New York Yankees star Aaron Judge has been cleared to resume light physical activity following a rib fracture and remains confident he will play again this season.
The 34-year-old has not featured for the Major League Baseball franchise since 31 May because of a stress fracture in his right rib.
Following a scan on Tuesday, medical staff permitted the three-time American League MVP to begin running and upper-body resistance exercises.
“Oh, I’ll be back this season. I don’t know why I wouldn’t be.”
The formidable slugger added that returning to the field was always his primary objective.
Hitting remains the ultimate test
Despite the positive medical update, the American has not yet been cleared to resume baseball-specific activities.
He will require further imaging on the healing bone before being allowed to swing a bat or throw a ball.
“I think that’s going to be the ultimate test, is hitting. That’s the most violent of it all, more than running or lifting and stuff like that.”
The injury originally occurred when the outfielder dived for a ball on his birthday in late April.
He bravely played through the pain for over a month before being placed on the injured list in early June.
Yankees desperate for offensive spark
In his absence, New York’s offensive production has plummeted dramatically.
Since the beginning of June, the team ranks among the worst in the major leagues for runs scored and overall batting metrics.
This alarming slump prompted general manager Brian Cashman to acquire Luis Garcia Jr and Heliot Ramos before Monday’s trade deadline.
Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that his star player understands the urgency of the situation.
“I think he certainly wants to push the envelope as much as he possibly can but also understands that healing needs to happen with this.”
With just 52 days remaining in the regular season, the Bronx Bombers currently trail the Tampa Bay Rays by four games in their division.
The returning veteran endorsed the recent roster additions, stating that chasing down the Rays remains the squad’s most important goal.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have cemented their position as overwhelming favourites to win a third consecutive World Series after acquiring two-time reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline.
Following the blockbuster Saturday trade, bookmakers immediately slashed the California franchise’s championship odds from +190 to +150.
They now sit far ahead of their nearest market rivals, with the New York Yankees currently priced at +600 to take the crown.
Heavy backing for a historic three-peat
Punters have heavily backed the reigning champions since the deadline passed, generating the highest volume of outright winner tickets across multiple betting platforms.
Normally, odds this short can cool betting activity, but the Dodgers’ combination of star power, depth and another blockbuster addition has only generated more interest from bettors.
Johnny Avello, DraftKings Sportsbook director
Despite the massive influx of wagers on the National League powerhouse, major sportsbooks report that the star-studded roster does not currently represent a critical financial liability.
Red Sox surge following Rutschman arrival
Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox orchestrated arguably the second most significant move of the window by securing three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles.
This high-profile American League transaction, combined with a blistering run of form since late June, has seen Boston’s title odds plummet.
The Massachusetts club is now priced at 15-1 for the championship, having drifted as high as 100-1 earlier in the summer.
They have subsequently attracted massive financial backing, taking the second-most World Series money behind Los Angeles.
National League challengers emerge
Beyond the dominant favourites, the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies are the only other National League contenders drawing significant market attention.
Both franchises have racked up nearly nine percent of the handle to win the pennant in recent days.
The Boston Red Sox have acquired three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles in a significant Major League Baseball trade.
The 28-year-old is currently sidelined on the injured list with left wrist inflammation.
Despite his recent injury setbacks, the switch-hitter remains one of the premier defenders at his position and has regained his formidable presence at the plate.
His departure from Maryland follows the Orioles’ decision to secure young slugger Samuel Basallo to a long-term contract earlier this year.
Contract control and statistical impact
Boston has secured a highly valuable asset, as the former number one overall draft pick remains under team control through the end of the 2027 season.
Advanced metrics highlight his continued excellence in the batter’s box, with his expected offensive output at the mid-season break trailing only his remarkable 2023 campaign.
During that standout year, the American League star accumulated an impressive 5.5 Wins Above Replacement.
Injury concerns shadow recent production
Physical ailments have severely disrupted his current campaign.
The talented backstop has already served three separate stints on the injured list since April, suffering from left ankle inflammation, a concussion, and most recently, a wrist issue.
When fully healthy this season, he has compiled a .251 batting average alongside eight home runs and 47 runs batted in.
Across five major league seasons spent entirely in Baltimore, he boasts a career .254 average with 69 home runs and 277 RBIs.
The Chicago Cubs have acquired veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays to bolster their starting rotation ahead of the postseason push.
The 35-year-old moves to Wrigley Field as an impending free agent at the close of the trade deadline.
He is currently in the final season of a five-year, $110m (£86m) contract initially signed with the Canadian franchise.
During that span, the American pitcher generated 20.1 Wins Above Replacement, establishing himself as one of baseball’s most valuable arms.
Playoff pedigree and pitching arsenal
This season, the former Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants starter holds a 5-10 record with a 4.38 earned run average and 127 strikeouts.
His elite profile relies heavily on a standout fastball and changeup combination, though his breaking ball development has lagged behind.
The veteran holds the Statcast-era record for career strikeouts via the splitter, registering an impressive 490 punch-outs with the pitch.
While his fastball velocity has dipped slightly in recent years, his transition into a dependable number three starter remains invaluable for October baseball.
A reliable arm for the postseason
Since 2021, the experienced righty has thrown the third-most innings across the major leagues.
That exceptional durability translates to a proven track record in the playoffs, where he holds a respectable 3.83 ERA across eight career starts.
Over 14 major league campaigns, the dependable starter has accumulated 2,081 total strikeouts and a 3.85 ERA.
Chicago will hope that extensive pedigree provides the decisive edge in their pursuit of a deep and successful postseason run.
The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired starting pitcher Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets to bolster their American League rotation ahead of the stretch run.
The 30-year-old right-hander joins a formidable pitching staff that already features Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan and Nick Martinez.
This latest addition provides Tampa Bay with one of the most imposing starting groups in baseball as they pursue postseason success.
Struggles in New York
The former Milwaukee Brewers ace has endured a challenging campaign, holding a 5-9 record and a 4.99 earned run average across 22 starts.
Durability has been a recent concern for the two-time All-Star, who has only managed to pitch into the sixth inning in 11 of his appearances this season.
Despite these inconsistencies, the veteran strikeout specialist has still recorded 113 punchouts during his brief tenure in Queens.
Searching for past form
Tampa Bay will be hoping their new arrival can rediscover the elite consistency that defined his sensational previous season.
The impending free agent posted a stellar 2.70 ERA over 176 and two-thirds innings last year before being shipped to New York in a blockbuster prospect exchange.
Securing his services on an expiring contract represents a calculated gamble by the Rays’ front office to maximise their immediate championship window.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have triggered a frantic final 36 hours of the Major League Baseball trade window by acquiring ace Tarik Skubal before Monday’s deadline.
The National League West leaders secured the blockbuster signing of the dominant left-hander late on Saturday night.
That high-profile acquisition is now expected to unblock a previously stagnant market for starting pitchers across the league.
Club executives had previously balked at the premium asking prices for controllable players and short-term rentals alike.
Pitching dominoes ready to fall
With the top available arm now off the board, a flurry of subsequent deals is anticipated as selling teams finally lower their demands.
Franchises such as the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers are all actively hunting for rotation upgrades.
Veteran arms including Clay Holmes, Freddy Peralta and Robbie Ray are heavily tipped to change teams before the window closes.
ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney expects contending teams to finally reap the rewards of their patience.
The Skubal situation held up the massive market for starting pitchers, and so in the last 36 hours before the deadline, among the contending teams, it’ll feel like Oprah handing out goodies to an audience.
American League tension building
While several National League division leaders hold comfortable margins, the American League playoff picture remains heavily congested.
The Brewers currently enjoy a commanding six-and-a-half game advantage, whilst the Braves and Dodgers boast eight and 10-game leads respectively.
However, the margins in the American League are razor-thin, leaving front offices under immense pressure to act decisively.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan believes that aggressive trades in the coming hours could be the ultimate separator between division leaders and wild-card hopefuls.
Prices are finally going to come down because they have to. At some point, however, the posturing and information-gathering needs to end and deals need to win the day.
Brewers seeking the final piece
Milwaukee currently boasts formidable rookie Jacob Misiorowski, presenting a severe threat in any potential postseason series.
The Dodgers aggressively moved for Skubal partly to prevent the Brewers from pairing the two elite strikeout pitchers together in October.
Adding another high-calibre starter to partner their highly-rated prospect could still make the National League Central leaders the biggest threat to the Los Angeles dynasty.
The approaching deadline will reveal whether heavyweights like the New York Yankees will match the ambition shown by the Dodgers to tip the balance of power.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed a trade to acquire two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers to bolster their push for a third consecutive World Series title.
The National League West leaders are sending highly rated prospects Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith to Detroit in exchange for the 29-year-old.
He is currently in the final year of his contract and will become a free agent during the upcoming offseason.
The left-hander recently returned from midseason bone chip surgery in record time to anchor the Detroit rotation.
A major coup for the champions
Los Angeles fended off heavy competition from a host of rival franchises, including the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, to secure the sought-after pitcher.
The reigning champions already boast the most formidable pitching staff in the major leagues, having allowed just 411 runs so far this season.
Adding the American League star to a team sitting comfortably with a 69-41 record makes the franchise overwhelming favourites to retain their crown.
The former Tigers ace brings a devastating arsenal to California, headlined by a fastball capable of touching 100mph alongside an elite changeup.
Detroit rebuild continues as playoff hopes fade
The Tigers opted to cash in on their prized asset after surprisingly falling out of the American League postseason race.
Despite leading his former employers to consecutive playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025, the franchise failed to progress past the division series on both occasions.
The two-time All-Star departs Michigan with a career record of 61 wins and 42 losses across 150 major league starts.
He recently surpassed the 1,000-strikeout milestone and currently boasts a 2.79 ERA with 116 strikeouts this season.
The lucrative trade follows a record-breaking salary arbitration victory in February that saw his wages increase to $32m (£25m) for the year.
The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners in a four-player trade ahead of Monday’s deadline.
In exchange for the veteran starter, Seattle receives reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith.
The 33-year-old arrives in Chicago experiencing a difficult campaign, holding a 3-9 record with a 5.06 ERA over 17 starts.
Despite struggling at the pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park this season, the experienced right-hander possesses invaluable postseason experience that no other pitcher in his new team’s rotation currently holds.
Financial adjustments and rotation reshuffle
Castillo is currently in the fourth season of a lucrative five-year, $108m (£84m) contract, which includes a vesting option for 2028.
By including Dominguez in the deal, the White Sox have successfully offset a significant portion of the incoming salary.
The departing 31-year-old reliever secured 12 saves and a 4.10 ERA across 42 appearances for Chicago, having only signed a two-year deal before this season.
The newly acquired starter is expected to slot into the middle of a rotation recently featuring Anthony Kay, Eric Fedde and rookie Noah Schultz.
Future prospects and further moves
The inclusion of 23-year-old Smith sees Chicago part ways with their 15th-ranked prospect, who had been batting .306 in Double-A.
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Jones moves to the Pacific Northwest having spent his entire year playing Triple-A baseball.
Chicago management remains active in the market ahead of the impending trade deadline.
Further reinforcements for the starting rotation or the bullpen are being actively explored.
The franchise may also look to replenish their catching depth, following a severe injury to regular starter Kyle Teel that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.