10:17 PM ET Andrew Friedman’s reputation as a pragmatic executive who seeks value on the margins and shies away from the headline-grabbing acquisitions is no longer applicable. The Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations, who cut his teeth in the front office of a famously frugal Tampa Bay Rays organization, is officially a big-game

8:00 AM ET Any hardcore hardball fan who has perused the rosters of the six Olympic baseball teams competing in Tokyo, particularly USA Baseball, has probably felt more than a little like the characters in the 1989 cinematic classic “Major League.” “I never heard of half of these guys, and the ones I do know

4:03 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — The New York Yankees acquired Los Angeles Angels starter Andrew Heaney on Friday, adding a pitcher after making two big trades for sluggers. The Yankees got the 30-year-old lefty and cash for minor league right-handers Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero. New York began the day at 53-48, fourth

4:33 PM ET Associated Press ST. LOUIS — The Washington Nationals completed their final trade of a dizzying sell-off, sending veteran left-hander Jon Lester to the St. Louis Cardinals at Friday’s deadline. Lester becomes the second experienced lefty to join St. Louis, which also acquired J.A Happ from the Minnesota Twins on Friday. Cardinals president

9:49 AM ET YOKOHAMA, Japan — Japanese league players and different generations of Major League Baseball talent secured wins for the United States and the Dominican Republic on Friday. In their first game at Tokyo 2020, the U.S. thrashed Olympic newcomers Israel 8-1. Joe Ryan, 25, a prospect who was traded to the Minnesota Twins

7:22 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona is stepping down for the remainder of this season to address some lingering health issues. The 62-year-old Francona has been wearing a boot on his right foot all season after undergoing toe surgery for a staph infection in February. He’s also dealing with

6:37 PM ET ESPN News Services The New York Yankees are finalizing a deal to acquire first baseman Anthony Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 1 Related Outfielder Kevin Alcantara and right-handed pitcher Alexander Vizcaino, both minor leaguers, will be headed from New York to Chicago in the trade, sources told

6:59 PM ET CHICAGO — Cubs shortstop Javier Baez was fined an undisclosed amount but avoided suspension Wednesday for his actions in the team’s walk-off win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. Baez, 28, singled off of Reds reliever Amir Garrett with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, bringing home

6:56 PM ET The Houston Astros continued to fortify their bullpen before the trade deadline, acquiring right-hander Yimi Garcia from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday for two players. In exchange for Garcia, the Astros sent outfielder Bryan De La Cruz and right-hander Austin Pruitt to the Marlins. It’s the second straight day the AL West-leading

3:03 PM ET The Cincinnati Reds made a move to improve their bullpen before the trade deadline, acquiring right-handed reliever Mychal Givens from the Colorado Rockies. In exchange for Givens, the Reds sent right-handed minor leaguers Case Williams and Noah Davis to Colorado. Givens, 31, has a 2.73 ERA in 29⅔ innings this season and