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ESPN released its top 100 players in MLB list, and players have been reacting to the rankings, with some pointed critiques in multiple areas. One of those is in regard to New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was ranked No. 17, one spot behind Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. New York Yankees reliever and former Met Adam Ottavino disagreed with that ranking.
“I feel like there’s a huge separation in actual production at this moment between Lindor and De La Cruz,” veteran reliever Adam Ottavino said, via Buster Olney of ESPN. “I know [De La Cruz’s] ceiling is insane and he’s so fun to watch, but he’s just not anywhere close to Lindor yet, in my mind.”
Another anonymous player disagreed with Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes being ahead of Lindor, with the common trend being that Lindor has a better track record than multiple players ahead of him on the list.
“Paul Skenes has amazing stuff,” another player said. “But he’s ahead of Francisco Lindor? Like, a shortstop who plays every day and just finished second in the NL MVP race?”
Lindor is a player who has often been viewed as disrespected throughout his career. He is on track to have a good case for the Hall of Fame by the time he is done playing. However, Lindor is usually a slow starter each season, which means he gets left off of the All-Star Game roster. He has not been to an All-Star Game since 2019, before he was traded to the Mets.
Last season, Lindor did not make the All-Star Game, but was in a dead heat with Shohei Ohtani for the National League MVP award before a late-season injury hurt his case.
It appears that players around the league have a ton of respect for Lindor, and rightfully so.
More must-reads:
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Here's Where Seattle Mariners Stand in Competitive Playoff Picture
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners continued its torrid post-trade deadline stretch with an 11-inning, 4-3 win against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at T-Mobile Park. The Mariners' victory secured a series sweep against the White Sox and improved their record to 63-53. Seattle is 6-1 since the July 31 trade deadline through Thursday. Right fielder Dominic Canzone hit a walk-off RBI single to secure the victory against Chicago. The M's gained ground on all the teams immediately ahead of them in the playoff picture and created more distance from the teams behind them. Through Thursday, the Mariners are one game behind the Boston Red Sox for the top American League Wild Card spot, 1.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for the second Wild Card spot and 1.5 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. The Astros, Yankees and Red Sox were all idle Thursday, which allowed Seattle to make ground. Since the deadline, the Mariners are tied for fourth in the majors and second in the AL in runs; tied for second in the majors and second outright in the AL in home runs (13); and first in the majors in steals (18). Seattle could take sole possession of first place in the AL West over the weekend. The Mariners will close out its 10-game homestand with a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays beginning Friday. While that is happening, the Astros will play their own three-game series against the Yankees. Game 1 of Seattle's series against Tampa Bay begins at 6:40 p.m. PT on Friday. Luis Castillo will start for the Mariners and Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays.
Green Bay Packers’ Xavier McKinney Gets Honest After Big Injury News
The Green Bay Packers are gearing up for their preseason opener against the New York Jets. Unfortunately, they are not going to have one of their best defensive players available to play in the game even if they wanted him to. Xavier McKinney has been ruled out for the rest of training camp and all three preseason games due to a calf injury. After signing a big four-year, $67 million contract with the Packers last offseason in NFL free agency, McKinney put together a big first year in the green and gold. He took on a major leadership role and was a dynamic playmaker in the secondary. In order to compete for a Super Bowl, Green Bay will need him healthy. Following the news of his injury, McKinney spoke out about the situation. Green Bay Packers’ Xavier McKinney Gets Honest After Big Injury News As shared by ESPN, McKinney shared his gratefulness for the injury being caught before it got worse. He also offered some comforting words for Packers fans. “Obviously glad that we caught it when we caught it, so just kind of trying to take it slow and then the build-up, obviously,” McKinney said. “But I’ll be ready when it’s time to go, for sure.” During the 2024 season with Green Bay, McKinney played in all 17 regular season games. He racked up 88 total tackles to go along with a sack, a fumble recovery, eight interceptions, and 11 defended passes. Those numbers show just how big of an impact McKinney makes for the defense. Jeff Hafley was spoiled in his debut season as the team’s defensive coordinator by having him patrolling the final layer of his unit. Hopefully, McKinney will be able to recovery quickly and get back to 100 percent by Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. He sounds confident that he’ll be able to do just that.
Steelers Now Have A Surefire Solution To End Cam Heyward's Hold-In
The Pittsburgh Steelers got hit with quite a bit of interesting news on Thursday. It started when NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward was staging a hold-in, attending training camp but not fully participating as he seeks a new contract. Not long after that, kicker Chris Boswell was also reported to be interested in a new deal, adding another contract situation to the team’s growing list of concerns. As for Heyward, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly quickly suggested a possible solution that could effectively end the hold-in without requiring a full contract extension. Kaboly proposed the idea of adding incentives to Heyward’s existing deal, which would reward performance while avoiding a long-term financial commitment. He believes this compromise would allow the Steelers to show respect for Heyward’s contributions while keeping the team’s salary cap in check. Kaboly explained that the Steelers used a similar approach in 2016 with star wide receiver Antonio Brown. At the time, Brown was also seeking a new deal, and instead of offering an extension, the team added incentives to his contract to keep him satisfied for the season. The move kept Brown on the field and productive, and Kaboly believes this method could work just as well for Heyward, helping resolve the situation without complicating the team’s financial outlook. "Steelers don't restructure contracts until a year out, but Cam Heyward has 2 years remaining on his deal," Kaboly posted on his social media. "Here is the kicker and this is what I would use if I were Heyward: The Steelers worked some funny math with Antonio Brown in 2016 to get him a $4 million raise." Heyward just received a new deal ahead of the 2024 season. Now, Kaboly is pointing out that with two years remaining on his contract, the Steelers typically don’t restructure deals until there’s only one year left. However, Kaboly believes that if the team follows the same approach they used with Brown, it could help resolve Heyward’s situation. "They moved $4 million of AB's 2017 money to 2016, then tore up the contract in 2017 and made him the highest-paid WR in the NFL," Kaboly said. "AB got a $4 million raise, and the Steelers were able to keep their long-standing policy intact." Both sides could technically come out ahead with this approach. The money was going to Heyward anyway, but by advancing a portion of it to this year, he gets earlier financial recognition without requiring a full extension. Then, when the time comes to negotiate a new deal, both parties can do so in good faith, working toward a contract that makes sense for everyone involved. For now, moving some money forward would be a clear sign of appreciation for Heyward’s contributions and an acknowledgment of how the market has shifted for elite defensive linemen. It would also allow the Steelers to maintain their long-standing policy of waiting until a player enters the final year of his contract before negotiating an extension. Ultimately, it’s a short-term financial gesture that builds trust and buys time for a more permanent solution. Steelers And Cam Heyward Both Could Come Out As Winners This approach not only benefits Heyward financially in the short term but also helps preserve the relationship between the player and the organization. It shows the Steelers value his contributions and want to keep him motivated without rushing into long-term decisions prematurely. By handling things this way, the team retains flexibility in managing their salary cap and future roster moves. It also avoids the potential pitfalls of a large extension that might limit options later. For Heyward, it offers a sense of security and respect while keeping open the door for a more comprehensive agreement when the time is right.
Warriors Rumors: Jonathan Kuminga, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Seth Curry
The Golden State Warriors’ offseason continues to revolve around one question. Namely, what happens with Jonathan Kuminga? Golden State currently has just nine players signed to standard contracts, and the Kuminga standoff is slowing the rest of its roster moves. Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported that the Warriors are keeping Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II in a holding pattern until Kuminga’s situation is resolved. Malcolm Brogdon and Seth Curry remain on the team’s radar, with Javonte Green also a possible addition. The Kings and Suns have both explored sign-and-trade deals for Kuminga, but the Warriors haven’t been impressed with what’s been offered. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints noted that those talks haven’t reached a serious stage, and there are no other known suitors at the moment. Warriors Stuck For Now? Cap expert Yossi Gozlan explained in his Third Apron column that Golden State is “probably stuck” until the Kuminga situation plays out. The Warriors are believed to have deals in place with Horford and Melton, but those signings can’t be finalized while Kuminga is still unsigned. If Golden State uses its taxpayer mid-level exception, it would be hard-capped at $207.8 million — opening the door for a rival with cap space to swoop in and make Kuminga a near $30 million per year offer the Warriors couldn’t match. Gozlan views a sign-and-trade as the most practical solution for both sides. If Kuminga re-signs, Golden State would likely aim for a deal in the $22–23 million per year range, which would allow the team to use the taxpayer MLE and add three more players on minimum contracts while staying below the hard cap. For now, all signs point to Kuminga remaining with the Warriors to start next season, but the impasse continues to hold up the rest of Golden State’s plans. More NBA News Rumors
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