BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 09: Trevor Rogers #28 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 9, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This year’s trade deadline approaches, with four days to go until the point where teams are mostly locked in to what they’ve got already for the rest of the season. The Orioles are 2.5 games out of a wild card spot with 53 games still to play. Their playoff odds, as reckoned by sites like Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, are in the range of 20-25%. They are too close to give up and too far out of real contention to deplete the farm just to push to make something happen this year.
Unless there’s a sweep in either direction in this weekend’s series against the Phillies, the question of whether the Orioles should buy or sell is probably not going to get a decisive answer. They’ll be plugging along in the periphery, still below .500 and still sort of contending. What’s Mike Elias supposed to do about that? There’s not an easy answer.
Nationally in The Athletic and locally in The Baltimore Banner, the latest is that the Orioles could possibly end up doing a little bit of selling and a little bit of buying at the same time. Ken Rosenthal describes the team as a “classic example of a team working both buy and sell angles, unsure what to make of their club.” Anybody who’s been following this team all year can relate to that feeling. I am also unsure what to make of this club.
In The Banner, Andy Kostka breaks it down like this (emphasis mine):
The Orioles are holding out as long as possible to determine their deadline approach, although they are making plans for buying, selling, and a mix of both, according to multiple sources throughout the industry, and are expected to be active ahead of the deadline. The likeliest path forward, sources said, is for Baltimore to buy and sell.
Each of these reports highlights a trio of players who are in their final season before free agency as the ones who the Orioles are gauging their value. That’s starting pitcher Trevor Rogers, reliever Andrew Kittredge, and outfielder Taylor Ward. These players could be traded while the Orioles seek to upgrade in other deals with players who would ideally help both this year and beyond.
Rosenthal’s report also lists the Orioles as “pricing” Adley Rutschman, though Kostka mostly shoots that down, saying that while “teams have called to check on the availability” of both Rutschman and Jackson Holliday, “the Orioles aren’t actively shopping” either player. Kostka believes that the right-handed relievers in the bullpen are a group where the Orioles might deal away even if they also buy, listing not just Kittredge but also Yennier Cano, Rico Garcia, and Tyler Wells.
Orioles fans might be packing Garcia’s bags for him after he’s given up home runs in three of his last four appearances. Other teams probably have some modest interest in Garcia for the same reason that manager Craig Albernaz keeps putting him in the pressure situations: They know he can be better than his recent worst. Cano or Wells would be real subtractions, not just from the current bullpen but also next year’s. However, betting that a good reliever will stay good is not always a good bet to make.
Whether Rogers or Ward are dealt might depend on whether other teams are willing to pony up with an offer that’s just too good for Mike Elias to refuse. If teams are going to value Rogers based on his 4.27 season-long ERA, the Orioles are probably better off hanging on. If they’re willing to value him like a guy who has a 2.21 ERA since June 1 after having a 1.81 ERA last season, maybe that’s too good to pass up, even if it weakens the rotation.
Ward is in a similar situation there. If somebody who’s a more serious contender, pushing to shore up a roster for October rather than just to maybe squeak into the postseason, sees Ward .383 on-base percentage as a right-handed batter and thinks that’s just the thing to cure what ails them, there’s a real case to make to make that deal. The sheer number of contenders could make this a seller’s market.
Depending on how the Orioles shuffled their roster in the aftermath of that deal, they might even end up with an improved outfield defense without Ward regularly getting playing time out there. “Trade Ward and bring up Enrique Bradfield” might not work, but it’s not the craziest idea out there.
It’s tougher to believe the same about losing Rogers from the Orioles rotation, unless you’re really, really a fan of pitching prospect Nestor German, who’s been pitching pretty well for Triple-A Norfolk. Or if you’re really, really a believer that Chris Bassitt is going to come back from his back surgery looking like the 2025 version of Bassitt that Elias probably hoped he was signing. I am not a believer. I do not want to hear anything like “it’s like we got someone at the deadline” come out of Elias’s mouth about Bassitt or about Félix Bautista as he works back from rotator cuff surgery.
Elias has pressed the plunger and exploded a fringe contender before. That was in 2022, when he ruffled the feathers of the fanbase (and perhaps also the team) by trading Trey Mancini and Jorge López at that year’s deadline. Doing the public-facing damage control for those decisions was when he uttered his now-infamous statement that “It’s liftoff from here.” The implication of that was that he’d be adding aggressively to improve the team, an implied promise that he has not lived up to overall. The Orioles did go 101-61 in the next season, though. They did lift off. Getting into a steady orbit has proven tougher.
The central question remains: What are the Orioles supposed to do in this situation? Elias’s cold analytical assessments often don’t produce outcomes that line up with what the hearts of Orioles fans want to happen. Sometimes, subsequent events have vindicated the Elias approach. Others have repudiated it. How he looks at this situation is going to come down to what the Orioles do over the next three days. No pressure, guys.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Zach Neto #9 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a triple in the top of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on July 24, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The MLB Trade Deadline is less than a week away and with the team mired in a 40-game funk of mediocrity (a 20-20 record during that stretch), one of their star players openly challenging his boss to make improvements and that star player’s manager rebuffing those challenges, rumors persist the Phillies are interested in an upgrade for their infield.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Wednesday that Angels shortstop Zach Neto is high on their list of targets.
What will the Phillies do ahead of the trade deadline?@JeffPassan shares potential routes that could make an impact in Philadelphia 👀 pic.twitter.com/7Pw93zy5Cw
In his report, Passan mentioned an acquisition of Neto, who is just 25, would require moving Bryson Stott to third base and either Neto or Trea Turner to second. Passan also notes the Phils would not be the only big market teams in on the young shortstop, along with the Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox as potential suitors.
There are a number of reasons why Neto would be appealing.
Since becoming a starter in 2024, the righty swinger has hit .248/.320/.452 with a wRC+ of 114, meaning he has been 14% better than league average at his position at the plate. His .772 OPS over that stretch would be 10th-highest among qualified shortstops over that span and is the exact same number as Turner. Turner’s wRC+ of 112 is slightly behind Neto’s. Essentially, they’ve produced nearly identical offensive production over the last three seasons. However, Turner’s fWAR of 11.2 is much higher than Neto’s 8.7, which is tied for 14th.
Neto is a right-handed hitter, a commodity in short supply across this year’s Trade Deadline. In 105 games and 471 PAs this season, Neto is batting only .234, but his .325 on-base percentage is decent thanks to a dramatic increase in his walk rate, from 6.0% in 2025 to 10.2%. He has been good, but not spectacular, against left-handed pitching, with a .255 batting average and an .832 OPS against southpaws this year. For his career his OPS against them is .868.
Neto’s also a solid base stealer, with 14 bags swiped this year and seasons in which he’s stolen 30 and 26 bags the two previous years. And he’s tallied 2.0 fWAR in 2026 thanks, in part, to solid defensive metrics.
In terms of Defensive Runs Saved, his +2 mark ranks 7th among 18 qualified shortstops. That position has been a black hole defensively all year, with Turner’s -13 DRS dead last. He’s also started the 4th-most double plays at shortstop (28). Turner’s 15 is second-lowest.
He would also be an inexpensive addition contractually. He’s under team control for four additional years after this year, becoming a free agent after the 2030 season. He’s making $4.15 million in ‘26 and, while he will see raises in arbitration each of the next three off-seasons, he’d be far more affordable than a free agent signed over the winter.
There are areas of concern, however.
Why are the Angels giving up on a player with this much team control and a salary this low? One would think this is a player even a struggling team like Los Angeles would build around. What’s going on there?
In addition to seeing his walk rate improve, he’s also seen his strikeout rate take a jump as well. It was 23.3% in ‘24, 26.9% last year and 31.4% this season. He’s swinging at a career-high 36.5% of pitches outside the zone (30.0% in 2025). His Baseball Savant page has more “blue” on it than one would like.
Here’s what it looked like a season ago.
The addition of Neto would almost certainly result in either Alec Bohm being dealt or moving Bohm to first base and shifting Harper to right field full-time, a switch that would improve the Phillies’ outfield production, even with Harper slumping in July.
Neto isn’t the only Angel Dombrowski could target. As one of MLB’s clear sellers at the deadline, outfielder Jo Adell is almost certainly available. He has failed to follow up last year’s 37-homer season with a similarly productive power performance, slugging just 16 HRs with a .695 OPS and .291 OBP, although his .941 OPS against left-handers would be a dominant feature in a platoon role.
There is the yearly trade deadline speculation of Mike Trout being willing to waive his no-trade clause, but there has never been any indication the Phils are as interested as the fanbase in bringing the 34-year-old outfielder home. Trout’s had a solid season, with an .852 OPS in 90 games, but lugs around another four years at $37 million a season and a constant worry of injury with him.
Starters Reid Detmers (4.03 ERA in 22 starts) and Jose Soriano (3.29 ERA) are starting pitchers who could interest Dombrowski, as could left-handed relievers Brent Suter (4.26 ERA) and Sammy Natera (2.08 ERA in 21.2 innings), could be added in any potential Neto deal, too.
Acquiring Neto would almost certainly require them giving up their top prospect, pitcher Gage Wood. So Dombrowski needs to ask himself one main question.
Is he the guy to go all-in on at the Trade Deadline?
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Josh Okogie #20 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz on February 23, 2026 at the Toyota Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We are officially into the doldrums of the offseason – Summer League is behind us, free agency is all but over, and we still have months until we first see our new team take the floor. It is in these doldrums that one begins to ponder the real questions of the soul: am I leading my life correctly? should I be spending all this time on basketball? is Mario Hezonja worth all the hype given to his free agency decision? And, most importantly, who will be the Jazz’s backup shooting guard?
It seems to me that there are four options for the two backup wing positions: Brice Sensabaugh, Svi Mykhailiuk, John Konchar, and the titular Josh Okogie. All four deserve to play minutes somewhere – each have started legitimate amounts of games in their careers, and two may be out of the rotation next year.
Choosing which of these four worthy candidates have my vote to earn playing time is already difficult, and is made even more difficult due to the fact that I am no expert on the newest Jazzman of the group, Josh Okogie. Sure, I have a passing knowledge of the guy – I follow the NBA, he’s made his way around the block a few times, so I generally understand his game. He defends, he’s kinda stocky, he got that one block on James Harden’s step back in his rookie year…he’s Josh Okogie! But that cursory, surface-level understanding won’t cut it if I am to make the hugely important decision of who should be Darryn Peterson’s backup (and then complain when the Jazz coaching staff makes a different choice than me). I need to become a Josh Okogie scholar.
I took this self-assigned responsibility seriously – I would not go halfway for one of the newest Jazzmen. So, to shore up the holes in my Okogie expertise, I took to NBA.com’s video database to watch every Josh Okogie field goal, assist, steal, and block from the 2025-2026 season. If Josh Okogie did just about anything with the ball last year, I watched it. I won’t pretend this was the most interesting exercise I’ve ever (for reasons that will be explained later), so instead of everyone else having to go through the same study process, I will report on what I learned, his strengths and weaknesses, and his fit on the Jazz. Hopefully, no one will have any remaining Josh Okogie questions after this article.
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 29: Josh Okogie #20 of the Houston Rockets shoots a three point basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Josh Okogie is a very simple offensive player, for better and for worse (at the very least, it made for a dull viewing experience). While you can rest assured that he will not hijack the offense with complicated, on-ball hijinks, sometimes the simple, barebones nature of his offensive game leaves a bit to be desired. He has figured out his role perfectly during his 8 years in the NBA, and will not dare stray from it.
The majority of Okogie’s shot attempts this past season came from behind the arc (54.8% of his attempts, to be exact), and nearly all of them looked exactly the same. He never shot from off the dribble (100% of his three pointers this past season were assisted), he rarely shot off of movement, and he mainly shot from the corners. His three point percentages have steadily ticked up over his career, peaking this season at 38.5%, but I don’t think he’s gotten more versatile with his shot; he needs to be set, and he needs to be facing minimal pressure. After having watched 161 of his three point attempts in very quick succession, I think I uncovered the reason for this – Okogie’s form simply isn’t built for anything beyond a catch-and-shoot attempt. He doesn’t get much elevation on his shot, and it isn’t particularly quick, which when combined with the fact that he’s only 6’4, creates a player who needs a separation from a defender to get his shot off cleanly. Additionally, his footwork behind the arc isn’t always the cleanest, making movement off-ball and around screens disadvantageous to his style of jump shot. He can make these shots while open (see the video below for some examples), but his 38% from three isn’t providing the same spacing that Anfernee Simon’s 38% is.
Josh Okogie made 3 of his 4 threes and finished with his 2nd highest scoring night as a Rocket yesterday:
An interesting statistical tidbit – while Okogie attempted most of three pointers from the corners (67% of his attempts came from both corners combined), they were far from his most efficient spot on the court – he drained around 30% from those zones, and 52% from the two wings. Now, I understand that, all things considered, this is a pretty small sample size to determine Okogie’s strengths and weaknesses as a shooter, but similar general trends occur throughout his past few seasons; consistently, his strongest area as a shooter is either the right or left wing, with his percentages from the corners being more pedestrian. The Jazz attempted some of the fewest corner threes per game in the NBA this past season – hopefully this can lead to Okogie’s shooting leap to continue into 2026-2027.
Inside of the three point line, Okogie, once again, is nothing to really write home about. Even though Okogie is a good athlete, he isn’t too impressive as a vertical high-flyer; this can lead to ugly misses at the rim. He missed more dunks than I would’ve expected, and I’m sure the Rockets never felt great about Okogie driving headfirst into a set rim protector. Luckily, he tended to know his role in this regard as well – he never attempted to do too much to achieve rim attempts (which is good, considering his stiff, uncreative handle), and mostly found himself shooting in that range off of quick cuts or in transition. He isn’t the most active cutter in the world, sometimes being a bit too sedimentary behind the arc, but is proficient enough when he does decide to streak to open space near the rim.
To continue the tradition of unspectacular but serviceable offensive skills, his passing is just enough to keep the offense flowing but not much more than that. There were a few really impressive interior passes sprinkled throughout the clips of his assists, but for the most part his passes were simple, connective throws to teammates finding open space around the perimeter. I only recall a few pick-and-roll passes, which were unremarkable – while I’m sure he’s capable of hitting a roll-man, I don’t think he’s capable enough for it to be an aspect of his offense a coach can reliably call upon.
However, even with all of these middle-of-the-road offensive skills, the Rockets were still better offensively with Okogie on the court. How can this be? I believe this is explained by two factors. First, Okogie demands very little on the offensive end. Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant were two Rockets players from this past season who were best operating with the ball in their hands, and Okogie’s completely unselfish offensive game could, if his shot was falling, act as an amplifier for a ball-dominant star. There’s a limit on how much good he could do offensively without a more dynamic offensive game, but a player who is perfectly content with hitting open threes and nothing else is still valuable.
The second factor, though, is a bit more interesting to me. One of Josh Okogie’s hidden superpowers is his activity on the offensive glass. In a down year, Okogie still grabbed 2.2 offensive rebounds per game per 36 minutes, and that impact was felt by his team – when he was on the court, the Rockets were nearly 2 percentage points better at snagging offensive rebounds. While watching, it almost felt like Okogie was conserving energy while stationed in the corner, with the expectation that he would exert it all the moment the ball left the shooters hands. With his linebacker frame, Okogie torpedoed towards the ball, and had a real nose for it – his anticipation for where the ball would bounce was really impressive. So, even without providing much value with the ball in his hands or even as a shooter, Okogie boosted his team’s offense by helping them win the possession battle – while he was out there, Durant and Sengun could count on more attempts because they could count on Okogie.
Synopsis: A simple offensive player who likes to station himself in the corners. Can shoot off the catch and not much else. Not strong with the ball in his hands. Great offensive rebounder for his position.
Defense
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 29: Josh Okogie #20 of the Houston Rockets plays defense during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 29, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While this side of the court is his calling card, I do feel like there is less to be said regarding Okogie’s defense compared to his offense – whatever you think you know about his defense, you’re probably right.
All of his physical tools are best used on the defensive end of the court. His +8 wingspan is put to good use both on and off the ball. It allows him to guard up and down the lineup (his long arms make up for a small deficit in speed against point guards and a deficit in height against wings), and allows him to take up more space and muck things up even when he’s not guarding the point-of-attack. Additionally, Okogie offers a pretty unique combination of length and strength from the guard spot – it helps him to be able to take space AND keep it.
He’s quite adept when he gets switched down to a bigger player in the post. He’s really stocky, with a low center of gravity, and has constant energy when he’s working to deny the entry pass to his assignment down low. Combine that with killer hand-eye coordination, and you have a player who consistently got steals off errant passes to the post.
I think his best defensive skill is beating offensive players to passes. He has some great burst to quickly attack the floating ball, using his long arms and quick hands to get there first, and then uses his strength to muscle his opponent off of the path towards the loose ball so he can grab it and finish the transition opportunity. His consistently revving motor and active hands allowed him to be one of the more disruptive players in the league, deflecting more balls than any Jazzman in 2025-2026 not named John Konchar. Below is an example of this type of play against Victor Wembanyama, and there were quite a few more similar plays throughout the season.
As a defender, Okogie isn’t perfect. He isn’t the best defender against the quickest, shiftiest opposing guards – his strength and stocky frame does come at the expense of elite foot speed. Additionally, this past year was a downturn in regards to his shot-blocking. That doesn’t seem like the biggest deal when talking about a 6’4 guard, but one of his most impressive skills to me in the past was how he mirrored perimeter offensive players to such an extent that he was consistently blocking their jump-shots (the play below is my personal favorite) – hopefully he’s able to return to form as both a perimeter shot-blocker and rim presence this next season, especially considering he may be sharing substantial minutes with Kyle Filipowski at center, noted non-elite rim protector.
However, even if Okogie has his flaws as a defender, this is the side of the ball that has kept him in the league for over a decade, even during the years where he wasn’t shooting the 38.5% from behind the arc that he did in Houston. Even when his shot isn’t dropping, he provides a solid base level of value because his defense is just so high level. While he’s best guarding more traditional shooting guards, he can defend up the lineup with his stocky frame and long arms. Additionally, his motor is a skill itself – Okogie is a LOUD defender who shifts the tone of the game the moment he subs in. This is the type of stuff fan-favorites are made of, and I expect Okogie to get loud cheers in the Delta Center for these very skills.
Synopsis: This is where Okogie makes his money. Great activity, quick hands, and a special combination of length and strength. Can guard up or down the lineup, although quick point guards can best him. Hopefully his shot-blocking makes a return.
Conclusion/How It All Fits
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 12: Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh, Svi Mykhailiuk, Isaiah Collier, Josh Okogie, and Mo Bamba of the Utah Jazz attend the game between the LA Clippers and the Utah Jazz during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 12, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz need someone like Josh Okogie, but I’m not sure if they can fit in someone like Josh Okogie. It has been no secret that the Jazz defense has been awful ever since they’ve traded away Rudy Gobert, and while the fix won’t be made in a day, picking up Okogie could spark a very necessary culture shift on the defensive end. Perhaps Ace Bailey or Darryn Peterson one day take a big defensive leap (both have the potential to do so), but until then, the team needs someone to clap their hands and slap the floor and take the most difficult matchup night after night. After my deep dive, I’m confident in saying Josh Okogie has the defensive capabilities to be that stopgap as the young guys mature.
However, while Okogie could be an answer to the Jazz’s defensive issues, he may compound some of the struggles the team projects to have on offense. I worry that the Jazz built a roster with too many strong off-ball players – Lauri Markkanen, Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, and Jaren Jackson Jr. are all best being set up by a creator – so adding another player without strong ball handling or passing worries me. While he’s clearly the best defender out of the four options for the backup wing positions, he is just as clearly the most limited as an offensive player. Additionally, if the shot improvements aren’t maintained, he would be a third player on a hypothetical bench lineup with limited-to-no shooting gravity (him, Collier, and Filipowski or Hayes) – that may be an offensive situation that even Will Hardy can’t scheme his way out of.
At the end of the day, I doubt that Okogie intentionally signed in Utah to simply not play, so I bet he takes one of the two available slots. I also think that, even if Okogie hurts the offense, the total tonal shift he can provide on defense is probably worth it. This signing was a low-stakes swing on a player who, if the shot improvements are legitimate, may end up playing real minutes in the most important games of the year. For that alone, I think giving Okogie minutes in the regular season to build shooting flow and comprehension of Hardy’s system is the smart move. My deep dive taught me that he isn’t the best shooter, and he isn’t the best passer, and he isn’t the best dribbler, but it also taught me that Josh Okogie changes games. So, after this perhaps unnecessary exercise, I cam away with two things. First, a desire to no longer watch a compilation of wide-open threes, and second…an excitement for games to be changed in the Delta Center in 2027.
The Seattle Mariners (53-56) and Los Angeles Dodgers (68-40) wrap up their three-game series tonight at Dodger Stadium with the series tied at one game apiece.
The Dodgers evened the series last night with a 4-2 victory behind a dominant effort from left-hander Eric Lauer. The southpaw delivered one of his best starts of the season, allowing just one hit over six scoreless innings while striking out four and walking one. The Mariners managed only a third-inning single by Cole Young against him, and Lauer retired the leadoff hitter in every inning he worked.
Fun Fact: The Dodgers have won all eight of Lauer's starts since acquiring him from Toronto in mid-May.
The Dodgers opened the scoring courtesy of an Andy Pages solo homer in the first inning. Los Angeles continued to pressure Mariners’ starter Emerson Hancock, scoring again in the third when Freddie Freeman reached on an infield hit that brought home Shohei Ohtani. Pages added another RBI in the fourth, and Ohtani capped the Dodgers' scoring with a two-out RBI double in the sixth inning. Seattle mounted a late rally. Weston Wilson scored on a Cole Young RBI single in the eighth, and Josh Naylor doubled home Dominic Canzone in the ninth. The tying run reached base against returning closer Edwin Díaz, but Díaz closed the door for his fifth save after missing 85 games due to arm surgery. Pages finished 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs, while Ohtani went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Veteran Bryce Miller (4-5, 2.75 ERA) takes the ball today for Seattle. That sparkling ERA was a bit shinier before Miller’s last start. Last Friday on the road against the Rangers, the right-hander gave up five runs on six hits over just 5.1 innings in a 5-4 loss. The Dodgers counter with Roki Sasaki (4-5, 4.71 ERA). The right-hander has been lights out his last two starts allowing one earned run while striking out 14 over 12.2 innings. The Dodgers have won each of his last four starts.
Lets dive further into today’s game and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Mariners vs. Dodgers
Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Time: 10:10PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Mariners.TV, Sportsnet Los Angeles
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The Latest Odds: Mariners vs. Dodgers
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Seattle Mariners (-157), Los Angeles Dodgers (-157)
Spread: Mariners +1.5 (-162), Dodgers -1.5 (+134)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers – Mariners vs. Dodgers for July 30
Mariners: Bryce Miller Season Totals: 68.2 IP, 4-5, 2.75 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 71K, 11 BB
Freddie Freeman is enjoying an 8-game hitting streak (16-33)
Shohei Ohtani is 8-20 over his last 4 games
Max Muncy is 15-68 (.221) in July
Bryce Miller has allowed 11 earned runs in 16 innings over his last 3 starts
Julio Rodriguez has hit safely in 8 of his last 10 games (9-37)
Josh Naylor is 6-17 over his last 5 games
Naylor has not homered since June 12 (37 games)
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Mariners vs. Dodgers
The Mariners are 42-67 on the Run Line this season
The Dodgers are 48-60 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 54 times in Seattle’s 109 games this season (54-49-6)
The OVER has cashed 50 times in LA’s 108 games this season (50-57-1)
Expert picks & predictions: Mariners vs. Dodgers
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Mariners and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Dodgers on the Run Line.
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Part of the speculation about LeBron James' next team — before he ended up choosing the Philadelphia 76ers — was about which landing spot best told a story that he could put into the documentary he was having made about his next (and potentially final) season.
That documentary is happening, with LeBron and ESPN close to a deal on a serialized documentary about the season — kind of in the "Last Dance" style — reports Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.
LeBron James and ESPN are closing in on an agreement for a behind-the-scenes documentary series that will be similar to Michael Jordan's "The Last Dance," according to industry sources granted anonymity as they were not authorized to talk about the deal that is not finalized.
One of the sources described the talks as being at the "1-yard line," with the expectation that James, 41, will have a camera crew documenting his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, who James signed with this month.
There is no released timeline for when this would air, although it likely would have some lag time rather than be a "Hard Knocks"- style situation where episodes are finished less than a week after being filmed. The financial terms of the deal also remain unknown.
LeBron's jump to Philadelphia — a team that also added Jalen Brown this offseason and has to be considered one of the top contenders in the East — has drawn tremendous interest from fans. As evidence, Fanatics announced that LeBron's No. 23 76ers jersey has become the best-selling jersey for any player in any sport during the first 48 hours after their announcement, beating out the record set by Shohei Ohtani when he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers.
LeBron's plans to make a documentary about his next season — his record 24th in the NBA — are well known, with his production company heading it up. The documentary makers would have special access to him and the 76ers during the season, and also would use historic footage from LeBron's well-documented career.
ESPN had great success with The Last Dance, the documentary done with and about Michael Jordan during his final season and championship with the Bulls, which dropped during the pandemic, when people were home and starved for fresh content. ESPN can only hope LeBron would draw similar ratings and interest.
Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin is going to meet with Quinn Hughes about a potential contract extension this week. If they come to the conclusion that he is going to stick with his original plan of joining his brothers on the New Jersey Devils, a trade could happen.
A roster player or two, along with high-end draft picks, could go the other way in a deal for the eldest Hughes, but prospects are likely to be a part of the package as well.
If the Devils were to get Quinn a year ahead of schedule by making a trade with the Wild, one or more of these 3 prospects are likely to be on the move:
Mikhail Yegorov
The New Jersey Devils do not have a long-term plan in goal outside of Mikhail Yegorov. Trading him must land them an elite player, like Quinn Hughes. Otherwise, they should keep him in the system.
The Minnesota Wild are pretty set in the goal crease with Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson. With that said, Gustavsson had surgery and will miss the start of the season, but the Wild plan to have this tandem in place for a while.
If they were to acquire Yegorov, however, they may change things up. They could use one of their two mainstays as trade bait for assets in other areas. Yegorov has the talent to be a starting goalie in the NHL; he just has further development to accomplish.
Anton Silayev
Anton Silayev is a good prospect. However, it was a strange pick when the Devils made it in 2024 with the 10th overall pick. They should have selected Zeev Buium, but the Wild traded up to get him and then used him to acquire Quinn Hughes from the Canucks.
Buium may or may not have been used in the same trade if the Devils drafted him instead of Silayev, but it was a bad drafting decision.
Still, Silayev has value as a young prospect trying to make it in the NHL. For the Wild, trying to recoup a high-ceiling defenseman out of another trade involving Quinn Hughes makes perfect sense from an organizational perspective.
Alexander Command
The New Jersey Devils selected Alexander Command in the first round (12th overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft, and they are high on him. His ceiling as a great two-way forward in the NHL makes him an intriguing prospect, but you have to give good players to get good players in a trade.
For the Wild, they are not very deep down the middle of the ice within their organization. If Alexander reached his potential as a center, the Wild would love to add him. Giving up on a high-end prospect so early in his development is never easy, but it's the price of doing business.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Kevin Alvarez #17 of the Houston Astros on the American League Team looks on in the seventh inning during the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (53-50) won 7-5 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Whitcomb 3 run home run. McPherson got the start for Sugar Land but struggled allowing 4 runs over 3.1 innings. Sugar Land took the lead in the 4th inning on a Sacco solo home run and Ferreras RBI single. After the Bees tied it in the 6th, Sugar Land took the lead again in the 7th scoring 2 runs on a Meyers 2 run double. The pen closed it out with scoreless innings down the stretch as Sugar Land won 7-5.
Kai-Wei Teng, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Christian Roa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (WIN)
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (SAVE)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (45-53) lost 13-12 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning on Sisneros and Whitaker RBI singles. Hertzler got the start and went 3 innings allowing 1 run. Santos allowed a run in the 4th inning but the Hooks got 2 runs in the 5th on an Austin 2 run home run. The pen struggled in the 6th allowing 9 runs as Frisco opened up a big lead. The Hooks rallied in the 9th scoring 8 runs on 8 hits but the comeback fell short with a man on second as the Hooks fell 13-12.
Cole Hertzler, RHP: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Alex Santos, RHP: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Jose Guedez, RHP: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Jack Dashwood, LHP: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (33-63) lost 13-1 (BOX SCORE)
Santos started for Asheville but struggled allowing 4 runs retiring just 2 batters. He was relieved by Ogando who allowed 2 runs over 2 innings. The offense got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Thomas solo home run. The pen continued to struggled with Steinbaugh allowing 6 runs as the Drive extended their lead. The offense was quiet the rest of the way as Asheville fell 13-1.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (49-47) won 5-4 (BOX SCORE)
Forcucci started for the Woodpeckers but struggled allowing 4 runs, 2 earned, over 1.2 innings. The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning on an Alvarez RBI single. In the 4th, Sierra connected on a 2 run home run to cut into the lead. In the bottom of the 6th, Alvarez hit a solo home run to tie the game. Verdugo pitched in relief and pitched well tossing 6 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 9th, the Woodpeckers won on a walk-off walk to Diaz.
Note: Alvarez is hitting .330 over his last 27 games.
According to ESPN.com, the probe could last well into 2027 if there is no agreement on what the investigation ultimately finds and whether any punishment could be forthcoming as a result.
That could be an issue for the Clippers and Leonard, as a proposed trade to the Toronto Raptors is on hold. The deal would have sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and draft pick swaps to Los Angeles for Leonard, who won a championship with the Raptors in 2019.
“The NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the Raptors said in a statement. “In light of this, we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.”
The investigation originally centered on reporting by journalist Pablo Torre, who looked into whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC broke NBA rules.
Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg pleaded guilty in October 2025 to two counts of wire fraud for what the Department of Justice said was a "multi-year scheme involving fake clients, sham payments, and deceptive loan collateral that caused at least $248 million in losses to numerous victims."
Leonard is possibly involved in a new scandal after a new investigation conducted by Torre, WPRI-TV Target 12, a television station based in Providence, Rhode Island, and investigative news outlet Hunterbrook.
According to the report, Leonard, his uncle Dennis Robertson, and his former agent Mitch Frankel were minority investors in Rhode Island FC and its stadium project.
The project, located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, became Centreville Bank Stadium, a 10,500-seat facility on the Seekonk River, which received $110 million in public funds to help with construction costs. That plan included the development of new affordable housing, shops and restaurants around the stadium.
Not a single housing unit has been built so far since ground was broken in 2022 for the stadium and the other projects, although city officials said last month that they secured $30 million in investments through loans. Construction on the project is slated to start later this year and is expected to last three to four years.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rangers shortstop Corey Seager took a big step toward returning to the lineup and helping Texas in the American League West.
Seager hit a home run and made a strong play in the field in the first game of a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco. The 32-year-old went 0 for 3 before being lifted in the sixth inning in his second game with Frisco as recovers from lower back inflammation that has kept him out since July 1.
The Rangers hold a one-game lead over the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West.
Seager finished 1-for-2 with a walk and Texas manager Skip Schumaker was encouraged by the reports he received.
“The report was he came out of the game healthy and ready to go play again (Wednesday),’’ Schumaker said. “That part was good. He had a really good play in the hole. Nothing running, really good at the plate, hit the ball. Kind of everything checks. That’s exactly what we wanted to see.’’
No decision has been made as to when Seager might be ready to return to the Texas lineup, although Friday in Houston might be the earliest target date if all goes well Wednesday night.
“He’ll get back-to-back (games) and likely a day off (Thursday) then we’ll see where he’s at,’’ Schumaker said.
Seager has been limited to 51 games this season. He was placed on the seven-day IL on June 15 with a concussion and missed 12 games before dealing with back inflammation on May 15 that kept him out for 19 games. Seager’s latest stint on the IL has kept him out for 22 games, including Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Schumaker said the decision on when to return will ultimately be up to Seager.
“The player dictates a lot,’’ Schumaker said. “He wanted a couple games, I think, because he missed so much time. The recommendation is what we give and then the player decides how much he needs. Position players (need) maybe one of those simulated games, and then go to a rehab assignment, and it’s one or two games, then kind of you’re ready to roll. We’ve kind of had that discussion. He felt he needed a couple days, back-to-back games. We’ll see where he’s at.’’
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 24: Hogan Harris #36 of the Athletics pitches during the game between the Athletics and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Friday, July 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Turner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning A’s fans!
The trade deadline is nearly upon us and with the Athletics where they are in the standings it’s time for them to begin getting rid of anything not nailed down. That means it’s time to start saying our likely goodbyes to guys like Jeff McNeil and Jeffrey Springs, two veterans on expiring contracts. Neither of whom are going to be on the next A’s playoff team and it’s time for the A’s to make room for younger players who could be on the next playoff squad.
After those two veterans though there’s not much in the way of rental players for the Athletics to offer on the trade market. New starting catcher Jonah Heim could be of interest to catchy-needy teams and there’s a larger than usual number of contenders seeking help behind the plate this year. Considering he’s also a free agent at season’s end it makes sense to trade him, but then that saddles the club with Brian Serven as the starter for the final two months of the year. Heim’s glove alone could be worth more to the Athletics’ young pitchers over the final two months than a small-time prospect in the lower minors.
It’d be a major shock to see any other position players traded by the A’s this deadline season but there could be more action in regards to what little pitching we do have. Lefty Jose Suarez has been a solid option for Mark Kotsay over the past couple months after starting the year in Atlanta. He’s got a tough 4.63 ERA on the year but a much more respectable 3.79 mark in 29 games with the A’s. More importantly, the 28-year-old is controlled for one more year after this season wraps up. That should boost the prospect cost to acquire his services.
The other two bullpen arms other teams might be considering are Hogan Harris and Luis Medina, who are both now into the arbitration years and getting raises this offseason. Medina, once considered a building block for the starting rotation, has settled into a bullpen role this year and adapted well to the new spot on the team. His 3.70 ERA is the second-best mark in the A’s bullpen and he’s also under contract for three more years. That extra team control gives the A’s options in regards to the right-hander. If a team wants his services they’ll need to pay a decent package for the three-plus years they’ll have him.
The left-handed Harris has been often mentioned by other fans and pundits as a dark-horse trade candidate and it’s easy to see why. Like Medina, outside of a tough June the 29-year-old has been one of the few consistent arms for Kotsay out of the ‘pen. His 61 appearances are the fourth-most in the American League and his nine saves leads the team. He’s a lefty but he’s actually been more effective against right-handed hitters this year. And, again like Medina, he’s got lots of club control after this year so teams will need to pay up.
The squad will be finding out soon enough how far the A’s go this deadline season, but all indications are we shouldn’t expect any massive swaps. First pitch is at 6:40 again tonight. Until then, have a great day everyone.
Lawrence Butler just shared on @AthleticsCast24 that he called a players-only meeting prior to yesterday's game against Boston, and that he and several teammates spoke.
The A's went on to beat the Red Sox by a 4-3 score and snapped a four-game losing streak.#Athletics
(Original Caption) 10/1/1956- New York, NY - Yankee Manager Casey Stengel proudly presents the apple of his eye, his switch-hitting majesty Mickey Mantle, complete with crown and three "sceptres" representing the triple crown of the Major Leagues. Mantle is the top man on the batting totem pole with .353 batting average, 52 home runs and 130 runs batted in. Photograph by Bob Gilman.
I had the pleasure of writing one of these birthday profiles for legendary Yankees manager and the head honcho for the late 90s dynasty, Joe Torre. There aren’t many who can match Torre’s managerial career, and even fewer can live up to what he did as a player in the major leagues. Now, we get the opportunity to do remember the man who inspired Torre, beginning his career with the men in pinstripes nine years after Torre’s birth in Brooklyn.
Charles Dillon “Casey” Stengel Born: July 30, 1890 (Kansas City, MO) Died: September 29, 1975 (Glendale, CA) Yankees Tenure: 1949-1960
Charles Dillon Stengel was born a Midwest kid in the late 1800s, where he would go to sandlots around his home turf and play baseball with his friends and anyone who wanted a game. By the time he was 20, his time playing in the sandlot was gone, but his dream for Major League Baseball remained after a few years in the semi-pro ranks. Thanks to the Kansas City Blues of the American Association, he began his professional baseball journey.
Stengel began his time as a pitcher, but when he made it to Double-A, his pitching skills were not up to par. So, he was moved to the outfield, where he still needed some work to be done. Kansas City optioned Stengel to the Class C team in Kankakee, Illinois, where he batted .251. Around this time, he did consider other options and even began school to become a dentist. Fortunately for the sport, those dalliances didn’t pan out.
The young Stengel was in the minors for three seasons before he began his major league career with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1912. He played 17 games with a slash line of .316/.466/.386 playing center field. He made his debut on September 17, 1912 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he went 4-for-4 with two RBI’s and two stolen bases. He would play with the Dodgers from 1912 to 1917 (with Ebbets Field opening in 1913), amassing 676 games played with a slash line of .272/.346/.393 for an OPS+ of 119 — so well above average for the era. Brooklyn was the organization that Stengel played the most with, so, naturally, he gathered his most walks, RBI’s, stolen bases, and more there as well.
Of course, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Stengel with Brooklyn. In 1915, at the age of just 24, he dealt with illness as early as spring training, showing up 20 pounds weaker than he was the previous year. And as a result of the illness, which was addressed as venereal disease (after the thought was typhoid fever), he had the worst full season of his playing career. He was also consistently stuck in contract disputes with Charles Ebbets, co-owner of the Dodgers, despite teammate Chief Meyers in the book The Glory of Their Times saying his play was key to the Dodgers’ 1916 pennant win prior to their World Series loss to the Boston Red Sox — and 21-year-old pitcher Babe Ruth.
Stengel was traded to the Pirates after another contract holdout with Dodgers ownership and played for Pittsburgh in the 1918 and 1919 seasons, but he seemed to have little interest in playing for the club. In his first year, he only played in 39 games while working and running Brooklyn Navy Yard’s baseball team. After another contract dispute and a bit of antics from Stengel on the field in 1919 involving a sparrow that was released from his cap when he tipped it after the crowd booed him, Bucs ownership had had enough, and he was moved to Philadelphia.
After one season in 1920 with the Phillies, he was moved again in 1921 to the New York Giants, where he finished that season and played two more, winning back-to-back Fall Classics in two all-Polo Grounds series against a Yankees team that now starred Ruth. He also faced his future club in a third in 1923, memorably hitting an inside-the-park homer in the ninth inning of Game 1 to key a Giants victory during the very first World Series game at the original Yankee Stadium. Another Stengel homer in a 1-0 win in Game 3 put the Giants ahead in the series 2-1, but Ruth’s Yankees rallied for three-straight victories to secure their first championship.
Following a two-season stint in the Boston Braves organization, Stengel hung up the playing spikes, after he was hitting only .077 and was sent to Worcester as player-manager and president for their minor-league squad. He played in 100 games, batted .320, and led the team from last place to third. His legendary managerial career began when an opportunity to take over as manager of the Toledo Mud Hens came out of the woodwork; Stengel released himself as a player, since he was player-manager, and then, as president, he fired himself as manager.
Stengel was manager of the Mud Hens for six seasons, and in 1931 he was hired as a first base coach for the Dodgers by former Pittsburgh teammate Max Carey. The former Dodger had a reputation that preceded him, which gave managers a reason not to hire him for any job, but Carey’s call to allow Stengel into the fold ended his absence from MLB and set him on the road to new heights as a manager. After Carey would not respond to a jab at the Dodgers in the press, he was fired, and Stengel took over for the first time as a manager of a major league ball club. He managed until 1936 and was fired due to poor team performance and not getting enough out of the talent he had at his disposal. After sitting out entirely in 1937, the owner of the Braves, Bob Quinn, offered Stengel the manager chair in his organization, and he took it.
From 1938 to 1943 — Stengel’s tenure at the helm — the team never finished in the top half of MLB and finished seventh four straight years between 1939 and 1942. And while he did see some excellent names come across his lineup card (including Warren Spahn, whom Stengel eventually sent down because he viewed him as not having any “heart”), the progress wasn’t nearly enough to constitute a longer tenure. So, Casey was fired.
Stengel returned to the minors for another four seasons, not sure if or when his major league managing career would ever restart. But after enough work to win Minor League Manager of the Year with the powerhouse Pacific Coast League’s Oakland Oaks, he was finally hired as the manager of the Yankees (eventually bringing along one of his favorite Oaks players, a firestarter named Billy Martin).
Yankees brass were not keen on bringing Stengel in at first. While he had his name tossed around in conversations years before his hiring, those who had a stake in the club knew of Stengel’s reputation and didn’t feel like it was worth pursuing. Like Torre decades later, Casey was also perceived as someone who had never won much of anything as a manager and was undeserving to manage this already-prestigious franchise led by Joe DiMaggio. However, after those who opposed his hiring were either fired or sold their stake, there was no way to block the move.
While Stengel tried to keep a low profile, it was almost impossible for the newest Yankees bench boss. It was hard for Stengel at first to fit in, but he did after a while. Early in his first season, he criticized players heavily, including in one players-only meeting held after a doubleheader loss to Philadelphia. Still, he also made sure to tell them that he knew everything was going to work. He believed they could win. And after DiMaggio returned from injury, that’s exactly what they did.
The Yankees of 1949 finished the season with a plethora of injuries plaguing them, but also a 97-57 record, good enough for the American League pennant and a chance to win a World Series. But it came against Stengel’s former team, the Dodgers, just as it would through most of Stengel’s time as manager. And after five games, the last three of which the Yankees won despite some antics from Stengel in Game 4 that got him reprimanded by the commissioner, Happy Chandler, he won his first championship as a manager — again like Torre in his first year.
In wake of his championship in 1949, Stengel went back to being the man who earned himself the reputation that preceded him: talkative, forceful, brash, you name the adjective, and he was probably that. He knew the job he still had to do, but when you win it all, you have a bit more leeway to do as you see fit. He and DiMaggio had their battles, especially with the Yankee Clipper being in the back end of his career, but Stengel also did an excellent job with the younger players. Names like the already-ascendant Yogi Berra, lefty Eddie Ford (soon to be famous as Whitey), the versatile Gil McDougald, the aforementioned Martin, and others came to the forefront, and Stengel found a player before the 1951 season who could take the franchise’s reins: 19-year-old Mickey Mantle.
The 1950 and 1951 Yankees finished with the same record (98-56), and both came out of the season as world champions, both against two of Stengel’s old teams, the Phillies and Giants. Three seasons, three championships for Stengel as manager of the Bombers, and it had only just begun.
DiMaggio retired from baseball in 1951, and the Yankees continued their reign as kings of Major League Baseball, defeating the Jackie Robinson-led 1952 Dodgers in seven games. The Yankees won another World Series in 1953 against Brooklyn with Martin walking it off in the Game 6 clincher, making that five championships in a row for the Stengel-led pinstriped men. And he felt the love, as the charismatic man dubbed “the Ol’ Perfesser” grew to become a national figurehead not just for the franchise but for baseball as well.
The 1954 campaign was the first that Stengel’s Yankees fell short, though oddly enough, their 103-51 mark was the best of Casey’s time with the Yankees but still eight fewer wins than Cleveland. They quickly bounced back in 1955 with a record of 96-58 and another pennant win. They lost to the Dodgers in the World Series in seven games, but from there, it flip-flopped, with the Yankees winning the World Series over Brooklyn in 1956 (keyed by Stengel’s gutsy call to start Don Larsen in Game 5 mere days after he was dreadful in Game 2), only the pennant in 1957, and a seventh title in 1958, avenging the previous year’s loss to the Milwaukee Braves. Over that period, there were issues within the organization and how Stengel managed the players off the field, with rumors leading to a media circus when players stayed out too late or even were involved in a brawl at the Copacabana nightclub — leading to Martin’s ouster. But as long as they were winning, Stengel did not mind one bit.
By the time he won his seventh World Series as manager, Stengel was 67 years old and was seen falling asleep in the dugout. According to his players, he had also grown significantly more irritable. He needed a new contract and was visibly wearing down. Still, management decided to keep him involved anyway because of that 1958 triumph, even though his contract was set to expire.
Casey was given another two-year deal set to expire in 1960. A 79-75 record and distant third-place finish in 1959 was a clear example of the problems within the Yankees dugout. Despite winning his 10th pennant in 1960, the decision to not renew Stengel as Yankees manager had effectively been made, and it was only secured by strange decisions during that last Fall Classic. Stengel’s ace, Ford, was incensed that his skipper refused to start him in Game 1 against Pittsburgh, which Art Ditmar lost, 4-2. It was a strange series, as the Yankees outscored the Pirates by more than any team in World Series history across seven games, but New York lost three close games along the way to force a Game 7 — which Ford could not start because he wasn’t used until Games 3 and 6 (blowout wins).
Bill Mazeroski’s series-winning homer off Ralph Terry was the last moment of Stengel’s Yankees career. Overall, he finished with a 1149-696 record with the Yankees, along with seven World Series championships and 10 AL pennants. Stengel went on to manage the New York Mets from 1962 to 1965, where he finished with a record of 175-404 for the expansion club that was still finding their identity — though he remained a beloved figure in the media for everything he did to stir up interest in his otherwise-subpar Metsies.
While he was a brash character both during his playing days and during his time as a manager, Stengel will always be remembered for the effect he had on his players and his leadership during the best years in Yankees history. He was blessed with great players, but some of the best seasons in MLB history came under his tenure. For that, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966 alongside legendary Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams.
Stengel helped build and foster some of the best teams and players the game will ever know, making his mark permanently on the sport’s history. His No. 37 was retired in 1970, allowing him one more moment in the Bronx sun prior to his passing five years later at age-85.
Happy birthday, Casey!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Theo Gillen #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during batting practice prior to the 2026 All-Star Futures Game Presented by Nike at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As the Tampa Bay Rays sit in a strong position in the American League standings in late July 2026, the organization faces a familiar but critical decision point.
With the trade deadline set for August 3, speculation has intensified around potential moves to bolster the major league roster. Yet, recent reporting from Ken Rosenthal underscores a compelling reason for caution: the Rays’ exceptionally deep farm system, headlined by top prospect Theo Gillen, represents a foundation that should not and cannot be compromised lightly.
Theo Gillen, the Rays’ No. 1 prospect and a top-10 talent across Major League Baseball, has delivered a breakout 2026 campaign. The 20-year-old outfielder has excelled at Double-A Montgomery, showcasing plus power from both sides of the plate, speed, and a polished approach that has produced multi-home run games and extended hitting streaks. Ranked as high as No. 9 overall by MLB Pipeline, Gillen embodies everything a seller would want at the trade deadline: high-upside and a controllable timeline.
Theo Gillen logs his third multihomer outing of the season 💪
Accordingly, Gillen is also the type of player the Rays need — unless the new owners want to drop top dollar on expensive veterans alongside a new ballpark — to have sustained competitiveness over the coming years.
The Rule 5 Imperative
Compounding the value of retaining top-end talent is the impending Rule 5 Draft. With a dozen or so quality players from the Rays’ organization eligible next offseason, Erik Neander and the front office must weigh the risk of losing developed depth against any short-term gains from trades. If you’ve been reading the site over the last month, this is nothing new, as Ben Whitelaw has been mapping such prospects into proposed trades in his articles over the last few weeks with a similar reminder.
R5 eligible Rays who are Top 30 prospects:
Brody Hopkins (No. 5) Michael Forret (No. 8) Ty Johnson (No. 10) Santiago Suarez (No. 13) Xavier Isaac (No. 16) Brayden Taylor (No. 17) TJ Nichols (No. 19) Gary Gill Hill (No. 26) Jackson Baumeister (No. 28) Tre' Morgan (No. 29) Homer…
Protecting these assets typically means prioritizing additions to the 40-man roster or strategic retention over aggressive selling of future value. In a market where the Rays are positioned more as buyers than sellers given their playoff odds, the calculus favors measured moves that supplement the current roster without mortgaging the years ahead.
Said more plainly: if the Rays are going to make a move, these are the players they need to prioritize in their trade discussions.
The Goodman Inquiry and Setting Boundaries
Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic reported the most recent Rays rumor when discussing the potential availability of breakout young catcher Hunter Goodman in Colorado:
How badly do you want him?
The staring contest between the Rockies and teams seeking to trade for Goodman is on.
Three AL East clubs — the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees — are among the teams expressing varying interest in Goodman, according to people briefed on the Rockies’ conversations but granted anonymity to speak freely. The Rockies, however, face no urgency to move Goodman, who is under club control for three additional seasons. So, they’re asking for multi-player packages led by teams’ No. 1 prospects — outfielder Theo Gillen from the Rays, Franklin Arias from the Red Sox and so on.
This highlights the problematic market dynamics at play. The Rockies, seeking a substantial return for Goodman, have reportedly inquired about Gillen as the centerpiece of any package from the Rays. Goodman, as a productive power bat at home and on the road with years of control remaining, understandably appeals to contending clubs. However, the Rockies’ high asking price—centered on a top prospect—aligns with their lack of urgency to move a player under club control through 2029 and the realities of a sellers market.
For the Rays, this inquiry should serve as a firm boundary. Asking for Gillen can — and should — slam the door shut on any trade negotiations.
Trading Gillen, even in a package for an established major leaguer, would represent a significant departure from the model that has sustained contention. While the Rays have demonstrated willingness to move prospects in the past when they feel the return justifies the cost, both team history — typically waiting until the offseason for such moves when leverage is neutral — and the current depth and Rule 5 considerations tilt strongly toward preservation.
A Sustainable Path Forward
Rays fans understand the franchise’s philosophy around trades is rooted in avoiding the boom-and-bust cycles that plague other markets. The current farm system offers an opportunity to extend the team’s success.
As the August 3 deadline approaches, the expectation is that Neander and company will have explored upgrades, but also while remaining disciplined. The goal remains building a roster capable of not only reaching the postseason this year, but one that ensures relevance for years to come.
Let me finish by acknowledging the devil (rays)’s advocate: Is there a scenario where the Rays could move the likes of Gillen? Yes, of course! But such a deal would be unreasonable, and thus the return must also be one you might consider unreasonable. It would need to be a Godfather offer, one you cannot refuse. There are players that could fit that bill: shortstops Bobby Witt Jr. or Konnor Griffin come to mind. But it’s hard to imagine either being for sale, and even typing it out feels foolish.
It’s not all doom and gloom. Perhaps the Rays will still add a player here or there before August 3rd, a backup catcher and/or a reliever, but at this point I’d rather promote Brayden Taylor to the majors to give him a whirl at second base than trade him alongside Brody Hopkins for the likes of JJ Bleday.
Tampa Bay’s strength has always been foresight. In this moment, it might mean recognizing that the best deals are sometimes the ones not made — especially when they involve the future stars who will define the next era of Rays baseball.
To keep this feature going, I’m going to post simply the WPA numbers and plays of the game, and a poll so you can vote on your choice for Player of the Game. Thomas will update the Rizzo Award standings when he returns.
Game 108, July 29: Cardinals 3, Cubs 2 (61-47)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Matthew Boyd (.438). 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 5 K
Hero: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.302), 1-5, HR
Sidekick: Caleb Thielbar (.135). 1 IP, 2 K
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Trent Thornton (-.806). 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (2 ER)
Goat: Dansby Swanson (-.259). 0-4, R
Kid: Ian Happ (-.136). 0-4, 2 K
I’ll let Thomas weigh in when he returns from vacation, but I’d guess that -.806 WPA score for Thornton is not only the worst of the year for a Cub, but one of the worst in the history of our Heroes and Goats feature.
WPA Play of the Game: Ivan Herrera’s game-winning two-run double in the 10th (.670).
Cubs Play of the Game: PCA’s two-run homer in the top of the 10th (.415).
The two plays above were the top two WPA plays of the entire game.
Up next: The series finale, with Javier Assad facing Andre Pallante. The Cubs still have a chance to win the series.
Jul 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Robby Ahlstrom (54) delivers a pitch to the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Morning, all!
The Rangers addressed two needs last night after a 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay, sending prospect Angel Arredondo to Anaheim for reliever Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O’Hoppe.
O’Hoppe will be headed to Round Rock, as he has seen a dramatic decline in his offensive production over the last year and the Rangers are hoping they can return him to form.
Skip Schumaker says the Rangers have a plan to get O’Hoppe back to where he used to be.
Corey Seager is expected to rejoin the club in Houston this weekend after a lengthy stay on the IL.
Sebastian Walcott stole the show during Seager’s rehab start last night, perhaps highlighting the Rangers’ present and future.
It has been just about one month since NHL free agency started, so most of this year's top UFAs have signed their new contracts.
Although this is the case, a former Buffalo Sabres defenseman is surprisingly still unsigned at this juncture of the off-season: Logan Stanley.
When noting that Stanley had a career year in 2025-26, it is certainly surprising that he has not landed his next contract yet. Even if he cooled off after being traded to the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets, he still had a successful year and would have the potential to be a good pickup for a team needing more size and grit on their blueline.
In 76 games last season split between the Jets and the Sabres, Stanley posted nine goals, 17 assists, 26 points, 110 hits, and 128 penalty minutes. With this, he provided a bit of everything last season, so he should be able to land his next contract soon.
Stanley could be a solid addition to an NHL club that is looking to improve its bottom pairing and penalty kill. It will be interesting to see where the former Sabres defenseman ends up getting signed from here.
