CHICAGO — Hating on the Los Angeles Dodgers is easy when you’re programmed to root for the underdog, the American way we know and love.

They spend whatever they want, acquire whoever they need and win all the time. They come to your town to kill your buzz, and play in a place that’s warm, plastic and comfortable, without a pothole in ...Read more

PHOENIX — The Padres’ big day concluded with a loss in the opener of their big series against the Diamondbacks.

A few hours removed from the excitement of Monday’s trade deadline, the Padres lost 5-1 to one of the teams they trailed by one game in the standings at the start of the day.

The Phillies won earlier Monday, so the Padres fell ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Dodgers came away from the trade deadline with major wins — a two-time Cy Young winner in Tarik Skubal, necessary catching depth with Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia, and a 2025 All-Star in pitcher Kris Bubic.

All of that momentum, and the staggering amount of talent on the roster, have overshadowed the Dodgers�...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — Tony Vitello was about 90 seconds into his pregame availability with reporters when his phone lit up. He stopped himself mid-sentence, descended from the top of the oddly tall dugout bench at Globe Life Field and momentarily disappeared into a tunnel.

On deadline day, even the managers have calls to take.

The San Francisco...Read more

DENVER — There was a lot for the Tampa Bay Rays to like in Monday’s 13-9 win over the Colorado Rockies.

Certainly, Junior Caminero’s two home runs — carrying 422 and 442 feet — in his first three at-bats in the Coors Field altitude, giving him 32 for the season. Plus, four hits from Jonathan Aranda.

And definitely the solid six ...Read more

SEATTLE — Detroit Tigers president Scott Harris, in the runup to Monday’s trade deadline, prepared for two possible objectives: One, keep this roster together and try to fortify it for a final push toward October. Two, trade two-time Cy Young-winner Tarik Skubal and All-Star Casey Mize before they hit the open market this offseason.

“I ...Read more

CHICAGO — I’ve often imagined North Shore pals Chris Getz and Jed Hoyer meeting at the Starbucks in Winnetka to talk trade and maybe delve into some executive-level gossip over a cinnamon dolce latte.

Both of Chicago’s top baseball executives were very active at the trade deadline, and made similar moves to bolster their rosters, adding ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — The Pittsburgh Pirates’ trade deadline bullpen reinforcements won’t arrive until Tuesday.

All they needed Monday was the one they already had.

The Pirates beat the Miliwaukee Brewers, 4-3, on Monday night at American Family Field on Spencer Horwitz’s bases-clearing double. The Pirates bullpen combined for 3 1/3 scoreless ...Read more

NEW YORK — New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman expressed optimism that Aaron Judge will return from his rib injury this season, calling it a “pretty high likelihood.”

But Cashman wouldn’t rule anything out, saying the Yankees would gain more clarity on Judge’s timeline once the star right fielder undergoes another round of ...Read more

NEW YORK — After blowing a six-run lead they created with help from Alec Burleson’s first two homers of the evening, the St. Louis Cardinals tried a new approach for their recent swoon.

They took a second six-run lead of the game.

In the Bronx, where left-handed sluggers thrive, Burleson authored the first three-homer game of his career ...Read more

CHICAGO — Just a few days ago, new Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal was on the other side, on a mid-market Detroit Tigers team that had hoped to unseat the Dodgers from the top of the league, before a disappointing season made them sellers at the trade deadline.

Still, with that perspective, he wasn't going to entertain any talk ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It took a little bit of time — probably way longer than most fans would’ve liked — but the Pittsburgh Pirates improved their roster before MLB’s trade deadline for the 2026 season came to pass.

While this year’s club has a few notable flaws, its biggest wart, by a mile, was the bullpen.

The Pirates needed right-handed ...Read more

BOSTON — Last week when Craig Breslow spoke to reporters following the Curtis Mead trade, the Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer was asked if the decision to trade a big leaguer for a big leaguer reflected how few clear sellers there were ahead of the trade deadline.

His response was eye-opening.

“A lot of front offices are looking at ...Read more

DENVER — After adding a starting pitcher on Sunday, acquiring Freddy Peralta, the Tampa Bay Rays addressed two other areas of need Monday, upgrading at catcher by acquiring Liam Hicks from the Miami Marlins and in the bullpen by getting Tyler Wells from the Baltimore Orioles.

Right before the 6 p.m. ET deadline, the Rays also made a small ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — At some point, Dave Dombrowski is going to have to start being right.

A .333 batting average might get you into the Hall of Fame as a hitter, but it’s a recipe for disaster as an executive.

To understand why the Phillies were where they were on Monday afternoon, you need only look at the president’s scorecard.

Justin ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Derek Hill burst out of the batter’s box, bat still in hand, toothpick in his mouth, eyes locked on his ball as it carried out towards left-center field.

As soon as he saw it clear the railing, the Phillies outfielder let the bat flip over his fingers. As he approached second, he couldn’t help but jump in the air. His ...Read more

Buster Posey may have built a garbage baseball team for the 2026 season, but he can sure pawn some parts.

Let Monday’s trade deadline go down as one of the best days of Posey’s tenure in charge of the San Francisco Giants’ front office — his best since, well, last year’s trade deadline sell-off.

The circumstances? Less than ideal.

...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Since implementing new rules, MLB has celebrated a resurgence in attendance, interest, TV ratings and we are to believe the team at the top during this revival is the same one that is “ruining” it, too.

The L.A. Dodgers have replaced the New York Yankees as the evilest of evil empires; a financial behemoth that J.P. ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants have traded outfielder Heliot Ramos to the New York Yankees in exchange for prospects Henry LaLane and Kaeden Kent, according to multiple reports. Kent is the son of 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Kent, while Lalane is one of New York’s top pitching prospects.

Ken Rosenthal was the first to report ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The late actor and director Rob Reiner was a devoted Los Angeles Dodgers fan.

Sunday would have meant a lot to him.

Jake and Romy Reiner threw out the ceremonial first pitches at Dodger Stadium before the team’s game against the Boston Red Sox, more than seven months after their parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, were found ...Read more