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

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Jan. 6, 6:50 p.m.

As the market for Bo Bichette continues to coalesce, a reunion with the Toronto Blue Jays may not happen.

According to The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon, the Blue Jays remain linked to both Bichette and outfielder Kyle Tucker. However, the reigning AL Champs have increased their efforts to recruit Tucker because he’s a better roster fit after the team signed Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto. That means a reunion between Toronto and Bichette appears “increasingly unlikely.”

Bichette spent the first seven years of his career with Toronto, but with the Blue Jays’ infield just about set, there may not be room for the shortstop/second baseman on the team. As for the Yankees, they don’t view Bichette as a shortstop, but would entertain signing him as a second baseman. However, that would mean trading either 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. or 3B Ryan McMahon to make room for Bichette in the infield.

Jan. 5, 12:30 p.m.

While the Yankees are interested in Bo Bichette, it appears they’d have to make a move in order to acquire him. 

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of the Athletic, New York doesn’t view Bichette as a shortstop, and they’d likely have to trade 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. or 3B Ryan McMahon if he were to land in the Bronx. 

Anthony Volpe is expected to miss some time at the beginning of the season, but the Yanks have expressed belief in the former first-round pick returning to form after a disappointing year on both sides of the ball. 

Chisholm’s name has been floated in trade rumors all offseason with him set to hit free agency next offseason. 

Bichette, who spent his first seven seasons with the Blue Jays, is certainly an intriguing target for the Yanks. 

While he has poor defensive metrics at SS, the 27-year-old has reportedly expressed a willingness to transition to second.

Jan. 3, 6:25 p.m.

Another big market team is looking to add infielder Bo Bichette this offseason.

According to the NY Post’s Jon Heyman, the Phillies are among the teams interested in Bichette. Of course, the teams that have checked in on the Blue Jays infielder include the Cubs, Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Toronto. 

The Phillies already have Trea Turner at shortstop, but Bichette proved he was capable of playing second base when the Blue Jays moved him there this past offseason. Currently, the Phillies have Bryson Stott and Edmundo Sosa as their second basemen. 

The Blue Jays signed Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto on Saturday to play in the infield, but it is unclear whether that takes them out of bringing Bichette back. 

Jan. 1, 1:21 p.m.

While it remains unclear whether the Yankees will make any sort of big splash this offseason, it seems their eyes are beginning to wander with several top free agents still on the market.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees are among three previously unreported clubs to “check on” star shortstop Bo Bichette. The other new suitors are the Dodgers and Cubs.

Heyman also reports the Yankees are gauging league interest in infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. — whose name has appeared in base-level trade rumors all winter — and a formal offer to free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger was issued earlier this week.

Bichette, who just wrapped up seven seasons with the division-rival Blue Jays, is undoubtedly an intriguing target for the Yankees. While his defensive metrics at shortstop are poor, the 27-year-old has reportedly expressed a willingness to move over to second base.

Of course, that transition with the Yankees would be contingent upon a firm decision on Chisholm’s future. But Bichette is an obvious offensive upgrade at shortstop — internal spring training competition is expected with Anthony Volpe recovering from shoulder surgery.

Bichette was rather steady at the plate for the Blue Jays in 2025, slashing a laudable .311/.357/.483 with 44 doubles, 18 home runs, and 94 RBI in 139 games. He also delivered under the brightest lights, hitting .348 with six RBI in seven World Series games against the Dodgers.

Spotrac currently projects Bichette’s market value at $23.3 million annually, and there’s a chance his contract lands in the range of six to eight years.

Dec. 26, 9:50 a.m.

While the holiday season has lowered the hot stove temperature, it appears the Yankees’ hopes of re-signing Cody Bellinger remain high enough.

A reunion with the star outfielder is still a priority in the Bronx, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and the club feels “pretty confident” he won’t move boroughs for a deal over in Queens.

The pursuit of Bellinger is also endorsed by the Yankees’ captain. Heyman reports Aaron Judge is “a big advocate” for a long-term commitment with the former MVP, who hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI as a one-year rental in pinstripes last season.

It’s unclear when Bellinger will take himself off the free-agent market, but with high demand from championship contenders, some projections have him earning around $30 million annually on a six-year contract. The Yankees may have to sweeten the pot in order to convince him to stay.

Dec. 23, 10:10 p.m.

Tatsuya Imai is one of the high-profile free agent starters this offseason, but it seems he may not be Bronx-bound if YES Network’s Jack Curry is to be believed.

Curry spoke about the perceived connection between the Yankees and Imai on Tuesday’s episode of Yankees Hot Stove and poured some cold water, saying, “The vibe I’m getting is that connection does not exist.”

He added that any pursuit of Imai by the Yankees this offseason is very different than the one they conducted for Yoshinbou Yamamoto a couple of years ago.

“With Imai, the Yankees have been very quiet,” Curry said. “I don’t think the Yankees have been as aggressive, as intense in any kind of pursuit of Imai. They are making some moves around the edges… but I don’t think they are the frontrunners for Imai, and I don’t think he’ll be signing with them.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone recently told reporters that the Yankees have not met with Imai — as of Dec. 19 — and that he doesn’t know if New York will set up a meeting with the right-hander.

Imai has until Jan. 2 to sign with a team.

Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.

The Yankees have lost another bullpen arm to free agency, as the Braves announced that they’ve signed right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton to a non-guaranteed one-year deal. 

Hamilton was a staple in New York’s bullpen over the past three seasons.

The club decided to non-tender him this winter, though, after he put together a bit of an up-and-down campaign. 

He pitched to a 4.28 ERA and issued 22 walks over 40 innings of work. 

Atlanta will look for him to rebound in a bullpen that’s also added Robert Suarez and retained Raisel Iglesias this winter. 

Dec. 19, 11:25 a.m.

Former Yankee Michael Kingre-signed with the San Diego Padres on a three-year, $75 million deal on Thursday night, despite some buzz that he could return to New York.

However, according to a report from the NY Post’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees did not make an offer to King and “have other targets” on their radar.

Over five seasons with the Yanks from 2019-2023, King made 115 appearances (19 starts) and posted a 3.38 ERA over 247.2 innings. He was then part of the blockbuster trade with the Padres that brought Juan Soto to the Bronx ahead of the 2024 season.

King transitioned to a starter with the Padres and made 45 starts (46 games total) over two seasons, going 18-12 with a 3.10 ERA and 277 strikeouts.

Among the “other targets” New York could pursue include OF Cody Bellinger, who had a strong 2025 with the Yanks and is expected to get a five or six-year deal.

Dec. 17, 3:50 p.m.

Luke Weaver signed a reported two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets on Wednesday and it seems like the Yankees were not looking to bring back the right-hander.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post reported that the Yankees were not part of the bidding to try to retain Weaver. 

The Athletic reported earlier this week that both sides had mutual interest in a potential reunion after Weaver pitched to a 3.22 ERA and a 0.994 WHIP in 129 appearances across three seasons in the Bronx.

Dec. 16, 8:59 a.m.

The Yankees have “genuine” interest in a reunion with right-handed reliever Luke Weaver, reports Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, who notes that the interest is mutual.

Kirschner adds that roughly 10 teams have contacted Weaver’s camp this offseason.

Weaver, 32, was solid for New York last season, with a 3.62 ERA (3.89 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP with 72 strikeouts in 64.2 innings.

His best season came in 2024, when he had a 2.89 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 84.0 innings while striking out 103 — a rate of 11.0 per nine.

If brought back, Weaver would likely be one of the main bridges to closer David Bednar.

Dec. 14, 7:35 p.m.

While reports indicated that the San Francisco Giants “do not anticipate making the nine-figure investment” required to sign free agents this offseason, they aren’t checked out of the marketplace altogether.

The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reported recently that the Giants “have checked in on” Cody Bellinger, the Yankees’ No. 1 target.

Bellinger proved to be a big part of the Yanks’ last season, contributing well on both sides of the ball with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, and a .272/.334/.480 slash line for an .813 OPS (125 OPS+ and wRC+) while ranking in the 93rd percentile in outs above average (seven) and with 12 defensive runs saved.

Dec. 11, 12:21 p.m.

The Yankees “have listened” when it comes to a potential Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Chisholm is set to earn roughly $12 million via arbitration in 2026 in what is his final season before free agency.

He spent time at third base (28 starts) and second base (96 starts) in 2025 — and was not thrilled with his time at third, noting “everybody knows I’m a second baseman.”

Offensively, Chisholm had a big season, posting an .813 OPS while hitting 31 home runs.

The Yankees’ infield is unsettled. Ben Rice is penciled in at first base, with Ryan McMahon at third base. But the shortstop situation is in flux with Anthony Volpe expected to miss the start of the 2026 season after having shoulder surgery.

Other infield options include Jose Caballero and Oswaldo Cabrera.

Dec. 10, 7:26 p.m.

Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta is a hot name on the trade market this offseason, and the Yankees are among the teams reportedly looking to add him to their team.

According to Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Yankees are one of five teams looking to trade for Peralta, joining the Orioles, Red Sox, Giants and Astros. Other clubs like the Mets had previously reported interest in a trade for Peralta. 

The news comes just days after the Brewers made it known they were open for business on a trade. 

With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon starting the 2026 season on the IL, the Yankees would hope Peralta gives them the depth needed to get through a season until their big arms return.

Dec. 8, 9:50 p.m.

Looking for bullpen help, the Yankees have shown an interest in right-hander Brad Keller, according to a report from Gary Phillips of The New York Daily News on Monday.

Nothing is imminent between Keller and the Yanks, Phillips reported, adding that two or three teams are considering signing the 30-year-old free agent as a starting pitcher.

Keller is coming off his best year as a professional by far, pitching to a 2.07 ERA and 0.962 WHIP with 75 strikeouts to 22 walks in 69.2 innings over 68 appearances out of the bullpen. The righty has some very attractive attributes: 30.6 percent hard-hit percentage (99th percentile) last year, with a fastball that averaged 97.2 mph and a sinker at 96.7 mph.

Dec. 8, 8:45 p.m.

As the Mets and Yankees continue to look to revamp their bullpen this offseason, they’ve both called the Brewers about reliever Trevor Megill, according to Joel Sherman of the NY Post.

Megill, of course, is the older brother of Mets starter Tylor Megill.

The 32-year-old would be a tremendous boost at the backend for either club, as he has developed into one of the top relievers in baseball over the past few seasons. 

Megill missed time to injury last year, but pitched to a stellar 2.49 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while locking down 30 saves. 

Dec. 8, 1:24 p.m.

SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino believes there’s a “solid chance” the Yankees will retain free agent Amed Rosario.

Rosario had a .788 OPS in 16 games for the Yanks last season after being acquired from the Nationals ahead of the trade deadline.

The 30-year-old excelled against left-handed pitching in 2025, slashing .302/.328/.491 in 122 plate appearances.

Rosario would provide strong versatility if brought back, with the ability to play shortstop, third base, second base, and left field. 

Dec. 7, 9:31 p.m.

While the Yankees reportedly discussed the chance of a reunion with All-Star reliever Devin Williams a few weeks ago, it appears their conversations never intensified.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said as much on Sunday night at the Winter Meetings, telling Greg Joyce of the New York Post that the club didn’t even make a formal offer to Williams before he signed a three-year deal with the Mets last weekend.

According to Joyce, Cashman asked Williams’ agent to keep the Yankees in the loop regarding the right-hander’s market, but he didn’t get a call prior to Williams signing in Queens. Cashman also noted that Williams’ reps never “needed to” update him on the process.

Dec. 4, 11:42 a.m.

While other suitors are certainly in the mix, Cody Bellinger remains the Yankees’ No. 1 target, and the club is making a “big effort” to bring him back, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Heyman lists the Mets, Phillies, Angels, and Dodgers as other possibilities. 

ESPN’s Jeff Passan has previously reported that signing Bellinger would be a “multipart move” for the Yankees, as the club would almost certainly need to move one of their other outfield pieces –potentially Jasson Dominguez or up-and-coming prospect Spencer Jones. 

With Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer, the Yanks would have a surplus of outfielders if Bellinger was to re-sign.

Dec. 3, 8:22 p.m.

The high-stakes bidding war for Kyle Tucker officiallyincludes one of the Yankees’ division rivals, as the superstar outfielder visited the Blue Jays’ facility in Florida on Wednesday, according to a report from Robert Murray of FanSided.

It’s no surprise the reigning AL champions are big-game hunting for a new bat. The club signed free-agent starter Dylan Cease to a massive seven-year, $210 million deal and right-hander Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million contract in the last week.

Murray reports the Blue Jays are also interested in retaining shortstop Bo Bichette, who could garner an average annual value above $20 million.

Tucker would make the Blue Jays’ lineup even more imposing. In his lone season with the Cubs, the 28-year-old slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs and 25 steals. His seven-year run with the Astros was far more impressive, though — he hit .274 with 125 homers and 417 RBI.

Only time will tell if the Yankees make a legitimate run at Tucker’s services. His contract demands seem too rich for their blood, and the Yankees have stated they’re focused on re-signing Cody Bellinger, who’d come at a much lower price.

Here are the latest news updates and possible return dates for Knicks players…

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Jan. 6, 5:20 p.m.

The latest Knicks injury report lists Josh Hart and Landry Shamet as out for Wednesday’s tip against the Clippers at MSG.

Hart (ankle) will miss his seventh consecutive game, in which the Knicks are 2-4 in his absence. SNY’s Ian Begley said on The Putback that Hart is “close” to coming back. The team had said last week that they would re-evaluate Hart in a week, and it seems enough progress hasn’t been made.

After Wednesday’s game, the Knicks travel west to take on the Suns in Phoenix on Friday.

Jan. 3, 2026, 1:41 p.m.

The Knicks are listing Karl-Anthony Towns as questionable for Saturday night’s game against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers due to illness. Towns missed Friday night’s defeat to the Atlanta Hawks with the same ailment.

Mitchell Robinson (ankle injury management) is off the injury report for Saturday after not playing the previous night.

Josh Hart (shoulder) is making improvements, but remains out alongside Landry Shamet (shoulder). 

Dec. 30, 10:27 p.m.

Mitchell Robinson (ankle injury management) is out for Wednesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

New York’s big man is one of three players who have been listed as out for the NBA Cup rematch on New Year’s Eve. Robinson joins Josh Hart (right ankle sprain) and Landry Shamet (shoulder) as those unavailable for the game.

Tyler Kolek (right ankle soreness) is listed as probable, while Ariel Hukporti (lip laceration) is questionable for Wednesday’s game.

Dec. 27, 6:10 p.m.

On the last injury report ahead of Saturday’s tip against the Hawks, the Knicks listed Miles McBride (ankle) as out.

McBride was listed as questionable as recently as Friday, but it seems the guard will miss his eighth game.

Dec. 26, 3:42 p.m.

The Knicks will be without forward Josh Hart when they play the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The forward left the Christmas Day win over Cleveland in the fourth quarter and has been diagnosed with an ankle sprain. 

But there was some good news: reserve guard Miles McBride (ankle) has been upgraded to questionable. That’s an indication that he is very close to making a return to the court after missing the last seven games.

Landry Shamet (shoulder) remains sidelined.

Dec. 22, 4:20 p.m.

The Knicks will be short-handed on Tuesday night in Minnesota against the Timberwolves.

Jalen Brunson (right ankle management), OG Anunoby (left ankle soreness), and Guerschon Yabusele (illness) are all listed as out.

Additionally, Miles McBride (ankle), Landry Shamet (shoulder), and Pacôme Dadiet (G-League assignment) will remain out as well.

New York has gone 2-1 since winning the NBA Cup last Tuesday and face a hot Minnesota squad, winners of four out of their last five games.

Dec. 19, 5:25 p.m.

Head coach Mike Brown confirmed that Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart will play against the 76ers on Friday, hours after they were listed as probable on the injury report.

Dec. 19, 2:00 p.m.

On the heels of a back-to-back, the Knicks will get some of their core back in the lineup on Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Karl-Anthony Towns (knee soreness) and Josh Hart (rectus abdominis strain) are listed as probable, while Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby aren’t on the injury report and should be available. Towns, Hart, and Robinson all did not play in Thursday’s win over the Indiana Pacers. 

Miles McBride (ankle) and Landry Shamet (shoulder) will remain out for New York on Friday. Additionally, Pacôme Dadiet was assigned to the Westchester Knicks.

The Sixers will be without former MVP Joel Embiid (illness, right knee injury management), who was downgraded from questionable. Embiid has played in just 11 of Philly’s 25 games this season, averaging only 20.5 points and 6.6 rebounds when on the court (26.2 minutes per game). Philadelphia will also be without Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain).

Dec. 18, 5:15 p.m.

Fresh off the NBA Cup triumph, the Knicks are going to be without a host of players for Thursday night’s matchup with the lowly Indiana Pacers (6-20).

Karl-Anthony Towns (knee soreness), Josh Hart (rectus abdominis strain),  and Mitchell Robinson (ankle management) will all not feature due to slight injuries. New York will already be without Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, who are on the shelf with longer-term injuries.

OG Anunoby (knee contusion) was on the injury report, but will play.

Dec. 7, 3:22 p.m.

Knicks guard Miles McBride exited Sunday’s win over the Orlando Magic in the first half, and according to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, the guard is still in the process of being evaluated for a left ankle injury.

The Knicks say they will know more on McBride’s status on Monday. 

As a starter or a bench player, McBride has been terrific this season. In 19 games (nine starts), McBride has averaged a career-best 15.8 points per games while shooting 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Dec. 4, 5:10 p.m.

The Knicks are seemingly close to getting OG Anunoby back. According to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, Anunoby (hamstring) has been upgraded to questionable for Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz at MSG.

Begley noted on Thursday’s episode of The Putback that this weekend’s games are a target for the Knicks to get Anunoby back on the court.

Anunoby has missed every game since suffering the injury on Nov. 14 against the Miami Heat.

Head coach Mike Brown said that Anunoby has progressed to taking contact in practice and it seems as though the forward is reacting to it in a positive manner. Of course, this doesn’t mean Anunoby will play on Friday, but it leaves open the possibility.

Dec. 3, 6:40 p.m.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown gave a short update on OG Anunoby (hamstring). The coach said that Anunoby has progressed to taking contact in practice.

“It’s still the same, he’s still progressing in the right direction,” Brown said of Anunoby before Wednesday’s game against the Hornets. “We’re not going to rush him.”

Brown also confirmed that Mitchell Robinson (injury management) will miss Wednesday’s game, as it’s the second of a back-to-back. 

Mike Brown said that OG Anunoby has taken contact in practice but the Knicks “won’t rush him” pic.twitter.com/tZLSHsXqY0

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 3, 2025

Nov. 19, 9:05 p.m.

Jalen Brunson (ankle) will return to the court and start on Wednesday night in Dallas against the Mavericks, the team announced prior to tip-off.

Brunson suffered a Grade 1 right ankle sprain against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 12 and missed the team’s next two games against the Miami Heat. New York split the two contests, winning at home and losing on the road. The team is still searching for its first road win of the season, dropping all four games away from the Garden.

Over 11 games this year, Brunson is averaging 28.0 points on 46.7 percent shooting and 6.5 assists per game. 

Meanwhile, the Mavs will be without rookie Cooper Flagg (illness) on Wednesday night as he’ll miss the first game of his career.

Nov. 18, 6:50 p.m.

The Knicks upgraded Jalen Brunson (ankle) to questionable for their Wednesday tip against the Mavericks in Dallas. 

Brunson had missed the team’s last two games since suffering a right ankle sprain back on Nov. 12 against the Orlando Magic at MSG. Already without OG Anunoby (hamstring), the Knicks could use their captain to try and get their first road win of the season. 

Oct. 28, 7:18 p.m.

Before the Knicks’ tip-off against the Bucks, the Knicks announced that Towns (right quad strain) will play, but Yabusele (left knee sprain) will be out, joining McBride (personal) and Robinson (ankle sprain management) as players who are unavailable for Tuesday’s game.

Oct. 28, 3:35 p.m.

Miles McBride has been downgraded from questionable to out for the Knicks’ game on Tuesday at the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced. This is the second-straight game the guard missed due to personal reasons. He was out for Sunday’s loss against the Miami Heat.

Oct. 27, 6:45 p.m.

Mitchell Robinson still isn’t ready to make his season debut, as the Knicks have officially ruled him out again for Tuesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Robinson has been sidelined for the first three games due to left ankle injury management, and it’s still unknown when he’ll make his return to the court. 

New York has also listed Karl-Anthony Towns (right quad strain), Miles McBride (personal reasons), and Guerschon Yabusele (left knee sprain) as questionable for the contest. 

Yabusele is the only new addition to the injury report. Towns has been included heading into each of the first three games, but played in all three, and McBride missed Sunday’s game against the Heat for personal reasons. 

Yabusele left Sunday’s game at one point and had his knee checked, but he was able to return and saw regular time off the bench down the stretch.

Oct. 23, 6:10 p.m.

The latest NBA injury report has been released and the Knicks have designated center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) as out for Friday’s home game against the Celtics.

Robinson missed Wednesday’s season opener and the Knicks are being cautious with their big man this season as they want to have him at close to full strength for an anticipated long playoff run.

The Knicks have also designated both Josh Hart (lower back) and Karl-Anthony Towns (right quad strain) as questionable. 

Hart also missed the season opener but has not seen action since the first preseason game where he tweaked his back. Towns almost missed Wednesday’s game but toughed out his quad strain and to help the Knicks’ win against the Cavaliers.

OG Anunoby, who played Wednesday despite being questionable with an ankle sprain, is probably for Friday’s game.

Oct. 22, 10:59 p.m.

Karl-Anthony Towns was questionable, then doubtful, then questionable again in the hours leading up to the Knicks’ win over the Cavaliers and now we know exactly why.

The Knicks forward told reporters after Wednesday’s win that he is playing through a Grade 2 quad strain. 

“I’ve been banged up and haven’t really got a chance to practice or play in the last two preseason games,” Towns said. “I didn’t want to disappoint the fans, dealing with a Grade 2 quad strain. It’s not something that’s easy to do. We made it happen tonight. Glad the fans respect the effort I put in to play tonight, and my teammates, too. Shoutout to them for supporting me, knowing the situation that I was in.”

Towns played through the pain to give the Knicks 19 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes.

Near the end of the first quarter Sunday during a 115-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray swatted a Bobby Portis shot off the glass and went coast-to-coast for a emphatic, one-handed dunk.

Near the end of the third quarter, Murray suffered the latest injury in a string of setbacks that have disrupted his fourth season in the NBA, a season in which his team, collectively, has been ravaged by injuries while posting the third-worst record in the league.

The 8-28 Kings announced Tuesday that an MRI revealed the 25-year-old Iowa product is dealing with a moderate left ankle sprain, and that he will be reevaluated in three-to-four weeks. 

Just before New Year’s, the 2022 No. 4 overall pick returned from a calf injury that cost him a pair of games in late December. 

[Get more Kings news: Sacramento team feed]

Murray’s 2025-26 campaign got off to a delayed start because of a torn UCL in his left thumb that required surgery. He picked up that injury during a preseason loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and went on to miss the first 15 games of the season.

His ankle issue stemmed from a third-quarter drive Sunday. With the Kings trailing the Bucks by 15 points and around four minutes remaining in the frame, Murray attacked the paint. 

He was met by Milwaukee center Myles Turner. After being tied up by Turner, Murray tried to dish a mid-air pass to Kings big man Drew Eubanks. It didn’t connect, and Murray took an awkward fall. 

Once he landed, he reached for his left ankle. Murray ultimately needed assistance as he limped to the locker room.

Murray signed what was reported as a five-year, $140 million rookie extension with the Kings this fall, but he’s now played in just 19 of Sacramento’s 36 games, and he’ll be missing several more with his ankle injury. 

Murray, who previously appeared in 233 of a possible 246 games over his first three seasons, is currently averaging 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, however, his 42.9% field-goal percentage and 27.2% 3-point percentage are career lows.

He’s far from the only Kings player bit by the injury bug this season.

Rookie center Maxime Raynaud had an injury scare in the fourth quarter of a 129-102 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on Friday. 

He’s been starting in the place of injured frontcourt star Domantas Sabonis, a three-time All-Star who is still recovering from a partially torn meniscus.

Raynaud was back in the lineup Sunday against the Bucks, and so was Zach LaVine. The two-time All-Star guard was coming off a nine-game absence due to a left ankle injury of his own. 

The Kings have lost five games in a row, all by double digits. They have the worst point differential average (minus-12) in the NBA, and they can’t seem to catch a break health-wise.

Near the end of the first quarter Sunday during a 115-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray swatted a Bobby Portis shot off the glass and went coast-to-coast for a emphatic, one-handed dunk.

Near the end of the third quarter, Murray suffered the latest injury in a string of setbacks that have disrupted his fourth season in the NBA, a season in which his team, collectively, has been ravaged by injuries while posting the third-worst record in the league.

The 8-28 Kings announced Tuesday that an MRI revealed the 25-year-old Iowa product is dealing with a moderate left ankle sprain, and that he will be reevaluated in three-to-four weeks. 

Just before New Year’s, the 2022 No. 4 overall pick returned from a calf injury that cost him a pair of games in late December. 

[Get more Kings news: Sacramento team feed]

Murray’s 2025-26 campaign got off to a delayed start because of a torn UCL in his left thumb that required surgery. He picked up that injury during a preseason loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and went on to miss the first 15 games of the season.

His ankle issue stemmed from a third-quarter drive Sunday. With the Kings trailing the Bucks by 15 points and around four minutes remaining in the frame, Murray attacked the paint. 

He was met by Milwaukee center Myles Turner. After being tied up by Turner, Murray tried to dish a mid-air pass to Kings big man Drew Eubanks. It didn’t connect, and Murray took an awkward fall. 

Once he landed, he reached for his left ankle. Murray ultimately needed assistance as he limped to the locker room.

Murray signed what was reported as a five-year, $140 million rookie extension with the Kings this fall, but he’s now played in just 19 of Sacramento’s 36 games, and he’ll be missing several more with his ankle injury. 

Murray, who previously appeared in 233 of a possible 246 games over his first three seasons, is currently averaging 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, however, his 42.9% field-goal percentage and 27.2% 3-point percentage are career lows.

He’s far from the only Kings player bit by the injury bug this season.

Rookie center Maxime Raynaud had an injury scare in the fourth quarter of a 129-102 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on Friday. 

He’s been starting in the place of injured frontcourt star Domantas Sabonis, a three-time All-Star who is still recovering from a partially torn meniscus.

Raynaud was back in the lineup Sunday against the Bucks, and so was Zach LaVine. The two-time All-Star guard was coming off a nine-game absence due to a left ankle injury of his own. 

The Kings have lost five games in a row, all by double digits. They have the worst point differential average (minus-12) in the NBA, and they can’t seem to catch a break health-wise.

While a midseason losing streak from a championship contender is by no means indicative of how their season will end, the latest vibes surrounding the Knicks are nevertheless unnerving.

Just hours after Knicks owner James Dolan publicly reaffirmed sky-high expectations, his team stumbled in the national spotlight on Monday, dropping its fourth straight game in an ugly blowout road loss to the first-place Pistons.

The Knicks’ woes stretch beyond their current four-game lull. Since their NBA Cup title win over the Spurs on Dec. 16, they’ve produced an uninspiring 5-6 record and lost four times by double-digits. They’ve also lacked physicality on both ends of the floor, causing their advanced metrics to slide.

But concerns outside the Knicks’ locker room aren’t bothering the players. Their leading scorer and catalyst, Jalen Brunson, isn’t lifting the lid on some panic button.

“The sky isn’t falling. We’ve lost four in a row,” the Knicks’ captain said following Tuesday’s practice. “Obviously, we don’t want to be in a position like that. We’ve got to be better, be positive. We’ve got to understand, we didn’t start the season great and then we played well after that. It’s just a stint we need to get out of.”

Brunson, the NBA Cup MVP who earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors by averaging 30.6 points and 7.1 assists over 14 games in December, hasn’t really missed a beat in the new year. He remains the Knicks’ reliable go-to option, only now his challenge is receiving ample support from teammates.

In the midst of shooting slumps from three-point range and lingering injuries to key contributors, the Knicks are searching for a rhythm and swagger they once flaunted. When asked if the NBA’s in-season tournament win triggered some sort of hangover, Brunson didn’t agree with the label.

“I’m not calling it a hangover, I’m not calling it anything,” Brunson said. “It’s us not being where we need to be, so where do we go from here?… We just have to be better as a team. I could say it the same way a thousand different times. It’s that plain and simple.”

The Knicks sorely need Karl-Anthony Towns to deliver more consistent scoring, akin to the numbers posted last season as an All-Star alongside Brunson. The veteran center was ineffective against the Pistons, limited to just six points and responsible for a season-worst six turnovers.

What can’t be disputed is Towns’ far-from-seamless transition to head coach Mike Brown’s system. He’s already logged four games this season with single-digit points — last season, he finished below 10 points only once.

“I lean on my experience, I’ve unfortunately had to adjust to a lot of head coaches and a lot of new teammates and situations,” Towns said on Tuesday. “We’ve got to do what I’ve got to do to move forward.”

Of course, the Knicks must demand more from Towns. But their most glaring issue over the past few weeks has been defensive vulnerability. In their 11-game stretch since the NBA Cup, they’ve been outscored by a whopping 5.6 points per 100 possessions.

The eventual return of Josh Hart from injury will be an energy boost, and Mitchell Robinson’s brief three-game absence made the Knicks’ lineup smaller and weaker in the paint. But toughness is a matter of will, and Towns blames the four-game skid on the defensive efforts.

“You’ve got to play defense to win games,” Towns said. “We can’t give up the amount of points we do and not score as much as them.”

There was never any doubt of the Knicks’ bar being set above another Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Perhaps the combination of welcomed reinforcements and on-court adjustments can rejuvenate a team still positioned to reach greater heights.

The Knicks will try to snap their losing streak at home on Wednesday, against the Clippers, before embarking on a four-game road trip out west.

Owners of MLB’s best regular-season record and a franchise-record 97 wins in 2025, the Milwaukee Brewers crashed out of last year’s postseason in fairly humiliating fashion. It’s one thing to be eliminated by the eventual World Series champions — and it’s no secret that the Los Angeles Dodgers wielded a particularly powerful roster — but the degree to which Milwaukee was outclassed in the NLCS undeniably began the winter on a sobering, sour note that made the rollicking success of the regular season feel like a distant memory. The Brewers were outscored 15-4 over the course of the four-game sweep. Worse, they hit a combined .118/.191/.193, amounting to a paltry .384 OPS that was the second-lowest mark ever by a team in a championship series.

After a summer filled with magical moments and an early-round playoff triumph over the rival Cubs, the Brewers fell short of what would have been just the second World Series appearance in franchise history. At the same time, their enormous sample of winning in the months prior was another reminder of the organization’s unique ability to remain ultra-competitive on a yearly basis, regardless of payroll or roster turnover. Still, Milwaukee repeatedly coming close over the past decade without actually reaching the Fall Classic raises the question of what this organization can do to ensure that final destination is finally reached.

To that end, the offseason represents an opportunity for contenders to make the necessary roster upgrades to advance further the following season. But the Brewers haven’t acted with any kind of urgency this winter — a sharp contrast to the transactional activity of another team that suffered postseason heartbreak against the Dodgers, the Toronto Blue Jays, who have responded to their World Series loss with multiple major signings. Meanwhile, the Brewers’ activity in free agency has consisted of retaining Brandon Woodruff via the qualifying offer and signing outfielder Akil Baddoo to a split deal that doesn’t guarantee a roster spot. That’s it. 

Of course, the difference in market size and spending power must be acknowledged when comparing Milwaukee’s offseason to those of their rivals, but the Brewers’ relative passivity still stands as an interesting organizational response to what occurred in 2025. They aren’t alone in this category, but the Brewers’ outsized regular-season success followed by a particularly unpleasant postseason exit make their timid hot stove strategy worthy of a deeper look. 

With pitchers and catchers reporting to Maryvale, Arizona, in a little more than a month, here are four big questions looming over the Brew Crew:

1. Will they trade Freddy Peralta?

Amidst a starting pitching market that hasn’t really gotten moving this offseason, the Brewers have one of the most valuable trade chips in the league in Peralta, who is coming off the best season of his career and slated to make just $8 million in 2026 before reaching free agency. Most players in Peralta’s position and of his caliber would seem like the last player a team would entertain trading, considering his value, but the Brewers have consistently demonstrated a willingness to deal away key players before their contracts expire in an effort to recoup valuable future assets; Peralta’s former rotationmate Corbin Burnes is the most glaring recent example. 

Replicating the Burnes gambit now looms as a possibility as multiple teams inquire about Peralta, and there’s an argument that Peralta could fetch even more in a trade than what Burnes yielded from Baltimore (shortstop Joey Ortiz, left-hander DL Hall, and draft pick eventually used on first baseman Blake Burke, who reached Double-A in his first full professional season in 2025). Peralta isn’t quite as accomplished on the whole as Burnes was at the time of his trade, but he’s coming off a better season, and his modest salary is much more attractive than the roughly $16 million Burnes was projected to make in his final year of arbitration.

Assuming super-ace Tarik Skubal isn’t dealt, Peralta is arguably the best pitcher left on the free-agent or trade markets, comparing favorably not only to fellow trade candidates such as MacKenzie Gore and Edward Cabrera but also to the top free-agent arms such as Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Zac Gallen. It’s not hard to see why teams would be willing to pay a hefty price to land Peralta, even for just one season, and such offers might prove too enticing for the Brewers to pass up.

That said, trading yet another longtime fan favorite is not a decision to be taken lightly, even if Milwaukee has done this dance before. And executing such a trade while meaningfully improving the roster for 2026 is a delicate balance to strike — if it’s possible at all.

2. What are the expectations for Jacob Misiorowski in 2026?

Beyond whether Milwaukee can extract enough value in a trade for Peralta, the other key consideration when weighing such a move involves the strength of the rotation with or without him. Keeping Woodruff via the qualifying offer is one crucial piece of that puzzle, though his durability moving forward remains a serious question considering his ailments in recent years, including a lat strain that rendered him unavailable for the postseason. The Brewers have also demonstrated an ability to turn pitchers who failed to flourish with other organizations into impactful arms in Milwaukee, with Quinn Priester and Chad Patrick the latest examples fortifying the club’s rotation depth and Tobias Myers another relevant character in that regard.

However, few pitchers across the entire sport enter 2026 with as much intrigue as Misiorowski. The lanky right-hander, who will turn just 24 years old in April, enjoyed a supersonic ascent to stardom last season, a roller-coaster ride that also featured some notable points of adversity but finished on an encouraging note given how he looked in the postseason, when he struck out 16 batters while allowing just two earned runs in 12 innings across three appearances.

Fresh off his star turn in 2025 — and after a notable jump in workload to a career-high 129⅓ frames across the minors, majors and postseason — what is a realistic outlook for Misiorowski’s sophomore campaign? Will he continue striking out boatloads of batters with his otherworldly stuff, or will he ultimately prove too wild to be a reliable rotation option, validating a concern that has followed him throughout his trajectory as a prospect?

The degree of confidence that Milwaukee has in Misiorowski to develop into its next frontline arm could play a role in the team’s decision to trade or hold onto Peralta. And Peralta ramifications aside, Misiorowski’s development will be well worth monitoring in 2026.

[Get more Milwaukee news: Brewers team feed] 

3. Will the Brewers add a major-league hitter?

Outside of Baddoo — an intriguing bounce-back target in the mold of some other reclamation projects who have thrived in Milwaukee but far from a sure bet to contribute — the most prominent addition Milwaukee has made to its offensive unit this offseason is a couple of new hitting coaches ( including former slugger Daniel Vogelbach). In fact, the Brewers have technically subtracted from their offense more than they’ve added, trading Isaac Collins to Kansas City coming off Collins’ unlikely breakout campaign in which he finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Left-hander Angel Zerpa — the return for Collins in that deal — might well make an important impact on the mound for Milwaukee, but he isn’t going to help the team’s run-production efforts, and that raises questions about whether there will be any offensive upgrades before Opening Day for an offense that ranked 11th in OPS and 22nd in home runs in 2025 and flamed out against the Dodgers in October.

Perhaps reinforcements could come in the return in a Peralta trade (or some other trade), or there are still a good number of free-agent bats available who could help the Brewers and won’t cost a ton, such as Miguel Andujar or Austin Hays. First base — depending how confident Milwaukee is in Andrew Vaughn’s renaissance — and left field are two spots to monitor for upgrades, especially if the Brewers are intent on sticking with Joey Ortiz at shortstop, as has been reported.

4. What is Jackson Chourio’s ceiling?

If Misiorowski represents the most tantalizing and critical pitcher to project for Milwaukee, Chourio is unquestionably the most important bat when assessing the overall strength of the position-player group. After flashing tremendous potential as a 20-year-old rookie, Chourio turned in a sophomore season with eerily similar surface-level totals — seriously, go look at how nearly identical his first two seasons were — but his underlying metrics regressed just enough to make Chourio’s second campaign a modest disappointment, albeit nothing that would dampen his outlook as a future star.

Now 2026 represents a pivotal opportunity for Chourio to demonstrate that he’s still on track to be a face-of-the-franchise type of player, and he’ll need to prove it on both sides of the ball. He has obvious potential as a power-speed dynamo, but his value to Milwaukee in the long term will be dictated even more by how he progresses as a defender.

Should Chourio prove he can play a capable center field — where he started 91 games in the regular season before exclusively playing corner outfield in the postseason — that would lessen the pressure on his bat to hit at superstar levels while enhancing Milwaukee’s roster flexibility. If he settles into left or right field instead, it will become paramount for Chourio the hitter to elevate his output.

There’s plenty of time for Chourio to make the necessary adjustments to upgrade his game with the bat and the glove — he turns just 22 in March, after all — but how quickly and how dramatically those improvements take place will play a big part in Milwaukee’s plans and ambitions for the foreseeable future.

Owners of MLB’s best regular-season record and a franchise-record 97 wins in 2025, the Milwaukee Brewers crashed out of last year’s postseason in fairly humiliating fashion. It’s one thing to be eliminated by the eventual World Series champions — and it’s no secret that the Los Angeles Dodgers wielded a particularly powerful roster — but the degree to which Milwaukee was outclassed in the NLCS undeniably began the winter on a sobering, sour note that made the rollicking success of the regular season feel like a distant memory. The Brewers were outscored 15-4 over the course of the four-game sweep. Worse, they hit a combined .118/.191/.193, amounting to a paltry .384 OPS that was the second-lowest mark ever by a team in a championship series.

After a summer filled with magical moments and an early-round playoff triumph over the rival Cubs, the Brewers fell short of what would have been just the second World Series appearance in franchise history. At the same time, their enormous sample of winning in the months prior was another reminder of the organization’s unique ability to remain ultra-competitive on a yearly basis, regardless of payroll or roster turnover. Still, Milwaukee repeatedly coming close over the past decade without actually reaching the Fall Classic raises the question of what this organization can do to ensure that final destination is finally reached.

To that end, the offseason represents an opportunity for contenders to make the necessary roster upgrades to advance further the following season. But the Brewers haven’t acted with any kind of urgency this winter — a sharp contrast to the transactional activity of another team that suffered postseason heartbreak against the Dodgers, the Toronto Blue Jays, who have responded to their World Series loss with multiple major signings. Meanwhile, the Brewers’ activity in free agency has consisted of retaining Brandon Woodruff via the qualifying offer and signing outfielder Akil Baddoo to a split deal that doesn’t guarantee a roster spot. That’s it. 

Of course, the difference in market size and spending power must be acknowledged when comparing Milwaukee’s offseason to those of their rivals, but the Brewers’ relative passivity still stands as an interesting organizational response to what occurred in 2025. They aren’t alone in this category, but the Brewers’ outsized regular-season success followed by a particularly unpleasant postseason exit make their timid hot stove strategy worthy of a deeper look. 

With pitchers and catchers reporting to Maryvale, Arizona, in a little more than a month, here are four big questions looming over the Brew Crew:

1. Will they trade Freddy Peralta?

Amidst a starting pitching market that hasn’t really gotten moving this offseason, the Brewers have one of the most valuable trade chips in the league in Peralta, who is coming off the best season of his career and slated to make just $8 million in 2026 before reaching free agency. Most players in Peralta’s position and of his caliber would seem like the last player a team would entertain trading, considering his value, but the Brewers have consistently demonstrated a willingness to deal away key players before their contracts expire in an effort to recoup valuable future assets; Peralta’s former rotationmate Corbin Burnes is the most glaring recent example. 

Replicating the Burnes gambit now looms as a possibility as multiple teams inquire about Peralta, and there’s an argument that Peralta could fetch even more in a trade than what Burnes yielded from Baltimore (shortstop Joey Ortiz, left-hander DL Hall, and draft pick eventually used on first baseman Blake Burke, who reached Double-A in his first full professional season in 2025). Peralta isn’t quite as accomplished on the whole as Burnes was at the time of his trade, but he’s coming off a better season, and his modest salary is much more attractive than the roughly $16 million Burnes was projected to make in his final year of arbitration.

Assuming super-ace Tarik Skubal isn’t dealt, Peralta is arguably the best pitcher left on the free-agent or trade markets, comparing favorably not only to fellow trade candidates such as MacKenzie Gore and Edward Cabrera but also to the top free-agent arms such as Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Zac Gallen. It’s not hard to see why teams would be willing to pay a hefty price to land Peralta, even for just one season, and such offers might prove too enticing for the Brewers to pass up.

That said, trading yet another longtime fan favorite is not a decision to be taken lightly, even if Milwaukee has done this dance before. And executing such a trade while meaningfully improving the roster for 2026 is a delicate balance to strike — if it’s possible at all.

2. What are the expectations for Jacob Misiorowski in 2026?

Beyond whether Milwaukee can extract enough value in a trade for Peralta, the other key consideration when weighing such a move involves the strength of the rotation with or without him. Keeping Woodruff via the qualifying offer is one crucial piece of that puzzle, though his durability moving forward remains a serious question considering his ailments in recent years, including a lat strain that rendered him unavailable for the postseason. The Brewers have also demonstrated an ability to turn pitchers who failed to flourish with other organizations into impactful arms in Milwaukee, with Quinn Priester and Chad Patrick the latest examples fortifying the club’s rotation depth and Tobias Myers another relevant character in that regard.

However, few pitchers across the entire sport enter 2026 with as much intrigue as Misiorowski. The lanky right-hander, who will turn just 24 years old in April, enjoyed a supersonic ascent to stardom last season, a roller-coaster ride that also featured some notable points of adversity but finished on an encouraging note given how he looked in the postseason, when he struck out 16 batters while allowing just two earned runs in 12 innings across three appearances.

Fresh off his star turn in 2025 — and after a notable jump in workload to a career-high 129⅓ frames across the minors, majors and postseason — what is a realistic outlook for Misiorowski’s sophomore campaign? Will he continue striking out boatloads of batters with his otherworldly stuff, or will he ultimately prove too wild to be a reliable rotation option, validating a concern that has followed him throughout his trajectory as a prospect?

The degree of confidence that Milwaukee has in Misiorowski to develop into its next frontline arm could play a role in the team’s decision to trade or hold onto Peralta. And Peralta ramifications aside, Misiorowski’s development will be well worth monitoring in 2026.

[Get more Milwaukee news: Brewers team feed] 

3. Will the Brewers add a major-league hitter?

Outside of Baddoo — an intriguing bounce-back target in the mold of some other reclamation projects who have thrived in Milwaukee but far from a sure bet to contribute — the most prominent addition Milwaukee has made to its offensive unit this offseason is a couple of new hitting coaches ( including former slugger Daniel Vogelbach). In fact, the Brewers have technically subtracted from their offense more than they’ve added, trading Isaac Collins to Kansas City coming off Collins’ unlikely breakout campaign in which he finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Left-hander Angel Zerpa — the return for Collins in that deal — might well make an important impact on the mound for Milwaukee, but he isn’t going to help the team’s run-production efforts, and that raises questions about whether there will be any offensive upgrades before Opening Day for an offense that ranked 11th in OPS and 22nd in home runs in 2025 and flamed out against the Dodgers in October.

Perhaps reinforcements could come in the return in a Peralta trade (or some other trade), or there are still a good number of free-agent bats available who could help the Brewers and won’t cost a ton, such as Miguel Andujar or Austin Hays. First base — depending how confident Milwaukee is in Andrew Vaughn’s renaissance — and left field are two spots to monitor for upgrades, especially if the Brewers are intent on sticking with Joey Ortiz at shortstop, as has been reported.

4. What is Jackson Chourio’s ceiling?

If Misiorowski represents the most tantalizing and critical pitcher to project for Milwaukee, Chourio is unquestionably the most important bat when assessing the overall strength of the position-player group. After flashing tremendous potential as a 20-year-old rookie, Chourio turned in a sophomore season with eerily similar surface-level totals — seriously, go look at how nearly identical his first two seasons were — but his underlying metrics regressed just enough to make Chourio’s second campaign a modest disappointment, albeit nothing that would dampen his outlook as a future star.

Now 2026 represents a pivotal opportunity for Chourio to demonstrate that he’s still on track to be a face-of-the-franchise type of player, and he’ll need to prove it on both sides of the ball. He has obvious potential as a power-speed dynamo, but his value to Milwaukee in the long term will be dictated even more by how he progresses as a defender.

Should Chourio prove he can play a capable center field — where he started 91 games in the regular season before exclusively playing corner outfield in the postseason — that would lessen the pressure on his bat to hit at superstar levels while enhancing Milwaukee’s roster flexibility. If he settles into left or right field instead, it will become paramount for Chourio the hitter to elevate his output.

There’s plenty of time for Chourio to make the necessary adjustments to upgrade his game with the bat and the glove — he turns just 22 in March, after all — but how quickly and how dramatically those improvements take place will play a big part in Milwaukee’s plans and ambitions for the foreseeable future.

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