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With the Knicks trailing and disjointed for most of their nationally-televised, playoff-intensity contest, head coach Mike Brown turned to two of his bench guards — Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson — to provide a lift late in the ball game. The poised floor general and sparkplug scorer went beyond their job descriptions, mounting massive runs that scored their team a decisive victory, further adding to their pedigree and readiness for the championship hunt ahead.

Does this story sound familiar to Knicks fans? It should, as it seems to happen every other week now. 

What started off as a low-risk, high-reward veteran’s minimum flier and rocky second-year development project have turned into a devastating combination for opponents and a surprise surge of depth for a team that’s struggled with the issue for two years now. They’re winning New York the biggest games on the biggest stages of their schedule, and if that’s any indication of what’s to come in the playoffs, the Knicks will be at a new level of formidable.

But let’s start at the beginning. New York drafted Kolek 34th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he failed to find consistent playing time in his rookie season.

There were stronger, more veteran options, and though Kolek had impressed in Las Vegas Summer League and some spot backup minutes, he didn’t look fully confident and prepared defensively. Entering this training camp with a new coach but similar competition, Kolek was seemingly at risk of being moved before a surprise retirement announcement from Malcolm Brogdon. 

He was unremarkable in preseason and in spot minutes to start the year, but when Landry Shamet went down with an injury in late November, Kolek seized his opportunity. He’s since averaged 7.1 points, 3.8 assists and 0.8 assists in 16.6 minutes per game on 57 percent shooting from two, 38 percent from three, and very few giveaways. 

Kolek’s brought a new level of defensive intensity to his court presence, and seems to have found a liking to Brown’s offensive system. His veteran teammates also have a newfound trust in him to control the ball.

Clarkson is 33 years old and came to the Knicks with far less to prove than Kolek but just as much to accomplish. He played for three teams prior, his latest stop in Utah, where he cemented himself as a Sixth Man of the Year winner and reliable postseason contributor.

His production slowed with age, and the stakes around him disappeared with the talent. With a chance at bringing his plug-and-play ball handling and scoring to a contender desperately needing it, he took the veteran’s minimum to sign in New York.

It wasn’t the hottest or most consistent of starts, but Clarkson’s gotten more comfortable as the season has progressed, climaxing in the last couple of weeks. He scored 15 in the Cup Championship, 18 the game after, and 25 on Christmas, helping will the Knicks to three victories that looked out of reach.

Kolek and Clarkson have had great individual performances, but it’s been their production as a tandem that’s flipped entire games on their heads. First in the Cup Championship, when the two controlled the fourth quarter, finishing the game with a combined near-30 off the bench.

Then, with the Knicks looking hapless and trailing by 17 in the fourth quarter, they totally shifted the momentum again. Both were constantly pushing the ball, getting into the paint and connecting from three.

The two combined for 41 points and 11 assists in the clutch victory, with Clarkson chipping in three steals. In both wins, Brown trusted the combo deep into the final period, even grouping them with Jalen Brunson for stretches. 

Just Kolek and Clarkson as a pairing, now seen much more frequently since the injuries to Shamet and Miles McBride, is outscoring opponents by 6.6 points per 100 possessions in 192 minutes. It will be interesting to see how Brown keeps this duo intact once those pieces return. 

In the meantime, the Knicks are happy to have such a weapon off the bench as the season enters its midpoint and the starters’ legs start to get heavy. Not only will that help steal them regular-season wins when the stars don’t have it, but potentially a playoff series down the line.

Kolek and Clarkson having these huge nights to win the Cup and then beat the Cavs on Christmas Day brings major confidence that they can do the same in a pivotal playoff game. The Knicks scrambled to find those kinds of guys at the end of their bench in past postseasons, but seem to finally have it.

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

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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.

Sixers sign wing MarJon Beauchamp to two-way contract  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers have shuffled their two-way contract slots shortly before turning the calendar to 2026.

MarJon Beauchamp has inked a two-way deal, the team announced Friday. 

The 6-foot-7 wing signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Sixers in October. He’s played seven G League games for the Delaware Blue Coats this season and averaged 20.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists. 

Beauchamp began his professional career with G League Ignite and was the 24th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Bucks. The 25-year-old has made 135 NBA appearances and posted 4.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest. 

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, Beauchamp is with the Sixers in Chicago for the opener of their five-game road trip Friday night.

As of Friday afternoon, the Sixers listed VJ Edgecombe, Dominick Barlow and Quentin Grimes (illness) as probable against the Bulls. Joel Embiid (right knee injury management) was questionable, while Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) remained out. 

The Sixers waived rookie two-way contract shooting guard Hunter Sallis before signing Beauchamp. Two-ways Barlow and Jabari Walker have been regulars in the Sixers’ rotation. Barlow’s been especially versatile and valuable, starting 15 games and averaging 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.8 steals. 

The final matchup of the NBA’s five-game Christmas Day slate produced a rousing way to end a busy holiday of basketball.

The Denver Nuggets held on for a 142-138 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves that featured a Nikola Jokić triple-double with 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists, as well as an eventful night from Anthony Edwards.

We’ll start with Edwards, who finished the game with 44 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 game-tying shot with 1.1 seconds to go in regulation, and 1 ejection.

The fifth 40-point game of the season for Edwards was highlighted by his 24 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. The game needed only an extra period because of the Timberwolves’ guard’s clutch shot late in regulation to erase a 15-point lead by Minnesota.

Edwards would not finish overtime, however, as he picked up his second technical foul with 20.5 seconds remaining.

On the other side, Jokić’s night saw him record the 179th triple-double of his career in the victory. The three-time MVP put up 18 points in the first quarter and completed his triple-double by the middle of the third quarter. He finished by scoring 18 of Denver’s 27 points in overtime for the first 55/15/15 game in NBA history.

Jokić’s 56 points puts him third all-time on the NBA’s Christmas Day scoring list behind Bernard King (60) and Wilt Chamberlain (59). He also seems to enjoy playing the Timberwolves after posting triple-doubles in each of his past four games against Minnesota, which includes his career-high of 61 points last April.

“Bro, it’s unbelievable. We’re watching history on a night-to-night basis,” Nuggets guard Peyton Watson said afterward.

The win improved the Nuggets to 22-8 as they sit second in the Northwest Division, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Timberwolves. Denver remains in third place in the Western Conference, one game behind the San Antonio Spurs and 3 1/2 games behind the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

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

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Dec. 26, 8:45 a.m.

Count the Mets – along with the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles – among the teams that have reportedly met with free-agent starter Framber Valdez, according to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman.

New York’s interest in the left-hander has been a topic of much speculation this winter. Earlier this month, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com said the Mets were “among the favorites” to sign Valdez. However, it has also been reported that the Mets are “reluctant to hand out long-term offers” to the top free agent starting pitchers left on the market.

Valdez, 32 as of November, pitched to a 3.66 ERA and 1.245 WHIP over 31 starts and 192 innings last year. Over the past four seasons, the lefty has been quite a dependable starter for the Houston Astros, tossing 767.2 innings over 121 starts (with eight complete games) while posting a 3.21 ERA.

Dec. 23, 3:00 p.m.

Ketel Marte has been one of the buzzier names on the trade market this winter. 

Numerous teams have expressed interest in the three-time All-Star, and according to reports, the Mets threw their name into the mix after trading Jeff McNeil to the A’s. 

How Marte would fit on New York’s roster is a big question, but whether Arizona would actually move him is another. 

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said Tuesday on Foul Territory that the team likely won’t deal him unless they receive young pitching in return. 

With that being said, they do seem motivated to find a partner with his 10-and-5 rights looming. 

If that is indeed the case, the Mets certainly would be a fit with so many talented young arms in their system. 

Reports have indicated all winter that Nolan McLean is unavailable, but they’ve been open to listening on Jonah Tong or Brandon Sproat in the right deal.

You’d have to figure the two-time Silver Slugger award winner would be that type of player. 

The big question again, though, is where Marte would fit with Marcus Semien penciled in as the everyday 2B. 

The 31-year-old does have experience in center, but he has mainly played second the past two seasons. 

Dec. 23, 10:41 a.m.

With the Mets reportedly prioritizing a right-handed bat, one option is free agent outfielder Austin Hays.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets have discussed Hays internally, and the team “has some interest” in adding him. 

Hays, 30, had a nice season with Cincinnati in 2025, posting a 105 OPS+ with 15 homers and 64 RBI.

An eight-year MLB veteran, Hays has feasted on left-handed pitching throughout his career, posting an .819 OPS with 25 home runs and 88 RBI against southpaws.

Dec. 22, 8:35 p.m.

The Cincinnati Reds are in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox for slugger Luis Robert Jr., reports the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmyer.

The Mets and Chicago have also been “engaged in trade talks” for Robert, Bob Nightengale of USA Today previously reported on Dec. 21.

Robert is under contract for $20 million in 2026 and has a club option worth the same amount for 2027.

The White Sox “are said to be willing to eat maybe half of the 2026 salary” for the center fielder, Wittenmyer notes. 

Robert played just 110 games in 2025 and struggled at the plate when healthy, hitting .223 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles, and 53 RBI. He did steal a career-high 33 bases and had a career-high 40 walks.

Dec. 21, 8:44 p.m.

Any level of interest the Mets expressed in Willson Contreras this winter is now irrelevant, as the St. Louis Cardinals dealt the first baseman to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for three pitchers, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

While rumors linking the Mets to Contreras picked up some speed earlier in the month, The Athletic reported last week that kicking the tires on the three-time All-Star took the back seat amid their free-agent deal with infielder Jorge Polanco, who’s expected to see more work at first base in 2026.

Dec. 21, 11:34 a.m.

The Mets and Reds are engaged in trade talks for White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and pitching depth would likely be the asking price, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

It’s unclear if a deal will occur, but the White Sox made a big free-agent splash Sunday morning, signing Japanese star and Mets target Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million deal.

Robert, who turns 29 next season, has yet to flourish as a star slugger. While he produced a career-high 38 home runs across 145 games in 2023, he hit a measly .224 with just 28 homers between 2024 and 2025 (210 total games).

Robert owns a career .259/.313/.455 slash line, however, and offers above-average defense in center field — a position of need for the Mets. He also stole a career-best 33 bags on 41 attempts in 2025.

Slated to earn $20 million this coming season, Robert also has a 2027 club option worth the same amount before he becomes a free agent.

Dec. 21, 10:23 a.m.

Third baseman Munetaka Murakami is in agreement with the Chicago White Sox on a two-year, $34 million contract, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 

With Pete Alonso signing in Baltimore, Murakami had become an intriguing corner infield option, given his monster power numbers. Murakami hit 265 career home runs in eight pro seasons in Japan, including 56 big flies in 2022, when he was just 22 years old. 

Murakami has had his issues with strikeouts, though, an issue he’ll look to improve on as he joins a White Sox team that has not won more than 61 games in a season since 2022.

Dec. 16, 12:16 p.m.

The Mets are “very in” on Cody Bellinger, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

In addition to the Mets, Bellinger has also been heavily linked to the Yankees.

Most projections have Bellinger getting a deal for five or six years.

For the Mets, Bellinger could fit in left field, center field, or at first base — where the newly-acquired Jorge Polanco could be in the mix. 

Bellinger had a strong season for the Yanks in 2025, slashing .272/.334/.480 with 28 homers, 25 doubles, 98 RBI, and 89 runs scored in 152 games.

His defense is viewed as above average in left field — something that would be welcomed following the trade of Brandon Nimmo, whose defense had been regressing. 

Dec. 14, 10:25 a.m.

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras has been a hot name in Mets rumors of late, but it sounds like the club’s interest in Contreras may not have been as strong as previously thought. 

According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, while the Mets did in fact inquire about the catcher-turned-first-baseman, “their interest was secondary,” with the Jorge Polanco signing reinforcing that point. 

The expectation for the Mets is that Polanco will get most of his at-bats as a first baseman or as a DH, though he has the ability to play every position along the infield. With Polanco’s versatile background, the Mets could still look to add a full-time first baseman.

Dec. 12, 3:19 p.m.

The Red Sox, who recently missed out on both Kyle Schwarber in Pete Alonso, have interest in Mets trade target Willson Contreras, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

Per Cotillo, the Sox also remain interested in free agent Alex Bregman as well as potential trades for Ketel Marte and Isaac Paredes. 

Contreras, who is entering his age-34 season, has two years and $36.5 million remaining on his contract — plus a club option for 2028. 

He was a plus offensive player (123 OPS+) and above average defender at first base (90th percentile, 6 OAA) in 2025. So he certainly fits the mold of what David Stearns is looking for.

As far as what the rebuilding Cardinals would want, it’s fair to believe that they would be seeking a controllable big league player and/or prospects.

Dec. 11, 9:21 p.m.

The Mets have inquired about Chicago White Sox centerfielder Luis Robert Jr. this offseason, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

However, a deal for Robert to join New York would require sending prospects to Chicago and for the Mets to surrender prospects, they want money in return to offset Robert’s $20 million salary, per Heyman. 

That could pose a problem, as White Sox owner, Jerry Reinsdorf isn’t seen as a likely candidate to send money to Steve Cohen and the Mets.

After this season, Robert has a club option for the 2027 season worth $20 million before he becomes a free agent. 

The 28-year-old finished the 2025 season with a .223/.297/.364 slash line with 14 home runs and 53 RBI in 110 games. He also added a career-high 33 steals in 41 attempts.

After a phenomenal 2023 season in which he had a .857 OPS and a career-high 38 home runs in 145 games, Robert has had back-to-back underwhelming seasons. Still, in his career, he owns a .259/.313/.455 slash line and is an above-average defender in center, a position of need for New York.

Dec. 10, 3:37 p.m.

The Mets are interested in a reunion with free agent right-hander Tyler Rogers, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

Rogers, 34, performed well for New York late last season after being acquired from the Giants via trade.

In 27.1 innings over 28 games, Rogers had a 2.30 ERA (3.32 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP.

Over seven big league seasons, Rogers — whose funky delivery throws hitters off — has a 2.76 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 420 games.

Dec. 10, 8:24 a.m.

After losing Edwin Diaz to the Dodgers, the Mets remain in need of a reliever who can pitch in the late innings.

To that end, they are one of the “most aggressive suitors” for hard-throwing free agent right-hander Robert Suarez, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, who notes that the Blue Jays and Braves are also after Suarez.

Per Feinsand, Suarez’s market started to heat up after Diaz signed with Los Angeles.

Suarez, who is entering his age-35 season, seems likely to receive a two-or three-year deal.

He had a terrific season in 2025 for San Diego, posting a 2.97 ERA and 0.90 WHIP while striking out 75 batters in 69.2 innings. 

An All-Star the last two years, Suarez’s 40 saves led the National League last season.

Dec. 9, 8:55 p.m.

The Miami Marlins are “progressing” in their efforts to find a trade partner for right-hander Edward Cabrera, The Athletic’s Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the Marlins are talking with the Baltimore Orioles and other clubs.

Cabrera, who turns 28 in April, pitched to a 3.53 ERA and 1.228 WHIP with 150 strikeouts and 48 walks in 137.2 innings over 26 starts last year. He has a career 4.07 ERA over 89 outings (87 starts) after breaking into the league during the 2021 season. 

The big selling point for the Mets and other interested clubs: He is under team control for three more seasons and is expected to earn a modest salary for the 2026 campaign. That means, of course, that Miami’s asking price is likely going to be so high that a trade may not come to fruition.

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, 6:55 p.m.

While baseball’s movers and shakers spend a few days in Orlando at the MLB Winter Meetings, the Mets were still taking meetings with people in absentia. 

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported that the club held a “video meeting” with free-agent starter Michael King. 

Sherman added that the Mets were not the only team the right-hander spoke with, but the meeting with the representatives from Queens exemplifies a level of seriousness between the parties.”

King, 30, enters the market after two seasons in San Diego. After a stellar 2024 campaign, last season was marked by two stints on the injured list and some solid pitching when healthy: a 3.44 ERA and 1.200 WHIP across 73.1 innings and 15 starts. King also struck out 76 batters to 26 walks, good for 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Dec. 8, 8:51 a.m.

The Mets are “reluctant to hand out long-term offers” to the top free agent starting pitchers left on the market, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. 

The consensus top starting pitcher remaining is Framber Valdez, who is entering his age-32 season. 

Other free agent starters include Michael King, Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen, and Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai.

Imai, whom the Mets have been connected to, is 27 years old, putting him in a different tier than the other available free agents. 

King is coming off an injury-riddled season and seems unlikely to get a long-term deal.

As far as Suarez, his fastball velocity has been steadily declining the last three seasons, making him a risky proposition.

If the Mets don’t add a potential impact starter via free agency, they could turn to a trade market that might include Freddy Peralta, Tarik Skubal, and Edward Cabrera. 

Dec. 5, 5:57 p.m.

The Marlins are reportedly in the market to trade one of their starting pitchers.

Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report that there’s a “strong possibility” the Marlins end up moving one of their starters, and that Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera continue to attract “serious attention” from other teams. 

While the report doesn’t name teams, the Mets are obviously in the market for front-line starting pitching and have the major league ready arms and bats to facilitate a potential deal with Miami. Cabrera has three years of club control remaining, while Alcantara has a club option (worth $21 million) for 2027. 

The Athletic also reports that young lefty Ryan Weathers has received interest from multiple teams. Weathers, 25, was having a breakout year in 2025 before he missed most of the year with a lat strain. He returned in September and finished with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP across eight starts. The report adds that the Marlins are at least listening in on each of their starters not named Eury Perez.

Dec. 5, 3:10 p.m.

It appears you can scratch three potential Mets trade targets off the board. 

The Twins don’t anticipate trading star CF Byron Buxton, ace Joe Ryan, or right-hander Pablo Lopez this offseason, according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. 

Minnesota intends to hang on to and build around all three, as club officials believe that the team is talented enough to compete in the weak American League Central.

Ryan is someone whom the Mets have shown interest in, according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post, and Minnesota is said to like young right-hander Jonah Tong. 

Rosenthal indicated that the rebuilding Twins would obviously listen if teams continue calling about the trio, however, they’d likely have to be overwhelmed to accept a deal. 

Dec. 5, 11:33 a.m.

The Mets are among the teams “in the mix” for free agent left-hander Ranger Suarez, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Feinsand lists the Astros, Cubs, and Orioles as the “most serious” threats to sign Suarez. 

Suarez has been one of the most reliable and effective pitchers in baseball over the last five seasons, posting a 3.25 ERA (3.44 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP in 694.1 innings over 143 games (116 starts).

For the Phillies this past season, he had a 3.20 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while tossing 157.1 innings across 26 starts.

Dec. 1, 7:05 p.m.

Tatsuya Imai, the 27-year-old Japanese right-hander, has reportedly lost at least one potential suitor.

The San Francisco Giants “do not anticipate making the nine-figure investment” required to sign the free-agent pitcher, according to a report Monday from The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly. 

The NL West club, which made big-money commitments to shortstop Willy Adames last year and took on the big contract of Rafael Devers in a June trade, is going to pass over getting involved in the market for big-money starters because of a “number of financial considerations” as they look at more “modestly priced alternatives,” Baggarly reported.

Imai, who was posted by his club (the Seibu Lions) in November, is seen as perhaps having the highest ceiling of the free-agent starters on the market. However, despite his fine season last year (1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 178 strikeouts in 163.2 innings over 24 starts), he isn’t seen as the same kind of can’t-miss prospect as Yoshinobu Yamamoto was a few years back.

SNY’s MLB Insider Andy Martino reported on Nov. 10 that the Mets “will be in on” the starter, but did not expect it to be a “full-tilt pursuit” as was the case with Yamamoto. 

“Why? Evaluators like Imai but suggest that he is no sure thing to succeed as an MLB starter. His mid-to-high ‘90s fastball might or might not play here; industry opinion on that is mixed,” Martino wrote at the time. “Imai is an interesting option and should prompt conversations with any club in search of pitching, the Mets included.”

Nov. 30, 2:44 p.m.

Kodai Senga, who has had his name come up in trade talks this offseason, has recently informed the Mets that he would prefer to stay with the ballclub, according to a report Sunday from The Athletic’s Will Sammon.

Earlier in November, SNY’s MLB Insider Andy Martino said there was “interest” in the right-hander “around the league right now because of his upside and because of what we’ve seen when he’s at his best.” 

“There’s certainly a rational line of thinking that would point to a change of scenery after the last two years being the best for player and team,” Martino said on Mets Hot Stove on Nov. 19. “It is not a definite he’s going to be traded, but there’s going to be so many moving parts coming into the Mets’ rotation, they hope and they plan, that Kodai Senga leaving could be a part of the overall overhaul, and I don’t think there’s going to be a problem finding a trade.”

Senga is coming off an uneven season with the Mets, pitching to a 1.39 ERA in his first 14 outings over 77.2 innings, with 74 strikeouts to 33 walks, only to post a 6.56 ERA in his next eight outings over 35.2 innings with 35 strikeouts to 22 walks. That second-half swoon, which came after missing time with a hamstring strain, saw him demoted to Triple-A for the season’s final weeks.

Nov. 29, 11:30 p.m.

The Phillies certainly would love to retain Kyle Schwarber in free agency this offseason; however, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com the two sides are currently not close on a deal. 

Unsurprisingly, Zolecki notes that Schwarber’s agents are looking to capitalize on his stellar campaign in which he only finished behind Shohei Ohtani in NL MVP voting. 

The expectation is that the 32-year-old will ultimately land back in the City of Brotherly Love, but we’ll see how things play out. 

The Pirates, Reds, and Red Sox are among the teams that have reportedly shown interest in Schwarber. 

Nov. 29, 3:30 p.m.

Former Mets reliever Ryan Helsley and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a two-year contract, pending a physical, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal has an opt-out after the first season.

Helsley will be the Orioles’ ninth-inning option despite the right-hander fielding interest from numerous teams this offseason to be converted into a starter.

After six and a half seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, the 31-year-old was traded to New York at last season’s trade deadline to help fortify the Mets’ bullpen. A closer for the Cards who got to New York with a 3.00 ERA and 21 saves, Helsley was slotted as the Mets’ setup man in front of Edwin Diaz.

However, his time in New York did not go well, pitching to a 7.20 ERA in 22 games and ultimately losing the eighth-inning job.

Still, in 297 career games, Helsley owns a 2.96 ERA and 105 saves.

Nov. 26, 7:45 p.m.

While the Mets look to re-sign Edwin Diaz this winter, the team is reportedly checking in on other back-end bullpen pieces.

According to the NY Post, the Mets have talked with representatives for Robert Suarez and Pete Fairbanks.

Suarez, of course, was the Padres’ closer the last two seasons, including a 40-save effort in 2025. He’s a back-to-back All-Star and pitched to a 2.97 ERA across 70 appearances this past season.

Fairbanks pitched to a 2.83 ERA and converted 27 saves in 61 games with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025.

Nov. 26, 6:25 p.m.

The Mets have one less potential starting pitching target on the board after Dylan Cease signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to multiple reports.

Cease is coming off a relatively down year, pitching to an 8-12 record and a 4.55 ERA across 32 starts. His strikeout rate was still very high (11.5) but the right-hander will look to help Toronto get back to the World Series.

As for the Mets, there are still plenty of free agent and trade targets for the team to target. While Framber Valdez doesn’t seem to be on their radar, Michael King, Ranger Suarez and Japanese star Tatsuya Imai are still available. 

Nov. 20, 5:53 p.m.

While the Mets are undoubtedly looking to rebuild their starting rotation, it doesn’t seem like free agent Framber Valdez is near the top of their wish list.

Appearing on Wednesday’s Mets Hot Stove, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported that the Mets were not among the teams that met with the southpaw at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas.

Martino notes that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns prefers to develop his own ace-level pitchers in-house and does not typically spend huge money for top-of-the-rotation starters, though Stearns could be flexible on that point. At 32, Valdez is likely looking for a lucrative multiyear contract.

Valdez is a two-time All-Star with the Astros and has pitched to a career 3.36 ERA, but he also seemed to intentionally cross up his catcher in September to hit him with a pitch, which raised some red flags.

Nov. 10, 4:26 p.m.

While the Mets are expected to be aggressive in their pursuit of starting pitching this offseason, one of their current rotation arms is already receiving some outside interest.

According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, right-hander Kodai Senga is considered a buy-low trade target among some teams, although it’s unclear if the Mets are legitimately open to moving him. 

The report also notes that Senga’s contract no longer includes a full no-trade clause — he can now block deals to only 10 clubs.

The 2025 season was a confounding tale of two halves for Senga, who resembled an ace for the Mets through June and ultimately lost a big-league roster spot by September. In between his peaks and valleys was a summer hamstring injury that required rehab starts and caused mechanical headaches. 

Still, he posted a solid 3.02 ERA with 109 strikeouts across 22 outings (113.1 innings).

There’s reason to believe that Senga can re-channel that Cy Young-caliber version of himself, and his contract is by no means an albatross to the reported suitors. The 32-year-old is set to make just $28 million combined over the next two seasons, with a club option for 2028.

Since joining the majors from Japan in 2023, Senga owns a career 3.00 ERA with 209 strikeouts over 52 starts (285 innings). He also placed top 10 in NL Cy Young voting as a Rookie of the Year runner-up.

The Houston Rockets celebrated Christmas in style, delivering an overwhelming and dominant outing in a 119-96 thrashing of the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

Amen Thompson led six Rockets in double figures with 26 points in the win, which ended a brutal six-game road trip — three overtime losses plus a 20-point blowout at the hands of the woeful Clippers — on a strong note to improve to 18-10 on the season. Luka Dončić scored a team-high 25 points for the Lakers, but also committed six of their 16 turnovers in a game L.A. never led, and in which Dončić, LeBron James and Co. only briefly even appeared competitive.

Here are three takeaways from the Rockets’ commanding performance at Crypto.com Arena:

So, about that Lakers defense …

After consecutive blowout losses to the Clippers and Suns, L.A. head coach JJ Redick offered a curt reply to an inquiry as to whether his Lakers — who entered Christmas ranked 25th in defensive efficiency — had shown enough of a willingness to dig in and grind it out on the less glamorous end of the floor:

L.A. brought a similar flavor of indifference for much of its Christmas Day matchup with Houston. The Lakers repeatedly allowed Rockets ball-handlers to beat them at the point of attack, get into the paint and generate good look after good look, seemingly whenever and wherever they wanted:

Houston barely needed five minutes of game time to build a double-figure lead that it would never relinquish, ending the opening frame with 37 points on 24 possessions — a torrid 154.2 offensive rating. For reference, the best offense in the NBA, the Denver Nuggets, scores 125.6 points-per-100.

“The two words of the day were ‘effort’ and ‘execution,’” Redick said after the game. “I feel like when we’ve done both of those things at a high level, we’ve been a good basketball team, and when we haven’t, we’re a terrible basketball team. And tonight, we were a terrible basketball team. And that started, legitimately, right away.”

When the Lakers briefly made a push midway through the second quarter, cutting the deficit to four at 48-44 following 3-pointers by Dončić and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Rockets calmly stuck to their guns, scored 15 points in the next three minutes and pushed the lead back to 10 at halftime. After the Rockets opened the third quarter with buckets on four straight possessions, Redick shifted tactics and dialed up a zone, which resulted in a pair of stops … which Houston promptly rendered irrelevant by grabbing offensive rebounds, scoring second-chance points and extending its lead even further.

Redick rifled through his Rolodex in search of different combinations that might offer a level of physicality and defensive activity that could short-circuit Houston’s smoothly operating machine. The combo of Vanderbilt and Marcus Smart helped key an 11-4 second-quarter run that constituted L.A.’s best basketball of the night; a unit flanking Dončić and whisper-quiet center Deandre Ayton with Vanderbilt, Smart, gap-plugging connector Jake LaRavia (one that had played just 10 possessions together all season prior to Thursday) showed intermittent sparks.

For the most part, though, the Lakers’ Christmas fizzle looked remarkably similar to their Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals loss to the San Antonio Spurs: a team top-heavy with scoring skill but light on size, athleticism and defensive steel proving unable — or unwilling — to hang with a younger, stronger, more physical and more relentless opponent.

“We don’t care enough right now,” Redick said. “That’s the part that bothers you a lot. We don’t care enough to, like, do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be a professional. We had it. We had it. I always say this about culture, I always say this about a team being a functioning organism: It can change like that. We don’t have it right now.”

What the Lakers do have, in Dončić, James and Austin Reaves (who sat out the second half with what the Lakers called left calf soreness, a worrying note considering he just missed three games with a calf strain) is enough high-end scoring and playmaking to produce a top-flight offense. If they can’t provide a higher class of resistance against similarly skilled opponents, though, that won’t be enough — especially not if the goal is to make a deep postseason run in this Western Conference.

“It’s a matter of making the choice, and too often, we have guys who don’t want to make that choice,” Redick said. “And it’s pretty consistent who those guys are. I told the guys: Saturday’s practice is going to be uncomfortable. The meeting is going to be uncomfortable. I’m not doing another 53 games like this.”

Possession is nine-tenths of the law

Coming into Christmas Day, the Rockets were the NBA’s sixth-best team at winning the possession battle on a night-to-night basis, according to analysis by Jared Dubin at Last Night in Basketball, averaging three more offensive trips per game than their opponents. They pressed that advantage early and often Thursday, pulling down four offensive rebounds against some lackadaisical Lakers boxouts and forcing six turnovers in the first quarter alone.

That allowed them to take five more shots than L.A. in the opening stanza — a key factor in the Rockets opening that early double-digit lead and keeping the Lakers at arm’s length.

The Rockets finished with nearly as many offensive rebounds (17) as the Lakers had defensive rebounds (18) and monster edges in second-chance points (24-10), points off turnovers (23-11), points scored per possession in transition (1.33 to 1.13) and total field-goal attempts (90-77). Getting that many more bites at the apple, and capitalizing on them so effectively, is how the Rockets can shrug off 25 from Luka and the Lakers shooting 50.6% as a team overall — and how a Houston team that takes fewer 3-pointers per game than any other squad in the NBA can still boast one of the league’s most potent and efficient attacks.

Many hands make light work

When they’re at their best, the Rockets come at you in waves on the offensive end. It’s Thompson (26 points on 12-for-19 shooting with five assists) repeatedly getting downhill into the paint, and Alperen Şengün (14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists) meanspiritedly pirouetting his way into all manner of infuriating flip shots and needle-threading drop-offs, and Kevin Durant (25 points on 8-for-14 shooting, eight assists) barely seeming to break a sweat as he gets to his preferred spots in the midrange or pops a trail 3 in an unsuspecting defender’s eye.

When they’re really scary, it’s because those headliners have help: Jabari Smith Jr. (16 points on nine shots) drilling jumpers spotting up and running off pindowns, Reed Sheppard (13 points, 5-for-10 from the floor) snaking the pick-and-roll to get to CP3-style elbow pull-ups in rhythm, and Tari Eason — an absolute menace on both ends of the court, just fully Grinching it up — ripping and running and terrorizing.

On some nights, the lack of a proper half-court organizer of a point guard will rear its ugly head; on others, though, the sheer tonnage of Houston’s athleticism, ferocity and talent will dispense with any such concerns. On those nights, these Rockets can straight up run you out of your gym. Ask the Lakers. They can tell you all about it.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick was not in a charitable mood after the team’s 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.

The team took its third straight loss Thursday in a one-sided affair, an outcome made worse by rising star Austin Reaves exiting the game with another calf injury. The Rockets led by double-digits for the entire second half and outrebounded the Lakers 48-25.

After the game, Redick railed against his team’s effort level and bluntly assessed how it performed:

“The two words of the day were ‘effort’ and ‘execution.’ I feel like when we’ve done both of those things at a high level, we’ve been a good basketball team. When we haven’t, we’re a terrible basketball team. And tonight, we were a terrible basketball team.”

He went on to note the team’s next practice Saturday will not be a fun one for certain players, whose consistency he is directly questioning:

“We don’t care enough right now. That’s the part that bothers me a lot. We don’t care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be professional.

It’s a matter of making the choice, and too often we have guys that don’t want to make that choice. It’s pretty consistent who those guys are. Saturday’s practice, I told the guys, it’s going to be uncomfortable. Meeting is going to be uncomfortable. I’m not doing another 53 games like this.”

That choice calls back to what Redick said after the Lakers’ previous loss to the Phoenix Suns, in which he painted the team’s defensive effort as a series of choices it wasn’t making correctly.

Mike Christy via Getty Images

His full postgame conference Thursday:

The Lakers have spent nearly the entire season on solid footing despite LeBron James’ early season absence, but now sit at 19-10, good for only fifth place in the Western Conference. The team can only hope Reaves isn’t further injured after missing three games last week with a calf strain, but it has other problems to figure out now.

The Lakers’ next chance to get back on track will be a Sunday home game against the Sacramento Kings, who currently hold the worst record in the West at 7-23.