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Seven things to watch on MLB trade deadline day: Will an ace get dealt?

Published

2 years ago

July 30, 2024

Seven things to watch on MLB trade deadline day: Will an ace get dealt?

Follow our live MLB trade deadline tracker for the latest.

Here are seven things to watch leading up to the trade deadline at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday on what will be a drama-filled day that could feature several major trades.

1. Will an ace get moved?

The Tigers have listened to inquiring teams on their American League Cy Young Award candidate, Tarik Skubal. The White Sox continue to talk with teams about their ace, Garrett Crochet. The Giants have done their due diligence on two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. So far, none of them have been traded. It appears unlikely that any team will pay the prospect price it will take to land Skubal (but the Tigers still stand to get a strong return if they move Jack Flaherty). Crochet and his agency, CAA, diminished his trade value by saying he wouldn’t pitch in October unless he received a contract extension first, but there are still teams that would trade for him anyway. The Snell situation also will be interesting to watch. After trading Jorge Soler back to the Braves late Monday night, the Giants have a much higher chance of swapping Snell than they did yesterday.

Just remember, it takes only one owner, team president or GM to wake up on the right side of the bed this morning and decide they want to pay the exorbitant price for an ace who could make the biggest difference of any player traded at this year’s trade deadline.

GO DEEPER

Trading for Garrett Crochet: Which teams (and prospect packages) could land him?

2. Where will the best-available closers land?

The Marlins have been shopping their closer, Tanner Scott, for more than a month now and there are only a few hours left until they have to decide where to trade him. Three AL East teams have been in the lead to acquire Scott, with the Orioles, Yankees and Red Sox all in play and the Royals of the AL Central a dark-horse candidate, according to major-league sources. But will another team jump in at the last minute with an offer the Marlins can’t refuse? And, once Scott is traded, how long will it take for one of the teams that missed out to pivot and try to land Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan? It’s closing time.

3. Will the Twins do anything significant?

The Twins have been very quiet this trade deadline. They haven’t made a trade in the past two weeks. They are looking to add starting pitching depth but their situation is complicated: Most of their discussions have involved buyer-to-buyer type trade proposals as they can’t significantly add payroll and might have to take payroll off their roster to add it back in a trade. They need to find a solution though, because adding a veteran starter would give them a much better shot at making the playoffs.

4. Which AL East contender will get the most bullpen depth?

The Red Sox, Orioles and Yankees are trying to improve their respective bullpens from a leverage and depth perspective. They’ve all been in on Tanner Scott and Kyle Finnegan, but that’s just at the high end of the market. They’ve also been trying to land relievers such as Mark Leiter Jr. of the Cubs, Luis Garcia of the Angels, Dylan Floro of the Nationals, Chad Green of the Blue Jays and both Lucas Erceg and Austin Adams of the A’s.

5. Are the Rays and White Sox done selling?

The Rays have dealt Isaac Paredes, Randy Arozarena, Jason Adam, Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale and Phil Maton. Yet they still could move second baseman Brandon Lowe, first baseman Yandy Díaz and closer Pete Fairbanks, among others. The Rays have been one of the stories of the trade deadline, but are they done? Meanwhile, the White Sox have traded Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech and Tommy Pham. Will they now trade Garrett Crochet or Luis Robert Jr.? Or will they end up moving more peripheral players like shortstop Paul DeJong or one of their right-handed power hitters such as Andrew Vaughn or Eloy Jiménez? They’ve lost 15 straight games — it’s time to win some trades.

6. Will the Giants keep selling?

The Giants’ trade of Soler and Luke Jackson to the Braves reduced their future financial exposure, but also indicated they might continue to sell and retool for 2025 and beyond. (A mix of buying and selling is also possible for San Francisco, which enters Tuesday four games out of playoff position in the standings.) They hold arguably the best trade chip: No pitcher or player could get a better return at the deadline than Snell. The Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles, along with other teams, would be interested in acquiring Snell and likely willing to pay a painful prospect price, especially given how he’s pitched over his past four starts (0.75 ERA over four outings in July). Will he stay or go? And what other moves will the Giants make?

7. Desperation Meter: Which teams are the most desperate to make a move?

The Yankees and Orioles are preparing for an epic race in the AL East and both are desperate to add more before the deadline. The Mariners and Astros have made significant acquisitions to upgrade their rosters, so will the rival Rangers feel pressure to make a big move too? Will the Mets land a starter? Will the Red Sox and Royals get the right-handed bat they’ve been looking for? The Desperation Meter may determine who makes a move and who doesn’t before the clock strikes 6 p.m.

GO DEEPER

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Rosenthal: The 8 biggest storylines on MLB trade deadline day

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MLB trade deadline: All of The Athletic’s 2024 trade grades in one place

(Photo of Blake Snell: Godofredo A. Vásquez / Associated Press)

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Sports

Illinois knocks off Iowa to reach Final Four after buzzer malfunction delay

Published

54 minutes ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Illinois knocks off Iowa to reach Final Four after buzzer malfunction delay

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For the first time in more than two decades, the Illinois men’s basketball team will still be dancing when the Final Four tips off.

Iowa’s underdog run in the NCAA Tournament ended Saturday with a 71-59 loss to a dominant Illinois team. Before Illinois could cut down the nets at Houston’s Toyota Center, a buzzer malfunction caused a loud, roughly 10-minute delay.

The buzzer initially sounded signaling the end of a media timeout with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half. The horn continued blaring for about another seven minutes.

A referee talks with the scorer’s table during an official’s timeout due to a broken shot clock horn during the first half of an Elite Eight game between Iowa and Illinois in the NCAA Tournament Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Players stood on the court ready to play for a couple of minutes before both teams started to warm up as the buzzer continued to sound.

It was finally silenced, to cheers from the crowd, but then the main scoreboard and video screen that hangs over the middle of the court went dark.

The game ultimately resumed with the big scoreboard still off. Two smaller scoreboards at each end of the arena were working.

Freshman guard Keaton Wagler scored 25 points to help secure Illinois’ first Final Four berth since 2005.

Keaton Wagler (23) of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles against Isaia Howard (23) of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

This will be the sixth overall trip to the Final Four for Illinois, which has never won a national title. The Fighting Illini will face either Duke or UConn next week in Indianapolis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

Sports

High school baseball and softball: Saturday’s scores

Published

2 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

BASEBALL

CITY SECTION

Palisades 2, North Hollywood 1

South Gate 5, Sun Valley Poly 4

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alta Loma 5, Schurr 3

Anaheim Canyon 6, Segerstrom 4

Beaumont 13, San Jacinto Valley Academy 3

Bethel Christian 15, United Christian Academy 1

Brea Olinda 8, Tustin 2

Buena Park 5, Savanna 3

Cajon 9, Granite Hills 5

Claremont 13, Littlerock 2

Compton 12, Compton Centennial 3

Covina 9, San Marino 6

El Segundo 13, Palos Verdes 4

Ganesha 13, Santa Ana Foothill 3

Golden Valley 9, Lancaster 8

Hesperia 8, Miller 7

Katella 6, Canyon Springs 3

La Serna 5, Alhambra 2

Linfield Christian 10, Woodbridge 0

Long Beach Cabrillo 17, Hawthorne 1

Montclair 2, Vista del Lago 0

Moorpark 16, Foothill Tech 11

Oxford Academy 7, Century 6

Rancho Mirage 1, Indian Springs 0

Rancho Verde 9, Riverside Poly 5

San Dimas 13, Irvine 2

Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 14, HMSA 11

Sonora 7, Long Beach Wilson 6

St. Paul 5, El Modena 3

Troy 5, Hacienda Heights Wilson 2

Valley View 16, Carter 10

Whittier Christian 9, Estancia 3

INTERSECTIONAL

Dominguez 13, King/Drew 2

Downers Grove 11, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel

Downtown Magnets 12, Long Beach Jordan 5

Inglewood 10, Stella 0

Layton 5, Schurr 4

Kentucky Trinity 5, St. John Bosco 0

Murrieta Valley 10, Galena 7

Orange Lutheran 7, Florida Venice 6

Santa Barbara 14, Douglas 6

Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 16, Collins Family 1

St. Bernard 7, San Diego University City 5

Tonopah 23, Lone Pine 8

SOFTBALL

CITY SECTION

San Fernando 5, LA Roosevelt 3

San Pedro 11, Legacy 1

Sun Valley Poly 8, LA Roosevelt 2

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alemany 9, Canyon Country Canyon 1

Burbank Burroughs 2, Rosary Academy 1

California 16, Whittier Christian 13

California 7, San Clemente 1

Camarillo 4, Chaminade 3

Camarillo 18, Rio Mesa 0

Capistrano Valley 9, Beckman 3

Chino Hills 15, Chino 3

Corona 10, Ridgecrest Burroughs 0

Crean Lutheran 11, Avalon 2

Crean Lutheran 13, Avalon 2

Edison 7, Crescenta Valley 5

Edison 2, Vasquez 1

Irvine 7, Long Beach Wilson 5

JSerra 2, Capistrano Valley 1

Leuzinger 11, Hawthorne 0

Marina 2, Los Alamitos 1

Mater Dei 10, Redondo Union 0

Mira Costa 9, Newport Harbor 3

Palos Verdes 2, Los Altos 1

Paraclete 11, Saugus 1

Rancho Mirage 14, Cathedral City 6

Rosary Academy 7, Fountain Valley 2

San Clemente 7, Whittier Christian 2

Simi Valley 7, West Ranch 1

Simi Valley 5, St. Bonaventure 5

St. Genevieve 7, Sacred Heart of Jesus 4

St. Paul 6, Warren 2

St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy d. Hoover, forfeit

Thousand Oaks 8, Rio Mesa 0

United Christian Academy 13, Bethel Christian 5

Vasquez 4, Woodbridge 0

Warren 5, La Serna 0

Westlake 4, St. Bonaventure 2

Westlake 0, Chaminade 0

Westlake 4, St. Bonaventure 2

West Ranch 10, Thousand Oaks 4

West Torrance 6, Hart 0

INTERSECTIONAL

Alemany 11, Arleta 1

Arleta 10, Canyon Country Canyon 8

Downey 6, Legacy 0

Downey 10, San Pedro 0

Granada Hills 8, La Serna 5

Muir 8, San Fernando 4

Muir 12, Sun Valley Poly 3

San Luis Obispo 7, Torres 6

St. Paul 8, Granada Hills 4

Sports

‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin avenges Olympic disappointment with backflip for third straight world title

Published

13 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin avenges Olympic disappointment with backflip for third straight world title

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It seems like Ilia Malinin, the “Quad God,” has done a nice job of moving on from his Olympic heartbreak.

Last month, the 21-year-old Team USA star was the overwhelming favorite to bring home the gold in the men’s free skate. But the unimaginable happened as he fell twice and dropped all the way to eighth place.

However, he has begun to avenge the loss and is now a three-time world champion.

Ilia Malinin from the United States competes during the men free skating at the Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Malinin shouted and punched the air with relief after finishing a skate that showed he had achieved his desire to “move on” from the Olympics after days of being tormented by his mistakes.

Malinin scored 218.11 in the free skate for a total of 329.40, far ahead of silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan on 306.67. Another Japanese skater, Shun Sato, was third on 288.54.

Malinin was blunt about his Olympic performance when speaking to NBC afterward, saying simply, “I blew it,” and said it was a clear mental hurdle from start to finish.

“I just had so many thoughts and memories flood right before I got into my starting pose, and almost, I think, it maybe overwhelmed me a little bit. I’ve been through a lot in my life, a lot of bad and good experiences,” Malinin told reporters.

Gold medalist Ilia Malinin from the United States waves to spectators after the medal ceremony after the men’s free skating at the Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

LINDSEY VONN KEEPING RETURN TO SKIING ON TABLE DESPITE INJURIES: ‘I DON’T LIKE TO CLOSE THE DOOR ON ANYTHING’

“So, I just feel like it’s the pressure of especially being that Olympic gold medal hopeful. It was just something I can’t control now. The pressure of the Olympics, it’s really something different, and I think not a lot of people understand that. They only understand that from the inside and going into this competition, especially today, I felt really confident, really good,” he added. “But it really just went by so fast I did not have time to process.”

But with some pressure off, Malinin was able to show who he truly is on the ice.

Gold medalist, Ilia Malinin from the United States waves before the medal ceremony after the men’s free skating at the Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Malinin becomes the first skater to win three consecutive men’s world titles since fellow American Nathan Chen, who achieved the feat in 2018, 2019 and 2021 after the 2020 event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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