The Baltimore Orioles traded three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox on Monday, the headline move of a busy Major League Baseball trade deadline, according to ESPN.
The deal was the largest in a series of deadline acquisitions for Boston. Rutschman has been one of the most recognizable catchers in baseball and his move to the Red Sox signals a significant shift in direction for both franchises.
The Cubs were also active, acquiring right-hander Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the New York Mets. ESPN reported the Cubs sent infielder Jefferson Rojas to the Mets in return. Holmes has been one of the more discussed relievers ahead of the deadline, and the Cubs add both a pitching and outfield piece in the single transaction.
In the American League Central, the Minnesota Twins picked up reliever Jeff Hoffman from the Toronto Blue Jays. The Twins sent prospects Dasan Hill, John Klein, and Dameury Pena to Toronto, along with receiving international bonus pool money. According to The Athletic, the Twins will cover the remainder of Hoffman's 2026 salary, while the Blue Jays will pay part of his deal next season.
Hoffman, now in his 11th major league season, spent two years as the Phillies' closer before signing a three-year contract with Toronto. He saved a career-high 33 games in 2025 but is best remembered from that season for blowing the save in Game 7 of the World Series. He gave up a home run to Miguel Rojas on a bad slider in the ninth inning, tying the game and eventually allowing the Los Angeles Dodgers to claim the title in extra innings. He lost his closing role with the Blue Jays this season after a difficult start but posted a 0.75 ERA in June with just one run allowed. He carries a 3.94 ERA and five saves in 51 appearances in 2026.
The Twins entered deadline day at 56-57, third in the AL Central, trying to avoid their longest postseason drought since the Ron Gardenhire era.
In the National League, the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired outfielder Lars Nootbaar from the St. Louis Cardinals just before the deadline. CBS Sports reported that the Cardinals received right-handed pitching prospect Daniel Eagen and left-hander Sandro Santana, along with a player to be named later.
Nootbaar, 28, missed the start of the 2026 season after offseason surgery to correct a congenital deformity in both heels. He did not make his debut until early June. Since returning, he has posted a 96 OPS+ with strong batted-ball metrics. For his career, he holds an OPS of .764 against right-handed pitching with 212 walks in 1,601 plate appearances in those situations. The Diamondbacks have struggled against right-handers this season, posting a team OPS of .677 in those matchups compared to .784 against lefties. Nootbaar is under contract through the 2027 season at a $5.35 million salary for this year. He will join former Cardinals teammate Nolan Arenado, who was traded to Arizona this past offseason.
On the Cardinals' side, Eagen is the headliner. The 23-year-old, a former third-round pick out of Presbyterian College in South Carolina, has made 20 starts this season for Amarillo in the Texas League. He carries a 4.95 ERA but has struck out 109 batters in 87 and a third innings. He throws a four-pitch mix led by a mid-90s fastball. Santana, 21, has a 3.46 ERA over parts of four minor league seasons, including a 0.57 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 15 and two thirds innings since a promotion to Double-A in 2026.
CBS Sports gave both Arizona and St. Louis a grade of B+ on the deal.
