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Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said trading for star winger Mikko Rantanen was a risk worth taking, even after Carolina failed to sign him and dealt him to the Dallas Stars before Friday’s NHL trade deadline.

“Our organization is characterized by an aggressive approach. Being aggressive means taking some risks. It means taking some chances,” Tulsky said. “If the team was already winning [Stanley] Cup after Cup after Cup, maybe that would be a time to be conservative, but we haven’t gotten to where we want to be yet. Ultimately, that means you’re taking some risks.”

Rantanen was traded twice within two months. The Colorado Avalanche traded him to the Hurricanes on Jan. 24 in a blockbuster three-way trade that included Carolina acquiring Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall. Colorado received winger Martin Necas, who was Carolina’s leading scorer this season, as well as Hurricanes center Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder. The Blackhawks also took on half of Rantanen’s $9.25 million salary cap hit to facilitate the trade.

Rantanen wasn’t his dominant self in Carolina, scoring six points in 13 games while adjusting to what he described as an unexpected trade out of Denver.

The Hurricanes engaged in extension talks with Rantanen. Carolina presented Rantanen and his agent with a detailed contract proposal during the 4 Nations Face-Off, with ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting that the average annual value of the deal was between $13 million to $14 million. But it became clear that the pending unrestricted free agent would not commit to Carolina before Friday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline.

“My sense of it was that this just didn’t feel like home for him, as far as I can tell. And that’s OK. He’s making an eight-year commitment,” Tulsky said.

The Hurricanes were open to keeping Rantanen for the short term, with Tulsky calling it a “perfectly fine outcome.” But he said the deadline offers were too enticing not to explore — including the one from Dallas that the Hurricanes ultimately accepted.

The Stars traded forward Logan Stankoven, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick for Rantanen, the NHL’s sixth-leading scorer over the past three seasons (279 points in 223 games). Both first-round picks are top-10 protected. Dallas agreed to the trade after coming to terms with Rantanen on an eight-year contract extension with an annual average value of $12 million.

Tulsky said trading Rantanen “wasn’t the goal” but that the team is comfortable with how the situation ended up, praising Stankoven’s potential and the draft capital the Canes acquired.

He lamented that Carolina couldn’t use those picks before the trade deadline to bring in help for this season, citing how much time it took for Dallas to finalize its contract with Rantanen and for the teams to close their deal. The Hurricanes didn’t have cap flexibility until the Rantanen trade was closed, and Tulsky said Carolina missed out on some players it was targeting in the interim.

Rantanen’s decision to sign with Dallas marked the second straight season a star acquisition has spurned the Hurricanes. Winger Jake Guentzel was acquired at last season’s deadline but left for the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent. Tulsky defended his franchise, saying the situations weren’t similar and that “we’ve got a lot of high-end players that have signed here long term.”

The first-year general manager said he expects to walk his players through the franchise’s “team building” plans soon. Tulsky was emphatic that he has no regrets for acquiring Rantanen from Colorado.

“When you move him out, that’s a loss for the current year. But we felt we were getting enough in this deal that it was the best thing for the organization in the long term,” Tulsky said.

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Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

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Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.

Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.

The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.

If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.

Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.

“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”

Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.

“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”

Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.

The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.

In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.

“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”

The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.

Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.

The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”

Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.

Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.

San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.

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Twins SS Correa helped off with sprained ankle

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Twins SS Correa helped off with sprained ankle

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa had to be helped off the field after injuring his right ankle when Pittsburgh‘s Tommy Pham slid into him at second base.

Pham was trying to get to second on his liner off the wall in right field in the seventh inning of the Twins’ 2-1 victory Friday night. Right fielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr.’s throw beat Pham, whose batting helmet made contact with Correa’s lower leg.

Correa rolled over and stayed on the ground before leaving the game. Brooks Lee moved from second base to shortstop to replace Correa. The team said Correa had a mild ankle sprain.

Correa said X-rays were negative and that he expects to sit out Saturday’s game, adding that he “hopefully” can play on Sunday, according to MLB.com.

The 30-year-old Correa is already in his 11th big league season and has been a mainstay at shortstop for the Twins since signing as a free agent in 2022. He missed about half of last season with a concussion and a plantar fascia injury, the latter of which kept him from playing in the All-Star Game after he was chosen for the third time.

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Acuña replaced in HR Derby by teammate Olson

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Acuña replaced in HR Derby by teammate Olson

ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. won’t participate in the Home Run Derby, replaced Friday by Atlanta teammate and fellow All-Star Matt Olson.

Acuña is a starting outfielder for the National League and still is expected to play in the All-Star Game on his home field. Olson is a reserve infielder.

Instead of Acuña, Olson will try to become the first Atlanta player to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night. He could become the fourth to win at home. The All-Star Game is Tuesday night.

Olson competed in the 2021 Derby while with the Athletics. He was eliminated in the first round. The 31-year-old entered the weekend with 17 homers this season.

The other scheduled participants are Brent Rooker, the first for the Athletics since Olson, along with Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and James Wood of Washington.

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