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Mookie Betts embracing the ‘pressure’ of NL West race with Padres<\/p>\n
Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts caught up with Mackenzie Salmon to discuss the tight race with the Padres for the NL West crown.<\/p>\n
Sports Seriously<\/p>\n
Four MLB managers have been fired during the 2025 season \u2013 but none of them are done.Derek Shelton (Pirates), Brandon Hyde (Orioles), Bud Black (Rockies) and Davey Martinez (Nationals) were all sacked.Martinez led Washington to a World Series title in 2019.<\/p>\n
They have been bird-hunting and fly-fishing, watching their daughters play volleyball, hanging with their grandkids and attending World Series reunions.<\/p>\n
They live in San Diego, Florida and Tennessee, and for the first time since they were kids, were home with their families for the summer.<\/p>\n
It has been enjoyable, but sorry, it just wasn\u2019t their preference.<\/p>\n
They happen to be unemployed major league managers<\/p>\n
This quartet opened the season as respected managers of their big-league teams, but all were fired before the All-Star break, some informed as they were packing for a trip, one after being informed his job was safe, and another on his off day.<\/p>\n
Now, after mostly a summer of silence, Brandon Hyde<\/a>, Derek Shelton<\/a>, Bud Black<\/a> and Davey Martinez<\/a> are hoping to return this winter to the game they love, one that has caused stress, gray hair, angst, heartache \u2013 and real heart problems \u2013\u00a0and they can\u2019t wait to have baseball consume their lives again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to manage and it\u2019s hard to walk away at the same time,” says Black, who has managed 18 seasons for the Colorado Rockies<\/a> and San Diego Padres<\/a>. \u201cI know it\u2019s sort of contradictory. It\u2019s weird. It\u2019s just something special being part of that fraternity.”<\/p>\n From a series of interviews with USA TODAY Sports, here are their stories:<\/p>\n Derek Shelton, 55, PiratesTeam:\u00a0Pittsburgh, 5-plus seasonsDate of Firing:\u00a0May 8Record at firing:\u00a012-26Record since:\u00a052-52<\/p>\n Just two weeks after being fired by the Pirates, Shelton traveled to Birmingham, Ala., with his 15-year-old daughter, Gianna, for a volleyball tournament.<\/p>\n There were thousands of girls in attendance, but he looked across the way, and was momentarily confused. He couldn\u2019t believe who was at the same event.<\/p>\n Brandon Hyde, who was fired just nine days after him by the Baltimore Orioles<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHere we are, both fired managers, and we\u2019re looking at each other, ‘What are you doing here?’ Shelton said. \u201cHey, it is what it is. But you know what, as much as I hated losing my job, it\u2019s a blessing spending quality time with my 15-year-old volleyball player. You have to think everything happens for a reason, so if that reason was to spend quality time with Gianna, I\u2019ll take it.”<\/p>\n For the first time since he was working for a St. Louis moving company in 1996, Shelton was home for the summer, dissecting just what went wrong.<\/p>\n Shelton, who has had vast coaching experience with Cleveland, the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins, inherited a rebuilding Pirates team before the COVID 2020 season that went 69-93 the previous season. It was a painful process with back-to-back 100 loss seasons, and after going 76-86 in consecutive seasons and another slow start, Shelton sensed trouble.<\/p>\n The Pirates had just lost seven consecutive games, and on off-day in Pittsburgh before they were scheduled to face Atlanta, was summoned to PNC Park. He was informed by GM Ben Cherington that he was fired just 38 games into the season.<\/p>\n He packed what he wanted from his office, drove home to Treasure Island, Fla., the following day without having the opportunity to say good-bye to his players.<\/p>\n \u201cThe one thing about being let go early in the season is that you not only have the opportunity to watch games and reflect,” Shelton said, \u201cbut think about things you wish you could have done differently. You reflect on decisions, relationships, how you can be a better manager, leader and a better person.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that there\u2019s not the pressure of winning every day, there are decisions I wish I would have done differently. I\u2019m not sure you grasp that when you\u2019re managing every day.”<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes, it takes something dramatic as being fired to have the time to reflect.”<\/p>\n It took several weeks for Shelton to even turn on the TV and watch an inning of a game. He still hasn\u2019t sat down and watched a full game. Yet, he also didn\u2019t want the game to forget about him, and joined MLB Radio in a part-time role while also traveling to Phoenix to work on the MLB Network set for their annual draft combine.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing is that it takes time,” Shelton said. \u201cIt takes time to get past the initial anger, the hurt, being pissed off. But then you realize you\u2019ve got to learn from it to become a better leader.”<\/p>\n Now, with the experience he\u2019s gained, he truly believes whoever hires him next will get a better and upgraded version of the man who oversaw the massive rebuild in Pittsburgh that\u2019s still underway.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you go through a situation that\u2019s a rebuild and all of the challenges for that,” Shelton says, \u201cit helps you prepare for the next opportunity. You have an opportunity to reflect on how you would have done X, Y and Z differently. How you build your roster. How you build your staff. Everything.<\/p>\n \u201cYou also realize is that how special it is to be part of this fraternity. The only people that understand it are the people that are in it. When you\u2019re sitting in that chair, you appreciate all of the other managers and what they go through.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d love to have another opportunity.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n Brandon Hyde, 51, OriolesTeam:\u00a0Baltimore, 6-plus seasonsDate of Firing:\u00a0May 17Record at firing:\u00a015-28Record since:\u00a050-48<\/p>\n Hyde not only endured one of the biggest rebuilds in baseball history, with the Orioles averaging 111 losses over a three-year stretch outside the 2020 COVID season, but led the Orioles to back-to-back postseasons.<\/p>\n He was voted the American League Manager of the Year in 2023 after leading the Orioles to 101 victories, their most since 1979, winning the AL East title for the first time in nine years.<\/p>\n And was fired less than 1 \u00bd seasons later.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t expecting to be let go, I really wasn\u2019t,” Hyde said, \u201cbut we couldn\u2019t have played any worse. We were pretty banged up. Our starting rotation was ranked 30th\u00a0in baseball. Our offense was 28th. Just everything went wrong.”<\/p>\n When the Orioles lost 4-3 on May 17 to the Washington Nationals<\/a>, GM Mike Elias came to his office and informed him that he and Tim Cossins, his close friend and field coordinator, were fired. The firing was kept a secret until the next day when the players were informed in a team meeting when they arrived to the clubhouse.<\/p>\n Hyde hurriedly packed up his office that night, said goodbye to his staff and clubhouse attendants, returned to his condo, and by the following morning was in the car driving to his home in Florida.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was one of the hardest things,” Hyde says, \u201cpacking up my office. There was six-plus years of memories. We built such a personal relationship with that group. We had gone through so much together.<\/p>\n \u201cThen, it was all gone.”<\/p>\n When Hyde got home, he wanted to watch the Orioles\u2019 games, root for the players he spent so much time with during their rebuild, but simply couldn\u2019t. Not yet.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to watch them,” Hyde said, \u201cbut it was pretty painful. I\u2019d turn it on for a little bit, but then I\u2019d turn the channel. It was really hard to watch, but I had so much invested in those guys, and I still care.”<\/p>\n Just like that, for the first time since he was 19, he was home in the summer. He traveled with his son, Colton, during his summer baseball tournaments. He was with his daughter, Addison, for her volleyball games. He was catching up on everything he\u2019d missed over the years.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have a lot of feelings when you get let go,” Hyde said, \u201cbut to watch them play, that was enjoyable. It\u2019s a strange feeling being home, but that was the silver lining.”<\/p>\n Still, Hyde hopes to not spend another summer at home \u2013 at least for the next decade or so. He believes he has plenty to offer, and of the four managers that were let go, he likely has the best chance to resurface the quickest. He was the farm director with the Miami Marlins and later their bench coach. He was a bench coach and first base coach under Joe Maddon with the Cubs when they won the World Series, and was well-respected in the industry with the Orioles.<\/p>\n \u201cI really believe that Brandon will be back managing soon,” Black said. \u201cHe\u2019s really positioned himself to get another opportunity.”<\/p>\n The way Hyde sees it, if he can win with a bunch of kids and a miniscule payroll in the AL East, there certainly won\u2019t be a challenge too big for him in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel more motivated than ever right now,” Hyde said. \u201cWhen something like this happens, a lot of reflecting goes on. I\u2019m proud of what we accomplished with the payroll we were playing against and the success we had. Managing in the AL East definitely prepares you for anything. I\u2019m glad I did that for six-plus years in that division.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel incredibly prepared for whatever comes next.”<\/p>\n Bud Black, 68, RockiesTeam:\u00a0Colorado: 8-plus seasons.Date of Firing:\u00a0May 11Record at firing:\u00a07-33Record since:\u00a033-68<\/p>\n Black, the winningest manager in Rockies history, was driving home to San Diego early the morning after his firing, on a highway in Utah when his cell phone rang.<\/p>\n It was Hall of Famer George Brett, his former teammate with the Kansas City Royals.<\/p>\n \u201cBlackie, I saw the news. You can come to the reunion now. You\u2019re coming.”<\/p>\n A few hours later, there was a text message from former teammate Jamie Quirk, who told him that the timing of the firing couldn\u2019t be better. Now he can come to the Royals\u2019 30-year reunion the following weekend of their 1985 World Series championship team.<\/p>\n Next was a text from Mark Gubicza, who was in the Royals\u2019 starting rotation with him: \u201cSorry to hear the news. Hey, guess what, you can come to the reunion now.”<\/p>\n \u201cHere I am taking a therapeutic drive,” Black said, \u201cand everyone\u2019s telling me it\u2019s good news because now I can come to the reunion. You know how it is, guys are hardened by this, especially your longtime friends, they\u2019re not as sensitive as others are.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like, \u201cHey, you can come to the reunion, let\u2019s [bleeping] go.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cSo, sure enough, I did.”<\/p>\n The reunion was the best healing elixir he could have imagined, catching up with old friends, telling old stories, and remembering the good times. It even included a gala one night where country star Garth Brooks arrived unannounced at the end of the night, singing \u201cHappy Birthday” and \u201cFriends in Low Places,” to Brett, who was celebrating his 72nd\u00a0birthday.<\/p>\n Black has stopped trying to figure out just what happened around his firing. Rockies GM Bill Schmidt had just told the Denver Post <\/a>a day earlier that Black\u2019s job was safe. They lost 21-0 that night, but did bounce back and end their eight-game losing streak the next day with a 9-3 victory over the San Diego Padres.<\/p>\n He was in his office packing his bags for their upcoming road trip to Texas and Arizona when Schmidt walked in. He was fired less than 24 hours after getting a vote of confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seemed like it happened real fast,” Black said. \u201cUsually you hear rumblings. I didn\u2019t hear those rumblings. How that went down, I\u2019m still not sure.”<\/p>\n Black sat stunned in his office, and slowly, players and staff members filtered in, saying goodbye before boarding the bus for the airport.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was cool for the players and coaches, one by one, single file, to come in for brief conversations,” Black said. \u201cIt was pretty emotional.”<\/p>\n Black, not bothering to pack any of his belongings, drove back to his Denver suburban home, spent the night, and immediately got into his car the next morning for a 16-hour drive to San Diego.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of us in that office don\u2019t like having an elaborate bunch of stuff,” Black said. \u201cJust because of the nature of the job. I just had things boxed up that I wanted sent to me.”<\/p>\n It was Black\u2019s second managerial stint after spending more than eight seasons with the San Diego Padres, from 2006 to 2015, having previously worked as the Angels\u2019 pitching coach for seven seasons, including their 2002 World Series championship.<\/p>\n Black certainly could step away from the game, spend the rest of his life playing golf and hanging out with his wife, Nan, two daughters and five grandkids, but sorry, he just isn\u2019t ready to retire.<\/p>\n He\u2019d love to manage again, and if not, at least join an organization for an on-field role, or even a front office position \u2013 somewhere where he can make a difference.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to stay in the game,” Black said. \u201cI feel good. My energy level is high. I think the managerial fit has to be right for everybody.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I still love the competition. It feels nice to win a World Series. I\u2019d like to be part of another one. Or just help the game, whatever capacity that is.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I know I want to stay in the game.”<\/p>\n Davey Martinez, 60, NationalsTeam:\u00a0Washington: 7-plus seasonsDate of firing: July 6Record at firing:\u00a037-53Record since:\u00a019-31<\/p>\n Martinez had just won his 500th\u00a0game as the Washington Nationals manager and was packing his bags for a trip to St. Louis when Nationals owner Mark Lerner came to his office.<\/p>\n It took only a quick look into Lerner\u2019s face that this wasn\u2019t a congratulatory gathering.<\/p>\n Martinez was fired, just a week before the All-Star Game, and less than six years after leading the Nationals\u2019 to their first World Series championship in 2019.<\/p>\n And, oh, by the way, he wasn\u2019t the only one being fired.<\/p>\n The Nationals had just fired GM Mike Rizzo too<\/a>.<\/p>\n Martinez sat stunned in his office, and minutes later, Rizzo, the man who hired him, came walking in.<\/p>\n They sat, chatted, reminisced, and became emotional for the next two hours, as Nationals clubhouse attendants hurriedly retrieved Martinez\u2019s suitcase off the truck that was heading to the airport.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I was a little surprised,” Martinez said. \u201cI beat myself up a little bit. I know people said you did nothing wrong, but I tell them, \u201cI was blessed to have this job, but sometimes you have to look back and say maybe it was time. You learn from things. I had a great run. Maybe it was time to move on.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI really have no regrets at all. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I told Rizz [Mike Rizzo], ‘We won a championship together. I feel I can win another one somewhere else.’<\/p>\n Bench coach Miguel Cairo soon joined Martinez and Rizzo in the office that day, letting them know that he was offered the interim managerial job, but he wasn\u2019t going to take it without Martinez\u2019s blessing.<\/p>\n \u201cThat meant a lot to me,” Martinez said, \u201cthat kind of loyalty. He\u2019s a great friend. We still talk a few times a week.”<\/p>\n Martinez, who had a 16-year playing career and figures he was last home during the summer back when he was in high school, hung around Washington, D.C. for the next week. He went back to his office the next day when everyone was gone, decided what was important to keep and what he no longer wanted to be reminded of, and had the Nationals clubhouse staff ship his belongings to his 350-acre farm in Tennessee.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I closed the door for the final time, I had a little moment where it was emotional,” Martinez said. \u201cI definitely miss the game. I look back, and I\u2019ve been doing it forever. I honestly, 100% say it\u2019s not the end. I love the game. I look forward to my next opportunity.”<\/p>\n Martinez believes the fact that he led a veteran team to a World Series title, as well as overseeing a complete rebuild, his resume will be a good fit for any team looking for a manager this winter. He played for Hall of Famer Bobby Cox and future Hall of Famer Dusty Baker as a player, and was Joe Maddon\u2019s bench coach when the Cubs won the 2016 World Series.<\/p>\n \u201cI went through a lot of adversity as a player, coach and manager,” Martinez says, \u201cand I know how to deal with it. I\u2019m ready for any situation that comes my way.”<\/p>\n Black, who reached out to Martinez, Shelton and Hyde after their dismissals, say they\u2019ll all be better managers having gone through the experience for the first time. It\u2019s the same for Phil Nevin, Luis Rojas and Chris Woodward who also were fired after their first managerial stints and would like another shot.<\/p>\n \u201cYou learn a lot from your first job,” Black said. \u201cWhen they get another opportunity, they\u2019ll for sure benefit because experience is the best teacher. These guys will be refreshed, more confident, more self-assured. They\u2019ll know what it\u2019s all about.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first time, you\u2019re not sure. You pick it up rather quickly, but you\u2019re learning it from one organization. Now they\u2019ll go, be somewhere else, and they\u2019ll have a different perspective because they came from another organization. The experience they gained, will really be beneficial.<\/p>\n \u201cThey will be back.”<\/p>\n Around the basepaths<\/p>\n \u2013 Iconic manager Davey Johnson died<\/a> at the age of 82 on Friday night.<\/p>\n Johnson participated in two of the most famous World Series in history as a player with the Baltimore Orioles in 1969 and as manager of the 1986 Mets.<\/p>\n Johnson won a division title with four different teams and won at least 90 games in seven seasons, and 98 or more in five seasons.<\/p>\n He had the sixth-greatest winning percentage (.562) among the 35 managers who won at least 1,300 games: Joe McCarthy (.615), John McGraw (.586), Al Lopez (.584), Earl Weaver (.583) and Fred Clarke (.576). They are all in the Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n Johnson could join them as he almost certainly will be on next year\u2019s ballot.<\/p>\n \u2013 Forget all of the talk, Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber isn\u2019t going anywhere this winter. He loves Philadelphia, and more important, the Phillies love him. They simply will not be out-bid by any team, knowing how vital he is to them as not only their greatest power hitter, but their ultimate clubhouse leader.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Arizona Diamondbacks, who didn\u2019t receive any legitimate offers for starter Zac Gallen at the trade deadline, will definitely give Gallen a qualifying offer now that he has gone 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA since the trade deadline.<\/p>\n The D-backs wouldn\u2019t mind having him return, but don\u2019t expect him to accept.<\/p>\n \u2013 Atlanta wouldn\u2019t have taken the gamble of claiming Ha-Seong Kim off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays if they weren\u2019t certain that Kim would not opt out of the $16 remaining in his contract for 2026.<\/p>\n Kim is definitely staying, and Atlanta has its shortstop.<\/p>\n How badly is he needed?<\/p>\n Atlanta\u2019s shortstops were hitting .217 with a .249 slugging percentage and .524 OPS, easily the worst in baseball, before Kim\u2019s arrival. They had gone the entire season without a homer from their shortstop position until Kim homered.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Rangers\u2019 resurgence has increased the likelihood that manager Bruce Bochy\u2019s may return in 2026, after all. Bochy is yet to formally announce his decision, but says he feels healthy and rejuvenated.<\/p>\n \u2013 Despite Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker\u2019s struggles since the All-Star break, hitting .242 with only five homers and 17 RBI, rival executives still believe he\u2019ll be the highest-paid player in free agency. Their prediction where he\u2019ll land? The Dodgers, who badly could use outfield help.<\/p>\n \u2013 Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez\u2019s stunt, in which he intentionally crossed up his own catcher or at the least simply didn\u2019t care that he hit him in the chest with his fastball, could cost Valdez millions in free agency. One scout said their organization already crossed Valdez off their list of free agent candidates after the incident.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Phillies, who shopped outfielder Nick Castellanos last winter, will be much more aggressive trying to move him this winter, even eating a significant portion of his remaining $20 million salary.<\/p>\n \u2013 If players can start hitting like Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, everyone is going to want an oblique injury.<\/p>\n Langeliers, who had a career .708 OPS, hit .237 with 10 homers, 20 extra-base hits and a .730 OPS through 56 games when he sustained his oblique injury on June 5.<\/p>\n Since his return June 30?<\/p>\n He is hitting .285 with 19 homers, 34 extra-base hits and a .951 OPS in 51 games.<\/p>\n He was hitting one homer every 5.64 games and 19.1 at-bats before his oblique injiury.<\/p>\n He is now hitting one homer every 2.68 games and 10.9 at-bats.<\/p>\n \u2013 While the Seattle Mariners once again are crumbling down the stretch, they are being reminded of the players former GM Jack Zduriencik drafted or signed but were traded away within the first three years Jerry Dipoto was hired Sept. 28, 2015 to replace Zduriencik:<\/p>\n Pitcher Freddy Peralta: signed in 2013, traded in December 2015.Infielder Ketel Marte: signed in 2010, traded in November 2016.Pitcher Taijuan Walker: drafted in 2010, traded in November 2016.Pitcher Andrew Kittredge: signed in 2011, traded in November 2016.Pitcher Zack Littell: drafted in 2013, traded in November 2016Pitcher Ryan Yarbrough: drafted in 2014, traded in January 2017.Outfielder Tyler O\u2019Neill: drafted in 2013, traded in July 2017.Infielder Luis Rengifo: signed in 2013, traded in August 2017.Pitcher Emilio Pagan: drafted in 2013, traded in November 2017.Pitcher James Paxton: drafted in 2010, traded in November 2018.Pitcher Edwin Diaz: drafted in 2012, traded in December 2018.<\/p>\n \u2013 You remember when the Dodgers and Padres were actually good? They entered Saturday with an 0-8 record this week playing against the lowly Rockies, Pirates and Orioles.<\/p>\n The Dodgers were swept only four times in a three- or four-game series in a span of 514 games from June 14, 2022 to July 3, 2025.<\/p>\n They have now been swept five times in a span of 52 games since July 4.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Padres\u2019 collapse brings back ugly memories of 2021 when they lost 34 of their last 46 games and missed the postseason.<\/p>\n The Dodgers\u2019 and Padres\u2019 struggles have allowed the Giants to gain six games in the standings in just 12 days by going 11-1.<\/p>\n \u2013 Thanks to the Mariners\u2019 collapse, losing 15 of their last 21 games entering Saturday, there at least is one postseason race in September. The Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians all within 2 \u00bd games of the Mariners for the final wild-card berth.<\/p>\n \u2013 The biggest mystery to the Mariners\u2019 fade is their starting pitching. Their rotation is yielding a 4.55 ERA since the All-Star break, and a 5.89 ERA on the road in their last 22 starts. They have a 4.69 ERA on the road overall this season, ranking fifth-worst in baseball.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Chicago Cubs<\/a> can spend the final three weeks making sure their players are well rested for the postseason now that the Brewers have the NL Central virtually locked up, and the Cubs have a comfortable five-game lead to be the No. 1 wild-card team and host the wild-card round at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Boston Red Sox<\/a> still are in good shape to make the postseason, but their road to a division title is treacherous.<\/p>\n Their opponents the rest of the season and their record since Aug. 5:<\/p>\n Arizona: 17-11.Athletics: 15-12.Yankees: 18-9.Rays: 15-11.Blue Jays: 15-11.Tigers: 15-12.<\/p>\n \u2013 Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet says he feels strong, but the numbers say different, after pitching a career-high 178 \u2154 innings this year:<\/p>\n March 27-June 1: 13 starts, 1.98 ERA.June 7-July 26: 9 starts, 2.58 ERA.Aug. 5-Sept. 2: 8 starts, 4.38 ERA.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Diamondbacks, after a disappointing season, not only plan to cut payroll next season, but will have to pay about $38.5 million to players who will open the 2026 season on the IL, including ace Corbin Burnes, who\u2019s recovering from Tommy John surgery and isn\u2019t expected back until perhaps September.<\/p>\n \u2013 Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman, who signed a two-year, $26 million contract extension, becomes the first player to have a bonus for winning the BBWAA\u2019s new Reliever of the Year award which begins in 2026.<\/p>\n \u2013 You can\u2019t blame Guardians fans for screaming into the night every time they see Rays infielder Junior Caminero hit a home run, entering Saturday with 41 homers and 103 RBI.<\/p>\n This is the same guy the Guardians signed as a teenager, but gave away to the Rays for starter Tobias Myers after the 2021 season.<\/p>\n If the trade doesn\u2019t look bad enough now, Caminero is only 22 years old and under team control through 2030.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Rockies\u2019 starting rotation is yielding a 6.62 ERA this season, which will not only set a franchise record, but could be the worst in baseball history with the 1996 Detroit Tigers owning the dubious record with a 6.64 ERA.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Kansas City Royals were set to trade Seth Lugo at the trade deadline until he agreed to a two-year, $46 million contract extension.<\/p>\n Yet, now when they badly need him if they\u2019re going to make a legitimate run for the playoffs, he has now gone belly-up, yielding a 9.11 ERA in his last six starts while pitching less than five innings in five of the starts.<\/p>\n \u2013 Aaron Judge is about to surpass Joe DiMaggio (361) for the fourth most homers in Yankee franchise history, but it will be awhile before he passes anyone else with Lou Gehrig (493), Mickey Mantle (536) and Babe Ruth (659) up next.<\/p>\n Judge, who is hitting an American League-leading .322, could become only the 10th\u00a0AL player to hit 40 homers and win a batting title in history, and the third Yankee, joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle.<\/p>\n \u2013 Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe\u2019s six-year, $24 million contract expires after this season but he\u2019s hoping to spend the rest of his career in Tampa. The Rays hold an $11.5 million club option for next year.<\/p>\n \u2013 Nothing personal, but it may be awhile before the Boston Red Sox try to acquire another starter from the Dodgers.<\/p>\n They acquired Dustin May at the trade deadline, only to watch him implode with a 5.68 ERA in five starts and was temporarily demoted to the bullpen.<\/p>\n And this is after signing Walker Buehler during the winter, giving him a one-year, $21.05 million contract and releasing him after he went 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Tigers are the latest contender to suffer a significant injury blow when reliever Kyle Finnegan, who had pitched 14\u2153 innings since the trade deadline, went on the IL with a right abductor strain. He has easily been the best reliever acquisition at the trade deadline, recording at least four or more outs in four of his 11 appearances.<\/p>\n \u2013 Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham was confident he\u2019d start hitting once he made a change to his prescription contacts in June, and sure enough, he has delivered.<\/p>\n He has been the Pirates\u2019 finest hitter, batting .321 with a .912 OPS since June 22 with eight homers and 40 RBI.<\/p>\n \u2013 While Juan Soto could become the first Mets\u2019 player to hit 40 homers and steal 30 bases in the same season, he could join Barry Bonds and Jeff Bagwell as the only players to hit 40 homers with 100 RBI, 100 runs, 100 walks and 30 steals in a single season.<\/p>\n Yet, Bonds never finished higher than fifth in MVP voting in the two seasons he accomplished the feat in 1996 and 1997, and Bagwell finished third and second in the two seasons he achieved those numbers in 1997 and 1999.<\/p>\n Soto, barring a miraculous finish, likely won\u2019t finish higher than third in this year\u2019s balloting behind Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Red Sox have a $14 million club option on starter Lucas Giolito that they plan to pick up, but Giolito needs to pitch just 14\u2154 more innings to reach 140 innings for the season and turn the club option to a $19 million mutual option \u2013 which he could void and become a free agent again.<\/p>\n \u2013 Kudos to the Dodgers for paying tribute to more than 80 of their employees with at least 25 years of service in a pre-game ceremony on Tuesday, including three ushers who have spent at least 50 years in the organization. They will also honor the late James Mims, who was the press box steward for 45 years before passing away last week at the age of 89.<\/p>\n