The Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies took big swings Monday 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.
Mauricio Pochettino is staying with the U.S. soccer team, agreeing to a four-year contract to coach the Americans through the 2030 World Cup. The 54-year-old Pochettino took over the national team in October 2024. He led the U.S. to the round of 16 at this year's World Cup, where the tournament co-hosts were eliminated in a 4-1 loss to Belgium. He still helped the seeded U.S. team to a pair of firsts in the expanded 48-nation tournament, clinching advancement from the group stage with a game to spare and winning three games in a single World Cup.
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — European soccer body UEFA has threatened FIFA with legal action over Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to private investors. It also asked for potential evidence from at least 18 FIFA executives which it said should not be destroyed. Infantino’s secretive proposal to raise $4.2 billion from investors including the New York investment firm of Joshua Kushner was dropped Saturday. It followed days of a global furor since media reports revealed the plan and UEFA members said they would boycott FIFA events. The letter dated Friday from New York legal firm Dechert was seen by The Associated Press.
Larry Berg, co-owner of Los Angeles FC, will be the next commissioner of the MLS, the league said. Berg will take over for Don Garber, who has served as the league’s commissioner since 1999, on Jan. 1, 2027. The 60-year-old Berg. who will divest his ownership interest in LAFC, will be officially introduced Tuesday at MLS headquarters in New York City.
DENVER (AP) — The judge who granted the right to play another year of college sports to some athletes whose eligibility ran out last school year issued a new order to make clear that does not include football players who signed pro contracts this summer then had a change of heart. That change comes after U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney responded to an NCAA request for clarity about her ruling granting a fifth year to athletes who were not included in the new rule that allows five seasons of eligibility for Division I players.
The Boston Red Sox have acquired All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles for a package that includes three of their top prospects. The 28-year-old Rutschman is hitting .251 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs this season. He earned an All-Star nod for the third time but is currently on the injured list with left wrist inflammation. Baltimore also sent catcher Jake Rogers to the Red Sox. In return, the Orioles received minor league right-handers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, minor league outfielder Enddy Azocar, catcher Carlos Narváez and a player to be named later. Eyanson, Witherspoon and Azocar were ranked among Boston’s top five prospects by MLB Pipeline.
The San Diego Padres have acquired left-hander Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants and right-hander Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers. The Padres have given up three of their highest-rated prospects in deadline trades for two proven starting pitchers. San Diego sent right-hander Miguel Mendez and 17-year-old shortstop Joniel Hernandez to San Francisco, which will pay part of Ray’s $25 million salary. The Padres also got infielder Gage Workman from Detroit while giving up left-handers Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf. After stumbling into the All-Star break at .500 following a 15-28 skid, the Padres have won eight of nine. General manager A.J. Preller decided to go for it yet again.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper is now the Philadelphia Phillies right fielder after team president Dave Dombrowski swung a deal for three-time batting champion Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants. Arraez is the proven bat Philadelphia’s lineup needed in its chase for a fifth straight trip to the playoffs and first World Series championship since 2008. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said Arraez will play second base, triggering a defensive shuffle that switched up the corner positions. Bryson Stott will move from second base to third, and third baseman Alec Bohm will shift to first, where Harper has played since returning from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2023.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have acquired pitcher Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the last-place New York Mets for touted infield prospect Jefferson Rojas. It’s the latest move by the busy Cubs to replenish an injury-depleted pitching staff as they attempt to chase down first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central or at least hang onto the National League’s top wild-card spot. Earlier in the day, Chicago obtained reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels for two minor leaguers. The Cubs also added left-hander Braxton Garrett from the Miami Marlins for a pair of minor leaguers. Those deals came one day after the Cubs augmented their rotation by acquiring veteran starter Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
NEW YORK (AP) — Alec Burleson was so relieved to stay with the St. Louis Cardinals that he produced one of the best power displays in team history. After the frenzy of Monday’s trade deadline, Burleson hit a trio of two-run homers off three different pitchers, including a drive into the second deck in right field that capped a seven-run eighth inning as St. Louis outslugged the New York Yankees for a 13-7 victory. Burleson had the first three-homer game by a Cardinals player since catcher Iván Herrera did it April 2, 2025, against the Angels. The 27-year-old became the first Cardinals first baseman with a three-homer game since current Yankees slugger Paul Goldschmidt on May 7, 2023.
Finals
INTERLEAGUE
Final St. Louis 13 N.Y. Yankees 7
Final San Francisco 5 Texas 1
Final Tampa Bay 13 Colorado 9
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Toronto 3 Houston 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Philadelphia 6 Washington 3
Final Pittsburgh 4 Milwaukee 3
Final Chicago Cubs 10 L.A. Dodgers 5
Final Arizona 5 San Diego 1