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Mark P
8:30
A very busy day on the sports calendar reaches its logical peak with....the MLBTR Weekend Chat.  Let the questions and comments commence!
Guest
8:30
Dodger trade deadline?
Mark P
8:33
They'll look for a backup catcher type given the uncertainty over Smith.  It's possible LA might seek out more than just a pure backup if reports sour on Smith in the next couple of weeks, but for now, the team will probably just look for veteran support for Rushing (and a vet who can be easily optioned if and when Smith returns)

Beyond that, it's probably depth in general for the Dodgers.  A bullpen arm or bench addition, and maybe a starting pitcher since Ohtani/Glasnow/Snell are all dealing with injuries.  Because they're the Dodgers, they'll be linked to all the big names on the market out of pure due diligence, and they have the asset to make a big play for Skubal or someone if they really feel the need
Guest
8:34
Any Reds news's
Mark P
8:34
They're planning to move (at least) their impending free agents at the deadline

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/07/reds-to-pursue-trading-players-...
Blue Jays birds
8:35
What would Louis Varlands hypothetical trade value be?
Mark P
8:36
Though the roof.  But, Varland is one of the players Toronto absolutely won't move, even if the Jays are increasingly looking like sellers
Chaim Bloom
8:37
Do you see me buying or selling at the deadline? Its still a question everyone wants an answer too
Tony
8:37
I would like the Cards to look for bullpen help. They can get by with a weak starting staff but have to fix the bullpen.
Mark P
8:39
The fact that the Cards need help in both pitching areas isn't great, so focusing on either the pen OR the bullpen leaves the club short.  

St. Louis is looking like they'll buy to some limited extent at the deadline, but without moving any significant young trade assets.  Bloom's eye is likely still on the overall rebuild process, so the Cards probably feel 2027 is a better year to truly contend than 2026.
8:40
That all being said, I feel like I've made similar comments about the Cardinals in the last several weeks of chats, but they just keep surprising me and winning!
Padres
8:41
If you attached Miller with Bogaerts (assuming no trade waiver) and maybe Kash Mayfield, does someone bite?
Mark P
8:43
Bogaerts is owed $175MM from 2027-33.  One can make the case that it's just about the most underwater contract in all of baseball.  

Miller, meanwhile, is just about San Diego's best trade asset, and Mayfield is an intriguing pitching prospects.  Moving those two with Bogaerts just to get that contract off the books is just flat-out not happening.  If Miller is dealt, it will be for young and cost-effective talent, which is more important to the Padres in the long haul than getting a bad deal off the books.
Ted Turner
8:45
AA said he’s looking for anything to make the team better. Is a trade with Mets for Peralta or Holmes realistic?
Mark P
8:46
Atlanta will get some kind of pitching help, but an in-division isn't likely.  The Braves and Mets aren't exactly frequent trade partners.
Tigers Deadline
8:47
What will we do iyo?
Mark P
8:49
Losing any games to the Angels is a gut punch, but bottom line, Detroit is still 24-15 since the start of June.  Because the Tigers have so much invested in this season, they won't look to sell until pretty close to the last minute, so stay tuned
WhiteSox Fan
8:50
Reid Detmers, is he gonna be on the southside??
Mark P
8:50
I have my doubts that Detmers is being dealt anywhere.
Breslow
8:51
I know we’ve run off 13 in a row, but with young starters approaching career highs in innings already, wouldn’t it be more prudent to trade Gray and Chapman (maybe Duran) and come back stronger next season?
Mark P
8:53
This is a wild take on a 13-game winning streak, lol.  "Sure, we look like the class of baseball, but imagine next year!"

With Sandoval now pitching, Suarez on the mend, and Crochet (eventually) back, the Sox should have the ability to bolster the rotation enough to give the kids some extra rest.  Or, to get creative in piggybacking them or experimenting with a six-man rotation.  The bottom line is that unless the Red Sox suddenly fall apart as quickly as they've heated up, the Sox will absolutely be deadline buyers
The difference
8:54
What is the benefit for a player (Carrasco et al) to elect free agency and then almost immediately re-sign a minor league deal rather than just accept an outright assignment?
Mark P
8:55
Steve Adams recently explored this topic in one of the many, MANY Carrasco-related posts we've run on MLBTR this year.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/07/braves-dfa-carlos-carrasco-mart...
The gist....every new minor league contract probably contains a bit of extra money or flexibility for Carrasco, so it's worth it for him to opt out even if he knows and the Braves know he isn't going anywhere.
Derek
8:56
Nats buy, sell or a combination of the both?
Mark P
8:57
I'm leaning like 52-48 in favor of selling.  The Nats are another team that didn't expect to be this good, so they've maybe been waiting for the other shoe to truly drop for a while now.  But the offense has been so good that if I'm Toboni, I consider getting a couple of relievers and a starter and seeing what I can do in a wild card chase.
8:58
Even if the Nats (or Cardinals, White Sox, Marlins, etc.) may not feel like "true" contenders, getting involved in some higher-intensity games can be a nice learning experience for a young roster.
GIANTSFAN
8:59
RIP Duane Ward
Mark P
9:00
Shocking news during what was supposed to be a celebratory weekend for the 1992-93 Jays players.  I had the pleasure of interviewing Ward early in my career, and as anyone who heard him on the radio can attest, he was a great interview with plenty of opinions to share.
CHISOX FAN
9:01
A team that leads its division is not a "true" contender?
Mark P
9:03
The AL Central is (again) not a strong division.  Full credit to the White Sox for their success and for proving a lot of people wrong, and maybe they'll keep it going and indeed make some postseason noise.  Crazier things have happened in baseball.
RE: Nats Pt. 2
9:05
They seem to want to give Ford a chance but Ruiz is a barrier (not a huge one contractually but still). Is a position change (1st base?) logical here or is this a potential showcase?
Mark P
9:06
Ruiz having what's looking like the best season of his career creates a "nice probably to have" situation for the Nats in the catching department.  Just going with Ruiz and Ford as the catching combo next year is the most logical move, with the DH spot available if need be to give either extra at-bats.
Undisclosed
9:07
Chicago seems to have no interest in making Kevin Alcantara anything more than a seldom used bench piece.Could they get a mid leverage type reliever for him?
Mark P
9:07
He has more trade value than that.
M
9:09
What would it take to pry Mason Miller from the Padres for the Mariners?
Mark P
9:10
One of Sloan or Anderson as the centerpiece.  That's the initial ask at least, and it would take a lot of negotiating for the Mariners to get the Padres down to their second tier of prospects (i.e. Montes, Arroyo) instead
Dan The Man
9:11
What's the likelihood of the Rangers making a trade for a high leverage arm for their bullpen and adding another bat for their lineup?  Seems like that has to be in Chris Young's plans towards the deadline.
Mark P
9:13
Texas is another team that may have trouble addressing all of its needs in a meaningful way, but doing so while staying under the luxury tax threshold doesn't seem out of the question.  More resources could be put into finding a hitter, as (in theory) good relievers have less of a price tag in terms of money or prospects.
Wrong turn
9:14
What went wrong for the Royals this year?  Should they add on controllable players before the offseason or tear it all down and start over around Witt?
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