Most Valuable Intel (7/1/20): Gleyber Torres, Steelers D, and MORE!

Some of the hottest content to read in sports today provide ground-breaking insights and takeaways concerning subjects such as the top franchise cornerstones for all 30 MLB clubs and the future outlook for San Francisco WR Deebo Samuel. Here’s the Most Valuable Intel to know from the best articles in sports.

Future Faces of the MLB

FULL ARTICLE: MLB Franchise Cornerstone Rankings: Who Is Top Player to Build a Team Around? by Zachary D. Rymer, Bleacher Report

HOT: MLB’s Top 30 Franchise Cornerstones by @zachrymer https://t.co/9F50PtoGjQ
— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) June 30, 2020

MOST VALUABLE INTEL: NYY Gleyber Torres is the next face of the New York Yankees

Baseball fans around the world are extremely exciting about the start of the 2020 season, but some teams should be more enthused than others. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer identified the best franchise cornerstones in the league. One crucial takeaway is New York Yankees SS Gleyber Torres cracking the top 10, one spot above the unanimous 2015 MVP. The 23-year-old Torres has only 267 career games on his resume, however, he leads all-time middle infielders with the most home runs (62) trough their first two big league seasons.

While many fans view Aaron Judge as the current face of the Bronx Bombers, he’s already 28 years old while Torres is five years younger despite his rookie MLB season occurring just a year later. New York has Torres under contract through the next five seasons, so he’s likely to emerge as a perennial MVP candidate before he reaches Free Agency or a long-term extension in the Big Apple.

Deebo Samuel's Future Outlook

FULL ARTICLE: San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel’s Future Outlook by Brandon Hereford, Pro Sports Outlook

MOST VALUABLE INTEL: The 49ers’ WR core is deep without Samuel but lacks a premier player

Previously on June 18th, the San Francisco 49ers announced that Deebo Samuel will miss the next 12-16 weeks after suffering a broken foot. Since Samuel provided the offense with a unique dynamic skillset, the roster will miss his influence until he comes back sometime this fall. In this Future Outlook article, PSO’s Brandon Hereford breaks down both Samuel’s future with the 49ers and the franchise’s back up options without him.

Deebo perfectly symbolizes the transformation of the NFL into a league that prioritizes speed. He quickly became San Francisco’s go-to WR in his rookie campaign by collecting 57 receptions for 802 yards, with 17 of his touches going for 20+ yards (tied-10th) in 2019. Samuel’s absence allows for WRs Kendrick Bourne, Jalen Hurd, and Brandon Aiyuk (2020 1st Rd Pick) to fill his role as Garoppolo’s top target, but it seems that the rush-heavy offense will struggle to be complemented by a true No. 1 wideout.

MLB Player Pools

FULL ARTICLE: MLB Teams Begin Announcing 2020 Player Pools, Including No. 1 Prospect Wander Franco: Five Things to Know by Mike Axisa, CBS Sports

MOST VALUABLE INTEL: Teams are using 60-man rosters not for depth, but for prospect development

One way how the shortened MLB season will be dramatically different in 2020 is with the updated roster rules. This year, all 30 teams will have 60-man player pools which will combine their every day rosters with their top minor league prospects. The initial design of the 60-man rosters may have been to create the ultimate amount of depth for big league rosters to choose from if an outbreak occurs in the clubhouse, but teams have instead used those valuable roster spots on premium prospects to gain experience in a MiLB-less season.

In addition to the Detroit Tigers including first overall pick 1B Spencer Torkelson in their player pool, the Los Angeles Dodgers selected pitchers Bobby Miller (first-rounder) and Landon Knack (second-rounder). Both flamethrowers performed well in their shortened final college campaigns, but the Dodgers (among many others) believe that its imperative for big-time prospects to obtain big league experience and instruction. Mike Axisa of CBS identifies four other things all baseball fans should know about the player-pool system heading into the new season.

Top Pitching Prospects for 2020

FULL ARTICLE: 5 Young Arms that Could Be Let Loose in ’20 by Matt Kelly, MLB.com

MOST VALUABLE INTEL: CHW SP Michael Kopech is the X-factor for the club’s postseason push

On the topic of potential positives connected to the shortened 2020 season, franchise’s will not have to worry nearly as much about workload or inning restrictions as in previous seasons. With the MiLB system in flux, ballclubs are being encouraged to give their top pitching prospects opportunities to significantly impact their 2020 outlook.

The Chicago White Sox look like borderline playoff contenders with the regular season on the horizon. After a noisy offseason, the franchise expects to be firing on all cylinders. With Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel headlining the starting rotation, the Sox can use top pitching prospect Michael Kopech in spot starts and in situational relief. Further developing Kopech as a future ace will only help the club fight for the AL Central crown.

NFL's Best HCs

FULL ARTICLE: Ranking Top 10 Coaches in NFL: Sean McVay Suddenly Underrated, Doug Pederson Cracks List by Sean Wagner-McGough, CBS Sports

HOT: Ranking the Top-10 Head Coaches in the NFL by @seanjwagner https://t.co/3G7XCM1s54

— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) June 30, 2020

MOST VALUABLE INTEL: Mike Tomlin and his Steelers DEF only need a competent QB to contend for the Super Bowl

Individual players can only do so much to put their team in the best position to win. Compared to other popular pro sports, NFL head coaches have the greatest effect on the results of a single game. From real-time decisions of challenging plays to alterering in-game schemes, these coaches have the power to make or break the game itself. CBS Sports’ Sean Wagner-McGough ranks the top 10 head coaches in the league and what they do that makes their players so successful.

Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin is recognized as one of the best HCs in the business, but hasn’t been getting the respect he deserves due to the Steelers’ quiet seasons of 2018 and 2019. Even though they are just 17-14-1 over the last two years, Tomlin has consistently gotten the most out of his roster, even with the unpredictable health of QB Ben Roethlisberger. In his 13 NFL seasons, Tomlin has a 64.2 winning percentage (roughly 10-6 each year) due to his ability to develop players on both sides of the ball and has his team ready for Super Bowl contention as long as Big Ben is.