Detroit Tigers links: The Tigers won the MLB trade deadline

Even before Daniel Norris shut down the Baltimore Orioles in 7 1/3 low-stress innings on Sunday, this week was a huge win for the Detroit Tigers. Questions about Dave Dombrowski's plan at the trade deadline were swirling, but, once again, Dombrowski showed why he is one of the best executives in baseball. Dombrowski waited out the market, but ended up bringing back a haul of prospects for pending free agents David Price, Yoenis Cespedes, and Joakim Soria.

The moves were necessary, writes Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News. With a floundering major league team and a barren farm system, an injection of talent was necessary for the team to stay competitive long-term. They built that better future in just 48 short hours, say Tony Paul of the News. Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press says that Dombrowski got back to his roots by acquiring starting pitching, a hallmark of Tigers teams prior to this season.

Meanwhile, the team continues to fight. They are still only 3 1/2 games back of the second wild card on Monday morning, and between the Twins faltering and the AL East clubs beating each other into a pulp, there's still a glimmer of hope. It will be far more difficult now without the stars they traded away, but even if they fall short, the future is bright in Detroit.

Sunday Notes: Felix, Shark, Archer, Sale, Castellanos, more - FanGraphs, David Laurila
Buried in this is a rather self-aware take on hitting from Nick Castellanos: "When I struggle, it’s because I’m not swinging at good pitches. It’s not because my swing isn’t working, it’s because I’m not getting a pitch to drive. If I swing at good pitches I’m going to have success. If I chase, the pitchers are going to have success."

Yankees 12, White Sox 3: Jeff Samardzija bombed in finale - South Side Sox, Jim Margalus
The White Sox have lost three of their past four after winning seven in a row. They are 22-15 since June 23.

Reactions to the Royals-Blue Jays bench-clearing on Sunday - Royals Review, Max Rieper
The Royals lost on Sunday and dropped three of four to the Blue Jays, but they got involved in yet another bench-clearing shouting match on Sunday.

Twins bullpen still terrible, Mariners win 4-1 in 11 - Twinkie Town, Jesse Lund
The Twins did their best impression of the Tigers' bullpen on Sunday, allowing three runs in extra innings to lose.

Recap: Cleveland Indians fall to Oakland Athletics in 10 innings - Let's Go Tribe
The Indians did their best to #TankForDanny, losing both of their games over the weekend. They are 14 games back in the division.

Padres don't make blockbuster trade - Gaslamp Ball
Despite rumors that they were going to trade everyone under the sun, the Padres did nothing at the trade deadline. Well, almost nothing.

Padres picked up Rzepcynski from Cleveland for Almonte

— keithlaw (@keithlaw) July 31, 2015

The winners and losers of the 2015 MLB trade deadline - SB Nation, Grant Brisbee
The Tigers were among Grant's winners at this year's trade deadline.

Trade deadline winners and losers - ESPN SweetSpot, David Schoenfield
Schoenfield declares Tigers fans losers at the trade deadline, but doesn't have much to say about the team's maneuverings.