TAMPA, Fla. — Let’s begin with this premise:

The Tampa Bay Rays could have gotten Tarik Skubal.

We don’t know that for certain, but it seems like a reasonable assumption. The Los Angeles Dodgers gave up the No. 55 prospect in baseball and a couple other intriguing, but not scintillating, minor-leaguers to get the two-time Cy Young Award ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — There’s a piano in every studio, a room full of guitars and a mixing console shipped from Los Angeles that was used to record some of hip-hop’s iconic albums. Everything an artist needs, Will Yip said, is waiting for them in his South Philadelphia music studio.

But perhaps the most important thing is the TV in the lobby ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Let the selling commence.

The San Francisco Giants have made their first move ahead of Monday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, sending right-hander Tyler Mahle in exchange for right-hander Anthony Molina, the team announced on Sunday evening.

Molina has been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.

Assuming the Giants also trade left-...Read more

CHICAGO — One of the biggest changes in my four decades of covering Major League Baseball has been the way the trade deadline is reported.

What once was a few weeks of rumors from beat writers about what might happen, producing a couple of lines in a notebook and an occasional headline if something was close, has morphed into a full-blown, 24...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs’ search for a starting pitcher has landed them a veteran with postseason experience.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman is heading to the Cubs, a source confirmed to the Chicago Tribune, in exchange for two minor leaguers, outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene.

Gausman, 35, gives the Cubs...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The manager of the team that most needed Tarik Skubal sat in his office Sunday at Angel Stadium. The Milwaukee Brewers, the team that opened play Sunday with the best record in the major leagues, did not get Skubal.

The Dodgers did. Of course they did.

"L.A. is America's team," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.

Not based on the...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman felt good enough about his trade discussions with the Detroit Tigers for two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal that he gave manager Dave Roberts a positive update shortly before the team's game against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

"I heard that it was pretty...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers supposedly can’t be beat. The two-time defending World Series champions boast arguably the most talented roster ever assembled and further established their position as championship favorites over the weekend by trading for two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

Just don’t tell that to the ...Read more

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