Overview
- Deals have begun to trickle in and the Mets officially opened their selloff by trading reliever A.J. Minter to the Twins late Thursday, signaling more Mets moves are likely.
- The Detroit Tigers have signaled they will sell by scratching Casey Mize from a start and Tarik Skubal has become the marquee chip with multiple contenders expected to submit offers.
- Front offices view the Tampa Bay Rays as one of the most aggressive buyers and teams including the Yankees, Dodgers and Brewers are prepared to pay premium prospect returns for controllable pitching.
- The catcher market is unusually thin and the Orioles have discussed Adley Rutschman in trade conversations which would drastically increase demand for backstops among contenders if he were made available.
- Several clubs with large, long-term contracts such as the Giants are finding few suitors which is sharpening the premium on short-term controllable arms and high-leverage relievers as teams race to clear and acquire pieces before the Aug. 3 deadline.