Yesterday, MacKenzie Gore became the first piece of the Juan Soto deal to be traded away from the Nats. However, there is a decent chance he will not be the last. As the Gore trade was finalized, rumblings about the Nats dealing CJ Abrams emerged.

The Washington Post reported that the Nats have been shopping Abrams, as well as defensive ace Jacob Young this offseason. This lines up with reporting earlier this offseason that there was interest in Abrams around the league. In December, Ken Rosenthal reported that Abrams was drawing heavy interest.

However, Paul Toboni’s tone has always been a bit different with Abrams than it was with Gore. Throughout the offseason, Toboni acknowledged that the team was actively listening with Gore. When discussing Abrams, he said the team was picking up the phone, but there has been a subtext that they would really need to be blown away to move him.

That stance was on display today when Toboni talked to Grant and Danny on 106.7. He said that he would pick up the phone, but that he sees Abrams as his shortstop. Toboni was never that committal towards Gore, which tells me something.

This is not to say he won’t be traded. There is a chance that we wake up in a couple days and Abrams is on a different team. After all, my feel for these things is not great. Yesterday, I wrote about how a Gore trade felt less likely than ever, and hours later he was dealt. You just never know with these things, but throughout the offseason, I thought a Gore trade was more likely than an Abrams move.

If Abrams gets moved, I feel like the deadline might be a better time. With three years of team control remaining, the Nats should be in absolutely no hurry to move Abrams. They should only move him if they feel like they are getting surplus value in the trade.

The deadline honestly feels like a better time to get that surplus value. There are teams that feel confident in their infield situation right now that could not feel so confident as things play out in the season. The Red Sox, Yankees and Royals are three teams that this could apply to. If Anthony Volpe continues to struggle in the Bronx, the Yankees would have a pretty glaring hole at shortstop that Abrams could address.

You can never count anything out with Toboni though. If you asked me to name five teams that Gore could be traded to, I am not sure the Rangers would be on the list and if it was, they would have been 4th or 5th on the list. Teams like the Yankees, Orioles, Cubs and even the A’s were speculated about more.

When you think about it though, the Rangers needed a younger number 3 starter behind Degrom and Eovaldi, so the fit made sense. Could there be a team like that for Abrams? The Mariners have been an AL West team that has been oddly quiet lately. Could they be a player for Abrams if they cannot land Brandon Donovan from the Cardinals? I think it is possible.

At the end of the day, if a deal happens, I think it is more likely to take place at the deadline or next offseason. Unlike Gore, the service time clock is not really ticking for Abrams yet. They could hold on to Abrams and still get the same type of package in a few months. The new player development is also probably eager to get their hands on a talent like him.

The Scott Boras factor that existed with Gore is also not there with Abrams. If they really pushed, they could get Abrams extended. It is unclear if they want to do that, but it is a possibility. I hope they at least give it a shot because Abrams is a very exciting message and it would be a good message to send to the fans. Given recent history, Nats fans probably shouldn’t get too attached to Abrams though.

Carlos Mendoza broke down the Mets’ busy week during an appearance on ‘Foul Territory’ on Friday afternoon.

Here are his thoughts:

On where Bo Bichette fits into Mets’ lineup…

“This is a guy who is so versatile,” he said. “He could hit leadoff, second, third, fourth — we’re still so far from Opening Day, but if you’re asking me right now, I could see a combination of [Francisco] Lindor, [Juan] Soto, and Bichette right away.

“I have to have these conversations with the players, but the fact that Bo is such a good hitter, you could put him in front of Soto, you could put him behind him, you could take Lindor out of the leadoff spot and put him third — there’s so many different ways I could go here.”  

On acquiring Luis Robert Jr. from White Sox…

“We’re looking at a very toolsy player,” Mendoza said. “When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best. We know the defense, we know the power, we know he can steal bases — it’s our job to keep him on the field now.

“I know the trainers are already with their hands on him. We have to get to know the player, his routines and the way he prepares, then we have to make some adjustments in communication with him because that’s going to be the goal — we need this guy on the field.”

On adding Freddy Peralta in trade with Brewers…

“I spoke with him as soon as the transaction went down,” Mendoza said. “I got on the phone with him and had a very good conversation, he was super excited — everything I’m hearing, we all know the quality of the pitcher, but everyone keeps telling me about the quality of the person. 

“You could feel it from my first conversation how excited he was. He’s willing to report to Port St. Lucie early so he can start meeting people, and that, to me, goes a long way — at the end of the day, he just has to be Freddy Peralta, go out there compete and give us a chance to win every time you take the baseball.”

Mendoza was also asked about a potential extension with Peralta, but like Stearns on Thursday, he said the organization is just focused on letting him get his feet wet and the rest will take care of itself. 

On Nolan McLean pitching for Team USA in the WBC…

“The fact that he’s going to be able to experience that, playing with and against some of the best players in the world in that type of environment and in those settings, it’s just going to continue to help his development. So I’m excited about it and I know he’s super excited — I’m looking forward to watching him pitch.”

In nearly a half-century of existence, no Seattle Mariners team has traversed deeper into the postseason than the 2025 club, which was on the precipice of the franchise’s first World Series appearance before falling short in heartbreaking fashion against the Blue Jays in ALCS Game 7. But as painful as the ending might have been, it didn’t erase a successful and memorable campaign for Seattle. Headlined by a full-fledged ascent into superstardom for catcher Cal Raleigh and a mostly homegrown rotation that is revered industry-wide, the Mariners took a meaningful step toward being firmly included among the inner circle of American League contenders.

Yet with the label of the only major-league team to never appear in the Fall Classic still looming over the franchise, there’s more work to be done. This offseason represented another opportunity for Seattle’s front office, led by president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander, to solidify the team’s status as the favorite in the AL West after winning the division for the first time since 2001. But after a flurry of activity early in the winter — re-signing first baseman Josh Naylor, acquiring lefty reliever Jose Ferrer, signing outfielder Rob Refsnyder — the Mariners have been uncharacteristically quiet in January. And with just three weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Peoria, Arizona, several key questions remain. Let’s dig in.

1. Is Brendan Donovan still a realistic trade target?

Amid a Cardinals offseason that has seen a trio of accomplished veterans (Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado) dealt, the versatile Brendan Donovan remains on the roster despite persistent trade rumors swirling around him. Because he is under contract for two more seasons at modest salaries — and because St. Louis values him so highly — there’s not nearly as much urgency to trade him as there was for the three expensive vets already moved. But because of how future-focused new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has been with St. Louis’ big-picture plan, whispers about Donovan’s availability haven’t exactly quieted. 

The Mariners have not been shy about their interest in Donovan throughout the winter, understandably so. Swiftly re-signing Naylor helped stabilize the lineup, but Naylor wasn’t the only key Seattle infielder who reached free agency; Eugenio Suárez and Jorge Polanco hit the open market as well, leaving second and third base relatively unsettled. The Mariners have several young players who could fill those spots, as Ben Williamson and Cole Young each showed flashes of promise as rookies in 2025, and top prospect Colt Emerson is knocking on the door. But Seattle would be wise to add some more certainty at one of those two infield spots. Enter Donovan, whose experience at both second and third combined with his stellar left-handed bat makes him an obvious target. Adding Donovan would enable Seattle to lean on whichever young infielder is most ready to contribute and have Donovan cover the other spot.

But while Donovan has long felt like a piece of Seattle’s offseason puzzle, the two teams have yet to find common ground. But with a deep farm system to deal from, there’s still time for the Mariners to offer the right combination of prospects to entice the Cardinals. As evidenced by the recent flurry of activity league-wide, negotiations that appear stalled can coalesce into deals in a blink. Don’t rule this out just yet.

[Get more Seattle news: Mariners team feed] 

2. If Donovan is a no-go, are the young infielders ready for prime time?

If the Mariners are unable to meet St. Louis’ asking price for Donovan, they could turn elsewhere on the trade market or explore a(nother) reunion on a short-term deal with fan favorite Suárez, who remains unsigned. More likely, however, Seattle would keep the runway open for its group of homegrown infielders to establish themselves as core pieces in the majors, accepting the ups and downs that come with giving young players every-day opportunities.

Williamson, Young and Emerson offer varying reasons for optimism that they can become key contributors sooner rather than later. Williamson’s bat was simply not ready for the majors when the Mariners tabbed him as the starter at third base in the first half last season, but his terrific glove comfortably passed the eye test, and he performed much better at the plate in Triple-A once sent back down. If some of his offensive adjustments stick, Williamson projects as a much more respectable regular at third now than he did at this time last year.

Young, Seattle’s first-round pick in 2022, made his debut at age 21 in May and got substantial playing time before his role was reduced down the stretch and in the postseason in favor of Polanco and Leo Rivas. Young’s final slash line as a rookie (.211/.302/.305) wasn’t pretty, but his offensive potential was on display during a 29-game stretch in which he hit .268/.400/.476 and launched a 456-foot home run against Texas, Seattle’s farthest home run of the entire season and postseason (yes, farther than any of Cal Raleigh’s 65 blasts!). Outlier moon shot aside, Young brings more on-base ability than potent power, but his overall skill set has Seattle confident he can become an above-average regular at second base in short order.

And then there’s Emerson, who is not just the top prospect in Seattle’s system but also one of the premier infield prospects in all of baseball. In Seattle, he looks to be the heir apparent to J.P. Crawford at shortstop, but with Crawford under contract for another season, the quickest path to playing time for Emerson’s advanced bat could come at third, where he’s expected to compete with Williamson for the starting job this spring. Even if Emerson needs a touch more seasoning in the minors — he finished 2025 playing just six games with Triple-A Tacoma — it wouldn’t be surprising to see him force the issue and debut before he turns 21, something no Mariner has done since Adam Jones in 2006.

3. Can the offense be better than it was last year?

How the infield shakes out will influence the outlook for the offense as a whole. But there are other elements to consider when projecting Seattle’s chances of improving on last year’s lineup, which ranked third in wRC+, ninth in runs per game, 10th in OPS and third in home runs. That’s a high bar to clear.

A full season from Naylor should do wonders; first base was a marked weakness before he arrived at the trade deadline, and he assimilated into the middle of the order seamlessly, undaunted by the prospect of hitting in hitter-unfriendly T-Mobile Park. Free-agent add Refsnyder, who crushes left-handed pitching, could form a fantastic platoon at DH and/or right field with Dominic Canzone. Canzone’s .879 OPS ranked 18th among left-handed hitters with at least 200 plate appearances against righties in 2025, while Refsnyder’s .924 OPS over the past four seasons ranked sixth among right-handed bats with at least 400 PAs against southpaws. 

But while the new personnel is important, it’s still all about the stars. It is unreasonable to expect Raleigh to hit 60 home runs again, but how much will he regress? He had never posted an OPS above .762 before last year’s MVP-caliber mark of .948. Seattle’s chances of being an elite offense might depend on that number being closer to the latter than the former. A lot is also riding on Julio Rodriguez’s ability to start hot at the plate, instead of being a second-half superstar. There’s no doubt that Raleigh and Rodriguez have established star-level floors of production, but how close they can get to replicating or even improving upon the best versions of themselves will go a long way in determining Seattle’s potential.

4. Is there room for another bullpen addition?

If there’s one area of the roster Seattle has been busy addressing this winter, it’s the bullpen. Acquiring Ferrer, one of the hardest-throwing lefty relievers in the sport and someone Seattle believes has untapped potential, was the biggest move of the bunch, but he’s hardly the only new arm who could be competing for a spot in camp. Smaller trades and waiver claims also netted right-handers Cole Wilcox, Alex Hoppe, Yosver Zulueta and Ryan Loutos, plus lefty Robinson Ortiz. 

None of those are household names by any means, but it was crucial for Seattle to amass more depth in the bullpen to turn to over the course of a long season. For as good as the Mariners’ upper-echelon bullpen arms — Andres Muñoz, Matt Brash, Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo — were for the bulk of last season, it was clear several of them had worn down considerably down the stretch and deep into October. That’s what makes Ferrer’s addition so important, but there’s an argument that even more reinforcements are needed to avoid taxing the top arms so heavily in 2026. Proven options have thinned out considerably on the free-agent market, but another Ferrer-style trade for an impact arm with multiple years of control could make sense.

The aforementioned top four plus Ferrer comfortably account for five of the eight spots in the Mariners’ Opening Day bullpen. The next three on the projected depth chart — Carlos Vargas, Casey Legumina and Jackson Kowar — are all out of options, so they might have a leg up on the new guys, but they’ll need to earn their spots on the Opening Day roster, considering the depth of talent that will be pushing them.

5. How will the rotation evolve over the next year?

Few teams, if any, have had as much rotation stability in recent years as the Mariners. Outside of a few injury interruptions last year, Seattle has leaned on the same quintet — Logan GIlbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo — for an overwhelming majority of its starts. In fact, over the past two seasons, just seven pitchers — those five plus homegrown right-handers Logan Evans and Emerson Hancock — have made at least five starts for the Mariners, the fewest of any club in baseball and a sharp contrast to other contenders such as the Dodgers (17), Brewers (16) and Astros (14), who have seen a plethora of starters take the ball over that span. With all five Mariners starters under contract for at least two more seasons — Gilbert and Castillo for two, Kirby for three, Woo and Miller for four — that unusually consistent core could stay intact a while longer.

Whether this rare continuity sustains for Seattle’s rotation will depend on performance, injury luck and whether the Mariners are able to sign any of these pitchers to longer-term extensions. But adding further intrigue is the fact that Seattle also boasts one of the best trios of pitching prospects in the sport: 22-year-old switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, 20-year-old right-hander Ryan Sloan and last year’s No. 3 pick out of LSU, lefty Kade Anderson. These premium arms’ progress this season will be fascinating to watch, as any of them could pitch their way to the doorstep of the majors and force the front office to make some interesting decisions about a rotation that has been so steady for so long. To be clear, these would be good problems to have if all the arms involved stay healthy and pitch well, so it’s a fun subplot to keep an eye on as the 2026 season begins.

In nearly a half-century of existence, no Seattle Mariners team has traversed deeper into the postseason than the 2025 club, which was on the precipice of the franchise’s first World Series appearance before falling short in heartbreaking fashion against the Blue Jays in ALCS Game 7. But as painful as the ending might have been, it didn’t erase a successful and memorable campaign for Seattle. Headlined by a full-fledged ascent into superstardom for catcher Cal Raleigh and a mostly homegrown rotation that is revered industry-wide, the Mariners took a meaningful step toward being firmly included among the inner circle of American League contenders.

Yet with the label of the only major-league team to never appear in the Fall Classic still looming over the franchise, there’s more work to be done. This offseason represented another opportunity for Seattle’s front office, led by president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander, to solidify the team’s status as the favorite in the AL West after winning the division for the first time since 2001. But after a flurry of activity early in the winter — re-signing first baseman Josh Naylor, acquiring lefty reliever Jose Ferrer, signing outfielder Rob Refsnyder — the Mariners have been uncharacteristically quiet in January. And with just three weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Peoria, Arizona, several key questions remain. Let’s dig in.

1. Is Brendan Donovan still a realistic trade target?

Amid a Cardinals offseason that has seen a trio of accomplished veterans (Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado) dealt, the versatile Brendan Donovan remains on the roster despite persistent trade rumors swirling around him. Because he is under contract for two more seasons at modest salaries — and because St. Louis values him so highly — there’s not nearly as much urgency to trade him as there was for the three expensive vets already moved. But because of how future-focused new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has been with St. Louis’ big-picture plan, whispers about Donovan’s availability haven’t exactly quieted. 

The Mariners have not been shy about their interest in Donovan throughout the winter, understandably so. Swiftly re-signing Naylor helped stabilize the lineup, but Naylor wasn’t the only key Seattle infielder who reached free agency; Eugenio Suárez and Jorge Polanco hit the open market as well, leaving second and third base relatively unsettled. The Mariners have several young players who could fill those spots, as Ben Williamson and Cole Young each showed flashes of promise as rookies in 2025, and top prospect Colt Emerson is knocking on the door. But Seattle would be wise to add some more certainty at one of those two infield spots. Enter Donovan, whose experience at both second and third combined with his stellar left-handed bat makes him an obvious target. Adding Donovan would enable Seattle to lean on whichever young infielder is most ready to contribute and have Donovan cover the other spot.

But while Donovan has long felt like a piece of Seattle’s offseason puzzle, the two teams have yet to find common ground. But with a deep farm system to deal from, there’s still time for the Mariners to offer the right combination of prospects to entice the Cardinals. As evidenced by the recent flurry of activity league-wide, negotiations that appear stalled can coalesce into deals in a blink. Don’t rule this out just yet.

[Get more Seattle news: Mariners team feed] 

2. If Donovan is a no-go, are the young infielders ready for prime time?

If the Mariners are unable to meet St. Louis’ asking price for Donovan, they could turn elsewhere on the trade market or explore a(nother) reunion on a short-term deal with fan favorite Suárez, who remains unsigned. More likely, however, Seattle would keep the runway open for its group of homegrown infielders to establish themselves as core pieces in the majors, accepting the ups and downs that come with giving young players every-day opportunities.

Williamson, Young and Emerson offer varying reasons for optimism that they can become key contributors sooner rather than later. Williamson’s bat was simply not ready for the majors when the Mariners tabbed him as the starter at third base in the first half last season, but his terrific glove comfortably passed the eye test, and he performed much better at the plate in Triple-A once sent back down. If some of his offensive adjustments stick, Williamson projects as a much more respectable regular at third now than he did at this time last year.

Young, Seattle’s first-round pick in 2022, made his debut at age 21 in May and got substantial playing time before his role was reduced down the stretch and in the postseason in favor of Polanco and Leo Rivas. Young’s final slash line as a rookie (.211/.302/.305) wasn’t pretty, but his offensive potential was on display during a 29-game stretch in which he hit .268/.400/.476 and launched a 456-foot home run against Texas, Seattle’s farthest home run of the entire season and postseason (yes, farther than any of Cal Raleigh’s 65 blasts!). Outlier moon shot aside, Young brings more on-base ability than potent power, but his overall skill set has Seattle confident he can become an above-average regular at second base in short order.

And then there’s Emerson, who is not just the top prospect in Seattle’s system but also one of the premier infield prospects in all of baseball. In Seattle, he looks to be the heir apparent to J.P. Crawford at shortstop, but with Crawford under contract for another season, the quickest path to playing time for Emerson’s advanced bat could come at third, where he’s expected to compete with Williamson for the starting job this spring. Even if Emerson needs a touch more seasoning in the minors — he finished 2025 playing just six games with Triple-A Tacoma — it wouldn’t be surprising to see him force the issue and debut before he turns 21, something no Mariner has done since Adam Jones in 2006.

3. Can the offense be better than it was last year?

How the infield shakes out will influence the outlook for the offense as a whole. But there are other elements to consider when projecting Seattle’s chances of improving on last year’s lineup, which ranked third in wRC+, ninth in runs per game, 10th in OPS and third in home runs. That’s a high bar to clear.

A full season from Naylor should do wonders; first base was a marked weakness before he arrived at the trade deadline, and he assimilated into the middle of the order seamlessly, undaunted by the prospect of hitting in hitter-unfriendly T-Mobile Park. Free-agent add Refsnyder, who crushes left-handed pitching, could form a fantastic platoon at DH and/or right field with Dominic Canzone. Canzone’s .879 OPS ranked 18th among left-handed hitters with at least 200 plate appearances against righties in 2025, while Refsnyder’s .924 OPS over the past four seasons ranked sixth among right-handed bats with at least 400 PAs against southpaws. 

But while the new personnel is important, it’s still all about the stars. It is unreasonable to expect Raleigh to hit 60 home runs again, but how much will he regress? He had never posted an OPS above .762 before last year’s MVP-caliber mark of .948. Seattle’s chances of being an elite offense might depend on that number being closer to the latter than the former. A lot is also riding on Julio Rodriguez’s ability to start hot at the plate, instead of being a second-half superstar. There’s no doubt that Raleigh and Rodriguez have established star-level floors of production, but how close they can get to replicating or even improving upon the best versions of themselves will go a long way in determining Seattle’s potential.

4. Is there room for another bullpen addition?

If there’s one area of the roster Seattle has been busy addressing this winter, it’s the bullpen. Acquiring Ferrer, one of the hardest-throwing lefty relievers in the sport and someone Seattle believes has untapped potential, was the biggest move of the bunch, but he’s hardly the only new arm who could be competing for a spot in camp. Smaller trades and waiver claims also netted right-handers Cole Wilcox, Alex Hoppe, Yosver Zulueta and Ryan Loutos, plus lefty Robinson Ortiz. 

None of those are household names by any means, but it was crucial for Seattle to amass more depth in the bullpen to turn to over the course of a long season. For as good as the Mariners’ upper-echelon bullpen arms — Andres Muñoz, Matt Brash, Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo — were for the bulk of last season, it was clear several of them had worn down considerably down the stretch and deep into October. That’s what makes Ferrer’s addition so important, but there’s an argument that even more reinforcements are needed to avoid taxing the top arms so heavily in 2026. Proven options have thinned out considerably on the free-agent market, but another Ferrer-style trade for an impact arm with multiple years of control could make sense.

The aforementioned top four plus Ferrer comfortably account for five of the eight spots in the Mariners’ Opening Day bullpen. The next three on the projected depth chart — Carlos Vargas, Casey Legumina and Jackson Kowar — are all out of options, so they might have a leg up on the new guys, but they’ll need to earn their spots on the Opening Day roster, considering the depth of talent that will be pushing them.

5. How will the rotation evolve over the next year?

Few teams, if any, have had as much rotation stability in recent years as the Mariners. Outside of a few injury interruptions last year, Seattle has leaned on the same quintet — Logan GIlbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo — for an overwhelming majority of its starts. In fact, over the past two seasons, just seven pitchers — those five plus homegrown right-handers Logan Evans and Emerson Hancock — have made at least five starts for the Mariners, the fewest of any club in baseball and a sharp contrast to other contenders such as the Dodgers (17), Brewers (16) and Astros (14), who have seen a plethora of starters take the ball over that span. With all five Mariners starters under contract for at least two more seasons — Gilbert and Castillo for two, Kirby for three, Woo and Miller for four — that unusually consistent core could stay intact a while longer.

Whether this rare continuity sustains for Seattle’s rotation will depend on performance, injury luck and whether the Mariners are able to sign any of these pitchers to longer-term extensions. But adding further intrigue is the fact that Seattle also boasts one of the best trios of pitching prospects in the sport: 22-year-old switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, 20-year-old right-hander Ryan Sloan and last year’s No. 3 pick out of LSU, lefty Kade Anderson. These premium arms’ progress this season will be fascinating to watch, as any of them could pitch their way to the doorstep of the majors and force the front office to make some interesting decisions about a rotation that has been so steady for so long. To be clear, these would be good problems to have if all the arms involved stay healthy and pitch well, so it’s a fun subplot to keep an eye on as the 2026 season begins.

A player who fits the exact criteria the New York Rangers are looking for has found himself in the thick of trade discussions. 

In the letter issued last week by Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury emphasizing the team’s intentions to retool the roster, Drury said that the team will focus on obtaining young players. 

According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Seattle Kraken could be willing to trade Shane Wright if the appropriate offer presented itself. 

“Teams say that Jason Botterill, the GM of the Seattle Kraken, is listening on Shane Wright,” Dreger said. “But he is in no rush and understandably, the expected return for Shane Wright is incredibly high.”

Wright was selected by the Kraken with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, and despite recording a career high of 44 points during the 2024-25 campaign, he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in Seattle.

If the Rangers are indeed looking to get younger and begin the process of retooling the roster, acquiring the 22-year-old forward is a good place to start.

The Kraken are reportedly looking for a top-six winger, and it’s public knowledge now that the Rangers won’t re-sign Artemi Panarin and will look to deal him ahead of the trade deadline on March 6.

There have also been discussions around the Rangers potentially shopping Alexis Lafrenière, who Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman directly links to the Kraken in a hypothetical trade involving Wright.

Mike Sullivan Sheds Light On Matt Rempe’s Extended Absence From LineupMatt Rempe remains out of the lineup for the New York <a href=”https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers”>Rangers</a>, but he still hasn’t been listed on any injury report.&nbsp;

“The Kraken have never had that dynamic young scorer,” Friedman said. “And I think they’re hoping that Wright can get them that (in a trade). (I was asked) ‘Could you see them doing Wright for Lafreniere?’ I don’t know how both teams feel… But when I thought about that, that’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard… Both players could use a change of scenery… I think there’s logic behind it.”

In 49 games this season, Wright has tallied seven goals, 10 assists, and 17 points while averaging 13:44 minutes.

The New York Knicks are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, which wouldn’t feel all that disappointing had we not just seen the Knicks winning the NBA Cup and knocking on the door of the Detroit Pistons a month ago. The question now: Which version of the Knicks is real?

Head coach Mike Brown was brought in to deliver a stronger process to a preexisting identity. A lot of the early talk surrounded the Knicks’ offense. More tempo, more pace, and more empowerment throughout the roster would elevate New York on an end of the floor that tended to get stagnant. That came with an understanding that the defense may not remain at the level it was under Tom Thibodeau, but there was enough of a base to sustain success on that end. A little slippage defensively with a competitive mindset mixed with better offensive flow would be the package to elevate the Knicks.

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According to NBA.com, the Knicks are No. 3 in offensive rating (119.1) and No. 17 in defensive rating (115). But here’s the key: In November, the Knicks were No. 2 in offensive rating (122.8) and No. 10 in defensive rating (112.3); in December, the Knicks were No. 2 in offensive rating (123.2) and No. 21 in defensive rating (118); and during their recent 2-9 stretch, opponents averaged 117.4 points per game (25th in the league during that time).

Is this a team that can’t defend, or a team that can’t afford to not defend? 

New York’s defensive state of mind

When the Knicks are humming on defense, it’s the effort that jumps off the screen. Is this a perfect defensive unit? Absolutely not. But when the Knicks have the mindset to work on that end of the floor, they can usually live with the results. Active ball pressure. Physicality off-ball. Scrambling and recovering. Switches anticipating the next step in the defensive process. A unit defending on a string, working to find a way to get a stop and get out in transition. 

If the Knicks’ defense is able to give that type of effort, then what is the issue?

Consistency and connection.

In the two clips below, a simple backscreen exposes what happens to the Knicks’ defense when they are not connected. Devin Booker sets a backscreen for Jordan Goodwin, which puts Jalen Brunson in action, but that’s not the only issue. While Mikal Bridges is working to get to Booker’s body, Mitchell Robinson is outside of the paint, no switch takes place and it’s an easy dunk. Against Brooklyn, the Knicks are able to navigate a dribble handoff, but a backscreen does them in again. Michael Porter Jr. screens, Josh Hart sees it and takes the cut. Unfortunately, OG Anunoby is working to fight over and that separation opens a look for MPJ for 3. The Knicks’ activity on defense requires connection or it can work against them. 

When the Knicks’ defense is functioning well, you can see them working to get bodies on cutters and working to navigate screens.

A key is the timing of their rotations; the earlier they show help, the better chance they have to recover and reset.

Notice in the first clip when Porter gets a handoff and Robinson engages, Anunoby is already in the paint to take away the roll. Deuce McBride and Anunoby both work to close out and the Knicks do well. Against Phoenix, when a pindown for Booker turns into pick-and-roll, you see no bodies in the paint from the Knicks. There’s a free lane to finish and a reminder of what happens when the Knicks are not tied together. 

As important as it is for a defense to be early and show help, the rotations behind that are just as key. The idea is to help the helper, and work to ensure the defense can help and recover. There is a reason why the top defensive teams consistently give multiple efforts. 

Can the Knicks depend on Karl-Anthony Towns?

Part of the reason it’s so important for the Knicks to have a strong base defensively is because of the inevitable fact that teams are going to put Karl-Anthony Towns and Brunson in action.

I’m a believer in Towns on the defensive end from a coaching perspective because, at the end of the day, you just have to land in the “do your job” territory. With the right defensive personnel around him, if he executes his portion, the Knicks can likely survive. The question that has popped up this season is which scheme works for him that the Knicks can depend on?

In general, the Knicks have been able to live with Towns working toward the level of the screen, being active and trusting the rotations behind it. But his activity in this coverage has regressed this season, which puts even more pressure on the rotations behind the defense to cover things up. So if that scheme is no longer at the top of the playbook, where do you pivot?

The optimal setting for Towns in New York has been for him to be in drop coverage in pick-and-roll.

As the season has progressed, the Knicks have worked to keep side pick-and-rolls on that same side (a little ironic considering Thibs was just there), but the challenge remains the same. In an ideal setting, defenders are able to navigate the screen and recover while Towns can remain in the paint and contain the roller. The issue becomes the positioning if they can’t get back in front and aren’t ready to protect the rim. What’s intriguing in the last clip is that even when the Knicks went double-big, Towns was still in a drop. There is an ability to give those multiple efforts, contain and recover, but it has to be a constant for the Knicks.

The other key is how many other schemes can be trusted? 

The Knicks have continued to mix in late switches with KAT when he is dropped back. If the primary defender gets hit with a screen, Towns will take the ball-handler and the Knicks’ defense resets. Containing those drives becomes key in those moments, but the more flexibility the Knicks have the better. Late switches are one thing, but how much do you want Towns to outright switch? 

It’s not an automatic for the Knicks, but it’s something to keep an eye on as we get closer to the playoffs. It’s more likely to be seen when he is in a double-big lineup with Robinson. The key is for KAT to switch, contain the drive and then be ready to defend on the weakside. Show help, close out, recover back. When Towns gives multiple efforts, you can live with the results.

What about Jalen Brunson?

It’s important to have your base set and your Towns coverages set because you also have to be prepared for teams to attack Brunson.

Teams are going to put Brunson in action by a) forcing him to navigate screens and b) using whoever he is defending as a screener to try to force a mismatch.

Against Phoenix in the clip below, he works to fight over a screen and is immediately put in action. He does a good job of showing early and recovering, McBride helps him on the roll, and he returns the favor by being in position to take a charge on a drive.

The problem comes when some of the Knicks’ defensive issues bleed into the things offenses want to attack. 

In the clips below you can see how a small breakdown can create an issue for the Knicks. Against Phoenix, Brunson is calling for the switch against Booker. McBride fights over the top which opens a pop for a 3. Against Dallas, Brunson is going show-and-recover, only Hart goes with the roll, which opens a lane for Naji Marshall to drive.

Every defense has something an offense wants to attack; the thing is you have to be clean and consistent in how you handle it. 

A good sign for the Knicks is they have been self-aware, understanding they have to have the right mindset on the defensive end if they want to hit their goals. Ultimately, if they want to contend, the defense is going to have to hit a certain level. There is a chance that having a playoff game plan and focusing on one team helps them, but they have to build their base and versatility on their way there.

This MLB offseason has given onlookers a little bit of everything. We’ve seen blockbuster trades, massive free-agent contracts and all sorts of transactions in between. And after a lull in December, there has been a late-January flurry of action.

Here are the winners and losers of the MLB offseason so far.

Winner: Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs

Since Jed Hoyer took over as the Cubs’ president of baseball operations in 2020, the sport has been waiting for the moment when Hoyer and the Cubs would put their foot down and use their resources to take hold of the division. They’d made some moves over the years, but a big offseason had eluded them, with Hoyer taking his lumps while following a strict budget set by team ownership. 

Coming into this offseason, after the team got back to the NLDS for the first time since 2017, there was a need to do something to carry the momentum into 2026. And this winter, Hoyer finally got to do things his way. 

One big week turned the Cubs into one of the offseason’s biggest winners. They landed coveted right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Miami Marlins, filling their need for starting pitching and strengthening an already solid rotation. Three days later, Chicago made its biggest move, adding All-Star free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman after missing on him last year. 

Some wondered if Hoyer deserved his extension after whiffing at last year’s trade deadline, but he has now put together Chicago’s best team in nearly a decade. With those two big moves plus several additions in the bullpen, the Cubs not only improved their roster significantly but also solidified themselves as serious contenders in the National League and the leaders of the pack in the NL Central.

Loser: Philadelphia Phillies

It’s not like the Phillies haven’t made moves this offseason. They kicked things off in a big way at the winter meetings, re-signing clubhouse leader Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million deal. They added Adolís Garcia to their outfield mix, signed Brad Keller for their bullpen and brought back catcher J.T. Realmutto. Yet their offseason feels like a bit of a disappointment. 

Philly has been involved with several free agents at the top of the market, the latest being Bo Bichette. The Phillies believed they were on the precipice of signing Bichette to a seven-year, $200 million deal. Instead, they were left standing at the altar, watching what would’ve been their biggest acquisition of the offseason land with the division-rival New York Mets. Plus, southpaw Ranger Suárez signed in Boston, leaving a hole in Philadelphia’s rotation.

Now, the Phillies still have a strong starting rotation, and with Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner anchoring their lineup, they’ll always have some thump and a chance to win. But their offseason is ending on a sour note, their outfield still has some major questions, and they’ve yet to resolve the Nick Castellanos situation.

Winner: Toronto Blue Jays

Following a magical run to the World Series, the Blue Jays came into this offseason with one thing in mind: Adding to their roster to get back to the World Series. From the start of the winter, Toronto was in on most of the top free agents on the market and was not denied in its quest to add an ace-level pitcher. The Blue Jays signed right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal and KBO star Cody Ponce on a three-year, $30 million contract. 

But just adding to the rotation wasn’t going to be enough, so while they already had a lengthy lineup, the Jays also signed Japanese star third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. Adding the 29-year-old boosts Toronto’s ability to produce runs and support the newly renovated rotation. 

Had the Blue Jays landed their biggest target, free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, they would be the unquestioned biggest winners of this offseason. But even coming in as the runners-up for Tucker, they’ve done more than enough to be proud of their winter and put themselves in position to be the American League’s best team in 2026.

Loser: Boston Red Sox

There was a path for the Red Sox to come out of this winter as big winners. But at this point, it doesn’t feel like that is going to happen. Sure, a starter such as Ranger Suárez is a strong addition to the rotation, which also added Sonny Gray early in the offseason. And after missing out on Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, the Sox acquired first baseman Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals. But all together, Boston’s moves this offseason feel just “fine.” 

Worse, Boston hasn’t addressed its offense in a meaningful way or resolved the log jam in the outfield, with Jarren Duran, Ceddane Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony and Masataka Yoshida all still there.

But the biggest miss of this offseason for the Red Sox is undoubtedly letting Alex Bregman leave and sign with the Cubs. Bregman was Boston’s highest priority this winter, yet the team failed to do what was necessary to keep him around and now is left looking to replace him after just one season at Fenway. There’s still a little time left for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to make a move, but it’s getting a little late to salvage this winter.

Winner: New York Mets

“Slow and steady wins the race” is the mantra Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns must have been telling himself all offseason when it came to New York’s additions. There wasn’t a team under more pressure than the Mets this winter, after they missed the postseason following their $765 million investment in superstar Juan Soto. 

The Mets started the offseason by moving longtime outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers and landing second baseman Marcus Semien in the deal. Then they signed infielder Jorge Polanco and relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. But those moves weren’t enough to move the needle, especially not with the free-agent departures of Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz.

Well, fast-forward to last week, and just when the Phillies believed they would land Bo Bichette, the Mets swooped in and signed the two-time All-Star on a three-year, $126 million deal. The move instantly boosted New York’s offense and kept a division rival from improving theirs. Then the transactions kept coming this week with a trade to acquire outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the White Sox.

Still, the Mets’ biggest need this winter was starting pitching, and as names continued to come off the board, they were in danger of being left without a dance partner. But with just weeks left before the start of spring training, Stearns finally made his biggest move, acquiring ace Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Much like the Cubs, in just a matter of days, the Mets turned a relatively quiet offseason into a big one. Having accomplished many of their goals for this winter, they can now go into the spring feeling as good as anybody about their roster.

Winner: Scott Boras 

Scott Boras is having himself a monster offseason, and as we reach the end of January, baseball’s most famous agent has a lot to smile about. Boras was tasked this winter with finding long-term homes for Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman after both essentially signed one-year deals ahead of the 2025 season. One year later, Boras got both what they were looking for, with Alonso signing a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles and Bregman landing a five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs.

As a collective, Boras’ clients, including Alonso, Bregman, Cody Bellinger, Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Tatsuya Imai, Ranger Suárez and Ha-Seong Kim, have signed $966.5 million worth of contracts this offseason. With a few more Boras players still on the market, that number could reach a billion.

Boras certainly has his detractors around the game, but you can’t deny that the super-agent has delivered for his clients and accomplished what he set out to do this offseason.

Loser: Detroit Tigers

The Tigers are wasting a prime opportunity. In what is the worst division in baseball, Detroit has yet to make any significant additions to its roster, and with one year remaining before the best pitcher on the planet, Tarik Skubal, becomes a free agent, that’s a huge miss. The Tigers have made the postseason in back-to-back seasons, and going into this offseason, with the clock ticking on Skubal, it seemed like the perfect time to go for it.

Instead, president of baseball operations Scott Harris and the Tigers have appeared to be caught in between. Besides re-signing reliever Kyle Finnegan, adding veteran closer Kenley Jansen and keeping second baseman Gleyber Torres via the qualifying offer, they’re basically the same team they’ve been for the past two seasons. And now they’re going to arbitration with Skubal in what will be a monumental case after the two sides were unable to come to an agreement. 

If all this leads to a Skubal trade at the deadline, this winter will go down as a huge whiff for Detroit. And even with the prospects they have on the horizon, if they don’t improve the big-league club while Skubal is still around, it’s going to be really difficult to convince a fan base that endured a tough rebuild that things are still getting better.

Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers

It would be tough to argue the biggest winners this offseason aren’t the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Yes, the rich do indeed get richer, and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman found a way to fill his 26-man roster with even more star power heading into the 2026 season.

The Dodgers filled two needs they’d been trying to address for a few years now: closer and corner outfielder. And not only did they fill those needs, but in both cases they did it in grand fashion, signing All-Star closer Edwin Díaz and this winter’s No. 1 free agent, Kyle Tucker. 

When the Dodgers want something, they usually get it, and this offseason has been no different. But while they were aggressive on Díaz, they waited for Tucker’s market to come to them. And in giving him a four-year, $240 million deal with a $60 million average annual value, they did what many around the sport were afraid they could and would do.

Loser: Major League Baseball

For a few years, there has been a sense around baseball that a lockout is coming after the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026. Much of that feeling has to do with the growing financial disparity across the sport. While it’s easy for some to blame a high-spending team such as the Dodgers for “ruining baseball,” the situation is more complex than that, with the low-spending teams very much part of the problem. Still, it’s not unrealistic to say the Dodgers’ financial dominance over the rest of the sport is going to make what was already set to be a difficult fight an even uglier one.

Major League Baseball has a lot of great things going on right now. Young stars continue to emerge each season, attendance and viewership numbers have been strong, and two of the greatest players to ever play, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, are in the middle of their primes at the same time with big-market teams. 

There are plenty of reasons the game of baseball should continue to thrive moving forward. But with the chatter about baseball’s haves and have-nots only growing louder, there’s a dark cloud looming at the end of the 2026 season, with the industry and fans bracing for an unknown that could include lost games. Unfortunately, that dark cloud now feels unavoidable, and we have no idea how long the storm will last.