NEW YORK — Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline passed at 6 p.m. Eastern on Friday, ending a frantic scramble in which the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies moved to add starting pitching and bullpen depth for the pennant race.

The deadline capped weeks of speculation centered on contending teams seeking rotation help. The New York Mets had signaled earlier in the week that they were prepared to sell veteran arms, positioning themselves as one of the market's primary sellers alongside other clubs out of postseason contention.

Front offices worked the phones through the final hours, with pitching commanding the highest prices in prospect capital. Teams chasing the American League and National League wild-card berths faced pressure to improve rosters before the window closed for the remainder of the regular season.

The moves reshaped playoff calculations across both leagues as clubs balanced immediate contention against long-term roster building. General managers were expected to address reporters after the deadline to explain their strategies and the players acquired or dealt away.

MLB Network and ESPN analysts noted the deadline had again underscored the premium placed on controllable starting pitching, with several buyers surrendering top prospects to secure arms for October.