What is the story about?
Happy Friday, everyone! As predicted, the hottest news in the second half of July is trade deadline speculation, and specifically a big question: are the surging Tigers actually going to sell Tarik Skubal to another contender, or will they hold onto him and hope to continue their push for October? It’s a question we likely won’t have an answer for until the very last minute of the deadline, but it truly could go either way. Other names are joining Skubal on the hot target list, and eagle-eyed viewers
are keeping a sharp eye on players who are getting scratched from lineups for seemingly no reason.
So let’s jump right into today’s new links!
- Jay Jaffe looks at the unlikely rise of the Red Sox to Wild Card contenders.
- Max Scherzer was looking a lot like his old self during a recent rehab outing. Story by Zach Worden.
- Tarik Skubal is no longer the hottest trade target on the market. Will Laws and Nick Selbe look at who has replaced him.
- Karl Rasmussen tries to work out some realistic trade packages for Shea Langeliers.
- An updated look at ESPN’s trade deadline tracker.
- Tarik Skubal has made it clear he wants to finish his season in Detroit and help get the team to the World Series. (AP)
- If he does move, though, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon assess what the likely asking price for Skubal might be. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- And on that note… which teams would be most likely to have what it takes to make a Skubal trade come together? Story by The Athletic staff. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Interesting…
- Ryan Blake looks at what the Tigers’ unexpected turn for the better could mean for them at the Trade Deadline.
- Mark Feinsand determines how various playoff races will impact what several teams do leading up to the deadline.
- Adam Berry has some key takeaways from the Rays’ recent road trip.
- Comparing the current Red Sox to the last Boston team to win 15 in a row. Story by Ryan Phillips.
- Stephen J. Nesbitt and Zack Meisel break down what it takes to pull off a three-team trade. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Some interesting names on here.
- Davy Andrews wonders why no one told the Tigers that it’s the year of the bunt.
- A look at some of the changes on each team’s top 30 prospects list. (MLB)
- Dan Gartland looks at the Red Sox’s wild winning spree and how it managed to save their season.
- Matt Quatraro missed the Royals’ series opener against the Tigers for undisclosed personal reasons. The Royals did not indicate when he would return. (AP)
- Jayson Stark assesses which active players are most helping make their case to eventually join the Hall of Fame. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- What is your take on this? Bad sportsmanship, or just taking advantage of a rule?
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.
