#roster-management

#roster-management

Previewing tonight's visit to Columbus for a preseason date with the Blue Jackets from Vogs. Checking in with the coach and the kid after yesterday's practice. [Caps video (Carbery, Leonard)] Ryan Leonard finally scored a goal on a goalie (and again in the shootout) in Sunday's win in NJ, but for his coach, Leonard's successful evolution goes far beyond the scoresheet. [WaPo]

Wrapping up our 2024-2025 report cards is Chris Drury and the Rangers front office. To put it mildly, many of the Rangers issues last year started with Drury's summer roster management, which he tried to rectify with a flurry of midseason trades. As such, his report card grade is a tale of two Drury's.

The Rangers looked good, and though it's only one preseason game, there is some legitimate hype around some of the kids. But with the hype comes worries with the Rangers rushing prospects to the NHL, something that has plagued them the last few years. Though numerous kids have started camp with a bang, it's easy to forget that the Rangers rushing prospects isn't a good idea if they want to have more success in their next window.

The Washington Wizards have piled plenty of talent on the roster this offseason. Between veteran additions, a fully loaded incoming rookie class and multiple high upside swings on former first-round picks, general manager Will Dawkins has put in plenty of work. However, the abundance of moves don't mean the general manager's work is finished. In fact, his work is just getting started.

Brandon Sproat is making it nearly impossible for the Mets to keep him down in the minors for much longer. The 24-year-old has hit his stride with Triple-A Syracuse after a bobble upon his promotion from Double-A Binghamton. He went six innings on Tuesday night, allowing just one run on two hits with eight strikeouts. Over his last nine starts (48.1 innings pitched), he has a 2.05 ERA with 57 strikeouts and a 0.850 WHIP.

Myles Straw has been 'Mr. do-it-all' for Toronto this season, contributing to the Blue Jays offense through tough at-bats, bunting, timely hits, and defensive plays.

GM Carter Hawkins mentioned, "It's hard when you see other teams you're competing with get really good players, but those aren't decisions you're making in the moment."

Teams view preseason as a way to give reserves and hopefuls playing time instead of treating it as essential for the league calendar.

The Orioles have claimed right-hander Rico Garcia off waivers from the Mets, indicating a strategic move as they manage roster vacancies from trade deadline dealings.

David Stearns stated, "I look at our position-player grouping, and for the most part, I'm pretty pleased with where we are," demonstrating confidence in the lineup despite struggles.

Jorge Mateo is dealing with a hamstring strain and is expected to be sidelined for 8 to 12 weeks. He is already on the 10-day injured list for a different injury.

The Los Angeles Kings and general manager Ken Holland face a challenging offseason, needing to fill multiple roster holes while preparing for the 2025-26 season.

The Lakers' roster depth has been a significant issue, especially towards the end of the bench, limiting their options and exposing weaknesses when injuries arise.

"We're curious about how we can maximize this roster...being able to put him over there could be very advantageous."

Caitlin Clark's quad strain leaves the Indiana Fever facing significant challenges in navigating personnel losses, which is a critical aspect for all WNBA teams.

The San Francisco Giants have a 'good problem' with their roster as they navigate the challenges of player performance successfully.

The running back class is probably the deepest class in the draft. I think you can get a really good player from Round 1 through 5.