標籤: insiders

The New York Mets have been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball this season, entering Sunday’s game with an 18-26 record despite having one of the highest payrolls in MLB. As a result, questions are being raised about changes to the front office and coaching staff.

MBL insider Robert Murray wrote this week that he believes Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns is likely safe. This had a lot to do with how much team owner Steve Cohen wanted him and how long he waited to hire him.

RELATED: Insiders explain whether the Mets will sell at the trade deadline

“Cohen coveted Stearns, believing he was the top candidate for the job, and waited more than a year to hire him after he left the position with the Brewers. He would not fire him at the first sign of trouble.”

In New York, Robert Murray met with president of baseball operations David Stearns, claiming to be safe.

Stearns, age 41, established himself as one of the best general managers in baseball during his tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers (2015-2023). After taking over as the Mets president of baseball operations ahead of the 2024 MLB season, he led the club to the National League Championship Series in his first year, but the team is now on the verge of consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance.

Despite declines in recent years, Cohen still believes in Stearns’ vision for the future. Therefore, New York’s head of baseball operations would have to dictate how the club approaches the MLB trade deadline, with a strong incentive to buy out and save his job.

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 7, New York Mets Climb

The same level of trust and job security doesn’t exist for Mendoza. Murray wrote that the Mets’ captain’s future “seems more uneven” and that change is possible. What doesn’t help the New York manager is the fact that a vacancy will attract the top managerial candidates in MLB.

Ultimately, the most likely outcome is that Mendoza will be fired this year and Stearns will be chosen as the next captain of the Mets. If things don’t work out with the next manager, Cohen will likely vacate the house.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

RFK Racing is facing the possibility of needing to run one of its three The Chase contenders in an unnamed car next season. If the team wants to change this, it may have to pay a heavy price.

The Athletic’s motorsports reporter Jordan Bianchi wrote this week that the low-end estimate for securing a permanent charter in the Cup Series is “close to $100 million,” and it could be even higher.

RELATED: Elite RFK Racing drivers could lose chartered status in 2027

RFK currently has a charter lease from Rick Ware Racing for the 2026 season. However, that charter was sold to Legacy Motor Club to complete the team’s expansion to three full-time drivers in 2027.

A charter in excess of $100 million is the kind of price tag that teams like Spire Motorsports, 23XI Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske can possibly afford. The same was not necessarily the case with RFK’s financial situation.

This puts RFK in the same situation that team owners in the National Football League are increasingly facing. Although this is more extreme – NFL franchise value now exceeds $7 billion – NASCAR teams will need to target partnerships with private equity groups to afford the rising costs.

RELATED: Young driver named favorite for new charter at Legacy

At that point, Puck’s John Orand reported in January that private equity groups and media corporations had “informal conversations” about a possible process of taking a minority ownership stake in NASCAR. Similarly, the teams also have similar interests, with Spire’s pockets an example of how financial support from private equity can help fund operations.

Therefore, if RFK wants to obtain a charter to ensure that Ryan Preece, Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher are all eligible for the races and can receive full slotted purses for their finale, they will need to find the funds to obtain another charter.

What NASCAR charters may be available?

NASCAR still has four charters it can sell, but none of them are likely to be made available to RFK. Under the new agreement signed this year, NASCAR can create and sell four new charters to a new OEM entering the Cup Series, which is expected to be Ram.

This leaves the only options for RFK to lease or purchase the charter outright from another team. Spire, 23XI, Penske, Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Childress Racing and Trackhouse Racing have no intentions of downsizing.

Meanwhile, Hyak Motorsports has extended Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s commitment to another season with a full-time driver in the Cup Series. Similarly, Wood Brothers Racing is expected to retain Josh Berry.

He leaves Rick Ware Racing and the Haas factory team. The most likely option would be for RWR to sell its only remaining charter, but even that may require some convincing as it would take Cody Ware out of the Cup Series.

Read more: NASCAR prospects whose stock is rising

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The New York Mets have been one of the worst teams in baseball this season, resulting in rumors of an MLB trade involving starting pitcher Freddy Peralta. With the trade deadline just a few months away, there is some early buzz about New York’s approach.

According to MLB insider Robert Murray, the Mets are “no closer to being sold” and there is complete confidence throughout the organization that the season can turn around. Although New York has a number of players who would generate significant interest from around the league, a sale is not even considered an option by the front office right now.

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 7, New York Mets Climb

Entering MLB games today, the Mets are at the bottom of the NL East with an 18-26 record. ^{This puts New York 12.5 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves and 8 games behind the San Diego Padres for the final wild card spot in the National League.}

However, there are some signs of hope on the horizon. New York is 8-5 in May, which is tied with the Cleveland Guardians, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals for sixth-most wins in Major League Baseball. This all comes during a period where the Mets pitching staff has a 2.85 ERA (fifth in MLB).

However, injuries remain an issue. New York’s starting rotation suffered a loss to Clay Holmes with a fractured fibula, and it could keep him out for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, there is still no timeline for All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor’s return from a calf injury, and running back Jorge Polanco has no timeline for a return as he battles Achilles bursitis.

The next few series on the Mets schedule could potentially change the front office’s approach. Following the Subway Series this weekend, New York will face the Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds to conclude May. Looking at opponents, there’s a chance New York could be within three games of .500 entering June.

On the other hand, if New York records a loss during that period, selling may be the best option. Moving homes is now off the table, but the expiring contracts of Peralta, David Peterson, Craig Kimbrel and Brooks Raley could potentially be reversed.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman is having a tumultuous year, struggling on the track and missing time due to concussions. All of this has happened in a contract year, creating more uncertainty about his future in the No. 48 car with Hendrick Motorsports.

Fox Sports’ Bob Pokrass and The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi reported this week that teenager Connor Zylisch is a possible replacement for Hendricks if the decision is made to replace Bowman for the 2027 season.

Read more: NASCAR prospects whose stock is rising

Bowman was already seen on the hot seat entering the season. Things got off to a bad start, with the veteran driver finishing 40th at the Daytona 500, 23rd at Echo Park Speedway, and then had to retire from the car at COTA due to dizziness-like symptoms.

Unfortunately for Bowman, medical issues have been a subject for him in recent years. He had previously missed time due to neck and back problems as well as injury, resulting in long absences. It appears retirement is imminent, creating even more uncertainty over who will drive the No. 48 car next season.

Will Hendrick Motorsports replace Alex Bowman?

One thing that has become clear is that Kyle Busch will not be joining Hendricks next season as a potential Bowman replacement. This realistically leaves HMS with three options, barring anyone else being available.

Hendricks may decide to use 2027 as a development year for top prospect Corey Day. The 20-year-old will become a Cup Series rookie at the age of 21 and can use the entire season to learn to drive the next-gen car.

However, this comes at a cost. As Zilleisch’s rookie season has shown, there is a steep learning curve at the highest series. In reality Day will not have much of a chance of winning the race in 2027 and it will be a place in The Chase that HMS will probably not be able to earn.

Alternatively, Hendrick could buy Zylisch out of his contract with Trackhouse Racing and then put him behind the wheel of the No. 48 car. This would make the team one of the top emerging drivers in NASCAR, but it would also leave an uncertain future for Day.

There is an alternative option that may work for everyone. Bowman could re-sign with Hendricks on a one-year deal, his last chance to prove he belongs in the Cup Series with a top team. If he doesn’t perform up to expectations in 2027, Hendricks could either put a more experienced Day behind the wheel or pursue Zylisch as a free agent.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The San Francisco Giants made the first significant trade of the 2026 MLB season, dealing Gold Glove Award winner Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Browns. In a season where a lot has already gone wrong, it appears there may be other steps to take.

USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Giants “would love to unload” first baseman Rafael Devers, third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Willie Adams and outfielder Jung Hoo Lee. This will be part of a “reboot” and redraft effort ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft.

RELATED: SF Giants reportedly have bold MLB Draft strategy

According to FanGraphs’ payroll tracking, the Giants have the 11th-highest payroll in MLB at $230 million. Despite investing over $200 million in the roster, San Francisco has the third-worst record in the National League (17–24) and the worst run differential in MLB (-42) through 41 games.

Will the Giants become sellers at the MLB trade deadline?

If the Giants are going to make another move a few months before the MLB trade deadline, a likely candidate to be dealt would be starting pitcher Robbie Ray. His contract is expiring and it appears he will hit MLB free agency. Dealing him would also save money, as more than half of his $25 million salary is still due this season.

RELATED: San Francisco Giants player named as Cubs trade target

After that, things become more suspicious. Adams is under contract through 2031, his age-35 season, with an average annual value of $26 million. Given his defensive limitations and only a .223/.304/.405 triple-slash line over his last 200 games, there will be a very thin market for him and San Francisco will need to cover a significant portion of the remainder.

Trading Devers would at least open up first base for top prospect Bryce Aldridge and create a more viable path for Casey Schmidt to get an at-bat in every game. However, since being traded to San Francisco he has compiled only a .237/.330/.438 triple-slash line.

Chapman, meanwhile, is under contract through 2030, when he will make $25.166 million per year as a 37-year-old third baseman. Lee, who has a .692 OPS this season, is owed $22 million annually over the next two seasons and then has a player option for 2028.

In all likelihood, San Francisco won’t have much luck trading Devers, Lee, Adams or Chapman, and a deal is also unlikely as all four hitters are struggling at the plate. If the team continues to struggle, Ray, starting pitcher Tyler Mahle and outfielder Harrison Bader are potential trade candidates.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Boston Red Sox have been one of the biggest disappointments in Major League Baseball this season, entering Friday’s game with the worst record in the American League. The Red Sox lineup has been the primary problem, raising questions about outfielder Jaren Duran’s future with the team.

Robert Murray of FanSided.com wrote that Duran has long been a target of San Diego Padres general manager AJ Preller and would have interest in the league. While Duran could also benefit from a change of scenery, Murray doubts Boston will move him this summer.

READ MORE: MLB Power Rankings Week 4, Red Sox continue to fall

• Jaren Duran contract (Spotrac): $7.7 million salary (2026), arbitration eligible (2027-’28)

Duran, age 29, earned an All-Star selection in 2024. He finished that campaign with 21 home runs, 14 triples, 75 RBI and a .834 OPS with a .285/.342/.492 triple-slash line. Last season he still managed to hit 16 home runs and 13 triples with 84 RBI and a .774 OPS.

However, he has been in a long-term bearish trend since September 2025. Over his last 187 plate appearances, Duran has hit 26.2 percent of his plate appearances with a .216/.283/.345 triple-slash line.

• Jaren Duran stats (ESPN): .198/.261/.296, .558 OPS, 1 home run, 23-6 K-BB in 81 AB

According to Baseball Savant, in terms of his advanced numbers, he ranks in the 2nd percentile for whiff rate (39.6 percent), in the 20th percentile for chase rate (25.1 percent), and he is in the 23rd percentile for expected batting average (.219). He’s still an excellent base runner who is a plus defensively (80th percentile above average), but he has shown no signs of getting back to form at the plate.

Boston would rather sell him for an all-time low than his trade value, and given his history, the club is more inclined to retain him and hope for a change. However, if the Red Sox are unable to dig themselves out of this hole by the beginning of July, multiple teams will likely inquire about Duran before the MLB trade deadline.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The 2026 NFL schedule is expected to be one of the best in recent memory. The NFL begins the regular season on Wednesday, September 9, when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks begin action. It will not be on a Thursday night to host the sport’s first regular season game in Australia. However, when will the game release the rest of the schedule?

This year’s NFL schedule release date could be between Tuesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 14, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In 2025, the NFL released the schedule on Wednesday, May 14 at 8 pm ET. The 2025 schedule was released on Wednesday, May 15.

If the pattern of the past two years continues in 2026, the schedule will be released on Wednesday, May 13. However, Schefter said to “circle” the week of May 11, specifically Tuesday through Thursday. Either way, it’s expected to be a major day within the NFL offseason.

NFL teams have made schedule releases a big event each offseason, even when their opponents are known in advance. It shows which week teams are playing their opponents, kickoff times, and when they have primetime games. Additionally, the NFL reveals the Thanksgiving and Christmas games, which are high-profile days in the game.

The Seahawks and New England Patriots are projected to have multiple primetime slots after making the Super Bowl in February. In fact, there is a possibility that Seattle and New England will play each other on Wednesday, September 9 to kick off the 2026-27 NFL season.

The game will reveal the 2026 schedule in about a month, and the official release date may be announced at the NFL Draft. For now, circle from Tuesday, May 12 to Thursday, May 14.

READ MORE: NFL Rumors – Kansas City Chiefs still eyeing potential big offseason move

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

The Denver Nuggets lost to the Memphis Grizzlies 125-118 in a shocking upset on Wednesday. According to insider Adam Mars, after the Nuggets’ terrible loss to the Grizzlies, there was a feeling that the Nuggets were not an NBA title contender.

“This is the game that impressed me. I don’t think this Nuggets team is going to be what I thought they would be. Bad discipline, leadership, toughness. Has every potential to be special, but when your season is on the line if you can’t win against a team that’s trying to lose, there’s something wrong,” Mares wrote on X.

Mars indicated that the team did not have it, because they could not handle a bad team that was not trying to win. Things started out well enough, as the Nuggets were tied 60-60 with the Grizzlies at halftime. But a bad third quarter put them in a hole and they could not recover from it. The Grizzlies took advantage of Denver’s mistakes and secured the upset.

Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds on 11 of 19 shooting. Similarly, Christian Braun added 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting. Turnovers were to blame for this, as the Nuggets turned the rock over 19 times. A few weeks ago, the Nuggets were in third place in the Western Conference. Currently, they are in sixth place with a 42–28 record.

The Nuggets have a chance to win some of the games they have lost over the past few weeks. But a three-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and a two-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers displayed some hidden issues within the team. The Nuggets will have a chance to redeem themselves on Friday when they host the Toronto Raptors.

The Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo scored 83 against the Washington Wizards, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s epic 81-point game by two points. The Heat controlled the game from beginning to end and won their sixth consecutive victory.

However, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, it may have been better for Adebayo not to chase Bryant’s 81-point total. NBA insiders believe Bryant’s untimely death has overshadowed his most cherished accomplishments as a Lakers superstar.

“Based on human nature, his death puts more weight on each of his best-loved adventures and creates a feeling that they should be handled with a certain kind of care. And judging by the reaction of some of the people from Bryant’s past with whom I was in touch after Adebayo’s exit, this feeling was not unique,” Amick said.

He claimed that Adebayo’s record-breaking night was also the result of ‘stat-chasing’ and that the potential decision to step down would have been seen as a noble decision. Of course, his teammates also ended up committing fouls to help him score points.

“What will be less noted is how the Heat helped Adebayo with his total, drawing intentional fouls in those final minutes to put the game away and ultimately giving him two final free throws with 1:16 remaining before he left.”

Adebayo finished with 20-42 from the field and 7-22 from beyond the arc. They converted 36-43 of their free throws and relied on fouls to keep points.

Amick concluded, “Still, Adebayo’s performance was very different from Bryant’s, and you didn’t have to watch his entire inning to see that much.”

Of course, fans could argue the opposite, and claim the fact that Adebayo passed Bryant was not a case of lack of respect. Given the modern NBA’s consistently huge point totals, Kobe’s record was always in danger.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s recovery from injury is nothing short of a medical miracle. Tatum tore his Achilles tendon during the Celtics’ second-round matchup against the New York Knicks in the 2025 playoffs. Injuries typically keep players from recovering from a full season, but Tatum is determined.

Videos have surfaced of the six-time All-Star doing vigorous workouts, and NBC even produced a miniseries highlighting his recovery journey. It appears he is ready to take the court again this week, as he is set to make his highly anticipated return on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum’s return adds to the unprecedented season the Celtics spent without their star. The Celtics are currently second in the East at 41–20, as many NBA fans and forecasters believe that they will not be true contenders without Tatum being active on the roster. Jaylen Brown has emerged as a potential MVP contender and has added potential to the team.

While it’s certainly a plus that Tatum is returning to the lineup, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix believes Tatum will have to make a big adjustment to the team and emerge as Jaylen Brown’s first option.

“I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown’s team. Brown is a top five, top six MVP candidate this year. He has put this team on his back aggressively. And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.

In 54 games played, Brown is averaging 29 points per game, 7.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game with one steal. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. He has been the catalyst for the Celtics’ success as he has kept himself in the competitive conversation. But if Tatum returns to full strength, he’s still one of the best players in the NBA.

Playing 72 regular-season games last season, his averages were unimpressive: 26.8 points, 6 assists and 8 rebounds per game, and shot 34% from three. Tatum has emerged as a star-level playmaker who can score and get buckets for his team.

While Jaylen Brown has stepped into his role, the addition of Jayson Tatum could be a scary proposition for the rest of the Eastern Conference.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to begin their season in the post-Olympic portion of the schedule. And almost every game must be won. Well, close to it. It is estimated that they will need to win about two-thirds of their remaining 25 games to make the playoffs. They are currently six points behind.

But should his postseason prospects really be considered based on what the front office does at the upcoming trade deadline? Most believe it should not matter. And from the latest reports from some notable insiders, it doesn’t look like that will be the case.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, GM Brad Traveling & Co. No Going “all-in” as a buyer. Nor will they be outright sellers. Extensions will not be given priority for pending UFAs. But what those potential deals could mean in the future will be.

This is less about Toronto’s playoff chances and more about the cost effectiveness of actually moving certain players like Bobby McMann and Scott Lawton. Therefore the decisions are pending.

But what I’m told is that there is a plan in place, and Brad Treliving and hockey operations for the Maple Leafs are going to follow that plan. They are not going to pursue expensive expansion.

It will be notable and interesting, given that we have some time, if Toronto closes the (playoff) gap and they have to make a call on these pending unrestricted free agents. They can’t let them roam free, so the next several days could be interesting.

As Dreger says, what if the Buds pick up right where they left off before the break, and go on a three-game winning streak? Or win most of the six remaining games before the March 6 deadline? At that time, they will have to take some big decisions.

Do the Leafs replace UFAs with assets they can flip?

Insider Elliotte Friedman, appearing on NHL Network Radio Wednesday morning, has a different take on things. This appears to suggest that there are plans to move some players in order to acquire assets for a future-focused move.

My thought about what’s going on with Toronto is I think they’re in a situation where they’re trying to accumulate assets, and then see if they can utilize some of those assets and do something where they can have more of an impact on a young player… I think that’s their thought.

Of course, the Leafs are largely deprived of the above “assets”. Due to raiding prospects and the draft picks pantry over the past few years, they do not have any first-round picks in the 2026 or 2027 NHL drafts. They also traded away a top prospect in Fraser Minton in the Brandon Carlo deal last year (and we all know how that worked out).

So it makes sense that spending more money on players like McMann and Laughton – good role players who have performed their duties well this season – probably doesn’t make sense at this point. Instead, they will try to turn guys 30 years old or closer into draft picks who can then be flipped. Bring back a young player they can build around. A guy who could potentially play a bigger role in the near future than McMann or Laughton (or anyone else traded for them).

Toronto faces a tough Florida doubleheader over the next few days – at Tampa Bay on Wednesday night, and against the Panthers on Thursday. After that, it’s matchups with the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers that get them to the deadline.