The Opener

Here are three things to keep an eye on around baseball this weekend…

1. Fringe contenders gear up for their final deadline push:

We’re 13 days out from the 2025 MLB trade deadline, and there are ten non-playoff clubs within three games of .500 and within six games of a Wild Card berth. The next two weeks of play will be critical, and if any one of those bubble clubs gets out to a tough start coming out of the break, it could tip them toward selling even sooner. A sweep for any of the Rays, Rangers, Twins, Angels, Royals, Guardians, Giants, Cardinals, Reds or D-backs could be backbreaking for their season. Every team in baseball has a three-game series beginning tonight.

Tampa Bay opens the second half hosting a disappointing Orioles club. The Rangers host the MLB-best Tigers. The Twins head to Coors Field to take on the Rockies. The Angels draw a tough task with a road series in Philly. Kansas City is on the road against the Marlins. The Guardians host the A’s. The Giants are set to head to Toronto. The Reds will take on the Mets in Queens. Most interestingly, the Cardinals and D-backs will square off against one another in Arizona — a series matchup that carries potentially major deadline ramifications.

2. Mets to honor David Wright, retire his number:

The Mets will pay tribute to a franchise icon Saturday when they retire David Wright’s No. 5 and induct him into the Mets Hall of Fame. The 42-year-old Wright’s career was cut far shorter than baseball fans — not just Mets fans — would have hoped. Neck, shoulder and spinal injuries derailed the latter stages of Wright’s career and put an end to his playing days when he still had two years remaining on his contract. From 2016-18 — his final active years — Wright only managed to play 77 games.

Prior to that, Wright was a perennial All-Star who won multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. The former No. 38 overall pick was the face of the Mets franchise for upwards of a decade. He made his MLB debut in his age-21 season and hit the ground running with a .293/.332/.525 batting line in 283 plate appearances. Wright received MVP votes in each of the next four seasons, and though he never won Most Valuable Player honors, he enjoyed four top-ten finishes. From 2004-14, Wright ranked among the very best all-around players in MLB. He batted a combined .298/.377/.494 with 230 home runs and 191 steals along the way. Wright’s 50.4 fWAR in that stretch ranked fifth among all major leaguers (pitchers and hitters alike), trailing only Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Chase Utley and Adrian Beltre.

Wright also represented the United States in both the 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classics, where he became renowned for his heroics and earned the nickname “Captain America.” Wright ripped a two-run, walk-off single that scored Brian Roberts and Jimmy Rollins to push the U.S. to the semifinal round in ’09, and he broke open a first-round matchup against Italy with a grand slam as part of a massive 2013 performance in the tournament.

The Mets will host a “block party” at Citi Field that’s open to all and begins three hours before Saturday’s 4:10pm ET start time. Wright will be honored in a pre-game ceremony. He’ll become the tenth Met to have his number retired.

3. Milestones on the horizon for Trout:

Turning to another franchise icon, Angels star Mike Trout is on the cusp of reaching some historic round figures in his career. The three-time American League MVP and 11-time All-Star is sitting on 995 runs batted in and 395 home runs. There’s a decent chance that he’ll become just the 308th player in MLB history to reach 1000 RBIs this weekend in Philadelphia. It’s far less likely — though for a player with Trout’s power, not impossible — that he’ll reach 400 homers this weekend. But, Trout’s 400th round-tripper probably isn’t too far off. He’s slugged 17 long balls in just 299 plate appearances this season while batting .238/.365/.471 (127 wRC+). When Trout does cross that 400 threshold, he’ll be just the 59th player to ever get there. Along the way, he’ll pass Joe Carter (396), Dale Murphy (398), Al Kaline (399) and Andres Galarraga (399).

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

1. Are the Royals buyers?

The first post-draft trade of the year took place yesterday and, while it shouldn’t shock anyone that the Pirates sold off veteran infield rental Adam Frazier, it’s at least a mild surprise that the buying club was the Royals. Kansas City has a pedestrian 47-50 record to this point in the year and remains 4.5 games out of the AL Wild Card picture. While they aren’t buried in the postseason picture, FanGraphs gives them just an 11.7% chance of making the postseason. That left many assuming that they were more likely to sell off short-term pieces like Seth Lugo than add rental players this summer, though it’s at least possible Frazier is something of a special case. The Royals are familiar with the 33-year-old after he was part of the club last year, and given the fact that he’s hitting just .255/.318/.336 this season he wasn’t exactly expensive in trade.

Still, the deal makes the Royals a team to keep an eye on coming out of the break, as a win streak could push them further away from selling. The Royals open the second half with three games in Miami, followed by three in Chicago against the Cubs. They’ll then host the Guardians and Braves in their final two series prior to the July 31 deadline.

2. Bubble teams nearing decision time:

While the Royals may have tipped their hand about their deadline plans to some extent, they’re far from the only team on the bubble between buying and selling. Fresh rumors about the Diamondbacks’ deadline strategy surfaced yesterday, and it wouldn’t be a shock if teams like the Braves, Twins, Rangers, and Reds joined them in sending some additional signals about their trade deadline strategies coming out of the All-Star break. Depending on how many teams decide to sell this summer, perhaps there’s even room for an opportunistic club more clearly on the buy-side of things like the Red Sox or Rays to part ways with a piece like Jarren Duran or Taj Bradley (both of whom have been in the rumor mill) in the right deal.

3. Transactions kicking up ahead of return to play:

Yesterday saw a handful of transactions around the league as teams start to begin preparations for the second half. The Rangers placed Jake Burger on the injured list to maximize their ability to backdate the IL stint, and it’s possible that any players around the league nursing potential injuries who played on Sunday could similarly be placed on the shelf today if their club believes a minimum stint is on the table. Aside from that, there was some movement surrounding the waiver wire as Elvin Rodriguez was plucked off waivers by the Orioles while Rob Brantly was DFA’d by the Marlins. Multiple players triggered opt-out provisions in their minor league contracts as well. Additional minor transactions like those could begin to take place today as teams prepare for their impending return to the field tomorrow, to say nothing of the possibility of another trade or two breaking today.

On the heels of an exciting All-Star game, here are three things to keep an eye on around the baseball world while the league is on break:

1. Draft pick signings:

This year’s iteration of the MLB draft wrapped up earlier this week, and that means it’s time for clubs around the league to work on signing their picks. The Mariners have reportedly already reached an agreement with third-overall pick Kade Anderson, and several reports of lower-level pick signings have begun to emerge as well. Teams figure to spend the next few weeks hard at work to sign their drafted players, as the deadline to strike a deal with members of this year’s class is on July 28. Teams aren’t just negotiating with players they drafted, however. Undrafted free agents have also begun signing, with 22 of the league’s 30 teams having already signed at least one such player according to Baseball America.

2. Will Robertson sign somewhere?

It’s not often that big league-caliber free agents of note remain unsigned into July, but that’s exactly the situation closer David Robertson has found himself in. After not signing during an offseason where he held firm on his asking price, Robertson has begun throwing for teams and is getting recent interest from multiple clubs. Robertson could be an attractive addition to a contending club looking for bullpen help given that he would cost nothing but money, though missing the first half of the season could come with consequences in terms of his performance. Still, bringing in a player with a career 2.91 ERA and 177 saves across 16 years in the majors without having to surrender prospect capital in trade could be a very attractive option for some clubs in contention that either have weak farm systems or are hesitant about prices on the relief market this summer.

3. Could the Twins’ impending sale impact their deadline decisions?

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to reporters about a variety of topics yesterday, and included in those comments was a belief on Manfred’s part that the Pohlad family would be successful in their efforts to sell the Twins in due time. With the league’s commissioner expressing confidence in public that a sale will go through just two weeks before MLB’s trade deadline, it’s not hard to wonder if the Twins’ deadline approach could be impacted by the looming specter of a sale on at least some level. That could manifest in multiple ways. President of baseball operations Derek Falvey has said he’s not focused on selling, and the Twins are just two games under .500 and four games back in the Wild Card hunt. A potential sale could impact the team’s willingness to take on additional money, however, and it could well have some influence on how far back Minnesota needs to be in the standings before selling off some veteran pieces.

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

1. 2025 All-Star Game:

The main event of the All-Star break is set to take place later today when some of the biggest stars from the AL and NL take the field for the Midsummer Classic. Reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will take the mound to represent the junior circuit, managed by Yankees skipper Aaron Boone. The National League, led by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, will counter with 2024 National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young finalist Paul Skenes. Skubal has a 2.23 ERA in 19 starts this year and leads the majors with a 2.01 FIP, while Skenes leads the majors with a 2.01 ERA in 20 starts. Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Mariners catcher and Home Run Derby champ Cal Raleigh, Orioles first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn, and A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson will all start the game in their first career All-Star appearances. The game is slated to begin at 8pm local time in Atlanta and will air on FOX.

2. Trade season to begin?

The 2025 draft has now officially concluded, and that means the attention of front offices around the game can turn fully towards the impending trade deadline. There have already been a handful of deals, including last month’s shocking Rafael Devers blockbuster and the swap that sent draft capital from the Orioles to the Rays in exchange for reliever Bryan Baker last week. For the most part, teams have held off on making moves of real significance. Several clubs on the fringes of playoff contention are still weighing whether to sell off for the future or make an effort to push in this year — or some combination of both. While fans wait for the deals to start rolling in, MLBTR Front Office subscribers and check in on our Trade Deadline Outlook series. Our Top 40 Trade Candidates for the 2025 Deadline, meanwhile, is available to all readers as a primer for trade season.

3. MLBTR chat today:

With the All-Star break underway and the draft in the rearview mirror, MLB’s trade deadline is just over two weeks away! Plenty of deals should be expected between now and then now that trade season can finally kick into full swing, with a number of contenders surely interested in patching holes in their roster ahead of the stretch run. Whether you’re looking ahead to the deadline or still trying to sort between the contenders and pretenders, 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.

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

1. 2025 Home Run Derby:

All-Star week is officially underway, and with it comes the return of an All-Star week staple: the Home Run Derby. Eight sluggers will battle it out for the $1MM prize, and this year’s participants are Byron Buxton of the Twins, Junior Caminero of the Rays, Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees, Oneil Cruz of the Pirates, Matt Olson of the Braves, Cal Raleigh of the Mariners, Brent Rooker of the Athletics, and James Wood of the Nationals. The event is scheduled to begin at 8pm ET this evening, and will air on ESPN. Of this crop of contestants, only Olson has participated previously; he was eliminated in the first round back in 2021 while representing the A’s. It’s hard to view anyone other than catcher Cal Raleigh as the favorite headed into today’s event given his MLB-leading 38 homers this year. If he can take home the trophy, he’ll be the first catcher to do so in the event’s history and the first Mariners representative to win the Derby since Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.

2. MLB Draft Day 2: 

Yesterday, MLB held the first three rounds of the 2025 draft. Eli Willits was drafted first overall by the Nationals, while consensus top talent Ethan Holliday went fourth overall to the Rockies. The full results of the first round can be found here. Now, the attention of teams will turn towards the later rounds of the draft. Rounds 4 through 20 are scheduled to take place today as teams around the league wrap up the draft, with Round 4 slated to begin at 11:30am ET this morning. A handful of top talents fall outside of the first few rounds every year, and that’s once again the case this season. A look at MLB Pipeline’s Draft Tracker reveals three top-50 talents in the draft have not yet been chosen: Oregon outfielder Mason Neville, Lincoln-Way East HS southpaw Jack Bauer, and Memorial HS right-hander Matthew Fisher.

3. Rodriguez to see doctor about ailing elbow:

Rays right-hander Manuel Rodriguez was pulled off his rehab assignment on Friday after experiencing some soreness in his elbow in conjunction with unusually low velocity. Rodriguez, who saw an alarming drop to just 91.2 mph during his latest outing after averaging 96.9 mph throughout the year, will be further evaluated today. The 28-year-old was a key piece of the Rays’ bullpen this year prior to his injury, with a 2.08 ERA and 2.98 FIP in 31 appearances. The Rays acquired Bryan Baker from the Orioles last week in hopes of bolstering their relief corps, though his team debut did not go well (three runs in one inning). A notable absence for Rodriguez could spur Tampa Bay’s front office to further address the bullpen.

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

1. 2025 Draft to begin:

The 2025 draft kicks off this weekend, with the first three rounds scheduled to begin at 5pm CT on Sunday evening. The Nationals, Angels, Mariners, Rockies, Cardinals, and Pirates have the top six picks after winning the draft lottery this past winter. While those six teams were the big winners, they’re far from the only teams that will be in prime position to bolster their future. The Orioles, for example, have four of the top 37 picks after dealing Bryan Baker to the Rays yesterday morning in exchange for the 37th pick in this year’s draft. Competitive Balance Round picks are the only ones that can be traded in MLB, but it’s at least plausible that another team with one of those picks could look to dangle it in trade talks over the next couple of days in order to facilitate an early deal rather than waiting until the Trade Deadline on July 31.

2. Pitchers’ duel in Minnesota:

The Pirates are headed to the Twin Cities this weekend for a three-game set, and the series kicks off tonight with a pitchers’ duel scheduled for 7pm local time. The Twins will send All-Star right-hander Joe Ryan to the mound for his 19th appearance of the season, while Pittsburgh will counter with superstar right-hander Paul Skenes. Ryan, 29, is in the midst of a career year with a 2.76 ERA and a 28.6% strikeout rate in 104 1/3 innings of work. Skenes, meanwhile, will enter his 20th start of the season with a sterling 1.94 ERA and a 27.8% strikeout rate in 116 innings. The Twins are one of several teams on the buy/sell bubble with the trade deadline looming just under three weeks away. They’ll play three of their next four series against clear sellers — Pirates, Rockies, Nationals — and likely need a strong showing in those winnable series to avoid selling off some rental pieces.

3. Mets rotation gets reinforcements:

The Mets have battled injuries in the rotation throughout the year, but their starting staff finally appears to be getting healthier. Right-hander Kodai Senga is scheduled to be activated from the injured list and start today’s game against the Royals and righty Michael Wacha. Senga has been out with a hamstring strain for the past month but had a sensational 1.47 ERA in 13 starts prior to that injury. He’s not the only arm the Mets figure to get back this weekend. While New York hasn’t announced a starter for Sunday’s game, Will Sammon of The Athletic was among those to note that lefty Sean Manaea is expected to be activated for his season debut on Sunday. Manaea re-signed with the Mets long-term over the winter after serving as a key fixture of the rotation last season, when he posted 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. He’s been sidelined all season with an oblique injury but is in line to square off against Royals rookie Noah Cameron on Sunday.

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

1. Meyers to undergo testing:

Astros center fielder Jake Meyers has been out in recent days due to right calf tightness but was penciled back into the lineup for Wednesday’s game. Unfortunately, Meyers was lifted the game before it even began. The 29-year-old aggravated the injury while jogging out to center field and was helped off the field by a trainer before the first pitch was even thrown. As noted by Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada told reporters after the game that Meyers would undergo testing after the game and the club would know more about his status today. The Astros already have eight position players on the injured list. Meyers would be a ninth, if he needs an IL stint. Because of that slew of injuries, Houston doesn’t have any additional minor league position players on the 40-man roster at this point. They need to reinstate Christian Walker from the paternity list, however, which could fill Meyers’ spot. That would likely leave center field to be manned by Taylor Trammell and Kenedy Corona, although Chas McCormick is currently on a minor league rehab assignment.

2. Doubleheader in Baltimore today:

Yesterday’s game between the Mets and Orioles was postponed due to rain. Anthony DiComo and Jake Rill of MLB.com wrote yesterday about the makeup game, which is scheduled to take place as part of a split doubleheader later today. Today’s regularly scheduled game has been moved up from 1:05pm local time to 12:05pm, while Game 2 is scheduled to begin at 5:05pm. Fans who can’t attend today’s rescheduled game but had tickets for yesterday’s postponed contest can find exchange options here. On the field, the Orioles will send Charlie Morton (5.47 ERA) to the mound for Game 1 opposite Mets southpaw David Peterson (3.18 ERA), while Tomoyuki Sugano (4.44 ERA) will take the mound in Game 2 against an as-of-yet unannounced Mets starter.

3. Yankees eyeing a sweep:

Today’s game between the Yankees and the Mariners will have a significant impact on the AL Wild Card picture. The Yankees are looking for a sweep after taking the first two games in this week’s set, but they’ll have an uphill battle in order to secure that third win. Marcus Stroman (7.45 ERA in five starts) is on the mound at 7:05pm local time for the Bronx Bombers today, and while he’s looked better than that ERA would suggest since returning from the injured list he’ll be tasked with taking on young Mariners star Bryan Woo, who has a 2.77 ERA in 17 starts this year. If the Mariners lose today’s game, they’ll be at risk of losing their spot in the AL Wild Card race to the Red Sox, with whom they’re currently tied in the standings. A loss for the Yankees, meanwhile, would mean that they risk falling behind the Rays in the AL East and losing their hold on the top AL Wild Card spot.

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

1. Glasnow returns:

After a strong first season in Los Angeles last year, right-hander Tyler Glasnow hasn’t been able to give the Dodgers much due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder that’s limited him to just five starts in 2025. That’ll change today, as Glasnow is slated to be activated for this afternoon’s game against the Brewers, scheduled for 1:10pm local time in Milwaukee. Glasnow posted a rather pedestrian 4.50 ERA in his five outings before going on the shelf and has struggled to an 8.31 ERA in his three rehab outings at Triple-A, but he remains one of the game’s most overpowering pitchers when healthy. Glasnow’s opponent will be veteran southpaw Jose Quintana, who has a 3.44 ERA through 12 starts this year.

2. Schlittler to make MLB debut: 

The Yankees recently lost right-hander Clarke Schmidt to what is likely to wind up being season-ending Tommy John surgery. Schmidt’s 3.32 ERA in 14 starts won’t be easy to replace, but the Yankees are calling on Cam Schlittler to try and fill the void. The 24-year-old righty has looked quite good at Double- and Triple-A this year, and it was enough for the Yankees to have him start against the Mariners in his big league debut at 7:05pm local time in New York. His opponent will be fellow rookie Logan Evans, who has put together an excellent 2.96 ERA across eight starts with Seattle while filling in for various injured pitchers throughout the season. Schlitter’s addition to the Yankees’ roster still hasn’t been announced, so corresponding moves to create room on the 40-man and active rosters will be necessary.

3. Red Sox to activate Yoshida:

It’s been an unusual year for Masataka Yoshida, who underwent shoulder surgery during the offseason and has been sidelined ever since—even though he was healthy enough to hit. Yoshida hadn’t been able to play the field to this point in the season, and with Rafael Devers at DH on regular basis that meant the Red Sox had no room for him until he was ready to play the outfield. All of that changed once Devers was traded to the Giants last month. Roman Anthony had been serving as the club’s DH since the trade, but Yoshida has been on a rehab assignment and is expected to be activated for a home game against the visiting Rockies, scheduled for 7:10pm local time. Boston’s opponent today will be right-hander Antonio Senzatela, who has a 6.57 ERA in 86 1/3 innings of work this year. A corresponding move will be needed to activate Yoshida. MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reports that outfielder Nate Eaton has been sent to Triple-A already, though that move hasn’t been formally announced.

Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. Blue Jays go for ten straight wins:

The Blue Jays have ridden a nine-game winning streak to a comfortable 3.5-game lead over the Yankees for the top spot in the American League East. Toronto is tied with Philadelphia for the fifth-best record in the majors. The Jays are set to go for their tenth consecutive victory today in a road date with the White Sox. Veteran righty Chris Bassitt (4.32 ERA) takes on right-hander Aaron Civale, whom the Sox acquired just under one month ago. Civale has a 4.60 ERA in nine starts this year but a 3.83 mark in 40 innings since returning from the injured list in late May.

2. Setback for Greene?

Reds ace Hunter Greene has been on the injured list since June 4 due to a groin strain — his second of the season — but has been expected to return to the majors not long after the All-Star break. That timeline is being thrown off course, however, as Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer noted yesterday that the righty has been scratched from his scheduled rehab start today after consulting with the team’s medical staff. Neither Greene nor manager Terry Francona provided much clarity on a timeline for the right-hander’s return, but Wittenmyer suggests that Greene’s timeline could be pushed back into August.

The Reds are just 46-45 this year despite going 15-11 in June without Greene, who has posted a 2.72 ERA in 11 starts this year. As the trade deadline looms, the Reds face an increasing deficit in both the NL Central (8.5 games) and the Wild Card race (3.5 games). Will they be able to stay afloat long enough for Greene to make an impact down the stretch? Will his murky outlook spur the front office to pursue additional help?

3. MLBTR Chat today:

We’re now into the second week of July, which means we’re just a few short weeks away from this year’s trade deadline. While it will be difficult for another in-season blockbuster to top the Rafael Devers deal from June, MLBTR recently published our Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline list with a number of intriguing names in the mix. Whether you’re looking ahead to the deadline or still trying to sort between the contenders and pretenders, 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.

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

1. Nationals leadership changes:

Yesterday, the Nationals made the decision to part ways with both GM Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez. The team has already named Mike DeBartolo as the team’s interim GM who will handle baseball operations for the remainder of the season. He’ll be thrown right into the thick of things, with the 2025 draft (where the Nationals have the first overall pick) just a week away and trade season already upon us. It seems one of his first tasks while in charge will be selecting an interim manager to help guide the club, as the Nationals did not initially announce a replacement for Martinez. That decision is expected sometime today, and whoever is selected will join Warren Schaeffer, Don Kelly, and Tony Mansolino as in-season managerial hires this year.

2. Series Preview: Tigers vs Rays

A series between two of the AL’s top contenders begins today as the Rays head to Detroit for a three-game set against the Tigers. Tampa enters the series having recently pulled into a tie with the Yankees for second place in the AL East, just three games back of the division-leading Blue Jays. Detroit, meanwhile, has the best record in the majors and has won seven of their last ten games. The Rays, meanwhile, have gone just 4-6 in that time. The series kicks off later today with right-hander Shane Baz (4.33 ERA) on the mound for Tampa. The Tigers don’t have an announced starter for today’s game but could turn to Dietrich Enns (who has a 7.00 ERA in nine innings this year) for bulk innings if they opt for a bullpen game. The series will have more traditional pitching matchups the rest of the way, with right-hander Ryan Pepiot (3.34 ERA) taking on Jack Flaherty (4.84 ERA) tomorrow. The series wraps up Wednesday with right-hander Zack Littell (3.50 ERA) on the mound against righty Reese Olson (2.89 ERA in ten starts).

3. Pitchers’ Duel in Milwaukee:

Another series between two contending clubs is taking place today in Milwaukee, where the Dodgers will be taking on the Brewers in a series that will kick off with an exciting pitchers’ duel today between two hurlers who will represent the National League in this year’s All-Star game. Right-hander Freddy Peralta is on the mound for the Brewers against Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto has made just 17 starts this year as the Dodgers have monitored his workload closely, but those starts have been dominant with a 2.51 ERA and a 28.6% strikeout rate. Peralta has been no slouch either, as he’s posted a 2.91 ERA in 99 innings of work with a 25.5% strikeout rate. First pitch in this intriguing matchup is scheduled for 6:40pm local time.