THE Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies took big swings Monday (Tuesday in Manila) ahead of baseball’s trade deadline, with the Red Sox adding three-time All-star catcher Adley Rutschman a few hours after the Phillies picked up three-time batting champion Luis Arraez.
The pair of aggressive moves highlighted a hectic day of swaps, featuring dozens of deals in the hours leading up to Monday’s 6 p.m. EDT deadline. Among Monday’s other fireworks: the Houston Astros added veteran outfielder Daulton Varsho from Toronto in exchange for right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, and the Chicago Cubs got pitcher Clay Holmes from the New York Mets.
The San Diego Padres made multiple moves to deepen their pitching staff, picking up former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray in a deal with the San Francisco Giants and right-hander Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers woke up already looking like the deadline’s biggest winners after adding two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal to a loaded roster Sunday. The Dodgers are chasing a third straight World Series title.
Here are Monday’s biggest deals.
Young catching star
Rutschman was the No. 1 overall pick in 2019 out of Oregon State and has largely lived up to the high expectations with five quality seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.
Now he moves to the Red Sox, who started slow this season but revitalized their playoff hopes with a franchise record-tying 15-game winning streak in July. The 28-year-old Rutschman — who is under team control for one more season in 2027 — has had a bounce-back season at the plate with a .762 OPS, which helped him earn his third All-Star nod.
Rutschman is currently on the injured list with left wrist inflammation. He’s also dealt with an ankle injury and a concussion this year.
The Red Sox also received catcher Jake Rogers and cash considerations in the deal. The Orioles got catcher Carlos Narváez, minor league right-handed pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, minor league outfielder Enddy Azocar, and a player to be named later or cash considerations. Eyanson is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.
Later in the day, the Red Sox also acquired left-hander Erik Miller and minor league outfielder Carlos Gutierrez in exchange for infielder Marcelo Mayer.
Elite contact hitter
Arraez comes to the Phillies from the San Francisco Giants, and he’ll be expected to create RBI opportunities for sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
Arraez is hitting an NL-best .324 in a resurgent season after signing a $12 million, one-year deal with San Francisco early in spring training. The 29-year-old has his highest batting average since 2023, and he’s played better defense at second base after questions about his glove hindered his market in free agency.
Philly also got reliever Caleb Kilian back from the Giants in the trade for two minor leaguers, and it swung a separate deal for left-handed reliever Brooks Raley with the Mets.
Pitching surge
The Padres have won eight of nine to move one game back of the final wild-card playoff position, and this latest surge in their up-and-down season apparently prompted general manager A.J. Preller to trade yet another chunk of his severely depleted farm system for a chance to win now.
Ray is 10-6 with a 3.08 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 122 2/3 innings this season, his third with San Francisco.
San Diego gave up right-hander Miguel Mendez and 17-year-old shortstop Joniel Hernandez for the 34-year-old Ray, who will be an unrestricted free agent this winter. The Padres also got cash in the deal.
The 26-year-old Mize has a 4-6 record and 2.70 ERA this season over 16 starts. The Tigers received left-handed pitching prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf.
Dodgers
keep adding
The Dodgers added 2025 All-Star left-hander Kris Bubic from the Kansas City Royals for minor league right-hander Carlos Duran.
Bubic is on the 60-day injured list with shoulder and elbow issues, but the Royals had expected him to return in late-August, which would put him in line to pitch out of the bullpen for Los Angeles during the playoffs. He is 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA in nine starts this season. Duran is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.
Los Angeles also re-united with a pair of backup catchers in Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia. The Dodgers acquired Rortvedt at last year’s deadline from Tampa Bay in a trade that sent Feduccia to the Rays. On Monday, Los Angeles got Rortvedt back from the Mets for right-hander Chayce McDermott, and swung a deal with the Rays for Feduccia. Starting catcher Will Smith has been out since June with neck inflammation.
Astros in AL West pursuit
The 30-year-old Varsho has had a disappointing offensive season with a .682 OPS over 99 games with the Blue Jays, but he earned a Gold Glove award in 2024 and remains an excellent defender.
Houston came into Monday’s games with a 58-55 record, which is good for first place in the AL West. The Astros took over the division lead for the first time since April after a three-game sweep of the Rangers over the weekend.
The Blue Jays received Arrighetti, who is 7-5 with a 4.60 ERA over 17 starts this season.
Guardians beef up
The Cleveland Guardians picked up a power bat and some outfield versatility by adding Jo Adell from the Angels, who received minor league catcher Jacob Cozart. Later in the day, they acquired veteran lefty Foster Griffin from the Washington Nationals and slugger Nathaniel Lowe from the Cincinnati Reds.
The 27-year-old Adell has 16 homers and 62 RBIs this season, one year after hitting a career-best 37 homers with 98 RBIs. Adell has spent his entire career with the Angels after being the 10th overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft.
The 31-year-old Griffin has been excellent for the Nats this season with a 12-3 record and 3.06 ERA. He’s back in the big leagues after a three-year stint playing in Japan.
The 31-year-old Lowe is having a bounceback season with a .266 average, 12 homers and 37 RBIs. He’ll add more thump from the left side.