Condensed Game: Rangers vs. Giants Spring Breakout
Carson Whisenhunt, Winston Santos and more take the field as the top prospects from the Giants and the Rangers face off at Spring Breakout
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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Rangers free agency preview: Top priorities, biggest questions, projected lineup
The Rangers were eliminated from playoff contention in mid-April. That's led to a long leadup to July 1, the date when they can finally start to address needs in free agency. Let's dig into decisions president and general manager Chris Drury is facing, from the team's priorities to big questions. The Rangers appear poised to add on defense. As The Athletic has previously reported, they will have interest in Vladislav Gavrikov, who is coming off a monster year with Los Angeles, should he reach the free agent market. League sources believe there's a strong fit between the defenseman and the Rangers, though the Kings have not given up on bringing him back. Los Angeles was still having talks with Gavrikov's camp as of Monday morning, according to a league source. Advertisement Gavrikov is 6-foot-3, can play on both the left and right sides, and had a monster year with Los Angeles this season. He only recorded 3o points, but his underlying defensive numbers ranked among the best in the league. He's one of the top defensemen available on the market, and AFP Analytics projects him to get a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $7.608 million. New York will not have much cap space if it signs Gavrikov. PuckPedia projects the Rangers to have around $12.1 million, so if Gavrikov signs for $7.6 million, that leaves only $4.5 million, though New York could open a bit more by sending one or multiple of their players on an entry-level contract to the minors. Re-signing restricted free agent Will Cuylle will be one of the team's priorities with whatever cap space it has. New York has talked to Cuylle's camp, according to a league source, but nothing has come to fruition yet. Those moving parts leave New York in a difficult spot with defenseman K'Andre Miller, another RFA. Unless the Rangers move significant money out, they will not have cap space to sign Miller, Cuylle and a UFA of Gavrikov's caliber. 1. What happens with Miller? The Rangers have explored Miller trades, but nothing came together at the draft. New York would probably have to deal Miller if it signs Gavrikov simply because of its cap situation. That could potentially cost Drury leverage in trade negotiations, though if multiple teams are interested it could still drive up the price. The Rangers have probably wanted more consistency from the 25-year-old Miller, but he has undeniably been an organizational success: a No. 22 pick who developed into someone capable of playing well over 21 minutes a night. Saying goodbye to a player like that is not only difficult but also comes with risk. If he reaches his high ceiling elsewhere, the Rangers could regret moving on from him early in his career. Advertisement 2. Could Drury move any other contracts? The Rangers' highest-paid players all have full no-movement clauses, so a blockbuster trade feels unlikely. Alexis Lafrenière ($7.45 million AAV through 2031-32) doesn't yet have any trade protection, but he's one of the Rangers' higher-upside players and is still only 23. With the rising cap, his contract could age decently if he gets back to his 2023-24 level. New York could look to move Carson Soucy, whose no-trade clause because a 12 team no-trade list July 1, but it would be selling low on a player it gave up a decent draft pick to acquire at the 2025 trade deadline. A league source said the Rangers still value him as a player. Perhaps New York finds the right deal and jumps on it, but him starting next season with the Rangers feels more likely. Even if New York were to move Soucy and his $3.25 million hit, it would have a difficult time fitting Gavrikov, Cuylle and Miller under the cap. 3. Are the Rangers in danger of offer sheets? Offer sheets are rare, but Cuylle and Miller could both interest other teams. Let's start with Cuylle. If a team signed him to an offer sheet in the $2.34 million-$4.68 million range and the Rangers didn't match, they would receive a 2026 second-round pick as compensation — a less-than-ideal return for a young player coming off a 20-goal, 45-point season. Even after a potential Gavrikov signing, New York should have the space to match. If a team signed Cuylle in the $4.68 million-$7.02 million range, the Rangers would get a first- and third-round pick in the 2026 draft if they didn't match. The 2026 draft has some high-end prospects, including Gavin McKenna, so it's hard to see a rebuilding team — or even one unsure it can make the playoffs — risking their first-round pick for Cuylle. But what if a club like Carolina — one with ample cap space that can safely expect to be a playoff team — makes a play, just as it did with Jesperi Kotkaniemi a few years ago? The Hurricanes would have to get their own third-round pick back for that to be possible, but it's the type of team that could make the Rangers sweat a little. The other scenarios don't make much sense: If a team offers under $4.68 million, New York should be able to match, and it's hard to see a team that might miss the playoffs risking losing a first-round pick in next year's draft. Advertisement The same all applies with Miller, but the Rangers might get ahead of that by trading him. 4. What's the backup plan if Gavrikov stays in Los Angeles? New York will have to find a way to pivot if it doesn't land Gavrikov. It could look at another defenseman on the market — Ivan Provorov and Aaron Ekblad are probably the other two most notable pending UFA defensemen — or re-sign Miller. Here's a look at what New York's lineup could look like if it re-signs Cuylle, trades Miller, and signs Gavrikov: Cuylle-J.T. Miller-Mika Zibanejad Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Lafrenière Brennan Othmann-Jonny Brodzinski-Gabe Perreault Adam Edström-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe Other forward options: Juuso Pärssinen, Brett Berard Gavrikov-Adam Fox Soucy-Will Borgen Urho Vaakanainen-Braden Schneider Other defensive options: Zac Jones (if signed as RFA), Matthew Robertson Igor Shesterkin Jonathan Quick A potential lineup like that would put a lot of faith in young forwards to serve as bottom-six regulars. If Drury doesn't believe Perreault, Othmann or Berard are ready to be full-time NHLers, he could start them in the AHL and sign a cheap veteran or two. (Photo of Gavrikov, left: Danny Wild / USA TODAY Sports)
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Ravens should avoid being tempted by a recent trade theory for an NFC East pass rusher
Experts are calling for the Giants to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the Baltimore Ravens should ignore any calls about the pass rusher The Baltimore Ravens continue to win and remain in the Super Bowl conversation for a reason: they are well-run. Ozzie Newsome handed the reins to Eric DeCosta, ensuring a seamless transition. That phrase perfectly captures the situation. On the field, they're in good hands. John Harbaugh has been at the helm as this team's head coach for longer than some of our kids have been alive. Their gunslinger at quarterback, Lamar Jackson, is a two-time MYP who should have won his third this past season (sorry, Josh Allen). The Ravens succeed because they make wise decisions. How's that for insight? It's a simple theory, yet its construction is complex. That said, it may not be necessary to caution them against considering a recent trade idea that was mentioned, but I'll go ahead and offer that warning anyway. Trading for Kayvon Thibodeaux certainly isn't the solution for the Baltimore Ravens. Confession... It has been tough lately. Every weekend brings a Sunday without Ravens football, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain my sanity. Mowing the lawn doesn't help. Neither does extra exercise. Social media is probably the last thing we should be paying attention to, but alas, we keep venturing to Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Here's a theory that no one with the authority to make this type of decision has expressed, but one name that keeps getting tossed around belongs to Kayvon Thibodeaux. We're hearing and reading this more frequently. All 22 Films brought this up a couple of months ago. That fueled a few social media postings. Chat Sports' Ravens Rundown followed suit with a similar suggestion. We won't even get into the response and buzz that occasionally swells on social media. There are a few things wrong with this, one being that it doesn't seem like Thibodeaux is available. Another issue is that, though there is talent there, he has never quite delivered what is expected of him. He keeps vowing to break the NFL's single-season sack record. He has yet to make that happen. Think about it. If the former Oregon pass rusher was producing what the New York Giants had hoped, would they trade for Brian Burns or draft Abdul Carter third overall this past April? The logic is understandable. Adding two elite pass rushers may make Thibodeaux seem expendable to the Giants, but the Ravens have a potentially equal or greater talent in second-round draftee Mike Green. They also added undrafted rookie free agent Kaimon Rucker, and don't forget. Jadeveon Clowney is also available. If Baltimore isn't interested in grabbing him, the more proven commodity, they'd be better suited to stick with what they have. Again, we haven't heard of any genuine interest in Thibodeaux swirling, but it's sometimes beneficial to get ahead of these things before any real traction becomes noticeable.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Phillies Trade Idea Acquires Rangers' Chris Martin and Adolis García
Phillies Trade Idea Acquires Rangers' Chris Martin and Adolis García originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies are preparing to go all-in at the trade deadline. Holding a slim half-game lead in the NL East and fielding an aging core, the World Series window will not stay open for long. Thus, swinging for the fences again in 2025 makes the most sense, and it is clear where the team needs to improve. Advertisement With a desire for more outfield offensive production and a lack of consistent late-inning relief arms, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer proposes a blockbuster trade that would bring Texas Rangers' slugger Adolis García and relief pitcher Chris Martin to the Phillies. "García isn't far removed from averaging 30 homers over the last four seasons, including 39 in 2023. He smashed five homers in the ALCS that year, too. And he's under control through next season," Lauber wrote. 'The Rangers could pair him in a deal with 39-year-old reliever Chris Martin, a World Series winner with the Braves in 2021.' Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski (left) and manager Rob Thomson (59) (right) watch bullpen sessions spring training workouts at BayCare Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Garcia would replace Max Kepler in left field and alleviate the left-handed hitter from his role after publicly lambasting the organization for a lack of playing time. Acquiring Garcia would also keep Bryce Harper at first base and allow Brandon Marsh to take over in center field long-term while reducing the pressure for offensive output from the eight-hole. Advertisement This season, Garcia, 32, is slashing .229/.227/.389 with nine home runs and 42 RBIs in a struggling Rangers' offense. Although the numbers indicate a season-long struggle, Garcia's baseball savant page indicates a 95th percental exit velocity and an increased home run total if playing home games at Citizen Bank Park. His skill set may be redundant with Nicholas Castellanos on the roster, but adding another 30-home run threat can only help. The Phillies' bullpen ranks 25th in the league with a 4.51 ERA and has the fourth-most blown saves. While Martin will not fill the closer role, he can bolster a struggling pen and add another top-level arm in time for a second-half playoff push. In 29 games, Martin has a 2.49 ERA and a 0.987 WHIP. Going back to Texas in the deal proposed by Lauber are Phillies' pitching prospect Jean Cabrera (#11) and infield prospect Aroon Escobar (#13). Although it hurts to part ways with two top-15 prospects, the value Garcia and Martin provide to Philadelphia's World Series pursuit is priceless. Related: Phillies' Three-Time All-Star Reveals Retirement Plan This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
