The 2026 MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, with contending teams deciding what they need to add before 6 p.m. ET on Monday.
The big deal of the weekend came Saturday night, with Tarik Skubal on the move -- and headed to the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. But there's plenty of intrigue left before Monday. Will the New York Mets deal Clay Holmes to a contender? And who among the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies will go all-in to boost their 2026 World Series hopes -- against the now-fortified champs?
Whether your team is looking to add or deal stars -- or lands somewhere in between -- here's the latest intel we're hearing, reaction to completed deals and what to know for every club as trade season unfolds.
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MLB trade deadline buzz
Aug. 2
Dodgers not quite done? Los Angeles Dodgers president Andrew Friedman said Tarik Skubal was the team's one target ahead of this deadline and called another addition to the major league roster unlikely.
The Dodgers are expected to trade right-handed-hitting corner outfielder Alex Call and left-handed starter Eric Lauer before Monday's 6 p.m. ET deadline. Those two aren't expected to yield big returns, though.
It'll be interesting to see if the Dodgers get opportunistic with two of their young, controllable starters in Justin Wrobleski and Emmet Sheehan.
Assuming Roki Sasaki remains a starter -- and is not traded, which would be a massive surprise -- the Dodgers would not have room for Sheehan or Wrobleski in their rotation at full strength. The Dodgers probably won't actively shop the two before the deadline, but they might be compelled to move one of them if they get the right offer. If not, Sheehan can be optioned to the minor leagues, and either Wrobleski will stay in the rotation and Sasaki will move to the bullpen or vice versa.
"We're still having a number of different conversations on a number of different fronts," Friedman said. "For us, we're always trying to balance keeping one eye on the present and one eye on the future and just kind of balancing all of that. So, a lot of different conversations on a number of different fronts. How likely, it's tough to say. But we'll continue to work through tomorrow." -- Alden Gonzalez
Padres looking to deal for Devers? The San Diego Padres, looking to bolster a team that has won eight of its last nine games to jump back into the wild-card mix, have checked in on high-priced first baseman Rafael Devers, a source told ESPN on Sunday, confirming an initial report from the New York Post.
The extent of that interest is not known. In all likelihood, it doesn't amount to anything. Padres general manager A.J. Preller is notorious for showing interest in a lot of players.
But it's worth noting that a new ownership group, which will be approved in the coming weeks, is expected to allow the front office to take on money at this deadline, and absorbing contracts might be the best path for a Padres team that has been left with few intriguing assets to acquire win-now talent.
The Padres can't take on the entirety of Devers' contract. After this season, the San Francisco Giants would still owe the 29-year-old $211 million over the next seven years. The Padres' priority, meanwhile, isn't offense. What they need more than anything is starting pitching. Giants starter Robbie Ray, a free agent at season's end, has long been seen as an ideal fit for them.
But with Preller, nothing can be counted out. -- Gonzalez
Aug. 1
Angels scratch Jose Soriano from Saturday start: From interim GM John Mozeliak: "With the trade deadline on Monday and the uncertainty of the next 48 hours, we decided to take a prudent approach and see where these next few days lead us." -- Gonzalez
Holmes rehab outing still on -- for now: Mets right-hander Clay Holmes is scheduled to make a third rehab start Sunday, this time with Class-A Brooklyn. But he knows there's a good chance that won't happen. Holmes on Saturday acknowledged that the Mets trading him by Monday's deadline is the "most likely" scenario. He said he's ready to pitch in the major leagues, but "there's just a lot of factors, and I respect that." One reason to have Holmes start a rehab game over returning to the majors: Not activating Holmes gives the team that acquires him the flexibility to keep him on the injured list for at least another rehab outing. -- Jorge Castillo
High return needed to land starting pitching: Teams that have checked in with Los Angeles Angels interim general manager John Mozeliak on pitchers Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers have described his asking price as "wild" and "ridiculous," leaving some to wonder if the negative reaction to the return for Logan O'Hoppe and Chase Silseth has prompted a harder line.
Mozeliak, however, is far from alone in his demands.
The bar for accessing starting pitching remains really high with two days left until the trade deadline. The New York Mets in particular have been asking some teams for their best prospect in exchange for Freddy Peralta, who has had a rough year and is a free agent at season's end. The ask for Clay Holmes, who will probably opt out after this season, is even higher.
Given that, a rival executive pointed out, it is not unreasonable for Mozeliak to have high demands for two starters who are controllable through 2028.
Prices always come down significantly as the deadline creeps closer, but this year's standings, with 22 teams still within four games of a playoff spot, have taken that to another level. The expectation from many at the start of the week was that almost all of the action would take place in the final hours leading up to the deadline. It's still trending in that direction. -- Gonzalez
Why trading Gausman could prove difficult: The defending American League champions, eight games below .500 and last in their division, are in clear offload mode. Their longtime ace, Kevin Gausman, is expected to be moved before Monday's deadline, but their closer, Louis Varland, is not.
Varland, controllable through 2030, has not been made available to teams, according to people who have checked in with the Blue Jays. Gausman has been, but moving him could be difficult.
The 35-year-old right-hander can block trades to eight teams (according to The Athletic, the teams are the A's, White Sox, Reds, Tigers, Brewers, Mets, Pirates and Mariners). And sources said that unless the Blue Jays are getting a premium prospect, this is not a paydown scenario. In other words, any team trading for him would have to absorb the prorated portion of his $23 million salary for 2026 (roughly $7.5 million).
With plenty of cheaper, younger, more controllable arms still available, Gausman's market is currently pretty limited. -- Gonzalez
Will Seattle deal a starting pitcher? Multiple teams have engaged the Seattle Mariners on a potential trade for right-hander George Kirby and get the sense he is available and could be moved before the Aug. 3 deadline, sources tell ESPN. Mariners have been listening on starters Emerson Hancock and Luis Castillo, too. -- Jeff Passan
What will Minnesota do next? The Minnesota Twins, major unloaders from their big league roster at this time last year, have been the most aggressive team in the early part of this trade deadline, striking deals for starting pitcher Dean Kremer and lefty reliever A.J. Minter.
The Twins are still looking to add, specifically a right-handed reliever to pair with Minter in the back end of their bullpen, and they have the flexibility to take on more salary, sources familiar with their thinking said.
In Kramer and Minter, the Twins absorbed roughly $5.5 million. New controlling owner Tom Pohland, in an effort to appease a disgruntled fan base, wants to give the team a chance to make a run down the stretch. Yoendrys Gomez has been a godsend at closer, but the bridge to him has been wobbly. The Twins' bullpen owns a 4.87 ERA. -- Gonzalez
July 31
Don't expect another Miller blockbuster: Things can change quickly this time of year, especially with A.J. Preller, but at this point, according to teams in the market for relievers, it would be a shock if the San Diego Padres traded Mason Miller before Monday's deadline.
The asking price for Miller -- the game's best closer, who is under control through the 2029 season -- was always going to be astronomical, so much so that some of the teams in the market for high-leverage relief help haven't bothered to check in. At this point, the sentiment is that Miller will stay put -- and that the Padres will steer most of their energy toward acquiring rotation help.
The Padres recently won five straight games, jumping back into the wild-card race and establishing themselves as looking to add going into the deadline.
And their offense has started to get back on track. Since June 15, the Padres rank eighth in the majors in OPS and 11th in runs per game. Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill have started to more closely resemble their prior selves. The Padres can certainly still stand to add another bat or two, but what they need most is help for their rotation.
Padres starters have a 5.03 ERA in July, and Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta are still a long way out. If Preller can use relievers like Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada to access a starting pitcher, there might be a fit. But at this point, it seems more likely that the Padres hold on to their relievers -- especially Miller. -- Gonzalez
Could two starting pitchers be dealt soon? Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta and Tigers right-hander Casey Mize, two prime trade candidates, were scratched from their scheduled starts Friday as trade talks heat up.
The Mets planned on Peralta making his start against the Marlins through the morning, but that changed in the early afternoon, a source told ESPN. Peralta's disappointing -- and short -- tenure in Queens appears to be nearing its end with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts. -- Jorge Castillo
The Mets want a top 100 prospect along with a secondary one for Freddy Peralta. The ask is high because his prorated salary is just $8 million but it remains to be seen if GM David Stearns can net a good name for the struggling righty. -- Jesse Rogers
July 30
Another starting pitching option for L.A.: A lot of the focus on the Dodgers has centered on Tarik Skubal, but they've checked in on another pitcher whose profile makes sense for them, according to sources: New York Mets starter Clay Holmes. Holmes, getting paid $13 million in 2026 and $12 million in 2027, put up a 2.39 ERA in his first nine starts, then went on the injured list with a fractured fibula. He is expected to return Sunday, though the Mets could hold him back until after the deadline if a deal doesn't materialize by then.
On the Dodgers, Holmes can take down starts over the last two months of the regular season, filling a rotation void while Tyler Glasnow (back) and Shohei Ohtani (knee) work their way back. His presence would be especially important for a team that wants to maintain a six-man rotation and is also expected to trade Eric Lauer. And if one of Glasnow, Ohtani or Blake Snell, who has made one start all year, is compromised heading into October, Holmes could stay in the rotation. And if the Dodgers' four main starters are fully healthy, Holmes, a standout closer for the New York Yankees before transitioning to a starter last year, can be a late-game weapon out of the bullpen.
An important caveat: The Dodgers check in on a lot of players. The extent of their interest in Holmes specifically is not known. And given the amount of teams more desperate for starting pitching, there's at least a decent chance they get outbid. But he is an easy fit. -- Gonzalez
Could Reds trade their ace? The odds of Reds pitcher Hunter Greene being traded before the deadline are 50-50, according to one evaluator, even in this crowded starting pitching market. Greene occupies a unique space in the market in that not only is he under team control beyond this year, but he also is playing under a multiyear deal that could fit nicely for any team of any market size, no matter the outcome of the upcoming labor negotiations.
With uncertainty about what baseball's economic system will look like after this year, some teams have been reluctant to take on money. But not only is Greene relatively young -- he'll be 27 years old next week -- but he's playing under a moderate salary of $8.333 million this year, with salaries of $15.33 million in 2027 and $16.33 million in 2028; the Reds hold a team option of $21 million for 2029.
Perhaps the greatest questions about Greene are related to his health. He has missed most of this season following surgery for the removal of loose bodies in his throwing arm, and in four starts this year, he has a 7.06 ERA, with 29 strikeouts in 21⅔ innings.
But in 2024 and 2025, Greene had a 2.76 ERA, with 301 strikeouts in 258 innings. If the Reds deal him -- at a time when the Rays, Cubs, Phillies, Braves and others are hell-bent on adding a starting pitching -- they presumably will be looking for players who could help them in the immediate future, rather than prospects in the low minor leagues. -- Buster Olney
Latest on Nats' deadline plan: The Nationals are exploring the possibility of a contract extension with Foster Griffin, who is one of the most coveted starting pitchers in the trade market. Griffin, 31, is eligible for free agency in the fall, and Monday's deadline provides a window for Washington to talk about Griffin's future. His situation is similar to that of Seth Lugo last year: With the trade deadline looming, the Royals weighed the possible trade return for Lugo vs. the option of signing Lugo to an extension, and in the end, Lugo signed a multiyear deal to stay in Kansas City.
Griffin has a 2.76 ERA in 21 starts, with a 1.032 WHIP, in his first season in the big leagues after pitching in Japan the last three seasons.
Rival executives say the Nationals have been in listen mode to overtures for shortstop CJ Abrams, but say the asking price would be extremely high -- to the degree that it's very unlikely he'll be dealt before Monday's deadline. -- Olney
Completed deal tracker
Click here for grades for every major deal
Aug. 2
The San Francisco Giants are trading right-hander Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves, a source tells ESPN.
The Chicago Cubs are acquiring right-hander Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, a source tells to ESPN.
The New York Yankees are acquiring infielder Luis Garcia Jr. from the Washington Nationals in exchange for right-handed pitchers Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird, Ben Grable and Jack Cebert, sources told ESPN.
The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring right-hander Freddy Peralta in a trade with the New York Mets, sources tell ESPN.
Aug. 1
The Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring Tarik Skubal for outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-hander River Ryan and right-hander Brady Smith, sources tell ESPN.
The Chicago White Sox are acquiring right-hander Luis Castillo in a trade with the Seattle Mariners for reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith, sources tell ESPN.
The Atlanta Braves are acquiring outfielder Lane Thomas and left-hander Bailey Falter from the Kansas City Royals, sources tell ESPN.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees for two prospects, sources tell ESPN.
The Cleveland Guardians acquired right-handed pitcher Craig Yoho and switch-hitter Blake Perkins from the Milwaukee Brewers for catcher Bo Naylor and right-handed pitcher Codi Heuer.
July 31
The Minnesota Twins are acquiring starting pitcher Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles, sources tell ESPN.
July 30
The Minnesota Twins are acquiring left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets, sources tell ESPN. The return to New York, per sources: infielder Billy Amick and infielder Bruin Agbayani -- the son of longtime Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani.
July 29
The Texas Rangers are acquiring right-handed reliever Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O'Hoppe from the Los Angeles Angels, sources tell ESPN.
July 26
The Boston Red Sox have acquired infielder Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals for left-handed pitcher Connelly Early.
Previous deadline buzz
July 29
Are the Angels open for business? Rival executives have noted in recent days that dealing with the Angels as the trade deadline approaches feels far different from recent years. They listen. They're open. They actually engage on controllable players. The first hard evidence of that occurred Wednesday, when the Angels sent catcher Logan O'Hoppe (controllable through 2028) and reliever Chase Silseth (2030) to the Texas Rangers for low-level infield prospect Angel Arredondo.
Arredondo is not a highly rated prospect, prompting some evaluators to believe they did not get enough. Regardless of whether that ends up being the case, though, one thing seems clear: Interim general manager John Mozeliak has more leeway from owner Arte Moreno to make drastic changes that impact the immediate future. Whether that lends itself to Reid Detmers, Jose Soriano or Zach Neto being traded remains to be seen, but it is very much a possibility. -- Alden Gonzalez
New York's deadline priorities: The Yankees are looking for catching help, a bullpen arm and perhaps another bat as they navigate around a number of injuries to their stars. -- Jesse Rogers
How Cubs are approaching pitching need: Like a lot of teams, the Cubs are looking to add a starter and are willing to part with a higher-ranked prospect for a pitcher under team control for several more years. Otherwise, they'll go the rental route with a lower-ranked prospect. In other words, this won't be like 2016 when they traded their No.1 prospect (Gleyber Torres) for two months of Aroldis Chapman. -- Rogers
Would a Springer reunion make sense? An industry source mentioned an intriguing match, if the two teams -- who have been frequent trade partners -- pursue a deal: Toronto's George Springer back to the Houston Astros. Houston has been outspoken about its need for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, and while Springer has not performed as well this season as he did in 2025, his numbers have spiked in recent weeks: Over his past 27 games, he's batting .299/.347/.537.
One potential roadblock to such a deal is that Springer has played just seven innings in the outfield this season, and with Yordan Alvarez manning the DH spot, Springer probably would have to play left field. But keep in mind that Houston's left field is smaller than in most ballparks, and of course, Springer knows the park, the team and the community. And the Astros know all about his leadership.
Springer, who turns 37 in September, was drafted 11th overall by the Astros in 2011, was a three-time All-Star for Houston and helped it win a World Series in 2017. He signed a six-year, $150 million deal that will expire at the end of this season, and Toronto is currently in offload mode, according to rival executives.
Will St. Louis deal an impact bat? The Cardinals are willing to listen to offers on anybody on their big league roster not named Jordan Walker or JJ Wetherholt, sources told ESPN. That includes veteran outfielder Lars Nootbaar and All-Star designated hitter/catcher Ivan Herrera, who has drawn interest from at least the Yankees and Red Sox. Both clubs seek catching and offensive help. Herrera has caught only 40 games this season -- and started 66 at DH -- and grades out as a below-average catcher, but the right-handed hitter owns a career 121 OPS+.
Clubs have also expressed interest in right-handed relievers Riley O'Brien and Ryne Stanek and left-handed reliever JoJo Romero. The cost for the 31-year-old O'Brien, a first-time All-Star this season, would be steep since he is under team control through 2030. Stanek and Romero, however, are free agents after the season. The Yankees are among the clubs that have shown interest in the Cardinals relievers. -- Jorge Castillo
Could latest loss push O's into deal mode? After Baltimore's 14-0 loss in Detroit on Tuesday night, rival officials are waiting to see if the Orioles' wave the white flag of surrender on their season, because the numbers are stark: According to FanGraphs, their chances for making the playoffs are down to 18%, and more importantly, they just aren't playing well. They're 52-56, with middling offense and pitching. If they decide to deal away in a year in which Mike Elias, the team's head of baseball operations, has been under increasing pressure from the fanbase to win, the most obvious trade pieces are pitcher Trevor Rogers and outfielder Taylor Ward, who are both eligible for free agency in the fall. -- Buster Olney
Latest on Dodgers deadline status, including Skubal pursuit: The Dodgers got some encouraging news on their every-day catcher, Will Smith, who has been out since June 5 with a neck injury. Smith started baseball activities on Tuesday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, and has been symptom-free for about a week. And though he still has several steps to clear before rejoining their lineup, the Dodgers feel good enough about his health that they are not currently pursuing catching help ahead of the trade deadline, a source familiar with the situation said.
Rival executives continue to view the Dodgers as the favorites for Tarik Skubal -- an even stronger possibility, perhaps, with Shohei Ohtani's left knee continuing to prevent him from pitching -- but L.A. is also expected to shed from its major league roster. With Enrique Hernandez activated on Tuesday, the Dodgers' bench leans very right-handed, and outfielder Alex Call has been made available in talks. The Dodgers will probably also part ways with Eric Lauer, who would lose his spot in the rotation once Blake Snell is activated -- perhaps as early as next week. -- Alden Gonzalez
What will Mariners do at the deadline? The Seattle Mariners are in a tough spot, coming off losing three of four to the division-rival Texas Rangers to put them three games below .500. When they arrived in Los Angeles to start a series against the first-place Dodgers, the Mariners had fallen to third place in the American League West while sitting three games out of first.
But regardless of how this week goes, the Mariners will approach the deadline looking to add, sources familiar with their thinking said.
The Mariners are among the worst in the majors at hitting left-handed pitching and are aggressively seeking another impact right-handed bat. They'll also look to supplement the back end of their bullpen. And because they are operating with a six-man rotation, they will look to trade either veteran Luis Castillo, who's owed $22.75 million next year and has a $25 million vesting option for 2028, or Emerson Hancock, who's controllable through 2030. -- Gonzalez
July 28
Prices for pitching remain high: That's what two "adding" teams have said six days out from the deadline. Asking prices to acquire starting pitchers -- for the next few months or otherwise -- remain sky high. It's the norm for this time of year, which is mostly why everything happens so late. This year is no different. From pitchers like Brady Singer on cheap, expiring contracts to more controllable starters like the Los Angeles Angels duo of Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers, there's not much of an opening for a deal that doesn't involve a really good prospect going back. The one exception might be the pitchers with expensive expiring deals -- such as Robbie Ray and Kevin Gausman. Pick up their entire contract and the prospect return won't hurt as much. The waiting game continues. Eventually those prices should drop. -- Jesse Rogers
Red Sox interested in Marlins shortstop: The Boston Red Sox are searching for a shortstop, and one name that has come up in conversations is the Miami Marlins' Otto Lopez, who was part of the National League All-Star team earlier this month. "He'd be a great player for them," said one rival executive with knowledge of Boston's interest. Lopez is a contact hitter, which would make him a fit for the sort of player Craig Breslow has targeted in the past. The 27-year-old leads the majors with a .331 batting average, has 22 steals and is regarded as a positive personality.
If the Marlins do move Lopez, they will be trading a player on the upswing: He had an OPS under .700 in 2024 and 2025, his age 25 and 26 seasons, and he'll have three-plus years of service time after this season. -- Olney
Potential Toronto pitchers on the market: The Toronto Blue Jays are prepared to trade veterans such as Kevin Gausman and Jeff Hoffman, among others, but to date, they are not dangling All-Star reliever Louis Varland, who has had a spectacular season. Varland, 28, was acquired from Minnesota last summer and was an ironman of sorts for the Jays as they played to Game 7 of the World Series. When Hoffman faltered early this season, Varland took over as the closer, and he has excelled. If the Jays trade him, they'll get a prospect haul; he will finish this season with two-plus years of service time, and any acquiring team would have at least two more years of control. But the Jays are apparently not interested in dealing him. -- Olney
Astros eyeing outfield help: The Astros began the week with a combined .664 OPS from their outfielders, the worst mark in the majors. Astros GM Dana Brown is on the record saying he expects to be a buyer leading up to the trade deadline, and a source said that will be the case so long as the team remains within striking distance of a playoff spot heading into its weekend series against the division-leading Rangers. If so, they'll target an outfielder above all else.
Given that their farm system is one of the worst in the industry, though, securing a quality one in this market could be a major challenge. The Astros prefer a left-handed hitter, but that doesn't have to be the case. More important, according to a source, is that the player is controllable beyond this season. The Astros do not want a pending free agent. Teams will undoubtedly ask about shortstop Jeremy Pena, but the Astros would probably have to go winless this week for them to even consider moving him. -- Gonzalez
July 27
When will the deals heat up? The trade deadline is only a week away, but it seems as if most of the action is on hold. Entering Monday, all but eight teams were within four games of a playoff spot, with many of the others hoping this week provides them the clarity they seek.
"Next handful of games is really important for everyone," a front office executive said. But even some of the clear sellers seem reluctant to engage in substantive trade talks at this juncture and might use the threat of the deadline to pressure teams into meeting their terms.
"I think this may be a year where everything is pushed until the 11th hour," a longtime scout said.
This year's market has several teams that are trying to add and subtract simultaneously, especially contenders looking to capitalize on the dearth of offense available (like the Nationals did by trading Curtis Mead to the Red Sox over the weekend). But the lack of clarity on the adding side is muddling teams' plans and, as one executive fears, could "create pure chaos" at the end. -- Gonzalez
Where Cincy stands entering deadline: Spencer Steer is an experienced right-handed hitter with positional versatility, and in some respects, he might've been the Reds' best trade asset. But he suffered a hand/wrist injury in Sunday's game that will prompt Cincinnati to place him on the injured list, and he's going to miss a significant period of time.
The Reds, in the midst of a disappointing season, have seven pending free agents they could potentially move, from Brady Singer to Eugenio Suarez, and could be among the more active teams before next week's deadline. -- Olney
Could Boston swing a blockbuster deal for a shortstop? The Red Sox added a badly needed right-handed hitter over the weekend in Curtis Mead, but rival officials report that Boston has been looking for a shortstop in a market thin in shortstops. The Nationals will listen to overtures about CJ Abrams, but many in the industry believe Washington will keep him. And although Zach Neto of the Angels has been mentioned in the rumor mill, he's under team control for three more seasons; under the current CBA rules, there's nothing really compelling Los Angeles to move him, short of an overwhelming offer.
Interestingly, veteran shortstop Trevor Story is under contract through 2027 and is working his way back from injury, and as recently as last year, Marcelo Mayer was viewed as a possible long-term solution at shortstop -- but rival evaluators were underwhelmed by his play there earlier this year. -- Olney
When Tigers could make Skubal decision -- and what it means for the entire deadline: The starting pitching market is flush with possibilities, from Robbie Ray to Kevin Gausman to Freddy Peralta to Clay Holmes. But at least some of the teams that could be landing spots for those players will likely wait for the Tigers to decide whether they're keeping Tarik Skubal before dealing for a starting pitcher. Skubal is clearly the best option in the market. And even if the Phillies, Braves, Cubs or Dodgers don't land Skubal, they'll want to remain in the market for as long as possible to help push the potential cost for a rival team.
Rival executives remain uncertain about what the Tigers will do before the deadline, and they can see the logic behind either path. Detroit is six games under .500 and still 3½ games behind in the race for the third wild card, and if the Tigers -- thin in pitching prospects -- decide to trade Skubal, the decision will reflect the team's currently reality.
On the other hand, the Tigers have played very well since the start of June, and in a wide open American League, they could dream of playing into the World Series if they can make the playoffs. "If they wait until Friday to make that decision, that'll leave them plenty of time to make a deal," one official said. "Three full days, plus Monday -- that's an eternity." -- Olney
What are Seattle's biggest needs? The disappointing Mariners continue to struggle to score runs, and though they're hoping to get Brendan Donovan back soon, he has gone 2-for-31 with 10 strikeouts and one walk on his rehab assignment in the minors. But they also need a high-leverage right-handed reliever with Matt Brash still sidelined with a lat strain. Eduard Bazardo is that guy right now, but he has struggled in July with a 6.23 ERA and three home runs allowed. Right-handed batters have a .721 OPS against him on the season, so he's far too hittable as a vital right-on-right reliever. -- David Schoenfield
July 26
Which Yankees reliever could be on the move? While the New York Yankees are looking to add a leverage reliever or two, they're also open to trading reliever Camilo Doval, sources told ESPN. The right-hander, an All-Star in 2023, has floundered since the Yankees acquired him from the San Francisco Giants at last year's trade deadline with a 4.85 ERA in 63 appearances entering Sunday.
The struggles are perplexing. Doval has elite stuff, with a cutter that regularly touches 101 mph, and he can dominate when clicking. But left-handed hitters are batting .371 with a 1.018 OPS against him and he's crumbled in non-low-leverage situations; hitters have a .976 OPS against him in medium-leverage and a 1.043 OPS in high-leverage situations. The ineffectiveness has resulted in Doval tumbling down the bullpen hierarchy in the Bronx. Still, his electric arm and club control through 2027 could make him an attractive add-low candidate. -- Jorge Castillo
Texas looking for bullpen depth: The Texas Rangers' playoff chances largely hinge on the performance of their rotation, as well as the status of shortstop Corey Seager, who has been out with a back injury longer than the team initially expected. But one way or another, Texas is expected to add help to a bullpen that went into play Sunday ranked 19th among 30 teams in ERA, at 4.21. Jacob Latz made the All-Star team because of his work at closer, but more depth is need with the bullpen group as the Rangers attempt to separate themselves from the Seattle Mariners, et al, in the AL West.
The Rangers are not expected to take on much payroll with their deadline acquisitions -- if any -- which could limit the range of options for them, unless their trade partners can absorb some of the salary costs of players going to Texas. -- Olney