It is hard to imagine that San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth is entering his seventh season with the franchise. A feat that should not be dismissed, as his versatility to play multiple infield positions could be key to the Padres’ success in 2026.

Cronenworth’s glove sets the standard for infield defense

Too often, we value hitting metrics more than fielding stats in determining a player’s importance to a team’s success. Cronenworth’s bottom-of-the-order run production, paired with his outstanding glove work, earned him a full-time starting role with the Padres since arriving in 2020. 

He came to San Diego in the Hunter Renfroe trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Padres highly valued his versatility, as he could effectively play first base, second base and shortstop.

The intangible is his career fielding percentage (.991), as Cronenworth’s attention to detail allows him to take a challenge and usually excel in a position change. His defense does not suffer because he has maintained a utility player’s mentality, despite being the starting second baseman.

Cronenworth is exceptional at fielding balls hit directly at him. Other middle infielders may have more range, but it is not a guarantee that they will field each ball hit in their direction. 

Obviously, the front office prefers to keep Cronenworth at second base, but circumstances may force him to play more at first base this season. The Friars are hoping to add another bat before opening Spring Training in Peoria, Ariz. on Feb. 11. 

Padres need more bottom-of-the-order production

At the plate, Cronenworth’s value is his ability to move runners along the base paths and drive in those who are in scoring position. His standout season came in 2021, Cronenworth hit .266 (career best) with 21 HR (61 extra-base hits) and 71 RBI. He achieved a career-high 122 OPS+, which earned him his first All-Star Game appearance.

Last season, Cronenworth struggled with consistency at the plate after missing time with fractured ribs. The injury limited him to a .246 batting average with 11 HR and 59 RBI in 135 games. The concern was his lack of power from the left side of the plate, as just 32 of his 103 hits were for extra-base hits.

The Padres hope Cronenworth returns to his former power-hitting, run-producing self, as this would add considerable length to the batting order.

Spring Training should have the same feel for Cronenworth, as he will take fielding reps at first and second base. However, he has no clue where he will start in the regular season. Some time at first base could be in his future, especially with the uncertainty of free agent Luis Arraez possibly returning to the fold. 

Thankfully, Cronenworth is the type of player who comes to the ballpark ready to compete. It does not matter where he plays as long as his name is in the lineup.

To get back to the postseason, the Friars must excel at using Cronenworth’s versatility to their advantage. 

Six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick didn’t get voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, according to a report from ESPN.

Citing four unidentified sources, ESPN reported Tuesday that Belichick didn’t receive the necessary 40 votes from the 50-person panel of media members and other Hall of Famers. ESPN said Belichick received a call from the Hall of Fame last Friday with the news.

The Hall of Fame declined to comment before its class of 2026 is announced at NFL Honors in San Francisco on Feb. 5.

The report of Belichick’s snub was met with significant criticism, including from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who posted on social media: “Insane … don’t even understand how this could be possible.”

Belichick was hired by New England in 2000 and led the franchise to six Super Bowl wins and three other appearances in the title game during an 18-year span from 2001-18. Belichick’s 333 wins in the regular season and playoffs with New England and Cleveland are the second most to Don Shula’s 347. He won AP NFL Coach of the Year three times.

Belichick also was one of the game’s top defensive assistants before taking over in New England, winning two earlier Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.

Belichick’s career did have blemishes. He was implicated in a sign-stealing scandal dubbed “Spygate” in the 2007 season and was fined $500,000 after the team was caught filming defensive signals from the New York Jets during a game.

Belichick’s tenure in New England ended following the 2023 season. He just finished his first year coaching in college at North Carolina.

Belichick was one of five finalists among coaches, contributors and senior players who last appeared in a game in 2000 or earlier. Patriots owner Robert Kraft was the contributor finalist, with Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood the players.

Between one and three of those finalists will be inducted into the Hall along with between three and five modern-era players from a group of 15 finalists.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ good basketball will be put to the test as they’re set to be without Evan Mobley (calf) for anywhere between one to three weeks. Additionally, they’re set to embark on a five-game, week-and-a-half Western Conference roadtrip starting on Friday against the shorthanded Phoenix Suns.

The Suns are expected to be without Devin Booker. He injured his ankle in a game last week against the Atlanta Hawks. The injury isn’t serious, but it is expected to sideline him for Friday’s game. The injury update the team announced on Sunday said he would be reevaluated in a week with a right ankle sprain.

Phoenix has been one of the best stories in the league this season. Former Cavs assistant Jordan Ott has done an excellent job leading what felt like a rudderless team after the disastrous Kevin Durant trade back into relevancy. They’re firmly in the playoff race in a tightly contested Western Conference with a 27-19 record.

Despite the good play, the Suns have struggled without Booker this season. They’ve been outscored by 2.1 points per 100 possessions (40th percentile) when he isn’t on the floor and are 1-4 in games he doesn’t play overall.

On the season, Booker is averaging 25.4 points, 6.2 assists, and four rebounds per game on .456/.313/.864 shooting splits.

The Cavs conclude their five-game roadtrip on Feb. 9 against the Denver Nuggets. Whether or not Nikola Jokic will be back in time for that game remains to be seen. He hasn’t played since injuring his knee in December, but resumed on-court workouts two weeks ago. The initial four-week reevaluation period has already passed.

No matter who is in the lineup, this upcoming stretch will be difficult for the Cavs. We’ll see how the Cavs handle it in the coming week, after they host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

The New York Rangers secured an emotional 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Monday night, but lo and behold, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury was working behind the scenes to send Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders. 

Soucy was notably absent from the lineup, as it was reported earlier in the day that he would be scratched due to roster management, with a trade between the Rangers and Islanders brewing. 

Drury’s letter, issued on Jan. 16, outlining the team’s plans to retool the roster, sent a message that change is coming, and part of this core is bound to be broken up in the coming weeks and months. 

Since then, Rangers players have preached a business-as-usual mentality, while saying all the right things regarding the direction and future of the team. 

However, it feels like the calm before the storm, and a major shakeup to the team’s core is inevitable. 

After the Rangers’ Monday night win, J.T. Miller was asked point blank if he is trying to savor these potential last few days with this group currently in place. 

“To be honest with you, I try not to think about it,” Miller said. “It is what it is at this point. We have a close group in here. This isn’t the position that any of us thought we were going to be in at the start of the season, but it’s a business and we’re just trying to treat it like normal days. We have a lot of fun together in this room, so I don’t think we’re very worried about that.”

Mike Sullivan Says Carson Soucy Trade Took Place Due To ‘Reality Of Where We’re At’The New York <a href=”https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/”>Rangers</a> completed their first trade of this suppressive retool on Monday night, sending Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders in exchange for a third-round pick.&nbsp;

There’s a certain element of calmness coming from within the Rangers’ locker room right now with everything out in the open after Drury’s letter was released. 

The reality is clear to everybody in the organization, and it’s just about waiting for what is ultimately to come.

Soucy is just the first domino to fall in what should be a flurry of moves made by Drury. 

The Los Angeles Clippers are riding high after a moribund start. Now, they’re rewarding the team’s architect.

Amid a 15-3 run that has saved the franchise’s season, the Clippers have agreed with president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank on a multiyear contract extension, according to The Athletic. The terms of the deal were not revealed, though it’s reportedly believed to be for four years.

The team has not confirmed the deal.

Frank has been with the Clippers since 2014 and was promoted to be their top basketball executive by owner Steve Ballmer in 2017. The team has posted a record above .500 every year since, with six trips to the playoffs and one Western Conference finals appearance.

Under Frank, the Clippers executed the stunning moves that brought in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and began the team’s current era, which has been marred by injuries, playoff frustrations and, most recently, a scandal that has called the circumstances of Leonard’s acquisition into question. However, the team has remained competitive in the Western Conference with an ever-changing supporting cast, with Frank regularly active on the margins.

The Clippers still have some ground to make up before this season can be considered respectable, though. At 21-24, they rank 10th in the West and are six games back from the Minnesota Timberwolves for the final guaranteed playoff spot.

The Los Angeles Clippers are riding high after a moribund start. Now, they’re rewarding the team’s architect.

Amid a 15-3 run that has saved the franchise’s season, the Clippers have agreed with president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank on a multiyear contract extension, according to The Athletic. The terms of the deal were not revealed, though it’s reportedly believed to be for four years.

The team has not confirmed the deal.

Frank has been with the Clippers since 2014 and was promoted to be their top basketball executive by owner Steve Ballmer in 2017. The team has posted a record above .500 every year since, with six trips to the playoffs and one Western Conference finals appearance.

Under Frank, the Clippers executed the stunning moves that brought in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and began the team’s current era, which has been marred by injuries, playoff frustrations and, most recently, a scandal that has called the circumstances of Leonard’s acquisition into question. However, the team has remained competitive in the Western Conference with an ever-changing supporting cast, with Frank regularly active on the margins.

The Clippers still have some ground to make up before this season can be considered respectable, though. At 21-24, they rank 10th in the West and are six games back from the Minnesota Timberwolves for the final guaranteed playoff spot.

PAARL, South Africa (AP) — South Africa captain Aiden Markram scored an unbeaten 86 off 47 balls as the Proteas beat the West Indies by 9 wickets Tuesday in the opener of their three-match T20 international series.

Markram, who hit nine boundaries and three sixes, shared a partnership of 83 with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (44) and 93 with Ryan Rickelton to reach 176-1 with 13 balls to spare.

Left-arm spinner George Linde picked 3-25 to earn player-of-the-match honors, while Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch took two wickets each as the visitors reached 173-7 in 20 overs after South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Shimron Hetmyer top-scored for the West Indies with 48 runs off 32 balls that included four boundaries and three sixes. Hetmyer and Rovman Powell (29 not out) shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 74.

The second match is on Thursday at Centurion.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

It’s going to take more than a few losses to shake bettors’ faith in the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

OKC’s NBA championship odds have remained rock solid at +135 over the past two weeks despite posting an uninspiring 7-3 record in their last 10 games. That span has included a pair of narrow back-to-back losses to the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors on the team’s current eastern road trip.

In spite of those setbacks, the Thunder still have the NBA’s best record at 37-10 and are on pace to establish the highest net rating in league history. In fact, OKC is considered to be such a prohibitive favorite that bet365 is now offering a Thunder (+110) vs. the Field (-140) market. 

Let’s dive into the latest odds as the new year gets underway.

🏆 2026 NBA Championship odds

The Thunder’s odds have moved from +230 before the season began to +135 today. Rounding out the Top 5 are the Denver Nuggets (+600), Houston Rockets (+1000), New York Knicks (+1200), and Los Angeles Lakers (+1200).

📈 2026 NBA Finals odds over time

Here’s a visual representation of how the NBA championship has odds evolved since June 2025.

💰 Sportsbook betting splits and insights

Highest ticket percentage
•    Nuggets 8.8%
•    Thunder 8.7%
•    Mavericks 8.2%
 
Highest handle percentage
•    Thunder 17.9%
•    Mavericks 16.3%
•    Lakers 13.3%
 
Biggest liability
•    Mavericks 
•    Lakers
•    Warriors 

Data courtesy of BetMGM.

2026 NBA Championship opening odds

• Thunder +230
• Knicks +900
• Pacers +900
• Timberwolves +1000
• Cavaliers +1100
• Rockets +1200
• Lakers +1600
• Spurs +1600
• Nuggets +1700
• Celtics +2000
• Warriors +2300
• Magic +2500
• Mavericks +4000
• Clippers +4000
• 76ers +4500
• Heat +5000
• Pistons +7000
• Bucks +7500
• Grizzlies +10000
• Raptors +15000
• Suns +17000
• Kings +20000
• Pelicans +20000
• Nets +25000
• Hawks +30000
• Bulls +40000
• Trail Blazers +40000
• Wizards +60000
• Hornets +60000
• Jazz +60000

🤖 AI NBA Championship prediction

We turned to the enormous computing power of ChatGPT to find out who the large language model believes will be the last team standing this season. Not surprisingly, it stuck with the defending champs.

Oklahoma City has the cleanest runway to be the best team in 2026: an MVP-caliber engine in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander entering the heart of his prime, a two-way star wing in Jalen Williams, and a 7-footer in Chet Holmgren whose blend of rim protection, spacing, and feel supercharges modern schemes. That trio already drives elite half-court efficiency and a top-tier defense, and it’s backed by organizational continuity that reliably turns role players into playoff-useful pieces. Holmgren’s strength and timing appear to be fully NBA-hardened, unlocking more switching and fewer help-and-recover compromises, while SGA’s mid-range and foul-drawing remain matchup-proof in May and June.

Depth and optionality push the Thunder over the top. They can win big or small, play five-out without sacrificing rim protection, and toggle between pressure defense and conservative coverages depending on opponent. Crucially, they still have surplus picks and cap flexibility to plug the inevitable holes that show up in a long postseason, whether that’s a second unit scorer, another stretch big, or a specialist wing.

Expect a rotation stacked with plus length, shooting, and decision-making around the core; enough to outlast the West’s heavyweights and finish the job in the Finals.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

It’s not the news San Diego Padres fans wanted necessarily, but it’s the news we got, and it allows us a moment to step away from prognostications and hypotheticals about potential trades or free agent signings to think about something we, as fans, can control. 

The Padres released their 2026 promotional schedule with the items being unveiled on Ben & Woods on 97.3 The Fan Monday morning, and across all San Diego social media platforms as well as emails to subscribers. There is no doubt you have at least heard of the giveaways if not seen them by now.

There is something for everyone on the giveaway schedule this year. The items range from scarves and crossbody bags to T-shirts and lunchboxes. But some of the most sought-after giveaways in recent years have been bobbleheads. The Padres announced six regular game bobblehead giveaways and three theme game bobblehead giveaways.

Manny Machado, Mason Miller, Xander Bogaerts, Trevor Hoffman, Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. each will be featured in the regular season bobbleheads, while Jeremiah Estrada, Merrill and Don Orsillo and Mark “Mud” Grant will have theme game bobbleheads.  

Of course, the idea is the giveaways will bring fans to Petco Park, which has not been a problem the past few seasons, but the bobbleheads have become quite the collector’s item especially for fans of the Padres or a specific player. The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a bobblehead for the regular games and only fans with a theme game ticket will receive one of the Estrada – Lowrider, Merrill – Star Wars or Don and Mud – Mini Yacht bobbleheads.

Gaslamp Ball wants to know which bobblehead would entice you to make sure you’re at the game. There are plenty of choices and something for everyone. Undoubtably there will be fans who collect them all, but if you could get just one, which bobblehead would you want?

Results of the poll will be posted later in the week.