The SF Giants avoided arbitration with right-handed reliever Tyler Rogers on Thursday. A source informed Giants Baseball Insider that the two sides agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million. The Giants had already finalized deals with first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr., second baseman Thairo Estrada earlier in the day. Rogers has received a significant raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility. His salary was $1.675 million in 2023.
Rogers spent 2023 as one of the most reliable members of the Giants' bullpen. The right-handed submariner finished the season with a 3.04 ERA (2.69 xERA, 3.76 FIP, 4.13 xFIP) across 74 innings pitched with 60 strikeouts and 19 walks. While his twin brother Taylor Rogers and other veteran relievers struggled with inconsistency, Tyler Rogers was easily the most consistent setup option ahead of closer Camilo Doval.
Rogers was drafted by the Giants in the 10th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Austin Peay State. The funky reliever dominated his way through the minor-league ranks, but faced skepticism about how his unique soft-tossing profile would play in the big leagues. Despite solid performances in the pitcher-friendly Pacific Coast League, Rogers did not receive a big-league call up by the Giants nor was he selected by another team in the Rule 5 Draft.
However, after his fourth season at Triple-A in 2019, Rogers finally got the call. He was excellent in a short MLB stint and has since emerged as one of the most underrated setup relievers in the game. Despite only 207 strikeouts in 276.1 career innings pitched in the majors, Rogers' unique arm angle and pitch mix has allowed him to induce enough soft contact to be successful. His career 2.96 ERA, after all, is a testament to how effective he has been as a member of the SF Giants bullpen.
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With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the 2025 season with a new-look roster on the offensive side of the ball. The quarterback position has turned over once again, and DK Metcalf is now the top wide receiver in Pittsburgh after the organization decided to acquire him and then trade away George Pickens. Jonnu Smith has also entered the picture on offense, while Jaylen Warren will be taking over the duties as the lead running back. This is his first time taking on that role, as Najee Harris was the bell cow in Pittsburgh for the last four seasons and he never missed a game. Warren will be the main focus at running back, but the Steelers did a good job of filling out that room as a whole. Signing Kenneth Gainwell in free agency was a good way to bring a veteran presence into the room, and adding Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft was an exciting pick with a ton of value. Head Coach Mike Tomlin was asked about the rookie running back following practice on Thursday, and he had nothing but good things to say about Johnson. "He does, he's highly conditioned and that helps development," Tomlin said. "When you're in really good shape, you can take additional reps and reps equals [getting] better. And so he handled the first leg of it. He's come in really good shape. He's really engaged and obviously he's got some talent. You guys saw that today." Tomlin said this when asked whether or not Johnson has a high floor as a rookie running back in the NFL, and the coach was clearly impressed with the way the rookie was prepared coming into camp. He also seems to know the playbook pretty well. It is hard to tell much from the early training camp practices, but he certainly stood out. The staff in Pittsburgh clearly has high hopes for Johnson, which could lead to more playing time early on. Johnson will begin the season behind Warren, but the two are expected to share the workload in some regard. The rookie has a high ceiling, and Pittsburgh is going to want to take advantage of the entirety of his cheaper, rookie deal. Many have speculated that Johnson will be the lead back by the time the 2025 season is over, with Warren returning to the role of being a third down back, similar to what he did when Harris was on the team. When Pittsburgh initially selected Johnson in the spring, some hated on the pick due to his slower 40-yard dash time. However, the back looks extremely fast on the field, and fans should get a better idea of the kind of player he can be when the Steelers put on the pads next week. Steelers’ Running Back Situation Will Be Interesting To Monitor Gainwell will likely be the third running back on the depth chart during the 2025 season, but he should have some packages and plays where he is the primary focus. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands, especially in the passing game. He and Warren have a similar skill set, while Johnson stands out in the trio. In addition to those three backs, Pittsburgh also has Cordarrelle Patterson on the roster. It was thought that he would be released by this point, but he remains in Pittsburgh for now. He could be cut at the end of camp, as it seems he is the clear fourth running back on the depth chart and he was one of the worst kick returners in the league during the 2024 season. It is known that Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith likes him and his versatility on offense. It’s his ability to play special teams as well that could keep him on the roster in 2025. What do you expect from Johnson in his rookie year?
According to some, throw out the idea that the Edmonton Oilers should pursue Max Pacioretty. A veteran forward who has earned over $63 million over the course of his NHL career has yet to sign an NHL contract and was recently mentioned in a post by David Staples as a possible fit. In a recent post, the Journal noted, “All of the top NHL unrestricted free agents have already signed contracts, but there’s one big name player still available that makes good sense for the Edmonton Oilers to pursue.” Responses have been varied, with a few quite vocal about the Oilers not following Staples’ advice. “In what world does this make sense?????” writes a commenter on a recent post for The Hockey Writers. Another commenter wrote, “Pacioretty is a good journeyman player but he is injury prone now, late in his career. Oilers might be lucky to get 40 games out of him. They should look elsewhere instead of taking a chance on Patches.” Tyler Yaremchuk of Oilers Nation chimed in and said, “He scored five goals in 37 games last year with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can’t stay healthy, very old, very slow.” Yaremchuk then went on a rant, listing several Oilers forwards who would be better than Pacioretty. What About Pacioretty on a PTO? Is there any reason that a team that is looking to get younger and faster, and move out depth pieces that were older and less productive than expected, would revert back to last summer’s strategy? It seems like an odd choice on the surface. Something would have to happen that would make giving Pacioretty a look risk-free. That means only a PTO. Even at that point, should he agree, it would require him to be willing to sign a two-way contract for the league minimum.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have stumbled onto a hidden gem in rookie tight end JJ Galbreath, whose performance during training camp has made him impossible to ignore. With the roster loaded and competition steep across every position group, it’s usually difficult for an undrafted player to separate himself from the crowd, but Galbreath is doing exactly that, one practice at a time. The buzz started small, but it’s growing louder by the day, especially after the way Mark Kaboly described Galbreath’s early impression. On the July 26th, 2025 episode of Kaboly + Mack, Kaboly broke down what he's been seeing from Galbreath during training camp, noting that the tight end has consistently stood out despite entering as a relatively unknown player. Kaboly wasn’t going out of his way to track Galbreath. That’s what makes his performance all the more eye-catching, and Galbreath forced himself into the conversation. “You gotta keep an eye on him," Kaboly said. "He’s a guy you really notice during minicamp and the first day or two. That’s how you continue to tell who’s, I guess, you know, standing out because he’s noticeable. You’re not looking for JJ Galbreth.” That observation from Kaboly speaks volumes. When you're not trying to find a player, but still keep noticing them, it’s often the first sign that something special might be unfolding. Galbreath wasn’t brought in to be a headline, but he’s slowly turning into one. In a tight end room that already includes Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward, the road to a 53-man roster spot is steep, but standing out in July matters. Galbreath is making his name known the old-school way by producing. “Who’s 87? Then the next day, who’s 87? Boy, 87 made them a nice play," Kaboly stated. "Then all of a sudden, you realize this guy’s pretty good. I don’t know if he can make the 53-man, but he’s definitely a practice squad eligible type of guy, but they like him, so he does have some talent.” Kaboly’s commentary here gives us a look behind the curtain. That “who’s 87?” question being asked on consecutive days reflects exactly what happens when a player consistently performs above expectations. When multiple coaches and reporters begin identifying you by number, without being told to, you’re doing something right. For a franchise that’s built its identity on development and physicality, players like Galbreath have a real path to stick around even if it's not right away. The Steelers aren’t strangers to undrafted or overlooked players proving themselves during camp and earning long-term roles. That path might be in front of Galbreath, too. At 6’4” and 240 pounds, the rookie from the University of South Dakota has good size, soft hands, and a knack for making himself known in high-pressure reps. The Steelers’ offensive staff, led by Arthur Smith, will need dependable blockers and reliable targets as they work to revamp their scheme. If Galbreath can continue to shine in team periods and prove useful on special teams, a practice squad spot feels not just likely, but earned. The 53-man roster might be a long shot this early, but the fact that Galbreath is in the conversation tells you everything you need to know. The work ethic is there, the flashes are becoming frequent, and coaches are watching. Steelers Must Make Tough Choices at Tight End The Steelers’ tight end room is crowded, but injuries and evolving schemes always bring surprises. With Freiermuth and Smith cemented as the top two, it would take a strong preseason for Galbreath to edge out Heyward or Washington. But even if he lands on the practice squad, that’s a win because in Pittsburgh, that’s where real opportunities begin. Galbreath may not be a household name yet, but minicamp is where the grind starts. And he’s already proven he’s not just a camp body. Can Galbreath turn his early momentum into a long-term role with the Steelers, or will a loaded tight end room squeeze him out?
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