Jul 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro (3) in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The MLB 2026 trade deadline of Monday, August 3 at 4:00 p.m. MDT is fast approaching.
The Colorado Rockies (and, frankly, most teams) were disappointingly quiet on Monday, but it’s a new day, so we can all hope for action.
As the day progresses, we’ll keep this tracker updated with the most pertinent rumors and the biggest deals that come to fruition. We’ll also post a new thread daily through Monday.
As a reminder Colorado Rockies will meet the San Diego Padres tonight at 7:40 pm.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 20: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) pitches in the first inning during a MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals on May 20, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Last year, around the trade deadline, the Royals had a starting pitcher in his mid-30s on an expiring contract. Seth Lugo had a 3.03 ERA through his first 20 starts as the Royals approached the trade deadline under .500. Rather than trade him or extend him a Qualifying Offer at the end of the season, the Royals decided to sign him to a two-year, $46 million deal with a vesting option. Lugo had performance and injury issues after the signing, and has had mixed results this year. The extension looks like an overpay or an outright mistake right now.
Keeping Michael Wacha rather than trading him would be like walking into the same trap for a second year in a row.
Lugo has not been terrible this year. However, for a deal that could pay him up to $63 million, Lugo needs to be better than the 4.36 ERA he has put up. Even worse, he is trending in the wrong direction – his ERA-by-month has been 2.63, 4.59, 6.00, and 4.94. His peripheral numbers do not improve the story – he has an xERA of 5.42 and xFIP of 4.46. His strikeout rate is down for the seventh year in a row, part of that was moving to the rotation from the bullpen. His velocity has also been dropping over time, which is what happens to aging veterans.
Lugo has a vesting option for the third year that will pay him $20 million in 2028 if (a) he throws 335 innings over 2026 and 2027; or (b) he throws 190 innings in 2027. If he fails to reach those marks, the Royals still have a $17 million club option for 2028 with a $3 million buyout. I think you have to go into next year hoping Lugo is good enough to be a fourth starter, but that he does not hit the innings necessary to trigger the vesting option for 2028.
Enter Michael Wacha, he is a 35-year-old starting pitcher, the same as Lugo last year. The Royals have Wacha under control through next season for $14 million plus some incentives and there is a club option for 2028 at $14 million as well with a $1 million buyout. Wacha is having a nice season, which makes him attractive as a trade target in a market with not a lot of quality starting pitching. His value will never be higher. His 3.60 ERA is outperforming all of his peripheral numbers. If you are looking to next season objectively, you would expect him to take a step back from his 2026 level just due to aging and the low strikeout rate. Holding onto a pitcher who is likely to start moving toward the back-end of the rotation, even if he is still worth it on the contract, when you could get real prospects back for him is malpractice. Let’s do a little thought experiment to illustrate.
What if the Royals had traded Seth or let him walk after 2025? Some would say, “look at all the injuries this year and how much they have needed his innings,” but that is the wrong way to think about it. There were a lot of available free agents that would have been comparable to Lugo, including Dustin May, Erick Fedde, Tyler Mahle, Adrian Houser, Zach Littell, and Chris Bassitt. None of these are great options. But they are cheaper than Seth Lugo and capable of producing at last 80 percent of what Lugo has given them. And if you wanted to be more aggressive than that, you could sign a free agent like Michael King, a younger and better pitcher for not much more money per year with one additional guaranteed year. Any assertion that there will not be enough starters if Wacha is not on this team next year is just not true. And that is not even considering options on the trade market. How do you think the Royals ended up with Wacha and Lugo in the first place?
Michael Wacha is a fine pitcher. He is not irreplaceable.
Look at what pitching is available on the free agent market. Tarik Skubal may not be traded as Detroit has climbed back into the AL Central hunt. The Twins say they won’t trade Joe Ryan. The best long-term pitchers on the trade market may be Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano on the Angels, or short-term rentals like Kevin Gausman, not a guy you want starting in a playoff game.
It is conceivable that Wacha is the best starters available going into this final week before the deadline. Cash that chip in and I think someone like the Cubs might give you a Kevin Alcantara plus something or maybe even Jaxon Wiggins or Pedro Ramirez. I am not going to go team by team who might be interested and what they have, that is not the point of this article. There just seems like a lot of value to be gleaned in a trade for a pitcher who is realistically a third or fourth starter at best going forward. The Royals need to stop getting precious about having guys under team control and start flipping them when the value is there.
TORONTO, ON - JULY 25: Toronto Blue Jays Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) hits during the MLB regular season game between the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Eleven years ago today:
The Blue Jays made a blockbuster trade for Troy Tulowitzki. You know you are getting old when things you think happened a few weeks ago actually happened 11 years ago.
The deal sent Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins to Toronto in exchangefor Jose Reyes, Jeff Hoffman (I wonder what ever happened to him), Miguel Castro, and Jesus Tinoco.
At the time, the trade worked: the Blue Jays finally returned to the playoffs. Tulowitzki batted .250/.313/.414 with 36 home runs in 238 games over three seasons for Toronto. After his release, he signed with the Yankees but managed only 13 at-bats before landing on the injured list, then retired soon after.
One can only wonder how Tulowitzki’s tenure in Toronto would have unfolded without the devastating ankle injury he suffered—also on July 28th, in 2017—when he rolled his ankle slipping off first base. At 32, he still had the potential for a few more strong seasons, possibly building the numbers needed for a Hall of Fame case.
When healthy, he was a joy to watch—his signature sidearm throws from shortstop were things of beauty.
Hawkins appeared in 18 games for the Jays in 2015, posting a 2.76 ERA over 16.1 innings before retiring that offseason. The playoffs were less kind: in three appearances (1.2 innings), he surrendered seven earned runs.
As for the players sent to Colorado:
Reyes finished 2015 with a .259/.291/.368 line for the Rockies. He was suspended at the start of the 2016 season for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy and released at the end of his suspension. Reyes then signed with the Mets, played three unremarkable seasons, and was released after 2018.
Hoffman was considered the key prospect in the deal, but unfortunately never reached his projected potential in Colorado. He spent parts of six seasons with the Rockies before being traded to the Reds, where he spent two years. Now, he has made his way back to the Blue Jays.
Castro made minimal impact with the Rockies, pitching in 24 games over two seasons with a 7.20 ERA. He was traded to the Orioles, then to the Mets after three and a half seasons. Since then, Castro has pitched for the Yankees and White Sox, totaling 11 seasons across seven teams with a 4.24 ERA in 425 games.
Tinoco has bounced between teams in his six-year career, logging time with the Rockies, Marlins (twice), Rangers, and Cubs. In 100 games, he holds a 3.98 ERA.
At the time, the trade was popular: a poll showed 75% approval, 18% neutral, and only 7% opposed.
It’s still difficult to judge the trade’s ultimate value. The Jays needed to move on from Reyes, and this was the available deal. They did make the playoffs twice—would they have done so without Tulo?
To move on from Jose Reyes’ hefty contract, the Jays took on Tulo’s even larger one. But as they say, pennants fly forever.
Seven years ago, the Jays called up Bo Bichetteand traded Marcus Stoman
Bo hit .311/.358/.571, in 46 games that year, his best OBP and Slugging of his career up until now. In seven years with the Jays, he hit .294/.337/.469 with 111 home runs in 748 games. He’s not having a great season with the Mets, but it seems like every Jays beat reporter has suggested the Jays trade for him, which makes little sense to me.
That same day, they traded Marcus Stroman to the Mets for Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson. (Woods Richardson, along with Austin Martin, would later be traded to the Twins for José Berríos.)
Looking back, keeping Marcus might have been the better play, but management didn’t expect to re-sign him. Stroman’s big personality may also have played a role in their decision.
Twenty-One years ago, the Jays played a marathon 18-inning game to edge the Angels 2-1.
Pete Walker earned the win with three shutout innings in relief, after Dave Bush started and went 8.1 innings, allowing just one run. The bullpen also featured Scott Schoeneweis, Justin Speier, Vinny Chulk, Jason Frasor, and Miguel Batista.
The walk-off run was scored by Alex Rios, driven in by Orlando Hudson.
The Los Angeles Dodgers welcome the Seattle Mariners to town tonight, and they sit as a heavy -178 moneyline favorite for the series opener at Dodger Stadium.
Behind Justin Wrobleski, my Mariners vs Dodgers predictions expect L.A. to walk away with a victory here as it faces the vulnerable Luis Castillo.
Who will win Mariners vs Dodgers today: Dodgers -1.5 (+113)
Justin Wrobleski has been fantastic all season, and he’s dominating since the All-Star break. Across his last two outings, the Los Angeles Dodgers stud owns a 1.38 FIP while limiting opponents to a 35.3% hard-hit rate.
The Seattle Mariners have also struggled immensely against left-handed pitchers this season, compiling an 89 wRC+. That’s compared to a 104 wRC+ vs. right-handed hurlers.
As for Luis Castillo, he has surrendered 2.50 HR/9 over his previous three appearances while posting a 6.17 FIP.
With Wrobleski limiting a weaker split of Seattle’s offense and Castillo leaking power, Los Angeles has a clear path to creating separation.
I’ll play this to -110.
COVERS INTEL: Luis Castillo has been far less effective away from T-Mobile Park, posting a 5.05 road FIP compared to a 3.60 mark in Seattle. With the veteran also 1.80 HR/9 on the road compared to 0.81 at home, L.A. can capitalize.
Mariners vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-113)
The Under looks like the better angle tonight. Aside from Seattle’s inconsistencies against lefties, the Mariners are also in poor offensive form, posting an 88 wRC+ over their last six games with just a .118 ISO.
The Dodgers bullpen hasn’t been amazing with a 4.35 xERA over the last week, but Seattle doesn’t pose much of a threat at the dish, even when Wrobleski exits.
As for L.A.’s offense, the Dodgers are right around league average at the moment with a 100 wRC+ across their previous five contests, while their ISO sits at just .176.
I expect them to score enough off Castillo, but the Mariners relief corps is holding its own, compiling a 3.20 FIP over the last two weeks.
With a relatively high total of 9.5, the Under is the best play.
I’ll play this to -130.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 36-47, -15.34 units
Over/Under bets: 46-35, +4.47 units
Mariners vs Dodgers weather
Mariners vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Mariners +170 | Dodgers -178
Run line: Mariners +1.5 (-117) | Dodgers -1.5 (+113)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+108) | Under 9.5 (-113)
Mariners vs Dodgers trend
The Under is 5-1 in Dodgers' last six home games. Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Mariners vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
Mariners.TV, SportsNet LA
Mariners starting pitcher
Luis Castillo (3-9, 4.85 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski (11-2, 2.62 ERA)
Mariners vs Dodgers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers and right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. are having season-ending surgeries.
The A’s injury report indicated Langeliers will have surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee and Leiter will have surgery to repair a right hip impingement.
Langeliers was hitting .263 with 23 homers and 51 RBIs in 93 games before his injury. The 28-year-old became the first A’s catcher to start an All-Star Game since Terry Steinbach in 1989.
Langeliers had been the subject of trade rumors as the A’s struggle through another disappointing season.
Leiter went on the injured list with a hip impingement for the second time this season. The 35-year-old has not allowed a run in 17 of his last 18 games, compiling a 0.50 ERA during that stretch. He is 0-1 with a 4.28 ERA and four saves in 36 relief appearances overall this year.
Jun 11, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella after the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game five of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
James Guillory/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
John Tortorella hasn’t closed the door on coaching at age 68, some two months after his latest, brief stint ended two wins short of a Stanley Cup and not being rehired by the Vegas Golden Knights.
“Oh, I want to coach,” Tortorella told The Athletic. “I want to coach now. I’m not sure if that happens, and that’s where I am in my career. But I wanted to coach that Vegas team. I told (general manager Kelly McCrimmon) that.”
Tortorella’s tenure in Vegas began with him replacing the fired Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season. And it ended in mid-June with the Golden Knights losing the Stanley Cup Final in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Though Tortorella pushed for his return, he said he respected McCrimmon’s decision to promote minor-league coach Ryan Craig.
“They’ve been developing (Craig) for a number of years there,” he said. “He’s a good coach and a good man.”
Tortorella has 24 seasons of NHL head-coaching experience, with the Golden Knights representing his seventh stop — including two separate tenures with the New York Rangers. He enjoyed his longest stint with Tampa Bay, spanning 2000-01 to 2007-08, during which he won his only Stanley Cup in 2004. He also coached in Columbus, Philadelphia and Vancouver.
From Boston, Tortorella is sixth on the NHL list and first among U.S.-born coaches with 1,628 games coached. Tortorella’s 777 career wins rank second among U.S.-born coaches behind Peter Laviolette’s 846. With a 70-72 career playoff record, he’s 20th on the NHL list in wins.
Tortorella lamented coming up short on winning a second Cup.
“I guess the word I’d use is disappointed,” Tortorella said.
“We didn’t finish the job, and I wanted some more time with that club to try to finish the job. That’s not my call. That’s the general manager and president’s call,” he added. “You just get about your business after that.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Ime Udoka and General Manager Rafael Stone of the Houston Rockets speaks with the media during the NBA Media Day at Toyota Center on September 29, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now that LeBron James has finally chosen the team he will, in all likelihood, finish his career with, all the major signings, trades, and additions have been made for this offseason.
This offseason will go down as one of the most active in terms of star-level players switching teams in recent NBA history. From Giannis Antetokounmpo to Jaylen Brown, NBA teams will look a lot different this upcoming season.
Some people around the NBA speculated that the Rockets may be one of those teams to try and make a major move this offseason, but that was not the case. The Rockets were coming off their second straight first-round defeat, this time to the Los Angeles Lakers, after an up-and-down regular season filled with injuries and inconsistent play.
The Rockets, however, felt they could not see the full potential of their team because of the above-mentioned injuries. Fred VanVleet, the Rockets’ on- and off-court leader, missed the entire season after a severe right knee injury consisting of a torn ACL and tears in both menisci.
VanVleet’s injury was a devastating blow, as the Rockets were never able to find a capable point guard to make up for his loss. Not having a legitimate point guard hampered the Rockets all regular season and even more in the playoffs.
The Rockets lost several games throughout because they couldn’t get the ball up the court without turning it over. They also couldn’t get into their offensive sets fast enough and at times looked lost on offense. The Rockets are hoping that VanVleet’s return will solve those issues.
VanVleet wasn’t the only Rocket to miss time; Steven Adams, the Rockets’ best screen setter and rebounder, missed the last few months, including the playoffs, after he suffered a season-ending injury.
The most devastating injury to the Rockets’ playoff chances, however, didn’t happen right before the playoffs when Kevin Durant, who only missed four games all season, played in only one playoff game after suffering two separate injuries, one right before the playoffs and another in the one game he did play in.
That injury was the straw that broke the camel’s back as the Rockets lost to the Lakers 4-2. The injuries also played a big part in the Rockets’ offseason plans and showed why they made the moves they did and did not make.
The Rockets front office and coaches want to see the team fully healthy
The Rockets, unlike some teams this offseason, had a fairly quiet offseason. They didn’t make any major splashes in free agency and have not made any trades so far this summer.
The Rockets did bring in two veterans to help solidify their league-worst bench. Marcus Smart was their first signing, and the Rockets hope he can bring much-needed help to their backcourt, even with VanVleet expected to be ready for training camp.
Bogdan Bogdanovic was also signed during free agency. The veteran is known for his instant offense off the bench, something the Rockets lacked all season as their bench was one of the lowest scoring in the league.
Both moves will help the team, but neither is as seismic as last year’s trade for Kevin Durant or the blockbuster moves some other teams made this offseason.
That shows the Rockets were content to run it back, but this time with a healthy team. Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka both stated after the season that they wanted to see how the team would look with a healthy roster, something they did not get to see at all last season.
We learned from the lack of major moves and the signing of Tari Eason to a long-term deal that the Rockets are going to give this current version of the Rockets a full, healthy season before they potentially “blow it up,” as some other playoff teams have done recently.
The league has not had this much parity in a long time, so the Rockets should know by the end of next season whether this is the team to lead them into the future.
After lighting up the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night, the Chicago Cubs will look to keep the bats rolling in tonight's rematch.
Chicago is -112 on the moneyline, and my Cubs vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, July 28, see the Cubs take down the Cardinals once again.
Who will win Cubs vs Cardinals today: Cubs (-112)
Even with right-hander Colin Rea taking the mound for the Chicago Cubs this evening, I still expect the visitors to come out on top.
I don't care that Rea owns a 5.51 ERA, 5.10 xERA, and 1.35 WHIP over his last three outings. The St. Louis Cardinals offense has been lifeless, posting a 68 wRC+, .265 wOBA, and .578 OPS over its last 12 games.
On the other side, right-hander Michael McGreevy has allowed nearly a 52% hard hit rate and over a 15.5% barrel rate across his last three starts. Meanwhile, the Cubs offense has been on a tear, owning a 128 wRC+, .358 wOBA, and .193 ISO over its last 21 games.
Despite Rea's struggles this season, I think the Cubs offense does enough to carry them to a win.
I'll take the Cubs on the moneyline down to -115.
COVERS INTEL: McGreevy owns a poor Batters-Box pitcher rating and grades out poorly in matchup ISO, hard-contact rate, and strikeout rate. He will also face three elite-rated hitters and another with a strong rating.
Cubs vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-121)
With two below-average pitchers on the mound tonight, I have to lean toward the Over, right?
Rea owns a 6.45 ERA, 5.66 xERA, and 1.61 WHIP on the road this season, while allowing an 11.05% barrel rate to opposing hitters. Meanwhile, McGreevy owns a 4.58 expected ERA on the road and has allowed a 41.57% hard hit rate and 9.55% barrel rate.
At least one of these arms is giving up some runs tonight.
While I like the Over 8.5, I wouldn't play it past -125.
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
2026 MLB Record: 343-666, -12.6 Units
Cubs vs Cardinals weather
Should be another hot one in St. Louis, with temperatures in the upper 80s and slight winds blowing in.
Cubs vs Cardinals odds
Moneyline: Cubs -108 | Cardinals +104
Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+150) | Cardinals +1.5 (-156)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-117) | Under 8.5 (+113)
Cubs vs Cardinals trend
The Chicago Cubs have hit the moneyline in 16 of their last 21 away games (+11.80 Units / 51% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Cardinals.
How to watch Cubs vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
First pitch
7:45 p.m. ET
TV
TBS
Cubs starting pitcher
Colin Rea (7-7, 4.85 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher
Micheal McGreevy (4-8, 3.07 ERA)
Cubs vs Cardinals latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 26: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres hits a single against the Miami Marlins in the second inning of the game at loanDepot park on July 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The solution to the Guardians’ offensive problems is, obviously, a journeyman first baseman.
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 and Jo Adell.
The Guardians chose Rhys Hoskins over Ty France when looking for a right-handed hitting first baseman this offseason… and that was a poor choice, so far. Hoskins has a 92 wRC+, .289 xwOBA/.301 wOBA, 32/15 K/BB%, 11 homers and terrible defense. France has a 142 wRC+, .334 xwOBA/.376 wOBA, 23.4/4.8 K/BB% and 16 homers for the San Diego Padres while playing the best first base defense in baseball.
Will the Padres be selling? They are .500 and 1.5 games out of the third wildcard spot. There are no guarantees. They will certainly want an overpay for France, given how he has played, if they trade him, and it’s important to note that he is producing about .040 points better than his xwOBA. Would the Guardians consider trading Manzardo for France and a Padres’ prospect they are interested in? Is there a chance they do a Francisco Mejia-type move and trade Kody Huff for the chance of putting a 142 wRC+ right-handed hitter in the middle of their lineup?
France is putting up career highs in average exit velocity, barrel rate and bat speed. Every metric makes it clear that his season is not a fluke. Rather than double-down on the mistake of trusting in David Fry and choosing Hoskins, the Guardians should correct their error and see if an overpay offer convinces AJ Preller, Padres GM, to do a little threading the needle dealing, selling high on France’s breakout.
Let me know what you think about the idea of acquiring Ty France in the comments below!
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres prepares to pitch during the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park on July 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The MLB Trade Deadline is a week away and once again the San Diego Padres are getting a lot of attention. In recent seasons, the Padres and their general manager A.J. Preller have been on the prowl looking for pieces to add to their lineup that could finally bring a championship to San Diego. While that may be the case this season, the truth is no one knows — except Preller and his closest advisors of course. Actually, Preller may honestly not know which way the deadline will go, and he may not know until the homestand against the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants concludes.
Even if the Preller and the Padres are undecided, the baseball world has been speculating for weeks that San Diego’s All-Star closer Mason Miller could be on the move. With a low salary and multiple years of control, a trade involving Miller could bring the type of return that significantly impacts the depth in the Padres system — at the major league level and the farm system. Miller is a closer and yes, closers typically do not bring back significant talent, but he is not just any closer. Miller is the MOST DOMINANT closer in the game.
San Diego came out of the All-Star break on a 10-game road trip that saw them play against the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. The Padres entered the weekend series against the Marlins with a 2-5 record coming out of the break. The possibility of Miller being traded increased with each loss and baseball pundits began to imagine what trade packages could be cobbled together by teams like the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Then San Diego went into Miami and swept a three-game series and Miller added two more saves to his season total which sits at 27. He is by far the most valuable trade piece for the Padres at the MLB level.
Should Preller and the Padres decide to buy and add to the current roster, the minor league system could get thinned out more than it already is. The top player in the farm is catcher Ethan Salas, a switch-hitting, defense-first catcher that has been destined for stardom since the Padres signed him at 16 years old. The combination of talent and potential makes Salas attractive to any team in the league outside of maybe the Detroit Tigers, who have one of the top young catchers in baseball in Dillon Dingler. It is believed that Salas is still a couple years away from reaching the majors, but that is not long enough to deter teams from inquiring about him should Preller covet one of their players. The question is, “Is Salas this year’s Leo De Vries.” The shortstop prospect was moved to get Miller and JP Sears from the Athletics at the deadline last season.
Miller and Salas both have value. Miller has current value and Salas has future value. Losing either player could affect the Padres and their fans in a number of ways. In a perfect world, San Diego continues to win, Preller decides to add and he does so without sacrificing Miller or Salas, but that is a lot to ask. The Padres Reacts Survey from Gaslamp Ball last week asked respondents to determine who had more value (Miller or Salas) and which player would be more difficult to lose. The numbers on the poll were relatively close, but the majority determined Miller had more value than Salas and that losing Miller over Salas would be the more difficult subtraction from San Diego.
Again, there is no way to know what Preller is going to do considering the way the team is playing at the moment, but Aug. 3 is coming quick and he may have to be ready to use or lose one or both of Miller and Salas and the Friar Faithful may have to wait until the last minute to know the answers to all of their questions.
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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 22: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting an RBI double in the eighth inning during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, May 22, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With the August 3 trade deadline holding the potential to swing the season for the Tampa Bay Rays, let’s ponder the Rays trajectory.
As things stand, the Rays (62-43) hold a 2.5 game lead over the Yankees (60-46). Making the playoffs is essentially a forgone conclusion, with FanGraphs putting those odds at 98.6%, but winning the division only 50.3%, with the Yankees chances of taking the division at 44.5%.
What do the Rays need to do to hold onto their lead? Let’s see your vote!
It’s quite clear that the Atlantic Division will be the toughest decision in hockey this season. The Florida Panthers will be back at full strength after a campaign lost to injuries, the Tampa Bay Lightning will remain a top team, the Buffalo Sabres will want to prove that last season wasn’t a one off, the Boston Bruins will be holding on for dear life not to slip out of the playoffs picture, just like the Ottawa Senators while the Toronto Maple Leafs will want to prove that last year was a one off. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens will hope to keep moving forward and remain near the top of the division and the league as well, of course.
In a recent article, THN’s Ryan Lambert has given his top-three goalies in what he calls the league’s best goaltending division, the Atlantic. Nobody will argue with his top choice: Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Bolts netminder has got nothing left to prove and has a couple of Stanley Cups to his name already. Last season, he posted a 2.27 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage with a 39-15-4 record. However, in the playoffs, he was 3-2-2 with a 2.18 GAA and a.897 save percentage; the Habs’ Jakub Dobes outdueled him, and Vasilevskiy fell in the first round.
In second place, he has Jeremy Swayman, who finished third in voting for the Vezina Trophy with a 31-18-4 record, a 2.69 GAA and a .908 SV. The Bruins performed much better than most people hoped, and Lambert sees Swayman as one of the main reasons why. It’s hard to argue with that when most believed they would be out of the playoff picture. Of course, Swayman did have that one miserable season in 2024-25 when he was stuck in a contract dispute early on, which led to him missing the preseason, and he never really caught up. He ended the year with a 22-29-7 record, a 3.11 GAA, and a .892. He bounced back perfectly last season and put that year squarely in the rearview mirror.
Finally, Lambert gives the third spot to Swayman’s former partner in Boston and now main guy in Ottawa: Linus Ullmark. The Sens’ masked man ended the season with a 28-12-8 record with a 2.73 GAA and a .891 SV. He helped the Senators scrape into the playoffs but was swiftly dispatched in four games by the champions-to-be Carolina Hurricanes. That wasn’t on him, though; he lost the four games, but he posted a 2.03 GAA and a .932 SV. Ullmark couldn’t have done any better in the postseason.
Meanwhile, Dobes had a 29-10-4 record with a 2.78 GAA and a .901 SV. While he finished the year with respectable numbers, it has to be said that he had some tough stretches during the season as the Canadiens kept trying to get Samuel Montembeault back on track without regard to what going back to the Quebecer time and time again would do to the Czech netminder’s confidence. Once the Canadiens put their chips on Dobes, though, he rose to the occasion and was also great in the playoffs, finishing with a 9-6-4 record, a 2.66 GAA and a .908 SV.
What Dobes did from the moment he was given the reins of the team was enough to convince the Canadiens to sign him to a three-year contract extension even though he still had a year left on his contract. However, it wasn’t enough to convince the rest of the league of what kind of goaltender he would be in the future. That was his rookie season; he was still young and seen as an unproven commodity. He did catch a lot of people’s eyes, though, and if he can perform out of the gate this season as he did at the tail end of last season, he may very well make his way into this top three next offseason.
American baseball player Elmer Miller, the Yankees' opening batsman, during the first game of the World Series, between the New York Yankees and the New York Giants, at the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan, New York City, New York, 5th October 1921. The Yankees won the game 3-0. (Photo by European/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They say you never forget your first. However, in sports there are so many firsts that one or two are bound to be forgotten over time. Today, we celebrate the birthday of a man who owns one of the most unique firsts in Yankees history. That man is Elmer Miller, the first New York Yankee to bat in a World Series and the first to record a World Series hit.
Elmer Miller Born: July 28, 1890 (Sandusky, OH) Died: November 28, 1944 (Beloit, WI) Yankees Tenure: 1915-18, 1921-22
In all fairness, we say today is his birthday and that it would have been his 136th. Even that is up for debate; not the day, but the year. Some sources list Miller as being born in 1888 in Wisconsin instead of 1890 in Ohio. Semantics aside, Miller grew up in Sandusky before beginning a professional baseball career.
A right-handed hitting outfielder, Miller’s journey to the big leagues began in 1911 with the Duluth White Sox. Following that season, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. After just one season with Cincinnati, Miller was released and claimed by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals gave Miller his first taste of the major leagues in 1912. That season, he bounced between St. Louis and two minor league affiliates. In the majors, he appeared in 12 games, collecting seven hits in 37 at-bats. Miller never made it back to the big leagues with the Cardinals, instead spending the next three seasons primarily in the Southern League.
On July 23, 1915, the Yankees purchased Miller from the Cardinals. Much like his first stint in St. Louis, he struggled to stick in the majors and bounced between New York and the minor leagues. From 1915 through 1918, Miller appeared in 250 games for the Yankees, collecting 190 hits while slashing .233/.308/.298. He was exempted from World War I service due to his dependents, but he spent much of the next three years with the St. Paul Saints.
After that first run with the club, Miller would not appear in another game for the Yankees until August 1921. That season proved to be the best of his career. Miller hit .298 across 242 at-bats, caught fire during the final month of the season, and became the Yankees’ regular leadoff hitter as they charged to the American League pennant, the first the club had ever captured.
The Yankees met the Giants in the 1921 World Series. Batting first as the visiting club in Game 1, Miller led off the series with a single before eventually scoring on a Babe Ruth hit later in the inning.
Just like that, Miller became the first Yankee to bat in the World Series, the first to record a World Series hit, and the first to score a World Series run in franchise history. The Giants would ultimately win the series five games to three, but Miller’s name was forever inked in the history book pages.
Coming off the best season of his career, Miller quickly returned to earth in 1922. That July, the Yankees packaged him with Chick Fewster, Johnny Mitchell, Lefty O’Doul, and $50,000 in a trade with the Red Sox that brought Joe Dugan and Elmer Smith to New York. Dugan would go on to help the Yankees blossom into the dynasty fans came to know and love. Fate would not be nearly as kind to Miller.
In addition to missing out on the Yankees’ run of championships, Miller struggled with Boston and was out of the major leagues after the 1922 season. He continued playing for several semiprofessional clubs before eventually moving into coaching in Wisconsin and passing away due to heart issues at age 54. Miller’s career has largely been forgotten, but every Yankee who has dug into the batter’s box in the World Series since has done so in Miller’s footsteps.
Happy birthday, Elmer!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Apr 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (88) skates against the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Danny Wild/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
CHICAGO — When the Chicago Blackhawks selected Patrick Kane No. 1 overall in the 2007 draft, they counted on the forward, then just 18, to give their rebuilding team and its sputtering offense an immediate boost.
Fast-forward 19 years: The Blackhawks again hope that Kane, now 37 and entering his 20th NHL season, will do the same after signing the all-time scoring leader among U.S.-born players to a two-year, $16 million deal.
“I mean that’s kind of always what I’ve been known to do is help produce,” Kane said at the Blackhawks practice facility. “I don’t think that’s going to change any time now. I’m excited to come back and try to produce and fit in with all these young players and guys that I can play with, help build chemistry, learn. So do all those things. Help the team win. Help the team score.”
Kane said he feels strong three years after undergoing a major hip resurfacing surgery and rehabbing his way back for three solid seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.
Kane has 1,400 points in 1,369 career NHL games (508 goals and 892 assists). He cranked out 16 goals and 41 assists in 67 games last season for Detroit and says he’s not slowing down.
The homecoming is nice but the Blackhawks need production
Kane had discussions with his hometown Buffalo Sabres after becoming a free agent on July 1. But it seems to have been an easy decision to return to Chicago, where he spent his first 15-plus NHL seasons and helped the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cup championships as one of the NHL’s most electrifying players.
Kane said there wasn’t one deciding factor in returning to Chicago, where he has spent his summers. He acknowledged the homecoming, but said his biggest focus is helping a team “that’s on the rise, a team that’s looking to make some big steps forward and trying to make the playoffs”
“It’s not like I’m just coming back home, to you know, ride off into the sunset or whatever it is,” Kane said “You know I want to be a big player here and help the team win.”
Kane is looking forward to skating with Connor Bedard
Part of that will be meshing with Chicago’s young forwards. That starts with center Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks only other No. 1 overall draft pick who was selected in 2023.
Bedard will miss the early part of the season after left shoulder surgery on July 8. Bedard, who signed a five-year, $75 million contract, got hurt skating with a group of NHL players near his home in suburban Vancouver. Once Bedard returns, Kane can’t wait to skate with him.
“He’s such a special player,” Kane said. “This will be my 20th year in the league and I’ll probably see passes I’ve never seen before playing with him. But I mean, wherever I fit in, I fit in. No matter who it is, I’m going to try to make the most of it.”
The statistical symmetry between the Blackhawks in 2006-07, the season before Kane entered as a rookie, and last year’s team is stunning.
The 2006-07 Blackhawks scored just 201 goals, second lowest in the NHL, as they went 31-42-9 for 71 points. With Kane in the lineup the following year — and posting 21 goals and 51 assists — Chicago jumped to 40-34-9 and 88 points. The Blackhawks scored 239 times and narrowly missed the playoffs.
In 2025-26, Chicago finished at 29-39-14 with 72 points, and scored just 213 goals, behind only Calgary (212).
Blackhawks GM says the timing was right
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said it was time to bring Kane back after dealing him to the New York Rangers just before the March 2023 trade deadline.
Davidson was beginning a major overhaul of his roster then. In addition to focusing on prospects, he said the Blackhawks also needed to focus on building a new leadership core.
That process, with Bedard leading the way, already has started, Davidson said. Kane can only help now.
“They (Blackhawks young players) already know their way around the league a little bit,” Davidson said. “It’s the right time for him (Kane) to come, step in, join a group of of not all young players –- but a considerable group of young players -– and provide high-end play, but also high-end leadership and a lot of different things that he can impart on our young players.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 15, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Over the past weekend, LeBron James decided to take his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers, which just happens to be the NBA market geographically closest to Washington. James, who is 41, is still more than capable of being a key starter for a top level team. And that’s going to shake up the power rankings.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com posted his latest power rankings for the Eastern Conference yesterday. After Washington acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis last winter, wouldn’t that make a Young/Davis/AJ Dybantsa trio a postseason team, which means Top 10 in the East? Nope. He had them at No. 12. Here is Schumann’s blurb.
Key question: Can the young guys keep developing?
The Wizards were the worst team in the league last season, but there were some individual signs of progress with their young core …
Kyshawn George saw the third biggest jump in points + rebounds + assists per 36 minutes among 290 players that played at least 500 minutes in each of the last two seasons.
Alex Sarr, George and Bub Carrington saw the second, eighth and 11th biggest jumps, respectively, in effective field goal percentage among 123 players with at least 500 field goal attempts in each of the last two seasons.
Trae Young should help those players get better shots. The Wizards ranked 26th in shot quality last season, but their shot-quality score was much higher (top-five level) off of Young’s passes in the five games he played. However, the offense was still bad (106.6 points scored per 100 possessions) in his 104 minutes on the floor. The young guards will also have to adjust to getting far fewer touches, and it remains to be seen if Sarr and Davis can fit together offensively.
Dybantsa is the future, but there’s a decent team here if the returners can find their way in what may be a very different offense from what we’ve seen over the last few seasons.
I think Schuhmann is hedging his bets here. If Dybantsa fires on most or all of his cylinders, Young plays all season and Davis remains in Washington for the whole 2025-26 season (not to mention remaining healthy), then the Wizards should be a postseason team. But the Wizards also haven’t shown they can make a jump from worst team in the NBA to just a below average team. Also, it wouldn’t shock me to see Anthony Davis get traded by the deadline in Feb. 2027 for … more draft picks. So I can see why he is skeptical.
In addition to Schumann, Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation’s NBA Editor is also skeptical of the Wizards’ improvement relative to other NBA teams for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. In his latest rankings, post LeBron to Philly, the Wizards are at No.27 (and by extension, 13th in the East). That’s better than No. 30. But the Wizards are still effectively at the bottom of the barrel, even with a potential future All-Star in Dybantsa.
Do you think that the Wizards are ranked too low in the power rankings? Let us know in the comments below. And in case you missed it, our SB Nation Reacts poll is also below, but right above the comments section!
COVERS INTEL: Luis Castillo has been far less effective away from T-Mobile Park, 
