#roster-changes

#roster-changes

He's looked good when he's been in there. I've really liked the looseness to his swing. I think the baserunning and defense is something that, I don't want to say I undervalued it, but it's been a pleasant surprise to me that he's a well-rounded player.

Giddey has been in the midst of his best season as a pro, averaging 18.6 points while slashing .462/.366/.775, along with 8.8 assists, 8.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 34 healthy bouts (31 starts). His health probably stopped him from having at least a chance at cracking the Eastern Conference coaches' reserves list for this year's surprisingly watchable All-Star Game.

Probably not. They've got stars all over the damn place, and to judge from years of vitriol you have to assume that by jettisoning Nick Castellanos the Phillies have banked another 20 wins, easily. The loss of Ranger Suárez stings, I'm sure, but the Phillies still go at least six deep in trustworthy starting pitchers. Barring several disasters, the Phillies will contend for the crown of the punishing NL East.

Bobby Slowik, who came to the Miami Dolphins last season as the senior pass game coordinator, will be named as their new offensive coordinator, a league source has confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. ESPN was the first to report Slowik's promotion. Slowik served as the Houston Texans' offensive coordinator for the two seasons (2023-24) before he joined the Dolphins, helping to develop young quarterback C.J. Stroud. Slowik's offense ranked No. 7 in 2023 and No. 2 in pass plays of more than 25 yards (41). Stroud had 23 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 100.8 passer rating.

"They didn't have a spot for me," he said of Tulane. "We're going in another direction."

Whatever you make of the bloodless decision to let him go to Baltimore without so much as a competitive offer, New York just isn't going to be the same place without Pete Alonso as part of it. That's what bothers me most. I saw Alonso as a guy the Phillies and Braves feared, and the fans embraced as one of theirs doing walkoff interviews with Gelbs at the stadium, a goofy, reliable slugger who came through in some huge moments and built an insurmountable lead for home runs by Guys Who Wore No. 20.

With a string of high-profile contract extensions over the past few weeks, there is now a clear-cut choice for the top free agent of 2026: Artemi Panarin, who has yet to extend his deal with the New York Rangers and is poised to become a UFA on July 1. Now, it's up to the Blueshirts to give him a reason to remain in New York instead of fetching his last big payday elsewhere next summer.

Whether it's their 127-119 combined record or their middling 0.7 NET Rating over the last three combined seasons, the Miami Heat are in a state of mediocrity. They lost Duncan Robinson to the Detroit Pistons this offseason. But they added Simone Fontecchio, Norman Powell and re-signed guard Davion Mitchell. Refreshed and revived, the Heat aim to make noise in what's considered a wide-open East heading into the 2025-26 season.

The Maple Leafs face just two playoff teams from last season this October, and one of them is tonight's opponent, who finished with just 91 points last season (17th in the NHL, eighth in the East). Eight of the 11 games this month are also played at home. Taking full advantage with a fast start technically isn't essential in a long 82-game season, but it is an important first step toward a successful Atlantic Division regular-season title defense.

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland will participate in limited basketball activities during training camp, and is still expected to miss at least the first month of the regular season. Garland had surgery on his injured big toe that hampered him during the playoffs in early June. Cleveland had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season but was eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in five games in the conference semifinals.