Latest news with #Carlos Correa
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2 Moves Houston Astros must make after 2025 MLB trade deadline
The post 2 Moves Houston Astros must make after 2025 MLB trade deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and the Houston Astros emerged as one of the biggest winners from deadline day. They earned an A+ trade deadline grade after adding Jesus Sanchez and Ramon Urias, and most importantly, making a trade to reunite with Carlos Correa. Correa was a key figure in turning the Astros into a fringe dynasty before he moved on to play for the Minnesota Twins. The 2012 first overall pick won the World Series with the Astros in 2017. He played shortstop back then, but he will now fill the hole at third base left by the offseason departure of Alex Bregman. Ramon Urias is a former Gold Glover who can play elite defense all over the infield for Houston, and Sanchez provides a much-needed left-handed bat for the team's outfield. The trades Houston made put them in a prime position to make yet another deep postseason run, but they shouldn't be done upgrading the roster yet. Here are two more moves the Astros should make ahead of yet another World Series push. Promote Miguel Ullola to the majors The Astros added three position players at the trade deadline who can all make a big impact going forward. They didn't make a move for a pitcher, though. Perhaps that is because they have one ready to make the jump from prospect status to major leaguer soon. Miguel Ullola is the Astros' fourth-ranked prospect, and the team should promote him to their major league roster soon. The pitcher has spent all season in Triple-A. He has starter potential, but he could help out in the bullpen for the rest of the season. Ullola has been dominant in the minor leagues throughout his career. He struck out 32% of his batters in his first four seasons, and he led the minors in opponents' batting average (.163) last season. The back-end of the Astros bullpen is stacked, but relief arms are more prioritized now than ever before. The surplus of moves for relievers during the trade deadline proved that. Ullola is ready for the big leagues, and the Astros wouldn't have to invest resources into acquiring another pitcher if they were to promote him. Sign free agent DJ LeMahieu The Astros made a surprising lineup adjustment at the start of the season. Jose Altuve established himself as one of the best second basemen ever from 2011-2024, but the team decided to move him to left field. The decision didn't work as well as hoped. Brendan Rodgers would become the team's primary second baseman, but he only has a .191 batting average on the year and is currently on the 60-Day Injured List. Altuve was just as dominant with the bat as he always is, but his defensive capabilities in the outfield were just okay. A weak arm, in particular, limited his ceiling in the outfield. Over the past two months, Houston has transitioned Altuve back into second base duties. However, at age 35, Altuve is perhaps best suited as a designated hitter. Regardless of whether Altuve spends most of his time at second base going forward or if he rotates between that position, left field, and designated hitter, the Astros need more depth at second base. Rodgers is currently dealing with a nasal fracture and concussion, but before that, he had an oblique strain. Dating back to his days with the Colorado Rockies, Rodgers has seemingly always had some sort of injury that he is dealing with, so he shouldn't be relied upon to provide much of a role for the rest of the season. Luckily, one of the best players on the open market is a second baseman. Fellow former Rockies star, DJ LeMahieu, was recently released by the New York Yankees. At 37 years old, LeMahieu isn't the player he once was, but he does have plenty of experience. LeMahieu has three All-Star appearances, four Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, and two batting titles to his name. LeMahieu could fill in at second during days when Altuve plays elsewhere, and he can work at third base if Carlos Correa ends up struggling with his new position. He is one of the best contact hitters in recent baseball memory, and he has plenty of experience making deep postseason runs. Related: How Astros owner Jim Crane convinced Twins to trade Carlos Correa Related: MLB rumors: Christian Walker was discussed in Astros, Twins' Carlos Correa trade talks
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Isaac Paredes turns down surgery for ‘significant' hamstring injury
The post Isaac Paredes turns down surgery for 'significant' hamstring injury appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Houston Astros were expecting to lose Isaac Paredes for the remainder of the season after he landed on the injured list in July. Houston anticipated a six- to seven-month recovery timeline for the veteran third baseman. The Astros then pivoted, reuniting with Carlos Correa through a trade with the Minnesota Twins at the deadline. The Gold Glove shortstop was added to take over third base duties with Paredes sidelined. However, Paredes is determined to get back on the field in 2025. On Monday, Houston GM Dana Brown revealed that the two-time All-Star has decided to rehab his hamstring injury instead of undergoing surgery, which would have ended his season, per Brian McTaggart. 'Him wanting to rehab is him letting us know that he wants to be a part of what's going on here, right now,' Brown said, via McTaggart. Isaac Paredes hopes to rejoin Astros lineup in 2025 Paredes was forced to leave the Astros' game against the Seattle Mariners on July 19 after hurting his hamstring while running to first base. The injury is considered 'significant' and some reports indicated that the 26-year-old infielder tore his hamstring. The Astros acquired Paredes over the offseason in the blockbuster Kyle Tucker trade with the Chicago Cubs. Paredes produced a strong first half for Houston, with 19 home runs, 50 RBI and 2.7 bWAR in 94 games. He made his second-career All-Star Game in 2025 as a replacement for Jose Ramirez. However, Paredes skipped the Midsummer Classic to attend to a family matter. While he attempts to work his way back from the IL, Correa is holding down the hot corner. The 11th-year veteran is back in Houston after leaving for the Twins in free agency after the 2021 season. While the three-time All-Star is a strong replacement, the Astros will miss Paredes' bat. Correa is slashing .266/.318/.390 with eight home runs, 32 RBI and 43 runs scored in 96 games this season. Despite losing Tucker and Alex Bregman over the offseason, Houston once again leads the AL West. The Astros have a 2.5-game lead over the second-place Mariners. However, Seattle is expected to push for the division title after adding Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline. Related: 2 Moves Houston Astros must make after 2025 MLB trade deadline Related: How Astros owner Jim Crane convinced Twins to trade Carlos Correa
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
10 players to watch down the stretch: Red Sox's Dustin May, Yankees' Cam Schlittler, Mariners' Cole Young and more
Now that the dust has settled after a wildly busy trade deadline, we have a clearer understanding of the rosters teams will be deploying for the remainder of the season. Across the league, contending teams have addressed needs with fresh faces, while non-competitive clubs have shipped off older players, yielding playing time for younger ones. Every summer, many players' outlooks and the lens through which they're viewed are altered by the whirlwind of trade activity. The fallout of the deadline can impact the trajectory of a player's career in myriad ways, whether or not a player himself is traded. With that in mind, here are 10 players I'll be watching closely down the stretch and how the deadline has impacted their roles and expectations moving forward. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] OF Jesus Sanchez, Houston Astros While the undisputed headline of Houston's trade deadline was its stunning reunion with Carlos Correa, Sanchez's addition via trade with Miami is also a critical one for the Astros in their quest to secure yet another AL West title. With Kyle Tucker no longer around and star slugger Yordan Alvarez still on the injured list, the Astros' lineup has lacked any semblance of left-handed power this season. No team has hit fewer lefty homers than Houston's measly total of 12: three from Alvarez, seven from switch-hitting catcher Victor Caratini, two from Taylor Trammell. It's quite clear that Sanchez was added to address this severe hole in the roster. The 27-year-old is virtually unplayable against southpaws, but that's just fine; he simply needs to mash right-handers when called upon to help balance out a lineup that has become troublingly lopsided. That Sanchez ended up being the only key Marlin shipped out at the deadline is also a compelling subplot, as the outfielder was one of the longest-tenured Fish but no longer fit on a roster that features a host of up-and-coming position players. Now Sanchez is in a completely new setting tasked with filling an ultra-specific role for a team set on competing for a championship; can he rise to the occasion? We're about to find out. SP Dustin May, Boston Red Sox One of the clear themes of this year's deadline was the lack of starting pitching on the move, with interested teams largely failing to meet the sky-high asking prices for impact arms. Boston was one of the primary contenders seeking high-end controllable starting pitching that was unable to secure a deal. Instead, the Red Sox managed to reel in two pitchers with notably less fanfare in lefty reliever Steven Matz and May. Interestingly, May — who has missed a ton of time due to injury over the past handful of years — had been one of the Dodgers' most durable pitchers this season, but his inconsistency and the recent return of several higher-profile arms squeezed him out of the rotation. May faces significant questions about both his effectiveness (his 4.85 ERA ranks 73rd out of 85 pitchers with at least 100 innings) and how he'll manage his burgeoning workload (he just crossed the 100-inning threshold for the first time since 2019). But now he gets a fresh start of sorts in a Red Sox rotation that is also seeking stability. Dissatisfaction from the fan base regarding Boston's inability to land a higher-caliber starter such as Joe Ryan is obviously not May's responsibility, but he might bear the brunt of that sentiment if he's unable to deliver reliable results. And even if Boston isn't explicitly counting on him to start a playoff game, each regular-season outing down the stretch will be pivotal, considering the elevated stakes of the AL postseason race. Add the fact that May is scheduled to hit free agency this winter, and these next few months will have an enormous impact on where his career goes from here — arguably even more so than if he had remained a Dodger. SP Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs The Cubs were another team that reportedly made strong attempts to acquire impact starting pitching at the deadline, only to end up with a handful of rentals in Andrew Kittredge, Taylor Rogers and Michael Soroka. Soroka could be spotlighted for similar reasons to May, but I'll instead turn my focus to the rookie Horton, whose spot in the Cubs' rotation appears unbothered for now. Horton has pitched quite well of late — four of his past five starts have been scoreless outings — but the Cubs might be facing a bit of a conundrum with him in the coming weeks. He has already thrown 102 ⅔ innings this season between the minors and majors, a massive increase over the 34 ⅓ frames he completed during an injury-marred 2024. That's a considerable jump in workload year-over-year for a young pitcher, the kind that might need to be monitored as the season progresses. With veterans Javier Assad and Jameson Taillon expected back in the coming weeks, perhaps Horton downshifts to a relief role down the stretch in an effort to manage his innings. On the flipside, Horton has looked like one of Chicago's best rotation options at times, so the Cubs might face some tough decisions about how to deploy him over the next couple of months, decisions that will be made only more difficult by the Cubs' not adding more rotation help at the deadline. SP Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees As evidenced by their bevy of moves to address their position-player depth and bullpen, the Yankees might not have viewed upgrading their rotation as a top priority at the deadline. But New York's starting staff is an unproven cast of characters beyond the headlining duo of southpaws Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, with Schlittler the most anonymous hurler of the bunch. That we are even discussing the 24-year-old rookie righty as a viable rotation option is both a credit to his development and the result of a remarkable turn of events, considering the number of arms that were ahead of him on the depth chart entering the season. Yet here we are, with Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt out for the season due to elbow surgery and veteran Marcus Stroman freshly released, leaving Schlittler a place in the rotation with the Yankees in the thick of a playoff race. Luis Gil's recent return from injury is encouraging, but it might take a while for him to rediscover his form. Will Warren, another rookie, has consistently found whiffs but not always enough outs. That leaves Schlittler and his high-90s heater as an unlikely key character for the Yankees just a handful of starts into his major-league career, even if the restocked bullpen should ease the burden on the starting staff to some extent. How Schlittler looks with each progressive outing could play a major role in determining the club's outlook come October. 2B Cole Young, Seattle Mariners For the past two months, half of the Mariners' infield has consisted of rookies, with Young at the keystone and Ben Williamson at third base. Williamson acquitted himself well, considering his relative lack of minor-league experience, but his minimal offensive production ultimately made his position one worth upgrading, which Seattle accomplished with the acquisition of Eugenio Suarez. Young, meanwhile, arrived with much more acclaim than Williamson as a former first-round pick and top-100 prospect, but it took him some time to adjust to the highest level. He posted a .541 OPS over his first 30 games but seems to be finding his footing of late, hitting .264/.391/.491 in his past 18 games. That includes a titanic, 456-foot home run last week against Texas, a rare display of raw power for a hitter known more for his contact ability and advanced approach. On paper, Young — the fourth-youngest position player in the big leagues, older than only Jackson Holliday, Roman Anthony and Jackson Chourio — is the most glaring weak spot in a suddenly loaded lineup with the additions of Suarez and another All-Star in first baseman Josh Naylor. But if Young can provide quality at-bats and even league-average production at the bottom of the order, it would make this offense all the more dangerous with October fast approaching. He might not be in Rookie of the Year discussions, but Young is one of the more important first-year players on any contending team right now. SP Quinn Priester, Milwaukee Brewers Acquired from Boston in a trade back in April, Priester might not count as a deadline acquisition but has been a tremendously valuable in-season add for the first-place Brew Crew. The addition of a cutter and the complete removal of his four-seamer in favor of his sinker have helped Priester become the mid-rotation workhorse scouts envisioned when he was a first-round pick out of high school back in 2019. The Brewers have won Priester's past 12 starts — a span in which he has posted a 2.45 ERA in 69 ⅔ innings — and Milwaukee's decision to trade away Nestor Cortes Jr. signified the team's confidence in Priester as the fifth starter. The 24-year-old right-hander might not rack up whiffs like his rotation mate, rookie sensation Jacob Misiorowski, but Priester is an elite groundball-getter and an ultra-dependable presence whenever he's on the mound. He has suddenly become a crucial cog in Milwaukee's push for the NL Central title and could be a mainstay in the Brewers' rotation for years to come. 1B/3B Coby Mayo, Baltimore Orioles With Ryan Mountcastle still on the injured list and Ryan O'Hearn dealt away, the runway is officially and finally clear for former top prospect Mayo to get regular reps at first base and DH for the Orioles. But this window will not be open forever. The next wave of heralded young Baltimore bats (Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers) is already knocking on the big-league door and should be arriving in search of at-bats sooner rather than later, making it imperative for Mayo to seize the opportunity at hand before he ends up in limbo like the similarly hyped Heston Kjerstad. The 23-year-old has proven virtually all he can in Triple-A, but his dwindling defensive versatility — he has played just three games at third base and zero in the outfield with Baltimore this season — and lack of consistent production in the big leagues thus far paint an ominous picture for his future in the organization. But for a hitter as talented as Mayo, let's not be too hasty in discarding the possibility that his breakout is just around the corner. SS Brooks Lee, Minnesota Twins Another player who should benefit from the deadline departures around him, Lee is primed to take over at shortstop full-time for the Twins in the wake of Correa's trade to Houston. With the pitchers Minnesota opted not to trade (Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober) plus the new arms brought in (Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Kendry Rojas), it's reasonable to hold a favorable projection for this Twins rotation, lending optimism that contention in 2026 is not so farfetched, even after a dramatic amount of roster turnover at this year's deadline. However, beyond the face of the franchise Byron Buxton, it's less clear who the foundational pieces are on the offensive side of the ball, and Lee's seemingly stagnant development as a sophomore is a big part of that sobering reality. The switch-hitting Lee has struggled to find consistency from either side of the plate and has also rated poorly with the glove, leaving a lot to be desired from a player who was drafted eighth in 2022 and projected to be a core piece to build around in the infield. Lee still has a lot to prove in order to justify those forecasts, and now the pressure is on him to elevate his game or risk falling to the periphery of the organization's plans moving forward. INF Ronny Mauricio, New York Mets There was some speculation that the Mets could deal from their surplus of young infielders (Mauricio, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuña) at the deadline in an effort to upgrade the roster elsewhere, but president of baseball operations David Stearns opted to trade away exclusively prospects, leaving this widely discussed group of players intact for at least the remainder of this season. Since returning in June from the ACL injury that cost him all of 2024, Mauricio has been the primary third baseman against right-handers, with Baty at second base, Vientos handling the bulk of DH reps and Acuña now back in Triple-A. Vientos was a difference-maker with the bat last season but has taken a sizable, if predictable, step back this year and was never a net positive with the glove. Baty has become a viable role player. But Mauricio stands out as the most intriguing of this group, the one who we still know the least about at the major-league level and, in turn, the one who is easiest to dream on in terms of his potential to make a meaningful impact on both sides of the ball. At his best, Mauricio could be a game-changing force toward the bottom of the Mets' lineup and one whose excellent arm could shine at the hot corner. Whether he projects as the Mets' long-term answer at third alongside Francisco Lindor at shortstop is a much larger question for the winter, but for now, Mauricio has the opportunity to play a huge role for the Mets in their quest to claim their first division title in a decade. INF JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals Let's finish with a player yet to make his MLB debut in Wetherholt, who has been absolutely fantastic in his first full pro season after being selected seventh overall by St. Louis in last year's draft. A shortstop by nature who has also spent time at second base, Wetherholt played his first professional game at third over the weekend for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, a significant development when it comes to projecting his fit in the Cardinals' infield moving forward. As expected, the Cardinals traded away a handful of pitchers at this year's deadline but opted to hang on to All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan, despite inquiries from rival clubs about his availability. Donovan and the slick-gloved Masyn Winn are a terrific tandem up the middle for St. Louis to build around, but Wetherholt has raked his way into the conversation (1.179 OPS in 16 Triple-A games), necessitating an expansion of his defensive versatility to allow for a possible promotion to the big leagues before the end of the season. It might come amidst another mediocre season for St. Louis, but Wetherholt's call-up is one to anticipate among top prospects over the season's final two months, and he is unquestionably a hitter to get excited about entering 2026.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlos Correa's first homer back with the Astros (8)
Carlos Correa crushes a 411-foot home run to left-center field to get the Astros on the board in the top of the 4th
Forbes
01-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Carlos Correa, Closers Dominate Wild Baseball Trade Deadline
Prices were high, rentals were prevalent, and the 2025 trade deadline passed with some 60 deals – including unexpected stunners for Carlos Correa, Mason Miller, and the Rogers twins. When the smoke finally cleared as July disappeared from the calendar, the teams at the top of the payroll charts fattened their outlay, the only team without a pennant increased its chances, and several teams waved the white flag by slashing salaries with a vengeance. With two months left in the season, here's the early line on winners and losers: 1. New York Yankees – Facing the likely free agent defections of closers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, GM Brian Cashman added Camilo Doval, Jake Bird, and David Bednar to his bullpen, along with third baseman Ryan McMahon, whose sure glove and left-handed bat bring much-needed balance to the lineup. The Yanks also acquired Jose Caballero and Amed Rosario, indicating their intent to boost team speed and oust erratic incumbent shortstop Anthony Volpe. Although the team boosted its already-hefty payroll ($298,886,835, according to Spotrac), New York insured its future by keeping all of its top prospects. 2. Seattle Mariners – In separate swaps with cost-conscious Arizona, the M's bolstered both their infield and their batting order, adding first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez in deals that were days apart. Suarez, who once played for Seattle, returns as a bona fide slugger, on pace for 54 home runs after hitting four in one game for the D'backs. Seattle sacrificed only one of its Top 10 prospects (24-year-old first baseman/DH Tyler Locklear), in exchange for the slugging infielders and relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson, pirated from Pittsburgh. 3. New York Mets – Taking dead aim on their first divisional title since 2015, the Mets parted with some half-dozen prospects to land closer Ryan Helsley from St. Louis, set-up men Gregory Soto from Baltimore and Tyler Rogers from San Francisco, and center-fielder Cedric Mullins, who once had a 30/30 season for Baltimore. Rogers, the lone submariner in the majors, should be at least as entertaining as Timmy Trumpet, who sounds off whenever Edgar Diaz enters the game. Fortunately for Steve Cohen's high-paying club, the pitching Soto does not rake in the same salary as their hitting version, whose 15-year, $760 million deal is a major-league record. Unfortunately, however, all four of their newcomers are prospective free agents this fall. 4. Philadelphia Phillies – With Jose Alvarado suspended for violating baseball's rules against use of artificial substances, the Phils found solid substitutes in David Robertson, signed as a free agent days before the deadline, and Jhoan Duran, a magnificent closer for a cost-cutting club in Minnesota. The Phils also found a center fielder in Harrison Bader, though he'll be a free agent after the season. The big fish the Phils reeled in is the flame-throwing Duran, whose fastball routinely reaches triple digits. He had 2.01 ERA and 16 saves at the time of the trade. Plus he'll anchor the Philly pen through 2027 since he has years remaining on his contract. 5. San Diego Padres – After insisting all month that Mason Miller was not available at any price, the Athletics not only sent him down the coast but sweeted the pot with starter JP Sears. The Friars, who plan to move Miller into their 2026 rotation, also added Nestor Cortes, another starter, and slugging first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, plus role players Ramon Laureano, Freddie Fermin, and Will Wagner – just days after he got a one-day leave from the Blue Jays to witness the Hall of Fame induction of his father Billy. The Padres have never won a World Series but those moves could erase that 56-year-old void – even though it cost them switch-hitting shortstop Leo De Vries, one of the best prospects in the game. 6. Houston Astros – Other than the teams that negotiated the biggest trade of Deadline Day, who knew Carlos Correa was even available? He not only agreed to return to his original team but to slide to third base, where Issac Paredes failed to fill the void created when Alex Bregman signed with Boston as a free agent. Correa brings experience, a great glove, and a solid bat – enough for Houston to remain Best in the West this season. Adding fellow infielder Ramón Urías and outfielder Jesús Sánchez will also help, though the team needed pitching help too. 7. Detroit Tigers – Not content to rest on their laurels in the American League Central, the Tigers added Charlie Morton, an ancient but experienced starting pitcher; Chris Paddack, acquired from the division rival Minnesota Twins; and relief arms Paul Sewald Kyle Finnegan, an erstwhile All-Star with the Washington Nationals. That should be enough to solidify the roster of A.J. Hinch as the team expands the biggest margin of any division leader. 8. Milwaukee Brewers – In a clever financial maneuver, the contending Brewers agreed to cover $2 million of the remaining $7.5 million on the contract of injured Arizona starter Jordan Montgomery if they could also acquire Shelby Miller, a starter-turned-reliever with excellent numbers. They sent a player to be named later to the D'backs in exchange for the pair, both of whom are post-season free agents. Milwaukee also got outfield help in Brandon Lockridge and a veteran catcher in Danny Jansen. 1. Minnesota Twins – Faced with formidable financial worries, the former home of Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, and Jim Kaat spent the deadline dumping salaries. The Twins kept Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan but sent nearly half of the remaining clubhouse packing in a flurry of swaps, turning veterans into prospects who could quickly become suspects. The Twins traded all five of their best bullpen arms and 38.5 per cent of their active roster. But they're saving the $70 million that remains on Carlos Correa's contract. 2. Arizona Diamondbacks – The National League's version of the stripped-down Twins, the D'backs not only unloaded the slugging Suarez and Naylor but also outfielder Randy Grichuk and veteran pitchers Merrill Kelly, Shelby Miller, and Jordan Montgomery. 3. Atlanta Braves – Left scratching their heads after nobody wanted Marcell Ozuna, Raisel Iglesias, or Pierce Johnson, all free agents this fall, this once-mighty club made only a couple of small deals, dumping disappointing Rafael Montero on Detroit while landing 38-year-old starter Carlos Carrasco from the Yankees and reliever Tyler Kinney from the Rockies. 4. San Francisco Giants – With future Hall of Famer Buster Posey calling the shots, the Giants essentially waved the white flag over San Francisco Bay. They battered their formidable bullpen, dealing away Camilo Doval (Yankees) and Tyler Rogers (Mets), and also parted with Mike Yastrzemski (Royals). Yet they kept ancient Justin Verlander, who remains in a Quixotic quest for 300 wins, and moody Rafael Devers, bounced from Boston by free agent signee Alex Bregman. The departure of Doval, at 28, is a mystery. 5. Pittsburgh Pirates – A team with few bright lights traded two of them, saving this penny-pinching ballclub even more money. Gone are popular Pittsburgh native David Bednar, a solid southpaw closer, and smooth-fielding third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, among others. But the Bucs kept pending free agents Tommy Pham and Andrew Heaney, both coveted by several suitors, along with the versatile Isiah Kiner-Falefa. 6. Chicago Cubs – Needing a solid starting pitcher, or even two, the contending Cubs punted, adding only left-handed relief pitcher Taylor Rogers, swingman Michael Soroka, and utility infielder Willi Castro. Now they'll focus on keeping All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who otherwise will become the best bat on the free agent market this fall. 7. Los Angeles Dodgers – Already looking over their shoulders at the surging San Diego Chargers (nee Padres), the front-running Dodgers hope to salvage the summer with the return of multiple injured pitchers. They asked about Sandy Alcantara, Joe Ryan, and other veteran starters but decided the price in prospects was too steep. Nor did they deal for reliever Raisel Iglesias, a pending free agent who struggled through an erratic first half. All L.A. had to show for Deadline Day was outfielder Alex Call, acquired from Washington, and reliever Brock Stewart. 8. Boston Red Sox – A former pitcher himself, Boston baseball operations president Craig Breslow knows the value of experienced pitching down the stretch. But Dustin May and Steven Matz, the arms he acquired, seem more like retreads than reinforcements. Not only did the Bosox miss out on Joe Kelly, one of the few men not moved by Minnesota, but also gave up a blue-chip prospect in James Tibbs III, an outfielder obtained from San Francisco in the Rafael Devers deal.
