If You Don't Build it...

 

As I write this, the Philadelphia Phillies are playing a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in a cornfield in Iowa. You can watch it on Netflix I think, if they somehow manage to figure out how a national telecast works. Many Phillies fans are convinced this will be the last time in 2026, or possibly this decade, that the Phillies will make must-see television. I am not that cynical yet...but I'm getting close.

Let's be honest. The Phillies have looked rough. They needed an outfield bat and a fourth starter, and they got Luis Arraez, who is neither. And Arraez has been alright, but the problems still persist. The idea that Dombrowski had was using Bryan de la Cruz, Derek Hill and a returning Andrew Painter as a more cost-efficient, practical version of getting, say, Luis Robert, Mike Trout and Michael Wacha. Except you try telling that to a Philly fan. Every Christmas they want a Porsche, and don't understand how impractical, and impossible, it would be to get a new car every year. I'm not saying the Phils are asking too much, as they haven't won a ring since 2008, but we already knew this Phils team would be a step down from the last few years's, the midyear boom was a very nice surprise, and now that things are leveled, the fans are acting very entitled. Like 'HOW DARE WE NOT COMPETE'. My dude...in April you were expecting a fifth place finish. Now you're upset that the Braves are still better because they actually made the moves to keep the team young and keep the momentum. It really is impossible to please some Phils fans, and I say that as one of them.

But lately, things will be looking good, or Luzardo or Wheels will have a great start, and then Orion Kerkering will blow a save or Trea Turner will strike out with the bases loaded, and all of the sudden the team was never good to begin with. Have some nuance! The team is inherently good, this is just not their month. Anyone who thinks a bad August means the season's over has forgotten that the other rivals for a wild card spot include the Marlins, Cardinals, Pirates and Padres, all of whom we are better than [Padres is a stretch but the Phils' offense is better]. Panicking just makes Philly fans warm, I get it, they had 25 years of panicking in between championships. Minnesota fans have gone 30 years and they're not burning their city down.

At the end of the day, the Phillies still have a lot on their side. They do still have Luis Arraez, who, despite slumping a bit this week, is still Luis Arraez. They still have an incredible 1-2-3 punch of a rotation that will no doubt be a threat in a postseason situation. They still have Jhoan Duran, one of the best closers in baseball, who has a 1.74 ERA, 59 Ks, somehow even less runs allowed than last year, and 25 saves. And they still have Kyle Schwarber, who just hit his 36th home run and is hungry for more. This is not a perfect Phillies team, but neither was the 2022 iteration and they made a World Series. We're not a first round bye team, but we can grind up some momentum on the road to a championship series, and we might just need to do that again.

The Phillies season is not over yet. They're not on borrowed time. And this isn't the end. No use thinking like a spoilsport about it. That's not how you get through a month like this.

Coming Tomorrow- He was thought of as a last ditch effort to save a lost season. And now he's a key centerfield piece for a team that's charging towards first.

Sniped From Below

 

Since July 9th, the Arizona Diamondbacks are 19-11, and have reclaimed 2nd place. They're now 9 games back from the Dodgers, which still isn't ideal but it's a lot closer than it was. And they're currently riding another incredible run from Corbin Carroll, who just hit the 100th home run of his career. Slowly, and carefully, the D-Backs are making things happen this year.

The winning formula is flanked by the usual core of dominators [Carroll, Ketel Marte, Gabriel Moreno, Geraldo Perdomo], plus the addition of Nolan Arenado, who still has some tricks up his sleeve [and 18 homers too], and Ryan Waldschmidt, who's now hitting .285 as a deep lineup guy. Perdomo last year shocked the nation with a league-leading 7.1 WAR season, thanks to a surprise 100-RBI showing, 20 homers, 27 steals, 173 hits, an .851 OPS and a .290 average. This placed him 4th in the MVP voting. Many people wrote Perdomo off as a defense-heavy utility piece, but when everything lines up he can be a scarily accurate mid-lineup bat with some awesome perks. 2026 isn't quite as huge as 2025 for the shortstop, but he's still got 9 homers, 42 RBIs, 17 steals and a 3.7 WAR thanks to continued dominance at short. He's one of those pieces you need to make the rest of the team better, someone who can do it all without being flashy. Corbin Carroll is the multifaceted type that's more front-facing and gets the job done, while Perdomo is the more under the radar provider. Both work, along with Tyler Locklear's long-awaited audition for a starting 1st base job, Lars Nootbaar adjusting to his new surroundings, and James McCann still hitting .290 and playing catcher at 36.

The rotation is also evolving forward, as something that once looked so cursed now looks better than it has in a while. Eddie Rodriguez is a rock up top, we knew that, he's 11-4 with a 4.3 ERA, he's great. Now everybody else has caught up. Michael Soroka is healthy again, still has a 3 ERA and is 8-3. Brandon Pfaadt has reclaimed his mojo, and has a 3.36 ERA and 6 wins in 21 games. Mitch Bratt has finally adjusted to MLB play, and has a 3.74 ERA with 25 Ks in 7 starts. Zack Littell's talents are being used in long relief, and that's going a lot better for him. Merrill Kelly's getting his ERA back down and attempting to save his season. Eventually Corbin Burnes is going to return for the October push and nobody's gonna be prepared for how good the D-Backs will look at that point. The team WAS lacking in a solid ninth inning choice, but Brandyn Garcia seems to have taken that mantle, he's their go-to closer now, has 3 saves and a 2.18 ERA with 36 Ks. Very healthy sort of relief piece to have around.

Look, I'm not entirely sure how the D-Backs fit into the larger wild card picture, I see the Phillies falling, the Cardinals rising, and the D-Backs should just keep pedaling how they've been pedaling before. They've fallen just short of competition the past few years, and now they've got a winning formula, they just need to hang on, as the Phillies, Padres and even the Marlins, Nats and Pirates all won't go down without a fight. 

Coming Tonight: One of the best closers in baseball. Shame about the rest of the team, though.

Once Again Rewarding Ineptitude

 

Only in America can something suck for three and a half months and still win.

Let's compare the Astros' sudden rise to other teams I don't like rising midyear and taking off. The 2015/2016 Blue Jays teams had June swells and used smart July dealing to get even better and run to the ALCS. The 2010s Cardinals teams were also sneaky, efficiently run and always on the outskirts, waiting for that great three week stress to propel them to a division win. Last year's Blue Jays team, like the 2015 one, rode a June swell but used the 'uncommon man' theory and threw a ragtag, unpolished group of sheer competitors in the ring with the LA Dodgers. 

If the Astros are able to do anything at all this season despite having an absolute lemon of a roster, a completely snakebitten rotation that they themselves traded key pieces of away, and a frustrating lack of infrastructure, it'll be because the deal they made with devil upon joining the AL really is binding.

Like, once again, this is a first place team? Who, besides Yordan Alvarez or Jeremy Pena, is doing anything? What's going on here? Peter Lambert is the team's best pitcher, he has a 3 ERA, an 8-6 record and 111 strikeouts, it is perfectly fine but this team used to have Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole lead the rotation and now it's Peter Lambert and a still-rehabbing Hunter Brown and GOOD LUCK! Brown is doing fine, he's got a 3.68 ERA, and 67 Ks, but the dreams of a successful follow-up to 2025's breakout year have dissipated. This is fine, it's getting the job done, but it's been very human. Behind that you have Ronel Blanco and Cristian Javier continuously getting chased and Hayden Wesneski doing alright enough for himself but still having a few question marks above him. I remember back when putting Cristian Javier and Ronel Blanco out there meant you'd get consistency and stability, not a 7 ERA. You cannot get first place in the AL West with these chuckleheads still trying to pass off down years. 

Then you have an outfield consisting of Cam Smith, who's got 16 homers and 44 RBIs despite a .226 average, Taylor Trammell, who's usually a bench bat at this rate but is now starting and hitting .233 with 7 homers and 20 RBIs, and Daulton Varsho, who hasn't done a great deal in Houston yet. All of Jake Meyers, Joey Loperfido, Zach Dezenzo, Zach Cole, Lucas Spence and Brice Matthews are all chilling in the minors while this cobbled group of replacement level guys try and make it look like Kyle Tucker, Michael Brantley and George Springer weren't all just here. 

The team's batting .244 as a unit, but I have no idea how much lower that would be if Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Pena weren't there, because DAMN. Yordan Alvarez is headed for an MVP right now, because he's got a triple crown in his sights. He's hitting .322, has 35 homers and 87 RBIs. Nobody else is on that level right now, and even if Aaron Judge were healthy, that would be THE mark right now. I'm not too salty to admit Yordan Alvarez is a league-wide talent, the dude's dangerous. But he's one of the few guys keeping this team in the race.

The Rangers and Mariners have both been winning lately, and look to be making this something of a foot race. The Astros are 2 games over .500 and trying desperately to get whatever momentum they can out of what they know to be a lesser iteration of the club. Like last year, they're trying to outrun themselves, and while I like to think I know how this goes...I don't think they'll go down without a fight.

Coming Tomorrow- One of the most talented all-around athletes in the game right now, multifaceted and versatile...and just one of the many guys working to reopen the book on the story of the NL West this year.

Busch Whacked

 

I continue to marvel at the Cubs' lineup. It continues to be a collection of like-minded, overpowering offensive threats that always find a way to come together and embarrass you. The Brewers may be the better team, and may continue to be the better team, but I will not count this Cubs team out.

First of all, they have a guy who's probably winning the MVP this year. Pete Crow-Armstrong heard all the mess about his slump last year, or about his high WAR, low production stuff, and he sprung into action, with a 27-homer season, 30 steals, 72 RBIs, the potential for 30-30 with the other 30 also being a definite possibility, and some of the most incredible throws and plays in center. This man is playing eye-popping baseball and ascending to the dominance the Cubs knew he'd get to. 

And it's not like it's just him, pretty much everybody is hitting. Both catchers are hitting, Kelly with some solid .265, 42 RBI work with great defense, and Amaya with some cheesy power in there too. Swanson's HR streak has slowed down but he's still got 17 and 63 RBIs. Hoerner is powering back up again, he's hitting .260 with 55 RBIs and 18 steals. Bregman has 13 homers and 54 RBIs, and even if it's not his best, he's still great at third. Michael Busch, though down from last year, still has 63 RBIs. Ian Happ's continued his solid 2020s run and his 20 homers. Seiya Suzuki has another 20-homer year, with 67 RBIs. Even Michael Conforto is quietly having a comeback year as a DH/bench bat, with 9 homers and 26 RBIs. And then you've got this Pedro Ramirez kid, who's great defensively, great on the base paths, and hits .300. And he's the bit player in place of Matt Shaw. That's a nice bit player to have, man. 

The thing that keeps this team grounded is the pitching, and even that's improved. Kevin Gausman did well in his first Chicago start, David Peterson's 3-1 and slowly getting his groove back in different blue pinstripes, Boyd's dominant again with an 8-1 record and a 3.50 ERA, and even Imanaga's figured his stuff out again. The hope is Clay Holmes comes around, because his comeback start was shakier than it needed to be. These guys also technically need to figure out who's gonna close games, because right now it's Jacob Webb, and that's RP1 more than anything. If Daniel Palencia would stay healthy for more than 5 seconds, I'd feel better about him, but he's hurt again. With Holmes at least you have an all-star closer, but you want him starting. It's that or going with Assad or Braxton Garrett. Still time to work it out, or for Palencia to come back, but it's still worrying.

As it stands, the Cubs have the first wild card spot, and I definitely think they have enough momentum to at least hang onto a wild card berth. The Phils are also in the mix, but they're way shakier. I see the Cubs keeping their padded lead over St. Louis and continuing their August dominance. I'm not sure if this year will end any differently than last year, but at least they've got a working model and can stick to it.

Coming Tomorrow- A starter for a team that really, REALLY wants to make the playoffs this year, huh?

Guards on the Table

 

The Guardians, in recent years, will pick this time of year to either run out of steam or get going. A few years ago, they threw in the towel around this time of year, the Twins won it. Last year, it was the Tigers' division to lose when suddenly the Guardians caught absolute fire with a month and a half left to go and won it in a squeaker. 

And so here we are, 2026. The Guardians have essentially claimed the AL Central all year without being over the top wonderful. Since the all-star break, they've been atrocious. The Rays, White Sox and Twins clobbered them, that's somewhat understandable, but the Mets?? The Mets, who are just now remembering they could have been good this whole time?? Unbelievable. They brought on so many great pieces at the deadline, and next to none of them are helping. Craig Yoho is struggling mightily, Foster Griffin blew his first start, Jo Adell hasn't really taken off yet and Blake Perkins isn't even up yet. At the very least Nathaniel Lowe has been alright but the reinforcements haven't reinforced a thing. And all the while, now Slade Cecconi is hurt, now Travis Bazzana's slowing down, and the Tigers, who have already jumped them in the standings, are up next.

This Guardians team is already fundamentally very good, and has the pieces necessary to make a run. They just need to solidify. And that starts with Jose Ramirez, who was having a decent season before the injury but now needs to lead the team forward. This is a slightly lesser J-Ram year all around, with only those 29 steals seeming that regular for him. He's hit 10 homers and 36 RBIs, his OPS is .736, it's a fine enough year but we've all seen him do better, even as recently as last year. And look, we all know J-Ram's destined for Cooperstown, he's got a 30 WAR the past 5 seasons, even an okay year like this one isn't gonna derail his career. But he's still gotta be Jose Ramirez to this team, and that means bringing them forward to stop the competition. You can see Steven Kwan filling that role a little, he had a huge power moment the other night against the White Sox. You can see Rocchio and DeLauter stepping up. You can even see Austin Hedges and Patrick Bailey both having terrific seasons after being mid for so long. The effort is there all around.

But it doesn't excuse the poor baseball we've seen recently. A lot of close games mishandled, a few too many blown saves, and a lot of guys left on base. The Tigers and White Sox also want it bad, and so do the Twins ultimately. The Guardians need that insane momentum from last August to reappear and get them all the way, because stretches like this one are not how they get there.

Coming Tonight: A typically reliable member of the RBI-friendly Cubs lineup.

Too Close for Comfort

 

We just had a Yanks-Braves series that was as close as a series between two competitive, surging teams should be. Every game was a question mark til the very end. Two went the Yankees' way, one went the Braves, and two of the three were denoted with a horde of terrible umpiring.

I was at the game on Saturday, which, fun fact, was also Old Timer's Day. Fun event as per usual. Hideki Matsui can still rake, Brian Doyle can still hustle, Mariano Rivera can still throw. Once the Braves and Yankees got on, it got slightly less fun because the guy who was umping was likely legally blind and taking it out on everyone else. Dan Merzel is this guy's name, and he seems to be a younger call-up, so it's weird that he's acting up now. It's like becoming the lowest-rated photo editor the year after Adobe Photoshop was released. Like, if you're gonna be obsolete, be good.

Among the things this guy did wrong was giving Spencer Jones an HBP when the ball didn't even touch him, penalizing Austin Wells because Jose Caballero took too long getting to first, being so hard to follow that the Braves lost both their challenges on one play, and some general tomfoolery that the Yanks were thankfully able to call him on. The most egregious crap came against Chris Sale, who Merzel first called a balk on to score a run, which got both Sale AND Walt Weiss yelling at him [Weiss was ejected]. Then before game 3, Chris Sale allegedly made a motion towards Merzel as he entered the field, and was ejected, perhaps because Merzel had waited 24 hours for a reason to eject Sale. This asshole really made the whole game about himself, which is unbelievable.

Now, what was fascinating was seeing someone like Jose Caballero contend with Merzel, because Caballero's antics have been pissing off everyone this year. A friend of mine's getting into baseball, and caught a game in the Bronx last month, and even he was getting annoyed at Cabby's pitch clock violations. Dude just lives in his own universe, a lot like Jazz Chisholm. The good news is, Cabby's been excellent for us, with 12 homers and 41 RBIs, plus 28 steals. He's a really handy guy to have around, and hits way more than your average Taylor Walls type utility man. He's just a little annoying sometimes, and it's better that one of those guys is with us rather than against us. 

That aside, the game went pretty damn well. Ben Rice hit a bomb, his 32nd. I got to see George Lombard Jr.'s second career homer, plus some exceptional infield work at short. Spencer Jones is looking very MLB ready all of the sudden, and Paul Goldschmidt is still excellent against lefties. Plus, Gerrit Cole looked like his old self, shutting down the Braves save for some small ball here and there. Ronald Acuna Jr. also remembered to show up, and hit a solo shot against Brent Headrick, though his shenanigans came off as pretty crass as well. 

The Braves winning yesterday, and keeping every game close, tells me how durable they are even with a slight slide in the last few weeks, and some messy work against the Mets tonight. They still have a terrific power core of Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies and a lesser but still noteworthy Ronald Acuna performance. They also now have Martin Perez as a very viable rotation option, with 7 wins, a 3.14 ERA and 78 Ks, proving that 35 year olds on the Braves this decade can't be counted out. And the bullpen's still excellent as well, with so many really impressive pieces keeping this team together. They're at 71 wins, still feel like a lock for first, and probably won't even let this New York stretch slow them down.

In conclusion, glad I was able to catch a nice, tight, exciting matchup between these two teams. Last time I did, the Braves had this guy on the mound that killed us, some guy named Max Fried. Hopefully he doesn't have to play the Yankees anymore..

Coming Tomorrow- His team may have taken a huge hit in the last week, but after 13 years of this, he's not about to take it sitting down.

Rays'd Objection

 First of all, this is just an odd picture. Not just Cedric Mullins on the Rays, though that is pretty odd. It's a 90s Rays jersey...but an early 2000s Rays cap. It's mismatched eras. I kinda wish for the HOF weekend thing, they'd have done full throwbacks, and do the vested early 2000s Steve Cox Rays uniforms, but no, it's gotta look weird.

Here's a fun fact about the Rays' schedule going forward. Six of the teams they're set to play going forward are below .500. The Jays, Orioles, Athletics [TWICE], Mets, Tigers. They will eventually play good teams [Braves, Yanks, Sox], but by that point they'll probably have an unreachable lead from playing the A's a ton of times, and the AL East will be called for them. I'd accuse the MLB of rigging the system for the Rays, but they are a very cheap team with a low payroll who'd get very few eyes on them if they made a World Series, so who even knows how this happened.

The Rays did help this by sweeping the Mariners, an actual good team [or at least they were supposed to be], and now they can coast a bit going forward. The O's may chase them a great deal in a couple weeks. I'll be at one of the games in Baltimore, so I sure hope so. 

The trade deadline strengthened what was already an extremely well-engineered Rays team, and now they're looking even better. They already didn't have a ton of issues scoring runs, but now they have Liam Hicks on the team and he's scored like 6 since getting here. Aranda, Caminero and Diaz make up one of the most formidable run-scoring tryptics in the game, which is widely when you consider that Yandy Diaz is 34. Caminero has 33 homers right now and is in no position to slow down. Even Cedric Mullins is helping out with the power game, with 13 homers and 35 RBIs, plus 18 steals. This isn't peak, early 2020s Mullins, but he's still very helpful, and he can still do some cool things. I also think the bench's array of guys like Ben Williamson, Victor Mesa Jr. [who, contrary to my earlier belief, is a different guy than former Marlins prospect Victor Victor Mesa], Jonny deLuca and Ryan Vilade, is extremely helpful. Vilade especially is just built like a ballplayer, this massive thing who can hit really hard. 

The bullpen has overcome some early-May struggles and mellowed into a really nice unit, with Bryan Baker, Kevin Kelly, Ian Seymour and now Tyler Wells working on great seasons. Steven Matz has swung back into the rotation to replace Griffin Jax, and he's not doing too badly. I do worry about Freddy Peralta, because he's still struggling the way he did in New York, but hopefully things even out. Martinez and Rasmussen are still excellent though, and solving a ton of problems. 

Again, even as the Yankees threaten, I don't see the Rays giving up 1st anytime soon, even if there are minor flaws. This team's really blossomed, and come together in a way I wasn't expecting early on. I don't think they're THE favorite in the AL going into October, but they're one of the only teams acting like it this year. 

Coming Tomorrow- The Braves really corner the market on 'life begins at 30' guys, don't they?

First to Cursed

 

There is a subject I don't like mentioning on the blog, but it's inevitable here. 

Y'see, a couple months ago, the New York Knicks were going on an absolute tear in the finals, they were outdoing the Spurs on every level. The Spurs only won one game of that series, and it was at the Garden, with...um...a guest. 

Recently. The Los Angeles Dodgers made a visit to this guest's current place of residence, or one of them at least. And since visiting said place of residence, they have won 5 games, and lost ten, including two against division rivals the Arizona Diamondbacks. More proof that no sports team is safe from being ruined at the hands of a massive...er, jinx. 

And at least the Knicks eventually won the Champs, but because it's only a 7 game series, all it takes is just getting the jinx out of the room. I think some Knicks fans did some cleansing rituals, a little sage, maybe something from a nearby halal cart, anything that could possibly work. And so, the Knicks won in 5, as depicted on the walls of the Sistine Chapel. But in a long season like this, it's gonna take more than just a game to pass for the stink to completely go away. So the Dodgers are still very much mired in this losing streak, and are gonna need to really rethink policy and outreach in order to come back from it.

There's at least good news, and it's that some pieces of this team that haven't had the proper time to really excel this season are finally getting there. Mookie Betts is one of them, as he was injured for most of the year, then took a while to really make an impact. He currently has 13 home runs and 36 RBIs in 80 games, plus the usual brand of excellent play at shortstop. Teoscar Hernandez also missed some time, but has been much better in the last few weeks, hitting .279 since the ASG break, with 3 homers and 5 RBIs. Tanner Scott is now a very viable ninth inning option again, with a 2.31 ERA and 16 saves, which is a very good thing because Edwin Diaz suddenly isn't. Roki Sasaki has been piling together more and more quality starts, and has his ERA down to 4.50. 

The frustrating part is the continued setbacks, the lighter bench work, the fact that both catchers are now injured and Hunter Feduccia is suddenly the top backstop on the team, and the knowledge that the Red Sox, Cubs and D-Backs all can find the leverage to top these guys. Yes, having Tarik Skubal helps, but the ESPN smear campaign is already in full effect to hide the fact that his first start was A.) during a loss and B.) nowhere near as effective as his Tigers starts. Blake Snell will be back soon, but for how long? Will Ohtani be pitching again anytime soon? Or are they gonna be stuck with Wrobleski and Lauer making crucial postseason starts?

The cracks have finally formed. And though the Dodgers are still a lock for the playoffs and a very good team, they are no longer unstoppable, and now may need to work harder to procure that all-important threepeat. I'd suggest maybe giving the guy who had them over a cease and desist.

Coming Tomorrow- He's not even playing his best baseball anymore, but he's still a crucial performer for a 1st place team, so that's definitely something. 

Slow West

 

The 2026 AL West. The divisional equivalent of a writer that keeps crumpling and tossing perfectly good story ideas before deciding on one they've already done before.

We've had this season the threadlines of an A's team that can go the distance, then a Mariners team looking to finish the job from last year, then a Rangers team taking advantage of a golden opportunity, and currently the story of the AL West is 'everybody crashed into each other and died so the Astros are in first'. And like...you see how that's disappointing, right? The Astros have almost deliberately sabotaged their own success by failing to procure their main pieces, replacing them with disappointing, inferior homegrown versions, have a rotation full of very hurt former greats, and one of their big moves at the deadline was trading away one of the only good healthy pitchers they had. And they still get first. That is a truly unheard level of entitlement. That you just end up in first without even being good enough to justify it. Just 'oh, well if the other two aren't gonna be very good, we might as well.'

And the Mariners have been given every opportunity to be good this year, complete with great foundational moves, but just cannot win games. They were over .500 on July 20th, then went 4-12. Seranthony hasn't worked, Ward hasn't worked, and Josh Naylor, who's taken forever to get going, is NOW the only one on this team remembering to hit home runs. And now, after they're done with the Rays, they have to play the Yankees and Astros. It is not ideal, and it's not looking great.

So...I guess that leaves the Rangers? Who were dipping around the deadline, nearly traded deGrom and Eovaldi, actually traded Josh Smith, and then locked in and decided to go for it anyway. And that seems to be working out?

Here are some things that haven't been working all year that are suddenly, finally, doing well for the Rangers: Joc Pederson, who's once again a reliable hitter, leads the team with 21 homers, and has returned to his lovable presence on a would-be contender. Corey Seager's battled injuries and slumps all year, and now he's finally hitting, and has 11 home runs. Wyatt Langford has been trying to stay healthy for a while and now is letting his 13 homers speak for themselves. Nathan Eovaldi's looking to finally get his ERA under 4, and his 10 wins and 137 K's say a lot. And even Kumar Rocker's putting together a halfway decent season, with a 4 ERA and 98 Ks. We've also finally seen Cody Bradford show up in the rotation this year, and he looks really good. Somehow, the idea of a deGrom-Eovaldi-Gore-Bradford postseason rotation is looking better than a lot of competitors's renditions.

There are fundamental issues, like the fact that only 2 guys have over 50 RBIs [and it's August], and the fact that only one starter has an ERA lower than 4, but the way these guys have looked fairly recently indicates that things are finally clicking, and they're now a half-game behind the Astros for the division. Like in 2023, the Rangers could be heading for a showdown, and I am absolutely here for it.

Coming Tonight: A future Hall of Famer having an extremely okay season. 

Outlegged

 

Anyone else breathing a little easier now that the Dodgers aren't in first?

I mean yes, it's been tough matchups, they've had to play a surging Cubs team, they're beginning to cool off, and they will obviously be back because they're the Dodgers but...how about the fact that the best team in baseball right now is the self-made, lower-budget Milwaukee Brewers, the team that everybody thought was punting and would sink under the Cardinals and Reds? The Brewers are solid as hell and have enough reinforcements for days, and right now they're absolutely cruising, going 13-6 since the all-star break. 

The rotation still amazes me, because right now they're without Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester, three guys who absolutely made the 2025 team as good as it was. And it's still one of the best rotations in baseball. Jacob Misiorowski is still having a Cy Young caliber season, going 11-5 with a league-leading 1.63 ERA and a league-leading 195 strikeouts. The velocity's high and he's still untouchable, and hopefully this is a sustainable metric because, as we're seeing with Paul Skenes, it takes some wear and tear. But even behind him, you have Kyle Harrison pitching a terrific year, 9-2 with a 2.84 ERA, Logan Henderson finally staying healthy in the bigs with a 6-1 record and a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts, Shane Drohan having an excellent rookie campaign with a 6-4 record and a 3.48 ERA, Robert Gasser surprisingly doing alright for himself as a fill-in, and now Dustin May, who had a terrific first start with only 2 runs allowed. That is an onslaught. So many terrific starting options. And that is why you deal a Peralta, because you know you have Drohan coming. 

Additionally...the bullpen crew have been so damn concise this year. Abner Uribe's having another god-tier season, with a 2.14 ERA, 47 Ks and 6 saves. Combine that with Trevor Megill, still good as the primary closer, Chad Patrick, who's been excellent as a longman, Aaron Ashby who has 12 wins and a ton of great long work, and somehow D.L. Hall, Bryse Wilson and Antonio Senzatela who are all suddenly ace relievers at this point. It's a really impressive unit with a lot of very steady pieces who are all going the right direction, and directly overtop of that is a lineup of prime Jackson Chourio, prime William Contreras, prime Brice Turang, rookie Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara, and the Jake Bauers season the Rays convinced themselves would never happen. The swiss army effect with this team is real, and there's so many guys that can beat you in so many ways.

And the strange part is...they haven't even needed Jett Williams or Jesus Made, because Joey Ortiz has had a crazy second wind and Cooper Pratt has been worth it at short. He's now hitting .289 with 17 RBIs and 10 steals, and finally feels like a valid MLB option, even at 21. The fact that there is a Made waiting in the wings to make this team even better is still insane.

The Brewers have the Twins and Padres next, two decent teams that wanna be the spoiler even if they're not definite playoff teams yet. They need to stay hot and command enough of the rest of this season if they want to stand any chance against the inevitable Dodgers October offense. I so badly want the Brewers to upset the Dodgers, because they're the more fun team and are trying to do something terrific here, even with a fraction of the budget the Dodgers have. And I really hope this can be the year.

Coming Tonight: A week or so ago, his team was in first and looking to buy. Now he's just trying to keep the lights on.

While You Were Out..

 

Anthony Kay was a gem of the Mets' minor league system, was traded for Marcus Semien in 2019, debuted with fanfare only to fail to live up to expectations, bounced around the minors for 3 years, and eventually gave up and went to Japan. After regaining control and finding his confidence again, Kay re-signed with an up-and-coming White Sox team in an effort to start small [which was coincidentally also Munetaka Murakami's idea], and wound up on a competitor with a decent chance of making the postseason. Like a lot of returning former MLB guys, like Foster Griffin and Peter Lambert, Kay isn't really an over the top centerpiece guy, but he's putting in the work to be a part of this team.

So far, in 23 appearances, Kay has an 8-5 record, a 4 ERA and 90 Ks. These are far and away his best MLB numbers, because the Jays never really got Kay's best stuff in his 3 years there. Kay works because unlike a lot of this rotation, he's got a few more years under his belt, has a veteran presence, and can pitch in big games without wilting. Davis Martin, who's only 2 years younger than Kay, is beginning to struggle as we get closer to October, and Sean Burke, as good as he's been, isn't enough. The idea was that Luis Castillo would be the veteran presence, but one start in and that doesn't seem to be working. So Kay and his strong enough work will have to do. 

All the Chicago rotation really needs to do is provide a strong enough backbone, as the lineup's already got the rest covered. The only real stumbling point has been catching, but everything else is super powerful. Murakami, Meidroth, Vargas, Peters, Antonacci and the Montgomerys make up a truly incredible backbone, and have accomplished so much just by being active, young and ready for anything. Montgomery already has 25 homers, and Murakami and Vargas will get there very soon. Even Andrew Benintendi, though clearly not reaching his ceiling the Red Sox once knew was a thing, is a pretty nice power DH, with 12 homers and 57 RBIs. Basically doing what he's called for. 

Though they were just swept by the Red Sox, who...I dunno what their deal is, they might not stop winning and take it all at this point just to confuse the owners further, they have the Guardians [who just got embarrassed by the Mets] and the Reds [who just lost Hunter Greene again] this week, and look to capitalize and keep possession of first. I think they can ultimately, even if the Guardians did more at the deadline. The fundamentals really are here, and the White Sox somehow have what it takes to shock everyone and make the playoffs two years after their embarrassment of a season. 

Coming Tomorrow- Skinny, striking, stoic, throws smoke. One of many working pieces for the strongest team in the NL.

Met Out of Dodge

 

Okay, so, to recap: only two of the Mets' 2026 additions actually left the team at the deadline. Freddy Peralta and Luke Weaver, all ironically traded to smaller market teams. Which means Bo Bichette, Luis Robert, Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams and Marcus Semien are still with the team. So the Mets, in retaining those pieces, hang onto a combined....-1.9 WAR. Which means everything that either Carson Benge or A.J. Ewing has given to this team on a come-up, those combined guys have taken away. 

The Mets lineup that remains is very similar to the one that was here before, except now they're faced with the soggy decisions they made heading into the year. Semien isn't hitting, he's got a .208 average and keeps striking out. Bichette has been a disaster, only hitting .256 with 11 homers and [a team-leading] 55 RBIs, but completely without any substance, much like his father towards the end of his career. Polanco's batting .144 in 30 games, clearly injury-hampered and off his game. Robert has also been injury-stunted, and his .189 average through 37 games is pretty much par for the course from his Sox era, sad to say. The attempt to reinvigorate the lineup has pulled it down completely, and the guys who've kept the team alive are the tentpoles [Lindor and Soto] and the two new kids [Benge and Ewing]. Lindor's missed a lot of time, but he's not got 9 homers and 25 RBIs in 58 games, and is finally feeling like himself again. Soto is still hurt, but WAS pulling peak Soto numbers and saving the team. Beyond that, though? Any chance at lineup depth has rotted away. Francisco Alvarez is here, healthy and hitting, and at 24 his ceiling's still high, but will his success even be with the Mets anymore? Brett Baty had a chance for a permanent role in the infield but, despite playing in more games than most of the team, he's hitting .219 and still very much a day-to-day bit player. Ronny Mauricio has still refused to factor into the team's success, and Nick Morabito wasn't ready on a brief day-trip from Syracuse. I have even less of an idea of where this team is going than I did last year, and the idea was that adding all the stars would HELP.

I at least know the direction of the rotation. Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton and eventually Jonah Tong when he manages to stay in the bigs, they will be fine. Not 2015 rotation good, but they're all pretty impressive and they fill me with more hope than the lineup. McLean is a little shaky, but he's got his ERA down to 3.29, and he has 148 strikeouts and a 1.122 WHIP. Thronton's got a 2.88 ERA in 6 starts and looks to be a keeper. Scott is still cruising along with a 3.15 ERA. The Mets also did the unthinkable and brought up the imitable Jefry Yan, a 29-year-old career minor league closer who leaps into the air on a strikeout. The Guardians fans were polarized by him, but I think a basket case like Yan is perfect for the Mets. The stakes are low, the season's over, it's Jefry Yan time. Why not?

So yeah, not really too much left for the Mets to accomplish this year, other than spoiling some NL East wannabe playoff guys. I guess they tried, but they can't buy a championship with artificial depth. Next year will hopefully be a few steps closer to a better approach.

Coming Tomorrow- Ironically a former Mets farmhand, who pitched overseas, came back and unwittingly joined a competitor. 

The 2026 Trade Deadline Deals That I Didn't Get

 It's inevitable every year. There are trade deadline moves that immediately move the needle for their teams. There are moves that are under the radar and helpful without being completely huge for baseball. There are moves that fulfill a need without being flashy, and there are moves that do something minor while being very flashy. And then...there are the moves made because so much publicity has arisen around trade deadline week, and every team feels pressured to contribute in some way, regardless of whether or not they actually need to. And when you're working to please someone other than yourself, you can make some really boneheaded moves.

That's what this post is gonna cover today. Some moves that, on paper, don't really make all that much sense, and may have been pretty shiny at the time but will fade very quickly. In the past, teams have made this list by going all in when they really shouldn't have, or making a move that it becomes very clear they will regret, or helping the other side more than you're helping yourself. There's a lot of stuff like that in here. 

We're gonna start off with one I kinda get. And move into the land of the stupefying. 

-Luis Garcia Jr. to the Yankees, Jake Bird and 3 prospects to the Nationals

Okay. So on paper, this is good because it brings a surefire, ripe power hitter with contact perks to Yankee stadium, and like Heliot Ramos, Garcia's the exact kind of hitter this roster needs more of. The other night he hit his 24th home run of the season, far and away his most in a season since coming up in 2020. The way he went from a singles-heavy, extra part infield type to an incredible power hitter with genuine spark...that spoke volumes. Us getting him, I still think that's a good move. The issue is now we have three third baseman, one of whom is a defensive boon [or is at least average]. For right now, yes it makes sense because Stanton's still out and Rice can DH, plus Goldschmidt can face lefties. People are going to start coming back. And if we have a lineup where Bellinger, Judge and Stanton are all active, that means Ben Rice, Luis Garcia Jr. and Heliot Ramos will all need to be in the lineup, and that means Goldschmidt, Spencer Jones, Jasson Dominguez and Trent Grisham will become even less valuable. It's a clog is what it is. The Yanks should have honestly shopped Grisham. Because now, even though it PACKS the lineup, it makes long-term sustainability a lot shakier with so many great choices for so few positions. So yeah, a move that looks cool, but doesn't make as much sense as it should.

-Ryan Zeferjahn to the Cubs, Moises Ballesteros and a prospect to the Angels

Like the Garcia deal, on paper it works. Zeferjahn's a terrific relief piece with some untouchable stuff, the Cubs need relief help, it all fits. Giving up Ballesteros, especially after how great he was in April and how much potential he has, is a little suspect. I still think he had promise with this team, and while he did go cold, resulting in the demotion, the Cubs still could have done something with him. Then again they were also shopping Matt Shaw before he got hurt, so who knows. Ballesteros in Anaheim, a lot like Nacho Alvarez in Anaheim, could be a fun development, and he could get to some of the work he was going to get to in Chicago there. So short term, good for the Cubs. Long term...I don't know. Josh Fields was a good short term choice for the Dodgers, but then Yordan Alvarez wasn't worth it.

Speaking of Cubs moves: 

-Braxton Garrett to the Cubs, 2 prospects to the Marlins.

Here's the deal. Because the Cubs made some very nice moves to help the rotation, they got Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes, that's very good. Braxton Garrett...hm. So Braxton Garrett struggled on a come up with the Marlins in the early 2020s, found his stuff over two seasons in 2022 and 2023, got hurt midway through the 2024 season, missed all of 2025, made 2 starts this year and got lit up, but has a 2.90 ERA in Jacksonville and has been kept there since mid-May due to Janson Junk, Ryan Gusto and Tyler Phillips being better choices I suppose. And...this is the guy the Cubs would rather start games for them than Jameson Taillon. I mean, there is evidence that Garrett is back, but I feel like if he was back they wouldn't make Tyler Phillips a starter again to keep him down. So...it's mostly the lack of MLB success in recent years that makes me wonder if this is going to work. But...I suppose we'll see how he does down the stretch. Obviously the Marlins aren't suffering, Junk and Gusto have been fine I suppose. 

-Kris Bubic to the Dodgers, Carlos Duran to the Royals

The Dodgers have a history of poaching oft-injured starters from the Royals at the trade deadline and then not even using them. This happened with Homer Bailey. It happened with Danny Duffy. And now it's happening with Kris Bubic, who is still injured [second one in a row to feature an injured guy], and will not immediately factor into the Dodgers' rotation. KEEP IN MIND. The Dodgers already have Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Gavin Stone on the 60. And now they have Bubic there. In addition to Shohei Ohtani, who isn't really pitching right now. THEY...DO NOT NEED ANOTHER INJURED STARTER. They barely even need another STARTER, Eric Lauer, Roki Sasaki, Justin Wrobleski and now Tarik Skubal have been FINE filling in for the big guys. You're gonna have like 5 good starters stuck doing spot relief jobs, which...seemed to work fine last year, but...it just felt like a 'hat on a hat' kind of move. Getting Bubic in addition to Skubal because they could.

-Josh Smith to the Blue Jays, Adam Macko and 1 prospect to the Rangers

Okay cool, now we get into the 'what the hell are you doing??' moves. The Rangers got a new catcher days before the deadline, lost a ton of games, then started losing and decided they were gonna shop Eovaldi, Gore and deGrom, none of whom actually got dealt. But they did deal Josh Smith, a very good infield piece in the midst of a very bad season, and someone who I think could have continued to aid the Rangers as a depth/fill-in guy, even with Josh Jung, Jake Burger and Ezequiel Duran all doing their jobs. I do think the Jays adding Josh Smith as another 'uncommon man' for the infield contact strategy is ultimately a good idea, and Smith will find a nice niche in Toronto, but...neither teams needed to make this move because the Jays didn't need to buy and the Rangers didn't need to sell. So this benefits the Jays but I don't even know if they needed to even do it. 

AND ON THAT SAME SUBJECT,

-Jose Soriano to the Blue Jays, Arjun Nimmala and 2 prospects to the Angels.

So like...the Blue Jays aren't competing this year. They're below .500, they're in last, and they've won less than the Orioles, who sold more. But they still made numerous moves at the deadline TO BUY...and also to sell. So I have no idea what they accomplished, and why. Jose Soriano is a fantastic starting piece with a high ceiling in the midst of a great season. I do not see the point of him going from one last place team to another. Someone like the Cubs or the Phillies or the White Sox or the Braves could have gotten him and it'd have made more sense. But the Jays dealing one of their biggest prospects for Soriano, maybe it makes more sense if the Jays are better next year, which...will they be? Who knows. But at the moment, it feels like the Jays are trying to fall upward. They're trying to still be a good team with good pieces without actually winning the games necessary to be a good team. Highly illogical.

It gets worse.

-Spencer Arrighetti to the Blue Jays, Daulton Varsho to the Astros.

This one broke me. Why would EITHER TEAM AGREE TO THIS?? Like, okay...the Astros are currently in first place in the AL West. I can comfortably say 'by default', because the Mariners are the better team, they just aren't winning games right now. The Astros are 3 games above .500 and are trying to hold onto this momentum as tightly as possible, knowing they have a weaker core than usual, an older core, and a lot of untested pieces. So...why the hell do they give away Spencer Arrighetti? Why? I don't understand it. Arrighetti is a young, talented pitcher with a high K rate who had some excellent starts for them this year. Without him, the Astros' rotation reads Hunter Brown, Peter Lambert, Hayden Wesneski, Ronel Blanco, Cristian Javier. Four of them have been hurt for the majority of this season, two of them are still struggling to come back from their injuries, and the one with the most pressure is the guy who was pitching in Japan last year. I would rather have Spencer Arrighetti in this rotation than a hurt Javier or Blanco. But the Astros thought that the key to helping out the crowded, fractured rotation was dealing the youngest guy there, and one of the few people in the rotation to not really get hurt this year. And they dealt him for Daulton Varsho, who's a good piece with offensive perks and a great center field arm but isn't complete. Astros fans, when the news came out, were slamming this deal, saying they traded a great arm for 'another Jake Meyers'. Varsho may help, but this is Jesus Sanchez thinking again, a minor move that distracts from the fact that the problems that needed to be solved are still there, and now worse. If the Astros make the playoffs, it'll be in spite of boneheaded decisions like this, and solely because nobody could stop them. 

So yeah. The usual amount of shenanigans. Let's see how many of these simply make more sense as we go. 

The 2026 Trade Deadline Deals That Just Missed the List

 In whittling the list down to only ten entries yesterday, I found myself, as usual, with enough entries for two other lists. One is going to consist of the deals I couldn't really understand. That'll be tomorrow probably. This list is going to be a ton of the deals from yesterday that I do understand, but not enough to top the 10 that made the list. These are good trades, quality trades, from good organizations. They vary from 'fine' to 'genuinely good and basically #11'

So here we go, in ascending order:

-Logan O'Hoppe and Chase Silseth to the Rangers, Angel Arredondo to the, heh, Angels

Why it works: The Rangers have been stuck between two backup catchers all year, and O'Hoppe, as mediocre as he's been lately, gives them a genuine starting option to go forward.

Why it didn't make the list: Right after making this list, the Rangers lost a few more games, slid to second and are now even less of a competitor than they were, so this was the highest profile trade the Rangers made. In fact, they nearly sold, actively shopping Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, and actually dealing one of their infielders. Needless to say, it was a disappointing deadline for the Rangers, and this being their only acquisition...hurts.

-Brenton Doyle to the White Sox, 2 prospects to the Rockies

Why it Works: Doyle could be a nice depth OF choice for the Sox, and could swap in with Braden Montgomery and Sam Antonacci when needed. He's not what he was a few years ago, and has been pretty bad the last few years, but he could still be helpful as a bench bat.

Why it didn't make the list: This is a useful move, but it doesn't propel the White Sox forward like some of their other moves. Doyle may also crap out in Chicago as well.

-Dean Kremer to the Twins, Jhomnardo Reyes to the Orioles

Why it works: Kremer is a very steady sixth starter who often jumps in and makes the opportunity his own when needed, and even through injuries this year has provided strong work for the O's. The Twins have lacked back-end rotation stability, and have been shuffling between first and second year guys like Zebby Matthews and Connor Prielipp without much success. Kremer gives them a nice assurance.

Why it didn't make the list: Because there's still two teams in the Twins's way, and they both had much better deadline additions. Kremer is nice and all but isn't Jack Morris.

-Brent Suter to the Braves, Nacho Alvarez to the Angels

Why it works: win-win for the Braves. Not only do they get a worthy bullpen addition, with Suter's excellent work both as a longman and a spot guy, but Nacho Alvarez doesn't have to wait in Gwinnett for Austin Riley to get hurt anymore. 

Why it didn't make the list: Purely a functionality move, not exactly an exclamation point. Similarly,

-Tyler Mahle to the Braves, Anthony Molina to the Giants

Why it works: Mahle will take over for the recently-injured Reynaldo Lopez and help Chris Sale, Martin Perez, Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder keep this team a competitor. The back half of the rotation was an issue, Mahle's a well-known mid rotation sleeper hit when healthy, this buttresses an already strong Braves team.

Why it didn't make the list: Mahle was having a very okay year in SF, and we're never sure when there's gonna be another injury with him. I think about when the Twins dealt for him at the deadline a while ago hoping he'd bring them far and he got hurt pretty soon into it. Hopefully something similar doesn't happen here. 

And while we're on the subject of Braves slick moves:

-Eli White to the Red Sox, Tyler Uberstine to the Braves

Why it works: The Braves now have Ronald Acuna, Mauricio Dubon, Michael Harris, Mike Yastrzemski and, in the minors, Brewer Hicklen, to play the outfield. All of them are versatile, fulfill many needs, and can hit better than Eli White. White was here for his defense, but on a team with Harris and Yaz it didn't make much sense. I think he'll be better on a Myles Straw-type role on the Sox, meshing with that M.O.

Why it didn't make the list: Because the Braves's highest profile move of the deadline might have been selling White. Which is what happens when Jacob deGrom nixes a trade to Atlanta at the last minute.

-Jeff Hoffman to the Twins, 3 prospects to the Blue Jays

Why it works: There weren't a lot of closing options dealt this year. Kirby Yates maybe, but that's a gamble. Lot of middle relief guys. Jeff Hoffman can close, and the Twins might need him to. The hope is he'll be better in Minneapolis than he was in Toronto, and harken back to his Phils numbers. 

Why it didn't make the list: Because the return of Hoffman's better numbers still isn't a definite, and it may be more of the same. Also, see earlier remark about the Twins maybe putting the cart before the horse here.

-Brooks Raley to the Phillies, 2 prospects to the Mets

Why it works: David Robertson is retired, so the next best thing is trading for Raley, a 38-year-old relief specialist who will definitely be better than a lot of in-house options for the Phils. Raley's having a nice season, and he, along with Caleb Killian will attempt to class up this bullpen [once again]

Why it didn't make the list: I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending. 

-Huascar Brazoban to the White Sox, 2 prospects to the Mets

Why it works: More fun with the Mets' pen. Brazoban is younger, more ferocious and has a higher ceiling, plus the White Sox just need a guy like him to coast behind. If they are, in fact, gearing up for a stretch run, fixing the bullpen is the right idea, as the previous incarnation of it left a lot to be desired. 

Why it didn't make the list: This is a very good nuts & bolts move but because the White Sox didn't need a ton of front-facing spots filled, I can't say it moves the needle much. 

-Luis Castillo to the White Sox, Nolan Jones, Seranthony Dominguez and Boston Smith to the Mariners

Why it works: The Mariners, thankfully, did not sell, but they made Castillo available, as he was clogging up roster space and making it harder for Kade Anderson to eventually make his debut. He also wasn't having a great year, but glints of his former glory did come through here and there. The Mariners were able to deal him without damaging their attempt to compete, and got back a solid October bullpen piece in Dominguez and a potential under-the-radar spoiler in Jones. The White Sox finally bring some name brand recognition to their rotation, and slotting in Castillo will add depth that Noah Schultz was not completely bringing. 

Why it didn't make the list: Because I don't think this is peak Castillo we're dealing with sadly, and they didn't bring him on to be the ace.

-Dustin May, Jojo Romero to the Brewers, 2 prospects to the Cardinals

Why it works: The Brewers didn't really need to do a ton this deadline, though they apparently offered a nice deal for Skubal which was turned down. This one still does a lot, as May provides for a solid late-rotation starter to possibly displace Robert Gasser or Brandon Sproat, while Romero slides in behind Megill and Uribe to make for an excellent potential October bullpen. The rich getting richer in a much more subtle way than the Dodgers.

Why it didn't make the list: Because the Brewers' biggest move of the deadline was getting Dustin May. I wish I didn't have to put it like that, but I do.

-Robbie Ray to the Padres, 2 prospects to the Giants

Why it works: A less anonymous Padres rotation, after it looked like they were gonna deal King. Ray could be a solid ace piece, and will really help this team going forward. He's in the midst of a true comeback year, and has cemented himself as one of the last few classic starters we have left.

Why it didn't make the list: The Padres are far from a shoo-in for the playoffs, and have so many obvious flaws that I don't know if I can fully embrace their will to compete yet.

-Jo Adell to the Guardians, Jacob Cozart to the Angels

Why It Works: The Guardians did a ton of underrated stuff this deadline. The Nathaniel Lowe move. Adding Craig Yoho. This was probably my favorite thing they did, even if it wasn’t as big as Foster Griffin. Jo Adell is a genuine power bar, a great outfielder and an exclamation point on a lineup that prefers to hide. They needed a Jo Adell, and they needed a lineup piece to prove they weren’t running it back.

Why it didn't make the list: Yasiel Puig looked like a sure bet too. Adell, like Rhys Hoskins, has incredible upsides in between frustration. Which will it be?

-Lars Nootbaar to the Diamondbacks, 3 prospects to the Cardinals

Why it works: The D-Backs didn’t do much at all but arguably this was all they needed. Nootbaar, like many Cards outfielders, was past his sell-by date and seems to be a great fit for the Arizona offense, in addition to great defense. 

Why it didn't make the list: like the Padres, the D-Backs aren’t quite a postseason lock and need to do a lot to catch up to the pack. Plus, much like Lourdes Gurriel, who he will be covering for, Noorbaar has a tendency to get hurt when things are going well. 

-Casey Mize and Gage Workman to the Padres, 2 prospects to the Tigers

Why it works: A terrific pitching piece goes to a team that needs the help. Mize, Ray and King are all ace material and could singlehandedly claw this team back to prominence. Mize’s upsides, as we’ve seen in the last few years, are dominant, well pitched stretches with low run output. Better here than Detroit arguably.

Why it didn't make the list: it nearly did, and I think the Padres-ness of it all prevented it. Who knows, maybe if they make a real run this’ll look better.

-Luke Weaver to the Pirates, Sammy Stafura to the Mets

Why it works: One of the best relief pieces on the board goes to a team that desperately needed bullpen help. The idea is that Weaver will close, and I think he’ll be terrific at it, and further legitimize this underrated Pirates team. Plus, something very fitting about the Pirates old closer succeeding for the Yanks while the Yankees’ old closer gets to do well in Pittsburgh. The Dream Weaver will fit right in. 

Why it didn't make the list: basically #11, and I think the dividing line was clear after the Ramos move. Weaver’s addition makes the Pirates better but they’re gonna need to do the rest themselves. 

Tomorrow, you will get a post containing the trade deadline deals that are still vexing me. Hopefully this is also nice content.

Top 10 Trade Deadline Deals of 2026

 Well...a lot happened this time around. 

Following the brass today was HARROWING. So much was happening, and so quickly. Almost evenly displaced as well, like there'd be a move, I'd have time to make a custom of them, and the next two moves would be up. And I think it was all a well rounded bunch. Last year the emphasis was on relief pitching, this year it was a little of everything. Some teams needed starting help, some teams needed outfield bats, some teams needed catchers [and some needed catchers and somehow forgot to deal for any]. A lot went down, even to the point where, after the BIG MOVE happened a few days ago, I was worried nothing would top it. And...I mean, we'll get to it, but there certainly was competition. 

I have a lot of other posts planned for deadline week, I have a 'best of the rest' one planned, I have a 'the ones I didn't understand' post in a bit. But we've got to do the top 10. This kept sliding by the whole day and got to the point where it is now. One spot stayed the same. And...yeah.

Anyway, we start with one I really didn't think was gonna happen this deadline:

#10: Heliot Ramos to the Yankees, 2 prospects to the Giants

So, the Yankees went into the deadline looking for bullpen work and a catching upgrade, and got neither. So Heliot Ramos, a very savvy lineup addition, makes it to the end of this list without going forward. Let me just stress that I love this move, Ramos is young, controllable, and powerful. He's been hurt for a bit but he's hitting .264 with 9 homers and 34 RBIs in 74 games. He's a ferocious hitter with a huge upside and a lot to accomplish, and...he gets to hit in Yankee stadium. The tricky part is it crowds the outfield a bit. Right now it's Ramos/Jones/Dominguez/Grisham, and eventually Bellinger and Judge are gonna come back and it's gonna get even more crowded. It's bad enough that Paul Goldschmidt's gonna have even less at-bats now [more on that in another post], now we're crowding the active roster. It's gonna be worth it if Ramos continues his very strong work, which is very likely.

#9: Taylor Ward to the Mariners, 3 prospects to the Orioles

The Mariners have the kind of team that should work more in concept, because you have Randy Arozarena, Brendan Donovan, Julio Rodriguez, Dominic Canzone and Josh Naylor there and the contact game is ailing. So in comes Taylor Ward to make it even more ridiculous. Ward's having another excellent season, but it's a very contact heavy one without much need for power. He only has 7 homers and 30 RBIs, and that is appalling from a guy who's had 100 RBIs and 36 homers JUST A SEASON AGO. Wouldn't a trip to Seattle be a fun time to start power-hitting? Ward's an excellent outfield bat with some versatility and perks, and he could be the lineup piece that the Mariners need to save their season. I just think he really fits with what they're doing in Seattle. I'm also really happy the Mariners didn't deal Kirby or Emerson. Yes, that prevents against the possibility of stretch Kade, but their rotation is excellent and didn't need to be broken up beyond Castillo.

#8: Kevin Gausman to the Cubs, 2 prospects to the Blue Jays

The Jays had a really weird deadline, because they both sold and bought at the same time. And arguably they should have committed more to one than both. Ultimately, they chose to part with one of their longest-tenured stars, the mighty Kevin Gausman, where he will become something the Cubs have desperately needed this year: an actual ace. Justin Steele's been hurt, Cade Horton's out for a while, Shota Imanaga's struggled. They need stability, and Gausman is a veteran arm with postseason experience who can back up the already strong offense. This is a downslope of a year compared to his peak, as he is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA, but he's still a fundamentally strong pitcher with a lot of great starts left in him. I think he will greatly aid the Cubs down the stretch. Perhaps not as much as someone a little further down, but enough to land on this list.

#7: Luis Arraez and Caleb Killian to the Phillies, 2 prospects to the Giants

This is arguably a little low, but it's down here because the Phillies really needed a better option at fourth or fifth starter and didn't get one. They also needed an outfield bat...and didn't get one. So Luis Arraez, as good as he is, is an odd consolation for so many pieces of this lineup that needed help, and if we miss out on a World Series, it could be Dombrowski's fault for not going further. However...the Phillies now have Luis Arraez. And that's a very good thing. One of the best contact hitters in the game, and a terrific defensive 2nd baseman, joins this lineup, and moving Stott, Bohm and Harper around supremely improves the defense in general. Arraez is electric wherever he is, and the Phils could see that fully going forward. We also got Caleb Killian, who's a terrific bullpen arm with a great upside. Very much a win for Philly, even if the team isn't fully improved by this deadline.

#6: Foster Griffin to the Guardians, 4 prospects to the Nationals.

The Guardians had a sneakily good deadline, bringing on a lot of pieces that lift this team up to where they can really chase Chicago. Foster Griffin was their best move, because their fifth man in the rotation was Slade Cecconi, and as good as he can be, they could do better. Their rotation is now Messick, Williams, Bibee, Griffin and Cantillo, and that's among the best in the bigs. Griffin isn't an ace, but he's an excellent mid-rotation arm with 12 wins and a 3.05 ERA under his belt, and that's from playing for a very okay Nationals team. He'll thrive in a playoff environment in Cleveland, and build on this belated rookie season to become an even bigger force going forward. 

#5: Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor to the Cubs, Francisco Rojas to the Mets

This one ways a little more than Gausman to me for the Cubs pitching additions, because Holmes, until the injury, was having the best season of his career, and one of the only good seasons on the Mets. Through 9 games he had a 2.39 ERA, and was proving that the Mets moving him to the rotation was a good idea after all. The idea is that once Holmes is active [as well as Braxton Garrett], he'll be able to aid the Cubs rotation, and I see him as a front-facing integral arm that could lead them through some postseason games. Tyrone Taylor's also an excellent outfield depth option for this team, and could be very helpful on a postseason roster. The Cubs weren't fully ready before, and now they are.

#4: Freddy Peralta to the Rays, 3 prospects to the Mets

This deal will work out if the thesis, that the Mets were just a really poor fit for Peralta, is true. Peralta succeeded in Milwaukee, a small market team built on contact and pitching. That's also the Rays. Low budget, small core, close wins, and an impressive rotation. Peralta levels it up, as good as Rasmussen and Martinez have been. Shane McClanahan's gonna miss some time, and Peralta will be relied upon to deliver Brewers numbers as an ace for a Rays team with a shot at a #1 seed. Peralta's 4.99 ERA will need to come down if the Rays want to take advantage of this deadline, and I have a feeling it will. Meanwhile, Jett Williams is still chilling in the Brewers' farm system, and Brandon Sproat is getting all kinds of starts, so...lolMets.

#3: Liam Hicks to the Rays, Brayden Taylor and 2 prospects to the Marlins.

I like this one a little better for the Rays, simply because it fixes a lot of problems. It ups their catching game, ensuring Nick Fortes doesn't have to start behind the plate as much. It also gives them a proven contact bat with some kick against righthanded pitchers, and a very well-trusted lineup presence. I think he's just one of those guys who can pop into any lineup and just dive right in with excellent production, so I think he'll love Tampa. And also, he drains the Rays' farm system a little more so other teams can have a chance. Just a really cool, sneaky move by the Rays that positions them further towards a late run.

#2: Adley Rutschman and Jake Rogers to the Red Sox, Carlos Narvaez and 4 prospects to the Orioles.

I would say since Varitek left, the Red Sox have had a revolving door at catcher. So many guys that could have been the one, or should have. Victor Martinez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Sandy Leon, Christian Vasquez, Connor Wong, Carlos Narvaez, and the list goes on and on. So to finally have an answer at catcher, and for it to be Adley Rutschman a terrific hitting catcher whose team already foreshadowed this move by signing Samuel Basallo to a multi-year deal...that is huge. Rutschman's having another great season, but it did feel like this O's team was moving past the need for him. With this Boston team he'll fit right in, and be another huge lineup piece of a team that's quickly becoming a serious wild card threat. Very much a case of giving a team exactly the guy they need going forward.

But of course...nothing was gonna top the #1 piece on the board. Even if you disagree with its existence, this deal needed to be #1.

#1: Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers, River Ryan, Zyhir Hope and 1 other prospect to the Tigers

So. The best team in baseball got the best pitcher in baseball. In 16 starts, Skubal had a 2.79 ERA, 7 wins, 116 Ks and a 2.9 WAR. He's still in his peak, is effortlessly brilliant, and was never gonna stay in Detroit. The Dodgers taking him happened because they had a well-stocked farm system where even their lower tier prospects were more than other teams were offering. It's disappointing that, like a lot of recent Dodger developments, nobody else could stop it from happening. But now Sku gets to help the Dodgers go for a threepeat, and it's gonna make electric October baseball even if they don't get all the way. It's also gonna add fuel to the fire that Skubal will, in all likelihood, choose to stay in LA going forward. Definitely shifts the balance of the game, which is what the trade deadline is for. 

So yeah. A lot happened. A lot of teams won. And now the Dodgers are even scarier. Sets up the last third perfectly.

Sometime tomorrow there'll be a 'best of the rest' post most likely, with a lot of other deals that didn't make this list.