Proposed Orioles blockbuster trade sees Baltimore land $9.35 million two-time All-Star as emergency replacement for Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg
Proposed Orioles blockbuster trade sees Baltimore land $9.35 million two-time All-Star as emergency replacement for Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Orioles showed their worth today after they kicked off Spring Training defeating the New York Yankees, 2-0. However, they do now have a huge problem: Two star infielders, Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg, are set to miss a good portion of the season with injuries.
Fansided’s Christopher Kline proposes a solution: one more trade. This time, the O’s would make a deal with the Houston Astros, and nab two-time All-Star Isaac Paredes.
The trade would look like this:
Orioles get: 3B Isaac Paredes
Astros get: OF Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF Jeremiah Jackson
“The Orioles receive a two-time All-Star with a couple years of cheap club control in Isaac Paredes. He fills an immediate need and should elevate what already projects (with enough positive regression) to be one of the more potent lineups in the American League, especially if Gunnar Henderson meets expectations and returns to MVP contention…Paredes does complicate a few short- and long-term timelines, but he's a potential 100-RBI bat who can substantially elevate Baltimore's competitive ceiling. And this O's team clearly wants to win,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Paredes slashed .254/.352/.458/.809 with 15 doubles, 20 home runs, and 53 RBI in 102 games. He also earned his second All-Star nod with his performance this season.
He’d also be cheap for the O’s, too. He’s only set to earn $9.35 million this year, and still has two years of team control.
The only problem is once Holliday and Westburg come back, the question of where Paredes would go comes into play. However, with no definite timeline for either player’s return, getting Paredes seems like a smart solution.
MORE MLB NEWS
Dillon Mitchell: C.E. King Star Eyes 2028 Olympics
Mitchell, 16, broke the national 60‑meter record with a time of 6.45 seconds, becoming the fastest American in the event this year. The C.E. King sprinter has also posted sub‑10‑second 100‑meter times and has been praised for his calm focus on the track.
Coached by his father Billy since age four, Mitchell credits family support for his development. He plans to play football and run track in college while working toward qualification for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Suns' Haywood Highsmith looks to return from surgery this season
Haywood Highsmith didn’t sign with the Phoenix Suns to sit out the rest of the 2025-26 season.
The 6-foot-5 forward looks to return to action after having surgery last August to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee from training in his hometown of Baltimore. He has yet to play a game this season.
“I'm here to play basketball at the end of the day,” Highsmith said Feb. 20. “That's what I want to do. So we'll figure out when that happens and go from there. I'm going to continue to put the work in and control what I can control and just go from there."
Highsmith signed with the Suns as a free agent earlier this month. At the time of his surgery, Highsmith was expected to miss eight-to-10 weeks.
“We're excited to have him,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said Feb. 19. “Right now, he just continues to go through more testing with our group. Similar to everyone else, when they come into our group, we'll have a plan. Get him back out there.”
"Appreciate the Suns giving me an opportunity."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 20, 2026
Haywood Highsmith joined Phoenix as a free agent.
On optimism to play this season as he hasn't played this season following offseason knee surgery: "I'm here to play basketball at the end of the day. That's what I want to do. So… pic.twitter.com/t5sveSLrLL
The Suns (32-24) have 26 more games remaining in the regular season as they begin a four-game homestand Feb. 21 against the Orlando Magic (29-25).
“I appreciate the Suns giving me an opportunity,” Highsmith said. “Got here right after (NBA All-Star break) earlier this week. Met the staff, met everybody. Just getting acquainted, getting acclimated with everybody. Trying to get right to work, do whatever it takes to get back on the court as quickly as possible. Working with the training staff and the coaches and figuring out what the plan is.”
Highsmith last played April 28, 2025, in the first round of the NBA playoffs for the Miami Heat against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ott was an assistant with the Cavs, who swept the Heat. Highsmith scored 17 points in Game 2 of the series, hitting 5-of-6 from 3 in a 121-112 loss for the Heat.
That was the closest game of the series, with Highsmith being a major reason.
Now Ott looks to coach him.
“He wants to play,” Ott added. “Hasn't played all year. We want to get him back out there, but we want him to be right.”
The 29-year-old Highsmith can guard multiple positions. He brings strength, physicality, offensive rebounding and the ability to knock down corner 3s to Phoenix.
Jordan Ott on Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) possibly playing this season: "We're excited to have him. Right now he just continues to go through more testing with our group. Similar to everyone else, when they come into our group, we'll have a plan. Get him back… pic.twitter.com/lhsGWU8ufK
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 20, 2026
“That fits right in with me,” said Highsmith, a career 37.4% 3-point shooter. “Just guarding the ball, picking up full court, being tough, making it difficult and just being that tough, gritty defender and making it hard for opposing teams.”
Highsmith earned the nickname “Locksmith” for his defensive prowess from his four seasons with Miami (2021-25).
“They kind of brought it out of me,” Highsmith said. “They also got my body right. When I first got into the NBA with (Philadelphia 76ers) and G League and all that, my body wasn't fully how it should be.”
Undrafted, Highsmith played college ball at Wheeling University, an NCAA Division II school in West Virginia.
“The Heat got me in great shape, gave me the tools as far as the schemes and going a lot of reps in games, playoffs,” Highsmith later said. “That got me more comfortable as well. The Heat really pushed it out of me and from there, I just kind of took over it, owned it and I love it.”
Highsmith has been doing individual workouts with the Suns staff and testing the knee.
“Doing a lot of strength tests,” Highsmith said. “Movement, change direction. I don't think it's really been challenged. Just trying to get the hang of it. Get back into it. I haven't done some of these movements in a minute. It's getting better each rep, each time I'm doing it. Just trying to get more comfortable with it.”
Suns forward Haywood Highsmith on time with Miami Heat: "The first really NBA team to give me an opportunity. I learned a lot there defensively, work wise, how to approach every day, to be a pro."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 20, 2026
On testing the knee: "Doing a lot of strength tests. Movement, change direction.… pic.twitter.com/v2kadb2K23
Highsmith passed one major mental and physical test with a dunk in a morning workout before the Suns played the San Antonio Spurs in Austin.
“I had a couple (of dunks),” Highsmith said. “It feels good to be able to dunk again. Coming off a knee injury and have that mental confidence. It's always the aspect of coming off an injury the mental side and the physical side. Getting back to dunking is great for my mental and overall, I'm just blessed to be able to dunk again.”
Highsmith underwent surgery after averaging a career-high 6.5 points in 74 games (42 starts) in his fourth and final season with the Heat in 2024-25.
Miami traded Highsmith to the Brooklyn Nets, who later waived him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Highsmith didn’t play a single game for the Nets, who are in full rebuilding mode.
He’s looking to return to the court in Phoenix as he’s joined a team that’s seventh in the West and is competing for a playoff spot.
“The journey I’ve had has been up and down,” Highsmith said. “I’ve just stayed with it, try to work my hardest, control what I can control and God has blessed me to play in the NBA however many years I’ve been here.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns' Haywood Highsmith looks to return from surgery this season
Iowa State basketball vs BYU player availability report
The availability report for the Saturday, Feb. 21 Iowa State vs. BYU men's basketball game was released on Friday night by the Big 12 Conference.
The Cyclones are on the road to Provo, Utah, to play BYU on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. CT at the Marriott Center. The game will be available on ESPN.
Mason Williams, who underwent preseason surgery that will sideline him for the entire 2025-26 season, is the only player listed as out for the Cyclones. The Cyclones also have one player doubtful.
BYU has six players out. Here is the full availability report for Iowa State-BYU:
Iowa State players listed as "out"
- Mason Williams
Iowa State players listed as "doubtful"
- Xzavion Mitchell
BYU players listed as "out"
- Brody Kozlowski
- KJ Perry
- Nate Pickens
- Richie Saunders
- Dawson Baker
- Xavion Staton
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State basketball vs BYU player availability report