Dodgers welcome deadline additions, hopeful arrival ‘raises the floor for our ballclub’

The Dodgers didn’t go shopping at the top of the market ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.

But what they came away with — right-handed relievers Brock Stewart and Paul Gervase to bolster the bullpen, and versatile outfielder Alex Call to round out the lineup — are the kind of moves that “just raises the floor for our ballclub,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday.

“I feel we did get better,” Roberts said, before echoing the front office’s hope that the Dodgers’ biggest improvements over the final two months of the season come from the star-studded, but underperforming, core they already have in place.

“I think we’ve got a pretty dang good team. I think if you look at it from the offensive side, as far as our guys, they’ll be the first to tell you they’ve got to perform better and more consistently. That’s something that we’re all counting on … I love our club. I really do. Now it’s up to all of us to go out there and do our jobs.”

The job for the Dodgers’ two biggest acquisitions, Stewart and Call, will be clear from the get-go.

Stewart, a former Dodgers swingman from 2016 to 2019, has reinvented himself in the second half of his career. Unlike his first stint in Los Angeles, when he threw in the low 90s and was a fringe long reliever on the roster, Stewart is now a higher-leverage relief option, with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and swing-and-miss sweeper he has used to dominate right-handed hitters this season.

“At the end [of his first Dodgers stint], he lost the velocity and was trying to figure out if he could hang on and who he was at that point,” Roberts recalled. “Obviously, he’s put in a ton of work to sort of find himself again. He’s had nothing but success. I’m excited to see this version of him. He certainly shouldn’t lack for confidence.”

Stewart won’t fix the Dodgers’ ninth-inning problems — with their closer role up in the air ever since struggling offseason signing Tanner Scott went on the injured list with an elbow injury — but could get some save situations “in the right situation,” Roberts said — for instance, if a run of right-handed hitters (who are batting just .104 with a .327. OPS against him this year) are up at the end of the game.

“I trust the guy, I trust the player, what he’s become,” Roberts said. “So for me, if the situation calls for it tonight and he’s in the ninth inning, I’ve got all the confidence.”

Gervase, a 6-foot-10 right-hander the Dodgers acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for catcher Hunter Feduccia as part of a three-team trade on Wednesday night, was also on the active roster Friday. He comes with just five previous career MLB appearances, but a deceptive delivery aided by his long-limbed extension on the mound.

“I don’t know a whole lot about him,” Roberts said. “I know he’s got a big arm. He’s got some extension, some rise, but I haven’t seen him.”

The arrival of Stewart and Gervase did coincide with yet another loss in the bullpen. Veteran right-hander Kirby Yates, another offseason signing who has disappointed with a 4.31 ERA this season, was placed on the injured list because of lingering discomfort in his pelvic and lower-back area. He went back to Los Angeles to get further testing.

“In the last, call it, two weeks, he hasn’t felt great,” Roberts said. “Hasn’t been injured, in his words, which is why he kept pitching and competing. But we flew him home this morning to look at the doctor and kind of get some tests to see if there’s something that’s kind of been aggravating him. Something’s just not right, exactly. So we’re trying to suss that out.”

In the lineup, Roberts said Call — a 30-year-old right-handed-hitting journeyman who found a niche with the Washington Nationals the last few seasons as an on-base threat capable of grinding out tough at-bats — would mix in at all three outfield spots.

“[He is] a tough, feisty hitter,” Roberts said. “I certainly see him playing versus left. But I think he’s pretty much a neutral guy. Slugs a little more against left, but gets on base against right. I’m going to try to keep him in there a couple times a week.”

Call said he wasn’t shocked to learn he had been traded on Thursday, and was excited by the “chance to compete in the playoffs and win a World Series” with a first-place Dodgers team.

“For me, I am going to grind out at-bats, put the ball in play, take my walks, make it tough on the pitcher,” said Call, who has hit .297 with the Nationals in 102 games over the last two seasons. “Just really make the [pitchers] work so that hopefully they’re tired when the top of the order comes back around or whatever.”

Roki Sasaki facing hitters

Internally, the Dodgers are hoping rookie Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki can also serve as a de facto late-season addition after missing the last several months with a shoulder injury.

And this week, the right-hander took a key step in his recovery process.

Sasaki faced hitters for the first time since getting hurt in a simulated inning this past week in Arizona, Roberts said, and is scheduled to throw two more simulated innings on Saturday.

The team has been targeting a late-August return for Sasaki, who had a 4.72 ERA in eight starts this season before going on the IL.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Apple’s Latest Security Patch Fixes a Zero-Day Vulnerability Targeting Chrome

When Apple dropped iOS 18.6 this week, it didn’t ship a bunch of new features and changes. Indeed, when you update your iPhone, it’ll appear exactly as it did running iOS 18.5. Under the hood, however, the update introduced more than 20 patches for security vulnerabilities across iOS, making it an important security update for all compatible devices.

When Apple released its security notes for the update, it did not indicate whether any of the flaws were zero-days—in other words, whether any of the flaws had been exploited or publicly disclosed before a patch was readily available. That puts the user at an advantage, since it suggests bad actors haven’t figured out how to take advantage of any of the now-fixed flaws. However, as it turns out, one of these flaws was actively exploited—just not against an Apple product.

The vulnerability in question is tracked as CVE-2025-6558. Per Apple’s release notes, this is a flaw that could crash Safari when processing malicious web content. As Apple states, the vulnerability isn’t an iOS-specific flaw; rather, it’s a vulnerability in open source code, and Apple’s software is impacted.

While Apple says this vulnerability was not exploited against Apple software, at least at the time the release notes were published, one piece of software that appears to have been actively exploited using this flaw is Google Chrome. As reported by Bleeping Computer, CVE-2025-6558 can allow bad actors to run their own code within Chrome’s GPU process when visiting malicious websites. This could enable hackers to break into the operating system of the target’s machine. If you’re using an Apple product, that would mean iOS, macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, visionOS, or watchOS could be compromised from this attack. (Apple released security updates for all of these OSes, respectively.)

The flaw is serious business: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) listed this flaw among its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, and now requires federal agencies to update their software by Aug. 12.

Protecting your devices from this zero-day

To make sure you protect your devices from this vulnerability, you’ll want to update all affected hardware and software. That means you’ll want to update any Apple devices to iOS 18.6, and if you use Chrome or a Chromium-based browser (like Microsoft Edge or Opera) you’ll want to update it to the latest version.

You can typically install Apple updates, such as on an iPhone, from Settings > General > Software Update. On Chrome, click the three dots in the top right, then go to Help > About Google Chrome.

Yankees expect to activate Aaron Judge from IL early next week

The Yankees avoided the worst-possible news on Aaron Judge’s right elbow last week, and it now appears the superstar slugger may only face the minimum amount of time on the injured list.

Before their road series opener against the Marlins on Friday, manager Aaron Boonetold reporters the plan is for Judge to get live at-bats in Tampa on Sunday, in anticipation of him being activated Tuesday or Wednesday against the Rangers.

While the Yankees’ captain isn’t scheduled to begin a throwing program for another week-plus, his flexor tendon strain didn’t preclude him from taking on-field batting practice with teammates on Friday.

Judge received a PRP injection earlier this week to expedite the healing process. If all goes well with the bat this weekend, the reigning AL MVP will return as the Yankees’ designated hitter. His temporary absence from the field will consequently mean some defensive work for Giancarlo Stanton.

The second half of July wasn’t kind to Judge. Since the All-Star break, he’s slashed an uncharacteristic .160/.267/.400 with two home runs, four RBI, and 11 strikeouts (25 at-bats).

Here’s Aaron Judge taking some swings during pregame batting practice in Miami, as expected. pic.twitter.com/3VAmAyO4Ru

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) August 1, 2025

The M1 MacBook Air Is Down to $600 Right Now

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The new lineup of M4 MacBook Airs had a ripple effect on all of the other MacBooks, but the M1 is seeing a particularly big discount. Walmart has the M1 MacBook Air 13.3-inch laptop for $599 (originally $999.99), which is $100 cheaper since the M4 was released, according to price-tracking tools. Although the M4 is $799.99 and a better value for your money, not everyone will be able to afford it. For those who need the extra cash in hand, the M1 MacBook Air is a good deal still in 2025.

Apple MacBook Air M1 13” Laptop

$599.00
at Walmart

$1,043.99
Save $444.99

$599.00
at Walmart

$1,043.99
Save $444.99

This M1 is the basic model from 2020. It has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. You can expect about 18 hours of battery life. Although it pales in comparison to the new M4 chip (Apple says the M4 Air is up to twice as fast as an M1 Air) and all of its new features, the M1 is still enough for most of us. As Lifehacker’s Senior Technology Editor Jake Peterson pointed out, the M1 is still a fantastic computer years after its release. The main reason behind this is that Apple is able to optimize macOS to the M1, embracing new macOS versions gracefully and enjoying their new features while Intel Macs struggled. That’s why the M1 today will outperform an i9 Intel Mac.

If you’re worried about software support from Apple, Jake says the M1 doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. The only thing you’d be missing from the new macOS Sonoma is the ability to connect hearing devices to your Mac.

Keep in mind that Apple did discontinue the M1 MacBook Air after the release of the M3 and no longer sells them on its website. If you’re looking for a reliable MacBook that has withstood the test of time and is still a great buy in 2025, get the M1 for $599.99.

Cedric Mullins calls Mets a ‘good fit’ for his skillset and championship aspirations

Cedric Mullins was the lone offensive player the Mets acquired before the trade deadline, but he fills a massive need for the team.

New York needed a left-handed outfielder with speed, defense and an improved bat, and that’s exactly what Mullins gives the Mets. He also gives them plenty of other attributes that he listed while speaking with the New York media for the first time as a Met.

“[The Mets are] a good fit. For me, I’m just trying to be myself and bring the type of game I know I can bring,” Mullins said before Friday’s series opener against the Giants at Citi Field. “Bunch of different stuff, using my legs, running, stealing bases, playing solid defense, showing a little bit of power here and there, bunts, just a little bit of everything.”

Mullins arrived at Citi Field 15 minutes prior to speaking with the media in the home dugout. He took batting practice, met his new teammates and wanted to get used to his new environment.

He described his last 24 hours as “hectic,” as he tried to figure out the logistics of getting to Queens after the trade deadline.

Mullins, who spent his entire eight-year career with Baltimore, even being drafted by them, said the whole trade process was hard to describe but he understood the business side of why the Orioles moved him. They were a below-.500 team and he was on an expiring contract.

“I’ve been in Baltimore my entire career, even since being drafted. That’s part of the business, but overall feeling is excitement,” Mullins said.

He later added, “[The trade was] somewhat to be expected, just understanding the business side of the game. I just didn’t know where it might be. New York’s a great place to land.”

The Mets also hope it’s a great place for Mullins as he arrives, tearing it up offensively. Over his last 15 games, Mullins is slashing .306/.321/.531 with two home runs and eight RBI to go along with some highlight-reel catches in the outfield.

When he was asked what’s been working for him lately, Mullins said it took some time, but he figured out certain moves he needed to make.

“Keying on a couple of adjustments I’ve been working on for a little bit,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a challenge to figure out what to work on specifically. I think I found it, and it’s been giving me good results.”

As for his role with the Mets, manager Carlos Mendoza intimated before the game that Mullins will see the bulk of the starts in center field. That’s likely because the left-handed Mullins has hit southpaws very well this season. He’s hitting .298 with three home runs and six doubles this season against lefties.

The reason for that spike actually dates back to the offseason.

“Just seeing the ball better overall. I had issues picking up spins,” he said. “Adjustments in the offseason helped with that.”

Mullins hoped he could bring a championship to Baltimore, especially the last few seasons when the Orioles were at the top of the American League, but what does he hope to bring to a Mets team with similar championship aspirations?

“Bringing a ring back to the city, that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “We go out there, have fun, but we want championships and this is a great opportunity to do so.”

Mullins was activated for Friday’s game but will be on the bench against the Giants.

Proton Just Launched Its Own Privacy-Focused Authenticator App

Authenticators from Google and Microsoft are already well-established, but the newly released Proton Authenticator may be worth the switch. Proton is the company behind Proton Pass, our top password manager for those who prioritize privacy, as well as other services like Proton Mail and Proton VPN. While Proton Pass has an integrated two-factor authentication (2FA) feature on its premium tier, anyone can use Proton Authenticator at no cost, even if you rely on a different service for password management.

How Proton compares to other authenticator apps

Functionally, Proton Authenticator isn’t that different than other popular apps like Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator or alternatives like Duo and Authy. You can add time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs) manually or by scanning a QR code as well as import some or all of your existing codes from authenticator apps that offer this feature (Google does, Microsoft does not). In my testing, it was easy to screenshot and save the QR codes from Google Authenticator and upload them from my photos into Proton Authenticator, which quickly populated all of my codes.

For added security, Proton Authenticator can be locked behind biometrics like Face ID and hide your codes from view (which is helpful if you simply need to copy and paste on the same device). Codes refresh every 30 seconds, and Proton shows you both the current TOTP and the one that will populate next. While most authenticators are limited to iOS and Android, Proton also supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with encrypted syncing between devices.

Again, authenticator apps are largely similar in both form and function, but Proton Authenticator has a potential advantage in that it comes from a privacy-first company. Unlike most competitors, the platform is open source and doesn’t include any ads or tracking, so it’s well worth considering if you want to move away from services from Google and Microsoft. (Bitwarden, another excellent open-source password manager, also offers a free, standalone authenticator app.)

Given the regularity of data breaches and the ubiquity of phishing schemes that aim to compromise your data, you should have multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled on any account that offers this extra layer of security. As I’ve written, some authentication methods—like SMS codes—are still easily compromised via phishing methods like adversary-in-the-middle attacks. Biometrics and hardware keys are some of the most secure alternatives, but an authenticator app is also preferable to SMS because TOTPs are generated locally on your device and change every 30 to 60 seconds rather than sent via unencrypted text.

Ryan Helsley embracing any role in Mets’ revamped bullpen: ‘I’ll be ready to pitch whenever’

Ryan Helsley was fully aware of the trade rumors linking him to the Mets — he just didn’t understand the interest at first, considering the established hierarchy in the back-end of their bullpen.

But by the time the hard-throwing veteran was acquired in a deal with the Cardinals on Wednesday, just one day before MLB’s annual trade deadline, he realized that all contending teams strive for a surplus of high-leverage relievers.

“I was kind of surprised when you have [Edwin] Diaz here. But in the playoffs, you’ll take as many good arms as you can get,” Helsley said on Friday, wearing new uniform colors. “I’m excited. I obviously spent 11 years with St. Louis in their organization, but I’m excited to be here and be with such a great team.”

Helsley is joining a revamped Mets bullpen that should provide ample support for Diaz, who’s still entrusted with closer duties. There’s plenty of firepower, too, as the team added Tyler Rogers in a swap with the Giants on Wednesday and obtained Gregory Soto from the Orioles last week.

While it’s still unclear how the Mets will delegate, a late-inning role undoubtedly belongs to Helsley, who logged a 3.00 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 21 saves across 36 appearances for the Cardinals this season.

“I told [Carlos Mendoza] I’ll be ready to pitch whenever he wants me to,” Helsley said. “[Diaz] has the ninth and he’s one of the best closers in the game. He’s been one of the best for seven years, so he definitely deserves that role. So if I need to throw the sixth, seventh, eighth, I’ll be glad to do so.”

The 2025 campaign hasn’t been blemish-free for Helsley, as he’s already blown more saves (5) than he did last season and opponents are hitting a robust .406 against his fastball with a .522 slugging percentage.

But the 31-year-old isn’t fazed by ninth-inning pressure — he logged a league-best 49 saves in 2024, and his 103 saves since 2022 rank fourth among all relievers.

“During the trade deadline, anybody that’s looking at you, they’re probably in the hunt for a playoff spot,” Helsley said. “That’s exciting. But looking at this team and how we competed against them this year, you know how strong they are, from top to bottom. The pitching staff as a whole too.”

Helsley is slated to become a free agent this coming offseason. Whether or not he returns to the team in 2026, he’s equipped to provide a tremendous boost to a championship contender that’s in the thick of a division race.

Since the start of June, the Mets’ bullpen owns a 4.87 ERA, the 25th-worst mark in the majors.

Mets Notes: Juan Soto good to go; post-deadline plan for back-end of bullpen and CF

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided some updates prior to Friday’s series opener against the Giants…

Juan Soto in the clear

As expected, Soto is back in the Mets’ lineup for Friday’s series opener.

The outfielder was listed as day-to-day after suffering a foot contusion earlier this week.

However, Mendoza told reporters prior to Wednesday’s series finale in San Diego that he was feeling better and was expected to be good to go when the club returned home.

Now, it is official.

“We knew the other day that we had a player,” the skipper said. “I checked with him yesterday and he had no issues, so he’s good to go.”

That is a huge sigh of relief for the Mets, who could ill-afford to lose Soto for any time.

The plan for the bullpen

The Mets have plenty of weapons in their bullpen after their deadline revamp.

All three arms they picked up — Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers, and Ryan Helsley — come with plenty of experience pitching in the late innings of big ballgames.

Still, the team will lean on All-Star closer Edwin Diaz as their top option.

That doesn’t come as a surprise with the type of campaign Diaz is putting together, but these three new pieces will allow Mendoza to be a bit more creative with when he decides to use his lockdown reliever.

“We’ll continue using [Diaz] the way we’ve been using him,” he said. “If we feel like the best way to deploy him is in the eighth inning, we will do it and we’ll figure it out in the ninth. That’s how we’ve been doing it.

“Now figuring out that ninth, it could be Helsley, it could be Rogers, it could be a lot of different options. But in talking to Helsley, he’s willing to pitch in any situation needed. He’s here to help us win baseball games.”

Jun 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins (31) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. / Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images

The plan in CF

The Mets’ only other addition ahead of the deadline was center fielder Cedric Mullins.

Mullins isn’t in the lineup for Friday’s matchup, as he arrived at the ballpark a little late. But Mendoza expects that he’ll play a lot down the stretch.

Jeff McNeil and Tyrone Taylor will still see time out there, but certainly not as much.

The skipper has seen plenty of Mullins over the years in the AL East, and he says there’s a lot to like.

“Defensively, offensively, whether it’s hitting for power or running the bases,” he said. “There’s a lot that doesn’t go into the box score — running the bases, going first to third, getting a bunt down to get a runner over, cutting a ball in the outfield to keep the double play in order.

“Just another really good player we’re adding to a strong position player group.”

Though Taylor will be on the weaker-side of the platoon, he is still expected to be a big piece off the bench.

“Obviously his time is going to go down a bit,” Mendoza said. “But he could come into the game and get the biggest at-bat, come off the bench to steal a base or for defense, he’s still an important part of this team.”

Francisco Alvarez good to go

Alvarez had a bit of a scare during Wednesday’s finale in San Diego.

The young backstop exited the game after taking a ball off the mask in the bottom of the fifth.

He did clear concussion protocol, but suffered a head contusion on the play.

While Alvarez is out of Friday’s lineup, Mendoza said he should be a player off the bench.

The team is just opting to give him an extra day as a precaution.

Yankees release veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman after a busy trade deadline

MIAMI — The New York Yankees released veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman on Friday, a day after making a flurry of moves at baseball’s trade deadline.

Stroman, who is in his 11th season in the majors, was cut ahead of the opener of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.

The Yankees acquired All-Star relievers David Bednar and Camilo Doval, as well as utilityman José Caballero in separate trades Thursday. New York also optioned right-handers Ian Hamilton and Yerry de los Santos to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room on the 26-man roster.

Stroman signed a two-year deal worth $37 million with New York before the start of last season and is still owed the rest of his $18.5 million salary. He has an $18 million conditional player option for 2026 that would be exercised if he pitches 140 or more innings in 2025. Stroman has pitched only 39 innings so far this season – he missed 2 1/2 months with left knee inflammation.

He made his ninth start of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, picking up the win after allowing four runs and six hits in five innings.

Stroman is 3-2 with a 6.23 ERA.

Mets option Luisangel Acuña to Triple-A in flurry of roster moves

Luisangel Acuña‘s latest stint with the Mets has come to an end, at least for now.

The team announced Friday evening that the versatile infielder was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for new outfielder Cedric Mullins.

Acuña has seen his playing time drop as Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos stabilized their offensive production. Since being recalled on July 10, Acuña has only appeared in 12 games. In that span, he went 3-for-14 with a double, one RBI and one stolen base.

With Mullins splitting centerfield with Tyrone Taylor, pushing Jeff McNeil to his natural position of second base, there was no room for Acuña on the roster.

In addition to the Acuña move, the Mets also outrighted LHP Jose Castillo to Triple-A after he cleared waivers after being DFA’d on July 27.. In 14 appearances with the Mets, Castillo pitched to a 2.19 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP.

The team also announced that LHP Brandon Waddell is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday.