Spring training is in full swing and the top free agents are trying on new jerseys and shaking hands of new teammates. Alex Bregman finally agreed to a new deal on Feb. 12, landing a three-year deal with the Red Sox. Pete Alonso came off the board on Feb. 5, signing a short-term deal to stay with the Mets. Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki agreed to a new deal on Jan. 17, landing with the Dodgers to team up with WBC teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers signed reliever Tanner Scott on the same weekend.
Juan Soto, the best free agent on the market, signed a record-setting $765 million deal with the Mets back in December. Pitchers Corbin Burnes (Diamondbacks), Blake Snell (Dodgers) and Max Fried (Yankees) also all signed before the new year.
You can check out our top 50 free agent rankings, which include write-ups on every player. CBS Sports will be keeping track of where they land below.
Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil will be shut down at least six weeks with a high-grade lat strain, manager Aaron Boone announced Monday (via MLB.com). The reigning AL Rookie of the Year was shut down after feeling discomfort during his bullpen session last Friday. An MRI revealed the lat strain over the weekend.
After the six-week shutdown, Gil will essentially need to go through spring training to get built up for game action, which is another six weeks or so of rehab work. Even with a smooth rehab and no hiccups, Gil will be sidelined until late May or June. The injury clears a rotation spot for Marcus Stroman, who said he would not pitch out of the bullpen earlier this spring.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says he would sign with Yankees in free agency despite old comments: ‘It’s in the past’ R.J. Anderson Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says he would sign with Yankees in free agency despite old comments: ‘It’s in the past’ The Gil injury is the most notable for a Yankees pitcher, but not the only one. JT Brubaker has fractured ribs while Jake Cousins is dealing with a strained forearm and Scott Effross has a hamstring injury. Rookie righty Will Warren is now in line to serve as New York’s No. 6 starter whenever an extra starter is needed.
Stroman will join Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt in the rotation. If the Yankees decide to go outside the organization for rotation help, veteran Kyle Gibson is the best available free agent.
Gil, 26, was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2024 after going 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA (117 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP and 171 strikeouts in 151 ⅔ innings.
Welcome to Snyder’s Soapbox! Here, I pontificate about matters related to Major League Baseball on a weekly basis. Some of the topics will be pressing matters, some might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and most will be somewhere in between. The good thing about this website is that it’s free, and you are allowed to click away. If you stay, you’ll get smarter, though. That’s a money-back guarantee. Let’s get to it.
I’ve long since realized and accepted that one of the things we sports fans — yes, I’m including myself — excel at is complaining. Still, I reserve the right to push back on some of these complaints from time to time and that’s one of the main reasons I have this particular column. People get to complain and I get to complain in return while explaining how wrong they are. Win-win.
There are especially a litany of complaints any time there’s something new. People innately fear change. And, of course, if you slap a hearty dose of technology on top of said change, that only increases both the complaints and the intensity of the complaints.
The funny thing about the implementation of the automated ball-strike system to challenge pitch calls is Major League Baseball is only using it on a trial period during spring training. This isn’t like the pitch clock that caused so many people to freak out a few years ago — and it’s not only made the game move along at a much better pace, but the disaster I was told was on the horizon never happened.
Something else funny about the complaints on a challenge system using ABS is how often many of the same people complain about umpires missing balls and strikes calls.
I think a lot of people — including the person emailing me to say that “this is real life, not a video game!” — just don’t realize how quickly the system works. Watch this unfold in real time and ask what in the world is wrong with fixing this missed call by the home-plate umpire?
To those who might ask, “well, yeah, but does it always happen that fast?” the answer is yes. I’ve seen it happen in minor-league games the past two years. It adds maybe five extra seconds to the game per challenge.
Now, let’s be clear: This shouldn’t happen every single pitch. I just talked about an added five seconds and if we were doing that every single pitch, it would be lunacy. I do want this system to be implemented for regular-season and playoff games soon, but there has to be a limit. In this spring training trial, teams are limited to two per game and retain the challenge if they “win” it. There still won’t be many. If there were, say, three challenges per team per game, they would be focused on what appear to be the most egregious misses by the home-plate umpire.
Every single one of us over the years has complained more times than we care to count about missed calls that hurt our favorite team. When it happens in a big spot, it’s a crushing blow that doesn’t feel fair. What if those could be fixed? Of course we should do that! To the people who might point out, yeah, but complaining about balls and strikes is part of the fabric of the game, I agree with you. We wouldn’t lose that. There are hundreds of pitches a game and I’m suggesting to max out at six challenges.
Again, it cannot happen on most pitches, nor does it need to. The home-plate umpires in Major League Baseball are excellent at their job. It’s an incredibly difficult job, too, especially with the type of stuff pitchers these days possess. The average fastball last season was more than 94 miles per hour. Back in 2002, it was lower than 90. Do we need to discuss how many more breaking pitches there are nowadays and all the different ways they move? As such, working home plate in an MLB game these days is exponentially more difficult than it was decades ago. And while these umpires are amazing at getting it right, they do miss from time to time and they are human beings trying to judge in real time with the naked eye.
Anyone who has ever officiated at a high level before would tell you that they’d much rather have a mistake fixed than be known as the official who ruined a game with a missed call, so there shouldn’t be any pushback from the umpire side. Don’t you think Jim Joyce wished there was replay review on Armando Galarraga’s would-be perfect game?
An added wrinkle here is this wouldn’t go to the dugout where we have a drawn-out period of time before the manager decides to challenge or not. During the first year of replay, it was insufferable watching the managers kill time before deciding whether or not to challenge. It’s been streamlined better now, but this ABS thing is a totally different discussion entirely. It’s the hitter, catcher or pitcher who would immediately need to call for a challenge. There would be some team-wide strategy once a team only had one challenge remaining, too, because surely teams would want to keep one in the holster for late-game situations that could swing the game as opposed to a situation such as the fifth inning with no runners on and two outs.
Having explained all of this, the only widespread argument against this challenge system is the one Max Scherzer made last week.
“Can we just play baseball?” he asked (via The Athletic). “We’re humans. Can we just be judged by humans? Do we really need to disrupt the game? I think humans are defined by humans.”
You’re still playing baseball, Max. As noted above, the “disruption” is about five seconds and would only happen a few times a game, if any (remember, no one is required to use the challenges). For me, it’s a small price to pay to get a pivotal ball/strike call correct.
To reiterate, I’m firmly against using ABS on every single ball/strike call. There are some who like to facetiously say something like, “bring on the robots!” after bad calls at big moments and I’ve done that as well, but it’s only a joke. I like the human element in general and jokes are good when we’re talking about an entertainment product. What is not a joke, however, is a human being making a mistake that will hang over his head for the rest of his life and will dramatically affect the outcome of a game. We have the technological ability to do something about it and that’s where the ABS system would be a win.
Let’s just give each team two or three challenges a game in the regular season and playoffs, starting in 2026. By 2027, it’ll just be an accepted part of the game that helps fix egregious errors by the human beings tasked with judging, with the naked eye, whether or not a roughly 2.9-inch-in-diameter sphere traveling well over 90 miles per hour clips a zone that is 17 inches wide.
“The Chicago Bulls making a push for LeBron James would signal their intent to reclaim relevance and make a legitimate run in the East,” Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar wrote Thursday.
“Zach LaVine, a two-time All-Star with elite scoring ability (22.1 points per game), gives the Lakers an offensive centerpiece to pair with Anthony Davis. Matas Buzelis, a highly touted rookie with size, skill, and immense upside, could be a cornerstone for Los Angeles’ long-term future.”
“For Chicago, the deal would instantly revitalize the franchise. LeBron, even at 40, brings unmatched basketball IQ, leadership, and a chance to make noise in the playoffs as the greatest talent for the franchise since Michael Jordan.”
“Adding Bronny (James) to the mix also gives the Bulls a youthful storyline, complementing veterans like Nikola Vucevic.”
The Bulls may be struggling to make noise in the Eastern Conference, but LaVine is enjoying one of the most efficient seasons of his career, averaging 21.7 points on 50.1% shooting from the field and 42.8% shooting from beyond the arc.
As a frightening 6-foot-5 guard with zero noticeable offensive limitations, LaVine would provide the Lakers with a frightening three-level scorer who desperately wants to achieve team success.
However, James, Los Angeles’ do-it-all forward who’s nearly averaging a triple-double, still has plenty of juice left in the tank and would love to finish his career with the Lakers.
In an ideal world, the Lakers would find a way to acquire a versatile offensive weapon in LaVine while retaining the heart and soul of their struggling ball club.
Schröder is enjoying a fast start to the season in Brooklyn. Through 23 games, he’s averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from 3-point range. He joins a Warriors team that has lost seven of nine games after a hot 12-3 start to the season.
The trade is expected to be finalized on Sunday, Dec. 15, which is when a large group of NBA players becomes trade-eligible. Ahead of the calls that will make the deal official, here is everything to know about the trade.
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Dennis Schroder trade details Warriors receive
Dennis Schröder Second-round pick Nets receive:
De’Anthony Melton Reece Beekman Three second-round picks NBA insiders Jake Fischer and Marc Stein reported that Golden State and Brooklyn have agreed on a deal sending Schröder to the Bay in exchange for Melton. The reports indicate that the Warriors will not send out any first-round draft capital.
And now, another potential reunion could happen. Charania reported that the Detroit Pistons have waived former Sixers center Paul Reed.
Reed was a fan favorite during his time with the Sixers. He played so well as Joel Embiid’s backup that he earned the nickname “Bball Paul.”
The Sixers waived him during the offseason not because they were dissatisfied with his performance but because they wanted to open up the cap room necessary to add players like Paul George and Caleb Martin.
The Sixers can legally reunite with Reed Anyone with basic knowledge of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement may think that Reed can’t return to the Sixers for a year because they waived him.
However, that rule only applies to players who are traded. That doesn’t apply to what the Sixers did with Reed, so that means they can bring him back when he clears waivers.
Reed did not have the best performance with the Pistons. In 12 games, he averaged 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.8 steals while shooting nearly 54% from the field. Even so, it’d be hard to see why he wouldn’t have much of a market if and when he becomes a free agent.
Because of his familiarity with the Sixers, he makes sense as a potential target. With Joel Embiid out until further notice, Reed would be a valuable placeholder until he returns.
The one qualm is that he may not want to compete with Andre Drummond for backup center minutes. However, if the Sixers were to part ways with Drummond again before the trade deadline, Reed would have the opportunity to get his old job back in Philadelphia.
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported that McCain will be out indefinitely once he gets surgery on his torn meniscus.
Making matters worse is that this is just the latest of the many nagging injuries that have plagued the Sixers’ season. Fans, of course, were dismayed by the latest news.
“Absolutely unbelievable,” one fan wrote, while another wrote, “Devastating news. Just horrible.”
Another posted a GIF of Kirsten Bell in The Good Place, saying, “This is the bad place!” to emphasize where the Sixers are this season.
Even non-Sixers fans completely sympathize with what’s happened to them this season following the McCain news.
“This is one of the most unlucky years for a team we’ve seen in the sport,” one non-Sixers fan wrote.
McCain has endeared himself to fans this year because of his historically impressive production and charming personality.
All hope is not lost with McCain Meniscus tears aren’t always the automatic season-ending injury that an ACL tear is. Sometimes they are, but other times, it isn’t for too long. They vary depending on the severity and the recovery time.
It might be a little obnoxious to look at the glass half-full here, but since the season is still pretty young, there’s a puncher’s chance that McCain could return before the season’s end.
Again, it will depend on how bad the tear was. Also, as long as Embiid’s injury isn’t too serious, the Sixers can stabilize without McCain.
It’s just such a shame that such a bright light to an awful season may have potentially seen his season end prematurely.
With McCain’s injury, the Sixers have now had to navigate serious injuries to their star rookie and each member of the All-Star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. Making matters worse is that Embiid also suffered an injury in the same game as McCain.
What’s next for McCain? Here is what is known about his injury and what it means for him and the 76ers moving forward.
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What is Jared McCain’s injury? McCain has a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.
The 76ers announced the injury on Dec. 14. McCain is said to have reported knee soreness following the team’s loss to the Pacers. The injury required surgery.
McCain played 29 minutes against the Pacers, finishing with five points on 2-for-6 shooting.
MORE: Ranking best trade destinations for Heat’s Jimmy Butler
How long will Jared McCain be out? McCain is out indefinitely, the 76ers announced on Dec. 14.
The amount of time McCain misses will depend on the type of surgery he underwent. McCain either underwent meniscal repair or a partial meniscectomy.
As outlined by medical expert Dr. Michael S. George of the KSF Orthopedic Center in Houston, recovery time from a meniscus repair is four to six months. After a partial meniscectomy, the patient can walk without crutches immediately and return to the court in four to six weeks.
“It seems unlikely that LeBron James would waive his no-trade clause, but if he does, any trade the Los Angeles Lakers make would likely have to include Bronny James as well,” Fansided’s Luke Norris wrote Friday.
“The upside here is that the Warriors were interested in bringing Bronny to San Francisco anyway but opted not to so LeBron could realize his dream of playing alongside his son.”
“As you can see above, we’ve got the Warriors shipping Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Lindy Waters, and De’Anthony Melton to the Lakers to acquire the James gang. There would likely need to be a first-round draft pick in there as well.”
“Now, it might not seem as if the Dubs are giving up all that much. But one has to remember that while LeBron is still playing at an extremely high level, he’s also about to turn 40 on December 30.”
“So, it’s somewhat difficult to calculate exactly what his trade value might be at this point.”
“The Warriors have long dreamt about pairing James alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and this could be enough to get that done. Wiggins has returned to form this season, and Kuminga has had a solid season thus far as well.”
“Melton is out for the year with an ACL injury but his expiring $12.8 million contract could still be attractive to the Lakers as long as draft compensation is included. And LA also comes out ahead, as Waters is a better bench option than Bronny at this point.”
While James has proven to be an impactful superstar with the Lakers at age 39, he isn’t on his way to winning a championship in Year 22.
James is pulling his weight early on, averaging 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game, but the Lakers’ consistency on both ends of the floor has been non-existent.
James’ son, Bronny, hasn’t enjoyed much success in the NBA, but he’s currently thriving in the G League and receiving valuable reps as the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
The idea of the first father-son duo in NBA history joining the Warriors is appealing.
However, considering the Warriors are preparing to swap Melton for Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schröder, this specific trade proposal won’t come to fruition.
