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Phillies Target Mets Reliever Luke Weaver for Bullpen Upgrade Red Sox Buy, Blue Jays Mull Jeffers, Tigers Eye Skubal

7/21/2026

Summary

Dombrowski Targets Weaver

Phillies president Dave Dombrowski is pursuing bullpen upgrades and a fifth starter before Aug. 3.
The bullpen posted a 5.21 ERA and an 8.05 ERA in July after Brad Keller’s UCL tear.
Bob Nightengale says the Phillies target Mets reliever Luke Weaver, who has a 2.03 ERA, 0.825 WHIP and a $11 million per-year deal through 2027.

Summary

Red Sox Buyers

After a 14-game winning streak that put them three games above .500, the Boston Red Sox have become buyers before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Toronto’s playoff odds fell to 10.8 percent, the AL’s fourth-worst, prompting the Blue Jays to consider trading catcher Ryan Jeffers and pitcher Kevin Gausman.
Detroit’s 25-15 record since June and a 32.3 percent playoff-odds jump have left the Tigers undecided on ace Tarik Skubal despite ESPN’s 60 percent trade-likelihood estimate.

History

Historical Context

At the July 31, 2004 deadline, the Boston Red Sox—guided by GM Theo Epstein—traded Nomar Garciaparra in a four-team deal for shortstop Orlando Cabrera and added closer Keith Foulke, preserving a three-game edge over the New York Yankees. The move echoed the modern trade-deadline era, first codified in 1920 after the Red Sox-Yankees cash-sale of Babe Ruth, showing how mid-season swaps can reshape playoff odds.

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Dombrowski Targets Weaver

Phillies president Dave Dombrowski is pursuing bullpen upgrades and a fifth starter before Aug. 3.
The bullpen posted a 5.21 ERA and an 8.05 ERA in July after Brad Keller’s UCL tear.
Bob Nightengale says the Phillies target Mets reliever Luke Weaver, who has a 2.03 ERA, 0.825 WHIP and a $11 million per-year deal through 2027.

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