MLB TRADE DEADLINE: TARIK SKUBAL IS THE BIG PRIZE, BUT BUYERS HAVE OTHER OPTIONS, TOO
A trio of powerful pitching arms — including two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta and Mason Miller — highlight the intriguing candidates who could switch teams as Major League Baseball’s trade deadline approaches.
The deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. EDT.
Skubal — a 29-year-old left-hander who will be a free agent this offseason — is in the midst of another strong year for the Detroit Tigers after winning back-to-back Cy Youngs in 2024 and 2025. The left-hander missed about five weeks earlier in the season because of surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow, but he has bounced back quickly.
He’s been excellent over his last five starts, with a 2.03 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 31 innings.
One thing complicating Skubal’s availability is the Tigers have played better of late and they’re hanging around the American League wild-card race, just 4 1/2 games back for the final playoff spot going into Friday’s games — albeit with five teams ahead of them. But if a juicy offer is presented, it’ll be hard to say no.
Detroit’s uncertain playoff fate is a common problem for teams as the deadline approaches.
There is a handful of obvious buyers at the deadline like the Yankees, Rays, Brewers, Braves and Dodgers. There is also a small group of obvious sellers like the Rockies, Giants, Angels, Mets, Athletics and Royals.
But that leaves nearly 20 other teams who are in the middle and could be buyers, sellers or a combination of both.
Here’s a look at some of the top trade candidates as Monday’s deadline approaches.
The starting pitchers
— Peralta, Mets: The right-hander has had a disappointing season, which is a common refrain for the Mets, but his strikeout numbers are still good. He was excellent for the Brewers over the previous three seasons. If he can fix his command issues, he could help a contender.
— Joe Ryan, Twins: Another powerful arm, the right-hander has been an All-Star in each of the past two seasons. It’s unclear if the Twins are buyers or sellers in a crowded American League race — they added reliever A.J. Minter from the Mets on Friday, so continued buying seems more likely. If the Twins decide to move Ryan, though, it could bring back a solid return.
— Foster Griffin, Nationals: The veteran lefty has been outstanding in his return to MLB after spending three seasons in Japan with a 12-2 record and 2.76 ERA. The Nationals are still in the mix for a playoff spot in the National League, but they will likely still be willing to listen to offers.
— Reid Detmers, Angels: The left-hander has been a bright spot in a mostly dismal season for the Angels with 145 strikeouts in 125 innings. Los Angeles will want a sizable return for the 27-year-old, who is still under team control for the next two seasons.
— Clay Holmes, Mets: The 33-year-old made a successful transition from reliever to starter in 2025 and was having another solid season before he fractured his right fibula on a comeback liner in May. The right-hander is in the midst of a minor-league rehab assignment and nearing his return.
— Robbie Ray, Giants: The two-time All-Star and 2021 Cy Young winner doesn’t have the wipeout, strikeout stuff that he possessed early in his career, but he’s been very good for San Francisco this season with a 10-6 record and 3.08 ERA.
The relief pitchers
— Miller, Padres: The game’s most dominant closer, Miller has a jaw-dropping 85 strikeouts over 45 2/3 innings, 28 saves and an 0.79 ERA. Relievers usually don’t command huge returns during trade deadline deals, but Miller is an exception, particularly because the 6-foot-5 righty is still under team control for three more years.
— Adrián Morejón, Padres: The left-handed Cuban has been a key part of the Padres’ bullpen for the past three seasons. He’s a free agent after the season which means he could be on the move.
— Luke Weaver, Mets: The veteran righty has found his niche after making the full-time move to the bullpen in 2024. He’s not necessarily a closer, but he does have some experience in the role. He was very good for the Yankees in the playoffs during their run to the World Series in 2024.
— Jeff Hoffman, Blue Jays: The right-hander lost his job as the team’s closer earlier this season, but his strikeout numbers are still excellent with 72 punchouts over 46 innings.
Position players
— Luis Arraez, Giants, 2B: The three-time batting champion and four-time All-Star is in the midst of one of his best seasons and has flashed improved defense at second base. He is an elite contact hitter who rarely strikes out and is a free agent after the season.
— Ryan Jeffers, Twins, C: Jeffers recently returned from the injured list and has a career-high .928 OPS this season. His ability to provide pop from the right side will make him a popular trade target, though the Twins might not be willing to make a deal since they’re still in the playoff hunt.
Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays, OF: The 30-year-old slugger is one of the game’s better athletes and won a Gold Glove in 2024. He’s an upcoming free agent, but he has playoff experience and can still provide great defense with some left-handed power.
— CJ Abrams, Nationals, SS: Washington will want a big return for the All-Star shortstop, who is in the midst of his best year and is under team control for the next two seasons. But if a contender is willing to offer a big package of prospects, the ascending Nationals will likely listen.
— Zach Neto, Angels, SS: Neto has been one of the Angels’ best players over the last three seasons. He’s a solid defender and provides a good amount of right-handed power, though his strikeout numbers have been high this season.
— Luis García Jr., Nationals, 1B: The left-handed slugger has quietly put together his best season with 23 homers and 76 RBIs. He doesn’t walk much, but has one more year of team control and is still just 26 years old.
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REPORTS: GIANTS’ HARRISON BADER CRASHED SCOOTER INTO FIRE TRUCK
The San Francisco Giants are shutting down outfielder Harrison Bader for the season after he reportedly crashed his scooter into the back of a fire truck.
The Giants confirmed earlier this week that Bader was in an accident last weekend that aggravated a left foot injury that has kept him sidelined since May 29.
Bader, 32, met with a foot and ankle specialist Monday in Indianapolis to check the progress of his initial injury, left plantar fasciitis. However, the impact of the scooter-related injury “changed the nature of his evaluation,” the team said in a statement.
Bader was scheduled to undergo an MRI to “better understand the severity of the injuries sustained from the scooter accident,” per the Giants.
TMZ Sports reported Friday that the scooter crash occurred in San Francisco at about 1:50 a.m. local time Sunday morning. A witness said Bader collided with the rear of a San Francisco Fire Department truck, causing the scooter wheel to roll over his foot.
The fire department confirmed that a patient was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Bader batted .170 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 30 games this season, his first with the Giants. He signed a two-year deal worth $20.5 million in January. He also missed time earlier this season with a hamstring injury.
Bader is a career .244 hitter with 93 home runs and 336 RBIs in 954 games over 10 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (2017-22), New York Yankees (2022-23), Cincinnati Reds (2023), New York Mets (2024), Minnesota Twins (2025), Philadelphia Phillies (2025) and Giants.
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CHICAGO (AP) — Will Warren pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning, Amed Rosario and rookie Spencer Jones each homered and the New York Yankees edged the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Friday.
The Yankees rebounded from a pair of consecutive extra-inning losses against the White Sox on Chicago’s South Side and have won six of nine overall.
Warren (8-5) struck out seven, walked none and retired 12 in a row before allowing consecutive singles with two outs in the seventh and being relieved by Paul Blackburn. Warren’s sharp effort followed a loss at Philadelphia last Sunday when he gave up six runs and six hits in three innings.
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CINCINNATI (AP) — Sal Stewart hit a two-run homer, had four RBIs, and scored the winning run as the Cincinnati Reds rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 on Friday night.
Stewart’s two-run single off Wilber Dotel (1-4) in the eighth tied the score 7-7. Stewart scored the go-ahead run from third on Brandon Lowe’s fielding error.
Emilio Pagán (4-1) struck out one in one inning for Cincinnati.
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BALTIMORE (AP) — Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run triple in a four-run seventh inning and the Baltimore Orioles rallied again, this time to a 6-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.
Pinch-hitter Christian Encarnacion-Strand added a two-run double in the rally off Orion Kerkering (6-1) before Henderson found the gap off Tim Mayza as the Orioles overcame a two-run deficit two days after coming from seven down in a 10-9, 12-inning victory at Detroit.
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TORONTO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Luis Urías broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run single and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 on Friday night.
Cardinals reliever Peter Strzelecki (0-1) exited after one-out walks to George Springer and Daulton Varsho. Gordon Graceffo came on and walked Ernie Clement to load the bases for Urías, who grounded a two-run single through the left side.
Jeff Hoffman (6-7) worked one inning for the win and Louis Varland finished for his 24th save in 24 opportunities as Toronto extended its winning streak over St. Louis to seven games.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Jakob Marsee snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the fifth inning and Kyle Stowers homered for the second straight night Friday, powering the Miami Marlins to a 5-2 win over the New York Mets.
Marsee and Stowers, both of whom homered Thursday, have combined for five of the Marlins’ seven RBIs in the first two games of the series. Stowers has gone deep four times in Miami’s last six games.
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno had back-to-back RBI singles off Erik Sabrowski in a four-run eighth inning, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night.
Ketel Marte also singled home a run in the eighth as the Diamondbacks won their third straight game and moved into sole possession of the second wild-card spot in the National League. Arizona, which didn’t advance a runner past second base in the first seven innings, is an NL-best 13-5 since July 9.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi, Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery homered and the Chicago White Sox beat the American League-leading Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Friday night.
Vargas, Murakami and Montgomery have all homered in the same game five times this season, becoming the first trio to accomplish that feat since Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager and Joc Pederson for the Dodgers in 2019.
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ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II and Matt Olson hit long home runs and the Atlanta Braves pulled away from the Washington Nationals in a 6-2 victory on Friday night.
Olson was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored and Jim Jarvis was 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Mauricio Dubón had two hits and two runs scored for the first-place Braves, who are 10-5 since the All-Star break.
Nationals starter Foster Griffin (12-3) struggled in what could have been his final start for the Nationals. Trade speculation has surrounded the 30-year-old left-handed rookie, who entered with a 2.76 ERA in 21 starts. Griffin gave up six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, including the home runs to Olson and Harris.
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HOUSTON (AP) — Yainer Diaz homered and tied a career high with four hits and Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker also went deep to lead the Houston Astros to an 11-2 rout of the Texas Rangers Friday night that put them in first place in the AL West.
Jeremy Peña had three RBIs and Yordan Alvarez added two as the Astros tied a season high with 18 hits for their ninth win in 10 games to move a half-game ahead of Texas atop the division.
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DENVER (AP) — Tomoyuki Sugano allowed a run over 6 2/3 innings to win for the seventh time in his last eight starts and the Colorado Rockies beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Friday night after a hailstorm delayed the start an hour.
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NAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -Brice Turang and Jake Bauers powered a five-run fifth inning with home runs, Shane Drohan struck out seven in six innings, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 on Friday night.
Drohan (6-4) allowed two runs on four hits and walked one while delivering his fifth straight start of six innings or more for the NL Central-leading Brewers, who have won nine of 13 games.
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WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Dillon Dingler hit a grand slam in Detroit’s seven-run eighth inning and the Tigers opened their longest trip of the season with a 13-1 victory over the Athletics on Friday night.
Kevin McGonigle homered and drove in two runs, and fellow 2023 draft pick Max Clark had three hits, including an RBI double in the big eighth inning to help Detroit get the win in his big-league debut.
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SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jase Bowen hit his first major league homer, Ty France drove in three runs and three San Diego Padres pitchers combined on a two-hitter Friday night in a 7-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
San Diego (56-54) sits a game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the third and final National League wild card.
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SEATTLE (AP) — Royce Lewis hit a tying home run in the seventh inning and Luke Keaschall smacked a go-ahead double as the surging Minnesota Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 5-3 on Friday night.
Minnesota’s seventh victory in nine games gave the Twins (56-55) a winning record for the first time since April 21, when they were 12-11. They are tied with Cleveland for the final American League playoff spot, and both teams are three games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ceddane Rafaela’s go-ahead two-run homer highlighted a five-run seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox rallied after blowing an early lead to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-4 on Friday night in the series opener.
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