Le Journal

The criticism reached Andrew McCutchen, who is currently a free agent, but he didn’t hesitate to respond to claims that he can no longer play defense for the Pirates. Andrew McCutchen finished last season with a .239 batting average and spent most of the year serving as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ designated hitter, a role that sparked criticism suggesting he can no longer play defense. McCutchen recently pushed back on that narrative in a lengthy message, telling critics to find something better to do with their time. “It is really funny how so many ppl say I ‘can’t (key word) play defense.’ I haven’t played much defense because they haven’t asked that of me. The only reason I played a few games last year is because Reynolds needed rest from a minor injury and I ASKED to play defense to get in the lineup,” McCutchen wrote on X (@thecutch22). The 39-year-old continued by making it clear he still believes he has what it takes defensively. “No one said anything then? Bottom line is if it is needed, I can not only do it, but do it like I’ve been out there all year. So stop creating false narratives and take your wives or GFs out to dinner and get off the coattails of other men. That’s weird energy.” McCutchen’s 2025 season While it’s true McCutchen saw very little time on defense during the 2025 MLB season, it was still one of his better offensive years in recent memory. It ranked as his second-best season over the past six years in terms of a .239 batting average, with just 118 strikeouts, 114 hits (122 in 2022), and scored 51 runs. https://t.co/YlJlyWtJCL pic.twitter.com/kgkLmXeqgI— Platinum Key (@PlatinumKey13) January 19, 2026 “Always thought that to be the case. Hated seeing Canario in the lineup when we had you available. Is this something the nerds upstairs came up with? Because three years ago I remember them saying you had an elbow issue — but that was three years ago. You must be healthy by now,” Luisma Pavia commented on McCutchen’s post, showing clear support for the veteran. McCutchen’s future with the Pirates remains uncertain. Now a free agent, he recently hinted on X that he is waiting for a call from the club about a possible return for at least one more season. Last year, McCutchen signed a one-year deal worth $5 million.

The New York Mets continue to explore the market, but an MLB Network analyst has proposed that they take a risk by including Jonah Tong and two other players in a trade for a pitcher. MLB Network is constantly discussing the state of the market, and a proposed trade involving the New York Mets recently surfaced in which they would send Jonah Tong and two other young players to Milwaukee in exchange for Freddy Peralta, a sizable package for the Brewers. The proposal came from Cliff Floyd, who was addressing what could be next for the Mets following the addition of Bo Bichette. “Mets receive: Freddy Peralta. Brewers receive: Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Jonah Tong,” MLB Network posted on X. “These are players that fit the Brewers, they fit the dynamics and how they do business,” Floyd said while explaining the proposal. He also noted that Mauricio, coming off a knee injury, needs consistent playing time. Floyd added that Milwaukee would have the financial flexibility to allow these young players to develop. The situation with Tong, Mauricio and Baty All three players included in Floyd’s proposed trade are relatively inexpensive. Tong is projected to earn $820,000 next season, and Mauricio is expected to make a similar amount, according to Spotrac estimates for the 2026 season. Who says no to Cliff Floyd's trade proposal? ⬇️Mets receive: Freddy PeraltaBrewers receive: Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Jonah Tong pic.twitter.com/zNnIAbs2Fa— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 19, 2026 Baty is the most “veteran” of the group, having spent four years in the majors in various roles with the Mets. During the 2025 season, he appeared in 130 games and finished the year with a .254 batting average. Like the other two, Baty is also projected to earn $820,000 for the upcoming season. The Mets are known to have interest in Peralta, as do several other teams in need of an experienced pitcher for 2026. However, Floyd’s proposal, and similar ideas floated by other analysts who believe the Mets could put together an attractive offer, remains unofficial and should be viewed as speculation rather than anything concrete.

New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan made something clear about the organization’s plans to move on from Artemi Panarin in the 2025-26 NHL season. It was an open secret around the Big Apple. The New York Rangers and Artemi Panarin have been trending in different directions for a while now. However, as the organization confirmed the Russian star won’t be re-signed, Mike Sullivan explained the decision with a straightforward statement. Nothing has gone according to plan for Sullivan and the Rangers in the 2025-26 NHL season. However, the decision to move on from Panarin may have been taken prior to the monumental letdown that has been the ongoing campaign. On that note, Sullivan delivered a sincere message to Panarin, who admitted he was caught flat-footed by the news of his imminent departure from the City That Never Sleeps. “It boils down to, I think, big picture decision making. I think this is obviously a discussion that probably predated me,” Sullivan admitted, via The New York Post’s Mollie Walker. “Every organization goes through those decisions. I don’t think you make those decisions on a whim. There’s always a big picture that has to be kept in mind when making organizational-type decisions, and I think that this was one of them.” Artemi Panarin at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Sullivan distances himself from the decision Sullivan has only been in the Concrete Jungle for a few months, but he has seemingly learned the rules of this fast-paced, blink-and-you-miss-it environment. With Panarin’s departure potentially reflecting on the head coach, Sullivan was quick to clear the air. The two-time Stanley Cup champion made it clear that the decision came from general manager Chris Drury and his staff, and that he had no involvement. By doing so, Sullivan hopes to secure Panarin’s best effort in what could be his final games as a Ranger. Panarin may have an ace up his sleeve With Panarin holding a full no-movement clause in his contract, New York must find a trade partner willing to convince “The Breadman” to waive it. According to reports, Sullivan and the Rangers are aware of potential destinations for Panarin, but finding a suitable trade and package will remain a challenge. Every NHL team knows Panarin will become available next summer. For those teams, it’s a matter of weighing their options and deciding whether acquiring Panarin as a rental for the Stanley Cup Playoffs makes sense.

The Philadelphia 76ers face the Indiana Pacers in an NBA regular-season matchup that could be key for both teams, and a major question emerges involving a pair of stars: Will Joel Embiid and Paul George play? The Philadelphia 76ers remain focused on continuing to build on their positive record as they face the Indiana Pacers in NBA regular-season action tonight. Philadelphia enters the matchup seeking a convincing win, but a major question surrounds the availability of its stars: Will Joel Embiid and Paul George play? On one side, 76ers star Joel Embiid is listed as available for Monday night’s matchup against the Pacers. Embiid, who has appeared in three straight games, continues to see his minutes and workload managed as the 76ers prioritize keeping him healthy for the postseason, a cautious approach given his injury history. In addition to Embiid, the 76ers will be without Paul George, who is listed as out. The veteran guard is dealing with left knee injury management and is not suiting up tonight, which would represent another significant setback for Philadelphia. Joel Embiid’s numbers The former NBA MVP has appeared in 22 games this season and is averaging 24.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 25.3 percent from three-point range. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid has looked much closer to his usual scoring form this month, averaging 26.3 points per game while shooting 53.2 percent from the field across eight contests, providing optimism for Philadelphia moving forward. How the 76ers and Pacers arrive In Friday’s loss to the Cavaliers, Embiid led the 76ers with 33 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Tyrese Maxey added 22 points, five rebounds, and nine assists in the defeat. On the other side, Indiana enters Monday’s contest with a 10-33 record after losing on the road to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Jarace Walker paced the Pacers with 13 points and five rebounds, while Tony Bradley contributed 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.