Maxx Crosby’s future with the Raiders is up in the air, and things might finally start to make sense soon. The team sat him out for the last games of the 2025 season, and ever since, rumours about his next move have taken off. With free agency heating up and the 2026 NFL Draft on the horizon, the Raiders are at a crossroads. If they think this rebuild is going to drag on, now’s probably the best shot they’ll get to trade Crosby for a haul of picks. By the time they’re good again, Crosby could be past his best years, so flipping him now actually helps speed up the rebuild.

James Palmer from The Athletic didn’t hold back on the March 4 episode of “Wake Up Barstool". He thinks things could move fast. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Crosby gets traded this week,” Palmer said. “If you’re John Spytek, the Raiders’ new GM, and you want to get max value, you move early before teams start blowing their budgets on other edge rushers. Make your move before the frenzy starts, and you’re in the driver’s seat.”

The Raiders know what they’re dealing with. Palmer pointed out that Spytek gets it; this rebuild isn’t happening overnight. When Palmer talked to him at the Combine, Spytek made it clear: they don’t want to lose Crosby. But he was blunt about where the team stands. “We have to be honest with ourselves,” Spytek told him. “This isn’t going to be fixed tomorrow.” So, is Crosby still a key piece a year or two from now? Maybe not. His value probably won’t get any higher than it is right now, and the front office knows it. They’re not out there pushing Crosby on the market, but they’re listening. Teams are calling. People want him.

NFL players are weighing in, too. Raheem Mostert, when asked about Crosby on “Good Morning Football", got real about it: “It’s a tough call. Maxx is one of the most loyal guys you could have in your locker room, and he gives everything to the team and the community. Mark Davis loves him; everybody does. But as a player, sometimes you realise it’s time for a new chapter, especially when things just aren’t working out. I’ve been there. It’ll be interesting to see what happens whether Crosby stays or goes; the trade talks will be wild.”

So, right now, nobody knows for sure, but the next few weeks should tell us a lot about where Maxx Crosby and the Raiders are headed.

The Yankees are putting a lot on Gerrit Cole’s shoulders this season, especially after his elbow surgery. Cole’s 35 now. He had Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2025. Before that, in 2024, he threw 95 innings with a 3.41 ERA.

He saw this coming with his elbow, honestly. And his contract added some drama. There was an opt-out after 2024, but the Yankees could cancel it by just tacking on another year at $36 million. Since Cole needed surgery, both sides agreed to leave the deal alone: no opt-out, no extra year. That way, Cole could just focus on getting healthy without worrying about his future.

And, man, Cole looks ready. He’s been sharp this spring, already touching 97 mph with his fastball. That’s not rehab speed; that’s what he throws in games. The Yankees wanted to see that, and they have.

Brendan Kuty from The Athletic said on the Fireside Yankees podcast that Cole looks good. Sure, he’s just throwing fastballs right now, but 97 is 97. Even for an inning, he doesn’t look hurt. He didn’t cruise through his rehab either. The Yankees’ season really rides on him. If he’s healthy and pitching well, this team is in a much better spot.

That’s basically the story. The Yankees are pretty much the same team that lost to the Blue Jays in the ALDS. They brought in Ryan Weathers and kept Cody Bellinger and Paul Blackburn, but that’s about it. If Cole comes back around late May or early June and pitches as he did in 2023, when he put up a 2.82 ERA, suddenly this team feels different.

Let’s talk rotation. Right now, the Yankees start the year with Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and Luis Gil. Fried’s the ace. Schlittler showed flashes last year but still needs to get his secondary pitches working. Warren’s fastball is legit, but when he can’t land his breaking stuff, he struggles. Weather? He’s got upside but can’t stay healthy. Gil is fun to watch, but up and down.

This group might win 85-90 games. It’s not a World Series rotation, though. Add Cole, and the whole picture changes. Fried and Cole at the top can match up with anybody in October. Schlittler slides to third, so there’s less pressure on him.

Don’t forget Carlos Rodon; he’s coming back from elbow surgery, too, and should return by late April or early May. So by June, the Yankees could be rolling out Fried, Rodon, and Cole. That’s a huge step up from where they started the season.

But it’s not just about velocity with Cole. He’s focusing on his fastball right now; sliders and breaking balls come later. He hopes to be back in late May or early June. Seeing him throw that hard is a good sign, but the real test is when he starts mixing in his full arsenal. His slider is nasty, his curve sets up his heater, and his changeup keeps hitters honest.

Kuty also said it’s not just the speed; it’s how intense and smooth he looks. Like, get ready; this could be special as Cole finds his rhythm again.

That edge is what sets great pitchers apart. Cole doesn’t just throw hard. He’s a competitor. He attacks hitters and makes them uncomfortable, even when they know what’s coming. You can’t measure that on a radar gun, but it’s huge in the postseason.

Even if Cole comes back at 75%, he’s still a major boost for this team. Seriously, a 75% Cole is better than most starters at full strength. If he’s sitting 95-96 instead of 97-98, fine. If his slider isn’t as sharp, they’ll take it. If he can give them 160-170 innings and an ERA around 3.50, that’s a win.

The Yankees don’t need him to be the Cy Young runner-up from 2023. They need him to take the ball, keep them in games, and eat innings. If he does that, the rotation goes from shaky to solid.

If he’s fully back by September, the Yankees are set. That’s when you want your ace healthy. Playoff baseball is all about pitching depth, and having Cole, Fried, and Rodon can change everything.

They can live with a slow start if they know Cole’s coming. They can deal with young pitchers taking their lumps because help is on the way. But if Cole really looks like himself when he returns, this team suddenly has one of the best rotations in baseball.

For now, everyone’s watching the next bullpen. Can he snap off the slider? Is the curve still nasty? The answers will tell you if the Yankees are for real this year.