Andrew McCutchen Joins the Braves Organization

Andrew McCutchen continues to make his mark in the world of baseball. The former Pirates star, now 39, began the 2026 season with the Texas Rangers.
And after 37 games, the Rangers had seen enough: they decided to designate for assignment the player who had a .192 batting average and a .537 OPS.
This meant McCutchen became a free agent. And people wondered if any team would take a chance on him and try to revive his career.
In the end, one team took the gamble: the Atlanta Braves reached an agre

Kazuma Okamoto Honored
He was named the American League Rookie of the Month for June.
MLB Players, Pitchers, Rookies, and Relievers of the Month Award Winners pic.twitter.com/xzGzlAlgI5
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 3, 2026
Roki Sasaki Causes Concern
His poor outing yesterday will prompt the Dodgers to take a closer look at his situation.
Dave Roberts said the Dodgers will conduct a “deep dive” into Roki Sasaki's performance, including trying to rule out pitch-tipping

Barrett Hayton was a surprising case when it came to hostile offers. But what we're seeing now with Leo Carlsson is simply on another level.
The Ducks player signed a five-year, $90 million contract—worth $18 million per season—with the Flyers. The Ducks have one week to match the offer or take the Flyers' four first-round picks.
What a story!
What's even crazier is that, according to reporter Chris Johnston, the NHL might present us with another hostile offer as early as today.
He d

Huge news.
Leo Carlsson is set to earn $18 million a year (!) for the next five years. But we don't yet know where he'll be playing next season.
Why? Because the Ducks player has accepted a hostile offer from the Flyers.We have tendered an offer sheet to Anaheim center Leo Carlsson. The offer is a five-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $18M, which would require four of the Flyers' first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons as compensation. https://t.co/nfhD4h6nEc

Right now, all eyes are on Kent Hughes. Will he make a move or not?
To make moves in the short and medium term, he needs to keep his salary cap situation in mind. Because even if the cap goes up, signing his young players every year eats into his flexibility.
And I'm not saying that as if it were a bad thing—I like the contracts given to young players.
Currently, with 19 players signed (including three goaltenders, which could change by September) on the roster, the Canadiens have $14,223,

Right now, we know that negotiations are underway for the next collective bargaining agreement between MLB and its players.
We know that the crux of the matter is the salary cap. The owners want one, and the players won't hear of it.
Will this lead to a lockout? Everyone hopes the answer is no… but we may have our doubts about that.
After all, the owners are pushing hard.
It's worth noting that even the man seen as the most likely to go against the other owners—Steve Cohen—is

Acclaimed Surrey photographer Greg Girard is finally getting a career retrospective show. Though, he’s not quite sure how it happened.The survey of his work, running July 10 to Oct. 25 at North Vancouver’s Polygon Gallery , offers more than 160 photographs from his five-plus decades of taking photos. The retrospective will also mark the release of a new book titled: Greg Girard: Photographs 1972-2026.“It’s exciting to get invited to do it. I mean how do you respond to th

Kirby Dach's future in Montreal is, let's just say, pretty uncertain.
The forward received a qualifying offer from the Habs (which allowed the club to retain his rights instead of losing him for nothing), but one wonders if a change of scenery might not be better for everyone.
Because right now, very few people still see Dach as a key part of the Canadiens' future.
And if David Pagnotta is to be believed—who discussed all this on the DFO Rundown Insider Edition—the Habs might also be

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has just added another impressive chapter to his career.
The former NFL player announced that he has officially completed his medical residency, bringing to a close an academic journey that began 16 years ago at McGill University.
The 35-year-old Quebecer shared this important news on social media. He took the opportunity to reflect on the unconventional path that led him to fulfill his dream of practicing medicine while pursuing a career at the highest level of professio

Yesterday afternoon, Jakub Dobes signed a three-year contract with the Canadiens. The goaltender has thus ensured that he will remain with the team through 2030… and has given up two years of unrestricted free agency.
He could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2028. Ultimately, he won't be one until 2030.
That said, the fact that Dobes could have become a UFA also meant he was eligible to include protection clauses in his contract. He could have had a no-trade clause or a

Michael Hage was too good for “the league” yesterday in Brossard.
Surrounded by players drafted later than him, less physically prepared, younger, and/or simply invited to participate, Hage looked like a man among children.
He scored two goals, added an assist, and scored in the shootout. Yesterday, there was Hage… and everyone else.
Including Alexander Zharovsky…
The youngster was on fire at the Habs' development camp#gohabsgo
Credit : Patrick Guillet and Anthony Marti

It's a sign that time is flying by—we're already just one month away from the Major League Baseball trade deadline. And while Tarik Skubal seems to be the biggest fish in the pond, other pitchers are standing out and could be of interest to several MLB clubs, including the Toronto Blue Jays.
Here are three of them, starting with Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins. Ryan is no stranger to trade rumors, as his name has come up more often than usual lately.
Under the team's control through 2027,

The 2026 World Cup continues to captivate sports fans in the United States.With spectacular matches, nail-biting action right down to penalty shootouts, and standout performances, the tournament is generating unprecedented interest among the American public—so much so that many observers are beginning to wonder about its impact in the face of the NFL's dominance.
The latest viewership data shows a remarkable rise in soccer's popularity. The United States' victory over Bosnia and Herzegovin

In life, there are some things you just can’t learn. For example?
Not everyone is blessed with height. I know this because I'm naturally on the shorter side… Hehe.
Seriously, though, there's someone else who must know this all too well, and I'm talking about Alexander Karmanov. The defenseman was drafted by the Sharks in the last draft (in the 7th round), he showed up at the team's development camp in San Jose… and it made for some pretty spectacular footage.
After all, it's

The big day has finally arrived for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.The international singer and the Kansas City Chiefs star are set to tie the knot this Friday in a ceremony that's already drawing the attention of music, sports, and pop culture fans.
According to various reports, numerous sports personalities will be making the trip to attend this highly anticipated event. Among the guests are reportedly Travis Kelce's teammates on the Chiefs, his brother Jason Kelce—a former star of the Ph

The free-agent market opened Wednesday in the National Hockey League, and several players found new teams.
The result?
This means that right now, there aren't many options left on the free-agent market. And let's not forget that Kent Hughes hasn't done anything yet since the start of the summer, aside from signing players for the Laval Rocket…
That said, the list of players available via a hostile bid is still very enticing. There are several young NHL stars who are still without contract

Even though the second half of the season is already underway in Major League Baseball, the All-Star Game marks a break in the season. There's everything that happened before, and everything that will happen after.
And for the Toronto Blue Jays, a pivotal road trip awaits them before the All-Star break—a trip that will likely set the tone for the rest of the 2026 season.
Indeed, this nine-game West Coast road trip is huge for several reasons: the Blue Jays are currently 11 games behind the

The Leafs have found their new goaltender.
Sergei Bobrovsky has signed a three-year contract with Toronto, a deal that will pay him $7 million per season. And let's just say John Chayka seems really proud of this move.
Really, really proud, in fact…
Basically, the Leafs' GM said that Bobrovsky could end his career as the best goaltender in… the history of the National Hockey League. No, this isn't a joke.
I don't know if Chayka forgot the names of Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek, and Ma

Jakub Dobes has just reached another major milestone in his young career.
The Canadiens have awarded him a three-season contract extension, a strong show of confidence in a player who had a stellar spring.
It's worth remembering, however, that just a few months ago, the situation was quite different.
In late March, my colleague Maxime Truman explained the real reasons behind the Czech goaltender's media hiatus, during which he was no longer available to speak with the press. That decision was ma

The Blackhawks must be hoping that Connor Bedard has avoided the worst.
Because the footage circulating from today's practice is far from reassuring.
According to initial reports by Ryan McGregor, the young forward reportedly left the ice clutching his left shoulder.
In the video, you can even hear him screaming in pain as he leaves the rink, suggesting that the injury could be serious.I have video of Connor Bedard leaving practice today with a left shoulder injury, as first reported by @Ryanmcg

The Maple Leafs have made significant changes to their roster since the start of the offseason.
Despite all these changes, one name continues to be the subject of discussion throughout the NHL: Matthew Knies.
In his most recent article on Sportsnet, Nick Kypreos revealed that several teams continue to inquire with the Leafs about the availability of the powerful winger.As we head into free agency, the trade market is still active and full of big names to watch. @RealKyper provides another update

The New York Yankees are in the midst of a really rough stretch. The team has lost its last seven games… and this comes at a time when the Tampa Bay Rays, their main rivals, have won seven straight games.
As a result, in just one week, the Rays have gone from trailing by 3.5 games to leading by 3.5 games at the top of the [email protected]/kUWb1sIKUV
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 2, 2026
But what's troubling when you look at the Yankees lately is how the mis

Earlier today, the Canadiens signed Jakub Dobes to a three-year contract extension. This means the goaltender is now under contract through 2030.
And let's not forget that yesterday, the club also reached an agreement with Ivan Demidov on the terms of an eight-year contract. That, too, is a major issue that's been settled.
When you consider these two contracts, it becomes clear that the Canadiens have, without much fanfare, secured a significant portion of their core roster. In addition to these

Bryan Adams has built a career belting out classics like Cuts Like a Knife, Summer of 69 and So Happy It Hurts. But the U.K.-based, North Vancouver-bred rock star has rarely strayed into political tunes. Until now.To celebrate Canada Day 2026, the Grammy and Juno-winning singer released a new pro-Canada single titled 51st State.The chorus directly addresses the Americans and Canadians who support annexing this country, with a clear message that proud Canadians can sing along to.Let me give it t

For the past nine years, Rob Ramage has served as the Canadiens' director of player development. The former defenseman, who held a development coaching position during his first three seasons in Montreal, was a key figure with the Habs.
And clearly, the new management also appreciated his work, as he remained with the team even after Marc Bergevin's departure.
That said, the organization has just announced that Ramage has left the Canadiens… because he has decided to retire.
The 67-year-o

This afternoon, Jakub Dobes signed a new three-year contract with the Canadiens. The goaltender will therefore remain with the team through the end of the 2029–30 season.
His excellent playoff performances have earned him some security for the coming years.
And Dobes, as is customary after such an announcement, spoke with the media to answer a few questions. And when you listen to his comments in full, there's something quite interesting.
On more than one occasion—and without necessa

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is pushing himself
He's taking hundreds of swings a day to break out of his slump.
Via @ShiDavidi, Vlad Guerrero Jr. estimates he's been taking “a lot—like 300 swings a day before games, and after games, probably around 100… I have to get better, and sitting here (in the clubhouse), I'm not going to get better. I have to take a lot of swings”https://t.co/4l7UBQ4o5t
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) July 2, 2026
Update on Ricky Tiedemann

Over the past few months, Jakub Dobes has established himself as the Canadiens' No. 1 goaltender. The young Czech player was dominant down the stretch and was a major factor in the team's deep run in the playoffs.
He was truly, truly exceptional.
We knew that the Canadiens, even though Dobes was just one year away from the end of his entry-level contract, wanted to settle the matter of his next contract this summer. And now it's done: Dobes has signed a three-year contract.The Canadiens have agr

Brady Tkachuk is no longer in Ottawa. The former Senators captain was traded to the Panthers a few weeks ago, which will allow him to play alongside his brother for the next few years.
And, at the same time, it put an end to years of speculation about his future in Ottawa.
All of this has meant that, since then, Tkachuk hasn't exactly been the most popular guy in Ottawa. There's frustration among fans, who feel they've been led on over the past few years.
And the Senators, clearly, wanted to cap

Between ejections, injuries, and inconsistent performances, things continue to move quickly in Major League Baseball as the All-Star Game approaches.
So without further ado, here's the latest edition of Passion MLB's power rankings. Last week's rankings are shown in parentheses.
1 – Los Angeles Dodgers (1)
2 – Milwaukee Brewers (3)
3 – Atlanta Braves (2)
4 – Tampa Bay Rays (5)
5 – Philadelphia Phillies (6)
6 – New York Yankees (4)
Tough break for the Yankees.