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Regarding the Braves rotation battle, most have conceded that Ian Anderson will start the season on the Opening Day roster as the fifth starter. Mostly because he’s out of options and can’t be sent to Gwinnett, but AJ Smith-Shawver is giving the Braves something to think about with his performance on Saturday.
The 22-year-old struck out eight batters over just four innings. He did give up six hits and a couple of runs, but the stuff was popping off the screen. Smith-Shawver was sitting 98-100 with his fastball, up more than a few ticks from previous years when his average fastball velocity was around 95-96. Beyond that, his cutter was in the low-90s, and his other secondary offerings were incredibly effective all afternoon.
AJ Smith-Shawver's 8th K pic.twitter.com/kjHHq78ZCS
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 15, 2025
This is a young man that appears to be turning the corner, which is a development that could take Atlanta’s rotation to en entirely different level.
Chris Sale is the reining Cy Young award winner. Reynaldo Lopez hopes to be even better in his second season as a full-time starter after being a reliever for a half-decade. Spencer Schwellenbach looks like an ace in the making, and Spencer Strider is ahead of schedule in his return, set to make his first appearance of Spring Training today. If AJ Smith-Shawver can look like this, there won’t be a better rotation in baseball.
Prospect fatigue is a real thing. Smith-Shawver has been the among the Braves top prospects for three years now, even though he made his MLB in 2023. Development, especially for young pitchers, is never linear. Most guys his age are still figuring it out in AA. Smith-Shawver is far ahead of schedule and has the kind of stuff that could make him a frontline starter in the future. This could be the year we see him take a leap, much like Spencer Schwellenbach did for the Braves a year ago.
More must-reads:
- Dream (but realistic) trade targets for every MLB team this offseason
- Three offseason trade targets for Blue Jays to add an impact bat
- The 'World Series single-game K leaders' quiz
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D-backs Pitcher Enters Free Agency
As the World Series comes to a conclusion, the MLB offseason officially commences. That means three of the Arizona Diamondbacks pending free agents have officially entered free agency, One such free agent is left-hander Jalen Beeks. Beeks, alongside former ace Zac Gallen and veteran backup catcher James McCann, were listed among the 137 players hitting free agency, in a statement released by the MLB Players' Association. For more on Gallen's free agency, check out the below article: Related Content: Zac Gallen Takes First Free Agency Step The D-backs are among the teams with the lower free agent departure totals. With the five-day "quiet period" following the World Series, teams will have the option to re-sign their own players without competition. Unlike Gallen, Beeks is an arm that seems like a much more reasonable re-sign for Arizona. Arizona Diamondbacks' Jalen Beeks Enters Free Agency The 32-year-old veteran left-hander was a last-second pickup for GM Mike Hazen and the D-backs, joining the team just prior to Opening Day. He quickly became one of the few arms trusted to take on a workhorse load out of the bullpen, as Arizona's relief corps suffered injury after injury. And he certainly did take a large share of the innings. Beeks tossed 57.1 innings, and likely would have been used even more if not for an IL stint (followed by careful usage) in the latter third of the regular season. Still, the lefty posted a solid 3.77 ERA, inflated somewhat by a few blowup outings. He's also had generally solid, if not eye-popping peripheral metrics, even during some of his uglier ERA seasons. Finding quality left-handed relief pitching is no easy feat. Considering Beeks made only $1.25 million with Arizona in 2025, even a slight increase in that amount would likely be money well spent. Related Content: Diamondbacks Have to Address This Bullpen Need Again The Diamondbacks already face an uphill battle with regard to bolstering their bullpen and starting rotation. An in-house option with a history of stability would be a beneficial return, even if regression is a distinct possibility. Regardless, the Diamondbacks absolutely must make an attempt at acquiring a closer (as well as another legitimate leverage arm) if they want to weather the storm before Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk return. Beeks does not necessarily fill that type of role, but he does have leverage experience, and would likely perform well in a middle-relief role without the pressure of having to serve as the setup man or closer in 2026. Related Content: Should the Diamondbacks Bring Back this Veteran Reliever? Arizona Diamondbacks Latest News
Chiefs have a no-brainer trade target after loss vs. Bills
The last time the Kansas City Chiefs lost four games in a season, they went on to make the Super Bowl and beat the San Francisco 49ers. Six years have passed since, and Andy Reid's team will have to make some adjustments to replicate that fortune. That's especially evident after another heartbreaking regular-season loss to the Buffalo Bills, which exposed what might be the Chiefs' biggest flaw on offense: a lack of an explosive running game. That's why they need to pick up the phone and reach out to the New York Jets to trade for Breece Hall. Chiefs need to trade for Breece Hall According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Jets are more than open to trading Hall, who's in the final year of his contract. "The Jets have been getting calls on RB Breece Hall for a while, and while there is interest, New York is looking for at least a third-round pick in return," wrote Russini. Hall is just 24 years old, and while he had a major injury as a rookie, he's been pretty durable since. This season, he's up to 117 carries for 581 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He also has 21 receptions on 30 targets for 178 receiving yards. The Chiefs average 121.2 rushing yards per game, the 12th most in the NFL. That's with Patrick Mahomes accounting for one-third of their rushing yards, though. Neither Isiah Pacheco — who's currently out with an injury — nor Kareem Hunt has been efficient, and rookie Brashard Smith might not be ready to take on a bigger role. The Chiefs ran for just 79 yards against a Bills defense that gives up the fourth-most rushing yards per game (141.4), and Hall could certainly fix those woes.
Green Bay Packers: Does Tucker Kraft’s Injury End the Team’s Super Bowl Hopes?
The Green Bay Packers had an all-around depressing outing on Sunday afternoon. An ugly loss to the Carolina Panthers was made worse by star tight end and fan-favorite Tucker Kraft going down with a season-ending ACL injury. As much as the poor performance dimmed the light on the team’s Super Bowl aspirations, the loss of Kraft means that the Packers must continue on without one of their best players. What does the injury do to the team’s championship hopes? Green Bay Packers Lose Tucker Kraft for Season Tight end Tucker Kraft was in the middle of a career year for the Green Bay Packers before his knee buckled on Sunday. He exited the game against the Carolina Panthers, one that the team went on to lose, and later received the news that his ACL was torn – he had played his last snap for this season. Kraft was on pace for a 1,000-yard season and had already hauled in 6 touchdowns in eight games played. He still leads all tight ends in yards after catch with 344 and total EPA (estimated points added) with 49.49. In Sunday’s contest, he had 2 catches for 20 yards prior to exiting the game. If Kraft had continued to play well throughout the rest of the season, he would likely be in line for Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Instead, quarterback Jordan Love‘s most reliable target is now going to be on the shelf for the rest of season. Can the Packers Still Make a Deep Playoff Run Without Kraft? It’s a tough question to ask, but one that Packers fans are grappling with in the aftermath of a bleak afternoon. Undeniably, the Super Bowl chances took a dramatic hit. Any time an offense loses a top weapon, things do not look good. Head coach Matt LaFleur now has the task of ensuring the offense can resume clicking even without their most trustworthy pass-catcher. Musgrave had just 54 receiving yards entering Sunday and is now going to be hugely needed as the season continues on. The third-year tight end has shown that he has the ability to be a good offensive player, but filling Kraft’s shoes will be a tremendously tall task. While Packers fans search for signs of hope, let’s take a look back in time and see how Super Bowl contenders of the past were able to handle losing top offensive players. Historical Examples for Teams Making Deep Playoff Runs While Missing Top Offensive Players In 2022, the Los Angeles Rams demonstrated the ability to fight through significant injuries to their receiving corps. In Week 10 of the regular season, top wideout Robert Woods went down with a torn ACL. Later, the team lost tight end Tyler Higbee in the NFC Championship Game. Two of the team’s top receivers being out did not stop Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and trade acquisition Odell Beckham Jr. from winning the Super Bowl. In 2018, the Rams also made the Super Bowl despite Kupp tearing his ACL. While they of course lost the Super Bowl and only scored 3 points in the biggest game of the season, Woods and Brandin Cooks picked up the slack with Kupp being out. Ten years ago, in 2015, the Carolina Panthers lost their top receiver to an ACL tear before the season even started. Cam Newton’s favorite target Kelvin Benjamin never played a snap, but the Panthers went on a miraculous 15-1 season and reached the Super Bowl despite not being viewed as contenders entering the year. Of course, there are countless examples of teams that had the talent to go all the way but had injuries contribute to disappointing outcomes. Yet, even with that understanding, there is precedent for teams overcoming. Moving Forward Kraft is a special player, and the reality is, even great teams do not survive losing multiple top players. LaFleur will be expecting Musgrave as well as young receivers like Matthew Golden and Savion Williams to collectively fill the void in the offense. The margin for error for Jordan Love is dramatically smaller now. Without his most reliable pass-catcher, avoiding costly turnovers and inefficient play is more important that ever.
Steelers Make Hard Decision To Part Ways With Once-Promising Defensive Player
The Pittsburgh Steelers sought to bolster their secondary during the 2024 NFL season, and an unlikely solution quickly emerged in undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop Jr. In his rookie season, Bishop impressed by intercepting four passes and showing flashes of playmaking ability. However, following the 2024 campaign, it became clear that Pittsburgh wanted more than just Bishop to play a nickel role, and instead, across their secondary. After making several moves to strengthen depth in the secondary, Bishop's role diminished. He was moved to the practice squad, but after the Steelers were reportedly signing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad on Monday, Bishop was forced off the roster. It was officially announced Monday that the Steelers would be releasing Bishop from their practice squad. Bishop’s release underscores the harsh realities of roster management in the NFL. Despite his rookie success, the team clearly prioritized adding depth and flexibility elsewhere, particularly at wide receiver. While Bishop showed potential as a ballhawk, the Steelers’ secondary has now shifted toward veterans and other younger options to solidify the unit. For Bishop, this is likely not the end of his NFL journey, as players with his skill set often find opportunities on other teams or return to practice squads later in the season. Steelers fans will remember his contributions, but the organization appears focused on reshaping the roster for greater overall depth heading into the 2025 season. When the Steelers faced the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets during the 2024 NFL season, Bishop rose to the occasion. Targeted by the future Hall of Famer, Bishop answered the call in spectacular fashion, intercepting Rodgers not once, but twice. The performance instantly became a defining moment for the rookie, showcasing his ball-hawking instincts and fearlessness on the field. Ex-Steelers DB Steals 2 Footballs From Aaron Rodgers Back In 2024 The game did not just make headlines for the on-field heroics. Afterward, Bishop went viral for his heartfelt postgame antics, making it clear that he expected Rodgers to autograph both intercepted footballs he kept. The moment captured the attention of fans and social media alike, cementing Bishop’s reputation as a confident and charismatic young player who was not afraid to make his mark. It is a memory that Bishop and Steelers fans will likely treasure for years to come. Bishop was thrilled to learn that in the 2025 offseason, Rodgers would be joining the Steelers. Rodgers became part of the team for the 2025 season. While it does not appear that the two are currently teammates, the ever-revolving nature of NFL practice squads means this may not be Bishop’s last opportunity in Pittsburgh or in the NFL. His rookie season showed his talent and potential, and there could still be a chance for him to make an impact in the Steel City or elsewhere in the league.
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