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New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
The 6 MLB front office executives under the most pressure this trade deadline
MLB front offices have only nine days left until the trade deadline and the pressure is mounting on every team, from the buyers to the sellers to the clubs that are in between. Contending teams are trying to find ways to improve their rosters for the pennant race and the postseason through trades. They're also trying to add organizational depth to protect against unexpected injuries the rest of the way, since MLB changed the rules six years ago to eradicate trades via waivers in August. Advertisement It's another tricky trade marketplace for executives to navigate due to the dearth of sellers and a playoff picture with only eight teams — the Orioles, Athletics, White Sox, Marlins, Braves, Nationals, Pirates and Rockies — more than six games out of a wild-card race. Life as a general manager or president of baseball operations at the trade deadline is an intense time, and every front office — regardless of market, track record or place in the standings — is under the microscope to some degree. But certain front offices, from clear sellers to aggressive buyers, face more pressure to deliver difference-making deals than ever before. Here are the front offices and executives under the most pressure to make significant moves this trade season. No executive is under more pressure at this trade deadline than Elias, with many in the business believing his job could be in jeopardy. He has been one of the best in the industry in terms of amateur draft selections, from his days rebuilding the Astros to his tenure with the Orioles (November 2018 to present), including this year's draft, with many analysts believing the Orioles 'won' the 2025 MLB Draft. However, in Baltimore, he hasn't yet turned his strong drafting track record into a World Series-caliber major-league team, though the Orioles did win 100 games in 2023 and make the postseason the past two years. This season, anything that could go wrong has gone wrong, and now Baltimore must sell at the deadline and prepare for next year. The good news for the Orioles is they're in a strong position to take advantage of their misfortune and a thin trade market. If the Diamondbacks don't become sellers at the trade deadline, the Orioles will be the headliner among selling teams, with the most talented players to offer. Elias appeared on my MLB Network Radio show on Sunday, and he made it clear that players on expiring contracts will be at the top of their list to move, but he didn't rule out trading other players and is in the process of doing his due diligence. With the trade deadline looming, it seems like phones are ringing in the Warehouse ☎️ @Orioles | #Birdland 🔗 — MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) July 20, 2025 If the Orioles can make strong deadline deals, it could go a long way toward establishing them as legitimate contenders in 2025, once their pitchers get healthy and their young position players start to play at higher level, which many of them can do. So, let's look at what the Orioles have to offer in deals: It starts with position players like DH Ryan O'Hearn and center fielder Cedric Mullins and includes veteran starting pitcher Charlie Morton and relievers such as Gregory Soto and Seranthony Domínguez. All of them are impending free agents. The Orioles could also consider deals for players like closer Félix Bautista (under team control through 2027) and outfielder Ramón Laureano (2026 club option) as well. Advertisement A strong deadline could save Elias' job. A lackluster one could result in the Orioles bringing in someone new to the front office to work under Elias or maybe even showing him the door. I believe he'll get the job done. Cherington has had nearly six years to rebuild the Pirates, and although he's assembled a competitive pitching staff, he hasn't built an everyday lineup that's good enough to compete. He is under a lot of pressure to make deals at this trade deadline to improve their offense in all phases. The good news for Cherington is he has plenty of pitchers he can dangle, including starters Mitch Keller and Andrew Heaney and relievers David Bednar and Dennis Santana. If the Pirates trade Keller (signed through 2028), they could promote top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler, who is at Triple A, and they will be getting back another bright young starter, Jared Jones, sometime next year, after he has recovered from the elbow surgery he underwent in May. If Cherington can make trades in the coming days that turn the above-mentioned four veteran pitchers into eight hitting prospects who are close to the big leagues, it could go a long way toward keeping him in Pittsburgh a few more years. If not, he could be unemployed come October. Hoyer and his GM, Carter Hawkins, are signed through the 2025 season, and both deserve contract extensions for the great job they've done in hiring manager Craig Counsell and rebuilding the Cubs' roster into a legitimate World Series contender. They've also excelled in building a strong farm system. However, if ownership hasn't extended their contracts by now, there's pressure on both to keep adding at the deadline to get this team over the top. Chicago is in a fierce race in the NL Central with the Brewers, who have won 11 in a row to overtake the Cubs atop the division. Milwaukee looks formidable, especially with the addition of hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misorowski and veteran Brandon Woodruff off the injured list. Advertisement The Cubs need to be active at the deadline. They're focused on acquiring a starting pitcher and an upgrade at third base as well as bullpen and bench reinforcements. They have a stocked system to trade from, led by outfield prospects Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara. After two straight seasons in which they went 83-79, the Cubs are in a much stronger position this year, but Hoyer and company need to deliver at this deadline. Hired in November 2020, Minasian has had nearly five years to build the Angels into a contender, but hasn't been able to do it, and needs to start showing progress. He has put together a strong young core of position players, led by shortstop Zach Neto, catcher Logan O'Hoppe, first baseman Nolan Schanuel and outfielder Jo Adell. However, on the pitching side of the equation, the Angels haven't improved during his tenure; this year, their major-league staff ranks 26th in ERA and 29th in WHIP. In addition, Minasian has needed to do a lot of patchwork-type transactions because the farm system just hasn't produced. Minasian is signed through the 2026 season, but even with a year and a half left on his contract, there is no guarantee he'll be allowed to finish what is his second deal with the club. (He signed a two-year extension through 2026 in August 2024.) This trade deadline is important for Minasian and the Angels regardless of what direction they decide to go: trying to buy and win now or (what I would do) looking to sell so they're stronger in the future. It might not even be his call, as Angels owner Arte Moreno could dictate the decision, but either way, the key goal Minasian must have is to improve their overall pitching in the short- and long-term at every level. The Mariners' window to win a World Series won't stay open forever and the club must take advantage of its strong starting pitching and the MVP season of catcher Cal Raleigh. Seattle fans have been frustrated with the organization's lack of impact moves in the past, and that will only mount if it doesn't do enough to upgrade at the trade deadline. Seattle is perhaps just one impact bat and one reliever away from having a legitimate chance to win the first World Series in franchise history. Ownership is willing to increase the payroll to make a big trade or two happen and Dipoto is willing to trade from the club's top-ranked farm system, which is loaded with trade bait. Advertisement There can be no excuses this year. The Mariners must add those missing pieces and give themselves their best chance of winning it all since Lou Piniella managed the club to a 116-win season in 2001. O'Hearn of the Orioles, Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez of the Diamondbacks, Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, and Kyle Stowers of the Marlins are among the big bat targets that make sense, and there are a number of available relievers who could fit the bill for Seattle. The Mariners have everything at their disposal to make trades, but the pressure is on to get deals over the line and this front office has to operate with urgency. DeBartolo, whom the Nationals hired as interim GM earlier this month after firing president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo, has a relatively rare opportunity in this role to keep the job longer term, but that's likely only going to happen if he has a solid trade deadline. In the offseason, the Nationals are expected to hire a new president to oversee both baseball and business operations, but that doesn't mean DeBartolo couldn't remain as the GM. He is not expected to trade any of the club's young core players in the coming days, instead probably trading around the edges of the roster, including the bullpen and bench, to pick up prospects. However, he could make a big impression if he goes outside the box and can land a haul for one of the core players not named James Wood or MacKenzie Gore. It might make a lot of sense for the organization, if the right deal presents itself, and at the same time improve his chances of staying in the GM role long term. However, if DeBartolo's trade deadline is a dud, it could mean he never gets another opportunity in the big chair. As a former GM, I'm rooting for him to be creative and make a name for himself by going big and bold at the deadline and helping expedite the Nationals' turnaround. (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic. Photos: Mike Elias: Diamond Images via Getty Images; Jed Hoyer: Michael Reaves / Getty Images; Ben Cherington: Mike Carlson / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
L'Orient-Le Jour
3 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Rai: Diaspora voting for only 6 MPs instead of all 128 'form of exclusion'
Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai took a stand on Sunday during a Mass in Anaya, in the heights of Jbeil, in favor of Lebanese expatriates voting for all 128 members of Parliament, rather than for six additional MPs elected exclusively by the diaspora. During a Mass celebrating Saints Charbel and Elias, the head of the Maronite Church argued that Article 112 of the electoral law, which provides for these six extra seats, "annuls the right of Lebanese abroad to vote in their original constituencies" and constitutes a "violation of the Constitution and the principle of equality." The Mass took place at the Saint Maron Monastery, in the presence of the head of state, Joseph Aoun, his wife Nemat and several political leaders. Patriarch's meeting with prime minister yesterday Salam received by Rai Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri blocked on June 30 an amendment to the electoral law that would have allowed the diaspora to elect the 128 MPs in their original constituencies, as was the case in 2018 and 2022, rather than six parliamentarians specifically for emigrants. Lebanese expatriates had a significant influence on the overall results in the 2022 elections, which saw the election of approximately a dozen MPs from the substantial 2019 protest movement. 'Contrary to equality principle' between Lebanese residents, expatriates "While Lebanon faces existential threats, we are now witnessing divisions among political leaders concerning Article 112 of the current electoral law, which was suspended in the 2018 and 2022 polls," Rai said in his homily. He argued that "the creation of six constituencies reserved for expatriates goes against the principle of equality between residents and emigrants, guaranteed by the Constitution." In Rai's view, "limiting expatriates to six parliamentary seats undermines their connection with their homeland and their families and deprives them of participating in political life. What we see in Article 112 is a form of exclusion." He called for "Lebanese from the diaspora to be able to vote freely based on their original constituencies," thus urging the abolition of Article 112. 'Few words, many deeds' Addressing the president, Rai said that his "visit to the tomb of Saint Charbel is a sign of hope. Lebanon needs leaders like Saints Charbel and Elias: few words, many deeds." "Your presence today confirms that Lebanon, despite everything, remains built upon two fundamental pillars: God and his saints. We pray that God grants you patience and wisdom to lead Lebanon, which is currently going through a delicate and challenging period, requiring deep reflection to overcome. You believe in it and you work for it," he continued. Saint Charbel, born Youssef Makhlouf, was a 19th-century Maronite monk and priest. He is celebrated on the third Sunday of July by the Maronite Church and on July 24 by the Latin Church. He is among the most venerated and popular saints in Lebanon. Saint Elias, meanwhile, commemorates the Old Testament prophet Elijah every July 20.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
AI expands usefulness of common heart test
London: Artificial intelligence (AI) can turn a common doctor's office test into a screening tool for detecting structural problems in patients' hearts, researchers reported in Nature. Their publicly available AI tool, called EchoNext, analyzes ordinary electrocardiogram (ECG) data to identify patients who should have an echocardiogram - a noninvasive ultrasound exam - to look for valve diseases, thickening of the muscle tissue, and other structural defects that can impair heart function. "We were all taught in medical school that you can't detect structural heart disease from an electrocardiogram," study leader Pierre Elias of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons said in a statement. "We think that ECG plus AI has the potential to create an entirely new screening paradigm." EchoNext uses the cheaper ECG to figure out who needs the more expensive ultrasound, he said. When 13 cardiologists reviewed a total of 3,200 ECGs, they detected structural heart problems with an accuracy rate of about 64%, compared to a 77% accuracy rate for EchoNext, the researchers found. They next used the tool to review ECGs obtained in the past from nearly 85,000 patients. Based on those ECGs, the patients' doctors had sent 4,100 of them to get echocardiograms, which found structural problems in roughly 3,000. But EchoNext identified an additional 3,400 patients as being at high risk and needing the ultrasound exam. Because AI was unavailable when those ECGs were obtained, many of the additional patients may have had potentially serious structural heart disease that went undiagnosed, the researchers said. "You can't treat the patient you don't know about," Elias said. "Using our technology, we may be able to turn the estimated 400 million ECGs that will be performed worldwide this year into 400 million chances to screen for structural heart disease and potentially deliver life-saving treatment at the most opportune time." Worldwide, structural heart disease impacts 64 million people with heart failure and 75 million with valvular disease, with costs in the U.S. alone exceeding $100 billion annually, the researchers said. SOME BRAIN CELLS HAVE BACKUP BATTERIES Neurons, the nerve cells that transmit information to and from the brain, are equipped with "backup batteries" that kick in to keep the brain running during periods of metabolic stress, researchers have discovered. Traditionally, it was believed that brain cells called glial cells served as "energy warehouses" for the neurons, storing a form of sugar known as glycogen and supplying it as needed for fuel. "But we now know that neurons themselves store glycogen and can break it down when the pressure is on," study leader Milind Singh of the Yale School of Medicine said in a statement. "It's like discovering that your car is a hybrid - it's not just reliant on gas stations, it's been carrying an emergency battery the whole time." Their discovery was made during experiments with a microscopic roundworm called C. elegans and a fluorescent sensor that glows when cells break down sugar for energy. The findings could shape new treatments for neurological conditions in which energy failure plays a role, such as stroke, neurodegeneration, and epilepsy, the researchers said in PNAS. The team found the neuron's glycogen-dependent energy production is especially important when their mitochondria - their primary energy factories - are impaired, such as when the oxygen supply is limited. Under these conditions, glycogen serves as a rapid-access fuel source, helping neurons stay active when other systems might stall, the researchers said. "That flexibility might be crucial for how the brain maintains function and responds to stress," senior researcher Daniel Colon-Ramos, also of Yale, said in a statement. "This research reshapes our understanding of brain energy metabolism and opens new avenues for exploring how to protect and support neuronal function in disease." (To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here)
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Backstage drama feeds the comedy in ‘The Understudy'
'We are always looking for new collaborators,' says Elias, 'but they have to be ready and willing to roll with the punches.' Advertisement The company, which is also distinguished by its 'pay-what-you-can' policy for all performances (which keeps their productions accessible), mounts three productions each season, two in the fall and winter at the Boston Center for the Arts and one during the summer at Club Café. Advertisement ''The Understudy' is our fifth summer production here,' says Elias. 'It's a fun place with a great vibe, and the Club Café staff have been wonderful partners. The room encourages us to create a more immersive theater experience for our audiences.' And while the Club Café space doesn't have the bells and whistles of traditional theaters (there's a limited lighting grid and no wing space), award-winning actor and director Paula Plum, who has worked with the company since their inaugural season, says Hub has a team that makes magic happen. 'Lighting designer Emily Bearce has worked wonders with limited instruments, Justin Lahue has created evocative projections for the walls of the theater, and Peyton Tavares's set is very flexible,' she says. ''The Understudy' has a kind of 'Play That Goes Wrong' vibe,' says Elias, 'so our creative solutions to three set changes and exits and entrances through the audience add to the fun.' The action takes place at an understudy rehearsal on the stage of the Broadway premiere of a newly discovered play by Franz Kafka. Jake (Cristhian Mancinas-García) is a B-list action film actor trying to boost his credibility with the Broadway gig. He shares the stage with the never-seen Bruce, a megastar who makes 10 times Jake's salary. Harry (Kevin Paquette), an actor struggling to find work, has been cast as Bruce's understudy, but also happens to have jilted the stage manager weeks before their wedding six years ago. 'I have been so excited by the on-stage chemistry between the two men,' Plum says. 'That's not always something you can predict, but Cristhian is very skilled at physical comedy and Kevin's reactions increase the humor.' Advertisement As the characters work through the scenes in the absurdist Kafka play (which appears to be a cross between 'The Castle' and 'The Trial') the two build a begrudging friendship. This places even more pressure on Roxanne, who is trying to stay calm through the chaos created by a stoned board operator while navigating the emotional upheaval caused by Kevin's appearance and Jake's interest in her. Rebeck's script doesn't shy away from drama with a capital D, and the absurdity of a life in the theater. Plum says that beneath the humor lies real insight into 'what it really means to deal with an acting career. There's a lot of heartbreak and disappointment,' she says. A speech where Harry claims he's not bitter 'exposes all the anxiety and neuroses of lots of actors.' Navigating all the emotional extremes might seem to demand a firm directorial hand, but Plum says she follows her instincts, and Elias describes it as 'adjusting the barometer.' 'Really,' says Plum, 'when you have great actors, my role becomes making sure the technical aspects of the play work smoothly.' As she looks ahead to more Hub seasons, Elias says three shows a year feels right, despite growing audience interest in Hub's work. 'In the early days, people would come to the show because they knew someone in it, 'she says. 'Now, more and more, I'm seeing repeat customers, people who came to one show and want to see what we are doing next. That's gratifying.' That word-of-mouth success is something that anyone would be lucky to understudy. THE UNDERSTUDY Presented by Hub Theatre Company of Boston, at Club Café, 209 Columbus Ave, Boston, July 19-Aug. 2. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Audiences receive 20% off Club Café food bill. Advertisement
New York Post
16-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
New AI tool can detect 'hidden' heart disease 77% of the time
This new AI heart disease detector can't be beat. Structural heart disease (SHD) refers to defects in the heart's valves, wall or chambers that are present at birth or develop over time. These abnormalities can impair the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. SHD is sometimes described as 'hidden' heart disease because it can progress without noticeable symptoms — until there's a major event like a heart attack or stroke. 4 Dr. Pierre Elias, a cardiologist and AI expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University, helped develop EchoNext. Courtesy of NewYork-Presbyterian Now, researchers at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian have developed an AI- powered screening tool to identify who should undergo a key ultrasound used to diagnose structural heart problems. 'There has been a growth in the number of AI models to detect, or opportunistically screen, disease,' Dr. Pierre Elias, an assistant professor of medicine and biomedical informatics at Columbia's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, told The Post. 'Some of the most exciting can look for coronary disease on CT scans or look at mammograms to help doctors find breast cancer more accurately,' he added. 'EchoNext is the first model to detect all forms of structural heart disease from ECGs.' An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick, non-invasive procedure that measures the heart's electrical activity. 4 EchoNext is the first model to detect all forms of structural heart disease from an electrocardiogram, Elias said. An ECG (pictured here) is a quick, non-invasive procedure that measures the heart's electrical activity. amazing studio – It's one of the most frequently used cardiac tests, often ordered when patients experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations or sudden loss of consciousness. While an ECG can detect some heart conditions, it's not reliable for catching SHD on its own. Enter EchoNext. The tool, fine-tuned over four years, analyzes ECG data to determine when follow-up with an echocardiogram is necessary. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound imaging test used to diagnose a range of heart conditions, including valve disorders and congenital heart defects. 'EchoNext basically uses the cheaper test to figure out who needs the more expensive ultrasound,' said Elias, study leader and medical director for artificial intelligence at NewYork-Presbyterian. 'It detects diseases cardiologists can't from an ECG,' he continued. 'We think that ECG plus AI has the potential to create an entirely new screening paradigm.' 4 An echocardiogram is shown here. EchoNext tells doctors which patients need this ultrasound imaging test. H_Ko – EchoNext was trained on over 1.2 million ECG–echocardiogram pairs from 230,000 patients. The tool accurately detected 77% of structural heart problems on 3,200 ECGs, outperforming 13 cardiologists who logged a 64% accuracy. EchoNext then identified over 7,500 people from a pool of nearly 85,000 study participants as high risk for undiagnosed SHD. The researchers followed the patients for a year without telling their physicians about the forewarning. Some 55% went on to have their first echocardiogram. Of those, almost three-quarters were diagnosed with SHD, a much higher positivity rate than usual. 4 This diagram shows the anatomy of the heart. An echocardiogram is used to diagnose a range of heart conditions. joshya – The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature. 'The goal is to get the right patients to the right doctor and treatment sooner,' Elias said. 'The reality is many patients that need a cardiologist are often missed, and EchoNext helps facilitate getting these patients to the cardiologist who can then get the patient to the treatment they need.' Looking ahead, Columbia has submitted a patent application on the EchoNext ECG algorithm. A clinical trial to test EchoNext in eight emergency departments is also underway.
