3 hours ago
The San Francisco Giants did the inevitable and got rid of multiple players in a fire sale during MLB's trade deadline in hopes of salvaging the remainder of the season with a focus on next year.
Six players were shipped out of San Francisco and on to different teams. Those players included Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves, Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian to the Philadelphia Phillies, Heliot Ramos to the New York Yankees, Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres, and Erik Miller to the Boston Red Sox.
In return, the Giants got back a couple right-handed pitchers, Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair, from the Phillies. The Padres sent right-hand pitcher Miguel Mendez and infielder Joniel Hernandez to the Bay Area. The Yankees sent back left-hand pitcher Henry Lalane and shortstop Kaeden Kent, son of Giants legend and Hall of Famer Jeff Kent. San Francisco got infielder Marcelo Mayer from Boston. While Anthony Molina, who they immediately ******* igned to their Triple-A affiliate, Sacramento River Cats, came via trade with the Braves.
Notable players that remain on the roster are Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and Willy Adames. Their names were floated around the trade rumor mill but ultimately stay put in San Francisco.
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey appeared on Bay Area sports radio station 95.7 FM "The Game" to provide insight and feedback on his approach at the trade deadline and moving forward.
#trade #Padres #boston #area
Six players were shipped out of San Francisco and on to different teams. Those players included Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves, Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian to the Philadelphia Phillies, Heliot Ramos to the New York Yankees, Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres, and Erik Miller to the Boston Red Sox.
In return, the Giants got back a couple right-handed pitchers, Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair, from the Phillies. The Padres sent right-hand pitcher Miguel Mendez and infielder Joniel Hernandez to the Bay Area. The Yankees sent back left-hand pitcher Henry Lalane and shortstop Kaeden Kent, son of Giants legend and Hall of Famer Jeff Kent. San Francisco got infielder Marcelo Mayer from Boston. While Anthony Molina, who they immediately ******* igned to their Triple-A affiliate, Sacramento River Cats, came via trade with the Braves.
Notable players that remain on the roster are Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and Willy Adames. Their names were floated around the trade rumor mill but ultimately stay put in San Francisco.
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey appeared on Bay Area sports radio station 95.7 FM "The Game" to provide insight and feedback on his approach at the trade deadline and moving forward.
#trade #Padres #boston #area
4 hours ago
The New York Yankees are promoting shortstop George Lombard Jr., the top prospect in the organization and a consensus Top-100 prospect in all of MLB, from Triple-A to make his major league debut according to multiple reports Aug. 3.
Jack Curry reported the promotion first on the YES Network.
The report follows the Yankees' loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, and the debut of Luis Garcia Jr. — one of two players, along with San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos — that they acquired before the MLB trade deadline earlier in the day.
MORE: Three-year MLB infielder, 26, opts out of Yankees contract
"He'll be the starting shortstop for the Yankees," Curry said. "They feel Lombard Jr. will handle everything he needs to handle defensively, and we will see what he's able to give the Yankees offensively."
#curry #handle
Jack Curry reported the promotion first on the YES Network.
The report follows the Yankees' loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, and the debut of Luis Garcia Jr. — one of two players, along with San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos — that they acquired before the MLB trade deadline earlier in the day.
MORE: Three-year MLB infielder, 26, opts out of Yankees contract
"He'll be the starting shortstop for the Yankees," Curry said. "They feel Lombard Jr. will handle everything he needs to handle defensively, and we will see what he's able to give the Yankees offensively."
#curry #handle
4 hours ago
Several former Clatsop County athletic standouts were recently honored for their work in the classroom. Logan Morrill and Parker Stevens from Knappa High School and Kya Lindell from Astoria High School were three of the 220 Linfield University students to be named Northwest Conference Scholar Athletes for the 2025-26 season. Morrill, Stevens and Lindell attend Linfield University in McMinnville.
They all enjoyed great success during their high school years. Morrill was voted 2A Player of the Year in basketball for the 2021-22 season. Stevens was a three-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball and track. Lindell played both basketball and softball after moving to Astoria before her sophomore season. The athletes were state champions by the end of their careers. Stevens took home the 2024 2A state ***** le in shot put with a throw of 45-feet-9-inches. Lindell was leadoff hitter and offensive fire starter for the 2025 state champion Astoria softball team. Lindell was also the 4A State Co-Player for the year in softball for her junior and senior season. She was also named Cowapa League player of the year her sophomore, junior and senior years at Astoria.
The criteria to be named a scholar athlete includes maintaining at least a 3.50 grade point average at the end of the academic year and to have participated in a varsity sport.
Morrill is an applied physics major, Stevens is majoring in exercise science and Lindell is studying nursing.
#stevens #year #player
They all enjoyed great success during their high school years. Morrill was voted 2A Player of the Year in basketball for the 2021-22 season. Stevens was a three-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball and track. Lindell played both basketball and softball after moving to Astoria before her sophomore season. The athletes were state champions by the end of their careers. Stevens took home the 2024 2A state ***** le in shot put with a throw of 45-feet-9-inches. Lindell was leadoff hitter and offensive fire starter for the 2025 state champion Astoria softball team. Lindell was also the 4A State Co-Player for the year in softball for her junior and senior season. She was also named Cowapa League player of the year her sophomore, junior and senior years at Astoria.
The criteria to be named a scholar athlete includes maintaining at least a 3.50 grade point average at the end of the academic year and to have participated in a varsity sport.
Morrill is an applied physics major, Stevens is majoring in exercise science and Lindell is studying nursing.
#stevens #year #player
4 hours ago
The narrative on social media surrounding the Texas Rangers never matched what happened at the trade deadline. They made only one minor deal, trusting that the team can surge as is.
ARLINGTON — A good rule of thumb for life in general is not to believe everything cranked out on social media. That is especially so in the final two days before the annual MLB trade deadline and as things pertained this year to the Texas Rangers.
The deadline passed at 5 p.m. Monday with the Rangers staying largely dormant. Beginning on Sunday morning and continuing into Monday morning, though, the buzz was that the Rangers were going to be deadline sellers because of what happened over the weekend in Houston.
The sale was on, one national expert said. Another said the Rangers were open to moving all players on the team. It all turned out to be an echo chamber of bad information.
The only move the Rangers made Monday was an afternoon trade of infielder Josh Smith and minor-league pitcher Josh Stephan to the Blue Jays for left-hander Adam Macko. The lack of moves wasn't for a lack of effort, dreary-eyed club officials said.
#rangers #deadline #trade #texas
ARLINGTON — A good rule of thumb for life in general is not to believe everything cranked out on social media. That is especially so in the final two days before the annual MLB trade deadline and as things pertained this year to the Texas Rangers.
The deadline passed at 5 p.m. Monday with the Rangers staying largely dormant. Beginning on Sunday morning and continuing into Monday morning, though, the buzz was that the Rangers were going to be deadline sellers because of what happened over the weekend in Houston.
The sale was on, one national expert said. Another said the Rangers were open to moving all players on the team. It all turned out to be an echo chamber of bad information.
The only move the Rangers made Monday was an afternoon trade of infielder Josh Smith and minor-league pitcher Josh Stephan to the Blue Jays for left-hander Adam Macko. The lack of moves wasn't for a lack of effort, dreary-eyed club officials said.
#rangers #deadline #trade #texas
4 hours ago
If the Cincinnati Reds didn't lose the trade deadline this time around, they at least didn't do much to make the team better toward the retooling that was supposed to be in play for another try at a playoff run next season.
With seven pending free agents on the roster, along with a few others who attracted serious interest from buyers in the weeks and days leading up to the Aug. 3 deadline, the Reds made exactly two nondescript trades that in a best-case scenario will pay off three or four years from now.
The return for those two players was indicative of the interest level – in most cases non-interest – the front office found in the players it was shopping, according to sources with rival teams on the buyer side of the market as well as within the organization:
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe, a lefty-hitting platoon player who was signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal the first week of spring training, was traded in the final minutes before the deadline to the Cleveland Guardians for 19-year-old pitcher Alejandro Rivera, a right-handed pitcher in low-A ball, and infielder Juan Brito, a former top-100 prospect who hit .176 in a 15-game MLB debut this season.
Lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson, who signed a one-year $4.5 million deal over the winter, also was traded in the final minutes, to the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals for $250,000 of international bonus-cap **** e.
#interest #players
With seven pending free agents on the roster, along with a few others who attracted serious interest from buyers in the weeks and days leading up to the Aug. 3 deadline, the Reds made exactly two nondescript trades that in a best-case scenario will pay off three or four years from now.
The return for those two players was indicative of the interest level – in most cases non-interest – the front office found in the players it was shopping, according to sources with rival teams on the buyer side of the market as well as within the organization:
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe, a lefty-hitting platoon player who was signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal the first week of spring training, was traded in the final minutes before the deadline to the Cleveland Guardians for 19-year-old pitcher Alejandro Rivera, a right-handed pitcher in low-A ball, and infielder Juan Brito, a former top-100 prospect who hit .176 in a 15-game MLB debut this season.
Lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson, who signed a one-year $4.5 million deal over the winter, also was traded in the final minutes, to the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals for $250,000 of international bonus-cap **** e.
#interest #players
4 hours ago
If the Cincinnati Reds didn't lose the trade deadline this time around, they at least didn't do much to make the team better toward the retooling that was supposed to be in play for another try at a playoff run next season.
With seven pending free agents on the roster, along with a few others who attracted serious interest from buyers in the weeks and days leading up to the Aug. 3 deadline, the Reds made exactly two nondescript trades that in a best-case scenario will pay off three or four years from now.
The return for those two players was indicative of the interest level – in most cases non-interest – the front office found in the players it was shopping, according to sources with rival teams on the buyer side of the market as well as within the organization:
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe, a lefty-hitting platoon player who was signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal the first week of spring training, was traded in the final minutes before the deadline to the Cleveland Guardians for 19-year-old pitcher Alejandro Rivera, a right-handed pitcher in low-A ball, and infielder Juan Brito, a former top-100 prospect who hit .176 in a 15-game MLB debut this season.
Lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson, who signed a one-year $4.5 million deal over the winter, also was traded in the final minutes, to the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals for $250,000 of international bonus-cap ******* e.
#deadline #interest #year
With seven pending free agents on the roster, along with a few others who attracted serious interest from buyers in the weeks and days leading up to the Aug. 3 deadline, the Reds made exactly two nondescript trades that in a best-case scenario will pay off three or four years from now.
The return for those two players was indicative of the interest level – in most cases non-interest – the front office found in the players it was shopping, according to sources with rival teams on the buyer side of the market as well as within the organization:
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe, a lefty-hitting platoon player who was signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal the first week of spring training, was traded in the final minutes before the deadline to the Cleveland Guardians for 19-year-old pitcher Alejandro Rivera, a right-handed pitcher in low-A ball, and infielder Juan Brito, a former top-100 prospect who hit .176 in a 15-game MLB debut this season.
Lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson, who signed a one-year $4.5 million deal over the winter, also was traded in the final minutes, to the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals for $250,000 of international bonus-cap ******* e.
#deadline #interest #year
5 hours ago
As is their annual custom, the Milwaukee Brewers added a relief pitcher at the trade deadline, snagging left-hander JoJo Romero from the St. Louis Cardinals along with starter Dustin May in a trade for minor-leaguers Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale.
Here's what to know about Romero.
He's 29 years old and will turn 30 on Sept. 9.
He stands 5-foot-11, 215 pounds.
The California native played at the University of Nevada and Yavapai College in Arizona, and he was drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016. In 2022, he was traded at the deadline to the Cardinals for infielder Edmundo Sosa, and he'd been with St. Louis since.
#brewers #jojo
Here's what to know about Romero.
He's 29 years old and will turn 30 on Sept. 9.
He stands 5-foot-11, 215 pounds.
The California native played at the University of Nevada and Yavapai College in Arizona, and he was drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016. In 2022, he was traded at the deadline to the Cardinals for infielder Edmundo Sosa, and he'd been with St. Louis since.
#brewers #jojo
5 hours ago
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers had their sights set on acquiring a top-tier pitcher before the trade deadline — namely Tarik Skubal — but had to shift gears when the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner ended up with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Instead, the Brewers, who entered Monday tied with the Dodgers for the best record in the major leagues, settled for veteran starter Dustin May, who was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals shortly before the deadline.
Milwaukee also got left-handed reliever JoJo Romero in the deal. In exchange, the Brewers sent minor league outfielders Alexander Frías and Josiah Ragsdale to the Cardinals.
The NL Central leaders bolstered their bullpen further by obtaining reliever Antonio Senzatela from the Colorado Rockies for left-hander Mark Manfredi, who has split time between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville, and infielder Juan Martínez, who has played with the Rookie ACL Brewers and Class A Wilson this season.
"The fans have every right to have any opinion they want about what we should or shouldn't do," Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said before Monday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "But ****** ody wants to win more than the guys in that (clubhouse)."
#milwaukee #deadline
Instead, the Brewers, who entered Monday tied with the Dodgers for the best record in the major leagues, settled for veteran starter Dustin May, who was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals shortly before the deadline.
Milwaukee also got left-handed reliever JoJo Romero in the deal. In exchange, the Brewers sent minor league outfielders Alexander Frías and Josiah Ragsdale to the Cardinals.
The NL Central leaders bolstered their bullpen further by obtaining reliever Antonio Senzatela from the Colorado Rockies for left-hander Mark Manfredi, who has split time between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville, and infielder Juan Martínez, who has played with the Rookie ACL Brewers and Class A Wilson this season.
"The fans have every right to have any opinion they want about what we should or shouldn't do," Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said before Monday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "But ****** ody wants to win more than the guys in that (clubhouse)."
#milwaukee #deadline
5 hours ago
Former Auburn baseball star Casey Mize was the center of several discussions ahead of the MLB trade deadline. On Monday, he was finally dealt just before the cut-off time.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Monday that Mize is heading to the San Diego Padres after spending time in the Detroit Tigers organization since he was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2018 MLB Draft. The trade is a four-player deal, as Mize and infielder Gage Workman are heading to the Padres in exchange for a pair of left-handers: Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf.
Mize departs the Detroit Tigers, a team sitting in fourth place in the American League Central Division, and heads to the San Diego Padres to join a starting rotation for a team just one game out of a National League Wild Card spot as of Monday.
Dealing for Mize was one of several pitching moves the Padres made ahead of the trade deadline. The Padres also traded for San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray and right-hander Hunter Stratton from the Pittsburgh Pirates to join a talented offensive roster that features stars Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and star closer Mason Miller.
Mize joins his new club with a 4-6 record, but boasts a 2.70 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 16 starts with the Tigers. If the Padres achieve their goal of making the MLB Postseason, it will mark the second time Mize has played with a playoff squad. Last season with Detroit, Mize started two games and struck out seven batters over six innings during the Tigers' American League Division Series against AL Central rival Cleveland.
#trade
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Monday that Mize is heading to the San Diego Padres after spending time in the Detroit Tigers organization since he was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2018 MLB Draft. The trade is a four-player deal, as Mize and infielder Gage Workman are heading to the Padres in exchange for a pair of left-handers: Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf.
Mize departs the Detroit Tigers, a team sitting in fourth place in the American League Central Division, and heads to the San Diego Padres to join a starting rotation for a team just one game out of a National League Wild Card spot as of Monday.
Dealing for Mize was one of several pitching moves the Padres made ahead of the trade deadline. The Padres also traded for San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray and right-hander Hunter Stratton from the Pittsburgh Pirates to join a talented offensive roster that features stars Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and star closer Mason Miller.
Mize joins his new club with a 4-6 record, but boasts a 2.70 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 16 starts with the Tigers. If the Padres achieve their goal of making the MLB Postseason, it will mark the second time Mize has played with a playoff squad. Last season with Detroit, Mize started two games and struck out seven batters over six innings during the Tigers' American League Division Series against AL Central rival Cleveland.
#trade
6 hours ago
Whenever you are a successful general manager in the NFL, that means your roster management is among the best. Within that is free agency, trades, and, of course, the NFL Draft. For the Bucs under the leadership of Jason Licht, that last part has not always been a bright spot in their process.
However, in recent years, the draft has been very kind to the Bucs. They have been able to draft foundational pieces such as Antoine Winfield Jr., Chris Godwin, Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, and Zyon McCollum. With drafting well comes the need to be able to pay all of those players.
That was the topic of conversation on the latest episode of Inside Football. Host and former general manager of the Arizona Cardinals, Steve Keim, was on with Licht, and he discussed how hard it is to draft well and keep everyone.
"The negative side of having some great drafts is you can't pay everybody. . .Keeping the gang together is probably my biggest stresser."
The Bucs have several notable contracts expiring this upcoming season, the biggest being quarterback Baker Mayfield. But of all those players we mentioned above, they have all been extended over the past couple of seasons.
#draft #bucs
However, in recent years, the draft has been very kind to the Bucs. They have been able to draft foundational pieces such as Antoine Winfield Jr., Chris Godwin, Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, and Zyon McCollum. With drafting well comes the need to be able to pay all of those players.
That was the topic of conversation on the latest episode of Inside Football. Host and former general manager of the Arizona Cardinals, Steve Keim, was on with Licht, and he discussed how hard it is to draft well and keep everyone.
"The negative side of having some great drafts is you can't pay everybody. . .Keeping the gang together is probably my biggest stresser."
The Bucs have several notable contracts expiring this upcoming season, the biggest being quarterback Baker Mayfield. But of all those players we mentioned above, they have all been extended over the past couple of seasons.
#draft #bucs
7 hours ago
With their lower value trade chips gone on deadline day, the Mets moved on to trading players with more significant value. The Pirates were the eventual landing spot for the first of these deals, landing Luke Weaver— along with some coverage of his contract—for infield prospect Sammy Stafura.
Stafura was drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft by the Reds out of Walter Panas High School. Two years later, he was traded to Pittsburgh as part of a deadline deal for Ke'Bryan Hayes. Stafura is actually a lifelong Mets fan from Westchester, the second local product (after Gary Gill Hill, acquired from the Rays in the Freddy Peralta trade) acquired by the Mets at this deadline. It is always cool when you can bring in players who are enthusiastic about the organization.
As for the on-field player, Stafura is your classic toolsy middle infielder; he has plus speed, is a decent shortstop defender, and has plus potential raw power. His on field performance prior to June of 2026 could best be described as "good, but not great". Then he hit 16 homers in his last 22 games at High-A Greensboro. That's something that should certainly grab your attention.
With the upside that performance portends comes serious hit tool questions. Stafura is striking out almost 30% of the time in High-A, is running a 71% Z-contact, and has a clear propensity to chase. This all portends to serious hit tool and/or pitch recognition issues, flaws that could be crippling as he moves up the minor league ladder. This weakness will likely him keep him at the back-end or just off offseason top-100 lists (a distinction that is largely meaningless from those that sneak on to the back of the list).
Sometimes guys with big tools and serious hit tool questions have a huge month with no root cause beyond statistical noise. Sometimes it's the product of actual changes that are real and sustainable. Parsing whether Stafura's recent surge – which pushed his OPS at High-A from the high 500s into the 1.000+ range – is the former or the latter is nigh impossible for us on the public side. **** , it's not even all that easy for team-side **** ysts to figure out. What this does serve to illustrate is the high risk, high reward nature of this profile.
#METS #tool #value #players
Stafura was drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft by the Reds out of Walter Panas High School. Two years later, he was traded to Pittsburgh as part of a deadline deal for Ke'Bryan Hayes. Stafura is actually a lifelong Mets fan from Westchester, the second local product (after Gary Gill Hill, acquired from the Rays in the Freddy Peralta trade) acquired by the Mets at this deadline. It is always cool when you can bring in players who are enthusiastic about the organization.
As for the on-field player, Stafura is your classic toolsy middle infielder; he has plus speed, is a decent shortstop defender, and has plus potential raw power. His on field performance prior to June of 2026 could best be described as "good, but not great". Then he hit 16 homers in his last 22 games at High-A Greensboro. That's something that should certainly grab your attention.
With the upside that performance portends comes serious hit tool questions. Stafura is striking out almost 30% of the time in High-A, is running a 71% Z-contact, and has a clear propensity to chase. This all portends to serious hit tool and/or pitch recognition issues, flaws that could be crippling as he moves up the minor league ladder. This weakness will likely him keep him at the back-end or just off offseason top-100 lists (a distinction that is largely meaningless from those that sneak on to the back of the list).
Sometimes guys with big tools and serious hit tool questions have a huge month with no root cause beyond statistical noise. Sometimes it's the product of actual changes that are real and sustainable. Parsing whether Stafura's recent surge – which pushed his OPS at High-A from the high 500s into the 1.000+ range – is the former or the latter is nigh impossible for us on the public side. **** , it's not even all that easy for team-side **** ysts to figure out. What this does serve to illustrate is the high risk, high reward nature of this profile.
#METS #tool #value #players
7 hours ago
The 2026 MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and with teams all looking to load up their rosters for a postseason push, we saw quite a few surprises before the deadline hit 6 p.m. ET. Between the Los Angeles Dodgers, not shockingly, trading for Tarik Skubal and the Boston Red Sox, shockingly, trading for Adley Rutschman, it's time to look at all the activity from deadline day.
On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman break down all the deals that went down over the past few days, including the Philadelphia Phillies picking up Luis Arráez despite an already crowded infield, the New York Yankees trading for Luis Garcia Jr. to help their struggling offense and the Tampa Bay Rays adding Freddy Peralta to bolster their rotation.
Later in the show, Jake and Jordan discuss all the moves that didn't happen, including which teams they're surprised didn't make many moves before the clock struck six, which teams may have overpaid in their deals, and which GM had the best trade deadline.
1:13 - Where we stand heading into the deadline
18:23 - Foster Griffin gets traded
#teams #trading #jake #trade
On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman break down all the deals that went down over the past few days, including the Philadelphia Phillies picking up Luis Arráez despite an already crowded infield, the New York Yankees trading for Luis Garcia Jr. to help their struggling offense and the Tampa Bay Rays adding Freddy Peralta to bolster their rotation.
Later in the show, Jake and Jordan discuss all the moves that didn't happen, including which teams they're surprised didn't make many moves before the clock struck six, which teams may have overpaid in their deals, and which GM had the best trade deadline.
1:13 - Where we stand heading into the deadline
18:23 - Foster Griffin gets traded
#teams #trading #jake #trade
7 hours ago
MIAMI: Liam Hicks of the Miami Marlins looks on against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of the game at loanDepot park on July 25, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Of all the catchers the Rays have traded for in recent years, Liam Hicks stands out because he is a clear upgrade. True, the 27-year-old Toronto native has kicked around since he was drafted by the Rangers in the ninth round of the 2021 draft out of Arkansas State. True, he joins Tampa Bay after hitting only one homer and three extra-base hits in his final 28 games – though he batted .292 – with Miami since being activated from the injured list, which he was placed on due to lower back strain in June.
Tampa Bay is Hicks' fourth organization in six seasons of professional baseball. The lefthanded hitter may stay put for a while. Breaking through offensively the way he has this season -- .282, 14 homers and 62 RBI -- combined with team control through 2030 are reasons why Rays' fans should feel good. Maybe a sigh of relief is in order as well given how the position has chronically underperformed. A larger sigh will be in order when Hicks rediscovers his power stroke again.
In acquiring Hicks, who is making $790,000 this season, the Rays sent three prospects to Miami: 24-year-old infielder Brayden Taylor (Rays' No. 16), 23-year-old RHP Jacob Kisting (No. 26) and 21-year-old shortstop Adrian Santana (No. 27). It marked the second straight day ahead of the trade deadline that Tampa Bay acquired a player for a trio of prospects, neither of whom was ranked higher than No. 15 in their system. The Rays acquired Freddy Peralta from the Mets on Sunday afternoon.
Hicks, who has struck out only 39 times in 354 at-bats and is joining a team that has fanned the fewest times in MLB, replaces Hunter Feduccia (dealt to the Dodgers) as the lefty in the catching platoon with Nick Fortes. He could also spell Jonathan Aranda at first base and give DH Yandy Diaz a break from time to time. Hicks became expendable because Joe Mack, who also hits from the left side and is four years younger, has emerged behind the plate for Clayton McCullough's team.
#hicks
Of all the catchers the Rays have traded for in recent years, Liam Hicks stands out because he is a clear upgrade. True, the 27-year-old Toronto native has kicked around since he was drafted by the Rangers in the ninth round of the 2021 draft out of Arkansas State. True, he joins Tampa Bay after hitting only one homer and three extra-base hits in his final 28 games – though he batted .292 – with Miami since being activated from the injured list, which he was placed on due to lower back strain in June.
Tampa Bay is Hicks' fourth organization in six seasons of professional baseball. The lefthanded hitter may stay put for a while. Breaking through offensively the way he has this season -- .282, 14 homers and 62 RBI -- combined with team control through 2030 are reasons why Rays' fans should feel good. Maybe a sigh of relief is in order as well given how the position has chronically underperformed. A larger sigh will be in order when Hicks rediscovers his power stroke again.
In acquiring Hicks, who is making $790,000 this season, the Rays sent three prospects to Miami: 24-year-old infielder Brayden Taylor (Rays' No. 16), 23-year-old RHP Jacob Kisting (No. 26) and 21-year-old shortstop Adrian Santana (No. 27). It marked the second straight day ahead of the trade deadline that Tampa Bay acquired a player for a trio of prospects, neither of whom was ranked higher than No. 15 in their system. The Rays acquired Freddy Peralta from the Mets on Sunday afternoon.
Hicks, who has struck out only 39 times in 354 at-bats and is joining a team that has fanned the fewest times in MLB, replaces Hunter Feduccia (dealt to the Dodgers) as the lefty in the catching platoon with Nick Fortes. He could also spell Jonathan Aranda at first base and give DH Yandy Diaz a break from time to time. Hicks became expendable because Joe Mack, who also hits from the left side and is four years younger, has emerged behind the plate for Clayton McCullough's team.
#hicks
7 hours ago
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are poised to acquire pitcher Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the New York Mets for touted infield prospect Jefferson Rojas.
It's the latest effort by the busy Cubs to replenish an injury-depleted pitching staff as they attempt to chase down first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central and hang onto the National League's top wild-card spot.
Earlier in the day, Chicago obtained reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels for two minor leaguers: catcher Moisés Ballesteros and right-hander Mason McGwire — son of retired slugger Mark McGwire. The team also added left-hander Braxton Garrett from the Miami Marlins for a pair of minor leaguers: infielder Jonathon Long and right-hander Jace Beck.
Garrett was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Those deals came one day after the Cubs augmented their rotation by acquiring veteran starter Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
#Cubs #garrett #minor
It's the latest effort by the busy Cubs to replenish an injury-depleted pitching staff as they attempt to chase down first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central and hang onto the National League's top wild-card spot.
Earlier in the day, Chicago obtained reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels for two minor leaguers: catcher Moisés Ballesteros and right-hander Mason McGwire — son of retired slugger Mark McGwire. The team also added left-hander Braxton Garrett from the Miami Marlins for a pair of minor leaguers: infielder Jonathon Long and right-hander Jace Beck.
Garrett was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Those deals came one day after the Cubs augmented their rotation by acquiring veteran starter Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
#Cubs #garrett #minor
8 hours ago
During a wild MLB trade deadline, Reid Detmers could've been a fine starting rotation piece for any number of teams looking to contend for this year's World Series. (I'm so sorry, Chicago Cubs fans.) Instead, the 27-year-old lefty is staying with the Los Angeles Angels, who currently have the worst record in baseball, at least through the end of the 2026 season.
Right now, you might be asking yourself: Why? What benefit was it to the Angels to keep someone like Detmers in a lost season when he could've been traded for a potentially rich return of prospects for the future?
Well, see, that was kind of the problem in itself.
Just look at what the Cubs reportedly almost traded for Detmers before the deal with the Angels was apparently nixed:
Infielder Jefferson Rojas (the Cubs' No. 2 overall prospect)
#Angels #could 've
Right now, you might be asking yourself: Why? What benefit was it to the Angels to keep someone like Detmers in a lost season when he could've been traded for a potentially rich return of prospects for the future?
Well, see, that was kind of the problem in itself.
Just look at what the Cubs reportedly almost traded for Detmers before the deal with the Angels was apparently nixed:
Infielder Jefferson Rojas (the Cubs' No. 2 overall prospect)
#Angels #could 've
8 hours ago
The Detroit Tigers moved Casey Mize moments before the 2026 MLB trade deadline, sending the All-Star right-hander and infielder Gage Workman to the San Diego Padres.
In return, Detroit received two left-handed pitchers with dramatically different profiles: Kash Mayfield, a 21-year-old first-round pick with legitimate mid-rotation upside, and Jackson Wolf, a 27-year-old upper-level arm with major-league experience.
Mayfield is the prize. Wolf is the depth piece.
Both arrive at a time when Detroit's pitching picture has changed almost overnight following the trades of Mize and Tarik Skubal.
Here is a deeper look at what the Tigers acquired.
#detroit #workman
In return, Detroit received two left-handed pitchers with dramatically different profiles: Kash Mayfield, a 21-year-old first-round pick with legitimate mid-rotation upside, and Jackson Wolf, a 27-year-old upper-level arm with major-league experience.
Mayfield is the prize. Wolf is the depth piece.
Both arrive at a time when Detroit's pitching picture has changed almost overnight following the trades of Mize and Tarik Skubal.
Here is a deeper look at what the Tigers acquired.
#detroit #workman
9 hours ago
The Detroit Tigers traded former No. 1 overall pick and 2025 MLB All-Star Casey Mize to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline buzzer on Monday, Aug. 3.
So what did the Tigers get back? Two prospects, highlighted by former first-round pick Kash Mayfield, the organization's No. 2 prospect, as well as left-handed pitcher Jackson Wolf. Infielder Gage Workman was also sent to the Padres.
Mayfield, a first-round pick by the Padres in 2024, put up a 3.24 ERA over 114 innings over his two professional seasons in Low-A Lake Elsinore (2025) and High-A Fort Wayne (2026).
Mayfield is a 6-foot-4, 200 pound lefty who won the Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year award in both 2023 and 2024.
His fastball sits in the mid-90s, and while he has walked a lot of batters so far in the minors (3.9/nine innings), he also showed a 13.1 K/9 rate in 19 starts in 2025.
#mayfield #pick
So what did the Tigers get back? Two prospects, highlighted by former first-round pick Kash Mayfield, the organization's No. 2 prospect, as well as left-handed pitcher Jackson Wolf. Infielder Gage Workman was also sent to the Padres.
Mayfield, a first-round pick by the Padres in 2024, put up a 3.24 ERA over 114 innings over his two professional seasons in Low-A Lake Elsinore (2025) and High-A Fort Wayne (2026).
Mayfield is a 6-foot-4, 200 pound lefty who won the Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year award in both 2023 and 2024.
His fastball sits in the mid-90s, and while he has walked a lot of batters so far in the minors (3.9/nine innings), he also showed a 13.1 K/9 rate in 19 starts in 2025.
#mayfield #pick
9 hours ago
The Detroit Tigers' return for Casey Mize has reportedly been revealed.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Detroit is sending Mize and infielder Gage Workman to the San Diego Padres in exchange for left-hander Kash Mayfield and left-hander Jackson Wolf.
The move came together moments before the MLB trade deadline, giving the Tigers two pitching additions while San Diego lands a solid starter for its postseason push.
Mayfield is the clear centerpiece of the deal.
The 21-year-old left-hander is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Padres' organization in the attached 2026 MLB Pipeline rankings. He is listed at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds and was pitching at the Single-A level.
#tigers #mayfield #casey
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Detroit is sending Mize and infielder Gage Workman to the San Diego Padres in exchange for left-hander Kash Mayfield and left-hander Jackson Wolf.
The move came together moments before the MLB trade deadline, giving the Tigers two pitching additions while San Diego lands a solid starter for its postseason push.
Mayfield is the clear centerpiece of the deal.
The 21-year-old left-hander is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Padres' organization in the attached 2026 MLB Pipeline rankings. He is listed at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds and was pitching at the Single-A level.
#tigers #mayfield #casey
9 hours ago
After sending one of their best relievers to Toronto at last year's trade deadline, the Blue Jays have returned the favor in 2026. Former All-Star closer Jeff Hoffman is heading to the Twins in exchange for prospects Dasan Hill, John Klein, and Dameury Pena according to The Athletic. Hoffman is under contract for next year as well at $12.67 million, a portion of which will be covered by Toronto.
Hoffman, 33, has a high ERA but everything else about him still looks like the elite reliever he was over in Philadelphia. He has a 3.94 ERA that is artificially inflated thankto a .389 BABIP, but a 2.49 FIP provides a better insight into the type of pitcher he's been. His 1.2 fWAR is 13th among relievers in baseball, while his 14.06 K/9 is second to only the Padres' Mason Miller.
Most importantly, Hoffman brings elite strikeout stuff to a bullpen that, while improved, has really needed some swing-and-miss on the backend. His pitch mix is very Griffin Jax-esque, relying heavily on a slider that's among the best pitches in baseball and a fastball with enough velocity to be dangerous. He'll also mix in a splitter, primarily against lefties, that is also quietly pretty strong.
In return, the Blue Jays will receive pitching prospects Dasan Hill and John Klein, along with infielder Dameury Pena. Hill, 20, is the clear headliner of this group. He was the Twins' second round pick in 2024 and had an excellent debut season in 2025, appearing on the back end of some Top 100s. The Twins moved him up to High A to start this season, but has struggled mightily to throw strikes. The stuff is there, but the lanky lefty has a very long way to go before he's ready to face big leaguers. Hill was the Twins' 12th-ranked prospect according to FanGraphs, while Klein slotted in at 35 and Pena at 49.
Manager Derek Shelton has a lot more tools to work with than he did this time last week. Hoffman should slot in as the team's primary closer immediately, but I would still expect Yoendrys Gomez and Andrew Morris to have opportunities down the stretch. Those two have both been heavily used the past two months and, as we saw with both walk-off losses last weekend, have probably been a bit overexposed. Having Minter and now Hoffman solidifies what has quietly become a very solid group of relievers.
#hill #last #toronto #blue
Hoffman, 33, has a high ERA but everything else about him still looks like the elite reliever he was over in Philadelphia. He has a 3.94 ERA that is artificially inflated thankto a .389 BABIP, but a 2.49 FIP provides a better insight into the type of pitcher he's been. His 1.2 fWAR is 13th among relievers in baseball, while his 14.06 K/9 is second to only the Padres' Mason Miller.
Most importantly, Hoffman brings elite strikeout stuff to a bullpen that, while improved, has really needed some swing-and-miss on the backend. His pitch mix is very Griffin Jax-esque, relying heavily on a slider that's among the best pitches in baseball and a fastball with enough velocity to be dangerous. He'll also mix in a splitter, primarily against lefties, that is also quietly pretty strong.
In return, the Blue Jays will receive pitching prospects Dasan Hill and John Klein, along with infielder Dameury Pena. Hill, 20, is the clear headliner of this group. He was the Twins' second round pick in 2024 and had an excellent debut season in 2025, appearing on the back end of some Top 100s. The Twins moved him up to High A to start this season, but has struggled mightily to throw strikes. The stuff is there, but the lanky lefty has a very long way to go before he's ready to face big leaguers. Hill was the Twins' 12th-ranked prospect according to FanGraphs, while Klein slotted in at 35 and Pena at 49.
Manager Derek Shelton has a lot more tools to work with than he did this time last week. Hoffman should slot in as the team's primary closer immediately, but I would still expect Yoendrys Gomez and Andrew Morris to have opportunities down the stretch. Those two have both been heavily used the past two months and, as we saw with both walk-off losses last weekend, have probably been a bit overexposed. Having Minter and now Hoffman solidifies what has quietly become a very solid group of relievers.
#hill #last #toronto #blue
9 hours ago
There were several moves made by the Phillies today, helping us end our long suffering discussion about what they should do and what they shouldn't do. Let's grade them all.
Phillies acquire Luis Arraez, Caleb Kilian from the Giants for Ramon Marquez, Marty Gair
Obviously the doozy of the deals that were completed, there are several layers to this one. First off, addressing their gaping offensive need with a player like Arraez is a solid fit for them. Currently running a 120 wRC+ in San Francisco, he'll be added to a lineup that truly needs what he does at the plate. Arraez's knack for contact hitting and not striking out (a 4.5 K%!!!) is an antithesis to a lineup that is 24th in baseball with a 23.6% strikeout rate. That's probably the greatest ***** et that he can provide the lineup as he doesn't really walk much, something that would be preferable considering that he will likely be batting at or near the top of the lineup. His Savant page has several blue shades in categories one wouldn't really want to be blue in, but there is also the preternatural ability Arraez has at the plate that simply cannot be quantified. He is a player with the skillset of a bygone era, but has made it work all these years he's been in the majors.
You know about the offense. It's the defense.
Some how, some way, Arraez has vaulted himself to the top of the league as a defensive second baseman, a year after he was forced to move his way down the defensive spectrum in San Diego to first base. His work with legendary infield coach Ron Washington with Giants has to be considered the sole reason for this turnaround as Washington has done this with many, many players wherever he has coached. The question is: do you believe in it? With the reports that Arraez will be playing second base with the Phillies, that will force the team into making decisions that will shift at least two players to a new position, creating the chance that the defense will go from an absolute liability to something close to a natural disaster.
#Phillies #Giants #first #plate
Phillies acquire Luis Arraez, Caleb Kilian from the Giants for Ramon Marquez, Marty Gair
Obviously the doozy of the deals that were completed, there are several layers to this one. First off, addressing their gaping offensive need with a player like Arraez is a solid fit for them. Currently running a 120 wRC+ in San Francisco, he'll be added to a lineup that truly needs what he does at the plate. Arraez's knack for contact hitting and not striking out (a 4.5 K%!!!) is an antithesis to a lineup that is 24th in baseball with a 23.6% strikeout rate. That's probably the greatest ***** et that he can provide the lineup as he doesn't really walk much, something that would be preferable considering that he will likely be batting at or near the top of the lineup. His Savant page has several blue shades in categories one wouldn't really want to be blue in, but there is also the preternatural ability Arraez has at the plate that simply cannot be quantified. He is a player with the skillset of a bygone era, but has made it work all these years he's been in the majors.
You know about the offense. It's the defense.
Some how, some way, Arraez has vaulted himself to the top of the league as a defensive second baseman, a year after he was forced to move his way down the defensive spectrum in San Diego to first base. His work with legendary infield coach Ron Washington with Giants has to be considered the sole reason for this turnaround as Washington has done this with many, many players wherever he has coached. The question is: do you believe in it? With the reports that Arraez will be playing second base with the Phillies, that will force the team into making decisions that will shift at least two players to a new position, creating the chance that the defense will go from an absolute liability to something close to a natural disaster.
#Phillies #Giants #first #plate
11 hours ago
Hot stove season is well underway. Milwaukee has already made a few trades this year, acquiring pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Colton Gordon (though McCullers has already been released), infielder Braden Shewmake (also released), and reliever Joel Kuhnel.
And the Brewers certainly aren't done yet. While they haven't yet made the splashy move that's been speculated over the last several weeks, there's certainly the chance they do so this weekend.
Follow along below as rumors and news from around the league emerge.
8/3, 2:51 p.m.: The Brewers have sent outfield prospects Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale to St. Louis in the deal.
8/3, 2:43 p.m.: The Brewers remain interested in right-hander Clay Holmes, along with several other teams.
#made
And the Brewers certainly aren't done yet. While they haven't yet made the splashy move that's been speculated over the last several weeks, there's certainly the chance they do so this weekend.
Follow along below as rumors and news from around the league emerge.
8/3, 2:51 p.m.: The Brewers have sent outfield prospects Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale to St. Louis in the deal.
8/3, 2:43 p.m.: The Brewers remain interested in right-hander Clay Holmes, along with several other teams.
#made
16 hours ago
The market's top rental bat is reportedly off the board. Contact wizard Luis Arraez is heading from San Francisco to Philadelphia, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The 29-year-old Venezuelan has been one of the game's most unique position players for a while now. He strikes out and whiffs less often than anyone, but also barrels the ball up less than anyone. Call him a throwback, call him an old soul, call him overrated, but Arraez is a phenomenal change of pace for a Phillies lineup that strikes out far too often.
Since the beginning of time, it seems, the Phillies and their president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski have been searching for a right-handed outfielder come deadline time. Arraez, a lefty infielder, is neither of those things, but he's good enough with the stick that the defensive fit is a secondary concern.
But it's still an area Dombrowski and skipper Don Mattingly need to get sorted. For the past few seasons, Philly has had a static infield alignment of Bryce Harper at first, Bryson Stott at second, Trea Turner at short and Alec Bohm at third. Kyle Schwarber's presence keeps the DH spot clogged up with home runs. Arraez has been adamant about staying at second base ahead of another trip to free agency this winter. So how does he slot in? There are a bevy of options.
Harper, as recently as last week, expressed a willingness to move back to the outfield, where he spent the early years of his career. That would push Bohm to first, Stott to third and give Arraez the everyday second base job. Bohm could also move to the bench, or get dealt elsewhere before Monday's 6 p.m. ET deadline. Another path, as reported by The Athletic's Matt Gelb, would be trying the fleet-footed Stott in the outfield.
It wasn't that long ago — literally last winter — that Arraez was considered a below-average first baseman. But he signed with the Giants, in part, to prove that he could still handle the keystone, which he has. Still, it's worth noting he's graded out closer to average over the past few months following an elite defensive April.
#bohm #call
Since the beginning of time, it seems, the Phillies and their president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski have been searching for a right-handed outfielder come deadline time. Arraez, a lefty infielder, is neither of those things, but he's good enough with the stick that the defensive fit is a secondary concern.
But it's still an area Dombrowski and skipper Don Mattingly need to get sorted. For the past few seasons, Philly has had a static infield alignment of Bryce Harper at first, Bryson Stott at second, Trea Turner at short and Alec Bohm at third. Kyle Schwarber's presence keeps the DH spot clogged up with home runs. Arraez has been adamant about staying at second base ahead of another trip to free agency this winter. So how does he slot in? There are a bevy of options.
Harper, as recently as last week, expressed a willingness to move back to the outfield, where he spent the early years of his career. That would push Bohm to first, Stott to third and give Arraez the everyday second base job. Bohm could also move to the bench, or get dealt elsewhere before Monday's 6 p.m. ET deadline. Another path, as reported by The Athletic's Matt Gelb, would be trying the fleet-footed Stott in the outfield.
It wasn't that long ago — literally last winter — that Arraez was considered a below-average first baseman. But he signed with the Giants, in part, to prove that he could still handle the keystone, which he has. Still, it's worth noting he's graded out closer to average over the past few months following an elite defensive April.
#bohm #call
16 hours ago
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to trade for San Francisco Giants All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez, a league source told UPI on Monday.
The Phillies are to to send right-handed pitchers Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair to the Giants in exchange for Arraez and right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian.
Sources told MLB.com, The Athletic and ESPN that the Phillies also agreed to acquire left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley from the New York Mets in a separate transaction. The Phillies will send outfielder John Spikerman and right-handed pitcher Luke Gabrysh to the Mets in that swap.
Arraez, who led the American League with a .324 batting average, would inject production into a Phillies lineup that has the fourth-worst batting average in the National League.
Arraez, who won batting ****** les in 2022 and 2023, owns a career .318 mark, the best among active players. He hit four home runs, seven triples and 23 doubles, with 43 RBIs, through 105 appearances this season. The 29-year-old infielder is to hit free agency this off-season.
#batting #Giants #METS
The Phillies are to to send right-handed pitchers Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair to the Giants in exchange for Arraez and right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian.
Sources told MLB.com, The Athletic and ESPN that the Phillies also agreed to acquire left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley from the New York Mets in a separate transaction. The Phillies will send outfielder John Spikerman and right-handed pitcher Luke Gabrysh to the Mets in that swap.
Arraez, who led the American League with a .324 batting average, would inject production into a Phillies lineup that has the fourth-worst batting average in the National League.
Arraez, who won batting ****** les in 2022 and 2023, owns a career .318 mark, the best among active players. He hit four home runs, seven triples and 23 doubles, with 43 RBIs, through 105 appearances this season. The 29-year-old infielder is to hit free agency this off-season.
#batting #Giants #METS
16 hours ago
Phillies considering wild Bryson Stott position change after Luis Arraez trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies made one of the biggest moves of the trade deadline, reportedly acquiring Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants.
It's a huge upgrade for the team's offense, as his .324 batting average leads all NL hitters. But, for the Phillies, the addition of Arraez presents one issue: how do they reshuffle the infield? Arraez will play second base, so what happens to Bryson Stott?
According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies could move Stott to third base, which wouldn't be that big of a surprise. But, they are also reportedly considering a different position change, one that would send Stott to the outfield in a wild move.
"They could also keep Harper and Bohm on the corners and send Stott to the outfield, an option the club has discussed internally," Gelb reports.
#gelb
The Philadelphia Phillies made one of the biggest moves of the trade deadline, reportedly acquiring Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants.
It's a huge upgrade for the team's offense, as his .324 batting average leads all NL hitters. But, for the Phillies, the addition of Arraez presents one issue: how do they reshuffle the infield? Arraez will play second base, so what happens to Bryson Stott?
According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies could move Stott to third base, which wouldn't be that big of a surprise. But, they are also reportedly considering a different position change, one that would send Stott to the outfield in a wild move.
"They could also keep Harper and Bohm on the corners and send Stott to the outfield, an option the club has discussed internally," Gelb reports.
#gelb
17 hours ago
The Toronto Blue Jays traded starting pitcher Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs last night for minor leaguers Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene. This morning, it is being announced that the Jays are acquiring starting pitcher Jose Soriano from the Anaheim Angels for minor leaguers Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Mitcheletti and Angel Rivero.
So we have got some of the rare buy-and-sell action from the Jays. At 4.5 games back of Wild Card 3 and 13.5 games back in the American League East, it makes sense that the Jays would deal Gausman, a 35 year old in the final year of a 5 year, $110 million deal. Gausman's 4.38 ERA in 2026 is the first 4+ ERA he's had in his time with the Jays, though his FIP of 3.51 and xERA of 3.95 are in line with what he put up last year, when he had a 3.59 ERA, 3.73 xERA and 3.41 FIP. Gausman was a stalwart in the Jays' playoff run in 2025, allowing ten runs in five starts and a relief appearance covering 30.2 innings in the 2025 postseason, and gives the Cubs a veteran arm to help them down the stretch and that can bolster their playoff rotation.
The return for Gausman is not as impressive as I would have expected. Southisene is #10 on the Baseball America Cubs top 30 list, and Bateman isn't on their top 30. Southisene is a 21 year old middle infielder who was a fourth round pick in 2024 and is slashing .306/.425/.372 between low-A and high-A this season. Bateman was an 8th round pick in 2023 out of the University of Minnesota, and has slashed .312/.430/.421 at AAA this season while playing primarily center field.
Having parted with a starting pitcher who was slated to be a free agent at the end of the season, the Jays are apparently replacing him with a starting pitcher who is under team control through 2028. Soriano, 27, is a righthander who had a dominating start to the season, allowing just one run in his first six starts. For the season he has a 3.29 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 123 innings over 22 starts. He's making just $2.9 million this season, and is likely looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 million for 2027.
Soriano was reportedly generating a lot of interest, and the Angels were thought likely to deal him, though the expectation was that it would be a contender acquiring Soriano. Instead, the Jays were the top bidder, and while they are unlikely to be in the playoff mix this year, they do have someone they can pencil into their rotation for the following two years.
#jays #pitcher #bateman
So we have got some of the rare buy-and-sell action from the Jays. At 4.5 games back of Wild Card 3 and 13.5 games back in the American League East, it makes sense that the Jays would deal Gausman, a 35 year old in the final year of a 5 year, $110 million deal. Gausman's 4.38 ERA in 2026 is the first 4+ ERA he's had in his time with the Jays, though his FIP of 3.51 and xERA of 3.95 are in line with what he put up last year, when he had a 3.59 ERA, 3.73 xERA and 3.41 FIP. Gausman was a stalwart in the Jays' playoff run in 2025, allowing ten runs in five starts and a relief appearance covering 30.2 innings in the 2025 postseason, and gives the Cubs a veteran arm to help them down the stretch and that can bolster their playoff rotation.
The return for Gausman is not as impressive as I would have expected. Southisene is #10 on the Baseball America Cubs top 30 list, and Bateman isn't on their top 30. Southisene is a 21 year old middle infielder who was a fourth round pick in 2024 and is slashing .306/.425/.372 between low-A and high-A this season. Bateman was an 8th round pick in 2023 out of the University of Minnesota, and has slashed .312/.430/.421 at AAA this season while playing primarily center field.
Having parted with a starting pitcher who was slated to be a free agent at the end of the season, the Jays are apparently replacing him with a starting pitcher who is under team control through 2028. Soriano, 27, is a righthander who had a dominating start to the season, allowing just one run in his first six starts. For the season he has a 3.29 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 123 innings over 22 starts. He's making just $2.9 million this season, and is likely looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 million for 2027.
Soriano was reportedly generating a lot of interest, and the Angels were thought likely to deal him, though the expectation was that it would be a contender acquiring Soriano. Instead, the Jays were the top bidder, and while they are unlikely to be in the playoff mix this year, they do have someone they can pencil into their rotation for the following two years.
#jays #pitcher #bateman
17 hours ago
Luis Arraez has found a new home, with the San Francisco Giants trading the infielder to the Philadelphia Phillies, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Arraez signed a one-year, $12 million deal with San Francisco in January after a surprisingly weak free agency this offseason. But Arraez has done well with the Giants, and his production has ticked back up this season, making him one of the likely players to get dealt ahead of the deadline.
After a middling year with the San Diego Padres in 2025, Arraez is on track for a career-best season coming out of the All-Star break. Though the infielder is sometimes criticized for not having a lot of power on offense, his batting average is one of the best in baseball.
Arraez also has value as a defender, starting at second base with the Giants after being shunted to first base last year with the Padres.
The Giants are one of the bleakest teams in the league this season. Though they don't have the worst record in MLB — that honor is being passed between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Angels — San Francisco is down near the bottom, and doesn't have a lot of direction.
#year #infielder #base
Arraez signed a one-year, $12 million deal with San Francisco in January after a surprisingly weak free agency this offseason. But Arraez has done well with the Giants, and his production has ticked back up this season, making him one of the likely players to get dealt ahead of the deadline.
After a middling year with the San Diego Padres in 2025, Arraez is on track for a career-best season coming out of the All-Star break. Though the infielder is sometimes criticized for not having a lot of power on offense, his batting average is one of the best in baseball.
Arraez also has value as a defender, starting at second base with the Giants after being shunted to first base last year with the Padres.
The Giants are one of the bleakest teams in the league this season. Though they don't have the worst record in MLB — that honor is being passed between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Angels — San Francisco is down near the bottom, and doesn't have a lot of direction.
#year #infielder #base
18 hours ago
Phillies predicted to make two pitcher deals by MLB trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies have yet to make a single trade ahead of the MLB trade deadline, as Dave Dombrowski is still weighing his options.
But the needs for this team are clear. An upgrade in the infield and outfield would be nice, and it's become apparent this team needs to add to its pitching staff.
ESPN insider Buster Olney is predicting that the Phillies will make two pitcher trades, one for a reliever and another for a starter, by the MLB trade deadline on Monday.
In predicting what some teams will do by this year's deadline, Olney noted, "The Phillies will add a starting pitcher and a reliever."
#trade #deadline #sporting #olney
The Philadelphia Phillies have yet to make a single trade ahead of the MLB trade deadline, as Dave Dombrowski is still weighing his options.
But the needs for this team are clear. An upgrade in the infield and outfield would be nice, and it's become apparent this team needs to add to its pitching staff.
ESPN insider Buster Olney is predicting that the Phillies will make two pitcher trades, one for a reliever and another for a starter, by the MLB trade deadline on Monday.
In predicting what some teams will do by this year's deadline, Olney noted, "The Phillies will add a starting pitcher and a reliever."
#trade #deadline #sporting #olney
18 hours ago
A series loss in Cincinnati and yet another injury blow will not deter the Pirates from buying at the trade deadline.
Despite falling a game below .500, the Pirates are looking to add more pieces to their roster ahead of the 6 p.m. ET buzzer, a source familiar with the situation told Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
The Pirates made a notable move on Saturday, when they acquired right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the Yankees for a pair of prospects. Among the other additions Pittsburgh has made so far this month are infielder Jacob Gonzalez, left-hander Brandon Eisert and right-hander Ron Marinaccio. But it's not yet enough.
This is the second time general manager Ben Cherington has been looking to add pieces at the deadline and not subtract. The other was in 2024, and if the Pirates want to be serious contenders, they can't repeat what they did two years ago.
That year, the Pirates were teetering between buying and selling but entered the deadline a couple games over .500. To bolster its roster, Pittsburgh acquired infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Blue Jays, outfielder Bryan De La Cruz from the Marlins and left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks from the Rockies.
#pittsburgh #looking #roster #right
Despite falling a game below .500, the Pirates are looking to add more pieces to their roster ahead of the 6 p.m. ET buzzer, a source familiar with the situation told Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
The Pirates made a notable move on Saturday, when they acquired right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the Yankees for a pair of prospects. Among the other additions Pittsburgh has made so far this month are infielder Jacob Gonzalez, left-hander Brandon Eisert and right-hander Ron Marinaccio. But it's not yet enough.
This is the second time general manager Ben Cherington has been looking to add pieces at the deadline and not subtract. The other was in 2024, and if the Pirates want to be serious contenders, they can't repeat what they did two years ago.
That year, the Pirates were teetering between buying and selling but entered the deadline a couple games over .500. To bolster its roster, Pittsburgh acquired infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Blue Jays, outfielder Bryan De La Cruz from the Marlins and left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks from the Rockies.
#pittsburgh #looking #roster #right
21 hours ago
Devon Park looked like a Fourth of July celebration Sunday night.
Red and blue jerseys stood side by side across the infield after the final out, waving to the loud crowd dressed in the same patriotic colors.
Then all 36 athletes gathered around Patty Gasso, the lone white shirt in the huddle.
While a berth in the International Cup gold medal game was on the line, Sunday night's matchup between the U.S. Women's National Team and U.S. Elite Team became a celebration of USA softball and the legacy head coach Gasso continues to build.
It's no coincidence the U.S. has two teams in this tournament advancing to the medal rounds. Even playing against each other, both teams showcased why they are among the best softball athletes in the world.
#sunday #team #medal
Red and blue jerseys stood side by side across the infield after the final out, waving to the loud crowd dressed in the same patriotic colors.
Then all 36 athletes gathered around Patty Gasso, the lone white shirt in the huddle.
While a berth in the International Cup gold medal game was on the line, Sunday night's matchup between the U.S. Women's National Team and U.S. Elite Team became a celebration of USA softball and the legacy head coach Gasso continues to build.
It's no coincidence the U.S. has two teams in this tournament advancing to the medal rounds. Even playing against each other, both teams showcased why they are among the best softball athletes in the world.
#sunday #team #medal
21 hours ago
Devon Park looked like a Fourth of July celebration Sunday night.
Red and blue jerseys stood side by side across the infield after the final out, waving to the loud crowd dressed in the same patriotic colors.
Then all 36 athletes gathered around Patty Gasso, the lone white shirt in the huddle.
While a berth in the International Cup gold medal game was on the line, Sunday night's matchup between the U.S. Women's National Team and U.S. Elite Team became a celebration of USA softball and the legacy head coach Gasso continues to build.
It's no coincidence the U.S. has two teams in this tournament advancing to the medal rounds. Even playing against each other, both teams showcased why they are among the best softball athletes in the world.
#athletes
Red and blue jerseys stood side by side across the infield after the final out, waving to the loud crowd dressed in the same patriotic colors.
Then all 36 athletes gathered around Patty Gasso, the lone white shirt in the huddle.
While a berth in the International Cup gold medal game was on the line, Sunday night's matchup between the U.S. Women's National Team and U.S. Elite Team became a celebration of USA softball and the legacy head coach Gasso continues to build.
It's no coincidence the U.S. has two teams in this tournament advancing to the medal rounds. Even playing against each other, both teams showcased why they are among the best softball athletes in the world.
#athletes
