NBA

Hawks sign PF Dominick Barlow to two-way contract

I was surprised when the Spurs declined to give Barlow a qualifying offer this summer. The big flashed his athleticism in 33 games with San Antonio last season, averaging 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. The 21-year-old is worthy of a look with the Hawks.

Grade: B

MLB

Marlins receive: 2B Connor Norby and LF Kyle Stowers

Orioles receive: SP Trevor Rogers

Rogers appeared on his way to stardom in 2021, when he was named an All-Star and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting. The 26-year-old’s star has faded significantly since, so much so that this return feels very generous.

Norby, in particular, is a strong add for Miami, as the second baseman graded as the No. 5 prospect in a stacked Baltimore system. Stowers, 26, is also worth a look.

The Orioles overpaid here, but the club adds its second starter in the last week, as Rogers will join Zach Eflin in the rotation. The left-hander will look to improve upon his 4.53 ERA in Baltimore.

Marlins Grade: A-

Orioles Grade: C-

Cubs receive: RP Jack Neely and SS Ben Cowles

Yankees receive: RP Mark Leiter Jr.

At 51-57, the Cubs are probably cooked in the postseason race, so moving the 33-year-old Leiter Jr. makes sense. The right-hander sports a 4.21 ERA this season, but he’s been better than his numbers suggest.

Neely and Cowles were fringe top-30 prospects in the Yankees’ farm system, so New York is paying a manageable price for a reliever that can help in October. It also helps matters that Leiter Jr. is under control through the 2026 campaign.

Cubs Grade: C+

Yankees Grade: B

Giants receive: SP Jacob Bresnahan

Guardians receive: SP Alex Cobb

This return for the Giants feels light, no? Sure, Cobb hasn’t pitched yet this season, but the 36-year-old put together an All-Star campaign in 2023 for the Giants. Bresnahan is just 19, but wasn’t ranked within Cleveland’s top-30 prospects.

The Guardians need starting pitching, and Wood can fill that void — if he’s effective in return from injury. The right-hander is on the mend currently, so he’ll be back soon, ready to help a Cleveland club chasing an AL Central title. I like this swing by Chris Antonetti.

Giants Grade: C-

Guardians Grade: A-

Diamondbacks receive: 1B Josh Bell

Marlins receive: Cash considerations

Arizona lost Christian Walker to an oblique injury on Monday, so this trade is an obvious reaction to that development. Bell doesn’t hit like he used to, but he still has 14 home runs and 49 RBI — enough to be viewed as a new threat in the Diamondbacks’ lineup.

The first baseman still has $5.9 million owed to him for the rest of the season, so Miami is probably happy it found a taker for the plodding switch hitter.

Diamondbacks Grade: C

Marlins Grade: C-

Red Sox receive: RP Lucas Sims

Reds receive: SP Ovis Portes

This is a cheap price to pay for a decent reliever. This season, Sims has a 3.57 ERA across 43 appearances.

Portes isn’t highly-touted as a prospect, but he’s a bit underrated, so grabbing him in exchange for a rental reliver is smart by the Reds.

Red Sox Grade: C+

Reds Grade: B-

Guardians 5, Tigers 0

The Guardians needed a No. 2 hitter — Lane Thomas is capable of filling that spot. The newest Cleveland position player adds a speed and contact component to the top of the order, which is useful in front of Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor. Thomas went 1-for-4 yesterday.

The Tigers aren’t anywhere close to having a contending-level lineup. Hitting third, fourth and fifth for Detroit in this game: Justyn-Henry Malloy, Wenceel Perez and Bligh Madris. It’s a mini miracle that the Tigers have scored 459 runs this season.