It’s time for another look at the players who’ll dominate the hot stove over the next six days. As always, this isn’t a strict ranking of players’ trade value, nor is it solely about likelihood of being moved. We’re trying to balance both of those things, an inherently subjective exercise. The #1 player on the list is the most impactful player who has any real chance of being dealt, but there are players in the back half who’d clearly be much higher if the list were based on impact alone.

MLBTR has also broken down each team’s individual deadline outlook throughout July. Links to all those posts, which are a perk for Front Office subscribers, can be found here.

Note: Stats are through play on July 27. Since this list was published, Twins GM Jeremy Zoll said they were planning to buy — limiting the chance of a Jeffers or Ryan trade.

1. Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers ($32MM salary, impending free agent)

Detroit has played well since June but have dropped three straight to the Royals and Orioles. They’re again seven games below .500 and have respectively fallen six and four games back in the division and Wild Card races. They’ll have two more against the Orioles and a three-game set against the A’s before needing to make the Skubal decision.

The two-time defending AL Cy Young winner has dominated the Angels and Royals in his first two starts out of the All-Star Break. He looks no worse for wear following his remarkably quick return from an elbow procedure. No other plausible trade candidate would more meaningfully improve a team’s odds of winning the 2026 World Series.

Skubal will be due around $9.5MM from the deadline through season’s end on his record-setting $32MM arbitration salary. There’s been some thought the Tigers could deal him for a prospect package built around a controllable starting pitcher, trying not to wave the white flag on 2026 while ensuring they don’t only lose him for a compensatory pick if/when he signs elsewhere next winter.

As MLBTR’s Steve Adams explored last week, the Tigers are also balancing Skubal’s status against the luxury tax. MLBTR estimates the team’s CBT payroll is about $1.6MM above the $244MM base threshold. The actual fees are minimal, but exceeding the CBT dramatically changes the compensation they’d receive if they lose a qualified free agent. They’d get a pick after the first round for Skubal’s departure if they stay below the CBT threshold; that drops to after the fourth round if they pay the luxury tax. That doesn’t mean they’ll trade Skubal, but they could look to offload another player’s mid-level salary or two to ensure they at least get a quality draft pick if they hang onto their ace.

2. Mason Miller, RP, Padres ($4MM salary, arb-eligible through ’29)

It’s unclear how seriously the Padres might listen on baseball’s best reliever, whom they have under arbitration control for three and a half seasons. Trading Miller would be San Diego’s clearest path to acquiring a controllable starting pitcher. There have been a handful of reports from rival executives who feel that’ll force the Padres’ hand, but Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported last week that the superstar closer was likelier to stay put.

Miller is 26-26 in save chances on the season. He has a 0.82 ERA and a near-50% strikeout rate through 43 2/3 innings. Miller is trending toward one of the greatest reliever seasons ever. The Padres would need a massive return — potentially one headlined by an affordable big league starter — to consider moving him. A trade still feels like a long shot, but Miller will be one of the biggest names in rumors right up to 5:00 pm Central on August 3.

3. Luis Arraez, 2B, Giants ($12MM salary, impending free agent)

Arraez is a lock to move. There haven’t been any extension conversations between the three-time batting champion and a bad Giants team. San Francisco will get a better trade package than the compensatory pick they’d receive for making him a qualifying offer. The game’s best pure hitter, Arraez is having his best offensive season since 2023. The more surprising development is that he’s turned himself into a capable defensive second baseman.

The four-time All-Star has said he wants to stay at the keystone after a trade, though the Giants are ultimately going to move him to whatever teams makes the most compelling offer. The Rangers and Rays are the only contenders who have a clear need at second base, assuming the Nationals don’t intend to pay up for one of the best rental hitters available. Maybe a team like the Tigers or Phillies will trade their incumbent second baseman and take a look at Arraez. He might also just need to move back to first base or DH for the next couple months before prioritizing a return to second base in free agency.

4. Reid Detmers, SP, Angels ($2.625MM salary, arb-eligible through ’28)

5. José Soriano, SP, Angels ($2.9MM salary, arb-eligible through ’28)

The Angels are reportedly showing more willingness than they have in previous years to entertain offers on controllable players. Their pair of mid-rotation starters — both of whom are under arbitration control through the 2028 season — will be top targets for contenders.

Detmers has been the more effective of the duo lately. A former top 10 pick, Detmers has been inconsistent but flashed mid-rotation ability throughout his career. He spent last year in the bullpen and has successfully bounced back to a rotation role this year. Detmers carries a 4.05 ERA with quality strikeout and walk numbers across 120 innings. He’ll go through stretches where he’s more homer-prone than teams would like, including giving up five homers in 20 1/3 frames this month, but he’s a capable #3 starter who’d fit any team’s budget. The Cubs and White Sox are reportedly among those with interest.

Soriano was the American League’s pitcher of the month in April after pitching to a 0.87 ERA over his first seven starts. He struggled over the next couple months as his control woes resurfaced but has shown strong form in July. The end result is a career-best 3.29 ERA across 123 innings. Soriano has big velocity, averaging 97 mph on his sinker, and gets a lot of ground-balls while striking out a quarter of opponents. He has below-average command but excellent stuff and fits into the middle of most rotations.

6. Freddy Peralta, SP, Mets ($8MM salary, impending free agent)

Peralta has had an ugly season and a generally unsuccessful Mets tenure, which will almost certainly end within the next week. He’s sitting on an ERA near 5.00 over 22 starts and 113 2/3 innings. His league average 22.1% strikeout rate is easily a career low, while he has allowed 1.35 home runs per nine. The 2026 version of Peralta looks like a fourth or fifth starter, but he’s one season removed from a top five Cy Young finish.

There’s minimal financial cost, as he’ll be owed around $2.37MM after the deadline. There’ll still be plenty of interest from contenders hoping for a rebound, even if the Mets aren’t going to recoup close to the prospect value (Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams) they surrendered to acquire Peralta from Milwaukee in January.

7. Foster Griffin, SP, Nationals ($5.5MM salary, impending free agent)

Washington signed Griffin to a one-year deal in his return from Japan. They hoped the former first-round pick would show enough to be a decent trade chip for a team looking for an affordable fourth/fifth starter. Griffin and the team have each dramatically outperformed expectations. The 31-year-old southpaw has been their best pitcher, working to a 2.76 ERA across 124 innings. He’s striking out an average 22.6% of opponents against a stellar 5.6% walk rate and has a minuscule 1.58 ERA over his past nine times on the mound.

Griffin has pitched his way into being a candidate for the qualifying offer. Extension talks didn’t get far, according to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, leaving the Nats with an interesting call. They’re narrowly above .500 and within one game of a Wild Card spot. Trading their best starter would deal a hit to this year’s playoff chances but could recoup more prospect capital for the overall rebuild. The Nationals swapped Curtis Mead for Connelly Early last week, and while the rotation is still a clear weakness, that’ll at least give them some help once Early returns from seemingly minor elbow inflammation.

8. Casey Mize, SP, Tigers ($6.15MM salary, impending free agent)

Mize is another affordable mid-rotation starter on a borderline contender. He’s a near-lock to receive and reject a qualifying offer if the Tigers don’t trade him, which gives them some leverage, but they’d get a better return via trade if they sell. The 2018 first overall pick is pitching at the best level of his career, working to a 2.70 ERA while striking out a quarter of batters faced across 86 2/3 frames. He has had a couple minor injured list stints for right groin issues but has been healthy and effective for the last six weeks.

9. Ryan Jeffers, C, Twins ($6.7MM salary, impending free agent)

Jeffers is the best impending free agent catcher and has long been expected to be available. That’s complicated by Minnesota surprisingly hanging around the playoff picture. The Twins enter play Tuesday just a game back in the Wild Card and three out in the AL Central. Jeffers, who has been tied to the Yankees and Rays, would be a borderline qualifying offer candidate.

Minnesota could trade him and turn the primary catching job to Victor Caratini, who is having an alright season in a backup role. It wouldn’t necessarily need to be part of a deadline teardown, and the Twins could theoretically demand big league bullpen help among the return.

The righty-hitting Jeffers missed around seven weeks between May and July after suffering a left hamate fracture that required surgery. He has picked up where he left off, hitting .286 with two homers and doubles apiece in nine games since returning. Jeffers has a robust .293/.395/.535 line with nine longballs on the season.

10. Robbie Ray, SP, Giants ($25MM salary, impending free agent)

As with Arraez, Ray is a lock to be dealt out of San Francisco this week. The 34-year-old lefty doesn’t have the same swing-and-miss ability he had at his Cy Young peak, but he has turned in a 3.16 ERA through 116 2/3 innings. Ray has gotten solid results since an ugly May, working to a 1.67 mark in his past nine appearances. His 19% strikeout rate and 11.3% walk percentage over that stretch aren’t nearly as impressive, though, as Ray is more of a frustratingly inefficient mid-rotation arm than a top-end starter at this stage of his career.

San Francisco will probably kick in a few million dollars to cover a portion of the approximate $7.4MM which Ray will make for the season’s final two months. That could net them a couple mid-level prospects from a contender that views Ray as a viable third or fourth starter in a playoff rotation. The Cubs, Braves, Phillies, Diamondbacks or White Sox could all be involved.

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Farmer is back in the organization after being released last week. He’d spent the season on the big league roster around a six-week injured list stint but saw sporadic action. Farmer made 12 total appearances and only got into the starting lineup once. He went 4-16 with a double and four strikeouts. It wasn’t a great use of a roster spot despite Farmer’s strong clubhouse reputation.

The Atlanta native will report to Gwinnett as veteran infield depth. Atlanta doesn’t have much roster flexibility in the position player core, as none of their bench players (Joey Bart, Jorge Mateo, Dominic Smith or Eli White) have minor league options.

Rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis does have options and has only managed seven hits in 39 plate appearances since the All-Star Break. He has also committed four errors in 19 starts. Atlanta should be in the shortstop market, which could push Jarvis back to Triple-A.

There aren’t a ton of obvious trade candidates at the position, as it’s a bad group of rentals and the shortstops on the obvious sellers aren’t likely to move. Francisco Lindor, Willy Adames, Javier Báez, Ezequiel Tovar and Andrés Giménez all have underwater contracts. None of Bobby Witt Jr., Elly De La Cruz or Jacob Wilson are getting dealt. The Angels are expected to listen on Zach Neto but would surely demand a haul for three and a half years of their franchise shortstop.

This was the fear when McDonald went on the injured list last week with a moderate UCL sprain. The 25-year-old had held a spot in San Francisco’s rotation since early May. McDonald pitched well early on before tailing off shortly before the injury. He finishes his first extended big league season with a 5.12 earned run average across 70 1/3 innings. He posted a 55.2% ground-ball rate with a modest 18.4% strikeout percentage.

Vitello also provided a bizarre update on Harrison Bader, who has been out since late May with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Bader reinjured his foot in a scooter accident on Saturday night and was sent for imaging on Tuesday. The team hasn’t announced results of the testing. As Guardado and Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News point out, Bader was previously injured in what was believed to be an alcohol-related scooter accident while in his sophomore season at the University of Florida in 2014. The Gators suspended him for 19 games.

McDonald is under team control for another six seasons. Bader is in the first season of what looks to be a rough two-year, $20.5MM free agent contract. Both players could eventually move to the 60-day injured list, but the Giants already have one open 40-man roster spot and are likely to clear a few more with trades of Luis Arraez, Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle by Monday.

It’s a big victory for a clubhouse that should get a boost in the next five days. The Twins’ surprisingly competitive season has positioned them to add before next Monday’s trade deadline. General manager Jeremy Zoll told reporters this evening that the front office is approaching the deadline as buyers (links via Matthew Leach of MLB.com and Dan Hayes of The Athletic). Bolstering one of the league’s worst bullpens is an unsurprising priority.

“This has been what we were focusing on and what our pro personnel group over the last couple of months has been focused on — the ‘buy’ version of things,” Zoll said. “It wasn’t some situation where they were prepping to sell and we’re switching. Now we’re looking forward to try and execute on that work.”

That may well take two of the game’s top trade chips off the market. Ryan Jeffers is the best impending free agent catcher and has gotten attention from the Rays and Yankees (surely among other clubs). Joe Ryan would’ve been one of the marquee targets for teams seeking starting pitching as a #2 caliber starter with an extra season of arbitration control.

Zoll’s declaration makes it highly unlikely the Twins will listen on Ryan, who’d essentially be irreplaceable as the team’s best pitcher. There’d still be an argument for listening on Jeffers in a deal that nets big league pitching, as Minnesota has a capable backup catcher in Victor Caratini. Zoll declined to speak in absolutes about any individual player — aside from last month’s declaration that Byron Buxton wasn’t going anywhere — but made it fairly clear they weren’t looking to move Jeffers.

“What I’ll say is on Ryan specifically, he’s had an awesome year,” Zoll said of his starting catcher. “We’re really excited about where he’s at, and looking forward to doing everything we can to keep the group together and put us in the best spot to keep pushing ahead.”

That would further thin a dwindling catching market that already lost Shea Langeliers to meniscus surgery. Adley Rutschman, Hunter Goodman and Francisco Alvarez are long shots to move. Cincinnati’s Tyler Stephenson probably jumps to the top of the rental market if the Twins shut down talks on Jeffers. They would need to weigh whether to issue him a qualifying offer in the $23MM range at season’s end.

Minnesota may still deal from the big league roster if it’s a baseball trade, presumably for pitching help. They have a surplus in left-handed hitting outfielders that may yet make left fielder Trevor Larnach available. The former first-round pick has had a strong season in a platoon role, batting .313/.398/.475 against right-handed pitching. He’s playing on a $4.475MM salary and eligible for arbitration one more time.

The Twins have 26-year-old Alan Roden, acquired last summer as part of the Louis Varland trade, on the big league bench. Roden hasn’t hit much in limited MLB time but has pummeled Triple-A pitching. Prospects Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Hendry Mendez have all performed well in Triple-A. (Rodriguez has been out since early May and is just working back from injury.) Matt Wallner has also destroyed minor league pitching since being optioned in May and could be flipped for a mid-level prospect.

Minnesota has a strong farm system, so perhaps they’ll preserve their outfield depth and leverage the minor league pipeline for bullpen help. They’ll need multiple late-game pieces. Twins relievers entered play Tuesday with a 5.03 earned run average, the third-highest mark in MLB. They’re 25th in strikeout rate and have the second-worst walk percentage. They’ve pitched better over the past month, to their credit, but they’re still relying mostly on unproven arms.

Journeyman Yoendrys Gómez, acquired in a DFA trade with the Rays in early May, has fired 30 1/3 frames of 1.78 ERA ball to take the closer role in the Twin Cities. Rookie righty Andrew Morris has turned in a 3.24 ERA with a 24.1% strikeout rate in his first 50 big league innings. They’re the two most reliable arms for first-year skipper Derek Shelton. The left-handed duo of Taylor Rogers and Kody Funderburk has been shaky overall. Minnesota already swung a deal to acquire Tommy Nance from Toronto. He should be in middle relief.

While the bullpen is the priority, the Twins could also look for a rotation upgrade over Zebby Matthews and/or help at the bottom of the order. They’re getting nothing offensively from Ryan Kreidler this month, though they could bring up highly regarded prospect Kaelen Culpepper from Triple-A rather than trade for a shortstop.

Third baseman Brooks Lee has been serviceable but unspectacular. Minnesota has generally struggled versus left-handed pitching and could look for a complementary righty bat. Those are in short supply this summer, but a utility piece like Nick Loftin or José Fermín could work as a depth addition.

The Twins are spending around $101MM, as shown on MLBTR’s new payroll tracker. It’s a $30MM cut from where they ended last year. Minnesota hasn’t shown much of an appetite for spending but resisted an offseason teardown after bringing in some minority investors and turning control of the franchise over to Tom Pohlad.

Minnesota general manager Jeremy Zoll said last week that Festa was likely to miss the entire season. The pair of operations officially confirms as much. Festa has battled shoulder injuries dating back to last year and met with a thoracic outlet specialist as early as September 2025. Doctors at that time found the issue to be a compressed nerve and he avoided surgery. Festa battled shoulder issues during his Spring Training build-up this year and hasn’t thrown a regular season pitch since last July.

Festa was one of the organization’s better pitching prospects before his 2024 debut. The Seton Hall product has made 25 big league appearances, turning in a 5.12 ERA over 117 2/3 innings. He has fanned more than a quarter of opponents against a decent 8.3% walk rate. It’s an above-average strikeout and walk profile that has been undercut by Festa’s susceptibility to the home run ball.

The Twins have kept Festa on the 60-day injured list all year. He’ll need to be reinstated onto the 40-man roster or placed on waivers at the beginning of the offseason. Given his prospect pedigree, it’s likely that Minnesota will keep him on the roster all winter and hope for better health in 2027.

Wesneski returns to an MLB mound for the first time in 14 months. The Astros acquired the righty as a secondary part of their return from the Cubs for Kyle Tucker. Wesneski worked 32 innings with a 4.50 ERA across six starts to open the ’25 season. He blew out after that and underwent Tommy John surgery last May.

It was a relatively smooth recovery for the 28-year-old righty. Wesneski began a minor league rehab stint within 13 months and has looked sharp on the buildup. He has fired 20 innings of 2.25 ERA ball while recording 21 strikeouts and four walks. Wesneski went 4 1/3 scoreless frames with seven punchouts in a Triple-A start against Milwaukee’s affiliate on Friday. He went 80 pitches and should be able to work at least 4-5 innings in his first MLB outing.

Houston had an opening in the rotation after losing Spencer Arrighetti to the injured list over the weekend. For now, Wesneski will slot alongside Hunter Brown, Peter Lambert, Ronel Blanco and Tatsuya Imai.

Imai’s hold on a spot could be tenuous, as he again failed to escape the first inning last night. Cristian Javier went five scoreless with seven strikeouts in relief, tossing 70 pitches in the process. The Astros could swap Javier in the next time that rotation spot comes up if they want to have Imai work out of the bullpen. They’re also likely to poke around the trade market for starting pitching over the next six days.

Haase was released by the Giants last week. He had spent the preceding three months on San Francisco’s MLB roster. Haase signed an offseason minor league deal and was in camp with the Giants. He didn’t win an Opening Day job but was up by mid-April as injuries opened an opportunity behind the dish.

The 33-year-old appeared in 29 games for San Francisco in a depth role. He took 84 plate appearances and hit .162/.235/.365 with four home runs while punching out in a third of his trips. That’s standard production for Haase, a veteran of parts of nine MLB seasons. He has above-average power with a lot of whiffs, leading to a career .224/.276/.394 slash line. Haase has a good arm but isn’t a polished receiving catcher.

Chicago has been exploring the catching market since losing Kyle Teel to a high ankle sprain. Haase isn’t going to take them out of that mix but adds another veteran depth option to pair with Korey Lee in Triple-A, as the Teel injury forced Chicago to recall Edgar Quero.

The White Sox should still be looking into short-term depth adds on the trade market. Jonah Heim, Tyler Stephenson and Joey Bart might be available. Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported last night that the Sox were among the teams with interest in Mets backup catcher Luis Torrens. It’s unclear if New York would look to move Torrens, whom they signed to a two-year extension in May. He has a very light bat but is one of the sport’s best defensive catchers, excelling both as a framer and especially at throwing out baserunners.

Schmitt suffered the injury during last night’s win over Milwaukee. He made a wide turn around first base on a single, then slammed on the brakes and headed back to first. His knee buckled as he made the hard stop and he needed to be lifted for a pinch-runner. An IL stint seemed inevitable when manager Tony Vitello told reporters postgame that the Giants were sending Schmitt for imaging.

It halts and perhaps ends a breakout season for the fourth-year utilityman. Schmitt has a career-best .271/.301/.483 batting line with 21 home runs across 409 plate appearances. He’s an aggressive hitter who is never likely to run especially high on-base marks, but he was swinging harder and hitting more fly balls to tap into his power. Although Schmitt’s bat had cooled following an excellent first two months,  he has been one of San Francisco’s better all-around position players.

This also ends whatever small chance existed of Schmitt being a trade chip this summer. His defensive versatility and right-handed bat would’ve surely gotten some interest on the trade front. The Giants have him under arbitration control through 2029 and were likelier to hang onto him regardless, presumably plugging him in as the everyday second baseman whenever they trade Luis Arraez.

Schmitt has been at third base recently with Matt Chapman on the injured list. Christian Koss, who pinch ran for him and finished last night’s game, is in at the hot corner tonight. Chapman is expected back this weekend, but Arraez will almost certainly be traded before or shortly after that. Koss could be the biggest beneficiary of the uptick in playing time once second base opens up.

The 25-year-old Basabe is up as a utility piece for the first time in three seasons. His big league experience consists of 31 games for the 2023 Rays, for whom he hit .218/.277/.310 with one home run. Basabe’s athleticism once made him a well-regarded prospect in the Tampa Bay system. His bat stalled in the upper minors and the Giants picked him up in a DFA trade over the 2024-25 offseason.

San Francisco ran Basabe through outright waivers midway through last year. They re-signed him to a minor league deal and have kept him at Triple-A Sacramento for two seasons. Basabe is hitting a league average .268/.344/.388 with five homers and 12 steals in 75 games there. He’s making a lot of contact with minimal power for the Pacific Coast League. Basabe can play both middle infield spots or third base and still has a minor league option remaining.

Strzelecki, 31, was just signed to a minor league deal a few days ago. He made one appearance for Single-A Palm Beach and has now been added to the big league roster. Dobbins tossed 5 1/3 innings of relief yesterday and wasn’t going to be available for a few days, so this move gives the Cards a fresh arm in the bullpen.

It has been a nomadic season for Strzelecki but he has put up good numbers while earning frequent flier miles. He started the season with the Brewers on a minor league deal. He was added to Milwaukee’s roster in May but was designated for assignment the next day without appearing in a game. He cleared waivers and elected free agency, which led to a minor league deal with the Yankees. He opted out of that deal last month and got another minors deal with the Brewers. Last week, another opt-out led to his Cardinals deal.

Between those various organizations, he has thrown 32 minor league innings this year, allowing 3.94 earned runs per nine. He probably deserves even better. His 28.6% strikeout rate and 4.5% walk rate are both much better than average and his 44% ground ball rate is better than par as well. A .317 batting average on balls in play may have helped push some extra runs across home.

In addition to the strong numbers on the farm this year, he has a decent major league track record. He has thrown 83 2/3 innings for the Brewers, Diamondbacks and Guardians with a 3.44 ERA, 24% strikeout rate, 8.4% walk rate and 35.8% ground ball rate.

It’s possible his grip on a roster spot will not be tight, since he is out of options. The roster might also undergo a few changes in the coming days. The Cards came into this season in rebuild mode but have hovered around contention. They are currently 53-53 and 1.5 games out of a playoff spot. They might do some combination of buying and selling. If they decide to sell, guys like Dustin May, Ryne Stanek or Riley O’Brien could be on the block, which could impact the squeeze on guys like Strzelecki. If they add guys, that could push him out.

Photo courtesy of Dave Kallmann, Imagn Images

Both players were added by Seattle as the club attempted to balance out their position player group. The lineup leans heavily to the left side, so they signed Refsnyder in the offseason. A righty bat, he has crushed lefties in his career, so the M’s gave him $6.25MM on a one-year deal.

The club hasn’t yet received the return on that investment they wanted. Refsnyder hit .133/.203/.219 in 49 games before right knee inflammation sent him to the IL about a month ago. He suffered from a .151 batting average on balls in play in that time but his 5.9% walk rate and 26.9% strikeout rate were also rough marks, coming in well below league average and his previous career benchmarks.

Kennedy was acquired in late June when Refsnyder hit the IL. Kennedy is also a righty bat but he didn’t do anything to solve the problem. He only received 11 plate appearances with the Mariners but struck out in four of those while notching just one hit, a double. He is out of options, so he has been bumped into DFA limbo. He will likely be on waivers in the coming days. He has cleared many times before and hasn’t been playing well lately, so he should have a decent chance of clearing again. If that comes to pass, he’ll have the right to elect free agency.

He has a solid track record in the minor leagues, with a .285/.393/.442 line in his Triple-A career. He also has some defensive versatility, with professional experience at all four infield spots and left field, but he has only hit .167/.260/.259 in 200 big league plate appearances with various clubs.

As for Refsnyder, though he is retaking his roster spot now, he may not have it for long. The Mariners are known to be looking for righty bats ahead of the deadline and are reportedly willing to discuss Luis Castillo or Emerson Hancock as part of that search. Given Refsnyder’s struggles and injury, he might get squeezed out of the club’s plans.

Photo courtesy of Pablo Robles, Imagn Images

It’s an unfortunate start to the Mead era for the Red Sox. Boston just traded left-hander Connelly Early to Washington three days ago, hoping that they were subtracting from a strong rotation in order to improve their infield and lineup. Mead is controlled for four seasons beyond this one, so there’s still plenty of time for him to provide value, but the Sox surely hoped he would play a role in helping them immediately.

Mead made his Sox debut last night against the Athletics but was hit by a pitch near his hands as seen in this clip from Baseball Savant. He initially stayed in the game but was removed an inning later. A timeline for his injury hasn’t been reported or provided by the club, but a broken wrist will surely lead to a notable absence. That’s obviously a frustrating development for the Sox and for Mead.

It’s possible that this leads to further moves ahead of the August 3 trade deadline. Even after acquiring Mead, the Sox have reportedly been looking at the shortstop market. Trevor Story is still recovering from hernia surgery performed earlier this year. He could return before the season is done but he hasn’t yet started a rehab assignment. With Mead now subtracted from the infield group, perhaps it will increase the club’s desire to add another infielder for the stretch run.

Last night, the Sox played Mead at second base, with Willson Contreras at first, Caleb Durbin at third and Andruw Monasterio at short. Monasterio is having a decent season but could have been bumped to a utility role by an external acquisition. Even without a shortstop trade, the return of Story or a late-season promotion for prospect Franklin Arias could have had a similar effect.

Now with Mead subtracted, the infield group looks as thin as it did a few days ago. Sogard will come up to join Monasterio, Anthony Seigler and Romy González in the middle infield group for now. If the Sox look to the trade market, some of the potentially available names are Zach Neto, Luis Arraez, CJ Abrams, Gleyber Torres, Willy Adames, Willi Castro and Brett Baty.

Photo courtesy of Paul Rutherford, Imagn Images

Milwaukee acquired Shewmake from the Astros earlier this month in a cash deal. It was a few days after David Hamilton hit the injured list with a strained left hamstring. Once Hamilton was able to come off the IL, the out-of-options Shewmake was nudged off the roster. This is the second outright of Shewmake’s career, giving him the right to elect free agency for the first time.

He should be limited to minor league offers. Presumably, if any club were willing to give him a big league job, he would have been claimed. Perhaps some trade deadline moves will open up playing time, depending on who is moved in the coming days.

Shewmake is a former 21st overall pick but he hasn’t developed offensively, which leaves him as a speed-and-defense infielder. Statcast credits him with 73rd percentile sprint speed this year. He has split his time between shortstop, third base and second base. But he has a .196/.206/.320 line in 162 plate appearances. His Triple-A output has been better but still not good. He has a .240/.305/.382 line in 1,225 plate appearances at that level.

The lackluster performance has caused him to exhaust his options and move into journeyman territory. Atlanta traded him to the White Sox a few years back. The Sox put him on waivers after 2024, which led to claims by the Royals and Yankees. The Yanks got him through waivers in February of this year. Since that was his first career outright and he was well shy of three years of service time, he had to accept it. He was then traded to the Astros and spent a bit of time with that club before being designated for assignment, which led to his aforementioned trade to the Brewers. There is clearly some interest around the league, so Shewmake will now suss out his opportunities.

Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images

Baltimore could move rentals like Taylor Ward and Trevor Rogers if they slide further down the standings, or they could string together a few wins and make some modest additions to bolster those Wild Card hopes. Given their place in the standings and broader organizational outlook, it’s unlikely they’ll be prominent sellers. It seems they’re laying groundwork for a number of different potential talks, however; ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports (video link, specifically around the 24:55 mark) that they’ve talked with other clubs about second baseman Jackson Holliday, outfielder Colton Cowser and catcher Adley Rutschman. The latter is now on the injured list alongside Samuel Basallo. Both catchers being banged up makes it tougher to see the O’s moving on from Rutschman, who’s controlled through 2027. An offseason deal — if Rutschman is traded at all — feels more realistic.

Holliday would be a particularly intriguing trade candidate, though in all likelihood discussions surrounding him are merely a matter of due diligence. The 22-year-old was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2022 and was the No. 1 prospect in baseball prior to his big league debut. He hasn’t yet lived up to that lofty prospect billing, but Holliday won’t turn 23 until the offseason and is enjoying career-best output at the plate. In 55 games and 178 plate appearances, he’s hitting .243/.354/.392 with a career-high 15.2% walk rate.

It’s not the most formidable batting line you’ll see, but Holliday’s season began with a lengthy absence due to a hamate fracture he suffered in spring training. Some setbacks along the way delayed his season debut into mid-May. Holliday hit decently at first before struggling for most of June. Hamate fractures can often have lingering impact on a hitter’s performance, but Holliday has looked much better of late. Over the past three weeks, he’s taken 50 plate appearances and turned in a ridiculous .410/.520/.487 slash with more walks (10) than strikeouts (8). He’s not going to sustain that pace, of course, but Holliday is clearly seeing the ball well. His chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone during this blistering stretch is a paltry 16.3%.

The Orioles control Holliday for four years beyond the current season. He’s yet to reach the ceiling forecast for him prior to his big league debut, but the asking price would surely still be quite high given his upside and remaining control. Clubs in need of help at multiple infield spots could still try to make a push, but the O’s wouldn’t feel pressured to agree to anything shy of a significant return. Holliday has played primarily second base as an Oriole but has experience at both shortstop and third base. Moving him now would be selling low, but if a team is willing to pay for that upside in the form of some controllable starting pitching, perhaps the O’s would at least consider it. They have Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz and Dean Kremer signed/controlled beyond the current season but little certainty otherwise, and Kremer is controlled only through 2027.

The O’s don’t have an obvious successor at second base if they surprisingly opt to move Holliday. Jeremiah Jackson‘s BABIP-driven 2025 showing has given way to a bleak .248/.268/.393 slash in a larger sample this year. Baltimore’s system isn’t especially deep in infielders — at least not in the upper minors. If the O’s are convinced that Coby Mayo can handle third base, then shifting Jordan Westburg to second base next year might make some sense, speculatively speaking. (Certainly, the throws from second would be easier on his surgically repaired right elbow than the throws from his customary hot corner.) Utilityman Blaze Alexander could mix in, and there will also be several options available in free agency (e.g. Luis Arraez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Gleyber Torres, Brandon Lowe).

Cowser makes for a more natural trade possibility. Baltimore can control him three more years, through 2029, but he’s had a mixed-bag tenure in the bigs. Back in 2024, Cowser looked like a building block, hitting .242/.321/.447 with 24 homers and nine steals while playing plus left field defense (in addition to briefer stints in center field and right field). That year’s 30.4% strikeout rate was a red flag, however, and in 2025 Cowser’s questionable hit tool reached a breaking point. He fanned in just shy of 36% of his plate appearances while batting only .196/.269/.385.

The 2026 season hasn’t been much kinder. Cowser struggled in April, caught fire in May, and has now seen his offense wilt once again. He’s hitting .207/.315/.332 overall but just .156/.303/.222 in his past 109 trips to the plate. Cowser has played primarily center field this season and graded well there (4 Defensive Runs Saved, 4 Outs Above Average) after posting lesser marks in previous seasons.

A good portion of Cowser’s struggles at the plate in the majors have come against lefties. He’s not a great hitter versus right-handers, granted, but his .219/.312/.402 batting line (103 wRC+) is serviceable. Against southpaws, he’s mustered only a .200/.270/.349 line. Whether in Baltimore or elsewhere, he’s best deployed with in a platoon setting.

Still just 26 years old, Cowser is a former No. 5 overall pick and top prospect. He hasn’t reached stardom or even cemented himself as a regular. As with Holliday though, another club could still place a bet if they feel there’s some untapped upside. He has above average speed and a plus arm. Statcast has regularly touted his plus range.

The Orioles aren’t deep in ready-made replacements, but they’ve gotten average offense out of Dylan Beavers in a limited sample and have prospects like Nate George, Ike Irish and Enrique Bradfield Jr. climbing the system. Reed Trimble is a bit old (26) to be a true prospect but is already on the 40-man roster and close to big league ready. The O’s could try to re-sign Ward (an impending free agent and a trade candidate if things go south over the next week), and free agency will also include names like Randy Arozarena, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Trent Grisham, Daulton Varsho and Jake Bauers.

Talks this time of year are both expansive and plentiful. The Orioles discussing bigger moves like potentially dealing Holliday or Cowser certainly does not equate to either player being shopped. At the same time, it’s also fair to say that Baltimore’s ballyhooed core of young players from several years ago hasn’t panned out as well as hoped. Players like Holliday, Cowser, Mayo and Beavers have shown glimpses of breaking out but haven’t done so in full. Westburg is a solid regular but has frequently been injured. Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson have played like stars at times and “merely” quality regulars at others. The O’s have held onto some other touted prospects (e.g. Heston Kjerstad, Cade Povich) and simply not received much in the way of major league contributions.

Whether the front office thinks this group can still comprise the core of a contending club or feels that some bigger-picture changes are necessary will become clearer over time. For now, the Orioles are doing what a team stuck in the middle of a mediocre AL playoff race should do: explore options on both ends of the buy/sell spectrum to lay the groundwork not only for theoretical deadline deals  — but also some potential offseason dealings if it’s determined that broader changes are necessary.

Hicks, 27, should be very attractive as a trade candidate. A Rule 5 pick out of the Tigers system, he stuck on the Miami roster throughout the 2025 season. He provided almost league average offense with competent defense at first base and behind the plate. That gave the Marlins his full rights and he has taken a step forward this season. He has a .279/.358/.438 line and 118 wRC+, indicating he has been 18% better than league average offensively.

The Marlins certainly don’t need to trade him. Hicks is controllable for four more seasons after this one. He isn’t slated to qualify for arbitration until after next season. The Fish are within two games of a playoff spot and don’t need to act as sellers.

There are also arguments to consider it. Joe Mack came into the season as one of the top catching prospects in the league. Through 62 big league games, he has really strong marks for his glovework and a .234/.288/.429 batting line that is a bit below league average. If Mack is the catcher of the future, then Hicks may be limited to a part-time catching role as he looks for playing time at first base and in the designated hitter slot. Kyle Stowers is currently getting close to everyday reps at first.

If another club view Hicks as a viable everyday catcher, then he may be more valuable to that other club than he is to the Marlins. If another club is willing to put something of value on the table, it could make sense for Miami to take it, or at least listen.

It could also make sense with Miami’s in-between position this year. Not so long ago, they were red hot and looked like clear buyers. A 12-game losing streak dropped them down to a borderline area. They probably don’t want to punt the season but also may not be inclined to make bold moves that would require them to subtract from their farm system. Trading Hicks could still leave them in a good position behind the plate with Mack, Brian Navarreto and Agustín Ramírez all on the roster, while upgrading elsewhere.

Looking at the broader market, some recent developments have impacted things. Shea Langeliers was a speculative trade candidate but he just had meniscus surgery and is likely done for the year. Injuries to Kyle Teel, Will Smith and Danny Jansen have drawn the White Sox, Dodgers and Rangers to the table, whereas they previously seemed set behind the plate.

The market has some speculative guys available but there are question marks with each. The Twins could trade Ryan Jeffers but they are hanging around the race and might keep him. Even if they trade him, he is a rental and wouldn’t give an acquiring club a long-term solution. Tyler Stephenson and Jonah Heim are other rentals who should be available but they have mixed track records. Hunter Goodman and Francisco Alvarez are each controlled for another three seasons but their respective clubs might hold onto them because of that control. Perhaps the Marlins could take advantage if there are several clubs making calls but struggling to find solutions.

The St. Louis catching situation has been a long time coming and decisions will have to be made soon. As Feinsand mentions, they have prospects Rainiel Rodriguez at Double-A and Leo Bernal at Triple-A. Rodriguez in particular seems likely to be the catcher of the future. He’s a consensus top 25 prospect in the league and already has 52 Double-A games under his belt. He’ll be at Triple-A soon and pushing for a big league opportunity.

In the majors, the Cards already have Pagés, Herrera and Jimmy Crooks. With Bernal and Rodriguez coming, they can make some guys available and still be in a good spot. Herrera is a great hitter but his defense is a concern, particularly with the running game. He has allowed opponents to steal 102 bases in his career while only throwing out seven runners. Since the start of 2025, he has nabbed just one out of 43 attempted thefts. It’s doubtful clubs view him as an everyday catcher but he could be a part-time backstop with a big bat. He is controlled for three seasons beyond this one. Pagés is the opposite, as a light-hitting, glove-first guy. He has four seasons of club control beyond this one.

Like the Marlins, the Cardinals aren’t out of the playoff race. They came into the year rebuilding but are just 1.5 games back of a postseason spot right now. Trading a big league catcher could be a way of bolstering another part of the roster without touching the farm system they have been focused on strengthening.

As for the suitors, as mentioned, the White Sox, Dodgers and Rangers recently jumped in due to the injuries to Teel, Smith and Jansen. The Yankees have been looking for help behind the plate for a while due to the struggles of Austin Wells, getting frequently connected to Jeffers. The Red Sox haven’t received much from Connor Wong or Carlos Narváez this year. Chris Cotillo of MassLive mentioned today that they could look for help behind the plate. The Rays have been looking for catching help for years, including this season.

Photo courtesy of Jim Rassol, Imagn Images

It’s the second big league stint of the season with Atlanta for Hernández, the former Marlins hurler who spent the 2024-25 seasons with the Korea Baseball Organization’s LG Twins. Coincidentally, that’s the same team with which Carlos Carrasco signed earlier this month after jumping off the DFA carousel in Atlanta. Hernández could be stepping into that role as the Braves’ effective 41st man, though it remains to be seen if they’ll cycle him on and off the roster as much as they did with Carrasco (who was designated for assignment by Atlanta seven times in 11 months but repeatedly returned on new minor league deals).

Hernández pitched three shutout innings with the Braves during his earlier big league stint. He punched out two batters and walked three. The 31-year-old righty has pitched 76 1/3 innings with a 4.89 ERA, 21.6% strikeout rate and 8.1% walk rate in Gwinnett this season.

Earlier in his career, Hernández looked like an intriguing rotation option down in Miami. From 2020-21, he started 17 games (77 1/3 innings) and posted a 3.84 ERA with a 26.3% strikeout rate and 5.7% walk rate. He’s never replicated that production. In 81 MLB frames since, he’s been tagged for a 6.11 earned run average with markedly worse strikeout and walk rates.

Tonight’s game between the Braves and Mets has been postponed due to weather. They’ll play a doubleheader tomorrow, and Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that the club is expected to activate righty AJ Smith-Shawver from the 60-day IL to start the first half of that twin bill. He’s been out since last season following UCL surgery. Hernández will give Atlanta some length behind Smith-Shawver in what’ll be his first MLB start in 14 months. He made five minor league rehab appearances but didn’t pitch more than 4 1/3 innings in any of those outings.