Samwise MLB Newsletter
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Trade Deadline 2026: Red Sox, Dodgers, Phillies and Cubs Reshape Rosters
The 2026 MLB trade deadline passed at 6 p.m. ET Monday with contenders making sweeping roster changes. The Los Angeles Dodgers secured two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from Detroit. The Philadelphia Phillies acquired three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and reliever Caleb Kilian from San Francisco. The Boston Red Sox shocked the league by landing All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from Baltimore. The Cleveland Guardians acquired first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from Cincinnati. The San Diego Padres added right-hander Casey Mize. The Chicago Cubs acquired closer Clay Holmes from the Mets, while the Brewers landed right-hander Dustin May from St. Louis. The Giants and Mets were the deadline’s biggest sellers.
Sources: CBS Sports · NBC Sports
Dodgers Acquire Two-Time Cy Young Winner Tarik Skubal From Tigers
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired left-handed starter and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers ahead of Monday’s trade deadline in exchange for outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith. Skubal went 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts for Detroit in 2026 and was set to make his Dodgers debut Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. The addition bolsters a Los Angeles rotation that also expects left-hander Blake Snell and right-hander Tyler Glasnow to return from injury within the month. The Dodgers entered the day leading the NL West at 49-29.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · Sports Illustrated
Red Sox Land All-Star Catcher Adley Rutschman From Orioles at Deadline
The Boston Red Sox acquired All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles in a five-player deal completed about an hour before Monday’s trade deadline. Boston sent a package headlined by right-hander Anthony Eyanson, Baltimore’s top pitching prospect, along with right-hander Kyson Witherspoon, outfielder Enddy Azocar, catcher Carlos Narváez and catcher Jake Rogers to Baltimore. The Orioles agreed to move Rutschman after determining that 21-year-old backstop Samuel Basallo, signed through 2033, was their long-term answer behind the plate. Basallo is expected to return from a right shoulder injury later in August.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · CBS Sports
Phillies Acquire Three-Time Batting Champion Luis Arraez From Giants
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired three-time batting champion Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants in a five-player deal completed Monday at the trade deadline. The Giants also sent right-handed reliever Caleb Kilian to Philadelphia; the Phillies sent right-handed prospect Ramon Marquez and reliever Marty Gair to San Francisco. Arraez, 29, earned his fourth All-Star selection this season while batting .324 with a .800 OPS, four home runs and 43 RBIs in 105 games. He carries an MLB-low 4.5 percent strikeout rate. With Arraez joining Philadelphia, Bryce Harper shifts to a corner outfield role, Alec Bohm moves to first base and Bryson Stott moves to third.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · NBC Sports
Cubs Smash Four Home Runs to Hand Dodgers Fourth Straight Loss, 10-5
The Chicago Cubs slugged four home runs to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-5 Monday night at Wrigley Field, handing Los Angeles its fourth straight loss. Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly and Kevin Alcántara each connected on two-run shots, while Michael Busch — playing against his former team — drove in three runs. Tommy Edman hit a three-run homer for the Dodgers, and Teoscar Hernández also homered. Matthew Boyd earned the win while Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski (11-3) allowed seven runs on seven hits over 4⅓ innings to absorb the loss.
Sources: MLB.com · CBS Sports
Derek Hill’s Seventh-Inning Grand Slam Lifts Phillies Over Nationals, 6-3
Derek Hill’s go-ahead grand slam off reliever Tom Cosgrove (0-1) in the seventh inning capped a Philadelphia Phillies comeback for a 6-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday night. Bryce Harper also homered with two runs batted in. Hill, who hit his ninth home run of the season, also made a running, tumbling catch in right field in the eighth inning. The victory was the Phillies’ third straight win and came hours after Philadelphia acquired three-time batting champion Luis Arraez. Aaron Nola allowed three runs in the early innings including Abimelec Ortiz’s first career home run and Daylen Lile’s 14th homer of the season.
Sources: ESPN · CBS Sports
Pfaadt Goes 6⅓ Innings as Diamondbacks Beat Padres 5-1 in Homestand Opener
Brandon Pfaadt carried a shutout into the seventh inning and Tim Tawa hit a three-run homer as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 Monday night to open a 10-game homestand against NL West rivals. Tawa’s fourth-inning blast over the left-field bullpen put Arizona ahead to stay, and he finished with three of the team’s nine hits. James McCann added an RBI double and Jorge Barrosa contributed a sacrifice fly against reliever Wandy Peralta in the eighth. Pfaadt (6-1) allowed five hits and one unearned run over 6⅓ innings. The victory moved the Diamondbacks two games ahead of San Diego in the NL wild-card race.
Sources: MLB.com · CBS Sports
Cardinals Rout Yankees 13-7 at Yankee Stadium Behind Burleson’s Two-Homer Night
The St. Louis Cardinals routed the New York Yankees 13-7 Monday night at Yankee Stadium. Alex Burleson drove in four runs with two home runs to lead St. Louis. Jordan Walker’s two-run single highlighted a dominant five-run Cardinals inning that put the game out of reach. Right-hander Quinn Mathews also made his Major League debut for St. Louis in the contest. The Cardinals entered Monday sitting second in the NL Central, five games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, while dealing right-handers Dustin May and Jo Jo Romero to Milwaukee at the trade deadline.
Sources: CBS Sports · ESPN
Pirates Upset NL Central-Leading Brewers 4-3 on Horwitz’s Three-Run Double
The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 Monday night in the opener of a four-game series at American Family Field, dealing a significant blow to the NL Central division leaders. Spencer Horwitz’s three-run double in the third inning off starter Brandon Sproat proved decisive, with the rally fueled by singles from Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds before Esmerlyn Valdez drew a walk to load the bases. The Pirates added a fourth run in the fourth inning. Monday’s result extended Pittsburgh’s edge in the season series to six wins in seven games against Milwaukee.
Sources: CBS Sports · NBC Sports
Dodgers Face Catching Crisis as Rushing Joins Smith on Injured List
The Los Angeles Dodgers added catcher Dalton Rushing to the 10-day injured list Monday with right elbow inflammation, compounding a catching crisis that already included starting catcher Will Smith, out with a neck injury and not expected back until at least late August. Manager Dave Roberts said Rushing had experienced similar elbow issues before. To address the depth shortage, the Dodgers selected the contracts of catchers Chuckie Robinson and Jonathan Hernandez. Los Angeles also officially activated newly acquired starter Tarik Skubal, optioned Emmet Sheehan to Triple-A and designated right-hander Wyatt Mills for assignment.
Sources: MLB Trade Rumors · ESPN
American League
AL East
1. New York Yankees — 46–30, —
2. Tampa Bay Rays — 43–31, 2
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 38–39, 8.5
4. Baltimore Orioles — 37–42, 10.5
5. Boston Red Sox — 31–44, 14.5
AL Central
1. Cleveland Guardians — 41–37, —
2. Chicago White Sox — 39–37, 1
3. Minnesota Twins — 38–41, 3.5
4. Detroit Tigers — 33–44, 7.5
5. Kansas City Royals — 32–46, 9
AL West
1. Seattle Mariners — 40–39, —
2. Athletics — 38–40, 1.5
3. Texas Rangers — 37–40, 2
4. Houston Astros — 37–42, 3
5. Los Angeles Angels — 32–47, 8
National League
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves — 48–28, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 42–35, 6.5
3. Miami Marlins — 40–38, 9
4. Washington Nationals — 40–38, 9
5. New York Mets — 34–43, 14.5
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 46–29, —
2. St. Louis Cardinals — 41–34, 5
3. Chicago Cubs — 40–37, 7
4. Pittsburgh Pirates — 39–39, 8.5
5. Cincinnati Reds — 37–39, 9.5
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 49–29, —
2. San Diego Padres — 39–37, 9
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 39–38, 9.5
4. San Francisco Giants — 31–46, 17.5
5. Colorado Rockies — 30–48, 19
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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