Hey, it's Zack.
The deadline has passed. The dust is settling. And the second half of the 2026 season just got a lot more interesting.
A lot happened in the last 72 hours. I want to focus on the five trades that actually move the needle and give you my take on each one.
THE ENTRANCE
Before I get into the trades let me give you the big picture.
This was a seller's market. The AL standings were muddled heading into the deadline and the recent play of certain teams probably did not give their front offices the confidence they needed to be aggressive buyers. When you are not sure if you are actually good enough, adding is a hard sell internally. That created opportunities for the teams willing to commit.
The Rangers situation is worth noting. They entered deadline day open to moving anyone on their roster. But Jacob deGrom invoked his no trade clause to block a potential deal. The Rangers also approached Corey Seager and Nathan Eovaldi about waiving their no trade clauses. Neither did. This is exactly why teams are hesitant to hand out no trade clauses. They are usually the last piece added to get a deal done in free agency. But when you find yourself in a position where you need to move a player they can completely tie your hands. The Rangers learned that today. And to make matters worse the Astros won six straight and took over first place in the AL West. Texas is now two games back.
The Guardians were one of the more active teams at the deadline. They added Nathaniel Lowe, Foster Griffin, Jo Adell and Blake Perkins. Cleveland is three games back of the White Sox in the AL Central and they are not going quietly.
The Brewers acquired Dustin May from the Cardinals and Bo Naylor from the Guardians. Milwaukee was already the best team in the NL Central and added rotation and catching depth heading into October.
The Braves made multiple additions including Lane Thomas, Tyler Mahle and Brent Suter. Atlanta was already leading the NL East and addressed several needs in one deadline.
The Twins added Jeff Hoffman, Dean Kremer, AJ Minter and Tommy Nance. Four additions for a team four games back in the AL Central. Minnesota is not going away.
The Yankees traded Camilo Doval and added Heliot Ramos and Luis Garcia Jr. Whether it is enough to make them a genuine threat in October is still an open question.
The Padres acquired Robbie Ray and Casey Mize at the buzzer. San Diego was one game out of the final wild card spot and went all in.
The Giants acquired Marcelo Mayer from the Red Sox. The fourth overall pick in 2021 never quite became what Boston hoped. They moved on and the Giants are betting he figures it out in a new environment.
THE DELIVERY
Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This was the trade of the deadline. It was not particularly close. The Dodgers already had one of the best rotations in baseball. They already led the majors in ERA and run differential. Then they added the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner. Yamamoto. Wrobleski. Sheehan. Sasaki. Lauer. Skubal. With Snell, Glasnow, and Ohtani getting healthy. That is some impressive pitching depth. They also added catcher Ben Rortvedt from the Mets and outfielder Hunter Feduccia from the Rays to address depth. The Dodgers did not just make one move. They made five. That is what a team that is trying to win a third straight World Series looks like at the deadline.
The cost appears reasonable, considering the Dodgers' farm system and the acquisition of one of the best starting pitchers in the league. Zyhir Hope was a top five Dodgers prospect. River Ryan was a legitimate pitching prospect. Brady Smith rounds out the return. The Tigers got younger and got pieces that fit their timeline. For a team that was not going to re-sign Skubal anyway this was the right move.
What it means going forward is simple. The Dodgers are now the clear favorite to win the World Series. They were already the favorite. This makes the conversation shorter.
Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox.
The Orioles and Rutschman had discussed extensions in the past and could not come to an agreement. Once it became clear a deal was not going to happen, trading him now rather than letting him play out the final year of his contract and walk in free agency was the right call. The return is better when you move a player with a year of control left. I know that is not what Orioles fans want to hear, but it is the reality.
The Red Sox were the most aggressive buyer at this deadline beyond the Dodgers. Beyond Rutschman they also acquired Erik Miller and Carlos Gutierrez from the Giants, Jahmai Jones from the Tigers, Curtis Mead from the Nationals and Brett Harris from the Athletics. Boston addressed multiple areas of their roster in a matter of days.
The risk on Rutschman is real though. He is currently on the IL with left wrist inflammation. The Red Sox are betting he comes back healthy and makes a difference down the stretch.
For Baltimore, they got some good pieces back, headlined by Anthony Eyanson, who is now the Orioles’ number one prospect. But with Samuel Basallo on the IL with a shoulder issue and removing Ward and Rutschman from the roster, playing well enough to crack a Wild Card spot is going to be a challenge.
This one hits close to home for me. I was traded to the Yankees in 2018, a division rival, and I know what that experience feels like. The trade itself is one thing. But the moment it truly sinks in is the first time you walk back into a stadium you called home and you are wearing the visiting team's uniform. That day is coming for Adley. The first time he walks into Camden Yards as a member of the Red Sox will be something he never forgets.
Luis Castillo to the Chicago White Sox.
Chris Getz said it clearly before the deadline. The White Sox ranked last in baseball in starting pitcher innings. They needed help. They went out and got it.
Castillo is a three-time All-Star and a respected veteran with a 2.25 ERA in six career playoff starts. He also has a 5.06 ERA this season. He is making $22.75 million this year with the same salary next season and a vesting option for 2028.
Beyond Castillo the White Sox also added outfielder Brenton Doyle from the Rockies, catcher Joey Bart from the Braves, reliever Huascar Brazoban from the Mets and starter Jose Urquidy from the Pirates. Getz was aggressive across the board.
I understand what Getz was trying to do. The regular season track record and playoff potential of Castillo is what you are buying. Not the current 2026 performance. The White Sox are betting the version of Castillo who was dominant for years shows up in the second half.
The Mariners may have gotten the better of this deal. Time will tell. They shed a struggling expensive starter and got back Seranthony Dominguez, Nolan Jones and Boston Smith. The White Sox took a swing. Whether it lands is the biggest question of their second half.
Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes to the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs had one of the best deadlines of any team in baseball. They did not make one move. They made several.
Beyond Gausman and Holmes the Cubs also acquired reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels, left-hander Braxton Garrett from the Marlins, Aaron Civale from the Athletics and David Peterson from the Mets. Jed Hoyer went out and built a completely different pitching staff in 48 hours.
Gausman comes over from the Blue Jays as a 14 year veteran and two time All-Star whose track record speaks for itself. He has a 4.38 ERA this season but he has been better than that for most of his career. Holmes was having the best season of his career before fracturing his fibula in May. A 2.39 ERA in nine starts before the injury. He has been making rehab starts and should be back soon.
The Cubs are 64 and 49 and five and a half games back of the Brewers. They were not going to catch Milwaukee by standing pat. These additions give them a real chance to make noise in October. The NL is going to have to take Chicago seriously the rest of the way.
Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays were already the best team in the AL East at 65 and 46. Peralta has struggled this season with a 4.99 ERA and a 5 and 9 record but he has 113 strikeouts in 113 innings. The stuff is still there. The results have been inconsistent. The Rays are betting a change of scenery and a playoff push brings out the best version of him.
Beyond Peralta, the Rays also added Tyler Wells from the Orioles and Liam Hicks from the Marlins. Two pitching additions and Hicks, who is having a very good offensive season. This trio should have a positive impact for a team already playing the best baseball in the American League. This is what the Rays do. They find value where others see risk.
The teams chasing Tampa Bay just got a clearer picture of what they are up against. It got harder today.
THE SAVE
The Dodgers won this deadline. They were already the best team in baseball and they just got better.
What people do not always factor in is what happens after the trade. Every player who was moved is walking into a new clubhouse. New teammates. New city. New expectations. Some with families that have to uproot everything on short notice. That adjustment is real and it affects performance. We see it every year. Some guys struggle after a trade and some guys needed exactly that fresh start to play their best baseball.
Nobody knows which category these guys fall into yet. That is what makes the second half worth watching.
Talk soon, Z
The Save is a personal newsletter based on my own experiences, opinions, and recollections. The opinions expressed here are mine alone and do not represent any team, organization, union or employer past or present. When discussing players, contracts or organizational decisions I am sharing my perspective as a former player — not making legal or financial claims. When I share stories involving others I am telling them from my point of view. When I share tips or lessons I am sharing what worked for me. Always do your own research and consult professionals when making important decisions.