2026 Red Sox/MLB Season Thread

[slamtheking]

The Dodgers are acquiring two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from the Tigers for three prospects, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Detroit is getting outfielder Zyhir Hope (L.A.'s No. 5 prospect and MLB's No. 25), right-hander River Ryan (No. 7, MLB No. 68) and right-hander Brady Smith (Dodgers' No. 17).

Why even play the season?

No kidding. Just hand them the trophy, along with a thank-you note for next year?s cancelled season.

as a Brewer fan, despite all the talking-head speculation, I knew the Brewers wouldn't pony up the asking price but it's just frustrating that Skubal ends up on the Dodgers for a pittance of a payment.  it's like watching teams give away their top players to the Lakers for peanuts.

I don?t see this being about the prospects the Brewers would give up. There is no way the Brewers could sign him in the off-season. It is a classic rental. You aren?t going to trade your best prospects for a couple of months of a pitcher.   A team like the Yankees could have beat the trade offer, but even they were probably worried about signing him.

exactly.  Brewers could have submitted far better prospects in a trade proposal but to do so for a 3-month rental would be reckless mismanagement knowing there's 0% chance of resigning Skubal.  Skubal making it well known he intended to sign with the Dodgers once he hits free agency only makes this trade even worse for the league in general.

[Roy H.]

Buster Olney
@Buster_ESPN
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The Red Sox and O?s have a deal arranged for Adley Rutschman. Prospects, medicals set. Red Sox just need to say yay or nay.

[Vermont Green]

Buster Olney
@Buster_ESPN
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The Red Sox and O?s have a deal arranged for Adley Rutschman. Prospects, medicals set. Red Sox just need to say yay or nay.

Sounds promising, decent hitter (upgrade over current options for sure), arbitration for 1 more season, but I believe he is currently injured.  I am sure that is the concern.  Switch hitter that hits better against righties.

Adley Rutschman is currently on the 10-day injured list due to left wrist inflammation, his third IL stint of the 2026 MLB season.

Placed on the 10-day IL on July 20, 2026 (retroactive to July 19).

Resumed hitting activities on Saturday, July 25/31 weekend and is progressing toward a potential rehab assignment.

Has begun throwing on the field, though he is not yet cleared to catch.

[Vermont Green]

Actually, looking closer at Rutschman's splits, other than this season, he hits better against lefties overall for his career.  This season, he is 0.799 batting left and 0.701 batting right.  Every other season, this is switched, he hits much better batting right (vs. Left) overall for his career.

Anyway, a pretty good hitter in any case.