There are about 60 hours (at the time of writing) until the MLB trade deadline. Will we see a flurry of moves, or will front offices play it safe? Surely there are higher-profile trades on the horizon than Dean Kremer or Jake Rogers (no offence, guys).
The biggest prize on the market could be Tarik Skubal. According to FanGraphs, the Tigers still have a 26% chance of making the playoffs. Detroit might ultimately decide against trading the two-time Cy Young winner, taking their chances in the AL Central and settling for an offseason compensation draft pick. But for a true contender, adding Skubal to the top of the rotation dramatically shifts World Series odds.
Personally, I’d love to see Tampa Bay throw caution to the wind in a bold “Flags Fly Forever” move. But as long as Skubal doesn’t end up in Los Angeles, I suspect most fans will be happy.
Expect a cascade of deals once the Skubal domino falls. Keep an eye on Casey Mize, Reid Detmers, Kevin Gausman, Freddy Peralta, and Clay Holmes as potential relocation candidates.
Hitter moves may be scarcer over the next couple of days, but there will still be action:
- The Yankees are actively hunting for a catcher.
- The Giants look set to move former batting champ Luis Arraez.
- The Blue Jays could flip centre field stud Daulton Varsho.
- Don’t expect the previously rumoured Francisco Lindor to go anywhere, though
Jacob MIZmerises the Rockies
Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski tossed yet another sensational start with a demolition of the Rockies on Sunday.
The 24-year-old set a franchise record by striking out the first seven hitters in an outing where he reached back to hit triple-digits an incredible 66 times. The NL Cy Young favourite leads MLB with a 1.85 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 20 starts.
Tough Break For Boston
Remember last week’s Connelly Early–for–Curtis Mead deal? It already felt like the Red Sox overpaid to secure the Aussie infielder who was DFA’d earlier this year, but luck hasn’t been on their side either.
In only his second at-bat for Boston, Mead took a pitch to his wrist and resulting fracture will keep him out of action for at least the next four weeks.
Guess who’s back
Atlanta, currently holding a comfortable 8-game lead atop the NL East, welcomed back Ronald Acuña Jr. after a 39-game absence due to a hamstring strain.
This marks the second IL stint of 2026 for the Venezuelan WBC champion, whose campaign has been frustratingly derailed after entering the year with MVP expectations.
More Baseball on BBC
This Sunday, Melanie Newman, Xavier Scruggs, and Felix White host coverage as the New York Yankees take on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Tune in to BBC @ 7:10 PM for Bases Covered Live.
There is a fun symmetry to this matchup: both teams sit second in their respective divisions and, barring a total collapse, should be playing baseball in October. Both front offices also know that a hot streak over the next eight weeks could see them snatch the division crown, avoiding the chaos of the Wild Card round.
Ireland’s Olympic & WBC Dream On Hold
Is it condescending to use the word “plucky”? If not, it was an impressive yet ultimately heart-breaking run for a plucky Irish side in the European Championship qualifiers.
They finished with a strong 3-2 record, but those two losses cost them a shot at Olympic and World Baseball Classic qualification.
Instead, Saturday’s final pits Poland against Slovakia, with the winner advancing to the 2027 European Championship Finals in Regensburg alongside Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and the rest of Europe’s baseball elite.
- Slovakia has been the class act of the tournament, winning all five round-robin games while conceding the fewest runs.
- Poland, the hosts, enter the final at 4-1 and are the tournament’s top scorers.
It should be a cracking game, which I have just seen has been brought forward several hours due to the weather, so I should know the result by the time I finish writing this newsletter.
Hit-by-Pitch Grand-Slam
It hasn’t been the season Cleveland’s Kyle Manzardo envisioned when he entered 2026 with a clear shot at regular playing time. A .656 OPS is not what any primary 1B/DH wants next to their name in late July.
Manzardo came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning. Reds starter Chase Burns hit Manzardo’s hand with a 99-mph heater to walk in a run. Terry Francona’s challenge that there was no contact was successful and Manzardo trudged back to the plate.
He fouled off Burns’ next offering before depositing the following pitch over the right-field wall. That one swing accumulated more RBI than his previous 20 July games combined.
Quick Hits Around Baseball
Cleveland starter Gavin Williams fanned 12 batters in a win over Cincinnati – his fourth consecutive start with double-digit strikeouts.
In what could potentially be Tarik Skubal’s final start in a Tigers uniform, Detroit blew a 7-0 lead, falling 10-9 to the Baltimore Orioles in 12 innings.
Currently on the IL with plantar fasciitis, Harrison Bader was involved in a 2:00 AM scooter accident that you have to think was negligence on his part as the Giants have suspended his pay.
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Featured image of Tarik Skubal by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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