Bears Rumors: Arlington Park Approved for Stadium amid Relocation Buzz
Jun 23, 2021
If the Chicago Bears are serious about moving out of Soldier Field and into a new stadium, they have at least one option to consider.
According to Robert McCoppin of the Chicago Tribune, Arlington Park, which is the location of Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Illinois, has been approved to accommodate a football stadium.
With the exception of playing in Champaign, Illinois, for one season in 2002 amid renovations, the Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971.
As part of a zoning vote held by local officials this week, it was determined that the Arlington Park site can be used for a football stadium, horse racing or casino gambling in the future.
The site is up for sale, and local officials are permitted to dictate what can replace the horse racing track should Churchill Downs, the owner, sell it.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the Bears' stadium situation Wednesday on 670 The Score:
"I don't know the answer to that question other than to know this is a really early stage to develop potentially an alternative. But I think a lot has to be done here. I know their commitment to the Chicago area is 110%, and that's the most important thing to me.
"We have a long lease at Soldier Field. It's a great place. But we're all looking to the long term and trying to look at alternatives, and that's what the Bears are doing.
"But I think for fans right now, I wouldn't be focused on that. There's a lot that has to go into this. Right now, let's enjoy the '21 season. A lot of excitement for the Bears."
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot expressed her belief last week that the Bears are trying to use Arlington Park as leverage to negotiate more favorable terms at Soldier Field.
Soldier Field is owned by the Chicago Park District rather than the team, and Lightfoot noted the Bears are locked into a lease through 2033.
Despite Lightfoot's opinion, Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes suggested the interest is real: "I don't think this is a negotiating tactic. I do think the Bears are serious about this. It may not come to fruition, but I think they're seriously considering this."
Hayes noted the Bears' not owning their stadium "diminishes the value of their franchise," lending potential legitimacy to the team's desire to play at Arlington Park, which is 35 miles northwest of Chicago.
As well, Soldier Field has the lowest capacity of any NFL stadium at 61,500. A new stadium could see that capacity increased and include either a dome or retractable roof, which would allow for year-round events.
In May, Forbes listed the Bears as the 18th-most valuable franchise in sports at $3.55 billion, meaning they may be equipped to build their own stadium.
The Bears have reached the playoffs in two of the past three seasons and may have found their franchise quarterback in the 2021 draft in Ohio State standout Justin Fields.
A great deal of excitement and anticipation surrounds the franchise, and a brand-new, team-owned stadium would undoubtedly add to it.
Chicago's United Center Turning into Logistics Hub During Coronavirus Pandemic
Mar 25, 2020
Workers stand on the court at United Center before the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
A little more than a month ago, the United Center in Chicago played host to the NBA All-Star game with some of the biggest names in sports strolling through the concourses. On Wednesday, the city announced it was repurposing the building and surrounding parking lots to become a distribution hub to help stem the spread of the coronavirus in the city.
Our arena and outside campus will be transformed into a logistics hub where we will be assisting front line food distribution, first responder staging and the collection of critically needed medical supplies.
"As Illinois goes through this together, the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, is proud to be playing a critical role with our city, state and federal response to the pandemic," United Center staff said in a statement. "Our arena and outside campus will be transformed into a logistics hub where we will be assisting front line food distribution, first responder staging and the collection of critically needed medical supplies."
According to Mauricio Pena at Block Club Chicago, the United Center will become operational early next week.
Located on the city's west side, the building is less than a mile from Rush University Medical Center, the Respiratory Health Association and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management.
The state announced Wednesday that positive cases of COVID-19 have reached 1,865 in Illinois, with 19 deaths. Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a "Stay at Home" order statewide through April 7 which is likely to be extended as cases continue to rise.
Both the Bulls and Blackhawks have already jointly agreed to pay the United Center's day-of-game employees through the remainder of the scheduled season.
'Sneaker Shock' S2E1: Jabari Parker Hooked Up Chicago Students with Some Heat
Apr 12, 2019
BR Video
Wizards star and Chicago native Jabari Parker and The Chi star Jacob Latimore went to the city to surprise these students with some heat on a new episode of Sneaker Shock. Their reactions were perfect.
Bulls Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Jim Boylen's Future, Bill Self
Mar 20, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: Head Coach Jim Boylen of the Chicago Bulls during the first half against the Los Angeles Clippersat Staples Center on March 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
After a season riddled with injuries, the Chicago Bulls have officially been eliminated from the playoffs with a current 20-52 record and ten games left to play to close out their regular season.
The Bulls will most likely end the season with one of the five worst records in the league, and they will have a top pick at the incoming prospects that include college superstar Zion Williamson and many more talented players.
Chicago has been looking toward the offseason for a while now, and most of its trade rumors center around the head coaching position. In December, Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg was fired after the team started the season with a 5-19 record.
Executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson cited the team lacking "energy and spirit" as more of a reason to fire the 46-year-old than the record.
Paxson also highlighted he had the "overall development of our team in mind" when making the decision to part ways with Hoiberg, according to Sports Illustrated.
Paxson addressing reporters: “We acknowledge Fred had to deal with a lot of difficult circumstances while he was here.” Paxson said the decision was not based on the Bulls’ record. He said that the Bulls have been “lacking an energy and a spirit.”
Associate head coach Jim Boylen was then promoted in the wake of the firing, and he remained head coach through the rest of the season.
It's still not totally clear what will happen to the position in the wake of this unsuccessful season, but here's what we do know.
Bill Self Isn't Going Anywhere
In the last week, there has been a lot of talk surrounding Kansas' Hall of Fame coach Bill Self leaving Lawrence to take over the Chicago Bulls head coaching position.
However, he quickly dispelled these rumors in an interview with the Kansas City Star on Monday.
"The Bulls thing is as far-fetched ..." Self said. "I don't know where that came from. I've never talked to anybody from the Bulls about any employment opportunities. They have a coach and I'm not a candidate for that position and will not be."
KU fans can now rest easy, as the coach who has led them to a national championship "looks forward to being here for a long time," as he told the Star.
Self has had so much success at Kansas that it's not surprising his name is popping up in NBA head coaching rumors. However, the coach doesn't seem to be in any rush to leave the program in the midst of an NCAA investigation into corruption in recruiting.
Jim Boylen Could Be Staying in Chicago
After Hoiberg was fired, Paxson was quoted as saying Boylen would "be given every chance to be the head coach next season and possibly beyond," according to the Chicago Tribune's Bulls beat writer K.C. Johnson.
Now, Paxson has become even more certain of Boylen's future in Chicago:
John Paxson said the Bulls "absolutely" are committed to Jim Boylen coaching next season.
The current head coach has seemed to form relationships with his players, despite some rocky starts. Leading scorer Zach LaVine was publicly skeptical of some of Boylen's early decisions, according to ESPN. However, the player offered to pay the coach's $7,000 fine for being ejected from Friday night's game against the Clippers.
Plagued with injuries to some of its top players throughout the season, Boylen and Chicago didn't have a chance to bounce back from the rough start.
Maybe with another year in Chicago, the 53-year-old could make some changes and help the team dynamic to bring them out of their slump.
In the wake of the regular season, there will surely be more talk surrounding Boylen and his future in Chicago. While some fans are happy with the decision, others are calling for the team to look outside the current coaching staff for a head coach.
Chicago coach Jim Boylen has $1M of a $1.6M salary guaranteed for the 2019-20 season, league sources tell ESPN. This leaves Bulls flexibility in offseason if franchise wants to conduct a search, or decides to negotiate a more standard NBA coaching contract with Boylen.
Much is still up in the air for the Bulls. Hopefully, their talented young players can stay healthy and help the team turn itself around next season.
NHL Rumors: Latest on William Nylander, Cam Talbot and Jonathan Bernier
Jun 28, 2018
Toronto Maple Leafs center William Nylander (29) controls the puck during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
John Tavares may be dominating the NHL headlines and rumors, but there are several other notable names looking for new contracts before the free-agency chaos begins at noon Sunday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the lucky teams to meet with Tavares, and they also have one major fish to fry with William Nylander at the end of his entry-level deal.
Meanwhile, the NHL's goalie market is starting to take shape for this year and next, with Cam Talbot being a major player.
Will Toronto be able to work something out? Will Talbot and other goaltenders get the money they covet? The rumor mill is buzzing with possible leads.
Room for Nylander?
It was only a matter of time before the Maple Leafs would have to address the first hurdle of extensions for their "Big Three" of Mitchell Marner, Auston Matthews and Nylander.
Now there is a new twist to the situation, as Toronto is making a hard push to land Tavares.
The Maple Leafs are at least a possibility to get No. 91, as they are among his six finalists, per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet:
John Tavares and his reps no longer plan to bring any additional teams into their free-agent process after meeting with Dallas and Tampa today.
The field is down to six: Leafs, Islanders, Sharks, Bruins, Stars and Lightning. #TavaresWatch
How will this affect the team's standing with its top restricted free agent, Nylander? Well, it seems the budding forward is at least making his desired contract terms known, per Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun.
"It's believed he'll seek something near the six-year deal with an AVV of $6.67 million that his off-ice friendDavid Pastrnakmanaged to sign in slightly longer service in Boston," Hornby wrote.
These demands seem fairly reasonable for a player of Nylander's caliber, as he recently turned 22 and already has 135 points in 185 career games. As a dynamic scorer with shifty hands, he is only sure to get even better and challenge to become a point-per-game player.
Pastrnak had 150 points in 172 games when he signed his deal last summer after concluding his third season in the NHL. He also played on the Boston Bruins' top line and in key defensive situations, so he may be worth slightly more than Nylander.
Regardless, though, Nylander is sure to get at least $6 million on his next deal.
Marner will get a comparable contract to Nylander, and Matthews could eclipse $8 million annually. Toronto has just over $24 million in cap space, but what would happen if they add in Tavares' deal, which will be worth at least $9 million?
The Maple Leafs will have Patrick Marleau's $6.25 million and Nathan Horton's $5.3 million annually off of the books in two seasons, but they will be hard-pressed to keep all four star forwards on the roster while fielding a competitive team around them in the meantime.
Essentially, Toronto is going to have to wait to see what happens with Tavares before making a decision on Nylander.
Should he go elsewhere, it should be manageable to pay Nylander what he deserves. Should Tavares want to join the Maple Leafs, a trade involving Nylander or Marner would be very much in play. Otherwise, the team would have to include prized youngsters such as Connor Brown and Timothy Liljegren to have a team take on Horton's contract.
While following the Tavares situation, be mindful of the impact on the rest of the roster. The joy of landing a generational free agent could be hampered by having to move a foundation piece, which could be Nylander.
Talbot Betting on Himself
So what type of goalie is Talbot?
He was one of the NHL's top netminders in his second season with the Edmonton Oilers, posting a 42-22-8 mark with a 2.39 goals against average and .919 save percentage as the team went to second round of the postseason.
His other two seasons with the Oilers have resulted in a 52-58-8 record with a 2.64 GAA and a .911 save percentage as his team missed the playoffs twice.
His overall individual numbers in Edmonton have been solid, but he struggled a bit this season, with a 3.02 GAA and .908 save percentage.
It is not yet known whether Talbot is the goalie of two seasons ago or closer to his overall Oilers numbers. As a result, it seems the two sides are taking a chance to find out as he enters the last year of his contract, per TSN's Ryan Rishaug:
Sounds like the Oilers and Talbot camp are going to hold off any negotiations on an extension until after the start of the season. Important year for him, and the team.
Talbot, 30, is part of the line of recent backups to find starting jobs elsewhere, such as Scott Darling and Philipp Grubauer.
He signed a healthy three-year deal that pays $4.17 million, which looks to be a fair value for a goalie who has proved to be a solid starter. This is especially true given Grubauer just got a three-year contract paying $3.33 million a year, while Darling is making $4.15 million over the next three years; both had proved much more in the postseason than Talbot when he was with the New York Rangers.
If he can replicate his performance from two seasons ago, Talbot could be in line for a number similar to Frederik Andersen's $5 million. If he plays like he did last year, then he will be unlikely to get another contract like his current one, which is the greatest risk he has opted for.
The Oilers seemingly haven't offered any sort of raise, as the two sides have yet to agree on an extension, so it is smart for the team to stand pat and see whether Talbot is their goalie of the future.
Blackhawks Shoring Up
Speaking of backup goalies with high expectations, Jonathan Bernier was a major commodity coming up behind Jonathan Quick in the Los Angeles Kings organization. However, his career has not panned out the way many would have hoped.
In three seasons as Toronto's primary starter, Bernier never posted a GAA better than 2.70, and he has not had a full-time gig since with stops with the Anaheim Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche.
This is not to say he's been a bust, though, as his 2.68 GAA and .914 career save percentage are above average, and it helped prove Bernier to be a one of the top backup options in the NHL.
This has caught the attention of the Chicago Blackhawks, who are targeting Bernier to play behind Corey Crawford, per Scott Powers of The Athletic.
Powers also notes Carter Hutton and Cam Ward are under consideration.
This makes sense, as the Blackhawks learned the hard way last season what can happen without a capable backup.
After Crawford went down in December, the team tumbled down the standings while primary replacements Anton Forsberg, Jean-Francois Berube and Jeff Glass combined to post a 16-30-8 record along with a combined .902 save percentage.
That was a far cry from the previous two Chicago backups in Darling and Antti Raanta, who turned out to be revelations.
Bernier made $2.75 million last season, which is probably a tad above what the Blackhawks would prefer to pay.
Should the two sides come to terms around $2.5 million, Bernier would be an excellent fit on a two-year deal to help stabilize Chicago and help them return to the postseason while Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are still in their primes.
NHL Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Joel Quenneville, NHL Draft
Mar 29, 2018
Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
March is typically a dead period for NHL rumors, with most teams focusing on solidifying themselves for playoff runs rather than personnel movement, but there is some palpable buzz around the league for clubs that appear out of the postseason hunt.
After a decade-long reign as one of the premier dynasties in the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks are reeling thanks to a lost season. Could major change be on the way behind the bench with Joel Quenneville?
Where do the Calgary Flames go as their season slowly slips away? Could they be in line for an aggressive move at the NHL draft?
The regular season is coming to a close, but the rumor mill suggests there is plenty to look forward to in the offseason.
Tension in Chicago?
Quenneville's run in Chicago has been historic by coaching standards.
Since taking over behind the bench in 2008, Quenneville is 440-240, including three Stanley Cups, with the Blackhawks. His 882 career coaching wins ranks him second in NHL history, and before losing Monday's game against the San Jose Sharks, Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times offered several more staggering statistics about the 59-year-old:
A loss tonight would guarantee the Blackhawks finish with a sub-.500 record (in terms of points percentage).
It will be the first time in Joel Quenneville's 21-year coaching career he will not have a winning record.
With the Blackhawks missing the playoffs for the first time under Quenneville, it appears some tensions are close to boiling over within the organization. On Saturday night, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos shed light on some dirt regarding Quenneville's status with management.
"It's no secret in our industry that [general manager] Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville don't have the healthiest of relationships," said Kypreos.
He suggested the relationship may have hit rock bottom after Quenneville was late to find out Chicago traded Artemi Panarin for a package centering around Brandon Saad during last year's NHL draft. Panarin is in the midst of his third straight 70-point season, while Saad is on pace for arguably the worst season of his career, with 34 points through 77 games.
Could this sour relationship mean the end of Quenneville in Chicago?
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman added that Quenneville has two years and $12 million left on his contract, so it would be expensive for Chicago to fire him. Yet it would not be out of the question for Quenneville to perhaps leave of his own accord.
The Blackhawks have the second-highest cap hit in the league and practically no space. The team has $21 million locked up over the next five years between franchise stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, although each is approaching 30 years of age.
On defense, Brent Seabrook has an absurd $6.75 million cap hit through the 2023-24 season and is easily past his prime, as he looked slower this season and was a healthy scratch during a mediocre 24-points-and-counting campaign.
Duncan Keith is 34, accounting for a $5.54 million cap hit through 2022-23 season and has scored just one goal this year on 180 shots. Whether he just experienced bad puck luck or is on the decline is debatable, but his contract is not desirable.
On top of that, Marian Hossa is still due $5.275 million for the next three seasons despite his career likely being over because of medical reasons.
Chicago is an old team full of bad contracts. It does not look like it will be back to its contending ways in a year or two. Do not be surprised if Quenneville decides to jump ship and look for a more promising opportunity elsewhere.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres are teams with emerging young talent that could be looking for new head coaches, and Quenneville would be at the top of their lists if he's available.
Calgary Looking Ahead to Draft
As recently as February's trade deadline, the Flames seemed poised to return to the postseason with a fast, skilled team capable of making a run in the Western Conference. Those days are long gone.
Calgary has lost 11 of its 14 games since Feb. 27, including six straight defeats. Instead of preparing for the postseason, the team is eliminated from the playoffs thanks to being 11 points out of a wild-card spot and is looking ahead to the offseason.
What could the summer hold for the Flames? Friedman offered some insight into an offseason priority for the club.
"They don't have a first-round pick this year from the [Travis] Hamonic deal," Friedman said Friday on Toronto's Sportsnet 590. "I heard at the GM meetings that Calgary is looking to get it back. And if they're trading for a first-round pick, it's going to be a big piece."
One player Friedman speculated about being on the block is Dougie Hamilton, who could fetch the first-round pick Calgary covets.
Hamilton is only 24, but he has already logged 418 career NHL games and is in the midst of his fourth straight 40-point season. He would be a top-four defenseman on any team and a stalwart on the back end, so it is no surprise a guy as connected as Friedman believes Hamilton could get a first-rounder in return.
Sam Bennett is another player who might fit the mold of having enough value to get a first-round pick. He is only 21 and is a skilled top-six forward who needs a new deal soon. He has one more year left at $1.95 million, which helps his value, but he would likely need to be packaged with a prospect and a mid-round pick for Calgary to get its desired return.
He has just 89 points in 236 career games, which is underwhelming considering his immense talent.
Who could be suitors for Hamilton? Calgary could reconnect with the New York Islanders for the second straight offseason, as the Islanders are last in the league in goals against per game this season and are in desperate need of No. 1 defenseman. New York is set to pick in the top 10 in the upcoming draft while also holding Calgary's first-round pick.
The New Jersey Devils also hold a mid-first-rounder and could use a top-four defenseman for their emerging young core in the Eastern Conference. The Edmonton Oilers are also in need of defensive help and could be a great fit if they could find the cap room to accommodate Hamilton.
The possibilities are plenty for Calgary if it gets serious about getting back into the first round. However, the Flames would need to part with an important asset, which would add to the already high level of intrigue associated with the NHL draft every year.
The Future Is Bright for Chicago Bears' Star in the Making: RB Jordan Howard
Dec 20, 2017
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Jordan Howard has followed up his stellar rookie season with an even better campaign running the ball. Watch above to see why the future is bright for the young Chicago Bears running back.
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NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz on Nikola Mirotic and Robin Lopez
Dec 13, 2017
Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) is defended by New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
The team sits in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference at a woeful 6-20. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Chicago is surfacing in recent NBA trade rumors as it looks to continue the rebuild started with the Jimmy Butler deal last offseason. Recent names to pop up are obviously not of the same caliber as Butler, but they could still net a solid return for a franchise desperately seeking a promising foundation.
Let us delve into the latest buzz surrounding the Bulls, and how it might affect the team moving forward.
Star Forward on the Move?
After drafting a key building block for the organization in Lauri Markkanen, the Bulls created a logjam of sorts at forward.
Markkanen, Bobby Portis and Paul Zipser represented the talented group of young forwards who the team could build around. It now seems Chicago is going that route, which could leave Nikola Mirotic as the outlier.
Per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, an executive from the Eastern and Western Conferences indicated that the Bulls have gauged Mirotic's value on the trade market. As the season moves closer to the Feb. 8 trade deadline, it seems Mirotic's value could increase as a rental who could become a contributor further down the line with his contract containing a club option for next season.
Mirotic recently returned to the club and has only appeared in three games this season due to injuries from a practice fight with Portis in October, but he's been excellent so far. He is averaging 16.3 points per game on 54.8 percent shooting. In his first start of the season on Monday, he went off for 24 points and eight rebounds on just 14 shots. He was especially great in the first half, where he started off hot with 13 points in the opening quarter using an array of shots, per the Bulls' Twitter account:
In three full seasons, Mirotic has never averaged more than 25 minutes, but that is fine for his trade value. Games like Monday show just how effective he can be in short spurts, which makes him an ideal bench player for a contending team. Despite those limited minutes, Mirotic has still averaged at least 10 points with roughly five boards per night.
The Bulls obviously would like to acquire a high draft pick for Mirotic, but only contending teams would make sense for a player who does not play huge minutes and only has a year-and-a-half, at most, left on his deal. That is why the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets are both logical as possible trade partners.
Both teams like to play small, which is a nice fit for a mobile forward like Mirotic who can play on the perimeter. The Celtics lack any real forward depth behind Al Horford and Marcus Morris, and Mirotic would solidify that group and ensure they have a legit scoring option up front at all times.
The Rockets like to play Ryan Anderson at the 4 spot or Trevor Ariza if they go small. However, Mirotic adds a physical element the team is missing and could add a spark off of the bench in that aspect along with his scoring touch.
Bulls Gauging Another Veteran
Mirotic is not the only veteran up front that the Bulls could be trading to get younger.
Johnson also reported, citing the same sources, that Chicago has made preliminary inquiries regarding Robin Lopez's trade value. However, while it seems Lopez would not garner more than a second-round pick by himself since he likely would not earn huge minutes with a contender, he and Mirotic in a package could net a nice return.
Lopez, 29, has seen an uptick in production the last few seasons, albeit playing for largely bad teams. After not topping nine points or five boards per game his first four seasons, Lopez is averaging well over 10 points per night the last six years to go with roughly six rebounds per game.
With 26 starts this season, he is putting up a career-high 13.2 points per game, and he has added some range to his game. After not making a three his entire career, Lopez has hit two this season, and his seven attempts from deep are already a career-best.
Mobility has always been a deficiency for Lopez, which hurts his value in today's NBA since he can be exposed on the perimeter against some of the better, more athletic teams in the league. Teams looking to add Lopez would have to be overlook this, plus his contract since Lopez is signed through next season, when he will make just over $14 million.
These factors likely make his value a second-round pick on the trade market, but again, the Celtics could be a bidder for a package deal with Lopez and Mirotic.
Boston has four first-round picks in the next two drafts outside of its own, which could be enough to entice a deal with Chicago. Lopez is an upgrade over Aron Baynes at center, which further enhances the overall strength of the Celtics lineup as they look to knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.
Unloading Lopez and Mirotic is the smart play for a rebuilding team, so expect deals to be completed for them in the next couple of months.
Statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com. Contract information is via Spotrac.
MLB Free Agents 2018: New Rumors, Predictions for Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb, More
Nov 21, 2017
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta reacts after striking out Los Angeles Dodgers' Curtis Granderson during the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Teams in need of pitching help are in luck, as the 2018 MLB free-agent class features numerous top-end starters and All-Star relievers.
A former Cy Young Award winner highlights the recent free-agency rumors, while two quality arms have also been in the news. Unsurprisingly, they are being linked to contending teams looking to bolster their pitching staffs in an attempt to chase a World Series title next season.
Take a look at the latest buzz in MLB circles and predictions for where some of the biggest free agents will land.
Brewers Looking for a Splash?
The Milwaukee Brewers became one of the biggest surprises in baseball last season, going 86-76 and coming up one game short of the second wild-card spot in the National League. Now, it appears evident the team is looking to move up into the next tier of the NL.
Per Jon Morosi of MLB Network, Milwaukee is making a play for Jake Arrieta:
Source: #Brewers showing interest in free agent Jake Arrieta. With Jimmy Nelson expected to miss portion of 2018 after shoulder surgery, team is looking for top-of-the-rotation upgrades. @MLB@MLBNetwork
Pitching was not an issue for the Brewers last season, as they ranked fifth in the NL with a 4.00 ERA. This was even more true for their starting pitchers, whose 398 earned runs were the fourth-fewest allowed in the NL.
Jimmy Nelson, who impressed with a 12-6 record and 3.49 ERA in 29 starts last season, will miss the early part of next season as Morosi noted, but there are still quality arms to pick up the slack. Zach Davies went 17-9 last season with a 3.90 ERA, while Chase Anderson was 12-4 with a 2.74 ERA.
Milwaukee lacked depth behind this Big Three, but the addition of Arrieta would give the Brewers one of the NL's best rotations. However, it must come at the right price.
Arrieta is 31 years old and has shown signs of slowing down the past two seasons. After posting fantastic campaigns in 2014 (10-5, 2.53 ERA) and 2015 (Cy Young Award,22-6, 1.77 ERA), Arrieta is a combined 32-18 with a 3.30 ERA in the last two seasons. His ERA has risen each of the past two years, yet he is still due for a raise from the $15.6 million he collected this past year.
Joe Zenzola of 105.7 FM in Milwaukee sees going after Arrieta as too great of a financial risk for the Brewers, which the numbers seem to indicate is a valid concern:
Some of you will not agree with this...and that's fine...
2018 should not be the year the #Brewers go for it. Give me another year of what I just saw before I can fully believe in them. Don't overpay for guys like Lynn or Arrieta. Be smart about this, Stearns...
Guys like Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels, Rick Porcello and Jordan Zimmermann each make over $20 million annually, which looks to be the class Arrieta would fall into. It does not make sense for Milwaukee, considering Arrieta's age, to give out more than a three-year deal for this kind of money. Yet, do not be surprised if it overpays.
The fact that the Brewers are the first team to be linked to Arrieta means they are probably very interested. Free agency typically entails poor financial decisions, but Arrieta would help greatly in getting Milwaukee to the next level. Still, Milwaukee's offensive issues could offset this addition, since the unit ranked 10th in the NL in runs scored last season.
So, is Arrieta's contract worth this risk? The smart play is probably no, but the indications right now seem to be that Milwaukee is willing to gamble to improve the rotation, so expect the Brewers to be major players here.
Finalists Emerge for Cobb
Heading into last season, it appeared Alex Cobb had dug himself a deep hole for his contract year given his porous 2016. However, the right-hander bounced back to make himself one of the top free-agent arms on the market.
Cobb was a solid 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA for a bad Tampa Bay Rays team, a great improvement from his disastrous 8.59 ERA he accumulated in just five starts the previous year. The three years prior, Cobb posted at least 10 wins per season with a 3.19 ERA. Naturally, teams are vying hard for his services.
According to Peter Gammons, the "industry consensus" is that the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees are the two major contenders for Cobb. Considering these two teams are built to contend for a World Series title for the next five years at least, it would make sense that Cobb would have his sights set on joining them. After all, winning is his No. 1 concern, as he relayed to MLB Network Radio:
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) November 10, 2017
Cobb is a great option as a third or fourth starter, and he should not come at too pricey of a raise from the $4.2 million he earned last season. It comes down to who of the Cubs and Yankees provide the better fit.
Chicago offers a more prominent role with Arrieta gone and Jon Lester coming off a down year of a 4.33 ERA. Cobb would likely be the second or third starter behind Kyle Hendricks or Lester, but the Cubs have more questions than the Yankees. First, the team lacks much support in the bullpen, especially with Wade Davis likely gone, per 670 The Score's Julie DiCaro. The mediocre depth in the rotation could also be an issue to drive down the Cubs' win total next season.
As for the Yankees, they are trending the greatest of arguably any team in baseball. New York will only improve with top prospects Chance Adams and Gleybar Torres joining an already stacked young core, and the team's rotation is dynamite with a top three of Sonny Gray, Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka.
Should Cobb join New York, he would be the fourth starter with Jordan Montgomery claiming the No. 5 spot. Bringing in Cobb could mean the team does not bring back CC Sabathia, who was a leader in the clubhouse while also notching a fantastic 14-5 record last season.
The Yankees would probably put Cobb in the best position to succeed, but the Cubs have a greater need for him and would likely be more willing to jack up their offer.
The Cubs were the first of the two teams to emerge as a contender, as DiCaro's note on Cobb came out several days before Gammons pinned the Yankees as players. Given how desperate Chicago is to add starting pitching, expect that to be Cobb's destination.
Top Reliever Drawing Interest
After notching 29 saves last season while splitting time between the Minnesota Twins and the Washington Nationals, Brandon Kintzler set himself up to be one of the relief options on the free-agent market. According to the latest buzz, teams are lining up for the 33-year-old.
Per Morosi, the Colorado Rockies and the St. Louis Cardinals are two teams looking for a closer that are eyeing Kintzler. The Cardinals were one of the league's top relief units a year ago, ranking seventh in MLB with a 3.81 ERA, but they only converted on 43 of 60 save opportunities. The Rockies meanwhile could use any help they can get, as their 4.40 ERA was the 10th-worst in baseball.
The Twins are also looking to bring back Kintzler, as Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press reported almost two weeks ago:
#mntwins are among a handful of teams to express early interest in FA reliever Brandon Kintzler, who recorded 45 saves for them in 2016-17. #Nationals would like to retain him as well. Stood out in WSN clubhouse and on the mound after being traded.
Minnesota would be an intriguing option since Kintzler had the most success of his career there. In 99.2 innings with the Twins over two years, Kintzler allowed just 33 runs and was named an All-Star last season.
In terms of winning now, the Cardinals would probably be Kintzler's ideal situation. The team has the payroll and pieces in place to retool for a run in 2018 after a down 2017, and being a pitcher in St. Louis is much more desirable than Colorado, where routine fly balls turn into homers.
Look for Minnesota and St. Louis to be Kintzler's two finalists, with the Cardinals having more finances to offer.
Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com. Contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.
Ranking the Saddest Sports Communities on Twitter
Nov 17, 2017
Twitter. It’s a wonderful, beautiful trash heap of miserable mayhem and funny jokes that quickly get beaten into the ground mercilessly. I hate it, and I spend all day there. It’s also a place where like-minded sports fans can come together, show support for their teams, complain endlessly and beg for the sweet release of the offseason. Those special groups are the Sports Twitter communities.
Team and local Twitter subsets are loosely defined and freewheeling. The analytics dorks? Part of it. Sports talk radio hot takers? Members. Bandwagoners? On board. People who earnestly use 280 characters? Sadly welcome.
But it’s not always fun, games, memes and score updates. After all, in the big picture, most pro sports teams stink. And even when a team is doing really well, some communities can’t help but pick fights and seek out things to complain about (hello, Eagles Twitter). A sizable chunk of sports Twitter is a cesspool of complaining, anger, anxiety, bewilderment and more complaining. So, all things considered—team futility, fan hostility, general hopelessness, etc.—which sports Twitter communities are the saddest?
Warning: these communities have been known to use profanity.
8. Dolphins Twitter: It Exists
On the surface, it’s easy to mock the Miami Dolphins and their fans. They’ve been irrelevant since Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, are a mainstay on a Twitter account that tweets pictures of empty stadiums and play this ridiculous fight song on the rare occasions they score. It’s not hard to see why fans would be mad:
But here’s the thing about local members of Dolphins Twitter: They’re happier than most of us. I’m from Philadelphia, and our most famous export is a fictional, miserable boxer who lost. Miami has Pitbull, the literal most positive man on the entire planet, and DJ Khaled, the second-most positive man on the planet. And why are they so positive? They’re in Miami. Every time I see a picture of a half-empty Dolphins (or Heat or Marlins) game, I always think the same thing: I wouldn’t be there watching that team either—it’s Miami. That’s why Dolphins Twitter is at the bottom of this list. While they should be happy, it’s super impressive they can fight through all that “Mr. Worldwide wearing a youth medium baseball jersey” joy and get to the sadness of it all. Kudos, Dolphins Twitter.
The Five Stages of Grief
Denial
If the #Dolphins can get their shit together they could actually make a run, the AFC is so wide open in my opinion #FinsUp
Welcome to the first (but definitely not last) appearance from New York on this list. Honestly, any other year, the Knickerbockers community would be top-five, but Phil Jackson is gone, James Dolan is quiet(er) and Kristaps Porzingis is a superstar. He’s like if the Monstars stole the ability from every good player and shoved it into Stick Stickly. But in the good ol’ days—earlier this year—things were different. ‘Staps skipped his exit interview, Carmelo Anthony was Melo-ing all over the place and pre-ouster Phil Jackson was making everything worse. That, in addition to every New Yorker’s innate need to feel and be superior to others, made for a sad mix:
a long suffering #knicks fan since 1983 as a little kid 95% of me want the best for our organization, city&fans ,5% I want Phil to fail bad
— Knicks-Yankees -JETS -NFL- me7o- music loyalty (@forevershinin) June 19, 2017
EDMONTON, AB - MAY 7: Oilers fans get into the playoffs spirit as the Edmonton Oilers take on the Anaheim Ducks in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 7, 2017 in Edmonton, Albert
The Edmonton Oilers are probably the best team on this list. They’re in great shape. Last season, they made the playoffs for the first time in over 10 years, took a second-round matchup to seven games and did it all on the back of 20-year-old superstar Connor McDavid. But the Oilers lost four of their first five games to start this season and currently sit with only 16 points, the third-lowest total in the NHL. This is what sets Oilers Twitter apart.
Most other communities on this list have been bad for a while and are still bad. The Oilers were bad for a while, but now they’re good. Real good. But they’re supposed to be way better than they are, which has spawned a unique phenomenon in sports Twitter communities: Incredulous Twitter. Part shrugging, part angry, part confused, Oilers Twitter is doing some really great work in the “sad Twitter” department, though its spot on this list may be more temporary than anyone else’s.
All the great work is being done in the hashtag #HereComeTheOilers, which is basically a gif party no one wants to be at. They’re having fun with sad Twitter before it sucks their souls away:
Me: check out this goofy image of Kris Russell Oilers twitter: SHUT UP STOP BEING NEGATIVE COULD U DO BETTER MCDAVID DIDNT BACKCKECK THE NDP pic.twitter.com/397IAQlIMX
Just poking my head back in from my Twitter silence to remind you all that Peter Chiarelli actively made the team worse this summer. This is on him an he should be fired for it. Back to my hole I go. #Oilers
In case you haven’t been paying attention to the NFL this season, here’s a quick update: The New York Giants are very, very bad. They’re a disaster. Their coach (for now) Ben McAdoo isn’t exactly a fountain of inspiration. Eli Manning is a shadow of who he once was. They have one win. But why are the Jets here and not the Giants? Let’s ask Giants Twitter:
The Giants have a relatively recent history of winning, and their fans won’t let Jets fans forget it. Winning a Super Bowl is hard (I, an Eagles fan, know this), so they have every right to flaunt it in the Jets’ face. But the sibling rivalry is real. While Giants fans are tweeting about how they suck but at least they’re not the Jets, Jets Twitter is welcoming Giants fans to being terrible. Neither community can get the other off their mind. They’re stuck with each other, they’re both terrible and neither has any real path to being good.
So why the Jets and not the Giants? Every other Jets Twitter tweet is about the Giants. Just move on already:
Remember when they said the Jets were going 0-16 and the Giants were going to the SuperBowl... pic.twitter.com/2VjvqNpbNm
Chicago Bulls fans totally expected to be bad and are (mostly) totally fine with being bad. Did they like the return on the Jimmy Butler trade? Some did, some didn’t (it was trash). But they’re smart, and they accept the position they’re in. If you want to tank, you have to full-on tank. They get it.
That’s all fine, but Bulls Twitter didn’t enter this season expecting Bobby Portis to punch Nikola Mirotic so hard he legitimately broke his face. Portis hospitalized Mirotic, which led to a brief suspension for Portis and caused Mirotic to ask for a trade, which has now somehow led everyone to side with Portis. Plus, as a fun bonus for people who aren’t Bulls fans, they have a hashtag (#GarPax) just to be miserable about their front office. Every team should have one of those. Chicago is doing it right. Except for all the punching.
SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 26: A fan holds up a sign thanking DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 26, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ackno
Sacramento Kings fans have been through a lot. Just four years ago, it seemed that the then for-sale Kings might be bought and relocated to Seattle (Sonics Twitter would surely earn a spot on this list). Instead, now-owner Vivek Ranadive swooped in to save the team’s Sacramento home. But during Ranadive’s tenure, things have been less than smooth.
George Karl coached the team and then published a book where he blamed Kenyon Martin and Carmelo Anthony’s failures (when Karl was coaching the Nuggets) on growing up without father figures. It was about as poorly received as you’d expect. Ranadive famously was very high on Nik Stauskas, which became public knowledge in a widely mocked draft room video. Then he and general manager Vlade Divac traded “Nik Rocks” Stauskas (and a valuable pick swap/future pick combo) not long after to get cap relief in order to sign free agents they didn’t end up signing.
Now, they have to watch DeMarcus Cousins continue to thrive in New Orleans. It’s been rough, but Kings fans are proud. They fought off threats for years from people trying to take their team and move it away. Vivek saved them. He’s got immunity for at least a couple more years.
In talking about the Philadelphia 76ers, many national writers would talk about how “The Process” was terrible because it created a “losing culture.” I’m not here to debate the merits of that within a locker room, but years of fielding a terrible on-field/court product can create a losing culture within your fanbase. For example: Mets Twitter.
The Mets are only two years removed from a World Series appearance, but Mets Twitter very quickly reverted to its base instincts, honed from supporting a team that has been more mediocre than bad but is forced to play second fiddle in its own city to the Yankees. It’s understandable. The Yankees get Jay-Z name drops and Denzel Washington wearing their hat. The Mets once had Garth Brooks on their spring training roster. They paid Tim Tebow. Every non-Yankees fan may hate the Yankees, but we all know they’re Marcia and the Mets are Jan. It’s a fact of life, and let’s be honest, a nation of younger siblings (your family’s “Mets fans”) was psyched when Marcia took that football to the face.
Here’s some optimism from extremely early in the 2017 season:
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 10: A dejected Cleveland Browns fan looks on against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Oh, Cleveland. There was a near-100 percent chance this spot would belong to the Browns. Before the Cavaliers brought a well-deserved title to “Believeland,” the future self-esteem and success of your average Clevelander could have been easily described with the city’s turn-of-the-20th-century nickname: “Sixth City.” The name came from the Land’s population standing at the time, but why would you ever call yourself that? The New York Times once called Philadelphia the Sixth Borough, and everyone here is still furious about that. Never admit you’re not top-five, and certainly don’t embrace it.
But because of all this, it’s impossible to dislike Cleveland Browns fans. Go ahead, try. That’s not dislike you’re feeling—it’s a weird mix of schadenfreude, pity and endearment. But on Browns Twitter, it’s less fun.
On October 31, @BrownsYouthFB, the “Youth & High School Football account for the Cleveland Browns,” tweeted about a contest involving high school football. The account, which typically tweets about football played in the Cleveland area by literal children, received this response:
The Browns just set the NFL record for consecutive Sunday losses (26). The team tried to send two draft picks to Cincinnati for backup quarterback AJ McCarron, but the trade fell through due to one or both teams’ front office incompetence. This was actually a rational response:
.@Browns - hey social team. This isn't in your job description, but make sure the front office knows the coach called a QB sneak from the 3yd line with no time outs and 12 seconds left. Thx.
But there’s comfort in this. When the team you love is very bad now, has been very bad in the past and will continue to be very bad in the future, you can detach yourself from it. There’s a feeling of near-Zen from watching a terrible team you know is terrible (take it from a lifelong Philly fan). Enjoy it, and hope it doesn’t last forever.
