The Leagues Cup – the 36-team tournament featuring select clubs from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX – is back and will kick off with six games on Tuesday, July 29.

This is a modified tournament format from the one used during the last two summers that included every club from MLS and Liga MX. With 18 teams from MLS and 18 teams from Liga MX, at least 94% of the tournament (58 of the 62 possible matches) will feature an MLS club against a Liga MX club before the semifinals.

The MLS clubs participating in Leagues Cup were playoff teams last season, with the exception of expansion side San Diego FC, which is taking the place of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Columbus Crew are the defending Leagues Cup champions, having won the 2024 tournament final over Los Angeles FC. Inter Miami won the 2023 edition of the tournament in Lionel Messi’s first season with the team.

Here is everything you need to know to follow the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament:

Where will Leagues Cup be broadcast?

All 62 Leagues Cup matches will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. FS1 will broadcast 14 matches. Univision, UniMás and TUDN will provide Spanish-language broadcasts of 16 Leagues Cup matches. You can watch Fox Sports and Univision on Fubo.

Watch the entire 2025 Leagues Cup on Apple TV

What are the 2025 Leagues Cup teams?

MLS

Atlanta United
CF Montréal
Charlotte FC
Colorado Rapids
Columbus Crew
FC Cincinnati
Houston Dynamo FC
Inter Miami CF
Los Angeles FC
Los Angeles Galaxy
Minnesota United FC
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
Orlando City SC
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
San Diego FC
Seattle Sounders FC

Liga MX

Atlas
Atlético San Luis
CF Monterrey
Chivas de Guadalajara
Club América
Club León
Club Puebla
Club Tijuana
Cruz Azul
FC Juárez
Mazatlán
Necaxa
Pachuca
Pumas UNAM
Querétaro
Santos Laguna
Tigres UANL
Toluca

New format for 2025 Leagues Cup

This year, not every team from Major League Soccer will participate (the previous two editions had featured 47 teams). With an even number of teams from each league (18 apiece), it means that each ‘Phase One’ match will feature direct MLS vs. Liga MX matchups. Despite playing against teams from the opposing league, MLS and Liga MX clubs will be in league-specific tables.

The top four clubs from each league-specific table advances to the knockout rounds. There are no draws, with games tied after regulation going straight to a penalty shootout.

The quarterfinal matchups will be determined by a team’s place in the top four of their respective league’s table: MLS 1 vs. Liga MX 4, MLS 2 vs. Liga MX 3, MLS 3 vs. Liga MX 2, MLS 4 vs. Liga MX 1).

Three Concacaf Champions Cup spots will be rewarded. The winner of the third-place match and the Leagues Cup finalists automatically will qualify for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup competition. The Leagues Cup champion will qualify directly to the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16.

The 12 MLS teams not competing in the 2025 Leagues Cup will have a break until Matchday 28 on Aug. 9.

What is the 2025 Leagues Cup schedule?

(Games on broadcast TV are noted below.)

PHASE ONE

Tuesday, July 29

Toluca vs. Columbus Crew (Lower.com Field), 7 p.m. ET
CF Montréal vs. Club León (Stade Saputo), 7 p.m. ET
New York City FC vs. Club Puebla (Sports Illustrated Stadium), 8 p.m. ET
Tigres UANL vs. Houston Dynamo FC (Shell Energy Stadium), 9 p.m. ET (UniMás/TUDN)
Los Angeles FC vs. Mazatlán (BMO Stadium), 10:30 p.m. ET
Pachuca vs. San Diego FC (Snapdragon Stadium), 11 p.m. ET (FS1)

Wednesday, July 30

Inter Miami CF vs. Atlas (Chase Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET
Necaxa vs. Atlanta United (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET
Pumas UNAM vs. Orlando City SC (Inter&Co Stadium), 8 p.m. ET (FS1, UniMás/TUDN)
Minnesota United FC vs. Querétaro (Allianz Field), 8:30 p.m. ET
Club América vs. Real Salt Lake (America First Field), 9:30 p.m. ET
Portland Timbers vs. Atlético San Luis (Providence Park), 10:30 p.m. ET (FS1)

Thursday, July 31

CF Monterrey vs. FC Cincinnati (TQL Stadium), 7 p.m. ET
FC Charlotte vs. FC Juárez (Bank of America Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET
Chivas de Guadalajara vs. New York Red Bulls (Sports Illustrated Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET
Colorado Rapids vs. Santos Laguna (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park), 9:30 p.m. ET
Cruz Azul vs. Seattle Sounders FC (Lumen Field), 10:30 p.m. ET (FS1, UniMás/TUDN)
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Club Tijuana (Dignity Health Sports Park), 11 p.m. ET

Friday, Aug. 1

New York City FC vs. Club León (Sports Illustrated Stadium), 6 p.m. ET
Columbus Crew vs. Club Puebla (Lower.com Field), 7 p.m. ET
Houston Dynamo FC vs. Mazatlán (Shell Energy Stadium), 8:30 p.m. ET
Toluca vs. CF Montréal (Sports Illustrated Stadium), 9 p.m. ET
Los Angeles FC vs. Pachuca (BMO Stadium), 10:30 p.m. ET
Tigres UANL vs. San Diego FC (Snapdragon Stadium), 11 p.m. ET (FS1, UniMás/TUDN)

Saturday, Aug. 2

Orlando City SC vs. Atlas (Inter&Co Stadium), 6 p.m. ET (Univision/TUDN)
Inter Miami CF vs. Necaxa (Chase Stadium), 7 p.m. ET
Pumas UNAM vs. Atlanta United (Inter&Co Stadium), 9 p.m. ET
Club América vs. Minnesota United FC (Shell Energy Stadium), 9 p.m. ET (FS1, Univision/TUDN)
Real Salt Lake vs. Atlético San Luis (America First Field), 9:30 p.m. ET
Portland Timbers vs. Querétaro (Providence Park), 11 p.m. ET (FS1)

Sunday, Aug. 3

FC Cincinnati vs. FC Juárez (TQL Stadium), 5:30 p.m. ET
Chivas de Guadalajara vs. FC Charlotte (Bank of America Stadium), 7:50 p.m. ET (FS1, Univision/TUDN)
CF Monterrey vs. New York Red Bulls (TQL Stadium), 8:30 p.m. ET
Colorado Rapids vs. Club Tijuana (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park), 9:30 p.m. ET
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Santos Laguna (Lumen Field), 10:30 p.m. ET (FS1, Univision/TUDN)
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Cruz Azul (Dignity Health Sports Park), 10:30 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Aug. 5

Toluca vs. New York City FC (Yankee Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET
Columbus Crew vs. Club León (Lower.com Field), 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1, UniMás/TUDN)
CF Montréal vs. Club Puebla (Stade Saputo), 8 p.m. ET
Houston Dynamo FC vs. Pachuca (Shell Energy Stadium), 8:30 p.m. ET
Mazatlán vs. San Diego FC (Snapdragon Stadium), 10 p.m. ET
Tigres UANL vs. Los Angeles FC (BMO Stadium), 10:30 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Aug. 6

Orlando City SC vs. Necaxa (Inter&Co Stadium), 7 p.m. ET
Atlanta United vs. Atlas (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET (UniMás/TUDN)
Inter Miami CF vs. Pumas UNAM (Chase Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET
Minnesota United FC vs. Atlético San Luis (Allianz Field), 8:30 p.m. ET
Club América vs. Portland Timbers (Q2 Stadium), 9:30 p.m. ET
Real Salt Lake vs. Querétaro (America First Field), 9:30 p.m. ET
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Club Tijuana (Lumen Field), 11 p.m. ET

Thursday, Aug. 7

FC Cincinnati vs. Chivas de Guadalajara (TQL Stadium), 7 p.m. ET
New York Red Bulls vs. FC Juárez (Sports Illustrated Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET
CF Monterrey vs. FC Charlotte (Bank of America Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1, UniMás/TUDN)
Cruz Azul vs. Colorado Rapids (Dignity Health Sports Park), 8:30 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Santos Laguna (Dignity Health Sports Park), 11:15 p.m. ET (FS1)

QUARTERFINALS

Tuesday, Aug. 19-Wednesday, Aug. 20

SEMIFNALS

Tuesday, Aug. 26-Wednesday, Aug. 27

THIRD-PLACE MATCH

Sunday, Aug. 31

FINAL

Sunday, Aug. 31

Previous Leagues Cup winners

2024: Columbus Crew (over Los Angeles FC)
2023: Inter Miami CF (over Nashville SC)
2021: Club León (over Seattle Sounders FC)
2019: Cruz Azul (over Tigres UANL)

USA TODAY Sports’ 48-page special edition commemorates 30 years of Major League Soccer, from its best players to key milestones and championship dynasties to what exciting steps are next with the World Cup ahead. Order your copy today!

OK, so it’s not the 1919 Chicago White Sox scandal.

The Cleveland Guardians are not being accused of throwing games.

Now, if you’re talking about bad judgment, with two pitchers potentially betting on baseball or having an association with known gamblers, we’re about to find out if they also threw away their entire baseball careers.

Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, considered one of the best relievers in the game and who certainly could have brought the Guardians a haul of prized prospects at the trade deadline, was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave on Monday through Aug. 31 as MLB launches an investigation of whether he violated the league’s gambling policy.

Clase joins his close friend, Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz, who was placed on paid leave July 3 after unusual gambling activity on two pitches that he threw far outside the strike zone in June this season. Gamblers wagered high amounts of money on whether those two pitches would result in a ball or hit batsmen.

It was during MLB’s investigation with Ortiz when Clase’s name suddenly surfaced. He was not under investigation at the time Ortiz was forced to take a leave of absence. Now, three weeks later, Clase is also under investigation for potentially gambling on games in which he performed, facing a lifetime ban if found guilty.

The Guardians said in a statement that “no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted’ by the investigation. It’s certainly possible that another player or employee surfaces in the gambling investigation, but the Guardians’ sentiments were echoed by MLB officials, who have no knowledge of improprieties involving players from any other team during this investigation.

Clase, 27, would be the highest-profile player since Pete Rose nearly 40 years ago if proven that he bet on baseball games in which he played. Rose received a lifetime ban from baseball in 1989 for gambling on Cincinnati Reds games when he managed. Rose died last September, but was reinstated by commissioner Rob Manfred, making him eligible to be placed on the Hall of Fame ballot.

Clase is a three-time All-Star and two-time winner of the Mariano Rivera award as the American League’s best reliever. He finished third in the Cy Young race last year with a 0.61 ERA, and his career 1.88 ERA is the second-lowest among relievers who have pitched at least 100 games.

Clase is in the fourth year of a five-year, $20 million contract. He is being paid $4.5 million this year with a guaranteed salary of $6 million in 2026 and $10 million club options in 2027 and 2028.

Guardians president Chris Antonetti addressed the team Monday afternoon and says that their players are well educated on the dangers of sports gambling in spring training, with signs on the clubhouse walls reminding them of the dangers and potential repercussions.

Certainly, no matter what the outcome of the investigation, it certainly is a gut-punch to the Guardians’ postseason hopes. They are 3½ games out of a wild-card berth and suddenly don’t have their closer for at least the next 4½ weeks.

“Two very good pitchers aren’t going to be available to pitch for us in the near term,’’ Antonetti told Cleveland reporters, “and so we have to assess how that impacts our thinking.”

For now, all the Guardians know is that two pitchers are under investigation for violating baseball’s No. 1 rule, with their careers in limbo if discovered that they were involved in any way with gamblers.

It was five years ago that Clase received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for Boldenone, a banned substance, delaying his Guardians’ career before leading the American League in saves three consecutive seasons.

Now, if found guilty, it abruptly ends his Guardians career, and begs the question heard ‘round baseball:

Who’s next?

Follow Bob Nightengale on X @Bnightengale.

Major League Baseball lost another one of its titans and Hall of Famers with the passing of Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg.

Sandberg, who was a 10-time All-Star in his career, passed away at the age of 65 on Monday, July 28, after another battle with metastatic prostate cancer that had returned and spread to other organs in his body back in December.

‘Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,’ MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.

Added the Cubs on X (formerly Twitter): ‘Ryne Sandberg was a hero to a generation of Chicago Cubs fans and will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise. His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career.’

Across his 16-year career, Sandberg built quite a resume when it came to awards, as he was a nine-time Gold Glove winner, seven-time Silver Slugger and was named the 1984 National League Most Valuable Player. He also managed the Philadelphia Phillies, who drafted him in the 20th round of the 1978 MLB Draft, from 2013-2015, where he posted a managerial record of 119-159.

Sandberg’s death has also brought in an outpouring of reactions from those on social media. Here’s a snippet of those reactions:

Baseball reacts to Ryne Sandberg’s death

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Training camp has arrived for all 32 NFL teams which means fantasy football draft season is fast approaching.

Preparation is key for drafting a fantasy team. A good draft strategy and the right group of players are essential for building a winning team. And one of the most important, make-or-break positions to get right in a draft is wide receiver.

Unfortunately, the position is also one that can feature high volatility from year to year. For instance, Miami Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill led the league in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2023 then failed to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in 2024.

Because of that difficulty in projections and in honor of fantasy football ramping back up, USA TODAY Sports has ranked the top 50 wide receivers ahead of the 2025 fantasy football season.

Fantasy football rankings: WR

1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings. Jefferson proved over the last two years that it doesn’t matter who’s throwing him the ball, he’s going to put up big numbers.

Springer, 35, was struck by a pitch thrown by Baltimore Orioles rookie right-hander Kade Strowd. The pitch came up and in on Springer and struck him in the left ear flap of his batting helmet, which was knocked several feet away as Springer crumpled to the ground.

Springer eventually rose to his knees and after about two minutes was on his feet.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Springer was fortunate that the pitch struck his shoulder and then his helmet, lessening the blow to the head. He said Springer was communicative with him and a trainer as he lay face down in the batter’s box.

Springer was being evaluated by a Blue Jays doctor after the game.

‘Thankfully, he was able to turn a little bit, too,’ says Schneider. ‘That’s the worst part of baseball, for any side, when a pitch gets thrown that high. You don’t think about baseball, you think about the human. It’s scary, it happens, it sucks.

‘He was alert the whole time. Which is a good thing. But you hate to see that happen to anyone at any time.’

The Blue Jays are already missing All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk, who is on the seven-day concussion injured list, but trending toward a weekend return.

Springer is enjoying a renaissance season, batting .291 with 18 homers and an .889 OPS.

Strowd completed the ninth inning to finish the Orioles’ 11-4 victory.

This story has been updated with new information.

Multiple people were shot and injured at 345 Park Avenue in New York City, the location of NFL headquarters.
The suspected shooter has been neutralized, according to NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The FBI is providing support at the scene.

Four people were fatally shot, including a New York city police officer, at an office building where the NFL is headquartered, according to authorities.

USA TODAY Sports reached out to the NFL for comment, but did not receive a response as of Monday evening.

The NFL is located on floors five through eight of the building. Adams said everyone in the building was told to shelter in place as police conducted a search of the building.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post shortly after 7 p.m. ET that bureau personnel and agents are ‘responding to provide support at the active crime scene in Manhattan.’ The New York City Police Department advised the public to avoid the area of East 52 Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue due to police activity.

By around 7:52 p.m., NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a post on X that ‘the scene has been contained and the lone shooter has been neutralized.’

Where is NFL headquarters? 345 Park Avenue

The NFL is headquartered at 345 Park Avenue, where police reported the shooting occurred. The building is owned by Rudin Management and its tenants also include Blackstone Group, according to real estate news outlet The Real Deal.

USA TODAY reached out to Rudin and the NYPD but did not receive a response from either as of Monday evening.

This is a developing story.

As MLB trade deadline week heats up, one of the top targets on the market has received a scare.

In the top of the ninth inning of a 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Monday, July 28, Arizona Diamondback third baseman Eugenio Suárez took a 96 mph fastball to his left hand from Tigers right-hander Will Vest.

Suárez, who is hitting .248 on the season with 36 home runs and 87 RBIs, was immediately tended to by a member of the Diamondbacks training staff before exiting the game in what appeared to be significant pain. He briefly fell down on his knees after the hit by the pitch while holding his hand.

USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale confirmed that Suárez underwent X-rays, which came back negative. Diamondback manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that Suárez’s left hand and finger were ‘tender to the touch,’ according to The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen. Lovullo added that Suárez is day-to-day for now.

‘The good thing right now is we did the X-ray, and it was negative,’ Suárez said after the game. ‘We got more tests to do tomorrow. Right now, it’s painful, obviously.

‘The good news is the X-ray was negative. We’ll see tomorrow what else they’re going to do. Right now, I will do my best to try to be back soon.’

The Diamondbacks TV broadcast mentioned that they were able to hear the sound of Suárez getting drilled in the hand from the broadcast booth in Detroit.

Monday night’s event in Detroit is the second time in a matter of weeks that Suárez has taken a pitch to his left hand. He exited the All-Star Game on July 15 in the eighth inning after being hit by Chicago White Sox right-hander Shane Smith, for which X-rays came back negative.

Suárez has been one of the hottest names being shopped around by the Diamondbacks, who began their sell on July 24 by trading away Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners. USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale most recently reported on July 25 that the Mariners and New York Yankees have had talks with the Diamondbacks about their All-Star third baseman, with several other teams being linked to Suárez in other reports.

The MLB trade deadline closes at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

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(This story has been updated with new information)

Ahead of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper did not dispute the July 28 report by ESPN’s Jeff Passan that he cussed out MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a recent encounter in the Philadelphia Phillies’ clubhouse.

The Phillies All-Star first baseman didn’t go further into the encounter when meeting with reporters on Monday, July 28 at Rate Field in Chicago, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber and Lochlahn March.

‘Everybody saw the words and everything that happened, but I don’t want to say anything more than that,’ Harper said. ‘I want to focus on my teammates, and our union as a whole, and just worry about winning baseball.’

He added: ‘I’ve talked labor, and I’ve done it in a way that I don’t need to talk to the media about it. I don’t need it out there. It has nothing to do with media or anybody else. … I’ve always been very vocal, just not in a way that people can see.’

According to Passan’s report, Harper stood ‘nose to nose’ with Manfred, telling him to ‘get the (expletive) out of our clubhouse’ if the commissioner wanted to talk about the potential addition of a salary cap. Manfred was conducting one of his annual meetings with each MLB team, which resulted in tension with one of the league’s biggest stars.

ESPN reported Manfred never explicitly mentioned a salary cap, however, discussions of MLB’s economics frustrated Harper.

‘Young players need to talk with veterans like Harp. Harp has been fighting the consequences of caps his whole life,’ Harper’s agent, Scott Boras told The Athletic. ‘… Harp knows what caps can do to players’ rights, especially young players.’

That wasn’t the only heated moment to take place inside the Phillies’ clubhouse last week. According to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich and Matt Gelb, MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa, a former MLB utility player, was also in the clubhouse alongside Manfred and said something that ‘some players took as a threat.’

‘The commissioner’s a powerful guy, don’t (expletive) around with him,’ The Athletic reported on the tone of DeRosa’s message in the Phillies clubhouse last week. DeRosa, who co-hosts MLB Network’s ‘MLB Central’ every weekday morning and holds an additional position role with MLB (which primarily owns MLB Network), told The Athletic he was ‘just joking’ with his comments.

‘Shame on me for thinking I had a better relationship with some of the players in there than I guess I do,’ DeRosa, who who is once again managing Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, told the outlet. ‘The comment I made was completely in jest, completely kidding, amongst a group of about 10-12 players. Guys were laughing, guys were joking. I had managed some of them with Team USA, I had played with Bryce in 2012. Literally making a joke.’

The tensions come as MLB and the MLB Players Association’s collective-bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026. MLB owners and personnel alike have clamored for a salary cap implementation, as the league is the lone professional sport without one in North America.

ESPN added the MLBPA overwhelmingly opposes a salary cap.

According to Passan, Harper said if MLB were to propose a salary cap, players ‘are not scared to lose 162 games.’ After Harper stood up to Manfred, who was standing in the middle of the room, Manfred said he was ‘not going to get the (expletive) out of here.’

Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos attempted to defuse the situation, according to the report. Harper and Manfred shook hands after the meeting, although Harper declined a phone call from Manfred the next day.

‘It was pretty intense, definitely passionate,’ Castellanos told ESPN. ‘Both of ’em. The commissioner giving it back to Bryce and Bryce giving it back to the commissioner. That’s Harp. He’s been doing this since he was 15 years old. It’s just another day. I wasn’t surprised.’

Harper and Manfred both declined to comment to ESPN.

The current CBA, which was agreed upon in 2022, ended a 99-day lockout as the two sides negotiated terms. A potential salary cap implementation is one of the biggest current talking points of the next deal, which will be needed ahead of the 2027 season.

‘(Manfred) seems to be in a pretty desperate place on how important it is to get this salary cap because he’s floating the word ‘lockout’ two years in advance of our collective bargaining agreement (expiration),’ Castellanos told ESPN. ‘That’s nothing to throw around. That’s the same thing as me saying in a marriage, ‘I think divorce is a possibility. It’s probably going to happen.’ You don’t just say those things.’

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A few deals have come together in the past week, notably Josh Naylor (Mariners) and Ryan McMahon (Yankees) finding new homes. Some of the other top players who have surfaced in trade rumors are Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Eugenio Suárez and Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara. Suárez is in the midst of a spectacular season, on pace for 55 home runs and 133 RBIs, while former Cy Young winner Alcantara has struggled after missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery.

Top contenders will be jockeying to add to their lineups, rotations and bullpens for the stretch run with the ultimate goal of playing deep into October.

Potential trade target Eugenio Suarez drilled by pitch, exits game

As MLB trade deadline week heats up, one of the top targets on the market received a scare on Monday, July 28.

In the top of the ninth inning of a 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit, Arizona Diamondback third baseman Eugenio Suárez took a 96 mph fastball to his left hand from Tigers right-hander Will Vest.

Suárez, who is hitting .248 on the season with 36 home runs and 87 RBIs, was immediately tended to by a member of the Diamondbacks training staff before exiting the game in what appeared to be significant pain. — John Leuzzi

Rays trying to add catcher to replace Danny Jansen

After moving Jansen to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Rays are wasting no time trying to find his replacement. Ken Rosenthal reports that the Rays are hoping to acquire Nick Fortes from the Miami Marlins.

Brewers close to acquiring Danny Jansen

With the Chicago Cubs right next to them in the standings, the Milwaukee Brewers are looking to mave a move that will push them over the edge. Per Jeff Passan, the team is currently interested in Rays’ catcher Danny Jansen in exchange for infield prospect Jadher Areinamo.

The Brewers’ backstops, William Contreras and Eric Haase, have struggled this year. After a standout campaign in 2024, Contreras has regressed to league average hitting numbers in 2025, posting an OPS nearly 150 points lower than his mark from a year ago.

Together, Haase and Contreras have recorded 2.1 combined WAR on the season, per Baseball-Reference. Jansen has a 1.8 WAR on his own.

Chris Paddack headed to Detroit

There has been tons of speculation on whether or not the Minnesota Twins would sell this offseason. Well, they’ve made their first move, sending veteran right-hander Chris Paddack alongside right-hander Randy Dobnak, to their division rivals, the Detroit Tigers in exchange for minor league catcher Enrique Jimenez, the Twins’ No. 12 prospect, per The Athletic. Bob Nightengale reports that the New York Yankees were also in pursuit of Paddack.

Paddack provides rotation depth to a Tigers team that lost Jackson Jobe to a UCL tear earlier this season. The Tigers have a multitude of options on how they could use Paddack as well. Paddack has done well for the Twins in relief roles in the past, including 3.2 one-hit innings as a reliever for the Twins during the 2023 postseason.

Dodgers in market for closer?

The biggest surprise at the trade deadline would be if the Dodgers don’t come up with another closer, USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale writes. Even though they just activated Blake Treinen, who led the team with four saves in last year’s playoffs, the Dodgers have checked in with virtually every team for bullpen help.

Among the most intriguing closers who could be moved at the deadline: Ryan Helsley of the Cardinals, Raisel Iglesias of the Braves, David Bednar of the Pirates, Pete Fairbanks of the Rays and Jhoan Duran of the Twins.

The Dodgers also are looking to upgrade their outfield with Michael Conforto’s season-long struggles. Nightengale says they have expressed interest in Twins outfielder Harrison Bader and Cardinals utilityman Brendan Donovan.

Braves’ pitching overhaul continues

Even after adding veteran starter Erick Fedde, the Atlanta Braves still have more holes to fill in their rotation.

He has been pitching with New York’s Class AAA affiliate in Scranton-Wilkes Barre (Pa.), where he was 4-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 52 1/3 innings.

Hot corner a priority in Houston

The Houston Astros would like to find a third baseman while Isaac Paredes recovers from his hamstring tear but have no interest in reigniting talks with the St. Louis Cardinals for third baseman Nolan Arenado, USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale writes.

The two teams agreed to a trade during the winter, and the Astros had permission to speak to Arenado, but they couldn’t convince him they were still going to contend this year. ‘We tried to convince him that we’re not rebuilding, that the window is always open with our owner,’ GM Dana Brown said. ‘We planned to compete in 2025 and beyond. He misunderstood the plan.’

The Astros could make a play for slugging third baseman Eugenio Suarez of the Diamondbacks. However, the team could also use a left-handed bat to balance out the lineup. Switch-hitting utilityman Willi Castro of the Twins might fit the bill – and he could help out elsewhere if/when Paredes returns, The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reports.

Braves acquire veteran SP Erick Fedde

With all five members of their opening day rotation now on the injured list, the struggling Atlanta Braves have added a veteran starter. Erick Fedde, who was designated for assignment by the St. Louis Cardinals last week, fills the void in Atlanta’s rotation after Grant Holmes hit the injured list with elbow inflammation. He joins fellow rotation mates Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo Lopez and A.J. Smith-Shawver on the 60-day IL.

The Braves acquired Fedde (3-10, 5.22 ERA this season) in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Seth Lugo, Royals agree to extension

Royals right-hander Seth Lugo was considered one of the top pitching names on the trade market, but Kansas City put that to rest late Sunday night. The Royals on Monday announced Lugo has agreed to a two-year contract extension with a vesting option for 2028 with the team. Lugo is 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA in 19 starts this season after finishing second in the AL Cy Young voting in 2024 with 206⅔ innings pitched, a 16-9 record and a 3.00 ERA in 33 starts.

Diamondbacks trade rumors continue

“Do I think there’s a chance we make more trades? Yes, I do,” Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said. “I think there’s going to be enough interest that we probably will have to look at — think long and hard about what we’re doing. I just don’t know the extent to which that’s going to happen and how many that’s going to be.”

Yankees add depth with Amed Rosario trade

The New York Yankees acquired Amed Rosario in a trade with the Washington Nationals, providing depth as a player who has the versatility to play all around the infield. Rosario has started 20 games at third base and 13 games at second base for the Nationals this season.

He’s also proven to be trouble for left-handed pitchers. He’s batting .299 with an .816 OPS against lefties in 2025.

Should Detroit Tigers trade Tarik Skubal this winter?

Sandy Alcantara trade interest picking up?

After tossing seven strong innings in his last start, Sandy Alcantara’s name is back atop deadline wish lists, with USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale reporting that trade interest has soared. The 2022 NL Cy Young winner has struggled this season after missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery.

When is MLB trade deadline 2025?

Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31.