What happened: An ex-NFL player wrote that LeBron James “ruined professional sports as we know it,” reviving the criticism after the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal. The remark links the move to the star-consolidation debate long associated with James.

Why it matters: The Dodgers added the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner for the stretch run. The criticism carries the NBA's superteam argument into a league without a salary cap.

What to watch: Skubal's first Dodgers start and Los Angeles' rotation plan will show how quickly the deadline acquisition is deployed.