Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George will make his season debut on Monday night against his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. 

George had offseason knee surgery, which has forced him to miss the first 12 games of the season. He played in just 41 games last season due to injury, which was George’s first in Philly. Now in his 16th campaign, George is expected to play his first game of the season against the franchise with which he spent five years. 

During his career, George has had a history of injuries, causing him to miss significant time on the court. In the previous six seasons, George has played more than 56 games just one time — his last year with the Clippers. Whether it was load management or injury, George has not been the most reliable player over the past several years. 

Philadelphia brought George in during the 2024 offseason, and he was supposed to be the second mate of Joel Embiid to help get the team over the hump in the postseason. The 76ers have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs since Embiid entered the NBA. George signed a four-year, $212 million contract in July of 2024. 

Things didn’t go as planned in Year 1, with George playing only half the season and Embiid also missing 63 games (knee). Once both players are back on the court alongside guard Tyrese All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the expectation for Philly is to contend in the Eastern Conference. Philly is 7-5 without George this season and are 4-2 in the six games Embiid has been available for thus far.

Last season, George averaged 20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in his 41 appearances, while shooting over 38% from 3-point range. The Sixers and Clippers play Monday at 7 p.m. ET at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. 

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The inaugural season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League will take place at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, league co-founder Keith Stein told Annie Constabile of Front Office Sports.

The 5,200-seat stadium, named after the baseball Hall of Famer, is currently home to the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes of the Prospect League.

“Robin Roberts Stadium not only offers a central, strategic location with convenient access to Chicago O’Hare and St. Louis international airports, but is a first-rate venue where WPBL teams will be the only baseball played during our season,” the league said in a statement. “This will provide the kind of exclusivity that we wanted for our players.”

Boston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco were revealed last month as the cities representing the four teams, and while they will not host games during the seven-week 2026 regular season, the locations will see barnstorming games played with details still being finalized.

“Our sport is for everybody,” WPBL co-founder Keith Stein told Front Office Sports. “It’s for middle America, everybody. We thought our teams are on these two coasts, it would be good to be in the middle of the country.”

The four-team WPBL, which will expand to six teams in 2027, will mark the first active professional women’s baseball league since the 1940s. Tryouts were held in August in Washington D.C. and the top 100 players, including former Little League star Mo’ne Davis and USA Baseball’s Kelsie Whitmore, advanced to be eligible for selection in the WPBL Draft, which is set for Thursday.

According to the league, teams will make five picks in each of the six rounds during the snake-style player draft — 120 total player selections. The draft order will see San Francisco pick first, followed by Los Angeles, New York and Boston. Each team will have 30 players and not all drafted players will be guaranteed contracts or roster spots. Trades can be finalized after Jan. 1, 2026.

The WPBL’s first season will see the league operate with a $95,000 salary for each of the four teams. Living costs will be covered by the league and players will also receive a percentage of sponsorship money.

The Yankees are reuniting with left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, signing him to a one-year contract, per multiple reports.

The deal, which is pending a physical, is worth $2.5 million, per Buster Olney of ESPN.

Yarbrough had a 4.36 ERA and 1.20 WHIP while striking out 55 batters in 64.0 innings for New York this past season as he was used in both the rotation and bullpen — the 33-year-old made eight starts and 11 relief appearances.

In eight big league seasons, Yarbrough — who has also pitched for the Rays, Royals, Dodgers, and Blue Jays — has a 4.22 ERA (4.30 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP in 832 innings. 

With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver among New York’s relievers who recently hit free agency, the bullpen could look significantly different in 2026.

David Bednar is penciled in as the closer, while Camilo Doval should again be a late-inning option.

Tim Hill, who re-signed earlier this offseason, will also figure in. 

When their top free agent departed last winter, the Yankees proved adept at triggering Plan B. Their pivot after Juan Soto signed with the Mets worked and, even without Soto’s prodigious bat, the Yanks tied for the American League lead in wins and made the playoffs for the 26th time since 1995. 

What if their top free agent departs for the second consecutive offseason? Can the Yankees do it again should Cody Bellinger, who was part of Plan B last winter, sign elsewhere? 

Bellinger fits in the Bronx – he looked so comfortable in his first season in pinstripes it was as if he’d played there for years. But the 30-year-old will have a strong market after flourishing in 2025 with 29 home runs, an .813 OPS and strong baserunning and defense. He can play all three outfield positions and first base and that versatility only enhances his value. He wasn’t eligible for a qualifying offer, so there’s no attached draft pick loss to the team that signs him, either.

Losing him would be a big blow to the Yankees, who are trying to win the World Series for the first time since 2009. 

So how would they cope? We have some ideas for this winter’s version of Plan B. If it’s necessary…

The kids in the outfield

While there’s endless debate over what Spencer Jones might or might not become and similar scrutiny on what Jasson Domínguez is or isn’t, what if both turn out to be answers in the outfield? GM Brian Cashman said Jones, who has massive power and athleticism but also massive swing-and-miss, has put himself in position to make the big club after a 35-homer season in the minors. 

Domínguez showed flashes last season, but as one of the most hyped prospects in history, most fans expected towering numbers, which he did not deliver. If both are good enough in ‘26, having two cheap lineup staples would allow the Yanks to plow more money into the free agent market to fill other needs.

Sleep on it

Trent Grisham was a revelation in ‘25, pounding a career-high 34 home runs and setting himself up for a big free agent payday. The Yanks gave “The Big Sleep” a qualifying offer, which is $22.05 million for one year. He could accept it and return. Or the Yanks could bring him back by working out a multi-year deal. 

If Grisham and his laid-back vibe were in center again, it would leave only left field for the Yanks to figure out. They’ll gather more intel by Tuesday at 4 p.m., which is the deadline for Grisham to accept or reject the qualifying offer.

We want a pitcher

A big part of why last season’s Plan B worked was because the Yankees signed Max Fried and the lefty was sensational, with a 2.86 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 195.1 innings. He was eighth in ERA and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting. Nice add to a team that also had MLB’s top offense in terms of runs per game and homers. If no Bellinger, perhaps they should fortify through the rotation again by adding a big-name free agent such as Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, or Ranger Suárez. 

Perhaps Tatsuya Imai, a righty who had a 1.92 ERA last season, fits for a team that has thrived with Japanese aces in the past. 

Yes, the Yanks already have a formidable starting staff in place with Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Luis Gil. But Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón will start the season late as they finish recovery from surgeries — and teams need huge starting inventories in the war-of-attrition world of modern-day pitching. 

Gil or Warren could be moved in a trade (Yanks need ‘pen help). Someone else could get hurt. The Dodgers didn’t seem to be worried about adding too many starters last winter. How’d that work out?

Contact play

In previous columns, we’ve been over the many reasons the Yankees could use a hitter – hitters? – with a nifty contact profile and a low-strikeout mindset. It’s even more vital if Bellinger splits, considering he had a career-best 13.7 percent strikeout rate last year, well south of the MLB average of 22.2 percent. 

We dream of Steven Kwan in pinstripes. If such a trade with Cleveland could be possible, it must be pursued vigorously. Even if it’s just one slot in the batting order, the Yanks might be helped by a hitter who puts the ball in play and gets some action going on the basepaths. 

Could free agent contact fiend Luis Arraez, who had by far the lowest strikeout rate in the majors, fit somewhere, even if he’s not a good defender?

Jazz at Bronx center?

Maybe there’s a world in which the Yanks move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to center field and then sign Bo Bichette to play second base. Chisholm has played 192 games in center in his career and the Marlins once believed he was their long-term solution there. He’s athletic and fast and it might be a nice way to play out his final season before free agency, showing teams his crazy versatility along with his 30-30 offensive profile. Bichette, who has the seventh-most hits in baseball since 2021, would help diversify the Yankees’ attack.

Tuck(er) and roll

OK, we’re like the rest of the world, linking the Yankees to the top bat on the free agent market, Kyle Tucker. They are the Yankees, after all, and this feels like an annual tradition. Tucker would be a neat replacement should Bellinger leave and he’ll play next season at 29 years old. 

Tucker has played much of his career in right field, a spot currently occupied on the Yankees by the game’s most destructive offensive force (Aaron Judge, duh), so he’d have to move to left. No biggie and it’s fun to imagine Judge and Tucker in the same lineup, along with other thumpers such as Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice. 

Adding Tucker doesn’t feel super-likely, however, considering how much more expensive he could turn out to be than Bellinger. The Yanks are already sitting on some mammoth contracts.

Welcome to The Playlist: my weekly column that lets you know who to add off the waiver wire and what to play — when it comes to setting your lineup or music in my rotation — for the upcoming week in fantasy basketball.

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Derik Queen – FC, New Orleans Pelicans (25% rostered)

Going back to the well here since Queen earned his first start on Sunday and is still under 30% rostered. The Pelicans play four games this week (three on heavier slates) and Queen has averaged 35.7 fantasy points in High Score over the past seven games. For the season, Queen is posting a solid 1.10 fantasy points per minute (FPPM). He’s a must-roster in all formats as the Pelicans continue to be one of the worst teams in the league, leaving plenty of reason to give their 13th overall pick more minutes — and he’s nice.

Wendell Carter Jr. – FC, Orlando Magic (33% rostered)

I’ll be streaming Carter against the Warriors and Clippers on Tuesday and Thursday, with both teams allowing over 54 fantasy points per game to opposing centers. Carter put up at least 40 fantasy points in High Score twice in Week 4 and has averaged 35 minutes in the last two games without Paolo Banchero. With four games this week (three on lighter slates), Carter is a guy with streaming appeal in Week 5.

Isaiah Collier – G, Utah Jazz (21% rostered)

Collier needed a couple of games to ramp up, and now he’s like the guy I expected him to be in the preseason. He’s scored at least 44 fantasy points in two of his last three games, piling up 27 assists over that three-game span. Since turnovers and FG% don’t factor into High Score, Collier is worth streaming on Tuesday or Sunday this week, but it’s best to pass on Friday’s matchup against the Thunder.

Neemias Queta – FC, Boston Celtics (34% rostered)

We’re playing the matchups here, with the Celtics facing the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday and Friday. Per Rotowire, the Nets are bottom-10 against opposing centers, allowing 56.4 fantasy points per game. Queta won’t light up the box score, but double-digit points with 8 rebounds and a couple of stocks is attainable versus a team that struggles in the frontcourt.

Other High Score options:

• Andre Drummond – FC, Philadelphia 76ers (22%)

• Mousa Diabaté – FC, Charlotte Hornets (23%)

• Dillon Brooks – FC, Phoenix Suns (38%)

• Reed Sheppard – G, Houston Rockets (39%)

🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: 9-cat and points leagues

Tristan da Silva – SF/PF, Orlando Magic (12% rostered)

The Magic’s Week 5 schedule, plus Banchero’s injury, has opened up more touches and an expanded role for the sophomore forward. The young wing has performed well with the opportunity thus far, averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1 block in 36 minutes per game in his last two outings. His shooting splits are beneficial for 9-cat leagues, too. He’s shooting 49% from the field, 41% from 3-point range, and 79% from the line on low volume. It’s a great week to play da Silva.

Luke Kornet – C, San Antonio Spurs (8% rostered)

Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss a few weeks with a calf injury. Kornet earned his first spot start of the year on Sunday, posting a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double with 3 blocks. The Spurs play on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday this week, so the schedule and opportunity make Kornet a must-add across formats.

Daniss Jenkins – PG, Detroit Pistons (14% rostered)

Jenkins has been a revelation for the Pistons. Over his last three games, he’s averaged 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Two of those games were without Cade Cunningham, which could be the case on Monday as the superstar (hip) is listed as questionable. Jenkins is a dog, and I’d stream him at least for the Pistons’ Monday-Tuesday back-to-back games vs. the Pacers and Hawks. 

Max Christie – SG/SF, Dallas Mavericks (19% rostered)

Christie has quietly established a consistent presence in Dallas. Assuming Naji Marshall isn’t available, Christie is the other option I’d consider as the Mavs try to right the ship following Nico Harrison’s departure. Christie has been a top-100 player over the past two weeks, averaging 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists with 3 3s per game over the past 11 contests. The Mavs need his spacing, defensive versatility and low-key playmaking, so he should continue to see 30 minutes per game. 

Bogdan Bogdanović – SG/SF, Los Angeles Clippers (16% rostered)

The injuries are piling up for the Clippers, leaving Bogie as the next man up, following the absences of Bradley Beal (out for the season) and Kawhi Leonard (day-to-day). Bogdanović will struggle with efficiency; still, he’s a vet who can fill a void in 3s, assists, steals and points. He’ll be a streaming option from Thursday to Sunday, with the Clippers playing three games in four nights over that stretch.

Vince Williams Jr. – SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies (1% rostered)

Ja Morant (calf) will be re-evaluated in two weeks, leaving Williams Jr. as the de facto starting point guard. The Grizzlies play three games on lighter slates this week, and given the way teams have been handling calf injuries, Williams could be in line to start at point guard for a while since Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome are out. He’s not an efficient shooter, but with minutes, he can produce. His career per-36 numbers sit at 13.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 3s and 1.2 steals per game.

Other waiver options:

• Collin Gillispie – PG, Phoenix Suns (14%)

• Isaiah Stewart – PF/C, Detroit Pistons (19%)

• Anthony Black – PG/SG, Orlando Magic (8%)

• Jordan Walsh – SG/SF, Boston Celtics (2%)

• Saddiq Bey – SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans (20%)

• Vít Krejčí – SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks (10%)

Here is the latest news and buzz surrounding free agent first basemanPete Alonso and his chances of returning to the Mets…

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Nov. 17, 9:40 a.m.

The Red Sox are sending “mixed signals” regarding a potential pursuit of Alonso, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

Cotillo notes that at the beginning of the offseason, “a well-connected industry source” didn’t think Boston would be a “major player” for Alonso.

But there are now people in the Red Sox’s “inner circle” who prefer Alonso to fellow free agent Kyle Schwarber.

Schwarber is attached to a qualifying offer, while Alonso is not.

Boston has first baseman Triston Casas, who would seemingly be boxed out of playing time if Alonso signed.

Meanwhile, Josh Naylor agreed to a five-year deal with the Mariners on Sunday — taking one potential Alonso fallback option off the market and removing Seattle as a possible Alonso suitor. 

Nov. 11, 6:19 p.m.

Speaking at the GM Meetings, president of baseball operations David Stearns said the Mets would love to have Alonso (and Edwin Diaz) back.

“We love both Pete and Edwin,” Stearns said. “They’ve been great representatives of the organization. We’d love to have them both back. At this stage of the offseason, it’s really tough to predict any outcomes, but certainly, we would love to have both those guys back.”

Stearns added:

“All parts of player contribution inform how we view the player. For a position player, that’s certainly going to include offense and what they do in the box and what they do defensively. It also includes what they mean to us off the field, what they meant to us in the clubhouse and in the community. All that gets factored in with every player and Pete’s no different.”

Nov. 10, 5:06 p.m.

SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino says his “hunch” is that David Stearns and Steve Cohen “would be happy to welcome Alonso back in 2026” if he’s open to a significant increase in at-bats at DH.

Additionally, Martino notes that it’s “hard to imagine an increased willingness” by the Mets to offer Alonso a deal for four or five years.

Giants execs Buster Posey, Zack Minasian reflect on Tony Vitello hiring process originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Weeks removed from introducing Tony Vitello as the new Giants manager, president of baseball operations Buster Posey and general manager Zack Minasian had time to reflect on the process at the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas last week. 

The confidence in the move has only grown within the Giants’ front office.  

“He’s so good with the media and he’s got a great presence about him, and I think it’s something that he enjoys doing,” Posey said of Vitello to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic on the “Giants Talk” podcast. “That’s a good thing, because he’s about to do it a lot coming up here in his first season.” 

From star MLB pitchers to Hall of Fame quarterbacks, there has been no shortage of praise for Vitello. His popularity has made an impression on Posey.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people about him,” Posey said. “It seems that he knows a lot of different people in a lot of different walks of life. We’ve all seen it over the last couple of weeks.”

Although Minasian hasn’t been a GM for too long, he has been a part of many interview processes. He worked with the Milwaukee Brewers in the scouting department during the hirings of Ron Roenicke and Craig Counsell, and with the Giants in a similar role when the team hired Gabe Kapler and Bob Melvin. 

In his second offseason as Giants GM, Minasian has seen an evolution in interview processes, which now include interviews over Zoom and through phone calls in addition to in-person meetings. 

While some interviews test candidates with in-game situations, the Giants did not put Vitello through that. 

“I know there’s some interview processes where there has been legitimate game situation video up and the potential manager is being asked what they would do in a certain situation,” Minasian recalled. “We didn’t go to that extent with Tony.” 

The Giants were sold on Vitello’s proven relationship and leadership skills. Situational-based decision making will be developed as a collaboration between the new MLB coach and the front office. 

“I think we’re all pretty open to Tony entering a little bit of a different world from what he’s experienced,” Minasian noted. “We talked about it, we all acknowledged it, but we didn’t necessarily try and test his knowledge on when do you want to flip the left-hander to the right side, and when you’re bringing this reliever in …

“I think those are things, hopefully, that we can collaborate on and have good conversations during the spring and even in the offseason.” 

The Giants have built a brain trust of franchise legends such as Posey and former managers Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy, who all will lend a hand to Vitello in his quest into uncharted MLB territory. 

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him even more since we made the hire,” Posey said. “Still very, very excited about him.” 

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