MLB teams have wondered this season whether the Tigers, who are 51-58 and 4 1/2 games back of the last AL Wild-Card spot, would be open to dealing their ace.
That may be the case after all, as his teammate and fellow pitcher Casey Mize was scratched ahead of his scheduled start Friday against the A’s.
Casey Mize has been scratched from his scheduled start on Friday. AP
Mize is now listed as Tuesday’s starter — after the trade deadline — but Detroit’s latest move has signaled that he may not be there that long.
While a move for two-time Cy Young winner Skubal would of course be separate, The Post’s Jon Heyman believes the Mize trade is “the clearest sign yet” that Skubal will likely be moved in a potential fire sale.
Heyman also mentioned Gleyber Torres and Kyle Finnegan as possible trade candidates for Detroit.
While Skubal is certainly the Tigers’ best trade chip, Mize will also be seen as an attractive option for a team looking for pitching help at a lower cost.
The 29-year-old is having a career year, with a 2.70 ERA and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
The move could signal that Detroit is also open to dealing ace Tarik Skubal ahead of the trade deadline. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The Yankees have been linked to Skubal, while there have also been suggestions that NL contenders like the Brewers, Braves or Phillies could make a move for him.
In fact, the two-time defending champion Dodgers — who already have the best record in baseball — could be motivated to trade for him just to keep him from a rival, Heyman reported.
It now seems a matter of when, rather than if, Skubal will be traded.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 29: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Oracle Park on July 29, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While Astros GM Dana Brown has publicly maintained that acquiring an outfield bat is his top priority, the buzz in inner circles for the last few weeks has been that the Astros are very focused on adding a starting pitcher.
While the price for a starter will undoubtedly be very high in a clear seller’s market, could the Astros swing big for a starter?
It appears they are at least trying.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Astros are among several teams that have called on San Francisco Giants SP Logan Webb:
The Houston Astros and other teams keep asking about San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb.
And they keep being told he’s not going anywhere.
Nightengale further went on to report on the Giants’ plans at the deadline and who they plan to keep and trade:
The Giants plan to keep outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and trade Heliot Ramos. They also are telling teams they are willing to eat part of starter Robbie Ray’s $25 million contract in a trade.
Ramos is a right-handed left fielder batting .267 with 9 HR and 34 RBI. He has a .306 OBP and .739 OPS. He will be entering his first year of arbitration at age 27.
Ray, a former Cy Young winner in 2021, is now 34. He is a free agent at the end of the season. He is 10-6 this season with a 3.08 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. He has 107 K in 122.2 IP. He also leads the NL with 57 walks.
While Webb isn’t currently available, it does lend credence to the Astros looking to make a big move for a pitcher.
HEADING FOR THE TOP: A win today will put the Cubs 16 games above .500 for the first time this year. They finished last season 22 above, at 92-70, with a high of 24, last at 88-64. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
BACK-TO-BACK: This is the first time of the season that the Cubs will play back-to-back day games on Thursday and Friday. They will do it only once more, Aug. 13-14, at Washington, then at home vs. the Cardinals. They have played a day game on Thursday, then a night game on Friday four times. They won both games of the first three pairs, then lost both of the last, July 9-10, at Baltimore, then at Cincinnati. That is the last time the Cubs dropped back-to-back games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
MISCELLANEOUS TEAM MARKS: The Cubs are 10-2-1 in their last 13 series, but 3-2-1 at home while winning seven straight on the road. They are 27-22 in games against opponents that had a winning record going into the game. They are 13-7 at home. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Jon Lester’s walkoff bunt capped a Cubs comeback from a 6-0 deficit as they defeated the Mariners 7-6 in 12 innings at Wrigley Field. It happened 10 years ago today, Sunday, July 31, 2016.
I’m just going to keep posting these Shōta Imanaga numbers because they continue to amaze me.
First nine starts: 2.32 ERA, 0.902 WHIP, only 5 HR in 54.1 innings Next four starts: 10.80 ERA, 1.523 WHIP, 12 (!) HR in 21.2 innings Next eight starts: 2.00 ERA, 1.133 WHIP, only 5 HR in 45 innings
So that’s two stretches of ace-like performance and a four-start run that screams “DFA candidate.”
I can’t explain that and neither can you.
Last year against the Yankees, July 13 at Yankee Stadium, Imanaga threw seven innings and allowed two hits and one run, striking out six. Imanaga is currently on a 13-inning scoreless streak. Let’s hope that continues.
Will Warren has been a consistent, if unspectacular, starter for the Yankees for the last two seasons. He posted 0.6 bWAR last year and might do the same this year, though his bWAR is currently negative (-0.1).
The Phillies hit him pretty hard in his last start, July 26 — six runs in three innings.
Warren was Imanaga’s opponent in that July 13, 2025 game at Yankee Stadium, which is his only career start vs. the Cubs. He allowed two runs in 5.1 innings, including a home run by Michael Busch.
Please visit our SB Nation Yankees site Pinstripe Alley. If you do go there to interact with Yankees fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700-million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 — and he's now made $11 million for a card collector in 2026.
A Florida fan pulled a one-of-one Dual Gold Logoman autographed Ohtani card redemption from his local card store.
Key Takeaways
The special gold patches were worn during Ohtani’s 2024 and 2025 MVP seasons.
The card was quickly sold to a renowned collector, who owns a collectible business with a Shark Tank personality.
Ohtani could tie an MLB record by winning his fourth straight MVP this year.
Luck graced the collector’s hobby box of 2026 Topps Chrome Baseball cards purchased at Boca Sports Cards in Boca Raton, Florida. The card features game-worn patches from Ohtani’s back-to-back MVP seasons, his English autograph, and his rare Kanji signature, one of three core scripts in Japanese writing.
The patches were from a Sept. 7, 2025 road game and an April 12, 2026 home game. The special gold patches are only awarded to players who win the MVP, Cy Young, or Rookie of the Year awards in the previous season.
BREAKING: This Shohei Ohtani card just sold for $11 MILLION 🚨
While opening a hobby box at @boca_breaks in Florida, a collector found the card of a lifetime.
The 1-of-1 Shohei Ohtani Gold Logoman card features game-worn patches from his back-to-back MVP seasons, along with… pic.twitter.com/gRTugE6TWq
The identity of the man who found the card is unknown.
However, the card was quickly sold for $11 million — the third-highest price for a sports card sale — to renowned collector Matthew Allen, known by the screen names shyne150 and Bolillo Lajan San, and Secure Collectibles, a high-end trading card investment firm. Secure Collectibles was co-founded by Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary and Paul Washaw.
“The card just resonated deep with me, and I was like, you know what, I have to get this card,” Allen reportedly said.
Ohtani making history
The only other cards with a larger sale price are a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle ($12.6 million) and a 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Auto of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant ($12.9 million), according to Fanatics.
Ohtani’s performances during his MVP-winning seasons in 2024 and 2025 — two of his four years for which he was rewarded with the league’s highest individual honor — were among the best in league history.
In 2024, he crushed 54 home runs and 130 RBIs while batting .310 with a 1.036 OPS. He did not pitch as he was recovering from surgery following a UCL tear in 2023, but he became the first player in MLB history to record 50+ home runs and 50+ stolen bases in one season. He won the MVP award unanimously and also won the Silver Slugger and his first World Series.
BREAKING: The 1-of-1 Shohei Ohtani dual Gold Logoman autograph card has surfaced in Boca Raton, Florida
The card was pulled from a hobby box of Topps Chrome Baseball by a collector at his local card shop, Boca Sports Cards pic.twitter.com/FarZKDvnh5
He bounced right back in 2025 with 55 home runs and 102 RBIs while hitting .282 with a 1.014 OPS. He pitched that year, going 1-1 in 14 starts with a 2.87 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and a career-best 6.9 strikeouts per walk.
With 99 games under his belt in 2026, the Japanese two-way star is a consensus -125 favorite to win the MVP again in 2026, with odds dropping as low as -135 at Caesars Sportsbook. That would mark his fifth MVP win in six years and fourth in a row, which would tie Barry Bonds (2001-04) for the longest streak in MLB history.
Ahead of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, the Detroit Tigers are calling up one of the MLB's top prospects.
The Tigers announced on Thursday, July 30, that they are selecting the contract of 21-year-old prospect Max Clark. Clark is the team's No. 1-ranked prospect and the No. 13 MLB prospect (per MLB Pipeline).
Clark is expected to make his MLB debut this weekend, which could come as early as Friday, July 31, when the Tigers take on the Oakland Athletics in Sacramento, California. In Triple-A with the Toledo Mud Hens, Clark has posted a .276 batting average with 11 home runs, 20 doubles, 42 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 362 at-bats in 90 games.
He was selected third overall by the Tigers in the 2023 MLB Draft out of high school, in the same class as fellow rookie Kevin McGonigle. Before embarking on his professional career, Clark was a star high school player.
Here's what you need to know about Clark's prep career:
Where did Max Clark go to high school?
Clark was the No. 3 overall pick — one pick ahead of former Florida and current Texas Ranger star Wyatt Langford — in the 2023 draft for a reason. He was named the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year in 2023.
He attended Franklin Community High School in Franklin, Indiana, which is 25 miles South of Indianapolis, where he was named the Indiana Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
As a senior, Clark finished with a .646 batting average with six home runs, 33 RBIs, and 45 runs scored, living up to the preseason draft hype he had garnered. As a junior, he hit .577 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs, 31 walks and 22 stolen bases. He hit .450 with six home runs, thirty RBIs and 31 stolen bases in his sophomore season, also pitching to a 0.84 ERA and 120 strikeouts over fifty innings.
Clark could have had more high school success, but his freshman season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ahead of his senior year, Clark played for Team USA in the 2021 WBSC U-18 World Cup, posting a .294 batting average over eight games to help the U.S. earn a gold medal.
While he was committed to Vanderbilt for college baseball, he ended up signing with the Tigers for $7.7 million on July 17, 2023.
"He was the best player on our board at that pick, and we are thrilled that he got to our pick," Harris said. "We think Max is a five-tool player. I think that label gets thrown around way too much in our industry. We think Max has all five."
NEW YORK — The Minnesota Twins acquired left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets for minor league infielders Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick, reinforcing a thin bullpen ahead of the trade deadline.
The 19-year-old Agbayani, who is the son of former Mets fan favorite Benny Agbayani, is a middle infielder who hit .268 in 10 games for Fort Myers in low Class A this season. The sixth-round 2025 draft pick, a native of Hawaii, has been limited by injuries.
The 23-year-old Amick batted .217 with 23 homers in 86 games for Double-A Wichita this season, playing first and third base. He was a second-round draft pick in 2024.
Minter had a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings with 20 strikeouts and only two walks. He didn’t make his season debut until May 26, going more than a year between major league appearances. His 2025 season ended after 13 appearances when he injured his left lat muscle in his back and needed surgery.
Minter signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Mets in 2025. His 2024 season with the Atlanta Braves also was cut short by a torn labrum in his left hip, but when he’s been healthy he’s been one of baseball’s most effective late-game lefties. The 33-year-old, who was a second-round 2015 draft pick by the Braves, has a 3.18 ERA with 456 strikeouts in 382 2/3 innings over 420 career appearances.
Minter likely will be the first of multiple Mets players moved before the trade deadline. They have the second-worst record in the National League.
The Twins, who started a nine-game road trip at Seattle, have a 4.92 relief ERA that ranks fifth worst in the major leagues. They lead the American League in runs scored and entered one game out of a wild card spot.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 29: Coby Mayo #16 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a two-run triple to center field against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning at Comerica Park on July 29, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Baltimore is three games under .500 – will they consider abandoning ship on the prospects they collected who are flaming out? Would that make Coby Mayo available?
You can view our larger trade deadline piece here as we discuss a wider pool of options the Guardians may consider. To make my position clear, I expect the Guardians to make smaller moves, like trading Bo Naylor and getting a castoff/undervalued reliever. But, in the interest of exploring potential larger moves, we are doing a series looking at some of those bigger names. So far, we have discussed Spencer Steer, Luis Arraez, Shea Langeliers, Taylor Ward, Heliot Ramos, Jo Adell, Ty France, Tyler Soderstrom, Heriberto Hernandez, Kyle Stowers, Alec Burleson, and Otto Lopez. Although the Guardians’ greatest need is hitting, the market is aflush with starting pitching so it also may make sense for the Guardians to see if they can find a good value there, as we wrote here and looked at specifically with Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers.
Mayo is 24 years old and under team control through 2031, he has only a 93 wRC+ this season but a career 146 wRC+ against LHP as a right-handed hitter. He is not a good outfielder but above average at first. Is there a market for a player who appears to be a short-side of the platoon first baseman/DH? Probably not a strong one, but the dearth of lefty mashers in MLB and Cleveland make it a possibility.
Given Mayo’s age, I imagine he’ll come at a higher price than he should. However, could this be a spot for the Kyle Manzardo swap? Make space for Ralphy and swap an underperforming lefty for an underperforming righty hitter? Something for these teams to consider! Let me know what you think in the comments below
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Mickey Moniak #22 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after hitting a two run homerun during the third inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on July 28, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Cody Bellinger joined Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list, the Yankees outfield that was so deep former top prospect Jasson Domínguez started the season in Triple-A has become perilously thin. Suddenly, with the Martian who has flashed the bat on both sides of the plate but has yet to put it all together, the strikeout-prone Spencer Jones, and a trio of infielders in José Caballero, Max Schuemann, and Amed Rosario sharing the corner outfield spots, the idea of adding a rental outfielder simply to get through the month of August has become a very real possibility — perhaps even an inevitability.
Over the last few years, the Yankees have acquired a number of former Rockies players, trading for Ryan McMahon and Jake Bird at last year’s deadline, Angel Chivilli over the winter, and Mike Tauchman in 2019, and signing DJ LeMahieu and Adam Ottavino as free agents. While most of the attention has surrounded catcher Hunter Goodman, might Mickey Moniak, who will remain under team control through the end of next season, be the latest former Rockie to head to the Bronx?
Originally drafted first overall by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2016 MLB Draft, Mickey Moniak’s career has largely played out exactly how you might expect for somebody who was taken at the top of “one of the worst [drafts] in recent memory.” After receiving a $6.1 million signing bonus, he steadily climbed through the Phillies system despite unspectacular performance at the plate, ultimately making his MLB debut as a pinch-runner on September 16, 2020, during the COVID-shortened campaign. He spent the 2021 season bouncing between Triple-A and the bigs, made the roster out of spring training in 2022, then began the season on the injured list after fracturing his hand in the final exhibition game. Later that year, he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Noah Syndergaard at the Trade Deadline; he only played 47 games and made 105 plate appearances with the team that drafted him.
Moniak spent the next two seasons with the Halos, putting together a strong campaign in 2023 in which he slashed .280/.307/.495 (115 wRC+) and a replacement-level 2024 in which he slashed .219/.266/.380 (80 wRC+). After beating the Angels during arbitration ahead of the 2025 season, he was released with termination pay despite the fact he was penciled in as the team’s starting center fielder; a few days later, he signed with the Colorado Rockies, with whom he has spent the last season and a half.
Now on his third team, and without the pressure of living up to either the first overall pick or a major trade acquisition, Moniak has finally begun to carve out a real role for himself. Across the last two years, he has a .273 .312 .534 slash line (115 wRC+) with 41 home runs, 32 doubles, and 10 stolen bases. When we dive into Moniak’s splits over that stretch, though, we find some interesting trends:
vs. RHP: 614 plate appearances, .282/.319/.570, 126 wRC+, 38 home runs, 22.8 K%, 4.9 BB%
vs. LHP: 111 plate appearances, .218/.270/.327, 51 wRC+, 3 home runs, 33.3 K%, 5.4 BB%
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been hearing quite a bit that the Yankees have been looking to add a right-handed outfielder, which makes Moniak not exactly an easy fit. The Bellinger injury, however, changes the math. At this moment, the only healthy Yankee hitters with a wRC+ of 100 or better against right-handed pitchers (minimum 100 plate appearances) are Ben Rice (174 wRC+ in 289 plate appearances), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (107 in 268), and Trent Grisham (100 in 254).
The Yankees need offensive help against both righties and lefties, and while I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Domínguez recapture the lefty stroke that saw him slash .274/.348/.420 against right-handed pitchers last season, Jones to build on his strong-ish start against righties (he has a 103 wRC+ in 71 plate appearances), or Wells continue to come around at the plate (he has an .842 OPS since July 9th), well … that’s too many “ifs” to count on. While Moniak isn’t exactly a sure thing, either — he has a .312/.351/.681 slash at Coors Field, compared to a .236/.285/.406 line on the road — there might not be a more sure upgrade available, thanks to Ryan Jeffers likely being off the market.
When I began this post, I fully expected to condemn the idea, writing Moniak off as a Coors Field merchant, and carry on with my day. I still don’t think that he can be the Yankees’ big trade acquisition, either — it remains to be seen just how much of a boost Coors has given him, he doesn’t solve their problems against southpaws, and he doesn’t represent an upgrade at any position when if the team ever gets healthy. But honestly? The Yankees need some reinforcements to get them through August (and, depending on how Bellinger’s and Judge’s rehabs go, potentially longer), and I wouldn’t mind seeing less of Paul Goldschmidt against righties (65 wRC+ in 171 plate appearances). And so, the Trade Deadline can’t end with Moniak, but it can begin with him.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 29: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers, right, is hugged by manager A.J. Hinch #14 after being pulled from the game against the Baltimore Orioles during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on July 29, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 MLB Trade Deadline is here and this might perhaps be the most unpredictable deadline in recent memory.
The third Wild Card and lack of breakout teams in the American and National Leagues mean that only a couple of teams consider themselves to be out of playoff contention. Entering play on Friday, there are four teams that are within three games of the 3rd American League Wild Card spot while two of those teams, the Mariners and Astros, are within 2.5 games of the division lead in the West.
Meanwhile the National League has three teams that are in command of their respective divisions with the Brewers holding the smallest lead, a 5.5 game advantage over the Chicago Cubs. In the Wild Card chase, there are currently five teams within 3 games of the third Wild Card.
So with the standings being as they are, are just nine teams with the inclination to sell. One of those teams, the Detroit Tigers, holds the biggest trade chip this deadline, two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. However, it remains to be determined whether or not the Tigers will actually deal Skubal as they sit 4.5 games back of the 3rd Wild Card and 6.5 games back of the division lead; the Tigers also are promoted one of the top prospects in all of baseball, Max Clark, to make his big league debut
That leaves roughly two-thirds of the league as buyers and the remaining one-third as sellers, and not all the sellers even have impact players they are willing to trade. Which is why teams like the Mets, Tigers, and Angels will be able to seek inflated returns for their quality players and even rentals like Luis Arraez will figure to fetch a top 100 prospect or two.
Last week, the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox came together on a deal that helped both teams as Washington sent former Rays top prospect Curtis Mead to Boston for southpaw Connelly Early. Mead played one game with Boston before fracturing wrist after being hit by a pitch; Early meanwhile was already on the IL. The Rangers acquired catcher Logan O’Hoppe and pitcher Chase Silseth from the Angels for a low-level minor leaguer. O’Hoppe was in the midst of a disastrous season and was promptly optioned to the minor leagues. Last night, the Twins and Mets came together on a deal that sent AJ Minter to Minnesota. There hasn’t been much action on the trade front but that could change in an instant.
On Friday night, a trio of starters involved in trade rumors are slated to pitch for their respective teams: Freddy Peralta, Casey Mize, and Foster Griffin; the Tigers have already scratched Mize.
For their part, the Rays are in on everyone and have one of the best farm systems in baseball so they could accomplish just about anything if Neander is willing to pay the price. It’s the reverse of most offseasons when the Rays are unable to compete with the payrolls of their inter-division rivals, the Red Sox and Yankees will be unable to compete with the pieces the Rays have in their farm system.
Among the players the Rays have reportedly shown an interest in are Tarik Skubal, Hunter Goodman, Foster Griffin, Adley Rutschman, and Zach Neto.
Of course, opposing teams covet the Rays prospects, starting with Theo Gillen who appears to be an incredible talent and is currently scorching Double-A alongside another top prospect, catcher Caden Bodine. Then you have some lower level guys that are making noise like Nathan Flewelling, Cooper Flemming, and Taitn Gray that other teams would love to have.
We know the Rays would like to add an impact bat and a starting pitcher. We also know they’d like to address their catching situation and middle infield offensive output. This makes them about a match for every top available player. They have the farm system to get any deal done that they want.
Come Monday at 6pm, we’ll learn what price they are willing to pay.
In a season when the Cubs have already used 34 different pitchers (plus Carson Kelly pitched once), they’ve added another pitcher to the mix.
Left-hander Antoine Kelly, acquired from the Dodgers June 6 for cash considerations, has been called up from Triple-A Iowa and added to the 26-man active roster.
Kelly has made 13 appearances for Iowa with a 2.79 ERA, 1.241 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. He’s 26 and a Chicago area native (Maine East High School in Park Ridge).
To make room.on the 26-man rosters, right-hander Gavin Hollowell was placed on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins haven’t forgotten the sting from the day of the trade deadline last year.
Their latest feel-good win added yet more fuel for the front office to be in buy mode this time instead of the massive sell-off last summer.
After being no-hit through six innings by Kansas City’s Noah Cameron and shut out until the ninth, Minnesota mounted a thrilling two-out comeback to win 4-3 and improve to 10-2-1 in their last 13 series since June 12.
With a hit-by-pitch, a single and a walk, the Twins loaded the bases against Royals closer Lucas Erceg. Matt Strahm relieved and served up an 0-2 slider that Kody Clemens smacked into the flower box above right-center field for the sixth walk-off grand slam in team history.
Clemens, who’s second on the team with 19 home runs, was due up sixth in that inning.
“I was still preparing to get ready to hit. This team’s got a lot of fight in us, and we’ve tended to rally like that,” Clemens said. “I was ready.”
The Twins moved back to the .500 mark at 55-55 entering a nine-game road trip that begins at Seattle. The trade deadline this year is on Monday, when they’re off before starting a series in Kansas City. They’re in third place in the AL Central, three games behind Chicago and one game behind Cleveland. The wild-card race puts them even closer to postseason contention, one game behind the Guardians for the third and final spot.
Just keep winning series — that’s the focus in what has been a close-knit and fun-vibe clubhouse this season.
“We will celebrate this one,” said manager Derek Shelton, who just turned 56. “We’ll dual celebrate this one on this flight.”
With the deadline approaching, players will inevitably experience some unease. Catcher Ryan Jeffers, who broke up Cameron’s no-hitter with a single and took the hit-by-pitch to spark the rally, is on an expiring contract and could be a useful chip toward acquiring pitching help, for example.
But after the stunning series of nine trades a year ago that jettisoned 40% of the major league roster, including four high-leverage relievers, the Twins are satisfied with the way they’ve performed on a slashed payroll with scant external expectations for success.
“I think it’d be awesome if it was very dramatic just in the other direction. I think it’d be awesome to go get some real big key pieces here,” infielder Royce Lewis said. “Anything you can add to this team, I think it’s going to be a boost emotionally for us on a team that’s already thriving and having so much fun in the clubhouse.”
General manager Jeremy Zoll said the goal is to add to the current team and not subtract. Owner Tom Pohlad, who’s been working hard to try to restore faith in the club within the fan base, said earlier in July he’s not interested in the type of cost-cutting moves initiated last year by his younger brother, Joe Pohlad, when he was the controlling owner.
“We’re going to focus on finding to continue to improve the bullpen and that’ll be a clear focus,” said Zoll, who has the lead role this year after the departure of president of baseball operations Derek Falvey. “Beyond that, we’re going to be open to a variety of creative paths, and you never know what might come about.”
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 24: Esmerlyn Valdez #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Friday, July 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rayni Shiring/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Konnor Griffin to a franchise record contract at the beginning of this season, but it could be another Buccos rookie that ends up stealing the limelight.
Pirates’ rookie Esmerlyn Valdez has emerged as one of the most exciting rookies in baseball, and has been a big contributor for Pittsburgh since his promotion in June. According to FanDuel SportsBook the 22-year-old outfielder currently has the third best odds to win the National League Rookie of the Year, sitting behind just JJ Wetherholt and Sal Stewart with +1000 odds.
Valdez impressed in Spring Training with the Buccos but was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in March. He would receive a call up towards the end of March before being optioned back down less than a week later. Valdez has been unbelievable since his latest call up on June 11 however, and has been a key part of the Pirates’ lineup since then.
Few players on the Buccos have been better sluggers since Valdez joined the team. In 41 games he’s smashed 14 home runs, and has been a very efficient hitter at the plate as well. He’s currently slashing .277/.371/.664 with a 1.035 OPS. At just 22-years-old Valdez has an approach that looks like a seasoned pro. He’s tied for the fourth most homers on the Pirates, but has done it in a fraction of the time as the other top hitters on the squad. Oneil Cruz also has 14 homers, but played in 23 more games than Valdez.
As a defender, Valdez has seen the most time in right field, and has been lights out in that corner of the outfield. He currently holds the distinction of having a perfect fielding percentage with 55 put outs between right and left field. Having Valdez in right field has also allowed Ryan O’Hearn to play in his natural position more often, with his move back to first base benefitting the whole squad.
The Pirates are better off with Valdez as a key part of the lineup, as the team has gone 22-17 when he’s a part of the game. Few rookie batters have had a hotter streak at the plate this season, and Valdez could emerge as the favorite in the NL ROTY race if he continues to contribute at such a high level.
Left: Feb. 2026 photo of San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader. Right: Feb. 1998 photo of San Francisco Giants second baseman Jeff Kent. (Associated Press; Getty Images)
Similarities between Harrison Bader and Jeff Kent are few. Sure, Bader plays for the San Francisco Giants and Kent used to do so. Otherwise, little of note links the great-fielding, average-hitting Bader to the formerly average-fielding, exceptional-hitting Kent.
Until, that is, the predawn hours Sunday when Bader’s scooter collided with the back of a fire engine. A wheel rolled over his left foot, causing a serious injury that required medical assistance, a witness told SFist. Other witnesses described Bader as bar-hopping throughout the evening, according to Matt Lively of KPIX.
Bader has not fully cooperated with the Giants about the incident, a person briefed on the matter told Andrew Baggerly of the Athletic, who speculated that Bader might be concerned that the team could seek to void the remainder of his contract for taking part in “high-risk activities” that the collective bargaining agreement forbids without the Giants’ written consent.
Cue to Kent, who while Bader was being treated at a Bay Area hospital Sunday was enjoying his induction ceremony into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. He was honored for hitting more home runs than any other second baseman in MLB history and driving in more than 100 runs eight times.
Conveniently forgotten was the time Kent broke a bone in his left wrist during spring training in 2002 and lied about how it occurred, saying he fell while washing his truck when eyewitnesses and a 911 call established that he actually fell off a motorcycle while “popping wheelies,” according to then-Giants general manager Brian Sabean.
Why did he tell a tall tale? Most likely to protect his $6 million contract that prohibited high-risk activities such as motorcycle riding. Admitting the truth would have allowed the Giants to fine him or void his deal.
The Giants left well enough alone because Kent was an essential cog in their lineup, the story died down and he missed only the first four regular-season games. The Giants advanced to the World Series — where they lost to the Angels — and Kent hit a career-high 37 home runs.
Bader, who is in the first year of of a two-year, $20.5 million contract, finds himself in a far more precarious position than Kent. He has played only 30 games all season primarily because of an earlier injury to the same foot and is batting .170.
The Giants might see an opportunity to get out from under the second year of his deal by invoking the “high-risk activities” language from the CBA.
Bader followed through with a previously scheduled foot and ankle specialist in Indianapolis on Monday. According to a team injury report, “the impact of that (collision-related) injury changed the nature of his evaluation.” The team also said he would undergo an MRI exam to “better understand the severity of the injuries sustained from the scooter accident.”
As of Friday morning, MRI results have not been released and Bader has declined to speak publicly. Manager Tony Vitello said Thursday that Bader is not expected to return this season, and that a return was unlikely before the collision. A week ago, however, Vitello said Bader had a chance to return in September.
Bader, a 32-year-old 10-year veteran, would be hard-pressed to explain the incident as youthful indiscretion the way he might have in 2014 when he was involved in a motorized scooter accident as a University of Florida sophomore. An incident report from the Gainesville Police Department said Bader hit a curb and ran into a truck. He was unresponsive on the ground, smelled of alcohol and was suspended from the baseball team for 19 games.
The latest incident follows several embarrassing episodes this season with the Giants, who through Thursday are 47-62 and 22 games behind the first-place Dodgers in the National League West.
Perhaps most damaging was the fallout from four Giants pitchers pushing back against the team’s annual Pride Night in June, with three writing Bible verses next to the rainbow-tinted logo on their caps and the fourth declining to wear the colorful cap at all.
MLB said the pitchers were in violation of uniform protocols, triggering a culture skirmish between one of the nation’s most vibrantly diverse and queer cities and politicians who asserted that the actions were an expression of religious freedom.
The Cubs will not face old friend Cody Bellinger in this series, as the Yankees outfielder hit the injured list this week with a hamstring strain.
Also, as you likely know, the Yankees are spending an entire week in Chicago, having just split with the White Sox in a four-game series on the South Side. You know, not once since interleague play began have the Cubs ever done this in one of the two-team markets (New York, Los Angeles, and before 2025, the Bay Area). Don’t know why.
For more on the Yankees, here’s Dani Mohr, manager of our SB Nation Yankees site Pinstripe Alley.
There are several crucial takeaways to note after the Yankees wrapped up the series against the White Sox. With another loss in 11 innings on Thursday, the Pinstripes officially have the worst MLB record in extras (1-8).
With the trade deadline looming, there are a lot of discussions on what the Yankees’ current bullpen and offense bring to the table.
Despite Cam Schlittler ending his scoreless-inning streak with his exit in the seventh inning on Wednesday night, the bullpen went out and put up a decent fight. Tim Hill was one of the crucial standouts, recording a clutch strikeout against Munetaka Murakami to force the 11th inning. The Yankees ultimately lacked on defense but attempted to make up for it in a late offensive surge. However, it was all for naught as Edgar Quero recorded the walk-off single in the 12th.
Ryan Weathers picked up the slack on Thursday and threw for seven scoreless innings, which later forced the Yankees into extras once again. After Cruz ended the game with a bases-loaded walk-off walk in the 11th, the bullpen is likely all but exhausted. There are reportedly many potential trade targets circulating the rumor mill that could provide a much-needed boost.
Looking ahead to face the Cubs, it is essential that Will Warren keeps Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ from gaining an early edge. Fried will also need to bounce back after his last outing, in which he allowed five hits and three runs in three innings. Wrapping up the series on Sunday, Cole is tasked with building upon his momentum in the Windy City.
The absence of Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton from this Yankees offense is also deeply felt and appears difficult to overcome. With some inconsistency throughout the lineup during the last series, the focus will need to shift towards establishing dominance early and allowing the bullpen to step into a low-pressure situation.
Fun facts
Since 1876, first year of the National League, the Cubs have played regular-season games against 53 teams. Their winning percentage against the Yankees is the worst of all: .321 (9-19).
The Cubs also are 0-8 vs. the Yankees in the World Series (1932 and 1938).
The Cubs were .388 (38-60-5) vs. the National League’s Baltimore Orioles in 1892-99. They are .400 (16-24) vs. the Tigers. ….. The Cubs have won only one previous series vs. the Yankees at Wrigley Field: the first of its kind, in 2003, when they lost, 5-3, then won, 5-2 and 8-7.
They lost two of three in 2011, split a pair in 2014 and dropped all three in 2017.
In their most recent meeting at Wrigley, in 2024, the Cubs were shut out, 3-0 and 2-0, before salvaging the final game, 2-1, making their record 5-9 when hosting the Yankees.
Saturday: David Peterson, LHP (3-1, 5.06 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 5.14 FIP in five starts with Cubs; 6-7, 5.80 ERA, 1.521 WHIP, 4.22 FIP in 21 games overall) vs. Max Fried, LHP (4-3, 3.23 ERA, 1.019 WHIP, 2.58 FIP)
Friday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Yankees market territories)
Saturday: 6:15 p.m. CT, Fox-TV (regional — coverage map, note that this is basically going to the entire USA except the areas around the teams in the backup game, the Diamondbacks and Guardians). A reminder that if you subscribe to MLB.TV or MLB Extra Innings, you can watch this game via those services even if it’s not on the Fox affiliate in your market. Announcers: Adam Amin, A.J. Pierzynski, Adam Wainwright and Ken Rosenthal.
Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network. Of interest to Cubs fans in the UK, this game is being carried live on BBC at 7 p.m. BST. Details here.
Prediction
The Cubs moved Imanaga into this series presumably because the Yankees are more susceptible to left-handed pitching. Hope that’s the right choice.
In any case the Cubs are hot, and so were the Yankees until the last two days, losses in extras to the White Sox. The Cubs actually are one game better than the Yankees as this series begins (62-47 to 61-48). This should be a good matchup of playoff-bound teams, and I’m going to say the Cubs will take two of three.
Up next
The Cubs host the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series at Wrigley Field beginning Monday evening.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 27: Otto Lopez #6 of the Miami Marlins runs to first base against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of the game at loanDepot park on July 27, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Marlins are willing to move players, including their best hitter. Let’s talk about Otto Lopez.
You can view our larger trade deadline piece here as we discuss a wider pool of options the Guardians may consider. To make my position clear, I expect the Guardians to make smaller moves, like trading Bo Naylor and getting a castoff/undervalued reliever. But, in the interest of exploring potential larger moves, we are doing a series looking at some of those bigger names. So far, we have discussed Spencer Steer, Luis Arraez, Shea Langeliers, Taylor Ward, Heliot Ramos, Jo Adell, Ty France, Tyler Soderstrom, Heriberto Hernandez, Kyle Stowers and Alec Burleson. Although the Guardians’ greatest need is hitting, the market is aflush with starting pitching so it also may make sense for the Guardians to see if they can find a good value there, as we wrote here and looked at specifically with Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers.
Lopez is a right-handed hitter who is almost 28 years old and having the best season of his life with a 131 wRC+ as a good shortstop, putting up 4.4 fWAR so far. For his career, he has a 103 wRC+ with a 14.8/6.2 K/BB%. Weirdly for his career, he has a 77 wRC+ against LHP and 113 wRC+ vs RHP. He has figured southpaws out this season to the tune of a 156 wRC+ and I do think that is probably something he can continue to do well (reverse splits are very rare so his early struggles against lefties were probably just small sample size).
Lopez is a good defender at second (15 DRS, 22 OAA) and short (14 DRS, 5 OAA). He has also stolen 47 of 61 bases over the past three seasons, so he is a threat there. He is under team control through 2029.
Lopez is a great trade target. I think he Will offer good defense and above average hitting for the length of his arbitration years. But, the Marlins are only making him available because 1. He is having a late breakout year, and 2. He is almost 29. Both of those are reasons to not want to pay a premium return to acquire Lopez… which is why I remain skeptical he gets moved.
Lopez probably requires the equivalent of two top 100 prospects. Like… are the Guardians wiling to trade Travis Bazzana and Braylon Doughty and potentially toss in Daniel Espino to get Lopez? I would say (rightly) not. And if the Marlins can’t secure that kind of return, I don’t know why they would trade Lopez.
But, hey, if the Marlins can be made to consider a more reasonable return based on Lopez’s career numbers, I am offering Genao and their choice of a dominant minor league arm not named Braylon Doughty. And, hey, another lotto ticket of their choice. Lopez would move Bazzana to DH until Bazzana can learn outfield. It looks like Bazzana can handle DHing, so that would work.
As you can probably tell, I find this deal unlikely. But I love Otto and would love to be wrong. Do us a favor and give us, Lopez, Peter B!
Let me know what you think about Lopez in the comments below
