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Free agent outfielder Max Kepler has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, Major League Baseball announced on Friday, a ruling that sidelines the veteran as he looks for his next club.
The suspension stems from a positive test for epitrenbolone, a metabolite of the prohibited steroid trenbolone prohibited under MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The ban takes effect immediately and would apply if Kepler signs with a team during the 2026 season.
Related: Trump loomed over baseball’s Hall of Fame. But voters still said no to Bonds and Clemens
Kepler, who turns 33 next month, is an 11-year major league veteran who spent the first decade of his career with the Minnesota Twins before joining the Philadelphia Phillies last season. As a free agent, he was not under contract at the time of the announcement but remains subject to the league’s drug program.
In a statement, MLB said the suspension was issued following a violation of its jointly administered drug policy with the Major League Baseball Players Association. The league did not provide further details about the circumstances of the test or whether Kepler intends to appeal.
Epitrenbolone has been linked to past anti-doping cases across professional sports. In 2018, the substance was cited in the suspension of heavyweight boxer Manuel Charr after a positive test halted his title defense. It was also at the center of a US Anti-Doping Agency case involving a 90-year-old American cyclist who was stripped of a masters world record in 2020.
Kepler, a native of Berlin who holds the MLB career record for home runs by a German-born player, debuted with the Twins in 2015 and emerged as a fixture in their outfield, known for his left-handed power and steady defense. He was a key contributor to multiple postseason teams in Minnesota, including the club’s division-winning seasons in 2019 and 2020.
An 80-game suspension is the standard penalty for a first offense under MLB’s drug program involving performance-enhancing substances. Players suspended under the policy are ineligible to participate in regular-season games or the postseason during the suspension period and do not receive pay.
In head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.
Eight teams only play once this weekend, including the Hornets, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Pistons, Pacers, Lakers and Jazz. Avoid those teams if you’re just looking to maximize your games played.
That’s often what it comes down to in standard points and category leagues, but that’s not always the case. Leagues with some sort of games cap or best ball formats like Yahoo!’s High Score leagues aren’t just looking for volume, though having two chances at a big night is a good strategy in best ball leagues.
OKC will play Friday’s game without multiple starters, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has an ankle injury. That should allow Mitchell to step into the starting lineup, where he has averaged 15.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.4 triples on efficient shooting splits. For Friday’s game against the Grizzlies, Mitchell should be in for a big night, and if he returns to the bench for Sunday’s game against the Heat, he should still be productive. Miami is second in pace over their last 10 games and first over the course of the whole season.
Mitchell has been excellent off the bench all season, yet he’s still only rostered in 29% of Yahoo! leagues. Most of his value is tied to efficient shooting and steals, but he has been able to elevate his scoring and assists when given the opportunity. He should be rostered for the rest of the season, but this weekend should be a particularly productive one for him.
McBride should remain in the starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Suns, and if Josh Hart (ankle) remains out against the Trail Blazers on Sunday, McBride could start again. Even as a reserve, he has been on fire lately. The matchups aren’t necessarily “favorable” but the opportunity is too good to pass up.
Carrington entered the starting lineup with CJ McCollum (quad) out on Wednesday, and with McCollum now in Atlanta and Trae Young (quad) out, Carrington should remain a starter. There is a real chance that Trae doesn’t suit up often this season, so Carrington could end up as a starter for the rest of the season. The Wizards take on the Pelicans on Friday, which is a more favorable matchup than the Suns on Sunday, but this could be more than a short-term add.
With Ja Morant (calf) sidelined for a fourth straight game on Friday and potentially sidelined again on Sunday against the Nets, Spencer should remain a starter. It won’t hurt that the game on Friday will be against OKC’s backups. Spencer’s scoring has been volatile, but the assists have come consistently, which is most of his streaming appeal.
Brooks has taken a massive leap as a scorer, and he’ll get to take on two teams that have struggled recently on defense this weekend. Over the last 10 games, the Knicks are 28th in defensive rating, and the Wizards are 21st. The lack of production in other categories limits his fantasy impact, but Brooks should be in for some big scoring nights.
Eason has been excellent since entering the starting unit for Houston, and this weekend provides two favorable matchups. The Trail Blazers have the worst turnover percentage in the NBA, and Eason’s bread and butter is forcing turnovers. Then the Rockets take on the Kings, who have been one of the worst defensive teams in the league. It’ll happen in different ways, but Eason should be in for a productive two-game stretch.
CMB has had some strong performances recently as a starter, and with how many injuries the Raptors are dealing with, he should be able to keep it going this weekend. Scottie Barnes (knee) is doubtful, and Brandon Ingram (thumb) is questionable, which only means more minutes and opportunities for CMB. They play the 76ers on Sunday, and they have been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league recently.
Adams is starting with Alperen Şengün (ankle) sidelined, and when he gets the opportunity, he’s able to dominate the glass. Portland on Friday isn’t a great matchup, but taking on the Kings on Sunday is favorable since they’re one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA. Adams can provide other stats, but his domination on the boards is enough for him to be worth streaming.
With Nikola Jokić and Jonas Valančiūnas out, Nnaji hasn’t started, but he has been more productive off the bench than DaRon Holmes II has been as the starting center for Denver. The Nuggets play the Hawks and Bucks this weekend, and Atlanta has been bad on the glass for most of the season. However, this is less about matchups and more about just how good Nnaji has been.
Landale has been starting at center for Memphis, which has led to some strong performances recently, mostly as a rebounder. On Friday, the Grizz play the OKC backups, which means a matchup with Branden Carlson. Landale should be productive, and then on Sunday, it’s a matchup with the Nets. They have been a bottom-10 rebounding team over the past 10 games, which provides Landale with a great opportunity.
We’ve had one big trade — Trae Young going to the Wizards — and now another big name is available at the deadline in Ja Morant (for the latest on him, click here). Let’s break down the latest rumors.
There are a number of teams interested in Pelicans’ wings Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III, but not at a return that decision maker Joe Dumars and the Pelicans consider fair, so they are taking their ball and going home, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Sources: New Orleans Pelicans are disappointing the market in informing teams that Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears will remain with the organization past Feb. 5 trade deadline.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 9, 2026
Two thoughts. First, this is a classic “we’re walking away from the negotiating table” tactic to encourage better offers. Maybe those come, maybe they don’t, but the Pelicans are not done talking. Second, there was zero chance that Derik Queen or Jeremiah Fears are now or were ever available via trade.
In the wake of trading away Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks gave themselves more financial flexibility to go after an Anthony Davis trade, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. The Hawks didn’t want the massive contracts of Young and Davis on the books at the same time, according to the report, but now Young is out the door for an expiring contract in CJ McCollum, giving the Hawks more flexibility.
Atlanta has been the most aggressive suitor for an Anthony Davis trade. Should they be? Should the Hawks go after Davis?
I just do not like the fit. Let’s stipulate that, when healthy, Davis is a top-15-20 player in the league who impacts the game on both ends of the court. He just had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks last night and — again, when healthy — would boost the Hawks frontcourt.
But he is a 32-year-old with a lengthy injury history — he has played 65+ games once in the previous eight seasons and has missed 18 games already this season — who is owed $58 million next season, has a $62 million player option for the season after that, and is looking for a contract extension.
Atlanta is now what every team in the league is striving to be — long, athletic, young and versatile. And, they are going to end up with a very high draft pick next June in a very deep draft, courtesy of the New Orleans Pelicans. The rest of the Hawks’ core is young. Jalen Johnson should be an All-Star this season and is 24, Dyson Daniels is 22, Zaccharie Risacher is 20, and the “old man” of the group is Nickeil Alexander-Walker at 27.
Adding Davis, who will be 33 next season when the Hawks want to make a push and become a threat in the East, changes that dynamic — and how many wins does he really bring with him? Atlanta would need Davis to play the five, but he famously does not want to do that full-time and prefers to play at the four.
If Atlanta wants to make this trade, it cannot aggregate CJ McCollum or Corey Kispert into it under the terms of the CBA. That means the trade would have to center on returning Kristaps Porziņģis to Dallas, plus adding the 2024 No. 1 overall pick, Risacher, and Luke Kennard. Atlanta has reportedly been adamant that it does not want to include Risacher in a trade for Davis.
Atlanta should get out of the Davis market, look for a point guard such as Coby White who might be available (or other players on the margins), and, this off-season, look for a star player on the timeline of their other talent. Trading away Young to bring in Davis feels like a lateral move.
Dallas may get to see what Davis, Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving look like playing together after all, with any major roster changes on hold until the summer.
Going back to last offseason, the Sacramento Kings have been the team most often linked to a Kuminga trade. It makes some sense, the Kings are simply in need of more young talent and taking a flier on Kuminga — hoping a new setting will help him thrive — is not a bad roll of the dice.
The challenge? Golden State doesn’t like what Sacramento has to offer, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.
Yet because the Warriors have shown no interest in the Kings’ many available veterans, a third team likely will be required to get something done. There’s this key development, too: While the Kings offered a protected 2030 first-round pick and Monk when they tried to land Kuminga via sign-and-trade in the summer, league sources say the first-round pick is no longer in play.
The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards also have “all have different levels of interest” in Kuminga, reports Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Kuminga can be traded as of Jan. 15, but don’t expect an immediate deal once the restrictions are off. Nothing seems particularly close to happening at this point.
While we are talking about the Kings’ trades, Domantas Sabonis continues to be linked to the Toronto Raptors, a team known to be looking for a center, reports Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Just a reminder that the current Kings general manager, Scott Perry, drafted both RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley when he was with the Knicks.
While the Knicks may have lost 4-of-5, don’t expect that to push them toward a major trade or shaking up this roster. What owner James Dolan said in a rare interview reportedly is the thinking internally at Madison Square Garden — they like their team as it is and their chances of making the NBA Finals. Here is what James L. Edwards III wrote at The Athletic.
“Per league sources, before this skid, any move the Knicks made — if they made one at all — would be around the margins.”
Don’t expect that to change unless this slump — and the team’s struggling defense — continues. Then all bets are off.
Most people haven’t actively managed a firewall in at least a decade, assuming they ever have. But keeping track of which applications are using the internet—and how much data they’re using—is still useful at times, as is blocking apps from accessing the net entirely.
While you’re traveling, for example, internet access might be limited, so it’s a good idea to cut off applications that constantly churn through data. But even while at home, it’s a good security practice to review which applications are connecting to the internet. And while macOS comes with a firewall, it’s not really a useful tool for that.
Which is why I like FireWally. This totally free application, offered by the Ukraine-based indie Mac developers Nektony, isn’t a tool for power users—it’s streamlined and user friendly. Click the menu bar icon and you’ll see a list of applications using the internet. You can see a summary of all traffic today, in the past hour, or monitor incoming traffic in real time.
Beside every application is its data usage. You can see a breakdown of inbound and outbound traffic for any application by hovering the mouse over it. You can block any application from accessing the internet by toggling the switch.
What if you don’t recognize an application? I, traditionally, ended up copying the name of the application and pasting it into a search engine. FireWally tries to save you some time by providing AI-generated summaries of each application using Apple Intelligence (assuming your Mac supports that feature). It’s a useful way to quickly remind yourself what a particular application is, or to identify one you don’t recognize.
It’s a very streamlined application, but perfect for anyone hoping to understand a bit more about how much data their various Mac applications are using. Give it a spin if you’re looking for a simple firewall application.
