Trump says his new high tariffs are going 'very well, very smooth' — but he's open to more deals

Trump says his new high tariffs are going 'very well, very smooth' — but he's open to more deals

WASHINGTON — PresidentDonald Trumptouted the expansive new tariffs on imports he imposed on global trading partners Thursday night, telling NBC News in a phone interview that it all was going "very well, very smooth." He also said that with just a few hours before his self-imposed midnight deadline for trade deals, it was "too late" for other countries to avoid tariff rates set to snap in place next week, which he formalized in a new executive order. But, he added, his door will always be open to compelling offers: "It doesn't mean that somebody doesn't come along in four weeks and say we can make some kind of a deal." In Thursday's executive order, Trump made official his agreements with trading partners such as the European Union, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the Philippines. Trump's order unilaterally sets rates for countries that did not reach agreements with him. For example, Switzerland's rate will be set higher than previously threatened, at 39%, while Taiwan's will be set lower, at 20%. Trump boasted of the tariff revenue the U.S. is already taking in — $26 billion in June, according to Treasury Department figures — and said there would be much more to come. "We will be taking in hundreds of billions of dollars and very quickly," he said. Asked if he's worried about potential price spikes on imported goods, Trump replied, "The only price that's spiked is the hundreds of billions of dollars coming in." Trump indicated that he was open to further discussions with Canada, and said he may even speak to Prime Minister Mark Carney later Thursday night, but he said he wouldn't make a new deal with the country before the deadline. Trump also said he was unfamiliar with Brazilian President Lula de Silva's recentNew York Times interviewsuggesting Brazil was prepared to dig in and push back against the U.S. tariff program. Told of its tenor, the president responded, "That's OK. But he doesn't have to do business with the United States which is fine with me." In his interview with NBC News, Trump also discussed theupcoming tripby special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who will travel to the Gaza Strip on Friday. "We want to make sure people get fed," he said, referring to thehunger crisis in Gazaand saying he was looking forward to hearing their report on the situation. Asked if he trusts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to administer U.S. aid in Gaza, Trump said, "He's certainly a competent person," and added that he remained concerned about Hamas stealing aid. "Good management will stop that," Trump said. "Hopefully the Israelis will provide that."

byMario Satorik

in

July 31, 2025

Trump says his new high tariffs are going 'very well, very smooth' — but he's open to more deals

Trump says his new high tariffs are going 'very well, very smooth' — but he's open to more deals WASHINGTON — PresidentDonald Tr...

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White House releases renderings of what Trump's new ballroom will look like

White House releases renderings of what Trump's new ballroom will look like

President Donald Trump continues to put his personal stamp on the White House with a new $200 million ballroom. Work will begin on the site in September and will be paid for by Trump and unidentified donors, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Leavitt announced the project at her press briefing on Thursday, showing renderings of what the finished product will look like. She said it will be completed "long before" Trump's term is up. "We are proud to announce that the construction of the new White House ballroom will begin. For 150 years, presidents, administrations and White House staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed," she told reporters. "The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders in other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building's entrance," she said. This is the latest change Trump is making to the White House. Currently, the famous Rose Garden is also under construction with pavement replacing the grass. He also paid to have two, 88-foot-tall flagpoles put up on the White House North and South Lawns. Trump also redecorated the Oval Office with an extensive amount of gold details, including on picture frames and in furnishings surrounding the fireplace. The artist renderings of what the new ballroom will look like shows it, too, will be filled with gold trim, similar to decorations at the ballroom at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Trump has long said he wanted to build a ballroom at the White House akin to the one at Mar-a-Lago -- which Trump in his first term dubbed at times his "Winter White House." At his Turnberry golf property in Scotland this past weekend, Trump told European Council President Ursula von der Leyen, "You know, we just built this ballroom, and we're building a great ballroom at the White House." Trump spoke about the project later Thursday during an executive order signing in the Roosevelt Room, saying they retained "the best architects and engineers" to build it and it will be "top of the line." "I'm good at building things. And we'll get it built quickly and on time. It'll be beautiful," he said. "I always said I was going to do something about the ballroom because they should have one. So we'll be leaving it. It'll be a great legacy project and I think it'll be special," Trump added. The ballroom addition will be separated from the main building and positioned off the White House East Wing. "It won't interfere with the current building ... It'll be near it, but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of. It's my favorite," Trump said. When asked how much of the East Wing will be torn down for the upcoming construction -- which currently holds the office of the first lady, the White House military office, and the visitor office -- Leavitt said offices in the East Wing would be vacated while it is "modernized." "The necessary construction will take place," Leavitt said. In a press release, the White House said Trump has held several meetings with members of the White House staff, the National Park Service, the White House Military Office, and the United States Secret Service to discuss design features and planning. "The President and the Trump White House are "fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserve the special history of the white House, while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future administrations and generations of Americans to come," White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said. "President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail," Wiles said.

byMario Satorik

in

July 31, 2025

White House releases renderings of what Trump's new ballroom will look like

White House releases renderings of what Trump's new ballroom will look like President Donald Trump continues to put his personal stamp o...

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MLB trade deadline: Orioles reportedly trade slugger Ryan O'Hearn, Ramón Laureano to Padres

MLB trade deadline: Orioles reportedly trade slugger Ryan O'Hearn, Ramón Laureano to Padres

One of the more coveted power bats on the free-agent market has found a new home. Baltimore Orioles slugger Ryan O'Hearn was dealt to the San Diego Padres on Thursday, along with outfielder Ramón Laureano, per multiple reports. In return, Baltimore reportedly receives a slew of Padres prospects — six in total, perMLB Network's Jon Morosi. Pitchers Boston Bateman, Tyson Neighbors and Tanner Smith, infielders Cobb Hightower and Brandon Butterworth, and infielder/outfielder Victor Figueroa will all join the Orioles as part of the deal. It's the latest move in what has been a very busy trade deadline for Padres general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. Prior to picking up O'Hearn and Laureano, Preller acquired catcher Freddy Fermin, closer Mason Miller and starter J.P. Sears earlier on Thursday. BREAKING: The San Diego Padres are acquiring All-Star slugger Ryan O'Hearn and OF Ramón Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles, per@ByRobertMurrayand@JeffPassan.pic.twitter.com/1247MIpXCt — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports)July 31, 2025 O'Hearn, 31, is enjoying arguably the best season of his career. The slugging first baseman and designated hitter is slashing .284/.375/.452 with 12 home runs. That performance earned O'Hearn his first All-Star nod in July. He startedthe contestfor the American League, going 0 for 2 in the National League's win. It has been quite a road for O'Hearn to reach this point. After an excellent rookie season with the Kansas City Royals in 2018, in which he slashed .262/.353/.597 in 44 games, O'Hearn saw his numbers crater. He hit just .211/.282/.351 over his next four seasons, and it looked like his major-league career was in jeopardy. But a 2023 trade to the Orioles resurrected his bat. Utilized as a platoon player, O'Hearn hit .275/.329/.450 in his first two years in Baltimore, and his slugging numbers might've been better over that period if not for the Orioles' raised outfield wall in 2024. The team reverted that change for the 2025 season, and then O'Hearn's home slugging numbers took a big step forward. As for Laureano, this marks the third straight year the right fielder has been traded midseason. After time with the Cleveland Guardians and Atlanta Braves last year, Laureano signed a one-year deal with Baltimore in the offseason. The outfielder has a .290 batting average and .884 OPS in 259 plate appearances this year, putting him on pace for a career season. O'Hearn wasfar from the biggest name on this year's trade market. Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor and even Luis Robert Jr. have overshadowed O'Hearn's production in recent seasons. But of that group, only Suarez has a higher wRC+ in 2025. Because of that, O'Hearn could prove to be an underrated trade-deadline acquisition. If O'Hearn's production can carry over to the Padres, he stands to benefit quite a bit. He'll be a free agent at the end of this season and could earn himself a significant payday if he can continue to excel in the NL West. AJ Preller has never seen a big trade he didn't like, and that continued Thursday. After acquiring closer Mason Miller and starter J.P. Sears at the beginning of the day, Preller took care of his team's other needs, adding both outfielder Ramon Laureano and first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn from the Baltimore Orioles. O'Hearn was one of the best hitters in the American League this season, and while he doesn't have the power of some other DHs, his strength is his ability to get on base at a high clip. He gives San Diego a player who can be extremely productive at the DH spot. And Laureano is the perfect fit in left field for the Padres. San Diego has been looking for anyone to take its left-field job, and finally they have a player who not only can field the position well but also has grown into a strong player offensively. The new Padres outfielder is a reverse-splits guy, ranking 13th in MLB with a .930 OPS against right-handed pitching. —Dorsey

byMario Satorik

in

July 31, 2025

MLB trade deadline: Orioles reportedly trade slugger Ryan O'Hearn, Ramón Laureano to Padres

MLB trade deadline: Orioles reportedly trade slugger Ryan O'Hearn, Ramón Laureano to Padres One of the more coveted power bats on the fr...

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Joel Dahmen fires 61 to take Wyndham Championship lead

Joel Dahmen fires 61 to take Wyndham Championship lead

Joel Dahmen tied the lowest round of his career with a 9-under-par 61 to set the early pace at the Wyndham Championship on Thursday in Greensboro, N.C. Dahmen needs a strong showing at the regular-season finale in order to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs that begin next week. A win would vault him from No. 101 in the standings all the way to 48th, according to the PGA Tour. The top 70 in points after this weekend will reach the playoffs. Dahmen holds just a one-stroke advantage over Sweden's Alex Noren, who turned in an 8-under 62 at Sedgefield Country Club. Four players were tied for third at 63: Cameron Young, Mark Hubbard, Colombia's Nico Echavarria and defending champ Aaron Rai of England. Not far behind, as part of a large tie at 5-under 65, were Jordan Spieth and Australian Adam Scott. Spieth (No. 50 entering the week) is comfortably in the playoff field, but Scott needs a very high finish in order to jump from 85th into the top 70. Dahmen ranked fourth in the field Thursday by making 131 1/2 feet of putts. Six of his 10 birdies came on a sterling front nine, his second nine, where he shot 6-under 29. He made birdie at Nos. 7-9, including a 46-footer at the par-3 seventh. Max Homa shot a 4-under 66 as he clings onto hope of vaulting from No. 106 in the standings into the top 70. --Field Level Media

byMario Satorik

in

July 31, 2025

Joel Dahmen fires 61 to take Wyndham Championship lead

Joel Dahmen fires 61 to take Wyndham Championship lead Joel Dahmen tied the lowest round of his career with a 9-under-par 61 to set the earl...

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'When Black women run, they do win:' New report shows gains in Black women lawmakers

'When Black women run, they do win:' New report shows gains in Black women lawmakers

WASHINGTON ‒ The number ofBlack women electedto Congress has held steady in recent years, but a record number of Black women have served this year in state legislatures, often the pipeline to higher offices, according to a new report. A new report titled "Black Women in American Politics 2025," provided to USA TODAY shortly before its July 31 release, tracked the number of Black women serving in statewide offices, state legislatures and Congress over the last decade. The report found that at one point in 2025, 402 Black women were serving in state legislatures, up from 240 nearly a decade ago. "It's steady progress,"Chelsea Hill, an author of the report, said of the 2024 elections. Since 2014, there's been a 67% increase in the number of Black women in state legislatures, according to the report by Higher Heights, which works to expand Black women's political power, and the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University in New Jersey. State legislatures have long served as a path to Congress. In the more than 10 years since the first report, there's been an acceleration of Black women "moving along the pipeline,'' said Glynda Carr, president of Higher Heights. Last year also marked some firsts for Black women with Kamala Harris' historic bid for president. Harris, who became the first woman of African American and Asian American descent to run for president and the first woman to serve as vice president, announced July 30 that she would not run for governor in California. She didnot say if she had ruled out a presidential bidin 2028. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, both Democrats, also made history when they were elected thefirst two Black women to serve in the U.S. Senateat the same time. There were no Black women in the Senate when the report was first published in 2014, Carr said. "It's a reminder of why we do the work and a reminder of the program and the impact of the work,'' she said. There have been more opportunities over the years for Black women to run at the state level, said Carr and Hill. They pointed tomore programs to recruit and train womencandidates. "When Black women run, they do win,'' said Hill, director of data at the Center for American Women. "They have high win rates. At the congressional level, Black women have higher win rates than their counterparts.'' In the 2024 general election, 63% of Black women congressional nominees won their contests, outpacing the win rates of all female candidates at 49% and male candidates at 53% across race/ethnicity, according to the report. Many women serving in Congress are former state lawmakers. The number of Black women in Congress has nearly doubled from 17 to 31, including nonvoting delegates, since 2014, the report found. Hill called Harris' run for the presidency a "galvanizing force'' for all women, including Black women. Carr said Harris' presidential bid "shows the strength of a leadership pipeline for Black women." "Here's a woman who had run and won on every level of government," Carr said, noting that Harris served in the Bay Area and the state of California for more than a decade. Carr said Harris' calculated decision not to run for governor will continue to inspire women and Black women to run for office. "More importantly (it has) created a blueprint around 'how do you serve on a local level and continue to serve and run for higher office,'" Carr said. Meanwhile, the report found that there have been other gains. Eight Black women serve as mayors of the 100 most populous cities, including Karen Bass in Los Angeles, Muriel Bowser in Washington and LaToya Cantrell in New Orleans. Despite the gains, women candidates often face hurdles, including fundraising, experts said. Some Black women candidates have complained that party organizations have been slow to support their bids. While there are fewer of those barriers, Carr said there has been an increase in misinformation about candidates and Black women have been targets of political threats. Most Black women elected to Congress have been Democrats. GOP candidates must also deal with the tension of Republicans pushing back against diversity, equity and inclusion, which often includes women. There's only been one Black Republican woman, the late Mia Love of Utah, elected to Congress. "I certainly hope that I won't be the last one. I really do," Lovetold USA TODAY in 2022. And while there were a record number of Black women in state legislatures, there are five states with no Black women in their state legislatures, Hill said. They include Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. One place where there has not been a win for Black women is in governorships. In the last decade, several Black women have run for governor, such as Stacey Abrams in Georgia, but have not won. More are trying, including Republican Lt. Gov.Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running for governorin Virginia this year. Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, has announced plans to run for governor of Georgia in 2026. The landscape will be different from 2024 when there were 11 gubernatorial races, Hill said. In 2026, there will be 36 open seats. "Hopefully, we can all retire that factoid of 'there's never been a Black woman governor,'" Hill said. Meanwhile, Carr and Hill said there may be more opportunities for Black women to run next year. There were 73 statewide races in 2024. Next year, there will be 200. Hill said she's hoping to see Black women recruited, supported and running for some of those positions. There's also a push for more Black women to run in districts with diverse populations, not just majority-Black districts, Carr said. "In 2026, the work is to ensure that we are not losing ground and (that) there's an infrastructure in place for Black women to run for reelection, for Black women to run for higher office and for more Black women to run," she said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Black women reach record numbers in state politics, report finds

byMario Satorik

in

July 31, 2025

'When Black women run, they do win:' New report shows gains in Black women lawmakers

'When Black women run, they do win:' New report shows gains in Black women lawmakers WASHINGTON ‒ The number ofBlack women electedto...

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Witkoff and Huckabee will visit Gaza to survey aid distribution sites

Witkoff and Huckabee will visit Gaza to survey aid distribution sites

Washington— U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are heading to Gaza on Friday to survey food and aid distribution sites and meet with people living there, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Their visit is prompted by a direhumanitarian crisis, as children and adults in Gaza are struggling to survive off insufficient food and thedeath tollfor people trying to get aid in Gaza mounts. President Trump said earlier this week that the U.S. and Israel will partner to run newfood centersin the region, but he said Israel would preside over the centers to "make sure the distribution is proper." Leavitt said Witkoff and Huckabee have been in Israel meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders about the situation in Gaza. Netanyahu has said, incorrectly, that there is "no starvation" in Gaza, despite emerging photos of emaciated children and repeated warnings from food security experts. "President Trump is a humanitarian with a big heart," Leavitt said during Thursday's White House press briefing. "And that's why he sent special envoy Witkoff to the region in an effort to save lives and end this crisis. Tomorrow, special envoy Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee will be traveling into Gaza to inspect to the current distribution sites and secure a plan to deliver more food, and meet with local Gazans to hear firsthand about this dire situation on the ground. The special envoy and the ambassador will brief the president immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region." Leavitt said the administration will provide more details once the president approves a plan. She also said the meetings Witkoff and Huckabee have had with Netanyahu and other leaders have been productive. Mr. Trump earlier this week contradicted Netanyahu's assessment denying grave hunger in Gaza. The U.S. president said the children in Gaza "look very hungry." "There is real starvation in Gaza — you can't fake that," he told reporters. Also at issue is the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private food distribution organization that has facedheavy criticismfor its food delivery methods and the number of people who have beenkilledtrying to reach its distribution sites in Gaza. The U.S. and Israel have both supported the relatively new GHF to deliver aid in Gaza over the United Nations. A group of Democratic senators, led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, is urging the Trump administration to "immediately cease all U.S. funding for GHF and resume support for the existing UN-led aid coordination mechanisms with enhanced oversight to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in need," the senators wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A senior U.S. official told CBS News on Wednesday that the U.S. has committed $30 million for aid in Gaza and those funds would be distributed "in the next day or so." "The United States of America supports GHF, but we would support any other mechanism that delivers food and the other needs of the Gazan people in a safe, secure fashion that does not get manipulated or distorted or taken advantage of by Hamas, the official said, adding, "I'd like to think that some of the NGOs that are not succeeding right now would turn to GHF and say, let's work together for the sake of the Gazans in Gaza." Watch: Hawaii Gov. Josh Green gives update on tsunami warning Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi gives tsunami warning update Tsunami warning issued for Hawaii after 8.7 earthquake near Russia

byMario Satorik

in

July 31, 2025

Witkoff and Huckabee will visit Gaza to survey aid distribution sites

Witkoff and Huckabee will visit Gaza to survey aid distribution sites Washington— U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Is...

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MLB trade deadline grades: Live tracker, analysis of every deal on deadline day

MLB trade deadline grades: Live tracker, analysis of every deal on deadline day

Counting down toMajor League Baseball's 6 p.m. ET trade deadline on Thursday, the deals are starting to come together with contenders making a flurry of moves in the final 24 hours. TheSeattle Marinersgot the top bat on the market overnight, landing old friendEugenio Suárezin a trade with theArizona Diamondbacks. The NL East race got even more interesting with the New York Mets (Ryan HelsleyandTyler Rogers) andPhiladelphia Phillies(Jhoan Duran) each making significant bullpen upgrades. MLB TRADE DEADLINE:Latest news and updates as clock runs down Wednesday's hot stove action also included an interestingin-division dealbetween the Reds andPittsburgh Pirates, with third basemanKe'Bryan Hayesheading to Cincinnati. As teams scramble to get deals done in the final hours before the deadline, follow along for grades and analysis on the biggest deals of deadline day: Texas Rangers receive RHP Merrill Kelly; Arizona Diamondbacks receive LHP Kohl Drake, RHP David Hagaman, LHP Mitch Bratt. With Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and now Kelly, watch out if the Rangers get into the playoffs. Kelly, who played in Korea from 2015-2018, is having the best season of his career at age 36 and brings some postseason pedigree having gone 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts across Arizona's run to the World Series in 2023. Holding a ton of trade chips this month, Arizona has been frustrated by the slow market. Having already unloaded Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez, the Diamondbacks get three prospects in exchange for Kelly, a free agent at the end of the season. Drake was the Rangers' No. 5 prospect and has a 3.10 ERA in 16 minor-league games this season. San Diego Padresreceive 1B/OF Ryan O'hearn, OF Ramon Laureano;Baltimore Oriolesreceive RHP Boston Bateman, INF Brandon Butterworth, INF Cobb Hightower, INF/OF Victor Figueroa, RHP Tyson Neighbors and RHP Tanner Smith. San Diego dramatically improved its lineup with the deal for two of the top bats on the market, having already acquired catcher Freddy Fermin from the Royals earlier in the day. The Padres really should push the Dodgers in the NL West over the next two months and have to be considered one of the top World Series contenders Rather than finding separate buyers, the Orioles packaged two of the top bats on the market and received six prospects in return – all of whom were just drafted in 2024. New York Yankees receive RHP Jake Bird; Colorado Rockies receive 2B Roc Riggio, LHP Ben Shields. Hours after agreeing to a deal with the Pirates for closer David Bednar, the Yankees further fortified their bullpen with with the 29-year-old Bird, under team control through 2028. With a 4.73 ERA this season and even career home-road splits away from Coors Field, Bird doesn't have quite the upside as other relievers on the market this week, but the Yankees acquire a reliable – and cheap – arm to the middle relief corps. Colorado is in a race to avoid theworst record in MLB history, but decided to trade its best relief pitcher who currently costs just about nothing. They'll save a few million in Bird's arbitration years, but dealing the right-hander was definitely not somethign the Rockies needed to do. Texas Rangers receive RHP Phil Maton; St. Louis Cardinals receive LHP Mason Molina, RHP Skylar Hales, international slot money. Rangers grade: B+ Texas bolsters its bullpen with the veteran right-hander who has enjoyed a fine 2025 season as a high-leverage arm in St. Louis. Two prospects and the international money is a nice return as they've fallen out of contention. New York Mets receive OF Cedric Mullins; Baltimore Orioles receive RHP Raimon Gomez, RHP Anthony Nuñez, RHP Chandler Marsh. Adding Mullins is nice for the Mets, giving them a plus defender in center field to phase out the glove-first Tyrone Taylor. He's a rental but with his power-speed combination, Mullins could be a huge contributor down the stretch as New York tries to fight off Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. Mullins' time with the Orioles ends 10 years after the club drafted him in the 13th round. It's certainly not the way Baltimore wanted to say goodbye to their longtime outfielder, but the Orioles got two of the Mets' top 30 prospects in Nunez (No. 14) and Gomez (No. 30). Yankees receive RHP David Bednar; Pittsburgh Pirates receive C/1B Rafael Flores, C/1B Edgleen Perez, OF Brian Sanchez. The Bombers bolster their bullpen for the stretch run and beyond, landing the two-time All-Star reliever who will be under team control through 2026. The 30-year-old's addition is huge considering Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are free agents at the end of the season. Holding one of the last relievers remaining on the market in the hours leading up to the deadline, you might have expected the Pirates to get more in this deal for a controllable All-Star. Flores ranks as the Yankees' No. 8 prospect according to MLB.com, but he's already 24 years old and has struggled since his promotion to Class AAA (.677 OPS in 10 games). Perez is 19 years old and has had a tough season in Class A (.209 average in 301 AB) but scouts hope his bat will catch up with his glove behind the plate. Philadelphia Phillies receive OF Harrison Bader;Minnesota Twinsreceive OF Hendry Mendez, RHP Geremy Villoria. Philadelphia gives up basically nothing to get one of the game's better defensive center fielders, who should provide some pop for an outfield that desperately needs some. Bader has an .809 OPS in 31 career postseason games. Might as well get a couple of projects in exhange for a rental outfielder. The 21-year-old Mendez ranked as the Phillies' 12th-best prospect and has an .808 OPS in 85 Class AA games this season. Signed as an international free agent this past winter, Villoria is just 16 years and old and recently made his pro debut with 19 strikeouts through five starts. Detroit Tigers receive Kyle Finnegan; Washington Nationals receive RHP Josh Randall, RHP R.J. Sale Finnegan isn't Mason Miller or Jhoan Duran or Ryan Helsley, but the 33-year-old is a great addition to Detroit's bullpen as a veteran with ninth-inning experience, saving 86 games over the past three seasons for the middling Nationals. An All-Star in 2024, Finnegan has only given up three home runs in 34 games this season and could take some save chances from Will Vest, who has 2.53 ERA in 16 saves for the Tigers in 2025. The least-sexy closer on the market, Finnegan netted the Nationals a pair of pitchers with Randall ranking as Detroit's No. 15 prospect, according to MLB.com San Diego Padres receive RHP Mason Miller, LHP JP Sears; Athletics receive SS Leo De Vries, RHP Braden Nett, RHP Henry Báez and RHP Eduarniel Nuñez It's quite a coup getting both the game's most dominant closer and a guy with four years of club control remaining after this season. Miller, 26, is generally untouchable in the ninth inning and in two seasons as A's closer has nailed down 48 of 54 save opportunities, an 89% conversion rate on par with Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera. The cost? It's huge. De Vries is the most significant international signing the Padres have had this decade, no small honor, and he's consistently been challenged – and succeeded – at levels where the average player is four to five years older than him. Put simply: Not many 17-year-olds flash power and speed in stateside A ball and go on to the Arizona Fall League, as De Vries did in 2024. While Miller's controllable years mean the Padres can flip him in future seasons for either immediate help or to galvanize their system, it still stings to trade a potential (likely?) franchise player for a reliever. The deal begs one dark question: Will any of their young stars make it to Las Vegas, should they ever complete their ballpark there? It's yet another step back at the big league level for the A's in a five-year cycle of utter desiccation that hastened their move from Oakland. And it's perhaps not a coincidence that Miller was dealt months before he entered the first of four years of salary arbitration. – Gabe Lacques Toronto Blue Jays receive RHP Shane Bieber; Cleveland Guardians receive RHP Khai Stephen. Toronto is going for it! Bieber, the 2020 Cy Young winner, still hasn't pitched in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery early in 2023 and hit some speedbumps in his rehab but the Blue Jays get a high-upside starter who is under team control through next year. Bieber has a $16 million team option (with a $4 million buyout) for 2026, which could end up looking like a steal. Bieber gets traded before making his Cleveland return, a huge bummer for fans 30-year-old right-hander who was drafted by the organization in 2016. A second-round pick last year, Stephen was considered one of the Blue Jays' top five prospects and is 9-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 91 ⅔ innings across three levels this season, currently in Class AA. Unfortunate that the Guardians had to let him go, but a nice return in the one-for-one swap. Detroit Tigers receive RHP Paul Sewald; Cleveland Guardians receive player to be named later. Sewald is injured and expected to return in September, so this is a move the Tigers are making for October. The 35-year-old had a 4.70 ERA in 18 games this season, but his underlying numbers look better than that with a 4.07 FIP, 1.174 WHIP and 4.5 strikeouts per walk. PTBNL for an injured reliever? Why not. Seattle Mariners receive 3B Eugenio Suarez; Arizona Diamondbacks receive 1B Tyler Locklear, RHP Juan Burgos and RHP Hunter Cranton. They got the top hitter available and it's telling that the Mariners liked Suárez enough to bring him back after less than two years apart – despite his struggles in Seattle. That puts a ton of pressure on the slugger who is a free agent after the season. Mariners third basemen have totaled just five home runs and 35 RBIs this season, bottom-five in the majors in both categories, so it's a move they had to make. Pretty good return, plucking three of Seattle's top 20 prospects in Locklear (No. 9), Cranton (16) and Burgos (17). Locklear, 24, will likely find himself getting a run-out in Arizona's lineup sooner rather than later. The first baseman made his big-league debut last season and has nothing left to prove in the minors (.316/.401/.552, 19 HR, 82 RBis in Class AAA). Philadelphia Phillies receive RHP Jhoan Duran; Minnesota Twins receive C Eduardo Tait, RHP Mick Abel Dave Dombrowski seized on his opportunity to get 2½ years of one of the best relievers in baseball in exchange for just a pair of prospects. It's a huge addition for the Phillies, with Duran presumably assuming the ninth-inning role and taking a ton of pressure off the club's other high-leverage guys. Philadelphia has the 27-year-old flamethrower under team control through 2027. It's hard to believe that this is the best return the Twins could have gotten for the most desirable reliever on the market. That said, Tait is only 18 years old and rising fast on prospect boards, while Abel is a good candidate for a post-hype bounce back. Cincinnati Reds receive 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes; Pittsburgh Pirates receive LHP Taylor Rogers, SS Sammy Stafura Surprising move for Cincinnati, which is buying fairly low on Hayes, who remains one of the best defensive third basemen in the game. Maybe Hayes will benefit from a move to Great American Ball Park, one of MLB's most hitter-friendly parks? It's certainly a lower-risk move for the Reds taking on the remainder of Hayes' salary – $30 million from 2026-2029 plus a $6 million buyout for 2030 – but third base isn't usually a position that you're willing to sacrifice offense at. Cincinnati managerTerry Francona saidHayes "might be the best defender in baseball," but wasn't as bullish on his new third baseman's bat. "We know where the hitting has been," Francona said. "Sometimes a change of scenery − I don't want to get too far ahead because I've barely talked to him but he seems excited and we're excited to have him and see where it goes." It's naive to believe the Pirates will seriously reinvest the Hayes savings into winning games in the years to come, but the club cleared itself of a long-term deal with a guy who didn't turn out to be what they expected. Credit where it's due for Pittsburgh investing in Hayes with an eight-year, $70 million extension back in 2022 – and maybe they're giving up too early on the 28-year-old at a low annual cost – but the deal nets $36 million in savings after the 2025 season. That said, the Pirates probably could have gotten a better return this winter. The MLB trade deadline is at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31. The 2025 MLB trade deadline falls at 6 p.m. ET. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MLB trade deadline grades, live tracker and analysis on every deal

byMario Satorik

in

July 31, 2025

MLB trade deadline grades: Live tracker, analysis of every deal on deadline day

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