Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

The Syracuse Orange may see their fair share of struggles, but can they improve upon their 3-9 record from 2014?

The Syracuse Orange have been amongst the best in many collegiate sports; football not being one of them. In 2014, the team finished the season 3-9, only managing to win one game in their division. Wake Forest would be the only other team in the Atlantic Coastal Conference to post the same record, but would fall 30-7 to Syracuse. Not being able to nab many top recruits, Syracuse will be forced to compete among some of the most talented college teams in the country that include, but are not limited to, Clemson, LSU, and Florida State.

However, after being plagued with injuries in 2014, the Orange look to regroup and improve upon their woes in the 2014. It all starts with the man that leads their offense: Terrel Hunt.

Hunt fractured his fibula in the team’s loss against Louisville and would eventually miss the rest of the 2014 season. Though he only appeared in five games, he accounted for two of the team’s wins, including a 40-3 blowout over Central Michigan.

The dual-threat quarterback still has a lot to work on as far as passing in the pocket goes, as he only threw for one touchdown and turned the ball over four times last season. However, his awareness while running the football is his best asset, rushing for 292 yards and six touchdowns on 5.6 yards-per-carry. Behind Hunt will be sophomores AJ Long and Austin Wilson, who were thrown into action after Hunt’s injuries. Both struggled as the two would combine for four touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Neither will likely see much action, as this is Hunt’s team to lead; but in 2016, Long and Wilson will compete for the starting job.

Syracuse lost their main sources of production at running back, as Prince-Tyson Gulley entered the NFL Draft and Adonis Ameen-Moore graduated. There still remains a plethora of running backs battling for carries, as Ervin Phillips, Devante McFarlane and George Morris will all battle for touches. One of the many options the Orange have will likely break out and take over the starting role, but for now, it is running back by committee. Changing up things often could mess up with opposing defenses, but it could also hurt the Orange, as they do not have a running back that has separated himself from the pack.

One of the best players on Syracuse is wide receiver Steve Ishmael. Though he only accumulated 27 receptions, down the stretch he became one of the more reliable receivers. He had 93 yards against Florida State and 97 against Pittsburgh; against tougher competition Ishmael has come up clutch, earning a spot atop the depth chart in the spring. Alongside the 6-foot-2 wide out will be Alvin Cornelius. He only had three receptions last season, but in the most recent depth chart, was ranked as one of the starters. Cornelius is not highly regarded and could become a solid and reliable option for Hunt.

Injuries plagued the offensive line in 2014, as Syracuse toggled between 10 different players. Sean Hickey entered the NFL Draft, but that should not be a huge loss. Syracuse has plenty of offensive lineman with playing experience and, if healthy, could form into a reliable line for the backfield.

As for the defense, many big-playmakers either transferred or left to the draft or graduation. The team built a stable defense which will now require another rebuild. Junior Ron Thompson is back to lead the defensive line after accumulating three sacks last year. Though it is not great, he has established himself as a leader on the defensive side of the ball and should help the replacement defensive lineman fit in nicely. With Durell Eskridge, Darius Kelly, and Ritchy Desir all leaving, Syracuse is left with three less talented members in the secondary. The three were responsible for stopping the deep ball and helped create a stop to big plays.

Losing play-makers on the defensive side of the ball will show its struggles early on. Syracuse will have to rely on youth to outperform their old starters, looking to improve upon the team’s horrendous 2014 campaign.

The post Syracuse Football: 2015 Season Preview appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: pinstripealley.com

There are many players who either suffered injury, received a suspension, or struggled for the entirety of the 2014 season, only to bounce back with a strong 2015 campaign. These players have created a very tough competition in a race to see who will be named the American League and National League Comeback Player of the Year. Three viable candidates from each the NL and AL are listed below:

American League

Prince Fielder – Texas Rangers:

After being traded to the Texas Rangers in 2014, Fielder was shut down for the season and made a trip to the disabled list for the first time in his career. A neck injury held the first baseman to just 42 games, hitting .247 with three home runs in that span. However, after missing the year and undergoing surgery, Fielder bounced back with a season that may even put him in MVP talks. The 31-year-old has hit .328 with 15 home runs and 59 RBI in 100 games, earning yet another All-Star appearance.

Though his power has been dropping steadily over the years, Fielder has proven that he can become a solid contact hitter and get on-base while keeping the ball in the park. He is having an astounding season and if he produces in similar fashion the rest of the season, he will definitely be in Comeback Player of the Year discussions.

Mark Teixeira – New York Yankees

When Teixeira entered MLB, he was one of the best power-hitting first baseman in baseball. He hit for average and for power, and his glove just added to how valuable of a player he was. Over his career, his numbers began to take a large dip. Most recently, he could not stay healthy and found himself on the disabled list constantly. When he was healthy he struggled. Last year, he only hit .216 with 22 home runs in 123 games.

However, the 2015 Teixeira has seemed to found a stride similar to his first year as a Yankee. He is hitting .269 with 28 home runs and 73 RBI. Teixeira is in the top three for both home runs and RBI and while his average is not as high as it used to be, he is a huge threat at the plate. Yankee fans have rallied behind the first baseman, who made his first All-Star appearance since 2009, calling his home run a ‘Tex message’.

With the first place Yankees doing so well and Teixeira playing a huge role in the success, he may be the most viable candidate as of now.

Alex Rodriguez – New York Yankees

Yet another Yankee who has re-birthed to his former dominant self is Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez was all over the news with the Biogenesis scandal and was nicknamed ‘A-Fraud’ for the past few years after being caught with PEDs yet again. He was slapped with a 212-game suspension and missed the entire 2014 season. With others calling for a career-ban ,and others angrily yelling for retirement, Rodriguez seemed unfazed and focused on returning strong, which he has done.

Through 95 games in 2015, Rodriguez is batting .282 with 24 home runs and 61 RBI. He was snubbed from the All-Star team – though fans will have trouble admitting so – and used it to have an even stronger performance out of the gate in the second half of the season in which he is batting .306 with six home runs. He, like Teixeira, has been a huge part in the Yankees’ success. The Yankees may finish first and second in the Comeback Player of the Year category.

National League

Matt Harvey – New York Mets:

Harvey had an astounding year in 2013, being named to the All-Star team and finishing in the top five for the National League Cy Young. His 2.27 ERA was pristine and his dominance over hitters was clear. However, painful news broke out the Harvey would have to undergo Tommy John surgery. As Mets fans cringed around the world, Harvey vowed to be back with dominance.  He then spent the 2014 season on the bench, rehabbing and working hard towards making his first start back from surgery.

In 2015, he was picked up his dominance where he left it. Though his ERA has dipped – 2.91 – he has been the leader of this young, dominant New York rotation. He is one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball and after missing the previous year with injury, is an obvious candidate for Comeback Player of the Year.

A.J. Burnett – Pittsburgh Pirates:

Unlike most players on this list, Burnett played in 2014. However, he struggled mightily and was a non-factor in the Philadelphia Phillies’ rotation. After his solid campaign with Pittsburgh in 2013, Burnett would go on to finish 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA through 34 starts. To keep it short and simple: he was among the easiest pitchers to hit off of on a very weak Philadelphia squad.

However, after joining Pittsburgh yet again, Burnett has been among the best pitchers in baseball. Though he was just recently placed on the disabled list, his numbers have taken such a strong spike upwards, that he should be in consideration for this award. In 21 starts, Burnett boasts a record of 8-5 with a 3.06 ERA. He was so dominant that he was even selected to the National League All-Star team, the first time ever in his 17-year career. He has been excellent this far and will look to contribute to the Pirates’ playoff run when he returns from the disabled list.

Carlos Gonzalez – Colorado Rockies:

Gonzalez has bounced back from a weak 2014 campaign in which the outfielder played just 70 games, hitting .238 with 11 home runs. The 29-year-old is notoriously known for his struggles to stay healthy and that, paired with his struggles at the plate in 2014, makes him a viable candidate for the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Gonzalez has tore it up in 2015, as he is batting .279 with 21 home runs and 52 RBI in 94 games. He even bounced back from a very slow beginning of the season and has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball as of late. If Gonzalez can continue the hot streak and stay healthy for the remainder of the year, he may give Burnett and Harvey a run for their money.

Final Statement

If the season ended today, the players that would receive the Comeback Player of the Year award would be New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey. New York will be able to boast the Comeback Player of the Year in both leagues as Teixeira and Harvey look to finish out the year strong.

The post MLB: Comeback Player of the Year Candidates appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Tony Dejak

There are many teams that were active at the trade deadline this year. With teams on the brink of the playoffs, adding one or two players to contribute to the team’s playoff run is vital. Let’s take a look at those who took advantage of the opportunity and those who failed to do so:

Winners

New York Mets:

The Mets had a lot of needs entering the trade deadline period and walked out very successful. With a weak bullpen and a below-average offense, the Mets proved to be serious about their playoff run, acquiring Tyler Clippard, Kelly Johnson, Juan Uribe, and Yoenis Cespedes.

Clippard will be the set-up man for the Mets unless Jeurys Familia continues his struggles of three straight blown saves. Clippard has experience as a closer, as he accumulated 17 saves with the Oakland Athletics until he was traded. Clippard and Familia will be relied on heavily down the stretch with Jenrry Mejia being suspended 162 games for another PED violation. The team finally has a solid group of players that can close the door on opponents late in the game.

Johnson and Uribe were acquired from the Mets first, as the team hoped adding the utility players would give a boost to the offense – which it has. The Mets’ offense has picked up as of late and even won three straight to pull within one game of the National League East-leading Washington Nationals. Johnson will be the team’s second baseman for the foreseeable future – until David Wright returns – while Uribe fills in off-the-bench.

The last minute trade deadline acquisition that is arguably the biggest for the Mets is Cespedes. The power hitting outfielder will be expected to rejuvenate the Mets offense and push them towards the playoffs. He will likely become the starting center fielder, playing alongside Michael Cuddyer and Curtis Granderson.

Toronto Blue Jays:

The biggest splash this trade deadline was by Toronto, who surprised many and are gearing up for a playoff run. The team first surprised many by trading for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies. Just a few days later, they acquired ace David Price from the Detroit Tigers. As the deadline wound down, the team also acquired outfielder Ben Revere and reliever Mark Lowe.

Solidifying the bullpen, acquiring a real ace, and improving an already scary offense makes the Blue Jays obvious winners this deadline. Though the team gave up a ton of prospects in the process, they decided to go ‘all-in’ and are firm believers that they could very well win the World Series. Tulowitzki is a huge upgrade over Jose Reyes – as he is under contract longer and arguably more talented – while Revere brings a solid bat and a threat on the bases.

Price is nothing short of dominant. The Blue Jays did not have a true ace and can finally shape the pitching rotation around one. Sending a reliable pitcher out game one of the playoffs – or in the Wild Card game – is incredibly important and the Blue Jays have finally found someone that they can do this with. The team also followed the path of the Kansas City Royals, acquiring Lowe, who is having one of the best season among relief pitchers in baseball. In 34 games, Lowe has a 1.00 ERA and an 11.8 strikeout-per-nine ratio. He’s no Wade Davis, but he’s a dominant and reliable option to keep the lead intact.

Houston Astros:

The Astros are another very active team is among the winners of the trade deadline. The Astros sit at first place in the American League West and will look to pull away from the Los Angeles Angels, who are two games back. The Astros made a huge acquisition early on in ace Scott Kazmir. To cap it off, they acquired outfielder Carlos Gomez and starter Mike Fiers. The Astros finally made the jump this past season, as they were among the league’s worst for a long time. Now, they are contenders.

Kazmir joins Dallas Keuchel as one of the top 1-2 punches in the majors. To have two reliable aces going back-to-back in a rotation will be very helpful if the playoff series get to six or seven games. Also joining the rotation is Fiers, who has a 3.89 ERA this year. He’s still striking out a ton of batters and a new change of scenery could bring him back to 2014 form, where he posted a 2.13 ERA in 14 games and 10 starts.

The Astros are clear winners just by solidifying their rotation, but by acquiring Carlos Gomez as well, it puts them among the top winners this trade deadline. Gomez is a talented outfielder that has a strong bat and even faster pair of legs. Over the past two years, Gomez hit over 20 homers and stole 40 and 34 bases respectively. Though this year he has not been as solid. He has a .262 average with eight home runs and seven steals. A new change of scenery and playing in games that are crucial each night may give him that extra push to return to All-Star form.

Kansas City Royals:

Kansas City made trades early on, but were relatively quiet as the trade deadline approached. However, the two acquisitions will be huge contributors in the Royals’ quest for the World Series. The team, similar to the Blue Jays, finally acquired their much-needed ace. The Royals do have Edinson Volquez who is having a solid season, but they did not have that ‘ace’ that is needed to start off the playoff series strong and for clutch performances.

Johnny Cueto is as reliable as it gets. He is 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA on a weak Cincinnati team. Now, he is on the best team – record wise – in the American League. Cueto can pitch deep into games and possesses a great command over hitters.

The Royals also acquired utility man Ben Zobrist, who is currently playing outfield while Alex Gordon is rehabbing back to full health. He will likely shift to second base when Gordon is activated. Zobrist is a solid hitter and will be a constant contributor to a reliable Royals offense. He is batting .264 with 20 doubles on the year.

Los Angeles Dodgers:

Though they only made one, very large trade, the Dodgers are clear-cut winners this trade deadline. In a 13-player deal, the Dodgers acquired starting pitchers Mat Latos and Alex Wood, relief pitchers Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan, Atlanta’s top prospect Jose Peraza, Bronson Arroyo (DFA’d) and Michael Morse (who was DFA’d and traded to Pittsburgh for Jose Tabata). The Dodgers had to give up Hector Olivera, who was recently signed to a large contract to bring the middle infielder over from Cuba, among other prospects.

The Dodgers are in first place in the National League West, 0.5 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. The Giants are second in the Wild Card, two games ahead of the Chicago Cubs. They revitalized their pitching rotation and acquired two solid relievers to help close out the game. Not only that, but they acquired one of the top prospects in Peraza, who was ranked #38 among all prospects by MLB.com.

Wood and Latos will join Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Brett Anderson in the starting rotation. The rotation was veering off and struggling as of late and bolstering it with two solid pitchers was much-needed. Wood is the better of the two and has the most potential to develop into a top tier pitcher in the future.

Adding Johnson, who was closing in Atlanta at the time of the trade, will help keep the lead intact for closer Kenley Jansen. The right-hander has a 2.25 ERA on the year, finally looking like his dominant 2012 season, where he had 51 saves. The Dodgers, among other teams, are creating a mega-bullpen to limit the chances of a blown lead; adding Johnson and Avilan help do so.

Cincinnati Reds:

The Reds are out of contention and though they did not unload Aroldis Chapman or Jay Bruce, they ended up getting a handful of prospects for Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake. These prospects are solid and could make their debuts in the majors over the next few years. Brandon Finnegan will be a great addition to the bullpen as well. Yay Farm System!

Losers

Atlanta Braves:

This is no surprise. In a 13-player trade, the Braves made arguably one of the most mind-boggling moves; the team traded Alex Wood, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, and top prospect Jose Peraza to the Dodgers. In return, they would receive Cuban prospect Hector Olivera, Zack Bird, Paco Rodriguez, and the Miami Marlins’ compensation draft pick. To trade one of the team’s future top pitchers in Wood – who is not a free agent anytime soon – and Peraza and receive Olivera and two other prospects who may not have a huge impact in the majors does not make sense. The team is out of the playoff run, but trading two pieces of the future for Olivera makes the Braves obvious losers.

San Diego Padres:

The Padres are a long-shot of making the playoffs this year, and instead of dumping expiring contracts, they stood pat and did little trading. They still have Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel, and Tyson Ross, all of which were in trade talks throughout the past week. The Padres did not receive any solid prospects yet instead will have to pay off the rest of Upton’s contract. Rebuild plan failed.

Detroit Tigers:

The Tigers gave up on a season in which they were 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. Instead of attempting to cut the lead down and wait for Miguel Cabrera to lead the team to the promise land, the Tigers dumped David Price and Yoenis Cespedes. The team does rebuild their farm system in the process, but have given up this year in the process.

New York Yankees:

Yes, the Yankees are sitting nice and cozy six games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East. But not making any moves while the Blue Jays upgraded significantly may be the beginning of the end for New York. The Yankees still have to play a solid amount of games against their division rivals and may fall behind because they did not take advantage of the deadline. Dustin Ackley counts for something, right? Nope!

The post MLB Trade Deadline: Winners and Losers appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

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The New York Mets have acquired power-hitting outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers, according to Bruce Levine. The Mets will send Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa to Detroit as seen in multiple reports.

Source says Cespedes has been dealt to the Mets .

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) July 31, 2015

This is the third trade for the Mets, as Cespedes will join Kelly Johnson, Juan Uribe, and Tyler Clippard as the new additions. The Mets have been busy looking for a big bat and have finally found their rental for the playoff push in Cespedes.

The Mets are currently three games behind the National League East-leading Washington Nationals and 4.5 games out of the Wild Card. Adding a much-needed bat will help pick up offensive production for the Mets who have struggled to put up consistent runs in 2015.

Cespedes is batting .293 with 18 home runs, 28 doubles, and 61 RBI in 102 games. He is a free agent at the end of the season.

For the time being, he will likely become the starting left fielder, which was his position in Detroit. However, with Juan Lagares struggling and a potential platoon with Kirk Nieuwenhuis in store, Cespedes may very well be moved to center field.

Michael Conforto would start in left with Nieuwenhuis getting looks until Michael Cuddyer is fully healthy.

On the flip side, Fulmer has been a nice surprise this year, as the right-hander is 6-2 with a 1.88 ERA and 8.7 strikeouts-per-nine ratio through 15 starts at Double-A. Fulmer is a former first round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft.

As for Cessa, the right-handed pitcher has struggled at Triple-A, sporting an 8.51 ERA over five starts. However, in 13 starts at Double-A, he is 7-4 with a 2.56 ERA.

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Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson – USA TODAY Sports

–Update @ 3:40 PM —

The Phillies will acquire minor league pitchers Jimmy Cordero and Alberto Tirado in the Revere trade, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.

Cordero is a right-handed reliever that is currently in Double-A. Through 17 games he boasts a 2.92 ERA and an 8.0 strikeout-per-nine ratio.

As for Tirado, the right-hander entered the Blue Jays organization as a starter, but in 2015 has become a full-time reliever. In 31 games at High-A, Tirado is 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA and 9.0 strikeout-per-nine ratio.

–End of Update —

The Toronto Blue Jays have made yet another addition before the rapidly approaching trade deadline, acquiring outfielder Ben Revere from the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. What Philadelphia will receive in return remains unknown at this time.

Ben Revere will be traded to Blue Jays. @JSalisburyCSN first had Totonto's interest in Revere.

— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) July 31, 2015

Toronto boasts a 52-51 record and remains six games behind the American League East-leading New York Yankees and two games out from a Wild Card spot. The team has decided to take an ‘all-in’ approach, trading top prospects to solidify their offense, rotation and bullpen. Revere will join Troy Tulowitzki, David Price, and Mark Lowe as the trade deadline acquisitions.

Revere has the speed to play center field, but has been the Phillies’ starting left fielder to date. He will likely become the team’s newest left fielder with Chris Colabello transitioning to first base. Colabello is batting .312 with nine home runs and 13 doubles through 65 games. He will likely replace now-starting first baseman Justin Smoak, who is batting .235 with nine home runs.

The 27-year-old outfielder is a contact hitter that is a huge threat when on base. He is batting .298 with 24 stolen bases through 96 games. The Blue Jays will now be in control of Revere through 2017, as his contract comes with two years of arbitration.

Check back to ISN for more updates!

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Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski – USA Today Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired power hitting outfielder/first baseman Brandon Moss from the Cleveland Indians. In return, the Indians will receive left-handed pitcher Rob Kaminsky.

The Cardinals, fresh of a series loss in which they were shutout in back-to-back games, are looking for an extra bat for their playoff push. The team currently is atop the National League Central with a record of 64-37, just 4.5 games above the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With Matt Adams on the disabled list and Matt Holliday suffering his second quad strain on the year in last night’s loss, Moss is nothing more than insurance for the Cardinals. Holliday missed 31 games with the same injury earlier in the year.

Moss is currently batting .217 with 15 home runs and 17 doubles. He is a big bat that the Cardinals hope will be the catalyst to sparking this offense once again and ultimately pull away from the Pirates, who have won five of their last six games.

On the flip side, the Indians will acquire Kaminsky, a former 2013 first round pick. In 17 starts at High-A Palm Beach, the 20-year-old boasts a 2.09 ERA and a 7.5 strikeout-per-nine ratio. This is a salary dump move for the Indians, as they are out of contention and trading away an expiring contract. However, in the process they acquire a prospect with potential.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

–UPDATE: 2:00 AM —

According to Bob Elliot of the Toronto Sun, 2014 first round pick Jeff Hoffman will be packaged in the deal for Tulowtizki. 

Hoffman is currently a top-100 prospect according to MLB.com and is 3-3 with a 2.93 ERA on the year. He was recently promoted to Double-A where he has a 1.54 ERA in two starts. 

–-UPDATE: 1:35 AM — 

According to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, Miguel Castro will likely be one of the prospects heading to Colorado in the deal.

Castro is a 20-year-old pitcher that has seen time as both starter and reliever in the minors. He began the season in the majors, but could not hold down the fort and was quickly demoted. 

While in Toronto, he has made 13 appearances, all coming in relief. 

He has not found success, posting a 4.38 and 1.70 WHIP in 12.1 innings. The lone bright spot in his short stint is his 8.8 strikeout-per-nine ratio, proving he has seen some success in an otherwise weak 13 games. 

–End of update–

In one of the most unexpected deals before the trade deadline, the Colorado Rockies have agreed to trade five-time All-Star Troy Tulowtizki to the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. LaTroy Hawkins will also head to Toronto while Jose Reyes and multiple minor leaguers will be sent to the Rockies in return, as Rosenthal would go on to report.

Tulowitzki has been linked to trade rumors over the past year, but Toronto was not on the list of possible suitors, as the team seemed content with Reyes at shortstop.

To date, the 30-year-old middle infielder is batting .300 with 12 home runs and 53 RBI. He has remained healthy throughout the year, something he has struggled to do so in recent years; his last season with 140+ games came in 2011.

Tulowitzki is arguably one of the best shortstops in MLB history and could end up a Hall of Famer if he finds similar success with his new ball club. The Blue Jays are currently 50-50 and are hoping this trade will give them the final push needed for a playoff spot. They currently sit seven games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees and three games out of a Wild Card spot.

Adding Tulowitzki gives them a middle-of-the-lineup hitter that will pair with the likes of Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, and Edwin Encarnacion. However, one significant downside that will hurt Tulowitzki’s power is the change of ballparks. The shortstop is used to hitting in Coors Field, which is ranked the most friendly for hitters by ESPN’s 2015 MLB Park Factors. He will head to Rogers Centre, the 20th ranked ballpark for hitters.

Though regression may be in Tulowitzki’s future, a new change of scenery and actually fighting for playoff contention may have enough of a positive impact to improve his hitting and keep his value where it is.

Also going to Toronto is Hawkins, who has pitched well as of late for the Rockies. The 42-year-old is 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA over 22.1 innings and will provide another arm for the Blue Jays to go to late in the game. He has been a closer many times throughout the career and is no rookie when it comes to closing out an important game.

Heading to Colorado and taking over Tulowitzki’s job is Reyes, who is batting .285 with 16 stolen bases and 17 doubles on the year. He did suffer an injury that forced him on the disabled list – also a norm for the shortstop – but has been a solid lead-off hitter since being activated. He will likely lead-off for the Rockies, pushing Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu back in the lineup – that is if he stays in Colorado.

There are multiple reports swirling around that Reyes was traded to balance the money on both sides and will likely be traded yet again within the week. The New York Mets are one of many possible suitors for Reyes, as Joel Sherman acknowledges in his tweet:

Rockies probably had to take Reyes to balance some $, but he has to be available now. Would #Mets be a fit?

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 28, 2015

There are currently no reports on which minor leaguers are being sent to Colorado alongside Reyes, but it is safe to assume one, if not more, will be highly-touted prospects.

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Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson – USA Today

The New York Mets have acquired relief pitcher Tyler Clippard from the Oakland Athletics, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. In return, the Athletics will receive prospect Casey Meisner.

Meisner, the third round pick in 2013, was recently promoted to Single-A St. Lucie, sporting a 2.83 ERA over six starts. He is 10-4 with a 2.35 ERA on the year.

Clippard has been more than solid for the Athletics, posting a 2.79 ERA and an 8.8 strikeout-per-nine ratio over 37 appearances. But with his contract expiring at the end of the year and Oakland slipping out of the playoff race fast, moving expiring contracts is a must.

The 30-year-old reliever is the second Oakland player to be moved prior to the deadline – and will likely not be the last. Rumors have been floating around that Ben Zobrist is on the block and there are possible suitors checking in on the second baseman.

The Mets will use Clippard as a set-up man for their playoff push. New York is currently two games behind the NL East-leading Washington Nationals and 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. Adding bullpen depth and offense are two of the team’s main priorities and they have done so prior to the trade deadline.

As reported by Adam Rubin of ESPN, the Mets were looking to add a setup man after the Kelly Johnson-Juan Uribe trade with Atlanta. With Jenrry Mejia ineligible for the postseason, having another reliable go-to option late in the game was a must for New York.

Joel Sherman reports Mets now more interested in trading for setup man than bat. Remember, Jenrry Mejia ineligible for postseason.

— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) July 26, 2015

The Mets may not be finished, as they are still interesting in adding more offense for the final playoff push. There have been rumors that linked the team to internal discussions for Milwaukee’s Gerardo Parra, Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce and San Diego’s Justin Upton, among others.

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Photo Credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

The Miami Heat lost LeBron James to free agency in the 2014 offseason, yet surprised many with a 37-45 record. Though the record does not look appealing, the Heat dealt with multiple injuries to the team’s top players; without these injuries, a playoff spot would have been inevitable. This offseason was a relatively quiet one for the Heat, as they added depth, signing Gerald Green and Amar’e Stoudemire in free agency. They also drafted a future cornerstone of the franchise in Justise Winslow. Here is a look at the projected starting lineup for the 2015 season:

Point Guard – Goran Dragic: The Heat were forced to be big spenders this offseason as two of their five starters hit free agency, one of which was Goran Dragic. Acquired right before the trade deadline, Dragic was immediately placed into the starting job, pushing Mario Chalmers to the bench. Since finding a new home, Dragic appeared in 26 games, averaging 16.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. Though his assists numbers are relatively low for a point guard, the numbers should see a small spike upwards – as the Heat are fully-healthy and ready to make another playoff appearance.

The Heat have a very crowded backcourt with the likes of Chalmers and Shabazz Napier at the point guard position. Chalmers has been solid off the bench, but will likely see his scoring totals fall off a bit. Napier on the other hand, was linked to trade rumors, but it seems he will stay in Miami for the foreseeable future. It is likely that the 24-year-old will become the sixth man once Chalmers hits free agency in 2016.

Shooting Guard – Dwyane Wade: Dwyane Wade has been the face of the franchise ever since 2003, when he was drafted by Miami. His success can be shown by his three NBA Championships and 11 All-Star selections. Those accolades have earned him a big pay day yet again. The Heat, like with Dragic, paid big bucks to keep their starting backcourt, as both sides agreed on a one-year, $20 million dollar deal. Though he is overpaid, Wade brings a lot to the table, as shown by his stat line of 21.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.

As mentioned before, the crowded backcourt in Miami will be a problem for some of the bench players to earn minutes. Behind Wade will be newly-signed free agent Gerald Green, Tyler Johnson, and Zoran Dragic. Green will likely earn most of the minutes and become the team’s sixth man, leaving just a small amount of time for Johnson and Dragic to fight over.

Small Forward – Luol Deng: An established veteran, Luol Deng is coming off a very solid 2014 campaign in which he averaged 14 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The Heat signed Deng to replace LeBron James in the 2014 offseason and while he cannot fill the huge gap left by James, he held down the fort. Deng just has one year left on his deal and will likely walk in free agency so the Heat can start Justise Winslow, but in the next year he will mentor the rookie, helping him develop his game and translate well to the NBA.

Winslow was a fiend at Duke and proved so in the NCAA Tournament. The freshman averaged 12.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Arguably one of the most polished rookies, Winslow surprisingly fell to the 10th pick in the draft, giving Miami their small forward of the future. Behind Deng and Winslow will be James Ennis and Henry Walker. The two will fight for the scraps and will not see much playing time in the NBA.

Power Forward – Chris Bosh: Chris Bosh had a very solid season in 2014, one of the best seasons since he left Toronto for Miami. His season in which he averaged 21.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game was cut short due to blood clots in his lungs. However the 31-year-old showed that he still has All-Star caliber seasons left in the tank.

Behind Bosh in the depth chart is Josh McRoberts, newly signed free agent Amar’e Stoudemire, and Udonis Haslem. Haslem will likely see little-to-no minutes while McRoberts and Stoudemire come off the bench – possibly spending time at the power forward and center position.

Center – Hassan Whiteside: Hassan Whiteside had a breakout season last year, drastically improving from his previous years with Sacramento. Whiteside entered the year with his career highs being 6.1 minutes, 1.6 points, and 2.2 rebounds per game. However, a new change of scenery and the opportunity to thrive in Miami created a huge spike in production. The 7-footer averaged 11.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in just 23.8 minutes per game. If given more time on the court, Whiteside may even improve upon his already impressive double-double line.

Behind Whiteside is Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen. Anderson is a solid backup and will produce in his limited minutes. However, with a crowded frontcourt, Andersen may be a victim to losing minutes to Stoudemire and McRoberts, who could transition to the center position if Miami runs with a smaller lineup.

The post Miami Heat: Projected 2015 Starting Lineup appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Morry Gash/Associated Press

The Pittsburgh Pirates have reunited with Aramis Ramirez, acquiring the third baseman from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers will receive prospect Yhonathan Barrios in the deal, according to multiple reports.

This is the second of many moves that will take place before the trade deadline, coming after the Scott Kazmir trade that sent the southpaw to Houston.

Ramirez began his now 18-year career in Pittsburgh and was a big contributor in the early 2000s. However, he was later traded to the Chicago Cubs in his sixth season; coincidentally he was dealt 12 years ago on this day. His best year came in 2001, where Ramirez hit .300 with 34 home runs and 40 doubles. He will now become the team’s starting third baseman with Josh Harrison currently on the disabled list.

Though he is not in his prime, Ramirez is still a viable option at third base. In 81 games the 37-year-old is batting .247 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI.

On the other hand, the Brewers will acquire a right-handed reliever in Yhonathan Barrios. Barrios has pitched exceptionally well in Double-A, but since his promotion to Triple-A, his ERA has seen a huge increase. The 23-year-old holds a 2.68 ERA over 20 appearances. But, in 13 games at Triple-A, Barrios has a 4.60 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP.

This is nothing more than a salary dump for the Brewers, as Ramirez will become a free agent at the end of the year. The Pirates will pick up the rest of his $14 million dollar contract in hopes of the acquisition helping their playoff push, as they sit first in the Wild Card and six games behind the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals.

Meanwhile, the Brewers are 18.5 games out and are looking to unload even more at the trade deadline, with names including outfielder Carlos Gomez linked to trade discussions.

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