#roster-changes

#roster-changes

He's looked good when he's been in there. I've really liked the looseness to his swing. I think the baserunning and defense is something that, I don't want to say I undervalued it, but it's been a pleasant surprise to me that he's a well-rounded player.

Giddey has been in the midst of his best season as a pro, averaging 18.6 points while slashing .462/.366/.775, along with 8.8 assists, 8.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 34 healthy bouts (31 starts). His health probably stopped him from having at least a chance at cracking the Eastern Conference coaches' reserves list for this year's surprisingly watchable All-Star Game.

Probably not. They've got stars all over the damn place, and to judge from years of vitriol you have to assume that by jettisoning Nick Castellanos the Phillies have banked another 20 wins, easily. The loss of Ranger Suárez stings, I'm sure, but the Phillies still go at least six deep in trustworthy starting pitchers. Barring several disasters, the Phillies will contend for the crown of the punishing NL East.

Bobby Slowik, who came to the Miami Dolphins last season as the senior pass game coordinator, will be named as their new offensive coordinator, a league source has confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. ESPN was the first to report Slowik's promotion. Slowik served as the Houston Texans' offensive coordinator for the two seasons (2023-24) before he joined the Dolphins, helping to develop young quarterback C.J. Stroud. Slowik's offense ranked No. 7 in 2023 and No. 2 in pass plays of more than 25 yards (41). Stroud had 23 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 100.8 passer rating.

"They didn't have a spot for me," he said of Tulane. "We're going in another direction."

Whatever you make of the bloodless decision to let him go to Baltimore without so much as a competitive offer, New York just isn't going to be the same place without Pete Alonso as part of it. That's what bothers me most. I saw Alonso as a guy the Phillies and Braves feared, and the fans embraced as one of theirs doing walkoff interviews with Gelbs at the stadium, a goofy, reliable slugger who came through in some huge moments and built an insurmountable lead for home runs by Guys Who Wore No. 20.