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Poll: Will The Pirates Be Able To Trade Ke’Bryan Hayes?

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The Pirates have been one of the league’s most obvious sellers for quite some time now. Most of the attention has been on pieces like Mitch Keller and David Bednar, both of whom could bring back substantial returns as quality pitchers with multiple years of team control. With that being said, third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes has found his name in the rumor mill on occasion this summer. Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted earlier this week that the Pirates have a “notable desire” to move on from Hayes, who will have $36MM left on his deal after this season, in addition to the balance of this year’s $7MM salary.

It’s not hard to see why Pittsburgh might like to part ways with their former top prospect. Hayes’s salary isn’t exactly pricey, but for a small market club like the Pirates, even a relatively cheap contract that’s underwater relative to the player’s production can be an issue. The 28-year-old has rarely been healthy throughout his big league career, and even when healthy has struggled on offense. This year, he’s slashing a paltry .234/.288/.300 with a wRC+ of 61. He’s striking out at a 20.9% clip, walking just 4.8% of the time, and offers virtually no power with the lowest ISO among all qualified hitters this year. He hits the ball hard but into the ground far too often.

While the Pirates wanting to move on from Hayes as they look to build a more potent offense around a strong rotation led by Paul Skenes makes plenty of sense, it’s an open question whether or not the club will be able to find a taker on his services. A player with virtually no offensive value and a long-term guaranteed contract isn’t exactly an attractive trade asset, after all. Hayes’s glove at third base is elite, with an incredible +14 Outs Above Average this year, but a glove-only player at a corner position is still a questionable fit on most contenders.

The Cubs, Yankees, and Tigers have all been connected to Hayes in at least some capacity, but it’s a somewhat open question as to how serious that interest may actually be. The Cubs have rookie Matt Shaw currently installed at the hot corner, and while his 79 wRC+ has been disappointing, Hayes would actually be a downgrade for Chicago offensively. Colt Keith and Zach McKinstry have been handling third base for Detroit and have both been above-average offensive contributors this year, meaning Hayes would hardly be a clear upgrade for them either. Hayes would actually be a clear upgrade for the Yankees, as both Jorbit Vivas and Oswald Peraza are less valuable than him on both defense and offense. That said, the Yankees are known to have eyes on a number of other possible third base options like Eugenio Suarez and Ryan McMahon who are likely more attractive than Hayes.

That all makes it difficult to imagine the Pirates swinging a trade involving Hayes, but one thing working in the club’s favor is that Hiles suggesting that they’re “likely” to prioritize simply getting Hayes’s contract off their books in any deal. Perhaps a club that isn’t interested in parting with precious prospect capital that has some money to spare in the budget could then see Hayes as a viable option to improve their infield or bench mix who won’t cost them much of anything. With that said, Hayes’s contract would be quite expensive for a bench player, meaning it could be difficult to convince a club to take him on without the Pirates absorbing some salary unless the acquiring team believes in Hayes as a starter.

One possible solution could be attaching Hayes to a more attractive trade asset like Keller or Bednar, but doing so would likely force them to lower their asking price for that asset considerably. Even for a team with as low of a budget as Pittsburgh, lowering the trade value of a major piece just to save money in a salary dump would be a difficult pill to swallow for fans. And it may not even be an attractive proposition for a front office that clearly hopes to contend while Skenes is still in town and will need to acquire as much offensive talent as possible in order to make that happen. On the other hand, perhaps the $36MM guaranteed Hayes is due in 2026 and beyond could be reallocated to upgrading the offense via free agency. Just for an example, Paul Goldschmidt, Gleyber Torres, Austin Hays, and Mike Tauchman signed one-year deals for a combined $34MM in free agency this past winter and each would’ve represented a substantial upgrade to the Pirates’ offense.

What do MLBTR readers think is next for Hayes and the Pirates? Will Pittsburgh manage to trade Hayes? If so, will they be able to do so without eating significant salary or attaching him to another more valuable player? Or will Hayes still be in town on August 1? Have your say in the poll below:

Will The Pirates Find A Taker On Ke'Bryan Hayes?
No, Hayes will remain in Pittsburgh on August 1. 44.56% (1,584 votes)
The Pirates will trade Hayes, but they'll have to retain a portion of his salary or attach him to a more valuable player in order to get it done. 34.15% (1,214 votes)
The Pirates will trade Hayes and won't need to eat salary or attach his contract to another player in order to do so. 21.29% (757 votes)
Total Votes: 3,555

The Opener: Trout, Morton, Blue Jays, Tigers

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Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Trout goes for a milestone:

Mike Trout was the greatest player of the 2010s, a three-time MVP and would be a surefire Hall of Famer even if he retired today. His accomplishments in the game speak for themselves, but he’ll enter tonight’s game against the Mariners in Anaheim with a chance to reach another major milestone. Trout knocked in the 999th run of his career in last night’s lost to the Mets when he clubbed a solo home run, and now he sits on the precipice of being the latest addition to the 1000 RBI club. The outfielder is currently in the midst of his healthiest season in years and has done well for himself overall, with 18 home runs in 76 games and a 15.2% walk rate to go with his .237/.359/.467 slash (125 wRC+). Trout will look to knock in another runner when tonight’s game starts at 6:38pm local time, with rookie Logan Evans (3.81 ERA in ten starts) on the mound for Seattle.

2. Morton’s final start in Baltimore?

The trade deadline is a matter of days away at this point, and prospective trade candidates around the game are gearing up for what could be their final starts in their current uniform. Today, that’s true of veteran right-hander Charlie Morton. Morton landed with the Orioles on a one-year deal this past winter and has emerged as a frequently talked about trade candidate despite his lackluster 5.58 ERA on the season. He’s looked like a much better pitcher since returning to the rotation after a stint in the bullpen back in May, with a 3.78 ERA and 3.45 FIP across his last nine starts. His most recent outing against the Rays was a clunker, however, as he surrendered seven runs in just 5 1/3 innings. A strong start this afternoon against the Guardians in Cleveland would surely go a long way to reassuring potential suitors that Morton could provide rotation stability down the stretch.

3. Series Preview: Blue Jays @ Tigers

A series between two division leaders in the AL kicks off this evening when the Blue Jays head to Detroit for a four-game set against the Tigers. Both clubs have fairly solid leads in their division, with the Tigers a whopping eight games up on the next best team in the Central while the Jays lead the Yankees by four games in the East.  The series could still have implications in terms of positioning between the two teams, as both eye a potential bye through the Wild Card round this October.

Detroit enters the series just half a game back of both the Blue Jays and Astros as the three clubs jockey for the AL’s top two records. They’ll send right-hander Reese Olson (2.71 ERA in 12 starts) to the mound opposite Jays lefty Eric Lauer (2.80 ERA in 15 appearances/nine starts) for tonight’s game. Toronto veteran Jose Berrios (3.87 ERA) will take on Detroit youngster Keider Montero (4.28 ERA in 12 appearances/eight starts) tomorrow, with veteran Kevin Gausman (4.01 ERA) set to go opposite reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal (2.19 ERA) on Saturday. The series wraps up on Sunday with Max Scherzer (5.14 ERA in six starts) on the mound opposite Jack Flaherty (4.77 ERA).

Poll: Who’s The Best Rental Reliever Available?

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Virtually every contender is on the lookout for bullpen help at the deadline, and this summer should be no exception. The Dodgers, Tigers, Phillies, Yankees, Cubs, and Mets have all been connected to the relief market already this summer, and plenty of other clubs will surely be searching for upgrades to their relief corps as well. An unusual quirk of this summer’s trade market, however, is that the majority of the most frequently discussed names are elite arms controllable beyond the 2025 season. Jhoan Duran, Emmanuel Clase, Mason Miller, David Bednar, and Pete Fairbanks are just a handful of the high-end relievers with multiple years of team control who have found themselves in the rumor mill this July.

Many of those big names likely won’t be moved, however, and the ones that do get traded are likely to come with hefty price tags. For teams with less prospect capital to spend or other areas they’ll need to balance upgrading, perhaps adding rental relief help at a lower price could be a more attractive path to take. Who’s the most interesting pending free agent available to help a contender’s bullpen this summer? A look at some of the options:

Danny Coulombe

Coulombe, 35, has long been one of the better left-handed setup men in the game when healthy. With that being said, for the majority of his career the southpaw has carried a hefty platoon split. He’s a career 2.13 ERA arm against same-handed pitching, but righties have managed to post a 4.14 figure against him over the years. That has limited Coulombe’s abilities as a shutdown set-up man over the years, but he’s changed that narrative with the Twins this year. Not only has he posted a microscopic 0.63 ERA in 28 2/3 innings of work, he’s done so with a 1.23 ERA and a 1.93 FIP against right-handed hitters. Those utterly dominant numbers would be welcome in any contender’s bullpen, though Coulombe’s shaky track record against opposite-handed batters and his small sample of work this year could make him less attractive than his rate numbers would otherwise imply.

Ryan Helsley

Helsley was one of the most talked about trade candidates in baseball for much of last offseason, though the Cardinals ultimately opted to hold onto him. Now that the club appears to be signalling that a sell-off could be in the cards this summer, however, Helsley appears more likely to be moved than ever before. The only problem is that he’s currently in the midst of by far his weakest season since his breakout All-Star campaign in 2022. While he posted a sterling 1.83 ERA, 2.35 FIP, and 34.6% strikeout rate across his last three seasons, Helsley’s 2025 hasn’t been nearly that special. His 3.18 ERA in 34 innings of work is still 32% better than league average, but a 3.77 FIP is downright pedestrian thanks in large part to a massive drop in strikeout rate. He’s punching out just 24.8% of his opponents this year, all while walking 9.4% of batters faced. The 30-year-old still offers premium velocity and is clearly an above-average arm with plenty of closing experience, but he’s not quite the slam-dunk superstar he would’ve been this time last year.

Raisel Iglesias

Iglesias isn’t having an amazing season on the whole but is in a strong groove at the moment. He has a 5.12 ERA on the season but most of the damage came earlier in the year. From June 9th until July 18th, he tossed 13 2/3 scoreless innings with a 37.5% strikeout rate and 2.1% walk rate. His most recent outing was a four-run clunker, but that still leaves him with a 2.45 ERA over his past 14 2/3 innings. Though it’s not his best year, he has 235 saves and a 2.99 ERA in his decade-plus career, so he’ll certainly garner interest.

Kenley Jansen

In the midst of his 16th big league season, the 37-year-old Jansen has begun to show his age with declining peripherals (4.24 FIP, 4.43 xFIP) but has generally remained as effective as ever at closing out games when looking at pure results. His 3.28 ERA across 35 2/3 innings of work has been enough to allow him to convert 17 of his 18 save chances, and virtually all of the damage he’s allowed this year was part of a six-run, two-out blow-up back on May 2. He had made eight appearances without surrendering a run prior to that outing, and since then he’s posted a 2.33 ERA and 3.02 FIP across 27 innings of work. It’s hardly reasonable to ignore that meltdown earlier this season entirely, but given Jansen’s Hall of Fame caliber track record and strong performance in every other outing this season, it’s not hard to imagine contending clubs believing he’ll be more valuable than his season-long peripherals might otherwise suggest.

Steven Matz

The 34-year-old Matz stands out from the rest of the rental relief crowd as a hurler with plenty of starting experience who was used as a multi-inning reliever and spot starter as recently as earlier this season. His 3.29 ERA and 2.90 FIP across 52 innings of work this year are certainly impressive on paper, but a closer look at his numbers reveals some reason for pause. Since the start of May, Matz has been used exclusively in short relief and hasn’t exactly taken to the role change well with a 4.82 ERA and 3.73 FIP in 28 innings of work over his last 20 appearances. Perhaps an interested club would look at that improved peripheral and see potential, but it should be noted that Matz carries a massive platoon split this year; while lefties have been held to a .182/.222/.234 against him this year, righties have slashed a much more robust .290/.321/.435. That’s not exactly what you want from a late-inning reliever, but Matz could still provide unique value to clubs as a dominant hurler against lefties who could be stretched out for longer appearances as needed.

Other Options

The aforementioned five names are hardly the only options worth considering. Caleb Ferguson of the Pirates, Seranthony Dominguez of the Orioles, and Jakob Junis of the Guardians are among a number of set-up men in the midst of solid seasons, though none have numbers or track records quite as impressive as the group listed above. Kyle Finnegan of the Nationals has a long track record of success in the ninth inning but didn’t get much interest in free agency this winter and he now has a 4.62 ERA this year. Diamondbacks closer Shelby Miller would have a strong argument as one of the top options on this list if not for a forearm strain suffered early this month that could require surgery, though a return later this year has not yet been ruled out.

Who do MLBTR readers view as the best rental reliever available this summer? Should teams prioritize the strong track records of Helsley, Iglesias and Jansen, or the recent excellence of Coulombe? Or perhaps Matz’s flexibility to be used in multiple roles makes him most attractive of all? Have your say in the poll below:

Who's the best rental reliever available this summer?
Ryan Helsley 56.80% (3,183 votes)
Raisel Iglesias 14.01% (785 votes)
Kenley Jansen 12.08% (677 votes)
Danny Coulombe 11.80% (661 votes)
Steven Matz 5.32% (298 votes)
Total Votes: 5,604

The Opener: Eflin, Casparius, Melton

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Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. Eflin to return:

The Orioles are gearing up for what’s sure to be a sell-side deadline, and as they do so one potential trade candidate is set to return from the injured list today: veteran right-hander Zach Eflin. Eflin has been sidelined for nearly a month due to back soreness, but interim manager Tony Mansolino told reporters (including Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner) that Eflin will be activated today to take the ball in tonight’s game against the Guardians and right-hander Slade Cecconi (3.84 ERA in 11 starts). Eflin’s had a rough year so far, with a 5.95 ERA in 12 starts, but a strong pair of starts prior to the deadline could lead prospective buyers to focus more on his fairly long history as a capable mid-rotation arm than his more recent struggles.

2. Casparius to undergo MRI:

Just one day after the Dodgers lost closer Tanner Scott to the injured list with an uncertain return timeline, L.A. may be losing another key arm. Right-hander Ben Casparius surrendered three runs without recording an out last night before exiting the game, and afterwards told reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic) that he was suffering from calf cramping but also felt his foot “give out” from under him during his appearance. He’s scheduled to undergo an MRI today. Should he require a trip to the shelf, it would only exacerbate the Dodgers’ need for bullpen pitching this summer. Casparius has struggled badly in 24 innings of work since moving into a multi-inning role last month with an 8.63 ERA, but prior to that was one of the club’s most effective arms in one-to-two inning bursts.

3. Melton to debut:

The Tigers are poised to select the contract of right-hander Troy Melton today, as was previously reported. The 24-year-old has a 2.99 ERA across 75 1/3 innings at the Double- and Triple-A levels. Once Melton is rostered later today, he’ll be tasked with making his big league debut against the Pirates and left-hander Bailey Falter (4.00 ERA in 20 starts). Facing Pittsburgh in his first MLB game should make Melton’s debut a relatively soft landing given their lackluster offense this season, though the Tigers will have to make moves on both the active and 40-man rosters to bring the well-regarded young righty into the fold.

Poll: Will The Angels Sell This Summer?

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The Angels have been mired in mediocrity for more than a decade now, despite employing both Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani at the peak of their powers in that time. It’s been tough to be an Angels fan for a very long time, but this year has offered the Anaheim faithful at least some hope. The team, while two games under .500, is still at least nominally in the Wild Card race as they sit just four games back of a playoff spot in the expanded postseason field.

It wouldn’t be the first time the club has been aggressive in spite of long postseason odds. They bought aggressively at the 2023 trade deadline, adding a group of players headlined by Lucas Giolito as they fought to make the playoffs during Ohtani’s final year under club control despite Fangraphs giving the club just a 19.5% chance at the postseason on July 31 of that year. The Angels find themselves in a situation with at least some parallels to that season now.

While Trout remains under club control for quite some time, he has a chance to finish this season healthier than he’s been at any point in his thirties and has looked very much like the player he was throughout the 2010s since returning from his latest IL stint at the end of May. In 45 games since being activated, Trout has hit a robust .279/.424/.468 (147 wRC+) and tied Juan Soto for the highest walk rate in all of baseball. His .397 xwOBA this season is the eleventh-highest figure in the sport among qualified hitters, suggesting even better days could be ahead if he can just stay on the field. For a team that hasn’t made the postseason since Trout was 22 years old, any opportunity to get their franchise face and future Hall of Famer onto the sport’s biggest stage is one that the Angels should take seriously.

On the other hand, Trout’s continued health is obviously far from a guarantee. It’s already unknown when he’ll be ready to do more than DH. And after the past half decade, no one should be surprised if another injury were to sideline him down the stretch. What’s more, the Angels are simply not in the same position they found themselves in back in 2023. They’re four games out of a playoff spot entering play today, compared to just half a game out on July 31 of 2023. Only five teams in all of baseball have a lower run differential than Anaheim, which has allowed 61 more runs than it’s scored this year, and Fangraphs gives the Halos just a 4.8% chance of the postseason entering play today.

Perhaps the course of action for the Angels is simply to stand pat. Luis Rengifo is in the midst of a brutal season, leaving the player who would otherwise be their top trade chip unlikely to bring much value to the table. Kyle Hendricks, Yoan Moncada, and other rentals on the club have not done much to position themselves as top-of-the-line trade pieces, meaning closer Kenley Jansen could be the only rental piece on the roster with a substantial market. Trading longer-term pieces like Yusei Kikuchi and Reid Detmers could bring back more value, but would signal a willingness to forgo mid-term competitiveness despite the fact that Trout is already in his age-33 season. That would be something of a shock for Angels ownership to sign off on, given their previous tendencies.

How do MLBTR readers think the Angels will approach this coming deadline? Will they engage in a proper selloff, or could they instead stand pat in hopes of making a postseason run—or perhaps even do some light buying? Have your say in the poll below:

Are the Angels going to sell at the trade deadline this year?
Yes, they'll sell but only deal rental pieces in hopes of staying competitive in the short-term. 36.84% (1,230 votes)
No, they'll mostly stand pat without doing much buying or selling. 31.48% (1,051 votes)
No, they'll focus on adding pieces and hope to make the playoffs in 2025. 19.56% (653 votes)
Yes, and they'll part ways with some longer-term pieces in a larger teardown of the roster. 12.13% (405 votes)
Total Votes: 3,339

The Opener: Scott, Brewers, MLBTR Chat

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Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye out for today:

1. Scott to undergo MRI:

In last night’s win over the Twins, Tanner Scott exited the game after he felt what manager Dave Roberts described as a “sting” in his forearm. Roberts told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) that Scott was set to undergo an MRI exam today, but that he views a trip to the injured list due to the issue as “more than likely.” Scott, who celebrates his 31st birthday today, has a 4.14 ERA and 19 saves in his first season as a member of the Dodgers. He signed a $72MM deal in free agency with the club over the winter. It’s been a fairly disappointing first year in Los Angeles, but if Scott winds up missing significant time due to this forearm issue, that will only serve to exacerbate the club’s need for bullpen help in the final days before the trade deadline on July 31. The Dodgers have already been looking into some of the top names on the bullpen market this summer.

2. Brewers’ streak continues:

The Brewers’ incredible surge to the top of the NL Central division is complete, as they put up a 6-0 victory over the Mariners on a night where the previously division-leading Cubs surrendered 12 runs in a clunker against the Royals. That 11th consecutive victory (in conjunction with Chicago’s loss) not only put the Brew Crew in sole possession of first place for the first time all season — it gave them the best record in all of baseball. They’ll look to continue this dominant stretch of play in Seattle tonight, when rookie Jacob Misiorowski (2.81 ERA in five starts) takes the mound opposite Mariners ace Logan Gilbert (3.39 ERA in 12 starts) at 6:40pm local time.

3. MLBTR chat today:

MLB’s trade deadline is just days away! Plenty of deals should be expected once the dam on trades finally breaks, with a number of contenders surely interested in patching holes in their roster ahead of the stretch run. If you’re looking for an idea of what your favorite team will be up to over the next few days, MLBTR’s Steve Adams has you covered in a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

Poll: Will David Robertson Be Enough For The Phillies’ Bullpen?

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The Phillies agreed to a one-year deal with veteran closer David Robertson yesterday and will pay him the prorated portion of a one-year, $16MM contract to step into their bullpen down the stretch. Clubs around the game balked at the 40-year-old’s asking price in free agency over the offseason, but with the trade deadline looming, teams began to circle back as they now viewed Robertson as a way to upgrade their roster without surrendering prospect capital.

It’s not hard to see why the Phillies would find Robertson attractive. Philadelphia’s bullpen was a major strength last year but they entered 2025 with a significantly weaker group after both Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez departed for the AL via free agency. Offseason addition Jordan Romano has an ugly 6.88 ERA across 39 appearances in a Phillies uniform after being added to serve as the club’s closer. Jose Alvarado’s excellent start to the 2025 season was shut down abruptly when he tested positive for PEDs. That resulted in an 80-game suspension and also leaves him ineligible for the postseason, meaning the Phils would have had to rely on Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering as their back-end tandem in the playoffs this year. Both are impressive relievers in the midst of solid seasons, but neither profiles as a true shutdown closer.

Robertson can offer that sort of pedigree. A veteran of 16 MLB seasons who first got his start back in 2008 as a member of the Yankees, Robertson has collected 177 saves in his career with a 2.91 ERA and 2.94 FIP. His work in his late thirties was somehow even more impressive, as he posted a 2.82 ERA with 40 saves, a 3.24 FIP and a 31.1% strikeout rate across his age-37, -38, and -39 campaigns in the last three years. Last season’s campaign with the Rangers saw him look as sturdy as ever; he struck out 33.4% of his opponents while pitching to a 3.00 ERA and 2.65 FIP in a setup role for closer Kirby Yates. Those are the numbers of a star reliever, the sort of player who can anchor a pitching staff in the postseason, and exactly the sort of player the Phillies need right now.

With that being said, the addition is not one that comes without risk. No pitcher on the wrong side of his 40th birthday is a slam-dunk to repeat his prior performance, and while Robertson could still be an excellent late-inning reliever even if he took a step back this year, it’s worth wondering how much he’ll be able to offer. Perhaps taking the first half off will allow Robertson to pitch like a younger man down the stretch and into the postseason, but there’s plenty of examples of pitchers who have struggled following an extended layoff.

That’s even more true when it comes to generally healthy players who miss Spring Training and don’t get a proper ramp-up for contractual reasons. Likely future Hall of Famer Craig Kimbrel had one of the worst seasons of his career as a member of the Cubs back in 2019 when he waited until after the draft in June to sign so he wouldn’t be attached to draft pick compensation. Just this year, stalwart veteran Kyle Gibson surrendered 23 runs in four starts for the Orioles after signing during the season and requiring an accelerated ramp-up process. Perhaps some of those woes can be avoided by giving Robertson plenty of time to prepare in the minor leagues, but any time he spends ramping up is time the big league club will have to spend without a much-needed closing option.

Between a potentially lengthy ramp-up and the uncertainty surrounding any midseason signing, should the Phillies continue to be aggressive about adding to their bullpen over the coming days? They waited long enough to sign Robertson that he surely won’t be in Philadelphia ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, so any acquisition they make will have to happen before they have full information on Robertson’s readiness to face big league pitching. The price of late-inning relief pitching figures to be exorbitant this summer with so few true sellers, and a recent injury to Alec Bohm in conjunction with the struggles faced by Max Kepler and Johan Rojas this year leave the Phillies in need of another bat this summer as well.

Any resources dedicated to adding additional relief help would limit the resources available to add another bat at third base or in the outfield, so it’s fair to wonder if president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski would be best served hoping Robertson can lock down the ninth and focusing on the offense. On the other hand, a number of key players (Ranger Suarez, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto) are all ticketed for free agency after the 2025 season. This year could be Philadelphia’s best shot at winning a World Series with this core of players, and hinging those aspirations on a question mark in the ninth inning could be hard to stomach for fans.

How do MLBTR readers think Philadelphia should approach the deadline with Robertson now in the fold? Should they consider the bullpen more or less settled and prioritize adding offense, or is Robertson too much of a risk to count on? Have your say in the poll below:

Should The Phillies Keep Adding Bullpen Help?
Yes, the Phillies should be aggressive about adding another late-inning reliever rather than banking on Robertson to produce at a high level. 75.30% (2,676 votes)
No, Robertson is steady enough that the Phillies should prioritize other areas of the roster over adding another late-inning relief arm. 24.70% (878 votes)
Total Votes: 3,554

The Opener: Brewers, Blue Jays, Yankees, Trade Activity

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Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. Brewers go for 11 in a row:

The Cubs have been leading the pace in the NL Central this year thanks largely to the breakout of Pete Crow-Armstrong and their offseason acquisition of Kyle Tucker. The Brewers have been on an incredible tear in recent weeks, however, and now sit in a first-place tie with Chicago. After going 16-9 in June, Milwaukee has gone 12-3 in July — including wins in each of their last ten games. They completed a sweep of the NL West-leading Dodgers last night that pulled them even with the Cubs at 59-40 on the season.

Milwaukee technically remains in second place after dropping three of five games played in the season series between the two clubs so far, but with more than 60 games left to play for both teams (including eight against each other), we’re in for a close battle down the stretch. In the short-term, the Brewers will look to keep their win streak rolling against the Mariners and star righty George Kirby. An early-season injury and a rough return from the IL have left Kirby with a pedestrian 4.50 ERA in ten starts, but he’s looked more like himself since the start of June with a 3.18 ERA and 3.07 FIP in 45 1/3 innings. The Brewers will counter with right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who has made just two starts following a long road to recovery from his own injury woes but has pitched to a sterling 2.61 ERA in 10 1/3 frames.

2. Series Preview: Yankees @ Blue Jays

The Yankees have fallen out of first place in the AL East, and they’re set to get the opportunity to fight their way back to the top this week with a three-game set in Toronto. The Blue Jays have a three-game lead over New York, meaning a sweep for the Yanks would pull them into a tie for the division lead. That effort starts tonight with southpaw Carlos Rodon (3.08 ERA) on the mound versus veteran righty Kevin Gausman (4.19 ERA). Rookie Cam Schlittler will make the second start of his career tomorrow opposite Max Scherzer, who’s just a week from his 41st birthday. The series will conclude with Yankees ace Max Fried (2.43 ERA) on the mound against veteran righty Chris Bassitt (3.89 ERA).

3. Trade activity on the horizon:

The month of July has been relatively quiet in terms of the trade market so far, but that figures to change in the coming days with just ten days left until the trade deadline. While plenty of teams are still weighing whether to buy or sell, signals about the impending decisions are becoming more clear. Milwaukee’s recent hot streak was enough for GM Matt Arnold to more or less take trading Freddy Peralta off the table, for example, while on the other end of the spectrum recent struggles in Cleveland have led the Guardians to at least listen on high-end relievers Emmanuel Clase and Cade Smith. Orioles GM Mike Elias effectively confirmed yesterday that he’s in active discussions regarding his club’s impending free agents. With the deadline creeping closer every day, the dam could break and unleash a flurry of deals any day now.

Trade Deadline Outlook: Detroit Tigers

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MLBTR’s new team-by-team deadline preview series continues with a look at the Tigers. Detroit entered the season as fringe contenders, but have emerged as the clear best team in the American League and possess MLB's best record overall coming out of the All-Star break. That's been thanks to some surprise breakout performances, as well as the club's top stars playing as expected. The Tigers are one of the most obvious buyers in the sport this trade season, though with a well-balanced roster there are few glaring holes they're desperate to upgrade.

Record: 59-38 (99.0% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)

For other entrants in this series, see this post.

Buy Mode

Potential needs: Infield, center field, starting pitching, bullpen help

The Tigers have a well-constructed team without many needs they absolutely must upgrade. With that being said, there's at least some room for improvement virtually everywhere on the roster. A roster full of versatile position players who can be moved around as needed means that the Tigers can afford to be creative in upgrading their lineup this summer, and for a team with an above-average but not necessarily outstanding offense that figures to be a good place to start. Players like Javier Baez and Zach McKinstry are capable of playing virtually all over the diamond as needed, and while others like Colt Keith and Matt Vierling aren't quite as versatile, they can at least move around a handful of positions to give Detroit some further flexibility.

As presently constructed, the clearest hole in the Tigers' lineup appears to be center field. The combination of Parker Meadows and Vierling simply hasn't gotten it done this year. Both spent time on the injured list early in the season but now sport wRC+ marks of 55 and 50 respectively, although both of those figures come in fairly small sample sizes. That's especially true of Vierling, who has been healthy enough to get into just 13 games this season. Perhaps the Tigers could bet on the pair to find the form they flashed last year if given enough runway, but both hitters have options remaining and the club will surely be looking to maximize this opportunity given the dwindling team control of Tarik Skubal.

Cedric Mullins is a rental who could be available and would raise the floor for the Tigers in the outfield, with a 101 wRC+ this year and at least passable defense (though his bat has gone cold after a huge April). Mullins typically does his best work against right-handed pitching with a 115 wRC+ for his career and below-average numbers against fellow lefties, but this season he's actually posted reverse splits with a 140 wRC+ in 72 plate appearances against southpaws as compared to an 86 wRC+ against righties in a larger sample. Perhaps the Tigers would be willing to offer him everyday reps in the outfield, but even in some sort of timeshare with Baez, Meadows, and Vierling, Mullins would be an upgrade for a weak spot in the club's lineup.

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Poll: Which Team Should Be Most Aggressive For Eugenio Suarez?

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After entering the season with big expectations, the Diamondbacks have been dogged by injuries throughout the year and seen key players like Zac Gallen and Brandon Pfaadt perform below expectations. It’s left them with a 47-50 record headed into the second half, and while the front office has not yet outright declared themselves sellers, they seemingly haven’t closed the door on the idea either.

Arizona has a number of intriguing rentals they could dangle this summer to contending clubs, but perhaps the best of them all is third baseman Eugenio Suárez. The 33-year-old is in the midst of what figures to be a career year and has already clubbed 31 homers in just 95 games. As the best bat available this summer, he should attract plenty of attention. For which teams would he make the most sense? A look at some of the top options:

New York Yankees

The Yankees entered 2025 without a solid plan for the infield, and their situation has only gotten more dire. Oswaldo Cabrera suffered an ankle injury that’s left him unlikely to return to the field this year, and the club recently cut ties with DJ LeMahieu in order to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base. That leaves New York to rely on Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas at the hot corner, a combination that doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Suárez would be the perfect addition to a Yankees lineup that has too often relied on Aaron Judge to carry the load of producing on a regular basis by himself, and Suárez’s righty bat would help to balance a lineup dominated by lefties like Chisholm, Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice, and Austin Wells. As tempting as Suárez may be, however, injuries to players like Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt leave the rotation perhaps even more in need of reinforcements than the lineup. The Yankees would also pay a 110% tax on what’s left of Suárez’s $15MM salary ($5.89MM as of this writing).

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have had a strong year so far and entered the All-Star break in first place thanks primarily to their star-studded offense. Shoring up a patchwork rotation should be the top priority for this team, but Chicago does have one of the worst third base situations in the majors. Matt Shaw entered this year as a consensus top-30 prospect in the sport and may well still be the team’s long-term solution at the hot corner, but his 61 wRC+ won’t cut it on a contender. Jon Berti and Vidal Brujan have been no better offensively, so any upgrade at third would need to be external. There aren’t many teams for whom Suárez would represent a more substantial upgrade over their internal options, and adding him to the middle of the Cubs’ order to push players like Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ down the lineup would make one of the league’s best offenses even more potent.

Milwaukee Brewers

Nipping at Chicago’s heels in the NL Central race, the Brewers sit just one game back after playing extremely well the past few weeks. With Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta and Jacob Misiorowski set to front the rotation and several solid back-end options, the Brewers appear to be the rare contender mostly set on the pitching front. Where they could use upgrades is on offense — particularly on the left side of the infield. Caleb Durbin has done a solid enough job at third base, but with Joey Ortiz struggling at shortstop and no obviously impactful trade candidates at that position, perhaps adding Suárez could bolster the lineup while allowing the Brewers to occasionally shift Durbin to second base and Brice Turang to shortstop. While the position fit is perhaps imperfect, Suárez would help transform the middle of a Milwaukee lineup that has seriously missed the contributions of Willy Adames this year. It’s fair to wonder whether Suárez fits the within the budget, however.

Seattle Mariners

Perhaps the best fit for Suárez would be a homecoming of sorts. The Mariners have long needed help on offense to complement their cache of young pitching talent, and this year is no different. Rookie Ben Williamson is handling the hot corner on a regular basis as things stand and playing good defense with minimal offense (.259/.294/.321, 79 wRC+).

Bringing Suárez back into the fold would transform the lineup, giving the team a second bona fide slugger alongside Cal Raleigh who could form a strong offensive nucleus with Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodriguez. The Mariners traded Suárez to the D-backs in the first place following the 2023 season — a move necessitated by an ownership mandate to reduce payroll. There is interest in a reunion, but would Seattle submit the top bid to reacquire a rental player they traded 21 months ago when other more surefire postseason clubs are in the bidding?

Other Options

The four clubs mentioned above are arguably the strongest fit for Suárez’s services, but they’re far from the only realistic options. The Reds would represent another homecoming for Suárez and have one of the worst third base situations in the majors at the moment. The Tigers — Suárez’s original organization — have gotten solid production from All-Stars Zach McKinstry and Javier Baez at the hot corner, but both are versatile and Suárez would add some more thump to a win-now lineup. The Blue Jays have a solid offense and are enjoying a breakout season from Addison Barger at third base, but he could just as easily be moved to right field to clear the deck for Suárez. The Mets have moved Mark Vientos off third base amid a difficult season, and Suárez would be a clear upgrade over Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty on the infield.

Suárez’s elite power and ability to play a solid third base make him an attractive target for any club hoping to add a little thump to the lineup. Which team should push hardest to acquire him? Have your say in the poll below:

Who Should Most Aggressively Pursue Eugenio Suarez?
New York Yankees 30.13% (3,725 votes)
Seattle Mariners 25.65% (3,171 votes)
Chicago Cubs 22.03% (2,723 votes)
Other (Specify in Comments) 12.53% (1,549 votes)
Milwaukee Brewers 9.67% (1,195 votes)
Total Votes: 12,363

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