Latest Otto Porter Jr. injury update is worst case scenario for Raptors

Latest Otto Porter Jr. injury update is worst case scenario for Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are never considered a free agent destination, which made their ability to lure Otto Porter Jr. away from the Golden State Warriors that much more impressive. He seemed like a perfect fit for a team who needed veteran leadership and some shooting. While Porter had the most impactful season of his career […]
Latest Otto Porter Jr. injury update is worst case scenario for Raptors – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Cole Hamels wants to pitch in 2023. There’s no way the Blue Jays would be interested, right? RIGHT?!

Amidst the several free agent moves made on the hot stove recently, one former MLB pitcher has announced that he still wants another shot at taking the mound.

Multiple reports emerged on Wednesday afternoon that Cole Hamels still has ambitions of pitching in the MLB, per his agent, John Boggs.

Cole Hamels, still only 38, would like to pitch in 2023, his longtime agent John Boggs said. Hasn’t pitched since 2020.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 7, 2022

Hamels is a four-time All-Star, as well as a four-time top-8 finisher in Cy Young voting. His resume is stacked with postseason accomplishments, pitching in 17 playoff games, starting 16 of them, as well as being the MVP of the 2008 NLCS and the 2008 World Series.
Hamels owns a career 3.43 ERA, 2,560 strikeouts, and a .572 winning percentage. While his tenure with the Phillies highlights his career, Blue Jays fans may know Hamels well from his time with the Texas Rangers. He pitched against Toronto in both ALDS match-ups in ’15 and ’16.
Hamels hasn’t seen big league action since the COVID-shortened 2020 season with the Atlanta Braves. He only pitched 3.1 innings that year, as shoulder fatigue and triceps tendonitis kept him on the injur …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

Carlos Correa is opting out of his deal with the Twins, adding another star to this winter’s free agent market

Carlos Correa is a free agent again.

According to ESPN, the 28-year-old All-Star will exercise the opt-out clause in his contract with the Minnesota Twins and will hit the open market for the second consecutive winter.
Last year, Correa was one name in a huge list of star infielders who hit free agency at the same time, including Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Javier Baez, and Trevor Story. While those four aforementioned players signed long-term contracts, Correa opted to ink a short-term deal with the Twins with the option that he could soon test the market again when there weren’t as many quality names available at the same position.
Correa’s deal with the Twins was worth $35 million annually for three years with an opt-out after the first and second seasons. He slashed a .291/.366/.467 line with the Twins in 2022 and was worth 5.4 wins above replacement, according to Baseball-Reference. It wasn’t as good as his 2021 season with the Astros in which he was worth 7.1 wins and finished fifth in AL MVP voting, but Correa’s competition in free agency is lighter this time around, as the other two big names out there are Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson.
There was some talk last off-season during the dog days of winter that the Blue Jays co …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

NBA GMs confirm what we knew about Nick Nurse, Raptors fans

NBA GMs confirm what we knew about Nick Nurse, Raptors fans

The Toronto Raptors may not be the biggest free agent destination in the world, but Nick Nurse and Masai Ujiri have built one of the league’s most consistent and respected franchises. The Raptors have been consistent winners for a decade, with a championship ring in their possession. While a roster led by Rookie of the […]
NBA GMs confirm what we knew about Nick Nurse, Raptors fans – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Winners and Losers after Raptors sign Juancho Hernangomez

Winners and Losers after Raptors sign Juancho Hernangomez

The Toronto Raptors got in one last free agent signing at the eleventh hour before training camp starts. Juancho Hernangomez, who is known for his role in Adam Sandler’s “Hustle” as Bo Cruz, signed with Toronto on a one-year contract after spending 2021-22 with the Utah Jazz. Hernangomez is likely going to compete for a […]
Winners and Losers after Raptors sign Juancho Hernangomez – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

A crowded Leafs blueline means that someone could soon be traded

The 2022 Free Agent Frenzy has only been three days old and the Leafs have made a number of signings already. But besides the addition of Ilya Samsonov, most have been depth additions or fringe players on low-risk deals.
Two more players were given such contracts when the Leafs nabbed Victor Mete and Jordie Benn to identical one-year deals on Thursday night. Regardless of whether they get NHL action or not, it is clear Kyle Dubas wants to ensure his team has its bases covered for each position.
Related:
Leafs add Jordie Benn and Victor Mete as defensive depth
As a by-product of these signings, the Leafs now have eight NHL defensemen under contract along with Rasmus Sandin, who was given a qualifying offer but remains unsigned. Simply put, there are too many bodies on the blueline and something has to give or else someone won’t be getting much playing time.
Surely, this means a trade will soon follow, right?
Let’s start by crossing off the players who are unlikely to be dealt. Morgan Rielly’s new contract is set to kick in and is their best defenceman, he’s not going anywhere. Mark Giordano just signed a two-year deal so it’s unlikely he gets dealt so soon, especially since he provided a ton of value. TJ Brodie has been an integral piece on the blueline for the past two years and is also staying put. And Timothy Liljegren is not getting dealt because he has made impressive strides …

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Author: Michael Mazzei / The Leafs Nation

Keep expectations low: A Toronto Maple Leafs story

It’s free agent frenzy time. There are going to be some new Leafs today but when looking at top free agent lists, you can pretty much scroll to the bottom to see who the Leafs will be targeting.
Toronto is no place to make moves on the big names in free agency, and that is a bit of a mixed blessing as the more popular the player the more likely you’re looking at a scary cap hit or scary term. It might mean things are boring, but that beats a Mike Komisarek or David Clarkson redux.
The key driver for the day is the salary cap situation and here it is with the key vacancies in the lineup:

I’ve been incredibly generous with the placement of Nick Robertson in the top six and the Leafs should be looking for someone who has a bit more top six potential than leaning into the third line vacancy, but ultimately the Leafs are looking at bottom six forwards, another goaltender, and needing to figure out both space for Sandin in the lineup and under the cap.
If there is a big splash coming, it’s probably going to be in net and that’s where the Leafs appear to be connected to most this morning:

Hearing Ilya Samsonov is headed to TOR
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) July 13, 2022

Goalie market: expecting Campbell (EDM) & Kuemper (WASH). Good time to be a backup/1B also. Word is STL in on Thomas Greiss and SEA on Martin Jones. TOR among teams doing due diligence on Kevin Lankinen and Ilya Samsonov — looking at all goalie options.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 13, 2022

Obviously the idea of taking a 25 year old, former 1st round pi …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation