BOSTON: Adley Rutschman was all smiles for the Baltimore Orioles during a game at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox on April 10, 2024. The catcher went from Baltimore to Boston in a blockbuster before the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline on Aug. 3, 2026. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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The Los Angeles Dodgers got the top name dealt before the MLB 2026 Trade Deadline in pitcher Tarik Skubal. The best ballclub money could buy got better.
Once the Dodgers acquired the two-time Cy Young Award winner, others scrambled to keep pace. The big question is will the blizzard of moves really help a team: (A.) get to the playoffs and (B.) make a run at keeping the Dodger Dynamo from winning a third consecutive World Series.
The Boston Red Sox got all-star catcher Adley Rutschman hours before the deadline in a six-player blockbuster with the Baltimore Orioles. That was after Robbie Ray, a Cy Young winner in 2021, went from the San Francisco Giants to the San Diego Padres – though for a while some Internet readers thought he went to the Cleveland Guardians.
It got so hectic that mid-afternoon deals were erroneously reported. One national sports outlet for a half hour wrongly had Ray going to Cleveland on its’ website. The Los Angeles Angels did not deal lefty Reid Detmers to the Chicago Cubs as reported by some. Instead, right-hander Ryan Zeferzahn went from L.A. to Chicago in a deal that included Mason McGwire, son of former slugging star Mark McGwire.
WASHINGTON, DC: Foster Griffin of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on June 22, 2026. He was traded on Aug. 3, 2026 to the Cleveland Guardians. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
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The Guardians generally guard their young players – but dealt six prospects to add power and pitching. Cleveland got right-handed outfielder Jo Adell from the Angels lefty swinging first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from Cincinnati and lefty starting pitcher Foster Griffin from Washington.
Here, There, Everywhere
The Guardians, Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox were at the forefront in dealing prospects for veterans.
The Phillies traded four minor-leaguers and got three-time batting champ Luis Arraez and reliever Caleb Killian from the Giants and veteran reliever Brooks Raley from the New York Mets.
PHOENIX: Caleb Killian of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 19, 2026. Killian was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 3, 2026. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)
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The Mets, Giants, Angels, Orioles and Tigers waved the white flag on 2026 by dealing players, subtracting payroll and adding prospects.
Others made deals that on the surface appear to be akin to much ado about nothing – but such inexplicit trades in the past have propelled playoff pushes.
The Toronto Blue Jays made four deals involving 13 players. The defending American League champions have only a 52-60 record and yet are within 4.5 games of a wild-card berth. They added and subtracted both veterans and prospects.
In six days (July 29 to 6 p.m. ET on August 3), these trades were made. Players involved who have yet to make MLB debut are in italics.
Monday, August 3
- Arizona got OF Lars Nootbaar from St. Louis for LHP Sandro Santana, RHP Daniel Eagan and a player to be named.
- Atlanta got LHP Brent Suter from L.A. Angels for INF Nacho Alvarez Jr.
- Boston got C Adley Rutschman, C Jake Rogers, cash from Baltimore for C Carlos Narvaez, RHPs Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon, OF Enddy Azocar and player to be named later; got LHP Erik Miller and OF Carlos Gutierrez from San Francisco for INF Marcelo Mayer; got 1B Eli White from Atlanta for RHP Tyler Uberstine; got RHP Manuel Colon from Kansas City for RHP Nolan Hoffman.
NEW YORK: Marcelo Mayer of the Boston Red Sox reacts after his hitting his first career home run, against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 6, 2025. Mayer was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 3, 2026. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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- Chicago Cubs got RHP Clay Holmes, OF Tyrone Taylor from N.Y. Mets for INF Jefferson Rojas; got LHP Braxton Garrett from Miami for 1B/OF Jonathon Long, RHP Jace Beck; and RHP Ryan Zeferjahn from Angels for C Moises Ballesteros and RHP Mason McGwire.
- Chicago White Sox got OF Brenton Doyle from Colorado for RHP Mason Adams, SS Carlos Vielma; got C Joey Bart from Atlanta for RHP Duncan Davitt.
- Cleveland got LHP Foster Griffin from Washington for LHPs Will Dion and Josh Hartle, OF Nick Mitchell and RHP Kendeglyz Virguez; got OF Jo Adell from L.A. Angels for C Jacob Cozart; got 1B Nathaniel Lowe from Cincinnati for RHP Alejandro Rivera; got cash considerations from the Reds for INF Juan Brito.
- Los Angeles Dodgers got LHP Kris Bubic from Kansas City for RHP Carlos Duran; and C Ben Rortvedt from N.Y. Mets for RHP Chayce McDermott; got C Hunter Feduccia, RHP Jacob Kmatz from Tampa Bay for OF Jack Suwinski, international bonus pool money.
- Miami got RHP Victor Vodnik from Colorado for INF Connor Norby, RHP Aiden May; got cash considerations from Baltimore for OF Rece Hinds.
- Milwaukee got RHP Dustin May, LHP JoJo Romero from St. Louis for OFs Alexander Frias, Carson Ragsdale; got RHP Antonio Senzatela from Colorado for SS Juan Martinez, LHP Mark Manfredi.
- New York Yankees got OF Heliot Ramos from San Francisco for LHP Henry Lalane, INF Kaeden Kent.
- Philadelphia got IF Luis Arraez, RHP Caleb Killian from San Francisco for RHPs Ramon Marquez, Marty Gair; get RHP Colby Thomas from Athletics for RHP Seth Johnson; got LHP Brooks Raley from N.Y. Mets for RHP Luke Gabrysh, OF John Spikerman.
- Pittsburgh got RHP Luke Weaver from N.Y Mets for SS Sammy Stafura; got RHP Kirby Yates from L.A. Angels for RHP Kyle Robinson; got RHP Lake Bachar from Miami for RHP Brandan Bidois, SS Hyun Seung Lee; OF Brian Sanchez.
- San Diego got LHP Robbie Ray from San Francisco for RHP Miguel Mendez, IF Joniel Hernandez; got RHP Hunter Stratton from Pittsburgh for RHP Andrew Moore; got LHP Casey Mize and INF-OF Gage Workman from Detroit for LHPs Jackson Wolf and Kash Mayfield.
PHILADELPHIA: Kash Mayfield pitches in the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026. Mayfield wass traded from the San Diego Padres to the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 3, 2026. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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- Seattle got OF Taylor Ward from Baltimore for RHPs Alex Hoppe, Harrison Kreiling, Brock Moore.
- St. Louis got RHP Caleb Ferguson from Cincinnati for international bonus pool money.
- Tampa Bay got C/1B Liam Hicks from Miami for RHP Jacob Kisting, IFs Adrian Santana, Brayden Taylor; got RHP Tyler Wells from Baltimore for LHP Michael Forret.
- Toronto got RHP Spencer Arrighetti from Houston for OF Daulton Varsho; for RHP José Soriano from L.A. Angels for IF Arjun Nimmala, OF Eddie Micheletti, RHP Angel Rivero; and INF Josh Smith, RHP Josh Stephan from Texas for LHP Adam Macko; got RHP John Klein, LHP Dasan Hill and INF Dameury Pena from Minnesota got RHP Jeff Hoffman.
Sunday, August 2
- Atlanta got RHP Tyler Mahle from San Francisco for RHP Anthony Molina.
- Chicago Cubs got RHP Kevin Gausman from Toronto for OF Brett Bateman, INF Ty Southisene.
- Chicago White Sox got RHP Huascar Brazobán from N.Y. Mets for RHPs Gabe Davis, Zach Franklin.
- New York Yankees got 1B-2B Luis GarcÃa Jr. from Washington for RHPs Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird, Jack Cebert, Ben Grable.
- Tampa Bay got RHP Freddy Peralta from N.Y. Mets for OF Aidan Smith, RHP Gary Gill Hill, 2B Émilien Pitre.
- Toronto got RHP Jameson Taillon, cash considerations from Cubs for player to be named or cash considerations
Saturday, August 1
- Atlanta got OF Lane Thomas, LHP Bailey Falter from Kansas City for RHP Lucas Braun, LHP Carter Holton.
- Los Angeles Dodgers got LHP Tarik Skubal from Detroit for OF Zyhir Hope, RHPs River Ryan, Brady Smith.
- Milwaukee got C Bo Naylor, RHP Codi Heuer from Cleveland for RHP Craig Yoho, OF Blake Perkins. (Heuer was dealt to Baltimore for cash considerations on August 3).
- Pittsburgh got RHP Camilo Doval from N.Y. Yankees for C Omar Alfonzo, OF Luis Cruz.
- Seattle got RHP Seranthony DomÃnguez, OF Nolan Jones, C Boston Smith from White Sox for RHP Luis Castillo.
Friday, July 31
- Minnesota got RHP Dean Kremer from Baltimore for OF Jhomnardo Reyes.
Thursday, July 30
- Baltimore got C Jake Rogers from Detroit for RHP Zane Barnhart.
- Minnesota got LHP A.J. Minter from N.Y. Mets for INF Bruin Agbayani, INF Billy Amick
Wednesday, July 29
- Texas got C Logan O’Hoppe, RHP Chase Silseth from L.A. Angels for INF Angel Arredondo.
Grading The MLB 2026 Trade Deadline
It will take months and ultimately years to correctly pass judgment on all the moves. Early returns will be seen as teams teams rise or fall in the next few weeks. Post-season success or failure in 2026 will then be a factor.
If some of the prospects turn into superstars years from now, history may provide a completely different look on what right now is defined as a wild finish to the MLB 2026 Trade Deadline.