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The Rockies are selecting the contract of right-hander Tanner Gordon, according to Luke Zahlmann of the Denver Gazette. Gordon will start the club’s game against the Royals this afternoon in what will be his MLB debut. The Rockies will need to make a corresponding to make room for Gordon on the active roster, but a 40-man roster move won’t be necessary thanks to the open space the club has after Elehuris Montero was designated for assignment last week.
Gordon, 26, was a sixth-round pick by the Braves in the 2019 draft who joined the Rockies as part of the Pierce Johnson trade last summer alongside righty Victor Vodnik. Gordon was struggling badly at the Triple-A level for Atlanta at the time of the trade, with an 8.28 ERA in 29 1/3 innings of work, but looked much better across six starts at the level with Colorado. In those 31 1/3 frames of work, Gordon posted a 4.31 ERA while striking out 24.1% of batters faced and walking 7.1%.
Those solid results offered reason for optimism that Gordon could contribute in the majors sometime in 2024, but the Rockies nonetheless chose to leave the righty off their 40-man roster over the winter. Fortunately for them, Gordon was not selected in the Rule 5 Draft back in December and reported back to Triple-A for the 2024 campaign. The righty’s seven starts this year have not been quite as fruitful as his time in the organization last season. In 33 2/3 innings of work at Triple-A this year, Gordon has struggled to a 5.35 ERA while striking out a noticeably reduced 18.5% of batters faced. While his 5.5% walk rate is impressive, Gordon’s dip in strikeouts and subsequently lessened production are both cause for concern.
Those potential issues won’t stop the Rockies from giving Gordon a taste of the big league level in a spot start today, however. The righty’s first assignment in the majors will be a fairly tough one, as he’ll be matched up against a Royals club that has surged into surprise contention this year while pitching his first game at Coors Field. Gordon will be taking the ball in place of right-hander Ryan Feltner, who was scheduled to start today. It’s not currently clear if Gordon is simply making a spot start to afford the club’s regular starters additional rest or if he’s going to be a more permanent fixture in the club’s rotation, though with rumors swirling around Feltner, Cal Quantrill, and Austin Gomber it’s possible a trade could open up a more permanent spot in the rotation for Gordon in the coming weeks.
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Yankees Ask About Pirates Star, as Pirates Scout Yankees Prospect
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider Noah Hiles has learned that the New York Yankees have asked the Pittsburgh Pirates about Oneil Cruz. In what may or may not have been a related matter, Pirates scouts were in Toronto on Tuesday night to observe Yankees starter Cam Schlittler, according to MLB Marathon. Yankees Ask About Pirates Star, as Pirates Scout Yankees Prospect Hiles further reports that Pirates general manager Ben Cherington isn’t inclined to move Cruz. However, as the saying goes, everybody has a price. The Pirates would love to emerge from the deadline with one or more controllable, major league-ready hitters. Cruz could be moved if Cherington is overwhelmed by the return. Yankees Asked Pirates About Oneil Cruz We’d previously reported that the Yankees have asked the Pirates about five players. Make that six. At six-foot-seven, 240 pounds, the left-handed batting Cruz, 26, has natural talent that would make any scout’s mouth water. After Wednesday’s game, Cruz is batting .219/.319/.419, 16 HR, and 40 RBI, with a major league-leading 33 stolen bases. Blessed with speed, power, and a strong arm, he regularly registers high Statcast marks for velocity, whether off the bat or from his arm. His 57.9 percent hard-hit rate far surpasses the major league average. He got a chance to show off his power to the nation as a participant in this year’s Home Run Derby. He didn’t win, but he had some of the most impressive shots. Cruz can also be frustrating at times. Despite substantially reducing his chase rate to 26.9 percent, he carries a 31.9 percent strikeout rate. He’s had mental lapses in the field and instances where his effort has been called into question. Cruz began his career as a shortstop. After committing 24 errors there in 2024, he was moved to center field late in the season. He’s learning the position on the fly. So far, he’s been charged with -4 Fielding Runs Above Average, -7 Defensive Runs Saved, and a major league-leading seven outfield errors. Where Cruz Fits with the Yankees (If At All) Where Cruz fits with the Yankees is a puzzling question. There doesn’t seem to be room in their outfield. He’s certainly not replacing Aaron Judge. Nor does he seem to be a significant upgrade over their other outfielders or designated hitter Ben Rice. Rice, Trent Grisham, and Cody Bellinger are left-handed batters. Jasson Dominguez is a switch-hitter. Thus, Cruz doesn’t seem to be even a platoon option. Where the Yankees can use an upgrade is on the left side of their infield. That’s why they’ve inquired about Ke’Bryan Hayes and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Third baseman Oswald Peraza is hitting a weak .147/.208/.237, 3 HR, and 13 RBI. Shortstop Anthony Volpe was once highly touted for his potential. However, playing regularly for three seasons now, he has a lifetime slash line of .224/.288/.379. His 13 home runs for 2025 are nothing to sneeze at, but in addition to his otherwise woeful batting performance, he also leads major league shortstops with 13 errors and has been a frequent target of fan vitriol. In light of the above, one wonders whether the Yankees would move Cruz back to his original shortstop position. That would be a gamble because Cruz last played the position, and not well, in August 2024. Cruz and the Yankees might be a gamble regardless of how he’s deployed. The rough fans and media in New York won’t respond kindly to his propensity for striking out and occasional brain cramps. Pittsburgh crowds can be tough, too, but nothing like what Cruz would likely encounter in the Bronx. The Yankees should strongly consider the potential impact on Cruz. Pirates Looked at Cam Schlittler Schlittler is a six-foot-six, 225-pound right-handed starting pitcher whom the Yankees called up earlier this month. His major league career consists of two starts. In 10 1/3 innings, he’s given up five earned runs on 11 hits, two of which were home runs, and five walks while striking out 10. Last Sunday, we reported on speculation that Schlittler and outfielder Spencer Jones could be the return in a deal for Hayes and David Bednar. At that time, Jones was rated the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect and Schlittler was ranked No. 6. Since then, MLB Pipeline has revised its prospect lists. Schlittler had been propelled to No. 3, and Jones dropped to No. 4. Some Pirates observers might find it odd that the Pirates, pitching-rich at the major and minor league levels, would scout another pitcher. However, a deal involving Mitch Keller or Andrew Heaney would leave a hole in the rotation. No. 1 prospect Bubba Chandler was projected to arrive in Pittsburgh this summer, but he’s struggled of late. The asking price for Cruz might be a hitter and a pitcher from the Yankees prospect list. Schlittler, 24, features a fastball that’s touched 98 mph and on which scouts have hung a 60 rating. The fastball’s movement makes it difficult to lift in the air. He also offers two effective breaking pitches with his slider and curveball. Scouts are less enthusiastic about his changeup. In 2023, he was the pitcher of the year in both the High-A and South Atlantic League and the Yankees organization. Before he got the call, this year he had a 2.82 ERA and 1.213 WHIP across two minor league levels. The Last Word One thing’s for sure: Yankees GM Brian Cashman won’t spend this trade deadline sitting on his hands. As I write this, the Yankees are 56-46, four games out of first place in the American League East Division and would be the top Wild Card entry if the season ended today. On the other hand, Cherington will be busy unloading expiring contracts. He’ll listen on controllable pieces like Cruz, Hayes, and Keller, but with this Pirates season so far gone, he doesn’t necessarily have to move them if he doesn’t like the deal. Time will tell whether there’s a match between the two clubs.
Releasing Christian Wilkins Proves Spytek, and the Raiders Mean Business
Since taking over as the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, John Spytek and Raiders Head Coach, Pete Carroll, have emphasized how critical it will be for them to establish a new culture for their team. After years of subpar play, the Raiders needed to improve their culture equally as much as they needed to improve their roster. Spytek wasted no time significantly improving the Raiders' roster, adding Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty this offseason. Although a culture change usually takes more than offseason, the Raiders may have expedited the process by releasing veteran defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. The organization and Wilkins were not on the same page in regard to his rehab, pushing the Raiders to make a drastic move. While drastic, the move appears to align with Spytek's intended composition of the Raiders' roster. At the NFL Combine months before Wilkins' recent release, the Raiders' general manager explained what he would take into consideration when assembling the Raiders' roster. While Spytek likely figured Wilkins would be part of the team at the time, his words rang true following the veteran defensive tackle's release. “I think we're going to have a lot of positive energy. The guys that love to compete and play with passion are going to have a chance at our place. And the guys that maybe don't have that love of the game, they like it, it's a means to an end, there probably won't be as many places or spaces for them at our place," Spytek said. "I think we want to set the tone with our film. When people watch a week or two out for our games coming, like they want to know, like this is going to be a battle, this is going to be physical, this is going to be old-school football." It is challenging to maintain positive energy when a player who has only played five games with the Silver and Black fails to uphold their end of a contract worth over $100 million. Shortly after releasing Wilkins, the Raiders issued the following statement. "We have decided that it is in the best interests of the organization to move on from Christian Wilkins. This franchise has a Commitment to Excellence on and off the field. With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for the new season." The Raiders' words spoke loudly enough, but they did not say nearly as loudly as the actual move of releasing Wilkins. Full details of why the Raiders decided to move on from Wilkins after just one season remain unclear, but one thing is clear: the Raiders' new-look front office means business. Find us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and Instagram @HondoSr and weigh in on this take. While here, check out our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE to discuss this take
Three-time All-Star will be key to Fever weathering troubling Caitlin Clark injury update
Following a troubling injury update, Caitlin Clark isn't coming back to rescue the Indiana Fever anytime soon. But Aliyah Boston still can. On Thursday, the Fever announced that Clark remains out with a groin injury and has no timetable for a return. In a social media post, the team emphasized prioritizing "her long-term health and well-being," suggesting the organization won't cut corners in getting Clark back on the court. Indiana won't be title contenders without its star guard, but Boston's continued growth into one of the league's best players should keep it from falling out of the playoff picture. This season, Boston, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 WNBA Draft, ranks second in the league in win shares (4.5), trailing only MVP favorite Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (5.8). Boston is averaging 15.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and one block per game. She has the fourth-highest player efficiency rating (PER), only trailing Collier, Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas. Per Across The Timeline, she's one of seven players in league history with 1,500 points before turning 24 and is only improving. On June 24, she scored a career-high 31 points on 13-of-18 shooting in a win over the Seattle Storm. In that game, Clark struggled, going 3-of-13 from the court, including 0-of-6 on three-point attempts, and turning the ball over eight times. It was Boston and veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell, who had 26 points, who led the Fever when their star wasn't at her best. The Fever need Clark for them to reach their full potential, but until then, Boston must lead the way. She's arguably been Indiana's best player all season, something she'll have to continue being until Clark returns.
Major 2024 NFL free-agency deals are aging very poorly
Several of the high-profile names of the 2024 free-agent class are really struggling to justify the massive contacts they received through the early stages of the 2025 season. Despite the generous contracts, some players have been very underwhelming after getting the big payday. In particular, these players who signed major deals are now playing on new teams or in new roles: Christian Wilkins — four-years, $110M with Raiders, now a free agent Kirk Cousins — four-years, $180M with Falcons, now a backup Bryce Huff — three-years, $51.1M with Eagles, now with 49ers Jonah Jackson — three-years, $51M with Rams, now with Bears Gabe Davis — three-years, $39M with Jaguars, now a free agent Gardner Minshew — two-years, $25M with Raiders, now with Chiefs Chidobe Awuzie — three-years, $36M with Titans, now with Ravens While certain free agents such as Saquon Barkley and Danielle Hunter have delivered massive returns on their contracts to the Eagles and Texans, respectively, these other big signings have taken a completely different trajectory. Whether it is due to injuries, underperformance or not fitting the schemes, these players have not lived up to their deals. Wilkins is a case in point. The Raiders decided to cut him after signing him to a four-year, $110M deal. He struggled with injuries that held him out in 2024, leading to the team and Wilkins disagreeing on how the injury has been handled. Because of this, the two split ways only one year into his contract. Huff only played in 12 games and had a total of 2.5 sacks for Philadelphia after inking a three-year, $51.1M deal. He was traded to the 49ers in June for a 2026 mid-round pick. Cousins might be the most egregious of these deals. The former Vikings QB signed a four-year, $180M, with $100M fully guaranteed. Yet, he only started 14 games in 2024, and now is the backup to Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons now are essentially stuck paying their backup quarterback an annual average of $45M. These signings highlight the risk of free agency. Paying top dollar for past performance runs the risk of overlooking team fit and future value of contracts. Too often, these high-profile veterans who get massive paydays decline very fast or simply fail to mesh with new systems. So far, these investments in 2024 appear to have aged very poorly. Unless these players turn their performances around in 2025, many of the teams will view these moves as a cautionary tale of overspending in free agency.
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