The Rangers Buyout Shattenkirk

There was a misunderstanding about when the second buyout window opened. Turned out is was yesterday, not Monday, and it stays open till 5 o'clock tomorrow.  The beats are reporting that the Rangers have bought out Kevin Shattenkirk, and while that creates 5M+ this year, it adds a 6M charge to next year's cap.  So, suboptimal,  Now having done that they can easily become cap compliant by sending Smith down to the AHL.  That said, he's hoping they can make a great Kreider trade and move Namestnikov for another 3rd rounder or something. Too bad things didn't work out better for Shatty, a fellow Ranger fan, who came at a discount. His getting here and getting injured, might have contributed to The Letter that started the rebuild.

Yanks Trade Joe Harvey for 20 yr old LHP Alfredo Garcia

The Yanks did nothing for their major league team at the deadline.  But they did use Joe Harvey to bring them the head and hopefully the rest of the body of Alfredo Garcia.  Garcia is just 20 and was an IFA from Venezuela, so I'd have to assume the the Yanks have been interested for years. We'll see what he can do.

As per the trade deadline. I didn't see any big possibilities, but I think Cash is probably going to get pounded by the fans and the press for marketing his search for pitching so often, then not getting any at the deadline. Also because the Astros traded for Grienke right at the deadline.  The Yanks were on his no-trade list.  He's got issues. Hopefully, the failure here will lead them to try some kids.

The Rangers Name Kris Knoblauch as the New Coach of the Wolf Pack

Okay, this seems perfect.  LOL Flyers jacket aside Knoblauch is exactly what we were looking for in an AHL coach. Though he's just 40, he's had a ton of coaching: first in the WHL when that was becoming a power league, then with the AHL's Erie Otters where he got to know JD and won 50 games three years in a row, and also with Team Canada, assisting with the U18's and U17's.  So the Rangers are getting young coach, who's succeeded everywhere he's been and developed a bunch of the Columbus squad.  You'll remember under McCambridge no one developed and the Rangers had to wait until players got "courtesy" promotion to see if they were any good.  Remember how Libor lit it up before getting hurt last year?  He'd been having a bad year in the AHL. Hopefully, the new Knobby will get everyone rowing to the NHL.  Though he is Canadian and may not know any of the kids.

The other tracks the Rangers might have looked at were the US, Swedish and Fin National Programs, or perhaps an American small college coach, but Knobby really fits the flight plan, and the Rangers are looking smart once again.

I think he was only available because the LOL Flyers hired Vigneault


UPDATE:  In my haste to get this out before I left this morning, I read Coach Knobloch's Erie career as being in the AHL instead of the OHL, the Canadian Major Junior League. so he didn't know JD from being under him in the Columbus hierarchy.  He did; however, coach Connor McDavid, and from what we can tell, did no harm.  So, sorry about the mislead. Doesn't change the analysis of what looks like a great hire.

Could be a Nutty Next Few Days

The Yankees have a 4pm est trade deadline Wednesday, and just an hour or so later, the Rangers's second buyout window closes.  So we probably will see some moves.

Putting pitching aside, the Yanks need to make a trade or two to get more IFA money to sign the other players they've promised out of this year's IFA class, since they gave pretty much their entire allotment to Jasson Dominguez.  But they've be flat raking in IFA over the last few years, and  those scouts deserve more kicks at the can, and thus, the Yanks need to make trades.

As per the pitching situation. It initially looked like the Yanks might do something like get Stroman and Ray. Now that's Stroman's out of the picture, I still think they might get Ray or they could go bigger at get Bauer.  Or do nothing, and perhaps just add a pen arm. We'll see. They have really missed Severino this year, and thank goodness for German (he's 13 and 2!).

The Rangers have to find about 6M in cap space and one way to at least knock out a big chunk of that sum would be to buyout, Smith, Staal or Shattenkirk. If it's Shatty, it will create about 6M in dead money next year, but would allow them to just send down Smith to become compliant. Still, that would be both lazy and painful, and that that's a brutal quinella for a management team.  Getting value for Kreider and buying out Smith, might be tougher, but they just have to make the buyout decision in the next two days, not the trade decision.

Should be an interesting time,

This Week on the Blog

Alright, Yankee pitching has collapsed, the Giants are hemorrhaging wideouts, the Rangers are locking guys up, but falling deeper and deeper into cap hell, and the Knicks are minding their own business, and probably off somewhere practicing with their coaches. Let's take a look at what's to come:

Yankees: The Yanks haven't been able to get off the floor, since their late flight into Boston on Wednesday night.  Just when everybody is talking about their need for pitching, the pitching they do have collapsed. Weird how that worked.  Anyway, the deadline is Wednesday, with no waiver period this year, so we'll know then what they have done.

The Yanks need to find a solution to their annual pitching struggles, and it's a shame that what they've been growing is either' moving through the minors - or injured - or both. Trades have no worked, though the also haven't represented overpays.  So, at the deadline, it would be great if the Yanks could find an early prime or almost prime pitcher or two, who can stabilize the rotation going forward. And that can only make sense, if once again, they don't overpay. And that means no Deivi Garcia or anyone 20 or younger going the other way.

Also, it would be good to get Stanton and Sanchez back - could help balance these football scores they've been part of.

Giants:  Speaking of football scores, the Giants won't score a lot without wide receivers and they also already lost a few.  First. Sterling Shepard broke his thumb, then Golden Tate got suspended for PEDs, and all of that was after Darius Slayton somehow pulled a hammy between mini-camp and the regular camp. So they're holding auditions.  Today they're looking at Kelvin Benjamin, a prospect I did not like (bad feet), but DG drafted, so something could happen there.  It doesn't surprise me that he's available in July.

UPDATE: The Giants, this morning,  have signed WR TJ Jones and re-signed WR Amba Etta-Tawo and placed Cory Coleman on IR.

Rangers: The Rangers have locked up Trouba and Buchnevich, but still have to sign DeAngelo and Lemieux.  Brendan will get what they give him - though I think he'll prove to be core.  DeAngelo probably has some leverage and the Rangers should think about bridging him or locking him up. Sure he's had maturity issues, but he's also a - no joke - great young player. Metrics paint a rosy picture indeed. So if they could make a two or three year bet that he's going to grow up and that would make a lot of sense.  A buyout window will be open from Monday to Wednesday day, so barring a few big trades, it sure looks like they're planning to use it.

Btw, the Rangers have a bunch of kids spread among teams USA and Sweden in the World Junior Summer Showcase, which is going on now.

Knicks: The Knicks are supposed to be off, but it sure seems like they are always practicing.  You don't  see year round team practices in other sports, but they apparently legal in hoops. Dennis Smith Jr keeps posting tapes featuring an improved jumper, and some serious AA around the hoop. Was never a big fan, but the knee injury is now years behind him and he's still young.  Maybe there's something there. RJ has supposedly been spending the offseason on his jumper - but it wasn't clear through Vegas. Frank is always working on his jumper but we haven't seen the fruits of that labor, either.

So there we are. The big stories are the MLB trade deadline, the Giants injury issues, and the Rangers cap crisis. The Knicks are just bopping along.  Have a great one and keep bopping.

The Rangers Come to Terms With Buch

The Rangers have announced they've avoided arbitration with Pavel Buchnevich by giving him a 3.25M bridge to cover the next two seasons. This is clearly a prove it deal. As a result of this, a second buyout window will open for the Rangers on Monday and last for 48 hours. It now seems this has been their plan to get cap compliant or at least get close to cap compliance - which could call for a trade or sending Smith or some group of players to the AHL.  We'll see.  Lemieux is the only unsigned guy (they signed Letieri the other day).  So, we should see what's cooking Monday, unless it leaks sooner.  They still have to find an AHL Coach.

Giants Update:Sterling Shepard Beaks his Thumb

Just extended Giant wideout Sterling Shepard left the field with what x-rays proved was a broken thumb, today.  With WR Darius Slayton already on a bike with a hammy, and updraft WR Alex Wesley on PUP, the Giants are suddenly thin in target for whomever turns out to be the quarterback.  Thumb seems like something that might take awhile for a receiver.

Giants Open Camp

Here we go! Giant camp officially opened today and it should be the start of a very interesting season.   Like pick 6 or not, the next Giant QB is on the roster and the the big question is: when is he taking over? Well, that's complicated, because they seem to have really improved the OL.  A lot of people believe and it is at least partly true that Eli has prematurely declined relative to his 2004 Draft Classmates River and Roethlisberger, is that the OL has been bad since the last Super Bowl win, and Eli's had to run for his life. And he's not a good runner.  So we'll have to see how this plays out.

Beyond the QB succession issue, the big questions surround how the passing game will look  and,i ndeed, work, without OBJ.  The Eli-OBJ thing wasn't working particularly well, so the entire enterprise could be a little less risky if they spread it around more. Perhaps Slayton can get deep. Maybe it will be less sort of stilted. We'll see.

In general, people seem to think the O will be okay, probably because the Giants have Saquon and have improved the OL. The D is a different thing.

Pundits seem more concerned with the Giant Defense. They could bee missing something there.  George Young, who didn't understand the Salary Cap, but did understand the Football part of Football, used is have something called the "Planet Theory." Which posited that teams should look for this biggest people on the planet. Dexter Lawrence is a planet theory dream come true. He's not one of the biggest athletes on the planet, but he's also a Dancing Elephant (another GY term) in that he has great feet and plus plus AA for his size. Anyway, he's joining a DL that also includes last year's surprising stud BJ Hill and third year Alabama product Dalvin Tomlinson.  And they can move them all around,

That's a lot of big guys who can move around, and there's also McIntosh.  They're going to crush the run, and probably make the pass rush a whole lot easier for Lorenzo Carter.Markus Golden and whoever else they can rotate. And this was supposed to be Betcher's who thing.

Peppers is also better than Landon Collins, who had a great second year before early onset decline. Peppers should also solidify our punt return and is a plus plus athlete at Strong Safety.  At Free Safety the Giants have added Antoine Bethea, who is still a good player and has played under Betcher before and could orchestrate coherence back their between the safeties and Jackrabbit and the kid Corners.

They also drafted Ryan Connelly to their linebacker rotation and he has a sick first step.  We'll see what happens, but the talent has been improved on D, even without Carter and Vernon, and especially since it is "year 2" of Betchers system and guys like Bethea and Golden can add to the on field coaching.

Didn't mean to write a preview, but Camp should be interesting.  Btw, the Giants were trying out veteran Safeties as the week opened and a signing could be imminent.

Giants Come to Terms with Daniel Jones

No field time was missed as the Giants, this evening, reached contract terms with their first first rounder, but last to sign, Daniel Jones. So Jones will be on the field with his fellow rookies tomorrow and nothing was missed. Now where it goes from here, is anyone guess.  But he lit up rookie camp as well as the veteran mini-camp. So, the sky seems to be the limit. This has been fun.

Giants Xman Signs

The Giants have come to terms with third round pass rusher Oshane Ximines. Thus, the surprisingly advanced small school gem won't miss any reps and can start competing tomorrow. I think he really will be part of the pass rush rotation right off the bat.  He knows how to tilt and use his hands.  Let's go, X.

This Week on the Blog

This week we saw the Yanks keep winning, the Giants staying quiet, the Rangers lock up Trouba and the Knicks lose one of their savvy veteran signings to surgery. A lot should change this week. Let's take a look.

Yankees: This year, 7/31 is the hard and fast trade deadline. and there's no waiver trade period. So the Yanks have 11 days to accomplish a few things. First, they have to move some players for more IFA dough, so they can sign the rest of their class.  Next,  this should still only be optional, but the Yanks seem hell bent on getting more pitchers. Last night they had Jim Hendry looking at Marcuis Strohman.  Now,  Strohman is one of those AL East guys I've long suspected of being a future Yankee. In fact, I was surprised when they traded for Sonny Gray instead of Strohman. That said, I don't think he's a number one playoff starter. He might get away with it,  Jimmy Key did. But I'm not sure he's that top tier starter that would make a difference.  Yes, Strohman makes the Yanks deeper through the rotation and yes he's having a great year, but he's not the guy you want matching up with Verlander.  And Madbum wasn't what he was, and the Giants might not be sellers,  Bauer might be the guy, but that would be a tough deal. So we'll see what they do.  Don't need another Kevin Brown or Randy Johnson. Ace everywhere but with the Yanks.

They also have to find more IFA money.

Giants: Rookies report Monday and the Vets join them on Wednesday,  I thought the original plan was to have the rookies in a full week earlier. Oh well. The Giants didn't make any roster moves during the break and I think Daniel Jones and Oshane Ximenes are still unsigned.  Although they are both reported to have reported already, So physicals and contracts? An annoiuncemtne should come by the start of camp.

Saw some articles this morning positing the idea that the Giants D might be worse this year.  I have a hard time believing that.  I don't think those reporters are realizing the effect that Dexter Lawrence will have. He's a mismatch up front and should create a lot of lanes for pass rushers all on his own.  Likewise, Jabrill Peppers is much better than the Landon Collins of `17 and `18.  And S Antoine Bethea can really get them lined up. So, the expectation here is that the Defense will be improved.

Rangers: Yesterday, the Rangers signed Jacob Trouba to a big deal, 6 days before they had to. This should indicate that they have a handle on their cap crunch. We'lll see when the next moves come.
They also really need to hire an AHL Coach and staff. I'd assume they'd want whoever it is involved with the Traverse City team. And speaking of Traverse City, who's gonna play C?  All the C prospects are either Swedish and in Sweden or at Cornell. Are Kravstov and Kaapo going to be prevailed upon again or are they going to ATO some guys to play C in the tourney. Anyway, there are still some mysteries here.

Knicks: So Bullock signed this week, then had surgery. No worries. All of these veterans are on easy contracts and surgery for one means an opportunity for a kid. No worries, and the Knicks should be more competitive out of the shoot especially if Smith or Peyton can establish something early. We have to see if the tank is finally off. Let's hope it's easy to discern.

So there it is, the Yanks are rolling, the Giants are back, the Rangers have to get cap compliant, and the Knicks can just kick it for awhile,  They can't trade any of their just signed players till December. have a great one!

Rangers Sign Trouba for 7/56M

So, since Panarin was signed on July 1, the Rangers have been playing with slightly more than 8M in cap space.  Pundits and, I guess, all of us, have been wondering what fraction of the 8M Jacob Trouba would end up costing, The answer today is 1/1. All of it. This raises a few questions.

First, why today? They had 6 more days to nurse this out and avoid arbitration.  So why today, when they knew they would be absolutely cap strapped as soon as they made the deal?

Hopefully, the answer is they already know how they will become unstrapped, and it won't be too painful. By that I mean, they aren't going to commit a costly buy out or two.  Though they might,  Next year would probably be the only painful year of a buyout  as the Cap will go up again in two years with the new CBA which will probably also offer some cap forgiveness for the teams.  So maybe they are buying out Smith or Shatty or Steal, or someone else. Or, maybe they've decided to bite the bullet and move Kreider, when keeping him could mean the playoffs.  We'll have to see, but the big player costs are now fixed.

Now onto Trouba.  For the Jets, Trouba was blocked by Dustin Byfuglien, but last year, was still one of only 13 D's to score 50 points. Of the 13 Trouba had the fewest opportunities. Now Trouba is not blocked and we could see a serious blossoming as his opportunities grow. So we should already see an improved D and PP.  But what we might also see is a revived Brady Skjei.  Trouba and Skjei are close and were paired in the US National Program as teenagers and I think Trouba can hold Skjei to his old standards.

Thus Trouba should be a big value add on the ice as well as a sunk but fixed cost off the ice.  Let's see what next.

They still have more RFA's and still need an AHL Coach and staff.

Rangers Sign FA F Phillip DiGiuseppe

DiGiuseppe is 25 and has played for the Hurricanes and the Predators, he's had a goal and 3 assists at the NHL level.  He was a pretty high second rounder (38th) by Carolina in 2012. And that where it gets interesting and tips the Rangers' hand.  See, after Phillip (misspelled, btw, Phillip with 2 L's is a last name not a first name) was draft he went off to play college hockey at Michigan - with Jacob Trouba. The same Jacob Trouba the Rangers traded for last month and have an arbitration meeting scheduled with on 7/25.

I think they'll probably getting something done before 7/25, but adding DiGiuseppe doesn't hurt.

Meanwhile, they really do need to get cap compliant while also being able to sign their other RFA's.  Thought this would happen a little quicker.

Yanks Pay Cash for Terrance Gore

Yanks added a possible base running threat for the playoffs when they bought Terrance Gore off of waivers from the Royals.  He's 40-49 for his career, and can probably add a different dimension as a baserunner.  The really fast guy's they have in the system aren't ready to be put on the 40 yet, so this is a decent stop gap, for what Billy Martin used to call "that National League bo bo."

Chapman to Opt Out

I guess by announcing this before the trade deadline, he's giving the Yanks a chance to hunt for a replacement right away. In any event, it's not like they don't already have a pair of experienced closers as well as maybe Betances and others coming back or up to join the pen before the playoffs start. Many fans are probable indifferent to his presence on the team, but the Yanks should, still consider offering him arbitration just to screw with him.

Yanks Slam Tampa

After last night's stunning loss, the Yanks looked like the could be headed for another loss.  CC had provided a quality start, and homers  Encarnacion and TJ kept it a one run game until the bottom of the 8th.  At that point, Aaron Judge hit a two run bomb, and DiDi slugged a Grand Slam, and the Yanks won 8-3  This was a big win after a big loss, and really the best we could have hoped for after losing the last 3 in a row to Tampa. There are two more games in the series and let's win both.

This Week on the Blog

Alright, the week we saw the Yanks come out of the break with as win, the Giants pass on the Supp Draft, the Summer Knicks pound the Summer Lakers, and the Rangers taking their time with their cap hell. Let’s look at whart’s combing our way this week.

Yankees: I think Monday is the deadline to sign their 2019 draft picks, so we’ll review that when it’s locked.  They did get their top 10 rounders buttoned up, and also finally added Pat DeMarco. They also, surporihngly added prep behemoth Montana Semmel in a bit of a change up. Beyond that, they need to swap some stuff for pool money and keep grabbing IFA’s.

On the big league level, German was excellent again last night, but before the game, Cash still reitererated his search for pitching,. He also raised the idea that Deivi Garcia could help this year. On this hitting side, Luke Voigt is back in the lineup today, and Encarncion looked like he might finally be adjusting last night. Happ is on the bump, and the game is starting in about 12 minutes.

Giants: The Giants rookies havee to show up a week before the vets, and that could be in the next week or so. Other than that, there’s been no news and that may be bsst.

Rangers: The Rangers are still jammed up on the cap, but the arbitration dates for Buch and Trouba aren’t till later in the month, so they have about 10 days left to make more room,. Gorton was on NHL Network and made some noise about getting a C. I hope that doesn’t mean Brian Boyle of the like. Beyond that, they have to find the right trade.  Kreider is probably the easiest to move, but if they keep him, they’re probably a playoff team. Thus they are probably looking at ways to fix their cap and keep Kreider. That could become easy if a market for Shatty develops.  But somethng’s gotta give.,

Knicks: The Knicks signed Marcus Morris, which gives them about 7 players whose best position is the 4.  He’s a pretty good player, but I hope they are not blocking Kevin Knox, who looks improved, or Iggy, who looks good, RJ Barrett struggled for his first game and a half, and Twitter was pretty loud with “I told ya so’s.”  Since the second half of the then second game; however, he has looked like a #3 overall pick and posted 2 double doubles, complete with assists, blocks and steals. He hasn’t  been efficient, but that will come.  They play again tonight.

So there it is.  Yanks are playing now, and Glayber just singled to right.  The Giants are getting ready to get ready.  The Rangers have to make a trade - and hire an AHL staff.  And he Knicks have to keep developing.  Have a great one. And let’s hope I get my computer back this week.

Rangers Sign Kaapo Kakko to ELC

So, while we wait for them to make cap room for the RFA’s, they had Kaapo room and signed the number 2 to pick to his ELC, indicated that they expect him to play this year,  Hopefully, he’s working hard as he apparently always does and he’ll make a rush (or hundreds of them) for the Calder Trophy,

In other Ranger matters, we’re still waiting for cap room as expressed above, as well as to hire a new AHL Coach and staff. Tempos Fugit.

Deivi Garcia Promoted to AAA

The meteoric rise of Deivi Garcia through the Yankee system has continued. He’s starting the AA all-star game tonight and then he’s heading to Scranton. Still don’t have my computer back or I’d post video of his sick, filthy stuff. He seems to have great make up, too. Sure, he’s under 6’0” tall, but so were some Hall of Fame pitchers.  It seems more likely that the Yanks are promoting him to see if he can help this year, than moving him up to showcase him for a trade. Why not leave him where he’s dominating rather than introduce a new challenge if they want to trade him?  We’ll see, but this could be the pitcher they need to help them through the postseason.

Knicks Sign Iggy

The Knicks have apparently given Iggy Brazdeikis a 3 year deal. Earlier, they had signed their first round pick RJ Barrett to whatever #3 overall picks get these days. They acknowledged Iggy’s deal before confirming any of the others from their July first and second signings. And dear lord, must NBA deals be so convoluted?  Sheesh. In any event, let’s hope they stay the hell away from Russell Westbrook. Since they have all these expirings, they’ll be marketed as trade destinations for whatever “stars” and it’s important for them to avoid flexing their flexibility for ball hogs or short guys.  Much as dislike the Lakers, their winning model has always started with getting a dominant C. They started with Mikan and have done it all the way to the Davis trade that they just ackowledged. Now, if Karl-Anthony Towns ever becomes available, it might be a good time to flex.

This Week on the Blog

This past week has seen the Yanks sign Dominguez and keep crushing, the Knicks deploy an intelligent Plan B, the Rangers reel in Panarin, and the Giants in repose.  Let’s take a look look at what’s coming up this week.

Yankees: The Yanks might be able to put Tampa to sleep before the All Star break. That would be ideal. And with German back and weaponized, the need to blow up the farm for some other team’s starter has lessened, though they’ll still most likely do something. And speaking of trades, they do need to make a few to add the international money needed to sign their IFA class. Between the last couple of drafts and the last few IFA classes, the Yanks have created more balance between hitters and pitchers in their prospect pool. It had gotten RHP heavy, but the hitters are popping up all over. Not the least of which is Volpe, who started his career with a 14 pitch walk, and has homered and tripled and stolen. Some of the big 1950’s style 1B’s are pounding to. So is Ryder Green. Good stuff.

Giants: The Giants are still off this week, but I do think the Supplemental Draft is coming up and there is a pretty good S in there, who, though undersized, might help

Rangers: The Rangers signed Panarin! And not only has that sped their clock, but it’s jammed up their cap to the point that they’ll have make a trade or two to so that they can sign their RFA’s.  Toward that end, Trouba and Buchnevich filed for arbitration yesterday. Because of that, another buyout window will open. Buyouts have consequences. And though the Rangers will have nice calm room at the end of the next two seasons, it would be better not to eat into it with buyouts. Instead, at some point this summer, there will be demand for Shattenkirk as an RHD who can run a power play.  They can also pull the trigger on a Kreider trade any time they want, though they are better with him next year and going forward. So it would be better to find takers for Namestikov and Strome. Only if they can’t should they consider buyouts.

Knicks: The KP trade came back to bite the Knicks last Sunday, when they were forced to realize that NBA Superstars don’t come alone. They no longer had KP, and that was the deal breaker.  All this said, things couldn’t have worked out any better. They still signed players, all but one of them has a team option every season - so they are constantly expiring or easily flipped back into cap space next summer. Well done, Knicks.

In other Knicks news, Summer League started last night and though the game was called with a few minutes left because of the earthquake, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox and Alonzo Trier all seem to have improved. Iggy was fine in his minutes and got to the line. RJ was like Starks in Houston. He was ball hogging and way off with his shots. Let’s just call it an inauspicious start.  He can only get better.

So there it is. The Yanks and Rangers have to make trades. The Giants have to keep getting ready for camp, and the Knicks need to keep improving.  Have a great one.  My computer will be back today or  tomorrow, so the blog will be edited and rewritten starting then

Domingo German Has Been Activated

Let’s hope Domingo has learned his lesson about aches and pains and communicating with the trainers. That said, let’s hope we get early season German back and that he can maintain a good pitch count.  Not having Betances has really discombobulated the bullpen, as we saw again last night, so we need the starters to start pulling their weight.  Anyway, getting German back should give everyone a bump.

Jasson Dominguez is a Yankee

The Dominican Mickey Mantle is in the fold at a price that might limit the overall size of the class, but elite talent costs and the Yanks never draft high enough to have access to guys like Jasson. Btw, he is named after Jason Giambi, and his dad is a huge Yankee Fan. Like Mantle, he is a switch hitter, and Mantle and Mike Trout are the only guys he ever gets compared to. The Yanks have a new best prospect.

UPDATE: The Yanks also added Dominican OF Jhon Diaz. Diaz was apparently the #18 prospect in the class, but I’d assume they had him higher. Also the Yanks will probably make a trade or two to get more international pool money. See ya, Cessa?

Knicks Sign PG Elfrid Payton for 2/16

The Knicks kept adding solid players on short contracts today, saw they added Scott. Pretty fave Elfrid Payton. Payton is a decent player and may even still have some upside in the right system. As we found earlier today, all of  thrse deals are really one year deals with club options.  None of the kids will be blocked.  This is so much bettterr than blowing it up for Anthony Davis or maxing an injured KD. And just kicking the space down the road tlll a valuable piece or two comes along, is a terrific strategy.

The Rangers Got Panarin?

Wow, Darren Dreger is reporting that not only is LW Artem Panarin coming to the Rangers, but he’s leaving money on the table to do so.  Panarin is like a point forward in basketball more than a sniper or a power forward. He’s highly skilled and his hockey IQ is outstanding. He’ll be great for the young Russians the Rangers are bringing up as well as for the young skill guys like Kaapo Kakko, Fil Chytil and the Swedes. I cannot wait to get my computer back so I can rewrite this stuff and add pics and videos.

UPDATE: Looks like it’s 7/81.5M.

Rangers Just Traded Jimmy Vesey to Buffalo

I thought this would happen during the draft. But all they got is a 2021 3rd.  Now they have extra 3’s in each of the next 2 drafts.  It saves the Rangers 2.275 million.  And it creates space for a high upside kid.

Knicks Sign Wayne Ellington

The Knicks just added 31 year old 6’5” 200 pound SG Wayne Ellington. He was the 28th pick of the 2009 draft out of UNC. Thid plethora of players they’ve added might just be the proper training wheels for the kids.  They certainly won’t block them.  They have about 10M and 2 roster slots left to fill.