Portland mayor ‘confident’ about possible MLB expansion team: ‘Down to us and one other city’

Carlos Correa informed the Minnesota Twins that he would only waive his no-trade clause for the Houston Astros when discussions of a trade arose, leading to a deal that saw him move back to the Astros, who are pursuing a World Series title. The Twins, motivated by salary relief, settled for a modest return while Correa agreed to switch to third base, with the Astros taking on most of his remaining $102 million contract. Want More Context? 🔎

After an impressive start to the trade deadline with the acquisition of elite relievers, Mets fans were left wanting more as David Stearns secured center fielder Cedric Mullins from the Orioles, a fallback from earlier pursuits. While the bullpen saw significant upgrades, the lack of a starting pitcher addition slightly impacted the overall assessment of Stearns' trades, resulting in an overall grade of A-. Want More Context? 🔎

The San Diego Padres designated catcher Martín Maldonado and infielder Trenton Brooks for assignment following a series of trades that brought in new talent, including catcher Freddy Fermin. While Maldonado's defensive skills were once valuable, his declining offensive performance prompted the move, and Brooks, despite strong Triple-A numbers, struggled at the MLB level, leading to his DFA as well. Want More Context? 🔎