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OFFICIAL TRADE TARGET: ADRIAN MOREJON NAMED AS THE YANKEES' TOP PRIORITY FOR 2026 BULLPEN

The New York Yankees are urged to trade for Padres All-Star Adrian Morejon to bolster a bullpen led by closer David Bednar in 2026.

OFFICIAL TRADE TARGET: Adrian Morejon named as the Yankees' top priority for 2026 bullpen
See the 2.08 ERA stats that make Adrian Morejon a must-get

The Yankees could use another good relief pitcher, and they might try to make a trade to get one.

Word is that David Bednar will close for the Yankees in 2026. Camilo Doval and Fernando Cruz should be the setup men. Still, the Yankees could use another top-notch reliever, and a trade might be the way to get one.

Chris Kirschner from The Athletic thinks the team should try to get Adrian Morejon from the San Diego Padres.

Kirschner wrote that the Yankees would be better off if they could get another guy for the end of games. He says the Padres are open to trading their best relievers like Estrada, Mason Miller, and Adrian Morejon. Miller is the best of the bunch. but the Yankees probably couldn't swing a deal for him. Estrada and Morejon are more likely options, and either one would be a great addition.

Morejon would be a great left-handed relief pitcher for the Yankees in important situations. He was an All-Star in 2025 and would be a key guy in New York's bullpen.

Last year, Morejon went 13-6 with a 2.08 ERA in 75 games, which proves he can be a go-to guy for the Yankees. He's under contract through 2026, too.

The Yankees Need Another Reliever

The Yankees haven't done much this offseason, which is kind of surprising.

They're still talking to some of the big free agents, like Cody Bellinger, but they should also get some pitching help. Even though they have Bednar to close games, Kirschner thinks New York needs another great reliever.

Kirschner also added that the Yankees have too many question marks in their bullpen to feel good about them being much better in 2026. That's why Cashman needs to get at least one more good reliever before the season starts.

Since most of the good relievers have already signed, the only way for the Yankees to get a top-tier reliever is through a trade.

Aaron Boone Has Faith in the Bullpen

The Yankees' bullpen had some problems in 2025, but the team did a nice job fixing it as the season went on.

New York got Bednar and Doval at the trade deadline, and Bednar was a big help. Even though Doval struggled at times, Boone liked how he ended the season and expects him to play a key role in 2026.

Boone said earlier this month that he feels good about where Doval was at the end of the season and in the playoffs. He felt like Doval had some of his best outings at the very end and in the postseason.

Boone also mentioned that Doval cleaned up some things in how he gets set, which put him in a better position to throw strikes. And that he's had a good winter, communicating and working on his throwing program to get ready to go. Boone is really hopeful about what Doval will do for the team.

The Yankees' only bullpen move this offseason was re-signing Paul Blackburn.

TACTICAL BREAKDOWN: WHY ANFERNEE SIMONS IS THE KEY TO BOSTON’S FRONTCOURT UPGRADE PLANS

Despite Tatum's injury, the 18–11 Celtics are contenders. Discover why Anfernee Simons has become their ultimate trade deadline chip.

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Trade Anfernee Simons Now Or Chase The East Title

Anfernee Simons is vital to what the Boston Celtics plan to do before the trade deadline.

The Boston Celtics didn't see this coming.

After Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury, everyone thought this season would just be a transition year. But they've become real contenders in the Eastern Conference. They were 18–11 as of Wednesday, which puts them third in the East. Now, the front office has to rethink whether they should be aggressive when the NBA trade deadline hits on Feb. 5.

Simons is key to the Celtics' trade plans as the deadline approaches. He was Boston’s big offseason pickup and their most valuable trade piece.

NBA insider Jake Fischer says the Celtics might actually keep Simons past the deadline. This is a big change since they initially saw him as mostly a way to match salaries in trades.

Fischer wrote, The Celtics could keep it simple and look for deals that get rid of the guard’s $27.6 million salary. This would help them avoid the luxury tax while Tatum is out. He added, But Boston is doing way better than expected. Let's say the Celtics use Simons to get a good frontcourt player. Then they might challenge teams in the East, even if Tatum is out all season.

Fischer also mentioned, I've heard from sources that Boston might just decide to keep Simons. They are okay with paying some luxury tax this season after saving a lot of money in the offseason by getting rid of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.

Simons is doing well in Boston, but nothing too crazy.

In 29 games with Boston, Simons is scoring 13.0 points, with 2.3 assists and 2.1 rebounds. He's giving them some outside shooting and spacing in Coach Joe Mazzulla’s offence that relies a lot on three-pointers.

Simons usually shoots 38 per cent from three-point range and scores 14.9 points per game. Now, he's playing a role where he supports the main guys, instead of being the star like he was in Portland. He's playing consistently, but he's not a game-changer, so he's still part of trade talks.

His contract makes him pretty valuable. It's a $27.7 million deal that ends this year. This gives Boston options: they can improve the team or cut costs if they need to.

The Celtics have looked into Simon's trades before.

Back in November, Michael Scotto from HoopsHype said Boston checked out some trades involving Simons soon after they got him. They even talked to the Brooklyn Nets.

Scotto wrote that Boston and Brooklyn talked about a few trades that didn't work out before the season started. These talks happened while the Celtics were dealing with the league’s restrictions and changing the team.

It wasn't just about Simons. Scotto also mentioned that Boston wanted Nets centre Day’Ron Sharpe to help the frontcourt. Even though Boston could only offer a minimum contract at the time, they thought Sharpe could compete for a starting spot.

Sharpe is putting up 7.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 16.3 minutes. Boston was interested because they needed help inside.

They still need frontcourt help.

The Celtics have been counting on Neemias Queta, who averages 10.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. But they don't have another consistent inside player who can defend well and grab rebounds.

That's why Simons is still up for trade if the right offer comes along.

Fischer wrote, I think if Boston could trade Simons for a better player and lower their tax bill, or avoid the tax altogether, Brad Stevens would do it in a heartbeat.

The luxury tax is still a worry, but not as much.

Boston is about $12 million over the luxury tax. But, according to Scotto, the Celtics don't have to cut salary unless a good deal comes up.

They already saved money by trading Holiday and Porziņģis. Plus, the owners are willing to pay some tax if the team stays competitive.

The Celtics don't want to give up draft picks just to trade Simons’ contract, which makes it harder to save money.

Optionality defines the deadline.

Boston is in a good spot because it's doing better than expected.

They're not just trying to save money or get assets. They can choose to stay put, get better, or make small changes.

Simons represents that choice.

Whether Boston keeps him, trades him for a frontcourt player, or uses him to tweak the roster will show how far this season can go. It will also show how the Celtics balance winning now with planning for the future.

Right now, the Celtics aren't selling.

They're figuring things out.

RECORD DENIED: THE HEARTBREAKING REASON BROCK BOWERS WON'T BEAT MIKE DITKA’S HISTORIC MARK

The Raiders have placed Pro Bowl TE Brock Bowers on IR. See how his season-ending injury affects the race for the No. 1 draft pick.

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Brock Bowers Sent To IR

The Raiders' awful 2025 season just got even worse. Brock Bowers, their superstar, is out for the rest of the year with an injury and is headed to the IR.

The second-year player was close to beating Mike Ditka's receiving yards record for a tight end in his first two seasons.

Instead, Bowers will watch his 2-13 Raiders play the 2-13 Giants next Sunday. The game will really decide who gets the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Bowers, who's 23, only played 12 games in 2025. Even so, he's still the Raiders' leader in catches (64), receiving yards (680), and receiving touchdowns (7).

He hurt his knee in their Week 1 win against the Patriots and tried to play through it. He ended up missing three games in October.

The Raiders will likely get a high draft pick next season as Bowers hopes for his first playoff appearance. Maxx Crosby, their star edge rusher, doesn't care who they pick as a result of Sunday's game against the Giants.

“Yeah, I don’t give a crap about the pick, to be honest,” he told the media. “I don’t play for that. My job is to be the best defensive end, and that’s what I focus on every day: being a great leader and being that guy for my team.”

Bowers still made the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row, even though he missed multiple games. Last year, he set the rookie record for catches and receiving yards by a tight end.

Coaches and players have said a lot of good things about him. "God blessed Brock with amazing skills, and he's showing it," Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. told ESPN. [Las Vegas] better be ready to pay him big time. Jags coach Liam Coen said, He can run option routes like Cooper Kupp and run the seams like Tony Gonzalez. He's just multipurpose.

After their game against the Giants, the Raiders will finish 2025 against the Chiefs. Surprisingly, the game doesn't matter for the playoffs since Patrick Mahomes is also out for the year.

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