The Trade Deadline is fast approaching — four days to go and counting.
Is Skubal definitely gone?
The Tigers’ back-and-forth, will-they-won’t-they regarding Skubal may have finally come to an end. An unceremonious 10-9 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday, in which Skubal threw six-plus strong innings before Detroit blew a lead, may have been the final nail in the coffin.
After the Mets acquired him in a headlining offseason trade, Peralta’s 2026 season has not gone to plan. He’s sporting a 4.99 ERA, by far his worst since becoming a full-time starter in 2021. There is also concern for his strikeout rate, which has plummeted by about 7% compared to his career average.
The Athletic’s Will Sammon reported, however, that teams interested in acquiring the impending free agent ahead of the deadline still see “the ingredients that made him successful” in the past. Sammon reported the Rays, White Sox and Cubs have checked in on Peralta, while the Padres and Diamondbacks scouted his last start.
Reds flamethrower on the block?
The Reds are 5 1/2 games back in the NL Wild Card race entering Friday, and they appear headed for a sell-off, at least including players on expiring contracts like RHP Brady Singer, C Tyler Stephenson, 3B/DH Eugenio Suárez and LHP Brock Burke. Breakout outfielder JJ Bleday has also swirled in rumors, though he has years of control remaining.
But The Athletic’s Rosenthal noted Thursday that contending clubs — always in search of controllable starting pitching — have shown “significant interest” in 26-year-old righty Hunter Greene. Rosenthal said Cincinnati is not “particularly motivated” to deal Greene, but a return could be monumental.
Greene, who features a fastball in the upper 90s, is under control through 2028 with a club option for 2029.
The Rockies remain in a transitional stage, but their young bats have shown promise for the future. That includes catcher Hunter Goodman and his 31 home runs. Goodman has become one of the buzziest names on a catching market heavy in demand but low on supply.
Rosenthal reported three AL East teams — the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees — are among those to express interest in Goodman. But the Rockies are asking for a haul to ship off Goodman and his three years of remaining control. The price, at least for now, includes teams’ top overall prospects, like Boston’s Franklin Arias and Tampa Bay’s Theo Gillen.
A shift in Angels’ philosophy
“As we enter this trading period, one of the things we are focused on is understanding change,” Mozeliak said. “Clearly, where the Angels are at right now, we need to do some things differently.”
– Furthermore, the Blue Jays could be good trade partners with the Phillies, as MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reported Thursday. Philadelphia has various needs like outfield and bullpen, where Toronto has available veterans: Springer, Varsho, Gausman or reliever Jeff Hoffman (a former Phillie himself).
– The Red Sox, with rumored interest in Neto, CJ Abrams, Goodman and many more, were listed as one of the likeliest teams to make a “decisive” move, according to Passan.
– In their search for pitching, the Cubs could get creative and deal from the big league roster. That includes utility players Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramírez or even catcher Carson Kelly, whom the Cubs have discussed with rival clubs, per Passan.
