Believe it or not, it's been a little over four years since former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall acquired Rickard Rakell at the 2022 NHL trade deadline.
He was exactly what the Penguins needed and has been a stalwart in the top six ever since. He's had to go through multiple offseasons of trade rumors, including this one, but he's still with the Penguins and has two seasons left on his contract.
Rakell had a career season in 2024-25, finishing with 35 goals and 70 points in 81 games. His 35 goals and 70 points were career highs.
He followed that season up with 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games this past season and would've been close to his numbers from the 2024-25 season if he hadn't missed a month and a half in the first half of the season with a broken left hand.
Rakell spent a good chunk of the season as one of Sidney Crosby's wingers, but also spent time at center, a position he wasn't familiar with before this season. It was a major adjustment for him since he had to become more comfortable taking draws, becoming even more of a 200-foot player, and killing penalties.
He had barely spent any time on the penalty kill over the last five seasons before playing 34:57 on that unit this past season. It was Rakell's most time on the PK since the 2019-20 season, when he spent 45:04 on the Anaheim Ducks' penalty kill.
While Rakell did improve at center as the season went on, he's still a natural winger, and I expect him to start the 2026-27 season next to Crosby and Bryan Rust. Rakell is super comfortable with Crosby and does a great job reading off him while he's on the ice. If injuries do come up for some of the Penguins centers, Rakell can still shift to that position for a handful of games.
Some of the deployment on the top power play unit might be different for the 2026-27 season, but I'd still have Rakell up there. He's great in the slot area and has one of the top shots on the team. He also has the ability to move around and keep the opposing penalty killers honest.
Rakell might be another year older heading into this season (33), but I still expect him to score between 20 and 30 goals and finish with 50 and 60 points. He's been at or above that level in three of the last four seasons, and I don't see it changing right now. I'd be fairly surprised if he had a season similar to his 2023-24 year when he only shot 9.1% and finished with only 15 goals and 37 points.
He'll be a key component for a Penguins team that's trying to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second season in a row.
SEATTLE, WA - MAY 27: Starter Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after a striking out Carlos Santana #41 of the Pittsburgh Pirates to end the top half of the sixth inning of a game at T-Mobile Park on May 27, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Castillo was brought in at the 2022 trade deadline, my whole perspective on this franchise shifted. Riding a 14-game winning streak, the Mariners found themselves in a playoff spot at the deadline. It was time. A top-10 prospect and a top-50 prospect plus two depth pieces was a high price, but I was sure Castillo was worth it. And for as good as Castillo was, it’s hard to overstate how much that trade meant. It was a signal about who the Mariners were as a franchise. They were in it for real.
And as for the man himself, I was smitten right away. Meeting up with the team in New York, Castillo dyed the end of his hair teal and blue to replace the Cincinnati Red. He was all in. He struck out 8 Yankees over 6.2 innings, picking up the first of his 43 wins in a Mariners uniform. The fact that the Mariners had outbid the Yankees to get Castillo only sweetened the moment, underlining Castillo’s meaning. He followed that up in his first home start at T-Mobile by facing the Yankees again, pitching eight shutout innings in the best game I’ve ever seen. Those were the first two of 11 starts he ripped off to close out 2022 with a 3.17 ERA and a strikeout rate of 28.9%.
On a team that had been lacking a frontline starter, he was the obvious choice to start Game 1 of the Wild Card Round. The only swear word in the Sun Hat Award record book refers to why he won the award that day: “for kicking the shit out of the Blue Jays in Seattle’s first postseason game in 21 years.” His final line that day? 7.1 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 5 K, 0 BB, 19 whiffs. He averaged—averaged—100 mph on both his four-seamer and his two-seamer. Luis Castillo was the proof. The Mariners had arrived.
He followed that up with an All-Star 2023. His final numbers belie how elite that season was. He pitched at least five innings in 32 of his 33 starts, living up to his La Piedra nickname. His 3.01 ERA and K-BB% of 21.8% through August had him entering the season’s final month in the pole position for the Cy Young Award.
Along the way, he was always the showman, even helping keep things light through the team’s struggles, using his signature flex to joke around with Shohei Ohtani. And he fought to keep the team in the running, collecting 22 whiffs in the game that saw his 1,000th career strikeout. It was a season that saw the MLB debuts of Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, and Emerson Hancock. Certainly each of them was impressive as a rookie, but it’s easy to forget in retrospect how much they struggled and how much it mattered that Castillo was there to keep the ship steady.
As the team scuffled through 2024, Castillo was a shining beacon of competence. He was a key part of the rotation’s stretch of 21 consecutive games allowing 2 runs or fewer. One of those starts was his nine-strikeout dismantling of the Rockies as the snow fell in the Denver night, smacking down all the talk about how he’s a hot-weather pitcher.
It was the first year of his decline, but he was making adjustments to keep making it work, including a mid-game adjustment in a game against Anaheim to complete a sweep. That was one of several games when his fastest pitch of the night was his last one. Emptying the tank at the end is just one of many stratagems he shared with his rotationmates that helped them ascend to their own stardom.
Castillo’s arrival really signaled something about the franchise. And if all he did was anchor the 2022 stretch run, that would have been enough. But as the years passed by, his legacy came into clearer focus. From the time Bryan Woo replaced Marco Gonzales in June 2023, this rotation belonged to Castillo. Yesterday, Logan Gilbert told Angie Mentink, “Luis [always] told me after a bad outing, don’t change anything. You don’t need to change anything.” La Piedra was such a steady, level-headed presence that he could even get that message through to his most neurotic teammate. Gilbert reports that after one particularly bad bullpen outing, “He told me, ‘Don’t think too much, don’t change too much, don’t try too hard.’ . . . He knew the right words to say at the right time. He was always that way.”
Last year, the Mariners entered the season with the rotation as the unquestioned strength of the team, practically its whole identity. But while it was a strength, the starters struggled to stay on the field. Castillo was the only pitcher to make each and every one of his scheduled starts. Though he was no longer the front man of the rotation, he remained the rock. In that way, he was the man who led this franchise to its first division title in a quarter century. It’s no wonder he was on the mound the night they clinched that title, striking out 10 over 7.1 innings of one-hit ball.
Age comes for us all, and rosters turn over. Luis Castillo was the veteran who steadied the young team, and now the time has come for him to help shepherd another young team. The Mariners rotation is five home-grown grown-ups now. But they grew up under Luis Castillo, and that’s a mark that won’t be forgotten. When the Mariners celebrate their 100th season, he’ll be in the video highlights.
Before today’s game, Andrés Muñoz said, “Today is a sad day.” I couldn’t agree more. Castillo was a giant, and he gets a rare off-recap Sun Hat Award, his fifth and final one, in honor of his four years of exceptional service to the franchise, to the fan base, and to me. Gracias, La Piedra. La Piedra Para Siempre.
Jonathan Cannon 3.27 ERA, 22 IP, 5 BB, 20 K Mason Adams 2.08 ERA, 17 1/3 IP, 10 BB, 15 K Shane Murphy 7.79 ERA, 17 1/3 IP, 7 BB, 12 K Shane Smith 5.17 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 10 BB, 18 K David Sandlin 2.92 ERA, 12 1/3 IP, 10 BB, 8 K Tanner McDougal 2.79 ERA, 9 2/3 IP, 6 BB, 11 K Hagen Smith 1.80 ERA, 5 IP, 3 BB, 8 K
The Knights had another strong month, going 14-10, and they are 10 games above .500 as of the end of July. Their overall record puts them in third out of 10 teams in the International League East this season.
With Jacob Gonzalez out of Charlotte (and the organization due to a trade with Pittsburgh), first baseman Ryan Galanie, 26, has been stepping up in a big way for the Knights. After Gonzalez won the first two Knight of the Month awards, Galanie has accomplished the same feat. In July, Galanie went 28-for-85 with six homers, four doubles, 21 RBIs, and his four stolen base attempts were all successful. The White Sox selected Galanie in the 13th round of the 2023 draft, and he has been more successful in his climb toward the majors than most anticipated. Galanie was promoted from Birmingham to Charlotte on April 17, and since then, in 73 games, he has been a consistent threat at the plate, slashing .294/.348/.580.
2026 Charlotte Knights Players of the Month Jacob Gonzalez (March-April) Jacob Gonzalez(May) Ryan Galanie (June) Ryan Galanie (July)
Birmingham Barons July record13-11; Second half record 14-17; Overall record 40-60
Barons Player of the Month Boston Smith .306/.479/.667, 72 at-bats (traded to Seattle on August 1)
Lucas Gordon 5.18 ERA, 24 1/3 IP, 10 BB, 23 K Jake Palisch 4.50 ERA, 24 IP, 9 BB, 14 K Dylan Cumming 3.60 ERA, 15 IP, 3 BB, 11 K Jackson Kelley 5.40 ERA, 13 1/3 IP, 6 BB, 15 K Connor McCullough 2.25 ERA, 12 IP, 7 BB, 16 K
Overall, after winning the Southern League Championship in 2024 and 2025, the Barons have not lived up to the hype from recent seasons. However, they put together a solid month, finishing slightly above .500 in July.
Once again, I am writing about Boston Smith winning a monthly award. Smith was the Dash Player of the Month in May and June, so it is no surprise that he was promoted to the Barons on July 1. Since then, Smith has wasted no time making an impact at the higher level. Since the promotion, Smith is 22-for-72 with eight homers, two doubles, 23 walks, and 18 RBIs. Since Smith entered the organization in exchange for Curtis Mead, Smith has exceeded expectations in a huge way. Although Smith’s stock was unremarkable at the beginning of the season, he became the No. 15 White Sox prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. That changed on the evening of Saturday, August 1, when a trade was announced. Smith, along with Seranthony Domínguez and Nolan Jones, is headed to the Mariners in exchange for Luis Castillo. Best of luck to these players as they begin the next chapter of their careers!
2026 Birmingham Barons Players of the Month Braden Montgomery (April) Anthony DePino (May) Anthony DePino (June) Boston Smith (July)
Winston-Salem Dash July record12-12; Second half record 17-17; Overall record 55-45
Dash Player of the Month Ryan Burrowes .329/.417/.658, 8-for-9 stolen bases, 73 at-bats (promoted to Birmingham on July 28)
Grant Umberger 5.40 ERA, 25 IP, 7 BB, 24 K Justin Sinibaldi 2.25 ERA, 20 IP, 11 BB, 15 K Max Banks 1.06 ERA, 17 IP, 4 BB, 8 K Jake Curtis 1.15 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 2 BB, 10 K Drew McDaniel 4.70 ERA, 15 1/3 IP, 4 BB, 22 K
The Dash broke even in July, winning 12 of 24, and they remain exactly .500 in the second half of the season. At 55-45 overall, they are second out of six teams in the South Division of the South Atlantic League.
Ryan Burrowes, 21, earned a promotion on July 28, and it is easy to see why. Burrowes, who plays second base, third base, and left field, was on fire for the Dash. In July, Burrowes went 24-for-73 with five homers, two triples, five doubles, 10 walks, and eight steals while only getting caught once. In 88 games with the Dash, Burrowes slashed .261/.379/.421 (114 wRC+) while providing solid defense, and he played a sizable role in Winston-Salem’s success. It will be interesting to follow the young utility player as he gets tested by Double-A pitching moving forward.
2026 Winston-Salem Dash Players of the Month Colby Shelton (April) Boston Smith (May) Boston Smith (June) Ryan Burrowes (July)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers July record 13-11; Second half record 17-17; Overall record 50-50
Cannon Ballers Player of the Month Jaden Fauske .282/.446/.366, 13-for-15 stolen bases, 71 at-bats
Alexander Albertus .290/.410/.464, 69 at-bats Stiven Flores .283/.375/.333, 60 at-bats Nick McLain .268/.389/.357, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 56 at-bats Matthew Boughton .194/.325/.299, 6-for-7 stolen bases, 67 at-bats
Gabe Tanner 3.91 ERA, 25 1/3 IP, 13 BB, 11 K Truman Pauley 5.74 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 8 BB, 14 K Alexander Martinez 4.11 ERA, 15 1/3 IP, 6 BB, 18 K Anthony Patterson 2.25 ERA, 12 IP, 7 BB, 13 K Ryan Schiefer 2.51 ERA, 14 1/3 IP, 10 BB, 14 K
The Cannon Ballers have had a roller coaster of a season. They got off to a dreadful start in April, but they recovered in a big way in May. Since then, Kannapolis has settled into a middle-of-the pack team, and they went 13-11 in July to keep that trend going.
Outfielder Jaden Fauske, 19, showed off multiple tools during an impressive month. The South Siders drafted Fauske in the second round of the 2025 draft, and like Landon Thome, Fauske went to Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Illinois. Fauske, who is primarily a center fielder, posted a .446 OBP in July, and he was a major threat after reaching base, swiping 13 bases in 15 attempts (86.7%). Overall, Fauske is 35-for-42 (83.3%) in stolen base attempts. As MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 White Sox prospect, Fauske is a well-rounded player, receiving 55 grades for his hit and run tools and 50 grades for his others. Given the abilities he has displayed to reach base frequently, cover a lot of ground in center, and steal bases, MLB Pipeline may be selling him a bit short.
2026 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Players of the Month Max Banks (April) Max Banks (May) Blaine Wynk (June) Jaden Fauske (July)
ACL White Sox July record 7-11; Overall record 19-41
Complex Sox Player of the Month Landon Hodge .333/.471/.519, 2-for-2 stolen bases, 27 at-bats
The Complex Sox wrapped up their season in July, and it was not a season to remember. The Complex Sox stumbled to a 19-41 finish, although they finished on a high note, winning five of their last nine.
Catcher Landon Hodge, 19, was a big reason behind the team’s solid finish to the season. In July, Hodge went 9-for-27 with a triple, three doubles, six walks, and both of his stolen base attempts were successful. The White Sox selected Hodge in the fourth round of the 2025 draft. Hodge struggled out of the starting blocks of his first professional season, but he turned it around in a big way down the stretch.
2026 Complex Sox Players of the Month Kendry García(May) Yordani Soto (June) Landon Hodge (July)
DSL White Sox July record 10-8; Overall record 16-24
DSL White Sox Player of the Month Ronald Cardozo .389/.453/.648, 51 at-bats
David Colmenares 2.03 ERA, 13 1/3 IP, 3 BB, 15 K Franchel Crisostomo 6.75 ERA, 12 IP, 17 BB, 13 K Jhoriel De La Rosa 3.18 ERA, 11 1/3 IP, 3 BB, 9 K José Taveras 5.56 ERA, 11 1/3 IP, 8 BB, 14 K Roderic Ramírez 10.45 ERA, 10 1/3 IP, 4 BB, 3 K
Against all odds, the DSL White Sox posted a 10-8 record in July. I did not think they had the potential for a month of .500+ baseball, but they proved me wrong.
Catcher and first baseman Ronald Cardozo, 17, was on a different level in July. Without Cardozo’s excellence at the plate, we would not be discussing the surprisingly strong performance by the DSL White Sox. Cardozo went 21-for-54 with three homers, a triple, three doubles, seven walks, and 21 RBIs. From start to finish, Cardozo was a major threat, and especially given his age and ability to play behind the plate, he has been one of the better stories from the DSL this season.
2026 DSL White Sox Players of the Month Sebastian Romero (June) Ronald Cardozo (July)
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 22: A detailed look at the jersey of Kyle Karros of the Colorado Rockies during a game against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field on July 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
July has come to a close and there are just two months left in the 2026 MLB season. The Rockies are 45-67 and on pace for a final record of 65-97.
July featured the All-Star Game, which saw Hunter Goodman participate for the second year in a row. It has also featured the lead-up to the trade deadline, which will take place at 4pm MT tomorrow.
But looking back before the team is potentially broken up, there were plenty of standouts in July:
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs bolstered their rotation on Sunday night, acquiring right-hander Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The addition of Gausman is likely only the beginning for Chicago as it looks for pitching ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. The Cubs have weathered injuries to several key pitchers on their way to a 63-49 record and the top spot in the NL wild-card standings.
Gausman worked 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Toronto’s 5-1 win over St. Louis on Saturday. He could make his first start for Chicago on Thursday, when the Cubs host the Blue Jays in the makeup of a June 21 rainout.
Chicago also traded Jameson Taillon and cash to Toronto on Sunday for a player to be named or cash. Taillon was designated for assignment by the Cubs last Monday.
The durable Gausman, who is eligible for free agency after this season, is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts. He pitched at least 174 2/3 innings and made at least 31 starts in each of the previous five years.
Gausman helped Toronto reach the 2025 World Series, going 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA in six postseason starts. The Blue Jays lost in the Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers, a possible playoff opponent for the Cubs this year.
Toronto began this season with championship aspirations, but it dropped to 52-60 with Sunday’s 5-1 loss to St. Louis. Right-hander Shane Bieber and outfielder Daulton Varsho also could be on the move ahead of the deadline.
The Blue Jays acquired minor leaguers Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene in the deal with the Cubs. Bateman was an eighth-round pick in the 2023 amateur draft, and Southisene was a fourth-round selection in 2024.
Bateman, a 24-year-old outfielder, hit .312 with three homers, 20 steals and 33 RBIs in 82 games for Triple-A Iowa this season. Southisene, a 21-year-old shortstop, hit .326 in 44 games for High-A South Bend.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the Semifinals on July 18, 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, that was a frantic offseason.
Last time we did one of these, it was before NBA free agency and so many possibilities existed. At the time, LeBron James returning to the Lakers was certainly on the table and few would have predicted the way free agency would go.
But, with the Lakers’ offseason now (mostly) in the rear view and the WNBA trade deadline having come and gone, there’s plenty of questions to be asked. So, fire away with any of them. And if you have any questions about the young WNBA season, send them as well.
The Dodgers were already heavy World Series favorites before executing this trade for one of baseball’s best pitchers. Now, their odds are officially at +145 on FanDuel Sportsbook, with every other team in the league far behind them.
Tarik Skubal celebrates after a pitch during a Detroit Tigers game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It has been reported that Skubal will make his Dodgers debut on August 4, when Los Angeles takes on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. But fans don’t need to wait that long to see Skubal’s new threads, as the Dodgers posted a photo of Skubal’s jersey and his locker to their social media accounts on Sunday afternoon.
The post was captioned, “No. 29 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tarik Skubal.”
As if Dodgers fans needed any reason to get even more excited about this trade, seeing Skubal’s locker and jersey has amplified this excitement, which is shown by many similar responses to this post.
“IT FEELS GOOD TO BE A FAN OF THEE LOS ANGELES DODGERS,” wrote @DodgerBluess.
“Skubal in Dodger blue is going to be a problem,” added @JackHayHomes, along with an edited photo of Skubal pitching while wearing the white Dodgers jersey.
Los Angeles Dodgers fans smile while taking photos. CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock
“I’m crying I can’t believe this isn’t AI ,” said @BoltUpDerwin.
Since his first Dodgers game will be on the road, Skubal will be seen wearing the Dodgers’ gray jerseys before donning the whites. But Los Angeles has a seven-game home-stand that starts on August 10, which means Skubal won’t have to wait long before pitching in front of his new home crowd at Dodger Stadium.
August is here. And that means Major League Baseball is that its peak rumor mill season.
The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). Roughly each of the 30 clubs are jockeying to ship players out in a full rebuild or add talent amidst a postseason stretch into October.
There are 25 potential trade candidates to keep an eye out for. The San Francisco Giants have two players, Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray, listed in the rundown. However, they are not the only Giants players being considered in trade talks.
The list includes Willy Adames, Rafael Devers, among others. But where do each of the Giants' potential trade candidates rank amongst each other?
USA TODAY Sports ranked the Giants trade prospects, and here are some of the most valuable trade assets that San Francisco possesses:
1. Luis Arraez, 2B
Arraez has put together a 2026 campaign that has elevated his trade stock. He leads the National League with a .328 average and has a highly respectable .810 OPS. That ability to move the baseball takes on significant value in the playoffs. Teams contending with expectation to play late into October could utilize Arraez skillset and services. Arraez is also the No. 1 trade candidate, per USA TODAY Sports.
2. Robbie Ray, SP
Ray is the No. 4 candidate on USA TODAY Sports' top MLB trade candidates list. Ray has a lot left in his throwing arm and a lot of baseball left in his career. He has given up three or fewer runs in 18 of his 21 starts. Maybe he's not your ideal Game 1 playoff starter, but he will be a key as a stretch drive piece who can fold into the back of a playoff rotation.
3. Heliot Ramos, LF
Heliot Ramos is likely gone as San Francisco shifted to looking at dealing him over Jung Hoo Lee, USA TODAY Sports' baseball columnist' Bob Nightengale reported. Ramos is high as a trade candidate due to his easy-to-trade contract. The outfielder is on a one-year, $810,000 deal with the Giants. With his deal expiring at the conclusion of the season, it should make his skillset all the more valuable. Ramos has put up a .262 batting average with 9 home runs, 34 RBI and 75 hits through 73 games.
4. Rafael Devers, 1B
Rafael Devers would be a great asset for any team with championship hopes. He has the power and potential to be a big-time slugger and home run hitter, despite how his 2026 has been going. New York Post baseball columnist Joel Sherman reported that Devers could be drawing interest from the San Diego Padres and manager A.J. Preller. His hitting stats have been .249 average, 22 home runs and 61 RBIs. His batting splits consist of .322 OBP, .475 SLG and .797 OPS.
5. Willy Adames, SS
Willy Adames was one of the many Giants players who have been rumored to be on the move ahead of the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3. According to New York Post baseball columnist Jon Heyman, the Giants have received calls about Adames. However, it might be difficult to get rid of Adames if it's not an ideal destination that he approves. Adames has a no-trade clause in his contract, not to mention he's one of the highest paid players on San Francisco's payroll. He's in the second year of a seven-year, $182 million contract. He's owed $13 million this year, but from 2027 to 2031 he will be owed $31 million annually. Unless another team is willing to take on that deal, Adames likely will remain in the Bay Area. But anything is possible near the trade deadline.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Tyler Mahle #54 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park on July 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants are expected to be one of the biggest sellers in baseball this season. And on Sunday night, less than 24 hours before the trade deadline, the Giants finally got started. According to a report by Robert Murray, the Giants are trading right-handed starter Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for right-handed reliever Anthony Molina.
It’s a modest return, but that’s to be expected for Mahle, who has been having a difficult season. The veteran, who turns 32 next month, has a 5.13 ERA and a 4.38 FIP on the year. But he’s a proven entity who was excellent last year, and has been pitching much better lately. Whether as a starter or in long relief, Mahle can add value to an Atlanta team chasing the postseason.
As for the player coming to San Francisco, Molina is on the 40-man roster, but has spent the bulk of the season in AAA. He debuted in 2024 and pitched that season and the 2025 season with the Colorado Rockies, where he amassed a 6.96 ERA and a 5.14 FIP in 52 games and 94.1 innings.
Atlanta claimed Molina off of waivers this last offseason, then designated him for assignment and outrighted him to AAA, before adding him back to the roster on May 1. He’s only pitched five innings across three games for the Braves Major League team, but has pitched extensively for their AAA squad this year. Atlanta has experimented with using Molina as a starter in the Minors, and in 17 games this year (and nine starts), the Venezuelan has a 3.78 ERA and a 4.14 FIP, with 53 strikeouts and 20 walks in 52.1 innings.
While Molina hasn’t been particularly good, he is intriguing, and he’s still only 24 years old (he also has another option year remaining after this season). He has four pitches that he’s thrown more than 17% of the time this year: a fastball that averages 96.5 mph, a curveball, a changeup, and a slider. We’ll see if the Giants send him to AAA Sacramento or put him in the Majors … and whether they view him as a starter or a reliever (I would assume the latter).
Welcome to the Giants, Anthony. And best of luck with all those other former Giants in Atlanta, Tyler.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Tyler Mahle #54 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on July 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves have struck again in the trade market and this time, they are bringing a starting pitcher to town. According to MLB Insider Robert Murray of FanSided, the Braves are picking up RHP Tyler Mahle from the Giants in exchange for RHP Anthony Molina.
The Atlanta Braves are acquiring right-hander Tyler Mahle in a trade with the San Francisco Giants, according to sources familiar with the deal. Anthony Molina is going to the Giants.
So far this season, Mahle has put up a 5.13 ERA (125 ERA-) with a 4.38 FIP (108 FIP-) over 18 starts and 94.2 innings pitched so far with the Giants. He signed there as a free agent for one year and $10 million after spending a couple of seasons with Texas and he earned that contract after making 16 starts for the Rangers in 2025 (86.2 innings pitched) and producing a 2.18 ERA (54 ERA-) with a 3.37 FIP (80 FIP-).
Clearly, the Braves think that they’ll be able to get the version of Mahle who was able to do a very solid job of preventing Hard-Hit contact (in 2025, he was 77th percentile of all starting pitchers with 37.1 percent of his batted balls being of the Hard-Hit variety), so this figures to be a job for pitching coach Jeremy Hefner to bring out the best in Mahle while he dons the Braves uniform.
Considering that Anthony Molina hasn’t done much at the big league level for anybody so far (and he’s only thrown five innings for the Braves here in 2026), this is definitely a buy-low type situation for Atlanta. Either way, he’s a starting pitcher who’s been able to at least reach the fifth inning in 16 of his 18 starts — though he did have a wobble in his last outing on this past Saturday, which is when he gave up five runs in 5.2 innings against the Padres. He did strike out nine batters (and has a strikeout percentage of 22 percent with a walk rate of 9.2 percent), so there’s that.
Either way, he may not be a front-end type starter for the Braves but he certainly figures to be an okay one if Hefner can do a job and help Mahle cook on the mound while he’s here. I’d imagine that there will be more to come from Atlanta going forward, so we’ll see what happens next.
[UPDATE – 10:41 p.m. ET]: Here’s the graphic, so you know it’s for real.
A short time later, the New York Yankees announced they got García in a trade with the Nationals in exchange for four pitchers.
“I mean, it was weird, uncomfortable, going out to a dugout and then having all the other teammates look at you,” García said through a translator.
García has spent his career with the Nationals but acknowledged he was excited to move to the Yankees.
“I mean it’s a mix of both sad and happy,” García said. “There’s a new chapter in my career, so yeah, 50-50 right now.”
In exchange for García, the Nationals received right-handed pitchers Jake Bird, Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert and Ben Grable.
When asked after Sunday’s 2-1 win at the Chicago Cubs about a trade for García, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was not in a mood to confirm.
The Yankees open a three-game series against the Cardinal in St. Louis on Monday night. There was no official word on whether García would be with the team.
Bird, 30, has a 5.93 ERA in 30 games with the Yankees this season, all in relief. Cruz, 26, has a 1.69 ERA in four games. Grable and Cebert have spent the full season in the minors.
The Chicago Cubs landed veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, the teams announced late Sunday night less than 24 hours before Major League Baseball's 6 p.m. deadline Monday.
Gausman, 35, is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts this season but has been one of the most consistent starters in baseball for the past half-decade, posting a 3.36 from 2020-2025. A two-time All-Star, Gausman finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2023.
Toronto is receiving minor league outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene in the trade.
Once a top prospect for the Orioles, Gausman came into his own with the San Francisco Giants in 2020 and 2021 before signing a five-year, $110 million deal with Toronto.
Gausman was stellar in the Blue Jays' 2025 postseason run, ultimately losing in Game 7 of the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gausman started five games and also got the win in relief in Game 7 of the ALCS.
Cubs rotation with Gausman
Matthew Boyd
Javier Assad
Shota Imanaga
David Peterson
Colin Rea
Kevin Gausman
When is the 2026 MLB trade deadline?
The MLB trade deadline for the 2026 season is set for Monday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman applauds to the crowd as he is taken out by manager John Schneider during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026.
The Cubs added veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman in a deal with the Blue Jays on Sunday that they pulled off less than 24 hours before Monday’s MLB trade deadline, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
It is the second trade that the Cubs and Blue Jays have pulled off ahead of the deadline and, as of Sunday night, had still not been finalized, The Athletic reported.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman applauds to the crowd as he is taken out by manager John Schneider during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP
The Blue Jays are believed to be getting a pair of prospects in outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene as part of the trade, according to the outlet.
Gausman joins the Cubs amid a season that hasn’t necessarily lived up to his previous campaigns. The righty has a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts this year for Toronto and a 5-10 record, while striking out 127 batters in that span.
The 35-year-old starter is in the final year of a five-year, $110 million contract, during which he has been one of the best pitchers in the majors during the span.
Only Dylan Cease and Zack Wheeler had more strikeouts over the last five years since Gausman joined the Blue Jays in 2022, and prior to this season, he had five consecutive seasons where he posted an ERA under 3.90.
The Cubs are hoping that Gausman puts up the performances that saw the Blue Jays give him the ball in six appearances during the club’s run to the World Series in 2025 and post a 2.93 ERA.
Gausman is joining a rotation that includes Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga and David Peterson.
Southisene was a fourth-round pick in 2024 and was hitting .311 in Class-A ball, while Bateman was taken in the eighth round in 2023 and was hitting .312 for Triple-A Iowa.
The Cubs are 6.5 games back of the NL Central-leading Brewers and they have a four-game hold of the top NL wild card spot.
The ceremony was shortly after Haliburton and his fiancée, Jade Jones, officially tied the knot in late July at a legal ceremony at an Indiana courthouse.
Haliburton, who sat last season while rehabbing an Achilles injury, which he tore during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals last June, is expected to be ready for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
During Haliburton’s career, he’s been a thorn in the Knicks’ side, notably knocking them out of the playoffs in 2024 and 2025 in the Eastern Conference semifinals and finals, respectively.
That was, of course, before the 2025-26 season, which saw the Knicks capture their first title in 53 years.
50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, has had a relationship with Haliburton for years, and his wine and spirits company Sire has had a partnership with the Pacers going back to 2022.
Tyrese Haliburton and now wife Jade Jones at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Red Carpet held at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Variety via Getty Images
Haliburton even congratulated the once game-changing hip hop artist turned successful TV producer on his $15 million Las Vegas residency in October of 2024.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostCurtis “50 Cent” Jackson performs during the “Fightland” Season One Premiere on July 21, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images for STARZ
Jackson also posted on Instagram, one day before the Pacers eliminated the Knicks from the 2025 NBA Playoffs, about his back-and-forth with Knicks fans.
“I keep receiving inappropriate messages from New Yorkers,” said Jackson — famously a troll — on Instagram. “Yes the Indiana PACERS have never lost a game when I was there. The fact that you noticed is spooky, but you can’t tell me not to go see the game it’s not right.”
Haliburton’s wedding to his longtime partner, Jade Jones, appeared to be on the same day as Donovan Mitchell, who celebrated his big day with his fiancée and R&B singer Coco Jones, with various NBA players in attendance, including Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Bam Adebayo and Josh Hart.
Jalen Brunson stares at Jaylen Brown and calls Josh Hart from the middle of the dance floor at Donovan Mitchell’s wedding
Knicks. Sixers. Cavs. The battle for the East is wide open.
The NBA has yet to release its 2026-27 schedule, but Haliburton’s return is one of many things expected to make the Eastern Conference endlessly competitive this season as the Knicks enter as defending champions.
You have been waiting for the Cubs to acquire a starting pitcher, and Sunday night, they have done so (Bluesky link):
Per Josh’s pre-deadline ranking of Cubs prospects, those are the No. 13 (Ty Southisene) and No. 19 (Brett Bateman) prospects in the Cubs organization. MLB Pipeline ranks them 13th and 21st, respectively.
This is, I believe, a fair deal for a 35-year-old pitcher who is a pending free agent, so this is a rental. The Cubs would be on the hook for slightly more than $7 million of Gausman’s $23 million deal for this year. (This might also account for some of the “cash considerations” in the Jameson Taillon deal with the Jays announced earlier today.)
Gausman has a 4.38 ERA and 1.288 WHIP in 23 starts this year and 127.1 innings. His K rate and walk rate are about the same as they’ve been the last couple of years, and with 50 games remaining, that means likely 10 starts in a Cubs uniform for him.
His last start was Saturday against the Cardinals and he allowed nine hits and one run in 5.2 innings. Interestingly enough, his first start for the Cubs could wind up being against his old team, as the Blue Jays will be playing a makeup game Thursday at Wrigley Field — and it’s possible his opponent could be Taillon.
The Cubs absolutely crushed Gausman June 19 at Wrigley, scoring seven runs in two innings, including a grand slam by Carson Kelly. Fortunately, he won’t be facing the Cubs hitters anymore.
Top-20 Penguins' Prospects: Honorable MentionsTo kick off the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins annual Top-20 Prospects list, those who barely missed the cutoff are acknowledged.
,” said @BoltUpDerwin.
