The Toronto Blue Jays have had an extremely rough offseason, and MLB insider Buster Olney made sure to point out just how bad of a job GM Ross Atkins has done.
The Blue Jays have not signed a player in almost 20 days and are still linked to a ton of free agents but have yet to get a single deal done, and it continues to look like they cannot seem to get players to want to come to Toronto.
MLB insider Buster Olney was recently on "First Up" during which he spoke on how much of a disaster the Blue Jays' off-eason has been so far and he does not see it being any better.
Olney stated that the Blue Jays have had the worst offseason in the MLB so far and pointed out how Atkins cannot get free agents or even his own players to take their money as Guerrero is still not extended.
While the Blue Jays are set to apparently make Guerrero a second offer that seems to be closer to the number he is looking for, that does not mean he will take it, as it appears it will still be under his target.
Olney believes that if the Blue Jays end up unable to get anything done this offseason, they should start a sell off and begin to rebuild, as trying to hold on by signing mediocre players will not change anything.
It is hard not to believe that Atkins has not run this team in the ground. Since taking over almost a decade ago, he has made too many mistakes to count and the team has paid the price for it.
Hopefully by some miracle, the Blue Jays are able to extend Guerrero, but for the time being, it still does not look good.
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After working to return to the Chicago Cubs' lineup following an oblique injury, Miguel Amaya suffered a gruesome-looking injury in his first game back with the Cubs on Wednesday night. Running to first base, Amaya just beat out an infield single on a slow dribbler to shortstop when his left foot landed forcefully on the base, causing his leg to buckle and sending Amaya flying down the first base line. Following the injury, Amaya was carted off the field in Toronto with a towel over his face. The emotions shown by Amaya as he was carted off indicated he knew already he would miss more time in a season that has been marred by injuries. After the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Amaya would be going back on the injured list with what was diagnosed as a left ankle sprain. X-rays, however, were negative. The 26-year-old Amaya had just told reporters after being activated from the 60-day injured list that he was thankful he was healthy. Just three at-bats later, Amaya was once again injured. Amaya's three at-bats against the Blue Jays on Wednesday represented his first game action since May 24, when he recorded just two at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds before leaving the game with an oblique injury. In just 96 at-bats this season, Amaya is slashing .281/.314/.500 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Amaya's injury is another blow for the Cubs, who have seen their lead in the National League Central evaporate as the Milwaukee Brewers have now won 12 consecutive games and are 20-4 since the All-Star break. As has been the case in Amaya's absence, Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire will continue to be the dominant presences behind the plate for the Cubs. Joining with Amaya, the duo has helped the Cubs record a 2.8 Wins Above Average (WAA) at catcher, the highest mark of any MLB team. After Amaya's injury, the Cubs would go on to post a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Defense ruled the day during the joint practice between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots defense did a masterful job of disrupting Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Wednesday's practice. However, New England's offensive line was unable to allow Drake Maye to have enough time to finish plays. "Even with four new expected starters up front following last year’s debacle, Wednesday suggested that there will likely be some bumps ahead for this offensive line," Graff wrote. "Sure, going up against the Vikings was always going to be a difficult task. Greenard has been wrecking his own team’s practices in training camp, and everyone in New England knows how good Flores’ scheme can be. But the domination was so thorough by the Vikings’ front seven that three straight plays at one point would’ve resulted in a sack." Maye showed flashes of promise when he had time to throw downfield or was able to use his legs to buy time or scramble when pressure came. The concern is that the offensive line won't allow Maye enough time to even scramble so he can make throws. Graff has noticed the same issues that happened on Wednesday have been a constant at training camp against the Patriots defense. With a new-look offensive line that includes first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle, the Patriots are expected to have some bumps at training camp and in September. New England's offense probably won't look great out of the gate while the offensive line develops in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme. If and when the offensive line improves, Maye will have a chance to show off the arm that made him the No. 3 pick in 2024. For now, the offensive line is a concern much like it was last season.
The Green Bay Packers’ front office has made a habit of unearthing underappreciated talent in the NFL Draft, and rookie Barryn Sorrell might be their latest gem. A fourth-round pick out of Texas, Sorrell has turned heads in training camp and delivered a standout performance in the Packers’ preseason opener against the New York Jets. It’s early, but the buzz is building—Sorrell could be the steal of the entire 2025 NFL Draft. Here’s a closer look at Sorrell’s impressive week, why coaches are raving about him, and what his role on the team could look like as the season unfolds. Green Bay Packers Barryn Sorrell: Preseason Debut Though the Green Bay Packers fell short against the Jets in their preseason opener, Sorrell’s debut was nothing short of promising. Lining up on the defensive edge, the rookie flashed the explosiveness and technique that made him a standout for the Texas Longhorns in college. Pro Football Focus gave Sorrell a team-best pass rush grade of 87.9 for the game, showcasing his ability to generate pressure. While Green Bay didn’t record a sack as a team, Sorrell came close on multiple occasions, recording two quarterback hits and two pressures. On one notable snap, he effortlessly tossed Jets tackle Max Mitchell aside before delivering a clean shot on quarterback Brady Cook, demonstrating a pass rush technique well beyond his years. “He looked sharp out there—really sharp,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said after the game. “For a young guy stepping into this environment, his ability to impact the game with consistent pressure is what we want to see moving forward.” The Work Ethic That Sets Him Apart What has impressed coaches just as much as Sorrell’s on-field performance is his relentless effort and commitment to improvement. Practice reports continually highlight his hustle during drills and scrimmages. From chasing down plays to perfecting minor details in his technique, Sorrell has demonstrated the kind of mindset that coaches love to see in young players. “He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop,” linebackers coach Sean Duggan said. “When you see a guy like Barryn putting in that level of effort, it elevates the whole group. That’s been his reputation since he arrived in Green Bay.” That reputation has driven Sorrell to stand out during training camp and preseason, setting him apart despite a crowded defensive rotation. Why Sorrell Is Being Dubbed a Steal Draft analysts have been quick to call Sorrell one of the smartest picks of the 2025 Draft, though hindsight reveals just how much of a sleeper he was going in. Coming out of Texas, Sorrell had been productive at the collegiate level, showcasing a knack for disrupting plays in the backfield. However, concerns about his relatively modest size (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) for an every-down edge rusher caused him to slide to the fourth round. It’s now becoming clear that those concerns were overstated. General manager Brian Gutekunst, who has built a reputation for finding value in the mid-to-late rounds, once again seems to have struck gold. Sorrell’s early success highlights why many now believe that he should have gone much earlier in the draft. “There’s zero reason he should’ve fallen that far,” said one AFC scout. “The Packers got a guy with Day 2 talent in the fourth round, and it won’t take long before he proves it.” Eyes on the Future The Packers’ philosophy of building through the draft has rarely been more evident than in their approach to Barryn Sorrell. With veteran leadership guiding him and coaches invested in his development, the rookie appears to be in a near-perfect situation to succeed. For a team looking to solidify its defensive identity, finding a player like Sorrell is invaluable. His work ethic, playmaking ability, and high football IQ give him every chance of being a long-term cornerstone for Green Bay’s pass rush. Final Thoughts It’s far too early for definitive conclusions, but Barryn Sorrell’s introduction to the NFL has Green Bay Packers fans excited. His performance in camp and the preseason has already exceeded expectations, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what could be an immensely bright future. If his current trajectory holds, Sorrell won’t just be a steal of the draft—he’ll be a key piece in the Packers’ ongoing pursuit of greatness.
It has been a busy offseason for the Denver Nuggets as they have reshaped their roster around their core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon after being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Denver began their offseason by trading Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson in a trade that not only landed them a three-point sharpshooter in Johnson but also helped free up cap space. With the extra cap space, the Nuggets signed Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency and they also acquired Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings. By making these moves, the Nuggets have been able to upgrade their bench, which was a massive issue for them last season. While the Nuggets clearly had the goal to upgrade their depth this offseason, one of their key players from last season will reportedly not be returning next season. Russell Westbrook not expected to return to Nuggets According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Russell Westbrook is set to sign with a new team this summer in free agency as he will not be returning to Denver. “It appears that Westbrook, who spent the first 11 years of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, will play for his sixth franchise in seven seasons. He won't be returning to the Denver Nuggets after a roller coaster season in which Westbrook finished seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year voting,” MacMahon wrote. This is a massive report by MacMahon, but also one that is not a major surprise as it appeared as though the Nuggets were not interested in bringing back the former NBA MVP. Of course, Westbrook played a key role for the Nuggets last season both off the bench and in the starting lineup, though his minutes were cut at the end of the season after Denver fired former head coach Michael Malone and replaced him with David Adelman. With Westbrook now unlikely to return to Denver for next season, MacMahon mentioned in his report that the Sacramento Kings are viewed as the favorites to sign him, though there should be other teams that also show interest in adding the veteran guard to their roster next season.
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