"Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. Several teams already know their fates for the Round of 32, while some are still hoping they get to avoid facing the stiffest of competition. Here's how I'm wagering on Match Day 17. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. World Cup Best Bets Saturday, June 27 Croatia vs. Ghana A draw suits both teams fine. Two of the matches on Thursday that saw two teams that simply needed a draw to advance ended in a draw. Well hope it continues here, as Ghana certainly isn't much of a threat to score but is extremely difficult to break down. Just ask England. Panama vs. England Panama has been pretty good defensively, but this should be exactly what the doctor ordered for England after a boring nil-nil draw against Ghana. Colombia vs. Portugal It took Colombia a lot longer than most would have thought to finally score against Congo, and it even saw Uzbekistan go up 1-0. The winner here wins the group and will have a much better path for deep progression in the tourney in other words, being on the opposite side of the draw from France and Spain. Portugal dominated the advanced stats against Congo but just couldnt finish. The finishing happened against Uzbekistan. It should be an epic scene in Miami. I think Portugal is better, will have more of the ball and will ultimately walk away with all three points, finishing atop the group. Congo vs. Uzbekistan Congo needs a win to advance, while Uzbekistan has been eliminated. We saw Portugal pour in five against Uzbekistan last time out, and while Congo does not have the scoring ability of Portugal, it would be surprising if it didnt get a goal. And with a bit of open gym here, dont be surprised if Cannavaros squad goes home with a goal here as well. Algeria vs. Austria I cant wait to see this match play out. Neither truly wants to finish second in the group and face Spain in the Round of 32, but thats what it appears Austria is destined for. Both teams scoring would be surprising, considering neither team really wants to win. Jordan vs. Argentina Well see what lineup changes Argentina makes here now that the group is secure. I cant imagine that Lionel Messi doesnt start, but I can see him being pulled in the second half and others getting in the box score. Ill take Thiago Almada, but you can certainly take your pick from a variety of Argentine players.

SportsLine's Jon Eimer reveals his Iran vs. Egypt best bets for World Cup 2026 action on Friday

The Nashville Predators selected forward Wyatt Cullen with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26.Cullen, a left wing with the U.S. National Team Development Program, had 16 goals and 29 assists in 40 games last season. He also scored a team-leading nine points in five games for Team USA at the 2025 World Junior Championships.This is the first draft selection made by new Predators general manager Chris MacFarland. With MacFarland and the rest of his staff making the pick remotely from Bridgestone Arena, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman introduced Cullen at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.A 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed skater, Cullen is a highly skilled winger who can create offense from many different angles. He has excellent hands, makes quick decisions and finds routes to the net that others cannot. Maybe not the most physical player, but that doesn't hurt his projection as a top-six winger."(Cullen) has dynamic ability to beat defenders with the puck on his stick," one NHL scout wrote for Elite Prospects. "Not the quickest skater with his top speed, but his shifty lateral ability is where he can catch players off guard. Might have one of the highest ceilings in the draft class." A Moorehead, Minnesota native, Cullen is the son of former NHL center Matt Cullen, who played two seasons with the Predators (2013-15). Wyatt plans to enroll and play for the University of Minnesota next season.Cullen is the ninth top-10 pick in Predators history. Last year, they selected Brady Martin at No. 5 overall. Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter,@alexdaugherty1.Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page@tennessean_preds.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators select winger Wyatt Cullen at No. 10 in 2026 NHL Draft

Declan Rice's 105 million ($139m) switch to Arsenal is considered to have helped him step up his game. Rice is considered to sit inside that talent pool as a Premier League title winner, World Cup hopeful, Ballon d'Or contender and future captain of the England national team. West Ham To Arsenal: Declan Rice Has Transformed His Game The all-action 27-year-old has come a long way from humble beginnings. Having been released by Chelsea as a youngster, his senior breakthrough came at West Ham as questions were asked about whether he was a holding midfielder or combative center back. Rice is now a box-to-box performer who has added more goals to his game and considerable assist threat with his delivery from set-pieces. He is no longer pigeonholed in one position and is being lauded as one of the very best in the business. How Arsenal Move Benefited Future England Captain How did Rice reach this point and what role did his move to Emirates Stadium play in unlocking full potential? When those questions were put to Terry Butcher, the former England skipper speaking in association with the Domino's Shirtiette campaign told GOAL of a man that is expected to fill the Three Lions' armband at some point: "I found when I moved from Ipswich to Rangers in 86, the club I moved to had won more things than the club that I came from. "Obviously with Rangers, they had the crowds and the history and moving from West Ham to Arsenal, you can see that Arsenal have won a lot of things as well. You feel like you step up another two or three levels because it's so much bigger, so much different. "I know West Ham are having a poor time at the moment, a hard time at the moment, but Arsenal have always been there, particularly with Arsene Wenger winning trophies and doing very well in Europe. "For me going to Rangers, it was like, well, I've got to really raise my game now. It does make you play better. It does make you raise the game because everybody wants to beat you even more so than before. "You play for West Ham and its, well, we can beat West Ham. And then you play for Arsenal and you're like, well, they can smash us five or six. You mentally have to step up another level too. "And that goes hand in hand, the mental side and the physical side, but the mental side, especially where you have much more responsibility. Like being captain of England, that responsibility just triples or at least five times more than what it was before at club level. "I think Declan is one that, he's come onto the global stage now. He plays in a great position. He gets forward and he can get back. He can play in different roles. He's a great example of a leader driving through that midfield. "And particularly when you've got Harry Kane up front as well, we've got a couple of really good leaders there that if they were to say things and get players going, then they would listen." Can England Bring 60 Years Of Hurt To A Close In 2026? Rice helped Arsenal to bring their 22-year wait for Premier League title glory to a close in 2026 forming part of the first Gunners team to lift that trophy since the fabled Invincibles of 2003-04. He is now aiming to emulate more legends on the international stage, with England in North America looking to bring 60 years of hurt to a close. Can they achieve that? Butcher made it clear that the Three Lions are in position to make a deep run. "If you're going to win the World Cup, you've got to beat the best teams. I think we're better equipped now to do that. I think the Ghana game gave Thomas Tuchel a big indication of what his team is and what his best team is. "There's lots of players that are sometimes just waiting, like [Bukayo] Saka waiting to come on and start the games. Saka came on and had a great shot, but it was a great save by the Ghanaian keeper. So he's one that can unlock the door, but I'd like to see him start. I think he's not far away from starting." England Told They Can Beat The Best Teams Butcher went on to say, as he actively encourages supporters to make a mess during wild celebrations back home: "We looked at Croatia and we all said it was one of the best games we've ever seen from England. I'm sure there was everything flying about in that game. I think it's just that joy, that unbridled joy of England scoring in the World Cup and beating teams that are really good teams. "And teams will come out the Brazils, the Frances and the Spanish and Germans, everybody else, they'll come out and attack England because they feel they have to, they want to, they have the players that can do that, which would obviously then make it a much more open game," Butcher continued. With Kane in strong form, Butcher believes England has the tools and the right players to find success past the group stage. "I think when we get to the knockout stages, that's when England really should come alive. I think they have the ammunition and the manager as well, that's going to push them all away. If we fail, it won't be for the want of trying. "This squad, it does excite me, but the manager, I get to like the manager more and more because of what he says and what he does and how he reacts. He gets angry on the sidelines when things don't go well. But then he's good with the press and he speaks to the players really well and he demands a hell of a lot from them, which is what you expect every England manager to do. So knockout stage, really looking forward to it. I think we can beat what's thrown at us. I think we really can," Butcher said. England will complete their Group L campaign when facing Panama in New Jersey on Saturday. They are already assured of a place in the last 32, but need to determine in which position they will progress. The plan is to keep giving a loyal fan base plenty to get excited about.

What was hoped to be a superstar head-to-head between Kylian Mbapp and Erling Haaland instead became a runaway reminder of France's greatness

The Arizona Cardinals have finally caught the national media's attention for the right reasons.ESPN NFL writer Bill Barnwell ranked the Cardinals at No. 6 on his "Ranking WR, TE, RB groups for 2026: Best and worst NFL teams," which was released on Thursday, June 25. He placed them in the top six after they placed 15th heading into last season and 21st heading into the 2024 season. Barnwell even wrote that "the Cardinals have a legitimate case for No. 1 in these rankings next year."Barnwell revealed that he is underwhelmed by 2024 No. 4 overall NFL draft selection Marvin Harrison Jr.Harrison Jr. has totaled 1,493 receiving yards in his two NFL seasons with 12 receiving touchdowns. He played just 12 games last season. Barnwell did find a silver lining in Harrison Jr.'s unfortunate start to his career, though."The good news for the Cardinals is that (Michael) Wilson had a breakout season when Harrison wasn't available," Barnwell said. "Wilson averaged 2.5 yards per route run across 293 routes without Harrison on the field in 2025, identical to what George Pickens and Nico Collins produced over their full seasons."Wilson posted 1,006 receiving yards in his third NFL season in 2025.Barnwell also added that 2026 No. 3 overall NFL draft selection Jeremiyah Love might be one of the more fascinating reasons to watch Arizona this season.A Heisman finalist at Notre Dame in 2025, the running back ran for 2,497 yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in his last two seasons at the NCAA level."Between Love,Tyler AllgeierandJames Conner, the Cardinals have the deepest backfield in the league," Barnwell said.A 2026 free agent acquisition for the Cardinals, Allgeier ran for eight rushing touchdowns last season as a backup running back to Tucson Salpointe Catholic alum Bijan Robinson for the Atlanta Falcons. Conner scored two touchdowns before he went down to injury last season in the third game of the year, and came into that season riding back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons.Barnwell had to mention Cardinals tight end Trey McBride too, as the 2025 First-Team All-Pro selection is coming off back-to-back 110+ catch seasons with 1,100+ receiving yards each."There's a scenario in which Love and Harrison live up to expectations, Wilson is able to sustain the sort of form he showed without Harrison on the field all season and the Cardinals have a legitimate case for No. 1 in these rankings next year," Barnwell wrote.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals firmly inside Top 10 in ESPN NFL ranking. Why it makes sense

The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will conclude Saturday with Groups J, K and L playing their final slate of games. In Group L, England can likely clinch the group with a win over Panama, while Ghana and Croatia meet in a pivotal match with both teams looking to clinch a spot in the round of 32. Group K will be the next group to play its final two games. The big game between Colombia and Portugal are heavyweights with ambitions to go far in the knockout stages. The winner of this game will win the group. In the other game, the DR Congo could still advance to the round of 32 if it beats Uzbekistan. Finally, in Group J, Argentina has already won its group and might rest key players, including Lionel Messi, when it takes on a Jordan team that is already out. Austria and Algeria then clash in a game where both teams likely need at least a point to feel comfortable about advancing. Here is everything to know about match day 17. When: Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. ET Where: New York/New Jersey TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One England will be looking to officially punch its ticket to the knockout stage when it faces Panama on Saturday at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford in Group L. Entering with four points from its first two games, the Three Lions can win the group with a victory here, combined with Ghana failing to defeat Croatia. If Ghana also wins, the group will be decided by goal differential (England is currently at +2 while Ghana is at +1). After impressing in its opener, England was held to a frustrating 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday. Thomas Tuchels team struggled to break down Ghanas aggressive defense that did not give the English players much space to operate in the final third. On the occasion when England managed to get in a position for a shot, the players either missed the target or saw their shot saved. A key for England in this game is to be more effective in wider areas of the field. Against Ghana, it was not until wingers Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford subbed into the game in the second half that Englands attack was able to find a rhythm. In addition, Harry Kane was limited to just 19 touches and no goals against Ghana. Tuchel will be looking to get Kane on the ball a lot more against Panama. For Panama, Thomas Christiansens side has already been eliminated from the knockout stage and will exit the tournament after this game. Panama has played very hard in its first two games, starting with a 1-0 loss to Ghana where it conceded a very late goal. In its second game against Croatia, Panama was surprisingly on the front foot for long stretches but were undone by an Ante Budimir goal in the 54th minute. Panama is still searching for its first goal of the World Cup but will likely continue to prioritize defense and sit in a low block like it did against Croatia. Player To Watch The Arsenal winger has come off the bench in Englands first two games of this tournament. In these appearances, the Three Lions played better whenever he was on the field. Against Croatia, Saka entered in the 72nd minute and assisted on the final goal of a 4-2 win. Against Ghana, Saka was subbed on in the 65th minute, and he completed 100% of his passes while drawing three fouls. England needs to be more effective in getting into one-on-one situations from the wings and that could lead to Saka starting and being an important player in this game. When: Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. ET Where: Philadelphia TV: FS1 Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Automatic qualification to the round of 32 is on the line when Croatia takes on Ghana at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The winner of this game will be guaranteed of at least second place, while Ghana will finish second in the event of a draw. Ghana arrives at this game on the heels of a hard-fought 0-0 draw with England on Tuesday. The Black Stars frustrated the Three Lions over the full 90 minutes with a compact defense and a dangerous counterattack that prevented England from sending more players into the attack. Carlos Queiroz took over as Ghanas head coach in April after a disastrous March window where the teams defense bled goals. The Portuguese manager did not have much time to fix the situation, but Ghana is yet to concede a goal at the World Cup and now has an excellent chance of advancing to the round of 32 with four points from its first two games. Ghanas improvement at this World Cup has been one of the tournaments most surprising stories. The teams 1-0 win over Panama in its opener snapped a seven-match winless run, and the team is currently 73rd in the FIFA World Rankings, one of the lowest of all World Cup teams. Croatia has not had an easy time at this World Cup. Despite scoring two equalizers against England, Croatia let the game get away in the second half of a 4-2 loss. Against Panama, Croatia and to fight a lot harder than expected for its 1-0 win. Against Ghana, head coach Zlatko Dali will need big performances from his veteran midfielders to break down the Black Stars defense. This begins with 40-year-old captain Luka Modri along with Manchester Citys Mateo Kovai, 32, who is also part of the teams leadership. Croatias talent and experience likely has it as the favorites in this game, but age might also work against the team if the game becomes a test of athleticism. Ghana has little pressure in this game as the Black Stars have already surpassed expectations. Player To Watch The Manchester City midfielder has the unenviable task of breaking down Ghanas compact defense. Panama and England were both unsuccessful and now will be Croatias turn. Kovai likes to receive the ball in deep areas and drive forward into the attack. He has been very useful for Manchester City over the years against over-matched teams who try to sit deep. His style could really help Croatia to open the game and create chances. When: Saturday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. ET Where: Miami TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One In one of the most anticipated group stage finales, Portugal and Colombia clash on Saturday night at Miami Stadium in a game that will decide Group K. Colombia has already qualified for the round of 32 but can win the group with just a draw. Portugal, meanwhile, is essentially through to the knockout stages given its strong goal differential following the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. But a point mathematically clinches a knockout appearance while a win gives Roberto Martinezs team the group title. After a lackluster 1-1 draw with DR Congo in its opening game. Portugal came to life against Uzbekistan with a 5-0 win. Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, was the top story in that game as he ended his 10-game (13 games when not including penalties) international scoring slump in major tournaments. He became the first player to ever score at six different World Cups, and those goals saw him join other greats such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbapp, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland with multiple goals in this tournament. With Ronaldo off and running, Portugal is very dangerous with a team stacked with world-class talent. Against Colombia, Ronaldo leads an attack that also features Rafael Leo and Francisco Conceio. The midfield trio of Vitinha, Joo Neves and Bruno Fernandes is among the best in this tournament and will be difficult for Colombia to stop. Colombia has been the clear better team in each of its first two games, but has not dominated. Crystal Palace right wing back Daniel Muoz has scored in each of the first two games, and Bayern Munich left-winger Luis Diaz has also been very effective on the other side. James Rodriguez, 34, has struggled at the club level the past five years as he has bounced around without sticking. His most recent attempts have come in Mexico and the United States, but he continues to be very effective for Colombias national team and was responsible for creating several scoring chances in the 1-0 win over DR Congo. Portugal is favored in this game, but Colombia will have plenty of fan support in Miami. Colombia might also opt to play conservatively due to only needing a draw to win the group. Player To Watch Who else? Portugals all-time leading scorer ended his slump in international tournaments in a big way with two goals against Uzbekistan, and he became the first player to ever score in six World Cups. These performances are not just important for Ronalds rsum, they are great for Portugal. If Ronaldo continues to contribute, Portugal becomes a threat to go far and maybe even win the tournament. When: Saturday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. ET Where: Atlanta TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Both DR Congo and Uzbekistan will be looking for their first ever World Cup victories when the two teams meet at Atlanta Stadium on Saturday. Neither team is mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the round of 32, and the only path forward for both is to win this game and possibly get help. The DR Congo has the best chance. Sitting at one point from its draw with Portugal and a -1-goal differential, the DR Congo would move to four points with a win. The chances of finishing second are very slim, as the Leopards would also need Portugal to lose in a way that negates its six-goal advantage in the goal differential tiebreak. DR Congo still likely controls its own fate. A win would bring it to four points, which is likely enough to finish as one of the eight best third-place teams. One thing to watch at the start of this game is DR Congos formation. Needing a win to advance, head coach Sbastien Desabre might stray from the five-man backline formation he used in the first two games and opt for a more aggressive approach with more attackers on the field. Regardless of the formation, Yoane Wissa and veteran Cedric Bakambu will be the Leopards' top scoring options. This World Cup has been a learning lesson for Uzbekistan, which lost its opener to Colombia 3-1 and then was blown out 5-0 by Portugal. Technically it could advance with a win because some third-place teams might advance with three points. But Uzbekistans goal differential of -7 makes that nearly impossible. Head coach Fabio Cannavaro will still want to end the teams tournament on a high note. Uzbekistan has been one of Asias best performing countries at the youth national team level and there are encouraging signs for the future. It would be another sign of progress if the team can return home with a World Cup point. Player To Watch The Newcastle United forward scored DR Congos equalizer in the 1-1 draw with Portugal in the opener. He has also been the teams most dangerous scoring option over its 180 minutes at this World Cup. DR Congo needs to win this game, and if they do, a spot in the knockouts is likely. Unlike the first two games where DR Congo was the underdog, in this game the Leopards should be the favorites. Scoring opportunities should be there, and Wissa will have a big say in whether his team moves on or goes home. When: Saturday, June 27, 10 p.m. ET Where: Dallas TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday while playing some of the best soccer of his career. If anyone was hoping that this World Cup would be where the Argentine legend finally shows signs of slowing down, they are surely extremely disappointing. Argentina has six points from its first two games and is outscoring its opponents, 5-0. Messi has scored all five of Argentina's goals at this World Cup and could have had even more as he missed a penalty in the 2-0 win over Austria earlier in the week. In that game, he scored his 18th World Cup goal and is now the tournament's all-time leading scorer. On Saturday, Argentina takes on Jordan in what is a dead-rubber match in Group J. Argentina has already clinched the group title while Jordan has already been eliminated and will return home after this game. Because of that, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni might opt to rest Messi ahead of the knockouts. That would give Jordan a more realistic chance of securing its first ever World Cup point. It will still be extremely difficult for Jordan even without Messi on the field. Without Messi, Scaloni could opt for Comos promising attacking midfielder, Nico Paz, to play in Messis role. Also, Argentina has a number of top players returning from injury in Julin lvarez, Leandro Paredes, and Nicols Tagliafico. These players played limited minutes in the first two games but could see their role expanded against Jordan. As for Jordan, it is a game about showing pride. Head coach Jamal Sellami will likely continue to go with his top lineup, but the key for his team is to improve its set piece defending, as Jordan has conceded set piece goals in each of the first two games. Player To Watch If Scaloni fully rests Messi in this game, as seems likely, then Paz could be the player who steps into that role. Paz, 21, looks ready for an increased role in Argentina, and he is a big part of the future for La Albiceleste. In May, he won the award for Serie As Midfielder of the Season. In 2025-26, he scored 12 goals and added six assists to lead Como to a fourth-place finish and a spot in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League. Messi is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, but with Paz, the teams future looks bright. This is a good opportunity for him to begin carving out a role in the team. When: Saturday, June 27, 10 p.m. ET Where: Kansas City TV: FS1 Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Second place in Group J and an automatic spot in the World Cups round of 32 will go to the winner of Saturday nights game between Austria and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium. Both teams have lost to Argentina and defeated Jordan, but Austria carries an edge in goal differential and would claim second place with a draw. But that might not be a good thing. In an interesting conundrum, some analysts have noted that finishing second in Group J is no prize as it likely sets up a matchup with tournament favorite Spain in the round of 32. If the third-place team in Group J qualifies for the knockouts, it would likely offer a much more manageable path. Austria manager Ralf Rangnick will likely try to boost his teams offense in starting forward Marko Arnautovic for the first time at this World Cup. The 37-year-old forward is the teams all-time leading scorer and has played well off the bench. In the opening 3-1 win over Jordan, Arnautovic was instrumental in delivering the win. Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic will be forced to continue to play without leading attacker Mohamed Amoura, who suffered a hamstring injury in the opening game loss to Argentina. In the 2-1 win over Jordan, Algeria started slowly but dominated the second half in a comeback win that was led by attackers Nadir Benbouali, Amine Gouiri and Riyad Mahrez. Rangnicks Austrian team plays with an intense counter-pressing system. Algeria will only succeed if it can make quick passes out of pressure and get into the attack before Austria gets into its defensive shape. Player To Watch The French-born Chabi is a versatile player but has settled into a more attacking role on the left side for both Algeria and his club Eintracht Frankfurt. In the 2025-26 Bundesliga season, he had two goals and nine assists in 1,789 minutes. Chabi, 23, is Algerias best passer in attacking situations and against a counter-pressing team in Austria, he could find openings to create a lot of chances.

SportsLine's Martin Green reveals his Belgium vs. New Zealand best bets for their FIFA World Cup 2026 match on Friday

Chris MacFarland finished runner-up for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award for his work with the Colorado Avalanche in the 2025-26 season, the league announced on June 26 during the NHL draft.MacFarland, the Predators' president of hockey operations and general manager, was general manager of the Avalanche from 2022 until 2026. On June 2, he was announced as Barry Trotz's replacement in Nashville. Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin won the award with 131 points, with MacFarland a close second with 123 votes. Pat Verbeek (Anaheim Ducks) finished in third place with 29 votes.Voting for the award is conducted among a 42-member panel of NHL general managers, other league executives and media.UnderMacFarland, the Avalanche (55-16-11, 121 points) won the Presidents' Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history. Colorado made the playoffs for the ninth straight season and advanced to the Western Conference final for the second time in five seasons.MacFarland's work in free agency and at the trade deadline helped bolster his case for the award. He retained previous trade acquisition Brock Nelson, signed free agent defensemanBrent Burns, then acquired Nazem Kadri,Brett Kulak,Nicolas RoyandNick Blankenberg at this year's trade deadline. MacFarland was a Jim Gregory Award finalist for the first time in his career. Joe Sakic, Colorado's current president of hockey operations, won the award in 2021-22.Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter,@alexdaugherty1.Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page@tennessean_preds.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Chris MacFarland runner-up in NHL's GM of the year award with Avalanche

NEW YORK This was inevitable. It just happened several months too late. On Friday morning, the Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza and replaced him with interim manager Andy Green. The Mets are 34-47, last place in the NL East, 15 games behind first place, and 9 1/2 games behind a wild card spot with seven teams in front of them. Green, the Mets current farm director and former Padres skipper, will serve as the manager through the end of this season. David Stearns, the Mets president of baseball operations, will conduct a full managerial search in the offseason. Mendoza, who led the Mets in their special run to the NLCS in 2024, became a sitting duck at the end of 2025, when the Mets collapsed out of contention and missed the playoffs while flashing one of the highest payrolls in the sport. Mendozas job security became most vulnerable over this past offseason, when Stearns turned over his entire coaching staff, left Mendoza in his role, and didnt pick up his team option for the 2027 season. Mendozas seat was hottest when the Mets slogged through a 12-game losing streak in mid-April and Stearns continued to say he was confident in the manager. Mendozas fate was sealed this week after the Mets lost six in a row in another ugly stretch of baseball that included a six-error game at home against the Cubs on Wednesday. Even though Mendozas removal from managerial duties after being the Mets dugout leader for two and a half seasons was a long time coming, the news came as a shock to the Mets clubhouse on Friday when they held a team meeting. "It hurts. We failed Mendy. I failed Mendy," Lindor said. "I have talked to [Mendoza], and he apologized about not helping us win as much. But at the end of the day, this is not on him. Its more on us, the players, that we didnt perform to our capabilities." Mendozas managerial tenure began with an 89-73 record (.549 winning percentage) through 2024, followed by a 117-126 record (.481 winning percentage) from 2025-26. Lets dive into whats next for the Mets, Stearns, Green, Steve Cohen and company. Whats Nex For David Stearns? Whether Mets fans like it or not, Stearns is not going anywhere anytime soon. Hes at the halfway point of his five-year contract as Mets president of baseball operations, and team owner Steve Cohen struck out with multiple other executives and waited a long time to land his white whale. Stearns confirmed on Friday that he still has Cohens support to continue to lead the front office. That being said, Mendoza was the fall guy. Everyone in baseball knows the failure of this Mets season falls squarely on Stearns shoulders. Hours after firing Mendoza, Stearns attempted to be accountable for his poor roster construction in an 18-minute press conference in a packed room of reporters on Friday afternoon at Citi Field. "Despite all of our efforts, Mendy's included, we haven't been able to get going this year," Stearns said. "And I take responsibility for that. Ultimately, everything that occurs in baseball operations, including our major-league record, is my responsibility. I also have a responsibility to push us forward, to look for solutions, and to make difficult decisions and change when I think it's needed." At the very least, Stearns has to prove he can build a successful starting rotation, as that's been a glaring weakness for the team for the past two consecutive seasons. But beyond that, he also has to prove to Cohen that hes capable of leading a front office in a big market with unlimited resources at his fingertips. Stearns was successful in Milwaukee with miniscule payrolls that will never come close to what hes working with in New York. And his philosophy unemotionally parting ways with popular veteran players and axing the coaching staff, replacing those fan favorites with injured or aging players, and continuing to bet the house on unproven players to take the next step forward has not worked. Before the offseason rolls around, Stearns next big test will be how he handles the upcoming trade deadline. For now, he is continuing to say the Mets have not given up on this season, though its hard to find anyone who actually believes that. "I understand we have an uphill battle ahead of us this year, but we're not turning the page," Stearns said. "We all remain very focused on doing everything we can to win as many games this year while recognizing where we are in the standings." The Mets have a significant trade chip in right-hander Freddy Peralta, and its a thin market for starting pitchers at this deadline. Stearns and company should be able to swing a solid return for Peralta, and potentially for other players like left-hander A.J. Minter and, depending on how full-fledged of a sell-off it is, infielder Mark Vientos and catcher Francisco Alvarez. Outside an incredible turnaround from the team between now and Aug. 3, expect the Mets to be sellers. All eyes will be on Stearns to see what he does next to help revamp the Mets into contenders for 2027. Whats Next For Andy Green And The Mets? Andy Green did not want this job. After spending four seasons (2016-19) managing the Padres and failing to make the postseason in all four of those years with an overall record of 274-366 in San Diego Green didnt want to manage again. He turned down other managerial opportunities, in part to spend more time with his family, especially with his three daughters, and enjoy the freedom of his personal life without having to spend 162 games in a dugout. "David was aware of all those things and aware that this wasn't something I was running to," Green said on Friday. "This felt like a responsibility more than an opportunity once it was made known to me that there was nothing that was going to change the [decision to fire Mendoza]. Once I learned that, I genuinely believe that, given my life experience, I was in the best position to help over the next three months and see what we can get done as a group." Stearns hired Green as Mets senior vice president of baseball development in 2023. Green will return to his duties as the teams farm director after managing the Mets this season. What difference will he make in the span of a few short months? "I think sometimes a new voice, a new perspective, a new view helps," Stearns said. "And sometimes it's really difficult to explain why or how, but at this point it was time to try. I think Andy, just by virtue of his experiences, both before he got here and during his time with the Mets, is going to bring something a little bit different. And I think for us it was time to try something a little different." Green cant help but continue to pay attention to the player development side of things in the minor leagues. But, for now, he will turn the majority of his time, attention and energy to helping the Mets win games. After speaking with reporters for 25 minutes on Friday, it seemed like the best way Green would help that goal was through his upbeat energy and limiting distractions for the players. Green wants the Mets to play free and reintroduce their love and joy for the game. Like Stearns, Green believes the roster is too talented to continue sliding in the standings for much longer. He understands the team is being doubted, and that its the players who have the pen in their hands to rewrite the story. The last hope for the Mets in the remainder of this lost season is to quickly get their injured players back healthy. This years offensive group of Juan Soto, Lindor, Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. have only played a handful of games together and none since April 2. Its been impossible to know what that group is capable of doing together after prolonged injuries to Polanco and Robert have sidelined any momentum. That being said, other players whom Stearns was counting on to be a part of the lineups success have not panned out. Infielders Brett Baty and Vientos have been disappointments at the plate, recording a combined OPS+ of 74 through the first half of the season. Both players are in their fifth year in the majors and Stearns expected them to take steps forward this season. Marcus Semien, now injured with a hip flexor strain, was just as disappointing, posting a 71 OPS+ before he hit the injured list. Reinforcements from homegrown rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing have at least given fans reasons to continue tuning into games. While their performance has been weak, the Mets clubhouse was steadfast in believing Mendoza took the fall for their shoddy results. "Mendy was good to me," Bichette said. "I guess, sometimes the manager has to take the fall for the team underperforming." Who Could Be Next As Mets Manager? It shouldnt come as a surprise that there are already plenty of names floating around to take over as Mets manager next season. The Mets have yet to hire a manager who has finished his third season since Terry Collins, and his third season was all the way back in 2013. Whoever takes the job next will be the organizations fifth full-time manager since Collins retired after the 2017 season. The only person we know for sure who wont be on the long list of names interviewing for the role is Green. The first person to publicly throw his hat in the ring was Albert Pujols, who announced his desire to manage the Mets while appearing on MLB Network on Friday, hours after Mendoza was fired. Pujols has never managed at any level in MLB, but he is fresh off managing the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. "No matter where it is," Pujols said on MLB Network, "Im going to bring in my experience, learning from great managers in the past, and try to do the best that I can to build a great relationship with the players." Another first-time manager who could be on the Mets radar is Carlos Beltran, who was hired to be the Mets skipper after the 2019 season, and fired before spring training after the team learned of his role in the Astros 2017 sign-stealing scandal. Beltran is currently a special assistant to the Mets in a front-office advisory role, and he has a strong relationship with Steve and Alex Cohen. Other potential names include Alex Cora, who was fired by the Red Sox earlier this season, former Cubs manager David Ross, and maybe even the Mets current bench coach, Kai Correa. Whoever is next, we can expect the pressure to be dialed all the way up. Cohen said earlier this year in spring training that if the Mets missed the playoffs in two consecutive seasons, it would be "not good." Now, were just a few months away from finding out just how aggressively Cohen will respond to that "not good" scenario.