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Vince Russo didnâ€t ease into his latest appearance—he came out swinging.

Opening JCW Lunacy: Episode 61, Russo launched into a fiery rant aimed squarely at Triple H, accusing WWEâ€s top creative figure of letting personal agendas dictate who succeeds and who gets shown the door. From there, Russo zeroed in on Karrion Kross, claiming his WWE exit wasnâ€t about performance or fit, but something much more personal. Russo framed his argument by first taking aim at WWEâ€s power structure under Triple H:

“Thereâ€s a guy currently running the WWE, and he does it better than you. And his name is Triple H. And guess what—Triple H used to be a wrestler.â€

From that point, Russo argued that Triple Hâ€s background as a former in-ring performer creates built-in bias that affects the roster and the product:

“So what that means is, Triple H has an agenda. Triple H likes some of the guys on the roster. Doesnâ€t like some of the guys on the roster. And it has an impact on the show he runs.â€

Thatâ€s when Russo brought Karrion Kross into the conversation, using his WWE departure as the example. Russo then delivered his most explosive claim of the segment:

“If thatâ€s not the truth, then explain to me about Karrion Kross. Why is Karrion Kross no longer in the WWE? Iâ€ll tell you why—because Triple H knew that Karrion Kross was going to be a bigger star than he was.â€

With the accusation out in the open, Russo shifted gears and addressed Kross directly, extending an open invitation to bring his post-WWE career to Juggalo Championship Wrestling:

“Oh, now youâ€re starting to listen. Oh, now you understand. And Karrion Kross—if youâ€re listening—you are welcome here anytime. With Scarlett.â€

The timing of Russoâ€s comments is hard to ignore. Kross and Scarlett have recently been vocal about thriving outside WWE, and Russoâ€s public pitch adds another layer to the ongoing conversation about talent freedom, creative control, and life after Stamford.

Is Vince Russo right about Triple H letting personal bias shape WWEâ€s roster decisions? And should Karrion Kross take him up on the JCW invitation? Drop your thoughts below and join the conversation.

December 11, 2025 7:27 pm

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The Dodgers have become the most well-run machine in baseball — not only as back-to-back World Series champions but also as the owners of the best farm system in the league.

Through timely trades, smart drafting, excellent player development and more, Los Angeles has amassed envious depth and top-end talent.

COMPLETE DODGERS PROSPECT COVERAGE

Currently, the Dodgers have seven Top 100 prospects as well as two more prospects — outfielder James Tibbs III (No. 8) and right-hander River Ryan (No. 9) — who recently spent time on that list.

Of course, with graduations and strong 2026 performances, it won’t be long before more Dodgers prospects join the Top 100. Here’s a look at three possibilities of who could be next to join these ranks.

Vargas has been a name to watch since signing for $2,077,500 as the No. 3 prospect in the 2023 international class. The other four players in the top five — Padres catcher Ethan Salas, Mariners shortstop Felnin Celesten, Reds catcher Alfredo Duno and Athletics righty Luis Morales — have all spent time in the Top 100, and Vargas has as much potential as any of them.

The Dominican native will show flashes of average-or-better tools across the board, highlighted by consistent right-handed power and a plus arm, giving him the chance to be an offensive-minded shortstop in a 6-foot-3 frame.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to tap into that potential yet because injuries have slowed his development. He’s played just 118 games in his three pro seasons, and three separate injured list stints in 2025 limited him to a career-low 133 plate appearances. When he did play, he showed concerning swing-and-miss issues, with a 30.4 percent strikeout rate and just a 7.4 percent walk rate.

Vargas has plenty to prove against more advanced pitching after thriving in limited samples in Rookie ball, so just staying healthy in his second go-around at Single-A would be a major success. But if he can also improve his pitch recognition, he has the type of impact power to become a star, even with a fair number of K’s.

The Dodgers’ farm system is overflowing with quality outfielders, and Ko is one of the most unsung prospects. Now 19, he is older than most signees in the 2024 international class, but that also came with more success on the international stage in the U-18 World Cup.

Ko is well built at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and stands out for his offensive potential from the left side of the plate. He has natural strength and bat speed, and he figures to maximize his power because of how often he puts the ball in the air. He also benefits from a disciplined approach, with nearly as many walks (17.0 percent) as strikeouts (19.8 percent).

The big question for Ko is whether he’ll be able to stick in center field. He received most of his reps in center in Rookie ball but largely played left at Single-A in deference to better defenders. This type of offensive profile as an up-the-middle defender would be a good bet to become a Top 100 prospect, although he should still hit enough to make an impact if he has to stick to a corner.

Davalan had one of the best hit tools in the 2025 Draft, where the Dodgers drafted him 41st overall out of Arkansas, and he showed as much during an eight-game stint against overmatched competition in Single-A when he slashed .500/.541/.735. Big-time Southeastern Conference producers are expected to thrive at Single-A, but that’s still a great first step for him.

The 21-year-old has a swing geared for contact and a disciplined approach that should enable him to reach base at a high clip. While he doesn’t elevate the ball a ton, he’s fairly strong for a 5-foot-9 hitter and should be able to nab extra bases with his impressive speed.

Davalan uses those wheels to his advantage in center field and played some second base in college, so that versatility could come in handy. Worst-case scenario, he should be an above-average defender in left (since he doesn’t have the arm for right), although that would put pressure on his bat to deliver more pop.

The Dodgers have a track record of coaxing more power out of their hitters, so perhaps Davalan could find another gear, consistently reaching 20 homers per year. He’s already got a 60 grade on the most important tool (hitting), so he’s not far from Top 100 status.

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A mile high, a new day is dawning over Coors Field. Or at the very least, an old day is fading to black.

To the ball fans of Denver, that is welcome news.

For a long while now, the Colorado Rockies have been an utter catastrophe, the epitome of sporting woe. Since 2020, no MLB franchise has lost more games. Colorado is the only club with a winning percentage south of .400 over that span. The Rockies have not reached the postseason since 2018 and have captured just one postseason victory since current owner Dick Monfort became the teamâ€s control person in 2011.

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Yet somehow, rock-bottom only just arrived.

The 2025 Rockies were a disaster, an eyesore, an undermanned, poorly constructed excuse of a big-league team. After starting the season 9-50, Colorado managed to climb its way out of the record books, if only by a hair. The Rockies finished the campaign 43-119, two losses shy of the all-time mark. The pitching staff led baseball in runs allowed (1,021), and the lineup finished 29th in runs scored (583). That minus-424 run differential was the single worst mark of the modern era.

All that losing had one silver lining: Change, something the entire organization had long seemed allergic to, is finally happening.

‘We’ve probably lost sight of innovationâ€

First out the door was longtime manager Bud Black, fired in May amid the teamâ€s catastrophic start. Then, at the season’s merciful end, came the departure of two organizational fixtures: general manager Bill Schmidt and assistant general manager Zack Rosenthal. Schmidt joined the Rockies in 1999 and had been GM since 2021. Rosenthal was hired in 2006 and rose to AGM in 2014. Publicly, neither was fired, as Rosenthal resigned and the Rockies framed Schmidtâ€s leaving as a parting of ways, but their exits were a direct result of the teamâ€s horrendous season.

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In November, after a lengthy, disjointed search, the Rockies hired former “Moneyball†darling Paul DePodesta to be the clubâ€s new president of baseball operations. DePodesta, 52, rose to fame as a key figure in the early days of baseballâ€s statistical revolution, but he spent the past decade as the chief strategy officer for the NFLâ€s Cleveland Browns. To work beneath DePodesta as the general manager, Colorado brought in Josh Byrnes, a front-office vet with GM stints in San Diego and Arizona. Byrnes, 55, had been the Dodgers†senior vice president of baseball operations since 2014, with a focus on the MLB Draft. Finally, the team announced that Warren Schaeffer, who finished the season as the interim manager, would be back in 2026.

DePodestaâ€s hire was surprising, especially given that the Rockies were reportedly deep into talks with Clevelandâ€s Matt Forman and Arizonaâ€s Amiel Sawdaye, two well-regarded executives with real influence in their respective organizations. But the man who inspired Jonah Hillâ€s character in “Moneyball†is, at the very least, an outside voice, something that couldnâ€t be said about Coloradoâ€s previous two top baseball ops execs.

The task ahead of DePodesta, Byrnes and whoever else heeds the call is downright monumental. This is an organization in disarray, depressingly behind the times. Walker Monfort, the ownerâ€s older son and the teamâ€s executive vice president, has been refreshingly open about that in the weeks since DePodestaâ€s hiring.

“I think one thing that I would attribute to the past, you know, half-decade that we’ve been through,†Walker, 39, told DNVR Rockies this week, “we’ve probably lost sight of innovation and lost sight of just continuing to evolve our process.â€

‘Everybody seems to be a liferâ€

While itâ€s encouraging that Monfort, who holds significant sway in the franchise and was a key part of the executive search, understands the situation, itâ€s a massive problem that things went so sideways in the first place.

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How did it get this bad?

A dozen former Rockies players, employees, coaches and other industry voices described a baseball operations department sealed off from the modern game. While most praised Monfort for his loyalty and described him as an affable character, they claimed that loyalty also precluded the Rockies from adopting new ideas, calcifying the entire operation from within. Over the past half-decade, as the rest of the league modernized at warp-speed, Coloradoâ€s ambivalence toward innovation left it mired in the dark ages and unable to deal with the unique challenges of playing at high altitude. That fans continued to pack Coors Field, despite the on-field ineptitude, reduced any incentive for the team to rethink its approach.

“The entire operating model was do what we tell you to do, be loyal,†one former employee told Yahoo Sports. “And we don’t even care if you’re competent. We just want to keep things exactly as they are.â€

Indeed, before this winterâ€s drastic overhaul, Coloradoâ€s front office featured a stunning amount of continuity. Among the nine people who held director-level positions or above in Coloradoâ€s baseball operations department entering 2025 (including the since departed duo of Schmidt and Rosenthal), the average tenure was a whopping 26 years.

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Danny Montgomery (VP/AGM of scouting), Rolando Fernandez (VP of international scouting), Paul Egins (senior director of MLB operations) and Marc Gustafson (senior director of scouting) have all been employed by the Rockies for more than 30 years. Both Chris Forbes (senior director of player development) and Brian Jones (director of R&D) have eclipsed the 20-year mark. In fact, the only person director-level or higher with fewer than 20 years of Rox Time is Sterling Monfort, the director of pro scouting and the ownerâ€s youngest son.

“Everybody seems to be a lifer. It is kind of insane,†a former Rockies minor leaguer explained. “A lot of coaches were former players. Some people I played with, you know, they’re great guys, but I never thought, ‘Wow, this guy should definitely be a professional baseball coach.†And all of a sudden, they’re the hitting coach somewhere the next year.â€

[Get more Colorado news: Rockies team feed]

Certainly, a number of the Rockies†loyalists are intelligent, employable baseball people with worthwhile perspectives and valuable experience. But the absence of outside voices, fresh ideas or modern insights effectively fossilized the entire baseball operations department from the top down. That insular environment created what other teams consider to be a very warped view of contemporary baseball, something that rears its head quite often in trade negotiations.

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“Every trade deadline is mind-boggling to the point itâ€s expected we wonâ€t get a reasonable or usable response,†a member of another clubâ€s front office told Yahoo Sports. “We understand that if thereâ€s a targetable player on Colorado, weâ€re probably not going to acquire him because [the teamâ€s] logic is singular.â€

‘There’s not really an incentive to winâ€

The teamâ€s resistance to evolution has been particularly harmful as it pertains to pitching development — or lack thereof. Multiple former Rockies hurlers admitted they actively sought help from sources outside the organization after realizing that their clubâ€s pitching coaches and staff were unable to help them improve. That arms such as Jeff Hoffman, Jon Gray and Tyler Matzek experienced success upon leaving the Rockies only furthered the belief among pitchers inside the org that something was seriously wrong.

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“They did nothing but waste five years of that guyâ€s life,†one former Rockie said of Hoffmanâ€s time in Colorado.

Others described an atmosphere outright opposed to modern technologies that have become commonplace around professional baseball. Two separate sources recounted a story from the beginning of the 2024 season, when the team prohibited players at multiple levels from throwing bullpens in front of trackman units, mobile devices that capture and display pitch data in real time.

“I remember somebody more or less tricked an intern into giving us a TruMedia password,†a former Rockies minor-league player recounted, referencing the data analytics platform used by a majority of MLB clubs. “And it was just, like, one TruMedia password spread across a pretty good chunk of the orgâ€s players so that they could see game data.â€

One prominent agent told Yahoo Sports that due to the Rockies†poor reputation for development, their agency has had higher draft signing-bonus demands for pitchers garnering interest from the team. A pitcher from another organization described a former Rockie as being on “cloud nine†upon learning about his new teamâ€s technological capabilities.

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Colorado does employ a handful of progressive pitching types — names mentioned include coordinator of performance science Emilio Martinez and former big leaguer Scott Oberg, who serves as the teamâ€s director of pitching — but forward-thinkers of that ilk have been few and far between, and theyâ€ve rarely received the institutional buy-in to implement new ideas.

With Paul DePodesta (top middle) now in charge, there’s reason for optimism that a renovation of Colorado’s front office is coming.

(Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports)

â€A beer garden with a ball fieldâ€

Coloradoâ€s organizational stasis was further reinforced by the teamâ€s sustained success on the business side. Why change the process when youâ€re making money?

Coors Field is a gem of a ballpark, and the Rockies pack it more often than youâ€d expect for a divisional doormat. The team has finished in the top half of the league in attendance per game every season since 2008 and did so again in 2025, despite the abysmal on-field performance. One former player jokingly described the yard as “a beer garden with a ball field.â€

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A different departed employee, in a round-about way, framed the dynamic as a compliment. “They’ve diversified the business in a way that I think is actually shrewd,†he said. “There’s not really an incentive to win. Then the baseball part just becomes this old guys†fantasy team, basically.â€

Another former Rockie was much more critical, telling Yahoo Sports during the 2025 season: “As long as the bottom line is good, [Monfort] doesnâ€t give a s***.â€

But that same player was extremely complimentary of Monfort as a person and the general friendliness that pervaded all parts of the operation.

“Dick Monfort is an incredible person to be around,†the former player said. “Everybody was great, and they all treated me well. They were all super nice, caring people, but it’s because they’re so comfortable at their job — because they know performance does not matter.â€

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With the hiring of DePodesta, that dynamic has already begun to change.

All signs point toward a renovation of Coloradoâ€s front office, with player development first up. During his introductory news conference, DePodesta made a special mention of rethinking how the Rockies approach pitching. Byrnes, who ran point on the Dodgers†draft for years, will surely modernize the teamâ€s amateur scouting department. Figuring out how to turn the high-altitude mysteries of Coors Field into a home-field advantage will also be absolutely crucial.

But at this point, it remains to be seen how many of the multi-decade, high-level employees stick around for the DePodesta Era. That hinges on whether Dick Monfort gives the green light for a total teardown. Assuming he does, the tough part will begin in earnest, as DePodesta and Byrnes will have to identify qualified candidates and sell them on a new vision for Colorado baseball — and then, eventually, craft a competitive roster.

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But while the mountain is tall and the path to the summit arduous, the Rockies have already taken the most important step: Trying something new.

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Laurie Canter turned down a PGA Tour card and joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf for the second time. The league announced Monday he has joined the Majestiks for the 2026 season.

Canter finished at No. 7 in the Race to Dubai and was among 10 players on the European tour who earned a chance to join the PGA Tour. By joining LIV Golf, he is suspended from the PGA Tour and his card goes to Daniel Brown.

“Joining Majesticks GC is an incredible opportunity to be part of a team that has helped shape LIV Golf from day one,” Canter said in a statement.

The 36-year-old from England was an unusual case when LIV launched its league in 2022. He had limited status on the European tour and joined the Saudi-backed league to have a place to play. Canter played seven times in the inaugural year and finished 28th in the standings.

He was a reserve in 2023, filling in for injured players and competed 11 times in LIV Golf. Canter began 2024 playing twice with LIV as a reserve until he was replaced by Anthony Kim.

He returned to the European tour and won the European Open in Germany in 2024. Winning again in early 2025 in Bahrain led Canter to reaching No. 50 in the world ranking. That got him into The Players Championship, making him the first former LIV player in the tour’s premier tournament. He also made it into the Masters.

Canter joins Victor Perez of France in joining LIV Golf.

The Majestiks is an English-based team that began with Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Sam Horsfield. Stenson failed to finish in the top 48 this year and was relegated, opening a spot for Canter.

“The league’s growth has been remarkable and my experience in the league has led me to become a more complete player and a multiple winner on the DP World Tour,” Canter said, referring to the corporate name of the European circuit. “To return to the league with Majesticks GC is a huge honor, and they bring a standard of excellence, ambition, and identity that really resonates with me.”

Last year, Tom McKibbin earned a PGA Tour card through the European tour and joined LIV in January. Because the season already had started, his PGA Tour card was not given to the next in line. Brown can accept it because Canter signed with LIV before the end of the year.

Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai was posted by the Seibu Lions earlier this month, opening the door for the starter to transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball. Since then, questions have arisen as to which roster the star pitcher could end up on.

Some have picked the Los Angeles Dodgers — a team featuring Japanese stars such as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki — as a potential landing spot. But it looks like Imai is not on board with the idea.

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In an interview on Japanese news program “Hodo Station,” Imai said he would rather beat the star-studded Dodgers than play with them.

“Of course, Iâ€d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki,” Imai said, via MLB.com, “but winning against a team like that and becoming a World Champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I’d rather take them down.”

If he were to join the majors, Imai would be the latest Japanese pitcher to transition to the U.S. In addition to Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki in the Dodgers’ rotation, Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga and New York Mets ace Kodai Senga have become some of the top pitchers in the league after being posted over the past few years.

But Imai said he doesn’t necessarily want to play with another Japanese player because he wants to fully embrace the experience of being on a diverse team.

“If there were another Japanese player on the same team, I could just ask them about anything, right?” Imai said. “But thatâ€s actually not what Iâ€m looking for. In a way, I want to experience that sense of survival. When I come face-to-face with cultural differences, I want to see how I can overcome them on my own — thatâ€s part of what Iâ€m excited about.”

MLB has embraced the influx of Japanese talent in recent years. The 2025 season started with a matchup between the Dodgers and Cubs in Tokyo, with Ohtani, Yamamoto and Imanaga among the players featured in the international event.

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That embrace will likely extend to Imai, who is one of the best pitchers in NPB. Imai, who sits at No. 14 on Yahoo Sports’ free agency rankings, would be a great pickup for any team looking to boost its rotation. Last season, the 27-year-old starter recorded a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts over 163 2/3 innings.

Imai was posted Nov. 10, which started the 45-day clock for MLB teams to negotiate with the starter on a contract. (As of Monday, that window is about one-third of the way through.) If he agrees to a deal, whatever team lands him will pay a posting fee for the Lions, which will vary based on the contract. If Imai does not agree to a deal, he will return to NPB for next season.

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Friday at 8 p.m. ET marks the deadline for teams to tender a contract for 2026 to players under club control who haven’t already signed contracts for the upcoming season.

If the club opts not to do so, it “non-tenders†the player, who becomes a free agent and then can sign with any team.

Some notable players who were non-tendered in 2024 include Kyle Finnegan (Nationals), Austin Hays (Phillies), Griffin Canning (Braves), Jordan Romano (Blue Jays), Gavin Sheets (White Sox) and Mike Tauchman (Cubs). All of those players went on to join other teams except Finnegan, who re-signed with the Nats in February.

With input from MLB.com senior national reporter Mark Feinsand, here is a list of some of the more interesting non-tender candidates to watch ahead of Fridayâ€s deadline.

(Note: This list doesn’t include non-tender candidates who were designated for assignment prior to Tuesday’s deadline for teams to set 40-man rosters, such as first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, third baseman Ramón Urías, outfielder JJ Bleday and utility man Christopher Morel.)

Jake Bauers, 1B, Brewers
The Brewers cut Bauers loose last offseason before re-signing him to a Minor League deal, so even if they non-tender him, itâ€s possible theyâ€ll look to bring him back again later. He posted career highs in batting average (.235), on-base percentage (.353) and OPS (.752) over 86 games this past season and appeared in six playoff games with a .973 OPS.

Luis Campusano, C, Padres
The Padres have cycled through a long list of veteran catchers in recent years, never giving Campusano an extended look as their starting backstop. The former MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospect owns a .666 OPS over 592 career plate appearances in the Majors, though he did put up a .336/.441/.595 slash with 25 homers over 105 games for Triple-A El Paso in 2025.

Adolis García, OF, Rangers
García will always hold a special place in Rangers history for what he did during the teamâ€s run to the 2023 World Series title, recording eight homers with 22 RBIs (an MLB postseason record) and a 1.108 OPS in those playoffs. He also put up 39 homers, 107 RBIs and an .836 OPS in the regular season that year, winning a Gold Glove Award for good measure. However, Garcíaâ€s downfall has been swift — he had a .684 OPS in 2024 and was even worse in â€25 (.665).

Luis García Jr., 2B, Nationals
García had a solid year as a 24-year-old in 2024, hitting .282 with 18 homers, 22 steals, a .762 OPS and 5 Outs Above Average, but he regressed in â€25 (.701 OPS, -7 OAA). The Nationals†new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni must now decide if García is worth keeping around at a higher price point after he earned $4.5 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility this past season. Itâ€s also possible Washington will tender García a contract and then look to trade him. The second-base market in free agency isnâ€t particularly strong this year, especially after Gleyber Torres accepted the Tigers†qualifying offer.

Jonah Heim, C, Rangers
Heim was an integral part of the Rangers†World Series championship club in 2023, combining a solid bat (18 HR, 107 OPS+) with elite defense en route to a 4.0-WAR regular season (per FanGraphs). But in the two years since, the catcher has been worth -0.6 fWAR, declining on both sides of the ball.

Jonathan India, 2B, Royals
India won the National League Rookie of the Year Award with 21 homers, an .835 OPS and a 116 OPS+ over 150 games for the Reds in 2021, but he hasnâ€t been able to return to those heights. Traded from Cincinnati to Kansas City last November, the 28-year-old never got on track with his new club and finished with a career-low 89 OPS+ in 136 games. He also had a negative Outs Above Average figure at three different positions: second base (-6), third base (-4) and left field (-3).

Nolan Jones, OF, Guardians
Jones looked like a future star as a rookie in 2023, producing a 20-20 season with a .931 OPS over 106 games for the Rockies, who acquired him from the Guardians in November 2022. However, he has mustered just eight homers, 13 steals and a .618 OPS in 215 games over the past two years. Colorado traded him back to Cleveland last March for utility man Tyler Freeman.

Trevor Larnach, OF, Twins
A corner outfielder and DH who bats from the left side, Larnach went deep 32 times for the Twins over the past two years. He had his best season in 2024, recording a .771 OPS and a 116 OPS+ while rarely playing against left-handers. Larnach’s production sagged a bit in 2025 (.727 OPS) as his exposure to southpaws grew. The 28-year-old owns a lifetime .759 OPS against right-handers but just a .585 OPS against lefties.

MJ Melendez, OF, Royals
Melendez was once a highly touted catching prospect, but the presence of veteran backstop Salvador Perez in Kansas City and Melendezâ€s own defensive struggles behind the plate as a rookie prompted the Royals to move the Florida native to the outfield full time. His fielding woes have continued after the position switch, and he hasn’t hit enough to offset his lack of defensive value. Melendez did record at least 16 homers and 21 doubles in each of his first three seasons, but he is a lifetime .215/.297/.388 hitter with a 90 OPS+. He spent most of 2025 playing for Triple-A Omaha.

Ryan Mountcastle, 1B, Orioles
Mountcastle hit 33 homers and produced a .796 OPS in his first full MLB season in 2021, but his home run total has decreased in each subsequent year. The right-handed slugger finished with seven dingers and a career-low 83 OPS+ over 89 games in 2025, missing significant time due to a right hamstring injury. With youngsters Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo expected to garner substantial playing time between DH and first base and trade acquisition Taylor Ward giving the team another right-handed power bat, itâ€s difficult to see where Mountcastle fits on the Oâ€s 2026 roster.

Evan Phillips, RP, Dodgers
After a partially torn rotator cuff stalled Phillips†scoreless 2024 playoff run and forced him to miss the World Series, the righty dealt with further injury issues in â€25. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May and will miss the start of 2026. Still, we canâ€t forget how effective he was for the Dodgers across 2022-24, recording a 2.21 ERA with a 10.4 K/9, a 2.3 BB/9 and 44 saves.

Jesús Sánchez, OF, Astros
Sánchez has hit six career home runs at 460 feet or farther, including a 496-foot blast at Coors Field in 2022, but his quick bat and impressive raw power have yet to translate into consistent production in the Majors. The lifetime .239/.307/.420 hitter posted a .611 OPS over 48 games after the Astros acquired him from the Marlins for three players at last season’s Trade Deadline.

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Getting into WWE can be a goal for even those with settled jobs, and Vince McMahon particularly admired those stars.

Apart from being known as a former Nexus member and later as an announcer for WWE, David Otunga is also a lawyer, having graduated from the prestigious Harvard Law School before working in a top firm for a few years. However, the passion to become a professional wrestler never left him, and once the door opened, Otunga jumped on the opportunity.

David Otunga Earned Vince McMahon’s Respect For His Bold Career Decision

While speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Otunga revealed that his look and unique life story helped him draw the attention of WWE officials.

He initially tried to land a spot on Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling reality show in 2008, but after that didn’t materialise, he eventually got in touch with John Laurinaitis, who helped him secure a tryout. Otunga would go on to sign a developmental contract with WWE, and then-boss Vince McMahon deeply respected his decision to become a wrestling star.

John Cena’s former tag team partner revealed that Vince McMahon always appreciated him for giving up a lucrative job to enter the squared circle.

My look and my story, and it was my passion, too. It was like, I really wanted to do this, and I remember Johnny Ace told me, one of the big things, especially coming from Vince, was that he always respected me because out of all the rookies and the guys who were there, I didn’t have to be there. I already had a career before; it’s a dream job for most people. I was making great money, but I left that because I wanted to do this. I wanted to be a professional wrestler. He always really respected that, respected my passion.”

Check out his comments in the video below:

David Otunga was in WWE from 2008 until his last appearance in 2019, having wrestled his last match in 2015 at a house show against R-Truth.

The ex-husband of Jennifer Hudson had dabbled in acting before and during his wrestling career. He has continued to do so, having appeared in TV series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Power Book IV: Force, and a few other movies since 2023.

He has also gained popularity for his YouTube channel, where he breaks down moments from his career and certain current wrestling-related topics from a lawyer’s perspective.

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Image credit:
Frank Anderson (Danny Parker/Four Seam Images)

Tennessee pitching coach Frank Anderson has informed university administrators of his intention to leave the Volunteers program to join the San Francisco Giants coaching staff, sources told Baseball America. His exact role with the Giants is unclear.

Anderson’s departure continues a stretch of significant change in Knoxville following former head coach Tony Vitelloâ€s move to San Francisco to become the Giants’ manager last month. Tennessee director of pitching development Josh Reynolds is expected to be promoted to pitching coach.

Anderson is regarded as one of the premier pitching developers in college baseball. He served as Oklahoma Stateâ€s head coach from 2004-12 and held assistant roles across the country dating back to 1984.

Over his four decades in the college game, Anderson has coached 103 pitchers who were selected in the MLB Draft, including 10 first-round picks. Four of those first-rounders came at Tennessee, where Anderson helped build one of the nationâ€s most consistent and aggressive pitching staffs. The Volunteers have produced at least three drafted pitchers in each of the last four years, including five selections in 2025.

Anderson was named interim head coach in early October after Vitello left for the Giants. Vitello, 47, reshaped Tennessee into a national power after his arrival in 2018. The Volunteers won their first national championship in 2024, reached the College World Series three times in the past five seasons and set a school record with 61 wins during their title run. Vitello also oversaw a recruiting surge that positioned Tennessee among the top programs in the sport. Following the 2024 season, he signed a five-year contract extension that made him the first college head coach to earn more than $3 million annually.

Tennessee, which promoted former associate head coach Josh Elander to head coach, hired Florida assistant Chuck Jeroloman to fill its previous vacancy.

The Volunteers also lost director of performance Quentin Eberhardt to the Giants this month. He was replaced by former MLB strength coach Keegan Knoll.

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Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar made their returns to WWE RAW tonight to fill out their respective Menâ€s WarGames teams at Survivor Series.

During the closing segment of RAW, during the Menâ€s WarGames Face-Off, there were no words exchanged, only fists as the eight announced participants of the match brawled all around the ringside area.

The babyface team quickly got the advantage, which led to the return of Brock Lesnar. The fifth and final man on Paul Heymanâ€s Vision WarGames Team.

Punk tried to attack Lesnar as he entered the ring and was absolutely obliterated. Cody Rhodes tried to assist but got beaten down as well. Triple H tried to pull his NXT “throw up the closing tag†to make you think the show was over, but out came Roman Reigns as the fifth man for the other team.

Reigns and Lesnar would face off in the ring, much to the delight of the Madison Square Garden crowd. Lesnar tried to attack first, but Reigns countered with a Superman Punch, sending Lesnar stumbling out of the ring.

This led to Bronson Reed attacking Reigns from behind. Reed tried to go for a Tsunami, but Reigns got back up before he could and hit him with a Superman Punch as well. The NYPD (thatâ€s what they said) gets involved to try and calm down the chaos as Reigns spears Reed through the barricade as RAW goes off the air.

The card for WWE Survivor Series: WarGames continues to take shape

After tonightâ€s episode of RAW, the card for the upcoming Survivor Series: WarGames premium live event has started to come together.

Here is the current card for WWE Survivor Series: WarGames…

• Menâ€s WarGames Match: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, The Usos, and Roman Reigns vs. Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre, and Brock Lesnar
• Womenâ€s WarGames Match: Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and TBA vs. Asuka, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, Lash Legend, and TBA
• WWE Intercontinental Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio
• Womenâ€s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Nikki Bella

WrestleZone will have live coverage of WWE Survivor Series: WarGames later this month.

READ MORE: Solo Sikoaâ€s WWE RAW Mystery Opponent Revealed

What do you think of the Menâ€s WarGames teams this year overall? Which team do you think will basically come out on top? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

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The Dallas Mavericks have a very intriguing opening in their front office after firing general manager Nico Harrison, and former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers is the most decorated executive available.

That doesn’t mean the two parties are bound for one another, however.

According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, “Myers is not a candidate for the front office opening in Dallas created by Harrison’s departure and is not even available to serve as a consultant to other teams after his recent departure from ESPN to take a new position as president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NFL’s Washington Commanders, Crystal Palace of the Premier League and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils in addition to the Philadelphia 76ers.”

It’s easy to understand why Myers would be linked to the Mavs, however. Alongside his pedigree, Stein reported that Myers is “close with new Mavericks CEO Rick Welts after their years together in Golden State and will indeed be asked for suggestions and input on next steps given the Myers/Welts friendship.”

Myers, 50, spent 12 seasons with the Warriors in their front office and helped construct rosters that won four titles. He was named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2015 and 2017 and stepped away from the organization in 2023.

Harrison, 52, became a target of criticism for Mavericks fans after trading superstar Luka DonÄić last season. That created a negative vibe around the team that stretched into this season, to the point that a divorce seemed inevitable. His replacement will be tasked with either building a championship contender around rookie Cooper Flagg and veteran stars Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, or rebuilding for the future around Flagg and trading Davis and Irving.

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