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Pro Hockey Rumors: Your Source For NHL Draft Day & Free Agent Coverage

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There’s only one week remaining before the first round of the NHL Entry Draft on June 22nd, and our sister site Pro Hockey Rumors is all you need to stay up to date on the latest rumblings around the league. The draft floor is expected to be a trade frenzy, while free agency is right around the corner.

Would the Senators really consider giving up the fourth-overall pick in the midst of all the turmoil in Ottawa? Will the Montreal Canadiens find a way to trade back and still pick the center that they so desperately desire? How can the New York Rangers use their three first-round picks to their advantage?

The first buyout window is now open in the NHL and teams all around the league are considering a soft landing for some overpaid stars, while others are wondering just how to get a meeting with John Tavares and John Carlson. The negotiating window opens just a few days after the draft, making June one of the busiest times for NHL front offices. Make sure to check in regularly at Pro Hockey Rumors, follow @prohockeyrumors on Twitter and set your notifications accordingly in the Trade Rumors mobile app for iOS and Android!

Follow The NBA Draft, Offseason With Hoops Rumors

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Now that the 2018 NBA Finals are in the books, the offseason fun is set to begin. The draft is just one week away, with free agency to follow 10 days later, and it should be a wild summer for the NBA.

The Cavaliers, Lakers, Sixers, Rockets, and a handful of other teams remain viable destinations for LeBron James, while other top free agents like Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins may change teams, too. The trade market is also expected to be active, as it represents the best path for many cap-strapped teams to upgrade their rosters. The latest whispers suggest we could see plenty of movement on draft night next Thursday.

To keep tabs on all of the latest NBA offseason news and rumors, head over to Hoops Rumors, follow @HoopsRumors on Twitter and set up your notifications on the Trade Rumors app for iOS and Android. We’ll have you covered every step of the way as teams tweak — or, in some cases, overhaul — their rosters.

MLB Weekend Roster Roundup: Eaton, Hoskins, Rodon, Strasburg, Tanaka

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ROSTER MOVES BY TEAM
(June 9th-June 10th)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

  • PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES | Depth Chart
    • Activated from 10-Day DL: OF/1B Rhys Hoskins 
      • Hoskins played LF and batted 2nd on Saturday and Sunday.
    • Placed on 10-Day DL: OF Dylan Cozens (strained quad)

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

  • BALTIMORE ORIOLES | Depth Chart
    • Activated from 10-Day DL: RP Darren O’Day
      • O’Day pitched a scoreless inning with his team trailing by 10 runs on Sunday. He was the team’s primary closer prior to the injury.
    • Optioned: RP Tanner Scott 

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FUTURE EXPECTED MOVES

East Notes: Mets, Yanks, deGrom, Thor, Vlad Jr., D. Murphy, Franco

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With the Mets looking more like bottom feeders than contenders, there has been speculation that they could listen to proposals for two of their best players, co-aces Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. The 29-year-old deGrom is under control through 2020, while Syndergaard, 25, is wrapped up through 2021, meaning each would bring back a significant haul in a trade. Of the teams that could go after either, the Yankees perhaps stand out as the most logical suitors, and Buster Olney of ESPN opines that the Mets would have to strongly consider offers from their crosstown rivals. While it would hurt the Mets and their fans in the near term to see one of those starters thriving with the Yankees, the return they’d get back would ease the pain, Olney contends. Ultimately, however, Olney doesn’t expect a deal between the teams to come to fruition, and he goes on to name several other starters the Yankees could pursue prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline if they attempt to upgrade their rotation.

More from the East Coast:

  • Forget about seeing Blue Jays super prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the majors in the immediate future. The 19-year-old third baseman, who went on the Double-A disabled list this week, has a strained patellar tendon in his left knee, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com tweets. The Jays will bring Guerrero along slowly in his recovery and re-evaluate him in four weeks, Chisholm adds. The injury has derailed an incredible year for Guerrero, who pushed for a major league promotion with a .407/.457/.667 line and 11 home runs in his first 235 Double-A plate appearances.
  • Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy could come off the DL and make his 2018 debut Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com reports. Murphy has been working back from the right knee surgery he underwent last October, and while he hasn’t been at full speed during his Double-A rehab games, the assignment’s only allowed to continue through Thursday. Thus, with the Nats set to play in AL parks from Tuesday through Sunday, they could opt to bring Murphy back and use him as a designated hitter for the week.
  • Third baseman Maikel Franco has lost his grip on an everyday job, the latest sign that his days with the Phillies may be numbered, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com observes. Franco and fellow third base options J.P. Crawford and Scott Kingery have each offered poor production this year, so the Phillies may seek an outside solution at the hot corner by the deadline and/or in the offseason, posits Zolecki, who suggests that Franco could be dealt thereafter. For now, even though Franco’s not accustomed to a part-time role, the 25-year-old tells Zolecki that he’s trying to make the best of it. Regardless of whether Franco sticks with the Phillies, the career .247/.299/.425 hitter has two more arbitration-eligible seasons remaining after this one.

NL Injury Notes: Acuna, Cueto, Thames, Phils, Bucs, Rox

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Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna is progressing in his recovery from a sprained left ACL, Mark Bowman of MLB.com explains, and could return as early as next weekend. The 20-year-old phenom, who went down May 27, would only miss around three weeks in that scenario. Acuna’s injury looked like a potential season-ender when it occurred, making his quick recovery all the more welcome for Atlanta. “What he’s doing right now is amazing after looking at what happened,” manager Brian Snitker said. “What he’s doing now is really good.”

More injury notes from around the NL…

  • Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto is “cautiously optimistic” he’ll be able to come off the 60-day DL when he’s first eligible (June 30), Chris Haft of MLB.com writes. Cueto hasn’t pitched since suffering an elbow injury at the end of April, when he was among the majors’ best starters (0.84 ERA, 2.74 FIP in 32 innings). But even without Cueto and ace Madison Bumgarner, who just made his 2018 debut Tuesday after his own lengthy absence, the Giants have managed a 32-31 record to stay in the thick of what has been a mediocre NL West.
  • The Brewers expect first baseman Eric Thames back at the beginning of the upcoming week, Joe Bloss of MLB.com relays. Thames landed on the DL on April 27 with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, derailing a start in which he slashed .250/.351/.625 with seven home runs in 74 plate appearances. Fellow first baseman Jesus Aguilar has been outstanding in Thames’ absence, however, with a .296/.369/.556 line and 11 homers in 187 PAs this year.
  • Phillies pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez is headed to the DL with right elbow inflammation, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. The club doesn’t believe it’s a serious issue, however. The 19-year-old right-hander, Baseball America’s 16th-ranked prospect (subscription required), has logged a 2.51 ERA with 8.68 K/9 and 2.12 BB/9 in 46 2/3 innings at the High-A level this season. He was closing in on a Double-A promotion prior to the DL placement, according to Salisbury, but that’s now on hold.
  • The Pirates have sent righty reliever Richard Rodriguez to the DL with shoulder inflammation, Elizabeth Bloom of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes. The club recalled righty Dovydas Neverauskas from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Pittsburgh doesn’t expect Rodriguez to miss a significant amount of time, but even a short-term absence could hurt. The 28-year-old rookie has burst on the scene with a 2.38 ERA and 13.1 K/9 against 1.19 BB/9 in 22 2/3 innings this season.
  • The Rockies placed lefty reliever Mike Dunn on the DL and recalled righty Jeff Hoffman from Triple-A on Friday, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post tweets. Dunn’s dealing with an upper-body injury – a left rhomboid strain, to be exact. The DL placement continues what has been a trying second season in Colorado for Dunn, who inked a three-year, $19MM guarantee with the team entering 2017. So far in 2018, the 33-year-old has posted a 9.00 ERA with more walks than strikeouts (17 to 12) in 16 innings.

Pro Hockey Rumors: Your Source For NHL Draft Day Coverage

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Just two weeks remain until the June 22nd NHL Entry Draft, and our sister site Pro Hockey Rumors is all you need to stay up to date on the latest rumblings around the league. The draft floor is shaping up to be a busy one, with several teams looking to move key assets and change their fortunes for 2018-19.

Will Mike Hoffman and Erik Karlsson be sent packing by the Ottawa Senators? Is Ryan O’Reilly part of the long-term future in Buffalo? What will the Carolina Hurricanes do with Jeff Skinner? PHR has you covered by bringing you the most reliable sources and information.

Not only is the draft on the horizon, but the buyout window opens in just a week’s time and free agency is right around the corner. June is one of the busiest times for NHL front offices, so make sure to check in regularly at Pro Hockey Rumors, follow @prohockeyrumors on Twitter and set your notifications accordingly in the Trade Rumors mobile app for iOS and Android!

Follow The NBA Offseason With HoopsRumors.com

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The Warriors only need one more win to take home their second straight title, which means we may just be days away from the start of a very eventful 2018 NBA offseason.

Stars like LeBron James, Paul George, and DeMarcus Cousins are poised to hit free agency, while others – such as Kawhi Leonard and Kemba Walker – could become trade candidates. Meanwhile, standout Arizona center Deandre Ayton looks like the favorite to be picked first overall by the Suns on draft night two weeks from today, but the order behind him remains a mystery.

Be sure to head over to Hoops Rumors and follow @HoopsRumors on Twitter for all the latest news as the NBA’s summer rumor mill heats up!

Injury Notes: Belt, Indians, Molina, C. Martinez, DeJong

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During the third inning of last night’s game, Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was forced to make an early exit due to appendicitis symptoms (h/t Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports). He was rushed to the hospital to be evaluated, and this morning posted a picture of himself on Twitter, still there. Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group reports that Belt had an appendectomy late last night and is expected to leave the hospital this afternoon. It’s worth noting that players have been able to return from such procedures in as little as two weeks, but that’s surely not much consolation for a San Francisco ballclub that’s seen a small army of players spend time on the DL already this season, including Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Alen Hanson, Mac Williamson, Mark Melancon, Joe Panik and Hunter Pence. Belt’s absence will be one of the largest blows yet, considering his 160 wRC+ and .402 wOBA are practically carrying the team’s offense of late. We’ll continue to monitor this situation and wait for updates as to Belt’s status.

Other injury news from around baseball…

  • The Indians have myriad outfielders close to returning from the DL, or, as MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian puts it, “Decision Day is Tuesday and there are only so many seats to be had in this game of musical chairs.” Only two short weeks ago, it would have seemed as though Greg Allen was ticketed for Triple-A upon Bradley Zimmer’s return from the DL, but Allen’s fantastic play of late and defensive value may force the Tribe to make some difficult decisions when Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Guyer are activated. Michael Brantley is, of course, a lock to keep his spot, while Zimmer and Chisenhall seem likely to remain on the active roster as well. Rajai Davis, Melky Cabrera and Guyer have combined to post -1.1 fWAR on the season, and one has to wonder how Davis in particular will survive the roster crunch with Allen playing so well.
  • Elsewhere on MLB.com, Joe Trezza reports that the Cardinals plan to have catcher Yadier Molina and right-hander Carlos Martinez back on Tuesday. Molina’s reportedly scheduled for a two-game rehab assignment, while Martinez already made one four-inning rehab start after missing three weeks with a a lat strain. On the other hand, Trezza tweets, shortstop Paul DeJong is a bit further away from a return. He’s been cleared to perform everyday activities with the hand that was broken in a hit-by-pitch incident on May 18th. However, he won’t start exercising the hand until next week, and won’t perform any baseball activities with it for about two weeks.

MLB Weekend Roster Roundup: Bird, Darvish, Marte, Pedroia, Span

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ROSTER MOVES BY TEAM
(May 25th-May 27th)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

  • ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS | Depth Chart
    • Retired: SP Kris Medlen
      • Medlen’s retirement opens a spot on the 40-man roster. He finished his career with a 41-26 record and 3.33 ERA in 599.1 career innings.
  • ATLANTA BRAVES | Depth Chart
    • Placed on Bereavement List: SP Luiz Gohara
      • It is undetermined whether Gohara will pitch out of the rotation or bullpen once he returns.
    • Promoted: RP Matt Wisler
  • MIAMI MARLINS | Depth Chart
    • Placed on 10-Day DL: 3B Martin Prado (strained hamstring)
    • Promoted: SS JT Riddle
      • Riddle played SS and batted 7th on Saturday and Sunday.
      • Miguel Rojas will be the team’s regular 3B. He had been playing SS.
  • PITTSBURGH PIRATES | Depth Chart
    • Activated from 10-Day DL: OF Starling Marte, SP Joe Musgrove
      • Marte played CF and batted 3rd on Saturday and Sunday.
      • Musgrove made his Pirates’ debut on Saturday (7 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K, W)
    • Optioned: OF/1B Jose Osuna
    • Designated for assignment: RP George Kontos

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

  • BOSTON RED SOX | Depth Chart
    • Activated from 10-Day DL: 2B Dustin Pedroia
      • Pedroia was not in the starting lineup on Friday. He played 2B and batted 6th on Saturday.
    • Designated for assignment: 1B Hanley Ramirez

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FUTURE EXPECTED MOVES

MLB Releases Study On Home Run Rate

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Major League Baseball has released a scientific study that was designed to examine “possible causes of the surge in home run rate in Major League Baseball in the past several years,” as its abstract puts it. The study itself is available at this link. Those interested in reading an independent breakdown should check out the assessment of the Baseball Prospectus team, which has covered this topic well for quite some time.

Per the report, the focus was on utilizing Statcast data and a variety of means of evaluating the physical properties of the game balls utilized in recent seasons. That follows years of increases in home runs — along with additional strikeouts and quite a few other changes in the game environment — that have led to accusations (increasingly supported by evidence and analysis) that some change to the game ball has occurred.

While the findings don’t suggest that there has been any change that increases the ball’s “launch conditions” — that is, the ball isn’t juiced — they do find that “aerodynamic properties of the baseballs have changed” in a manner that corresponds to the increase in batted-ball distance. In other words, balls are being struck in roughly the same manner, but are going further than previously.

That largely seems to confirm, then, that a recent change of some kind is the underlying cause of the homer boom — a major modification in the nature of the game that has caused changes with in-game tactics and drastically impacted player valuations. But the committee did not precisely identify the physical reason for the changes in flight characteristics, and in fact specifically found that the manufacturing process and materials weren’t the cause.

Interestingly, the study determined: “The yearly reduction in average drag, which accounts for the change in the home run rate, is small compared to the variation in drag among baseballs within a given year.” For that reason, perhaps, many of its suggested actions revolve around standardizing the factors that influence drag.

Certainly, readers will want to read through the entire report — or, at least, its essential findings. At this point, it’s not yet clear exactly how and when the league will pursue changes. But if there are systematic efforts to restore the baseball’s previous flight characteristics, that could portend yet more adjustments and changes to the marketplace, as it reacts to observed changes in game conditions and outcomes.

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