Sports Express | August 3, 2026: Dodgers Land Cy Young Winner Skubal at Trade Deadline, Blue Jays Ship Gausman to Cubs

1. 🔥 Blockbuster: Dodgers Acquire Two-Time Cy Young Winner Tarik Skubal

The biggest move of the MLB trade deadline is official. The Detroit Tigers have traded back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a package of top prospects. Skubal has continued his dominant form this season, and his addition makes an already stacked Dodgers rotation even more formidable.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts pushed back against the narrative that "the Dodgers are ruining baseball," emphasizing that the team is simply using resources within the rules to build a competitive roster. Skubal is expected to make his Dodgers debut on Tuesday at Wrigley Field against the Cubs.

For the Tigers, parting with a franchise-defining ace is undoubtedly painful, but the haul of prospects they received lays the foundation for their rebuild. The New York Times, ESPN, and multiple outlets have named this the biggest win of the trade deadline.

2. 🔥 Yankees Strike: Acquire Slugger Luis García Jr. from Nationals

The New York Yankees successfully bolstered their offense before the trade deadline. The Yankees sent four pitching prospects to the Washington Nationals in exchange for infielder Luis García Jr., whose strong batting performance this season will immediately fill a key gap in the Yankees' lineup.

Multiple outlets gave the deal positive reviews. The Athletic's MLB Trade Grades noted the Yankees acquired an impact bat at a reasonable price. FanGraphs analyzed that García's addition gives the Yankees an important edge in the AL East race.

Both ESPN and Yahoo Sports covered the trade details. Analysts noted the timing was ideal—the Yankees preserved their core pitching staff while using prospect depth to acquire much-needed infield firepower.

3. 🇨🇦 Blue Jays Sell-Off Begins: Kevin Gausman Traded to Cubs

The Toronto Blue Jays have officially kicked off their trade deadline sell-off. Ace pitcher Kevin Gausman has been traded to the Chicago Cubs, with the Blue Jays receiving outfield prospect Brett Bateman and infield prospect Ty Southisene in return.

The 35-year-old Gausman is in the final year of a five-year, million contract, with a 5-10 record and 4.38 ERA this season, striking out 127 batters over 127.1 innings. A two-time All-Star during his five seasons with the Blue Jays, he was a cornerstone of the team's rotation.

Sportsnet's scouting report detailed the potential of both prospects: Bateman stands out for his speed and defense, while Southisene is a well-rounded infielder. CP24 and MLB.com confirmed the deal—the Blue Jays rebuild has officially begun.

4. 🔥 Red Sox Unstoppable: Sweep Dodgers, 21-4 July Sets Franchise Record

The Boston Red Sox continue their incredible surge. On Sunday Night Baseball, the Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4, completing a three-game sweep. Ceddanne Rafaela stayed red-hot, and the Red Sox launched four home runs in a display of overwhelming offensive power.

Boston went 21-4 in July, setting a franchise record for the best win percentage in a full calendar month. Entering August, they showed no signs of slowing down, securing their eighth consecutive series win. MLB.com praised the Red Sox for carrying their momentum from July straight into August.

Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggled against Rafaela and the Red Sox lineup. Despite the Dodgers' trade deadline haul, they had to swallow the bitter pill of a sweep. Both the Los Angeles Times and Boston Herald provided in-depth coverage of the game.

5. 🇨🇦 Max Scherzer on Trade Deadline: "If They Sell, That's On Us"

Blue Jays veteran Max Scherzer's words before the trade deadline captured the players' sentiments. In an interview, Scherzer stated bluntly: "If the team ultimately decides to sell, that's on us—we didn't play well enough to deserve otherwise."

Shortly after these remarks, the Blue Jays completed the Gausman trade. According to the Toronto Star, players like George Springer and Daulton Varsho could also be moved before the deadline. Scherzer himself delivered his best outing of the season afterward, seemingly proving his value to the team in his own way.

Sportsnet published a commentary noting that a disheartening loss perfectly illustrated why the Blue Jays are on a selling track. For Toronto fans, this trade deadline is bound to be bittersweet.

6. 🏈 Jadeveon Clowney Returns to Houston Texans: "I've Grown Up"

A heartwarming story emerges from the NFL offseason. Former No. 1 overall pick and star pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney has reached a deal to reunite with the Houston Texans, returning to where his career began. In an exclusive interview with the Houston Chronicle, Clowney admitted: "I've grown up. This return is different."

Clowney said choosing to return to Houston over chasing more money was "a really easy decision." The three-time Pro Bowler has played for the Seahawks, Titans, Browns, and Ravens, and now chooses to come back to the franchise that made him a star.

NFL.com reported that Clowney turned down higher offers from multiple teams to sign a team-friendly deal. The Texans head coach praised his leadership and professionalism as invaluable assets for the young defensive unit. CBS Sports also confirmed the signing.

7. 🇨🇦 National Bank Open Underway: Tennis Feast Comes to Toronto and Montreal

Canada's premier tennis event—the National Bank Open—has officially begun. The Montreal draw is headlined by Alexander Zverev and Canadian home favorite Félix Auger-Aliassime, while the Toronto draw features Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka, and Coco Gauff among the top stars.

The Toronto qualifying draw is complete, with the WTA projecting a potential quarterfinal clash between Rybakina, Osaka, Gauff, and Noskova—a highly anticipated showdown. The tournament's substantial prize money has attracted the world's best players to Canada.

The ATP Tour's scouting report highlighted home-court favorite Auger-Aliassime, with Canadian fans holding sky-high expectations. Yahoo Sports Canada provided a complete viewing guide, including TV channels and live streaming information.

8. 🇨🇦 Commonwealth Games Conclude: Canada Finishes Third with 62 Medals

The 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games have officially drawn to a close. Team Canada finished with an impressive haul of 19 gold, 20 silver, and 23 bronze medals—62 total—ranking third in the medal table behind Australia's 171 and England's 110.

Nearly 150 Canadian athletes competed across nine sports. The team included Olympic champions, world champions, and reigning Commonwealth gold medalists, showcasing the breadth and depth of Canadian sporting talent.

Canada's Minister of Sport congratulated the delegation. The Globe and Mail and CBC published stunning photo galleries of Canadian athletes. South African swimming legend Chad Le Clos became the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history at this edition.

9. ⚽ World Cup: Argentina Survives Cape Verde 3-2 in Extra Time, Advances to Round of 16

At Miami Stadium, defending World Cup champions Argentina faced fierce resistance in their Round of 32 match. Cape Verde displayed admirable determination, with the African minnows—making their World Cup debut—forcing the match into extra time.

Ultimately, Argentina scraped through with a 3-2 victory thanks to an own goal in the 111th minute, narrowly avoiding one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Cape Verde bowed out with their heads held high, earning worldwide respect and admiration for their debut performance.

Argentina went a perfect 3-0 in the group stage and will face Egypt in the Round of 16. Manager Scaloni admitted after the match that the team needs to significantly raise their level to handle increasingly tough opponents in the knockout rounds.

10. ⚾ Trade Deadline Roundup: Peralta to Rays, NFL Training Camps Open

Beyond the Skubal and García blockbusters, there were other notable moves at the MLB trade deadline. The Milwaukee Brewers traded starter Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays, with the New York Mets receiving a fair return. The Cleveland Guardians sent catcher Bo Naylor to the Brewers.

Meanwhile, NFL training camps are in full swing across the country. USA Today and ABC News are running "Football is back!" headlines. With preseason games approaching, roster battles are intensifying and the 2026 season atmosphere is building.

In the NBA, the 2026 Summer League just wrapped up in Las Vegas, with the performances of the 14 lottery picks generating buzz among fans. In the NHL, Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios expressed satisfaction with his current roster as the team prepares for the 2026-27 campaign.

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Compiled by the DealCanada Sports Desk. Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports, MLB.com, Sportsnet, CBC Sports, The Athletic, NFL.com, and more.