FRISCO, Texas — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager hit a solo homer and made a nifty defensive play in a rehab appearance for Double-A Frisco after being sidelined all this month because of lower back inflammation.
Seager is on the injured list for the third time this season, and has missed 52 games for Texas — one more than he has played for the AL West-leading Rangers. They are 24-28 without the two-time World Series MVP.
Seager went 1 for 2 with a walk and a strikeout against Corpus Christi, homering in the fifth before being replaced in the field after that inning. The top of the third ended when the shortstop made a backhanded stop in the hole and made a strong throw to first for the out.
His last game had been June 30 at Toronto, when he was removed in the first inning because of back discomfort. The rehab appearance came after Seager took live batting practice the previous two days before Rangers home games.
It wasn’t immediately clear when he would rejoin the big league club.
There also are questions about whether Texas might consider trading the 32-year-old shortstop, who is in the fifth season of a 10-year, $325 million contract.
Seager has hit .182 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs in 51 games for the Rangers. He has missed 21 games since going on the injured list again July 1 because of lower back inflammation, the same reason he was out 19 games for another IL stint from May 15-June 4.
He also missed 12 games on the concussion list from June 12-24 after a home-plate collision with Kansas City catcher Carter Jensen.
Seager started 42 of the Rangers’ first 43 games. When he went on the IL the first time, he was hitless in seven consecutive games and mired in an 0-for-27 slump, both the worst streaks in his 12 big league seasons.
The fact that Mike Piazza is a metalhead really fits with this beef. I believe it’s quite metal to shake out your mullet and be like, “The Dodgers drafted me when no one else would, but f-you corporate ownership, I don’t owe you no debt of gratitude!”
Now it might be slightly less metal to then say, “so make me the highest paid player in baseball or I’m gonna be distracted on the field, $81 million is not enough for me I have expensive taste.” But I’m not a heavy metal expert! Band t-shirts are probably expensive, officially licensed ones at least, maybe you have to be rich to be a metalhead?
Either way, In a bitter contract dispute in 1998, Los Angeles saw Piazza as greedy and disloyal, and Piazza saw the Dodgers organization as calculating and disloyal, and the fans fickle. He also blamed Vin Scully for his “Greedy Mike” label and that right there turned this beef from soft supple meat that could in theory be easily squashed, to an everlasting gobstopper, flamin’ beef flavor.
Wait… that sounds kind of good.. Or at least interesting, in a weird 7-11-spiciest-chip sort of way? Not my intent with the metaphor, but Willy Wonka, hit me up.
Jul 12, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Jake McCarthy (31) before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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 so far this week, 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 today at 2:10 pm.
DETROIT — Tarik Skubal still is the ace of the Detroit Tigers’ pitching staff as far as manager A.J. Hinch is concerned.
Hinch confirmed Skubal still is scheduled to start against the Baltimore Orioles.
With the Tigers at 50-57 and the Aug. 3 trade deadline quickly approaching, it seemed possible that the Tigers would rest Skubal to avoid a possible injury heading into the trade deadline.
“We’re trying to win the series to put us in a better position to be a playoff team,” Hinch said. “The information I have is, win the series. We obviously need to win tonight to get to that position. But I fully expect him to start.”
The two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner is 4-3 with a 2.70 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings since returning from experimental elbow surgery in just six weeks.
Skubal has made it clear he wants to finish the season with the Tigers and lead them to a third straight postseason berth. But, the decision is out of his hands. He’s a free agent at the end of the season, and with Scott Boras as his agent, the odds are high that he’s going to make it to the open market.
That’s a tough spot for a franchise that doesn’t normally compete with the Dodgers, Yankees and other big-city teams for top free agents. That means Scott Harris, Detroit’s president of baseball operations, has to focus on the balance between winning this season and making sure Skubal doesn’t leave for nothing.
Skubal obviously is tired of talking about the trade possibilities, and is staying focused on facing the Orioles.
“I’m pitching tomorrow and I’ve got something cool that I want to accomplish at home,” he said, referring to the one strikeout he needs to reach 1,000 for his career. “That hasn’t changed.”
Skubal still is around, but the Tigers did say goodbye to the player who was his exclusive catcher early in his career.
Catcher Jake Rogers was designated for assignment to make room for Javier Báez, who has been out since April 28 with an ankle injury.
Ironically, the Tigers acquired Rogers the last time they dealt away their ace — he was part of the return when Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros at the 2017 trade deadline.
Rogers was considered one of the game’s best defensive catchers from the day he made his debut in 2019, but his bat kept him from having a better career in Detroit. He spent 2020 on Detroit’s taxi squad, then missed the 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery.
He’s hitting .161 in 34 games this year, bringing his career average to .197, and lost his job as Skubal’s personal catcher to All-Star Dillon Dingler.
None of that made it easier for his teammates when they found out.
“We were all holding back tears,” first baseman Spencer Torkelson said. “Jake was a big piece of this team for a long time. He helped create our identity. Talk about a guy who showed up each and every day as the same guy.
“It hurts.”
Hinch agreed.
“It’s tough,” he said. “I love Jake. He’s been here as long as I have.”
Tarik Skubal's 150th career start with the Detroit Tigers won't be like any before it because there's growing uncertainty about whether he'll be wearing the same uniform the next time he takes the mound. The 2026 MLB trade deadline will have passed when Skubal is next scheduled to pitch, and by then the Tigers' brass will have decided whether to keep their 29-year-old ace for a playoff push or make him the most coveted player available.
Detroit risks losing him to another team without getting the substantial prospect haul arguably the best pitcher in baseball would command if traded before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Here's more on Skubal's contract situation, what teams are considered serious potential landing spots for him ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and how he's performing this season for the Tigers:
Skubal is eligible for free agency after the 2026 season and his looming contract situation is why the Tigers are considering a trade.
Skubal is pitching for the Tigers this year on a 1-year, $32-million contract after he was awarded a record arbitration salary by a three-person panel in February 2026. He earned $10.15 million during the 2025 season when he won the AL Cy Young Award for the second year in a row.
Tarik Skubal stats
Skubal enters Wednesday's game with a 7-5 record and 2.70 earned run average over 15 starts and 90 innings during the 2026 MLB season. Skubal had a career-best ERA of 2.21 in 2025 when he finished with a 13-6 record. His ERA was 2.39 in 2024 when he had a career-best 18-4 record and won the first of his two-straight AL Cy Young Awards.
Tarik Skubal trade rumors and landing spots
Skubal's list of potential suitors fall into two groups, both of which feature World Series contenders, if the Tigers ultimately decide to make a trade ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. There will be MLB teams that want to trade for Skubal as a short-term rental for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. There are also teams that could trade for the lefty in hopes of also getting the inside track on locking up the ace on a new long-term contract.
Here are six possible landing spots for a Skubal trade:
But there was another LA team that was interested in signing the four-time NBA champion — the Clippers.
LeBron James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency this summer. EPA
According to ESPN insider Dave McMenamin, the Clippers offered James a one-year deal worth more than $20 million. The contract presented a chance for James to stay in his Brentwood home, but he declined.
The 41-year-old spent nearly a month mulling over his options in free agency, which eventually came down to five finalists: the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and 76ers.
A return to either Miami or Cleveland would have made perfect sense for James, with nobody questioning the decision. Teaming up with Steph Curry in the Bay Area also would’ve been palatable by basketball fans.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer isn’t afraid to make bold moves to improve the franchise, like offering LeBron James a one-year deal upwards of $20 million. APAfter eight seasons with the Lakers, LeBron James is headed to the Eastern Conference. AP
Just like the previous three franchises he brought championships to before, James will have to perform at the highest level. Not only making a sacrifice to start fresh with a new organization, but also leaving his family on the west coast while he spends the NBA season living in New York City.
McMenamin provided insight into James’ decision to leave the city of LA, despite having spent the last eight years under the bright lights of Hollywood.
“But if it was just about the money, he could have stayed home and played for the Clippers,” McMenamin wrote.
“Ultimately, his decision — the last decision of this nature in his career — was all about finding that feeling of fully immersing himself in a basketball environment of his choosing.”
The King’s No. 23 jersey with the Sixers broke Fanatics’ record for most jerseys sold in the first 48 hours after a player joins a team in any sport, according to NBC10’s partner, the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The previous record was held by Shohei Ohtani after he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, according to the Journal. However, the exact number of jersey sales was not released.
Fanatics has been the e-commerce partner of the NBA since 2015.
The Yankees (61-46) look to make it three straight over the White Sox (55-51) tonight at Rate Field following last night’s 3-2 win.
Last night was a tightly contested pitching duel that saw the Yankees build an early lead and then survive a late White Sox rally. New York scored all three of its runs in the second inning against White Sox starter Anthony Kay. The rally began when Jasson Domínguez singled and Trent Grisham followed with a hit. Anthony Volpe then drilled an RBI double to deep center field, scoring Domínguez. Two batters later, Max Schuemann delivered the biggest hit of the game, a two-run double that plated both Grisham and Volpe for a 3-0 Yankees lead. The story for most of the evening, though, was Gerrit Cole, who looked dominant in his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Cole worked six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out seven and walking two. Chicago struggled to generate offense until the ninth inning. Yankees closer David Bednar entered looking for his 22nd save, but Braden Montgomery singled and Chase Meidroth followed with a dramatic two-run homer to left field, trimming the deficit to 3-2. Bednar regrouped, however, striking out former Yankee Everson Pereira to end the game and secure the save.
The Yankees have now won five of their last six games and are within 1½ games of first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East, while the White Sox remain atop the AL Central despite dropping four of their last five.
It seemed like the Sox were facing the ace of the Yankees’ staff last night but tonight Chicago must face New York's current ace, Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2-07 ERA). His most recent start came on July 24 against the Phillies. He threw 7.1 shutout innings allowing just three hits while striking out 12. The White Sox will send Davis Martin (9-5, 3.49 ERA) to the bump. The right-hander has had a breakthrough season but has been inconsistent of late allowing 12 earned runs over his last 18 innings.
Lets dive further into tonight’s game and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. White Sox
Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Rate Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Prime Video, CSN, WCIU-TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. White Sox
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-144), Chicago White Sox (+119)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+119), White Sox +1.5 (-144)
Total: 7.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers – Yankees vs. White Sox for July 29
White Sox: Davis Martin Season Totals: 111.0 IP, 9-5, 3.49 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 100K, 33 BB
Trent Grisham picked up a hit last night to snap an 0-15 skid
Paul Goldschmidt saw his modest 4-game hitting streak snapped last night
Jasson Dominguez is 4-8 in this series and has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games (10-36)
Colson Montgomery is 0-3 with 2 Ks in his career against Cam Schlittler
Sam Antonacci is 0-5 in this series
Munetaka Murakami has struck out 3 times in 9 trips to the plate this series
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. White Sox
The White Sox are 62-43 on the Run Line this season
The Yankees are 51-55 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 59 times in Chicago’s 105 games this season (59-44-2)
The OVER has cashed 45 times in New York’s 106 games this season (45-57-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. White Sox
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the White Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 7.5
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It seems that Mets right-hander Clay Holmes is ready to return to the majors after missing more than two months due to a broken fibula, but his next step is up in the air.
"We'll continue to evaluate that as we get closer to the deadline," interim manager Andy Green said before the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Braves at Citi Field. "Obviously, anybody can count out and figure out what five days is from now, and it's Sunday before the deadline. So acknowledge that there's a decision to be made around that.
"We'll partner with him in making that decision. We'll have to wait until he gets past his bullpen, regardless, to make a declaration of what's next. So I think we've got a few days here to kind of let things play out."
Holmes holds a $12 million player option for next season that he is all but certain to decline, making him a near lock to be traded ahead of the deadline if he and the Mets don't agree to a contract extension.
SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes recently reported that there was mutual interest in an extension, but Holmes said last week that there hadn't been much progress toward one.
It is of course possible that the Mets trade Holmes and re-sign him after the season, which would allow them to have their cake and eat it too.
With most MLB teams still in contention, there are only a handful of true sellers, which could be advantageous for a Mets team that is expected to trade Holmes, Freddy Peralta, Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter, and perhaps others -- including setup man Luke Weaver, who is under contract through 2027.
It's nearly a week later, other NBA business is going down, yet all anyone around the league — executives, players, fans — seems to talk about is LeBron James' decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers. Here are the latest reactions and fallout from the decision
Draymond Green talks LeBron’s reasoning
Not many people met with LeBron during his decision-making process, he kept the circle tight, but Draymond Green was one of the exceptions. On his Draymond Green Show podcast, he talked about what he believed was behind LeBron's decision.
Draymond reacts to LeBron's decision to sign with the 76ers instead of Warriors
"I ultimately don't think Bron was ever able to get over the history and I understand it, I get it... he's gonna get crushed if he comes to the Warriors, 'ahhhh man you went to team up with Steph'… pic.twitter.com/K5PdHwUIUC
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) July 28, 2026
"You look at Golden State, and I ultimately don't think Bron was ever able to get over the history, and I understand it, I get it. What we all ultimately always knew was like, that's the hurdle to get over. I don't think it's the team, the organization, anything else. I think it's the history. We live in a day and age where everybody who doesn't have anything to say has something to say. And so, he's gonna get crushed if he comes to the Warriors, 'Ahh man, you went to team up with Steph, you had to go to them.' I think ultimately that weighed in on the decision a lot. That played a big role in the Warriors not landing LeBron."
LeBron's haters were going to criticize any decision he made, and he understood that, which is why what others thought likely played no role in his choice. The history with the Warriors thing, that is real, something ESPN’s Anthony Slater talked about on NBA Today (that and the fact the Warriors, even with LeBron, would not be contenders).
"I had a source tell me they think LeBron would have been more interested in playing with Steph Curry elsewhere, away from the Warriors, than actually going to the Warriors, just because of the history. And they think that's part of the reason they were never ultimately considered."
Which is why the idea that if the Warriors had traded for Anthony Davis things would have been different doesn't fly. If the Warriors had been told by Rich Paul or LeBron that landing Davis guaranteed he was coming to the Bay Area the Warriors would have approached a Davis trade differently (and far more aggressively), but that was never the message given the Golden State front office.
While the public story was that Rich Paul was the sole intermediary between LeBron and the front offices and ownership of the teams he was considering, that was not totally true. ESPN's Shams Charania had previously reported that LeBron met with Cavaliers ownership, and on his Game Over podcast, LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, confirmed that.
The Cavaliers made their pitch and ultimately it was just not enough, but LeBron did meet with them.
How the 76ers found out
The Philadelphia 76ers didn't find out they had won the LeBron sweepstakes until just before the announcement went public — and they found out via a text from Rich Paul, reports Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Paul's group text reached a contingent of 76ers stakeholders all at once, including team governor Josh Harris; co-owner David Blitzer; Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president Bob Myers; executive vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson; and two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey.
"Congrats," the text read. "Sixers it is."
76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey found out in a separate text, he was back in his native Ohio with family at the time.
He walked upstairs to tell his wife, Amy, first. "I'm like, 'Babe, we just got LeBron,'" Gansey told ESPN. "She's like, 'What?!' I'll never forget that. And just seeing Rich's texts and being like, 'Oh my gosh, here we go.'"
Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million contract extension with the Sharks.
Sharks star Macklin Celebrini has signed a massive new contract extension that will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL.
The new deal is a five-year, $94 million contract that has a record $18.8 million average annual value, surpassing the $18 million AAV Leo Carlsson got on his five-year, $90 million deal when the Ducks matched the Flyers’ offer sheet earlier this month.
Celebrini, 20, was eligible to sign an extension since he is entering the final year of his entry-level contract with the Sharks and it will kick in at the start of the 202-28 season.
Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million contract extension with the Sharks. Getty Images
“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini said in a statement. “The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can’t wait to get going.”
The 2024 No. 1 overall pick has developed into a star for San Jose, setting a franchise record during the 2025-26 season with 115 points and he recorded the second most goals in Sharks history with 45.
Celebrini had also been a finalist for the Ted Lindsey Award for most outstanding player, which is voted on by the NHL Players Association.
Leo Carlsson had set a record with an $18 million AAV when the Ducks matched the Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet. NHLI via Getty Images
“In just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the International stage, Macklin has established himself as one of the premier players in the world,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. “We are extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.
“As we continue our goal of building a team capable of annually competing for the Stanley Cup, we want to thank Macklin and his representatives for a respectful negotiation process, and acknowledge the flexibility they have provided to the team in how we allocate future dollars towards the team being constructed around Macklin.”
San Jose Sharks General Manager Mike Grier has now gotten his biggest piece of business done, as the team announced on Wednesday morning that they have signed Macklin Celebrini to a five-year contract extension that makes him the highest-paid player in the league.
Celebrini’s new contract carries an average annual value of $18.8 million, $800k more than the deal Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson signed earlier this summer.
"In just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the International stage, Macklin has established himself as one of the premier players in the world,” Grier said in the press release for the move. “We are extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.”
Celebrini has already broken a number of records during his time with the Sharks and we’ve only seen him scratch the surface of his career. He also finished fourth in the NHL in points last season with 115, setting the Sharks franchise record for points in a season.
“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini said in the press release. “The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can’t wait to get going.”
The 2026 NHLPA Rookie Showcase, which will be held in a different location this year, will feature St. Louis Blues top prospect Justin Carbonneau.
The Rookie Showcase is now being hosted at the Blackhawks Ice Center in Chicago, Ill, kicked off on Tuesday, and will run through Thursday.
The event had been held in Washington for the last four years but has now moved to Chicago for the very first time.
The Rookie Showcase is largely a promotional event, where rookies don their clubs' jerseys as they pose for trading cards and other collectable merchandise. Many autographed items, specifically pucks, are gathered during this event.
Additionally, the rookies will have their faces scanned for the EA Sports NHL video game.
Carbonneau, a 19-year-old right winger, is preparing for his first season of professional hockey. The 19th overall pick of the 2025 NHL draft scored 51 goals and 80 points in 60 games last season for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL.
He did receive some AHL experience, skating in three playoff games with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Carbonneau is likely to start the season in the AHL, but he does have his sights set on making the opening night roster. He'll be required to outperform several other Blues players, but with his power forward abilities, Carbonneau has the tools to do so.
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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 107, July 28: Cubs 10, Cardinals 2 (61-46)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Billy Goat: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.019). 0-4, SF, RBI
Goat/Kid: James Triantos/Justin Dean (.000). Triantos 0-1, Dean 1-1.
PCA was the only Cub with negative WPA in this game.
WPA Play of the Game: Ian Happ’s two-run double in the first inning (.153)
Cardinals Play of the Game: Masyn Winn’s single in the fourth that loaded the bases (.022).
Up next: Game 3 of this four-game set, with Matthew Boyd facing Dustin May. Boyd’s been really good over his last six starts since returning from his knee injury. The Cubs have a good chance of taking the series.
Women Sportswriter Anna Bond of Channel 7 NY interview a very shy and modest New York Yankees player Gary Thomasson. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images Archives/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s birthday belongs to a little-known Yankee, Gary Thomasson. If the name does not ring a bell, it is likely because Thomasson only spent half a season in the Bronx. That season just happened to be 1978, when the Yankees were busy erasing a 14.5-game deficit, surviving the one-game playoff against Boston, and winning another World Series over the Dodgers. Compared to all that, the arrival of a solid role player barely made the headlines, but the man got to depart with a championship ring to his name.
Gary Leah Thomasson Born: July 29, 1951 (San Diego, CA) Yankees Tenure: 1978
Thomasson’s journey began on the West Coast, where he was born in sunny San Diego in 1951. While he was still a toddler, his family moved north to Oceanside, California, where he attended Oceanside High School. Following graduation, the San Francisco Giants selected Thomasson in the seventh round of the 1969 MLB Draft.
It only took a few years for the right-handed hitter to reach the major leagues. In 1972, the Giants promoted Thomasson, and he appeared in 10 games as a 21-year-old. His first taste of the majors resulted in nine hits in 27 at-bats. That brief audition, along with a strong spring training the following year, earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster for 1973.
During his first full season, Thomasson played all three outfield positions and first base for the Giants. It was a solid rookie campaign. In 112 games, he slashed .285/.345/.413 and earned a spot on the Topps All-Star Rookie Team.
Over the next four seasons, Thomasson continued to move around the diamond, playing all three outfield spots and first base. None of those years were particularly flashy, but he consistently produced positive value. In 1977, Thomasson enjoyed the best season of his career, setting career highs with 17 home runs, a .809 OPS, and 2.8 WAR.
The Giants capitalized on that breakout by including Thomasson in a blockbuster trade across the bay to the Athletics before the 1978 season. The deal sent Gary Alexander, Dave Heaverlo, Phil Huffman, John Henry Johnson, Alan Wirth, Mario Guerrero, Thomasson, and $300,000 to Oakland in exchange for former MVP pitcher Vida Blue. Thomasson appeared in just 47 games for the A’s before being traded again.
On June 15, 1978, the Yankees acquired Thomasson from Oakland for Dell Alston, Mickey Klutts, and $50,000. It marked the first time in his professional career that he played for an organization outside of California. Fortunately, he did have one familiar face waiting in New York, as fellow Oceanside High School alumnus Chris Chambliss was already starring at first base for the Bombers.
Thomasson appeared in 54 games for the Yankees, once again playing all three outfield positions. In 130 plate appearances, the lefty batter slashed .276/.346/.405 with a 114 OPS+ and three home runs—all oddly within a three-day span in early July—while providing quality depth for a club furiously chasing down another championship after being left for dead in the first half.
The Yankees defeated the Royals in the ALCS before earning revenge against the Dodgers in the World Series to capture the franchise’s 22nd championship. Thomasson appeared in three World Series games, going 1-for-4 at the plate, and earned the only championship ring of his career. He was in left field when Goose Gossage recorded the final out, a popup to captain Thurman Munson.
During the offseason, the Yankees sent Thomasson back to California in a trade with the Dodgers for Brad Gulden. After two seasons in Los Angeles, the Dodgers sold his contract to the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.
To lure Thomasson overseas, the Yomiuri Giants signed him to what was said to be the richest contract in Nippon Professional Baseball history at the time, reportedly three years and $1.2 million. Unfortunately, the investment did not pay off. Thomasson struggled at the plate, nearly setting the single-season strikeout record before eventually losing his starting job.
Oddly enough, Thomasson’s struggles created a legacy that had nothing to do with baseball. Japanese artist Genpei Akasegawa coined the term “Hyperart Thomasson,” using the outfielder’s name to describe architectural objects that are maintained despite serving no practical purpose, such as a staircase leading to a brick wall. The phrase remains part of Japanese culture to this day.
Thomasson may not have left much of a mark on Yankees history, but he certainly left one on Japanese culture. Not many players can say that!
Happy 75th birthday, Gary!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
