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Earlier this week, we wrote a story about how Shohei Ohtani's recent labrum surgery could delay his return to the mound in 2025.
A story in the Los Angeles Times essentially confirms that will be the case.
Ohtani’s shoulder procedure, fortunately, was to his non-throwing arm, and isn’t expected to have any “big-picture” impact on his ability to pitch next year, according to general manager Brandon Gomes.
But it will add another complication to the 30-year-old’s offseason throwing program — and will probably push back his timeline to join the Dodgers’ starting rotation next season.
Gomes reportedly didn't say that Ohtani definitely won't be ready for Opening Day in 2025, but it seems unlikely. Not only will Ohtani need to keep his left shoulder immobilized for a period of time this offseason, he also hasn't fully completed his rehab from Tommy John surgery yet. With that now being further delayed, the Dodgers surely won't rush Ohtani back to the mound and will give him time to get his workload back up.
Furthermore, there's no pressure to rush him back, seeing as how the team just won the World Series.
As a pitcher, Ohtani is 38-19 lifetime with a 3.01 ERA. He's struck out 608 batters in 481.2 innings. He's made 86 starts, all for the Angels.
Even without pitching this year, Ohtani is set to win his third MVP Award in the last four years. He hit 54 homers and had 59 stolen bases. He injured the shoulder during Game 2 of the World Series.
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Did the Yankees Just Help Anthony Volpe With This Ryan McMahon Trade?
The Yankees didn’t trade for Ryan McMahon to help Anthony Volpe. Not directly, anyway. They made the move to shore up the infield, cut down on errors, and stop bleeding runs behind Max Fried. They needed steadier hands, not a defensive whisperer. But according to former Rockies outfielder and current broadcaster Ryan Spilborghs, McMahon’s arrival could have a secondary benefit—helping Volpe get back to his Gold Glove level. “I think so,” Spilborghs said on SiriusXm’s MLB Network Radio’s “Loud Outs” show right after the news was announced. “The range you’re going to get with McMahon... he’s played with really good shortstops—Trevor Story, and now a Gold Glover in Ezequiel Tovar. It’s not an accident that a shortstop wins a Gold Glove. Because the guy next to him was really good.” It’s a simple point, but one Yankees fans should appreciate. The left side of the infield operates as a unit, especially when dealing with groundball-heavy pitchers like Fried. In 2023, Volpe was a breakout defender. In 2025, he’s been fighting through inconsistency, Both mentally and mechanically, and was recently the focus of some tough-love commentary from Joe Maddon. The former MLB manager actually suggested sending Volpe to the minors to help him reset his mind. Adding McMahon, who ranks among the league’s top defensive third basemen since 2021 in Defensive Runs Saved, could stabilize that side of the field—and in the process, take some pressure off Volpe. More consistency. More trust. More plays made. Helping Volpe get back on track is not the headline reason the Yankees acquired McMahon. They desperately needed to improve their defense at third base and protect their investment in ground-ball pitcher Max Fried. But if it gets Volpe back to being a decent shortstop, it could end up being one of the most important ones.
Why as many as 100 NFL players are facing fines and potential suspension
There is not a bigger sporting event in North America than the Super Bowl, and tickets are only getting more expensive every year. There is also a ridiculous secondary market for tickets where seats sell for well above the original face value. It is usually fans or ticket resellers going for a quick profit. But as was reported on Friday, sometimes it can be players in the NFL looking to make a profit. According to multiple reports, including the Associated Press and ESPN, more than 100 players are facing fines and potential suspensions for selling their allotment of tickets to this year's Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs for above face value. Players are reportedly facing fines of one-and-a-half times the face value they originally paid for the tickets, while they are also prevented from purchasing tickets to the Super Bowl for the next seasons. The Associated Press obtained a memo from the NFL detailing the violation and investigation. That memo was as follows: “Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the Policy. This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less. We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of ‘bundlers’ who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value.” If players are not willing to pay the fine, they could be facing suspension from the league. It seems unlikely that any of the players — none of whom have been named, or their teams — would refuse to pay such a fine. It's also one of those moments where you can say, professional athletes — they're still normal people trying to make a quick buck. The most logical answer here is perhaps some of the players caught up in this are younger players who have not yet struck it rich on a big contract or perhaps even practice squad players who are not making top dollar.
Five potential landing spots for Christian Wilkins after stunning Raiders release
The Las Vegas Raiders just stunned the league by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins after only one year with the team. After signing a four-year, $110 million contract, he struggled with injuries in 2024. This was supposed to be a big bounce-back year for Wilkins, but after a dispute between the two sides in regard to how to handle his foot injury, the team decided it was best to part ways. Now, a premier interior disruptor is suddenly available. Assuming his medicals get checked out soon, there should be a lot of interest around the league. Where should he land? Dallas Cowboys Dallas has needed a dominant interior presence for quite some time. Osa Odighizuwa is an awesome threat, but he is only solid against the run. Alongside him, the team will be banking heavily on 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, who has been disappointing so far. With Dallas looking to return to the playoffs, adding a stud like Wilkins could give Dallas one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers added some young bodies in CJ West and Alfred Collins, yet neither offer a proven, all-around talent like Wilkins could if healthy. The 49ers defensive line was horrid outside of Nick Bosa in 2024, but by adding Wilkins, the team would now have a solid cast of starters with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Wilkins and Kevin Givens/Jordan Elliott. Miami Dolphins A return to Miami makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Dolphins know exactly how to use Wilkins, he knows the building and players, and the transition would be very easy. Miami needs help in the interior defensive line; by plugging Wilkins back into his old role, he could offer the quickest path to high-level impact. Detroit Lions With Levi Onwuzurike out with injury and Detroit needing more juice on the defensive line, adding a proven disruptor like Wilkins could make some sense. He could provide more depth while he gets fully healthy, and he can join a legit Super Bowl contender. His energy and mentality could be a good fit for a Dan Campbell-led squad. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars defense is average in the interior, but they have excellent edge-rushers who would benefit greatly from a strong disruptor up the middle. Wilkins could balance the front, help in the run defense and allow more one-on-ones for their premier edge-rushers. For a team that wants to return to the playoffs as soon as possible, adding a veteran like Wilkins could be a worthy bet to make.
Jared McCain's return could shake up the 76ers rotation
Jared McCain’s rookie season didn’t end the way it was supposed to. The Sixers guard was turning heads early on and looked like a serious Rookie of the Year candidate, averaging 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists across his first 23 games. He even won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in November. But everything came to a halt when he tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee. Just like that, his promising first year was over. For the Sixers, that injury was just one piece of a nightmare season. Joel Embiid missed time, Paul George dealt with nagging injuries and Tyrese Maxey couldn’t carry the whole thing on his own. Philly ended the year with just 24 wins and didn’t even sniff the playoffs. Yet, through all that, McCain had shown real flashes. He played with confidence, poise and a scoring feel that looked way more polished than expected from a rookie. That’s what makes his upcoming return so intriguing. He’s reportedly progressing well in rehab, taking his time but eyeing a full comeback for the 2025-26 season. In the meantime, the Sixers added more youth to the mix. They drafted VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick — a high-motor two-way guard with a strong frame and a lot of upside. The plan is clearly to build around Maxey, McCain and Edgecombe as the new core in the backcourt. McCain and Edgecombe already seem to have good chemistry. They were spotted hanging out during Summer League, and Edgecombe’s mentioned how excited he is to share the floor with him. It’s not hard to imagine the Sixers trying lineups with both young guards alongside Maxey, especially as Paul George ages and Embiid’s health remains a question. McCain’s role this year is a bit of a mystery. If he looks sharp in training camp, he could easily challenge for a starting spot. At the very least, he should be a key bench piece with a real shot to close games, thanks to his shooting and shot creation. With his ability to stretch the floor and Edgecombe’s slashing and defense, there’s a lot of potential here if things click. The Sixers’ coaching staff will likely take it slow. Coming off a knee injury, McCain won’t be rushed. But there’s a quiet urgency around the franchise after such a bad year. The 76ers need wins, and they need their young guys to step up. That makes McCain’s return one of the biggest stories heading into the new season. If he picks up where he left off, Philly’s backcourt rotation suddenly looks deep and dynamic. Maxey is already an All-Star-level player. Edgecombe is raw but promising. McCain could be the bridge between them — polished enough to produce now, young enough to grow alongside them. Of course, there’s always the possibility he struggles to find his rhythm or needs more time to trust the knee. That’s normal. But if McCain proves he’s back and ready, the Sixers may have found a long-term piece right when they needed one most.
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