It's no secret that Mets 3B/DH Mark Vientos has been having a tough second full season in the majors, but the young slugger reminded people of his abilities during Monday night's loss to the San Diego Padres.
After blasting what would have been a two-run homer, but got robbed at the wall by RF Fernando Tatis Jr., Vientos took advantage of the second chance the following inning. The 25-year-old crushed his first career grand slam in the regular season over the head of Tatis into the stands, putting the Mets up 5-1 in the top of the fifth inning.
New York wound up blowing the four-run lead and losing on a walk-off in the ninth inning, but that shouldn't entirely take away from Vientos' big hit. He told reporters after the 7-6 loss that he's been feeling much better at the plate and is sticking with his approach. Over the last seven games, Vientos is batting .333 with eight hits and seven RBI.
"Felt good at the plate today, felt good at the plate," Vientos said. "Got two pitches to hit in the location I was looking for and put a good swing on it. Felt better at the plate for sure."
He added: "I said it last time, just doubling down on my approach and what I want at the plate and I'm staying convicted to it."
When asked about the near-HR that Tatis robbed, Vientos couldn't help but tip his cap to the three-time All-Star.
"I thought I had it, I put a good swing on it," Vientos said. "Obviously, he caught it and made a heck of a play. I was like, 'Damn, nice play.' Yeah, it was an amazing play."
What may have been the secret to his revenge home run was that San Diego starter Dylan Cease intentionally walked Jeff McNeil to load the bases and face Vientos. New York fans will remember a similar situation when the Los Angeles Dodgers intentionally walked Francisco Lindor during the Game 2 of the 2024 NLCS and Vientos made them pay, becoming the youngest player to hit a grand slam in a LCS.
"I'm happy I get put in those situations," Vientos said. "I like those situations because I tend to lock in more, I don't know why. I'm happy to be in that situation and just come through for the team."
Vientos added that it was simply "good timing" on his grand slam and called the "back and forth" game a battle.
"I thought it was a great game, both teams battled," Vientos said. "You're talking about two playoff teams. I thought it was a great game, it was a pretty long game too, think we were going back and forth. They just came out on top today."
"I see it as it’s a good thing,” Vientos said. “It’s a good thing that I’m being talked about. You can see it as like, ‘Damn, it’s bad.’ But I see it as, ‘Man, I’m that important in the league that I’m being talked about in trade rumors.’
"Obviously, it sucks because I don’t want to get traded. But this is a business, at the end of the day. I feel like it is what it is. What can I do?"
He added: "I feel like I’m swinging a lot better and I’m playing a lot less now. It is what it is. What can I do? The only thing I can control is keep getting better, and whenever I get the opportunity, try to help the team.”
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected in the third inning of Monday's game vs. the San Diego Padres after arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Emil Jimenez.
Jimenez called Juan Soto out looking on a curve that got the outside part of the plate, and Soto immediately expressed his frustration with the call after his second strikeout of the day.
Mendoza then came out to defend Soto and was tossed. After the game, Mendoza made it clear that it's his responsibility to stand up for the players and he'll always do that for them.
"I got to be the one getting thrown out," Mendoza said. "I can't afford to [have players ejected], whether it's Soto or any of our players. I knew from the very beginning after a couple of calls early in the game that I needed to be on top of it.
"Whether it's Soto or anybody on our roster, I've got to go out there and protect them."
It's the third time Mendoza has been ejected from a game this season. Bench coach John Gibbons took over in his place for the rest of the game.
The pitch chart showed the second strike on Soto (fourth pitch of at-bat) was a bit outside, but the third strike did hit the outside edge of the zone. Later in the seventh inning, Soto struck out again on a high slider that was called a strike and stared back at Jimenez for a couple of seconds. Gibbons came out to say a few things to Jimenez, but there were no more ejections.
When asked about his thoughts on Jimenez behind the plate, Mendoza was to the point.
"He had a rough night, there's no way to sugarcoat it there," Mendoza said. "Especially when you're talking about a couple of at-bats there from Soto, some key at-bats. You're taking about one of the best hitters in the game, you're taking the bat away from him.
"I felt like that first at-bat, [Brandon] Nimmo struck out on three pitches that, you know, they weren't close. He just had a bad night."
The Mets snapped their seven-game winning streak, losing a back-and-forth battle to the San Diego Padres, 7-6.
New York let up five runs in the fifth inning, blowing a 5-1 lead, and look lost until Ronny Mauricio homered with one out in the ninth inning to tie the game at 6-6. However, new Met Gregory Soto struggled in the bottom of the ninth, including a throwing error to extend the frame, and let up a walk-off single to Elias Díaz.
The Mets (61-44) remain 1.5 games ahead of the Phillies for first place in the NL East after Philadelphia lost to the Chicago White Sox.
Here are the takeaways...
-- New York got on the board in the second inning thanks to some heads-up baserunning by Jeff McNeil. He walked and then went from first to third on Mark Vientos' single, keeping an eye on CF Jackson Merrill fielding the ball while continuing to run. Brett Baty then delivered with a sacrifice fly to left field, putting the Mets up 1-0.
-- There was a scary moment in the top of the third inning as Francisco Lindor hit a hard ground ball that bounced and hit pitcher Dylan Cease in the back of the head. The ball ricocheted into foul territory around third base, allowing Lindor to advance to second. Cease stayed in the game and struck out Juan Soto after some questionable calls by home plate umpire Emil Jimenez.
-- Vientos nearly had a home run in the top of the fourth inning, but Fernando Tatis Jr. leaped at the wall and made the catch to rob the big hit. Tatis did drop the ball out of his glove after landing, but the call on the field remained. Vientos made the most of his redemption opportunity in fifth inning after Cease intentionally walked McNeil to get to him -- launching his first career grand slam over the head of Tatis into the right field stands to put the Mets up 5-1.
-- Frankie Montas tossed a quick first inning with a inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, and avoided damage from a bases-loaded jam in the second by striking out Díaz. After a hit-by-pitch and walk in the third inning, Montas let up a RBI-single to Xander Bogaerts that tied the game up at 1-1. Montas then bounced back to retire the next four batters to get through the fourth inning.
Montas let up a leadoff double to Tatis that was deflected by Baty and then a rare HR to Luis Arraez, making it a 5-3 game. Montas then gave up a single to Manny Machado and a double to Bogaerts, ending his night after 4.1 IP. He wound up allowing five earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
-- Despite a great play by Pete Alonso at first base with runners on second and third, Jake Cronenworth beat out Huascar Brazobán to the bag, allowing the run to score. Brazobán's two-out mistake to not cover the base in time caused a complete meltdown -- he let up a game-tying RBI-single to Bryce Johnson and go-ahead RBI-single to Díaz as the Mets all of a sudden trailed, 6-5. The nightmare continued with a wild pitch and walk to Tatis, loading the bases. Francisco Alvarez thankfully saved a bouncing ball from getting by and Brazobán got Arraez to fly out.
-- Rico Garcia kept it a one-run game by tossing two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and one walk with four strikeouts. Ryne Stanek followed up with a scoreless eighth inning.
-- After Vientos' grand slam in the fifth inning, Baty lined out to end the inning and the next 10 Mets were retired through the ninth before Mauricio's game-tying home run.
Game MVP: Elias Díaz
Díaz was a thorn in all of the Mets' pitchers' sides on Monday night, hitting the walk-off and going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Dodgers prospect Alex Freeland plays during a spring training game against the Angels at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Feb. 28. (Chris Bernacchi / Diamond Images via Getty Images)
The Dodgers are dealing with more injuries to their lineup.
As a result, one of their top prospectswill get his first big-league opportunity this week.
Alex Freeland, the top-ranked infielder in the Dodgers’ farm system, was called up on Tuesday after Hyeseong Kim was placed on the injured list with left shoulder bursitis.
Freeland’s arrival also comes after Tommy Edman had his lingering ankle injury flare up on him Sunday while rounding the bases.
On Monday night, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Freeland was scheduled to join the Dodgers in Cincinnati while they decided which, if either, of Kim or Edman would go on the IL.
“He's going to come and we'll see what direction we go, with who,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ series-opening win against the Cincinnati Reds. “We're just kind of trying to figure out ... if we do need to make a move for one of those guys."
The official news came down on Tuesday afternoon. Kim was placed on the IL. Edman, while remaining on the active roster, went through pregame drills on the field with a Dodgers trainer.
Freeland, a third-round pick in 2022 out of the University of Central Florida, is the team’s No. 3 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline and the 35th-ranked prospect in baseball.
The 23-year-old switch-hitter has spent all season with triple-A Oklahoma City, where he has batted .253 with 12 home runs, 71 RBIs and .799 OPS in 94 games.
Now, he’ll get his first crack at the big-league roster, trying to help alleviate the Dodgers’ latest injury headache.
In the short term, Kim’s shoulder injury was the more pressing issue.
The South Korean rookie has struggled mightily at the plate lately, with an 0-for-3 performance Monday leaving him just three for 24 since July 19.
“You can just see offensively with the bat, he's just not himself right now,” Roberts said.
Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, has struggled at the plate in recent games. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
Edman, however, represents another long-term concern for the Dodgers to manage, with his ankle injury lingering since early May.
“It’s something that’s kind of always there,” Edman said. “But I would say it’s been pretty normal.”
At least it was until Sunday, when Edman said he “had a little tweak of it” while running the bases at Fenway Park.
While Edman was not available for Monday’s game, he maintained optimism he could avoid what would be a second injured list this season and be back in the lineup Tuesday.
“I don’t feel like this is that big a deal,” he said. “I was just at a point where I didn’t feel like I could run full speed today. I got some good treatment today so hopefully I’ll be back available tomorrow.”
Still, the Dodgers could decide that an extended break for the utilityman is warranted — especially since he has been unable to play outfield while trying to manage his injury.
“Obviously, if I couldn't hit him tonight, for him to not to be able to play three innings of defense, isn't a great feeling,” Roberts said.
Freeland’s arrival will at least give the Dodgers a different look for the time being.
A native of Louisville, Ken., he made a major jump up the Dodgers’ farm system last year, when he progressed from high A to triple A while batting .260 across three minor-league levels.
A disciplined hitter with 228 career walks in 345 career minor-league games, Freeland has received high marks for his defense at shortstop and third base. He also has 81 steals over his four minor-league seasons.
In addition to Kim and Edman, the Dodgers have spent the last month without Max Muncy (who is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in his recovery from a knee injury this week) and Kiké Hernández (who remains shut down from baseball activity after recently having a couple non-surgical “little procedures,” as Roberts called them, on an elbow injury that has bothered him since late May).
How have the Dodgers toed the line between managing injuries and trying to keep their best players on the field?
“That’s the thing that, it is a blurred line,” Roberts said. “The players obviously feel that they’re not hurt, where they can play and post, which is great. But the line of, are you still hurting the team, hurting yourself, that’s the thing that the organization, the training staff, we’ve got to make that decision.”
On Tuesday, they did, shelving Kim and calling up Freeland as they try to navigate another injury-plagued chapter of their season.
The Yankees aren’t selling. They just don’t do that around here, especially not when they’re in playoff position.
Right?
Right. Almost certainly.
But Monday’s 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay did nothing to restore the front office’s faith in the team. It was further reinforcement of their likely approach, first reported by SNY on Saturday, to be what you might call “soft buyers,” making moves that improve the current roster without risking the future.
In that column, we relayed that the Yankees were floating some of their free-agent-to-be relievers in preliminary trade talks. We have since learned through league sources that last week the Yanks brought up Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt in talks with at least one other club.
Wait, what?
That does not mean that the Yankees will trade Bellinger and/or Goldschmidt. In fact, we’d still be very surprised.
But the nugget is telling in its timing: this conversation happened last week, when the Yanks were concerned that Aaron Judge would need season-ending elbow surgery. If that had happened, GM Brian Cashman might have gone into sell mode. They were probably laying groundwork, just in case. This alone gives us another data point on how the front office might feel about its team.
Judge did not need surgery, meaning that the season is still on. Technically. There are voices encouraging Cashman to go all-in before Thursday’s trade deadline. In a weak American League, they really could still find themselves in the World Series.
The way to get there is to add a few relievers to acquisitions Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario without sacrificing top prospects -- the major league team has not earned the right to an addition that would cost Spencer Jones and Cam Schlittler.
Once Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. return from the injured list, the bullpen will be deeper. The Yankees do not have a particularly difficult schedule down the stretch, either, with plenty of games against the Twins, Orioles and White Sox.
There is, then, a path out of this morass. But Cashman and his seasoned lieutenants have seen many seasons to be fooled into feeling inspired by this year’s team. Sometimes even the best organizations have a down year.
The Yankees lost the opener of their four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-2, on Monday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-Most of the scoring in this one happened in the first inning as fans were still piling into the stadium and getting to their seats. It started with the Rays who got two early runs off Cam Schlittler after Home Run Derby runner-up Junior Caminero got a hold of one and sent it 397 feet to left center field for his 27th homer of the season.
The two-run shot happened after Schlittler retired the first two batters of the inning but then walked Jonathan Aranda following a tough nine-pitch battle that kept the inning going. After the home run, Schlittler walked two more in the inning. He got the final out on a 110 mph line drive off the bat of Tristan Gray that was caught by Cody Bellinger in right field.
-Staked to a 2-0 lead, Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen hoped to continue his dominant ways against the Yankees. Entering Monday, the right-hander owned a 0.34 ERA against New York (one earned run in 26.2 innings) and hadn't allowed a single run at Yankee Stadium through two starts and 13 innings.
However, with Rays catcher Danny Jansen a late scratch from the lineup after getting traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, Matt Thaiss was inserted behind the plate last-minute. Perhaps the late switch messed with Rasmussen as his scoreless streak against New York in the Bronx was quickly broken after the Yanks responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first.
-Three straight singles by Jasson Dominguez, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton loaded the bases before Rasmussen walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. to force in a run. After striking out Paul Goldschmidt whose offensive struggles continue, Rasmussen walked in another run, this time losing Ryan McMahon on a full-count to tie the game. With the bases still loaded, Austin Wells popped out to end an eventful first inning.
-From there, things quieted down despite constant traffic on the bases for Schlittler. The rookie was able to get out of the next three innings without allowing another run, but he couldn't do it in the fifth. A walk and two singles produced the Rays' third run of the game and gave them a 3-2 lead. It was also the end of the road for Schlittler who left after 4.1 innings where he allowed three earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out five.
-In relief of Schlittler, Brent Headrick made his first appearance for New York since June 8 and struck out both batters he faced to strand runners at the corners and keep it a one-run game. He added a scoreless sixth, as well.
-Meanwhile, Rasmussen settled into a groove after his difficult first inning and went five innings, retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.
-Tampa Bay scored an insurance run in the eighth on a sac fly to double its lead. It wouldn't need it, though, as the Yankees offense couldn't score again. McMahon had a two-out single in the ninth and with Wells as the tying run he gave it a ride but lined out to center field for the final out of the game.
Game MVP: Drew Rasmussen
After a hiccup in the first inning, the Yankee killer was back and limited New York's floundering offense through five innings.
Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers during the first inning Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s season can be divided into three distinct parts so far.
The thrilling opening act, when the second-year Japanese star started the season with a 4-2 record and 0.90 earned-run average in his first seven starts.
A shaky middle stanza, when the 26-year-old right-hander stumbled with a 2-4 mark and 4.43 ERA over his next eight outings from May 8 to June 19.
And lately, what he and the Dodgers hope will be a midseason revival, with Yamamoto rounding back into Cy Young-caliber form again with a 3-1 record and 1.71 ERA over his last six trips to the mound bump.
In a 5-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, Yamamoto delivered another master class for the Dodgers at Great American Ball Park, giving up just one run on four hits while striking out nine over seven superb innings.
"He was fantastic,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It seemed like he had all of his pitches working tonight.”
Indeed, it was Yamamoto once again at his best. Filling up the strike zone. Working ahead in counts. And getting almost nothing but empty swings and soft contact after allowing his lone run in the first.
Yamamoto got 17 whiffs, gave up just two balls hit harder than 95 mph (MLB’s threshold for “hard hit” contact) and largely cruised against a Reds team battling for a National League wild-card spot.
“My stuff today was really good,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda.
“Yoshi has so many pitches,” added catcher Dalton Rushing, “he can basically manipulate anything.”
Yamamoto's only trouble came early, when the Reds (56-51) loaded the bases on two singles and a walk in the first before scoring on a ground ball from former Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux.
After that, Rushing said he and Yamamoto made “a couple pivots” in their game plan, mixing in more sinkers and curveballs to go along with his primary fastball-splitter combination.
“We had to change lanes a little bit and kind of mix it up,” Rushing said. “Once we found our groove, it was just easier."
From the second inning on, only one other baserunner even reached scoring position in what was Yamamoto’s fifth start this season of at least seven innings and no more than one run. At one point, he retired 10 hitters in a row, keeping the Reds quiet while the Dodgers broke open an early 1-1 tie with two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh.
“He seemed like he got better as the game went on, which is a good sign,” Roberts said. “Overall, just outstanding."
Monday was the start of what the Dodgers (62-45) envision as a week-long stretch of strong starting pitching.
On Tuesday, Tyler Glasnow will take the mound. On Wednesday, it will be Shohei Ohtani, who was pushed back a few days in order to pitch ahead of an off day. And after Clayton Kershaw goes on Friday in a series opener in Tampa Bay, marquee offseason signing Blake Snell will make his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury later in the weekend.
That’s the kind of star power the Dodgers hope to have for the rest of the season, crossing their fingers that the star-studded group will stay healthy and intact through the campaign’s final two months.
“We feel really good,” Roberts said of the rotation. “Kind of trying to stabilize some things in the 'pen. But I think with the starters … [it’s] encouraging.”
Still, while Snell and Glasnow have missed significant time with injury, and Ohtani has been ever-methodically built up, it is Yamamoto who has helped carry the starting staff this season, improving to 9-7 on the year with a 2.48 ERA (third-best in the National League).
“It's good to see him get back, [compared to] when he was kind of middling for a bit there, to being the dominant pitcher that we know he can be,” Roberts said.
On Monday, Yamamoto got plenty of help from his offense.
Mookie Betts led the game off with a double on his hardest-hit ball (103.8 mph) in almost a month, before scoring on Teoscar Hernández’s RBI single. In the fifth, Ohtani put the Dodgers in front with a two-run double to center. In the seventh, Hernández and Freddie Freeman each singled home insurance runs.
The scoring was nice for a Dodgers offense coming off two frustrating losses full of missed chances over this past weekend in Boston.
But in the big picture, it’s Yamamoto and the pitching staff that might be most important in the team’s title defense — with Monday serving as another reminder of the firepower he, and they, possess.
MINNEAPOLIS — The AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers acquired starting pitcher Chris Paddack from the flagging division rival Minnesota Twins in a three-player trade on Monday to plug another injury-created vacancy in their rotation.
The Tigers announced right-hander Reese Olson will miss the remainder of the regular season with a strained shoulder suffered during his most recent bullpen session, joining right-hander Jackson Jobe on the shelf. Olson could return for the playoffs.
“We wish we could’ve added Chris and kept Reese, but that’s not in the cards," Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said, praising Paddack's experience, fastball and approach. "He goes right at hitters. That’s always been our pitching philosophy, and we think he’s going to fit in well.”
The Twins packaged Paddack and depth right-hander Randy Dobnak for catcher Enrique Jimenez, who was the Tigers' 14th-best prospect in MLB's preseason rankings. After losing six of their first nine games out of the All-Star break, even the wild-card race has become bleak for the Twins, with the fourth-worst record in the AL entering the week.
“World just got twisted upside down, to say the least. It stinks. This business is out of our control sometimes," Paddack said. "I was really pulling for us, as a Twin. I was hoping we would make some moves and go get that wild-card spot, but I’m excited for this new opportunity with a new team. They have a special group over there."
Paddack will make his debut for Detroit on Wednesday against Arizona. Dobnak was sent to Triple-A Toledo.
Paddack was one of the six pending free agents who figured to be expendable for the Twins leading up to the trade deadline on Thursday, along with multi-position player Willi Castro, outfielder Harrison Bader, reliever Danny Coulombe, first baseman Ty France, and catcher Christian Vázquez. Still, Paddack said he was surprised when the Twins told him before their game against Boston that he was being traded.
“That just means he was focusing on his job and not worrying too much,” manager Rocco Baldelli said, adding: “The more you’re on your phone, the more you’re going to read and the more you’re going to wonder and speculate and none of that is productive if you’re a Major League Baseball player.”
The 29-year-old Paddack went 3-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 21 starts for the Twins this season, with 27 walks and 83 strikeouts in 111 innings and a .266 opponent batting average.
Acquired by Minnesota in a trade with San Diego right before the start of the 2022 season, Paddack made five starts that year before suffering the second torn UCL of his career and needing Tommy John surgery. He returned for the 2023 postseason in a bullpen role and slotted back in the rotation in what was an up-and-down, injury-affected 2024 season.
Paddack went 10-14 with a 4.88 ERA over 45 appearances with Minnesota, including 43 starts. The Tigers and Twins play seven more times this season, including a three-game series in Detroit next week, so he figures to face his former team soon.
“I’ve had some good outings, some bad ones, and some ones I don’t even want to look at the line because it’s a lot of crooked numbers. But I kept my head down, came into the clubhouse every day, and stayed consistent in my routine,” Paddack said. “And I’m going to continue that over in Detroit.”
The Tigers have struggled to find a fifth starter since Jobe, their top prospect and the third overall pick in the 2021 draft, needed Tommy John surgery in late May. Keider Montero filled the role for most of the season, but he has averaged fewer than five innings per appearance to put more pressure on an overloaded bullpen.
Rookie Troy Melton, who was to make his second career start on Monday, is expected to move into a long-relief role for the Tigers, who took an eight-game lead on Cleveland into the week.
The 19-year-old Jimenez had a .779 OPS with 32 RBIs in 48 games for Detroit's rookie league club. The switch-hitter, who was signed out of Venezuela in 2023, will add some catching depth to a Twins organization that was lacking it.
The 30-year-old Dobnak is making $3 million this season, but he has spent most of 2025 with Triple-A St. Paul, like he has since signing a five-year major league contract with the Twins in 2021 that guaranteed him $9.25 million. He made the opening day roster and had one relief appearance before being sent down. Dobnak has a 4.86 ERA in 140 2/3 career innings since making his debut with the Twins in 2019.
Jun 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
David Banks/David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65.
Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home on Monday, according to the team.
Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.
But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg “will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.”
“His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,” Ricketts said in the team’s statement.
Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by Philadelphia in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft.
He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1 for 6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago along with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus.
It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams — winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 — and took home nine Gold Gloves.
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.”
Aug 11,1992; Chicago IL, USA; Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs in action against the Montreal Expos at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 1992 USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports/USA TODAY Sports
Even with Sandberg’s stellar play, the Cubs made just two postseason appearances while he was in Chicago.
He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7 for 19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field.
The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.
Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when it unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024.
“He was a superhero in this city,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said during a TV broadcast of the team’s game on July 20. “You think about (Michael) Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can’t imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.”
Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8 for 20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games.
Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his third try on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that same year.
Sandberg also managed Philadelphia from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.
Jun 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
David Banks/David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65.
Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home on Monday, according to the team.
Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.
But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg “will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.”
“His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,” Ricketts said in the team’s statement.
Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by Philadelphia in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft.
He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1 for 6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago along with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus.
It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams — winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 — and took home nine Gold Gloves.
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.”
Aug 11,1992; Chicago IL, USA; Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs in action against the Montreal Expos at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 1992 USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports/USA TODAY Sports
Even with Sandberg’s stellar play, the Cubs made just two postseason appearances while he was in Chicago.
He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7 for 19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field.
The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.
Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when it unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024.
“He was a superhero in this city,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said during a TV broadcast of the team’s game on July 20. “You think about (Michael) Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can’t imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.”
Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8 for 20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games.
Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his third try on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that same year.
Sandberg also managed Philadelphia from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.
"He was traveling today. It was an off day from throwing after the outing yesterday," Mendoza said. "He's going to check back with our trainers back in Citi Field and then tomorrow we'll talk to him. We'll see where he's at, how he's feeling, and then we got to make a decision. But we got to hear from him too."
"Really good," Mendoza added. "Ball was coming out nice, 91, 93. Just commanding the baseball, and that's what makes him who he is. This is a guy, in and out, up and down, changes speed, and that's what he did yesterday. He continues to trend in the right direction, hopefully that's the case tomorrow, and then we'll see what the next step will be."
Blackburn allowed one run on Sunday and has allowed just three runs in total over three rehab outings. He started four games and made two relief appearances with New York before landing on the IL, pitching to a 7.71 ERA and 1.98 WHIP with 15 strikeouts over 18.2 innings.
Latest on Tylor Megill
As for fellow injured pitcher Tylor Megill, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 8, continues to progress from his right elbow strain. Mendoza noted the right-hander threw a bullpen on Sunday and will get another session prior to going up against hitters.
"Yeah, he threw one yesterday. Came out fine. Think he's got another one before he starts facing batters."
Mendoza said last week after a positive bullpen session that Megill is "moving in the right direction."
The 30-year-old has gone 5-5 across 14 starts, owning a 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 89 strikeouts over 68.1 IP this season.
Contributions from younger players
The bottom half of the Mets lineup has consisted mostly of their younger players, all former top prospects, who have struggled at times but more recently have been showing very promising signs.
Brett Baty is hitting .273 with six walks over his last 15 games, Mark Vientos has picked it up with 13 hits over the same time frame, Francisco Alvarez is mashing .353 with four extra-base hits since returning from the minors on July 21, and Ronny Mauricio notched his first career four-hit night in Sunday's win over the San Francisco Giants. Plus, Luisangel Acuña continues to show his speed on the base bath off the bench.
When asked about the group's contributions as of late, the manager said he's proud of how they've adapted this season.
"It means a lot," Mendoza said. "It makes our lineup a lot deeper when you're getting contributions up and down. We've been giving these guys opportunities. From day one we said it in spring training, that they were going to get opportunities. It's been a grind, ups and downs. But that's part of a big league life and the development and the understanding that you're going to go through stretches where it's not easy and you gotta find a way. And they've done that.
"I feel like whether they're in the lineup or not, adding versatility, different roles like Acuña's case where he's not in the lineup but making an impact defensively, baserunning. Vientos, Baty providing some versatility at second base. And the way that they're swinging the bat. Alvy, since he's been back, like the at-bats have been unbelievable, and defensively as well. We knew we had good players and they're stepping up right now."
Mendoza added that he's happy with how Vientos "continues to work, continues to grind" amid his tough sophomore season and the team is still counting on him.
"I will say not happy, but also understanding that he's got an opportunity, when he's in the lineup he can help us win baseball games," Mendoza said. "He continues to work, continues to grind, continues to make adjustments. He's a really good player and we're going to need him."
Vientos is hitting just .226 with six homers over 73 games this year after blasting 27 HRs in 2024.
With the trade deadline coming up later this week on July 31, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported earlier Monday that the Mets have been discussing Vientosin trade talks and rival executives believe New York is willing to move the 3B/DH. The team has also been asked about Baty and Mauricio, but "are not actively trying to rid themselves of any of those young infielders," Martino noted. New York is expected to look for relief pitching and potentially starting pitching.
CHICAGO – Lots of yawns and slow-moving bodies surrounding the Phillies Monday before their game with the Chicago White Sox as a ground stoppage in New York on Sunday didn’t allow the team to leave for Chicago until around midnight. If they were looking for some adrenaline during their game at Rate Field, there was none to be had in front of a sparse crowd. And though the Phillies took a two-run lead early in the game, there was enough juice all around to hold it as they lost 6-2 to the White Sox.
Starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez was flat for the first few innings, and he uncharacteristically gave up a pair of two-run homers, one to Colson Montgomery, a lefty, in the third and another to Luis Robert, Jr. in the fourth.
“Four runs, two pitches,” said Sánchez, who fell to 9-3 on the season after giving up those four runs in 6.2 innings. “We have to keep grinding and battling. That’s how I was able to go out a couple more innings. I don’t like to make excuses, but yeah, we did have a long day yesterday, a really long day. I felt a little sluggish. Also the weather was really humid today. But that was just a part of it. I did feel a little uncomfortable out there.”
The whole night felt a bit odd, partly due to the dull atmosphere at the ballpark, partly due to seeing Sánchez struggle early. Giving up a home run to a left hander is something he rarely does.
“He just hung a breaking ball and the home run to Robert was a changeup and it didn’t have the normal action on it that it normally does,” said Rob Thomson. “After the second or third, Sanchy said he just felt a little fatigued. Didn’t know if it was travel, coming off a complete game, humidity, but the fifth, sixth and seventh he turned it on and had the finish back in his pitches.
Even his fastball and slider didn’t seem like they had the finish that it normally does. But then he got it in the fifth.”
But the damage had been done by the White Sox and they improved to 39-68 on the season while the Phillies dropped to 60-46.
The fear of it being a long game after the previous day’s struggles with travel seemed a reality in the first inning as Chicago starting pitcher Davis Martin struck out Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Harper got a little revenge in the third when he drove in two runs with a single to left to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. It was short-lived as Chicago started having fun with the long ball off Sánchez.
“We hit some balls hard,” said Thomson. “I thought Schwarb had some good at-bats, Harper. All the lefties for the most part. Kemp hits the ball to the wall. I thought we swung ok.”
Just not good enough on this hot and humid night. Though no one wants to deal out the excuses, Sunday’s delay in New York certainly couldn’t have helped.
Mum’s the word
With Thursday’s tread deadline quickly approaching, Rob Thomson was pressed on what may be going on there. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has been with the team through the road trip so far.
“There’s been conversations, but I don’t think we’re necessarily close on anything,” Thomson said. “We had good conversations. I mean really good conversations.” Asked if there are things discussed that would be upgrading the team, Thomson said: “I would think so. I trust other people on that type of stuff. They’re the evaluators. I think we’re all on the same page.”
The biggest name the Phillies have been linked to in various reports is Eugenio Suarez, the power-hitting infielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks who has 36 home runs and 87 RBI this season. Suarez has played all but one game this season at third base. Friday against Pittsburgh, he played first. He left Monday’s game against the Detroit Tigers after getting hit by a pitch on his right hand.
Robertson sees action
Newly acquired veteran left hander David Robertson saw action in Lehigh Valley on Saturday night, pitching one inning and having the strange line of giving up three hits and no runs. Robertson threw 12 pitches, 10 of them for strikes.
“Good,” said Rob Thomson of Robertson’s outing. “He’s going to go again (Tuesday) for an inning. And, yeah, just figure out where we’re at after that. He’s at 92 (miles-per-hour) and I think he gave up three singles. Threw a guy out at the plate, so he didn’t give up any runs. Didn’t strike anybody out and I don’t think he walked anybody. So basically it was fastball, slider, twelve pitches. Yeah, hopefully (he’ll be up). We’ll see.”
After signing him last week, the Phillies optioned Robertson, 40, to Lehigh Valley where he must stay for at least 15 days.
What’s the update on Alec Bohm?
Third baseman Alec Bohm continues his quest to get back to the lineup as soon as possible. He joined the team on Sunday in New York and Monday in Chicago was out on the field getting in some sprinting and other things. “Bohm feels better again today,” said Thomson. “I think he’s going to try and do some glove work with Bobby (Dickerson), not ground balls but glove work. Maybe some dry swings either today or tomorrow.”
Bohm is recuperating from a fractured rib he suffered on July 12 on a pitch by Yu Darvish.
Ryne Sandberg passes
Former Phillies manager and Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg passed away Monday after a battle with cancer. Sandberg was 65.
SAN FRANCISCO — When Carson Whisenhunt was scratched from his scheduled start in Triple-A on Saturday, he wasn’t initially told what the next step would be. Whisenhunt is just 24 years old, but he has been around professional baseball long enough at this point to know that the last week of July is not an ideal time to be pulled off the field.
There were some nerves overnight as the young lefty wondered if he would be included in a trade, but when he reported to the field on Sunday morning, he was told that he would be making his MLB debut a day later. It was a whirlwind few days, but it was nothing compared to what his father went through.
Dennis Whisenhunt works for an aerospace company and travels often for work. When the Giants decided to make his son their Monday starter, Dennis was in the Philippines, and he was without his wallet, having lost it on the way overseas. Luckily, he had held onto his passport, and that allowed him to hop on a 13-hour flight to San Francisco and be in the family section when Carson threw his first pitch Monday night.
There would be 85 of them on night one in the big leagues, and it was a mixed bag. Whisenhunt’s changeup, one of the best off-speed pitches in the minor leagues the last couple of seasons, was hit hard early, but he adjusted and responded with three scoreless innings to finish his night.
Whisenhunt was charged with four earned in five innings, but he took a no-decision. After he departed, Carson Seymour gave up a two-run homer to Andrew McCutchen and a ninth-inning rally attempt fell short. The Giants left two runners on in the ninth, falling 6-5 to the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates.
The loss was the 10th in 12 days for the Giants, who now are just one game over .500. It’s an uneasy way to play heading into the MLB trade deadline, but Whisenhunt at least can take solace in the fact that he almost certainly won’t be involved in any wheeling and dealing.
Before the game, manager Bob Melvin said the lefty should view this as an audition for a rotation spot. Whisenhunt is likely to get at least one more opportunity, and he’s hopeful he can run with it.
“Obviously it’s an honor just to be able to get a chance to play in the big leagues. It’s every kid’s dream,” he said. “But I’ve just got to go out there and compete and fill up the zone. Tonight was a little adrenaline here and there, overthinking things a little bit, trying to do a little too much. I’ve just got to go out there and be myself.”
Whisenhunt threw 85 pitches and only 49 were strikes, although he walked just two. It would have been understandable if there were some rust in addition to the nerves.
Whisenhunt went seven innings in four consecutive starts earlier this season in Triple-A, but June and July have been uneven. Because he appeared in the Futures Game, he had started for the River Cats just once since June 5, and he went 3 2/3 in that appearance.
On Sunday and again on Monday, Melvin said he wasn’t entirely sure how much he would get out of Whisenhunt, and early on it looked like it wouldn’t be much. The Pirates scored three in the second to take a 4-1 lead, but Whisenhunt changed his approach and responded with three shutout innings, giving the Giants about as much length as they could have asked for.
In Triple-A, Whisenhunt used his changeup to finish off 73 percent of his strikeouts. But he left it up early in his debut and gave up a solo homer and then a two-run double. After throwing 20 changeups the first two innings, he threw just 10 in the final three innings, relying heavily on his sinker. He said a conversation with pitching coach J.P. Martinez set him on the new path.
“It kind of seemed like they were sitting changeup early on and we kind of wanted to flip the script a little bit,” he said. “I talked with [catcher Patrick Bailey] and we were like, hey, let’s go curveball if we can figure out the release point and then stick with the heater up-and-out, kind of get it moving a little bit. The changeup was used a little bit too much, in my opinion, early on. It was also a little too firm tonight compared to what it has been, but other than that, it felt good.”
Whisenhunt’s changeup has been big league-ready since he was taken in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft, and his fastball can hit the mid-90s, but he has spent his time in the minors searching for a reliable third pitch. On Monday, it appeared there’s plenty of work to be done. Whisenhunt threw nine breaking balls, but the only strike came on his 85th and final pitch, when he got Oneil Cruz to ground out with a runner on.
While there’s still development ahead of Whisenhunt, the Giants currently have two vacancies in their rotation. Though they expect Landen Roupp back from the IL soon, Hayden Birdsong might need some time to iron out his command issues.
“It’s all about performance, especially where we are right now,” Melvin said. “But if [Whisenhunt] performs well, that’s going to be a spot. You would think he would embrace that and that’s kind of what he’s digging for. There’s an opportunity, and whenever you’re in the minor leagues and you get an opportunity, you try to take advantage of it.”
The organization’s top pitching prospect should get a chance to pitch in New York against the Mets this weekend. After that, the Giants will see where they stand, not just with Whisenhunt, but with a rotation that might look different by the time they arrive at Citi Field.
The expectation within the organization in recent days has been that a starter will be added at the deadline. But if this skid continues, Buster Posey might not have a whole lot of appetite to add to this group.
That will be decided in the next couple of days. On Monday, it was about the debut for the organization’s top pitching prospect.
At some point, Whisenhunt should be here for good, making the planning a lot easier for Dennis and the rest of the family.
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase reacts after a win over the Athletics on July 18. Clase has been placed on leave indefinitely amid an MLB betting investigation. (David Dermer / Associated Press)
With Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase under investigation for baseball betting, fans that bet a combined $315,000 on him could be at risk of losing some or all of that investment.
Clase is the star attraction at Finlete, a San Diego company that offers fans the chance to invest in an athlete in exchange for a share of his future earnings.
The future earnings of Clase, 27, a three-time All-Star, could be influenced by Monday’s announcement that Major League Baseball had placed him on paid leave as part of what the league called a “sports betting investigation.” The sport in question is baseball, according to an official familiar with the probe but unauthorized to discuss it publicly.
In its offering statement, Finlete noted that Clase’s current contract extends through 2026 and guarantees him at least $13.3 million, if the Guardians decline a 2027 buyout. The Guardians hold an option for $10 million in 2027 and another for $10 million in 2028. Clase would be eligible for free agency if the Guardians decline either option, or after the option years have been exercised.
However, if the league determines Clase had bet on any baseball game in which his team participated, he could be declared permanently ineligible. If the league determines he had bet on any other baseball games, he could be banned for one year.
On July 14, Finlete announced on Instagram that it had raised more than $315,000 from “hundreds of investors in Emmanuel Clase’s career.”
In its offering, beyond the boilerplate warning that investors should not invest money they could not afford to lose, Finlete cited injuries, illnesses and work stoppages among risks that could derail payments to investors.
Finlete also warned that players “suspended or banned” from the league “would not receive amounts under their existing player contract and may not be able to secure future playing contracts.”
In his Clase sales pitch, Finlete co-founder Rob Connolly last year told Sportico: “Mariano Rivera was the best ever. And this guy’s in that conversation. So he’s got a full career in front of him. How the hell did we land this deal? It’s incredible.”
Finlete spelled that out in its offering: If you really want to make the big bucks as investors, Clase needs to sign a lucrative extension, or hit free agency and strike gold.
“The profitability of the Clase Agreement is substantially dependent on Mr. Clase entering into additional high-value MLB player contracts,” the offering read.
On its homepage, Finlete highlights seven baseball players with which it has agreements, Clase included. The other six are in the minor leagues.
Connolly did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Minnesota Twins left fielder Harrison Bader dives to catch a fly ball during a game against the Chicago Cubs on July 8. (Bruce Kluckhohn / Associated Press)
The Dodgers have already clinched a losing record in July, entering play Monday with their worst single-month winning percentage since May 2013.
Their league-leading offense has remained stuck in a nosedive, ranking bottom-four in the majors entering Monday in runs scored, batting average and OPS this month despite some short-lived signs of life from their lineup last week.
For a while now, the team has known it would target a high-leverage reliever ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. But suddenly, amid a protracted slump that even president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman acknowledged he didn’t see coming, the deadline might feel incomplete without the addition of another position player as well.
“Relief pitching is always talked about, certainly with what we're going through,” manager Dave Roberts said this weekend. But, he added, “a potential bat” is something club officials are “kicking the tires” on.
As deadline week commenced on Monday, it meant the question wasn’t so much whether the Dodgers would look to bolster their lineup over the next four days, but rather how they could best supplement their already $400-million roster.
One specific priority that has been increasingly emphasized by people around the organization in recent days: Someone who can not only hit, but more profoundly upgrade their outfield defense.
The Dodgers, after all, know their long-term offensive success depends primarily on their superstar players. So far in July, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández have all batted in the low .200s. Mookie Betts and Tommy Edman are hitting .186 and .150, respectively. And Max Muncy has been out with a knee injury (though he could return during next week’s home stand, if not the end of this current trip).
No impact hitter on the market can change that reality. No one they add this week can save them if their star-studded core endures similar struggles in October.
In a surprise twist, some of their best hitters this month have actually been those who once seemed like obvious candidates to replace at the deadline — none more so than Michael Conforto, who is batting .280 with an .855 OPS since June 22 after belting a home run and two doubles in the team’s series finale in Boston on Sunday.
“The first half [of the season] was not me,” said Conforto, the $17-million offseason signing who was hitting a woeful .163 before his recent 24-game surge. “I left a lot of hits out there. There was a lot of work to be done. And I just had to put my head down and keep grinding.”
Now he’s finally starting to produce at a level the Dodgers would be happy to get from any potential deadline acquisition.
“The biggest thing that I’ve really appreciated and admired is — given how his season has been, understanding we’re coming up to the deadline and all this noise that’s out there — for him to not let it affect his day-to-day, and continue to get better,” Roberts said. “That’s something for me that’s shown a lot.”
That doesn’t mean, however, the Dodgers will be dissuaded from looking for outfield help this week.
Because, even as Conforto’s bat has heated up, his glove remains a glaring area of weakness in left field.
Dodgers left fielder Michael Conforto, left, fields a ball as center fielder Andy Pages watches against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday. (Mark Stockwell / Associated Press)
For all he did at the plate Sunday, Conforto also had two costly defensive misplays early in the game, dropping a fly ball in the first inning that stressed Dustin May’s pitch count before overpursuing a line drive off the Green Monster that turned into a run-scoring triple in the fourth, aiding a Red Sox rally that keyed their eventual victory.
On the whole this season, Conforto ranks 13th out of 16 qualified MLB left fielders in defensive runs saved (negative three) and 14th in outs above average (negative five).
It has illustrated a larger conundrum facing the team.
Unlike last October, when the Dodgers needed potent offense to compensate for their patchwork pitching staff, their playoff run this year could be keyed more by what they do on the mound.
Barring late-season injuries (a big “if” given their recent history), the club is shaping up to have a potentially dominant rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell (who will return from injury this weekend) and Ohtani (who Friedman believes will be capable of pitching “real innings” come the playoffs).
While their bullpen has struggled to this point, the returns of Blake Treinen (who was activated from the injured list Sunday), Michael Kopech (who is due back late next month), Tanner Scott (who avoided a season-ending elbow injury last week) and Brusdar Graterol (expected to return sometime in September) figure to transform the group, along with whoever the front office adds in an expected deadline splash.
It all means that preventing runs could be the biggest key to the Dodgers’ title defense this fall.
And to do that, they could benefit from more trustworthy outfield defense — where Conforto’s issues have been compounded by Hernández’s regression in right field (he also grades out at one of the worst defenders in the majors at that position this year, while being limited by a groin injury) and repeated misreads from Andy Pages in center (mistakes that have at least been somewhat offset by his lethal throwing arm).
That’s why it came as no surprise to see the Dodgers' interest in someone like Harrison Bader intensify this week, as a person with knowledge of the situation but not authorized to speak publicly confirmed.
A 31-year-old veteran with the Minnesota Twins, Bader is a premium defender (ranking sixth among all qualified outfielders with 10 defensive runs saved) who's alsohaving one of his best career seasons at the plate (.255 average, 12 home runs, .777 OPS). And as a likely free agent this offseason (he has a mutual option for 2026), he could be acquired at a relatively reasonable price — or, perhaps, in a package deal with a top Twins reliever such as Jhoan Durán or Griffin Jax.
Minnesota's Harrison Bader celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run against Tampa Bay on July 4. (Bruce Kluckhohn / Associated Press)
There are bigger outfield names who could be moved before the deadline. Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan, for instance, remains a dream target, albeit with the kind of hefty acquisition cost the Dodgers are unlikely to meet.
Still, in Bader, who was first linked to the Dodgers by USA Today, the team could add a player capable of providing plus defense in center field, and allow them to shift Pages to a more naturally-suited corner outfield spot.
Other contenders, including the New York Yankees, have also been mentioned as potential landing spots for Bader. But the Dodgers’ interest appears to be strong.
The Dodgers’ other route would be to add an infielder, and move Edman to center field. Utilityman Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals is one such option, as The Athletic reported this week. But Edman has been limited by a lingering ankle injury (he was given Monday off to keep managing it). And his most defensive value is on the infield dirt anyway, evidenced lately by his sharp play filling in at third base in Muncy’s absence.
Bader is a right-handed bat, running counter to the initial belief that the Dodgers preferred to add another left-handed hitter at the deadline.
But between Conforto’s recent improvements (even if the Dodgers make another addition, the left-handed slugger will likely still have a role on the team), and the fact that backup left-handed- hitting catcher Dalton Rushing is not expected to be dealt this week (“I don’t see a world in which he’s moved,” Roberts said of Rushing on Monday), the Dodgers could accommodate anything — if it means making a significant improvement to their outfield defense.
