The Chicago White Sox officially name 30‑year‑old Matt Roffe, a former Brewers scout who helped win the 2023 World Series, as their director of amateur scouting. Announced Thursday, the hire follows earlier reports and clarifies the role after GM Chris Getz had mentioned a “director of amateur acquisitions.” Roffe brings five seasons in Milwaukee, including a stint as assistant director of scouting, and prior experience with the Diamondbacks. He replaces Mike Shirley, who left after overseeing the 2026 draft that featured the largest bonus pool and first‑overall pick Roch Cholowsky. Roffe will lead the Sox’s 2027 draft strategy.
ESPN's boldest Tigers prediction for 2026 asked a lot of Kevin McGonigle. He did more. #Tigers
The Los Angeles Dodgers secure three 2026 Silver Slugger nominations despite a late‑season slump. Third‑base finalist Max Muncy, at 35, posts a career‑high 29 homers, 76 RBIs and an .837 OPS, vying against Alex Bregman. Designated‑hitter Shohei Ohtani, limited by injuries, still hits 30 homers and 81 RBIs over 135 games, though his OPS drops below .900, facing Kyle Schwarber’s league‑leading 45 homers. The team itself is nominated for the Team Silver Slugger after a strong first half (111 wRC+, 204 homers, 801 runs) but loses momentum to the Chicago Cubs, who finish with the league’s top offense.
The Short Porch breaks down the free‑agent starting‑pitcher market ahead of the upcoming MLB lockout, noting that while the elite tier features Tarik Skubal, Trevor Rogers and Freddy Peralta, depth quickly evaporates. Using MLB Trade Rumors rankings (with cross‑checks from The Athletic and FanGraphs), the piece lists roughly 30 pitchers, highlighting ages, rank positions and contract outlooks, and explicitly excludes international prospects. The author stresses that the class isn’t strong beyond the top three and promises a later deep dive on Japan/Korea talent. Cubs fans get a clear snapshot of who’s available and how the market stacks up.
The Ray Guy Award’s midseason watch list features 63 collegiate punters, with nine representing the SEC: Alex Asparuhov (Alabama), Oscar Bird (Ole Miss), Alex Clark (Florida), Hudson Kaak (Auburn), Mason Love (South Carolina), Ethan Pulliam (Mississippi State), Brunno Reus (Mizzou), Jacob Ulrich (Oklahoma) and Tyler White (Texas A&M). White leads the conference with a 49.38‑yard average, while Clark posts a 48‑yard average for the Gators, making them top SEC contenders. Last year’s winner was Georgia’s Brett Thorson, the first SEC punter to claim the award since Max Duffy in 2019.
The Baltimore Ravens trade for Arizona Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett as they cope with injuries to Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, both placed on IR after a loss to Buffalo. Austin Reed joins the 53‑man roster as the immediate backup, while Joe Fagnano starts Thursday’s home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brissett is expected to take over once the trade finalizes, replacing his recent benching in Arizona for Gardner Minshew. The Ravens sit at 4‑4 and hope Brissett can steady the offense while they await news on Jackson’s health.
The Phillies, who ranked last in OPS among right‑handed hitters in 2026, are being urged to target two free‑agent outfielders: Randy Arozarena and Seiya Suzuki. Arozarena posted a .281/.381 line with 26 homers, 79 RBIs and 26 steals for Seattle, while Suzuki posted .270/.368/.473 with 26 homers, 86 RBIs and a .841 OPS for Chicago. Both received $23.15 million qualifying offers that expire on Nov. 17, leaving the Phillies’ next outfield move uncertain but potentially pivotal for their offense.
The White Sox lead the American League with five Silver Slugger finalists, highlighting an explosive offensive season. Miguel Vargas posts 33 homers, a .837 OPS and 93 RBIs, while Chase Meidroth shines at second base with a .765 OPS, 31 doubles and 4.5 fWAR. Rookie outfielder Tristan Peters adds 12 homers, three walk‑offs and a cycle, earning AL Rookie of the Month honors. Chicago tops the AL in runs (776) and ranks third in home runs (213), also securing a club nomination for Offensive Team of the Year.
Jonathan Taylor’s trade market, potential landing spots for Josh Downs + the risks of going all-in for the Vikings and Giants.
The Southland’s marquee clash arrives Saturday at 4 PM ET on ESPN+, pitting unbeaten Stephen F. Austin (9‑0, 6‑0) against a surging Lamar squad (7‑2, 5‑1). Quarterback Gavin Rutherford leads the Lumberjacks with 2,059 yards and a league‑best 23 TDs while receiver Bugs Mortimer sits on 478 yards and seven scores. Lamar’s defense, anchored by ball‑hawking DB Bryce McDonald (three interceptions) and a hard‑hitting LB duo Andrew Huff/T.J. Nelson, aims to halt SFA’s high‑octane offense and deliver the Cardinals their first loss of 2026. A win secures at least a share of the conference title for SFA and an automatic playoff berth, while Lamar eyes a postseason return after last year’s taste of the playoffs.
NEW YORK (AP) — Five retired umpires have sued their retirement plan from their work for Major League Baseball and the plan's retirement committee, alleging they are owed additional money.
Phillies Nation contributor Destiny Lugardo spots a set of fake Philadelphia players used as extras in Tom Hanks’s upcoming film “The Comebackers,” slated for release next summer. The movie adapts Dave Eggers’s 2023 short story about a pitching coach’s crisis, and while the original tale featured the Giants, the film swaps in the Mets—leaving room for a fully dressed Phillies look‑alike dugout. Lugardo praises the realistic gear and set detail, though she notes one oddly adult‑sized “batboy.” The images sparked humorous fan tweets, from jokes about right‑field play to mock scouting stats.
The 24-year-old started the season late but got better as the season went along.
The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly eyeing Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who has one year left on his $14.5 million contract for the 2027 season. CBS Sports' Dayn Perry lists the Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners as potential suitors, noting the Phillies could benefit from Hernández’s right‑handed power to complement Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. However, his below‑average defense and the need to surrender prospects and absorb his salary make the deal risky. The article weighs the trade‑off between bolstering the Phillies’ lineup and the financial and defensive costs of acquiring the veteran slugger.
Balducci Wins on Opening Day
LSU assistant football coach Ed Orgeron provided an update Thursday after being hospitalized for an undisclosed medical scare.
The New York Rangers snapped their four-game losing streak by beating the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden (MSG). A team that started the season 7-3-1 now holds a…
The Kansas City Royals announce former Giants hitting coach Hunter Mense as their new assistant hitting coach. Mense, a Liberty, Mo., and Mizzou alum, spent a year with San Francisco after stints in the Marlins, Padres and Blue Jays systems, helping the Jays clinch a 2025 pennant. Under his guidance, the Giants posted a 4.13 runs‑per‑game average, the fifth‑lowest in MLB. The Royals reassigned Alec Zumwalt to minor‑league duties, keeping him as Director of Hitting Performance, and will pair Mense with assistants Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames. Kansas City aims to build on its 4.26 runs‑per‑game last season after a sluggish road offense.
Marvin Harrison Jr. returns from the Texans’ Week 8 bye still fighting for a larger role after a trade from Arizona on Oct. 11. In Houston he’s posted just four catches for 40 yards on eight targets across two games, including a 6‑yard TD in a 34‑31 win over the Jaguars and a costly drop in an overtime loss to the Giants. With the Texans (2‑5) facing a winless Chargers squad in Week 9, Harrison’s snap count remains low and he’s a bench‑warm‑or‑flex in most PPR leagues. He only becomes a viable waiver add if his targets increase to five or more and his snaps surpass teammate Tank Dell’s.
The Kansas City Royals hire former San Francisco Giants hitting coach Hunter Mense as their new assistant hitting coach, bringing a Missouri native back to the club after a 69-93 2026 season. Mense, 42, spent 2026 with the Giants and previously served as a Blue Jays assistant hitting coach (2022‑25) and minor‑league development staff. He joins hitting coaches Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames, while Alec Zumwalt shifts to a senior director role. The move aims to build on modest offensive gains—wRC+ rising from 93 to 98—as the Royals target a more consistent lineup for 2027.
ClutchPoints breaks down the top 20 MLB trade candidates for the 2026‑27 offseason, highlighting players who could flip the balance for teams after a surprising Dodgers loss. The list starts with Colorado outfielder Jake McCarthy’s explosive season, Cincinnati’s ace‑in‑waiting Hunter Greene (despite a second Tommy John), and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who may become a trade chip amid a deep roster. Other notable names include Boston’s speed‑power combo Jarren Duran, Houston’s versatile third‑baseman Isaac Paredes, and Miami’s breakout shortstop Otto López. The article offers salaries, injury risks, and team needs to help clubs assess who’s worth a buy‑low move.
ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell flags Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Zaven Collins as a budget-friendly trade target for the Green Bay Packers ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL deadline. At 27, the former 16th‑overall pick has transitioned to a pass‑rushing role, posting 11 sacks this season and totaling 14 sacks, 286 tackles and four forced fumbles over six years. Barnwell suggests Collins could bolster Green Bay’s defense and help ease Micah Parsons back into the lineup as the Packers chase a deeper NFC playoff run.
The Philadelphia Flyers open a five‑game road trip at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 5, with a 7:00 p.m. puck drop against the New York Rangers (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic). Coach Rick Tocchet shakes up the lineup, debuting 22‑year‑old Cole Knuble as the second‑line centerman alongside Porter Martone and Owen Tippett, while Oliver Bonk shows unexpected offensive spark. The article notes the Flyers’ recent 22 missed shots in a 3‑2 loss to Minnesota and stresses the need to fire more shots on goal. It also warns that the Rangers’ power‑play—though inefficient (5 goals on 52 chances)—remains dangerous, putting the Flyers’ 81% penalty kill to the test. Projected lineups for both teams are listed.
The New York Mets are continuing to bolster their coaching staff ahead of the 2027 MLB season, as they are hiring Johnny Washington as a co-hitting coach, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported on Thursday.
The St. Louis Cardinals see both Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker named Silver Slugger finalists for 2026. Burleson rounds out the first‑base group with 26 homers, 116 RBI, a .279 average and a .816 OPS over 160 games, while Walker posts 29 homers, 102 RBI, a .269 average and a .793 OPS in 158 games as an outfield candidate. The finalists were announced by MLB.com, and the winners will be revealed on November 17, 2026.