Roki Sasaki had worrying reaction after being pulled from his start
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki had a concerning reaction after his rough start against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
Sasaki looked to be on the verge of tears after leaving Friday’s start at Petco Park in San Diego in the fifth inning. He had issued five walks through four innings as he battled his command.
In the dugout, Sasaki looked red-eyed as he watched following his departure.
Roki Sasaki looking visibly upset in the Dodgers dugout after being pulled from his outing against the Padres after issuing his fifth walk of the night. pic.twitter.com/GAgQLD4yfv
— Adrian Medina (@AdrianMedina_16) June 27, 2026
Concerningly, this is not the first time Sasaki has reacted this way to a poor outing. It had fans once again questioning the 24-year-old’s mental fortitude as he continues to struggle to put it all together.
The five walks were the biggest problem for Sasaki, who also allowed three earned runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts. He joined the Dodgers to much fanfare prior to the 2025 season but has yet to live up to expectations with a 4.74 career ERA midway through his second season. He did show that he is capable of more when he allowed one earned run in 10.2 innings during last year’s playoffs, but the organization still has yet to see that consistently.
Francisco Lindor says Mets players failed Carlos Mendoza
Shortly after the New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday, star shortstop Francisco Lindor placed much of the blame for the team’s disappointing season on the players themselves.
“We failed Mendy,” Lindor said, via ESPN. “I failed Mendy. I didn’t play to my capability to help him win as many games as we could. And, yeah, this one’s on us as well.”
The Mets entered the day at 34-47, mired in last place in the NL East and riding a six-game losing streak. President of baseball operations David Stearns cited the club’s ongoing underperformance and injuries as reasons for the midseason change, naming Andy Green as interim manager.
Other players echoed Lindor’s sentiments. Juan Soto expressed appreciation for Mendoza’s support after joining the team, while Bo Bichette noted that managers often bear the brunt when the roster fails to meet expectations.
“It was unfortunate,” Bichette said. “Mendy was good to me. I guess sometimes the manager has to take the fall for the team underperforming.”
Mendoza guided the Mets to the NLCS in his 2024 rookie season but oversaw a late collapse in 2025 and a sluggish 2026 campaign despite significant roster investments. Stearns emphasized the decision was made to give the club the best chance to compete in the remaining 81 games, though the Mets remain long shots for postseason play.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has wild theory about his Texans release
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the veteran safety now with the Buffalo Bills, has offered perspective on his surprising release by the Houston Texans early in the 2025 season.
Gardner-Johnson attributed the move to an incident during training camp at The Greenbrier, where he said a person not technically part of the organization — a close friend of Texans general manager Nick Caserio — called him a derogatory term.
According to Gardner-Johnson, the confrontation escalated when the individual allegedly spoke to the general manager, influencing the decision to cut him after just three games. He firmly denied being a disruption in the locker room, emphasizing that no teammates viewed him as a problem and insisting he provided no reasons for his release.
“If y’all going to cut me, cut me,” Gardner-Johnson told The Athletic. “But I’ll give nobody reasons to cut me. I haven’t. I don’t. I’m not a cancer. There’s nobody in this locker room that says, ‘Chauncey’s a problem.’ The media loves me. The only thing that’ll do it is something that triggers somebody that has a say in the building that can alter somebody else’s mind. That happens every time.
“That’s how I got (cut) in Houston. One person that’s not technically a part of the organization called me a B-word at Greenbrier. I get out my body; he says something to the GM, and the next thing I’m cut.”
The Texans acquired Gardner-Johnson via trade from the Eagles in the offseason, but released him on September 23 following a slow start to the season. Reports at the time cited scheme struggles and accountability issues, though the team declined to elaborate further.
Gardner-Johnson, a Super Bowl champion known for his playmaking and outspoken nature, has had brief stints with multiple teams. He maintains that his on-field contributions and leadership through actions should outweigh perceptions, as he looks to make an impact in Buffalo.
Derek Hill robs Juan Soto with stunning Catch of the Year candidate
In a spectacular defensive gem Friday night at Citi Field, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Derek Hill delivered one of the season’s most breathtaking plays, robbing New York Mets star Juan Soto of a potential two-run home run in the first inning of a 2-1 Phillies victory.
Hill, acquired from the Chicago White Sox on June 11, got an excellent jump on Soto’s 397-foot drive to right-center. Sprinting full speed, he timed his leap perfectly at the wall, extending high above the fence to snag the ball with his left hand.
The play left teammates and fans in awe, with Zack Wheeler cracking a rare smile on the mound and calling it the best catch he had seen in person.
“It’s the best one I’ve seen in person,” Wheeler said, via MLB.com. “That won the game right there.”
Brandon Marsh, converging from right field, celebrated wildly, while Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and others reacted with disbelief from the infield.
Hill, who also scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Turner’s RBI single, described the moment as pure instinct. Soto himself acknowledged the play’s brilliance. The grab proved pivotal as Wheeler pitched seven strong innings in the tight contest.
“It was an unbelievable catch,” Soto said. “When you see the replay, when you see how impressive it was — I mean, he didn’t even have any timing, he just went straight to the wall and jumped. That was incredible.”
The play capped an impressive week for Hill, who hit game-winning homers in consecutive nights prior, further solidifying his value to the surging Phillies.
Ex-wife of Pat Perez accuses Phil Mickelson of lewd behavior
Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of professional golfer Pat Perez, has publicly accused Phil Mickelson of lewd behavior, citing a 2015 incident at the Barclays tournament in New Jersey.
Perez told Skratch that Mickelson invited her and her then-husband to stay at his villa near Liberty National Golf Club. While the couple socialized with Mickelson on the patio one evening, Pat Perez briefly left the room. Ashley Perez alleges that Mickelson then showed her a full-body nude photograph of himself with an erection and propositioned her.
“Phil says to me, ‘I’m going to leave my bedroom door open tonight. When Pat falls asleep, I want you to come see me,’” she recalled.
Perez said she did not immediately inform her husband to avoid disrupting his tournament play but shared the details afterward.
The story reportedly circulated among players, becoming something of an urban legend on the PGA Tour. Mickelson later apologized to Pat Perez during a corporate outing and again in a recorded 26-minute phone call following public comments Perez made in 2022.
This allegation is part of a broader pattern of reported misconduct detailed in recent accounts, including Mickelson’s departures from exclusive golf clubs amid claims of inappropriate behavior.
Ashley Perez, who filed for divorce from Pat in 2023, spoke out to challenge what she described as a culture of silence around powerful figures in the sport.
“There is a culture of silence that keeps women from coming forward,” Ashley said. “I want to give other women the courage to share their truth.”
Mickelson’s representatives have stated that some allegations are false while others revisit acknowledged mistakes, emphasizing his focus on family matters at this time. The 56-year-old golfer has limited his competitive schedule recently due to personal reasons.
Jacob Misiorowski tops his MLB record with blazing 105.5 MPH pitch
Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski continued his dominance with an electrifying performance Friday night, unleashing a 105.5 MPH fastball in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs that shattered his own record for the fastest pitch by a starting pitcher in the pitch-tracking era.
The heater, thrown to Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, topped his previous mark of 104.5 MPH set on June 12 against the Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber.
Misiorowski opened the game with back-to-back fastballs reaching 103.1 and 104.3 MPH before delivering the record-breaking pitch, which Crow-Armstrong fouled off before striking out.
The 24-year-old right-hander went six innings in the Brewers’ 6-2 victory, allowing one run while striking out eight and walking four. His season ERA stands at 1.45, among the lowest through 16 starts in the past half-century.
Teammate Garrett Mitchell highlighted the spectacle, noting Misiorowski seems to break records regularly.
“I have nothing else to say about it,” Mitchell said, via ESPN. “It’s impressive. It feels like every time he goes out there, he’s breaking a record of some sort.”
Misiorowski expressed confidence that even higher velocities are possible, but emphasized that winning games remains the priority.
“I definitely think it’s possible,” he said. “Science says you can hit 108. Someone eventually is going to hit it. If that’s me, cool. I don’t think that’s something I need to focus on. Speed is cool but if it doesn’t win a ball game it doesn’t matter.”
His velocity and command have made him a cornerstone of the Brewers’ rotation.
Lakers in danger of losing key veteran in free agency
The Los Angeles Lakers seem to have some competition in retaining the services of Marcus Smart.
Smart was reported to be a likely veteran that the Lakers would retain heading into next season.
Both Smart and starting center Deandre Ayton hold player options for next season, with Smart previously reported to be the more likely veteran to stay in L.A. But according to NBA reporters Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year is drawing interest from at least one other Western Conference playoff contender: the Houston Rockets.
Per the report, Smart is “very much giving consideration” to declining his $5.39 million player option to test the free agent waters.
At 32 years old, Smart’s best athletic years are behind him. But he showed last season that he can still be a valuable contributor on a playoff team. Through 62 games, Smart averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals across 28.5 minutes per game.
The Lakers relied more heavily on Smart in the playoffs. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves nursing injuries in the postseason, Smart averaged the 4th-most minutes on the team at 34.5 behind Reaves, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura. Smart’s numbers rose to 12.9 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.4 steals per contest across 10 playoff starts.
With the Rockets likely planning to ease Fred VanVleet back from his torn ACL, Houston adding a workhorse guard like Smart makes a lot of sense. A move to Texas would also be a reunion for Smart and his former Boston Celtics coach, Ime Udoka.
The big winner in all this is Smart, who saw his value drop a couple of seasons ago after flaming out with the Memphis Grizzlies. He now has a chance to cash in on one more big contract as he heads into the twilight of his career.
Mets mascot picked the worst time to crash live broadcast
Mr. Met apparently does not know how to read the room.
The mascot crashed the live pregame broadcast before the New York Mets took on the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. The Pride Night version of Mr. Met was seen dancing his rainbow sleeves off in the background as PIX11’s Steve Gelbs reported on a matter of grave importance to the franchise.
The Mets had just announced that the team was firing manager Carlos Mendoza after three seasons with the team. Mr. Met seemed to be dancing on Mendoza’s proverbial grave for the whole world to see.
Mets: last in their division, six-game losing streak, just fired their manager
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 26, 2026
Mr. Met: 🕺 pic.twitter.com/fvctlGtKw9
The Mets moved on from Mendoza as the team was mired in a 6-game losing streak to fall to 34-47 — a full 13 games out of .500. After a minor bounce-back from a brutal start earlier in the season, the team seemed to be falling back into the hole it had dug out of.
Mendoza became the Mets’ manager for the 2024 season, when he led the team to an 89-73 record and a surprise run to the NLCS. The Mets failed to build on that momentum the following season as the team suffered an all-time collapse to miss the playoffs entirely.
With the Mets falling well short of expectations in the midst of Juan Soto’s second season with the team, Mendoza’s axing was far from shocking. Some fans may have been dancing right along with Mr. Met over the decision.
Pope Leo had great parting message after meeting White Sox icon
Pope Leo is not letting his papacy interfere with his Chicago White Sox fandom.
The pope recently hosted former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski for a brief visit at the Vatican. The 2-time All-Star introduced himself to the Catholic Church leader, who responded with, “You don’t have to introduce yourself.”
Pierzynski gifted Pope Leo a signed jersey and the ball from the final out in Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, which the pope famously attended with the photos to prove it. Pierzynski also recounted a golden exchange he had with Pope Leo as the two were about to part ways.
“It was kind of as I was walking away,” Pierzynski said, via The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. “I said, ‘Hey, White Sox are in first place.’”
“He just looked at me and goes, ‘Oh, I’m watching and paying attention, don’t worry.’ And he just kind of smiled at me.”
Pierzynski added that Pope Leo called the present “unbelievable” and revealed that he had also attended Game 2, but White Sox fans have yet to unearth any snapshots of him there.
The baseball gods seemed to have smiled the White Sox’s way after Pierzynski’s visit. On Friday, Chicago’s South Side squad clobbered the Kansas City Royals 22-1, keyed by a divine 10-run third inning that nearly saw the entire lineup bat twice.
The win kept the White Sox a game ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for the top spot in the AL Central.
Thunder sign Isaiah Hartenstein to huge extension
The Oklahoma City Thunder are betting big on continuity.
The Thunder have reportedly agreed to sign Isaiah Hartenstein to a new three-year contract that runs through to the 2028-29 season. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the deal is worth $75 million and includes a 15 percent trade kicker.
Per Charania, the pact also includes a rare mutual option that allows both parties to renegotiate heading into the contract’s final season.
Just in: Oklahoma City's Isaiah Hartenstein intends to sign a new three-year contract to return to the Thunder through 2028-29 that brings his total earnings with the franchise at five years and $134 million guaranteed, sources tell ESPN. A key signing in 2024 leading to the 2025… pic.twitter.com/i5mVUaFI15
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2026
The news is somewhat surprising, considering there was speculation on whether the Thunder would pick up Hartenstein’s $28.5 million team option for next season at all. OKC also drafted 7’3″ center Aday Mara with the 12th pick in Tuesday’s draft — a move some saw as insurance should the team move on from Hartenstein to save cap space.
Instead, the 2025 NBA champions locked him up to a longer but more cost-efficient deal. Hartenstein was a crucial part of the Thunder’s title run two seasons ago. He provided the size the team sorely lacked when it relied on Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams at center during the 2024 postseason.
Hartenstein has started in 99 of the 104 games he’s played as a member of the Thunder. He’s averaged 10.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in that span.
George Kittle calls out NFL over 1 change league refuses to make
George Kittle is not letting up on the NFL as World Cup fever continues to sweep across the United States.
The San Francisco 49ers tight end threw shade at the NFL earlier this month when the global soccer tournament began. With most matches being played in NFL stadiums, Kittle pointed out how beautiful the grass looks at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The Los Angeles Rams and Chargers’ home venue typically uses artificial turf during the NFL season.
Kittle was a lot less subtle in his latest statement via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“We’ve made it clear that we prefer grass fields,” said Kittle. “We know it’s better on our bodies. And clearly, we know it’s possible based on everything that went into putting down grass fields for the World Cup in each stadium.
“At this point, it comes down to the NFL making it a priority and choosing to invest in us as players, because our bodies are our business, which they get to capitalize on!”
There’s been a strong push among players in recent years for the NFL to abolish artificial turf in favor of real grass, which is much more costly to maintain. Seeing grass laid out at turf-friendly venues for the World Cup must have been quite the tease for all pro-grass NFL stars such as Kittle.
Players have blamed the artificial turf for causing some serious lower-leg injuries over recent years. But there’s been debate about whether that’s actually true given the data.
Out of the 30 stadiums used by NFL teams (New York and Los Angeles teams share a stadium), exactly 15 of them use artificial turf.
Update emerges on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brothers after blockbuster trade
The Miami Heat will not have to pay any further tax for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Miami will not be taking on any of Antetokounmpo’s brothers, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported Friday on “Mason & Ireland.” Despite Antetokounmpo playing with his brothers on the Milwaukee Bucks, Shelburne says that will not be continuing on the Heat.
Last week, the Heat made a major blockbuster trade for the former NBA MVP Antetokounmpo. They also took on Antetokounmpo’s longtime Bucks teammate Bobby Portis in the deal and had to send out four players and several other draft assets to Milwaukee in return.
Giannis’ older brother Thanasis played with him for six total seasons on the Bucks, and they even won an NBA championship together in 2021. Younger brother Alex then joined the fun last season on the Milwaukee roster, meaning that the Bucks had three Antetokounmpo brothers on their team at one point.
One interested trade suitor for Giannis was said to have been turned off by the possibility of having to take on the brothers as well. Everyone even joked in the aftermath of Giannis’ trade to the Heat that Miami might now have to bring in Thanasis and Alex too.
But the Heat famously run a tight ship where no one player is bigger than the organization (even LeBron James was largely unable to dictate moves during his stint in Miami from 2010-14). As such, any efforts by the 10-time All-Star Antetokounmpo to bring his less-skilled brothers into the mix with the Heat will apparently be dead on arrival.
Mavericks get bittersweet update on Dereck Lively II
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II is progressing in his injury recovery — but probably not at the rate most fans would hope for.
Lively missed the final 65 games of the Mavericks’ 2025-26 season and only played in seven games total due to a lingering foot injury. He underwent season-ending surgery in December that ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.
The 22-year-old center has reportedly shed the walking boot that he’s worn for most of the year. But according to The Athletic’s Christian Clark, Lively “still hasn’t progressed” to workouts that involve running.
“I’m taking my time,” Lively told Clark. “I’m taking even more time than I need to make sure I don’t ever have to deal with this foot again. So whenever I can get past that, get over this hill, I know I’ll be stress-free.”
The hope for Mavericks fans is that the team and Lively himself have taken an ultra-conservative approach, given Dallas’ full-on rebuild initiated last season. However, the concern regarding Lively’s availability going forward is only growing.
Lively played only 43 games combined over the last two seasons. He suffered a stress fracture in his right ankle in January 2025 that limited him to just 36 games during his sophomore campaign — one of several injuries that doomed Nico Harrison’s failed post-Luka Doncic experiment.
Lively is arguably the Mavericks’ only other foundational piece heading into next season aside from Cooper Flagg. With Dallas not owning its 2027 first-round pick, having Lively on the floor next season will be crucial in an ever-competitive Western Conference.
Angels make a major firing amid their latest awful season
The Los Angeles Angels have found their latest scapegoat.
The Angels have officially fired general manager Perry Minasian, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reported on Friday. Gonzalez adds that the Angels are now bringing in former St. Louis Cardinals lead executive John Mozeliak as a consultant as they embark on a search for a new GM.
Minasian, who was in the last year of his contract, had served as general manager of the Angels since 2020. But as has been the story of the franchise for quite some time now, the Angels failed to produce a single playoff berth or even a single winning season over that entire span.
Now the owners of MLB’s longest active playoff drought (since 2014), the Angels are once again in the gutter this year. They are tied for the worst record in the American League at 34-48, effectively ending the season in Anaheim before the calendar has even flipped to July.
Minasian clearly was not faultless in the Angels’ continued struggles. Under Minasian’s leadership, the team made ill-fated trades for Jorge Soler, Lucas Giolito, and others, took questionable swings on free agents like Jose Quintana and Robert Stephenson, and most damningly, held onto superstar Shohei Ohtani until Ohtani walked for nothing in free agency after the 2023 season.
But the Angels’ single biggest problem is still the meddling and penny-pinching ways of owner Arte Moreno. The 79-year-old Moreno is now looking for his sixth full-time general manager ever since taking over the team, and the Angels also have dysfunction in plenty of other areas right now (including at the manager position).
Report: 1 Red Sox player is causing internal frustration
The vibes continue to stink for the AL East-worst Boston Red Sox.
Boston shortstop Marcelo Mayer has some detractors within the organization, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reported on Friday. Mayer has reportedly been causing frustration due to his supposedly-lacking mental toughness and his alleged tendency to withdraw during hitting slumps.
Additionally, McAdam notes that some in the organization have also questioned Mayer’s ability to make himself available through day-to-day minor physical setbacks. You can read McAdam’s full report on the situation here.
This news comes as Mayer was officially placed on the injured list by the Red Sox earlier in the day Friday. Mayer has been dealing with a lingering bone stress reaction to the ulna in his left arm and was previously playing through the issue with occasional maintenance days off.
The lefty-hitting Mayer, still only 23 years old, was Boston’s No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. He debuted for the big-league team in 2025 but has come along slowly and is hitting just .220 with three home runs and 22 RBIs through 70 total games played this season.
Just last month, Mayer was also in focus after butting heads with Red Sox teammate Willson Contreras after a game. That said, Boston has the third-worst record in the AL this season at 33-46, so their issues right now clearly run much deeper than Mayer’s maturity.
Celtics give a notable job to Jayson Tatum’s close friend
The Boston Celtics may be looking to trade away Jaylen Brown, but they are still very much committed to their other star player.
Boston has decided to tab Amile Jefferson as the head coach of their Summer League team, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe reported on Friday. Jefferson will take the reins for the Celtics as they kick off Summer League play next month.
The 33-year-old Jefferson is a very familiar figure to Boston star forward Jayson Tatum. Jefferson played at Duke University from 2012-17 and overlapped with Tatum during that final season in 2016-17, becoming close friends with the future six-time NBA All-Star. A former power forward, Jefferson even served as Tatum’s mentor during their time together with the Blue Devils.
Jefferson had a brief playing career in the pros, including on a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic from 2018-20. He then went into coaching in 2022 and was already hired by the Celtics as an assistant under head coach Joe Mazzulla in 2023.
Notably, Jefferson was a member of the coaching staff that guided Boston to an NBA championship in 2024. Now Jefferson is moving up the ranks again by landing a gig as the team’s new Summer League head coach.
Jefferson’s name was in the news a couple of years ago after an unfortunate burglary at his home. But the former NCAA champion is still doing very nicely for himself and is well on his way to becoming a future NBA head coach candidate some time down the line.
Dwyane Wade’s son Zaire arrested on a felony domestic violence charge
Zaire Wade has gotten himself into some trouble with the law.
Zaire, the son of retired Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, was arrested on Sunday in Burbank, Calif. NBC4 Los Angeles reports that Burbank police were called to a home around 5:30 AM on Sunday morning after receiving a 911 call about a woman screaming.
Police reportedly arrived at the home and found Zaire along with a woman who had lacerations on her face and body. After conducting an investigation, police arrested Zaire on three charges — felony domestic violence, criminal threats, and false imprisonment.
NBC4 Los Angeles also adds that police issued an emergency protective order and that a handgun was taken from the house after the arrest. You can read their full report on the situation here.
Zaire, 24, is the eldest son of the Miami Heat legend Dwyane (whom Dwyane shares with ex-wife Siovaughn Funches). Standing 6-foot-3, Zaire is also a former professional basketball player who previously attended Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, Calif. before transferring to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.
Instead of attending college, Zaire opted to turn pro in 2021. He was selected in that year’s NBA G League Draft by the Salt Lake City Stars, a move that sparked controversy as Dwyane is a part-owner of the Utah Jazz, the NBA affiliate of the Stars. The backlash over the Zaire pick even drew a response at one point from LeBron James.
Since then, Zaire has had some brief stints playing overseas. He suited up in 2023 for the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and last played in 2024 for the Macau Black Bears of The Asian Tournament (TAT).
Knicks are re-signing 1 key player from their championship team
The New York Knicks are officially giving it another go with Grand Theft.
Knicks guard Jose Alvarado is finalizing a new three-year, $14-plus million contract to return to the team, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Friday. Charania adds that Alvarado is declining his $4.5 million player option for next season in order to facilitate the new deal.
The 28-year-old Alvarado, a former undrafted player, arrived on the Knicks in a February trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. He had a limited role off the bench for the team during the regular season but proved to be a difference-maker down the stretch of their NBA championship run.
Alvarado came alive in the playoffs, shooting 35.3 percent from 3 and providing much-needed relief at point guard whenever star player Jalen Brunson had to sit. On top of that, Alvarado helped facilitate the Knicks’ historic 29-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Playing alongside Brunson down the stretch of the second half, Alvarado was crucial to the comeback by providing the Knicks with another ball-handler and three-point shooter to help change the anatomy of the game.
Though he is only securing a marginal increase in pay after his impressive postseason, Alvarado is at least getting some longer-term security to remain with the Knicks. Also notably a native of New York, Alvarado gets the added benefit of being able to stay home.
That said, some other members of the Knicks’ 2026 championship team might not be as lucky. We just heard earlier this week that two notable Knicks are not expected to be back next season.
Bryce Harper addresses his gesture toward Nationals fans
Bryce Harper’s gesture toward Washington Nationals fans was not what it looked like, so he says.
Harper appeared to flip off Nationals fans after hitting a home run during the ninth inning of Thursday’s game against the Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The Philadelphia Phillies first baseman tried to say after the game, however, that his actions were misinterpreted, and he was actually flashing his ring finger.
“Ring finger. Just make sure that’s out there,” Harper told reporters after the game.
Bryce Harper wants people to know it was his ring finger that he flashed at Nationals fans who were chirping him all week
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 26, 2026
"It's weird coming from a fanbase that I sweated for for seven years." pic.twitter.com/SvtPEQMtQM
Video of the moment shows that Harper is actually telling the truth, though it’s very hard to tell, and seeing it as a more vulgar gesture is just a logical reaction. The context helps drive that point home, as Harper had been hearing some crude chants from Nationals fans all game.
The gesture probably doesn’t sting Nationals fans as much as Harper wishes it would. He still has yet to win a World Series in his career, while the Nationals won one in 2019, the year after Harper departed for Philadelphia. With that in mind, it’s not entirely clear what message Harper was hoping to send.
Nationals fans have never really forgiven Harper for his departure, while Harper himself still has some lingering hard feelings toward the organization. At this point, neither side seems interested in letting that hostility fade, even after six years.
Mitchell Robinson linked to Knicks rival in free agency
Mitchell Robinson appears all but certain to leave the Knicks, but he might not have to leave New York.
The Brooklyn Nets have early interest in Robinson, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. The center is set to become an unrestricted free agent on June 30.
There are going to be a host of centers varying between quasi-available and very available. After watching Mitchell Robinson win a ring across the river with the #Knicks, Brooklyn has interest in the free agent rebounder according to @TheSteinLine. #Nets
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) June 26, 2026
Robinson is in line for a big payday this summer, but the Knicks cannot afford to give it to him without moving into the second apron. That more or less rules out a return to his former team, no matter how much they might want him back.
The Nets, meanwhile, appear determined to try to take some steps forward this offseason. They have already brought in Julius Randle via trade, and Robinson would provide them with a defensive anchor on the interior. He and Randle are former Knicks teammates as well.
Robinson has primarily been a sixth man for the Knicks, but there is no doubting his defensive capabilities. He averaged 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game last season, and only his free throw struggles have kept him from a larger role. The Nets might be willing to give it to him anyway.
