Daily Report – 2/4/25

Hello,

Here is today’s report:

Yankees

Yesterday, the Yankees signed veteran reliever Carlos Carrasco to a minor league deal.

This morning, the Yankees resigned LHP Tim Hill to a one-year $2.85 million contract with a club option for 2026.

Rangers

It was announced today that Adam Edstrom (lower body) will miss 2.5-3.5 months with a lower-body injury. Depending on whether the Rangers make the playoffs, this injury could be season-ending. I view Edstrom as a key foundational piece for the Rangers’ future. His strength and wingspan have helped power an impressive fourth line, and hopefully, he will make a speedy recovery and have a great next season.

Knicks

The Knicks are fortunate to have Jalen Brunson, and last night’s win is just one of many reasons why.

The Knicks delivered their best performance in the fourth quarter, scoring 46 points—the most in any fourth quarter since the 1976-77 season. Despite OG Anunoby's injury leaving the team shorthanded and allowing 104 field goal attempts, Jalen Brunson made no excuses.

The Knicks overcame a 12-point deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 124-118. Brunson scored 42 points, sealing the victory and setting the record for the third-most 40-point games in Knicks history (18).

Last season, he became the first Knicks player to record over 1,200 points and 300 assists in the first 50 games of a season. He has now achieved this remarkable feat in back-to-back seasons, contributing to the Knicks reaching 33 wins at the fastest rate since the 1996-97 season.

“We were in a funk, and then we found a way to fight, fight, fight,” said Karl-Anthony Towns after the win. Mikal Bridges added 22 points to the team's effort and boasted a +29 rating. Known as the NBA’s Iron Man for his longest active streak of games played, Bridges faced a challenge last night when he rolled his ankle while drawing a foul. Despite struggling to get up, he rose and made both free throws.

Last season, the Knicks earned a reputation for their gritty defensive play. However, this season, their defense ranks in the middle of the league. Last night’s effort demonstrated that even while shorthanded, this team fights through adversity to win close games. As frustrating as it can be that Tom Thibodeau plays his starters for nearly 40 minutes per game, they continue to perform well.

Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns have bolstered the Knicks offensively, but the team's lack of depth has hampered their defense. Still, the Knicks' identity remains clear: they are a force to be reckoned with.

In this game, Houston had a biggest lead of 12 points while the Knicks led by as many as six points. The score was tied nine times with 20 lead changes and a longest run for 13.

That will conclude this report. Have a good night.