DETROIT — Hope is a strategy, it turns out.

But only because baseball requires it these days. Insists on it, really.

Saturday night’s surreal scene in Sacramento, Calif., only reinforced that notion, as a major-league trade played out in real time in a minor-league ballpark. And as a would-be World Series contender effectively threw in the...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Nobody wants to admit it, but the Los Angeles Dodgers deserve Tarik Skubal. They landed him the old fashioned way. They drafted, developed, traded and signed their way to a circumstance where they could trade a highly valued outfield prospect for three months of service that will only pad their odds of completing a three-peat ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Bryson Stott was back in his room at the Phillies’ hotel here late Saturday night when the news came across his phone.

Tarik Skubal was traded ...

... to the Dodgers.

Gulp?

“No, I mean, you don’t say that,” Stott said Sunday — a.k.a., Trade Deadline Eve — before the Phillies wrapped up a series against the Orioles...Read more

TORONTO — Their slim lead gone and their offense kept contained to the one run Lars Nootbaar produced in the third inning, the St. Louis Cardinals found a way in the ninth inning on Sunday at Rogers Centre to avoid a sweep by stringing together enough hits to produce the run they needed.

Tied 1-1 after the Blue Jays erased the lead provided ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Last year, on the eve of the deadline, the Phillies completed a massive trade for star closer Jhoan Duran during a rain delay.

They had two downpours Sunday to make another splash.

No such luck.

There’s still time for Dave Dombrowski to fill needs in the lineup and pitching staff. Club executives have until 6 p.m. ET Monday ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Detroit Tigers came to Sacramento last August and were unceremoniously and convincingly swept by the Athletics. It triggered a run of eight losses in nine games on the way to blowing a double-digit lead in the AL Central Division.

Different year. Different outcome.

Still reeling from the late-night trade of ace Tarik ...Read more

DENVER — A Colorado Rockies’ sweep underscored the intrigue surrounding the team leading into the MLB trade deadline.

After losing their previous six series, the Rockies took three from the Kansas City Royals this weekend to open a six-game homestand at Coors Field. In the process, Colorado surpassed its 43-win total from 2025 while also ...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — While the Los Angeles Angels wait to see what’s going to happen with two of their top starters, the third continues to give them hope for the future.

Rookie right-hander Walbert Ureña won the duel against Milwaukee Brewers sensation Jacob Misiorowski in the Angels’ 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Ureña worked six ...Read more

SEATTLE — It should have been a day to rest and recover for Andres Muñoz following his first four-out appearance since May of last season.

The Seattle Mariners were cruising to what seemed like a comfortable victory over the Minnesota Twins thanks to seven scoreless innings from starter George Kirby and six runs of support — highlighted by...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago White Sox made two errors and collected at least nine hits in Sunday’s getaway game. But while Chicago runners crossed home plate in a neverending carousel, Tampa Bay stalled out for a 9-1 loss.

The Rays’ mistakes accrued from the first at-bat. Ryan Vilade, who started at second base, ...Read more

CINCINNATI — The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a gloomy trip to Cincinnati with a dud.

The Cincinnati Reds, who project as sellers at Monday’s trade deadline, hammered the Pirates, 10-2, on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. The Reds took three games in the four-game series.

The Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak on ...Read more

NEW YORK — Stock is up for Robert Stock.

The New York Mets’ pre-trade-deadline rotation shuffling created an unexpected opportunity for Stock, a 36-year-old right-hander, to make his first MLB start since 2021.

Stock was sharp in Sunday afternoon’s 2-0 loss to the Miami Marlins at Citi Field, allowing one run over five innings with four ...Read more

CHICAGO — The New York Yankees, in need of a bat, are acquiring Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals, a source confirmed to the New York Daily News on Sunday.

The hope is that García will give the Yankees’ injury-riddled offense a boost. The second-place club is currently without Aaron Judge (fractured rib), Giancarlo Stanton (...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Chicago White Sox will look to lean on Luis Castillo’s vast experience after acquiring the right-hander Saturday night in a trade with the Seattle Mariners.

“His reputation within the league is excellent,” Sox general manager Chris Getz said during a videoconference call on Sunday. “The leadership qualities,...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays found the starter they had been seeking to add to their rotation, acquiring veteran right-hander Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon.

The deal, which has yet to be announced by the teams, is for three minor leaguers: outfielder Aidan Smith, infielder Emilien Pitre and right-hander Gary ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Detroit Tigers formally announced the trade that was reported late Saturday night.

All the physicals were passed, all the paperwork finalized: Two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is now a Los Angeles Dodger.

The Tigers have assigned the three players they got in return to three different levels of their system.

�...Read more

DETROIT — It stinks for Detroit Tigers fans. It stinks for the rest of baseball, forced to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers gorge themselves, helping push the game toward a work stoppage. It stinks that Tarik Skubal is taking his marvelous left arm to the West Coast, but there was no stopping it.

The Tigers traded their two-time Cy Young winner ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Your team could have done this.

Is baseball headed for a lockout this winter? Yes.

Because the Dodgers traded for Tarik Skubal? No.

The Dodgers play a video before each home game, which includes these words from a sinister-sounding voice: “You need teams like us to point your finger and say, ‘That’s the bad guy.’ ”

...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Tarik Skubal is a Dodger.

The five words every baseball soul outside of Los Angeles dreaded hearing.

The Dodgers are going to three-peat.

The six words that every baseball soul everywhere must now acknowledge.

It's over. The chase for baseball's best pitcher, the hunt by baseball's best team, the pennant race, the World ...Read more