NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 29: Camilo Doval #75 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on June 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are buying at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, as it was announced today from Jeff Passan the Buccos acquired relief pitcher Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees. In return, the Bucs send two Minor Leaguers in catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz. New York has also agreed to pay a portion of Doval’s salary.
The 29-year-old right-handed reliever has elite velocity, touching 101 mph and throwing a fastball, cutter, and slider. He has 3.53 career ERA and 393 strikeouts in 326 innings, but he hasn’t been great since coming to New York last season, finishing with a 4.84 ERA last year and holding a 4.54 one this year.
This deal has been described as being one with “high-upside risk” as Doval has loads of arm talent and potential to be a key piece in Pittsburgh’s bullpen. In 2023 as a member of the San Francisco Giants, the 29-year-old righty was an All-Star closer before being traded to the Yankees in the Summer of 2025. His results since arriving in the Bronx is why the Pirates were able to buy low with him, because he’s had lots of problems with consistency.
The Pirates are acquiring right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees for two prospects, per multiple reports.
Doval’s rough adjustment to New York could be that it just wasn’t the right environment for him. Going from San Francisco which is a pitcher friendly ballpark to the Yankees’ shallow outfield could be why he struggled. Regardless the Pirates add another arm to what has been a struggling bullpen. Doval fits the mold that a player like Aroldis Chapman provides to the backend of the bullpen. His blazing pitch speed is pure power in late game situations, and could be beneficial in high leverage situations. Although he struggled at Yankee Stadium it’s worth nothing that he’s been very good on the road with a 1.86 ERA and just one homer allowed in 19 1/3 innings. The change of scenery and a great pitching staff could be exactly what Doval needs to get back to his All-Star ways. If he can find consistency, he could be a key contributor in helping the Pirates reach the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.
Mike Axisa of CBS Sports gave the Pirates an A grade on the trade, citing the low cost as one of the big factors that makes this trade a win for Pittsburgh.
“The fit and upside, as well as the prospect cost, make this an A trade for me,” writes Axisa. “An aggressive grade? Yeah, maybe, but there are still things to like under the hood with Doval, and it won’t take much for him to improve Pittsburgh’s relief crew. Doval will frustrate you, for sure, but there’s a really good reliever in there waiting to be unlocked. It didn’t happen with the Yankees. It may with the Pirates.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on March 27, 2026 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We finally have confirmation that the Golden State Warriors will indeed be re-signing Gary Payton II. While rumors have swirled for weeks that the Dubs and Payton were expected to agree to a veteran minimum deal to return, Marc Stein of SteinLine reported on Saturday morning that the two sides were expected to finalize a deal by the end of the weekend. Minutes later, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Warriors had agreed to re-sign Payton to a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum.
Already 33, limited, and with an extensive injury history, Payton only further solidifies Golden State’s attempt to run it back with the 37-win 2025-26 roster. A perplexing approach given the team’s struggles and age. Nevertheless, Payton is a favorite of head coach Steve Kerr and face of the franchise Steph Curry.
A basketball journeyman for most of his twenties, Payton found his place as a high-energy role player who has the ability to lockdown players on the perimeter. Payton has played with the Warriors for each of the past six seasons (although he did also have a short stint with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2022-23 season). Despite his long injury history, Payton has been quietly one of the Dubs healthiest role players over the past two seasons.
In 2025-26, Payton averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 steals in 15.6 minutes per game across 73 appearances on 58.3%/29.1%/65.0% shooting. For his career, Payton has averaged 5.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steal in 15.1 minutes per game on 56.4%/32.8%/63.0% shooting.
The 2025-26 New York Islanders season did not go the way many hoped, as they faded down the stretch and ultimately missed the playoffs.
Still, reasons for positivity emerged.
Matthew Schaefer engraved himself as a total franchise cornerstone, a generational defenseman for the Islanders. Cal Ritchie had an excellent second half of the season, while the youth push continued in earnest.
Ilya Sorokin, for his part, was a Vezina Finalist and had an outstanding season, though his performance (along with the entire team's), tapered down the stretch.
"There's not much good news, of course," Sorokin said. "Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it's probably hard to say it was a blow. But we need to change something in our training system and learn from it. I'm sure both the coaching staff and the players understand this. Our fans have much higher expectations of the squad."
Sorokin's likely talking of ex-Head Coach's Patrick Roy's system, one that focused on maximizing offense but often led to dangerous rush chances against constantly.
The Islanders' superstar netminder shouldered some of the blame, too.
"Ultimately, it was those one or two saves that could have given us extra points and put us in the playoffs," Sorokin said. "We can say whatever we want now, but the main thing is to figure out why it didn't happen.
"That's what summer is for—work. I think at some point I was a bit lacking in physicality. Towards the end of the season, I started playing practically every game in a row, and perhaps I was no longer feeling fresh."
Sorokin played the vast majority of games down the stretch, with David Rittich struggling and Semyon Varlamov unable to play, the Islanders leaned hard into Sorokin.
As Sorokin said, it's a long summer. The Islanders can and have work to improve, along with Sorokin.
Now that NHL free agency started one month ago, most of this year's top UFAs have landed their new contracts.
Although this is the case, there are still some interesting players available for the taking on the free agent market. When looking at who is left, one player whom the Canadiens should consider taking a chance on is forward Vladimir Tarasenko.
With the Canadiens needing another skilled winger on their roster, Tarasenko could be worth taking a gamble on with a one-year contract. While the 34-year-old forward is not the same dominant star he was during his prime, he would still have the potential to provide the Canadiens with more offensive production if signed.
Tarasenko showed last season with the Minnesota Wild that he is still capable of producing offense. In 75 games with the Wild during the 2025-26 campaign, he posted 23 goals, 24 assists, and 47 points. With numbers like these, he could be a nice addition for the Canadiens' top nine if signed.
Tarasenko would not provide the Canadiens with a long-term answer for their top six but could be a very solid player for them to bring in for next season. This is especially so when noting that he has a ton of playoff experience and has won the Stanley Cup twice in his career.
It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens end up making a push for Tarasenko this summer from here, but there could be a good match here.
Each week, the California Post will power rank MLB’s 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race. With the MLB trade deadline on Monday, this week’s rundown also looks at how the landscape may change when all the dealing’s done. Records as of Saturday morning.
1) Dodgers (69-41)
The Dodgers are already the best team in baseball. Now, the rest of the sport is waiting to see if they will add Tarik Skubal to their collection of star talent, too. Even if they don’t, of course, the defending two-time champions will be clear-cut favorites for a third straight title. Even with Shohei Ohtani still battling his knee injury, Edwin Díaz and Kiké Hernández are back, with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Will Smith not far behind. (Last week: 1st)
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani still is battling a knee injury. AP Photo/Wally Skalij
2) Brewers (68-41)
Another player in the Skubal sweepstakes, the Brewers certainly have more of a need for the two-time Cy Young winner. While Jacob Misiorowski has bounced back from his All-Star-break arm fatigue, the rest of their rotation remains banged up. It has slowed their roll for now. But without many big stars in the lineup, the more star pitching they can get, the better. (Last week: 2nd)
Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski has bounced back from his All-Star-break arm fatigue. Getty Images
3) Rays (64-45)
The Skubal contenders keep on coming. Like the Brewers, the Rays could use another ace-caliber pitcher to bolster their World Series chances. But, like the Brewers, they are a small-market team typically opposed to mortgaging the future on rental players. Unlike the Brewers, at least, the Dodgers aren’t standing in the way of them at least reaching the World Series. (Last week: 3rd)
4) Braves (65-45)
Did we mention that Skubal is a coveted commodity? The Braves could be a dark horse in the bidding, too, thanks to their depth of young pitching and need for another front-line option to pair with Chris Sale in the rotation. The good news for them for now, at least, is that the fading Phillies have fallen eight games behind them in the NL East standings. (Last week: 4th)
Braves pitcher Chris Sale would welcome another front-line option to pair with him. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
5) Cubs (62-48)
How about one last Skubal contender to round out the top five? The Cubs have the most glaring hole of the group at the top of their rotation. But they’ve also practiced extreme caution in recent years at trade deadlines, and this summer they might prefer a controllable starting pitcher. Either way, they have finally found some extended consistency lately, going 30-20 over June and July. (Last week: 5th)
6) Yankees (62-48)
Finally, we’ve reached a team that likely won’t make a strong push for Skubal. But that doesn’t mean the scuffling Yankees don’t need help. Most of it will have to come internally, of course, with the club now playing without Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger after his hamstring injury. But a catcher and reliever remain on their wish list. (Last week: 6th)
Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal would help MLB’s top contenders in their quest to reach the World Series. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
7) Red Sox (58-51)
Curtis Mead might be done for the year. Jarren Duran is hurting his trade stock on and off the field. And yet, the Red Sox keep on rolling, having won back-to-back series, plus a series opener over the Dodgers on Friday, since their 15-game win streak was snapped. A strong deadline could make them a serious World Series threat. (Last week: 8th)
8) White Sox (58-51)
The first-place White Sox have the highest-scoring offense in the American League. Now, they are looking for pitching, pitching and more pitching to go along with it, with everyone from Reid Detmers to Eric Lauer linked to them as potential targets. (Last week: 10th)
9) Diamondbacks (58-52)
If this isn’t the season for the Dbacks to return to the playoffs for the first time since their surprise World Series run in 2023, then when? The club has moved into the second NL wild-card spot with a 13-5 surge and should have some late-season pitching help (including Corbin Burnes) coming back — if they can add enough at the deadline to get there while still in contention. (Last week: 9th)
10) Phillies (57-53)
Bryce Harper’s comment about Philadelphia needing help might have been a veiled shot at top executive Dave Dombrowski. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t spot on. The once red-hot Phillies have gone ice cold once again, losing eight of their last nine. And while adding someone like Skubal would fit Dombrowski’s aggressive MO, there are too many other holes in the lineup they’ll likely have to address first. (Last week: 7th)
11) Astros (56-55)
For the first time since the first week of April, the Astros are over .500 — and in first place in the AL West. It once seemed unlikely that they would get here, given the disastrous way their season started. But now, they can look to shore up their roster and give their veteran core perhaps one last shot at a postseason run. (Last week: 16th)
12) Guardians (56-55)
It’s shaping up to be another unremarkable deadline for the Guardians, which would be fitting for what has been a largely unremarkable — though still potentially playoff-bound — season. Their main concern now is getting José Ramírez going again, after a quiet first week in his return from the injured list. (Last week: 11th)
13) Padres (56-54)
The Padres might not be dead after all, winning six of seven to give what has been a quiet deadline thus far just what it needs: an unpredictable A.J. Preller. Will he still trade one of his top relievers? Will he find a way to land another top starter? Anything feels possible, with the Padres just 1 ½ games out of the wild card again. (Last week: 17th)
14) Pirates (55-56)
Right about now would be a good time for Paul Skenes to get going again. In what was already a strange season for the reigning Cy Young winner, Skenes has now allowed five runs in back-to-back outings, pushing his ERA to 3.90. Pittsburgh remains in the playoff hunt and figures to add at the deadline. But any October push will depend on Skenes rediscovering his typical form. (Last week: 12th)
15) Rangers (55-55)
The Rangers gave up almost nothing in a trade with the Angels this week. But leading up to Monday, they’ll have get a little bit more in future deals than a middle reliever and Triple-A catcher, too. (Last week: 14th)
16) Twins (56-55)
We have been down on the Twins in these rankings all year. We implored them to be sellers earlier this month. And yet, they continue to march forward, entering Saturday above .500 and tied for the final AL wild-card spot. As one of the few clubs to declare themselves as buyers and already adding pieces to their bullpen, they get an overdue jump this week. (Last week: 22nd)
17) Marlins (56-55)
The Marlins are one of many teams on the deadline fence, after finally snapping out of their 12-game losing streak and remaining just 1 ½ games out of a wild card. They have pieces they could move. But also, do they want to punt a real postseason chance? (Last week: 20th)
18) Nationals (55-56)
The Curtis Mead-for-Connelly Early trade might be a sign of things to come for the Nationals. It wasn’t quite a buy. It wasn’t quite a sell. Instead, it keeps them relevant for now (assuming Early can return from injury and contribute down the stretch) while also giving them a piece for the future. (Last week: 19th)
19) Orioles (54-56)
Want to know how strange this year’s deadline is? The Orioles pulled off a stirring comeback against the Phillies on Friday to move within 1 ½ games of a wild-card spot –– then traded Dean Kremer to the Twins. It was a good example of how even teams in the mix are struggling to decide whether to buy or sell. (Last week: 21st)
20) Cardinals (54-56)
A feel-good story for so much of the first half, the Cardinals have wound up where everyone originally expected: likely to be deadline sellers, with their playoff chances dwindling amid a 3-11 skid. (Last week: 13th)
21) Mariners (53-58)
Congratulations to the Mariners, who are the worst team on this list still expected to add at the deadline. They will have to, as their disappointing season has taken an even darker turn with losses in eight of 10 games. At least their division is so bad, they are still only three games back. (Last week: 15th)
22) Tigers (52-58)
The Tigers are actually going to trade Skubal … right? While that has become the industry expectation in recent days, thanks in no small part to the team blowing a 7-0 lead in what might have been his final start with the team, Detroit is reportedly continuing to slow-play his trade talks. That should change in the coming days. Until then, the rest of the sport waits. (Last week: 18th)
23) Reds (52-57)
While much attention has been on Skubal, Reds ace Hunter Greene has been in the deadline rumor mill, as well. That doesn’t mean he’s likely to be dealt. But could he be an unexpected fallback for a team that misses out elsewhere? (Last week: 23rd)
24) Blue Jays (51-59)
Here’s a stat almost impossible to believe: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has zero (0!) home runs at home this season. Yet another reminder of why the Blue Jays find themselves as sellers after last year’s World Series run. (Last week: 24th)
25) Giants (47-63)
Good news: The Giants shed some payroll this week. Bad news: It’s because they stopped paying Harrison Bader after his late-night scooter accident ended his season. Can this year get any worse in the Bay? (Last week: 26th)
26) Mets (47-64)
David Stearns has a lot of players to move. But until he starts lowering the asking price on some — most notably, Freddy Peralta — the Mets will be one of the teams holding up more profound action on the trade market. (Last week: 28th)
27) Royals (46-65)
The next eight months will be critical for Kansas City. Because if they can’t retool their Bobby Witt Jr.-led roster back into a contender by next year, it’s fair to wonder if they ever will. (Last week: 27th)
28) Athletics (45-65)
Not that they were going anywhere anyway, but the wheels have completely fallen off in Sacramento. Another lost season in nomadic anonymity. (Last week: 25th)
29) Rockies (43-67)
Under past regimes, the Rockies have usually not even tried all that hard to sell what few valuable pieces they’ve had at trade deadlines. We’ll see if that changes this week under new exec Paul DePodesta. (Last week: 29th)
30) Angels (42-68)
Speaking of teams seemingly set to change their trade deadline approach, interim Angels GM John Mozeliak could be a key character to watch this weekend. He has plenty of sellable pieces and an apparent desire to kick-start a real rebuild in Anaheim. (Last week: 30th)
Here’s an unexpected development. Alvarez now appears to be more of a shoo-in for MVP than even Shohei Ohtani. The real question will be whether he can complete the Triple Crown, currently holding healthy leads in all three categories.
2) Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (.279 average, 13 home runs, 39 RBIs, .800 OPS)
The standout shortstop remains a WAR machine, trailing only Alvarez in the AL at 4.9. Too bad that hasn’t translated into more actual wins for the Royals, who are set to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in his five seasons.
It was fair to wonder how much of Caminero’s breakout performance last year was from playing in the band-box of Steinbrenner Field. So much for that. On pace for another 40-plus homer season, Caminero trails only Kyle Schwarber and Ohtain for most long balls in the majors the last two years.
Luka Doncic dribbles during a Los Angeles Lakers game. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
The Lakers’ social media accounts posted a photo of Doncic shooting a free throw during a practice on Friday. But the kicker was that the 27-year-old was wearing a headband in the photo, which is something he doesn’t typically do.
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Perhaps Lakers fans just needed something excited about, and are using this photo as an excuse to do so. Whatever their reasoning, the prevailing response to this photo is Lakers fans forecasting a successful upcoming season, both for Luka individually and Los Angeles as a whole.
“MVP and Championship soon I can smell it,” wrote @yearlyfire.
“PLEASE ROCK THE HEADBAND NEXT SEASON @lukadoncic ,” added a Doncic fan page.
Luka Doncic prepares to take a free throw while wearing a headband. X/@LakersLuka Doncic during a Los Angeles Lakers game. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
“Lakers gone be sneaky good this upcoming season,” added @real1jimmyy.
Regardless of whether Doncic debuts this headband once next season rolls around, him now having the keys to the franchise will bring a lot of expectations. Not that he wasn’t dealing with pressure before, and has always been able to navigate the spotlight in the past.
The more pertinent question is whether Doncic’s supporting cast is good enough to help him bring Los Angeles back to the postseason in their first campaign in nearly a decade without LeBron.
Soriano has had his name swirl around discussions and trade rumors ahead of the MLB trade deadline, which is scheduled for Monday, August 3 at 6 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. PT.
Starting in place of Soriano is 36-year-old right-hand pitcher Brent Suter.
Soriano has put up a 9-6 record with a 3.29 ERA and 127 strikeouts. He's also tallied a 1.25 WHIP in 123 innings pitched. The 27-year-old, right-handed pitcher has appeared in and started 22 games for the Angels.
The Angels released the following statement on Saturday:
The last time Soriano pitched against the Brewers was during the 2025 season. On September 17, he pitched 1.1 innings where he allowed two hits, two walks and three runs in a 9-2 loss. He did not deliver any strikeouts during the September 2025 meeting at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
Jose Soriano stats and record
Soriano is on pace for a career-best 3.29 ERA. In his last outing against the San Francisco Giants, he helped the Angels to a narrow 4-3 victory where Soriano pitched five innings at Oracle Park.
On the mound, he put in work against one of the five California-based MLB teams. Soriano wasn't perfect but nevertheless put on a good pitching display that contributed in getting the job done.
He only gave up three hits and allowed one run in his July 26 performance. Soriano struck out five batters and only three were walked in 85 total pitches.
Soriano first signed with Angels as an international free agent for a $70,000 signing bonus on March 4, 2016. He had quite the journey that took him from his home in the Dominican Republic to Arizona to Iowa. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Soriano from the Angels in the 2020 Rule 5 draft. He spent time in Florida, before the Pirates sent him back to the Angels in 2021.
Soriano rehabbed from injury and continued to develop under the Angels' farm system until he got his break in 2023. He made his MLB debut on June 3, 2023 when the Angels promoted Soriano to the majors. It was the first time being called up in his career and he didn't look back.
In 38 appearances out of the bullpen during his rookie campaign, he threw a 3.64 ERA with 56 strikeouts over 42 innings of work.
Soriano, now in his fourth-year in the MLB, looks to improve upon his recent outings. However, it will be interesting to see whether he remains with the Angels as movement around the league is anticipated in light of the trade deadline.
In the meantime, Suter and the Angels will take on the Brewers at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA beginning at 9:38 p.m. ET and 6:38 p.m. PT.
The Angels currently have a 42-68 record and are in fifth place in the American League West division. The Brewers are 68-41, sitting atop the National League Central with the best record.
Jordan Hicks starts today’s game as an opener for Noah Schultz. | (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Wow! First place in the Al Central by three games entering August, three straight wins over the top teams in the league, talk of adding at the deadline instead of the usual subtracting! Why, it’s enough to make a nonagenarian who hates fans and players happy, even if only because it means a whole lot more butts in seats and thus money in his pocket.
Trying to keep things going will be the one starting pitcher (or, today, bulk reliever, as fans of fiber call it) who has really struggled of late. Will Venable is going with an opener for Noah Schultz today, the first time that’s been tried. Jordan Hicks gets the nod to start the game, his first time in that role.
Hicks has fared extremely well lately, not giving up a run in 14 straight appearances since early June. Schultz, not so much, allowing 16 runs in 21 1/3 innings in July and not making it out of the fourth his last two times out.
Will how he does today impact trade deadline decisions on getting a starter? Only The Shadow knows. Well, The Shadow and Chris Getz.
Sox batters, fresh from clobbering long balls last night, will be facing modern medicine marvel Drew Rasmussen. The 31-year-old righty not only had two Tommy John surgeries while still in college (in a time when it was very unusual to be able to pitch effectively for more than a year or two after a second round), he had the nouveau internal brace surgery in 2023, and yet has come back to be an All-Star in 2025 and 2026.
Rasmussen sports a fine 3.07 ERA for the season, but had a mixed July, with two very bad starts early in the month. He was very good his last two starts, though, and held the Guardians to one hit over seven innings last time out.
Rasmussen will face a White Sox lineup that only has a change at catcher from last night’s slugfest.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. Central, when it’s supposed to be in the upper 80s in Tampa and likely to rain, so saved by the dome. Usual broadcast suspects, with Steve Stone off for the road trip (too bad), but John Schriffen still in the TV booth (also too bad).
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 28: Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees throws the ball to first base during the third inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 MLB season is well into the second half, and while there have been some tough breaks, the Yankees have done a nice job on the whole staying afloat. They have been missing the irreplaceable Aaron Judge for some time now, Giancarlo Stanton’s status is as mystifying as ever, and now missing Cody Bellinger for a long spell, the roster does not look the way fans may have envisioned early in the year. Despite this, the Bombers have a firm grasp on a playoff spot, and are very much in the race for the AL East. While this can be attributed to many things, solid work with the leather certainly plays a role.
As with every other passing month, July did not pass without some highlights on the defensive side. With the month coming to a close, let’s take a look at some of the most notable flashes of the leather throughout July.
On the first day of the month, in a close game at home against the Tigers, Anthony Volpe made an early entry into our list. With two outs in the fourth inning, Zach McKinstry hit a looping popup, ticketed for the center-field grass. Already shaded slightly up the middle, Volpe ran nearly straight back, before making the impressive over-the-shoulder catch and sliding to a knee, preventing a single and bringing the inning to a close.
In the second inning of a scoreless game against the Phillies, José Caballero cemented his spot in July’s finest plays. With Cam Schlittler on the mound, Alec Bohm ripped the first pitch the other way toward the hole on the right side, only for Cabby to pick the worm-burner off the turf, roll over onto a knee, and make a sharp throw over to first base to just barely get Bohm. Every play mattered in this game, as the Yanks went on to win 1-0.
In the same game, Bellinger gave more proof to the importance of defense in the tight Yankees win. Later in the game, with the Phillies hoping to stage a rally in the ninth, Brandon Marsh nearly started one with extra bases when he rocketed a ball to the warning track the other way. Bellinger, as he does so well, had a beat on it and used every bit of his big frame to leap and make the play a few feet in front of the wall.
Some of the most memorable defensive plays in baseball often involve a player far away from where their position typically roams. In this play, a chopper off the bat of Colson Montgomery bounced over first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, only for Jazz Chisholm jr. to range deep into the outfield, extend to snare the grounder, and make a spinning throw to first base. It’s not often you see a second baseman make a throw from the foul line, probably 50 feet beyond the first base bag, but Chisholm made it look pretty seamless here.
This was very much a game to forget for the Yankees, as they ultimately lost in 12 innings. There was a time, however, that a couple of slick defensive plays nearly netted them a win in the 11th (before defense ended up biting them elsewhere). The first play sees some damage control from Goldschmidt over at first base. With no outs and a runner on second base, Camilo Doval fielded a soft chopper to his right before rocketing a throw into the dirt at first base. The veteran Goldschmidt calmly made a swift pick of the ball in front of the runner to secure the hue out.
The second play comes from the always-impressive Ryan McMahon, who snared a hard grounder to his left, quickly got to his feet and threw a strike over to first base. At the time, it was a game-saver, as the tying run was standing on third base with one out. We won’t talk about anything else from this game! If you dare ponder it, consider it a Dishonorable Mention.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 30: Alejandro Osuna #19 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a single in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 30, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for August 1, 2026 against the Houston Astros: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Ronel Blanco for the Astros.
Texas looks to rebound from yesterday’s ugly loss and re-gain first place in the American League West. Its a lefty-heavy lineup that includes Joc Pederson at first base.
The lineup:
Pederson — 1B
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Nimmo — DH
Carter — CF
Duran — 3B
Osuna — RF
Diaz — C
Lopez — 2B
6:10 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -120 favorites.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 11: Logan Gilbert #36 of the Seattle Mariners looks on during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 11, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners games will continue until morale improves.
As a reminder, if you want to chat about trade deadline stuff – rumors, suggested trades, analysis of other teams’ moves – you can do that in the trade deadline thread linked here or pinned on the homepage.
Lineups:
News:
Luke Raley has been moved to the IL with his nagging elbow issue; OF Stuart Fairchild, signed as a minor-league free agent in early July, is here in his place. Read more here. Also, in case you missed it, there was also a roster move yesterday, with J.P. Crawford headed to the IL to try to heal up his inflamed wrist; Leo Rivas is here instead. There are also some updates on the injured relievers as well as some other miscellany (apparently Brendan Donovan counts as miscellany to me); read it all in John’s injury update here.
The Twins also made their own roster moves: they’ve acquired pitcher Dean Kremer from the Orioles, who has reported to the team. Zebby Matthews was rewarded for his career night against the Mariners last night by being optioned to Triple-A to make room for him.
Today’s game information:
Game time: 1:10 PT
TV: Mariners TV with Aaron Goldsmith and Ryan Rowland-Smith, with Angie Mentink as field reporter. This game will also be televised nationally on FS1, with Connor Onion and Mark Sweeney as the announcers. This is my first time typing that particular name and I assure you, his name is in fact Connor Onion and he is real. This fact brought to you by Cibo Matto (you gotta know your chicken onion).
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 31: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves takes batting practice prior to the game between the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Friday, July 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Braves are going for another series win at home against their division rival Nationals. Reynaldo Lopez is taking the mound, with Miles Mikolas starting for Washington, in a matchup of unconvincing righties.
Drake Baldwin gets the nod at leadoff against the righty starter, as Walt Weiss continues to swap him and Acuna at the top of the order. Elsewhere, Dominic Smith returns to the lineup, DHing and batting sixth, right ahead of the remnants of Austin Riley. Mike Yastrzemski and Jim Jarvis make up the back of the lineup.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 29: Edgar Quero #26 of the Chicago White Sox is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single in the 12th inning against the New York Yankees at Rate Field on July 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 05: Jericho Sims #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks scores on a dunk during the first half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Fiserv Forum on April 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers made their big move this summer in landing Walker Kessler, but there’s still work to be done in the front court.
In parting with both Jaxson Hayes and Deandre Ayton this offseason, LA has holes to fill, even if they took care of the hard part. Kevon Looney was brought in but given his age and mileage and his drop in production, most don’t view him as the primary backup center.
The Lakers appear to be included in that mix as multiple recent reports have indicated they’re still in the market for a big man. But it’s a market that isn’t friendly to buyers right now, so not much headway has been made.
LA has at least one more move to make with the roster already at 16 players. With a chase for Jonathan Kuminga still on, though, it’s not clear how a backup center fits into the equation. It’ll likely have to be the Lakers taking a chance on an underutilized player buried on a roster.
One player who could fit that bill, and who has been mentioned with the Lakers multiple times this week, is Jericho Sims with the Bucks.
Dan Woike of The Athletic first brought him up as a potential option based on “conversations with both team and league sources” about the type of players the Lakers could target. Then, on Friday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reiterated that report, noting that the Bucks could have a roster crunch that forces a move.
Milwaukee, which has also been linked with interest in Peyton Watson, has a roster crunch and is looking to trim its roster from 17 to 15 players by opening night. As The Athletic’s Dan Woike noted, the Los Angeles Lakers could be a trade partner for Bucks center Jericho Sims.
The first thing worth noting is that the Lakers, too, have a roster crunch, so the two teams making a deal right now doesn’t make a ton of sense. For the purple and gold, they would need to do a lot of consolidating to get to a point to trade for Sims or, potentially, work out a multi-team trade.
He’s an uber-athletic big man who amassed 95 dunks in 67 games last season. Comparatively, Hayes had 122 last season in 66 games. While his time with the Lakers was up-and-down, Hayes definitely had some moments in the purple and gold and the team did not replace his athleticism or lob-catching ability at center.
Sims, however, does have flaws. He leaves something to be desired defensively and is not a rim protector despite the athleticism. In many ways, he’s limited like Hayes in those regards.
His contract is friendly as he’s set to make $2.8 million this season after picking up a player option this offseason. It would also make him very easy to trade for, if the Lakers do end up going down that route.
But, again, many things must happen before then. Presumably, the Lakers are likely going to address their need for a wing with trade assets first before eyeing anything else. And to even open a roster spot, the Lakers will have to make a three-for-one trade, which is very unlikely as teams do not have three open roster spots at this point in the offseason.
If anything, this might be a player worth monitoring if he’s released due to the roster crunch or if he’s still buried on the Bucks’ bench when the season starts. But there are plenty of reasons it makes sense for the Lakers to be targeting Sims, if indeed they are.
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
37. Ashton Schultz - Center (Chicago/Sioux City - USHL)
The Sabres continued their practice in the 2025 NHL Draft of selecting players with longer development windows, since they did not have to sign them within two years. That window has altered slightly with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement kicking, but GM Jarmo Kkealainen and his scouting staff will have plenty of time to evaluate young center Ashton Schultz, who was selected in the sixth round (167th overall) in the first decentralized draft in Los Angeles.
The Victoria, MN native is a product of the vaunted Minnesota high school system and played 11 games in the USHL for Sioux Falls as a 17-year-old, while also scoring 57 points in 28 games for Minnetonka HS. In 2024-25, he scored 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) in 57 games for the Chicago Steel, and last season, he split time between Chicago and Sioux City, posting 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 49 games.
The 19-year-old is committed to play for the University of North Dakota this fall. The 5’11”, 181 lb. center is described by Elite Prospects as someone who ”always gives his teammates an option, whether that’s offensively, defensively, or along the walls. Sturdy inside contact with play-killing skills, he breaks up the opposition’s cycle, diffuses their rushes, and retrieves pucks at top rates.”
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