The New York Yankees sought to bolster their roster ahead of Monday’s trade deadline by pursuing Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal and Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, but were unable to finalize deals for either player. Skubal was ultimately traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Rutschman was dealt to the Boston Red Sox.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman indicated that Detroit’s asking price for Skubal was too steep, and Baltimore’s demands for Rutschman exceeded the team’s willingness to meet them. Instead, New York acquired first baseman Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals and outfielder Heliot Ramos from the San Francisco Giants as part of their late deadline moves.
Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, would have added significant depth to a rotation already among the American League’s best. Rutschman, meanwhile, was viewed as a potential solution to the Yankees’ ongoing offensive struggles behind the plate.
In other American League news, the Oakland Athletics placed AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz on the 10-day injured list retroactive to August 1 due to a strained right thumb. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs was also placed on the 15-day injured list with right hip discomfort. Kurtz entered the IL batting .256 with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs over 99 games this season, while Springs has a 3-11 record with a 6.17 ERA. The Athletics activated right-hander J.T. Ginn from the injured list and recalled infielder Max Muncy from Triple-A Las Vegas.
On the National League side, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson delivered a standout performance Monday night, hitting three two-run home runs in a 13-7 victory over the Yankees. Burleson’s three-homer display marked the first time a Cardinals player had achieved the feat since Iván Herrera in April 2025, and he became the 15th player in franchise history to do so. The Cardinals rallied from a one-run deficit by scoring seven runs in the eighth inning, with key contributions from Nathan Church’s three-run homer and Jimmie Crooks’ two-run shot, alongside Burleson’s third home run. The Cardinals led the game with six homers overall, while newly acquired García contributed a two-run homer for New York in the seventh inning.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies secured a 6-3 comeback win against the Washington Nationals on Monday. Derek Hill hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning, complemented by a two-run homer from Bryce Harper. Pitcher Aaron Nola pitched six innings, allowing three runs, before reliever Kyle Backhus earned the victory with a scoreless seventh. Closer Jhoan Duran recorded his 25th save. For Washington, Abimelec Ortiz hit his first major league home run, and Daylen Lile added a two-run homer.