Author: alaskaadmin

Plenty of time still remains for last winter’s biggest names and priciest acquisitions to make a positive impact. But more than a third of the way through the 2026 season, we have a better idea now about the decisions that were wise, shrewd and prudent … and those that weren’t. For this week’s Power Rankings, we take a look around MLB at every team’s best offseason move (or moves). Shockingly, most of their many, many, many attempted reclamation projects haven’t panned out. But their acquisition of second baseman Vaughn Grissom from the Red Sox has been helpful, as the once-promising prospect is hitting slightly above league average this year. Acquired from Arizona for minor-league pitcher Josh Grosz, outfielder Jake McCarthy has been one of the Rockies’ most valuable offensive players. He’s batting .282 with 11 steals, and he’s under team control through 2028. Maikel Garcia hasn’t replicated his offensive breakout from last year, but his defense is so spectacular and reliable at third base that the five-year, $57.5 million extension he signed in December still feels like a big win for Kansas City. And given Garcia’s advanced approach at the plate, I’d expect better offensive results ahead. Almost all of their offseason moves have backfired to this point, but second baseman Gleyber Torres — when healthy — is still doing his thing offensively for a Tigers team that needs his bat. He’s registering the highest on-base percentage of his career, and his return from the injured list has provided a spark. What a year so far for Luis Arraez. He has been the most valuable player on the Giants — and for reasons beyond his .323 batting average. Arraez is taking advantage of his opportunity at second base in San Francisco, where the 29-year-old is producing the best defensive season of his career. After getting little production at the position last season, Boston has one of the top first basemen in the sport this year in Willson Contreras, acquired from the Cardinals in a December trade. He leads the Red Sox in homers, RBIs and every slash-line category. The Twins traded for reliever Eric Orze last November, and he now leads the barren Minnesota bullpen in innings pitched. Most of their offseason moves haven’t panned out, but John King’s $1.5 million deal looks worth it. The left-hander has appeared in more games than any other Marlins reliever and is 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA and one save. The Astros signed Peter Lambert to a minor-league deal in March. He’s 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA and has been one of the most valuable starters in their shorthanded rotation. He hasn’t been dominant, but Freddy Peralta has performed better than the players the Mets traded to the Brewers (Brandon Sproat, Jett Williams) to acquire him. Now, it’ll be interesting to see if Peralta (4-4, 3.63 ERA) remains in Queens through the deadline. After a rough start to the year, Mark Leiter Jr. has logged 11 straight scoreless appearances for an A’s bullpen that can use that kind of consistency. As Grayson Rodriguez struggles in Anaheim, the Taylor Ward trade is working out well in Baltimore. Oddly, Ward’s profile has completely changed — he only has two home runs and ranks in the top 10 in MLB in on-base percentage and walks — but overall he’s providing well above-average offensive value. Signed for just $1.4 million, J.J. Bleday leads the Reds with a .931 OPS. Among all MLB outfielders with at least 100 plate appearances, Bleday ranks third in OPS. The Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto deals have both worked out well. While Cease is currently sidelined, he has the highest strikeout rate among AL starters. Okamoto, meanwhile, has nearly twice as many home runs (13 total) as any other Blue Jays player. Signed for just $5.5 million after spending the past three years in Japan, Foster Griffin has been the standout of Washington’s rotation. He’s 7-2 with a 3.63 ERA. The Rangers are rolling, winners of seven of their past nine games, and once again their bullpen — composed primarily of one-year signings — is among the best in the sport. Jakob Junis, signed for $4 million in the offseason, has a 1.69 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and four saves in his 23 appearances. The Padres are sinking, having lost 11 of their last 13 games, and need offense anywhere they can get it. Surprisingly, one of their best offensive players to this point has been first baseman Ty France, who was signed to a minor-league deal before the season. After an inauspicious start to the year offensively, Pete Crow-Armstrong’s $115 million extension now looks like a prudent move for the Cubs. He has been on fire in June and suddenly ranks second in the National League in fWAR behind only Shohei Ohtani. The Pirates hoped Brandon Lowe could help lift their anemic offense, and he’s giving them everything they could have envisioned. Lowe has the highest slugging percentage and most home runs of any qualified MLB second baseman this year. Signed for $7.5 million in December, starter Michael Soroka is 8-3 with a 3.28 ERA. It’s his best season since his 2019 All-Star year in Atlanta. The rest of MLB’s hesitancy was the South Siders’ gain when they got NPB star Munetaka Murakami for two years and $34 million. Though he hasn’t played in June due to a hamstring strain, the 26-year-old still leads all first basemen with 20 home runs. Dustin May has pitched better than his 4.59 ERA would indicate. By FanGraphs’ version of WAR, he is the Cardinals’ most valuable starting pitcher by a wide margin. It has been a helpful $12.5 million one-year flier. José A. Ferrer has a 1.55 ERA in a team-high 32 appearances and has been arguably the most valuable member of the Mariners’ bullpen this year. The trade to acquire Ferrer is especially important given Andrés Muñoz’s (5.40) unexpected struggles. Signed in February for $13 million, 35-year-old Nick Martinez ranks second among all qualified American League starters with a 2.29 ERA. Unfortunately for the Rays, their offensive blemishes are starting to show while dropping 10 of their past 13 games. Signed for just $1.5 million in December, reliever Colin Holderman is 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA and a team-best 0.78 WHIP. This is what the Guardians do. Re-signing Kyle Schwarber was inarguably the most vital move of the Phillies’ offseason. Coming off a 56-homer season, Schwarber leads MLB this year with 23 home runs. A return to the Bronx always made the most sense for Cody Bellinger, and he’s giving the Yankees everything they could have hoped for. Bellinger’s .373 on-base percentage is his highest mark since his 2019 MVP season. His offensive production is even more important now with Aaron Judge sidelined. A key piece of Boston’s return in the Rafael Devers trade, Kyle Harrison is instead enjoying his breakout in Milwaukee. The Brewers acquired Harrison as part of the Caleb Durbin trade and are reaping the rewards. The former top Giants prospect is 7-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 11 starts. The Dodgers signed the top player and closer on the market, but those moves haven’t gone to plan. Kyle Tucker, who’s making $60 million a year, has hit barely above league average. Edwin Díaz, meanwhile, has an ERA over 10.00 and is on the injured list. Of course, all that matters for L.A. is October. But for now, it looks like the Dodgers’ best move was extending Max Muncy for $10 million guaranteed in 2027. He has been one of the most valuable third basemen in MLB this year. Atlanta’s signing of Robert Suarez (4-0, 0.63 ERA) and re-signing of Raisel Iglesias (0.87 ERA, 13-for-13 in save opportunities) have helped the Braves construct a bullpen with the lowest ERA and WHIP in MLB.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

World Wide Technology Raceway (Madison, Ill.) — Josef Newgarden continued his mastery of the short ovals at a place that he has conquered many times. Newgarden, still nursing an injured left foot from a crash two weeks ago in the Indianapolis 500, led the final 40 laps for his sixth career victory at the 1.25-mile asphalt oval commonly known as Gateway. It was the Team Penske driver’s fifth win in the last seven races at the track but it was far from a normal race, as this 260-lapper was suspended twice for rain. “When you have the fastest car in the field, it’s easier to win the race, and that’s more times than not what I’ve got when we roll out,” Newgarden said in his winner’s news conference. “I think that was the case today, too.” Here are my takeaways: 1. Another Short Oval Win For Newgarden The two-time INDYCAR champion won on the 1-mile Phoenix Raceway oval earlier this year and the win at Gateway kept him perfect on the short ovals this year. He won the final race of last season on the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway. In his final pass for the lead, Newgarden got by Christian Rasmussen but he didn’t realize it was for the lead. He thought Rasmussen was a lap down. “When [Rasmussen] came up to the [top-three] podium, I’m like, ‘What are you doing here? How did you get here? You were a lap down? Like, what are you doing?’” Newgarden said. “I think he got a little offended by that, but I’m so glad that I re-passed him. I was like, ‘He’s just kind of in the way.’” 2. Strange Contact For Siegel & Palou Nolan Siegel’s day ended after just 53 laps when he had contact with Alex Palou. The contact surprised Siegel, who was a lap down. “I was a little bit shocked,” Siegel told me and other reporters. “We weren’t racing each other. I felt like I left a lot of room on the inside. … Obviously, Alex is not an idiot. He knows what he’s doing. “He’s a very good race car driver. I don’t know, but I’m disappointed that it happened.” Palou, who was not penalized for avoidable contact, also was a little surprised. “I don’t know if I moved up or he’ll move down. … We were like lapping him, and I was well ahead,” Palou explained. “I think we hit on my rear tire, so I don’t know if I just moved up or he turned. It was obviously not on purpose.” 3: Palou Out Of Gas Palou tried to stretch his fuel. And then, after one of the red flags for rain, he opted to wait until the pits were open to pit instead of coming in for emergency service (which would have cost him a chance to win). He ran out of gas entering pit road, and with the last stall, he crept slowly down pit road as the rest of the field sped by. He lost two laps. “It’s not a good feeling,” Palou said. “It was so close. … It’s just sad, but at the same time, it’s OK. It’s one of those that you need to risk it to try and get the win or try and get position up there. … It doesn’t feel nice when you’re there and everybody was flying by.” The series points leader finished 17th and has a 49-point edge on Kyle Kirkwood halfway through the season. 4. Podium Finishers Needed Solid Runs Marcus Ericsson led 114 laps but settled for second, while Rasmussen ended up third. Both drivers saw a potential win slip away but they also needed those strong runs. Ericsson is in a contract year at Andretti Global, while Rasmussen entered the race 24th in the series standings out of 25 full-time drivers. Rasmussen and ECR announced earlier in the week he had signed a contract extension. “It’s definitely bittersweet after leading that many laps, having a great car underneath me,” said Ericsson in a post-race news conference. He lost the lead on a pit cycle when he pitted a lap earlier than Newgarden. “We drove all the way to the front.” 4 ½. What’s Next The INDYCAR Series, which has been on track for five consecutive weekends, will be off next week before returning to action June 19-21 at Road America, one of the most iconic road courses in the United States. The 4.014-mile course tests a driver’s skill level as well as the equipment with a series of fast turns as elevation changes. Alex Palou has won three of the last five races at the track.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports