Laster, that he planned to exit early from a game on March 23, 2023, against the New Orleans Pelicans, and that Laster and other individuals used that information to place $200,000 in wagers predicting Rozier would underperform his statistical averages.

Rozier, who was averaging 35.3 minutes and 21.1 points per game at the time, exited the contest against New Orleans less than 10 minutes into the first quarter and did not return, finishing with five points. 

Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, told ESPN last month that Rozier only actually owed $9,000 on the $8 million-plus tax bill and that it had already been paid.

“We just need the IRS to help remove the now-defunct lien,” Trusty said at the time. The attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment from Sportico.

Following his arrest on Oct. 23, Rozier—currently with the Miami Heat—was placed on immediate leave by the NBA, a move swiftly condemned by the NBA Players Association, which said it would appeal.

The government alleges that after the March 23, 2023 game, Laster drove from Philadelphia to Rozier’s home in Charlotte, where they counted the tens of thousands of dollars in profits that the scheme had netted. Rozier’s scheduled arraignment is next month, and his attorney Trusty has said the player plans to plead not guilty. 

Sign up for Sportico’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mets free agency and trade buzz: Ryan Helsley signing two-year deal with Orioles

Here’s the latest Mets free agency and trade buzz during the 2025-26 MLB offseason…

Nov. 29, 3:30 p.m.

Former Mets reliever Ryan Helsley and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a two-year contract, pending a physical, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal has an opt-out after the first season.

Helsley will be the Orioles’ ninth-inning option despite the right-hander fielding interest from numerous teams this offseason to be converted into a starter.

After six and a half seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, the 31-year-old was traded to New York at last season’s trade deadline to help fortify the Mets’ bullpen. A closer for the Cards who got to New York with a 3.00 ERA and 21 saves, Helsley was slotted as the Mets’ setup man in front of Edwin Diaz.

However, his time in New York did not go well, pitching to a 7.20 ERA in 22 games and ultimately losing the eighth inning job.

Still, in 297 career games Helsley owns a 2.96 ERA and 105 saves.

Nov. 26, 7:45 p.m.

While the Mets look to re-sign Edwin Diaz this winter, the team is reportedly checking in on other back-end bullpen pieces.

According to the NY Post, the Mets have talked with representatives for Robert Suarez and Pete Fairbanks.

Suarez, of course, was the Padres’ closer the last two seasons, including a 40-save effort in 2025. He’s a back-to-back All-Star and pitched to a 2.97 ERA across 70 appearances this past season.

Fairbanks pitched to a 2.83 ERA and converted 27 saves in 61 games with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025.

Nov. 26, 6:25 p.m.

The Mets have one less potential starting pitching target on the board after Dylan Cease signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to multiple reports.

Cease is coming off a relatively down year, pitching to an 8-12 record and a 4.55 ERA across 32 starts. His strikeout rate was still very high (11.5) but the right-hander will look to help Toronto get back to the World Series.

As for the Mets, there are still plenty of free agent and trade targets for the team to target. While Framber Valdez doesn’t seem to be on their radar, Michael King, Ranger Suarez and Japanese star Tatsuya Imai are still available. 

Nov. 20, 5:53 p.m.

While the Mets are undoubtedly looking to rebuild their starting rotation, it doesn’t seem like free agent Framber Valdez is near the top of their wish list.

Appearing on Wednesday’s Mets Hot Stove, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported that the Mets were not among the teams that met with the southpaw at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas.

Martino notes that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns prefers to develop his own ace-level pitchers in-house and does not typically spend huge money for top-of-the-rotation starters, though Stearns could be flexible on that point. At 32, Valdez is likely looking for a lucrative multiyear contract.

Valdez is a two-time All-Star with the Astros and has pitched to a career 3.36 ERA, but he also seemed to intentionally cross up his catcher in September to hit him with a pitch, which raised some red flags.

Nov. 10, 4:26 p.m.

While the Mets are expected to be aggressive in their pursuit of starting pitching this offseason, one of their current rotation arms is already receiving some outside interest.

According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, right-hander Kodai Senga is considered a buy-low trade target among some teams, although it’s unclear if the Mets are legitimately open to moving him. 

The report also notes that Senga’s contract no longer includes a full no-trade clause — he can now block deals to only 10 clubs.

The 2025 season was a confounding tale of two halves for Senga, who resembled an ace for the Mets through June and ultimately lost a big-league roster spot by September. In between his peaks and valleys was a summer hamstring injury that required rehab starts and caused mechanical headaches. 

Still, he posted a solid 3.02 ERA with 109 strikeouts across 22 outings (113.1 innings).

There’s reason to believe that Senga can re-channel that Cy Young-caliber version of himself, and his contract is by no means an albatross to the reported suitors. The 32-year-old is set to make just $28 million combined over the next two seasons, with a club option for 2028.

Since joining the majors from Japan in 2023, Senga owns a career 3.00 ERA with 209 strikeouts over 52 starts (285 innings). He also placed top 10 in NL Cy Young voting as a Rookie of the Year runner-up.

MLB free agency: Closer Ryan Helsley, Orioles reportedly agree to 2-year, $28M deal

Ryan Helsley and the Baltimore Orioles have reportedly agreed to a two-year contract, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal is worth $28 million, according to The Athletic’s Katie Woo, and features a player opt-out clause after the 2026 MLB season.

The 31-year-old Helsley recorded 21 saves last season between his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets.

All 21 saves, however, came with the Cardinals before he was traded in July to the Mets. In New York, he pitched 20 innings in 22 games as a reliever with Edwin Diaz firmly entrenched in the closer’s role.

Helsley has pitched in seven seasons after being a fifth-round draft pick by the Cardinals in 2015 out of Northeastern State.

Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said during the annual GM Meetings in Las Vegas earlier this month that a reliever with closing experience was high on his off-season priorities list. Félix Bautista will be out of action until late summer following right shoulder surgery, meaning the closer’s job was up for grabs.

What’s left for Elias? He’s taken care of the veteran hitter need after sending pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for Taylor Ward. Next up would be a frontline starting pitcher. 

“My stated goal is to see if we can add somebody that fits into that tier,” Elias said. “That would be Plan A for our rotation.”

The Orioles finished last in the AL East in 2025 with a 75-87 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. After a down year, ownership has signaled its intention to spend this winter, hoping that the investment pays off with a return of playoff baseball.

“This is a group that’s really enabling us to invest,” Elias said. “We’re going to go out in the market, see what we’re able to do to improve the team. But we’ll definitely be behaving as buyers this season, whether it’s free agency or trade.”

MLB free agency: Closer Ryan Helsley, Orioles reportedly agree to 2-year, $28M deal

Ryan Helsley and the Baltimore Orioles have reportedly agreed to a two-year contract, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal is worth $28 million, according to The Athletic’s Katie Woo, and features a player opt-out clause after the 2026 MLB season.

The 31-year-old Helsley recorded 21 saves last season between his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets.

All 21 saves, however, came with the Cardinals before he was traded in July to the Mets. In New York, he pitched 20 innings in 22 games as a reliever with Edwin Diaz firmly entrenched in the closer’s role.

Helsley has pitched in seven seasons after being a fifth-round draft pick by the Cardinals in 2015 out of Northeastern State.

Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said during the annual GM Meetings in Las Vegas earlier this month that a reliever with closing experience was high on his off-season priorities list. Félix Bautista will be out of action until late summer following right shoulder surgery, meaning the closer’s job was up for grabs.

What’s left for Elias? He’s taken care of the veteran hitter need after sending pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for Taylor Ward. Next up would be a frontline starting pitcher. 

“My stated goal is to see if we can add somebody that fits into that tier,” Elias said. “That would be Plan A for our rotation.”

The Orioles finished last in the AL East in 2025 with a 75-87 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. After a down year, ownership has signaled its intention to spend this winter, hoping that the investment pays off with a return of playoff baseball.

“This is a group that’s really enabling us to invest,” Elias said. “We’re going to go out in the market, see what we’re able to do to improve the team. But we’ll definitely be behaving as buyers this season, whether it’s free agency or trade.”

NBA Cup 2025: Quarterfinal knockout-round games set, see schedule, breakdown of matchups

We are on to the knockout round.

There was plenty of drama on the final night of NBA Cup group play, with the Magic, Thunder, and Spurs winning their way in, while losses by the Cavaliers and Pistons opened the door for Miami to make it in as a Wild card.

Here are the four quarterfinal games, with how the teams got there and some quick analysis.

Eastern Conference

Miami Heat at Orlando Magic

Dec. 9
How they got here: Orlando clinched East Group B and the No. 1 overall seed with a win over Detroit on Friday. That Pistons loss, plus a Cavaliers loss, opened the door and Miami walked through it to advance as the Wild Card with a 3-1 record.

Game Analysis: Orlando has found its footing and gone 6-2 with Paolo Banchero out — the team is making quick decisions, the ball is moving, the pace is up and the Magic’s elite defense from a season ago is starting to round into form. By this game on Dec. 9 Banchero is expected to be back in the lineup, but can he fit in with what has been working in Orlando — the model for that might be Tyler Herro in Miami. The Heat began the season without their All-Star, but the combination of a new-style attacking offense that shuns picks in favor of isolation attacks, as well as brilliant play from Norman Powell, has made the Heat one of the best stories of the first quarter of the NBA Season. When Herro returned, he blended right into this system and made it even better. If Banchero can’t do that or Orlando struggles at all, this Heat team will exploit it.

New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors

Dec. 9
How they got here: Toronto advanced as the No. 2 seed with a 4-0 record in NBA Cup play, but it had clinched its spot a week ago with a win over Washington. New York secured its spot by beating Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee on Friday and clinching Group B, thanks to some big Duece McBride 3-pointers helping the team pull away in the fourth.

Game Analysis: The RJ Barrett revenge game? Styles make fights and this is a good one. Toronto wants to run — it starts more of its possessions in transition than any team in the league, and it’s got the athletes who can finish in space with Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. The Knicks are bottom 10 in the league in percentage of plays that start in transition, but they have the league’s sixth-best first-shot halfcourt offense behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Which team dictates the style of game wins here, and when the Knicks do slow the game down, can Brandon Ingram dominate in the halfcourt for the Raptors?

Western Conference

Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder

Dec. 10
How they got here: This game will be a rematch of the one we saw Friday night, which the Thunder won 123-119 behind 37 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With that, the Thunder won West Group A, but the Suns were still 3-1 in group play and had the point differential to advance as the Wild Card.

Game Analysis: Nobody has been able to slow down the 19-1 Thunder this season, but Phoenix showed how it can give them a game — and why the Suns have been one of the surprise teams of the NBA this season — with its balanced attack. Sure, SGA had the headlines, but Oklahoma City got Jalen Williams back on Friday, and while his shot looked understandably rusty (this was his first game back following offseason wrist surgeries), he finished with 11 points, eight assists, and he played some high-level defense. Phoenix had six players score in double digits, led by Collin Gillespie with 24 and Devin Booker with 21. Phoenix has been a surprise this season, but they’re legit, and this will be a big stage for them to show the rest of the NBA just that.

San Antonio at Los Angeles Lakers

Dec. 10
How they got here: The Lakers clinched West Group B on Tuesday night with a convincing win over the Clippers, then secured home court Friday with a victory over Anthony Davis and Dallas (a game played on a regular NBA court after Luka Doncic called the Lakers’ one “dangerous” after the Clippers game; the NBA Cup court is supposed to be back for this game). The win against Dallas summed up the Lakers this season: The Mavs made a fourth-quarter push and took a one-point lead, then Doncic and Austin Reaves took over on their way to a combined 73 points on the night (LeBron James is now a very good third option in Los Angeles).

San Antonio won West Group C by beating Denver — and doing it without Victor Wembanyama or Stephon Castle, both out injured (it’s unlikely that Wemby is back for this coming NBA Cup game). Devin Vassell was 7-of-9 from 3-point range on his way to 35 points for San Antonio, who also got 25 points and 10 boards from Julian Champagnie, who is having a strong season in Texas.

Game Analysis: San Antonio has gone an impressive 5-1 without Wembanyama, thanks to great play from DeAaron Fox leading the fifth-best offense in the league over that stretch. That will make an intriguing matchup against a Lakers team with an elite offense behind Doncic — who is playing like an MVP and leads the league in scoring at 35.1 per game — and just enough defense. Bet the over on this one, then grab the popcorn, it should be entertaining.

When are the NBA Cup quarterfinals, Finals

Here is the schedule for the quarterfinals and beyond:

Quarterfinals: Dec. 9 and 10 (at home of higher-seeded team)

Semifinals: Dec. 13 (Las Vegas)

Championship: Dec. 16 (Las Vegas)

How much money does the champion get?

Make no mistake, for the players it is all about the money — and the teams that have advanced this far will get some payday, but they all have their eye on the big prize.

“I think half a million dollars is still a good amount of money to be able to motivate you to want to win games,” the Lakers’ Jake LaRavia told NBC Sports.

Players on teams that advance out of the group stage receive bonuses from a league-sponsored prize pool, with teams that advance further receiving more. It breaks down this way:

• Each player on the team that wins the championship: $530,933

• Each player on the team that loses in the championship: $212,373

• Each player on a team that loses in the semifinals: $106,187

• Each player on a team that loses in the quarterfinals: $53,093

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.