Daily News 19

Tag: MLB Trade Deadline

  • Tarik Skubal Confirms Embarrassing Tigers Secret Involving Max Muncy

    Tarik Skubal Confirms Embarrassing Tigers Secret Involving Max Muncy

    The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to solidify their status as premier World Series contenders as the 2026 MLB regular season enters its final stretch. Entering Wednesday night’s matchup against the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles holds an 88-57 record and is chasing a seventh consecutive victory.

    Dodgers Close Gap on National League’s Best Record

    The club sits just 1.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top record in the National League. A major factor in their late-season surge has been the seamless integration of one of baseball’s most significant midseason acquisitions. The Dodgers acquired reigning back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers ahead of the trade deadline, and the left-hander has quickly become a cornerstone of their pursuit of a third straight championship.

    Skubal Dominates in Dodgers Debut Stretch

    Since arriving in Los Angeles, Skubal has made seven starts and posted a 2.93 ERA with 48 strikeouts over 43 innings. While his on-field performance has been stellar, a recent off-field revelation highlighted the stark organizational differences between his former and current clubs.

    Travel Logistics Expose Franchise Disparities

    Teammate Max Muncy appeared on the show “Foul Territory” and revealed that Skubal confirmed the Tigers’ old team plane was unable to fly across the country without stopping to refuel. While Detroit has since acquired a new aircraft capable of cross-country flights, the detail underscores the operational gaps for a franchise enduring a disappointing 66-79 season, leaving them well outside the American League playoff picture.

    Dodgers Set Standard with Two-Plane Operation

    For Skubal, the transition has been night and day. Moving from a middle-of-the-pack payroll team to the famously deep-pocketed Dodgers has granted him access to luxuries reserved for the sport’s elite organizations. Notably, Los Angeles is the only team in baseball this season to utilize two separate planes for road trips — one dedicated to players and another for staff. The organization views the arrangement as a competitive advantage, providing players with enhanced comfort, rest, and recovery for what they consider their most valuable assets.

    The differences between Detroit and Los Angeles extend far beyond air travel, but Skubal’s experience offers a vivid illustration of how drastically organizational resources and philosophies can vary across Major League Baseball.

  • Freddy Peralta Faces Mets for First Time Since Trade to Rays

    Freddy Peralta Faces Mets for First Time Since Trade to Rays

    Freddy Peralta is treating his return to New York as a regular start, even as the matchup carries added significance. The Tampa Bay Rays acquired the veteran right-hander from the Milwaukee Brewers last offseason, but his disappointing run with the Mets contributed to the Trade Deadline sell-off that sent him to Tampa Bay.

    Peralta will start the middle game of the series against his former team, giving him an opportunity to showcase the progress he has made during his first month with the Rays. He has worked closely with pitching coach Kyle Snyder and bullpen coach Jorge Moncada to address the issues that affected his performance in New York.

    “Obviously, I feel different mentally and physically. I feel really comfortable right now, because I was working on a lot of stuff when I was in New York but I couldn’t make the adjustment until I got here,” Peralta said Monday afternoon in the Rays’ dugout. “The more important thing is now I am in the spot that I want to be.”

    Peralta did not find that comfort during his time with the Mets. He went 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts, a sharp contrast to the All-Star and National League Cy Young Award candidate he had become with the Brewers. His hits and walks increased while his strikeouts declined, and “Fastball Freddy” lost some of the extension that had made his signature fastball so effective.

    The right-hander previously acknowledged that he “let them down” after joining the Rays. Although he said Monday that it was difficult to leave the “really good friends” he made in New York, he fully expected to be traded by the time the Trade Deadline arrived.

    Peralta rejected the idea that pitching in New York’s high-pressure environment affected him. He said the pressure is “just part of the game” and was not responsible for his performance. He again made no excuses for his inconsistency but acknowledged that his lack of production weighed on him.

    “Because it was the first time that I was struggling like that. But I never give up,” Peralta said. “I was always trying to find a way to feel better, to pitch better, and I knew what I can do and I was feeling good physically, too, and healthy. But I couldn’t make the adjustment.”

    The Rays continued to see value in Peralta’s track record and pitch mix, acquiring him on Aug. 2 in exchange for three well-regarded prospects: right-hander Gary Gill Hill, infielder Émilien Pitre and outfielder Aidan Smith.

    “The good thing is that, now, I’m different,” Peralta said. “I feel different, and I’m ready to keep going until the World Series, hopefully.”

    Tampa Bay has been encouraged by Peralta’s progress and hopes he can maintain that momentum against the Mets.

    “I expect that Freddy’s going to go out and do what he’s been doing for us, and that’s compete at the highest level possible,” manager Kevin Cash said. “I’m sure he’s excited to see some buddies over there and pitch against them, but he’s done it before, coming from Milwaukee to New York.”

    Peralta said he will not know exactly how he feels until he takes the mound Tuesday night, but he does not plan to change his preparation.

    “It’s a challenge. Every game, I think, for me, I take it the same way,” Peralta said. “Just come in to compete and try to get the win.”