San Diego manages to fortify its starting rotation, which has been one of the worst in baseball this season, by landing Mize just ahead of the buzzer at the trade deadline. The 29-year-old has battled through lingering groin issues this season, managing to post a stellar 2.70 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 85/19 K/BB ratio across 86 2/3 innings of work. He should be ready to return from the injured list to make his Padres debut at some point later this month.

The blockbuster trade deadline deal is now official. Boston gave up a massive haul, including three of their top five prospects, according to Baseball America. Rutschman is currently on the injured list with left wrist inflammation and won’t be ready to contribute for a couple weeks. There’s a chance he’s ready to start a minor league rehab assignment later this week. The 28-year-old former top-overall pick from the 2019 draft topped 19 homers in consecutive seasons from 2023-2024 before missing time with injury each of the last two years. He fills a glaring need behind the plate for the Red Sox, especially since he won’t reach free agency until 2028. However, there’s a decent chance that surrendering a high-level pitching prospect like Eyanson to a division-rival ultimately comes back to haunt them.

The 27-year-old Hicks, who won’t be a free agent until after 2030, is probably overachieving some at .282/.363/.432 as a sophomore this year, but he’ll still provide a nice lift over the Rays’ catching duo of Hunter Feduccia and Nick Fortes. Since Hicks and Feduccia are lefty hitters and Fortes is a righty, it’s Feduccia who would seem to be in line for a demotion. No official word yet on whether the Marlins will promote Agustín Ramírez. They already had Brian Navarette up as a third catcher with Hicks often DHing, so they could pick someone else if they don’t see Ramírez getting enough playing time as a DH and backup to Joe Mack.

This is a big one. Chicago came into the trade deadline desperately seeking starting pitching help and they’ve seemingly came away with Holmes in addition to veteran Kevin Gausman. They paid a steep price to land the impending free agent as Rojas is one of their better infield prospects. The emergence of Pedro Ramírez as an everyday option at the highest level seems to be what made him expendable. Holmes looked sharp in a pair of recent minor league rehab outings and should step into Chicago’s new-look rotation by mid-August, if not sooner. Taylor feels like a throw-in, but he’s been sizzling-hot at the dish lately and provides the Cubs with a lefty-mashing bench option for the home stretch.

The deal is now official. It’s a phenomenal landing spot for Weaver’s immediate fantasy value as he figures to take over as Pittsburgh’s primary stopper with Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery lurking as potential vultures. The 32-year-old former closer was outstanding in his Mets debut this season with a sparkling 1.84 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 45/11 K/BB ratio across 44 innings of work. According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, the Mets are eating roughly $15.5 million left on Weaver’s contract through next season, presumably in order to get Stafura in the deal.

Varsho will switch clubhouses prior to Monday’s series opener at Daikin Park in Houston. The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon reports the Blue Jays are getting starter Spencer Arrighetti, who is currently on the injured list with right foot nerve irritation, back in the deal. Varsho shores up Houston’s significant need for a center fielder after Jake Meyers struggled to the point that he was demoted last month. The 30-year-old played a key role in Toronto’s run to the World Series last year. He’s supplied seven homers and nine steals in 365 plate appearances across 99 games this season.

García will make his Yankees debut batting in the heart of the lineup after being acquired from the Nationals in a trade over the weekend. The 26-year-old’s left-handed swing should fit beautifully in hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium and he’s in the midst of a career year at the dish, posting an .873 OPS with 23 homers in just 374 plate appearances. His fantasy stock increases exponentially with the move to New York, especially with Aaron Judge (rib) and Cody Bellinger (hamstring) on the shelf for a couple weeks.

According to The Athletic’s Dennis Lin, the Giants are paying about half of the $9 milllion or so Ray is owed, including a portion of his $1 million trade bonus. Ray will join Michael King and Walker Buehler in a Padres rotation that could get Nick Pivetta and/or Joe Musgrove back at the end of the month. Another bat would be nice, but the chances of a late run are looking up. Ray, 34, had a 3.08 ERA in 122 2/3 innings for the Giants. He’s at 1.09 while focusing on his sinker in his last seven starts.

Apparently, the medicals were approved. The Orioles will get Anthony Eyanson (Boston’s No. 1 pitching prospect), 2025 first-rounder Kyson Witherspoon, Carlos Narváez and more, according to the Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer. The Red Sox will have Rutschman under control through 2027. He’s still on the IL for now, but he’ll take over from Connor Wong as the starter when healthy. Jake Rogers is also in the deal going to Boston, so he’ll back up Wong for now. For Baltimore, the move clears the way for Samuel Basallo to spend the next several years as a starting catcher.

The Phillies will be mixing things all up to accommodate Arraez, with Bryson Stott moving to third, Alec Bohm going to first and Bryce Harper returning to the outfield for the first time since elbow surgery. It’s probably worth it to add Arraez to the lineup, though it would have been cheaper in prospect cost just to add an outfielder and keep the infield as it was. Arraez, a free agent at season’s end, should get a little value boost in Philly, though the ballpark upgrade probably doesn’t make much of a difference here like it would with a more traditional power hitter. The Giants will give Nate Furman and Osleivis Barabe looks at second base for now.