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MLB’s greatest team strikes yet again with top free agent

Kyle Tucker, the top slugger and most coveted player on this year’s free agent market, startled the baseball industry with a destination that’s become all too familiar to those finishing out of the money for a player’s services: The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tucker spurned the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets and instead agreed to terms Jan. 15 with the Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million contract, a person familiar with the agreement confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, first reported by ESPN, has not been finalized. Tucker’s contract will include opt-outs after the second and third years.

Tucker, who turns 29 in January, was undeniably the top free agent this winter after first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed a 14-year, $500 million extension with the Blue Jays. And after the Blue Jays reached Game 7 of the World Series and signaled their intention to remain aggressive, they appeared to be the frontrunner for Tucker’s services.

Instead, the Dodgers – who just more than two months ago vanquished the Blue Jays in an unforgettable World Series Game 7 – prevailed again.

While it took two months of free agency for Tucker to find a home, he had no shortage of options as the bidding process wound down. The Mets offered him a reported $50 million annual salary, but on a shorter-term deal, a parameter the Dodgers apparently preferred as well; despite a half-billion dollar roster, the Dodgers were in need of outfield punch and lurked in the running.

And now they will land him on an average annual salary that trails only new teammate Shohei Ohtani’s heavily-deferred 10-year, $700 million deal.

Tucker becomes the eighth Dodger with a nine-figure contract, and with the off-season not yet finished, pushes their estimated 2026 payroll commitment to $334 million – and their competitive balance tax payroll will far exceed $400 million.

Tucker, a four-time All-Star, has reached the playoffs in every season since 2019, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a wild-card berth in 2025 after a stint with the Houston Astros that included a 2022 World Series title.

He’s been one of the game’s most consistent offensive producers in that span.

Tucker has accumulated 25.3 Wins Above Replacement since 2021 and posted a 145 adjusted OPS in that span. He’s posted a .277/.365/.514 slash line and averaged 27 home runs per season.

Selected with the fifth overall pick by the Astros in 2015, Tucker, a four-time All-Star was one of the last remaining connections to that rebuild and prosperity when Houston traded him to the Cubs over the winter.

In his one year in Chicago, he anchored a lineup that vaulted from 12th in the major leagues in runs scored to fifth, with players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner enjoying significant upticks in production.

While many factors contributed to those players’ improvements, it’s also hard to deny the downstream effect of Tucker’s presence. Though they were lauded for the return haul in their trade with the Cubs, the Astros nonetheless saw their streak of consecutive playoff appearances end at eight without Tucker.

“I think it kind of speaks for itself, right? We all know what he brings to this team,” Swanson told USA TODAY Sports in June when asked about Chicago retaining Tucker. “He’s an aircraft carrier of a guy in the lineup.

“He’s so good. How could you not want that?

The Dodgers agreed.

And now he’ll be the linchpin of a lineup laden with former MVPs, future Hall of Famers and nine-figure contracts. The Dodgers will blitz opposing pitchers with Ohtani ($700 million deal) in the leadoff spot, Mookie Betts ($365 million pact) hitting second, likely followed by Tucker and then Freddie Freeman ($162 million).

Heck, if they want to keep the left-right-left cadence, All-Star catcher Will Smith (a paltry $140 million man) can slide between Tucker and Freeman. Either way, the game’s greatest team just got a lot better – and left a hole in the lineups of those who came up short.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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These cities watched more college football than any one else this season

At least SEC country can celebrate one title this offseason. The Nielsen ratings are in for the 2025 college football season and Birmingham, Alabama ranked No. 1.

Six other SEC markets made the top 10, though Ohio State’s rabid fan base helped the Buckeyes land spots No. 2 (Columbus) and No. 3 (Dayton).

Here’s a look at this year’s top 10 markets, which didn’t feature too many surprises. However, Indianapolis is notably absent despite Indiana’s historic season and a heavy Notre Dame contingent in the market. Guess it just means more down south.

Top TV markets for 2025 college football season

List via Nielsen, numbers from July 31-Dec. 17.

  1. Birmingham (Alabama/Auburn)
  2. Columbus (Ohio State)
  3. Dayton (Ohio State)
  4. Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville (Clemson)
  5. Tulsa (Oklahoma/Oklahoma State)
  6. Oklahoma City (Oklahoma)
  7. Atlanta (Georgia/Georgia Tech)
  8. Knoxville (Tennessee)
  9. New Orleans (LSU)
  10. Jacksonville (Florida/Georgia)
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Angels add veteran Rays outfielder in three-team trade

The Los Angeles Angels are acquiring outfielder Josh Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team trade that sends relief pitcher Brock Burke to the Cincinnati Reds, and infielder Gavin Lux and reliever Chris Clark to Tampa, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Thursday night.

Lowe, a five-year veteran and 2016 draft pick by the Rays, is coming off a tough two-year stretch in which he has posted a combined slash line of .230/.292/.378 with 0.8 bWAR in 214 games. He missed 56 games in 2024 with a right oblique injury as his OPS dipped to .693 from a career-high .835 the year before. In 2025, Lowe strained his oblique again on Opening Day and didn’t return until May 15. He was never able to get into a rhythm from then on, finishing the season with a .649 OPS.

Despite the back-to-back injury-riddled seasons, Lowe remained a respected clubhouse presence among his Rays teammates. He fills a need for the Angels, who have been shorthanded in the outfield for quite some time. In 2025, the Halos’ outfield depth was a consistent issue and saw them shuffle through prospects such as Kyren Paris, Matthew Lugo and Bryce Teodosio. It’s worth noting that Lowe remains under club control for the next three years.

The Angels are betting on Lowe getting back to the level he was at in 2023, when he hit 20 home runs, finished top five in the American League in stolen bases (32) and posted career-high numbers across the board. That seems to be a philosophy Angels GM Perry Minasian has taken this offseason as he’s taken fliers on Kirby Yates, Grayson Rodriguez, Alek Manoah, Vaughn Grissom and Jordan Romano, all of whom are in need of a bounce-back year.

But even after freeing up a chunk of payroll with the deferment of third baseman Anthony Rendon’s contract last month, the Halos have yet to make a major move. It remains to be seen if they will this offseason.

“Offseasons are long, right?” Minasian told reporters. “If you look at what we did last year, I signed Kenley Jansen and Yoán Moncada with a couple days left right before Spring Training. So, there’s still a lot of good players out there.

‘We’re still looking for ways to improve the team.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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13 Mins Read

Who are the best 2026 MLB free agents still available?

More than two months into Major League Baseball’s free agency period, plenty of elite talent remains ‒ though the overall depth available has been significantly hollowed out.

A run on relievers ‒ often the last class of players to come off the board ‒ finally gave way to elite sluggers finding homes, with Kyle Tucker’s stunning deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers leaving infielder Bo Bichette the best player available.

Who’s left on the free agency market? USA TODAY Sports ranks the top remaining free agents and breaks down who’s already signed:

Ages on April 1, 2026:

1. Bo Bichette (28, SS, Blue Jays)

Bichette’s sterling World Series performance on, essentially, one leg spoke to both his grit and significant skill set. Posted a .311/.357/.483 line before getting hurt. And if he’s better suited to second base in the future, consider that he’s hitting the market two years earlier than Marcus Semien, and that worked out OK for Texas.

2. Framber Valdez (32, LHP, Astros)

Not sure if he’ll sniff the Max Fried rent district for lefty starters but it never hurts when you’re literally one of two on the market. Valdez is consistently right around 200 innings, has a championship pedigree and suppresses the home run ball. Not an ideal conclusion to his Houston era, but it’s also easy enough to hand him the ball and set your alarm clock for September.

3. Cody Bellinger (30, OF/1B, Yankees)

Bellinger topped the 150-game mark for the first time since 2019 and had an excellent season his one year in the Bronx – producing 5.1 WAR, hitting 29 homers and playing typically sound defense. Given his health history, there will be some risk wagering on a hale Bellinger for the next five-plus years – but his overall skill set will be difficult to ignore.

4. Zac Gallen (30, RHP, Diamondbacks)

He led the NL in WHIP (0.91) and the majors in fewest hits per nine innings (5.9) in 2022, but regressed to 1.26 and 8.3/8.1 the past two seasons. He was much better once the trade deadline passed, posting a 3.32 ERA in his last 11 starts.

5. Lucas Giolito (31, RHP, Red Sox)

Giolito finally turned the page on a pair of injury-ravaged seasons to make 26 starts and post a 3.41 ERA, enough to comfortably decline his $19 million player option. Giolito completed at least six innings in 15 of his 26 starts, though he missed a playoff outing with elbow soreness.

6. Eugenio Suárez (34, 3B, Mariners)

Forty-nine home runs at age 34: What kind of a price do you put on that? Suarez, a free agent for the first time in his career, is about to find out. Suitors know what they’re getting: Punishing power, a ton of strikeouts, suboptimal defense at third but off the charts on the clubhouse affability index.

7. Chris Bassitt (37, RHP, Blue Jays)

A little high for the reliable righty? Well, consider that there are so few Chris Bassitts out there and this one just completed a three-year, $63 million deal with numbing consistency: 32 starts a year, a 3.89 ERA, nearly six innings per start. He topped that off with a selfless stint in the playoff bullpen, where he gave up one earned run in seven appearances.

8. Max Scherzer (41, RHP, Blue Jays)

He indicated after World Series Game 7 that he hadn’t thrown his final pitch, and he posted often enough in 2025 that the standard one year, $15.5 million deal should still be waiting for him.

9. Justin Verlander (43, RHP, Giants)

Those videos of Verlander and Scherzer playing bridge in the nursing home are gonna be wild 40 or so years from now. For now, though, they’ve got innings in their arms and for Verlander’s sake, hopefully he can find a home that’s both pitcher-friendly but also not totally lacking in run support: His 3.85 ERA resulted in a 4-11 record as he sits on 266 wins.

10. J.T. Realmuto (35, C, Phillies)

What’s the going rate for a highly skilled glue guy these days? Realmuto has been integral to the Phillies’ success in recent years, but he’s now a decade into a career as a big league catcher. His OPS and adjusted OPS sagged to career-worst marks of .700 and 91 last season, even as he caught a major-league high 132 games. Seems likely player and team will find a price agreeable to both.

11. Luis Arráez (28, INF/DH, Padres)

Let the Arráez Rorshach tests begin. Do you see a singles hitter with a league average OPS? Or a magician with elite bat-to-ball skills? A three-time batting champion with three teams? Or a guy who can never justify his lack of slug despite all those one-baggers. Be interesting to see what the market thinks.

12. Nick Martinez (35, RHP, Reds)

More invaluable than his peripherals indicate, Martinez took the ball 82 times over two years in Cincy, including 42 starts, and amassed 6.3 WAR and a steady 3.83 ERA.

13. Jose Quintana (37, LHP, Brewers)

Can we at least spare this man the indignity of nosing around for a job in March?

14. Paul Goldschmidt (38, 1B, Yankees)

Until further notice, he remains a decent right-handed platoon option at first, the Yankees eminently pleased at the 1.2 WAR and clubhouse gravitas he provided.

15. Harrison Bader (31, OF, Phillies)

The man simply seems to get better and more valuable with age. He received $6.25 million from Minnesota last winter, and after a July trade to Philadelphia was perhaps their most valuable player down the stretch.

16. Rhys Hoskins (33, 1B/DH, Brewers)

A bumpy couple of years in Milwaukee, where injuries and the emergence of Andrew Vaughn cut Hoskins out of the fun this past season. He struck out more than once per game as a Brewer but did salvage league-average OPS thanks to his power.

17. Zack Littell (30, RHP, Reds)

Littell completed the transition from swingman to full-fledged starter the past two seasons and this year reached 186 ⅔ innings with Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. Just 130 strikeouts might give suitors pause to believe he can repeat it, but Littell has proven himself as a reliable innings-eater.

18. Seranthony Dominguez (31, RHP, Blue Jays)

Durable and relatively dependable, Dominguez cut his home runs per nine in half this year (1.5 to .7) and landed a high-leverage spot in a playoff bullpen after a trade to Toronto.

19. Tomoyuki Sugano (36, RHP, Orioles)

A tale of three seasons for Sugano, who started strongly, faded badly and then made a mini-comeback to land almost exactly on the definition of ‘quality start’: A 10-10 record and 4.64 ERA. Probably did enough to land another job stateside in 2026.

20. Michael Conforto (33, OF, Dodgers)

Will that beautiful left-handed swing again prove irresistible to a suitor? The Dodgers gambled $17 million that they could turn him into a weapon and he batted .199 and did not make the playoff rosters.

21. Marcell Ozuna (35, DH, Braves)

Last call for the full-time DH? The Braves couldn’t get rid of Ozuna at the trade deadline and now he’ll take his 21 homers to the market. Hit 40 and 39 homers in 2023-24, finishing fourth in NL MVP voting in ’24.

22. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (31, INF, Blue Jays)

Simple though his role may be, there’s simply not many IKFs out there, tasked with catching the ball, running the bases well and possessing the ability to fill in anywhere on the infield.

23. Austin Hays (30, OF, Reds)

Cincy was a solid fit for Hays, who smacked 15 homers in 380 at-bats. Still adept in a right-handed platoon role.

24. Patrick Corbin (36, LHP, Rangers)

Can still eat innings – 155 of ‘em in 2025 – and now with a little less pain, as he shaved his ERA from 5.62 his final year in Washington to 4.40 in Texas.

25. David Robertson (40, RHP, Phillies)

Used to be only Roger Clemens could get away with chilling out for a few months and then hopping aboard a playoff train. Robertson did so to some success in Philly; will he be up for the long haul next spring?

26. Tommy Kahnle (36, RHP, Tigers)

Leaving New York – where he’d posted a 2.38 ERA his past two seasons – was tricky for Kahnle, whose 4.43 ERA was his worst since 2018.

27. Daniel Coulombe (36, LHP, Rangers)

Was better before he got caught up in the Twins fire sale (1.16 ERA in Minnesota, 5.25 in 15 appearances in Texas) but on balance remains one of the most reliable and versatile lefty relief options available.

28. Jakob Junis (33, RHP, Guardians)

All he does is get outs, though the itinerant swingman did see some WHIP inflation (1.230) this past season.

29. Walker Buehler (31, RHP, Phillies)

The arm is too good to give up on, even if the Red Sox had little choice but to do so after posting a 5.45 ERA and 5.89 FIP in 22 starts there. He fared a little better in a two-start look-see with Philadelphia, but he’ll clearly be in a short-term incentive-laden situation in 2025.

30. Jon Gray (34, RHP, Rangers)

His 2025 was a wash, as a fractured wrist in spring training and shoulder neuritis limited him to six appearances.

31. Tyler Anderson (36, LHP, Angels)

Seemed like a quick three years in Anaheim, mercifully, where Anderson posted a good year, not-so-good and a so-so season. He’s coming off the last of those, the biggest bugaboo a career worst 1.8 homers per nine.

32. Miles Mikolas (37, RHP, Cardinals)

A bit of will-he or won’t-he involved with Mikolas, who may retire, though he’s never one to leave any innings on the table. Last year, he ate up 156 ⅓ of them, with a 4.84 ERA.

33. Victor Caratini (32, C, Astros)

A fairly deluxe backup catcher, with a league-average OPS, 12 homers and well-regarded behind the plate.

34. Miguel Andujar (30, INF, Reds)

A nifty revival for the 2018 Rookie of the Year runner-up, as he posted an .822 OPS with the A’s and Reds and positioned himself as a versatile righty platoon bat going forward.

35. Justin Wilson (38, LHP, Red Sox)

About as close to a LOOGY as one can get in this three-batter minimum era, as Wilson tossed 48 1/3 innings in 61 appearances, holding lefties to a .212 average.

36. Mitch Garver (35, C/DH, Mariners)

The bat continues to fade, but Garver did catch 43 games backing up the Big Dumper in Seattle.

37. Scott Barlow (33, RHP, Reds)

A throw-till-you-blow guy and well, Barlow hasn’t blown yet, his 75 appearances always a value to a team needing innings.

38. Martin Perez (34, LHP, White Sox)

Declined the player portion of his mutual option after a flexor strain limited him to 10 starts in 2025.

39. Starling Marte (37, OF, Mets)

His four years of meritorious, if injury-plagued, service in Flushing are over. But Marte should still retain some value as an extra outfielder.

40. Andrew McCutchen (39, OF, Pirates)

He’s not so sure about that open invitation to return to Pittsburgh, but has indicated he’ll run it back one more time, somewhere, in 2026.

41. Brent Suter (36, LHP, Reds)

If only for the post-clinch dance moves. For real, though, Suter never pitched more than 3 ⅔ innings last season but appeared in 1 through 9 at some point. Anytime, anywhere.

Free agent signings, with pre-winter rankings:

1. Kyle Tucker (29, OF, Cubs)

SIGNED: Four years, $240 million with Dodgers, Jan. 15.

3. Alex Bregman (31, 3B, Red Sox)

SIGNED: Five years, $175 million with Cubs, Jan. 10.

5. Pete Alonso (31, 1B/DH, Mets)

SIGNED: Five years, $155 million with Orioles, Dec. 10.

7. Kyle Schwarber (33, DH, Phillies)

SIGNED: Five years, $150 million with Phillies, Dec. 9.

8. Dylan Cease (30, RHP, Padres)

SIGNED: Seven years, $210 million with Blue Jays, Nov. 26.

10. Edwin Diaz (32, RHP, Mets)

SIGNED: Three years, $69 million with Dodgers, Dec. 9.

11. Ranger Suárez (30, LHP, Phillies)

SIGNED: Five years, $130 million with Red Sox, Jan. 14.

12. Josh Naylor (28, 1B, Mariners)

SIGNED: Five years, $92.5 million with Mariners, Nov. 16.

13. Shota Imanaga (30, LHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: Accepted $22.025 million qualifying offer from Cubs, Nov. 18.

15. Trent Grisham (29, OF, Yankees)

SIGNED: Accepted $22.025 million qualifying offer from Yankees, Nov. 18.

18. Merrill Kelly (37, RHP, Rangers)

SIGNED: Two years, $40 million, with Diamondbacks.

19. Ha-Seong Kim (30, SS, Braves)

SIGNED: One year, $20 million with Braves, Dec. 15.

20. Robert Suarez (34, RHP, Padres)

SIGNED: Three years, $45 million with Braves, Dec. 11.

24. Michael King (30, RHP, Padres)

SIGNED: Three years, $75 million with Padres, Dec. 18.

25. Gleyber Torres (29, INF, Tigers)

SIGNED: Accepted $22.025 million qualifying offer from Tigers, Nov. 18.

26. Raisel Iglesias (35, RHP, Braves)

SIGNED: One year, $16 million with Atlanta, Nov. 19.

32. Mike Yastrzemski (35, OF, Royals)

SIGNED: Two years, $23 million with Atlanta, Dec. 10.

33. Devin Williams (31, RHP, Yankees)

SIGNED: Three years, $51 million with Mets, Dec. 1.

34. Emilio Pagán (34, RHP, Reds)

SIGNED: Two years, $20 million with Reds, Dec. 3.

35. Tyler Mahle (31, RHP, Rangers)

SIGNED: One year, $10 million with Giants, Dec. 31.

38. Tyler Rogers (34, RHP, Mets)

SIGNED: Three years, $37 million with Blue Jays, Dec. 12.

39. Jorge Polanco (32, INF, Mariners)

SIGNED: Two years, $40 million with Mets, Dec. 13.

40. Ryan O’Hearn (32, 1B/OF, Padres)

SIGNED: Two years, $29 million with Pirates, Dec. 23.

42. Kyle Finnegan (34, RHP, Tigers)

SIGNED: Two years, $19 million with Tigers, Dec. 9.

45. Brad Keller (30, RHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: Two years, $22 million with Phillies, Dec. 17.

47. Steven Matz (34, LHP, Red Sox)

SIGNED: Two years, $15 million with Rays, Dec. 8.

48. Ryan Helsley (31, RHP, Mets)

SIGNED: Two years, $28 million with Orioles, Nov. 30.

49. Drew Pomeranz (37, LHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: One year, $4 million with Angels, Dec. 16.

50. Michael Lorenzen (34, RHP, Royals)

SIGNED: One year, $8 million with Rockies, Jan. 7.

52. Danny Jansen (30, C, Brewers)

SIGNED: Two years, $14.5 million with Rangers, Dec. 13.

53. Phil Maton (33, RHP, Rangers)

SIGNED: Two years, $14.5 million with Cubs, Nov. 25.

54. Josh Bell (33, 1B/DH, Nationals)

SIGNED: One year, $7 million with Twins, Dec. 15.

56. Caleb Thielbar (39, LHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: One year, $4.5 million with Cubs, Dec. 16.

58. Shawn Armstrong (35, RHP, Rangers)

SIGNED: One year, $5.5 million with Guardians, Dec. 18.

60. Luke Weaver (32, RHP, Yankees)

SIGNED: Two years, $22 million with Mets, Dec. 17.

67. Mike Soroka (28, RHP, Cubs)

SIGNED: One year, $7.5 million with Diamondbacks, Dec. 8.

69. Sean Newcomb (32, LHP, Athletics)

SIGNED: One year, $4.5 million with White Sox, Dec. 23.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Syntholene Energy: High-performance, Carbon-negative, Low-cost – the promise of Syntholene eFuel

Syntholene Energy (TSXV:ESAF,FSE:3DD0) is a next-generation clean energy company developing high-performance, carbon-negative synthetic liquid fuels, with aviation as its initial target market. The company is commercializing its proprietary Hybrid Thermal Production System, a breakthrough technology designed to enable low-cost, large-scale production of ultrapure synthetic jet fuel (eSAF).

Syntholene targets production costs up to 70 percent lower than the nearest competing technologies, positioning its fuel to be cost-competitive with — and ultimately cheaper than — conventional fossil fuels. With a mission to deliver the world’s first truly high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-neutral eFuel at industrial scale, Syntholene aims to unlock a new era of affordable, sustainable aviation and clean energy solutions

Syntholene is progressing its Hybrid Thermal Production System from laboratory-scale validation toward a real-world demonstration facility in Iceland, leveraging abundant geothermal resources and long-term expansion potential.

Company Highlights

  • Proprietary Production Technology – Synthetic fuel (eFuel) produced through a fully integrated, proprietary pathway designed for superior performance and materially lower cost than conventional power-to-liquid methods
  • Low-Cost, High-Performance Fuel – Engineered to deliver high energy efficiency while significantly reducing production costs
  • Sustainable Feedstocks – Manufactured using renewable electricity, green hydrogen, and captured carbon
  • Ultra-Low Emissions – Delivers up to 90 percent lower lifecycle emissions compared to conventional jet fuel
  • Drop-In Compatibility – Fully compatible with existing aircraft engines and global fueling infrastructure
  • Scalable Clean Energy Solution – Designed for industrial-scale deployment to accelerate the transition to sustainable aviation fuel

This Syntholene Energy profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Syntholene Energy (TSXV:ESAF) to receive an Investor Presentation

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Maiden Sampling Identifies District-Scale Critical Minerals System at Blue Lagoon – Greenland

Dalaroo Metals Ltd (ASX: DAL, “Dalaroo” or “Company”) is pleased to announce the results of its 2025 exploration program completed at the Company’s 100%-owned Blue Lagoon Project in Greenland (Figure 1).

Highlights

  • Maiden sampling program at the Blue Lagoon Project (Blue Lagoon) unlocks new Zirconium (Zr) and Rare Earth Elements (REE) potential district in Greenland.
  • First sampling program at Blue Lagoon since 1979 has successfully returned elevated Zr + REE mineralisation. All 113 samples returned anomalous values, across a ~2.7km strike – indicating a highly prospective new critical metals district in Greenland.

Zirconium & Hafnium

  • Exceptional high-grade Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) and Hafnium Oxide (HfO2) surface samples include:
    • 4.42% ZrO2 & 98ppm HfO2 (Sediment Sample 26818D)
    • 4.09% ZrO2 & 99ppm HfO2 (Sediment Sample 26817D)
    • 3.82% ZrO2 & 82ppm HfO2 (Sediment Sample 26808D)
    • 3.58% ZrO2 & 61ppm HfO2 (Sediment Sample 26820D)
    • 3.13% ZrO2 & 62ppm HfO2 (Sediment Sample 26803D)
    • 2.85% ZrO2 & 73ppm HfO2 (Sediment Sample 26806D)
  • >2% ZrO2 and >40ppm HfO2 encountered in auger holes and sediment samples across the entire ~2.7km strike, indicating a large-scale, broad and well mineralised target area.
  • Hafnium is a critical semiconductor metal, which has become vital for supercharging the next-generation microchips and semiconductors, due to its high-K constant (dielectric constant) allowing Hafnium to store significantly more electrical charge than traditional SiO2 based semiconductors.
  • HfO2 has a K-constant approximately ~6x higher than SiO2, with one of the highest melting points of any compound, resulting in >1000x reduction in electron leakage through transistors versus SiO2 – underpinning the next generation of high-performing semiconductors1.
  • HfO2 (High Purity) indicative sale price currently at AU $16,297/kg, reflecting its advanced chemical properties, increasing demand in high‑tech applications, and the scarcity of hafnium‑bearing minerals2.
    • Blue Lagoon sampling has confirmed a ~2.7km strike with >2% ZrO2 and >40ppm HfO2 at surface, with potential for Hafnium grades to concentrate further at depth, subject to drilling confirmation.

Rare Earths

  • The Blue Lagoon Project has returned high-grade REE results with consistent elevated Magnet Rare Earth Oxides (MREO)13 encountered at surface, with Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO)13,16 grades highlighted by:
    • 8,079 ppm TREO with 29% MREO (Sediment Sample 26824D)
    • 6,491 ppm TREO with 27% MREO (Sediment Sample 26801D)
    • 5,668 ppm TREO with 27% MREO (Sediment Sample 26824C)
    • 5,654 ppm TREO with 27% MREO (Sediment Sample 26823D)
    • 5,519 ppm TREO with 25% MREO (Sediment Sample 26818D)
  • Blue Lagoon has shown exceptional Heavy Rare Earth Oxides (HREO)14,15 enriched in Dysprosium (Dy2O3) and Terbium (Tb4O7) grades encountered at surface, unlocking a new completely untapped district in Greenland:
    • 886ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26824D)
    • 752ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26801D)
    • 742ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26823D)
    • 682ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26807D)
    • 654ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26806D)
    • 628ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26818D)
    • 615ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26808D)
    • 597ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26824C)
    • 596ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26817D)
    • 589ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26822D)
    • 559ppm HREO (Sediment Sample 26820D)
  • TREO grades and HREO grades have the strong potential to improve as Dalaroo continues to assess full district potential of the Blue Lagoon Project and drill test immediate targets to determine the scale of the mineralised system.
  • Importantly, sampling at Blue Lagoon has returned low Uranium levels, with a maximum reading of 25ppm U3O8 which has the potential to simplify processing complexities and encouragingly falls below the 100ppm uranium threshold levels for permitting in Greenland
  • Placer & Liberated REE Potential: These exceptional REE grades were encountered at surface, consistently over the entire ~2.7km strike. With the natural weathering having enriched the REE into beach-like alluvial sediments – indicating potential for a proximal placer style REE deposit, where REE grains have been freely-liberated and has the potential to produce a REE concentrate through low CAPEX, simple physical separation methods.

Click here for the full ASX Release

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Will Rhind: Gold, Silver at Record Highs, Mania Phase Still to Come

Will Rhind, CEO of GraniteShares, outlines his thoughts on gold and silver heading into 2026, noting that historical precedents point to higher prices.

‘Clearly when you look back on some of those other periods for gold — and silver particularly — where they went to all-time highs, then we could be talking about a lot higher prices,’ he said.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Prismo Metals Closes Acquisition of Increased Interest in Hot Breccia

(TheNewswire)

 

Prismo’s Interest Currently Stands at 95% With Option for Full Control

Vancouver, British Columbia, January 16th, 2025 TheNewswire – Prismo Metals Inc. (‘Prismo’ or the ‘Company’) (CSE: PRIZ,OTC:PMOMF) (OTCQB: PMOMF) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced transaction with Infinitum Copper Corp. (TSXV: INFI) (‘Infinitum’) whereby Prismo has increased its interest in the Hot Breccia copper project, located in the heart of Arizona’s prolific copper belt, from 75% to 95%. In addition, Prismo has obtained an irrevocable option to acquire Infinitum’s remaining 5% interest, providing a clear path to 100% interest in the project.

Alain Lambert, CEO of Prismo commented: ‘This transaction marks a significant milestone for Prismo and provides a clear mechanism to securing full ownership of Hot Breccia. It materially improves the strategic flexibility of the project.’

He added: ‘Prismo remains firmly committed to advancing Hot Breccia. The recent extension of certain milestone obligations under the option agreement with Walnut Mines LLC, the owner of the Hot Breccia claims, together with the completion of the transaction with Infinitum, provides the Company with additional flexibility as we evaluate a range of strategic alternatives. Each of these pathways’ goal is to drill what we consider to be one of the most compelling copper exploration opportunities in Arizona and the broader United States.‘

Dr. Linus Keating, manager of Walnut Mines LLC, enthusiastically commented: ‘Walnut Mines is solidly in favor of any action that moves Hot Breccia closer to a serious drill program. We are hopeful that this transaction will accomplish that goal in 2026. In our opinion, this property remains one of the best copper exploration opportunities in North America.’

Under the terms of the transaction, Prismo paid Infinitum CA $185,000 to acquire a 20% additional interest in the Hot Breccia project and assumed all of Infinitum’s remaining obligations under the existing option agreement with Walnut to issue shares to Walnut, which has been satisfied by the issuance to Walnut of 450,630 common shares at a deemed issue price of $0.11 per share. Prismo has also agreed to pay Infinitum 5% of any consideration received in connection with a transaction in which Prismo assigns its interest in Hot Breccia to a third party to acquire the 5% interest held by Infinitum.

Prismo‘s Hot Breccia project lies at the heart of the Arizona Copper Belt, which hosts several globally significant porphyry copper deposits.  Examples of these significant deposits are Freeport McMoRan’s Miami-Inspiration mining complex, BHP’s San Manuel mine, Rio Tinto and BHP’s Resolution deposit and others (see Figure 1).  

 

Figure 1. Location of the Hot Breccia Project in the Arizona Copper Belt.

The Company wishes to update its January 12th, 2026 news release to confirm that the Company issued 2,250,000 units for gross proceeds of $225,000 and issued 140,000 Finder’s Warrants and paid finder’s commissions of $14,000 to a certain qualified finder. Each Unit consisted of one common share in the capital of the Company (a ‘Share‘) and one common share purchase warrant of the Company (a ‘Warrant‘). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Share for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date of issue at an exercise price of $0.175. Prismo intends to proceed next week a final closing of 1,500,000 Units for gross proceeds of $150,000.

About Prismo Metals Inc.

Prismo (CSE: PRIZ,OTC:PMOMF) is a mining exploration company focused on advancing its Hot Breccia copper project in Arizona and its Palos Verdes silver project in Mexico.

Please follow @PrismoMetals on , , , Instagram, and

Prismo Metals Inc.

1100 – 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6  Phone: (416) 361-0737

Contact:

Alain Lambert, Chief Executive Officer alain.lambert@prismometals.com

Gordon Aldcorn, President gordon.aldcorn@prismometals.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‘intends‘ or ‘anticipates‘, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results ‘may’, ‘could‘, ‘should‘, ‘would‘ or ‘occur‘. This information and these statements, referred to herein as ‘forward‐looking statements’, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management’s expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the timing, costs and anticipated results of drilling at Hot Breccia; the ability of Prismo to fund drilling and pursue potential third-party partnerships; the Company’s strategic flexibility with respect to the Hot Breccia project going forward; the number of shares issuable by Prismo to Walnut pursuant to the transaction described in this news release; and the Company’s expectations regarding mineralization and other qualities of the Hot Breccia project.

These forward‐looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: delays in obtaining or failure to obtain appropriate funding to finance the exploration program at Hot Breccia; the risk that the Company will not enter into a third-party partnership with respect to the Hot Breccia project; the risk that mineralization will not be as anticipated at the project; the risk that the Company will not be able to take advantage of geological information to refine drill targeting; metal prices; market uncertainty; and other risks and uncertainties application to exploration activities and the Company’s business as set forth in the Company’s disclosure documents available for viewing under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that: the ability to raise capital to fund the drilling campaign at Hot Breccia and the timing of such drilling campaign; the ability of the Company to enter into a third-party partnership on the project; that the project will have the anticipated mineralization and other qualities; and the  Company will be able to take advantage of geological information to refine drill targeting.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

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Solar Panel Makers Look to Sub Copper for Silver as Price Hits Record Levels

The solar industry is turning to base metals and innovation to bypass the soaring silver price.

Silver’s exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity make it a critical material in the production of photovoltaics (PV). However, record-high prices are forcing key solar industry players to find more cost-effective alternatives.

In a September 2025 report, BNEF analysts note that silver represents about 14 percent of the total cost of production for solar panels, up from 5 percent in 2023. At the time, silver was trading in the US$42 to US$46 per ounce range.

Since then, the white metal’s price has exploded, hitting an all-time high of US$93.77 on Wednesday (January 14). That’s double the level it was in September, and a nearly 200 percent increase from the year before.

In an industry already fraught with intense competition, such a large leap in the price for a major component is unsustainable. In response, top manufacturers in China such as LONGi Green Energy Technology (SHA:601012) are turning to base metals and technological innovations to help manage solar panel input costs.

Solar panel makers bypassing silver

China dominates the global solar PV industry, representing more than 80 percent of worldwide manufacturing capacity across the supply chain, including polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules.

In early January, Bloomberg reported that starting in Q2, LONGi Green Energy is planning to start mass producing solar cells using base metals instead of silver in an effort to reduce costs.

Di Giacomo believes that because LONGi Green Energy is one of the solar industry’s technological leaders, its move away from silver marks a significant turning point for the sector.

Bloomberg notes that the company has joined the ranks of other Chinese solar manufacturers looking to sidestep silver’s price volatility. In December, JinkoSolar Holding (NYSE:JKS), which is headquartered in China, but listed in the US, said it was looking to roll out large-scale production of solar panels using base metals. Additionally, smaller firm Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy (SHA:600732) is producing 6.5 gigawatt solar cells without silver.

“Other major manufacturers, such as JinkoSolar and AIKO Solar, are also exploring silver-free technologies or solutions that minimize the use of this metal,” said Di Giacomo. “The convergence of efforts among leading players suggests this is not an isolated trend, but rather a structural shift in how solar panels are designed and manufactured.”

Is copper a viable alternative to silver?

Copper is the prized favorite among the base metals for swapping out silver.

While both metals have seen unprecedented price rallies on the back rising industrial demand from clean technologies and artificial intelligence, silver maintains an enormous premium over copper. Currency, the price of a troy ounce of silver is trading at about 22,000 percent higher than a troy ounce of copper.

“Although its conductivity is slightly lower, copper is far more abundant, cheaper and supported by a more diversified supply chain,” stated Di Giacomo. “These characteristics make it an attractive option for an industry seeking to scale production without exposure to bottlenecks in critical raw materials.”

The red metal may be a great electrical conductor, but it doesn’t match silver’s capabilities. There’s also the tendency for copper to oxidize and degrade, testing the long-term viability and reliability of copper-based solar components. For those reasons, subbing in copper presents technical challenges for PV makers.

One area of concern for replacing silver with copper is the high temperatures needed in the fabricating process for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cells, the technology currently dominating the solar panel industry.

This might not be as big an issue for LONGi Green Energy, which manufactures back-contact (BC) cells. The technical processes for adapting copper to this new type of solar cell architecture is much simpler compared to TOPCon cells.

“New generations of copper-metallized cells are achieving efficiency levels increasingly close to those of traditional silver-based models,” said Di Giacomo. “In some cases, improvements are even being observed in mechanical strength and module durability, key factors for long-term solar installations and operation under demanding environmental conditions.”

BC cells have also been shown to generate more power from the same amount of sunlight compared to TOPCon cells. A white paper from renewable energy advisory company Rinnovabili states that field data indicates that BC modules are capable of producing up to 11 percent more energy over their lifetime compared to TOPCon technology.

How will substitution impact silver?

In a November 2025 report, the Silver Institute reported that industrial silver demand is projected to drop by 2 percent in 2025 to 665 million ounces. One of the contributing factors in the decline is an approximate 5 percent decrease in silver demand from the solar industry, even though the number of global PV installations set a new record high for the year. This is “due to a sharp drop in the amount of silver used in each module,” according to the firm.

“A sustained reduction in solar sector silver demand could alter market dynamics,” warned Di Giacomo.

However, at this point it’s too early to tell. For one, TOPCon technology is expected to account for 70 percent of the market in 2026. The cost of manufacturing BC cells is not expected to reach parity with TOPCon cells until the end of the decade, said Molly Morgan, senior research analyst at CRU Group, as reported by pv magazine.

“That’s why we believe we might see a coexistence of the two technologies in the 2028 to 2030 timeframe,” she said.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Saks files for bankruptcy as luxury market struggles

The company that owns the iconic luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue filed for bankruptcy late Tuesday.

The move comes after Saks Global struggled with debt it took on to buy rival Neiman Marcus, lagging department store sales and a rising online market.

It’s one of the largest retail collapses since the Covid pandemic, and casts further doubt over the future of luxury fashion.

The retailer, which also owns Bergdorf Goodman, said early Wednesday its stores would remain open for now after it finalized a $1.75 billion financing package and appointed a new CEO.

The court process is meant to give the luxury retailer room to negotiate a debt restructuring with creditors or sell itself to a new owner to stave off liquidation. Failing that, the company may be forced to shutter.

Former Neiman Marcus CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck will replace Richard Baker, who was the architect of the acquisition strategy that left Saks Global saddled with debt.

The company also appointed former Neiman Marcus executives Darcy Penick and Lana Todorovich as chief commercial officer and chief of global brand partnerships at Saks Global, respectively.

Saks Fifth Avenue, the retail arm of Saks Global, listed $1 billion to $10 billion in assets and liabilities, according to court documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston.

A retailer long loved by the rich and famous, from Gary Cooper to Grace Kelly, Saks fell on hard times after the pandemic, as competition from online outlets rose, and brands started more frequently selling items through their own stores.

The original Saks Fifth Avenue store, known for displaying the likes of Chanel, Cucinelli and Burberry, was opened by retail pioneer Andrew Saks in 1867.

The new financing deal would provide an immediate cash infusion of $1 billion through ‌a loan from an investor group, Saks Global said.

A host of luxury brands were among the unsecured creditors, led by Chanel and Gucci owner Kering at about $136 million and $60 million respectively, the court filing said. The world’s biggest luxury conglomerate, LVMH, was listed as an unsecured creditor at $26 million. In total, Saks Global estimated there were between 10,001 and 25,000 creditors.

In 2024, Baker had masterminded the takeover of Neiman Marcus by Canada’s Hudson’s Bay Co, which had owned Saks since 2013, and later spun off the U.S. luxury assets to create Saks Global, bringing together three names that have defined American high fashion for more than a century.

The deal was designed to create a luxury powerhouse, but it saddled Saks Global with debt at a time when global luxury sales were slowing, complicating an already difficult turnaround for CEO and veteran executive Marc Metrick.

Saks Global struggled last year to pay vendors, who began withholding inventory, disrupting the company’s supply chain and leaving it with insufficient stock.

The thinly stocked shelves may have driven shoppers away to rivals like Bloomingdale’s, which posted strong sales in 2025, compounding pressure on Saks Global.

“Rich people are still buying,” Morningstar analyst David Swartz said last month, “just not so much at Saks.”

Running out of cash, Saks Global last month sold the real estate of the Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills flagship store for an undisclosed amount. It had also been looking to sell a minority stake in exclusive department store Bergdorf Goodman to help cut debt.

On Dec. 30, it failed to make an interest payment of more than $100 million to bondholders.

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