Kris Bryant recently made a startling admission about his decision to sign with the Colorado Rockies two years ago, and it sounds like he has some regrets.
Bryant surprised many when he signed with Colorado before the start of the 2022 season, and he opened up about that decision in a new interview.
The outfielder recalled that he had discussions with the Rockies before the start of the MLB lockout late in 2021, but those discussions were forced to stop during labor negotiations.
When the lockout ended in March 2022, Bryant admitted that he felt immediate pressure to decide on a new team, and may have rushed into making one.
“It’s like, ‘Oh shoot, I need to get there,'” Bryant told Sam Blum of The Athletic. “There were other teams interested, but I didn’t want to wait around. … It was a completely different situation for a lot of free agents at the time. I guess I didn’t do as much research into the prospects as I could.”
Bryant implies that he perhaps assumed the Rockies were closer to contention than they were. Had he checked into the team’s prospects and pipeline, he may have realized that was not the case, particularly as they had just traded Nolan Arenado to St. Louis several months earlier.
The odd thing is even at the time, Bryant’s decision was considered a surprise. It may be a bit awkward for him that he essentially admitted to rushing into a decision without doing his homework, especially since he still has another five seasons to go on the seven-year, $182 million deal he signed.
Bryant has battled injury issues since signing with Colorado. Last season, he hit just .233 with 10 home runs in 80 games.
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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.
Augustas Marčiulionis played all four seasons of his college career for St Marry's. He finished last year with averages of 14.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals per contest while shooting 44.6% from the field and 34.7% from the three-point range in 35 games. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers officially announced that they had signed the 23-year-old (and three others). Via The Los Angeles Lakers: "The Lakers have signed guard RJ Davis, forward Eric Dixon, forward Arthur Kaluma and guard Augustas Marčiulionis." Marčiulionis went unselected in the 2025 NBA Draft last month. Trevor Lane of Lakers Nation reported more details about the signings. Via Lane: "I’m told these are exhibit 10 deals. Exhibit 10s have the ability to be converted to two way contracts. Brings these players into camp with the Lakers to let them compete. E10s also provide a bonus if, after being waived, the player signs with South Bay and stays for at least 60 days" Marčiulionis is also the son of Basketball Hall of Famer Šarūnas. Via ESPN Jonathan Givony (on June 26): "The two-time WCC player of the year missed the pre-draft process with a foot injury but will be healthy in late July. Son of hall of famer Šarūnas Marčiulionis." In the past, the Lakers have done an excellent job of developing undrafted players such as Austin Reaves and Alex Caruso. Via Ballislife.com (on June 13): "HBD Sarunas Marciulionis! The Lithuanian legend was a master of the euro step getting by defenders with his behind the back move."
An insider has revealed how the Boston Celtics could approach the futures of new additions Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang. The Boston Celtics have been trying to find another trade partner to reroute a couple of players they have acquired in trades this offseason, after trading both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Boston got Simons in return for Holiday, and Niang (plus a second-round pick) in return for Porzingis. It doesn't seem like the Celtics want to keep either player for the long term. The Celtics are still trying to get under the second apron of the luxury tax, so they need to shed more salary. An insider recently gave an update on their goal of trading these players away to achieve that ultimate goal. More news: Celtics Roster ‘Makes Zero Sense’ Says NBA Insider According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Celtics will likely enter the season with both Simons and Niang on their roster. He does mention that both of them could still be moved, though. "The Boston Celtics have remained active on the trade market this offseason, even after trading for Simons and Georges Niang," Siegel writes. "While they have talked with teams about both players, the Celtics will likely enter the season with these two on their roster. It is very possible that Simons and/or Niang could be flipped to cut costs at the trade deadline, depending on where Boston is in the Eastern Conference standings. The Celtics do want to see how Simons fits in Joe Mazzulla's system, as he is a player they are intrigued by, given his 3-point shooting prowess." Boston would actually benefit from keeping Simons on the basketball court because of his ability to score and get hot from beyond the 3-point arc. More news: Former Celtics NBA Champion Released By West Squad Niang is also a good 3-point shooter, and the Celtics launch more 3's than any team in the NBA. Keeping both players on the roster into next year would fit their style of play. Simons is on an expiring deal, so they wouldn't have him on their cap sheet long term. Niang is also on an expiring contract, so he wouldn't be on the cap sheet after this year, either. If Boston can find suitable trade partners for them, they will likely move them. If not, they will have to keep them on the roster and shed salary elsewhere on the roster. More news: Jayson Tatum Receives Injury Advice From Former Celtics Forward For more news and notes on the Boston Celtics, visit Boston Celtics on SI.
Now in her second WNBA season, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is averaging a league‑leading 12.5 rebounds along with 13.8 points, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She recently returned from injury and immediately picked up where she left off, posting her 16th double‑double of the season (11 points, 11 rebounds) on Tuesday night even as her Chicago Sky fell, 91-68, to the Minnesota Lynx. Then, on Wednesday, Reese showcased her brand power on Instagram, posting a pregame photo dressed head‑to‑toe in Gucci with the caption, "Don’t worry about me… life is GUCCI @gucci #guccipartner." The image quickly lit up her feed and drew an immediate response from one of the game’s all‑time greats, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who commented, “Yessss it is❤️." Despite flashes of elite play, the Sky have struggled mightily, standing at just 7-17 and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference. Their 76.7 points per game rank 12th in the WNBA, and opponents are torching them for 86.8 a night (12th in the league). With head coach Tyler Marsh searching for consistency, every bright spot has been a welcome reprieve for a franchise that won the title as recently as 2021. Front and center among Chicago’s bright spots is Reese. Off the court, Reese has quickly built a burgeoning portfolio of endorsement deals, including Reebok, Calvin Klein, Beats by Dre, Amazon and now Gucci, underscoring her status as one of the WNBA’s brightest personalities. On the other side, you have Leslie, whose voice carries more weight than arguably anybody in women’s basketball. A three‑time league MVP, two‑time WNBA champion and Finals MVP and eight‑time All‑Star, Leslie helped define the league’s early years with the Los Angeles Sparks, including driving home the first dunk in WNBA history in 2002. A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer (class of 2015), she remains a global ambassador for the sport.
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