Yankees, Cubs and Nationals make key moves ahead of MLB trade deadline
The Yankees acquired first baseman Luis García Jr. from Washington, the Cubs added right-hander Kevin Gausman from Toronto, and the Nationals completed a multi-player deal with New York as the deadline approaches.
The New York Yankees announced a trade for Washington Nationals infielder Luis García Jr., sending right-handed relievers Ben Grable, Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird and starter Jack Cebert to the Nationals. García, 26, is posting a .283/.313/.560 slash line with 23 home runs and 76 RBIs through 104 games, leading the National League in slugging.
In Chicago, the Cubs acquired right-hander Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for prospects Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene. Gausman, 35, posted a 5-10 record with a 4.38 ERA this season, while his 3.51 FIP suggests better underlying performance. He brings postseason experience to a rotation that has also added David Peterson and Aaron Civale.
Washington also completed a separate trade, sending a package of four pitchers—including prospects Yovanny Cruz and Ben Grable—to the Yankees in return for García. The deal follows the Nationals' earlier move that sent Curtis Mead to the Orioles for Connelly Early, reflecting the club’s focus on bolstering its pitching depth.
Other notable deadline activity includes the Philadelphia Phillies acquiring second baseman Luis Arraez and reliever Caleb Kilian from the San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Angels receiving pitcher Jose Soriano from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for shortstop Arjun Nimmala and two other prospects. The San Diego Padres continued talks with the New York Mets regarding left-hander Kodai Senga, while the Chicago Cubs secured Gausman as part of a broader push for a frontline starter.
These transactions illustrate teams’ efforts to address immediate roster needs while balancing future prospects as the trade deadline nears.