#trade-rumors

#trade-rumors

We've not been shy here at Raptors Rapture highlighting the mistakes made by Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster both when it comes to Jakob Poeltl. They traded for him to make a low-ceiling run at the playoffs, giving up the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft in the process. This past summer, they compounded the error by giving him an unneccessary and lucrative contract extension that will pay him like a Top-15 center until he can earn AARP. He's not even a Top-15 now.

While there has been some activity -- including this weekend's big news about Alex Bregman agreeing to terms with the Cubs -- the free agent market remains rich with impact talent, with the likes of Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger and Bo Bichette among those remaining unsigned. The whisper mill is still spinning with trade rumors. There is much left to do.

With the Vancouver Canucks entering a roster revamp, it's clear that not many players currently on the roster are safe from the trading block. That includes veteran forward Kiefer Sherwood, who had been a key part of the Canucks roster over the past few seasons. With one month until the Olympic break and two months to go until the NHL's trade deadline, we're bound to receive some clarity soon on the Canucks' deadline business.

Nick Robertson is having a great two weeks, which means they need to trade him ASAP before his stock drops. Robertson sits sixth on the Leafs in goals scored this year but nine goals and 20 points halfway through the season doesn't get me excited about the future of this left-winger. The 24-year-old played his first game with Toronto in August, 2020, so we should have seen a much bigger improvement by now.

During the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman hinted that Mangiapane could be squeezed out of the Oilers' lineup amid prospects pushing for playing time. Then, more interesting developments hit the airwaves when it was revealed that Mangiapane was a healthy scratch against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night. As my colleague Thomas Williams also reported, Mangiapane's agent has been granted permission to seek a trade.

It seems as if Toronto has been linked to nearly every big name on the market, not surprising given their trade history. However, Toronto currently sits higher in the Eastern Conference standings than expected, and there's something to be said for roster continuity in a time of impatience and turnover. Nonetheless, the Raptors are rumoured to be interested in Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis, and even Lamelo Ball.

The New York Yankees not only did nothing at the Winter Meetings, but they are now reportedly listening to trade calls regarding star second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., as first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan. Chisholm was one of the Yankees' most productive and consistent bats behind Aaron Judge in a lineup that lacked legitimate support for AL MVP Aaron Judge. The 28-year-old had a career year, hitting 31 home runs with 80 RBI and an .813 OPS.

Matias Maccelli has had a slow start so far in his first season in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform. With other NHL teams making players available for trades, could the Leafs put Maccelli's name out there? He was acquired by the Leafs in a trade with the Utah Mammoth, where Toronto sent a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for the now 25-year-old forward.